Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Teed off at water warnings

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, May 16, 2002 | 8:33 a.m.

Some things never change.

Take the annual call for water preservation.

Every spring we are warned of an impending water shortage. Water suppliers mount effective (we hope) campaigns against wasting this precious resource.

It's been going on for decades, yet new developments (with golf courses) continue to be built.

It would be amusing if it weren't so serious.

County commissioners are to be congratulated on their continuous efforts to keep porno peddlers on the Strip under control.

The latest ruling of U.S. District Court Judge Roger Hunt denies distributors the right to place news racks containing obscene materials on the sidewalks.

The judge's decision, although welcome, was somewhat ambiguous to me, but certainly a step forward in this crucial campaign to cleanse the Strip of undesirable publications.

Good heavens, what's next for senior citizens?

A recent news story issued a warning that AIDS is no longer considered a plague confined to the young.

It seems, with the advent of Viagra, folks in their golden years are enjoying sexual relationships sans safe sex.

After menopause, women are not fearful of unwanted pregnancies. Folks are living longer, healthier lives; but doctors are warning that AIDS is a very real threat.

As if liver spots, decaying teeth, fading eyesight and hearing aids weren't enough.

Forgive me if I ever complain about telemarketing again.

They are nothing compared to the junk that comes over e-mail.

At least with a phone call you can simply hang up; but I seem to spend an unwarranted amount of time having to delete unwanted e-mail.

Modern technology is great, but similar to everything else, it does have its drawbacks.

A recent column suggesting the county's official publication, Sandstone, might be an unnecessary expense, brought an interesting response from a reader.

Charley Recker questions the need for publishing a complete tax assessment roll for the county. It is a state law, but Recker questions who needs it and how much it costs.

The latest issue, he claims, was so heavy he needed a wheelbarrow to bring it into the house.

Which leads me to agree -- who needs it?

Ira David Sternberg's Las Vegas Notebook usually contains some gems commenting on the local news scene.

I like this one: "Hopefully the Nevada OB/GYN insurance crisis will soon give birth to a solution."

As we enter the political season, I am reminded of a short poem:

"A politician must be very agile, and acrobatic, I've found/Since he needs, as you know, to sit on the fence, while keeping one ear to the ground."