View The Mail
Killjoy Popejoy
Most New Yorkers who like contemporary art (including those like me who find most modernism boring, humorless and old) don't give a fuck what the war-supporting "American public" thinks. Conceptualism breathed new life into dying forms when it came about, and continues to interest and excite talented artists everywhere. But since you're clearly more concerned about what plays in Peoria, take your own advice: Stay the fuck away from contemporary art and go watch a Hollywood drama. Perhaps Pollock would fit the bill.
Stuart Popejoy, Manhattan
Headless Mayor in Topless Bar
Hooray. You are finally, after all these years of banality, making your paper amount to something. Christopher X. Brodeur on Giuliani is right every time ("Brodeur v. Rudy," 4/2). Except he missed two of Giuliani's worst actions: trying to dictate what the Brooklyn Museum could show, and closing the topless bars. Giuliani was a vile dictator and hypocrite. Having an affair in Gracie Mansion while trying to improve public morality? He was even a worse mayor than Lindsay.
Christian Viveros-Fauné's article on conceptual art was great ("Art," 4/2). Finally, someone is saying what I've been thinking all these years. Art is based on drawing. The conceptual clowns, too lazy to learn how to draw well, tried to change the definition of art. Thank you. Let's hear more of what you think and damn art-world opinion.
Bruce Cahn, Manhattan
Media Mess
MIKE SIGNORILE: The difference between Arnett and Geraldo ("The Gist," 4/9), as I see them, is this: Arnett is a get-your-hands-dirty, in-the-grit news journalist. Geraldo is a celebrity with nicely coifed or carefully blown hair and manicured nails. Arnett gets in the rough and tough of it. Geraldo gets into the fluff of it. They cannot be compared. Arnett told it as he saw it, while in the middle of it. Geraldo told it as he speculated it, far from the crux of it. Arnett is the latest incarnation of "shoot the messenger," except now they simply fire them. Perhaps, in the long run, that is the better alternative!
As to the tit-for-tat and ratta-tat-tat of this "war," I have grown all too weary of the 24/7 coverage and all too wary of the non-Oscarwinning dramatization of this real-people-killing-real-people put on by your local television station. If one pays close attention, they will soon learn?if they have not learned already?that this war is really and truly about economics. 60 Minutes listed roughly seven to 10 corporations that have already lined up to "rebuild" Iraq. Most of these corporations are major donors to the Republican Party and one, Halliburton, is Dick Cheney's former employer.
Yes, Saddam Hussein is a ruthless, inhumane madman. But, so is Slobodan Milosevic, and he gets a trial before a world court. Hussein gets the axe. Interesting sense of compassionate conservative justice, wouldn't you say?
Fortunately not too many American lives have been lost, and at this stage it appears we will leave this war with relatively few casualties. However, losses small or large, the rule of war (unless you are an aggressor nation) is to protect and preserve, and at times contain. I will not lay it out for anyone who might read this. They "can do the math." I still say it's about the money, stupid! American corporate wealth, nothing you or I will ever get to share in. Part of it likely will go to the Kenny Lay Relief Fund.
Vince Turner, Boston
We Dunne Hurt 'Im
YOUR RECENT article, "50 Most Loathsome New Yorkers" (3/26) and in particular your skewing of Griffin Dunne, was loathsome itself. It was mean-spirited, ugly and completely unfair. The man has seen his fair share of personal tragedy?his sister was murdered and his mother suffered from multiple sclerosis. Either of those circumstances might warp a lesser person, but knowing Griffin slightly in a professional capacity, I found him to be kind and generous and a very decent person. Several times he went out of his way to help me with my screenplays, with nothing expected in return.
Why don't you assholes grow up? Or at least stop printing such vitriolic garbage? It's just a reflection on how much you must hate yourselves and your own pathetic and frustrated lives. Please feel free to print this in your smug, self-absorbed and ultimately stupid paper.
Andy Dillon, North Plainfield, NJ
Salud, Salguero
I have only recently become acquainted with your wonderful publication and after reading about the "50 Most Loathsome New Yorkers" (3/26) I just had to write in to congratulate your staff on a job well done. Any publication that has the guts to expose talentless hacks like Candace Bushnell, Carson Daly, Woody Allen, Jonathan Safran Foer and Michael Moore is okay with me. I look forward to reading more of your articles in the future; keep up the good work.
