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_______________WORD BY WORD: MY ADVENT ADVENTURE BY ANNE LAMOTT (12/10/98)
	I agree with Anne Lamott's latest foray into narcissism that she does indeed have serious mental problems. I doubt she will find solace from her pastor, or from any of her friends, who seem incompetent in dealing with emotional illness. What the woman needs is a therapist -- immediately! I was distressed when, in "Thanksgiving," she entertained the notion of hitting her obviously desperately lonely elderly mother over the head with a hammer because the sadistic monster was pathetically striking up conversation with workers at the Safeway deli counter. It was obvious to me that Lamott was completely rattled because her mother had criticized two of her books. I dare the "religious" Lamott to spend time with people whose parents are verbally sadistic, have Alzheimer's, are terminally ill, etc. -- and to continue complaining because the old traitor is trading coupons for cold cuts! -- Robin Pitre
_______________DESPERATELY SEEKING E-MAIL BY LISA DREIER (12/07/98)
	Why is it that professional tourists/freelance travel writers have this inexplicable habit of thinking that every place in the world that they "choose to grace with their presence" should be customized to their preference? Dreier says, "In India's mind-boggling clamor of life and death and color, I would seek out both ancient mysteries and modern-day Internet access." Her arrogance and condescension is rather irritating. Yes, while Internet access in India is not quite as mind-blowingly (or mind-numbingly) high tech as it is in some parts of the U.S. or the rest of the "civilized" world, it is definitely there. Also, what is this Hotel Imperial that she is talking about? She describes it as "one of Delhi's finest" and yet no one there had heard of the Internet? It sounds like Dreier got ripped off. Obviously she has not visited any of the Taj Group of Hotels or Oberoi Hotels in Delhi -- all of which have cutting-edge business facilities, where the lobby staff/concierge would probably raise an eyebrow at some random, scruffy, backpack-lugging tourist begging to access her Hotmail. In fact, as I write this e-mail from India, I am at work today, sitting in front of my computer, in an office with more than 60 computers that are all connected to the Internet, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Does she know that major American corporations such as Microsoft and Intel are all using the high standards of Indian software professionals to push up their profits and productivity? Dreier needs to remove her selective vision glasses and see India for all its complexities. We can be cutting-edge and tech savvy and still be unpredictable, ancient and complex without writers like her romanticizing our daily needs, struggles and priorities. -- Namita Pendharkar Bombay, India
_______________CLINTON: TV OR NOT TV? BY JOAN WALSH (12/09/98)
	Joan Walsh says that "Clinton and his advisors are deliberating about whether the president should do more to mollify congressional moderate Republicans" while pointing out Bruce Ackerman's assertion that the chief justice can set aside an impeachment vote by the 105th and leave it up to the 106th Congress (I happen to think Mr. Rehnquist might do just that). However, it would be a mistake for the president's staff to fall for the "not contrite enough" criticism from the right wing. We all know the president had sex with another adult -- not his wife. We know that he's been humiliated by his enemies. The people don't need to hear another apology (we're not a bunch of sixth graders). The president is not going to be removed from office. And after the outrageous concessions Clinton made to the right wing in the last few years, he owes it to us -- the people who voted for him -- to tough this out and let the Republicans commit suicide. The president has said enough on this matter. Quite enough, thank you. -- Derek Parker Laurel Springs, N.J. SALON | Dec. 16, 1998

R E C E N T L Y+| "STAR TREK: INSURRECTION" REVIEWED BY ANDREW O'HEHIR

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