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.

Mike [Clark-Madison],
   You make thought-provoking points in your analysis of the Temple-Inland (not quite yet official) proposal ["Time to Repeal SOS?," News, Jan. 16], but you overlook a major component: potential environmental benefits.
   At my first meeting with Temple-Inland, I told them – and they acknowledged – that despite local job creation being my clear priority, there would have to be significant environmental reasons for my colleagues and I to want to waive the SOS Ordinance. Accordingly, there is ongoing analysis in two areas. First and foremost is a scientific analysis of how the proposed T-I project can capture the runoff from an adjacent 19 acres. That land is currently developed with homes and apartments with no structural controls, and the corresponding runoff drains into a culvert that passes under MoPac and flows directly into Barton Creek just above the springs. The pollutant load of that water draining into Barton Creek perhaps can be significantly reduced. There needs to be a scientific analysis of how advantageous that capture may be and a decision about whether it mitigates the negative of an SOS variance.
   Second, there of course is the opportunity for off-site mitigation in the form of additional land purchases in the recharge zone. We know that there are several tracts of land that are either grandfathered or just outside the jurisdiction of the city of Austin that will soon be developed at intensities that will be detrimental to the environment. There may be an acquisition opportunity associated with the T-I project. If so, it also should be analyzed for its environmental benefit.
   I am supportive of analyzing these potential environmental benefits and perhaps coupling them with the economic benefits of local job creation and the social equity benefits of an M/WBE compliant private construction project. Obviously, it would take a significant set of "pros" to balance the single con of an SOS amendment.

Dear Editor,
   Many times I have thought about writing this letter in praise of Michael Ventura's "Letters @ 3am." The last article, "The Light Changed (The Soul: Part 3)" [Jan. 9], pushed me beyond the limits of complacency.
   Michael's articles are always a light shining forth in the darkness. Sometimes it seems as if they are the only sane piece of commentary on our less than sane collective experience. He often writes with confidence to affirm with us that the emperor does, in fact, "have no clothes." He speaks to that which is truly important, that which moves as an undercurrent in our daily lives, that which has no name.
   Thank you to the Chronicle for offering a venue for his voice. And, thank you, Michael, for your fearless journeying. Know that it is much appreciated.

Dear Editor,
   Lord, your word is sharper than any two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." According to Matthew 18:18: "Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Lord, father, I bind all cancer cells in my loved one's body and ask you to cast them as far as the east is from the west – just like you do our sin. In Psalm 103:12, David says of you, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." I loosen healthy, noncancerous, disease-free cells according to Matthew 18:18 in Jesus' name. Thank you for the answer to this prayer. My loved one and I receive it. Love you lots. In Jesus' name, amen.

Dear Editor,
   The first rule of all writing is to tell the truth, to try to be honest with yourself. I don't think your "lousy writer" line was an honest statement.
   I don't have to read your column ["Page Two"] every week, but I do. There are many things I have chosen to stop reading because they are persistently poorly written. Newsprint examples: the Statesman, the Sunday NYT (except the magazine and book reviews – the rest is usefully absorbent for my paper-trained dog).
   Not that I'm the expert, but I'd like to think that you can work on becoming a better writer without beating yourself up about what you've written so far. It's a damaging form of self-hatred.
   Two short books on the subject: Art & Fear, The War of Art.
   I will take this moment to plug the writing quality of the New York Press, which I think would be appreciated in Austin.
   Anyway, Mr. Black, you are a fine writer. Anyone who can keep a weekly column commitment, and keep my interest, has my admiration.

