There is one thing I cannot fathom in the efforts to control musical content: Why are record companies coming down so hard on upstart Webcasters who are far more likely to expand the variety, reach and profitability of a music company's portfolio? A goose laying golden eggs is being gored by an industry that stands to benefit the most. Oh, brother, where art thou sanity?
Pete Simon
Denver
The copyright stuff:I was pleasantly surprised by two articles in the May 2 issue that addressed royalty issues for artists. While I agree that Webcasting does not seem to hold much profit for musicians/ composers/artists at this time, the U.S. Copyright Office is right to be looking into the issue, as Michael Roberts reported.
Otherwise, the industry could wind up with the same conundrum that now affects classical music and other, older works, as Marty Jones outlined in "Bitter Suite."
Interesting reading. Thank you.
R.J. Steinberg
via the Internet
Storm Warning
That's entertainment?Michael Roberts's April 25 "Weather or Not" was an interesting article comparing and contrasting Denver's weathercasts and weathercasters. However, he gives way too much credit to Channel 9. They have shown how important they feel the weather is and how much their viewers deserve when they have Kirk Montgomery doing the weather. According to his station bio, Montgomery's only qualification is that he "likes the weather." At best, he is a marginal entertainment reporter, and now we are stuck with him doing the weather? Heaven help us as we enter the season of severe storms.
We have come to expect more from "Colorado's News Leader," and we certainly deserve more.
Name withheld on request
Under Covers Investigation
It's stacked! The Denver Public Library system is clearly one of the most interesting and valuable of the city's many institutions ("Check It Out," May 2).
It has one of the finest collections of books and videotapes by educator and philosopher J. Krishnamurti (DCTV-Channel 58, Sundays at 1 p.m. and Thursdays at 10 p.m.); social and political activist Michael Parenti (DCTV-Channel 57, Saturdays at 3 p.m.); and Michael Albert and Robin Hahnel on how to create a participatory economic system (DCTV-Channel 57, Mondays at 10 p.m.).
The library has access to the Prospector Computer Catalogue, which makes it possible to check out books and publications from numerous college and other Colorado county libraries. Looking for books or videotapes by Noam Chomsky, Ralph Nader, Howard Zinn, Cornell West, David Barsamian or Z magazine? The library has it. Need video- or audiotapes for the progressive/liberal in your family? Type "What's left?" into the computer.
For hikers and backpackers, there's an enormous topographical map collection on the fourth floor of the central library.
Convert Colorado's Ocean Journey into another library!
John Cassella
Denver
Average joes:I read with great interest Stuart Steers's "Bean There, Done That," his April 25 article about Starbucks moving into the Golden market. It's so sad the way Starbucks does business, and also the way in which the general public supports its invasive practices.
The thing I find the most ironic, though, is that Starbucks has the words "embrace diversity" very clearly emblazoned in its mission statement. How hypocritical, when its mission truly is to stamp out diversity wherever it can be found.
Linus Moke
Denver
Last But Not Least
Diamond in the rough: To answer David Hill's (perhaps) rhetorical question in the May 2 Playlist, the reason that Neil Diamond performed at the Band's Last Waltz is that Robbie Robertson had produced Diamond's 1976 LP Beautiful Noise.
One of my favorite Dylan stories is that when Diamond came off the stage at the Last Waltz, he walked up to Dylan and said, "Well, you're going to have go some ways to top that." To which Dylan replied, "What'll I have to do -- go on stage and fall asleep?"
Randy Roark
via the Internet
Prepare to Meat Your Maker
Intestinal fortitude:PETA's billboard "Beef: It's What's Rotting in Your Colon" may be churning stomachs, but it's obviously turning heads (Off Limits, May 2). PETA wants diners to know that fatty, cholesterol-ridden corpses, decomposing in people's intestines, likely cause colon cancer.
Colorado Beef Council spokesperson Heather Buckmaster's remark that there is "no research" to support claims that beef is "harmful" is laughable. Countless studies have proven the link between animal products and colon cancer. For example, a 1999 study by the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention found "considerable evidence that a high intake of red meat increases risk of colon cancer among both men and women." Likewise, the American Cancer Society states that "a diet mostly from animal sources" is a risk factor for colo-rectal (colon and rectal) cancer.
Meat consumption clearly wreaks havoc on human health, but let's not forget what the animals go through. Cattle raised for beef are castrated, dehorned and branded without anesthetics. During transport to slaughter, they are crowded into metal trucks, where they suffer from fear, injury, temperature extremes and lack of food, water and veterinary care. At the slaughterhouse, they are often dismembered while still conscious.
Heather Moore, correspondent
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Norfolk, Virginia