Dennis Salguero, Los Angeles
Resident Masochist
Bathroom humor? I expected better from you poor, poor misguided people ("The Mail," 4/2). You've obviously been writing about yourselves for way too long. Regarding Christopher X. Brodeur's redundant New York Press cover story, you've missed the point entirely yet again, but that's just what your paper tries so hard to do. You can accuse the Resident of taking quick dumps, but those are always a lot more satisfying than a constant case of diarrhea.
Mark Rifkin, Editor, New York Resident, Manhattan
The editors reply: Loved your interview with Jim Knipfel this week. Way to call it in, Mark. Now then, will you get off our dicks (and coattails)?
He'd Agree
GOOD to see Derek Davis' byline ("The Dustbin," 4/2) again.
Steve Purcell, Philadelphia
Yeah, Yeah, We Know
MATTTAIBBI is a fantastic addition to your publication. I have been enjoying New York Press for about six months and was pleasantly surprised when I found his name added to your list of writers! I have to admit I'm somewhat biased since I have been a fan of his work for a few years. Glad to see him on board with you.
Gail Bentley, Manchester, NH
The Greek-American Conservative
SINCETAKI left, there is hardly a reason to pick up New York Press anymore. The once-stimulating paper is really going downhill. The edge is gone. I guess the new owners are telling everyone to tone it down. Sad, sad, sad!
Alfred C. Mandler, Elmhurst, NY
Ex-Super Fan
MUGGER: As ever, I enjoyed your column in this week's New York Press. But I have to write to say that I can no longer pick up the paper each week as I have the past five years I've lived in New York. It has become a collection of screeds, whines, vitriol and bile from aging slackers too intellectually lazy to put forth actual arguments and who doubtless spend far too much time on the bong and too little in the library. But, I'll still probably read MUGGER online. Sorry, but the new paper sucks.
Jim FitzGerald, Manhattan
Nice Manners
What has Russ Smith risked or sacrificed for the Bush-Iraq War ("MUGGER," 3/26)? Would he send his sons to liberate the Iraqi people? When did Smith's concern for Iraqi freedom and democracy become so compelling that Americans should die for them? The reason for the spooky feeling in Manhattan this spring is the increased police presence?sitting in a Penn Station pizza parlor with four camouflaged National Guard members, all with M-16 machine guns (designed for maximum lethality, weapons of mass-transit-users destruction).
Regarding his dismissive, "Except for a panhandler or two": Does Smith not feel the same concern for fellow Americans as he does for Iraq's citizens? Is that patriotic?
Regarding "Pass the bong, comrade": Fuck you, asshole! Typical of the conservative right's childish, distracting reaction to any argument?call them a commie or unpatriotic when lacking a legitimate opinion or just wrong?it also reeks of the pseudo-superiority of Aryan-wannabes.
Your humanity is selective, Smith, your sense of democracy skewed, your viewpoints totalitarian. Shut the fuck up.
Kevin P. Crifo, Queens
Play Ball
MUGGER: I've never read such stupid baseball predictions in my entire life ("MUGGER," 4/2). I understand you're a Red Sox fan, but don't be guided by emotion. The Sox have zero chance to win the division. If anything, they are a weaker team than last year while the Yanks are a much stronger team: five healthy top-quality starters against Lowe and Martinez. After that the Sox have nothing. And who is their closer? Their best relief pitcher is an ex-Yankee and he will probably be starting for them by June. The Yankees have a better player at every position, except the Red Sox have a better shortstop, temporarily, and maybe a better number one starter. And Ramirez is probably better than Matsui, but not by much. And the bullpen, the Yankees' weakest point?but we don't have Alan Embree, who couldn't even make it with the Padres or Mike Timlin, who the Orioles dumped.
The Red Sox will be lucky if they don't fall into 3rd. They won't even make the wild card. And not one sportswriter on any national or local publication would agree with your prediction. Including the Boston sportswriters. Isn't it funny that every single Boston sportswriter picked the Yankees to win the division? The Yankees have the strongest team they've ever had, with five excellent starters, and three top-quality offensive outfielders?better than in 1998. Jeff Weaver is number five in New York. In Boston he would be number two or three at least. Burkett was washed up when he was with the Braves.
