Fools

Oct. 7 was ?Blasphemy Day,? a day devoted to protecting a person?s right to ?ridicule, criticize ? even lambaste God,? according to a CNN article Friday. Started by Ronald Lindsey (who in his youth studied for the priesthood), the purpose of the day is to encourage freedom of expression for everyone, even those who would outright talk ill of the Lord. Lindsey believes ?a society is not truly free unless people can freely air their views on any subject ? including God.? What do you think of this day?

Sareen Kellzi of Glendale is a 10th-grader at Clark Magnet High School in La Crescenta. Disney's newest animated film "Treasure Planet" is a retelling of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel "Treasure Island." The movie's plot has been updated to capture the attention of modern children and is set in the future. The adventure begins when Jim Hawkins finds a map to Treasure Planet and sets out on a voyage to find it. With the aid of his friend, Dr. Doppler, they are able to round up a crew and set sail.

Robert Phipps, like so many others, is a victim of one of the greatest frauds ever foisted on the public ("The law must be a deterrent in this case," Feb. 24). This fraud dates back to the 1993 Environmental Protection Agency announcement that second-hand smoke is hazardous and labeled it as a group-A carcinogen. The conclusion was based on a meta-analysis of previous studies. The problem was that the EPA had already decided to label second-hand smoke as a carcinogen and performed the analysis by selectively excluding studies and data that did not support its agenda.

Laura Sturza MAGNOLIA PARK -- For people who thought their last pajama party was too long ago, Joslyn Adult Center offered an April Fools' Day chance to swap secrets with friends while wearing plaid flannels and favorite nightgowns. "They said it was going to be pajama day, and I want to be in on everything," said Ruth Anderson, 82. Dressed in her blue bathrobe and cozy slippers Monday morning, she boarded the bus that morning and got a strange look from the driver.

One of the explanations for Tuesday's tragedy can be limned in a single word: complacency. It is inconceivable to most of us that 19 terrorists could casually board four commercial airliners and subsequently destroy the lives of myriad Americans. Will we now stop being so unbelievably naive as to trust the murderous religious zealots of this world, or will we "take arms against a sea of troubles" and fight fire with fire? It is time for us to realize that the dogged naivete of the intransigent ideologues is as misguided as that of those deluded fools who put their faith and their lives in the idealistic principles of communism.

Karen S. Kim BURBANK -- Winners in the Burbank Public Library's Teen Poetry Contest were honored at the City Council meeting April 3. Twelve poets were chosen from the 430 contest entries. Winners received Barnes & Noble gift certificates. In the high school category, Daniel Garcia won first prize for "Salvation's Fools," Adrianne Tarazon took second place for "Latinos" and Tanya Saluk won third prize for "The Moment." Jennifer Syck, Mike Kendall and Peri Litvak received honorable mentions for their poems.

There is a travesty taking place every Tuesday night in Burbank. It is a complete and total lack of respect for the City Council, the citizens of Burbank and an incredible abuse of the 1st Amendment. The incidents I am speaking of occur at the City Council meetings when Esther Espinoza is allowed to comment. I've watched week after week as she grows increasingly unstable and erratic. In the past month, I've heard her refer to council members and others in the most derogatory ways possible.

It's not often that a Christian minister agrees with the New Atheist movement, but the Rev. Michael Dowd believes it's possible when it comes to what he calls the "idolatry of the written word. " A self-described "New Theist" - one who "value[s] scientific, historic and cross-cultural evidence over ancient texts, religious dogma or ecclesiastical authority" - Dowd believes that Scripture is outdated and fossilized and needs to grow and change with modern times, calling some injunctions "morally repugnant.

Disjointed script Jeff Klemzak of La Crescenta owns a roofing business. "Duets," directed by Bruce Paltrow, is a "Ship of Fools"-themed karaoke film that features good music, a good cast, and some surprisingly good singing that is sadly wasted on a disjointed script that took on too much and in the end just doesn't deliver. The characters are introduced one by one but soon pair off to be karaoke partners, some in search of a cash prize, others for a different kind of partnership, hence the title, "Duets."

Rachel Van Houten of Glendale recently received a bachelor's degree in art history from Loyola Marymount University. In an update of "Some Like it Hot," Nia Vardalos ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") and Toni Collette ("About a Boy") play ditzy wannabe torch singers who flee Chicago after witnessing a gangland murder. "Connie and Carla" end up in West Hollywood, where they decide to hide out as drag queens. With just a few wigs and glittery eye shadow, their ruse fools everyone and, using a corny showtune routine they've been honing since elementary school, they quickly become a hit nightclub act. Things get complicated when Connie falls for a local (David Duchovny)

Oct. 7 was ?Blasphemy Day,? a day devoted to protecting a person?s right to ?ridicule, criticize ? even lambaste God,? according to a CNN article Friday. Started by Ronald Lindsey (who in his youth studied for the priesthood), the purpose of the day is to encourage freedom of expression for everyone, even those who would outright talk ill of the Lord. Lindsey believes ?a society is not truly free unless people can freely air their views on any subject ? including God.? What do you think of this day?

Robert Phipps, like so many others, is a victim of one of the greatest frauds ever foisted on the public ("The law must be a deterrent in this case," Feb. 24). This fraud dates back to the 1993 Environmental Protection Agency announcement that second-hand smoke is hazardous and labeled it as a group-A carcinogen. The conclusion was based on a meta-analysis of previous studies. The problem was that the EPA had already decided to label second-hand smoke as a carcinogen and performed the analysis by selectively excluding studies and data that did not support its agenda.

Sareen Kellzi of Glendale is a 10th-grader at Clark Magnet High School in La Crescenta. Disney's newest animated film "Treasure Planet" is a retelling of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel "Treasure Island." The movie's plot has been updated to capture the attention of modern children and is set in the future. The adventure begins when Jim Hawkins finds a map to Treasure Planet and sets out on a voyage to find it. With the aid of his friend, Dr. Doppler, they are able to round up a crew and set sail.