MUGGER's Right About the WSJ's Bartley and Gigot; No He Isn't; Stay in Alaska, Scorpio; Love Claude, But Where Exactly Is He?; "Daily Billboard"'s Riling 'Em Up; Movies and Music and Even Cecil Get Letters; More

FACE="Plantin Bold"> MUGGER: Excellent column on Messrs. Bartley and Gigot (7/25). The Wall Street Journal is a great paper, one of the few that even attempts to keep the editorials out of the news columns, and I hope Gigot can maintain that tradition. Also, I agree with your view of The Washington Post and The New York Times; the latter has become an embarrassment, although I wonder how many people in New York City appreciate just how biased it is. My wife refused to believe me when I tried to tell her how far the Times had fallen, but was forced to reconsider when I read her contrasting headlines from the two papers during the Florida election mess. I suspect that the yuppies/bankers/brokers/artistes/lawyers/actors, et al., who live in the city still take the Times as gospel. When I lived on the Upper West Side there were more Trotskyites than Republicans on the block and somehow I think things have just gotten worse. If you don't mind shooting a fish in a barrel, you might try writing about Paul Krugman. I can't even bear to read his columns anymore; he's become too hysterical, like a low-IQ version of Alan Dershowitz. The most extreme manifestation of the new regime, though, is the Times' conversion of its Letters section to a replica of its editorial and op-ed pages. It is extremely rare to read a letter expressing a conservative point of view in the Times, and on the rare occasions when they feel compelled to print one it's usually from some prominent conservative as opposed to the ordinary folks who pen letters to the editor. I suppose, though, that it's possible only liberals write to the Times. Keep up the good work, I always enjoy your columns.

Douglas B. Levene, Wilton, CT

WSJ = Village Voice

MUGGER: As a frequent reader, I must take issue with your comments on The Wall Street Journal editorial page under Robert Bartley (7/25). The Journal's ferocity in attacking the Clinton administration was really unlike anything in my experience as a reader. Clear as The New York Times' prejudices are, that paper is more pompous than predatory. You'd have to go to a sheet like the Village Voice to match the Journal's attack frenzy.

Clearly, Bartley set out to destroy that administration virtually before it took office. "Critical editorials" really doesn't convey the raw viciousness of this series, in which officials of the administration were attacked, one by one, under a headline of "Who Is (name of individual)?" The clear intention was not to discuss these people's qualifications or performance as much as to intimidate them. Even the Democrats' obnoxious threats to veto Bush's judges doesn't quite match these attacks on various political advisers and functionaries. As much as we can justifiably criticize Clinton, the people elected him. There is something very wrong with immediately trying to sabotage and stop an administration that has been put in place democratically, by the clear will of the electorate.

The Journal editorial page can be equally ferocious in attacking those it disagrees with, as when (if memory serves) it implied that anyone favoring legalization of drugs is a drug user (take that, Bill Buckley). Much as you dislike Michael Kinsley, isn't it a little ridiculous to insinuate, as the Journal did, that he wrote columns on the telephoned instructions of the Clinton White House? The Journal also subtly encouraged the most ridiculous Clinton conspiracy theories (remember Mena airport), and it is very possible that the intensity of its attacks had the opposite of the desired effect. When you attack someone for trivial and hyped-up issues from the past, the public quickly decides that you're crying wolf?that all your attacks are trivial and hyped-up. Thus, the genuinely major offenses Clinton was accused of?rape, taking bribes from Chinese officials?just seemed part of the general anti-Clinton hysteria. It is interesting to wonder what would have happened if the assault on Clinton had been led by a more temperate institution, one willing to give the administration rope with which to hang itself.

Michael Ladenson, Philadelphia

C.J. Can Take Care of Himself

Has C.J. Sullivan got a death wish? Liked his Gotti note ("Daily Billboard," 7/23).

Joe Rodrigue, New Haven

A Crazy Ni--er with X-Ray Vision

Johnny Scorpio: Your "Do the White Thing" ("First Person," 7/25) was just a way to get people to write inflammatory letters so that New York Press could have another volatile correspondence section, right? I can't imagine anything so clearly without legs being something you needed to tell us all about. Where was the racism? Maybe that guy who punched you was just crazy and not a crazy ni--er. Or maybe he saw that word rattling around inside your head and then decided to beat you down.

