MORE LETTERS THAN THE TURKISH ALPHABET More Letters ...

Didn't Get the Memo

I am tired of Tony Millionaire's endless lampooning of the noble metal detector. Metal detectors are helpful instruments that are the last line of defense between defenseless little children playing on beaches and other sandy areas, and the worldwide epidemic of mayhem known as land mine pollution.

The skill set developed by treasure-hunters nosing about the beach, digging up quarters and nickels with plastic shovels, can, upon the treasure-hunter's conscription into our armed services, easily save thousands of children from the terrible injuries caused by bouncing betties and the like, objects seemingly manufactured in hell.

Terrence Ross, Kingston, NY

Fire and Ice

Russ Smith observed that Al Gore spoke about global warming "on a day that was so frigid Bill Clinton must've chuckled heartily at his estranged veep's total lack of political horse sense" ("MUGGER," 1/21). Perhaps Smith, like so many GOP pundits, has forgotten that short-term weather and long-term climate are two different things. In fact, 2003 was the second- warmest year on record (since 1880, global average). The hottest year was 1998. The five warmest years on record have all occurred since 1997, and the 10 warmest years have appeared between 1990 and 2003. Gore is right to be concerned about global warming, and he is correct when he declares that the Bush administration's environmental policies are horrible, shortsighted and morally indefensible.

John Cantilli, Cranford, NJ

Radio Killed the Pulp Writing Star

I'm not sure what about mystery writer Elmore Leonard makes your uncredited writer call him "pulp" ("Incoming," 1/21). I've read his sophisticated mysteries and am sure he would be insulted by such a term. If by "pulp" you mean the kind of mystery Raymond Chandler/Dashiell Hammett wrote, he is nothing like that. Modern writers like Loren Estleman are firmly in the tradition of hardboiled mysteries that come from the pulps and never get such a tag.

If you think "pulp" equals "mystery" you'd be wrong; Ray Bradbury, Robert E. Howard, Zane Grey all came from the pulps?hardly mystery writers. Pulp writers wrote fast: 60,000 words a month at a penny a word, whatever the genre. They had little time for characterization or research. And the pulps died by not changing to meet the challenges of new media: paperbacks, comic books, tv.

Fran Tetoro, Manhattan

Care Bear

The MLK Day cartoon is indeed the best ever ("Rehabilitating Mr. Wiggles," 1/21). Take it from an African-American male who has always loved the way Mr. Wiggles makes one squirm and laugh. Right on! To the 69th power!

Ethan Alvin Hill, Manhattan

Robber Barron

I find it rather hard to take a race hustler like Charles Barron seriously or to place any real trust in his motives ("The Anti-Bloomberg," 1/21). Nor do I believe for a moment that he will be looking out for anyone's interest but his own.

Things are tough for everyone with the exception of the privileged few. As far as minorities and the working class, things have improved over the years. But for the Charles Barrons, Al Sharptons and Jesse Jacksons of the world, there is no profit or heightened profile to be gained from minority advancement. So let's talk about how bad things are and make demands on an overtaxed system that will improve the lots of no one but cost me (and all other taxpayers) untold money for social engineering programs that for more than 35 years have proven worthless.

As a struggling working-class white guy I really don't want Charles Barron looking out for my best interest. I am sure he would not want David Duke or one of the Metzgers looking out for his. Thank you for a little more insight into the mind of a typical political hack that wants to raise his profile.

Jim Dunne, Staten Island

Mugabe's Reign

So Charles Barron is proud of bringing Robert Mugabe to City Hall ("The Anti-Bloomberg," 1/21)? Though Barron sure wouldn't admit it, Mugabe is indeed a dictator, though not the "former dictator" of Zimbabwe, as the article puts it. Opposition to Mugabe ranges far, far beyond those who condemn his anti-gay stance (which is cited in the article). In Zimbabwe, Amnesty International "has documented a pattern of harassment, arbitrary arrest and torture." Human Rights Watch says "major violations of human rights" are due largely to an environment "created largely by actions of the ranking government officials and state security forces." If Barron's priorities for the world, as in New York, are "working-class families, people of color," he should be agitating for Mugabe's ouster.

Norman Oder, Brooklyn

Big Apple Left to Rot

Congratulations on giving Councilman Charles Barron some free publicity ("The Anti-Bloomberg," 1/21). I, a mere taxpayer, have emailed him several times. I've been waiting months for any response at all.

I have asked him to help me honor the African-Americans who first called this city "the Big Apple," for the 80th anniversary of the February 18, 1924 "Around the Big Apple" column that I had found (after much painstaking research). Thanks to Charles Barron's complete neglect, those African-Americans will never be honored.

