Letters to the Editor

Need a Good Reason for Spotting the Newt?This month’s lucky (and fearless) newt spotter will receive a Winter Survival Kit packed with Dead Sea Salt Bath Crystals, Muscle Therapy Arnica Cream, Breathe Easy Pillow Spray, Winter Chap Guard and Tea Tree Lip Balm; all from Fields of Ambrosia of North Conway, www.fieldsofambrosia.com.Fields of Ambrosia is a proud member of NH Made (www.nhmade.com), the state’s official non-profit booster of locally
generated products and services. (Just for the record, New Hampshire Magazine is a proud member, too.)Spot four newts hidden on ads in this issue, tell us where you found them and you might win an assortment of great gifts. To enter our drawing for a free gift basket, send your answers toSpot the Newt
c/o New Hampshire Magazine
150 Dow St., Manchester, NH 03101E-mail them to newt@nhmagazine.com, or fax them to (603) 624-1310.Last month’s “Spot the Newt” winner is Steven Swasey of N. Hartland, Vt. January issue newts were on pages 2, 11, 35 and 68.Letters to the EditorThat About Covers It
In reading the comments about the December cover (which, for the record, I see nothing wrong with) I got thinking about cover photos and I have a couple of pictures that might be super for your New Hampshire Magazine.The photos have never been published anywhere else. If you’d like to use them, you are welcome to. Both of the pictures were taken from my airplane (different days as you can see from the weather). “Mt. Washington and friends” was taken on a beautiful blue cloudless day last winter from 7,500 feet over Franconia Notch, and “Mt. Lafayette” was taken a few days later from about the same location, although a bit farther south in the notch.Bruce Blaney
BethlehemEditor’s Note: See both photos above.Eyes in the Skies
Re: “Triumph of the Challenger” [January 2010], I have read the article and thought it did a good job summarizing the birth of Forest Watch. I also thought your photos were a fine addition to the piece – the one with the Barry Rock clone was special.I would like to make one comment though. In re-reading the article, I noticed that Ms. Lavoie made the statement that satellite data was “untrustworthy.” This was actually a misinterpretation of what I had said to her. The data is only considered untrustworthy until it has been “ground-truthed.” In other words, once scientists on the ground corroborate the data information that the satellite is sending back by in-the-field measurements, then the satellite data and the imagery created from the data can be considered valid in future scientific assessments. This is the procedure that has been and continues to be used by scientists to monitor the changes that have taken place in the Earth’s climate and resources during the past five decades. Satellites are the “eyes in the skies,” and scientists, including our Forest Watch students, are our means of validating the global perspective that satellites provide.Philip Browne
LoudonMissed an Inventor
The recent article about N.H. inventors was great – but omitted Margaret Knight. When living in Manchester, she invented a gizmo to prevent bobbins from flying off looms – which was of great importance to the textile industry. After she left N.H., she invented that ordinary brown paper bag that we all get at the grocery store. I’d almost be wiling to bet that there have been more of those produced over time than all of your other inventions put together! (There is a nice little exhibit about it at the Historic Association’s Millyard Museum.) There is also a great deal about her on the web. Men don’t have a monopoly on invention!Pat Meyers
ManchesterCheese and Thank You
We would like to thank you for featuring our macaroni and cheese in the January 2011 issue. We already have some new customers who have stopped in for a taste. We appreciate the publicity.Debbi McLain
Extra Touch Gourmet
Bedford