Letters: Embarrassment of Riches

I commend Yvon Chouinard for not getting completely sucked into a world he despises ("He's Not Worthy," January). An incurable pessimist, at least he makes an effort to set an example for other companies--but is that enough? His self-proclaimed ironic philosophies could be a wake-up call, yet he chooses to spend his time traveling and building million-dollar houses. It's easy to get discouraged, but it's vital that those like Chouinard don't give up.

Heather Mills
Centreville, Virginia

Chouinard's frank pessimism about the state of our planet was surprisingly refreshing. Such criticism may be just what society needs to get it on track with attitudes, lifestyles, and an economic system that can point us away from the ruin of the world.

Pete Keith
St. Paul, Minnesota

I suppose if a person's rich enough, he has every right to bitterly decry the species and society that facilitates his wealth.

Scott Viesselman
Santa Barbara, California

Chouinard might sound harsh when he says that mankind and our natural world are on a collision course, but I don't think he can be termed a pessimist. The man champions scrappy grassroots groups, he invests in making clothes less harmful to the environment--why, he even has kids. Perhaps the title "realist" better captures Chouinard's spirit.

Teri Carhart
Larkspur, California

That Puckish Pastime
Thank you for running Charles McGrath's beautifully crafted piece on pond hockey ("Pond Life," February). In its exuberant melding of sport and sense of the outdoors, few activities match the raucous pleasure of hockey on natural ice. Lamentably, there are not many of us graced with clean, shallow havens like McGrath, who has sensibly failed to reveal the precise location of his valuable pond. Whether it is a secret patch of dense black ice or smooth urban macadam, outdoor hockey players guard their treasure with a passion.

Daniel L. Lilie
New York, New York

McGrath stirred up nostalgia for my own days of playing hockey on a frozen swamp across the road from my house. I remember plenty of frigid nights playing until one of us broke through the ice and had to walk home on chilly feet. All kids should have the opportunity to play pond hockey before they ever step onto the competitive arena of artificial ice.

Thomas D. Stewart
Armagh, Pennsylvania

Sweeter Vines
I was taken aback by the coldhearted tomfoolery that exists in the world of pumpkin growers ("Pumpkin v. Pumpkin," February). They don't seem to realize that no matter how fat and ugly their Cucurbita maxima becomes, a pumpkin is a pumpkin is a pumpkin.

Florence Pearson
Tower, Minnesota

Fifteen Cents for Your Thoughts
I have a "don't" for Tim Cahill ("Professor Cahill's Travel 101," January): Travel writers shouldn't perpetuate bad practices. I'll agree that "arguing with an elderly woman over a 15-cent charge" is despicable, but so is paying someone two month's wages to drive you to the airport. The idea isn't to avoid spoiling the natives, but simply to pay market value for goods and services. This requires educating yourself on the going rates; then locals aren't squeezed out of the economy by tourist inflation.

Daniel Strickland
San Francisco, California

Relaxed Fit
Damn Mark Allen ("The Guru Speaks. You Should Listen," February). Just as I was getting comfortable with my ever-expanding and interestingly soft self, here comes the world's fittest man to spoil my happy hours in the La-Z-Boy. Thanks for the workout primer, but couldn't you have waited until after The X-Files went into reruns?

John Gleason
Highlands Ranch, Colorado

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