IN LOVE WITH THE NERD

EDITOR: Regarding Jon Golob's new science column, King of the Nerds [online only at www.thestranger.com]: I hope his column turns out to be as awesome as it looks from the one that is up now. If science figures out a way to make men pregnant, I want to have his babies.

Kai Joshua Miller

IN FAVOR OF ASPERGRASS

BETHANY JEAN CLEMENT: Thanks for the rare and much- appreciated asparagus article ["Splendor in the Grass," May 17]—a well-written, totally excellent, and hunger-inducing piece. I am in the blanch-olive-oil-and-pricey-balsamic crowd. At 25, I don't know another person in my generation who gives two shits about it, so it's nice to encounter an articulate exploration of local offerings.

Shane

IN DEFENSE OF OUR CABS

STRANGER: In response to the lead line of your "The (Less Than) Amazing Race" [May 10] article: Seattle cabs do not suck. In fact, they are exceptionally good. Relative to the many other cities in which I have used taxi service, Seattle's cabs are cleaner and better maintained and the drivers are more knowledgeable, friendlier, more honest, more prompt, more likely to speak English, and, best of all, take credit cards. Next time you are outside of Seattle, try to pay your fare with Visa and see what happens. Don't dis on my Seattle cabbies. You don't know how good we have it.

Eric

IN MEMORY OF BULSON

EDITOR: I was reading the paper while eating dinner; news that Howard Bulson had died gave me pause and brought back layers and layers of memories made at Sorry Charlie's. It didn't matter if you were there alone, on a date, or out with friends; if Howard was at the piano you were guaranteed a memorable evening. Howard was a living statue of grace and style, a throwback to a time gone by that he kept alive in the present. Whenever Howard played, it was one of "the good old days."

Greg Bachar

INDIGNANT KID FAN

DEAR STRANGER: Thanks for the great support you've shown the Seattle International Children's Festival this year. Your guide for unemployed stoners was very funny, sometimes. However, this is not funny at all:

"The group are performing all week long as part of the Seattle International Children's Festival, but if you don't feel like seeing them at 11:00 a.m. with a bunch of awful families around, tonight's show is your chance."—Eric Grandy

Mr. Grandy, if you don't like children or families, then shut the fuck up about the Children's Festival. The Stranger likes to write about things they don't like to keep the people informed about its lack of taste and/or open-mindedness, but it does no one any good.

This is a world-class festival with artists who are here to educate and break down boundaries. We work hard to bring performers to town to help open children's minds so that they grow up to respect other cultures rather than fear them, like our government wants them to.

Whiny-ass comments about avoiding an amazing festival because there are children there are disrespectful to the artists, the staff, and the hundreds of people who already know what a great festival this is. If you have nothing nice to say, than shut your hole and let the rest of us experience great work from around the world.

T Bone

IN TEARS

DEAR EDITORS: Sometimes The Stranger pisses me off and sometimes it makes me laugh, but it has never made me cry until today. Toni Wolf's illustrated tale of the decline of her father ["Car Dealer's Daughter," May 17] left me staggering and weepy for the rest of the day. Less than a year ago, I lost my husband to cancer; he was only 34 and we had been married for less than 2 months. It was equal parts brutally slow and way too rollercoaster fast, but through it all I saw him slowly slip away. The man I love faded before my eyes, and seeing Toni chronicle her dad's similar decline with such beautiful, poignant illustrations rips my heart out. I know; I've seen this with my own eyes, and Toni got it right. Thanks, Toni, and thanks, Stranger.

Beth

IN AGREEMENT ON 'SHREK'

ANDREW WRIGHT: Thanks for saying exactly what I've been feeling about the whole Shrek phenomenon ["Freshness Dated," May 17, online]. I am a huge fan of animated movies. I never did like Shrek. All of the "humor" was fleeting, pop-oriented, and derivative. Almost every punch line was taken from at least one other movie! I think the only way the first Shrek made so much money was by standing on the shoulders of Pixar efforts, and then because the first one made so much, everyone felt like they ought to see the second one. Hopefully by the third, people are realizing what a cut-rate effort this whole series has been! Andrew: You're my peeps, man!

Matt Slinger