Letters

The Cat in the Trap
There are two types of cat-haters: those who are allergic to fine hair/particles (quite acceptable) and control freaks.

I'd be willing to bet the animal control officer in Allie Johnson's "The Cat's in the Bag" (July 27) is a control freak and thus, a cat-hater. Or he's so incompetent he can't properly handle a caged cat well enough to keep from scaring and enraging the animal. And I'm sure his reflexes are way too slow to avoid a claw swipe.

Then there's the gem of a neighbor. Loves birds enough to lure them into danger. Another arrogant attempt by man to control nature. Here's a hint for her: Move way out to the country where there are few humans and you'll get to enjoy the birds without endangering them unnecessarily! She knew she was trapping the neighbor's cat. What a sad, bitter person she must be. Sixty million feral cats? That's amusing. How many nonferal cats are there roaming the streets?

Surely not ALL of them are wild....-- John Rolando

Kansas City, Missouri

Third Eye Blind
I have only two questions about Allie Johnson's story, "The Blind Leading the Blind" (July 20). Which of Pamela Davis' 20 personalities did she interview? Do John Harris and Pamela Davis plan to start a scrapbook to show their family? Mr. Harris makes a statement ("What if someone went postal and came in here and shot everyone, would that get their attention?") that would make anyone in Oklahoma, Colorado, or the rest of the country run with fear.

All of my family and friends live and work in the greater Kansas City area. I would hate to think after all we have learned from all the senseless killings in this country that anyone in any office could make such a statement and not get a reaction. Thank you, Rachel Hurtado! It's reassuring to know if I need to go to the state building in Kansas City to do business, some of the managers are on their toes to make the area safe.-- Margaret H. Rivera

Kansas City, Kansas

It's Not Easy Being Green
Thank you for the wonderful article that Bruce Rodgers wrote about Ralph Nader ("Nader-ing Nabobs of Positivism," June 29). I am a recent member of the Green Party and I believe strongly that Ralph will win because he is the best man for the job. We just have to convince a lot of people who don't care right now that he can win and that their votes will not be wasted. I really appreciate Rodgers' doing his part by reporting the truth. -- Faye Blackmon

Irving, Texas

Nap Smear
I just read the letters about Napster, so I must have missed the article in the Pitch(Jeff Brown's "Nature versus Nurture versus Napster," June 29).

I would like to comment. I believe at one time not long ago, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) wanted to outlaw cassettes for the same reason: copyright violation. The law decided that it was acceptable to copy music onto tapes for strictly personal use. So what's the difference? If someone downloads hundreds of songs using Napster, burns them onto a CD, then sells the discs, then that is a copyright infringement, according to the law.

As for me, I have downloaded only songs that I never would have bought the CD or tape for anyway, so nobody is losing any money there, because they never would have gotten it from me in the first place. I mean, does anybody else even remember "Shooting Shark" from Blue Oyster Cult? I probably couldn't even find the disc today. But somebody had it online, and I downloaded it. And the only good song that came from the There's Something About Marysoundtrack was the Propellerheads' "History Repeating." I'm not about to pay 15 bucks for one song. I love country music, but I hate buying a CD only to get 35 minutes worth of crap corporate songs. So I download the one or two radio cuts that I like. I have no intention of buying these CDs, so I am in no way hurting the recording industry by downloading these songs. If they want my money, how about putting out 10 or 12 good quality songs on a disc, instead of one or two just to sucker me into buying it?

The RIAA has won against Napster, but to what extent? I had no problem finding and downloading MP3s before Napster. Now it's just easier. Look out CuteFTP. Here comes Metallica and the RIAA.-- Troy Castor

Lawrence

Urge Overkill
Jeff Brown's review of The Urge's Too Much Stereo was incredibly off the mark (Soundbites, August 3). Chock-full of asinine assumptions and uneducated speculation, Brown shares his unwitty remarks at the band's expense. The Urge is one of the hardest-working bands, period. It's been this way for the past 10 years. Legions of fans continue to support and enjoy this band, yet Brown seems to take it personally that The Urge didn't release Bark Like a Dog 2000 instead of Too Much Stereo.

As far as their songwriting and playing ability, he may want to give the album another listen. Songs such as "Warning, Warning" and "Four Letters and Two Words" showcase the band's knowledge of the groove and their theories of rock. They haven't missed a step! Ask the thousands of fans who still appreciate them.