Martin Stein's July 8 review of the Counting Crows concert drew this heated response:
How can you have someone like Martin Stein, who obviously has no musical taste, review the Counting Crows show? Stein is certainly not a Counting Crows fan, nor does he know what the hell he is talking about. The Counting Crows concert at Mandalay Bay was by far one of the best shows I have ever seen. Adam Duritz is a genius, and everything that came out of his mouth was extraordinary. Everyone in the front was singing along, and you could tell they were all thoroughly enjoying the music. I wonder what kind of crappy music Martin Stein listens to ... probably Debbie Gibson and Michael Bolton. Martin Stein, I am sure, was standing in the back somewhere with all the other lame freaks who had nothing better to do on a Friday night. You know, the 30-40-year-old crowd that knows one or two Crows songs from back in the day. How can you expect to enjoy a show like that when you are clearly not a fan?
Editor's note: OK, for future reference, let's see if we've got this straight: Only reviewers 29 years old and younger, who hate Michael Bolton and Debbie Gibson and believe Adam Duritz is a genius (thanks for inventing electricity, Adam!), are eligible to review Counting Crows concerts. Gotcha. Out of curiosity, what are your standards for Dave Matthews Band reviewers?
Last week, in a letter assessing letters regarding Sonja's date rape cover story (June 24), reader Simone Nalani suggested that a letter-writer identified as "A Reader" is, in fact, not very good-looking. A Reader responds:
I can hardly keep from smirking as I respond to Simone Nalani. I have been called beautiful all my life, from babyhood to college fraternity queen to old age. What's more, I didn't have to dress or behave like a slut to get male attention. Further, I was married for 46 years, have two professional children and two remarkable grandchildren.
What's your status, Simone?
A July 1 As We See It piece by Damon Hodge about plans to build low-income housing near an industrial zone, prompted this reaction:
Concerning this article, I don't think the issue deals with any ethnicity or racism. The issue is greed by builders and developers in this Valley. They want to grab EVERY available empty space they can find and build and build and build. This without ANY regard at all to the water issues we're facing in the Las Vegas Valley. Forget the odors. Forget the possibility of disease outbreaks. It's all about how much more money can these developers make and to hell with whether there's enough water.
Everyone seems to say that there isn't enough housing for the large numbers of people moving here each month. The bigger issue is can this Valley and surrounding areas support this unbridled growth? There need to be some limits imposed on new construction, especially new homes and apartments. These builders and developers need to have their noses rubbed in the fact that we don't have enough water to support these projects and the people they'll bring here. All of the plans to drill wells to the north to pipe water here are just Band-Aids on the major problem of too many people, not enough resources.
Building homes for low- and moderate-income families is a noble idea, but putting these homes next to industrial parks goes beyond stupidity. If these developers wish to be magnanimous, let them build these homes in better areas, like Summerlin or Anthem, and sell them at prices affordable to the targeted families. I'm not proposing any form of socialism, just making the point that developers and builders have no thoughts of helping lower-income families. All they're looking at is making even more money.
Commissioner Williams' comment, "... because it is the right thing to do," shows she has no idea of right or wrong when it comes to where people live in this Valley.
Commissioner Reid's comment, "... because of the growth," proves that builders and developers are the ones who drive the County Commission, not the interests of the people who live in Las Vegas and the surrounding areas.
Hubba Hubba!
I am sure the July 8 issue had many great articles, but when you put an ad featuring an absolutely stunning woman on page 2 (the Love Jones ad), it is quite difficult to continue with the magazine.
I don't know if she is local, but I hereby nominate her for the Weekly advertisement Goddess of the Year. Maybe even Decade. Keep up the good work, folks.
A June 3 story about a racy Downtown mural by the artist Dray prompted an exchange of letters between Weekly Editor Scott Dickensheets and a reader identified as MZ. Dickensheets recently received this in response:
I was unable to read the whole story about the "racy" mural on the artist Dray's wall. I did read the letter-writing part in the Las Vegas Weekly June 24 issue.
I think what you said back to MZ was brilliant. I think the mural is brilliant, and I admire the artist's courage to paint it on his wall OUTSIDE.
I can understand why some people have problems with such actions; my father, too, did not think it was right and the city should do something about it. But here is my problem with what they think: What is so wrong about this mural? Is it wrong because it shows the angel's breast? How many times did the mother's babies see her breast? How many times do children see their parents naked?
I believe the problem with society's view on art (like this piece), radio, television and so on, is because a large number of people never look at the question at hand with a full view. We as humans see only what we wish to see, what we wish and think is right. But that is never enough to solve problems of any kind. Even our country's forefathers had to look outside the box for this country to become free.
I don't think it's right to use any child as a shield against freedom of expression. I also don't believe it is right for anyone to say one form of art is bad compared to another.
Also, let's not forget that in ancient times, nudity was everywhere. Greek statues of gods and of regular people were nude.
Thank you for all your courage to keep this city free.
Editor's note: I just want to take this opportunity to assure any child-endangerment specialists in the audience that kids in the Dickensheets household NEVER see their parents naked. Not since we instituted mandatory togas during the pagan equinox animal sacrifices.
Art Director Benjamen Purvis recently received the following:
I truly admire the covers you do for LV Weekly because you do such a fantastic job on every issue. I like to edit pictures, too, and have now decided to go ahead and pursue the dream (*OK, your job ... LOL). I intend on enrolling at the Art Institute of LV for a bachelor of science in graphic design. I'm curious to know what your feedback is on pursuing education in this field to wind up having a career in something I love.
Editor's note: The keys to success: Practice your PhotoShop every day, get a good texture filter and get to know some hot models. And then, kid, you're on your way!