I CAN'T BE EXPECTED TO GOOGLE "PATTY MURRAY" MYSELF, CAN I?

TO THE STRANGER: I am writing to request that you publish an article on the superdelegates of Washington State. Our people need to know who these people are, and need to contact them to have them vote consistent with "the people's" votes. Two of our senators, according to my understanding, have not voted in support of caucus votes as Democratic representatives. Washington can start unifying the Democratic Party. Also, we need to be certain our people know who these superdelegates are, as they each have a very powerful vote. Let our people know to contact these senators, as we elected them to represent us!

Julie Fuller

WE EVEN SENT OUT THE PRESS RELEASES OURSELVES

DEAR STRANGER: I was chagrined to see The Stranger tag the 2008 Seattle Human Rights Film Festival as "Amnesty International's traveling film festival" [Film Shorts, Feb 14].

First, a few salient facts. The 2008 SHRFF was entirely selected, organized by, marketed by (including The Stranger's lucrative ad contract), and staffed by LOCAL Amnesty International activists who worked their asses off to bring a great bunch of films, esteemed guest speakers, and (most importantly) actions audience members can take in response to the films they see regarding some of the weightiest issues facing civilization today. There's nothing "traveling" about it—by the time you read this e-mail, it will be done. Over. History. One location—Seattle. Until next year, of course. You give Seattleites short SHRFFt by attributing this film festival to a global, if beautiful, corporate entity. Seattleites made this fest!

Second, some relevant history: AI USA used to have something of a "traveling film festival." That was disbanded three years ago. After that, the Seattle AI activists continued to produce the film festival with very limited support from the larger AI organization. This is not surprising since the AI film festival actually originated here in Seattle when local AI activists created their own human-rights film festival way back in 1993. AI USA liked what they saw happening in Seattle and decided to replicate it in other cities around the country with varying success. Nowhere was the success greater than in Seattle. So it's not surprising that when AI USA decided it couldn't afford to put its resources into film festivals around the country, local activists took it on themselves to keep producing the festival here.

Last year we sold out five of eight screenings and drew press coverage from as far away as San Antonio. This year we anticipate more of the same!

Aaron Tovo

Coordinator of the Seattle Chapter of Amnesty International

ANNIE WAGNER RE-SPONDS: I put together the film listings on Mondays, and I didn't get the 2008 Seattle Human Rights Film Festival's snail-mailed press release until Tuesday afternoon. I received an e-mail press release a little after midnight on Tuesday night, after we went to press. (I did pick up a calendar on my own at the Varsity the week before, so I knew what movies were playing.) Operating without any information besides what I could glean from the website and public calendar, I assumed that the festival was curated the same way it had been in previous years—and as far as I knew, it was still a traveling festival. I guess no one corrected me last year. In any case, I do appreciate the correction, and if you could ask whoever is in charge of press to send the press release a week earlier next year, that would be awesome.

ANOTHER SATISFIED CUSTOMER

I submitted my valentine at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, two hours before the deadline. I've looked through the Valentine's Day edition probably 15 times and can't find mine, but when I do a keyword search for "Tommy" on thestranger.com, it comes up! Do you know how I'd find out if it actually got into print or not? It could be the case that since I wrote it, it's invisible to me (like looking for glasses when they're on your own head).

It'd be really sad if it didn't get printed because I've put one in there for my boyfriend Tommy for the last three years, and they're verses of a rap I'm writing for him. Here's the text:

Anotha Rap 4 Uno Who

CHK 1 CHK 2

ain't no luv could b more tru

than b/t u & me & me & u

lets keep it goin 4 all time

so remember tommy b.

my heart is urs and urs is mine

Hillary Witte

DAN SAVAGE RESPONDS: Only the first 2,000 valentines submitted were guaranteed to appear in the paper, Hillary. The deadline for submissions was the deadline to appear in the paper or online. Sorry the small print fucked up your Valentine's Day, but here's your valentine a week late.