ustxtxb_obs_1974_04_12_50_00024-00000_000.pdf

Let me first say that I especially enjoyed your article “J. Edgar Good Dog” in the March 1 Observer. I am writing this letter, however, complaint–your math. In “Milking It” \(March 15 your figures indicate to 5,000 cwt. It is actually equal to 50,000 cwt. Because of this error, your figure of $9.15 per hundred lbs. should be $9.64. My main complaint is that your explanation is unnecessarily complicated. Without explanation you describe quantity You then use quantity in lbs. \(with no derived from quantity in cwt. and price per lb. While your method is accurate, your explanation makes it virtually impossible to understand the meaning of what you are doing. Since you prefaced the explanation with a statement that it is necessary to understand it, I found myself hunting for a pencil and paper to figure out what you were doing. Probably the best way to avoid the unnecessary complication is to express the quantities in cwt’s only and not in lbs at all. The explanation would then be, in brief, that San Antonio uses 500,000 cwt of Class I milk at $10 per cwt, and 50,000 cwt of Class II milk at $6 per cwt. 24 The Texas Observer IDialogue I 500,000 cwt @ $10 per cwt $5,000,000 50,000 cwt @ $ 6 per cwt . 300,000 550,000 cwt $5,300,000 The value to the producer of one cwt of milk is therefore $5,300,000 550,000 cwt or $9.64 per cwt. The explanation in your article affects a person with mathematical sensitivities rather like poor spelling and grammar affects the sterotypic English teacher. I suggest that you get someone with a math head to go over your discussions of mathematical proCedures in future articles. I must apologize for writing only when I have a complaint. I enjoy almost every article in the Observer. Keep up the good work. Robert L. Schiemenz, 507-A West 37th, Austin, Tex. 78705 Thanks for the math lesson. Journalists are notoriously bad with numbers. Ed. Barbecued poison The article “Poisons on the land” \(Mar. very toxic impurity or possible decomposition product, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzoThe Feb. 1974 issue of Chemistry, an American Chemical Society publication intended for the high school level, gives additional data on “dioxin” or “TCDD.” Many readers feel self-righteously mystified by chemical names or formulas, but go ga-ga over complicated pseudoscientific astrological charts. Tordon, a mixture of 2,4,5-T and picrolan, is used in a restricted manner to kill mesquite. I believe it should be prohibited. Silvex, which is alpha \(2,4,5-tricholoused herbicide. Its use in New Mexico leading to the sickness of children and animals is reported in Sports Illustrated for July 3, 1972, page 54. Although not so mentioned in this article, it is very likely that the impurity, “dioxin” was the active poison. Even using pure 2,4,5-T or Silvex, in the burning of the killed trees the 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy parts of the molecules are rather “fireproof” while the acetic or propionic acid parts are burned off. The resultant 2,4,5-trichlorophenol at the high temperature, particularly in the presence of potash in the ash, can form the “dioxin.” Mesquite is a favorite fuel for barbecuing! The military defoliant, “Agent Orange” is a mixture of 2,4,5-T and 2,4,-D. The military report no human birth abnormalities resulting from its use 1962 to 1969 in South Vietnam, and some uncritical writers repeat this as the gospel truth. Edward A. Prill, Ph.D., P.O. Box 689, Fredricksburg, Tex. 78624. A lonely fan I guess it’s my time for “kudos.” I couldn’t wait any longer. Since leaving Texas last year to come to law school at Louisiana State University, The Texas Observer has been my lifeline \(no HLH pun One does not know a place till one leaves is the axiom and the myth that Austin is the most progressive city in the country might be true. Case in point; less than 10 people have formally intervened in two nuclear power plants in Southern Louisiana. I recommend two excellent papers from Louisiana to keep you up to date, the Gris-Gris in Baton Rouge and the Courier in New Orleans. In fact, the Courier does an excellent behind the scene of New Orleans Big Jim Garrison and Co. You would be suprised how Louisiana people are up-to-date on Texas politics. I recommend Texas do as Louisiana in regards to the oil business. A big corporate tax on the oil business is long overdue. Louisiana has realized this long ago and is now implementing several measures to bring the big boys in line with the times. Well, as the sun set on the “nakid hippies” at Travis and the beer flows at Armadillo, I bid the Lone Star State goodbye as I gulp down my last Shiner Beer. Keep up the good work. Lawrence Sullivan, 454 W. Porker Blvd., Baton Rouge, La. 70808. Texas fiasco I recently picked up the March 29 issue of the Observer. On the back cover I read a letter highly criticizing Chet Flippo’s coverage of the Ranger anniversary celebration. The author of this letter, a Mr. Geer, stated it was beyond his comprehension how the Observer could print such “junk.” Personally I am glad to see open-minded newspaper coverage of this type of “Texas fiasco.” Mr. Geer also seems to feel that the Observer’s feelings toward Texas heritage was somewhat degrading. To this statement I simply reply, “bullshit.” If Mr. Geer is too ignorant to realize that the Rangers were and to some extent still are backwards in their enforcement methods, then he should retire from making public statements. I believe it’s time to stop relying on the man with the gold-plated Stetson to enforce our laws. Norman ‘Keith Warner II, law enforcement major, 3204 Whiteway Dr., Austin, Tex. 78757. Bad math