"With a few artsy-fartsy exceptions, Ballard is wonderfully unhip. I hope it stays that way."

Uff da, indeed!

PLEEEAAASE! No more stories on how cool Ballard is ["It's hot, it's hip, it's . . . Ballard?" 11/8]. I live here because per capita there are less tattooed, pierced, Friends-watching, scum-sucking thirtysomething dot.comers, and we would like to keep it that way. Besides, it takes 25 minutes to get to the freeway, and that would add to the time it takes "THEM" to get to "Burning Man." UFF DA!

TERRY PRATT
LONGTIME BALLARD RESIDENT

A bit depressed

I sold my home on top of Queen Anne last spring because I was priced out of the place. Couldn't afford it anymore. Bought a townhouse in Ballard [see "It's hot, it's hip, it's . . . Ballard?" 11/8] and felt a bit depressed for awhile. Missed the old neighborhood, but then I realized the old neighborhood was long gone, replaced by the usual scoundrels—Starbucks, Safeway, Blockbuster, and hundreds of SUVs.

With a few artsy-fartsy exceptions, Ballard is wonderfully unhip. I hope it stays that way.

CONNIE MCDOUGALL
BALLARD

Feudal press

"Presslords and their ink-stained serfs"—nice line, Jim ["Stop the presses?" 11/9]. It's amusing to picture journalism as a feudal contract—journalists bound to the Times/ P-I by loyalty oaths, and management kicking them out of Seattle when they refuse to work. It could happen. I'm wondering how the switch of the Times to morning will affect all this. Maybe there will soon be only one feudal newspaper in Seattle.

SUSAN MCDONOUGH SANCHEZ
VIA E-MAIL

The great dental cavity

Mark D. Fefer's article about the great dental cavity ["A mysterious cavity," 11/9] exposes more than a hole in the head of dentists' lobbyists! How about a hole in the heart and soul of those dental campaign contributors. DSHS Secretary Dennis Braddick, on one of his trial balloons, just announced the proposal that all dental treatments be eliminated for those people with severe and profound disabilities who are on Medicaid. Only emergency dental services would be authorized under the plan.

How does that work? No comparatively inexpensive preventative cleaning, gum treatments, nor fillings. But when a man with severe cerebral palsy suddenly develops a raging toothache, because of the neglect by the state that is constitutionally mandated to serve and protect him, he (or more likely his care provider, parent, or advocate) must find a wonderful dentist who will have the unique skills to treat such a patient on an emergency basis.

We who are advocates for our fellow citizens with developmental disabilities were wondering who in DSHS would be so evil as to write on the paper plan "Eliminate all dental services for adults on Medicaid." Now we know it must have been ordered by an elected official who received hefty donations from dentists who did not want to treat patients with severe disabilities because of the low reimbursement monies paid them from Medicaid. The powerful dental lobby considers themselves performing acts of charity if they allow such patients in their offices. Talk about war criminals!

For years dentists have "drilled" into us that regular cleaning and dental checkups save money, teeth, and protect patients from disease, pain, and suffering. Why else, then, do powerful political forces inflict costly neglect and suffering upon the most dependent people in our society?

Many of us who serve and advocate for people with severe disabilities have plans of our own how to combat this cruel action that not one citizen in our state would have willed. Involving our powerful press is our first action!

KATIE DOLAN
SEATTLE

Thanks, Mom

Keep writing about this great place [St. Clouds, "Safe haven," 11/9]. One of the owners, John Platt, has a love of people and love of food. He wants everyone to enjoy life and the fine art of enjoying breaking bread together. You will never meet a more sincere and caring person about people and the meaning of life. Caring about one another and sharing the warmth: how much we need this in this seemingly callous world. The fact that he is my son has nothing to do with this letter, and his partner, Paul, recognizes this and is in full support of his endeavors and has the same principles. We will be there next week from the East Coast to enjoy the ambiance and the food. Thanks for your wonderful article.

RACHEL PLATT
VIA E-MAIL

Confused reader

So you blew it again! A featured article about Ballard [11/9] with the Fremont Troll on the cover? Yes, folks, the Troll is in FREMONT! Give me a break!

MEL WAGNER
SEATTLE

Dear Mel,

Please do take a break. The gnome on our cover resides in front of a Scandinavian gift shop in Ballard, not under the Aurora Bridge. The gnome on our cover has a bald pate, a long nose, and a wide smile showing scary, uneven teeth. The troll has hair, a beard, a short nose, and a closed-mouth grimace that, while fearsome, shows no teeth. He also has an automobile in his grip. Does that clarify the situation for you?

The Editors

Serious student

In your article "Labor lessons" [11/9] about the graduate students' unionization fight, Will Comerford mentioned that "some students, surely, are thrilled at the prospect [of cancelled finals]." Did Mr. Comerford bother to question any undergrads?