Letters to the Editor

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Mr Smith

Published Letters: 218     Editor's Choice: 8

  • I've moved on to movies...

    [Read the article: News from Macworld: Recording industry declares surrender]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Nine years ago (God, it's really been that long?) I was downloading tons of songs from Napster et al. That's over. Now I'm downloading entire movies in half an hour via Bitorrent. The more things change, the more they stay the same...

    One argument I'd like to address is the falling revenues of the music industry. Isn't it a possibility that CDs, vinyl, etc have always been overpriced and over-valued? Maybe the recording industry is just angry because their tricks to squeeze money out of you (for example, selling albums with only one or two goods songs on it but making you pay for the ten other crappy ones) don't work anymore.

  • But is he pro-masturbation or anti-masturbation?

    [Read the article: Report: CNN's Gupta Obama's choice for surgeon general]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Some people find that important.

  • After three years in archaeology...

    [Read the article: Polynesian chickens in Peru and other mysteries]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    In retrospect, the most valuable thing I learned in archaeology is how to use a shovel to dig really precise holes in the ground. Interestingly, this is a skill that will earn you more money than many professional archaeologists.

    By the way, for each interesting paper to come out of archaeology, there are hundreds that are soul-numbingly boring. This is also why archaeologists are fun to hang around with -- they drink a lot.

  • So is the dolphin trainer gay

    [Read the article: "The Real World" offers Transgenderism 101]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    or does he only train gay dolphins?

  • Harry Reid needs to step aside.

    [Read the article: What will Dems do about Burris now?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    The guy is way too meek and doesn't have enough foresight to predict situations like this. Either he changes his mind and looks weak or he goes against logic (and the wishes of Obama) and looks stupid. Either way he needs to let someone else lead the Democrats in the Senate.

  • Primanti Bros?

    [Read the article: Quote of the day]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Isn't that the place that sticks your fries AND cole slaw IN the sandwich instead of on the side? I can't understand why people like that...

  • So, if I'm not getting the standard glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut...

    [Read the article: Pro-life group slams Krispy Kreme for baby-killing treats ]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    ...then I'm killing children? Would it just be safer if Krispy Kreme offered only one style of doughnut? And how do condoms enter into this? I don't get it.

  • Would it be appropriate to sing the theme from "Blazing Saddles" now?

    [Read the article: Barack Obama is president]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Probably not.

  • Camera actually cut to Bush during these statements.

    [Read the article: A new beginning]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    It did on CNN. I don't know about any other networks.

    No reaction from Bush. I'm not sure he's smart enough to pick up on these things.

  • I mean no offense...

    [Read the article: Mexico's brisk appetite for climate change clunkers]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    but it's depressing to me that my 18-year-old truck isn't good enough for Mexico.

  • Why are you continuing to reference Drudge?

    [Read the article: Right attacking stimulus money for health programs]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I thought that hack was marginalized by the election. Continuing to quote him serves to legitimize him again. I'm sure there's many other right-wing crackpot sites you can quote, and you can rotate them so that no one of them can gain any prestige.

  • The Post 9/11 National Airport Constipation Rule

    [Read the article: How Republicans created the myth of Ronald Reagan]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I loathe the fact that National Airport was named after Reagan. (My father, a conservative, was very much against it as well -- he felt the main airport of the nation's capital shouldn't be named for anyone.) However, I thought the post 9/11 flight rule that you couldn't get out of your seat for thirty minutes before arriving or after departing was very apt:

    You had to sit and wait half an hour before you could take a crap.

    I'm sure Reagan came up with many of his policies under the same conditions.

  • Literally picking some guy off the street to lead the GOP.

    [Read the article: From plumber to reporter to GOP strategist]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I'm conflicted about this. The part of me that wants to see the GOP go down in flames -- all the better because they are doing it to themselves -- is very happy. But my common sense and basic human compassion are saying "No No No!"

  • Damn! My partner read Daschle's book for nothing

    [Read the article: Obama on Daschle: "Mistake" doesn't diminish contributions]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    except for his valuable insights into the Healthcare Industrial Complex and keen solutions to the country's healthcare problems.

  • The press needs to scrutinize these nominations even more closely.

    [Read the article: Obama not alone in Cabinet woes]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I'm sure that one or more of Obama's nominees may have, at one time or another, driven faster than the speed limit or even jaywalked. We cannot tolerate such utter disregard for the law!!

  • The Republican Strategy of Shooting Oneself in the Foot

    [Read the article: Senate reaches deal on stimulus?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    To punish Specter, the Republicans will run a wingnut against him that will surely lose against a Democratic opponent? That's amazing.

  • We need Lisa Simpson's rock.

    [Read the article: Counter-terrorism logic]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Remember the Bear Patrol episode of the Simpsons? If anybody is having trouble explaining this concept to someone, just bring up this episode and they'll understand.

  • What Obama should have said.

    [Read the article: Obama holds first press conference]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I think it was a missed opportunity when Obama mentioned an "ideological blockage" and didn't follow it up with "The Republicans need an ideological laxative".

    "Enema" would have worked well too.

  • Good article, but what's with the weird spacing?

    [Read the article: Bigfoot lives!]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Another victim of the mysterious grammar monster that terrorizes much of the internet...

  • Dear Lord! The play area is an awful idea!

    [Read the article: Ask the pilot]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    From a public health standpoint, it's hard to think of something worse than a Children's Play Area. (Well, maybe mandating the licking of escalator handrails.) Heck, elementary schools are already ideal disease-exchange centers -- do people really want to do the same thing on a national or worldwide scale?

  • What's the deal about her arms?

    [Read the article: Michelle Obama, bit by bit]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    She has clearly had over ten years of weight training from lifting up her kids -- hence the muscular arms. By the time my partner's son was seven she could punch out a rhino. So what's the big deal?

  • She's a NERD!

    [Read the article: Rachel Maddow, reluctant sex symbol]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    That's why I like her. I don't think sexy enters into it.

  • Very Comprehensive

    [Read the article: Finally, Congress acts quickly to avert disaster]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    This should cut down on those vicious lemur attacks that have the population terrified to come out of their homes.

  • Humans are Primates

    [Read the article: Finally, Congress acts quickly to avert disaster]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Big Old Geek made a really good point -- Humans are primates. If they didn't make a distinction then the law should apply to humans as well.

    Also, to preempt any discussion of evolution, the inclusion of humans in the order Primates (pronounced with an "eez" as the end) is based on shared characteristics, not evolution. So even if you don't believe in evolution, humans are still primates.

    I guess now we have to know what the definition of "pet" is. If I call my sweetie by a pet name (for example, "snuggle bunny") while driving her across a state line, am I breaking the law?

  • Score one for Scientific Knowledge

    [Read the article: Finally, Congress acts quickly to avert disaster]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I wonder how many Republicans were googling "Primate" before they voted?

  • No post about Jindal's patronizing rebuttal?

    [Read the article: Quote of the night]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    With his strained folksiness and slight lisp he sounds like the gopher from that Winnie the Pooh movie.

  • What kind of weird natural selection

    [Read the article: What's the matter with Colorado?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    has resulted in only stupid Republicans remaining in office?

  • The Thin Air Hypothesis of Conservative Stupidity

    [Read the article: What's the matter with Colorado?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Quick counter-example:

    In New Mexico, all the progressives are in the northern part of the state which is at a high elevation. In fact, Santa Fe is at around 7000 feet, and is annoyingly liberal in my opinion (and I myself am an annoying liberal, so that's saying something.)

    The southern part of the state is lower in elevation and much more conservative. Maybe it's got something to do with cowboy hats instead.

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