San Diego Unseen: An Urban Portrait
To Aaryn Belfer, regarding your Dec. 8 “Backwards & in High Heels” column describing your experience with the Toto toilet at San Diego Hardware: Enjoyed your engaging article. Very entertaining. But it did raise a question:
Why settle for titillation in the restroom, when you can experience it in the showroom?
At Fixtures Living, we know all about the Toto Neorest. We have one here, in fine working order, and you are more than welcome to give it a whirl—or a swirl, as it were.
While here, we encourage you to discover yet another form of stimulation, this one even more provocative than mere physical gratification—an uncommon and highly refreshing phenomenon known as “customer service.”
Unlike your experience with the sales help at that other store—which you so aptly compared to “an expired package of ground turkey meat,” the associates at Fixtures Living exude a genuine sense of interest; they view serving you as a privilege, and, perhaps just as importantly, they only serve turkey thinly sliced, on a warm baguette with some asiago cheese and garlic-mayo. (We kid you not—and we’ve got the on-staff, executive chef to prove it!) But why take our word for it? Come by and see for yourself. We suggest you drop in any Friday—that’s when we prepare a tantalizing lunchtime spread for all comers, from noon to 2 p.m. Sink your teeth into something delectable, and slake your thirst with anything from bottled water or wine to beer or iced cappuccino.
And later, should nature call, rest assured it’s not a problem. The Toto awaits its next prized visitor!
Ted Trautwein, chief creative officer, Fixtures Living
The filibuster’s history
Somebody missed civics class [“Editorial,” Dec. 22]. Both the Democratic and Republican parties are allowed to filibuster. That is from the Spanish word for “pirate.” It can’t be abused, as some Democrats have said, but it can be frustrating to the other side. Both par ties
have used it in the last 150 years. Filibusters can inspire compromises that would allow a bill to pass.
Senate Rule XXII defines the cloture rule.
It was written in 1917; before then there was no way to stop a filibuster. The number of votes to end a filibuster was reduced in 1975 to 60. Cloture can’t be abused, either. Either you have enough votes or you don’t. Like it or lump it. It happens to both parties.
Even the communist—I mean ultra-liberal—Sen. Feinstein says she wouldn’t lower the votes necessary. “It won’t happen,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) told The Hill. She reportedly said she would “probably not” support an effort to lower the number of votes needed to end filibusters from 60 votes to 55 votes or lower.
Earl Kline, University City
Belfer endangers cats
I typically enjoy Aaryn Belfer’s column [“Backwards & in High Heels”], but I’m curious about the cat-hating stance she frequently takes.
As a volunteer for the local Humane Society, I have seen firsthand the abuse suffered by innocent animals, animals who have been burned, beaten, tortured to within an inch of their lives. This behavior is perpetuated by people like Aaryn, who uses her column as a spokes-piece to endorse the hatred of cats.
Sure, I get it. She wants to be cool, one of the boys, not be labeled a “cat lady,” and she hopes that her cat-hating brings attention to her column (although judging from the dearth of responses on your website to her column, that was a dismal failure) or whatever the fuck her reasoning is. But she comes across as a cruel, clueless ass when she says things to the tune of “fuck the Feral Cat Coalition.”
She does not have to like cats. I couldn’t give a shit if she likes cats or not. What I give a shit about is every time she publishes another column proclaiming her absurd position, she gives permission to someone out there to abuse another animal. Perhaps she could just say cats are not her favorite and move on.Lorie Grant, Point Loma
Shameful apparel ad
About your Jan. 12 back-page American Apparel ad, “Tree Climbing”: I, as an adult woman, find this ad offensive and very questionable morally. How you are representing a very young woman is demeaning. This belongs in Playboy or some other skin magazine, but definitely not for general readers. I also asked other women their opinion, and they also agreed with me. I will post this on my Facebook and forward to my e-mail contacts, as well. Shame on you!
Sharon Beckas, Sports Arena
This issue of CityBeat is dedicated to all the uninsured people who choose alternative healthcare because traditional healthcare is unaffordable.
