Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

Bare Bones of Contention

I was amused by Charles More's comment, "Philadelphia is a traditional kind of town. There aren't too many trendy people here like in L.A." [Naked City, "Bare Market," Audrey Gray, April 21, 2005]. I swear we have enough people who can fake being cool, well-informed, or worldly, even if we do lack both the glamour and depth of the West Coast arts world. Also, 2005 L.A. may be post-postmodern, but who among Angelenos wouldn't enjoy a good nude? Or are nudes post-postmodern to begin with?
Hop Wechsler
Center City

Another Satisfied Customer

I'm leaving Philadelphia, where I was born, raised and educated through graduate school, and where my family owned and operated a business for two generations. I agree that the reason isn't the mayor [WTF, "Something Rank," Duane Swierczynski, April 21, 2005]. Frankly Mr. Swierczynski, it's you.

In a city where I'd want to stay and ply my talents, your column would have run:

"John Street is a very bad mayor and everybody knows it. It's come to this: He's holding the city up to national ridicule, like we used to get from W. C. Fields. Is Street one of the three worst mayors in the country, like Time says? Who the fuck cares? He's bad, awful, wretched, and what Philadelphia needs is a good mayor at the very least, hopefully a great one. It simply can't afford anything less."

In the last census, Pennsylvania lost two seats in Congress and two votes for president because of its anemic population growth and out-migration, while Texas gained two (several cities in Texas lead the list of least-depressed cities). Enough said. It must be stopped, and anyone who is not part of the solution is part of the problem. It's our fault things have come to this, nobody else's, and it's our job to fix it.

The editorial would then have gone on to state the obvious: Street must go, now, and his whole cartel of corrupt Democrats with him. Two-party government must be returned to the city in order to reign in unchecked Democratic corruption. Then, it would have declared its intention to do everything humanly possible to get Street to step down, while simultaneously starting a search for a better mayor.
A. Z. Dennison
Philadelphia

You Can't Handle the Tru

I just wanted to state that you know nothing about the show Tru Calling [Naked City, "Live and Let Die," Joey Sweeney, April 21, 2005]. She does not dream the events. She wakes up on a normal day, goes to Starbucks and off to class or the morgue. At anytime throughout her day, she could see a dead person and they may call out for her help. This show is best decribed as Groundhog Day meets Quantum Leap.

Don't get me wrong, there are lots of shows and movies that the entertainment industry loves to shove down our throats, but I think the reality shows are something you should be pointing out. Last but not least, what is the definition of "Dilemmalicious?"
Name Withheld

Sweeney's definition: dilemmalicious (adj.): transparently clever, so as to make television plots stickier, juicier and somehow more compelling than they should be. Also: The state of being wherein a writer is seriously tempted to give a letter-to-the-editor guy an atomic wedgie from across town. Usage: "Hey, wow, this guy just proved he's a TV dork, even bigger than me. Should I respond to him or not? How dilemmalicious!"