Dear Editor,
   I was lucky enough to attend a screening of a documentary called The Revolution Will Not Be Televised last week at the Alamo, and I have to say that it was a very enlightening film. It's a dramatic account of the coup that took place in Venezuela in April of 2002 that tried to oust President Hugo Chavez. Why is this of any importance? Venezuelan media is almost totally owned by megacorporations that have a monopoly on information. The media actually distorted the facts and was a willing accomplice in trying to depose a democratically elected head of state. This film and its subject matter should be a wake-up call for those who think that it's no big deal that big corporations control the flow of information. It's also of no small consequence that Venezuela is one of the largest suppliers of oil to this country.
   The culture of conflict that was inadvertently perpetrated by the media has permeated our society to such an extent that we no longer wish to see the truth. This administration and its die-hard supporters have withdrawn into their "no-spin zones" with a kaleidoscope view of the world, where every facet is a lie. I take little comfort in the fact that they just don't know any better. That's why those of us that do know better need to make sure that our revolution on Election Day will indeed be televised.

Dear Editor,
   I'm very sorry that Jessie Lee Owens Jr. was killed.
   Having said that, I saw nothing in the Chronicle's recent story to indicate that the circumstances were anything other than what Officer Scott Glasgow and the APD reported ["Something Went Wrong," News, Dec. 12]. The discrepancies in APD statements that Owens' relatives cited seem nothing more than trivial differences that might appear in any repeated narrative of a event, only seized upon and blown out of proportion. Barbara Shorts stated that shooting her son may have been an accident but that shooting him five times "took it to another level." Unfortunately, in the real world it's simply unrealistic to expect that someone trapped in a moving vehicle and fearing for his life could carefully calibrate just how many times to shoot so as to stop but not kill a suspect. All of the other concerns cited in the story had equally plausible explanations, and the recent laudable dismissal of Glasgow's indictment bears this out. In a better world, it would be unnecessary to point out that the ruling judge was black, but this fortunately makes it all the harder for Owens' family and their "consultants" to cry racism.
   It appears this sad situation is being exploited by some to advance their own agenda. Procedures were bent to give this case extraordinary consideration, but this means nothing to the complainants who spurn the city manager's and police chief's "several responses to the grand jurors' concerns." Owens' family and a "communications consultant" reportedly now are pushing for a federal investigation.
   Responsibility for one's actions is considered old-fashioned by many, but here's a hint, no matter what your color: The next time you are stopped by a policeman, keep your foot off the accelerator.

Dear Editor,
   A nuke by any other name is still a nuke.
   William Adler does a good job reminding us of the dangers of bunker busters and mininukes ("Nukes Are Back!," News, Jan. 16).
   Last spring, as he says, Congress repealed a ban on nuclear-weapons research, which, I'm afraid, is perceived by other nations as a license to develop nuclear weapons.
   There is no difference in the eyes of the world between one nuclear weapon and another, be they called robust earth penetrators or precision weapons.

Dear Editor,
   Let's encourage Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Temple-Inland, etc. to run their raw sewage into Barton Springs. Heck, maybe Mayor Wynn, other council members, Joe Farr, and other corporate leaders could sponsor "Defecation Days at the Springs." Killing the springs will enable bigger and faster development!
   Aaah! My prehistoric ancestors and I will never forget that bone-cooling refreshment during the dog days of summer.
   Our leaders are failing us. Austinites – it's time to publicly protest this madness!

Marc Savlov,
   I honestly think that you're a great movie critic. Sometimes I don't agree with you, but that's what makes a good critic; he/she has to be able to write reviews that generate a response from the reader, and you certainly accomplish that with each one of your reviews.
   Now ... regarding your review of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised [Film Listings, Jan. 9]. Well, honestly as a movie, it's a great movie. As a documentary, it definitely was a great stroke of luck for those guys to be able to get all of that great footage.
   However, as a Venezuelan, someone who has been deeply affected by the actual political situation, and the Chavez "regime," I would have liked to see in your review some type of warning for the average moviegoer, that this documentary just projects a small piece of a huge problem. Man, I can't even begin to explain my experience when I went to see this movie at the SXSW screening. People clapping, booing the so-called "corporate slime balls" that tried to take a country out of the hands of the people ... man ... pure bullshit. A whole bunch of people dressed with Diesel shoes and what not, with their $500 badges, clapping to something that is as serious as the life of my family itself. It just sucks. It's something I would accept from ignorant rednecks from Arkansas, but not from the ones that pretend to be educated and "open minded" honestly. This whole revolution is as fake as a $35 bill. I grew up in a lower middle class family in Venezuela, and I have experienced the bullshit that this so-called revolution has brought to my country. On the other hand, I don't blame Chavez for the actual situation. I do blame the former presidents who got us to this point, and that made Chavez a hero. But anyways ... I just wanted to let you know that the documentary as a movie is great, but whoever goes to see it needs to know that there's more to it. Why? Because it is just not a movie. It's a slice of a history process that, believe me, is really far from over at this point. It is definitely not just another movie.

