The Mail
THE MAIL
This Week: NYSX funeral a pool of tears, Page Two is protecting your community and will Armond White's head explode while reviewing The Manchurian Candidate? Plus: More Liam Scheff and the AIDS debate.
Armond's Denzel-Demme Dilemma
I can hardly contain my excitement for Armond White's upcoming review of Jonathan Demme's remake of The Manchurian Candidate. Since Armond is an incredibly close-minded critic who is nothing if not predictable, logic dictates that he must give all Demme films a positive review yet must seize every available opportunity to accuse Denzel Washington of being an Uncle Tom.
What will poor Armond do now that Demme and Denzel have combined forces? Condemn Demme's work as a (gasp!) flawed masterpiece as he did for Alan Rudolph's The Secret Lives of Dentists, or James Toback's unwatchable Harvard Man? Applaud Denzel for finally, under Demme's expert guidance, giving a decent performance (like letting the writer Peter Tolan off the hook for working with Robert Altman on The Player)? Keep his mouth shut and pass the review on to Matt Zoller Seitz?
Or will poor Armond's head just, y'know, explode under the pressure of dealing with the Demme-Denzel dichotomy? I wait for the answer with baited breath. P.S. Benjamin Kessler is on Armond's payroll, right?
Matthew E. Goldenberg, Manhattan
Who's Being Tacky?
Russ Smith: Please tell Howie Carr that if Sen. Kerry is "the most successful gigolo in U.S. history," then Teresa Heinz was the most successful gold-digger in Portuguese history when she married into the Heinz family ("Slitting Their Wrists," 7/21). Let's not be tacky! Seriously, here's why many of my staunch Republican pals are not voting for President Bush: They're furious about Iraq, his tax cut and other issues.
These people don't give a hoot about gay marriage and they can't stand Michael Moore. But they were 100 percent opposed to President Clinton's bombing Bosnia, and they are totally opposed to what they consider a pointless invasion of Iraq. So here's my offer: Let me be your "egg peddler" (in 1948 Harry Truman said he used an egg peddler to find out how people were going to vote, and that's how he knew he was going to win). You may be waiting until Oct. 15 to take bets, but the traditional polls are going to tell you nothing.
Lola Cherson, Manhattan
Millionaire's Club
The truth, as Russ Smith took so long to say, is that it matters not at all who wins this mating game, but who controls the Senate ("Slitting Their Wrists," 7/21). Since old poops from shaggy southern states wax on and on and gargle oil-nothing will change much.
The House has divided against itself. Most members will retire into opulent oblivion, and at least 30,000 lawyers will be let loose on the innocent public. This happens every year. No wonder Sen. Claghorn is re-born again and again. Along with his jackass brother in the House. You know him-old WhatsHisName. Everybody's got one.
As they used to say, "Still got to get up and go to work." Thanks for the sour apples.
Bob Coope, via email
Perez on Pettiness
To Paul Sheridan of Brooklyn ("The Mail," 6/23): You must remember you live in the city and that comes with a price. Less space, high taxes and around-the-clock noise. Stop trying to take away the small things children look forward to when living in the projects.
I wonder if you were brought up here in New York City. If so, you should feel ashamed for trying to take away something so meaningful to children in this wonderful yet cruel city. Plus, don't you think it's a little pathetic calling 311 every time an ice cream truck is outside your house? It's not like this goes on all year round. Maybe three or four months. Stop being such a bitch and deal with it. You should thank God that your problems are so pathetic.
Grendy Perez, Elmhurst, Queens
Don't Ever Call It Snarky Again
New York Sports Express is no more (Matt Taibbi, "R.I.P. NYSX," 7/21)? Lame. Totally lame. Are we supposed to believe that NYC cannot sustain a sharp-edged snarky sports weekly? And just where am I going to read those wacky interviews that Dave Hollander was doing?
You know what just occurred to me? Why not take NYSX over to the woman who took over the Star? They must have some money floating around over there. Naturally, they would have to turn it into a gossipy, picture-laden sports-like Star for Nascar dads. But everyone would get to keep their jobs and maybe even make some more money.
That aside, good luck, NYSX. It's been nice to know you.
Mick Stingley, Manhattan
Down for the Count
Matt Taibbi's elegiac eulogy for the sudden demise of the New York Sports Express was a gem ("R.I.P. NYSX," 7/21). More than being a sports fan, I'm a fan of the talented writers who write about the sport. NYSX employed some highly superior writers, especially Spike Vrusho, Matt Taibbi and Robert Ecksel. Once I embraced their styles, other sports writers sounded like dead heads and curmudgeons with not an ounce of humor.
