D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
April 2010
Las Cruces Leadfoots
In his article "The Fast and the Furious" in the March issue, author Jeff Berg writes, "Another wave of outrage... was inspired by the revelation that those who make an otherwise legal right turn on red while going more than 12 mph are also getting nailed." There's a reason they are getting ticketed — they are breaking the law and endangering the safety of pedestrians. The New Mexico Drivers License Manual quite clearly states, "If you are turning right, you may turn after coming to a full stop, if it is safe to do so and if there is no sign prohibiting the turn on a red light." It's difficult for me to understand how a right-turn-on-red driver can be coming to a full stop while going 12 mph.
Steve London
Hanover
Point by Point
A very quick read-through of Larry Lightner's "The Deadly Three" (Ramblin' Outdoors, March) resulted in the following comments:
- "The Deadly Three" — nonsense, period. Seldom deadly. And "Three?"
- Black-widow spiders are not "huge" — not even huge ones!
- "critterette" — this is 2010.
- A bite from a Mojave Rattlesnake is often a more serious medical situation than a bite from a Western Diamondback. Neither is as dangerous as driving on Hudson Street in Silver.
- "poisonous 'insects" — none of the three are poisonous nor are they insects!
- If one is not sure whether or not they are insects, what are you doing writing this article?
- Brown-recluse spiders are hardly "notoriously dreaded."
- Spiders don't have "cousins."
- "Very dangerous to humans" — a gross exaggeration in most cases.
- "Study of poisonous spiders" — spiders are NOT poisonous!
- Very possible that the spider identified "right off" was not an "Apache."
- "A check on the computer confirmed my suspicions" (re: being bitten by a recluse). An amazing diagnosis indeed!
- A good percentage of spider bites attributed to "recluse spiders" by medical personnel are not recluse bites.
- "Third bite" — "a scorpion." Amazing again, since the business end of a scorpion is on the tail.
- The author identifying a scorpion by its "small, dark shell" and in the dark, no less. Scorpions don't have "shells" and a number of other arthropods could have been the source of the sting (or even a bite, but not from a scorpion).
- I don't think I would want to go to that "attendant" for medical advice.
No additional comments needed.
Dick Nelson
Via e-mail
Big Bang
Our Spanish dance ensemble from Phoenix was in Thatcher/Safford, eastern Arizona, for youth workshops and community performances, when I picked up a February issue of your publication to read. I got a huge kick out of Henry Lightcap's column ("Uncertainty Principles"). Well-crafted. Associating dating a grandma with Steven Hawking's randomness theory was clever — and his similes are creative. A solid weave of sarcasm and poignancy and an engaging read!
Deanne Poulos
Phoenix
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