On a Dare
Johnny on the spot: I really enjoyed your comments about Johnny Dare (KC Strip, “Blow Hard,” January 20). I consider him to be the biggest fraud of a local celebrity KC has seen in my 26 years. He’s NEVER made me laugh, and I stopped even trying years ago. Unfortunately, there is such a large contingent of Blue Collar TV fans around here that I’m sure he’ll be around for years to come.
Ben McClanahan
Kansas City, Missouri
Curses foiled again: For years I’ve somewhat enjoyed portions of the Pitch. However, when I read Tony Ortega’s two-faced article about Johnny Dare, I wanted to puke. Personally, I don’t care for Dare’s mayhem, either, and just don’t listen. But I was truly disgusted a few weeks ago when your paper printed responses to the story about the Pantera guitarist [Dimebag Darrell Abbott]. The filthy, foul language used IN PRINT by your paper was absolutely appalling. You should be fined exactly what it takes to put your paper out of business and not a penny less. Every dirty word that can be said, you printed! You people have no concept of good journalism, and apparently no morals or values to go with the lack of it. Absolute GARBAGE! Another lost reader!
Name Withheld by Request
Ortega responds: Two-faced? The KC Strip didn’t object to Dare’s language, but to his stroking of Hollywood has-beens. And did we risk offending some readers by printing the expletive-laden letters from heavy metal fans who objected to our Dimebag Darrell piece? Sure. But we’d rather share our mail than censor it.
House Arrest
Self-service: It’s about time someone exposed the Kansas City Neighborhood Alliance (KCNA) for what it really is: a front for promoting the interests of developers (Nadia Pflaum’s “Milk and Money,” January 13). Neighborhoods are more than just a bunch of houses. In order for neighborhoods in the city to be viable, they need local services. For the elderly and those with children, basic needs like groceries and laundry services are out of reach when displaced from the neighborhood. That might be OK for the suburbs, where there are no sidewalks and virtually everyone has a car.
This is a time when we should seek to reduce our dependency on cars and petroleum. This is a time when we should support more self-sustaining neighborhoods that have small businesses giving permanent jobs to local people.
Most City Hall meetings are held during the day, when most people work. It seems to me that the KCNA should promote and reflect the expressed interest of neighborhood residents. It can’t do that when it doesn’t even ask but presumes to tell people what they’ve already decided to do.
Imani Malaika
Kansas City, Missouri
Body Shot
Soul search: Your vicious attack on Victoria Moran’s lecture was totally out of line (Night & Day, January 6). The title of the lecture, as you’ll recall, was “Your Soul Is Ageless and So Are You.” However, your reviewer then launches into a litany of all the way the BODY ages, which totally misses the point.
Whether or not you believe in a soul, the topic is about how one’s mental/emotional/spiritual being does not necessarily age, which is a valid point. Moran does not contend that skin doesn’t wrinkle or that hair won’t turn gray and thin.
Being skeptical is healthy and valid. Being mean is just plain ugly. Shame on you!
Elizabeth Simons
Camdenton, Missouri
Bar Stool
Booze cruise: Jen Chen is a disgrace to the printed word. Does this frivolous lush really have nothing better to write about than cruising bars? And what’s with that unbelievably precious first-person-plural royal-we crap? As a conceit, it’s grating and tired.
Furthermore, the popularity of her hopeless ramblings speaks volumes about the disgusting cultural level of this so-called city; getting fucked up in bars is more important to your readership than food, theater, music, your trumped-up and over-hyped “exposés,” or anything else remotely worthwhile. Alcoholics Anonymous, among others, estimates that one in seven Americans is an alcoholic. From Jen Chen’s having a job, one can only conclude that 14 percent of metropolitan residents are avid Pitch and, specifically, Night Ranger, readers.
I wish I wasn’t an atheist so I could say, “May God have mercy on your souls.” As it is, I can only say, “Fuck you.” Right now, tonight, in Kansas City, some woman is being beaten by a drunken man.
Night Ranger, swell job on encouraging his avocation.
Name Withheld Upon Request
Free beer is good: I have to apologize to Jen Chen and any of her entourage traumatized by the incident involving repeat Scottish pop cheese at Harling’s (Night Ranger, December 16).
While I certainly enjoy the occasional pithy pop song — e.g., the Proclaimers — I cringe at the request to repeat a song, particularly one with so high a Stuck In My Head Index. Having done so on this particular night, I now see the havoc it may impose on the brains of still-lucid audience members.
Jen, come in Thursday and have a Guinness or two on me. And I henceforth pledge to use strong language to anyone who requests a repeat of any song with a hook.
Jonathan Ramsey
Kansas City, Missouri