Editor,
    Let's start with the headlines today: Actor and Howard Dean apologist Martin Sheen, star of the hit series West Wing, has declared Monday, Jan. 19, as "Howard Dean Day in America" (Austin American-Statesman, Jan. 15). Sorry, Louis, the daily scooped you on that story. The 19th is sure to be a festive day of events in that Monday is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Here's hoping that Sheen sobers up before the big event. He's just what Dean needs, huh? Note to "Postmarks" writer David Rigsby ("Response to Standiford," Jan. 16): Point well taken Dave, and yes, the antics of the Austin City Council have been noted by yours truly. Amy Smith got an earful doing my "bio" in the Sept. 7, 2001, issue of the Chronicle ("Letters at 20 Years," Features, austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2001-09-07/xtra_set5.html). Smith writes, "Kurt's pretty disgusted with a lot of things right now, especially the way liberals have sold Austin down the river." I'm sure I said carpetbagging liberals, but I was causing a scene, and she was loath to do the grim interview anyway and quick to leave, sticking me with the tip. (Actually, Amy was very charming and polite.) And thank you, Dave, for insidiously making my point: A yellow dog also returns to its vomit. It's just their nature. They'll even eat their own kind if they're hungry enough. For my money, they could keep Austin a little less weird, but the herd instinct is a powerful draw, and nobody wants to be like the child who spoke up to say, "The emperor has no clothes."

Dear Editor,
   I hope the Austin City Council imposes term limits on municipal court judges. It's ridiculous for judges to sit on that court for 10-20 years. I would think that two consecutive two-year terms would be sufficient. Over the years I have been in municipal court a few times. I was always struck by how "chummy" the judges, prosecutors, and police officers were with each other. Hopefully term limits on the judges would eliminate that. Term limits for the city prosecutors should also be considered.
   The council will be deciding in February if three of Austin's current municipal judges – Judge Mitchell Solomon, Judge Celia Castro, and Judge John Vasquez – will be replaced. I hope the council does appoint three new faces to the court as well as set term limits.

Dear Editor,
   There are lots of "sound" reasons for banning car alarms in Austin and across Texas. However, the most important one is that they just don't work. Owners of cars with car alarms think they are relatively safe. If this false sense of security leads them to leave the doors unlocked and the keys in the ignition, or they forget to take that priceless Ming vase inside, or they park their car overnight behind the Dumpster at the mall, they will pay the price ... eventually. A better bet is to install an immobilizer that cuts the ignition except for authorized drivers. It ain't rocket science; it's the law in most other developed countries.

