Our favorite letter of the week ... or year
I am a senior citizen 76 years old, and I fear I’m trapped in a time warp. I was too young for Sinatra and too old for Elvis. I love big band and modern jazz music, but I’m particularly fond of music videos from the ’80s. I worked at a TV and radio station for 28 years and spent a lot of time in the news and weather room with people 20 years younger. I had nothing in common with anyone my age. Indeed, I avoided them like the plague. Politically I guess you could say I’m on the far left.
Unfortunately, being a bit plump, gray-haired and looking like Betty Crocker, it’s hard to maintain an image of being too hip for the room; so although I don’t frequent clubs or rock concerts, the Las Vegas Weekly helps me to live in my own little fantasy world.
Thanks again for the LV Weekly. It gives me a lot of pleasure each week.
Keep on truckin’!
–Edith Dowler
What happened to Linda Lovelace?
Mr. Aaron Thompson:
I notice you referring jokingly to “the late Linda Lovelace doing whatever it takes to ‘untangle her tingle’ in Deep Throat” (July 19, 2007). I thought is was common knowledge by now that Lovelace had been raped and tortured before and during the making of the movie. (See her book, Ordeal.) Her owner/pimp prostituted her and had her gang-raped so severely and continuously by customers that it permanently damaged the veins on her inner thighs. He also forced a botched breast job on her and forced her to have sex with animals. He broke her, and she smiled and smiled because that is what women do when men hurt them this way—to keep from being savaged even more. Lovelace eventually died of injuries sustained during her time in sexual slavery. While she was alive, none of the money from the movie came to her—it all went to her torturer and enslaver.
How miserably cruel, Mr. Thompson, for you to make fun of her in this way. The world has already turned her torture into a massive dirty joke. All fun and porn games for the boys; and a woman damaged so miserably it is astonishing she even survived long enough to tell her story. I guess no one is listening to that story—just continuing to see her as a lucrative dirty joke.
Cordially,
–Suki
Aaron Thompson replies:
My reference to Lovelace was not made “jokingly” but in the lighthearted spirit of the piece, as mere background information. Furthermore, Lovelace died from internal injuries she suffered in a car accident in 2002 and not, as you say, as a result of her injuries from her tenure in the business.
In defense of James Lee Burke ...
Dear Joshua Longobardy,
Regarding “Blow is right” (a review of James Lee Burke’s novel The Tin Roof Blowdown) on July 26: You got a vendetta going against James Lee Burke? Check out Amazon.
Four and a half to five stars across the board and rave editorial reviews by industry reviewers. The New York Times loved it. Someone said it deserved a Pulitzer.
Obviously, you’re from New Orleans and resent what anyone would write about that beleaguered city, or you have something against Burke you’re not telling. There are many phrases in your review that point to its being a personal, rather than a truly critical, review. Is this your chance to get back at him because you were in his writing class and he predicted you’d never sell a novel?
Something says you got a hair across your ass on this one, and it’s too bad. Hell, you even tried to insult his fans, so it’d be a no-win for them to comment publicly on your mean-spirited review. Tsk, tsk. Ever hear of maintaining journalistic objectivity, Joshua?
Dave Robicheaux Fan Club forever.
–Martha Woodworth
Maniacs on the road!
Upon reading your story “A question of justice” on July 26, I’m not surprised that this happened. Metro needs to get off their duffs and start getting these people who violate traffic laws. I refuse to drive in this town. It is foolhardy. People drive like maniacs. I’m not surprised Mr. Weiss had gotten angry. I have been in the middle of crosswalks with my two children and idiots will drive around you. Absolutely unbelievable! Where are the police?
In every other place I have lived in the world and in this country, there are campaigns to catch these people. Vegas is horrible. Nothing! People drive like crazed fools, and then when they are caught they get the tickets reduced or eliminated. You know what we call this in other places—corruption! Mark my words, you are sitting on a time bomb. You ignore the problem and this is what happens. Drivers, slow down and respect the laws. A crosswalk means you stop when pedestrians are in it. Metro, get your officers out there and get these people who are breaking the law.
–A reader
From our MySpace page:
July 17, 2007 7:27 PM
I am so thankful for your magazine. I don’t care much for Vegas. However, your magazine helps me cope.
It’s the reason why I go to First Friday. I’ve learned about so many interesting things to do in Vegas that are NOT in CASINOS.
And thank you for having more realistic views of Vegas and giving equal doses of acclaim and criticism, unlike most citizens of Vegas who are ridiculously optimistic and get upset whenever someone says something negative about Vegas.
I am also happy to see that there are more people who are concerned with the neglected and overlooked culture of Vegas.
Thank you so much.
And I read your review of TC’s Rib Crib last issue. I live about a mile away from there. You said it was in Summerlin. That offended me.
I hate Summerlin with a passion, and I don’t like being told that I live there.
Kareem Jahlid