Put a Cork in It
Does the average Joe sit around pontificating the innocence or guilt of Sammy Sosa? [Sports, Jun 12] Not really. Sure, there will be plenty of gab around the office about the ensuing reprimands and how long he should be suspended but only Sammy Sosa knows if he cheated or not. Kevin Faris's "Cork Controversy" is very demeaning to the intellect of the common man.
Faris states that the common man is unable to be objective in spite of his fanatic allegiance. That is simply not true. After the Devil Ray's game, Chicago fans were interviewed and all of them had the same logical conclusion-Sosa should have known better therefore he should be punished.
Of course, this incident comes at a really bad time in America's history when it seems that every wholesome virtue of American glory has been ripped to shreds. All we can do is pick up the pieces and move on. Faris need not patronize his readers with unprolific utterances like, "nobody is perfect" just to take up space. It really is a disparaging act on his behalf and a perfect example of bad journalism to succumb his readers to sappy, half-hearted garble.
Obviously, Faris, having made whimsical jokes about his qualifications as a sports writer, distancing himself from the other unrelenting zeitgeist sportswriters, introducing the stigma of racism, and not really making any kind of sound argument other than his minority stand on Sosa's behalf, decided to fill the leftover space with some wishy-washy bull fodder. At the very best, I commend Faris for his social adroitness concerning touchy subjects like the integrity of sports journalism and its effect on America's pass time. Where's the closure, man? How about enlightening us with the fact that corporate greed has leveled the expectations of competitive sports and athletes of all ages, the millions of disenchanted sports enthusiasts, and you-the middle man whose job is to bring tangible, meaty, thought-provoking opinions to the dinner table.
Who is cheating whom, Mr. Faris? I do not live in a cave, nor do I have compromising pictures of Rhonda Reeves. I am a sports fan and I am a fanatic when it comes to objective reading. If I ever have kids I shall tell them that President Nixon was framed, Chernobyl was a big hoax, and they found Mother Theresa in effigy when Sammy Sosa's bat was examined. My advice to you, Mr. Faris, is to put a cork in the sappy shenanigans and get back to the basics of objective journalism. Thank you.
M. Duncan
Lexington, KY
OK then, whoever DOES have those compromising pictures: we'd like 'em back.
And those interested in Nixon might enjoy catching this week's repeats of On the Record with Bob Costas (HBO). Great interview with Carl Bernstein and John Dean (no word on Deep Throat).
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The High Cost of Doing the Right Thing
By Stephanie Love
I recently adopted a dog through the Lexington Humane Society with which I am head-over-heals in love.
She's a sweet, smart little collie/shepherd mix (pictured). We named her Mikko which is Japanese for beautiful child.
I quickly made an appointment with my vet to treat the normal health problems associated with pound-puppies: cough and diahhrea. One of the first things my vet did was check her vitals, and quickly discovered that she has a heart murmur or PDA (pulmonary ductus arteriosis). I am certain that is why she ended up at the humane society. 
I then had a local vet hopsital perform a sonogram of her heart and the PDA was confirmed. Last week, we drove to Cincinnati to consult with a vet surgeon regarding a corrective surgery.
After discussing this with my vet and the surgeon, Mikko is a strong candidate for surgery which, if all goes well, will completely fix her problem, extend her life and activity level. Without the surgery, she would need to stay on heart medication, have her activity level monitored, could die of a heart-attack at any moment, and would possibly live a few more years. This just breaks my heart, and I feel compelled to see the operation through.
The problem arises in funding the operation. I've been quoted an approximate cost of $2000/up. I'm writing you in hopes that you would consider sharing this story with your readers, asking for donations for her surgery.
I really want to make this happen for her, but need help with the high cost.
I am a single-parent putting myself through graduate school and live within a tight budget.
I am able to pay for routine vet bills, training, supplies, and offer a loving home, but did not expect the need to come up with thousands of dollars for our new dog's open heart surgery.
Donations could be made in Mikko's name to our vet's office:
Nicholasville Road Animal Hospital
4570 Nicholasville Rd.
Summer Solstice
The Lexington Farmers' Market will hold the second in a series of outdoor food celebrations, the "Summer Solstice Festival" on Saturday, June 21st downtown on Vine Street. Beginning at 10 am, Alfalfa's Restaurant will prepare and offer free samples of dishes made from fresh spring and summer fruits and vegetables, all obtained on site from farmers.
Swept Away
The Kentucky River Clean Sweep, which was to be held on Saturday, June 21st , has been postponed because of recent rainfall. The excess rain has driven water level up, which makes for dangerous conditions. The Clean Sweep has been rescheduled for Saturday, August 9th, from 9am to 2:30pm. For more info and to register for the August 9th event, call 425-2255.
Summer School
This year's Governor's School for the Arts will be held on the campus of Lexington's Transylvania University from June 22 to July 13. This year is the largest program GSA has ever had: 231 high school seniors. Also, this year marks the first year GSA will host international students (five students from Northern Ireland will be in attendance). This is also the inaugural year for an Architecture and Historical Preservation program.
Manna From
God's Pantry food bank will soon be helping even more people in their 49-county service area. Their Commodity Supplemental Food Program is expanding to help more low-income seniors. An open registration for those eligible will be held June 25-26 from 1pm- 4pm at Broadway Christian Church, 187 N. Broadway. The program provides recipients with a nutritionally planned food package on a monthly basis. Pregnant and postpartum women, and children under 6 are also eligible, to a limited extent, for the program.
Butt Out?
The ability to smoke in public places may soon waft away. The Urban County Council voted 8-4 earlier this week to keep a smoking ban on the table.
The ban still requires further consideration by the Council.
A first reading will be heard on June 26th, and a second reading on July 1st. The final vote by the Council will take place on July 1st.
Should the measure pass businesses would have four months (by October) to post no-smoking signs, and ask that customers put out their cigarettes.
Passage of the ban could set a precedent for other Kentucky cities considering a ban.
Looking Ahead
Wrap it up; we'll take it
Lexmark is asking for your support of a free computer and printer recycling event Dell, in conjunction with Lexmark and the University of Kentucky, will hold at the University of Kentucky (Commonwealth Stadium, Red parking lot, stadium's west side) on Saturday, June 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Everyone in the Lexington area is invited to bring their unwanted computer and printer equipment to the drop-off location and it will be recycled, at no charge.
To submit an advocacy/activism activity or event for Quickies, email rkirkland@aceweekly.com, or editor@aceweekly.com.