Dear Editor,
   Wake up all ye Democrats! I'm gonna tell you what the Republicans don't want you to hear. Howard Dean cannot and will not beat George W. Bush. The smarty-mouthed insecure patsy Howard cannot even make it through a debate without wetting his pants. He looks weak and is prone to attack because of his lack of substance and personal integrity. Sure, the war in Iraq and the policy of the Bush administration are abhorrently disgraceful to the nation. Bush criminally invaded a sovereign nation, killing upward of 9,600 civilians, many of them children. U.S. soldiers have in many cases shown lack of restraint and discipline and continue to kill civilians at checkpoints and during skirmishes. We need Bush out. The sooner he retires, the better for everyone. Wesley Clark is the only candidate that has the integrity to stomp Bush. He also has the military experience to clean up the Iraq mess that is rapidly draining the economy, and has ruined the reputation of the U.S. government and its citizens. Coward Dean can't win this race. Wesley Clark can and will beat the now vulnerable George W. if Democrats wake up and make him their candidate! He will get the military vote! Lots of young folk in the military, other jobs are scarce! Dems, get off Dean's liberal bandwagon. Remember McGovern? Dukakis? Gore? They all lost! Unless signs of conscious intelligent life are shown among the Democrats and Clark is nominated, we're in for another five years of G.W. Bush. Heaven help us all!

Dear Editor,
   To those looking for cheap housing:
   Last week I was reading the letters section ["Postmarks"] of this here magazine and couldn't help but want to tell people about the wonders of my own, affordable neighborhood that is as ripe as a green banana.
   I live at North Loop and Burnet Road, and while the section of North Loop and Duval Street is referred to a lot as an up-and-coming area, there are exactly 1.75 shopping centers to build your neighborhood around – which is, well, not a lot. To the west you have ample amounts of cheap housing, "funky" antique shops if you want that little bit of SoCo, and a few choice establishments such as the Austin Diner and Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon. Additionally you have a B-rate HEB and the of course wonderful Central Market and Phoenicia nearby to boot.
   And I say the area is as ripe as a green banana because there is so much commercial property for lease it is ludicrous. I imagine it is comparatively cheap, too. If all those places were filled with lively businesses – well people – this would be one damn fine, easily manageable nook of the city. And if you are thinking of starting a business, I urge you to start another restaurant, because I personally feel there is a glut of those in this here town.
   Oh, and the Savers nearby is priceless.

Dear Editor,
   Not quite sure where to start, but Adler's ["Nukes Are Back!," News, Jan. 16, 2004] tirade against the Bush administration's plans for possible nuclear weapons usage is full of holes. First off, he claims, "Every president since Truman relegated the bomb to a category unto itself, to be locked away unless the nation's very survival were at stake. Not so George W. Bush." Untrue. Every president, from Truman to Kennedy to Clinton, has clearly stated we would use nuclear weapons if absolutely needed, which is the same thing the Bush administration has said.
   Adler mentions then dismisses the nuclear threats of nations with admitted nuclear capabilities and weapons programs. He admits that there are terrorists, that they are building deep bunkers impervious to conventional weapons. He then claims, "A low-yield nuke will not burrow deep enough [ to destroy deep bunkers], and a high-yield behemoth, say, anywhere from 100 kilotons (almost five times the force of the Hiroshima bomb that immediately killed 140,000 people) ..." the yield of the nuclear weapon has absolutely no bearing on the warhead's ability to penetrate earth, and the death toll at Hiroshima was between 80,000 and 110,000. We did kill 140,000 in the Tokyo firebombings; he must have confused the two.
   All administrations have made "contingency plans" covering literally every imaginable scenario, it's nothing new. The world situation has changed, the nuclear threat has intensified and changed, and it is prudent that any administration realize and adjust strategies accordingly. Contrarians will find any excuse to portray anything in the worse possible light, and that is simply what Adler has done. Oddly enough, he offers no alternative solutions of his own. Perhaps he has none.

