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 [email protected]. Thanks for your patience.

Dear Editor,
    Absolutely outrageous. The documentary film Drunken Angel: The Legend of Blaze Foley was to be screened at the Convention Center as an official South by Southwest event (including an admission charge of $10 to non-badge-holders). The film took 10 years to make, and literally hundreds of people came to this event, many of whom had flown in from out of town specifically for this celebration of Blaze's life and posthumous major success (as many know, Blaze's songs have been recorded by Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, John Prine, and others; "Drunken Angel" was of course written about Blaze by Lucinda Williams). After Blaze's tragic death in 1989, his songs live on as does the high regard in which he is held by thousands already; this film was positioned to be a "breakout" premiere event attended by people in the film industry as well as the music community. The audience also included several disabled people – all of whom braved the horrendous traffic, parking, etc. After more than an hour of being asked to "vamp," the filmmaker, Kevin Triplett, was told his screening was canceled and would be "rescheduled" because of the lack of a lightbulb for the projector! This was after a "tech check" less than an hour before screen time. With the billions of dollars generated by SXSW, you guys didn't have an extra lightbulb?! And the wherewithal to take care of this? Disgraceful, disgraceful. People were offered $10 refunds, but what about having paid to park, paid for a plane flight to Austin, paid for a cab, etc., etc., and without even consulting the filmmaker, an alternate screening was announced out of nowhere at the Paramount in the middle of the afternoon (!) two days later on a workday. What good does that do the people who flew in from out of town? They can't get hotel rooms for two more nights; there isn't a room to be had! Demonstrating this truly shameful lack of professionalism for a Festival that is purportedly "state of the art" is an unbelievable failure of your obligation to your participants and your audience. Shame, shame, shame on you guys. Really pathetic, not to mention insulting. Absolutely and totally infuriating.

   [Louis Black responds: Righteous anger is best when not restrained. The situation was not as simple as a "bulb" for a "projector," as you state. This was an advanced high-definition projector. There was a spare bulb, but the projector had to be reprogrammed in order for that bulb to work. The estimated time for this reprogramming was at least one hour, but after a couple of hours into the reprogramming, it was realized that the "one hour" minimum was ridiculously overly optimistic. The SXSW Film technical crew was all there working on it with much of the creative team there as well. Everyone was devastated and depressed by this event. Long discussions have already taken place on making sure we never experience a similar situation. Having talked to everyone on our end as to what happened, I know two things. One is that despite the SXSW technical teams preparation, equipment testing, and access to technicians, in this crisis there was nothing that could have been done differently that would have changed the outcome. The second is that by next year, no matter what it requires nor how much it costs, there will be a plan in place to rectify similar situations if they occur. Hindsight is a beautiful thing, but when it comes to new ever-evolving technology, even when there is sustained concerted planning, the unexpected can happen. Over the last three decades in the hundreds if not thousands of media presentations that I've been involved in, this kind of severe show-crippling technological breakdown happened only two or three times. In the wake of the incident, I've spent time talking to and consoling each individual member of the technical crew. Consoling because each and every person involved was devastated and completely upset by what had happened. Even though I assured them that no one had yet recommended or pointed out a better solution that had been overlooked, this did nothing to improve their moods nor alleviate their shared sense of having let down the filmmaker. Unfortunately, in a situation like this, to try to create a slot by moving, postponing, or canceling another screening would be just as unfair to that film and its creative team. Consensus was that the best available slot was the Paramount afternoon one. The filmmaker turned it down. When anything negatively impacts any film screening at the SXSW Film Festival, it weighs far more than all the successful screenings together, occupying the overwhelming amount of post-Festival discussions. The positioning and promotion of this event was because of our awareness of the film's importance. The way you portray the situation is unfair, but if nothing else, you can be sure that any small bit of wind that had accumulated in any of the SXSW Film team's sails has been destroyed. The only member of the SXSW Film team not involved in this situation was me. This was because, as you so graciously and appropriately point out, I do none of this out of passion, commitment, or purpose but am instead just driven by greed. I was off searching for those "billions of dollars," but I've still not found them anywhere.]

