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Friday, February 07, 2003

Advice to the newlyweds: Let the elephant go
First and foremost, yes, the elephant is gorgeous ... yes, a wedding is a huge (pun intended) event and mementos can have extreme importance for its participants ("Couple takes case to TV judge," over the burning of their bridal elephant, Jan. 31).

However, as Phat Man Dee and Tommy Amoeba have attended Burning Man [the free-spirited festival in the Nevada], I'd think they would:

a) Not be such publicity whores. Or would they? (This could be a trick question.)

b) Refuse to maintain such attachment to an item of the "material" sort (pun intended).

c) Realize that 40,000 of the funkiest people on the planet united in God's domain leaves a lot of room for missed (and blessed) connections.

Case in point: Last year, my brother, my sister-in-law, my brother-in-law and I were at Burning Man, the four of us being part of three different camps. Despite all attempts at meeting (posting on bulletin board, using the courier service, actually going to each others' camps), we never did cross paths in the entire 10 days I was there.

While I think it's a shame that (most certainly) toxic fumes were released while burning that (fabulous) monstrosity, it's a damn pink elephant ... and from what I know about their folklore, those things were pretty ethereal to begin with.

My advice to Phat Man Dee and Tommy Amoeba:

a) Let it go. (Pink Elephant Heaven can't be that bad.)

b) Hope for reincarnation.

c) Make like the newlyweds you are and devour that free time!

Get over it, get on with it ... see you on the playa in 2003!

HEIDI ROSE
SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.

That girl can sing
Regarding Phat Man Dee's appearance on "Judge Joe Brown," it is unfortunate that the judge has never heard her sing. She is an unbelievable talent. She should send him a tape.

MARY ROSE PROPER
SWISSVALE

Very pleasant 'Dream'
Would you believe attending the opera can be an experience not unlike a recent and very important football game? You see, if you are impatient, and leave early, you might miss the absolutely best part!

For those who left early during the first performance of the Pittsburgh Opera production of Benjamin Britten's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Byham you might have heard you left too soon. The final act was spontaneous, hilarious, and fun fun fun! When the lights came on there was not a face without a smile.

Pittsburghers who love the theater but not the opera should check out the new Pittsburgh Opera! They embrace and defy traditions all at the same time. It is definitely not boring! They surprise, and delight you when you least expect it. Sometimes you just feel plain lucky to be there.

SUSANNA FUSSENEGGER
HARMAR

Castro: No film fan
For the record, I have no objection to the expression of political opinions in a film review, or in a review of any artistic or literary work.

In Barry Paris' review of the film "A Grin Without a Cat" (Jan. 31), Fidel Castro is referred to as possessing "exuberant intelligence, charisma and integrity."

In the third edition of the Katz Film Encyclopedia, under the heading of "Cuba," one finds the following sentence:

"Filmmakers have been imprisoned for making 'counter-revolutionary' films ..."

It is strange to read unqualified praise for a jailer of filmmakers, especially from a film reviewer. Does he believe that the Katz Encyclopedia is printing false information? Does he believe Castro was justified in what he did? Or was he simply ignorant of those acts of imprisonment which seemingly contradict the reviewer's political ideals?

Castro is seen by some Americans as a kind of glorious modern-day Robin Hood. Can that image survive close scrutiny?

GREGORY SMITH
ROSS

Not note for note!
As a Grateful Dead fan, I am so offended by your continually portraying Dark Star Orchestra as trying to replicate individual Dead concerts "note for note" (8 Days a Week, Feb. 2). Every time DSO comes to town, you trot out the same disinformation, "note for note." Stop it. Now! Print a retraction please! I regret not writing this years ago.

No one could possibly replicate a different Grateful Dead show note for note every night. It would take a month of study and practice at least to replicate any one show note for note, because the Dead never played any song note for note twice in their careers, (except for maybe "Touch of Grey").

What's more, it would be completely antithetical to the spirit of the Dead even to try to replicate a show note for note. DSO was asked once in a Q&A if they try to do this, and they had a one-word response, "No."

What they do is play through the song list of a historical Dead show, song for song, in the style of that time in the Dead's history. This is not even in the same dimension as "note for note."

Please stop disparaging this unique and highly talented Dead cover band.

GARY FISCHMAN
WILKINSBURG

On protest coverage
In regard to the letter from Anne M. Geever of Glenshaw ("WPXI's protest coverage pathetic," Jan. 31):

First of all, there were notany viable reasons for WPXI to address the reasons for protest here in Pittsburgh, as well as other cities, when every type of media, in virtually every state in the United States has covered the varying reasons, time and time and time again. Hell, I didn't subject myself to watching any coverage of the Pittsburgh protest, or any other protest for that matter and most definitely could have told you (prior to reading the Feedback article) what the reasons were. Why not, instead of protesting, which never seems to solve anything, provide conclusive strategic alternatives as to what we should do. Maybe that would've provided for some phenomenal "coverage" of the Protest, instead of intellectual naivete.

Second, if you honestly think that our government is going to inform the entire world of what information they "may have" and/or "don't have," then ignorance must truly be bliss for you! I surely don't want my government providing potential "sensitive and confidential" information to the average "Joe" for mine and my family's protection. By the way, I'm not Republican, I'm Democratic.

In addition, it was reported that nuclear weapons (which, personally I feel should have never been created, but, they were) would only be used if chemical and/or biological weapons were used upon the U.S. and any of its allies. Just a note: Never leave out key factors when listing information.

KELLY L. HOMAN
MCDONALD

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