News

letters from the week of september 27

Pitchcast at Pitch.com: "Calling Out Michael Moore," August 9

Mad Mom
I am writing about Eric Barton's utter disrespect for contacting Michael Moore and the Weinstein Company. I am not pleased with this at all! I never spoke to Barton or even knew his name until I heard his podcast on your Web site. Justin Kendall wrote a wonderful article about my family ("Sicko Junior," August 9), and he is an excellent reporter, but what Barton did after the fact was distasteful and was a slap in my face; he defeated my whole purpose. It is not Michael Moore or the Weinstein Company's responsibility to pay for my son's testing. I pay a premium on insurance every two weeks. My insurance didn't take care of my husband, and he is dead, and they still are not taking care of us now! Michael Moore does care about everyone in his movie, and you had no right to do what you did. That makes me look bad — I had no idea that you had this in your agenda. Since you are so good at calling people, why don't you call St. Joseph Medical Center and Coventry? We both know why they won't talk to you. Michael Moore and the Weinstein Company have done more for the people in their films then you will ever know. I appreciate the story Justin Kendall did, but that is it. There is a difference between doing something for someone to help them because they care, and then there are people who do it for the thrill of it.

Julie Pierce, Mission Janovy: "WWJD?" September 13

Great Leash Forward
C.J. Janovy's article regarding Jerry Garcia's advice to Mark Funkhouser was priceless! It gets across the message of the parks board commissioners' missteps in a humorous way, yet the seriousness of the matter still comes through.

Thanks for this refreshing piece. It will help the dog park cause immensely and give the mayor something he can relate to as he rethinks starting over on the appointments of the commissioners. They need a lesson in humility — especially Aggie Stackhaus, who wins by shouting people down.

Carmen Root, Kansas City, Missouri

Martin: "The Stooge," September 20

Fraudian Slip
I appreciated David Martin's recent piece about Bradley Schlozman and the GOP voter fraud-U.S. Attorney firing scandal, except for one sentence. In fact, it is just one word that bothered me enough to write this letter.

In the piece, Martin writes: "I came to the conclusion that ACORN's voter-registration efforts played too much into the hands of Republicans who promote the idea (false, it turns out) that election fraud is widespread" (emphasis is mine).

While I agree with Martin's assessment, I was disappointed to see him use the term "election fraud" rather than "voter fraud," for the two are very different things. Voter fraud — the alleged manipulation of the voting process by voters themselves or registration drives — is the trumped-up term being pushed by the Republicans in order to influence election law and purge voter rolls and swing elections in their favor. Election fraud is more often the term used to describe the influencing of elections by touch-screen and other electronic voting machines, which I assume you'll agree has been shown to be a real source of concern for us as citizens. While both types of fraud, by definition, are election fraud in that they deal with an election, I believe it is best to keep these two separate so as to not allow them to become convoluted and muddy the waters of your readers' collective consciousness.

Chris Tackett, Lawrence

Feature: "Let's Go Prospecting!" September 20

Tress Test
I really like Carolyn Szczepanski's article about Prospect. I wanted to know where Supernova Salon is located. She didn't mention its location and I tried to look it up on the online Yellow Pages but did not find it there. If you could please provide me with the location and phone number, I would greatly appreciate it.

Krystal Kemp, Kansas City, Missouri

Editor's note: Supernova Salon is located at 4436 Prospect, 816-337-9245.

Night Ranger, August 30

Sure Shot
FYI, Night Ranger: The Mexican Flag is an old-standard shot that has been around for at least 30 years (that I know of). I've had hundreds of them all over the world. They're always the same, and they're nothing like the one you described.

The classic recipe is grenadine, tequila and green crème de menthe. They're poured over the back of a spoon in equal parts. The shot is layered red, white and green, then it's flamed just before shooting.

Wally Crow, Kansas City, Missouri