Letters

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Pick up the feces: I just finished Joe Miller’s article on Bannister Acres (“Fertile Ground,” August 23). I live in Bannister Acres, and I disagree with a few of the “facts” in the article.

The families in this neighborhood are not walking around in their own waste. Yes, we want what was promised to, and paid for by, the people in this area. The majority of the homes in this area are fifty-plus years old and the antiquated systems have not been replaced because of this promise.

I live at the lowest part of the neighborhood. My home is at the bottom of the hill on Eastern and the creek cuts through my yard. We have lived in the neighborhood for nearly twelve years and have only had one problem, about six months after we moved in. I was uneducated on maintaining a septic system. We had it pumped and have maintained it since.

We have a beautiful home and a huge yard. Too huge, as a matter of fact. Since our son grew up and moved out, we lost the “Lawn Boy.” My husband and I cannot keep up with it. We decided to build a new, larger home with a smaller yard and move closer to our jobs. Our new home sits empty because we have been unable to sell our current home. I am guessing the bad press the area is getting could be part of the problem. We are not moving because of the septic system.

If the Trusses want to dump their problematic home back on the “less-than-forthcoming” previous owner and move down the street to a home with all the attached property and a working septic system, let me know.

Julie Bottemuller

Kansas City, Missouri

Are We Having Fun?

Silent is golden: Just what does Robert Wilonsky have against having fun?

First, Wilonsky refers toJay and Silent Bob Strike Backas “shallow and hackneyed” (“White Dopes on Dope,” August 23). If by shallow he means that the movie just concerns itself with making the audience laugh, then yes, it is “shallow.” Kevin Smith packs A LOT into a two-hour film and puts Wilonsky’s complaints on a par with the guys who told Mozart he had too many notes in his music.

Wilonsky also attacks Smith for being a “franchise maker.” Oooh, you’re right on the money there. But why then does all his copy reek of the jealousy that one artist who’s failed has for the artist who has become successful? Yes, Kevin Smith is film’s answer to Andy Warhol and is the current film-king of the pop-culture reference. Wilonsky, on the other hand, seems to find himself relegated to the role of judging another artist’s work, and he can’t even seem to do that effectively.

I saw this movie with a friend who had never seen one of Kevin’s other films, and she was apparently brighter than Wilonsky because she both enjoyed and understood the film. As for the plot being “lifted” out of one of Kevin Smith’s old comic books — strike three and you are out of the game, Robert. While it is true that the whole scene where Jay, Silent Bob and Suzanne escape from the wildlife marshall also appears in Chasing Dogma, one of Kevin Smith’s comic books, the rest of the movie is fresh and new, unlike Wilonsky’s skills as a movie critic.

The rest of Wilonsky’s article drips with envy but is otherwise fairly harmless. Listen, Wilonsky, if you can’t handle fun, then please step aside and let the rest of us enjoy it. Snootchie bootchies!

Dean Boese

Liberty

Pub Snub

Hell Bent: Regarding Andrew Miller’s “Around Hear” (August 16): I attended the Battle of the Bands at America’s Pub. Days later, I still find the events that occurred incredulous.

The winner of the event was Thrust. Bent was awarded second place. The majority of the audience was astounded. Bent was the clear winner. The cosponsors of the event came and openly apologized to members of Bent for such an obviously wrong decision. They said Bent got screwed! They made it clear that America’s Pub selected the judges and they didn’t have a thing to do with the process, but the judges’ decision, right or wrong, would stand. To try and pacify a very upset and aggravated group, they said they would try to get all of them unlimited backstage passes to Freaker’s Ball so they could still make their connections with nationally known music groups.

Why did a handful of unnamed judges make such a horrendous mistake? A decision such as this leaves a bad taste in the mouths of KC’s true rock fans. KC bands go on tour to other cities, and they know that the KC metal/rock scene is behind the times. Groups, clubs, writers, fans and people behind the scenes are trying to change this perception, but something such as this puts a blight on an already tarnished image. Too many people have worked too hard to have something like this take place at what is probably the premier event for the local bands in KC. Most cities would want the best metal band in the city representing them at Freaker’s Ball.

Anytime an injustice happens, it hurts everyone. I feel sorry for the members of Bent, their staff and their fans. This group had to work hard to get where they were Wednesday night, and their performance was nothing short of phenomenal. Bent earned the applause and the accolades. It is of little consequence, but we all know who really won that night.

Dennis Rogers

Blue Springs