Dear Austin Chronicle,
    Re: “After All-Nighter, Senate Passes Voter ID,” [News, March 13] by Lee Nichols: Voter impersonation is a rare crime. The real and proven crime is election fraud. Voting-machine computer software is posing as tangible ballots; this is the real fraud in our election system. It is not the voters who are fraudulent; it is the continued use of secret vote-counting electronic voting machines that is ripe with fraud. The difference is one of scale: Voter fraud is retail, and election fraud is wholesale. It is much easier for a single crook to rig thousands of votes through invisible computer software than for him to alter election outcomes at the polls.
    If the Texas Legislature is serious about ensuring fair elections, there is no shortage of examples of election fraud which reveal the real problems. Voter ID is a red herring that not only disenfranchises voters but, worse, ignores the current crisis in our election system that is secret vote-counting by electronic and optical-scan voting machines.
    The simplest and most transparent way to count votes is with a voter-marked paper ballot that is counted by citizens by hand in full public view at the precinct level. With proper citizen oversight and safeguards, this is the fairest way to ensure accurate vote tallies.
    Just a few weeks ago, a German high court determined that using electronic voting machines was unconstitutional because it is not transparent and requires the voter to have "blind faith" in technology. Democracies in Europe have a better grasp of voting transparency than we do here in America. Real Texans demand fair and transparent elections, too.
    Trusting e-vote machines to count votes accurately is like trusting your Internet service provider to eliminate spam.
    Texas legislators should quit harassing voters and focus on the much greater crime of election fraud.

Dear Editor,
    Hello, Austin! I am writing from Madison, Wis., home to Drumlin Community Garden, www.drumlingarden.org. I am writing because I got to spend a year and a half in your lovely city when I was riding my bike around the country, just looking for community, beauty, and adventure. The Rhizome Collective warehouse space was a big reason I was drawn to your city. I am sad to hear that Eastside developers and the city of Austin are working together to get rid of the Rhizome. Social justice activists are targeted by gentrifying forces often as much as poor people of color. What will replace the Rhizome? An office building and parking lot? Condos? I implore the city to look further into this matter and find a way to save this valuable cultural resource that benefits the Eastside of Austin. For more information about the Rhizome, visit www.rhizomecollective.org.

   [Editor's note: For more on the Rhizome Collective, see this week's “Naked City,” News, p.18.]

Re: “Absolute Betrayal Against Our Country” [“Postmarks,” March 13]: Mr. Lea is right to be angry at Rush Limbaugh and the Republicans, it is just that his reasoning is misguided and hypocritical, a common liberal disorder. As a patriot, a conservative, and a registered Libertarian, I have no love for the Republican Party, although they are clearly the lesser of two evils and a pathetic choice at that. And Limbaugh, in his criticism of Obama while having served as a spokesman for the fiscally irresponsible Bush regime, is at best hypocritical and at worst part of a system that keeps the corrupt in power. But Mr. Lea, in his anguish, has no clue that by lashing out at the right-wingers, he is simply perpetuating the system. He, along with the rest of the left-wingers, was all too happy to lap up Obama's socialist entitlement programs and plan for vast expansion of government that offers an illusion of prosperity but only serves to perpetuate the systemic continuation of elitist control and erosion of the Constitution. The irony in the hypocrisy of Lea's criticism used to be entertaining but now only serves to reveal the level of mind control that has been established over King Obama's subjects. As for Obama's “Change We Can Believe In,” which was supposed to include a new "Era of Responsibility,” how many campaign promises has he broken in his short tenure? I've lost count. No earmarks, promises of legislative transparency, no lobbyists in his administration, the list goes on and on. Obama's minions have expertly diverted attention away from his socialist agenda by crafting this sideshow with Limbaugh, and at the very least, we can thank Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid (and the voters that put them in office) for the coming tax revolt and revolution. Wake up, Mr. Lea and the rest of you brainwashed ideologists: It is time to invest in gold, guns, ammo, food, and water. We are doomed … with two "O"s.

   [Editor's response: Not to step into this or engage in even further extensive discussion over the Constitution, but we have to note that all sides, regardless of ideology, in the course of presenting arguments frequently express sentiments similar to: "but only serves to perpetuate the systemic continuation of elitist control and erosion of the Constitution." In almost every case, there is almost no appreciation of the actual United States Constitution in those statements but instead a fantasy Constitution as imagined in the letter writers' heads. Core to the Constitution is the idea of vigorous, even extreme, ideological disagreement over the government, policy, and politics. The Constitution, however, is almost always being used to legitimate the writers' denouncement of those with whose ideas and politics they disagree. Unfortunately, the actual Constitution stands for the exact opposite. The core conceit of the Constitution is that we are all enfranchised citizens, but we don't have the right to disenfranchise other citizens with whom we disagree. Citing the Constitution and defending its integrity all too often are used as grounds to make inherently unconstitutional arguments.]

Josh Rosenblatt,
    Re: Anvil! The Story of Anvil [“Rock and a Hard Place,” Screens, March 13]: While your synopsis of the movie was accurate, your conclusion misses the point. Anvil does not suffer from a "need to be famous.” They, like any of us who play heavy metal as a way of life, are simply true to themselves in that they cannot live without it and that fame and fortune are needed to make it anything other than a struggle. The fact that the band is 30 years old and, as the movie attests, has made almost no money in the process is proof enough. You misread their devotion to their craft as a desperate hope for fame. It isn't that simple, and it is a mistake to lump them in with the MTV generation where stardom is the only reward. I found the movie poignant, clever, and most of all, representative of why so many of us continue to stick with this music no matter how little we make or what we sacrifice in the meantime.

