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CONTACT US AT 0.0. BOX 1027, ATHENS, CA SOSOS OR MA1L@ELACOOLE.COM LETTERS MAY BE EDITED FOR STYLE, CLARITY AND SOACE CONSIDERATIONS WHO NEEDS REVIEW* I thought your review of the Masters of the Hemisphere's latest album I am Not a Freemdoom [Reviews. Aug. >Ef]was a bit harsh. I am not "one of the 50 or so in town who know the Masters personally," but I think the album is quite good. My main complaint is however not that you didn't like the album (everyone is entitled to their opinion), rather I take issue with the way you reviewed it. You didn't talk much about what the album sounded like but rather you obsessed on the fact that you were being left out of some inside joke. Album reviews like yours accomplish nothing. The object of a review is so that people who have never heard the album can get a basic idea of whetner or net they might like the album. Comparisons to other bands (although 1 am sure bands hate this) and albums are helpful. You simply panned the entire album simply because you didn't like the lyrics. Of what help is that? Of course in these modem times with the success of Napster and other MP3 sharing programs record reviews are slowly becoming outdated. I mean I wouldn't trust most of my friends' opinions about an album, so why should I trust some guy who 1 have never met. I simply downloaded a few tracks from the album and found that I liked it and then I bought it. Robi Ragan Athens SLAMMING MONKEY I appreciate the support Flagpole has shown the Athens Poetry Slam, particularly in "Out There" by Margaret Mooie. However, in a recent column filled with inaccuracies about the Slam and snide remarks, Emerson Dameron mentioned that he's mad about not hearing from us about stories he sent to Monkey: Athens Humor and Slam Poetry Magazine. Perhaps that's why he was careless with the facts about the Slam, which I also run. Perhaps he's more careful when he's not writing from the viewpoint of a frustrated author. ANYONE who hasn't heard from a maga zine after a while should check back. In his case, he would have found that we didn't receive his manuscripts. We try to reply to everyone who gives us an SASE or an e-mail address, regardless of whether or not their work is right for us. As to the Slam, the facts are that winners are ALL eligible to compete for slots on the Athens Slam Team, which will compete in the South EAST reaionals NEXT summer (capital letters for corrections). This year's team made a gallant showing at a terrifically competitive regional competition in Americus. This was Athens' first team in years, and the first ever selected through our slam. Michael Wukela, Chloe Tewksbury, Kodac Harrison and Brent Adams worked hard and showed a lot of guts and talent. By the way, we have a suggested donation instead of an inflexible cover charge because the Slam and Blue Sky Coffee, our greatly supportive venue, don't want anyone to miss a show because they're broke. However, we want everyone to pay who can because we pay touring feature performers (including some of the top people in the country) most of the door money to help them survive on tour. Why do some people think artists shouldn't get paid and that every parasitic suit ought to get rich? Weird. We also pay a small cash prize to each month's slam winner. Any further money goes to help pay for the team to go to regionals. Blue Sky doesn't ask for a cut, and none of the orga nizers make a penny from the slam, which runs slightly in the red. The next slam is Thursday, August 17 at 7 p.m., with the Athens Slam team as featured performers. There's also an open mike. Sign-up staits around quarter 'til. And Mr. Dameron, of course, is welcome to submit his work to Monkey. Next time he has a question about a manuscript, perhaps he'll e- mail or write. David Oates Athens TO COMMISSIONERS This is an exact copy of a letter I sent to the Commissioners in Athens. I hope you can print it in your letter section. To the members of the Commission: I am writing to you as a property owner in "rural" Athens-Clarke County. In the debate over the land use plan, I find it troubling that all "rural property owners" have been charactenzed as like-minded regarding the development density' in the proposed greenbelt: let me register her® my firm contention that this county will be best