"Necrology" and "obituary" are such unlovely words. They bring on an outpouring of flowers and redundant maudlin eulogies followed by obits in all the papers. But when a paper like NYSX dies, try and find a proper notice or explanation. You're lucky to find a single sentence about it. That's why I enjoyed Taibbi's and Vrusho's lucidly detailed laments.
I cry foul! What a shame, losing New York's only breath of fresh air amongst the stagnant locker-room stench of the local dailies. Perhaps the New York Sports Express can carry on as an online version only? Here's to better days gone by.
Drew Olewnick, Manhattan
Bad Medicine
I was extremely affected by Scheff's article, for I was one of the nurses last summer pushing those "miracle drugs" either in the stomach tubes or mouths of the children attending a summer camp for children affected directly or indirectly with HIV/AIDS. (Liam Scheff, "Orphans on Trial," 7/14).
One particular child whom I've grown to love and will always care for (and whom I think Scheff mentioned in his article) gave me an extremely hard time during medication time, and it is only through this article that I understand why. I have never been on the premises of ICC, but Scheff's article painted a very vivid picture of the unfortunate atmosphere.
I am writing because I am concerned about the medical outcomes of these children and would like to offer my assistance in bringing more attention to this topic. I don't know what exactly can be done, but please know that this issue has my undivided attention.
Name Withheld
Hidden Agenda?
Your paper is damaged by Liam Scheff's article alleging that orphan children are being exploited with AIDS drugs ("Orphans on Trial," 7/14). Scheff should have told you, and us, that he is of the crank fringe that believes HIV does not cause AIDS.
He should have clearly stated in his reference to a key source quoted in the story that Dr. David Rasnick, with whom he says he worked, has a reputation for one thing alone: that, with Dr. Peter Duesberg, he has campaigned to convince people that HIV does not cause AIDS.
I believe that the article is deceitful in concealing this agenda, and if it is the agenda of your publication, then you intentionally offer information that will cause real, if unquantifiable, suffering. I doubt if this desire is what brought you into journalism.
Richard Dawson, via email
The editors reply: This publication's only "agenda" is offering a forum to writers who might not otherwise have the opportunity to present their work, unpopular as it may be to dogmatists. We are fully aware of Liam Scheff's previous articles on the subject of HIV and AIDS, and rebuff the accusation that his article was deceitful in any way.
HIV on Trial, I
I applaud your courageous printing of the story "Orphans on Trial" by Liam Scheff (7/14). The sickening and despicable AIDS holocaust run out of the NIH and CDC knows no limits. It is absolutely appalling and heartbreaking to see what ICC is doing to these homeless, innocent children. They are being used as guinea pigs for a theory that does not hold water.
Any person looking into the HIV theory of AIDS can discern that the entire theory is a 100 percent fabrication by these government agencies. Any student of "Virology 101" would know that no virus takes 10 years to cause disease after infection, nor does any virus cause a ludicrous 29 (and counting) different diseases and conditions. In Liam Scheff's three-part series in the Boston Weekly Dig last May, Robert Gallo was quoted as admitting that they have never found HIV DNA in t-cells. In other words, they have never found one single HIV in one single t-cell of one single AIDS patient ever, and yet they claim that HIV kills billions and billions and billions of t-cells. As the article states, surprisingly this amazing admission never made front-page news.
The AIDS holocaust has wreaked terror, destruction and death on untold millions. It is time that the American public learns the truth about the fictitious HIV virus. The mainstream American media has despicably shirked its responsibility for 20 years to report truthfully and accurately about HIV and AIDS. The only way this story will get out is through alternative presses like New York Press.
Once again, I applaud your courageous printing of this story. I hope it is followed up in the future by additional stories exposing the horrendous HIV/AIDS fraud.
I'm going to be blunt here, because I've never written to an editor before. I only have the name Donna Larsen to associate with this story ("Apply Fist Here," 6/30), but I would like to say thank you to her and anyone else bringing this story to realization. I'm fascinated and in admiring awe and just wanted to give some positive feedback. This story was found linked by the NCSF, July headlines. Great work! This one will stick with me a while, I believe.
Cindi Johnson, Wurzburg, Germany
Smoke, Detected
First off, kudos to you all for pointing out the social ills connected to the Kool Mixx contest promotional campaign by B&W ("Page Two Gets Results," 7/14). I thought the initial article was on point.
