Letters are posted as we receive them during the week, and before they are printed in the paper, so check back frequently to see new letters. If you'd like to send a letter to the editor, use this postmarks submission form, or email your letter directly to mail@austinchronicle.com. Thanks for your patience.

Dear Louis,
    I'm sad we all lost Rollo Banks [“Page Two,” April 20]. I'm sad to think he died in enough pain to have to take his own life. There are a number of us in the Austin tattoo community, both artists and aficionados, who have great Michael “Rollo” Malone tattoos and stories. I personally bought my first and last tattoo machine from him. He was a unique and large influence on a lot of us.

Dear Editor,
    Re: Hot Fuzz [Film Listings, April 20]: I went to see it based on your review, and your categorizing it as "comedy/action.” The film was well-constructed and presented. I found, however, that "action" meant "violent," and the blood and gore far outweighed any humor. I wish you'd indicated the level of violence. I wouldn't have gone. As it was, I had to leave the film toward the end. Just had way enough darkness. Action could mean simply car chases and the like. Not in this particular case, unfortunately.

   [Marjorie Baumgarten replies: "Action comedy" is a common term used to describe a certain hybrid genre, although I understand that you might have had different expectations of Hot Fuzz based on the way you misquote me describing it as "comedy/action." Rather than depicting Hot Fuzz as some sort of Keystone Kops update, I describe the film as "mimicking and tweaking moments from films by the likes of Tony Scott, Michael Bay, and Jerry Bruckheimer" – some of the most inflammatory, blow-'em-up action directors around. Hot Fuzz is furthermore rated "R," and I suggest that you and other readers would do well to consult sites such as www.mpaa.org/FilmRatings.asp and www.filmratings.com for complete listings information regarding the type of content that earns each film its particular rating.]

Mr. Black,
    I am writing to you because it seems that no one at the Capitol level will even listen to me about the plight of Kinship Care Providers. On March 31, a bill was submitted to the house that was not published, no information was leaked on this bill. The bill was introduced by Rep. Borris Miles, I have met with the staff of Rep. Warren Chisum and Rep. John Davis. But it has stalled in the committee. House Bill 2595 is a bill that will help Kinship Care Providers with the much-needed support in raising and taking care of the children. Right now there is not that much help for us in raising our grandchildren and others who are doing the same. We are regulated by income guidelines for food stamps. I'm in search of some much-needed support for this bill right now; it will die this week. It is sitting under Rep. John Davis out of Houston. There isn't a representative in Austin who has stepped up.

Dear Editor,
    Rave: Biggest props to the Cohen New Works Festival [Arts Listings]. I only saw a couple of events, and they were amazing! I saw "The Knot" which was a silent, elegant dance piece. Then there was "Futari Tomo," which was a drumming extravaganza, and there was a dance piece associated with that, though the name escapes me. Then, there was Elephant's Graveyard, which told the story of Mary, the only elephant to ever be executed. It was sad and beautiful. You guys rocked! Great job, even with the scripts in hand. And then finally, there was "Portrait," which had three dancers suspended from the ceiling, using the back wall as if it were a floor. Just, just incredible! Such beauty, such creativity! I was moved, and so were many others. I'm sure there were many other great pieces, but I wasn't fortunate enough to see them. Shoulda read the Chronicle, I guess.

P.S. p.s. Why does anyone care about reviews, anyway? Just go check it out, or buy it, or listen to it. Who cares about the opinion of some person you don't even know? Seriously.

Hello Michael King,
    I am writing you, as I know that you have been following the story of Primarily Primates. I am very concerned about the settlement, returning the sanctuary back to the neglectful directors. I believe the attorney general just flushed Texas cruelty enforcement down the toilet. Animals in Texas are protected from abuse, neglect, and abandonment by sections 42.09 through 42.10 of the Texas Penal Code. Unfortunately this code was not enforced for more than 800 animals.
    It was only shortly after the receivership that I had a chance to volunteer for the sanctuary. I was appalled at the conditions I witnessed at this facility. The living conditions were deplorable, animals were neglected and underfed, not to mention there was no available shelter from the elements nor enrichment present. It was only under the appointed receiver that all the animals' lives improved immensely These chimps deserve a better future than sheer neglect. The state of Texas has let them down. They are the innocent victims in this ordeal.
    I hope you continue your interest in the sanctuary, something must be done to reverse this decision. The chimps at the sanctuary have earned the right to live out their lives under a caring compassionate directorship, and that has not happened yet.

