After reading Andy Van De Voorde's February 29 story about DIA travel expenses, "The Out of Towners," I have one comment: We're probably paying double what we should for all those flights, since the price of airline tickets went through the roof at DIA. Just another reason we should never have built the thing.
H. Vigil
Denver
I can answer Patricia Calhoun's question, "Who'd have dreamed we'd ever be nostalgic for the old, paid-off, close-by place?" asked regarding Stapleton in her February 22 column, "Roll On."
Born and raised in Wheat Ridge, I never suspected we'd lose Stapleton in the first place--because I can't remember ever meeting one single Coloradan who didn't oppose DIA from the get-go. Sure, many were run-of-the-mill conservatives who oppose any government expenditure. But everyone I knew seemed aware of two blatantly obvious facts:
1. There was (and is) nothing wrong with Stapleton. Stapleton could serve Denver for decades to come.
2. Former mayor Federico Pena's motives were his own glory, not the best interests of Denver. That's why his airport campaign lied about the new airport's necessity, cost and distance (he claimed it would be five minutes farther than Stapleton). Most of us saw through those lies long before the campaign succeeded and he bailed out.
Why the majority of Denver's voters failed to notice this before approving DIA still puzzles and saddens me, but that Patricia Calhoun advocated DIA (yes, Pat, we still remember) is disgusting. Perhaps if anyone in the local media had stepped down from the platform and spread the truth to Denver's voters in time, we could have spared ourselves a lot of time, money, embarrassment, suitcases and environmental impact.
Too late now, Pat. You failed to do your job. You're telling us you just now finally realized that we miss Stapleton terribly? Of course. Maybe someone from the suburbs clued you in. Well, from now on, unless you find a specific, current issue about DIA to cover, you'd better drop the topic, because you're a fool and a hypocrite.
Erik Swanson
Denver
Roll Play
Michael Roberts's February 27 "Rock's Roles," about Sidney Louie Gunter, like many stories about the beginnings of rock and roll, was interesting. It is true that in 1952 Alan Freed was not the first to use the expression "rock and roll."
And if Sidney Gunter was the first to use it in 1950, he was also a few decades late.
In 1934 a group named the Boswell Sisters released a record entitled "Rock and Roll." The Boswell Sisters were white, and I can't attest to the beat of the song, as I have never heard it. Later, in 1939, Buddy Jones released a song entitled "Rockin' Rollin' Mama."
According to some trivia books, "rock and roll" had been a musical euphemism for sexual intercourse in rhythm and blues songs for over thirty years before either Sidney or Alan Freed came on the scene.
Al Jacobson
Denver
For Christ's Sake
Regarding Michael Roberts's coverage of Joe Christ in the February 22 Feedback:
How can he glorify such a sick, misogynistic piece of trash as "filmmaker" Joe Christ? This is a man who makes short movies making fun of quadriplegics and making drug use look like lots of fun. In every one of his films he ridicules Christianity, including a reference to Jesus being sodomized in one movie, and another in which he calls the Lord a piece of s**t and a p***k.
I've had the misfortune of attending one of Christ's screenings and am really sorry to read that he's moved here from New York recently. New York seems like a much better place for slime like him. I'm glad he won't be opening his gallery here with his "serial killers" show.
I wasn't surprised to read that Joe Christ is a big fan of Boyd Rice. How can Christ say he's not a satanist? His newest movie has Genesis P-Orridge in it, according to Roberts's article. P-Orridge is the leader of a cult, the Temple of Psychic Youth, and is known to follow Aleister Crowley's philosophies. Also mentioned was the editor of Screw magazine--now there's a fine example of great reading.
Joe Christ seems to like to associate with scum. The big question is, why do we have to read about it?
H. McCain
Aurora
The Rest Is History
Doesn't Phil Goodstein have anything else to do with his free time besides bad-mouthing his fellow historian, Tom Noel? Whenever Phil's name appears in the print media, you can rest assured it is on the snippy end of a book review attempting to pan one of Tom's latest works, or on something like Goodstein's cynical letter published in your February 22 issue.
