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Only 14

I am writing to voice my opinion on your June 4 editorial about Heather D’Aoust. This indeed is a terrible tragedy and brutal crime this 14-year-old child committed, but who has the right to say this child could not be rehabilitated? By what medical background and training can this child be evaluated and this be said about her.

Yes, she may have a mental illness and, if so, should be evaluated and treatment given to her. She is only 14 years old! This child does not have the reasoning ability of an adult because her brain in not yet even fully developed. No one except God can say this child can change for the better!

She should have the chance to do so!
 
Mary Wyatt,
Birmingham, Ala.

Can’t get it out of my head

About Eddie Shoebang’s review of Aimee Mann’s @#%&*! Smilers [“Soundwaves,” June 25]:

First this guy says, “The only reason most people know Aimee Mann….” What person over the age of 25 has not heard of and liked Aimee? Where did this guy get the insightful info that nobody knows her? She is loved, admired and respected as one of the best songwriters around—ever.

However, the main thing that made me want to write in is when he says, quite ignorantly, “Smilers gives longtime fans a reason to pretend that 2006’s forgettable The Forgotten Arm never really happened.” Forgettable? As a musician, songwriter and Aimee fan, I can assuredly and confidently tell this clueless individual that that is one of the best CDs of all time, and Aimee fans love it! What fan told him different?

Has he heard the song “Video” or “Goodbye Caroline” or “Dear John” or “That’s How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart.” Has he heard the beautiful and touching lyrics? My god, man, that is one of the finest CDs ever put out! I think it is her Sgt. Pepper’s! I constantly have the lyrics from The Forgotten Arm in my head. I am constantly singing the songs in my car and in the shower. The Forgotten Arm is a top-five desert island CD for myself and most fans of great music and songwriting.

To print such a blatant and outright lie about her “longtime fans pretending the CD never really happened” is ridiculous and shameful. All Aimee Mann fans think it is some of the finest music ever put out by any musician ever!
Go listen to he whole disc or get out of the review business, Mr. “Shoebang,” because you have no idea what you’re even talking about.

I can’t stop singing the tunes from The Forgotten Arm even as I write this.

Reese,
Pacific Beach

Lame parties

I want to reiterate the message of your June 25 editorial, “The party’s over.” Given the stranglehold that the two parties have on our so-called democracy, these hacks and dogmatists running the show at the very least need to see that the ranks of independently thinking people is growing. It’s better to abstain from voting (a perfectly reasonable choice) than to make an uninformed knee-jerk pull of a single-party lever.

Fred Belinsky,
Hillcrest

For shame

Too bad CityBeat didn’t have the guts and wisdom to back Mike Aguirre [in the primary election]. Shame on you. You know that he is the man to keep San Diego honest.
 
Tanja Winter,
La Jolla

You’re so naïve

About your column “Gitmo-a-go-go” [“Sordid Tales,” June 25], why the name calling against John Kasich? He’s right and you are wrong.

You say that “arbitrary” borders should not separate people in regards to justice. At those borders, U.S. subpoena power ends and our jurisdiction, and ability to gather evidence ends also. Are these things arbitrary? Did you hear of a show called “CSI Kabul”? I wonder why they don’t have one. We can’t gather evidence in foreign countries, and especially not during wars, to the same standard, or at all, the way we do inside our arbitrary borders. Give a subpoena to someone in Afghanistan and they will wipe their arbitrary ass with it. Do you understand the difference inside our borders and outside?

FDR had German spies put in front of a military tribunal, and they were hung afterwards. They had different rights because they were illegal combatants. Would you harshly criticize FDR for keeping America safe? Would you have sent subpoenas to Berlin in 1943 and sent a public defender and prosecutor outside our arbitrary borders to Berlin to gather evidence? How would they be welcomed in 1943 Berlin?

Your shallow-thinking, illogical, impractical doctrine shows a complete misunderstanding of history and what is practical and just. For those swept up unjustly, their governments and families have gotten them released in many cases. Others released have gone back to killing. It’s not perfect, but your idea is naïve at best, very deadly and impractical at worst. We don’t have subpoena and evidence-gathering abilities outside our borders!

You would probably like to erase the borders so we could live in harmony with the world. Our neighbors could follow sharia law and honor-kill their daughters if necessary. One big happy world, right?

Craig Thompson,
Mission Hills

Good times

I enjoyed the time-stamp account of the 24-hours-of-free-music event. [“Music,” July 9]. I wish to thank everyone involved and, in particular, the family and staff at Portugalia for their food and facility and Jefferson Jay for pulling it off. Many of the performers, quirks and all, are friends of mine, and the best musicians are the ones having the most fun. Sounds like the “Four Horsemen” had an enduring time of it, as well, and I thank them for that. I have an image of at least one them astride a Shi-Tzu.

