Letters from our readers-July

LETTERS: Applauding the Crighton

Well, I applaud the Crighton for not allowing cursing in plays there.
Personally, I don't want cursing in my home nor do I want to watch and listen to it as entertainment. Too bad I missed the new production, huh?

B Philley
Montgomery County

LETTERS: Bigfoot is Boss

I was at that conference and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! You did a most excellent job of writing it up. (The Believers, ISSUE 26 by Deseree Martinez) Chester is a brilliant and gifted young man with a magnificent mission. His young wife and his dad are a big help to him too. His contribution is already big and will be greater and greater as time goes by.

Reese Howard
Montgomery County

LETTERS: Going In-depth

Splendid story! (The Believers, ISSUE 26 by Deseree Martinez) Thank you very much for your well-presented, in-depth review of the Southern Crypto Conference.
I was one of the members of the TBRC group who had a table at this event.
Your story has brought all the day's sessions and features back to life for me. Very impressive work!

Nancy Poole
Conroe

LETTERS: Bigfoot on the Web

Deseree, I saw your article (The Believers, ISSUE 26 by Deseree Martinez) and wanted to thank you for the mention of our group and inclusion of our website. It was very well written.

Thanks Much, Craig Woolheater
Texas Bigfoot Research Center

LETTERS: Spoon-Fed Article

Ms. Martinez, I have some comments to make on your article (The Believers, ISSUE 26 by Deseree Martinez) concerning the Southern Crypto Convention, held in Conroe on June 22, 2002. After I struggled through the article, and the attempted mockery that was made about the people that not only believe in Bigfoot. But also at those of us who know for a fact that Bigfoot exists. It not only occurred to me, but it slapped me in the face, that your article covered only part of the conference. It appears that your information was spoon fed to you, more than you were there to gather it.
Had you been there to gather information for this article you would have surely included Jim Lansdale and myself in your write up. We were the only two people speaking about Bigfoot and have actually seen and encountered these creatures.
Surely you would have mentioned the hair samples that I presented with the facts on them. The plaster castings, the tree damage, the animal kills with big footprints all around them, the video from one of our members who was in the audience explaining his encounter with 4 of them in one of our areas. And this man is a Judge in South Texas.
Your failure to convienantly not mention any of this proved to me you were just not there! Also the fact that you failed to mention M.K. Davis' presentation on the grainey Bigfoot footage you mentioned. His life sized billboard with his professional analysis of the creature with findings that nobody has ever been able to claim before, also showed that you were not present.
Not to mention the fact that we also were the only speakers, that when we got up to speak, the whole room closed in closer to make sure they heard every word we had to say.
Yes, everybody left their booths from the sides of the rooms, to get in closer to the middle to not miss one word we had to say.
Also the fact that you did not mention the Gulf Coast BigFoot Research Organization, located at http://www.gcbro.com was another slap in our face. But instead you conveniently listed another Texas based group that didn't have any kind of presentation whatsoever, nor did they have any hand in helping with this conference.
And to answer your question before you ask it, yes even the Texas Bigfoot Research Team, huddled in the middle of the room with great anticipation for every word we had to say Why you may ask? Because even they know what the GCBRO is onto and that when we say anything at all, be it on the internet or in person, that you better listen because you can learn valuable information, that would take years of hard field work to obtain.
But remember they had nothing to do with the conference, except selling their books and trinkets. Yet in your article they got prime publicity, and not even one mention of our group or our names was made.
Do I think you payed attention to the conference? NO! Do I think you spent more than 15 minutes at the conference? NO! In fact I wonder if you even bothered to personally visit the conference? Do I think you had your information spoon fed to you, so you could conveniently spend time elsewheres? YES!
Jim and myself, have turned down conferences, television interviews, documentaries, and the likes because of all the negative publicity that the Bigfoot field receives. There's too many people like yourself that like to take a jab at our hard work. That is also why we have full intentions of harvesting one of these creatures, instead of talking about the photo we couldn't get etc.
Had you done your job and spent the time at the conference to hear and see our presentation, you may not have made taken the rib poking jabs at the Bigfoot field. But you did not spend your time to get the full story, that much is clearly evident.
And you can bet your bottom dollar that when we do harvest one of these creatures, you will be one of the people that has to read about it, because you danged sure won't get any exclusives on any of it.
Thanks for making our promise and favor to Chester Moore Jr. to bring the truth of the matter on the Southern Bigfoot to the conference exactly what we feared it might turn out to be. Another mockery about our hard work and credit given to somebody else.
Our lesson is yet another negative black eye for Bigfoot research, and one that has been hard learned. You can bet we will never again do another free presentation, much less put on another presentation about the Southern Bigfoot period!
And my advice to Chester from this experience is to make sure somebody else covers his conferences, so the public can get the whole story and not the bits and pieces that have been spoon fed to the writer.