You don't know anything about baseball. Stick to being a right-wing political pundit. Don't print something you don't know anything about.
Eric Klein, Brooklyn
Body and Pitch Counts
Like the mainstream and allegedly liberal media that he so often criticizes, Russ Smith avoids numbers concerning the war's toll on Iraqi civilians (MUGGER, 4/2). He does boast that "American and British casualties number less than 100." One estimate of the civilian death count is provided at iraqbodycount.net. These figures will increase. Smith's lack of interest in civilian casualties and U.S./UK war crimes does not surprise me.
Switching to baseball, Smith seems blissfully unperturbed that the Boston Red Sox dumped their closer and will go with a "close by committee" bullpen scheme this season. It might backfire. And what will the starting rotation be? Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe and pray for rain. The Sox might luck into the wild card if the AL West collapses.
John Cantilli, Manhattan
French Tickling
Jill Ruchala: Your piece sounds like you intended a patriotic boycott, but your effort is misguided ("The News Hole," 3/19). A patriotic boycott should be of buying new goods from a current enemy. But the French doors you mention came from your husband's childhood home and were more than 40 years old, so the artisans who made them spent the payment long ago. Furthermore, "french doors" is the name of the style, not necessarily the country of origin. They may have been made by Americans. If you want a retroactive boycott of everything French, you may have to quit using that part of the English language that entered use after the Norman Conquest of Anglo-Saxon England, and perhaps move to a country that wasn't aided by the French in our Revolution against British rule. And then there are french fries, French's mustard, french kisses, french ticklers, etc.
Be sensible about your boycotting. Put your beloved "patriot doors" back up, and cut down on the imports for your champagne and brie parties.
Peter Demos, Manhattan
A #1 Kind of Guy
In regards to your list's #1 ("50 Most Loathsome New Yorkers," 3/26), have you even met Keith Blanchard? He is one of the nicest people I know. For a number-one leading magazine editor, he is approachable and extremely friendly. I've worked at many other magazines and damn, I've met some really arrogant asshole editors. Is NYC jealous of Maxim's success? I don't get it. People don't even give a shit about Keith. He doesn't even get any press usually.
Jonathan Stern, Manhattan
Heartland Opinion
MUGGER: There are people who seem to think Kerry has a pass to criticize the U.S.A. because he was in Vietnam during the war. I was there too and his anti-America, antiwar demonstrations were treasonous behavior as far as I am concerned. American servicemen were in harm's way and he was busily undermining the support for them. What a worthless piece of dried dog dung he is!
I seriously doubt the country would elect Bill Clinton again, and Kerry is just as scummy as Clinton, maybe even more so since he was privileged to serve with patriots doing what the country asked them to do. His arrogance may play well in his home state; it won't fly with people in the Heartland.
John Garner, Hilltop Lakes, TX
I certainly support the sentiment that popular culture often coddles Giuliani ("Brodeur v. Rudy," 4/2). But must Brodeur be so rabid? Reading his vengeful account of a mere cable television docu-drama, I began to wonder whether the author was indeed "sick and dangerous" and "mentally ill" as Giuliani had suggested.
Vince Mareino, Manhattan
The DC Expos?
MUGGER: I read the article on your favorite team in Businessweek talking about how the new owner is turning to numbers that are lesser known but show real performance and contributions to the team ("MUGGER," 4/2). It would be cool if it works this year for them. I'm tired of the Yanks all the time. Well, that and watching D.C. grovel to the baseball owners to get the Expos. Right, like Peter Angelos is going to let that happen. We're lucky we still have Little League.
John Power, Herndon, VA
Walker v. Brodeur
CHRISTOPHER X. Brodeur's Boston upbringing leaves him sorely lacking in an understanding of big-city politics ("Brodeur v. Rudy," 4/2). It's pretty common knowledge that in order to cut crime you have to bribe criminals. Brodeur will of course shriek "Cover-up! Cover-up!" once he realizes that this is another of Giuliani's "lies." As for Brodeur's hysteria over the media "covering up [Giuliani's] adultery for months," let Brodeur, if he is over fifty, in a position of power and has never had an affair, throw the first stone. Oops! He already has.
