Frank-ly Speaking
I think I understand where Barney Frank is most concerned about government intrusion into private pleasures, and I would agree with him ("Barney's Rubble," Oct. 25, 2007). It is not so easy to generalize the concern. Frank also supports gun control, which is an intrusion into the private pleasures of those who use guns for criminal activities, and his unrestrained liberalism therefore immediately falls into a contradiction. On the matter of gambling, the pleasure of the gambler during the act of gambling needs to be set against subsequent remorse where income needed for supporting others is lost, and those others then experience diminished pleasure. I am sure I would vote for Barney Frank if I lived in his district, but I would prefer a Barney Frank with basic training in logical consistency.
Bob Ackermann
Amherst
*
Night of the Boom Mics
Ann Lewinson, in her review of Lars and the Real Girl, wasted a whole paragraph complaining about boom microphones intruding on the frame of the picture. Anyone who is knowledgeable about movies would know that the blame lies not with the director or even the cinematographer. In fact, no one involved with the production of the movie is to blame. The fault lies with the projectionist where Ms. Lewinson saw the movie. Movies have more picture area than the audience is meant to see; it's the projectionist's job to frame the picture properly.
Does this earn Lars another half star?
Matthew M. Bartlett
Northampton
*
O Tannenbaum!
Did you know that Northampton's Pulaski Park is going to be redesigned? Did you know that you have a voice in this matter?
Did you know that both of the proposed designs involve cutting down the venerable 60-foot Pulaski Park spruce tree—the one that is decorated for the holidays each winter? You can find all the information about Pulaski Park at http://groups.google.com/group/pulaski-park/sub.
Get involved! Please plan on attending the next Pulaski Park Redesign meeting, on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chambers—that's the building behind City Hall!
Maura Kennedy
Northampton