Bobby Hamilton
Gulf Coast BigFoot Research Organization

LETTERS: No need to be rude

I picked up a copy of the Bulletin the other day (for the first time) and turned to the Music section to see what was going on.
I read Mark Williams column (Summer Concert Guide II, ISSUE 27 by Mark Williams) and have to say that I found it rather sad that he could not find anything nice to say about anyone.
Just because Mark Williams doesn't like Barry Manilow, Yes or Michael MacDonald I do not see that as any good reason to be rude about these people.....I suppose Mark Williams is some spotty, ear-ring riddled little punk who only likes Alternative Rock.
Rick Wakeman is a very accomplished keyboard player, Yes (in their day) were a revolutionary Rock Band....and (even though I am no fan of Barry Manilow) he has written many songs that are loved by many millions of people.
So come on Mark Williams - if you can't think of a few nice words to say about people why don't you just "Shut the F*** up !!!!"

Regards
Robin Sainty

LETTERS: The intolerance of Conroe

I am happy to tell you that I have lived in Houston for the past 10 years and I love it. Houston is such a diverse city and you can be who you want to be and do what you want to do without repercussions.
I can go to the theatre here and see a play without fear that the people of Houston have altered it to a version they think is acceptable for me.
I lived in Conroe from 1988-1992. I can easily tell you that those were the worst years of my life. Conroe, for the most part, is the most bigoted town that I know of. That's not to say that there are some really nice things that can be said about Conroe and some of the people of Conroe. But, that's not the point of this letter.
I am glad that I can raise my children in an environment that is more conducive to tolerance and that hatemongers are the minority. And by the way, if this letter angers anyone, open up your mind. There is a good chance you are amongst the intolerant.

Respectfully, Ellen Grender
Houston

LETTERS: Without God, we wouldn't be here

… I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the republic, for which it stands.....
I'm sure that the people of America are very familiar with this, and how the rest of it goes. While most people are proud to recite this allegiance to our country, some people are afraid of what comes next in the poetic rhyme. Why though?
I'm a 15 year old, living in a small town, I usually sit down to watch the six O'clock local news at night, and lately I've been shocked! What's the world coming to? Why are so many people afraid of the word God? How else did the human race get here? Certainly not by some guy operating a switch board, and definitely not by wearing red ruby shoes, and clicking our heels together.
I think America needs to sit back and realize that without God, we wouldn't be here, and without God nothing would be possible. God plans our day, every minute, every second of it. He's got it all under control. And I encourage our nation to see that, and trust that. Did you ever sit down and really think about our country's name…? It's The "United States". We need to unite as …One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all.

Miranda Russo
Austintown, Ohio

LETTERS: Pride at the expense of censorship

This paper at one point was good. very useful, however in the past year. it has went to shit never will pick it up again as long as you advertise strip joints...'HEY STUPID: HOW MANY STRIP HOUSES ARE IN THIS COUNTY? (NONE) YOU DUMB ASS CONROE HAS NO INTREST IN THAT SHIT... WE HAVE PRIDE ABOUT OURSELVES HERE.

