Man in the know
I read the Letter to the Editor about “the man in the van” (Aug 3, 2006). It puzzles me. If I read it right, he knows who the taggers are, yet doesn’t give the information to the police. Isn’t it against the law? Or does he have more fun painting over their work? It seems to me an expensive hobby. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Ada May Powers, Point Loma

A letter to the sign snatchers
You may think your actions are justified, but removing posted yard sale signs in the middle of the night is malicious and mean spirited. You are not helping anyone by doing this. If the police feel I am violating any laws, they can easily go to my posted address and confront me personally without your interference.
Yard sales are a valid way to generate extra income, to purchase items inexpensively and a great way to meet the people in your neighborhood. It takes planning to stage a sale. I like to hang signs the evening before to generate more business and I always take them down afterwards to reuse next time.
I’ve had signs disappear during previous sales this year so I checked on mine when no one showed up on Saturday morning. I felt violated and was very angry when I discovered that six of my nine signs had been stolen. I relocated the ones you missed and people started arriving immediately. Many customers I spoke with were aware of your vindictive behavior. One neighbor had witnessed you removing signs and now I am writing this letter to warn people.
It makes me wonder how you make ends meet. Do you have a job or are you independently wealthy with nothing better to do than drive around Point Loma and Ocean Beach with a bad attitude snatching down signs and effectively stealing money out of my pocket. Shame on you!
Ginger Rosser, Point Loma

Circus is cruel, not entertaining
Looks like the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus will be visiting your area through Aug. 13.
The circus would like us all to believe that their animals are well cared for and content. Unfortunately, the sad truth is that circus animals are anything but well cared for “” physically or emotionally.
Elephants used in circuses and traveling shows are controlled by force and by fear and memory of punishment. Chains and bullhooks (wooden or fiberglass rods with sharp metal hooks or gaffs on one end) are standard tools used by handlers to discipline elephants and keep them in check. But sometimes these intelligent, emotional, and sensitive animals simply snap because of the years of constant servitude and beatings. A bullhook will never protect the public from a rampaging elephant. Lethal force is the only way. The truth is a well kept secret because Ringling is in to make a profit at the expense of it’s animals. Circus elephants carry TB, which can be passed on to humans, and many of their elephants are neurotic due to years of abuse by their handlers. These are not happy, content animals; they are dangerous.
I would hope your paper would find the courage and conscience to print factual information regarding Ringling’s failure to provide adequate veterinary care and handling of it’s animals. Under Ringling’s management, 18 elephants have died since 1992. An elephant’s average life expectancy in the wild is 50-60 years. In the circus it is cut in half, at best.
I would urge you to check out this web site: circuses.com. Read for yourself and let your conscience be your guide.
Jan Ambrose, Stanwood, Washington

Sunken treasure
While kayaking in Mission Bay in San Diego, I capsized. After getting back in the boat, I noticed that I had lost my wedding ring. A sick feeling came over me because not only was it valuable, but it contained diamonds from my mother’s ring and others.
The next morning I contacted an ocean proficient diver who agreed to dive for the ring. The only problem was that he was in Michigan on a dive. I guess I sounded so broken hearted that he agreed to fly to San Diego. Joe arrived the next morning and after I indicated the approximate area in which I capsized, he suited up and went in the water. Using an under water metal detector, he spent the next four hours searching the area. Unfortunately, he was not successful but he agreed to return the next morning to have another go. Again, he had no luck and he bid farewell.
A few days later, I received a call from the Mission Bay Yacht Club with information that a ring had been found. I immediately rushed over and was met by a lady and three small boys. One of the boys, Riley, held out a ring. And there it was, my cherished wedding ring.
After a few hugs and thank yous and a small reward for Riley, he asked if I would like to see where he had found the ring. The place he found it was 200 yards from where I had gone over, around a peninsula and under a building. Unbelievable.
After settling down, I contacted Joe to see if he had any idea of how the ring could have traveled so far in view of the fact that the soil beneath the water is soft and sandy. Joe believes that a sand bass fish had been attracted by sparkles and had swallowed it. Then it must have swum around until the ring was regurgitated where it was found at low tide. The ring as now referred to as “Jonah.”
Is that not unbelievable?
Carol Bentley Ellis, Mission Beach