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Adam Levine of Los Angeles got it only partly right in his letter commenting on higher gas prices and pollution in Europe [LETTERS, July 24]. In Italy it's true that many people fight the $4-per-gal. gas price by driving more fuel-efficient cars. There are no smog-control devices on these vehicles, however, and a lot of them run on leaded gasoline. A significant number of Italians use motorinos, scooters and motorcycles for transportation--all of which are powered by two-cylinder engines that badly pollute the air. Also, Italian drivers ignore the fact that driving fast ruins fuel efficiency. Speed limits are exceeded everywhere. On the autostrada, traveling the maximum legal limit of 80 m.p.h. is dangerous if one does not constantly check the rearview mirror for fast-approaching cars that are invisible one minute and on your bumper the next. LINDA E. BREWER Vicenza, Italy
Beauty Beneath the Skin
Re your article "Face-Lift In A Jar," about new beauty products [BUSINESS, Aug. 14]: it's funny how millions are spent on facial lotions whose claims to rejuvenate are questionable. People tend to forget that the skin is an excretion organ. Healthy, good-looking skin is primarily a result of what physically goes into the body (for example, fresh raw fruit and vegetables) and not onto it. SAMUEL NIELSEN Oberuzwil, Switzerland
Single by Choice
Bravo for your story "Who Needs a Husband?" [SOCIETY, Aug. 28]. Many years ago, women were expected to marry; some marriages were even arranged. Now women have the freedom to choose what they want. Staying single isn't based on not being able to find Mr. Right. I think most of us are aware that everyone has flaws. It is a matter of knowing what we want and not having to put up with flaws that we just can't live with. Having a choice, instead of marrying to meet social standards, is an opportunity to live a fulfilling life. I've turned down three marriage proposals. Deciding what you want out of your life is truly empowering! LILIANNE VALENCIA Mexico City
Your story about how many women have decided they don't need a husband or a father for their children showed how far some female activists have gone. When youth, fun, well-being and comfort are their only concerns, it is easy for women to believe they are self-sufficient. But such an attitude reveals a lack of commitment and a surplus of selfishness. No doubt when these women reach the later years of life, they will realize that raising a family and sharing companionship with a partner of the opposite gender are blessings that make any difficulty worthwhile. MANUEL M. VALDES Mexico City
The Kursk Disaster
Russia behaves like an old lion trying to convince everybody that it remains as strong as it was in the past. It is common knowledge that the effectiveness of the Russian military forces has nothing to do with the myth of a powerful navy that President Vladimir Putin is trying to build [WORLD, Sept. 4]. Sailors and officers live under hard conditions. They are not paid for months, and their morale is not the best, even though they have to give their best 24 hours a day. Add the extremely difficult weather conditions in the Arctic Circle, and it was only a matter of time before a tragedy like that of the Kursk happened. GEORGE TASIOPOULOS Athens