Sound Off for Nov. 30, 2008
Managing Editor Steve Mullen:We've heard from many readers over the past week who are upset with our decision to eliminate the Classified Corner puzzles.
While we were able to save Cryptoquip and the Hocus Focus by moving them into the Eye Street section, we could not find space for the rest of what we once offered.
Some readers find the size of the Cryptoquip puzzle too small, and we will work to address that.
Some of the comments:
Reader: I hope today is an isolated occurrence and that you haven't really made another of your unilateral decisions to eliminate a feature that I believe is a very popular one.
One of the first things I do as I open the morning paper is to go to the classifieds and pull out the "puzzle page" (Classified Corner), laying it aside to enjoy all the puzzles after I have finished reading the news.
Well, I searched in vain this morning and finally gave up, thinking you surely had placed it elsewhere today, perhaps for space limitation issues, etc.
As I was reading the comics page I noticed something different out of the corner of my eye.
Retrieving my magnifying glass (which I find I need more often when reading The Californianthese days), I was able to discern the Cryptoquip and Hocus Pocus puzzles shoehorned below the Sudoku puzzle.
What??!!? My exact thoughts were "You've got to be kidding me!"
Please, "say it ain't so." This has to be an isolated situation and the Classified Corner will be returned to its usual place tomorrow!?
Please, please, please restore the Cryptoquip, Word Search, "smaller" crossword, Hocus Pocus and other features to their proper placement so us "puzzlers" can again enjoy this daily feature.
I do hope that all the other readers/subscribers who enjoy this feature will let you know their thoughts. And it would be appreciated if you could keep us posted before or when these types of changes are being considered, rather than wait for all the feedback after the fact. At least we had the opportunity for some type of input into the recent comics poll.
Thanks for your consideration.
-- Vickie Schallock
Reader: Right now I'm really upset because I understand that you're not going to have the easier crossword in the paper any more.
How am I going to start my day?
I've been subscribing to The Californianfor over 50 years.
Please change your mind and take the harder one out and put the easier one in.
-- Anna Toy
Reader: You've taken the puzzles and the Wuzzles and the six different things out of the Classified section.
We really enjoy doing these. It's been a relaxation for years.
You take them out because of cost. I can't believe it costs that much for those things.
Would you please reconsider putting those things back in.
-- Randy and Cathy Black
Reader: Without any notification to your faithful readers, you opted to do away with the puzzles that have appeared in the Classified section.
BOO HOO!!!!! I worked the one in Eye and my 89-year-old mother worked the one in Classified.
This activity has helped keep my mother sharp as a tack. Now we will only have one puzzle and will probably have to alternate days so we each get to work one every other day.
I will not threaten to cancel my subscription as there are many parts of The Californianthat we enjoy but we are extremely disappointed that the second puzzle was removed without any notice to your readers.
Reader: I'm almost embarrassed to mention something so inconsequential to life's problems. But will do it anyway.
Today the Cryptoquip was moved from Classifieds to Eye Street under the crossword. Makes sense, but it was so squeezed in, one cannot possibly write in the solution. And if you goof, forget about it.
Please, can you squeeze the Bridge section to use bigger font for Cryptoquip?
I solve this every day to help ward off Alzheimer's.
Thank you!
Reader: We miss the crossword and word search puzzles that appeared in the Classified section. I understand the need to cut back these days, and I support the idea of "save a tree." We will look for them elsewhere.
-- David Hale
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Reader: This is in regard to "Prince Valiant." I really like it and I'm sad to see that you are discontinuing it.
What I liked about Prince Valiant was not only the classic art work but the fact that they're always getting into problems and it's interesting to find out what those problems are.
They seem to go over and over but that's what I like about it.
-- Bob Reynolds
Reader: I just want to register a complaint about leaving "Family Circus" off the comics now. It's got more votes than some of these offbeat cartoons that you're putting in now.
-- Bob Buechler
Reader: I'm calling to say that my husband and I are very frustrated that The Californianhas removed "Family Circus" from the comics. We've always read the comics religiously and are hoping that The Californianwill reconsider and bring "Family Circus" back for all those who enjoy it.
-- Judy Buechler
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Reader: I would just like to mention that I don't know if it's my newspaper guy, or the way the Sunday paper comes off the press to get folded and organized, but my Sunday newspaper is so much better organized than before. At first I thought it was a fluke of some sort, but every Sunday, it's been the same way and I just have to tell you I am really happy. It is now sorted pretty much in order of how I read the sections and Eye Street, in particular, isn't buried in the middle of the ads and below Jobs or someplace where I could never find it. The two additional sections with the store ads are so much more organized also. Good job! I really appreciate it.
It is just so much easier to get to where I want to go and read. A very good job and very much appreciated.
-- LaVonne Hilario
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Reader: I want to express my opinion on these stick-on ads. I deeply, deeply, DEEPLY detest them.
With the presidential inauguration coming up, people are going to want to save these papers. it's rather irritating to have one of those things glued onto the front of your newspaper. When you so carefully try to take it off, it takes a hunk of the paper out.
So, would you kindly find somewhere else to stick those things?
-- Peggy Defoor
Reader: I am upset over the advertisement that sticks to the front page of the newspaper. It tears the front page every time.
I pay for a full newspaper not one that's torn. I think that you need to come up with a new way of advertising other than gluing or sticking an advertisement to the front of the newspaper.
-- Tonya Grier
Mullen: We know these stick-on ads annoy some readers, but we are able to provide the newspaper they're attached to because they help pay our bills.
They also advertise good deals, so I'd urge readers to (gently) remove them from the paper and use them. We all win that way.
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Reader: I'm not a religious person but I read my morning devotional that I receive every day and say a prayer for my family and friends and sometimes include someone who might need one like Marylee Shrider.
I agree with her that gay marriage supporters will not admit to defeat because they have not been defeated, just delayed in their cause. And to have the governor and 44 state lawmakers supporting it as well is a big step forward.
I know this has become a religious issue more so than one of discrimination but God commands us to love and not hate as in 1 Thessalonians 1:4 "We know brothers and sisters that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people." It did not say except gays.
The Bible also describes hypocrites in Titus 1:16 "They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good."
To take homosexuality one step further. When did it come about? The Bible was written centuries ago and it says in its biblical terms marriage is between a man and a woman. But is anything written about homosexuality? So I went to another good book.
I looked up homosexuality in the dictionary. First in the Webster's New Modern English Dictionary dated 1930. The word homosexuality was not there? Strange.
Gay was defined as lively, full of spirit. Now the newer dictionary defines homosexuality and again gay as lively, full of spirit but now also, homosexual.
I may be a little off the wall but not being religious I just wonder if homosexuality was even around when God created man and woman?
Times have changed over the centuries. The Virgin Mary rode to the stable on a donkey. Now we go to worship driving a new car. The interpretation of the Scriptures has so ever changed as well.
But there will always be LOVE as in Leviticus 19:18 "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."
GOD BLESS AMERICA. Each and every one of you.
-- James McCall