William Bryk's article on voting "None of the Above" could not be more timely or relevant ("New York City," 1/21).

Barry Popik, Manhattan

Pristine White Caps

I saw Mystic River tonight and after being told by people that this film is "dark" and "depressing" but "great," and seeing all the stars/asterisks the "other" newspapers have been awarding this film, I thought I was nuts after seeing it. I thought it was heavy-handed and derivative of Angels with Dirty Faces, the Pat O'Brien and James Cagney movie where O'Brien says about Cagney, "Let's say a prayer for a guy who couldn't run as fast as I could." I giggled in embarrassment at the corniness of some of the lines.

Thinking I missed the boat, I picked up New York Press, read Armond White's mini-review in the "Film Clock" section and regained my cinema sanity. Armond is on the money with his comments, "overrated," "laughable" and "pretentious." Thanks, Armond, for your Mystic River and your Lost in Translation reviews. "Slow" and "aimless" is right on.

I'm waiting for Armond's review of 21 Grams before I risk seeing it. In a world where viewers are weaned on reality/scriptless tv shows, I can't jeopardize my movie mental health without coming home to White's self-actualized reviews.

Steve Marshall, Manhattan

Offit's Rant

Since there are few unassailable ways to insult Paul Krassner?his countercultural credentials are just too strong and his comedian pose gives him too much leeway?I just want to say one thing. It is sad to see someone with so much alleged talent and such a depth of supposedly startling observational powers stoop to the Bush/Hitler joke ("Zen Bastard," 1/28). You know, Norman Mailer can aver that Dennis Miller has lost his balls, but I guess all the drugs, poseur outrage and snarky hipness have finally cost Krassner his erectile function.

I mean if he can't get it up for some better material than that, maybe he should see if Dennis would write some material for him. Or how about this: You're right, Paul, there is a difference between you and Dennis Miller. Miller is funny, smart, cultured, patriotic and gutsy. You're just a tired old Yippie anachronism who would rather get high, jerk off and make not-so-clever jokes while the fucking world blows up. Maybe Miller never called back because your stuff sucks. We're done here. Go back to sleep, and I'll wake you up when it's 1968 again.

Mike Offit, Manhattan

Sarcasm Chasm

Wait a second. You mean there actually is another political party out there ("Libertarians at the Gate," 1/28)? One that combines the (supposed) fiscal conservatism of the Republicans with the (supposed) social tolerance of the Democrats? Why has the media been hiding the Libertarian Party from us all this time? Thanks for the peek.

Gary Snyder, Manhattan

The Libertarian Party's Big Tent

Thanks for the write-up on the Libertarian Party ("Libertarians at the Gate," 1/28). It's great when a community paper expands the knowledge of their readership with what is available to them locally. My only complaint is mild?the painting of the party as white middle-class. I am a (Manhattan-born) Puerto Rican and the Libertarian Party State Chair is African-American and the diversity doesn't stop there. Other than that, nice article.

William Aponte, Yonkers, NY

Sweet Pickle

Matt Taibbi's "Prickless for President" ("Cage Match," 1/28) should go down as a classic, right alongside Richard Hofstadter's "The Paranoid Style in American Politics." What a terrific piece of writing?and insight. Mel Brooks once said that his biggest accomplishment in film was to bring the American viewing public to grips with the fart (Blazing Saddles). And now Matt Taibbi thrusts forth and sprays us with his seminal idea of the penis in politics.

Gerald S. Rellick, Santa Anna, CA

Mary Mary, Why Ya' Buggin?

Signorile's letter to Mary Cheney ("The Gist," 1/21) was right on the money. Like so many others, I have wondered what the hell is going on behind the scenes. Funny how her father has now come out in favor of a constitutional amendment banning marriage for same-sex couples while we have Daddy Dick just four years ago in a debate talking about how conflicted he was on this subject and how this issue should remain in the states' hands.

I would challenge those in the media as well as those conducting the debates to simply ask Daddy Dick about these two statements, then ask him how he could be for family values when he is willing to sell out his own daughter in order to win an election.

Louie Tamantini, Long Beach, CA

George Won't

The editorials I hate reading most are those that take half the column space to set up what is going to be said before saying it ("Cage Match," 1/21). George Will at least constrains this to about a paragraph.

Jack Ely, Palm Harbor, FL

Oh, Cheaper, Definitely

Great article on the Manhattan Libertarian Party ("Libertarians at the Gate," 1/28). I live in the west, where Libertarianism is much stronger than it is on the east coast, so it is great to hear that the Libertarians are growing in the big cities over there. I was a little disappointed to see some cheap shots on some of the attendees' appearances, however. Would you take such cheap shots if you attended the Democratic or Republican conventions?

