EDITORS: Charles Mudede's Space Needle article ["Blast Off," Aug 23] had all the ingredients of the following story: Back in the early 1980s, when then-owner Pentagram Corp. proposed a restaurant for the 100-foot level of the Space Needle, there was a hoot and holler about "destroying the landmark of Seattle." Apparently, the city forgot that it had sold the postage-stamp-sized piece of land under the Space Needle to John Graham back in 1961, and denied a Special Building Permit to prohibit such tampering. A lawsuit was then filed (Pentagram Corporation v. City of Seattle), and during this uproar, the city of Fife offered a million dollars to Pentagram Corp. to move the Space Needle to Fife, where they could modify the Space Needle into any shape it wanted. Under one condition: The Space Needle had to [be renamed] the Fiffel Tower.

Anonymous, via e-mail

DEAR EDITOR: (1) BRAVO Charles Mudede. Bravo for the Space Needle/Nazi article. "Castles in the air," indeed. Perhaps the Space Needle was modern and beautiful 40 years ago, but now it is such a tremendous eyesore--dated and ugly. And now that we know the [real] story, why the hell is it still standing? If we can spend millions on new stadiums, libraries, government buildings, transit systems, and the like, shouldn't we spend a few more on a defining landmark?

(2) Thank you very much for introducing me and the rest of Seattle to Ousmane Sembene ["The End of the Gods," Aug 2]. I saw you speak before [the screening of] Faat Kine, and then returned to see Black Girl and Emitai. I'll take a "tiny, vulnerable cinema" over "quality" Hollywood anytime.

(3) Thank you so very much for existing. Really. Your efforts in The Stranger make my world, make my Thursdays a better [day]. Please consider this a fan letter of sorts--my second in 35 years.

CK Canon, Seattle

EDITORS: Charles Mudede might want to check his sources. "Vivian Darkbloom" doesn't exist; neither does his/her book mentioned in Mudede's Space Needle article, "Blast Off." "Vivian Darkbloom" was a character in Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita, and was an anagram of Nabokov's name. This fact could have been discovered in 30 seconds of Internet searching. Or is Mudede's whole article a put-on or twisted rant? NASA used Nazi scientists at the beginning; hardly a proud moment, but NASA went on to explore space not just to feed the "military-industrial complex," but to accomplish true milestones in human history.

Anonymous, via e-mail

PAT KEARNEY: I just read your article regarding the poster ban and big (Brother) businesses getting all of the [public postering space] because of how deep their pockets are ["Space Wars," Aug 30]. I could give half a rat's ass about what's going on at the EMP, or what new big-budget films are being released! Where do [those businesses] get off using ALL our designated PUBLIC areas for their advertising? Also, why can BLUEPRINT use our public space for their profit? Doesn't a company have to lease/purchase space for advertising? AK Media has to. I just find it disturbing that a business is allowed to profit off of public space. What can we do, other than defacing or removing the overabundant ads?

Jayson Potter, via e-mail

REBECCA BROWN: Of course "the almost entirely white audience" gave Waiting to be Invited a standing ovation. ["A Kind of Whitewash," Aug 30]. Today's audiences haven't a clue about what a standing ovation is for. They'd stand for a fucking dog act. [Standing ovations] must mean that the audience has no taste, or that the productions are consistently so bad they can hardly wait to get out of their seats. And the white liberals, of which I am one, haven't the guts to say that they are usually [watching] second-rate plays.

Coe Morgan, via e-mail

"HELLO, I'M IN THE PLAY Waiting to be Invited, and I read the [review]... written by Rebecca Brown, who I understand is a freelance writer. [That] poor child really has her history about the whole civil-rights situation so out of whack. First of all, the play does not take place after the movement, it takes place during the movement. The movement began in 1955 in Selma, Alabama. Song of the South is not a musical--it's an archival film.... Brown [calls it] a musical, and you as editor--I'm not sure if it even matters to you or not--but [this]... shows a lack of research and professionalism. That's all I wanted to say. Good luck. I would just say, check your writers' backgrounds a little bit more, maybe? Thanks. Bye."

Demene Hall, via voice mail

THEATER EDITOR RESPONDS: Rebecca Brown's review did not say that the events of the play took place "after the movement." It said the events took place "after the movement was underway," and Brown cited two time-specific events--the 1956 Supreme Court ruling on desegregation and the 1960 Greensboro sit-in. According to the Internet Movie Database, the 1946 Disney movie Song of the South (a combination of live-action and animated stories) features nine songs, including the enormously popular "Zip-a-dee Doo-Dah," which the storytelling Uncle Remus sings to a flock of cartoon critters.

STRANGER EDITOR: While I can appreciate that you are excited about a coworker running for Seattle City Council [Five to Four, "Our Grant Rant," Josh Feit, Aug 30], I feel compelled to challenge your assessment of the Richard McIver-Grant Cogswell race. This is the second time in recent weeks you've handicapped the race ["McVulnerable," Josh Feit, July 26]. In both [articles], you have drawn conclusions based on some pretty flimsy evidence.

The cornerstone of your most recent piece is the claim that Cogswell receiving 45 percent of the vote at the recent endorsement meeting of the 43rd District Democrats somehow demonstrates the strength of Cogswell and the weakness of Councilmember McIver. What Feit neglected to mention was that McIver fell only six votes short of receiving the two-thirds vote required to receive an endorsement. (Members were permitted to vote in favor of endorsing more than a single candidate.)

Because McIver did not get those last few votes, he was indeed denied the endorsement of that Democratic precinct. On the other hand, McIver received the sole endorsement of the 11th, 34th, 36th, 37th, and 46th legislative district Democratic party organizations. In addition, he received the sole endorsement of the Stonewall Democrats (the gay, lesbian, and transgender Democratic organization) and the King County Democratic Central Committee. He was also endorsed by Washington Conservation Voters and the King County Women's Political Caucus. Finally, Councilmember McIver received an "outstanding" rating from the Municipal League--the highest rating it gives to any candidate, and the highest received by any candidate in this race.

This extensive list of endorsements from such an impressive range of progressive organizations, combined with financial contributions from well in excess of 600 individuals, is a testament to the strong support Councilmember McIver enjoys in the community. Progressive voices are well aware of Councilmember McIver's efforts over the last five years on such critical issues as economic development, affordable and low-income housing, racial justice, and transportation. It is support he has earned.

Paul C. Elliott, Friends to Re-Elect Richard McIver

JOSH FEIT RESPONDS: While I can appreciate that you'd be excited about your boss' string of endorsements, you doth protest a little too much in your reaction to last week's Grant rant. The point of the column was not to belittle McIver's past endorsements, but rather to point out that--precisely because of McIver's establishment support--Grant Cogswell's recent strong showing in the Seattle's key 43rd District (Capitol Hill/Eastlake/U-District/ Madison Park/Wallingford) was noteworthy. Cogswell's compelling record as one the city's leading monorail activists was enough to stall McIver's bid for the 43rd's endorsement. For the liberal 43rd to withhold its endorsement from the council's sole African American vote speaks volumes about the emergence of Cogswell's candidacy.

There's no denying McIver is a powerful candidate. That's why last week's column ended with these words: "To truly surprise the establishment this November... write a check to support Grant Cogswell. Make checks payable to Grant Cogswell for Seattle City Council, and send them to 409 16th Ave E #16, Seattle 98112."