Richard Romero,
Ocean Beach

The four jackasses

About “Four writers + 24 hours of local music = Trouble” [“Music,” July 9] by Nathan Dinsdale, Todd Kroviak, Dryw Keltz and Seth Combs:

They were the four condescending jackasses at the best party of the year, without couth or a clue.

After reading the first few paragraphs, I realized that instead of celebrating something as pro-music, musician, performer, DJ, venue, event, attendee, fan, etc., as the Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off, San Diego CityBeat and its four writers’ objective appeared: an attempt to humorously ridicule and belittle a positive day and event like no other. Sorry, kooks, O.B. and its Street Fair, musicians and the tens of thousands-strong attendees know a good thing (and unique in still existing, as noted by sad comparison to the similar yet canceled event in Pacific Beach) when they’ve been there and leave looking forward to celebrating the 30th Anniversary next year.

As a longtime member of several local “simple bar bands… nothing more, nothing less” (8:54 p.m., Gallagher’s), I feel venues such as Portugalia and the artists featured there, ought to have been encouraged and lauded for presenting 24 hours of entertainment, not to bear an inordinate amount or derision as a result of their commitment to live entertainment, as was the case in this unfortunately poorly written excuse for an article.

Aside from a small few complimentary bits scattered randomly in the four-page piece, there was more discouragement throughout, with plenty of documentation of the author’s alcoholism (I imagine P.B. is glad these goons aren’t visiting them yearly any more, as well as vindicated by choosing to cancel their fair) and narrow-mindedness. Is the moron who went for a drunken ocean swim at 2:27 a.m. Sunday the same biotech rocket scientist I saw making sand-angels just above the high-tide line at Dog Beach at 2 a.m.? Salty? Yes. I’d be willing to bet there was more than a hint of dog piss on that inebriated know-it-all, the ilk of whom is to blame for the alcohol beach ban currently oppressing law-abiding citizens, property and business owners and tourists on San Diego area beaches.

I’ve been playing covers and original music while rocking the tar out of area bars and will continue to do so for the many people of all ages who like it. While it may be true that not many people wait on us to start (we’re on time—starting and musically speaking), I enjoy it greatly and am proud to be a part of an event such as the big blow-up in O.B. I had to laugh when I noticed at least an hour was spent checking out my band for some reason (do the writers just like to watch ladies dance? We do get ’em dancin’. Maybe they just like rock ’n’ soul music or Hammond organs but feel it wouldn’t be cool admitting it), although, as noted, there were more than 100 acts throughout the event. From where I sit, I see a whole lot of young, old, short, tall, skinny, fat and generally fine asses shaking and people having a good time, despite the kinda creepy older guys I sing with and our gold-suit-wearing bassist. Those two cats and the rest of our band rock harder and with more soul than CityBeat would know even if we kicked you.

Gallagher’s and the rest of the O.B. venues, performers and artists mentioned are places and acts employing, advertising and responsible for a hell of a lot of fun being had. Every one of them I entered, witnessed and heard during my long day down on Newport Avenue was considerably better than reflected. The vast crowd in attendance certainly seemed to agree by their reactions and smiles.

All in all, the Ocean Beach Main Street Association presenting the event and all participants were solid, well planned, presented and attended. Another huge success only a place such as O.B. is capable of these days. Rock on, Ocean Beach—I’m still with you all the way!

Green Dave DeFoe Streets,
Hip Replacements,
Ocean Beach

On the cheap

I have a lot of love for CityBeat. Really, CityBeat is pretty much the only print source in San Diego that is willing to air this city’s dirty laundry.

I just wanted to ask one favor. In your July 2 “Editor’s Note” about Medicare, there is a statistic that is credited to Wikipedia as its source. This really cheapens the legitimacy of your efforts. I know, I know, sometimes really legitimate people contribute to Wikipedia. But come on, it’s Wikipedia. You guys can do better.

Thanks for what you all do.

Joseph Theriault,
Ocean Beach

A dissenting view

Bravo on a spectacular review of “OB24” in your July 9 edition [“Music”]. Many of the performers from that particular event (specifically, the ones that frequented Portugalia) didn’t think too highly of the article. I, on the udder hand, found it concise and hilarious considering the circumstances.

So, here’s to you guys at CityBeat. A job well done, I must say! I’ll be lighting one just in y’all’s honor! Thanks, and take care!

Clifford Jomuad,
aka “Fab 4 Freddy,”
Otay Mesa