|
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
|
|
|
|
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
|
|
Critic Cornered
To the editor: In Ken Shimamoto’s review of Johnny Cash’s new release (Listen Up, Sept. 26, 2002), he makes the offhanded comment that Merle Haggard’s voice is “blasted” in his old age. Huh? Has Ken heard Haggard’s recent Roots Vol. 1, If I Could Only Fly, or The Peer Sessions? Haggard is still singing circles around folks a third his age.
Lee Harris
Powhatan, VA
To the editor: Someone needs to tell this guy to listen to albums all the way through before he makes a review. The Distance Between the Truth and a Lie (Listen Up, Sept. 26, 2002) is one the best albums by any band in this area. The songwriting is honest and well versed, far better than most bands their age. Having seen this band live — and I’m sure the critic has not — a tighter band you will not find. Listen to the guitar work on this album by Anthony Aquino, lead guitarist. I challenge him to find a better-produced product by independent artists around this area. Take in mind, these artists must actually do the work themselves, write their own music, and play their own instruments. Give it another spin and drink a beer and put down your Blink-182 record and you’ll find talent.
Beck Hudson
Weatherford
Chartered Arts
To the editor: I saw your recent article about Pinnacle School (“Drama: School,” Sept. 19, 2002), and I felt like I needed to tell you about our school, the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts (FWAFA). We are a premier fine arts academy in the North Central Texas area. We are a publicly funded charter school under the auspices of the Texas Boys Choir’s nonprofit status.
Our school opened its doors in January 2001 to both boys and girls. We now teach grades three to twelve. We are a model for how a charter school can be successful. Although choir is our strength, we have outstanding classes in dance, drama, and visual arts. However, our focus is not just the arts. We maintain the highest standards for academic achievement as well. Our students on all three levels — elementary, middle, and high school — scored “exemplary” on the TAAS exam. We will maintain that rating until 2004. Unlike some charter schools, all of our academic teachers have degrees, and many have advanced degrees. We are very proud of our talented students and our staff.
With our relocation to the McKinney Bible Church on South Hulen Street, we were able to expand the number of students enrolled in the school. We currently have 263 students. We accept students from Tarrant, Dallas, Ellis, Johnson, and Parker counties.
The Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts is one of the best-kept secrets in this area. We hope to change that! I welcome any student who has an interest in studying the arts to check us out. I also welcome you to visit our school and see the talent that exists within its walls. Anyone interested in the school can call us at 817-924-1482, or they can visit our web site — www.fwafa.org. Thank you.
Lisa Smith
Development Director
Texas Boys Choir and Fort Worth
Academy of Fine Arts
Patient Planning
To the editor: “Ronald’s in the Hospital” (Sept. 19, 2002) was excellent. In our family, we call McDonald’s the home of Death Burgers. I was quite surprised to find that that is the only place to eat in a hospital. Then I thought, “Well, they are assuring they will have some future patients here. Plan ahead.”
Terry LaRue
Bedford
Having a Short One
To the editor: Having just returned from a short holiday in Oxford, U.K., my wife, guests, and I stopped at the Flying Saucer for an after-the-play pint. All four of us were quite aware of the fact that the glasses were substantially short in beer content. After the second round I approached the nebulous bartender and informed him of the fact that the bar was pouring ludicrously short measures. He was shocked, shocked! that I would complain and accused me of being rude, to use his term. I asked for the manager, and she slithered up and stated that indeed, no problem was apparent to her erudite command of the bar situation. In England, on so many visits, I never encountered such an epidemic of short pints. They were always full to the very top. The Flying Saucer makes expensive pints even more profitable with the inch-and-a-half disappearing head. Perhaps they should let the glass runneth over a bit. Big head, big attitude. Good riddance.
Carter L. Kolodny, D.D.S.
Arlington
Big Bad Bowl
To the editor: I read your paper hoping to find something good to do, and to my surprise you had put out your “Best of the West-0-Plex 2002” issue (Sept. 19). I would just like to say that the people who voted Big Bowl as the best Thai restaurant are crazy. I went there when it first opened, and I must say the only thing that I found that was good there was the ginger ale. The food was all pre-cooked and over-priced. The staff were rude, and all in all I found mysself lacking any form of enjoyment. I would like to say that really if you think Big Bowl is good then you need to try a little place called Bangkok House on Cherry Lane. That is real Thai food. It is run by a family where Mom and Dad cook and their teen-age children take orders. I admit it is small but if you ever go there for dinner, you will go back.
Eric Hamilton
Fort Worth
Still a Scamp
To the editor: The Jerry Jeff Walker story turned out great (“It’s Still Scamp Walker Time,” Sept. 26, 2002), and I think that the Walkers must be pleased. It was so interesting to read your take on him during your interview, because it sounds like you got to see all the same sides of him that I did. He cracked us up several times with “funnies” like the “Pat Green” thing he did with you. The article was great, and I am so glad to have been quoted in it. Thanks for making me a part of it!
Marie Behan
Dallas
Email this Article...
