Letters to the Editor

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Quiet Type

Published Letters: 624     Editor's Choice: 32

  • He was relieved to concede.

    [Read the article: The last guy who said this got Tasered]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    What I associate most with the Kerry campaign was a strong impression that the man never did really want the presidency. I believe that behind the much-maligned pedantic speaking style and general listlessness was his true reluctance To Be King.

    He's no actor and so was unable to employ the skills that might have hid his reluctance. If you have ever attended a lecture class, been part of an advertising presentation or a jury trial, you just know who's in it to win it. There is an expansiveness of gestures, a crackling speed to the speech, a passionate expression in the voice.

    Kerry's verbal and physical passivity betrayed him at every turn. It was never a surprise to me that he allowed himself to be Swift Boated and to be "counted out."

    The entire Kerry episode always reminded me of a corporate promotion, where a guy who was happy doing the real work was made manager but was miserable about it.

  • Circle of life

    [Read the article: My sister is a famous designer -- and I'm not!]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    You know that "level playing field" people are always talking about, in terms of economics, politics, education, etc?

    You know what it applies to most? Life itself. Give it time. Fortunes turn themselves upside down and inside out (but if you're smart, you don't wish it on anyone, especially not your sister).

    Meanwhile, get yourself a bigger world view. This design thing you do, this design thing your sister does? Not really of truly earthshaking importance, any of it.

    And to the engineer poster and others who "merely" make other people's ideas actually happen: YOU are the ones who have the biggest chunk of my admiration. When it comes down to brass tacks, I am far more indebted to the man who built my house than the one who designed it.

  • Everybody's a commodity.

    [Read the article: Here's looking at you, "Kid"]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Whether Marla did those paintings herself or not, I'd say the filmmaker's getting his 15 minutes out of her every bit as much as the parents.

    Poor kid. I would bet this experience alone is going to make her a tremendously interesting adult (whether for good or for bad).

    And I echo the thought: If this is art that touches you, that you think is beautiful or compelling, that you want in your home, why does it matter who painted it? Some would say all art comes from the same Creator,anyway. A few years ago I went to an exotic store that was exhibiting paintings by elephants, and I have to admit, the wonderful image in my head of elephants tenderly pushing brushes around was superimposing itself on the paintings themselves. But you know what? They were really great paintings!

  • Driver's Ed

    [Read the article: Sex, drugs and my 15-year-old]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    So Gary, it's nice you had the talk and all, and warned him about all those dangers -- but then you drove home stoned off your ass? Way to educate your kid. Seriously, that's messed up. Glad you made it home, but I bet your kid was white-knuckling it the whole way.

  • What makes it art:

    [Read the article: "I can be your Facebook stalker"]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I can't decide if this is really scary or really touching.

  • Bush is lame like a Fox.

    [Read the article: Perino watch]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    You do realize that falling into the mindest of Bush being a lame duck is playing right into everything he ever wanted, don't you? As Colbert so pointedly pointed out last night, the media is so busy covering every idiotic move and poll related to the 2008 presidential election, that Bush is able to stealth along doing whatever he wants to whomever he wants.

    This is too much reminding me of all the interest in Monica Lewinsky while terrorists plotted to blow us up. It's a lot, a lot like it. And it doesn't matter which Bush spokesmannequin is up there, because our press is the lame duck here.

  • Search for the Perfect Date: America's Most Unsatisfying Reality Show

    [Read the article: Lonely single guy tired of being lonely and single seeks person ]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Stop "dating." All those women who are dropping you after two dates? They're doing the same thing to every man they're dating, because they're in some dating fantasy that they're going to just know the man of their dreams after seeing the guy twice. I'm sure those women are writing into Cary all confused about their inability to date successfully as we speak.

    You have to meet a woman more organically, so you and she can just enjoy each other's company and naturally grow into affection. Certain types of activities are CRAWLING with women: cooking classes, volunteerism (especially animal shelters or hospitals), and the aforementioned dance and yoga classes. Also meetup.com, where perusing the group activities in your area will shock you, due to the astoundingly high percentage of women dying to meet good guys.

    (And do have your married female friends go all "Married Eye for the Single Guy" on you, just to eliminate any pesky wrinkles in your presentation.)

  • The Eyes Have It

    [Read the article: Lonely single guy tired of being lonely and single seeks person ]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Hey Six, you've inspired me:

    Third Eye for the Spiritual Guy,

    Evil Eye for the Bad Guy,

    and my personal favorite:

    Blind Eye for the Co-Dependent Guy

  • And this is an insult because...?

    [Read the article: "You don't have to get snippy about this"]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    If the moronic criminal Bush were to call to congratulate me for finding the cure to cancer, I'd consider it a buzzkill. I think Gore should be honored NOT to hear from the bastard.

  • Apparent Soprano-withdrawal going on.

    [Read the article: I Like to Watch]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Mad Men is much like the best advertising, which convinces you that something pretty good, but not really as good as everybody thinks it is, is just that good as everybody thinks it is.

    So in that sense, it's pretty good.

    (But I'm particularly fed up with members of female casts who all have the exact same facial expressions, voice quality and voice inflections, e.g., Grey's Anatomy. Mad Men is veering into the same territory. On the most recent episode, Joan = Betty = Hildy = even Rachel now. Maddening!)

  • @Stellaa re: tooth fairy equality

    [Read the article: I Like to Watch]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    What a smart, passionate post. Props to you.

    (P.S. I think the themes of Mad Men are so wonderful that the writers seem to skate on the dialogue; even the most dramatic moments have a contemporary kind of skimpiness. Just my opinion, and the reason I feel Mad Men is itself advertising: Lots of beautiful, interesting things to look at; shiny, strange things going on; and truth circumvented.)