Come on, Phil, you have to admit that Tom Noel has done a lot more to inspire people to get interested in local history than most history professors would. Have you ever seen him tramping up and down Larimer Street leading a walking tour like some kind of historical Pied Piper? With police whistle clenched firmly in teeth, Tom has guided scores of history lovers across Denver's streets, down its alleys and into the very hearts of many a simple shopkeeper, grocer or tiny downtown restaurant owner. I think you would find disagreement if you tried to tell any of those tour-goers that Tom's primary mission is to glorify robber barons and devious politicians!
And regarding your complaint that Tom often turns episodes from Denver's past into circuslike events: I say, "Hooray!" A fun-loving trip down memory lane has much more appeal than a dry-as-dust lecture on history in some stuffy back classroom down at Metro! History can be such a blast if you can make it come alive. Enjoy it, have some fun and quit being such a spoilsport, Phil!
J. Eric Hammersmark
Denver
Let the Games Begin
I think it takes a lot of nerve for the owner of the Denver Broncos and all the rest of the fat pockets involved in getting a new stadium to even think of going to the taxpayers for any kind of assistance (Stuart Steers's "Bowlen for Dollars," December 20). When are the people with money coming out of their ears going to realize that the average taxpayer in the metro area could not care less about a new stadium or the Broncos in general? We all know that the reason behind wanting a new stadium is for the greedy top level in the organization to make more money and keep fattening the pockets of those overpaid players who for the most part make more in one game than most of us make working all year. I say to Mr. Bowlen and all the rest of them, pay for your own stadium; all you have to do is double the ticket prices on all those devoted fans who idolize and worship your players as if they were gods and you will be well on your way.
As for the tax now being used on Coors Field, after it's paid off let's continue the tax and filter it down to the homeless, hungry, handicapped and maybe even the educational institutions of the state. Again, I say this to high rollers: Wouldn't you feel real good as you head for your million-dollar mansions in Cherry Hills knowing that people and places that are really in need of help are benefitting, instead of the few that already have so much?
Alfonso Lucero
Littleton
Hot to Tot
I just wanted to say God bless the Rok Tots! (Hit Pick, February 22). I attended their February 23 show at Seven South. They were absolutely flawless and had more attitude in their little fingers than most bands dream of .
Until the gig's sudden halt due to an unfortunate altercation between someone in the crowd and the bass player, I was definitely enjoying watching a great band pull off a steadily moving, professional set of kickass songs. I don't know the details of what happened, but I'm saddened to hear that it resulted in 86'ing them from the bar.
Madison Lucas
Denver
A's You Like It
I very rarely read sports articles but had to laugh when I read Bill Gallo's February 29 column on the Oakland As, "Charles in Charge."
I don't know how the newspaper biz works, but whoever approved the article for publication is pretty dumb and could use a course in remedial English. Reference is made throughout the article to the "A's". Someone should clue you in to the difference between the plural and the possessive.
Jeff Reed
Denver
Editor's note: Well, Jeff, here's a clue for you from the Westword copy desk. According to the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual, the plural form of single letters should use an apostrophe before the "s." Only when more than one letter is used should "s" be added by itself, as in "ABCs." The idea behind this is that it's less confusing for the reader, and since communication is the point here, most newspapers follow this style. So mind your p's and q's, Jeff.
All Vets Are Off
On the last few occasions that I have had the misfortune of visiting Denver, I have had the good fortune of picking up copies of your newspaper, most all of which I enjoyed. I couldn't help but notice that the last few editions that I have read seemed largely devoted to the misfortunes, perceived or real, of various convicts serving their sentences in prison.
You see, Ms. Calhoun, I, too, am a prisoner and have suffered many injustices for the past 25 years. As a prisoner, I can empathize with--but I have no sympathy for--the convicts mentioned in your articles. You see, Ms. Calhoun, my crime is far different from theirs. My crime is that I am a veteran. A disabled veteran, ma'am, and I am not alone.
Richard Lee Warthen
Palmer Lake
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