LETTERS

Dear Editor,

Sal DeFillippo's column, Sal's Celebrity Football Picks: "Who will win the Golden Nerf?" is a great addition to the Las Vegas Weekly.

But filing the column under "Art and Culture" on the website —that's a bit of a stretch.

Dear Stacy Willis,

Thank you for exposing the almost comical nonsense involved with the Wal-Mart protests ("Picketers For Hire," September 8). I am a realtor and worked with clients in the Shadow Hills area (I-215 and Cheyenne) where a Wal-Mart grocery store was going in. Even though this was an HOA meeting to introduce the project to the neighborhood and get their input, we still had union shills who weren't even residents or members of the HOA showing up to protest (nothing rational or useful was said). Wal-Mart incorporated a number of our suggestions into their final plans and we were able to change traffic patterns, landscaping designs and loading-dock arrangements as well as getting a kosher food aisle.

As a realtor, I've actually had a number of clients buying homes who were Wal-Mart employees. Almost all of them worked their way up the company and were buying homes which were substantially above the median price ...

As a realtor, I've been on both sides of the fence with Wal-Mart. I was supportive of their ability to create supercenters in Las Vegas (remember Erin Kenny?) but I was opposed to them building one in Peccole Ranch because our clients did not want it and it was an inappropriate fit for the size of the lot. But it doesn't take too much intelligence to see that the protests against Wal-Mart have nothing to do with Wal-Mart employees.

And as those protesters can attest, these Wal-Mart stores do carry things that people want. Wal-Mart ought to make a bigger joke out of this and start delivering lunch to the protesters.

And I hope you don't get too much flak for writing this amusing piece.

Dear Stacy Willis,

Congrats on making the Drudge Report. Thanks for writing a superb piece on Wal-Mart.

Dear Stacy Willis,

I am absolutely floored, dismayed and speechless in reference to your article. This represents total hypocrisy. The fact that I work hard and aggressively helping and educating non-union workers in the Boston market about their rights, wages and benefits, only further infuriates me. I work for Plumbers Local 12 Boston, a very progressive union that is very successful and has grown during the last eight years. The UFCW has no clue about organizing and the need to reach out and educate workers. The fact that they joined SEIU in this movement and split the AFL-CIO only proves what they truly represent. I would like to enlighten you to a statement in an article from the leader of SEIU, Sterns, who said that SEIU members should contribute to the union so the funds can be used solely for SEIU refugee members. How self- centered. I am going to be in Vegas from 9/30 through 10/7, and will try to visit one of these sites. I intend to talk to the workers and educate them in reference to this situation. Talk about an oxymoron: MORONS, plain and simple. Good job and good piece.

Dear Stacy Willis,

Enjoyed reading your story! You did a great job. It is an interesting mix, isn't it?

I too am not fond of Wal-Mart, but where else does one go? I think Bill Walton would not like what he sees for sure!

Hi Stacy,

Your story was balanced and well-written, except there is no such word as "picketers." It's "pickets."

Thanks,

Editor's Note:
Thank you. And you're right, the traditional word is "pickets." But doesn't that just sound weird as a noun?

Dear Josh Bell,

I just got around to seeing (Million Dollar Baby) the other night and my curiosity took me to Rotten Tomatoes to read past reviews of this "masterpiece." I couldn't agree with your review more. In fact, I would have gone a step further and said Eastwood's performance was lackluster to poor to cliched. Swank, however, was excellent. She carried him through the scenes. Anyway, good job.