Unnecessary Re “SD on the QT,” July 8. I want to know why it was necessary to say “the Black employee”? Does it matter what color the employee was? Name Withheldvia email Walter Mencken replies: …

Thirty-Five Years AgoSeveral years ago, when asked what he thought about rock music, Marxist philosopher Herbert Marcuse replied, “It’s impotent violence.” At the time I had no idea what he was talking about and really …

Get Serious Apart from being obnoxious, the “SD on the QT” column called “High School Musical Opera” (June 24) is an example of unethical journalistic behavior. William Reed’s musical, Affair of Honour, performed at the …

Melissa MolinaFilm critic,latinoreview.com Joss ­Whedon’s short-lived cult show Firefly spawned the feature Serenity. Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his crew dodge the Alliance ­that’s hunting for his two newest additions. The film is full of …

Depression Definition While it is worthwhile for Don Bauder to have administered a dose of reality to the discourse over the “economic crisis,” for example, as to the mendacity of the Federal Reserve chairman, “Snail …

Thirty-Five Years AgoOne might begin to enumerate the virtues of the Old Globe’s Much Ado About Nothing by talking about the lighting. Lighting designers tend to be among the least noticed — and often enough …

Shout Out To A Brutha Thank you for the article “I Was Bred for This” (Cover Story, June 17), about “Sgt. Tom O’Brian.“ If he was deployed from Fort Lewis, Washington, around July of 2009 …

Thirty-Five Years AgoTHIS EERIE MALE still playing long shots, nevertheless would like an eerie female around the house. Special inducement, summer trip to Lake Erie. KIM: What’s this about Gharlene taking over the Coordinator’s office? …

Thirty-Five Years AgoEven the most noble of persons will some time find himself in a petty fight, a small disagreement. And even the most noble of persons cannot always treat petty things as petty things; …

Me Too Jason O’Bryan’s article was right on the money (“Looking for Work Has Become the New Work,” Cover Story, June 10). I felt like I could have written that article word for word. It …

What Do Paris Hilton and 944 Have in Common? Ten San Diego print publications reviewed on Yelp.com, listed by number of reviews: San Diego Reader: 35 reviews, 2.5 stars. Comments: “I don’t really read it, …

Neal HallfordDirector, Witch Creek, witchcreekmovie.com The Changeling (not to be confused with Angelina Jolie’s Changeling) is a very suspenseful old-school horror movie that relied on atmosphere over gory theatrics. Stellar performance by George C. Scott …

Shame On You Re “Till Death Do Us Part. It’s the Only Way We Will,” by Thomas Larson (Cover Story, June 3). Shame on you for publishing that article about Ginger!!! Hasn’t the family suffered …

Thirty-Five Years AgoA San Diego tennis odyssey should both begin and end at Morley Field. This eucalytpus shaded corner of Balboa Park is a local tennis Mecca, and offers 25 of the finest, most immaculately …

Heavy Hand Moss Gropen’s story about the power of our “strong mayor” was frightening since it demonstrated Sanders’s total disrespect for the law (“Influence Paddling,” Cover Story, May 27). The article tells of two employees …

Thirty-Five Years AgoWho, indeed, was the wrong-headed entrepreneur who decided that Mahavishnu Orchestra and Jeff Beck would make a compatible concert bill? The coup certainly seemed tantalizing in the ads — two of the world’s …

Correction In a letter last week titled ­”Where’s the Okra?” the writer referred to remarks that Naomi Wise had made about Indigo Grill in her April 29 restaurant review. It was Indigo Café, not Indigo …

Thirty-Five Years AgoI was walking around humming that old song about jumping down and turning around and picking a bale of cotton and it made me wonder — just how much cotton is that? And …

Funny, Cool, Short Re “Nothing Normal About It” (Cover Story, May 13). It’s a good story. Pit bulls will be always brave and strong, and I love pit bulls. They’re really nice dogs. The story’s …

Thirty-Five Years AgoI AM GROSSED OUT! My program’s first assembly had no errors at all! That never happens. Wow! Aren’t you excited? - R. LeChevalier, NCR Data Processing Division.— CLASSIFIEDS, May 22, 1975 Thirty Years …

Benjamin’s Boot Camp As longtime fans of Mr. Benjamin’s Cotillion, we were thrilled to find the story “Don’t Look Down,” with its much-deserved praise for Peter Benjamin and his dance class in the May 6 …

Thirty-Five Years AgoIn general, I avoid eating at places with the words “jolly” or “happy.” Not because I am a misanthrope, but because the chain that calls itself the Jolly Ox serves little to give …

Just Do It About Dorian Hargrove — courage to pen that story (“Broken Skull, Broken Heart,” Cover Story, April 22)! No, you will never be the same, you’ll be better! Different, in a very unique …

Thirty-Five Years AgoRECREATIONAL VEHICLE. You had better give up am radio, drinking, and Elton John — you know why? Look at another ad, toots. Love, Leenie Baby. LOOKING FOR people to help start a commune …