However, I was a little disturbed: This campaign did not go unnoticed by tobacco-control advocates within the African-American community. Your article served to support our nationwide campaign that spoke out against this cheap pandering.
The National African American Tobacco Prevention Network (NAATPN), as well as other health advocates across the country, worked tirelessly pulling together information and activities to educate, motivate and encourage community members, health officials and the attorney generals from states nationwide to counter this contest and its promotional campaign, and as a result of that grassroots effort, litigation was filed. (By the way, it has been happening for six years without the imagery and messaging on the packs; only this year they thought they were slick when they thought no one was paying attention.)
You are part of a greater movement, and for that I think you should feel pride and much thanks for being one of the first media venues to highlight this critical information and expose big tobacco's evil ways.
Deirdre V. Smith, Regional Coordinator for Policy Advocacy & Communications, NAATPN, Baltimore
A Moment for ICC
Thank you for having the courage to publish this article written by Liam Scheff ("Orphans on Trial," 7/14). My prayers go out to all the children incarcerated at the Incarnation Children's Center.
Frank Castiglione, San Francisco
HIV on Trial, II
Familiar with Liam Scheff's extensive investigative journalism to expose the practices of the AIDS industry, I was most relieved that your publication had the courage to publish a piece raising critical questions about the HIV theory of immuno-deficiency, including the accuracy and validity of the HIV tests, the definition and diagnosis of illnesses attributed to AIDS and the safety and efficacy of AIDS drug cocktails ("Orphans on Trial," 7/14). These questions are valid for anyone at any age, anytime. It is especially heartbreaking when the subjects in question are forced to participate in clinical trials of highly toxic and experimental chemo-cocktails, unable to give either their informed consent or dissent.
As the first open AIDS Dissident appointed to the Federation of Gay Games, Sydney 2002, "AIDS, Breast Cancer and Wellness Subcommittee" and long-time gay activist, and one [mis]diagnosed HIV-positive for nearly 14 years, I am one of those so-called "long-term non-progressors" who seem to be more and more the rule rather than the exception.
There is one question I would like to put to Dr. Katherine Painter, mentioned in the story: Can you provide the reference to one completed (not stopped early) and placebo-controlled (drug vs. no drug comparisons) study showing the drug cocktails extend life or reduce clinical symptoms rather than only affecting one's numbers or non-descript lab markers of t-cell counts and PCR viral load?
I no longer play this number game, waiting to hear how I'm supposed to feel based upon yet further non-specific tests. The Nobel Laureate inventor of the PCR technology used in the viral load test says the test is a misapplication of his technology and measures genetic fragments or biologic debris; he says it's not even licensed to measure or detect viruses of any kind. After learning that, I went off the cocktail combo mentioned in Scheff's story that I had been on for a year and a half.
That was five years ago, and I take no medications and have no AIDS-defining illnesses. Although once about seven years ago, when I still counted my t-cells and they'd dropped below 200, I was diagnosed as having AIDS.
Kelly Jon Landis, Santa Monica, CA
The Future of ICC
Thank you for running Liam Scheff's article on New York City's Incarnation Children's Center ("Orphans on Trial," 7/14). The article was much appreciated by those like myself who face a medical system that only offers pharmaceutical harm. I hope you will keep your readers advised on future developments in the story.
Ken Anderlini, Aldergrove, B.C., Canada
Noted
I'm sorry to hear about the demise of NYSX. I do have some thoughts on the matter.
I think the idea of the magazine was a good one. NYSX offered opinions and covered New York sports like no one else, in print or online. It offered a sometimes inspired and always unique perspective of the big-four sports and, admirably, didn't shy away from the lesser sports. What it could have used more of, though, is numbers. Sports readers are stat-heads. By printing the baseball standings alone, even if it was a weekly, many more sports fans would have picked it up. Box scores would have helped.
I also wish the writers would have used some more original quotes in the stories. You were hampered by not gaining access to the clubhouses and locker rooms. NYSX could have offered a seriously funny look at the behind-the-scenes lunacy of professional sports. Every issue, I felt like this was a missed opportunity. The articles were funny in a my-buddy-at-the-bar-riffing kind of way. They'd be even better if they were stories from your buddy who had clubhouse access and interaction with the athletes they were covering.