I must admit, though, you've done a couple of useful things. You've brought your bigotry right out into the open, like the one-armed white sheriff down in Rutherford, AL, who used to beat black folks on a regular basis just for fun. You recognize the fact that unearned white privilege doesn't get you everything. That's good. And you moved to Kenai, AK, which accomplishes two things: it keeps you away from people of color, and it segregates you with other people like you. You're easier to keep an eye on that way.

I have to add that I laughed like hell when you said that he smashed your pizza. After a knock-down, drag-out fight the man stomps on your pizza? He had to have been crazy.

A.M. Peterson, Manhattan

Conversation Ignited

So Johnny Scorpio hates "crazy black fellow[s]" so much so that he is willing to present a rare profile (crazy, hostile and living in an inner city) as the archetype of all blacks. Look, my blood boils with as much hatred for the guy who attacked Johnny, but I wouldn't write an astonishingly shallow and unoriginal rant in response. The point is, what are any of us doing to become part of the solution? Sweeping condemnation is easier, isn't Johnny?

Moreover I ask, what does New York Press bring to the table by featuring a racist snarl on its front page? Such a move supports the view that New York Press, with its reactionary odor on all fronts, exists mainly to contrast with the Voice rather than to be original or present constructive views.

Robert Bers, Manhattan

Claude Hopper

I felt compelled to weigh in today about the state of this week's "New York City" section (7/25)?not about the writing, which was wonderful (especially Tanya Richardson's witty Antiques Roadshow piece), but rather about the accompanying art. Was that a joke? If so, I, as well as many others I'm sure, didn't get it. It seems this is the same person who did that horrendous Marilyn Monroe (I'm guessing) cover several issues back.

On a lighter note, I love Claude La Badarian. It was sad to see the size of the paper shrink so considerably, but you have really outdone yourselves with bringing on a columnist who is more enjoyable than Ames, Sohn, et al., put together.

Daniel Newman, Manhattan

The editors reply: Thanks for the commentary, but the paper hasn't been shrinking. It has in fact been growing lately.

His Aim Is True

Re Everett True's Mark Eitzel CD review online ("Music Reviews," 7/25): Man, did you guys nail that one. I was remarking to a friend the other day how I had bought Eitzel's latest but couldn't explain why. It's not like his two or three previous solo records did much for me either. Looking back, I think AMC probably lasted one album too many.

Sean T. Hagearty, East Hartford, CT

Rockin' Robots

I just read John Strausbaugh's article about San Francisco ("Publishing" 7/25), and I have to tell you that I was at that reading at Books Inc. and I thought he was hysterical. The book is very very funny and those idiots who were so uptight afterward are a bunch of losers. Does anyone have a fucking sense of humor? Ever hear of satire? It was embarrassing. You said it: "p.c. robots."

Name Withheld, San Francisco

Dueling Bootlegs

Bad taste, Jim Knipfel; not sad taste. My dusty old vinyl Sex Pistols bootleg ("Slackjaw," 7/25) titled Gun Control has better sound than the "impeccable quality" video you bought of the same performance. All you can really hear on Gun Control are Johnny's crystal-clear vocals and, unfortunately, Sid's thundering, out-of-tune bass.

Joe Mazza, Manhattan

Like Moby Dick

Tim Hall: Who ya calling "white trash" ("Daily Billboard," 7/26)? You must be "a pale pecker."

Frederick Heiser, Katy, TX

Hey Greyboy

Tim Hall: Here are the putdowns for white people that I know: cracker, ofay, greyboy and caveman ("Daily Billboard," 7/26). Cracker is my personal favorite, and one that people generally understand to be a racial putdown. It does have a bit of a Southern connotation to it, though. (I remember reading how Charles Barkley used to refer to Danny Ainge and Dan Marjele as the Ritz brothers, because they were better than the average crackers.)

Ofay: The term my grandfather used to use. Most black people know the word, but I'd imagine that most whites (especially younger whites) wouldn't know what it meant.

