TOC/MAIL 41 THIS WEEK: Wimblehack fans jump the gates, the ...

THIS WEEK: Wimblehack fans jump the gates, the conservative case against Bush reaches four despondent ears, the truth about the U.S. sugar industry finally comes out and does anyone still believe the children are the future? PLUS: OMG! Justin Rocket Silverman just asked us out!!

OH WOA WOA, JAMIE'S CRYIN'

Hey, maybe next month you can have another contest about some other dead people-like Jews in Germany, or maybe some of the recent beheading victims, or how 'bout dead kids!! Yeah, that'd be a real hoot because death's funny ("Picks Page Contest," 10/6)!! Yeah... These people don't matter to anybody-kinda like the Ramones. Whattayasay???

Well, either way-I wipe my ass with your rag.

Fuck off.

Jamie Coville, via email

THE LAST WORD

CBGB does not agree, support, condone or have any associations with the activities or publicity that in any way dehumanizes the personal tragedies suffered by the families, friends and fans of Joey, Dee Dee and Johnny Ramone ("Picks Page Contest," 10/6). Although we advertise our shows in New York Press, we emphatically want it known that we find their latest contest concerning Tommy Ramone utterly without humor, or even basic common decency.

CBGB has always been proud of our association with The Ramones and will forever feel loss and regret that all band members are not still with us.

CBGB, Manhattan

ROCKET MAN

Thank you for naming me as the "Best Journalist Name" in your Best of Manhattan edition (9/29). Although I've never had my own homicide so freely advocated in print, the accompanying drawing of an eyeglass-wearing rocket looks great taped to my computer. For the record, Rocket is indeed my real middle name, and I extend an open invitation to any of your writers to join me for a discussion about nomenclature over half-off malts.

Justin Rocket Silverman, Manhattan

THEY'VE BEEN NOTIFIED

Matt Taibbi's "Wimblehack!" was superb (10/6). God bless him. This must be forwarded to all the hacks, and send a special CC to Bob Somerby at dailyhowler.com.

M. Lipton, Huntington Woods, MI

BEST READER NAMED STANLEY

Herewith, several comments about your "Best of Manhattan" edition (9/29):

1. What were all those outer-borough places doing in a "Best of Manhattan" edition?

2. Your contest rules suck. Out of consideration for those of your readers who are still computer klutzes and, hence, have to schlep to a cyber-cafe because we don't have a PC at home, why not choose a winner at random instead of first in, best dressed?

3. "Best mom" must live in my neighborhood. I see her all the time in the supermarket and on the street. In the supermarket, she yells at her kids, "I told ya I ain't buyin' any a dat shit," teaching them the rudiments of civilized discourse. Even worse, she grabs her kids' hands as she crosses the street against the lights, teaching them it's okay to jaywalk.

Stanley Ginsberg, Long Island City

THEY DO IT ALL THE TIME

Just finished reading "The City" section of the New York Times and I see they've copied two stories from your "Best of Manhattan" issue, namely the Eastern Parkway bookseller who carries mainly religious materials, and the war between Metro and amNew York (9/29).

I'm still reading your "Best Of" issue. I'm on page 78 now. Want to make a bet that there will be other stories copied from the "Services" section that I'm about to read?

I think it's time New York Press did something about this, because it's beyond plagiarism at this point.

Carol Schachter, Manhattan

FILL HIS FLAGON WITH MEAD!

Just finished "Wimblehack!" by Matt Taibbi (10/6). Matt, I worship at the foot of your royal throne.

Douglas T. Cooper, Manhattan

THE FIX IS IN

"Best of Manhattan" 2004-"Best Boondoggle: The West Side Stadium" (9/29) forgot "Best Place to Purchase Support of a Public Official-New York City Council."

Wonder how many New York City Council members have endorsed this project and received campaign contributions from Jets owner Robert Woody Johnson IV and his friends? For example, New York City Councilmember David Weprin has a clear conflict of interest in his support of the proposed Jets Stadium. His July 16 public campaign-finance report revealed that as New York City Council Finance Committee chairperson, Weprin has raised $366,000 dollars to date. This included a donation from the Jets owner shortly after endorsing the project.

Independent observers of municipal government know that there is a political quid pro quo expected by lobbyists who represent various special-interest groups doing business with the city in exchange for financial donations.

As chairman of the New York City Council Finance Committee, how can he represent the interest of taxpayers when accepting campaign contributions from those doing business with the city, by either seeking contracts or direct subsidies for construction projects such as the new Jets Stadium? The appearance of a conflict of interest is obvious. Where there is smoke, there is fire. Taxpayers have reason for concern given Councilmember Weprin's support of giving $600 million dollars in city and state funding to subsidize construction of the proposed new Manhattan West Side Stadium for the New Jersey Jets. This is a serious conflict of interest for Weprin's endorsement of this project. Construction of this facility will cost taxpayers over six hundred million dollars.

