Oh, Savannah! To the Editor, Don't you have anything better to do than pick on local TV news people? It's like you're using them to vent hostility. I was especially irked when The Skinny referred to Savannah Guthrie as a "painful-to-watch weekend child-anchor" (Tucson Weekly, November 20). I want to state for the record that Savannah is anything but painful to watch. She speaks well, is full of energy and really cares. She is also one of the most gorgeous anchorwomen I have ever seen. I know, I know, you think that because she's fantastic looking that automatically makes her qualifications suspect. This is sheer lookism! Sure, Guthrie's stunningly beautiful--so what? Or are you one of those insecure types who thinks all the TV people should be butt-ugly to make you feel better about your own mangy self? Guthrie deserves better than your lame envy. I hope a big TV programmer recognizes her for the talent she is so she can get out of this dinky town and safely away from the petty, pathetic jealousies of shrill anonymous ranters in two-bit rags like the Tucson Weekly. Go, Savannah, go! Don't let them get you down! By the way, haven't you figured out by now that putting down small-town television is like whining that professional wrestling is fake? You're not doing us any favors. --Max Reynolds The Metamorphosis To the Editor, It's a beautiful thing when an unrepentant tree-hugger like myself agrees with rootin-tootin pistol-packer Emil Franzi, but he has nailed Arizona Daily Star columnist Tom Beal right on top of his pointy head ("The Devil's Disciple," Tucson Weekly, December 4). Beal's metamorphosis from no-growth sprout-boy to pro-growth shill is truly amazing and, to those paying attention, quite obvious. What is even more astounding, however, are those morons that still refer to The Arizona Daily Star as the "Red Star." If the Star is a liberal paper, then Fife is honest! --Mark Cannon Letter Imperfect To the Editor, Regarding Oro Valley Councilman Paul Parisi's letter to the editor ("Valley View," Tucson Weekly, November 20): I must commend his effort to defend his friend, political ally and fellow "team member" Cheryl Skalsky. Parisi is quick to point out all the so-called "good things" he and Skalsky have done as members of the Oro Valley Town Council. In fact, both of them seem to vote together on all the big issues. To that end, I am reminded of the saying, "When two people agree on everything, one of them is not necessary." As for Parisi's personal attack on Amphi School Board member Nancy Young Wright, I can only wonder where this guy is coming from. I believe he referred to Wright and the people associated with her as "squirrel heads." Name-calling is highly unprofessional and borders on the brink of childishness. His ridiculous statement regarding "let them go look for dolphin in our riparian areas," a poor attempt to resurrect at an equally poor joke he attempted at a recent Amphi School Board meeting, indicates how out of touch this guy is. Be that as it may, this is still America and Parisi is still entitled to his opinions. However, as a citizen of Oro Valley, I was embarrassed Parisi chose to make his statements and attacks under the signature of his title as vice-mayor of Oro Valley. As an elected official, Parisi has the responsibility of representing the Town of Oro Valley. He also is expected to conduct himself in a manner that reflects positively upon the town. Instead, he chose to use his position to attack a fellow elected official and many of the very people who voted him in office. --Francis LaSala The Unsinkable Molly McKasson To the Editor, In your "Memo to Molly McKasson" (Tucson Weekly, December 4) thanking her for the last eight years, you commented on how she has been treated by male counterparts. Unfortunately, Council members and our Mayor are not the only men who have treated Molly in a mean-spirited and insulting manner. I recall a man who attributed his loss of a neighborhood board election to Molly. His response to this loss was to repeat ad nauseam, "Good-looking men can take Molly to lunch and manipulate her, I know because I have done it." In the end sexist remarks like this speak volumes about character, and character has always been an issue in American politics. Perhaps it was not Molly, but his character, which cost him the election. Perhaps Molly's character, (and the fact that in response to such insults she has always taken the high road) is another reason she enjoys so much public support and has won elections in spite of the odds against women. Let's hope we do "see her around again in City Hall." --Mary Romaniello To the Editor, Regarding "Memo to Molly McKasson" (Tucson Weekly, December 4): We are living in the age of blame, of polarization, black and white. We have reduced humanity to the good guys and the bad guys. Righteous indignation towards others has taken preference to self-reflection. So it is not surprising that the most well-intended expressions of praise often find their objects of scorn in the same breath. Your article is a deserving tribute to McKasson's eight years as councilwoman serving our community with courage and grace. It is fitting, too, that your praise faithfully includes her mistakes as you see them. In virtue there is truth, and Molly would probably be embarrassed by a superficial accounting of her achievements alone. As it turns out however, there is cause for her embarrassment after all. Mistakes were made in the article. In your appreciation, you couldn't resist the temptation to exploit her and promote your own agenda by bringing up the obligatory gender thing, which includes citing her "male counterparts" as "being accustomed to meek women who can be intimidated." This genderfying of an otherwise magnanimous tribute momentarily brings it down to the level of politically correct jargon. Of course it is not because of their gender that other members of the council acted as they allegedly did towards Molly. Politics is full of examples of both sexes misbehaving towards one another, and playing the blame game only contributes to the confusion. You would have more effectively reached readers by not alienating a significant portion of them with negative rhetoric. Better that you had borrowed some of Molly's humor. She is a class act. --Bill Cox We Want Letters! Thrilled by our brilliant insights? Sick of our mean-spirited attacks? Need to make something perfectly clear? Write: tucsonweekly@tucsonweekly.com

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