Greyboy: The term my grandmother uses. I've never heard anyone else, black or white, use it, but I do think it's funny.

Caveman: This came from those black nationalists who would say that while the black man was doing great things in Africa, white people were still living in caves in Europe. Most people wouldn't realize that it's a racial dis if you call them a caveman or a cavebitch. When necessary, I tend to use cracker.

Dan White, Yonkers

Decoding Stehrenberger

Kudos to Ben Domenech for his laudable and troubling article "Capitol Shooting" (7/18), which chronicled the deranged antics of Russell Weston Jr. I wonder what his parents have to say about their boy. I find it more than unsettling that he used their cats for target practice.

Applause also to Akiko Stehrenberger for her illustrious artwork on the front cover. Did anyone else notice the scared-looking cats in the background with time, symbolically running out, carved on their breasts? What I don't fathom, though, is the American flag tied execution-style over the gunman's eyes as he aims his weapon. What does this suggest? That he should have turned the gun on himself and done us all a favor?

David Hakes, Hoboken, NJ

El Capitan in Winter, With Derrick

Andrey Slivka's "Daily Billboard" of 7/24, "Land O' Fakes," demonstrates yet again why the Manhattan oligarchy should not be running our nation. His uninformed cheap shot concerning the amount of open land shows how little the chattering classes know about the country they are mismanaging. If he would spend any amount of vacation or other time in the American West instead of the capitals of Europe or atypical, artificial enclaves like the Hamptons or Martha's Vineyard, he would see the truth of what Rush Limbaugh was pointing out. There is plenty of land out there for both recreational and economic (read: resource development) activities.

Four years ago, I was on a biking excursion across the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. It was a year after Bozo Bill Clinton proclaimed it into existence. Among other things, this ended impending oil exploration activities and coal extraction that were earmarked for export through the Port of Los Angeles. The fact that Utah already had five national parks, each one larger than Manhattan (and three of them only sparsely used), made no difference to him or to the environmental extremists of the intellectual left. (The names of those national parks, in case they are off the Manhattan radar screen, are Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef, Canyonlands and Arches.)

I stayed at a B&B in the tiny town of Boulder, UT. The proprietors drive 120 miles each way on a two-lane highway, winding through canyons, over hogback ridges and across deserts once a week to shop for provisions. That's the equivalent of driving from Manhattan to Wilmington, DE.

Even on the East Coast, there is more open land than just Central Park. The Jersey Pine Barrens occupy more land area than the city of Newark and the Adirondacks park is many times larger than Manhattan. Look out the window, Andrey, next time you ride the Metroliner to a Georgetown soiree, and see all the open land between New Brunswick and Trenton or between Wilmington and the Baltimore North suburbs.

Anthony Waller, Hamilton, NJ

Hincty Hayseed

I'm (once again) left scratching my head after reading another snotty quip by Andrey Slivka in his "Land O' Fakes" ("Daily Billboard, 7/24).

True, Andrey, God only knows why you would spend your time reading Rush Limbaugh's website. Here's another stumper for the Almighty: Why would you waste even more time rehashing the article verbatim without any context for your own readers? Just another opportunity to knock Limbaugh and his "Middle American dupes," I assume. Seems to me the residents of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas are getting by just fine. Granted, these locales may lack the pomp of Manhattan, but they're hardly uninhabitable. If the point of your little essay is the obvious?that there's plenty of room for development between Ocean City and San Francisco?then excuse me. I'm just another one of those hayseed dittoheads.

M. Van Voorhis, Alton, IL

But Can You Defend Watermelon Smackers?

Regarding Tama Janowitz's liqueur reviews ("Food," 7/25). No doubt many liqueurs are rotten. And it is true that few folks drink liqueurs in this country. But America isn't exactly the land of sophistication. How many folks know somebody who drinks, say, dessert wines or digestifs, or even knows what a Claret is?

Meanwhile in Italy folks are knocking back chilled limoncello, swilling grappa and quaffing Brunello di Montalcino. Speaking of sophistication?uh, Tama, what's next, Bordeaux on the rocks?

