Debate goes on

In response to the January Debate, “Should tanning salons be off-limits for teenagers?”

 

YES. While other points [Dan] Humiston made seem worthy of debate, my primary objection is to his claim that there is no causal link between indoor tanning and melanoma. His Web site’s reference to badly outdated research, his failure to cite his claims of peer-reviewed studies and his evident ignorance of the more recent findings harm his credibility. The cigarette industry reloaded.

Dan Jordan
East Wenatchee, Washington

NO. There are excellent reasons to tan. Anyone who has suffered from skin conditions such as eczema knows that tanning beds can provide relief when nothing else does.

Teresa Gaboury
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Odds and ends

Pie-in-the-sky computing

I read with my usual IT guy dismay your article on cloud computing [“Computing in the clouds,” January 2010]. Like so many developments in the world of information technology, the words “cloud computing” have that magical ring reminiscent of how “ dot-com” first sounded. We all know how that ended up. While it is true that off-site hosted applications and backups hold value for certain business situations, it is still an immature technology segment. Do your homework before you reach for the sky or you may be in for a hard landing!

David Grenda
Phoenix, Arizona
Piloting Pilates

As a master teacher of the Pilates Method, I find that the article in the last Costco Connection [“Getting fit with Pilates,” January 2010] was lacking.

Pilates originally invented equipment
such as the Reformer and Cadillac as assistive
rehabilitation devices, and if someone is truly
a beginner or has pathologies, he or she should
start with a well-schooled and experienced
trainer with equipment if they have the option,
not with a mat class.

Kriste Brushaber
Denver, Colorado
Ace training

In “Up close and personal” [January 2010], many good ideas were presented, and you correctly pointed out the many advantages of employing a personal trainer. However, I was disappointed to see only three national certification organizations cited. Omitted was the American Council on Exercise ( www.acefitness.org), founded in 1985, with more than 200,000 health and fitness professionals in the United States and 77 other countries.

Anthony Sarge
El Dorado Hills, California
Wash-up follow-up

I hate to argue with anyone, but being a nurse, [I noticed] your “Hand-washing I.Q.” [January 2010] has a few errors.

2. Washing should last 30 seconds. Long enough to sing “Happy Birthday” to yourself, including the “and many more” part.

3. No jewelry should be removed unless it is not waterproof. If you have germs on your hand, they are on your jewelry too.

5. Rinse from your elbows down.

7. You should turn the faucet off with a dry paper towel. If the paper towel you used to dry your hands is damp, you are picking up the same germs you just washed off. If you are using a public restroom, use that same paper towel to open the door to get out so you won’t pick up the last person’s germs who didn’t wash their hands.

Cathy Supak
Nampa, Idaho
Detox redux

I think that your article [“Detox diets,” January 2010], though it had a balance of pros and cons, still did not help people understand the detoxification options, or the true benefits. There are detox methods that don’t starve the body at all. Most of the alternative sources I have accessed never recommend fasting or purgatives, with the exception of a one-day fast before a liver-cleanse process. Most plans guide you through a process of eating the right vegetables and fruits for a few days, gradually adding other easily digestible foods, combined with specific herbs and supplements.

Our bodies are designed to cleanse themselves, and for the most part they do it very

DIALOGUEletters

well. However, with all the toxins and artificial additives in our foods, our bodies need some help on occasion.

Carin Mizera
College Grove, Tennessee
Who’s got the cheese?

I enjoyed your article on Comté cheese [“Comté country,” January 2010] and the fact that you support smaller cheese makers. But we also have many artisanal cheese makers right here in the U.S. who could use your support. There are fabulous cheese makers a few miles from the Bozeman [Montana] Costco. Why not feature some of these folks in your magazine?

Annie Thomas
McLeod, Montana

Costco does offer locally produced artisan cheeses whenever possible. The Connection ran a Buying Smart article on this program in October 2008. Find it at www.costco.com; click on “Costco Connection Magazine” at the bottom of the page, then “Online Archives Edition.”—Ed.

 

MORE DIALOGUE ON PAGE 10

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FEBRUARY 2010 ;e Costco Connection 9