   [William M. Adler replies: Mr. Swanson may be nuts about nukes, but he fails to consider the fundamental difference between the Bush doctrine and that of Bush's post-WWII predecessors. Bush argues for the possible preemptive use of nukes; the others, Bush Sr. included, saw nukes as a weapon of last resort. As for the physics of bunker busters, I yield to Princeton physicist Robert W. Nelson, who wrote in a Federation of American Scientists report that using nuclear warheads to attack deeply buried facilities "does not appear possible without causing massive radioactive contamination." As to the death toll at Hiroshima, I stand corrected. I indeed cited the figure of 140,000. But according to the city of Hiroshima's estimate, that figure was for 1945 alone; the latest toll, including those who died from radiation-induced illness and disease, is 227,000. Incidentally, last Aug. 6, on the 58th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, 150 of the Bush administration's foremost nuclear thinkers converged at StratCom near Omaha, Neb., for a secret meeting. The draft agenda, leaked to the watchdog Los Alamos Study Group, portrayed an administration hell-bent on developing and testing its new nukes – and determined to sell their radical ideas to Congress and the public. Congress bought 'em, and so apparently, has Mr. Swanson.]

Dear Editor,
   Thank God you're here. You report what the mainstream media ignores. The Statesman should be relegated to the tabloid section of the newspaper stand. (My apologies to the tabloids.)
   I love you guys. See ya in '04.

Dear Editor,
   Greg Wilson writes in regard to the MoveOn.org Bush = Hitler "scandal" that the Chronicle owes it to their readers to rein in their political fantasies from time to time rather than reinforcing them. Unfortunately, the only fantasies put forth in the whole controversy were from Mr. Wilson himself.
   As part of the Bush in 30 Seconds ad contest, two entrants (out of hundreds) submitted ads that compared Bush to Hitler. MoveOn, who did not sponsor the ads, rejected the entries and even apologized for them. The story got legs when Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie detailed the ads on the RNC Web site along with the fiction about MoveOn sponsorship. In fact, for a time the only place to see the ads was at this Web site. Subsequent rounds of the talk-show circuit by Mr. Gillespie got the distorted story, and the ads aired. (See John Nichols' report at The Nation's Web site www.thenation.com/thebeat/index.mhtml?bid=1&pid=1166.)
   As a visit to MoveOn.org shows, they do not make such outlandish comparisons regarding Bush, and such an attitude is certainly not "standard fare" as Mr. Wilson would have us believe.
   As for MoveOn appearing to be the current mainstream of the Democratic Party, this is of course another distortion. Alas, mainstream Democrats (like most Americans) get their news from radio and television, and do not go the extra step of researching the issues through the alternative media like MoveOn, The Nation, The Texas Observer, The Progressive, or The Austin Chronicle.
   Perhaps if Mr. Wilson took the time to research on his own and not take the news as it is fed to him, he may have some better advice to pass along to the Chronicle editors and their readers.

Dear Editor:
    I sincerely hope that Jason Meador's letter of Jan. 16 ("Manipulation?") ["Postmarks"] was intended as a practical joke; otherwise, he might go down in history as the creator of the most idiotic conspiracy theory of all time.
    The idea that the Bush administration withheld the news of Saddam Hussein's capture for several months (waiting for the most opportune time) is laughable. First of all, I suspect that their most opportune time would be October 2004, not December 2003 (voters have very weak long-term memories).
    Second, the source of Meador's entire theory is stunning in its absurdity: a crop of outdated dates (yes, the First Amendment gives me the inalienable right to use bad puns).
    Instead of asking the reader, "How stupid do they think we are?" Meador's question should have been "How stupid do you think I am?" My answer to Mr. Meador: extremely stupid.

Dear Editor,
   Thank you for posting the picture of the human being at 22 weeks' gestation, an age at which he could be legally killed in Texas, even though he is probably viable ["The Fruit of the Pro-Lifers' Labors," News, Jan. 16].
   It's obvious that the embryos and fetuses in question are human life, since the doctors who kill them are only trained in human medicine.
   The only question in determining the "rightness" of abortion is whether some humans have the right to decide to declare other humans less than human and then to kill them even when there is no risk to the life or liberty of any other human.
   One of my volunteer positions is as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women. Abortion is violence with effects that ripple from the child who is killed and his mother, to the surrounding friends and family, and on to the future children in the family, just as family and sexual violence does.
   Your reporter evidently did not discuss this issue with anyone who does not earn his or her living by performing or promoting abortion.
   If you would like to interview a family physician that disagrees with the practice of killing any human being who is not a threat to the life of another, please contact me.

