Feedback / Aug/Sep 2012
Notes
TIME FOR A CHANGE
Dear SLO LIFE,
I feel compelled to voice my opinion. I love your magazine, but the cover shot is just not flattering. The mug shot look isn’t a good look for anyone. Even the most beautiful people don’t look great in these types of photos. Please, please switch it up. How about a nice shot of the next person doing something active? Or a shot of the person with his or her family? Something, anything to convey who the person is, instead of just an image of a face. I know you think this is your signature look, but I’m sure that if you polled your audience, they would agree with me. It’s time for a change.
Best,
Whitney Diaz
San Luis Obispo
ONE TICKED OFF MARINE
Dear SLO LIFE,
Thank you so much for exposing one of the Central Coast’s last few secrets, Big Falls Little Falls. Now I can enjoy this long time favorite summer destination along with hundreds of drunken Cal Poly students and every Bake-o with a 4 wheel drive. Stay in your lane and get off my lawn.
Sincerely,
John Wellford
USMC
San Luis Obispo
THE BITTER TRUTH
Dear SLO LIFE,
In regards to your article in last month’s issue that you called “Sweet Problem”… I had no idea that sucralose was actually Splenda… I try so hard to eat only natural products… I feel so deceived!
Janet
Arroyo Grande
As avid label readers ourselves, Janet, we were also shocked to learn about this one. We had assumed that something as benign sounding as “sucralose” was akin to fructose or sucrose or some other natural sugar that ends in “ose.” But, that is not the case with sucralose because it is actually Splenda, a highly processed compound that is made in a laboratory in Alabama and is chemically more similar to DDT than it is to natural sugar. And, despite their FTC approved slogan “Made from Sugar so it Tastes Like Sugar™” the finished product contains zero elements of sugar and instead depends on chlorine among other things to artificially increase the sweetness. You can thank the FDA, who under heavy lobbying from the makers of Splenda (pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson via their subsidiary McNeil Nutritionals), caved on the ruling allowing American consumers to be deceived by the deliberately confusing name.
BIPOLAR FEEDBACK
Dear SLO LIFE,
I am the Executive Director of Transitions-Mental Health Association, an agency dedicated to helping people recover from mental illness and live stable, productive lives. Two years ago, TMHA produced the SLOtheStigma campaign aimed at eliminating the stigma of mental illness by describing the process of recovery from mental illness for four local people. SLOtheStigma directly targets people like “Matthew,” the anonymous subject of the article “Helping One Person” published in the June/July edition. Just as important, SLOtheStigma targets friends and family members of people with mental illness because their understanding and attitude related to mental illness are critical to successful treatment.
Mental illness is a medical condition. In that sense it is no different from diabetes or other conditions that people develop through no fault of their own. And like diabetes, mental illness can be managed with medication and the support of family, friends and therapy. Unlike diabetes, mental illness is so stigmatized that few people realize how common it is, or that mental illness is disproportionately common in successful people like Matthew. Whether we realize it or not, we all have people like Matthew in our lives. The critical message of SLOtheStigma is that treatment of mental illness is more effective when it is openly acknowledged.
I hope that Tom Franciskovich writes more articles about “Matthew.” I hope we learn who he is and learn more about his continued recovery from bipolar disorder. Those who already know Matthew will see his bipolar disorder as just one element of a person who is a father, a husband, a businessman and friend. Those who don’t know Matthew may realize they know people like him. And that will help, one person at a time.
Jill Bolster-White
Executive Director
Transitions-Mental Health Association
Dear SLO LIFE,
I would like to greatly thank you for taking the initiative and writing the article you did on Bipolar Disorder. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, Type II in February of last year. When I was officially diagnosed, it was devastating. Since then, I’ve come to terms with my illness (with the help of frequent counseling and a plethora of medications) and have been stable for several months now. But since my diagnosis, I’ve been trying to put a face on mental illness. I work on a project called Stamp Out Stigma. Essentially, I go around the county with another representative and I share my story, showing people that I, a “normal”person (whatever that means), have a mental illness. It’s amazing how many people think that in order to have a mental illness, you have to be crazy, and I often have to remind myself not to judge other people with mental illnesses. I’m not entirely sure why I felt the need to write you, I guess I just want to tell you that I appreciate the article you wrote. The world needs to be educated on mental illness.
Thank you,
Randall Oglesby
Dear SLO LIFE,
I appreciated reading your articles on bipolar disorder, an illness which affects me and my family. The question of stigma and anonymity requires sophisticated consideration. Your writer, Tom Franciskovich, handled it gracefully.
When facts are learned through research and shared through education, perceptions change. I am a yoga instructor conducting research on yoga therapy as an adjunctive treatment for bipolar disorder in San Luis Obispo County. As a member of The International Association of Yoga Therapists, my mission is to establish yoga as a respected and recognized therapy for bipolar disorder through research and education.
If you or someone you know might be interested in supporting this project whether by participating in yoga classes measuring the effects on bipolar mood management, sharing if you have found relief of bipolar symptoms through a yoga practice, or with funding, I would appreciate hearing from you!
Developing greater understanding of this illness, its causes and its management, will help to erode the pain of stigma that we share.
Brooke West
Certified Yoga & Meditation Teacher
Los Osos
FUZZY MATH
Dear SLO LIFE,
How do we get some Melody Klemin music? Made me look twice at this magazine, good music must be a good magazine.
Jennifer Lechuga
Montecito
Dear SLO LIFE,
SLO Life Magazine TV Commercials = Poop.
xoxo,
Tiffany
Click here to view the commercials and and decide for yourself whether the correct math is SLO LIFE Magazine TV Commercials x 2 looks + good music = good magazine or SLO LIFE Magazine TV Commercials = Poop.
THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE
We are happy to announce that our adventure writer, formerly named Paden Followwill, has embarked on one of life’s ultimate adventures and has gotten herself hitched. Congratulations to Paden Hughes and her husband, Michael. Despite the wedding and honeymoon, she still made time to do her usual great work for us in this issue although under a new byline. Turn to page 30 to learn about her recent adventure at the Oceano Dunes.
CORRECTION
It must have come as quite a surprise to Melody Klemin’s partner, Charlotte, when we incorrectly identified her as “Savannah” in our most recent Music feature. But, in fairness to us, we were pretty much mesmerized by Klemin and forgot just about everything she said after being treated to a private performance of her song “Cannoli.” Please accept our apologies for the oversight.
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