Let me explain. While some liqueurs are meant to be taken straight, some of the ones you wrote about are meant to be mixed with something. And other ones are to be served ice cold (not on ice). Liqueurs generally (excepting the rotten stuff cooked up for college students) are to be taken after a meal. So sipping one warm liqueur after another was bound to disappoint. Grousing that they mostly sucked is a little unfair and only serves to perpetuate the mostly senseless antipathy to them.

Kevin R. Kosar, Williamsburg

He's on the Way

What is Claude La Badarian's cocktail of choice and where can I get some? Is he aware that two weeks ago his nefarious base of operations was a "hotel" in New England or upstate somewhere and that suddenly, one week later, that same fleabag abode, the entire "hotel," in fact?including, presumably, visits from the same American social worker he cajoled into giving him handjobs?is in France ("Dining Late with Claude La Badarian," 7/25)?

Since his telekinetic Genius functions obliviously anywhere, may I offer him my closet in a Staten Island rent-stabilized apartment? No way my neighborhood lesbians in Staten Island, America, would have treated him in the disgraceful way they did in "France"! There are no end of attractions for him in my Artistic Italian, Arab, white, black, yellow and Indian Islamic community. There are many other Geniuses leading long, tortuous lives here. Like us, he can cash his phony checks at Arab Eddie's. He can get instant credit and short-term cash advances from Drugstore Louie. He can still petition for the same rights to a dead retarded man's checks (he won't be the first!), Meals on Wheels, Social Security and everything else he enjoys now in his present precarious appointments?plus, there's a very reasonable "Halal Chicken" takeout right down the block, steps away from my commodious walk-in closet! Let me know how much he can pay. I understand he's a food critic.

P. Vitucci, Staten Island

Armond's Behind on the Eightball Armond White: Your review of Ghost World only demonstrates that you are woefully unfamiliar with the work of Daniel Clowes. He cowrote the script, illustrated and wrote the original graphic novel upon which the film is based, but you never mention his style or his influence even in passing! For example, "a coat-hanger sculpture depicting a 'woman's right to choose' and a tampon-in-a-tea-cup 'found object'" come directly from the pages of Eightball, where Clowes makes his contempt for art institutions explicitly clear ("Art School Confidential"). But this prompts you to speculate as to whether or not Terry Zwigoff has acquired the misogyny of Robert Crumb? What does Robert Crumb have to do with Ghost World? The surreality of deserted spaces, a slow, depressed crawl through an absurd world infected with ennui?does that sound like Robert Crumb to you? No. I guess that is just a "roughly comic book style." You know, a "zine" thing.

May Buddha bless you.

Name Withheld, Puerto Madryn, Argentina

And Better Cartoons

I must admit I laughed out loud when I read the recent piece by Carol Iannone ("Taki's Top Drawer," 7/25). The idea that feminism is responsible for the desire of some younger women for older men says more about the author's prejudices and inexperience than she probably intended to reveal. I know a couple of high-achieving women in their late 20s who prefer men 15 or 20 years older. They say they feel more secure; that the man is less likely to stray. When you delve deeper there are examples of betrayal (sometimes in childhood) by male peers. I've no idea if these experiences contributed to this preference because two people are hardly enough to generalize from.

The only thing I can say with certainty is that feminism (from which these women definitely benefited) had absolutely nothing to do with their choice. I agree that Chandra Levy's illusion that Gary Condit was going to leave his wife for her in three or four years (when he would be what, almost 60?) and start a new family was the most disturbing aspect of their relationship. It's a shame that she's gone, because I'd love to know exactly how she thought that would happen and if it did happen how it would work.

On a more general note, I'm a big New York Press fan. Next to The New Yorker I think it contains some of the best writing around. And it's free!

John Culloty, Rego Park

Relevance Is Passe

What is Taki's relevance? One column he's ripping Robert Redford ("Top Drawer," 6/13) and another he's masturbating to his memories of St.-Tropez (7/25). He has a trust fund, doesn't he? Let him live off that?quietly and in full retirement.

