Pathetic and Cowardly...

I found the article in the January 22 edition of Metro Pulse, Gamut section, titled "Hold Everything," very disappointing. For a newspaper to publish a sympathetic article about welfare recipients next to one that refers to fast food workers as "Incentive-deficient worker bees" is a telling example of the sad state of our nation. Do you see the irony there, or is it just me?

While the article started with great humor potential, the writer's ego began to show through too strongly and ruined the effect. Also, phrases like "These smell like butt" and "A fart during benediction" are the tools of a juvenile and unskilled writer. The threat of next week's article being a tour of fast food restrooms dropped the whole thing to the low level of anal humor one has come to expect from Phil and Billy on 103.5.

Perhaps journalism would best be served by the next article covering the fast-food worker's point of view. They could tell stories about pseudo-intellectual customers who, in spite of their obvious brilliance, can find nothing better to do than make life difficult for poor working stiffs.

On another note, anyone who writes an article like that and does not have the balls to put their name on the by-line is pathetic, and an editor who would allow it has no integrity. Any coward can be brave and say outlandish and critical things behind a fake name. Take a stand, say your piece, and, if you want to be respected, have the courage to put your name on it!

Bruce Gordon
Friendsville

...But Funny, Too

What a way to start my day. I awoke about 5:30 this morning, couldn't go back to sleep, so hit on my computer friend for companionship and comfort (since I was the only person in the world awake so early). I contemplated a search subject, and came up with "Knoxville Symphony." Now, don't get the wrong idea. I've never been to a symphony performance in my life. We plan to move to the Knoxville area to escape the rampant crime of Memphis and see the move as a chance to create a totally new image for ourselves. Maybe participating in symphony functions would help us look cool, ah, I mean sophisticated to our new Knoxville neighbors. My search results included a link to your "Hold Everything" article. How that happened, I don't understand, but I immediately related to the subject line, so read on. I laughed until, truly, the tears poured down my cheeks and my nose started running. I felt rather foolish sitting here all by myself belly-laughing and hoped that my husband wouldn't hear me.

While I was typing this my husband got up, and I showed him the printed copy of "Hold Everything." He was like I was—laughing before the end of the first page. I went and got us both Kleenex. Thanks for getting me off to a good start today.

Barbara Patrick
Memphis

Geography vs. Good Food

It was interesting to read Joy Lyon's "take" on what caused the demise of Manhattan's this time—that is, the public's "negative" perception of the Old City ["Last Call," Vol. 8, No. 6]. Of course, if that were true then simultaneously all the businesses that line Central Avenue and Jackson Street would be boarding up their windows and packing it in for the greener and supposedly safer pastures of West Knoxville. That isn't happening! The truth is that a staggering 85 percent of new businesses fail in the first year. That Joy Lyons and Mike Tarquin fell victim to that statistic is unfortunate, and I am sure that they are bitter and disappointed. However, the fact remains that every other business adjacent to their failed venture is booming. I think that it is sad that Ms. Lyons feels compelled to denigrate the Old City in order to justify the failure of her business. I won't dignify her comments on safety in the area, except to say that all the people who mill around the streets obviously don't share her fears or the apparent fears of her clientele. I wish Ms Lyons all the best in her next business venture; however, I hasten to add that geography has less to do with success than good food and sharp business acumen.

Patrick Gillespie
Polyester
Knoxville