Flab-ulous!
To the Editor:
Re “Man Flab, It’s Fab” [Sara Vilkomerson, June 26]: Brilliant article! As a man who struggles to keep his weight down and not get that extra roll, I found Ms. Vilkomerson’s perspective interesting. But mostly I laughed at the last lines:
“Meaty, Vince Vaughn–esque bear men sweat profusely and would potentially sweat on me during sex. I’d rather sew my vagina shut.”
Heaven forbid this silly woman from sweating during sex. I can’t imagine she’d be any good in bed anyway if she’s already worrying about some errant drops of sweat. Please, Katie, do us all a favor and sew up that vagina ASAP.
Thanks for the entertaining article.
Jeffrey Gentile
Los Angeles
I’d Rather Dan
To the Editor:
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Rebecca Dana’s article about Dan Rather and the situation at CBS (PARA) [“Dan Rather Packs, Leaving CBS News; Black Rock Blinks,” NYTV, June 26].
Broadcasting at all levels is cutthroat, and finally (and most unfortunately), Dan Rather’s neck has been sliced by the corporate savages at CBS. May they too be forced to endure such shameless treatment, and in equal measure to what was heaped on one of television’s most noted and respected news broadcasters. How many reports and stories did Mr. Rather air during his long, long tenure at CBS? I imagine it numbers well into the tens of thousands. And how many resulted in him being hauled before the CBS executives to be chastised for erroneous content? It seems Mr. Rather, instead of being hailed as a cornerstone of CBS News, is now being discredited as inept at best.
Mr. Rather, count your blessings at not being part of an organization that values the service of such a dedicated employee as being worth zip! Enjoy the time apart, regroup and look to the future, which so very often is much better than the past.
David Redman
Sylva, N.C.
Baby Fatuity
To the Editor:
I’ve been reading Simon Doonan gleefully for years. But, with the arrival of this overwrought piece of journalism [“Knocked Up? Clam Up! The New Gravid Garbos,” Simon Says, June 26], I must ask if he is losing his edge. Brad and Angelina closed down an entire African country (including the borders and airspace) so they could have their little tyke. And neither Mr. Doonan nor the fawning Anderson Cooper has any questions (or snarky comments) about that?
As someone who suffered during the excesses of the hideous Manhattan baby boom of the mid-90’s, I know there is never, ever anything subtle—or modest—about a professional woman giving birth in New York. For him to suggest there is, and to pander to these hormonally charged time bombs, means robbing his readers of the catty insights we have come to rely upon from him.
Bruce Anderson
La Jolla, Calif.
To the Editor:
I have never read Simon Doonan’s column before, but after his “Knocked Up?” column, I’m hooked! He is so hilarious!
Ingrid Mendoza
Alexandria, Va.
MPAA Responds
To the Editor:
I am responding to a piece that ran in your paper regarding the rating of a motion picture by the Classification and Rating Administration [“Never Mind PG, MPAA Goes P.C.! My New Rating System,” Bruce Feirstein, New Yorker’s Diary, June 19].
It has been our longstanding policy not to comment to the press about individual films other than to give the rating and the rating reasons as a means of informing parents about the content in a film so they can make choices for their children. However, many of you, both press and parents, have written to Dan Glickman or to me with the misunderstanding that the “PG for some thematic elements” given to Facing the Giants relates solely to its religious viewpoint. I want to clarify that such is not the case.
Any strong or mature discussion of any subject matter may result in at least a PG rating. This film has a mature discussion about pregnancy, for example, as well as other elements that parents might want to be aware of before taking their kids. There are many religious films that have been submitted for rating and they have garnered ratings from G to R, depending on the graphics and intensity of various elements in the film.
The producers of this film accepted this rating, and they have indicated they are not intending to appeal it, which is an option available to all who submit their films to be rated by the Classification and Ratings Administration.
One final point: PG rating does not indicate that a film is bad or good for children, nor are there any restrictions on age or attendance for a PG-rated film.
Joan Graves
Chairman, Classification and Ratings
Administration, MPAA
Encino, Calif.
