Message Center

Salt Lake What?

REGARDING Andrea Sachs's story on Salt Lake City [March 16]:

A few years ago, as I was picking up my clothes at the local dry cleaners, I was stopped in my tracks.

The clerk asked me where I was from -- "I mean, where originally?" I proudly replied, "Salt Lake City, Utah!" Her reply: "What is that?" I said, "It's not a what, but a where." I got a blank stare and said, "It's a state between Colorado and California."

Thanks for the public awareness campaign.

Barbara Sudhindra

Crofton

Southwest's Record

YOU INCORRECTLY stated that Southwest Airlines has never had a fatal crash [Coming and Going, March 16]. In December 2005, a Southwest 737 ran off the end of a runway at Chicago's Midway airport, killing a child in a car that was waiting at a stoplight beside the airport. While it may be tempting to point the finger at the crew, the airline's winter operating practices were found to be flawed. Winter operations at Southwest (and other airlines) have been subsequently updated.

Don Cruikshank

Warrenton

Editor's note: We were aware of that incident, but neither the FAA nor the airline industry includes it in fatal-crash statistics, since the victim was not a passenger on the plane. For purposes of comparison, we used government-provided statistics.

Tips From Tom

JUST WANTED to say thanks to Tom Sietsema for his tip on the best gelato in Rome [Postcard From Tom, March 2]. The gelato at Il Gelato di San Crispino was fabulous. Also, we stayed at a wonderful hotel just a couple of blocks from the Trevi Fountain and the best gelato: Albergo Cesari, with a great staff and fantastic location.

Virginia Lago