Tom McDustrell, Los Angeles

Rehabilitating Mr. Royal

Please convey to Taki my appreciation for his "St. Trop" article ("Top Drawer," 7/25). He is very good at evoking moods and filling in the colors. I can almost smell the water in the harbor and the perfume of all those little cuties Taki would like to shag.

Perhaps Taki could write a piece about his exiled king, Constantine of Greece. Now that the former Bulgarian king has regained power as prime minister, is it possible that Constantine could stage a comeback as well?

Rick Jones, Prague

Poddy Whacker

What is wrong with Scott McConnell? Why in God's name is he "unsettled" that Norman Podhoretz refused to shake his hand over his criticism of the Israeli government ("Taki's Top Drawer," 7/25)? Poddy is a crackpot who has supported Israeli policies that have led to the disastrous situation Israel is now in.

I don't want to be mean. Poddy is long past his prime. But being unsettled by Poddy over Israel is like being unsettled because Stalin didn't like your coverage of the purges. Wear Poddy's criticism as a badge of honor. He is an American who will proudly fight to the last Israeli. You, Scott, are more pro-Israel than he will ever be.

Michael Deckner, Riverhead, NY

Beermeister?

Scott McConnell writes, regarding his ideas for Israel ("Taki's Top Drawer," 7/25): "It is...the private opinion of virtually every Christian who has given any thought to the problem." Well, Scott, I guess it's just tragic that Israel is run not by noble, clear-thinking Christians but by those dimwitted Jews, who can't seem to think clearly even if they reside on this side of the Atlantic. I've previously written that you should be made secretary of state. I now add to that that you would make a fine Israeli prime minister (better than anything those primitive Hebrews could elect from themselves), and, should the situation arise, a fine lagerkommandant for the reeducation camps for all of us benighted Juden.

Nathan Lamm, Flushing

Love the 4-3-6 DP...

MUGGER: Keeping score at the ballgame is a great way to keep your head in the game (7/25). Teach your kids to keep score, and they will learn the intricacies of the game much quicker. You don't see many people keeping score anymore because the stands are full of non-baseball yutzes who go to the park to see and be seen. All they want to do is drink beer and run up and down the aisles showing off their new gear and their tanning parlor glows.

Baseball is like going to church. Many attend, but few understand. Despite the presence of these yutzes, "Baseball is still life and all the rest is details."

Tracy Meadows, Brenham, TX

...and the 9-2 Putout

MUGGER: You're on the money. But I swear the die-off among those who once knew how to score (7/25) musta begun a couple of decades back.

Here's what I've experienced: Out of my son's last four Pony league seasons, I've coached or managed three times. Among my responsibilities has been recruiting one parent either to handle the scoreboard or "book" for each game, depending on whether we were "visitors" or "home." No matter if the kids' families are recently arrived Yankees or Georgia-born, they don't score, never have, never will. And these folks are true baseball people, not some yuppie scum.

Things bottomed out this past season. Third postseason playoff game (double-elimination tournament), I'm coming up empty, finding no one to score, after lucking out gaining the home team advantage. "Advantage?" Sheeee-it! I'm officially scoring up in the box and some no-brainer parent, over in my usual first-base-coach slot, is getting our players picked off base. Believe me, only the manager-as-scorer relives such ugly moments, every inning of those games!

By the time an able scorer showed up, when I could resume my preferred offense responsibilities, we're down 10-3. Alas, the two innings to go tweren't enough: we rallied twice, but still fell two runs short of the win, 10-8. Next time out, I'll incorporate a new criterion into my player selections. I'll be looking for six-tool players.

William Boyd, Lilburn, GA

Black Stereotype Okay, Asian Not

While I sympathize with the author of "Do the White Thing" ("First Person," 7/25) for the incident he experienced in San Francisco, I find his passage on Asian women extremely offensive (to recap: "White guys often get Asian wives?whether from being in the Navy, from overseas dating services or by going on trips to places like Bangkok and the Philippines. A lot of these girls are really charming and make great wives, and white guys know this...") How dare he characterize Asian women in such a stereotypical manner, especially when it had little relation to the story at hand. It really served no purpose except to expose the author's narrowminded view of Asian women and relationships between Asian women and white men.