Surprise, Brodeur! It's called human nature. Assuming that you are human, you have it. In your case, it's kind of like a disease?focused on envy, a screeching need for power and fame and plain old nastiness. Why should Giuliani even consider debating a borderline hysteric like you? If I were him I'd have taken out charges against you: harassment, libel, defamation of character. You're dangerous. Go back to second grade, Brodeur, where your petty whining over Giuliani's "annoying lisp" might be tolerated.
As for being a responsible journalist?have you ever heard the term "fact-checking?" Does the videotape you described really show Giuliani on 9/11 "?walking?like a headless chicken, shitting his pants"? For one, can't imagine a headless chicken "walking" nor for that matter "shitting his pants." Generally, in casual expression, the reference to a live "chicken" indicates the female of the species. Do you know the word "rooster"? I understand that describing "a rooster with his head cut off" is not one of the cliches you are so fond of using ad nauseum. Get the hint? Probably not. Let me spell it out. Be very afraid, Brodeur. Do not ever write again.
I'd stay away from making jokes too. One hopes that your suggestion that Time magazine award "bin Laden" "Person of the Year" is, in fact, a joke. If not, Giuliani was right to call you "sick" and "dangerous and mentally ill" on television and radio. Maybe you should be picked up, investigated and, well, committed.
Did you vote, Brodeur? Did you vote for somebody other than Giuliani? If not?shut the fuck up. The citizens of New York are responsible for the mayor they elect. Giuliani's only real mistake in his entire term of office was in misleading New Yorkers by endorsing Mike Bloomberg. This city was safe for women and children and even twisted reporters like yourself while Giuliani was mayor. It is no longer.
If you are compelled to "investigate," consider researching what happened to the "three men of Arab descent carrying packages" onto the Williamsburg Bridge late this March. Ask yourself why we have never seen pictures of the three young men (to whom this crime was later attributed) who so profusely apologized for their drunken dance (without packages) in the tower of the bridge. Why aren't they facing criminal charges? Is it because criminal proceedings would necessitate a public forum and they are fictitious characters conjured from Bloomberg's imagination?
And why wasn't the eight-square-block (bomb-scare) shutdown in Chinatown?also last month?reported by the press? Was there a bomb? How about the two- or three-alarm fires that took place in that area last month? Ever hear about them? Clue: Chinatown is next to three bridges: the Williamsburg, the Manhattan and the Brooklyn.
My advice to you however, is to forget all of the above. You'll royally screw up the reporting of any findings anyway. Do the city a favor. Stew in a pool of your own ink for a while. Then, bind the hands you write or type with until gangrene makes them useless. Finally, go to bed and stay there.
C.L. Walker, Manhattan
And Doris v. Brodeur
Do you think Christopher X. Brodeur feels victorious after his hate-stuffed rant ("Brodeur v. Rudy," 4/2)? As an ordinary, middle-class city resident, I do not recognize any of the messes he tells us were caused by our former mayor. During those eight years, my streets got cleaner and I felt safe and it did me great good to have someone in charge who was willing to call vandals and assorted sociopaths on their crap. Still, I learn from Brodeur that Rudy brought about high rents (amazing to those of us who have had to live through them since the 1950s) and even 9/11, since it happened on his "watch." And what upset Brodeur shows in noting that Rudy didn't pitch in and lift rubble to save his good friends who were buried that day. Everyone knows that would have been impossible, but no matter?why not throw it in when you get two pages to play with?
If I went on, my letter would be longer than his article. Most of all, I certainly don't recognize Brodeur's description of Giuliani's ineptitude after the attacks. I was and am amazed by his efficiency and good, compassionate, non-vengeful sense in leading the city. Of course it is true that the television Giuliani movie was superficial and cartoonish, barely more than a soap opera in one feeble installment. I look forward to a better one. And if those nine shrinks Giuliani allegedly sent after Brodeur really gave him a clean bill of mental health, I wonder if they also said he was not a bratty, obsessive, egomaniacal, foul-minded, manipulative show-off trying to string together a lot of those settlements from his lawsuits against the city so he can have a financial cushion facilitating his pursuit of persons of real accomplishment. If they said that, they should be drummed out of their profession.
Mary K. Doris, Manhattan