Glenn Slavin, Maplewood, NJ
We Won't Read You, Either
New York Sports Express has the best sports reporting I have ever read in my life. It certainly deserves to continue, and I can only think that it's pure corporate greed that is motivating you to close it. You cannot tell me that in New York City, with the right kind of push, you can't sell a free sports paper.
You have talented, funny writers. I hope they rip off the ideas for all their columns and find another publisher. By way of protest, I will never read New York Press again, not that I did very often, as the writing and subject matter are boring and stupid, unlike everything in the NYSX. Shame on you!
Leslie Molson, Brooklyn
A Real Sport
To Matt Taibbi: Great little piece that gets at the absurdity and humor of how Americans treat sports. I only wish I'd known sooner the spirit in which NYSX was written ("R.I.P. NYSX," 7/21). I'm more or less indifferent to most sports, but always like an off-beat article on the subject. However, you missed your own brilliant opportunity. All the while I thought you were building up to the obvious epiphany-fire all the reporters working for the major media outlets and replace them with rabid sports writers who will seek out the truth!
To Zach Parsi, you make an excellent point about the psychological/ philosophical underpinnings of America's success in the world, and I agree that much of the problem comes down to Americans being mentally and physically fat, lazy and complacent ("Expatriate Manifesto," 7/21). But you totally ignore a core structural problem with America (and the West, to an extent): the failure of capitalism. America's embrace of capitalism has no doubt been instrumental to its success on the world stage in all facets. And, indeed, there are many virtues to capitalism-incentive to improve, merit-based success, market-driven instead of state-driven planning, etc.
But capitalism in the extreme is now eroding the country and our culture because it encourages a few destructive behaviors. Capitalism is allowing the grotesque over-compensation of a minute percentage of the population and allowing corporate America to renege on the social contract with rank-and-file workers (i.e., sharing in the success of companies, gaining a measure of job security).
Secondly, capitalism is turning our culture to shit because it rewards the fast buck and caters to the lowest common denominator. As the money in culture has grown larger and more important to companies that rely on it for content, all popular culture has been pushed toward mass-production, effectively eliminating the artistic process that is too unruly, unpredictable and difficult to market. All that pop-culture noise has pushed anything worthwhile to the margins of society (pick your medium-music, painting, literature) and made the overwhelming majority of Americans into slobbering idiots.
Until America and other countries are willing to honestly evaluate capitalism and its weaknesses and propose real remedies, it will perpetuate the nation of fat-assed, slack-jawed idiots that Parsi laments.
Mike Strassman, Brooklyn
Done. And Remember the Attica 43!
Hello, my name is Greg Diehl, and at the present time I am incarcerated in a state correctional institution at Camp Hill, PA. I'll be in on a few parole violations for the next 14 months. That is my max date. I am originally from Brooklyn, and I love your magazine, or I should say paper. I was told by another inmate here that you send the papers free to inmates, so I was wondering if it's possible to put me on your mailing list. I would appreciate it very much.
Greg Diehl, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
Sour Grapes, Venom and Piss
I just ran across Mark Ames' review of Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs ("Flip-Flop King," 8/27/03), and I'm guessing you published it a year ago, but I had a few questions for the writer. Did Chuck Klosterman bang your girlfriend? Also, what do you mean by "Steely Dan-esque"? It seemed like you used it in a negative tone, which is just silly.
I'm just an unironic Midwesterner, but 3000 words dedicated to personally and professionally attacking a guy with a best-selling book and a better job than you sounds like sour grapes.
David Hudnall, Kansas City, MO
Taco Hell
John Dolan is to be congratulated on his article "Hispanic Panic" (5/5). I laughed out loud at Dolan's truthful, hard-hitting insights into Huntington's racist paranoia. Huntington may be a scholar, but in reality he's hardly better than Australia's racist in residence, Pauline Hanson. When Huntington rails about Hispanics and the Southwest-a Southwest that Ulysses S. Grant noted rightfully belong to Mexico-he sounds exactly like Hanson railing about Australia being "swamped by Asians." Where exactly does Hanson think Australia is located? Western Europe? Off the coast of the British Isles? Just exactly who swamped whom?
Bevin Chu, Taipei, Taiwan
Thanks from Down Under
Liam Scheff's investigation of pediatric AIDS medical abuse was a masterpiece and an article to be proud of ("Orphans on Trial," 7/14). The world needs to learn the truth, so please allow Liam Scheff to continue his investigations and report them in your publication. Well done. Many thanks to all concerned.
Marilyn Timms, Queensland, Australia