Tyler Richards HewesExecutive director, Orchestra Nova, orchestranova.org My friend Trevor hosts the occasional Man Night at his house; we watch “manly” movies, drink beer, eat pizza, and add our own commentary. The movies always have …

What An Insult I was insulted by your article “Broken Skull, Broken Heart” (Cover Story, April 22). I was one of the physicians caring for Dorian. The derogatory depiction of his medical care and physicians …

Thirty-Five Years AgoI am (choose one or more) appalled, outraged, amazed, mystified, annoyed; at the review of the recent Frans Brueggen/Alan Curtis concert, done by one J. Saville. Although I could not attend the concert …

His Class Average Is Still Okay Up to now, Don Bauder has been doing low-A and high-B work in his columns covering the ongoing financial disaster. But in his April 15 column, he flunks the …

Thirty-Five Years AgoLooking for work in San Diego these days is a full-time job in itself, with all the attendant frustrations. Only the paycheck is lacking. With the state, you have a big advantage if …

Best Story Ever Man, this is the best story ever — “Want to Be Sent Home in Pieces?” (Cover Story, April 8). I give you guys a ten. Dr. Greenthumbvia voicemail Loved “Pieces” I just …

Thirty-Five Years AgoTwo of the most popular recovery agents around San Diego are these two black guys named Mike and Bill. (Anonymity is so important to them that Mike’s business card says only “Mike.”) They …

Thirty-Five Years AgoCarlos Santana sauntered quietly onto the stage of the Sports Arena. A sole purple spotlight centered on his diminutive frame as he bowed for five seconds in silent meditation. Santana, resplendent in an …

Beatle Booster Thanks much for the short piece on Brian Ellis (“Boundless,” Music, April 1). One thing I have learned from decades of reading music journalism is that performers who publicly disrespect the Beatles are …

Acacias Strolling many years ago Down a street taken over by acacias in bloom I found out from a friend who knows everything That you had just gotten married. I told him that I really …

Return To Sender Re “Big Brother will be watching” (“Under the Radar,” March 18). I am sending you two pages from Ben Hueso’s campaign disclosure report, filed with the secretary of state and San Diego …

Thirty-Five Years AgoThe taxpayers of San Diego pay mayor Pete Wilson the middlin’ wage of $20,000 a year. Some say we get a lot for our money. Everybody would agree on one bargain, though: we …

David PatroneCrooner,davidpatrone.com I first saw The Blues Brothers when I was in my early teens and was amazed by the juxtaposition of musician, crusader, and criminal married to an incredible soundtrack and eclectic, relevant cameos …

Yellow Fellow Nobody is that yellow. I liked the article on City Heights (“Changes in City Heights,” March 18), but the yellow tone to the Asian section of the portrait on the front sucks. Come …

Thirty Years AgoI worked at a liquor store. We always had drifters and drunks that would hang out there. Well, I got to know one drunk named George. I dialed the pay phone when George …

O That Summer my sister and I both wound up back in Coos Bay, basket cases, lonely as hell. She was recovering from drugs and alcohol, I was newly divorced, a Sunday School teacher with …

The Black Man Is Black In response to Moss Gropen’s piece on the recent racial uproar at UCSD (“Media Hawk,” March 11), I would like to make a quick correction. Ironically, in a paragraph where …

Thirty-Five Years AgoI saw the Miracle today, the one, that is, at the Israelite Church of God in Christ on 32nd and L Street. I’m not usually one for miracles...the usual stuff like bleeding statues …

Podder’s Pride Ms. Rejas’s (“Filipino Rules,” Cover Story, March 4) “podder” must be gloating with bragging rights for having a daughter who single-handedly made fun of her family, her upbringing, and her culture in one …

Thirty-Five Years AgoThere are other, larger reasons for the existence of sailing clubs, of course. For one thing, they provide a social refuge for old families steadily assaulted by Southern California’s percolating nouveau riche. If …

Fake Facts I am writing regarding the February 25 story published in “S.D. on the Q.T.” titled “Policeman Poet Vows to Kick Some Ass.” As the chief of the Coronado Police Department, I am disappointed …

Thirty-Five Years AgoThere seems to be an increasing popularity of Renaissance-type music in this area. [I]s what I’ve been hearing historically authentic or just another quaint Southern California put-on? Unfortunately, the general public has gained …

Lisa FranekProgram Associate, Media Arts Center San Diego Since we’re showing Carlos Saura’s latest film Io, Don Giovanni, at the SDLFF, I was inspired to revisit one of his earlier films, Goya in Bordeaux. With …

i was leaving my fifty-eighth year when a thumb of ice stamped itself hard near my heart you have your own story you know about the fears the tears the scar of disbelief you know …

Thirty-Five Years AgoKOLCHAK: I have found evidence of a most interesting case of vampirism. Meet me at Colinwood in Collinsport, Maine. Count D. TIM! What do you mean Brennan’s been snooping around the garage? Haven’t …

CC&Rs Are Your Friends Re “Home Owner Association Horror Stories” (Cover Story, February 18). It would be encouraging to print the other side of the story as well. In this current economy, negativity sells, and …