North Coast Journal Reader

Editor: Hooray for the new Wal-Mart (Mailbox, Jan. 12)! With its redwood-busting megatrucks and record of cannabalizing local trivial businesses, our shopping needs will be fulfilled. Wal-Mart’s wise use of cheap labor, no benefits and cheaper goods are a true icon of the American way! It’s awesome the way they ignored local voters and slipped […]

Editor: Sorry to hear about the Halloween bash on the Plaza (“Party Totals,” Blogjammin, Jan. 12). Couple of thoughts come to mind — What does it cost the Ferndale Fairground to clean up after the fair? It always looks real messy to me. But a lot of people are usually pretty messy. So what would have happened post-Halloween […]

Editor: It is exciting that alternative, “green” energy is gaining traction in the U.S., California and Humboldt County (“Monster Trucking,” Sept. 11, 2011). I have been involved with some solar installations myself. But as we devise ways to leave coal, oil and nuclear energy in the past, it is important to clearly understand all aspects […]

Editor: If I wasn’t already worshiping Jesus, I would be tempted to worship Marcy Burstiner (“Publish or Perish,” Jan. 5), or at least hire her as a personal guru. She has captured the social and communicative universe as we know it, diagnosed its ills, and delivered a pointed and powerful prescription for all of us. […]

Editor: In regards to the feelings about Wal-Mart by some people here (“Mailbox,” Dec. 29) my sister has worked for Wal-Mart for over 10 years and is a manager. I have been in several Wal-Marts over the years, and many of the people who work in them were very satisfied to work there. The stores […]

Editor:  After “Drugs in Disguise” by Liza Lester (Nov. 10), and “Bad Bugs, No Drugs?” by Barry Evans (Dec. 29), I would like to share some thoughts. Plant medicine is an integral and helpful part of the lifestyles of most of humanity today. We could also include “modern medicine” users if we note that a […]

Editor:  Heidi Walters piece “Aldaron’s Walkabout” (Jan. 5) was one of the best visually descriptive pieces I’ve ever read in the Journal, with the exception of one word substituted for fecal matter. It made you feel like you were walking/paddling right along with the author and her subject, Aldaron Laird, on his 105 mile trek around Humboldt […]

Editor: Mr. Grunbaum, if you have not participated, you really weren’t there and have no solid footing to criticize (“Mailbox,” Dec. 29). It is the military industrial complex I believe you have a legitimate argument with. Not the cannon fodder our imperialistic culture sends forth to exercise control over the rest of the planet, for […]

Editor: In regard to your review of the top stories of 2011 (“Top 10 Stories,” Dec. 22), I am compelled to express my indignation at the omission of the word “allegedly” in your reference to me as an abusive husband. In doing so, writer Ryan Burns has presented the allegation as fact, while veiling the […]

Editor: I would like to join in with the voices regarding Wal-Mart’s secret move into the Bayshore Mall (“Touchdown Wal-Mart,” Dec. 15). It takes a lot of chutzpah (and I mean that in the negative sense of the word) for the owners of Wal-Mart (and the others who were instrumental in making this happen) to […]

Editor: I arrived in Humboldt much like Eryn (“Leaving,” Dec. 15). I had seen a video and a brochure for HSU, but the day I moved into the dorms was my first day in Humboldt County. I instantly fell in love. I love how you can have conversations with perfect strangers. I love the absolute […]

Editor: First I would like to make fellow members of the community who dislike Wal-Mart aware of some more horrendous statistics in regard to Eureka’s newest big box store (“Touchdown Wal-Mart, Dec. 15). According to a “labor economist” from U.C. Berkeley, six children or children-in-law of the Walton family (the founders of Wal-Mart) had a […]