Letters to the Editor: 12.05.96
Sutro Baths
Sunnyvale, Calif.
December 2, 1996
Dear Helen:
On the first page of the Arts section of the Nov. 28 issue of The Star, I believe the picture behind Anthony Harvey is one of the historic San Francisco landmarks that have disappeared, the Sutro Baths. This great bathhouse was built by Adolph Sutro in the 1800s on the ocean side of the city below the promontory of Sutro Heights (now a park) and near the Cliff House where the views of the Pacific are spectacular.
I am curious as to why Mr. Harvey has chosen to display this image so prominently. I enjoyed the article immensely, especially his telling of the collaboration with Katharine Hepburn and "The Lion in Winter." Even after the third viewing, I still found the film fascinating.
When will his recent work with Hepburn, "This Can't Be Love," be released?
RITA SELDON
Self-Help Method
East Hampton
November 15, 1996
Dear Editor,
The holiday season can be stressful, especially for people who tend to be nervous. People may have more trouble with panic attacks, fear, depression, etc. Friends and family often don't understand.
There's a group called Recovery Inc. which can help. Recovery Inc. is a nonprofit organization which teaches a self-help method for calming nervous symptoms. Recovery Inc. is run by nonprofessionals.
A local Recovery Inc. meeting is held in Southampton at the Veterans Hall on Thursdays at 7:45 p.m. Meetings are held year-round. Call 324-2817 for more information.
Or visit our Web site at: http://www.ed.psu.edu~recovery.
SHELLY KURTZ
Group Leader
No Added Value
East Hampton
December 2, 1996
Dear Helen,
I'm gratified that Robert Warner (in regard to his letter to the editor about my Guestwords piece, "Don't Bank on Cyberbanking") is an enthusiastic user and endorser of Intuit's CheckFree system. He mentions all of its advantages, which I mentioned in the essay.
The point of my piece, and one which he does not take issue with, is that the banks are attempting to create a value-added product in which there is no added value. That is, they want to shift the burden of labor to the customer, and they also want the customer to pay extra for this.
Hence, my metaphor about the oil change. Would Mr. Warner pay more to change his own oil if he could do it a little faster than the gas station attendant? That's up to him. I wouldn't.
As for the security issue, I happen to agree with him that this is more of a perception than a reality issue. I did make what I felt was a cogent argument: Any glitches in the system (either by their own doing or by outside interests) will cause users headaches. It's a lot like trying to get a bill straightened out. The store makes the mistake, but it's up to the customer to send both copies of the canceled check, etc., ad nauseam, to make the account come out right.
Sincerely,
DOUG GARR
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