Four Eyes, You’re the One
Let me get this straight: You’re a nerd if you wear glasses? Why are all 16 of your nerds (“The Cool Nerd,” May 14-20) wearing them? And your former nerd [Benjamin Nugent] is without them. It’s like a movie from the ’50s—take off the glasses, let down the hair and ta-dah!
—Kylis, Maplewood NJ
More Asians on the Menu
Great paper. I stumbled upon you while trying to find some smut on Francis Cardinal Spellman (“Franny”) and his down-low sexual behavior. I found that nice piece by Michelangelo Signorile. That led to the meditation on “DILF” (“Say Aaaaah…” May 14-20). It was good to read about that kind of relationship from the other side, and I like the fact that the author of the piece didn’t present her dalliance as a world-historical tragedy or an exercise in victimage right out of White Women’s Studies 101. The writing is superb; a much-needed relief from my subscriptions to Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, The Nation, Counterpoint and others.
One question, other than the obligatory Asian-American faces you slapped onto the “nerd” feature, do you have any such writers of said ethnicity working for you other than in production, art/layout or website maintenance? Have you noticed that NYC is just chock full of them Oriental people? It just might be interesting to find out what’s going on in their inscrutable little minds via the writing process. And no, they aren’t just like white boys/girls but with a strong work ethic. So I’d like to read something about their lives if you wouldn’t mind obliging me. Peace. I have you bookmarked and will be checking in periodically.
—Darrell Hamamoto, UC Davis, CA
Dems Fighting Words
Dear Ms. Schimansky: I read your letter in the New York Press (“Hillary or Bust,” May 8-14). While I disagreed with elements of your rebuttal of Russ Smith’s [column, “Historical Blindness”], I appreciated your passion. However, your declaration that many Hillary supporters will sit out the 2008 general election struck me as petulant and contrary to the values of our party. The primary campaign has been very competitive and hard fought. But like any contest, one side emerges victorious. There is no need for acrimony.
Our goal should be the defeat of John McCain. We need to elect a Democratic president who will end the war in Iraq, revise and expand our domestic economy, restore our standing in the world, invest in our schools, colleges and universities as well as rebuild our roads, bridges and transportation infrastructure.
As Democrats, we do our nation and ourselves a disservice when we talk about sitting out an election. I hope I have succeeded in encouraging you to put aside your disappointment and to direct your considerable energy in helping to elect a Democrat as our next president. When we accomplish that victory, I want to be able to say, “I told you so.”
—Michael Benjamin,
NY State Assembly Member
Abuse of Comedy
I find it strange that a woman [like Julie Klausner] who makes a career out of skewering anything anti-woman, including a scathing review of the Skinny Bitch diet book (also one of the subjects of a video), would make a statement like this [in “Here’s… Yanni,” May 14-20]: “The reason why we have Yanni in the show—not just because it makes me laugh to see David wear a mustache—is because in real life, Yanni was Linda Evans’ live-in lover for nine years,” Klausner says. “And based on Yanni’s arrest record for domestic violence at the time, we can deduce that he hit her at least once. Which is shocking considering that Linda Evans is built like a brick shithouse and has hands the size of large hamsteaks swaddled in thick leather.”
So do I understand this correctly? That Ms. Klausner is using not only the possibility that Linda Evans was physically abused as a jumping off point for comedy, but her looks as well? I’m no comedy prude, and I don’t subscribe to any PC guidelines in my own work, but I do feel that making fun of a woman for something she can’t control—her looks—is easy and shameful. Ms. Evans has never spoken about any sort of abuse at the hands of Yanni, so I can’t even give Ms. Klausner a “fair game” comedy out on this one. It seems Ms. Klausner is looking out for the ladies until it’s funny not to.
—Sean Abley
Power to the Critic
Armond: I love reading your reviews and opinions. You’re one of the few critics who can understand the culture of the world and what films really mean. This review [of What Happens in Vegas, “The Newlywed Game,” May 14-20] may put you on the spot as being weak to some, but I found your opinion in this movie unusual. The name is Jeffrey Zanker, and maybe we can chat about a few movies. I’m going to see Indiana Jones next week, and I’m not reading your opinion beforehand, so let’s see to that. Keep up the power.
