I was surprised and dismayed to read the Feb. 9 article, “Like to spend less time asleep? Here’s one way.” The article described “polyphasic sleep,” a programmed series of power naps throughout the day purported to allow adequate alertness derived from only three to four hours of total sleep time in a 24-hour period.

Unfortunately, most people need more sleep rather than less. Inadequate total sleep time is the most common cause of sleepiness in this country, and it is a major public health issue. Studies have shown that more teens die from sleepy driving than from drunken driving.

Polyphasic sleep has gained some notoriety via the Web, but it has no credible science to support it and many reasons to consider it unphysiologic and potentially dangerous.

Mari Goldner, M.D.

The Corvallis Clinic

Good Samaritan Sleep

Disorders Center

Causes, effects do matter in warming

In the Feb. 12 editorial, “Let’s keep hot air out of climate center, the author says, ” .. it no longer matters how global warming got started. What we need is a plan.” Sorry. It does matter how it got started. The plans we make for climate change after addressing our impact on the biosphere are different from the plans we make if we do not address our impact.

If your eggs are burning on an electric stove, it won’t help to turn off the furnace. Nor will it help to say we have figured “it” out; now let’s move on.

If we could remove all sources of new greenhouse gases today and allowed natural forces to reduce those in the atmosphere, we still will see increases in temperature and resultant climate change for a long time. If George Taylor is correct, there is really nothing we can do except accept our fate and adapt like the penguins.

John Wells

Corvallis

Why the short shrift for Honest Abe?

Did I miss it? Any article commemorating the Feb. 12 birthday of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln? Other than a sentence announcing his birth in 1809 under the “Today in History” column, I could not find any reference to Honest Abe.

January commemorated numerous acknowledgements of Martin Luther King, Jr., and that is as it should be. February has been proclaimed Black History Month and is continuing with various mentions of Black History and special events. And that is fine.

But February is also the birth month of two of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, and there is nothing. Why? Are our students still taught about these great men? Will it be the same on Feb 22, Washington’s birthday? (Retail sale advertisements that may abound do not honor these men!)

Gloria Munger

Corvallis

Earth’s warming isn’t new or manmade

After reading Jeff Limon’s excellent Feb. 9 letter that commended George Taylor for his stand regarding the climate change controversy, I was reminded there are two types of license in use nowadays — one is poetic license; the other is scientific license.

Poetic license allows the insertion of, and possible juxtaposition of, certain words if it aids the poet’s ability to express himself or /herself in an artistic way. Scientific license allows a researcher to ignore certain facts that pertain to the research if ignoring them is done for acceptable political reasons.

The peer review mentioned in previous letters can and likely does determine those acceptable reasons. The facts that seem to be ignored by most investigators of climate change are these: Since the last known Ice Age began its end about 10,000 years ago, the planet has warmed considerably all by itself, without the presence of humans on it. Without all that destructive human activity, how did this warming occur? Could it be that since its creation, the planet has warmed and cooled according to the cycle that was put in motion and has continued for countless eons?

Joseph G. West

Corvallis

More tips to teach dogs good behavior

Thank you for covering the Feb. 10 “Cujo meets Pavlov” seminar by Kathy Sdao at Oregon State University. Leash aggression is a serious and widespread problem, as evidenced by the 120 attendees seeking information and solutions to this issue.

To clarify, classical conditioning can be used to change a dog’s emotional response to other dogs, which can manifest as aggression. Much like Pavlov’s ringing of a bell while presenting food to dogs eventually led to salivation when the bell was rung without food, an aggressive dog can be conditioned so that the presence of another dog elicits a pleasant emotional response.

Food can be used to accomplish this, but training must be carefully implemented and supervised, as incorrect application can lead to failure and reward of undesired behavior. Also, as Kathy noted, this method is totally inappropriate for certain dogs.

The lecture also covered equipment used to aid management and retraining of aggressive dogs. The harnesses discussed are not the same kind worn by most dogs; they are specialized and must be carefully fitted and used. Harnesses, halters and other special equipment do not automatically correct or prevent aggression, especially when used incorrectly.

Julie Flanery

Philomath

Candace Croney

Corvallis

Program co-sponsors

Why aren’t young people protesting?

I urge every person — especially every young person under age 25 — to watch the movie “Steal This Movie.” You’ll find the DVD in your local video store. It’s the story of Abbie Hoffman, who was a patriot and American hero in the time-honored tradition of the Boston Tea Party. Where/who are the Abbie Hoffmans of today’s generation?

I’m astonished we’re in Iraq. I anguish for every family whose soldier has been killed. I’m distressed for every one whose soldier has come back maimed. I’m concerned for every one of them coping with the aftereffects of post-traumatic stress disorder. But the truth is that they/you have been duped by evil, incompetent people.

For every right-wing ideologue whose urge will be to denounce this letter, I challenge you to tell me which of the historical events in that movie did not happen largely as portrayed. The sad, sad, sad thing is that it’s all too true, yet look at where we are once again today: Quagmire and illegal surveillance.

Griff Jay

Corvallis