Online content has an indefinite, maybe even infinite, shelf life. So it's no surprise that we often find comments on tampa.creativeloafing.com that refer to articles first published months and even years ago. This week, for instance, Alex Pickett's Aug. 2, 2006 cover story, "MySpace, MyAss" drew a response from "Katie" which began, "You know what, I am so sick of hearing bad things about Myspace." Megan Voeller's Aug. 2007 profile of artist William Munch seems to have mystified "Faye," who opined, "You've got to be kidding me. … who would buy this crap?" And Pickett's Urban Explorer piece from May 2006 about worm farmer Stephanie Jones found a kindred spirit in one Art Lane, who asks, "By the by, do you know a local retailer who sells rotating compost bins?" (Art, we don't, but maybe Stephanie does?)
But it's recently published material that gets most of our commenters stirred up. Hillsborough County's decision to stop funding the Tampa Bay Community Network (referenced in Wayne Garcia's Sept. 26 cover story "The Athletic Supporter" and his Oct. 3 Political Whore column) provoked a passionate exchange. So did Andisheh Nouriaee's "Don't Panic" columns on Iraqi deaths and the military crackdown on protesters in Myanmar. Mark Leib's review of the latest from Hat Trick Theatre ("Creaking Bones," Sept. 26) drew a counter-opinion. And, in a reflection of the Web's world-wideness, we got our first love letter from … Kenya.
Re: "Running Like a Business," by Wayne Garcia, Oct. 3: Public access TV is a slush fund for people who want their activism subsidized and feel safe preaching only to the choir. It's an arts program that should be subjected to the bottom line like anything else. And while alternatives exist to getting taxpayers to fund your aggro-radical puppet show, such as the Internet, alternatives don't exist for many of the crucial social services being cut as well. So why don't journalists write about those cuts? I'm really afraid it's because they prefer the drama of (inaccurate, in this case) defending free speech to the dirty (boring) work of really providing services to the really needy. And, as usual, this bread-and-circuses distraction has succeeded in distracting so-called progressives from issues that really impact social welfare. Play on.
Tina
Tina, keep that match away from me! Why don't you burn the Bill of Rights while you're at it? Because by not supporting Public Access, that is exactly what you're doing. … This is not a funding issue. These commissioners are upset because of citizens speaking out.
Mark Ferguson
Re: "What led up to the military massacre of peaceful protesters in Burma last week?" by Andisheh Nouraee, Oct. 3:
America's far left loonies … Why don't we send all the extreme left-wing Anti-American citizens that hate this country so much (yet at the same time love to reap its benefits) to places like these around the world where they would have no rights at all and see how fast they start crying in their lattes and tofu pudding.
Martin
Re: "How many Iraqis have died as a result of the U.S. invasion?" by Andisheh Nouraee, Sept. 26:
"Iraq problems are beyond the powers of American generals. The Iraq war is lost." I don't agree the war is lost; I think that statement shows how out of touch this article is with what's going on over there. The commentary in this article just seems to blanket bash the situation like many media types do, without actually giving any resolution to the situation.
Brian
I disagree with the above comment. For something to be 'lost,' there has to be something to 'win.' What are we fighting for in Iraq? A puppeteer government subservient to American bureaucrats that can guarantee cheap fuel to America … while simultaneously dumping billions into the pockets of private corporations helmed by friends of those in office. If America really wanted to 'foster democracy' or 'combat terrorism,' there wouldn't be a war.
Sam
Re: "Creaking Bones," review by Mark E. Leib of Hat Trick Theatre's Incorruptible, Sept. 26:
Sunday afternoon we took our guest to the play with some misgivings, given Mark E. Leib's review panning the play, actors and theater. In brief, the four of us enjoyed the play, thought all the actors were very good and appreciated the informality and coziness of The Silver Meteor. But then we are just humble playgoers … not learned theater critics.
Marilyn and Guy E. Labalme, Tampa, via fax
From Africa, with love
Just wanted to let you know that I think this is a GREAT resource! I am moving to Tampa in May/June and have to say that I was worried that there might be a lack of cultural/music/arts activity in the city. … I was wrong. I host my own arts/entertainment blog in Nairobi, Kenya, where I currently live. (http://nairobinow.wordpress.com). Sites like Creative Loafing are transforming cities worldwide! Thanks!
Amanda
This article appears in Oct 10-16, 2007.