Jennifer Kao, Brooklyn

Love's All the Meats in MUGGER's Stew

MUGGER: I just returned from a Western trip?New Mexico (with all the crystal bangers in Santa Fe and Taos) and Colorado. Loved the cog trip up Pike's Peak. We just love the Colorado mountains. Go Red Sox. Never did like the Yankees much. Paul Gigot is a wonderful writer and should be quite a fine replacement at The Wall Street Journal (7/25). So who do you think dumped Chandra? Condit's creepy brother?

Anna Rolen, Alexandria, VA

Don't Call Him W?te

It's so great to have somebody take the issue of anti-European-American hate crimes seriously ("Do the White Thing"). I've been assaulted twice by African-American men (both times during the Dinkins administration?never under Giuliani). They didn't take money. They were simply lashing out at me because I appear European-American. (I actually have enough "official" Native American ancestors that I am registered with the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, and have received reparations money for broken treaties?no joke?but I appear very European.)

These hate crimes have become very serious in all inner cities, and many inner-city schools are practically teaching hatred of European-Americans. This really needs to change. We need writers, intellectuals, academics and politicians speaking out against anti-European-American hatred and its associated crimes.

By the way, I loathe the derogatory term "white," as no European-American is white. We are a subculture with ethnic heritage, not a color. The "Teach Tolerance" program (which basically foments anti-European-American hatred) actually uses the term "White"?capitalized like "Jew"?as if "White" is some kind of religion. They've never lifted a finger to "teach tolerance" toward European-Americans. I'm against any kind of racism, hatred and intolerance?especially toward myself and my cultural heritage.

Campion Read, Manhattan

Throbbing Grizzle

I generally concurred with John Strausbaugh's long New York Press screeds that became the basis of his book Rock Til You Drop. He's right, for the most part, about the sorry spectacle of superannuated rock stars still strutting in public. Rolling Stones tours are getting repetitive and sort of grisly, there are only so many pointless permutations of the Who that can be endured and Crosby, Stills and Nash should never be allowed onstage unless they somehow imbue their repertoire with a hint of freshness or collectively lose about 225 pounds. It's sad to see how portly Pink Floyd's formerly lean and hungry David Gilmour has gotten.

Strausbaugh described how on his book tour he encountered one reader after another who names a favorite band for exemption from his sweeping condemnation ("Publishing," 7/25). I happened to be reading this column while sitting in my seat at Madison Square Garden, waiting for Roxy Music to take the stage for what I figured would be their final swing through the States. They were extraordinary. Bryan Ferry is 55, but I've never seen anyone enjoy himself so much onstage (the ironic and jaded poses were gone), and I've never seen anyone who so belonged onstage. His longtime bandmates Phil Manzanera, Andrew Mackay and Paul Thompson were at the peak of their performing powers too. And none of them had a huge gut.

Of course, they did have the decency to run through an immense body of well-known work, most of it at least 15 years old, sparing their fans any lame unfamiliar new tunes. These guys, all eligible for the Brit equivalent of AARP, do not need to be pushed into retirement. I'm probably not telling Strausbaugh anything he hasn't already heard, but there is a strange reverse-racist quality to some of his arguments. No one would tell Buddy Guy, who's in his 60s at least and still the most astonishing electric guitarist out there, that he should get off the stage. Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker were quite advanced in age and still gigging, as were members of the Modern Jazz Quartet. It's not entirely fair to chortle at older "boomers" for being interested in seeing bands whose creative peak was a quarter-century ago. They're people who legitimately came to love guitar-based rock, a genre that also peaked in the mid-70s. Except for a handful of more recent bands like the Verve, the Church, U2 and REM (and only the first of those could be considered youthful), there hasn't been a whole lot of that kind of music to be thrilled about in the last decade. You know, people still like Mozart symphonies because no one in the past 200-plus years has composed any symphonies that were better.

Robert Cortez, Manhattan

Not Right Enough

MUGGER: Do you really think that Jacques Chirac is a socialist (7/25)? If you do, you should check out France's parliamentary system. His party, the RPR, is conservative to the core. Maybe you knew, but I may have to remind you.