Dear Editor,
    Interesting how all of our leaders – be they local, county, state, or federal – lead by giving us the advice they collectively ignore. We the people (weep) are told to be loyal to our employers, support local business, and to make sacrifices in these hard economic times, etc.
    In the meantime, at the local level we seek advice, award contracts, and search for prospective employees far and wide for just the right fit.
    Weep deserve the lack of respect, do-as-I-say, and sheer audacity that is shoveled our way. Austin’s city manager, fire chief, and police chief are all from elsewhere. But hey, are they good or what? It’s encouraging to all employees to note that hard work, loyalty, etc. will get you what you deserve. Why? Because you don’t demand it!
    Our governor says that there is no such thing as an unwanted child. Then there was a news item talking about an abandoned newborn in Austin. But he’s right 39% of the time … oh yeah, that’s the percentage of weep that thought he should be governor the last go-round. If you received 39% at anything, you would lose that something, right?
    Our tax dollars are going to pay millions in executive bonuses at AIG. You should know that weep owns 80% of that corporation. So hey, why should they tighten their belts?
    After all, there is more stimulus money where that came from; just squeeze us, and weep will give them more.
    Weep refuse to see what is in front of us. Weep give respect to no one (how do you drive?). Weep do not stand up for our rights. Weep allow officials who were elected by a minority of the people to hold office and lie in public. Weep stand by while corporations continue to gorge at the trough.
    Weep deserve all we get or don’t get. We demand no better.

   [Editor's response: Now because this is so subtle, I want to make sure I'm reading it right. Even though you imply you are one of the dense masses that should be weeping, you know that these spineless ones don't include you? As you are actually smarter than the rest? Is that right?]

Dear Editor,
    I just attended a school at Golfsmith, which was excellent, but what my wife and I want to tell Austin is that you have a great, great bus/metro system. We spent a week in Austin and were very impressed with the routes, rates, and the excellence of the bus drivers themselves. They went out of their way to help not only ourselves but everyone. We witnessed the drivers even digging into their own pockets to help passengers. We have traveled to many cities, but yours has the friendliest people and is the best of all in public transportation. Thank you.

Dear Editor,
    So we get to help the new police chief do his job so we can feel "safer" by letting this guy take DNA for a class B misdemeanor? Without seeming to be too crass about this, screw you and the horse you just rode in on – more jackbooted BS coming down the pike. While we're at it, let's all step right up and get our national ID cards. Everybody feeling safe … now?

Dear Editor,
    I am wondering whether there is any plan for an article or ad concerning safety during South by Southwest. My curiosity stems from being assaulted last year, by three guys, for my cell phone. Through discussions with police detectives last year, I was informed that there were something like 77 reports of assault on Red River last year during SXSW. I know, I know: 100,000 people; stuff is going to happen. But we're not talking about everywhere during the event or even all of Downtown. That was just Red River. And in my case, this wasn't just a stolen phone. I required stitches in multiple areas, had fractured cartilage in my ear canal and "floaters" in one of my eyes from kicks to the head. While I don't compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, I am 6 feet 4 inches, 190 pounds. This was well-calculated stuff. I have a close friend, female, who was dragged into the street for her car keys and cell. So, I think it's something attendees of the Festival would like to know. Not necessarily my story, but people should know the stats. People should be aware that last year, Red River was an area of well-organized, serious criminal activity.
    As for a potential story, I think it brings up the question … where was all the extra police presence? While I am a supporter of the police force and recognize that they can't be everywhere, I was in the middle of the street next to Emo's brawling for two minutes, and no officers anywhere around. Same such luck for my friend.
    I appreciate your time and hope this letter might influence the Chronicle to include some serious mention of safety during the Fest.

Dear Editor,
    The local daily recently ran an op-ed piece by Tony Garza, the former U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who put a hard sell and smiley face on the Merida Initiative, a heavily militarized U.S.-Mexico security agreement. It smells all too much like the Plan Colombia failure, which poured billions of our tax dollars into that narco-state and only emboldened right-wing narco death squads allied with the Colombian president.
    The drug war is a hoax. The CIA runs cocaine and heroin to finance its covert operations. Remember Iran-Contra? And just last year, a CIA rendition plane crashed in the Yucatán with several tons of coke aboard. The Associated Press ran the story for about a second. How about the Zetas, those Mexican military special forces who turned "rogue" and formed a paramilitary narco gang that firebombed a car in Dallas? They were trained at the School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Ga. The chickens have come home to roost. Prohibition doesn't work when Uncle Sam is the rum runner.