Goodbye, free weekly: Miami New Times has stooped to an unparalleled low with the story "Disintegration" by Forrest Norman (September 15). Whatever happened in Marcy Hine's life is nobody's business but hers and that of her family. The story served absolutely no purpose, except maybe to cause her family and friends grief and heartache. Suicide is hard enough for loved ones left behind. Marcy was not a public figure; therefore the details of her life, her triumphs, and her troubles have no reason to be publicized. Do you consider that journalism? I don't. It is trash -- nothing more than birdcage liner. Shame on you. You've lost a reader. And I will tell people not to waste their time reading New Times.
Harry Piedra III
Miami
Hello, intelligence: I not only believe that your article about Marcy Hine was poorly written, but I also think it was completely out of line. You were disrespectful not only to the memory of Marcy but also to her family, friends, and anyone who has experienced such a tragedy. And the title of your article proves your ignorance. It does not matter how much someone has in life -- material possessions do not necessarily make anyone truly happy. And New Times can't know whether she was okay or not. Even if her family members knew the cause to her suicide, they have the right to keep it to themselves, and I am sure they would have preferred that. I am completely insulted by your lack of respect, decency, morality, and even intelligence. You made assumptions in your article that may be, and probably are not true. I'm disappointed to know that there are such inconsiderate writers in the world, and hope to God (the Catholic religion also says that God is with those that mostly need them, like Marcy, by the way) that you realize the effect of your words.
Maria Piva
Key Biscayne
He's a scofflaw himself: Regarding Francisco Alvarado's story, "The Toxic Pharmacy" (September 15), I'd like to know which judge found it okay to give five years of probation to Harry Castro after he pled guilty to felony grand theft for conspiring to steal millions of dollars from Medicaid. It's bad enough that people like Harry Castro and Sonia Alvarez, who find it acceptable to rob in order to flaunt a fake lifestyle for their children, abound in the suburbs. Which authorities have the responsibility to protect Medicaid and to impose non-biased punishment? Which judge did not put Harry Castro and Sonia Alvarez behind bars? Inquiring minds want to know.
Estrella Eguino
Miami
And the Herald caved: Thanks for Chuck Strouse's September 15 column, "Crash Dummy." Has anyone considered that Jim DeFede's dismissal from the Miami Herald might be related to some of his prior negative and revealing articles about prominent individuals in the community? There would undoubtedly have been pressure on the Herald to release him at those times. Maybe the Herald resisted, then took this opportunity to appease those who complained earlier.
Patricia Smith
Kendall
Java talk: Regarding the Bitch's "The Sweet Smell of Psychosis" (September 8), I was so glad to read that Borobudur is now bathed in bright night lights! It appears as if Robert Daniels did a beautiful job. Back in the late Eighties, I visited Java. Borobudur was most definitely on my must-see list. I wrote the following: "Borobudur -- considered to be one of the wonders of the ancient world -- is exquisite, tasteful. Its shape resembles a multi-tiered wedding cake." Although our guide had us at the monument by mid-morning, it was blazingly hot. I alternated glimpsing the Buddhas of differing sizes with quaffing one Fanta after the other. There was a fair share of Indonesian tourists admiring the monument alongside the foreigners. The whole world rightfully considers Borobudur to be a treasure, and now Mr. Daniels has added to its glory. Bravo!
Georgina Marrero
Coral Gables
Gill Gabber: I approached the recent article proposing a change to the Miami Dolphins logo with a healthy dose of skepticism, especially since the rationale behind it had more holes than Sonny Corleone at the toll booth. I like the current Dolphins logo, and the upgrade they did to it a few years back is fine.
However, upon seeing the winning logo from your contest on the cover of this week's issue ("Draft This Dolphin!" September 8), I realize that with a few minor tweaks, this new logo could work after all. The major complaint I have is that this angry-looking dolphin appears to be trying to tuck his fluke between his flippers (perhaps it's thinking of what is to come in the 2005 football season). Keep the fluke pointing back.
Another change would be to have it look more like an actual dolphin, not a shark. How? By elongating the beak and shrinking the dorsal fin.
My final comment concerns the entry by Eddie Nuñez, who suggested changing the dolphin mammal into the dolphin fish. At least if Mr. Nuñez's entry is adopted, it would finally make sense for the fans to scream "Go Fish!" at a Dolphins game. However, that would present a problem since Miami already has a team with a real fish. And this team has won more championships in the last ten years than the hallowed Dolphins have in the last 30! Yet the Florida Marlins still suffer from one of the worst attendance records in baseball. So instead of spending all this time whining about how lousy the Dolphins are and coming up with these silly little contests, Miami should put its support behind the only team that really matters in South Florida sports right now: the Florida Marlins.
At least, if you scream "Go Fish!" at a Marlins game, you'll be biologically correct (and there's a better chance your cheers won't be in vain).
Ramon Veunes
Miami
New Timesis alarmist: Regarding Kirk Nielsen's "Kite-Crazed Dudes" (September 1), the comment "Yes, it's a beautiful, sexy sport, and it can kill you in seconds" -- give us all a break. This is an irrational, paranoid twist on the truth that nobody needs. Crossing the street can kill you in seconds. Standing in your bedroom can kill you in seconds. What if your roof caves in on your head? So you better not stand in your bedroom. It would be better to just go hide under a rock your whole life and fear everything.
As the highly rational-sounding Marinkovic stresses over and over, most kiteboarding accidents are the result of rider error and overconfidence. I've personally lived through one really bad accident, and the entire thing was my fault. I would never think to sue anyone except my own irresponsible overconfident mistake-making self. Kiteboarding is an extreme sport and things can go wrong. But so can many things in life and to publish a statement such as the one referenced above is inaccurate, offensive, and really pisses me off.
Stacey Fonas
Delray Beach