Zero
Conroe, Tx

LETTERS: You may be alone

When you direct your dissatisfaction to a newspaper for the type of businesses that pay to place their advertisements inside, it is like shooting the messenger.
The Bulletin doesn't manage, own, or operate any of the businesses that advertise in our newspaper. If you don't like to see "strip house" advertisements then might I suggest you turn the page. If you don't like a commercial on TV you change the channel, you don't throw your set out your window.
Read our weekly Film Review, or find a restaurant to dine at on our Food page. Or have yourself a chuckle following the zany antics of Cheeto and Boinky in our weekly Cartoon. Read through our Calendar and find something to do this weekend. Dig through our Classifieds and find a new job, a garage sale, or even a new car. But whatever you do, don't judge an entire newspaper for certain ads that are placed inside which might not appeal to you.
And, as you don't like the advertisement, someone else that reads The Bulletin might. What gives one person the right to speak for everyone?
The Bulletin doesn't create these businesses. These businesses pay for advertising space. They are legal businesses so where do we, or even you, get the efficaciousness to censor what is a legally operated business?
The consumer places their vote through the almighty dollar. We suggest that you make your voice heard by not patronizing strip clubs. However you may be in the minority in your opinion due to strip club owners on the north side of Houston choosing to advertise in a Montgomery County paper because, according to them, that is where the majority of their clientele comes from.

Curtis Schlough
Editor, The Bulletin

LETTERS: Freedom of Speech

Thanks for the letter, Zero. I can tell you put a lot of thought into it. You are right on one point: Montgomery County does not have any strip clubs. However, the Bulletin's coverage area extends down to FM 1960 and is loaded with all kinds of entertainment options.
The Bulletin coverage area now includes about a half million people. While covering such a large area with a highly diverse demographic profile we have found that not all people think exactly the same.
For example, some people might like Country Western Music while others may like Rock and Roll. Still, other people might like the Blues while others like Rap.
We like to think that's what made this country great. People have, according to the United States Constitution, the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We are also guaranteed the right to the Freedom of Speech.
We know that in this county people have been told what they should be able to do for a long time. We also know that many forms of media in the local area have continually censored what their readers are able to see. We can also see that if we don't do exactly as a few people think we should, we will be threatened.
The Bulletin in the past, and in the future, believes in the freedom of speech. This means that any business has the right to advertise. It also means that many of the stories and letters we print will not all be the same old junk that public relation firms pump out by the ton.
The Bulletin is of great interest to many people in the area. We print and distribute more papers then we ever have in the past. We generate response for all the businesses that advertise with us. It's part of the advantage of being the only paper in the area that's not the same as the rest of the papers out there. Were kind of like the only Rock and Roll station in your little Country Western World.

Mike Ladyman
The Bulletin Publisher

LETTERS: Live in the NOW

My first reaction was to ignore your letter. (No Need to be Rude ISSUE 28, Letters to the Editor, from Robin Sainty) After all, it seemed to me like taunting a mentally-challenged individual or torturing a stray hound--simply pointless and cruel. But then I got to thinking how you shot down your own argument by talking about how great and groovy keyboardist Rick Wakeman and his band, Yes, was "in their day".
Let me tell you something about Yes: they were a bunch of pompous limeys who seemingly always felt compelled to commit 15-minute-long steaming globs of sheep dung to vinyl every chance they got; they were self-indulgent and over-produced and there is a good reason that they haven't had a hit in nearly 20 years: they're irrelevant and, quite simply, they suck.
I love people like you, Robin, who cling to so-called classic rock like a crazy old man who sews every dime he ever made into a tattered old mattress. I don't know--maybe the music takes you back to a time when you weren't so old and bitter and maybe even enjoyed life. But, for now anyway, you're just another one of those miserable old grumps who cling to the old and useless and criticize the things you do not understand. You probably call modern rock "grunge"--a moniker itself that has been an anachronism for nearly a decade.
My advice to you, Robin, is to trade in your 8-track deck for a CD player and live in the now. Good luck with that.

Regards, Mark Williams
Bulletin Music Writer

LETTERS: Minority Report is no Matrix, or is it?

Your review of Minority Report made me laugh. (Minority Report, ISSUE 26 by Pat Smith) I wasn't a Tom Cruise fan before I saw the movie or after. All his moves were from The Matrix movie & Keanu Reeves did all those moves & much better I might ad.
Steven Speilberg with all his gifts for movie making creativity did nothing new in this but follow MATRIX movie style. Sorry your review stunk.

