Splitting Costs

Splitting Costs

Divorce on the cheap: A bargain divorce for $15,000 [“Divorce Over Easy,” by Jennifer Mathieu, August 29]? No thanks.

I did my own divorce for around $200 (filing fee, plus do-it-yourself software). It’s a little secret the legal community would rather not let you in on, but the cheapest divorce is one that doesn’t involve lawyers at all.

Brian Anderson
Seabrook

Don’t Flog Berry

Slapping Sylvester: It is possible that Houston City Councilman Michael Berry is a “traitor” in the reparations vote issue [“Overdose,” by Tim Fleck, August 22]. However, state Representative Sylvester Turner is not in a position to call Councilman Berry or anyone a traitor.

Turner should attempt to reconstruct his glass house with steel before he throws stones. Berry’s stance pertaining to reparations may be antiquated and insensitive, but at least he’s honest. I believe that the junior councilman will come around and become more culturally sensitive in the future, but at least we know where he stands. The hardworking and honest Quanell X (who comes from the opposite end of the tracks from Berry, but they are both a breath of fresh air for Houston because of their honesty) may even reinstate Berry’s ghetto pass.

Sylvester Turner has failed to be professional as an attorney. As an elected figure, he should get his untidy house in order, be a man, state who he really is and be honest with people who put their trust in him. Until then, he is not in a position to potty-train or flog Michael Berry.

Name withheld by request
Houston

Bayport Blues

Carping at the Chron: I am appalled at the Chronicle’s blatant editorial favoritism given to the Port of Houston that was in the article smeared across its business section July 7.

There were grossly exaggerated accolades about what a great, benevolent neighbor the port is, and how Houston could not survive without its expansion efforts. What a joke! The story failed to print the port’s strong-arm tactics against local property owners, with threats to condemn land if they didn’t sell.

The authors claim the “giant anthill” of the harbor and neighboring chemical plants “invigorates a broad distribution network of rail cars, ships and warehouses.” I wonder, if the port were expanding into River Oaks, would this be considered invigoration of the community? The reality of the situation is that there is only one existing, rarely used rail line into this bay area, and the closest interstate is more than seven miles away [“Going Off the Rails,” by John Suval, April 18].

The port and the arrogant fat cats that ram it down our throats have managed to anger the vast majority of the 200,000 residents in the entire Clear Lake area [“Rocky Landing,” by Richard Connelly, July 2, 1998]. Why do you think they’ve launched a massive PR campaign with commercials running daily during the local news? (An unelected entity using our tax money to promote itself.) The cities of Seabrook, La Porte, Taylor Lake Village and even industry-heavy Pasadena, to name a few, all have officially gone on record as opposing the Bayport expansion.

This article just reinforces the Chronicle‘s image as nothing more than a mouthpiece for the fat-cat elite.

Steve Scott
Houston

Soccer Cynic

Send abusers away forever: My heart just bleeds for the convicted child rapist who can’t visit his attorney’s office [“Hard on the Yard,” by Scott Nowell, August 22]. My God, all he was convicted of was forcing a child to suck his penis a few times. Even though all the studies say that child rapists are almost 100 percent recidivists (i.e., they will do it again), this man’s civil liberties are simply being trashed.

Give me a fucking break. The author was lucky that no one forced a penis down his throat or into another orifice when he was three or eight or ten. In sex abuse cases, many times defense attorneys will argue that vaginal or anal tearing of a child victim could have been caused by the child playing soccer. I myself have never seen a child try to stuff a soccer ball up her ass, but I guess you never know.

What I do know is that he and his lawyer can fucking meet at the local gas station for all I care. And no, I am not a victim per se, but I have a juris doctorate and once thought that I could help prevent child rape. Then I went to law school and learned that the justice system protects the rapists. We live in the most hypocritical culture that professes to love and protect children, but what we really do is rape them with impunity, and then mention how much money we make and what a great member of the community we are.

If you rape a child, you should have to leave my planet. Period. No second chances.

