LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Whidbey Island feature ("Preserving Ebey" June 13) in Pacific Northwest was superb. Your writer, William Dietrich, and photographer, Tom Reese, captured everything that makes Whidbey Island a beautiful, special place to visit. It was a great reminder of why Whidbey remains our favorite weekend and day-trip destination from Vancouver, B.C.

— Jeff Domansky, Vancouver, B.C.

'The Goalpost of Life'

It was a surprise to see a photo from my high-school graduation in the article on Ken Kesey in Pacific Northwest magazine ("Ken Kesey Remembered," May 30). I was senior-class president for South Eugene High's class of 1986, and I remember our discussions about finding a speaker. We had a few weak candidates, and then Kesey's name came up: We knew he had been somewhat secluded after his son's death, but thought that he might be ready to speak to people our age. Sure enough, he accepted immediately. The school administration knew only that his talk was called, if I remember correctly, "Drop Kick Me Through the Goalpost of Life."

I couldn't tell you 10 minutes later precisely what he had said in his hypnotizingly cool white suit, but it was moving and realistic. It was a pleasure to read how many people Kesey affected for the good, to reach out and grab life, and to know that we had a few moments of his ongoing stream of consciousness in our lives.

— Glenn Fleishman, Seattle

Putting the public in the library

Finally, a building that looks like a public library ("Brutal Beauty," April 25) that actually is a public library, and not some private residence in Medina inexplicably receiving the annual AIA award.

— Thomas J. Munyon, Marysville

Nothing shocking about it

I was rather dismayed by The Seattle Times' lack of in-depth research for Bailine, the women's figure-shaping salon included in your story about why we don't exercise ("Excuses, Excuses," June 6).

We do not "electrocute" clients, and there are studies that show EMS is effective for normal muscles. NASA uses EMS for its astronauts in space so they do not lose muscle tone in weightlessness. I have seen very good results with my clients, as well as losing 36 inches myself. Bailine also incorporates nutritional changes, motivation through tapes and books, as well as the computerized muscle training. Many women begin with Bailine and then feel better enough to go on to the gym or do both.

In a perfect world everyone would go to the gym, but the reality is that we don't, and Bailine is a good start for a lot of women who do not get any exercise or can't.

— Victoria Chaussee, Bailine Seattle

A sticky situation

I must add a note about the tree-house article ("Out on a Limb," April 18). The builder should have handed them a gallon of mechanics' hand cleaner from any auto-parts store. Advice from an old pine-nut hunter.

— Wally Lane, Covington

Funny was not funny

The Pacific Northwest magazine is my favorite part of the Sunday Seattle Times. I pause for my weekly chuckle with Callahan. However, I must say that I consider it in the poorest of taste and judgment that you would choose to run the "My burden is light and my yolk is easy" cartoon of Jesus (April 11). That cartoon would not be appropriate at any time of the year, and you chose to run it over Easter weekend, the pivotal celebration of the Christian year.

Shame, shame.

— Nancy Hodge, Ferndale, Whatcom County