Letters to the Editor
sfmike64
Published Letters: 11 Editor's Choice: 1
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Who the hell cares? And who EVER thought that was a man?
[Read the article: I was conned by JT Leroy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Honestly this is so utterly boring. Who the hell cares? "Sarah" is supposed to be a novel (Amazon even lists it as Sarah: A Novel) , so why does anyone give a shit about the personal life of the writer? News flash George Sand was a WOMAN!
And truly. If you ever met that person in the photo and thought it was a male (even one transitioning to female) you are utterly blind. In every photo I've seen both on Salon and in the SF Chronicle, "JT Leroy" presents as female.
The lesson here is that people are gullible, even smart people and will believe what they want to believe. I've never read any of the work, but why not judge it on its merits and not on the gender of the writer or supposed writer?
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I can't imagine having to have made that dreadful choice
[Read the article: No Bush, please -- we're Canadian]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Oh wait, I can. We made it twice. Bush or some lame-ass Democrat I wouldn't wish on my dead Grandma.
But seriously folks, yeah, this is going to suck, but only a little bit. Harper is an utter dick, and such a bad public speaker, and could he BE any stiffer in public? The sweater is too pathetic. He's probably one of those people that washes 12 times after he shakes hands with someone at an event because they might have GERMS. He's basically a creep.
But honestly, this government is not going to last more than 9-12 months, absolute tops. They can't do ANYTHING major without the support of one of the other parties who are all going to be out for blood. Minority means just that. you have to have 51% to pass any legislation, including a budget.
The NDP managed to wring some concessions on housing and medicare out of Martin to keep his Liberal minority in power an extra 6 months, so perhaps they can do that in terms of some kind of proportional representation. It wouldn't be hard to design a pretty simple system where PR only applied to part of the seats or to some of the provinces.
So please, don't get your panties in a bunch. Harper is not Mulroney who actually HAD a majority. He also strikes me as a far less skilled politician.
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An almost 20 year love affair
[Read the article: Destination: Montreal]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I first went to Montreal with my ex (who had attended McGill in the early 80s) in the late 80s. He still had friends there and we always had a great time, even though we seemed to be visiting in February more often than not.
I've been 10 or 12 times now, and find it incredibly charming and the people to be so friendly. For a huge city that really nevers seems to sleep, people also take the time to chill and have a beer or a coffee on the street or spend the afternoon in the park, dancing to drummers.
I discovered Canadian literature through Richler, but others who are interested should also seek out Gabrielle Roy who I also really enjoyed. The Tin Flute and The Cashier are really lovely novels which capture working class Francophone Montreal in the 30s and 40s.
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Haven't read the book in question, but I love Vidal
[Read the article: Too much Gore]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm honestly not that interested in Vidal's memoir, it's not a form I particularly enjoy when written by anyone.
But Vidal's long history of both incisive political analysis and well written, entertaining novels will earn him a place in the canon long after he's dead.
I have read all of GV's American history cycle and particularly enjoyed "Lincoln." It's one of the best pieces I've ever read about one of our greatest leaders. People too often forget that Lincoln was a mere human being who had his own problems and wasn't always particularly well thought of at the time. Vidal humanizes the great man and makes you realize just why and how great he truly was.
This 'review' just reads as a nasty screed.
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Follow your instincts
[Read the article: Ask the pilot]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This was an utter waste of a column. Who the hell cares?
Patrick, you should have followed you instinct and let this inane sleeping dog lie dead in the gutter.
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Bye bye Chief, and not a moment too soon
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I grew up in Champaign, IL and went to the U of I. When I was a boy in the early 70s, I remember loving the Chief and his dance.
But as an adult, I would simply roll my eyes. You hit the nail right on the head with this analysis.
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The train wreck that is "Top Design"
[Read the article: I Like to Watch]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If you want to snipe at each other, do it somewhere else. If you have something to say about the piece, say it, if not, shut up.
You're all behaving like 10 year olds.
Now, on to commenting....Top Design was so dreadful. I think Heather was too kind. The horrendous outfits worn by the female judges (who dresses, them, a blind monkey?) the bad makeup on the males, and Todd Oldham's horrific wooden-ness. Please, Todd, if you're going to be on TV again learn how to present yourself in front of the camera.
I really hope Bravo puts this show out of our misery. It a horrible idea that should never have seen past some exec's office in LA. You can't take the Project Runway formula (which I enjoy) and apply it to just anything.
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Little weird airports....
[Read the article: Ask the Pilot]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]A couple of times, I have flown into small airports in downstate Illinois (where I grew up) and my favorite little notice was at the Decatur, IL airport which is run by the city's park district (go figure!).
There was a sign in the parking lot asking you not to park in the first row if you were going to be gone for more than a week. No charge for the parking, just leave your car there and it'll be there when you get back, perhaps covered in snow, but still there.
The tiny airport in my hometown of Champaign-Urbana, IL was until not too many years ago a 1940s era cinderblock building, but in the 90s they built a cute little terminal with four gates which is quite efficient and useful.