Jennifer Beegle
Houston

Ren Wow

Family barbecue follies: Just a quick bravo! for your review of Tien Ren Restaurant [“Pro-Choice,” by Gary Michaels, August 22].

My wife and I have been eating there for years and love it. We both identified immediately with your story of the barbecue feast at your cousin’s house. Man, was that accurate. Thanks again!

Jeff Balke
Houston

Manic Marco

Taking our time: I have a gripe about Da Marco [Hot Plate, by Paul Galvani, May 23]. It has been one of our favorite restaurants since it opened, but recently they instituted a new, irritating policy. When you order your appetizer (or “primi/first course,” or whatever they call it), you have to also place your order for your entrée/second course because the “chef gets so swamped” on weekend nights.

Please. I call serious BS on this. This is unacceptable for what most would consider a “nice” restaurant. Yeah, I know it’s not Tony’s or Cafe Annie, but it’s not Bennigan’s Time Crunch Lunch, either. What my husband and I love most these days (as we have a new baby) is our treasured Saturday night out, when we can relax and enjoy a meal. Part of that experience is usually ordering an appetizer, which we can enjoy with a good glass of wine while we settle in and peruse the rest of the menu.

I don’t want to feel pressed for time, or like I have to hurry up and decide on my entire meal. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to occupy their table from seven to midnight or anything, but quite clearly this is what they’re worried about. Someone needs to tell them to cut it out.

Lynn Stuart
Houston

Industrial Strength

Back to the Circus: Oh, my goth. I am so tired of reading about the “gothic/industrial music scene” and its supporters [Letters, August 29].

I have had the privilege of spinning music that fits into the category mentioned for five years. I have never played anything by Bozo Porno Circus or its endless spin-off bands and never will. I am not a supporter of non-supporters. I never see group members at any club in this city until it’s time for them to annoy everybody with their annual “show” come Halloween. The reason they get any recognition in the Houston Press Music Awards at all is because the category they are representing is nonexistent, and there is a reason for that: You don’t nominate mediocrity or downright embarrassing bands. Aren’t circuses supposed to go away after the freak show, anyway?

There is some good stuff in the electronic music scene. In fact, synth-pop is making somewhat of a comeback, although you’d never know it from attendance at some of the clubs that support this type of night, which is a shame. The reason for that is because within this “community” there is bitterness, fighting, jealousy and a desperate need to be noticed by others. I’ve witnessed it every week for five years, and it shows no signs of going away. Talk about a downer. And why is this city so trapped in the ’80s? I admit, a lot of great industrial and electronic music came out of that era, but there is just as much out there today.

I’d like to think there is still hope for this scene. “Underworld” on Thursdays at Numbers is still going strong after three years, although attendance should be much higher than it is. Oh, and those DJs don’t play Bozo Porno Circus, either.

Name withheld by request
Houston

Great Feat

Groove Tour gratitude: Wow! What a show the other night at the Garden [“Groupie Grooves,” by Bob Ruggiero, August 29]. Thanks so much for bringing this terrific American treasure (Little Feat) to town.

I couldn’t believe how long they played in that heat, either. They were just fabulous, and I wanted to thank the Houston Press and all the other sponsors for treating those of us who came out to a magical evening. Whoever didn’t show up that Friday night definitely missed one of the great shows I have attended over the years.

Marc Rutrough
Houston

Change for the Better

Loving the listings: Way to go on the new music listings. It’s very helpful to have the day-by-day breakdown, since most people look to see what’s available on a given night. The new listings make it so much easier.

And the new venue page [Out & About, by Matt Sonzala, August 29] gives a concise place to look up all the different venues. The Austin Chronicle has had its listings this way for years.

David Brill
Houston

Scene, Not Heard

Missing in action: Thanks so much for the article about the club scene [The Nightfly, by Craig D. Lindsey, August 29]. You made me laugh. Now I know what I’m missing since I got too old and too ill to indulge in Houston’s nightlife: not much, I guess.

Sharon Macha
Pearland