Familiar faces
Re: “Meet the Bloggers” (Metro Times, Dec. 14), I really enjoyed the article. I was really interested in the one about the homeless people. Having been homeless at one time, I just had to check it out. I saw a number of people in the archive that I knew from being homeless in Ann Arbor. They should have more blogs like this one, illustrating the problem of homelessness. —Philip Brzezinski, Ann Arbor
Java was no joke
Jack should educate himself on the McDonald’s “hot coffee” case before he uses it as the poster child for frivolous lawsuits (“Fighting for democracy here,” Metro Times, Dec. 14).
The coffee was 180 degrees Fahrenheit. At that temperature, it causes third-degree burns in seconds. McDonald’s knew of the risks, they’d had hundred of documented complaints against them already when this case went to court. The victim of the much-maligned “frivolous” lawsuit suffered third-degree burns over 6 percent of her body including her thighs and groin. She required skin grafts and an eight-day hospital stay. I think it’s reasonable to expect your morning coffee not to be a life-threatening risk. —Bob Mayer, Roseville
Reaming the reviewer
Re: Your review of Whores: An Oral Biography of Perry Farrell and Jane’s Addiction (“Bang & clang lit,” Metro Times, Dec. 14), I’m not usually moved to respond to inept book reviews, but yours asks for a reaming. The “dumbfuck frauds” you describe were one of the few reasons to listen to music in that era. They could be simultaneously frighteningly powerful, melodic and gentle. They were raw and hungry, writing most of their catalogue in one 18-month period, a high-water mark in the post-punk and metal phase of American music. As for Brendan Mullen’s book, I liked his structure of wrapping the stories together from several perspectives and interviews. It was a satisfying peek at a rare place and time, not just of Jane’s Addiction, but the whole Los Angeles underground-indie music scene. It is you, Brian Bowe, that is the total jack-off, dumbfuck fraud and writer of blowjobian text, not to mention anal douche, monkey tit and assberry jam sandwich!
Dark Side of the Moon the most overrated record ever? You’re such a dipshit! Ha ha! —Tom Kettells, New York, N.Y.
Building watcher
Re: “Land bank limbo” (Metro Times, Nov. 30), the photoillustration accompanying this story depicts three separate abandoned structures as a continuous street. I am aware of this because I know the center structure well. I have captured it on film for about six years. Originally built in 1894 as a men’s club and later converted to a Baptist church, it was torn down two years ago and the site is scheduled to become a playground.
It was a beautiful, stately building, strongly made, including 10-pound paver bricks stamped from Ohio. The picture you published shows it near the time it was torn down. I have pictures when it was in far better condition — four strong pillars out front, windows and white paint.
It’s sad we could not save or restore it. —Terry Roby, Detroit
The case against NPR
The beat goes on with yet another Detroit cultural enterprise ramping down its local agenda and creative currency. WDET’s dumping of local shows for the elitist-driven plaid programming of NPR is not only a loss for those who enjoy the creativity energy of the local scene but yet another retreat from Detroit.
NPR remains an elitist outfit which only covers stories which reflect Western cultural themes — unless of course there is some nasty and graphic global nightmare in a Third World country. NPR’s staff and programming does not reflect the diversity of the country. NPR’s hosts are usually white with a token spiking of African-American insights.
NPR’s subject matter often ignores entire continents and usually only invokes diversity to cover racial themes. It is rare for NPR to have people of color cover fiscal and scientific stories. The promise of more news and NPR’s middle-of-the-road syndicated programming is a prescription for afternoon naps and channel surfing.
I hope the new management at WDET will wake up from its blind loyalty to survey-driven programming and restore its alternative-themed local programming. Those who have supported WDET for years deserve what they pay for instead of the syndicated programming of NPR which an be found on many other media outlets. —Greg Thrasher, Birmingham
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