AN ECUMENCIAL HITLIST       Every once in a while, when ...

MENCIAL HITLIST

Every once in a while, when my tight-ass German neighbors bug me, I turn to my old Welcomate, Jim Knipfel, for relief. His weirdly ecumenical obit hitlist this week ["Book of the Dead," Jan. 4] was a wonder. And I envy his earthy metaphors like "dirt nap" and "haircut of the dog." Never was there so far-seeing a muse than this semi-sighted one.

Patrick D. Hazard, Weimar, Germany

A WRITER AGAINST THE FRAUDS

I'd like to thank John Hood from the bottom of my heart for the article he wrote recently regarding street lit fiction. ["Lit Fraud I," Jan. 11] It pangs my heart sometimes when people associate what we write with the likes of garbage and trash! I sometimes wonder if any of them could be a 31-year-old woman, a 15-year-old hustler, a concerned parent, a teacher, a police officer and a pastor and make it believable. Out of everyone, this type of insult hurts worse coming from a fellow author. Because we are artists! And what's bad for some is long awaited and needed for others. I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate this article!

Toy Styles, via email

MANNY, GIRLIE-MAN

Assuming reader Susan Smpadian incorrectly referred to Manny Ramirez as "Manny Rodriguez" in last week's letter ["Thank God For The Boss," Jan. 11], your editor's note to her was incorrect as well. ("We're not sure who Manny Rodriguez is, but neither Manny Ramirez nor Alex Rodriguez wear high socks.") If you're referring to 2005, you are partially correct, as Ramirez wore his socks high for a very short time. However, in previous years, he was one of the first players I noticed who DID wear his socks high, and it was only because his stubby legs were atrociously displayed. I agree with Susan Smpadian that the look is ridiculous and I, as a guy, feel it's a girlie man look. When Ramirez ran, all you saw were his legs that looked like piano legs running. Yes, Mr. Steinbrenner, you need to ban this awful trend.

As for the now gone hair of Johnny Damon, it appeared as if Jesus Christ was playing baseball. I was expecting Damon to cross himself at every at bat. Enough already of hairy ballplayers.

Richard, via email

While Ramirez has worn his socks high, he does so infrequently, and he's far more associated with the equally ridiculous trend of letting the cuffs of his trousers spill over his shoes. We stand by our note.-The Eds. DR. DOT, PEDANT

The late Judy McGuire's column may have been ditzy and frequently unfocused but at least it wasn't excruciatingly boring. Dr. Dot needs to examine rule 61: "Don't take yourself so seriously." She's pedantic with no apparent reason for holding her views in such high esteem and, more disappointing for someone writing a sexually oriented personal advice column, she's beginning to sound like an evangelistic preacher.

Please, for the sake of your readers, lose Dr. Dot and, if you can't resurrect Judy, find someone who can laugh at sexual foibles. Isn't that what we're all here for?

Robert, via email

While readers refuse to believe us about this, Judy McGuire was replaced not by Dr. Dot but by the Lowlife column, which is penned by a variety of contributors but most often by Kevin Giordano.-The Eds. WE JUST THINK THEY SUCK

Mr. Jonathan Leaf, reviewer of The Strokes' new album ["Stroking the Hype Machine," Jan. 11]: you make it sound as if having hit-less songs, and indecipherable lyrics are not admirable. Do we really care that you think singer Julian's wife is plain looking? How she is supposedly plain looking is admirable, too. Oh, and by the way having one place for all information (be it booking agents, or where to buy key chains) with their Web site is simply a smart idea. The fact that you don't even know who directs their videos (hint: not Spike Jonze) proves that you could use a few smart ideas yourself. There are those who are sick of The Strokes, and then there are those who are sick of the people who are sick of The Strokes. Then there are those you are just plain jealous motherfuckers. Which one are you?

Marc Rampulla, East Rockaway

Mr. Rampulla is correct; Spike Jonze has not directed any videos for The Strokes. We regret the error.-The Eds. A DEAD HORSE

Armond White is a riot. ["January Spawned a Monster," Jan. 11]

It looks as if every review he writes, from now to late March, is destined to mention Steven Spielberg's Munich. If his comparisons of Eli Roth's Hostel and Woody Allen's Match Point weren't odd enough, White (yet again) finds time to mention his unhappiness with Munich's chilly critical reception.

I won't even begin to mention the fact White also thought it appropriate to reveal the ending of Match Point in that very same review of Hostel?

Shaun Roach, Manhattan

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA

Many thanks to Armond White for ruining Match Point for myself and, I would imagine, others as well. Perhaps Mr. White should make a practice of revealing the plot of every film he reviews that wasn't made by Steven Speilberg. That way those of us who occasionally bother to read his writing will only be compelled to see those films that he has deemed worthy of attention.

