The Reporter welcomes original, signed letters
to the editor. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to
specific articles in the Reporter. They may be edited for clarity and
space. Include address and phone number for verification purposes;
these will not be published. Mail to Letters, Santa Fe Reporter, PO Box
2306, Santa Fe NM 87504, deliver to 132 E. Marcy St., fax to
505-988-5348 or e-mail (editor@sfreporter.com).
FOOL'S GOLD?
As a well owner whose well started going south when Pojoaque Pueblo began draining the aquifer in an ongoing drought to feed their golf courses, I find the lack of discussion of water issues in your article a glaring omission [Cover story, Aug. 10:
].
Pumping water faster than it is recharged is like pumping fossil fuel: It will eventually run out and there will be no more. Four hundred more toilets and another 18 holes will only hasten the collapse. There are hundreds of dead trees in the Pojoaque river across the road from the Buffalo Thunder Resort. There are wells that have failed or are failing all over the Pojoaque Valley while the Pueblo continues its ill-conceived and unsustainable development schemes. George Rivera may be creating Pojoaque Pueblo's destiny, but their destiny is inextricably intertwined with those of us who share the watershed. Their blatant disregard for the long-term health of the Pojoaque Valley is ominous and frightening. Pumping the aquifer dry to bankroll unrealistic economic development and gambling on Cuyamunge becoming an "international destination" is like playing the slots at the Cities of Gold, a sucker's game that, unfortunately, involves us all-humans, animals and plants. Let's hope they run out of quarters before we all run out of water.
Michael Motley
Pojoaque
KARAOKE A NO NO
Kudos to your paper for giving advance mention to the red carpet premiere of Karaoke-A-Go-Go at Swig [Movies, Aug. 3], but considering the amazing turnout, I was surprised there was no follow-up review. How often do hundreds of Santa Feans surrender their Saturday nights to pay tribute to a local artist?
It seemed, for one night at least, that Hollywood had come to Santa Fe. My hat's off to Swig's Robert and Cliff for treating the event like an event-rolling out the red carpet, renting limousines for the cast and crew to arrive in style, hosting a reception with bona fide hors d'oeuvres, etc. No one, however, including the filmmakers, could've anticipated that crowds would've lined up outside, some holding signs boasting the names of their favorite cast members, some snapping photos, very few of whom were involved in the film, or known to the filmmakers. Swig was packed to the rafters for this premiere, and the boisterous laughter threatened to literally raise the roof.
To anyone in attendance, including a writer for your paper, a runaway hit was a-birthing right here in Santa Fe-featuring entirely local talent! Rarely, if ever, does local talent in any field draw this kind of an audience. And, for the lack of coverage given when someone does, it's no wonder Santa Feans have a reputation for staying home.
I hope we won't continue to hear the proverbial crickets chirping from the Santa Fe press when this hilarious mockumentary goes national.
Chris Diestler
Santa Fe
ALTENATIVE VENUES
By Jove, I think she's got it! Well, almost. Jonanna's latest column [J Spot, Aug. 18:
] at last credits Summer Bandstand with the kudos it deserves. It's been "a lotta music" giving plenty of Plaza space to local musicians. So why lament that the "wild-eyed denizens of High Mayhem" have been "exiled to the margins of the city?" OK, the Plaza "still IS Santa Fe." And playing the Plaza has gotta be cool. But, J, it ain't Carnegie Hall. Ya don't have to play the Plaza stage to succeed. Second Street Experience, for example, just proved that some pretty "out-there" acts can wow local audiences. Or is it tourist adulation that the "rascally upstarts" crave? I think not.
Michael F McCauley
Santa Fe
KID STUFF
I found the column Daddy Needs a Drink [Aug. 3:
] by R Wilder to be irrelevant, stupid and pointless. Why the Reporter would use valuable column space for such drivel is beyond me, especially when there are soooo many other important local, national and international issues which demand our attention at this time. Wilder's column certainly did not enrich my experience of life in any conceivable way. This column space would be better used, and your readers better served, if you were to run an intelligent, timely column which would educate and enlighten us on some significant ADULT subject. After reading several of Wilder's columns it is obvious that he thinks his son London is exceptional and his kiddie antics fascinating and worthy of being shared with us. I don't. Go share them with your 4-year-old play group and leave the Reporter to the grown-ups.
Susan Sexton
Santa Fe
PICKY PIG
I have a comment on Ms. Doland's review of Sol Café [Total Pig, July 20:
], a pleasant oasis where I've enjoyed many good meals.
In New York City a food critic customarily visits a restaurant at least three times before issuing a review on that restaurant. Hopefully, Ms. Doland has visited Sol Café more than once.
Sounds like our reviewer is what my mother used to call "a picky eater," certainly not a desirable qualification for a food critic.
Tom McGuire
Santa Fe
DOSHA DISH
After spending several weeks at an Ayurveda clinic in Nagpur, India I feel pretty confident with my understanding of the Ayurvedic process [Letters, Aug. 10:
]. Ayurveda foods should provide adequate nutrition for the mind and body without overloading the digestive system. These nutrients should also be fully absorbed and utilized by the body!