—Jeffrey Zanker
Let me get this straight: You’re a nerd if you wear glasses? Why are all 16 of your nerds (“The Cool Nerd,” May 14-20) wearing them? And your former nerd [Benjamin Nugent] is without them. It’s like a movie from the ’50s—take off the glasses, let down the hair and ta-dah!
—Kylis, Maplewood NJ
More Asians on the Menu
Great paper. I stumbled upon you while trying to find some smut on Francis Cardinal Spellman (“Franny”) and his down-low sexual behavior. I found that nice piece by Michelangelo Signorile. That led to the meditation on “DILF” (“Say Aaaaah…” May 14-20). It was good to read about that kind of relationship from the other side, and I like the fact that the author of the piece didn’t present her dalliance as a world-historical tragedy or an exercise in victimage right out of White Women’s Studies 101. The writing is superb; a much-needed relief from my subscriptions to Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, The Nation, Counterpoint and others.
One question, other than the obligatory Asian-American faces you slapped onto the “nerd” feature, do you have any such writers of said ethnicity working for you other than in production, art/layout or website maintenance? Have you noticed that NYC is just chock full of them Oriental people? It just might be interesting to find out what’s going on in their inscrutable little minds via the writing process. And no, they aren’t just like white boys/girls but with a strong work ethic. So I’d like to read something about their lives if you wouldn’t mind obliging me. Peace. I have you bookmarked and will be checking in periodically.
—Darrell Hamamoto, UC Davis, CA
Dems Fighting Words
Dear Ms. Schimansky: I read your letter in the New York Press (“Hillary or Bust,” May 8-14). While I disagreed with elements of your rebuttal of Russ Smith’s [column, “Historical Blindness”], I appreciated your passion. However, your declaration that many Hillary supporters will sit out the 2008 general election struck me as petulant and contrary to the values of our party. The primary campaign has been very competitive and hard fought. But like any contest, one side emerges victorious. There is no need for acrimony.
Our goal should be the defeat of John McCain. We need to elect a Democratic president who will end the war in Iraq, revise and expand our domestic economy, restore our standing in the world, invest in our schools, colleges and universities as well as rebuild our roads, bridges and transportation infrastructure.
As Democrats, we do our nation and ourselves a disservice when we talk about sitting out an election. I hope I have succeeded in encouraging you to put aside your disappointment and to direct your considerable energy in helping to elect a Democrat as our next president. When we accomplish that victory, I want to be able to say, “I told you so.”
—Michael Benjamin,
NY State Assembly Member
Abuse of Comedy
I find it strange that a woman [like Julie Klausner] who makes a career out of skewering anything anti-woman, including a scathing review of the Skinny Bitch diet book (also one of the subjects of a video), would make a statement like this [in “Here’s… Yanni,” May 14-20]: “The reason why we have Yanni in the show—not just because it makes me laugh to see David wear a mustache—is because in real life, Yanni was Linda Evans’ live-in lover for nine years,” Klausner says. “And based on Yanni’s arrest record for domestic violence at the time, we can deduce that he hit her at least once. Which is shocking considering that Linda Evans is built like a brick shithouse and has hands the size of large hamsteaks swaddled in thick leather.”
So do I understand this correctly? That Ms. Klausner is using not only the possibility that Linda Evans was physically abused as a jumping off point for comedy, but her looks as well? I’m no comedy prude, and I don’t subscribe to any PC guidelines in my own work, but I do feel that making fun of a woman for something she can’t control—her looks—is easy and shameful. Ms. Evans has never spoken about any sort of abuse at the hands of Yanni, so I can’t even give Ms. Klausner a “fair game” comedy out on this one. It seems Ms. Klausner is looking out for the ladies until it’s funny not to.
—Sean Abley
Power to the Critic
Armond: I love reading your reviews and opinions. You’re one of the few critics who can understand the culture of the world and what films really mean. This review [of What Happens in Vegas, “The Newlywed Game,” May 14-20] may put you on the spot as being weak to some, but I found your opinion in this movie unusual. The name is Jeffrey Zanker, and maybe we can chat about a few movies. I’m going to see Indiana Jones next week, and I’m not reading your opinion beforehand, so let’s see to that. Keep up the power.
—Jeffrey Zanker
