Leanna Bates
Via e-mail
Buddy Miles' changes
Thank you, Dallas Observer, for your story on the legendary drummer Buddy Miles ["Goin' through them changes," October 9]. In a time of regurgitated rhythm that some call the new rock and roll, it is very refreshing to see one of the true children of rock and roll determined to keep it alive! Buddy (and if you are reading this, I hope it's OK to call you Buddy) was a part of the most explosive era of the music business, the '60s.
You Observer people covered a lot of ground within a few pages, much like Buddy has covered in his music career. As long as he deems it worth his while to play music dedicated to our ears, we'll be here through all of "them changes."
Keep us up on his latest--and how about a cover for him when it's released?
Kirk Lewis
Allen
Ancient Stones
It's becoming obvious that the writer likes to stir things up in order for you to have letters to fill your column. Regarding Bill Wyman's (real name?) article/critique on the Rolling Stones ["Through the past (lightly)," October 9]: First of all, has age discrimination become the "in" thing now? People are living longer and better now. I attended the Chicago show also, and tend to agree with the sold-out crowd that it was a great show. If Bill had done his homework, he'd know Charlie Watts was responsible for stage decoration, not "naughty" Mick. I wonder if, at 60, should "Bill" wish to continue his wonderful writing, anyone will encourage him to quit.
Taylor Hayden
Chicago
Bill Wyman, you're being kinda rough on your old bandmates, aren't ya?
Steve Hill
Fort Worth
Editor's note: Yes, that's writer Bill Wyman's real name.
Arf Arf
We appreciate Rebeca Rodriguez's article "Brawl in the family" [October 2]. Our council, LULAC 4496, consists of a bunch of hard-working Joses and Marias who are able to maintain steady employment for longer than 90 days at a time. In closing, all we can say is, Chihuahua fellas, we certainly hope we didn't hit a nerve.
Gehrig Saldana
President LULAC Council 4496
Dallas
DISD whiz kids
Regarding your story on Miles Jones by Rebeca Rodriguez ["Too smart for their own good," September 4], with all my love, thank you! Now, why not give us more of his lessons and systems? Perhaps a series? You would do our children a great service, multiplying Mr. Jones' effectiveness. I am a teacher and grandparent, no doubt one of many who would rush to get such a series.
Anonymous
Dallas
Our splendid film critics
I appreciate the opinions of your so-called film critics. So far, all of the films receiving "poor" ratings that I have seen were the most enjoyable. Keep up the ridiculous work.
Dan
Via e-mail
Confucius say
Perhaps enlightenment ["Spiritual torpor," October 9] is not as you seem to think--an effort to "add" something--but a process of "subtracting" ego and what you think you know. Thrashing your hands in a pond will not make the water clearer.
Jesse Perez
Via e-mail
Long live Ashleigh
Perhaps you find it astonishing, but Ashleigh has quite a fan club out here [Best of Dallas, September 25]. Many of us have seen her perform several times, and between us have been able to account for her performances at the Asylum. I hope your writers were using public transportation that night--their beer fog must have been pretty thick.
Go ahead and stand behind them if you feel the need, but I do know for certain that she never mixes her Channel 4 duties with her singing, and never ever mentions it from the stage at a performance. Your reporters are wrong.
Anonymous
Via e-mail
Editor's note: We have made one mistake in our coverage of Ashleigh Banfield. She has pointed out that she never sings the song "A Different Drum," as we reported. However, we stand by our staff writers' accounts that she has mentioned her news anchor status from the stage. See also the following letter.
I did not actually read the article that summarized the self-gratifying performance our hometown hero Ms. Ashleigh Banfield tends to put on when she so graciously warms our hearts by performing with '80s hair-revival band Tommy Hyatt and the Haywires. I did, however, receive several phone calls from friends of mine summarizing the piece. You see, I was one of the forgotten victims of Ms. Banfield's tour of terror in Deep Ellum. I tended bar for what now seems like some of the most torturous evenings of my bartending career at both The Loop and Main Street Asylum. It was a long-standing joke among my colleagues to imitate Ms. Banfield's between-song self-congratulatory pats on the back about her being this wayward Canadian girl made good, that climbed the ranks of television journalism to become "Ashleigh Banfield of Fox 4 news...oh, did I mention I'm Ashleigh Banfield of Fox 4 news? This next one is by one of my...oh, do you know me? I'm Ashleigh Banfield of Fox 4 news...This is Sheryl Crow, but before I begin, I want you all to know you can catch me at 9 p.m. I'm Ashleigh Banfield of Fox 4 news...1,2,3...wait a minute, some of you might recognize me from TV. I'm Ashleigh Banfield of Fox 4 news." OK, so this is an extreme example, but it was not uncommon for her to mention her television prowess as many as 30 or 40 times an evening. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know the piece was right on.
Dan McDunn
San Francisco