Adam Capitanio, via email

SMOKE FILLED BACK ROOMS

"Brooklyn Blows It" [Azi Paybarah, Jan. 11] was interesting, but there is even more to the story. New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has removed the veil of her Manhattan liberal independent reformer image to reveal that she is a seasoned Democratic party machine leader. She follows in the fine tradition of her predecessors, former Council Speakers Gifford Miller, Peter Vallone and the late Tom Cuite of Brooklyn. She has already committed to overturn the voters wishes by considering legislation to repeal term limits. Just watch on January 18 when Speaker Quinn announces her appointments to various Council Committee chairs. Council members who are loyal to their respective county organizations (the ones that endorsed her candidacy for Speaker) will be rewarded with salary increases known as lulus ranging from $4,000 to $28,000 to chair Council Committees. The average salary for a New Yorker is $41,000 per year. Every Councilmember has a base salary of $91,000 plus bonuses for a part-time job. Under Speaker Quinn's reign, it will be the usual political quid pro quo with councilmanics: Vote as instructed by the Speaker, and members will continue to receive the perks of office. These include salary bonuses for chairing Council committees, extra cash for local district offices and staff along with funding local neighborhood pork barrel projects to grease the wheels of reelection. Be an independent member and vote to represent the citizens and suffer the consequences. Everyone knows the fix is in.

Remember the proposal to spend over $1 billion in City and State dollars to support construction of a new Manhattan Westside Stadium for the Jets which was defeated last year? Councilmanic Quinn was an early and leading opponent of this project, including the wasteful spending of taxpayers dollars as corporate welfare to help the Jets owners pay for their new stadium. Contrast this with Queens NYC Council Finance Committee Chairperson and defeated candidate for Speaker-Councilmanic Weprin. He was an early and leading supporter of this project. By convenient coincidence, he was the recipient of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the Jets owner, club president, their consultants and lobbyists along with other Pay for Play contributors shortly after endorsing the project. Never shy around a camera or microphone, I couldn't help but notice the smiling face of CouncilmanicWeprin close by Council Speaker Quinn on numerous occasions since her election on January 4. His consolation prize is another four year term as Council Finance Committee Chairperson.

The five county Democratic political bosses don't care if you are liberal or conservative, gay or straight, man or woman-just play ball like Speaker Quinn and you're welcome to the smoke filled clubhouse back rooms!

Larry Penner, Great Neck

ALLEDGATIONS I would like to know, honestly, what the author of the above article ["Choosing the Right College Guide," Jonathan Leaf, Jan. 11] meant by "compulsive-gambler" gary barnett? I was married to a compusive gambler and it is a very serious illness.....gary barnett does not have an illness. I also would like to know where the information came from that said Gary had sympathy for players in regard to the rape allegations...none of which were proven. He had sympathy, as we all did, to unproven and misguided alledgations against players who were totally innocent. Why must the media continue to sprinkle mis-information throughout the press hurting people. Haven't you done enough? please please explain. thank you

GO BUFFS!!!

Joan Russell, via email

BLAME SKIPPY Seems like many reporters you do not let facts get in the way of a story. Barnett did not gamble that was Skippy at Washington and his remarks on Katie were as an answer to a question about her ability but it is pretty obvious that this is a rag not a paper.

Lawrence Kochis, via email

LOADED QUESTIONS Do you really let guys like this Leaf, write something so stupid and so ill-informed as his blurb on Univ. of Colo. or did it just slip thru your four levels of fact-checkers and editors?

Rob, via email

SENSATIONAL JOURNALISM You call yourself an editor? Do you ever check what's written for factual content, or just spelling errors?

"Colorado, by contrast, did finally dismiss its compulsive-gambler football coach Gary Barnett-although not until the program started losing games, and not just taxpayer money. Barnett's remarks to reporters expressing his sympathy for players who raped the team's female kicker don't seem to have bothered the university's president much."

First of all, Barnett is not, nor ever has been considered a compulsive gambler. The gambling issue took place at another university, he was not implicated at all, and yet you right it as fact? He was indeed fired for losing too many football games, because he was cleared in all investigations. The last line just has no basis in fact, if you has actually listened to the interview, or even read the entire story, you'd know better than to print something so inflammatory and just plain wrong. The remarks Barnett made were indeed inappropriate, however there was no sympathy expressed for his players, the female kicker has never named her alleged attacker, there were no charges filed against anyone for this or anything other irresponsible "journalists" have come up with. And, the last part of that line shows how incredibly out of touch with the facts you really are. The CU President at the time was so bothered by the remarks, she suspended coach Barnett for 4 months while an investigation was conducted, which he and all CU coaches were cleared of any wrong doing or unethical behavior.

Do your homework in the future, try publishing something factual, instead of this sensational journalism such as what you've published.

Mike, via email