Good Owners

Backwash, August 10 Good Owners
Your article about pit bulls was very good. Since breeding is hard to determine, as your article mentions, my recommendation is that there should be no ban on any breeds. However, every dog should be registered, and the owner must have insurance to cover any harm caused by the animal. Any owner who can't afford the animal must sacrifice it. Any owner not registering the animal would be subject to criminal charges. And insurance companies would then determine who the "good owners" are.

I am surprised that PETA didn't drop everything and run right down to help those pit bulls. I guess they are too busy telling diabetics to not use their insulin, since it comes from pigs.

Anthony Mark Morningstar,
Overland Park Kansas City Strip, August 17 Rocket From the Crypt
I read your story about the TWA Moonliner II. That is so cool! I can't wait!

Do you have anything in your notes indicating what time the installation will take place? I want to get down there and take some pictures! Joe Calton,
Liberty Editor's note: The Moonliner II is scheduled to arrive early on the morning of September 1, and construction crews expect to spend most of the day hoisting it up and securing it atop the former TWA building at 18th and Baltimore.

Feature, ³Road Hard,² August 3 Pep Talk
Wow. What a complete fucking waste that Warped Tour trip was! The Architects must really suck. Or be hated in the industry. To drive from Kansas City to L.A. and be completely disrespected and nearly totally ignored by drawing end-of-day, nobody-fucking-cares, here's-my-middle-finger-in-your-ass, stay-the-hell-outta-the-way-of-the-real-talent stage time speaks rather lowly for the band.

To make that kind of insane effort and draw zero exposure must surely sting. But I'm sure they'll be treated to all the spoils in Minneapolis. Yeah. Jason West,
via the InternetBad Neighbors
I have a neighbor like Richard Tolbert. When I moved to KC almost 20 years ago, I was disturbed by what I saw on the east side, but I guess every city has problems. It's up to the elected officials to enact ordinances that stop this sort of ownership abuse and to use our tax dollars more wisely. If the people of this city cared at all, they would demand remediation for these delinquent property owners.

How is it that Mr. Tolbert has been allowed to amass such a huge tax debt? It's a disgrace. When will our elected officials realize that no matter how much money they put into new stadiums and the like, they cannot cover up the urban blight and rot that are slowly creeping over this fair city? When are we going to demand leaders who identify with all the people of KC and not just those with deep pockets? It's about pride, and if a city hasn't got it, it shows in many ways. Likewise, screwed-up priorities show up all over our fair metropolis.

Mr. Tolbert is transparent. You can see him for what he is. More important is for the citizens of this great city to consider this: Who has allowed this situation to persist for this long? Find them, root them out, chuck them out of office, and let's get on with the task of making this a great city, not just another cowtown. Name withheld by requestFilm, August 17 Sun Spot
Regarding Jim Ridley's review of Little Miss Sunshine: The critic is quibbling — finding things to criticize. If he were there at the screening, he would have known the audience loved it. It was the best film I've seen in a very, very long time.

It's OK, Jim. You can happily like a movie. Jean Eiler,
Kansas City, KansasFilm, July 20 Water Works
I wanted to offer a few thoughts regarding Michael Atkinson's review of Lady in the Water. I had to laugh after reading his article, considering a character in the movie — a movie critic — is devoured by the scrunt. Ouch! Perhaps M. Night Shyamalan had a premonition that his film would not get many stars.

At any rate, his review, while extremely critical of the movie, was eye-opening for me. I am now 43. Between the ages of 36 and 41, I lost my wife and one of my daughters. They both died in my arms. I have always enjoyed Shyamalan's films. In my opinion, most people who can overcome loss and continue on with a happy, productive life choose to and even are forced to use the "holy scab."

I can't blame you for thinking the scary movie formula is getting old. I just wish you had consulted someone who knew about loss before you summed up your review in those terms. For us, the opposite is true. Chuck McCrary,
Overland ParkFilm, August 10 Plane Talk
Franklin Delano Roosevelt said in his "Four Freedoms Speech" in 1941: "Today is a day that will live in infamy." That day lived in infamy for many years, until our generation came along. Our day to live in infamy was September 11, 2001.

I know that a movie review is just that — a review — but when I read Robert Wilonsky's "One Day in September," I was appalled. He led me to believe that I was going to waste $7.50 on opening night to see World Trade Center. First, I would like to point out a few of Mr. Wilonsky's mistakes.