Big bucks for a steamy night: In response to the Bitch's "Scare Premium" (July 27): My wife and I had the misfortune to sit in the upper deck for the Sunday Madonna concert. Unable to withstand the heat (no pun intended) at the AA Arena, we had to leave in the middle of the concert. I discovered later that Madonna wants the air conditioner off to improve her sound quality.
I find this appalling. If an egotistical, narcissistic performer wishes to make 10,000 people in the upper deck uncomfortable, she shouldn't charge $200 per ticket (and should inform everyone to wear shorts and tank tops). How she has such a ubiquitous following is beyond me.
Jeff Epstein
Palmetto Bay
Not just that crummy newspaper: El Nuevo Herald — fake or no fake? That is the question. "Listen Up, McClatchy" (July 27) by Chuck Strouse was a great article. I am with you on the fact that this should not happen, especially in the major Spanish newspaper in the area, but what bothers me is the lack of creativity. There should have not been a need for a fake picture, since there are plenty of real images of this same nature. Instead of adding prestige to the story (which is the reality of the Cuban people), it takes away from its central point, which is the demise of the Cuban Revolution — a revolution that has converted the country into a giant trash can. It is a public circus and an embarrassment to any Cuban in any part of the world. I say shame on El Nuevo Herald for lacking integrity and ethics, but please don't let the focal point of the story get lost in the muddy waters of journalism.
Manny Lopez
Coral Gables
And show some humility: Regarding Calvin Godfrey's "Thrice Stolen" (July 20): Of course Marshall Robert Bellin can't win. He's driving a Porsche Carrera and wearing a $20,000 watch; however, poor Marshall lives in a "modest Kendall apartment." What's wrong with this picture? If he wants to live like a rock star, way over his means, he has to be able to pay that price. Obviously he can't afford to. Marshall, lower your ego and quit whining.
J. Michael Epstein
Miami
Hello, UNH: The article "Classroom Felon" (July 13) by Trevor Aaronson is fabulous. Thank you for writing it. I attended St. Thomas University Law this last year, but I am actually moving on to attend the University of New Hampshire. Actually I just learned that Steve Clark is a felon by reading the article. The school's dean, Bob Butterworth, does not inform anyone of it and, even worse, in orientation he praised Steve Clark. Even better, Clark's wife Susanne was in my section.
Actually I just hope that the American Bar Association revokes their accreditation because, really, no one should be lured into their schemes. I came from out of state and had no clue of their horrid rep, and now I know and I'm getting out.
Shane Mohalley
Miami Beach
Finally: Regarding Lee Klein's "Foie Wars" (July 13): The focus on foie is misguided. I understand people who feel empowered by a group that gives them a platform to champion the rights of the underrepresented. But why are these folks so unconcerned about the (human) citizens who go hungry every night? We have to question the priorities and also those who would so readily genuflect to those who feel entitled to impose their views on others. Recall Joe McCarthy? I will defend the right to express an opinion, but not the entitlement to coerce and intimidate into compliance — the likes of which this country has seen before.
I, for one, call for tolerance and real reflection — true reconciliation. Are there not citizens who deserve advocates — say inner-city kids over ducks? Let's help each other broaden this dialogue.
Jacqueline Church, gourmet food writer
Suite101.com
Boston
Shame, shame: Thank you for bringing the cruel production methods of foie gras to the attention of the public in Lee Klein's "Foie Wars." This industry is deplorable and is responsible for constant, needless animal suffering. However, there really is no debate about whether foie gras should be produced. The constant abuse, suffering, and torture these birds endure daily at the hands of man so he can simply "enjoy a delicacy" is morally and ethically indefensible! Anyone who is in any way involved with the promotion or selling of this so-called product should be ashamed!
Rob Gonzalez
Davie
Fair, fair: I just wanted to write a quick note about Lee Klein's article about foie gras. He did a great job in covering all aspects of the issue. Being in the industry, I have to say it was very well rounded in its points and gave credit and merit to both sides.
Michael B. Jacobs
Miami
Don't ask, don't serve: I am appalled at how they treat animals in order to create mass production of foie gras for our consumption. Is this necessary? I think not, and I suggest that not only restaurants stop serving it but also consumers stop ordering it from the menu!
Crystal Foss
Hollywood
Forget the foie, show me the money: I enjoy your restaurant reviews. I write, however, to ask that New Times write an article about tipping. The reason is that whenever I go to a restaurant, the end of the meal is usually the most stressful time of the evening. Many restaurants make a habit of improper tip-related tactics. These include automatically including the tip, automatically setting a tip of eighteen percent, not returning change (or worse, claiming change cannot be provided because of lack of cash), and other sordid practices.
Maybe I am just cheap, but I always understood that a tip reflects the level of service received. I make every effort to tip accordingly. I do not appreciate the many current and growing abuses by restaurants and waitstaff concerning tips.
Michael Galex
Coral Gables
Get your head out of the time machine: Nice Zodiac Mindwarp reference in Eric Saeger's "Demolition Doll Rods" (June 29). You obviously date back to the "heyday" of "alternative" rock. Your review is telling us too much about Saeger. He is a dinosaur yet still manages to have little musical knowledge or perspective. He is afraid or perhaps doesn't like women. His genitals wish they were attached to anything else other than him. He really digs The Boss, Bob Dylan, and Lou Reed; he hates skateboards.
Neil Martussi
South Beach
They stick together: One thing not mentioned in the article by Lee Klein about P.F. Chang's, "Chang's Changes Chinese" (June 29), was that they offer a gluten-free menu, which is very rare for restaurants. As one of the many hundreds of thousands of people with celiac disease, I have had the pleasure of making P.F. Chang's a favorite. As more and more people who have been misdiagnosed with things such as irritable bowel syndrome, gastric reflux disease, and a host of other problems are finding, the cause is actually gluten!
Elizabeth Payne
Miami
What's new, Krypto-cat? I agree with Robert Wilonsky's film review "Recycled Steel" (June 29), except I couldn't forgive the makers of Superman Returns for repeating the past: They obviously didn't learn from it, so we are all doomed to repeat it. I think it was fine to treat the first two Superman movies as prequels to this story, but like the X-Men, let's move on to bigger and better villains. Why in hell would Superman fall for another trap (green kryptonite) set by Lex Luthor? Is he also Stupidman or Stuporman? Let's see him fight someone or something that has his strength or maybe bring another superhero in on the plot to collaborate with the Man of Steel. Of the entire legacy of Superman material, the only thing Brian Singer could come up with was Superman fights Lex Luthor. We can get that for free on the small screen in Smallville.
Chris Ossman
Miami