Dear Editor,
   While I agree wholeheartedly with Mike Luther ("Postmarks," Jan. 16) when he describes rock & roll as being built on simplicity, I have to disagree with his statement that "all rock is corporate." Capitalist maybe, but not necessarily corporate. There is a dramatic difference between small bands with cult followings and the "products" that the major record companies are vomiting out at a steady rate.
   Sure the vast majority of rock bands want to sell records, and I will never fault a band for wanting to make a buck, but when you compromise your art in order to turn a profit, you lose credibility in my eyes. That is not to say that great, creative bands can never be on major labels nor are all indie label bands great and creative. But there is an honesty and integrity in wanting to get your sound out to as many people as you can without trading your ideals for some shiny coin.
   Simply selling records and charging people to see you play is not inherently corporate. There is a big difference between Dixie Witch and Good Charlotte. One is an honest, hard working band with a great live show and the other is a fabricated product used to fill the coffers of Epic Records and sell Blender magazine. Guess which is which.
   It sounds like Luther is a true champion of the Rock, something that should be commended, but I wanted to throw my two cents in by defending the small, noncorporate rock & roll bands that are sweating it out every night the world over.
   Long live the Rock.

Dear Editor,
   Thank you for publishing Mr. Ventura's "Letters @ 3am." He is an enlightened man and a great writer! I have been reading his writings since the late Eighties and always look forward to reading more.
   Please let him know that he has many friends and followers.

Dear Editor,
   A quick check of Temple-Inland's Web site shows that only 23 job vacancies are in the Austin area. Where are the 800 jobs to be created as touted by the mayor? Probably from immigrants from other parts of the U.S. Bringing in folks from outside Austin while leaving Austinites unemployed is not sustainable, not smart, growth. It is merely growth.
   At rush hour, traffic on MoPac and Bee Caves Road is already intolerable. Adding another 800 cars to the existing traffic will bring it to a standstill.
   There is a ton of vacant office space in town. Let T-I help the local economy by using existing buildings.
   SOS is the law, let's uphold it for once.

Chronicle,
    Is this administration "spaced-out"? The president's recent "lunar lust" confirms something that many have suspected: He's a space cadet. I'm all for exploring the space between the president's ears to see if we can find anything in there that will help life on Earth. This type of exploration is affordable and should be encouraged.

Dear Editor,
   Why no Funk category in this year's music awards? What gives?

   [Editor replies: Funk is a category that comes and goes in the poll over the years. Among the aspects considered in keeping a category relevant are the actual number of votes received for the bands and the number of bands nominated. When either of those drop low and the bands also appear regularly in other categories, the category is reconsidered. The Pop category was dropped in 2003 for similar reasons.]

To Michael Ventura,
    Words are not my craft, and as you said, the soul is not an easy subject to write about, but I want to thank you for "The Light Changed (The Soul: Part 3)" ["Letters @ 3am," Jan. 9]. Like you, I had a similar experience, for the first time, just two days ago. It did rock my world, as those experiences will. "Bursting and imploding at the same time" – a perfect description. The catalyst was the long absence of my husband. I thought our separation would be easy; instead I've experienced depression and physical illness. It has though, taken me on a journey, and I'll never be the same. In one of those rare moments of cosmic understanding, I realized that it's been love all along, its presence and absence in my life, that's at the heart of my soul knowledge. So knowing all this now, I still wake up lonely on a Sunday morning. It's shocking to understand that the soul's need for love is nonnegotiable. It makes us feel so vulnerable. Can't buy it at the supermarket. Often I feel a huge frustration at these mysteries I can't comprehend, so to open the Chronicle (literally straight to your essay without looking for it) and read of someone's soul meeting, well, it was one of those gifts sent by the cosmos to comfort my soul. Thank you.