Besides the campaign contributions from the Jets owner, are there other contributions from the Jets family, employees, consultants, players, construction unions or construction contractors who also support building a new Jets Stadium? Does he support construction of a new stadium for the New Jersey Nets basketball team in Brooklyn, as well? Has he also accepted campaign contributions from Nets owner-developer Bruce Ratner and his friends? There are other avenues lobbyists use to influence elected officials. For example, have any of these people also taken tickets or dinner journal ads to Councilmember Weprin's local clubhouse or Queens County Democratic Party annual fundraising dinners? All of these activities could appear to be more than a coincidence. How many other members of the New York City Council face the same moral dilemma as Weprin?

All members of the New York City Council should want to avoid conflicts of interest. Preserve the integrity of public office and come clean with voters. Make public and return any campaign contributions from the Jets or Jets affiliates.

Larry Penner, Great Neck, NY

MAKE ME A BELIEVER

In a skeptical voice, David Ritchie says, "The human brain appears to have a receptor for such stories, as for opiates, because the neo-doomsday crowd never lacks an audience. Just now, a lot of people again imagine the world ending very soon" ("The Sky Is Always Falling," 9/22). It may be pointed out that Ritchie's reasons for denying doomsday is merely a lack of belief. Contrarily, the people he quotes all seem to have more solid reasons for their belief than he for his disbelief.

By way of comparison, it may be mentioned that prior to 1989, almost no one would have confessed to a belief that the USSR was going to implode. Similarly, the impact of Ritchie's style of disbelief would have put him as a heavy holder of stocks early in October of 1929. The point is not to rely on a total lack of knowledge (or negative knowledge) upon which to form beliefs. Until his denials are as well founded as the poorly founded beliefs of the doomsdayers, he would be wise to live in great trepidation.

Richard McBride, Dallas, TX

SECRET AGENT MAN

How come there is no byline on the "The Devil Went Up to Queens" piece ("The Page Formerly Known as Page Two but Now Known as 'Page Fuck You Rupert,'" 9/22)? The writer should be extremely proud of that piece; it's brilliant and creepy!

Mary Anne Christiano, via email

HAPPY ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

I found your alternative weekly online by happenstance a year or so back when I was cruising New York sites for streaming radio, and I was hooked. You've been called the "truest alternative news weekly in the country," and judging from your content over this past year, I'd buy that comment. The writing is capricious and sophisticated, and you've got just the right touch of left-wing language.

Sarah Riley, Halifax, Nova Scotia

BEST ISSUE

The "Best of Manhattan 2004" was absolutely great, very funny (9/29). I loved the gay stuff-hilarious. Alas, my favorite falafel place on 8th Ave. didn't win. I still think you're too conservative for me, but great issue.

Jim Sullivan, New York

POINTING AT THE FENCE

Nice article and good observations by Russ Smith on Jimmy Breslin and others of his mindset ("Voices of the Past," 9/22). As I see it, this election is all but over. The only way John Kerry is going to pull an electoral win out of this slow-motion train wreck he calls a presidential campaign is to somehow morph into a smiling, charming but resolute Abe Lincoln-like figure in the upcoming debates, at the same time George W. Bush (as Smith alluded to) goes and makes some sort of abominable faux pas that turns people away in droves. But that's not gonna happen.

John Russell, Philadelphia

SUGAR-COATED

I thought the article "The Conservative Case Against George W. Bush" by William Bryk was fantastic (8/4). I have one qualm. On the bottom of page one it says, "Sugar, grain, cotton, oil, gas and coal: These industries enjoy increased subsidies and targeted tax breaks not enjoyed by less-connected industries."

Sugar. I know for a fact that sugar has not been treated fairly by this administration. Our industry came under direct attack as Bush called for the Central American Free Trade Agreement, CAFTA. If CAFTA passes Congress (as it cannot be altered during Congress), the resulting influx of untariffed imports will result in the destruction of the American sugar Industry, specifically the Louisiana sugar industry, which directly employs over 27,000 workers.

We have not received any tax breaks whatsoever from the Bush administration. Also, dealing with CAFTA: You may want to check out what happened to Sen. John Breaux. All news accounts show there is nothing more than a retiring senator, but rumor is he was pressured out. Just before he announced his retirement, he was leaked information from the White House that sugar would be left off the CAFTA agreement. He broke the news the next day and was quickly called on his assertion by a White House spokesman calling Breaux a liar with no authority to make such an announcement. Sure enough, a week or two later, sugar was included in the final CAFTA agreement. Now, after intense uproar by the sugar and other industries, the administration has decided to push the vote on CAFTA back until after the election. Isn't that convenient?