Regarding Annapurna, they do not, and have not, made claims concerning an ability to correct dosha requirements on behalf of their patrons. They are simply providing a nutritional, organic and satisfying Ayurvedic alternative to the other restaurants in the Santa Fe area.
Annapurna definitely meets our family's requirements for an Ayurveda lifestyle and it is unfortunate that some readers have misunderstood the entire process.
Frank and Lisa Kunc
Santa Fe
MOUNTAIN HAVEN
Although we are not experts in Ayurvedic cuisine, we have found Annapurna to be a haven in the high mountain desert for those who are gluten-intolerant or have food allergies. Recent studies have shown that almost one-third of our population to date has some form of health problem related to gluten. Yashoda, the owner of Annapurna, is very considerate and knowledgeable when it comes to preparing food for people who have food sensitivities. We enjoy eating in an environment where we feel safe and the food makes us feel good.
James E Baum, DO
Isha Dawn Baum
Santa Fe
AYURVEDIC OPTION
I'm sorry that the woman writing about Annapurna had a less than favorable experience at the restaurant. Very many of us feel differently about the cuisine. We find the food at Annapurna to be delicious and nourishing, many of us eating there several times a week. The restaurant has a host of grateful fans.
As to the complaint that the food at the restaurant isn't truly Ayurvedic, please know that Yashoda Naidoo, the owner and chef of Annapurna, has been preparing food for the patients at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque for the past three years. What a joy to find a restaurant with food that is fresh, healthy and wonderfully seasoned.
Please don't let a dissatisfied customer keep you from trying for yourself Santa Fe's long-awaited and only vegetarian restaurant.
Sandra Oriel
Santa Fe
SAPLING SUPPOR T
I appreciate that Allena Walsh-Satpathi has a commitment to excellence and a desire to see the highest quality Ayurvedic food available in Santa Fe. With our support, I am confident that Yashoda Naidoo and Annapurna can provide this.
I know many young people and others who rely on Annapurna for healthy, organic vegetarian food, especially their kichadi, the one-pot healing meal suitable for all constitutions. It is possible that Annapurna could provide additional condiments beyond the ones they already offer, so that meals could be more tailor-made for individual constitutions.
When a tree is young, it is still growing. All of its fruit has not yet come to harvest, perhaps almost none yet. I feel very fortunate that Naidoo has chosen to offer us Ayurvedic food here in Santa Fe, and I trust she will continue to look at how she practices Ayurvedic cooking to meet her own high standards of purity, freshness (especially with oils) and loving attention.
Amadea Morningstar
Ayurvedic Cook
Santa Fe
CHECK YOURSELF
We have been coming to Annapurna on a consistent basis-at least three times a week-since it opened. After reading Allena Walsh-Satpathi's letter we wonder if we have been eating at the same restaurant. Our food at Annapurna has never been "burned, gummy or bloating." On the contrary, we find it balancing, clean and easy to digest.
Ms. Walsh-Satpathi not only disrespects Annapurna but she also disrespects all of Annapurna's so-called "ignorant customers." Maybe Ms. Walsh-Satpathi should check her ego at the door. It would also help if she realized that Annapurna is a restaurant, not an Ayurvedic clinic.
Bonnie Stapleton
John Stapleton
Tara Stapleton
Santa Fe
STONE TRUTH
Mr. Stone cites no personal evidence about the way we ended World War II [Letters, Aug. 17:
], so here is a small historical truth based on my own experience. We assembled a huge fleet at Okinawa to invade Japan. Several groups of converted LCI(g)s, on one of which I served, were to lead the invasion, taking first fire to get close enough to launch primitive missiles meant to pulverize defenses before our invading soldiers would hit the beaches. After unconditional surrender caused by Nagasaki, we nevertheless remained ready at Okinawa. We did so in preparation for invasion just in case the surrender failed. It held, and invasion became unnecessary, thanks to the atom bombs. But, while waiting, we nevertheless endured six typhoons, losing most of the LCI(g)s, which were ordered out to sea to try to stay afloat rather than being smashed ashore. That's how seriously the invasion was being taken, and why it was avoided.
While denying that the atom bombs avoided invasion, Mr. Stone is also not respectful of the lives that this avoidance saved-not just American but Japanese as well. I will not speculate, but do suggest, that invasion would have cost many times our losses in Japanese troops and civilians, possibly numbering in the millions. Hiroshima and Nagasaki together cost only a fraction of that number. In fact they cost fewer lives than the incendiary bombing we did in Germany to end that phase of the war.
Finally, Mr. Stone sides with those who believe America deceived Japan into attacking. He may be right, although the question was vetted in post-war Congressional hearings that came to no such conclusion. My view is that even if right, he misses the point. Would Mr. Stone prefer to be living today with Nazi genocide or like the victims of the Rape of Nanking? Or has he any idea of a better way civilization could be saved?
Bill Atterbury
Ojo Caliente