   [Editor's note: Please see “Primarily Primates: AG Folds on Apes” in the News section of the May 4 Austin Chronicle for more on this.]

Dear Editor,
    Thank you Jim Caligiuri for reviewing Gurf Morlix's CD Diamonds to Dust, however I think you missed an important point [“Texas Platters,” Music, April 20]. The focus on death and dying has its thumb on the psyche of baby boomers as we contemplate our lives. It is not dark but uplifting and comforting to know someone we love will "put the blanket on us" and "lift the glass to the past, ain't it a beautiful day." The musical arrangements remind me of the cosmic cowboy days of the Seventies and Eighties, while the harmonies remind me of Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris. I predict this album to be a cult classic much like [the Byrds'] Sweetheart of the Rodeo.

Dear Editor,
    The suicide of Col. Ted Westhusing is a wretched tragedy [“'I Am Sullied – No More,'” and “Ted's Ghost,” News, April 27]. He is a casualty of the world war begun on September 11, 2001, by the forces of international Islamist despotism. Al Qaeda, Iran, and millions of their devotees are committed to the annihilation of all free people and enslaving the world. We must understand this reality. Col. Westhusing certainly did.
    Unfortunately, there are many Americans, possibly half of the population, who have deluded themselves into believing that this is not really a menace that concerns their literal existence. This tendency to look away creates Orwellian moral collapse; cowardice is heroism, surrender is victory, and slavery is freedom. The political home of this destructive attitude is now the Democratic Party. These realities are both perilous and sad beyond words.
    Although Democrats are not willing to truthfully face this grave threat – face it they will. The enemy will ensure it. Those who comprehend the sense of urgency cannot allow Democrats to take their time to comprehend this life and death issue. So accordingly, until they abandon their head-in-the-sand behavior, the security of the free world and America can never be put into their hands.
    If the battle for Iraq is lost, al Qaeda and Iran will have seriously wounded the resolve of the United States and achieved a crucial victory. Iraqis will be subjected to genocide, authentic torture, and slavery. A defeated Iraq will embolden the legions of Islamist tyranny and become a primary staging area in their plan of world conquest. If America withdraws before the terrorists are defeated, liberty and civilization will take a quantum leap toward total obliteration. All of us must face these existential facts – including Democrats.

Dear Editor,
    I enjoyed your article on Andrés Duany [“Developing Stories: What Would Andrés Duany Do?,” News, April 13]. For anyone interested, his slide show and lecture on New Urbanism is available online for free viewing: www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3F372CFBA3A87C1F.

Dear Editor,
    Anybody who isn't already afraid of losing abortion rights should reconsider recent events as a wake-up call. I agree with your writer Jordan Smith that the Supreme Court ruling against partial birth abortion is another step toward destroying Roe v. Wade [“Supremes Chip Another Brick out of 'Roe' Wall,” News, April 27]. The attempted bombing of the women's clinic on April 25 is evidence of how far people are willing to go in order to keep women from the help and support they need. It is unfortunate that this fundamental right is in danger and that we are unable to move on to other issues of injustice.

Dear Editor,
    Re: The firing of KLBJ-FM deejay Johnny Walker [“The Last Rock & Roll Deejay,” News, April 13]: I quit listening to traditional radio in general and KLBJ-FM in particular some years ago. I had an epiphany of sorts and realized that radio had gotten tired and too corporate-driven. I mean, how many times can you hear the same Audioslave song over and over?
    For a while I relied on CDs (or silence) in the car and Internet-based radio when I was at home or at work. Then a few weeks ago I bought a portable MP3 player, and life hasn't been the same.
    Since it isn't practical to carry your entire CD collection around, one has to be very selective with your chosen music. But with the music player, I can carry and rediscover all my music with ease. And now that I have the ability to listen to my music player in the car, I can now say that I have sealed radio's coffin as far as I'm concerned.
    And you know what? I don't miss the radio one bit. I can listen to my music on my schedule, uncensored, and without interruption or annoying commercials. So Emmis Communications can do what they want with KLBJ and their other stations. I'm not listening anyway.

Dear Editor,
    More and more I see the push for compact fluorescent lightbulbs, but seldom, if ever, do I see mention that these bulbs contain mercury. Unless these bulbs are recycled – not thrown away when they stop working – we are only trading one type of pollution for another. Too many people are too lazy to recycle, and mercury is far too toxic to be taken lightly. I hope that in a few years when all these bulbs begin to burn out, the general public is better about this sort of thing.