served by the preservation ol open spaces and limitations on sprawling growth. It is precisely the open spaces we have that provide a buffer from a "geography of nowhere"-style landscape, give our water (and lungs) a fighting chance, and offer respite from perpetual hurriedness. We are grounded to the past in our countryside and have now the opportunity to insure its survival in our future. It seems, however, the short-term financial interests of a few privileged individuals will supersede what is best fer the community- at-large. I am dismayed at the prospect of one unit per acre countywide. Individual property owners must be the priority; as property values rise, and density restrictions are enacted, we must pursue fair taxation practices and promote conservation easements whenever possible. The argument that businesses will not locate here unless we have a building density rivaling northeastern New Jersey is used, I suspect, as a scare tactic primarily to encourage sympathy for unwise development. As Atlanta becomes increasingly stressful for the traffic, pollution, noise, etc., city refugees will (ano already do) place a premium on the easy pace of life we still enjoy in Athens. Yes, businesses will still locate here with strong protections intact, taking advantage of a population firmly committed to making Athens a great, sustainable place for now and years to come. Bike lanes, rails-to-trails, the greenway, our parks and cultural opportuni ties must be seen as strengths of this commu nity. Businesses, workers, students and families thrive in beautiful and healthy surroundings. Development, I believe, need not be opposite environmental protection. We should encourage reclaimed and renew able materials, aesthetic standards and commu nity integration when development does take place, l urge dialogue amongst the Commission, not "ideologue" as has appeared in the past. It is an affront to the years of hard work towards the land use plan to consider nothing but the bottom line of those who already have plenty. Erik Hinds Athens LETTERS POLICY Flagpole welcomes letters and prints them without tampering with the author's intent. The editors correct grammar and spelling and occasionally have to cut long letters. TH9S MfllRH WOBLO HEY, READERS.' DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK ABOUT HOW MANY Of YOUR FAVORITE SOCIETAL TRENDS ORIGINATED IN THIS VERY CARTOON? WE DIDN'T THINK So/ I —I FEEL LIKE SUCH AN IH6RATE! X THINK WE SHOULD ALL RUSH OUT AND PRE-ORDER TOM'S FORTH COMING NEW Book. “WHEN PEN GUINS ATTACK!"'AN INADE QUATE IF HEARTFELT GESTURE Of CONTRITION.' by TOM TOMORROW FOR INSTANCE, THE ONLINE WORLD IS ABUZZ with talk OF THE LAfEST EXCITING BUSINESS MODEL, "P-TO-P" (PEER-TO‘-P£ER)--Bur HOW MANY VENTURE CAPITALISTS ARE EVEN AWARE of THE C-To-R (.CARTOON 1ST-TO-READER) model this cartoon HAS UTILIZED FOR YEARS? WHY--IT'S LIKE A ONE-WAY | WIRELESS DATA STREAM.' HE HAS REPURPOSED A SECOND WAVE PARADIGM FOR THE NEW NEW N£W| ECONOMY.' FIRE Up the LEAR JET, BOYS--AND BRING A BLANK CHECK! WE'v£ GOT TO TRACK THIS HUMBLE GENIUS DOWN-- BEFORE SOMEONE BEATS TO IT! AND THINK ABOUT HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN PLACING REAL PEOPLE--JN OUR CASE, POLITICIANS--INTO CON TRIVED, unrealistic settings for-your VIEWING pleasure! its just like survivor - -except IN A CARTOON! I DON'T GET IT.' WHY ARE WE ON THIS DESERT ISLAND? TO SYMBOLIZE OUR ISOLATION FROM AVERAGE AMERICANS? the relative dis connect of our political philosophies? I HAVF. MANY THOUGHTS on the SUBJECT WHICH 1 WILL BE HAPPY TO SHARE--AS SOON AS I CAN GET AHOLD Of KARL ROVE! FOP MY NEXT TRICK, I WILL TURN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES INTO A HOBBLED WATERFOWL! VERY FUNNY. DON'T YOU HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO? And Finally, did you ever wonder how SPARKY IS A8LE .TO ELUDE THE SECRET SERVICE AND POP INTO THE OVAL OFFICE at will? WELL, ITS due TO HIS MAGICAL POWERS! THAT* RIGHT—HE'S MAGIC! HARRY POTTER S GOT NOTHING ON THIS PENGUIN/ zAthenslOQ/\ Center 263 \V. Clinton St. • 546-4200 Basic Beginner Class Starting Dates Thursday, August 31 7:00pm Friday, September ! 5:30pm n' l ^ & Please Pre-Register 546-42(MI $60 for Six Weeks l Y t Ongoing Ijtvei I and Intermediate, Drop-in Classes also Available. 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