BREAKIN’ THE LAW

DEAR MERCURY—I am what you call a “law-breaking
bicyclist” [“Law-Breaking Bikes,” Letters, Oct 25]. Though I may not
always follow the rules of the road (which are intended mainly for
cars), I always follow the rules of logic and make damn sure that no
danger comes to myself or those around me (i.e., pedestrians and other
bicyclists). And as for your call for “bicyclist accountability” and
“less vilification of drivers,” sorry there, guy. Bikes don’t emit
carbon monoxide, cars do.

Tage Savage

CRACKED OUT

DEAR MERCURY—Am I the only person who sees what is
going on with the Drug Free Zones [“Cracksploitation!” News, Oct 25]?
The DFZs were notoriously racist in their enforcement, which led to
public outcry against them, but now that they’re no longer being
enforced, crackheads are all over the place. Still, the problem isn’t
that we need a racist ordinance, it’s that we need more police in Old
Town. But the police aren’t doing their job because they’d rather let
shit get out of control so public opinion will change enough to allow
them to continue profiling.

Jeff Stumpf

SLASH THIS

DEAR MERCURY—I am deeply troubled by your assertion
that Halloween is the greatest slasher film ever [Film Shorts,
Oct 25]. Surely it is artistically inferior to (and heavily influenced
by) two very different films, which both came out in October 1974. The
overlooked Black Christmas (but not so overlooked that it wasn’t
remade in 2006), which features a killer run amok in a sorority house,
as well as a fabulous whiskey-swilling, cigarette-sucking Margot Kidder
as the sorority house mother; and the original Texas Chain Saw
Massacre, which is inarguably the greatest film made by anyone, in
any country, for any reason, ever.

TLT

SMOKERS’ BURDEN

HI MERCURY—Smokers are assholes [“How You Should Vote!”
News, Oct 25]!? Non-smokers push us out of public and private
buildings, and we adjust. Then even in open-air areas, non-smokers push
us around by outlawing smoking in parks and stadiums. Now
non-smokers have decided we don’t belong in bars or restaurants, so
voters usurp the authority of private business owners and throw us out
of there. I read recently that someone in the local government
wants to ban us from sidewalks around government buildings. Next,
states are currently working on legislation telling smokers when they
can smoke in their own cars. And if it’s not enough to tell us where we
can smoke, now the electorate wants to fine us for smoking to pay
for their children’s healthcare. I think it is fair to say that
everyone wants children to receive the healthcare they need, it’s
just the non-smokers that are unwilling to pay for it. It’s the tyranny
of the majority to rob the minority. If healthcare for children were
really a priority, then the electorate would vote for a tax that
affected everyone equally. We should all be willing to shoulder the
burden. And if this passes, what will the non-smokers want the smokers
to pay for next? If this measure passes, will its advocates start
buying cigarettes to show their support? Voters ought to reject Measure
50 and ask their representatives to find a way to provide healthcare
that is fair to all. If this measure passes, sure smokers will be able
to say that they are smoking for the children, but they will also be
able to point out who the assholes really are.

Kyle Moss

WHERE’S THE WEED?

DEAR MERCURY—Man, this town sure has dried up. I used
to walk down Hawthorne, the Park Blocks, Saturday
Market, and the waterfront and see people blazing up all
over, and get offered ganja all the time. Now I never see it, and can’t
find it with a fistful of dollars. The head shops are still there,
someone is still using their pipes, but I sure can’t find any use for
mine. Where is the good weed at in this town?
You have enough stoner references in your rag, and there
are enough on the local radio station! I know it is about harvest time,
so hook a brother up!

Mr. Bla

MR. BLA, YOU MUST BE hanging out with the wrong crowd. We
literally can’t walk down the street without tripping over bags of
weed, or go to our neighborhood bar without being offered a $20 sack.
Make a new friend (with connections) with two tickets to the
Laurelhurst Theater and lunch at No Fish! Go Fish!, where the pot is
for soup.