Thierry Bonnaire, Jersey City

He Does It for Love

MUGGER: Taki has as much knowledge about sailing as you do. You might know more, having grown up in Huntington. His knowledge of St.-Tropez ("Top Drawer," 7/25) comes out of a (cheap) guidebook. I promise you that you know more about South Shore geography, from Bay Shore to Rockaway, than he does of the Cote d'Azur.

I hope you get him cheap.

Mort Weintraub, Larchmont

That's a Loyal Reader

MUGGER: I left Greensburg, PA, some 41 years ago. I still read the Greensburg Tribune-Review (7/25)?original version of the Pittsburgh paper?online as its editorials and most columns make more sense than those in the local Pravda in Raleigh. Call it right-wing; it's still refreshing and sensible.

Don Holloway, Chapel Hill, NC

Virginia, There Is No Cecil Adams

Cecil Adams doesn't know much about the National Security Agency ("The Straight Dope," 7/18). Which is surprising, given that he implies he read James Bamford's second book on the NSA. Of course, Bamford is an admirer and supporter of the NSA. A book that isn't so admiring is Ford Rowan's Technospies, written in the 1970s. Rowan revealed that not only does the NSA spy on telecommunications by keywords, but also by voiceprints, i.e., they can search for an individual by the sound of his voice. If that's what they were doing back in the 70s, we can assume the technology is much more advanced now.

Anybody who's read anything at all about the NSA knows that they have huge warehouses full of intercepted messages. Their method is to cull everything cullable with the idea of going through it later. The U.S. taps undersea communications cables to get at messages that aren't transmitted through the air. And any domestic calls sent by microwave towers can be assumed to be intercepted. As far as "legality," has any secret police agency ever been inhibited by the law? One gimmick the NSA and its sibling agencies in Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand use is spying on each others' citizens and then "sharing the intelligence." They consider this subterfuge a way to make spying on people whose politics they don't like legally kosher.

As for relying on encryption for protection, that just isn't practical in the real world for individual people communicating with other individuals.

Jason Zenith, Manhattan

Alaska's Not Far Enough

I for one am pleased that Johnny Scorpio has left New York and I hope his departure is permanent. I read "Do the White Thing" and thought it might be a joke, or that considering the sketchy way it was written, that it had been hacked up by an overzealous editor. Whatever. After reading the essay, I was unclear about what the hell Scorpio was trying to convey. Is it that crime and urban problems = black men? That's stupid. The whole crap about SF's homeless shelters (which sounded strangely like prison) convinced me that his problems with San Francisco weren't racially motivated. He had to learn the language of the streets. And so he thinks he is justified in using the word "nigger"?even though he sarcastically refrains from doing so?because his attacker happened to be black? Ludicrous. Fact is, the niggers that exist in the mind of Scorpio please me greatly. They coaxed him to move to a place where he'll have to find different and more creative ways to justify his stupidity and ignorance. Good riddance.

Steven G. Fullwood, Manhattan

Like that New Yorker Cartoon

I usually enjoy Andrey Slivka's rants about the great suburban horde. They are highly entertaining, and sometimes he makes a good point. However, the same cannot be said of his last polemic against Rush Limbaugh, where he amazingly claimed: "...[O]f course if you look out of a plane window from 40,000 feet you're likely to see empty space. This is America. You're likely to be flying over uninhabitable desert."

Exactly what America is Slivka referring to here? I spent three years with the Air Force as a cargo loadmaster flying between Travis AFB in California and McGuire AFB in New Jersey at altitudes varying from 43,000 to 30,000 to all the way down to 20 feet. No doubt there's a lot of desert out there (much of it is actually habitable, by the way), but you're far more likely to find green farmland. In fact, if you fly from the East Coast to L.A. you won't hit anything even resembling a desert until you're more than halfway through Texas, and that only stretches as far north as Utah.

Ironically, Slivka's attempt to caricature Limbaugh as some kind of uber-Babbitt is itself a caricature most Midwesterners hold of New Yorkers: a boorish and provincial loudmouth, ignorant of even basic geography west of the Hudson.