Marilyn
Magnolia

LETTERS: A nefarious plot by the subversive, left-wing, big government liberals

I think I've figured out what's going on with the aptly named "Zero," (Pride at the expense of Censorship, ISSUE 27, Letters to the Editor, from Zero) who has too much pride to tolerate advertising by strip clubs, but not enough to be able to write a 59 word letter without using 3 profanities (that's one every 19.66666 words--putting him somewhere between Howard Stern and Ozzy Osbourne) and otherwise generally murdering the English language ("it has went to shit never will pick it up again. . . ").
See, the guy's a ringer. Yeah, that's it. He doesn't exist. It's all part of a nefarious plot by the subversive, left-wing, big government liberals who proliferate out here in Montgomery County. Along with their co-conspirators, the biased liberal media. They want to make it look like those of us who are moral, and are just trying to decide and then dictate what people in this Godless county can and cannot see or read, are intolerant and judgmental. And that we're ignorant and uneducated. That has to be it. No real person could write that letter and then call any other human being "stupid."
I'm on to this insidious plan, though. I'm surprised you guys didn't figure this out for yourselves. I'm sorry to have to say this, but that may be why Zero thinks you're a DUMB ASS (sic).
Thanks for today's entertainment highlight.

N. McCoy
Willis, TX

LETTERS: The Bulletin owes an apology

The coverage of the Cryptozoology conference in Conroe, TX. (The Believers, ISSUE 26, by Deseree Martinez)
WHY, would you publish an article about an event that was put on by a Gulf Coast Bigfoot Research Organization member, Chester Moore Jr. and NOT give any credit to the GCBRO on the report, but INSTEAD use another Texas research organization as a link. The GCBRO is a very professional research organization with years of experience with a huge database of sighting reports from around the world on their web site www.gcbro.com and now the event has been put under the guise of the The Texas Bigfoot Research Center? What has happened? Were you not there to gather the facts? How did you miss the boat with Chester Moore JR. and the organization he belongs to? I do NOT mind another bigfoot research organization being linked but DO mind very strongly that you failed to mention the GCBRO and gave a link to our organization first!
I believe your newspaper owes us an apology and a reckoning and a link also! I have little to say about a reporter who is sent out to gather the facts and comes back with the wrong ones!

Mary Green
Tennessee GCBRO member

LETTERS: I did my Job

Did I attend the Southern Crypto Conference? Yes, it's my job to go where my editor tells me to.
Did I spend the better part of six hours listening to all of the lectures? Yes, they were fascinating, especially the "so-called" scar of the thing in the enlarged Patterson film.
Was I under the impression that the conference was sponsored by Chester Moore's CryptoKeeper.com, because the lectures did not focus entirely on Bigfoot? Well, yes, since I didn't see the GCBRO on the program.
I wish you Godspeed on your harvesting efforts. I'm sure the Southern Bigfoot can't elude you forever.

Best of luck, Deseree Martinez
Bulletin Writer

LETTERS: People with nothing better to do

I recently picked up a copy of The Bulletin like I normally do I enjoy the editorials, but this past week was a letter from a guy who I have to say was beyond ignorant! (Pride at the expense of Censorship, ISSUE 27, Letters to the Editor, from Zero)He went by ZERO, well I have to say that must be a match to his I.Q. he was complaining about the advertisers that you have. what kind of idiot does not understand that for this newspaper to be alive you have to sell ads, regardless of the business.
I have no problem with you having topless night clubs as a advertiser I understand that you have to do that to keep the paper free of charge.
Obviously this clown does not understand the concept of business. while im at it.
I also have to acknowledge the lady who was complaining about The Bulletin being pornographic. for those of you who do not know what she was talking about it was the front cover that had a lady in a BIKINI. This is by far the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I would assume what was so upsetting about it was that she could never fit her big butt in one. Besides if that was the case then Conroe is a porno town, we have ladies strutting around all over the lake in bikinis, at pools across town, and every tanning salon in town.
People like this who have nothing better to do than write The Bulletin and complain about the ads and bikinis should quit crying, and get a life.

