Straight to the point
Dear Devin O’Leary: I read your glowing review of Brokeback Mountain [Film, January 10], but will not be seeing the movie. I am troubled by the lifestyles Hollywood seeks to support as mainstream.
Richard Smith
Vienna
The definition of “cheap”
Dictionary.com lists several meanings for “cheap,” including: Worthy of no respect, vulgar or contemptible. These adjectives and descriptive phrase aptly describe Erika Howsare’s cover story [“Live cheap,” January 3]. Cathy Harding’s editorial review and commentary [“Read This First,” January 3] are on par with the article—cheap, that is, of poor quality; inferior.
If the Misses Harding and Howsare really wanted to focus on the relativity of “need” and “waste,” discussions of Staunton’s spring cleaning fling, the recycled books at McIntire and Crozet’s Green Olive Tree would have sufficed. There was no need for Ms. Howsare’s discussions of local swimming holes and University schmoozing. A good editor would have seen that, and, at the very least, would have deleted formal mention of the actual proprietors and venues. These two portions of Ms. Howsare’s article were in particularly poor taste. Good humor grows out of actual names and real-life tales but it rarely needs to recite both.
Six pictures accompany the article. Five are obviously tongue-in-cheek. The only one that might be interpreted as serious or ordinary shows a man swimming. Were Ms. Howsare’s suggestions for exercise really meant to be pure humor? One wonders. The layout of the article as well as the accompanying photograph and its caption would seem to suggest that the article offers particularly valid insights for those enjoying a dip in the pool.
Are Ms. Howsare’s suggestions for University eats simply tongue-in-cheek? It doesn’t seem so. According to Ms. Howsare, one or more reporters have already checked out the free eats and shown us all just how cheap a cheat can be. It’s what the editor, Ms. Harding, characterizes as using your imagination. It’s what I’d call cheap.
I usually enjoy reading C-VILLE. It is sad to see its writers and editors start off the new year in such a cheap manner. Cheap thieves are rampant in our society. It is too bad that a publication, which usually does such a good job at using humor to draw attention to questionable behaviors, seems itself to be marked by the same lack of judgment and weakness of moral fiber that afflicts so much of our society.
J.D. Millard
Charlottesville
Start the chorus for Norris
It is truly exciting to see Dave Norris enter the race for Charlottesville City Council [“Good guy Norris set for Council race,” The Week, January 17]. As a public servant of this city, Dave “knows where the resources are,” as he puts it.
Dave is a person who understands the value of building bridges between different organizations, in order to see the best measurable outcomes. He can bring a lot to the table to help Charlottesville move ahead and truly be America’s No. 1 city—for all citizens.
As an advocate for the homeless and disadvantaged Dave has walked the walk in our community and is a true model of community service. His experience with people from all walks of life can bring a richness to his service on Council. I look forward to supporting his effort in any way that I can.
Pete Armetta
petearmetta@yahoo.com