EDITORS: Great, John Carlson has mellowed on the abortion and gay issues ["He's Not Locke," Dan Savage, Oct 12]. Kind of reminds me of someone else. Adolf Hitler mellowed after the whole Beer Hall Putsch thing in 1923. Thanks for the election tip, Strangers!

Troy Toland, via e-mail

DEAR MR. SAVAGE: You have done what the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and The Seattle Times could not and would not do, and you've done it with a refreshingly candid and direct approach. I'm not sure why John Carlson called you a pedophile, and don't really want to know. However, it is admirable of you to be willing to state the painful facts of the Locke governorship, given the likely base of dogmatic liberal readers of your magazine. I also believe that John Carlson has had a far greater and more positive effect on Washington than Governor Locke. I hope John will continue to do so as our next governor.

Parker Christie, Seattle

EDITORS: Conservative former KVI-AM radio talk-show host John Carlson and Stranger sex columnist-cum-political commentator Dan Savage have so much in common! Both Carlson and Savage have shown that they are brothers under the skin, because they'd rather "challenge the status quo" (Carlson's phrase) and "cross [their] support base" (Savage's phrase) in public for the sake of mild shock/entertainment value--do or say something to "provoke a reaction" and get some attention--rather than advance reasoning that might be construed as dull or "predictable." Although I certainly can't tell if Carlson or Savage honestly believe some (or any) of the things they say for public consumption, both would appear to be quite correct when they point out that Gary Locke has been an ineffectual governor.

Jim Emerson, Seattle

DEAR EDITOR: It seems Dan Savage has graduated from licking Republican doorknobs to licking John Carlson's jackboots. One wonders what, in his endless quest for outrage, he'll be licking next! Does anyone really believe that Governor Frat Boy will maintain his "moderate" pose for more than five minutes if elected--especially if he gets a Republican majority in the legislature? Get real, Savage.

Werner Schmidt, Shoreline

TO THE EDITOR: I agree with Savage that Locke is another weak, insecure, ineffective Democrat who is afraid to propose or even support innovative policies to deal with our complex social issues. Yet, even if Carlson has matured and tempered some of his racist and homophobic views, the bigger concern is that Carlson will have the opportunity to stack state agencies with right-wing zealots. Although Savage is bright and creative, his arrogance sometimes gets in the way as he tries to push the envelope with provocative positions. I hope Savage retracts this ill-informed and immature position.

Dan Merkle, Seattle

DEAR EDITOR: Anyone who listened to Carlson's talk show knows that his current slick demeanor masks a radical [right-wing] agenda. KVI is home to Rush Limbaugh, the one who uses "feminazi" to describe any woman who doesn't stay home barefoot and pregnant. Limbaugh endorsed Carlson for governor, which is hardly surprising considering that Carlson is almost as far right as the truly scary Ellen Craswell. Carlson's diatribes against liberals, environmentalists, homosexuals, and secular Americans were standard fare for "hate radio." But it's frightening to think that someone who spews disdain for entire segments of our society might gain the reins in Olympia. Gary Locke doesn't hate, and he doesn't polarize. Locke works for all citizens in this state, not just those of his own political party. Carlson has conveniently reinvented himself just in time for the election, but we all need to look beyond his slick talk. Concentrate on WHAT he says, not on how he says it.

Matt Barry, Issaquah

TO THE EDITOR: "Grownups," [who] can step beyond their personal cocoon to create society and not just consume, are the ones who have filled the streets and ballot boxes throughout American history. It's fine for Dan Savage to hold up the willingness to compromise as a mark of being a "grownup." He's a young parent; he can do that. But it's only the first step of "growing up." The next one, the bigger one, comes when it's time for compromise to end. That's when you choose to commit to your real conscience, your real values, and quit wasting your vote on candidates you don't believe in.

Joy Shayne Laughter, Seattle

TO THE EDITOR: We appreciate Emily Hall's coverage of CoCA's events this fall, from the fiery New Prometheans at Sand Point [Stranger Suggests, Oct 5] to Emotional Rescue ["Is Permanence Best?" Oct 19], an exhibition of the ContemporaryArtProject's collection.

Our recent staff departures are a harbinger of good news [In Arts News, "Put the Lime in It!" Jamie Hook, Oct 19]. In the wake of this, capable board members who had resigned in recent months are returning. New board members are being developed and members of the community are asking how to become involved. More experienced management is being recruited, fiscal controls are being put in place, and superior programming is being planned. CoCA has always been an edgy nonprofit arts venue--a certain amount of turmoil goes with the territory.

Shawn Ferris, CoCA Board President, Seattle

THE STRANGER RESPONDS: Well... not quite. See page 43 of this issue.

EDITOR: Now and again I pick up a copy of The Stranger, most often on those rare occasions when I need a good dose of infantile raving. The October 5 issue featuring "Chaos Theory" by Charles Mudede didn't disappoint. Mudede's suggestion [is] to turn Pioneer Square into "a carnival where the city can be turned upside down socially, racially, and sexually"; where "it will be a dangerous place." Where enjoying an enlightened future evening in Pioneer Square entails visiting a spot where "bullets and fists may fly." The idea that such catharsis is somehow "necessary... for the mental health of the entire city" is so addle-brained, so idiotic, it defies belief. Thanks for not disappointing.

Richard Thurston, Seattle

RICK LEVIN: Thank you, thank you, thank you for the fabulous Courtside column, which (hopefully permanently) replaced the vapid and boring It's All True. As a former goth girl gone Supes SuperFan, I was overjoyed to see some well-written Sonics copy in a publication I'm not embarrassed to be reading.

Alex Webb, via e-mail

EDITORS: Please tell me that you have suffered an aneurysm that led to the momentary lapse in bad judgment when you yanked Adrian Ryan's It's All True column. Adrian Ryan is the only reason I read your little rag, and now that his column is gone, so am I. You made a big mistake in letting Mr. Ryan go. HUGE! And you replaced him with a Sonics column!?! Who was smoking crack when that idea came to the table?

Anonymous former Stranger reader, via e-mail

EDITORS: I am a native of North Bend, and have lived here all of my life. Let me correct some of your comments ["Out with the Old," Chris Daikos and David Walega, Sept 28]. You depict North Bend as a sleepy logging town being invaded by yuppies. Did you know that the majority of loggers moved out of the area about 15 years ago? Did you know that even 40 years ago, "loggers" had to travel to find work? Before Glen Cloud arrived here 25 years ago, before my grandfather arrived here 72 years ago, the Snoqualmie tribe inhabited these lands for thousands of years. What about the Indians? Your article depicts people who have only been here for 15 to 25 years as "old-time locals." Instead of emphasizing the constantly changing, constantly developing white culture in North Bend, why don't you write an article on the Snoqualmie tribe?

Bob Antone, North Bend

Oops. In Emily Hall's brilliant article about Emotional Rescue, now showing at CoCA, we made a lame attempt at name-dropping ["Is Permanence Best?" Oct 19]. We hope Seattle art collector David Lewis (NOT Peter Lewis) accepts our apologies for this dumb error.