Rob J.
Conroe

LETTERS: Rape, pillaging, murder is standard operating procedure

A truly an interesting article, (The Stealth Crusade ISSUE 29 by Barry Yeoman) but I would like to point out that while it is true that proselytizing, and even Christianity itself is illegal in most Islamic nations, it is not as this article seemed to imply the missionaries that are the cause of Sudanese militants stealing relief supplies thus starving women and children, or selling homogenous Christians as slaves. Or when murdering Islamic madmen walk down the street slashing throats because some poor soul doesn't bow down to Allah just right, or they circumcise women which they consider property is that because of those mean old missionaries? No!
The name Idi Amin, does that ring a bell? Most genocide is reported as civil war by the western press, but no it's just the Moslems proselytizing again. They are not handing out tracts saying `Allah loves you,' (Only 2 passages even mention that Allah is "all-loving", whereas the Bible has over 700 references to love, loved, beloved, etc.) Rape, pillaging, murder is standard operating procedure. These people do not have the option of not being a Muslim, and Islam is not a monotheistic religion like Judaism, or Christianity where God and mankind can have a personal relationship; Allah is "unknowable." It is a fatalistic religion that commands Muslims to "Fight and slay the idolaters wherever you find them…"
Women are considered property and are beaten at the husbands whim, (unfortunately this doctrine has been used for justification in America as if it was a Christian teaching), it is nothing to rape boys or girls, just bow down 5 times a day and chant and it's a-okay.
For rich Saudi's, or those "holy men" in charge, or even those who make it to America it can truly be a religion of peace; but the masses are nothing more than slaves without hope. For Christians that value the eternal soul as priceless, evangelism is beyond debate.

Michael Steele
New Caney, Texas

LETTERS: We love what we do

I read your review of the "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"(What the Crighton wouldn't show ISSUE 25 by Terry Deane) It's a great review! Until this production, it's been years since my college and community theater experience. And, I will say quite honestly, this has been a theater experience that I, personally, will never forget. It's a valuable "real life" lesson in evaluating an issue in the midst of controversy, reaching a decision based on that evaluation, and making a commitment to seeing a project through to the finish.
As a member of the cast of "Whorehouse," I speak very honestly when I say that the support of the audience on the last night was tremendous! The audience's anticipation of an exciting evening of entertainment was "in the air." It was as if the community has just anxiously been waiting for us to show up! I have no doubt that every performance from my fellow cast members was first class.
We love what we do, we have fun doing it, and, with the wonderful response from the community with a capacity crowd on a Thursday night performance ending with a standing ovation---I think I can speak for all the cast members when I say, "We truly thank you for your heartfelt support of our production."

Anita Stevens
Montgomery County

LETTERS: Local flim-flam grocery stores

I am one of the local citizens who really has had a belly full of the grocers and other merchants insulting the intelligence and credibility of the consumers.
First this flim-flam advertising methods used by most saying buy one, get one free, the continuous manipulation of pricing in order to make the consumer think they are getting a bargain.
The final straw was when I saw an ad the other day "Avocados, buy one, get one free!" Save $1.99. Well folks, this tells you that one avocado is a outrageous price of $1.99 if you buy one. Of course you get one free which really makes it $1.00, still outrageous. For the one who isn't paying attention, you pay the $1.99 for one. Grocers, who do you think you are fooling?
Thirdly, merchants, you don't want the public stealing from you, so quit stealing from us. I am saying for the specials you offer, how the cashiers are more and more " are forgetting" to ring up the specials, give credit for coupons, and overcharging.
And for the ones with your malfunction alarms that go off and the hapless one who happens to be going in and out becomes the object of EMBARRASSMENT when everyone stops and gawks at the suspect.
Perhaps I am snakebit but I have had this happen to me four times and was "clean" at all times. Well Mr. Merchant "no more"!!
And for the ones who make you feel like a thief when you first walk into their store being greeted with a whining: "Security scan isle 12, code three" all you are doing is insulting us.
It may be a good idea if we get together and boycott these stores one by one until they get their act together.
What do YOU think?

Jerry Martin
Conroe, Texas

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