Shut up and sing

	Danny Moloshok, The Associated Press A reader says Grammy Awards don't excuse what The Dixie Chicks -- Emily Robison, left, Natalie Maines and Martie Maguire -- have said. Click photo for larger image.

Not everyone votes for Grammy Awards, therefore, any talk of the Dixie Chicks getting the last laugh should be tempered (Ladies' night: Dixie Chicks, Mary J. Blige hit the right notes at the Grammys), Feb. 12.

Not everyone is throwing their arms open. They can win a little trophy for writing meaningless country pop songs, but it doesn't mean Natalie Maines isn't an ignorant, unrefined moron that needs to learn how and where to express her displeasure with political events.

They are low on factual information, have too much money for their own good, and have too large a stage to bellow given their lack of knowledge regarding the war this country fights. However, they are the "Hollywood elite," so I guess they do know much more than us working folk. Sometimes I forget about their superiority.

John Juliano
Richland

Oh, no, not Sienna

Why would the PG bother to publish this piece of garbage? (Q&A with Sienna Miller), Feb. 11.

Haven't we had enough of people who know nothing about our city badmouthing us? Glenn Whipp of the Los Angeles Daily News didn't even get through his introduction before agreeing with Sienna Miller's unflattering description of Pittsburgh.

I think that's a joke, considering the number of heavyweights in the entertainment industry who were either born or educated in Pittsburgh.

It's one thing to hear criticism from a person who actually knows this city, but I've heard enough from people who don't have a clue what they are talking about.

Please be a little more selective about what you publish. Pittsburghers prefer to read articles by writers that actually know their subjects.

Shani Love
Morningside

Video attitude

In response to ("Don't blame the video games, "Feedback: 2/8/07):

Anyone who feels the need to say, "I've done it and I'm fine" usually isn't.

Anyone who denies to be violent and uses terms such as "moron and should be treated as such" usually is.

Anyone who uses the degrading behavior of the past to defend his or her ideas in the present, ancient Romans, probably hasn't learned the lesson.

Anyone who cannot see issues in degree -- television of the '40s and '50s vs. "CSI" and "Law & Order" -- probably are less tolerant of others' opinions.

Anyone who comes across as a fine example of what they are disparaging should probably keep their opinion to themselves for embarrassment's sake.

She is right in one respect. Video games don't kill real people. Real people kill real people. It's a shame some have to practice.

Darrell F. Pendro
Monroeville

Pause for ovation

We had the young violinist Timothy Fain do the Tchaikovsky concerto for our 2005-06 opening concert (Applauding the relaxing of rules of clapping in classical concerts), Feb. 4. He literally got a standing ovation after the first movement -- it stopped the show for 2 minutes. The audience was screaming -- I've never seen anything like it.

I mentioned this to an old friend in the music business who replied: "Your audience must be dumb. Don't they know they're not supposed to clap in between movements?"

There's no question that sometimes we're our own worst enemy!

Lawrence J. Fried
Executive director,
Bellevue Philharmonic,
Bellevue, Wash.

A choice for kids

In response to ("A loss for young kids," Feedback: 02/01/07,: Despite the loss of Dominion Days, there is still a great option for families with a limited budget for entertainment who are seeking quality family theatre -- Playhouse Jr.

Playhouse Jr. is the second-oldest-running children's theatre in the country. Each season, we produce several shows appropriate for children and their families at the Pittsburgh Playhouse of Point Park University in Oakland. Tickets to Playhouse Jr. are extremely affordable at $7 each, $5 each for groups of 10 or more. And for every Playhouse Jr. show, kids and their families have the opportunity to meet the cast and get the autographs of the actors. Families are also welcome to see the vibrant musicals and enthralling plays presented by Point Park University's Conservatory Theatre Company. Tickets for these shows are available for $12 - $14 each.

Plus, we are offering a number of special events throughout the season in conjunction with our shows to enhance our audiences' theatrical experience.

We are honored to be entertaining the third generation of Playhouse Jr. patrons and are glad to be able to offer families the special experience of sharing in live theatre together. We welcome you to become part of our audience.

Chris A. Hays
Marketing associate,
Point Park University
Conservatory of Performing Arts

Real vs. digital

Thank you so much for such an enlightening article regarding "real" and digital organs (Concert Review: Using 'real' and digital organs, musicians give fascinating recital), Feb. 5.

As an organ music enthusiast, I too prefer "real pipes" to electronic. However, I must admit that with the Allen Digital organs, it is very difficult to tell the difference.

Our small country church has such an Allen instrument, purchased primarily because a true pipe organ's cost would have been prohibitive. It is an adequate instrument, however, and is a joy to hear and sing accompanied by, as I do.

Had I known of this event in Shadyside Friday evening last, I would probably not have been in New Wilmington, to a recital by Christa Rakich on the rebuilt auditorium organ at Westminster College; rather, I would have been in Shadyside!

Craig Gordon
Cranberry