Travis Pahl, Seattle

Brodeur vs. Taibbi

At his best, Taibbi is a little better than the rest of journalism's assholes (read: clones and drones), but mostly he's just another writer with nothing valuable to say. Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't he spent half his time attacking right-wingers for their crappy writing and syntax? (I hear Hitler had weak penmanship! Maybe that could be your next cover story.)

The right wing is destroying the entire world through greed and deceit and this doofus attacks their composition style? Meanwhile, Jim Knipfel probably commends the right wing for bringing their "freedom" to Third World nations via tobacco.

I'll say it again: With "enemies" like you, the corrupt right wing doesn't need any friends.

CXB, Manhattan

The Gay Cheney

Michelangelo Signorile has put into words, so effectively and fully, just what needed to be said in his open letter to Mary Cheney ("The Gist," 1/21). I'm all for people having a right to their privacy and do believe there are two sides to every story. However, Mary Cheney is "family" and that's no secret. Signorile is not alone in thinking Mary has turned her back on the GLBT community. She has also turned her back on herself.

Michael Marshall, Dallas

Weinerdog's Doggin' Us

A little late, but I just stumbled upon an article, "Diallo, the NYPD and the BLA," ("Page Two," 1/14), which was fairly sympathetic to convicted killers Anthony Bottom and Herman Bell, and compared them to the officers who killed Diallo. I'm afraid the issue is far more complicated than you or city councilman and former Black Panther Charles Barron or PBA president Patrick Lynch say it is.

In 1971, Bell and Bottom made a fake telephone call of a crime in progress, and when the two officers arrived, blasted them into the afterlife in the back, point blank, execution-style. It was not the accidental result of an attempt to evade capture and an ensuing gun battle. It was premeditated, cold-blooded murder. The two were convicted in 1975, and have been in prison ever since.

In 1999, four officers who were part of the elite Street Crime Unit?dealing with the very dangerous job of ridding the streets of dangerous weapons?mistook Amadou Diallo's wallet for a gun and in a scene reminiscent of the OK Corral, pumped 41 bullets into him. They were later acquitted. As reported by you, two are with the NYPD, two with FDNY. Diallo?tragic and horrific as it was?was an accident, the result of nervous, overzealous, trigger-happy, adrenaline-fueled policemen upholding their sworn duty to protect the people. When the lawyer for one of the officers palmed a black wallet, it looked remarkably like a gun; he was able to convince the jury that the officers feared for their lives.

Before I rush to judge the two officers who are still with the NYPD and the two with the FDNY, I need a lot more detail. I'd like to know what their job performance was prior to Diallo; I'd like to know what they're doing now: Are they assigned to evidence lock-ups and microfilm libraries? Are they desk-bound? Are they walking beats? I'd also like to know all the particulars as to the FDNY 's decision to hire them. A great many facts are considered when the FDNY hires former police officers under these circumstances. Before I can say whether or not Bottom and Bell should be released, I need more details.

The purpose of parole is not to serve as an automatic rite of passage after a certain number of years have passed, such as an 11-year-old being taught about sex or a 17-year-old learning to drive. Nor should behavior in prison be the sole barometer of worthiness of parole. Parole is for criminals who have served their time, expressed genuine remorse for their actions and who, upon their release, will interact with society in, if not a positive manner, at least not negatively.

No details were provided about the degree Bottom earned in jail or its marketability. Will he have a job and a place to live upon his release from prison? Or will he be subjected to endless days of pounding the pavement in frustration, wearing the heels of his shoes down, waiting in offices for an hour only to be told by an arrogant "God, Judge and Jury" Human Resources manager that there are no jobs available, eventually driven by frustration to recidivism?

You spoke of "good works" he did in prison. What exactly are "good works"? After serving his time in jail, will Bottom be taught that electricity and gas and telephone and rent and food and household staples cost a lot of money? Will he be able to function away from, to quote Stephen King in the novella Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption, "the poison peace of institutional life"? And what about Bell? Not a word has been mentioned as to why he deserves parole.

I agree with New York Press that on the face of it, the handling of these two situations certainly appears inconsistent. I also agree with Barron that behavior in prison should be considered when granting parole. The four officers may very well have deserved time, and Bottom and Bell may very well deserve parole. But the situation is far more complicated than the five paragraphs you devoted to it. You guys usually provide much more in-depth analysis and detail than you did here.

Nathan F. Weiner, The Bronx