Letters to the editor:
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The Sound of Prosperity

Wow! What an interesting, in-depth, and well-written article about the valiant Knoxvillians who are engaged in battle with the (apparently) omnipotent TDOT ["Road Warriors," Vol. 10, No. 12]. Joe Tarr answered many questions I had about the process used in gutting our community and why the pillage only seems to be escalating. Thank you to Metro Pulse for letting the rest of us in on this "malpractice" and thank you to the handful of tireless people for their efforts to keep our community livable.

We city folk have most certainly become desensitized to noise, especially that of automobiles. I challenge anybody to find a spot in Knoxville where the roar of traffic cannot be heard to some degree. I believe we have all heard it so long that many of us are completely unfamiliar with true quiet and stillness, especially the very young. Most of us don't even know what we're missing because we so rarely, if ever, can get away from "the sound of prosperity." Adding extra lanes to I-40 can only heighten the roar and thicken the air with exhaust gases. I envision FASTER cars and trucks, and MORE cars and trucks. Sounds like an equation for disaster to me.

Marlene Taylor
Knoxville

We're Number... er, Never Mind

It should seem ironic that Jason Fletcher ["UT's Downward Spiral" by David Madison, Vol. 10, No. 12] was unable to find more than 33 seats for his Econ 499 class while just across the campus work was underway to provide 1,248 seats, at a cost of $14,423 per seat, to comfort the posteriors of Knoxville's rich and famous while they enjoy their catered lunches and watch TV in air-conditioned comfort six afternoons a year. But I suspect that few would consider this anything but money well spent. UT President Gilley is quoted as saying that UT has "drifted into a non-competitive position." How can this be? Weren't we Number One just last year and didn't both teams reach the Sweet Sixteen this year? Isn't this what Tennesseans really want from their state university? When I asked a friend how spending $21 million for a bridge and $18 million for luxury boxes could be justified at the same time Gilley needs $30 million to jump start his academic centers of excellence, I was told that these things have nothing to do with education. Perhaps this is part of the problem. Go Vols!

Frederick J. Miller
Knoxville

Don't Get the Blues

I've just read Jack Neely's piece on Ida Cox and cried at its conclusion ["The Uncrowned Queen of the Blues," Vol. 10, No. 8]. It touched me in so many ways, primarily because he captured the essence of this wonderful singer, who not only could "belt the blues" but had a sweet heart and shared her love with so many people.

Jack is a masterful writer/story-teller and except for portraying me as "modest in the way of tall, thin men," was accurate on every count. Jack: Would you consider writing my vanity press biography?

God bless Metro Pulse for bringing new life to my beloved birthplace.

Lynn Westergaard
Atlanta