DEAR EDITOR

Had a Good Laugh

I had to write and tell you how much I enjoyed Robin Clayton's account of her trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon ("Nervous Nellie on the Edge," June '06), and her visions of her son launching himself over the edge. I was a Nervous Nellie, too, thoroughly annoying my two sons on a North Rim trip several years ago. It made me laugh to realize how normal my fears were, as was the bickering among families on vacation. Her story also reminded me to admire and affirm my children's sense of adventure, a good reminder when one of my teenaged sons set out on a hiking trip to the Rocky Mountains this summer. That's the thing about parenting: Just when you've organized your life around the realization that the little darlings will walk out in front of cars if you don't watch them, they want a driver's license! -Peter Aleshire, Editor

Sedimentary Layers of Puns

You complimented geologist Karl Koenig for making a "Gneiss catch" ("Dear Editor, "Big Boulder Boo Boo," June '06). I'm just a layman, but I say schist happens, even though a lot of people take it for granite. (Groan ... pause) Good line. But don't go by me. My friends say I'm very igneous-one quartz short of a gallon. -Ed.

Political Correctness?

For the first time in 25 years, I'm hesitating to renew my subscription to a magazine that was always my refuge from politics and political correctness, an important consideration for a freelance political columnist. Under your editorship, the magazine is no longer a refuge. In the June 2006 issue, Tony Hillerman is quoted ("Land of Mysteries") as saying that Navajos look down on the greedy guy-"the one who's got more than he needs and is not sharing it with the people." The implication is that the white man is greedy and Navajos aren't. What politically correct hogwash! What hypocrisy! So-called greed is what created the savings and division of labor necessary for industrialization and produces the medicine used by the Navajos and that funds their schools and social welfare programs, not to mention Navajo coal royalties and gas pipeline royalties. I hope you stop your foray into politics and return to nature photos and historically accurate stories. We aren't hammering together any political soapboxes. Certainly, I've known both generous white guys and greedy Navajos. However, you also can't deny that the Diné culture puts less stress on acquiring stuff-which might partially explain why the Navajos have so much less stuff. -Ed.

Get Your Raptors Straight

The June 2006 issue had a glaring error, where your noted biologist or whoever identified a prairie falcon on her wrist as a red-tailed hawk. A beginning birder should know the difference. I hope that the misidentification is a clerical error and not the expert's belief.

Good catch. Poor editing. -Ed.

Whicker or Whinney?

Your Arizona folks must have unique horses. In my neighborhood they whinny or neigh. What is a whicker? My spell check is no help.

Spell check? Ha! What does Bill Gates know? I got "whicker" (also "wicker") right here in my dictionary. Means to "neigh" or "whinny." So, all horses can whicker. Arizona horses just do it better. -Ed.

Too Many Pictures

I have been reading your magazine for years. What there is to read, that is. The photography is great, but is overwhelming. Also, the June 2006 issue looks more like a flower and garden magazine. Your magazine is "63.2 percent" photographs. Personally, I think it is too much. I think the photos should support the stories and not vice versa.

Ironic: I'm a word guy, but surveys suggest the photographs are our readers' favorite thing. So we use big pictures, although nothing gets me as excited as a well-turned phrase. -Ed.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

Publisher WIN HOLDEN Editor PETER ALESHIRE Senior Editor BETH DEVENY Managing Editor RANDY SUMMERLIN Web/Research Editor SALLY BENFORD Book Division Editor BOB ALBANO Editorial Administrator NIKKI KIMBEL Editorial Assistant PAULY HELLER Director of Photography PETER ENSENBERGER Photography Editor RICHARD MAACK Art Director BARBARA GLYNN DENNEY Deputy Art Director BILLIE JO BISHOP Art Assistant DIANA BENZEL-RICE Map Designer KEVIN KIBSEY Production Director KIM ENSENBERGER Promotions Art Director RONDA JOHNSON Webmaster VICKY SNOW Director of Sales & Marketing KELLY MERO Circulation Director HOLLY CARNAHAN Finance Director BOB ALLEN Information Technology CINDY BORMANIS Inquiries or orders Toll-free: (800) 543-5432 Phoenix area or outside the U.S. (602) 712-2000 Or visit arizonahighways.com For Corporate or Trade Sales Dolores Field (602) 712-2045 Letters to the Editor [email protected] 2039 W. Lewis Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009 Governor JANET NAPOLITANO Director, Department of Transportation VICTOR M. MENDEZ ARIZONA TRANSPORTATION BOARD Chairman James W. Martin Vice Chairman Joe Lane Members S.L. Schorr, Delbert Householder, Robert M. Montoya, Felipe Andres Zubia, William J. Feldmeier Arizona Highways (ISSN 0004-1521) is published monthly by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Subscription price: $21 a year in the U.S., $31 in Canada, $34 elsewhere outside the U.S. Single copy: $3.99 U.S. Send subscription correspondence and change of address information to Arizona Highways, 2039 W. Lewis Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009. Periodical postage paid at Phoenix, AZ and at additional mailing office. CANADA POST INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS MAIL PRODUCT (CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION) SALES AGREEMENT NO. 41220511. SEND RETURNS TO QUEBECOR WORLD, P.O. BOX 875, WINDSOR, ON N9A 6P2. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Arizona Highways, 2039 W. Lewis Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009. Copyright © 2006 by the Arizona Depart ment of Transportation. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The magazine does not accept and is not responsible for unsolicited materials.

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