Christopher J. Dugas, Napoleonville, LA

KNOW YOUR REPS

William Bryk makes a compelling case with "The Conservative Case Against George W. Bush," but the alternative is a Democrat named Kerry (8/4). If you want to change things, vote for those in your state elections that reflect your views. We are a representative republic, remember? Congress makes the laws-not the president. You wouldn't believe how many people I have talked with who do not understand that this is how our government works. From my son's friend who thinks that Bush is trying to regulate his video games, to those who believe that the president is responsible for the economy, I am truly amazed by the ignorance of my fellow Americans.

Maybe it's because I'm a home-schooling mom who learns right along with her son that I am better educated on such matters.

There is too much riding on this election for me to not vote, or to worry about Bush not being conservative enough for me. There is no alternative. This family will be voting for Bush.

Joy Miller, via email

THE BRYK IS RIGHT

"The Conservative Case Against George W. Bush" by William Bryk was great (8/4). Beautiful! Bryk really nailed the essential and critical truths that we are confronting in this election-a high-minded treatise that supersedes all of the usual, gutter-level arguments that the public is dwelling on. This is not a Republican vs. Democrat issue-this is a struggle for the heart and soul of American democracy.

Diane Chotikul, Baltimore

"S" IS FOR SHAKEDOWN

Just finished Judy McGuire's "The Other 'S' Word" (9/29). Let me say this: the Kobe Bryant case stank to high hell. It just smelled like a shakedown in so many ways. She was reportedly calm and collected when she reported to her superior immediately after being "raped." There are also a number of other things that I don't have time to get into right now that just don't add up. She claimed she was too distraught to testify in the criminal trial but will have no qualms about testifying in the civil trial? Please. My understanding is that this was a shakedown, and that a deal was reached in the civil case for big bucks, which is why she dropped the criminal case.

I'm tired of seeing a man convicted in the media while the woman's name is not released. I'm glad her name came out. I'm tired of a man's sexual history being used at trial while the woman's sexual history is sealed. I'm glad her sexual history came out.

Both of these restrictions are unconstitutional and have created a cottage industry of blackmail in this country, down to the grade-school and Little League levels. Kids are taught in kid movies how to accuse an innocent man and have him taken away. It's played for laughs. Things are really getting out of hand.

I would appreciate it if you would highlight a case where an innocent man was convicted of rape. There are a lot of proven examples of this, including some of the so-called date rapes. This is very pertinent to your column.

Judy, I'm sorry if you were raped, and I hope that doesn't happen to you again. I know these things do happen. After all, this is your column, and it will have your viewpoints from your experiences, but please don't hang your hat on the Kobe trial. That case was wrong in so many ways, and doesn't serve well as the example you were looking for.

If you have good points to make about rape, and you probably do, kindly reframe your thoughts outside of this case, which rings too many alarm bells for too many people, including me.

Name Withheld, Silicon Valley, CA

SO WE'RE THE?LUBES? THE RUBES? HUH?

That piece "And Fuck You Too, Lachlan" was a little testy ("The Page Formally Known as Page Two but Now Known as 'Page Fuck You Rupert,'" 10/6). You describe the New York Post as "A cousin caught touching an eight-year-old boy and forced to join the army-only to be court-martialed for smoking weed etc... This cousin is not so much a bad-ass as a misguided unimaginative rube."

When I read this I was confused. I thought you were describing the New York Press. I would add that your paper is a 12-year-old pimple-faced, whiteboy wearing baggy clothes trying to get down, who having just discovered his package can't keep his hands off of it. The Post is ass-bad and wouldn't know a rube from a lube whereas New York Press lubes its rube!

Carol Demech, Manhattan

UNLESS YOU DIE FIRST

Paul Krassner's piece on Richard Avedon read like a parody of egotism ("Dick Avedon,"10/6). I'm sure Krassner has no idea how grotesque his self-involved piece was. Little does he know.

You might as well reprint it and use it as his obituary when he dies.

Jill Melamed, Manhattan

WORKING THROUGH THE HURT

I just read your piece on the last two Ramones-related contests ("Picks Page Contest," 9/29). First off, we fans were pissed at the "How Should Tommy Ramone Die?" contest because you guys had the nerve to have it right after Johnny died, not because you screwed up and displayed Marky's pic.

Second, don't be so quick to assume we're all aging punk rockers. Plenty of the people I know who were offended by the contests, myself included, are well under the age of 35 (I am 20).

Last, as you probably have already guessed, I don't appreciate anything else in that piece either. There is a line between being funny with an attitude and being a complete asshole. Once again, your paper has crossed that line by miles. Grow up.

Adele Holzman, Purchase, NY