A FAN OF ANN(E)S

RE: Author Ann Romano's One Day at a Time column, weekly, in which she tells it like it is about the week's news and celebrity gossip, which sometimes involves Anne Hathaway.

DEAR ANN [ROMANO]—I just wanted to write you to let you know how sorry I am that I wrote you a nasty letter a couple of months ago, in which I ragged on you for making a few of your trademark hilarious comments about Anne Hathaway. So you don't like Anne Hathaway. At least you're funny about it. Your column and Mr. [Denis C.] Theriault's articles are what make the Mercury what it is. So please continue writing your excellent column and cracking me up on a weekly basis, and please accept my apology for the nasty letter I wrote.

Jan

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FINE PRINT

RE: "Fresh Eyes" [News, Nov 13], in which author Dirk VanderHart sought comments from the two leading candidates for each open seat on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners (not all the candidates) regarding problems with the Morrison Bridge.

TO THE MERCURY VIA VOICEMAIL—Hi, this is James Rowell. I am running for county commissioner. You never put my name in the paper in this last paper about people who where running. You put down Brian Wilson and Jules Bailey and Jim Francesconi and Deborah Kafoury. You didn't ever mention James Rowell. Your paper is biased and unfair.

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SLEEPING ON THE SOUTH

RE: "You Better Move On" [Film, Nov 13], in which author Ned Lannamann unfavorably reviews Muscle Shoals, the documentary about the Alabama town where some of the greatest hits of the '60s and '70s were recorded.

Ned Lannamann, you must have fallen asleep during the movie and had to make this drivel up. There was a theater full of people that liked it when I saw it. The movie's stories are about the history of the Muscle Shoals sounds and the grit it took to bring it to the world. Maybe you just don't get grits... it's a Southern thing. I think your readers should make up their own minds since we obviously disagree here. Hopefully Portland moviegoers will ignore the critic there and be able to enjoy the story anyway. I have no affiliation with the movie or with any of the people connected with the film. I just enjoyed it and think others will, too, if they are not misled by a critical review.

posted by Eric Schlanser

MUSIC EDITOR NED LANNAMANN RESPONDS: That is nice that you liked it, Eric, but by accusing me of sleeping through it, you're ignoring the movie's very substantial problems. Why did the Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd eat up the lion's share of screen time when artists like Arthur Conley, the Staple Singers, Laura Lee, James and Bobby Purify, and R.B. Greaves are barely mentioned, if at all? The movie was junk.

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F WORD

RE: "Don't Be a Dick, Anti-Feminists" [Blogtown, Nov 15], in which columnist Barbara Holm considers what it means to be a feminist.

The feminist movement was very necessary and I'm glad it evolved. [Women] shouldn't be categorized by their looks, weight, hairstyle, wardrobe, or cosmetics, but for their character, wit, energy, and emotion, just like men. Real heroes in history were Sojourner Truth, Jane Pittman, Susan B. Anthony, all the suffrage advocates, Dorothy Day, Rosa Parks, and the list goes on, but they're not really recognized as such. You've come a long way baby, and the road is still ahead.

posted by seentoomuch

I bet if we changed the name from "feminism" to "egalitarianism," a whole lot more men would be on board with it. Just a thought. Since, you know, if we had an ideological movement called "masculinism" whose stated aim is equality for everyone, there'd probably be more than a few women who would be reluctant to adopt the label, even if they agreed with the aims and goals of the movement.

posted by Snagglepuss

INTERESTING HYPOTHESIS, Snagglepuss. Let us know how it goes. In the meantime, you get two tickets to the Laurelhurst Theater for your letter/comment of the week! That place is filled with feminists and egalitarians, though the characters onscreen are often not.