Letters

Party music

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

We’re working on a project for this summer that we’re really excited about. Brian Burghart mentioned it last week here in this very column, but I’d like to go into a bit of detail.

As you might’ve seen on the cover last week, this newspaper just turned 21 years old. Depending on how you look at that, we’re either a storied, hallowed institution or a young, dumb, full-of-cum kid. Or both. Either way, we’re ready to party. This year also marks the 21st anniversary of Rollin’ on the River, the Friday night concert series we produce during July every year. So, this year, we’re revamping the event to make it into a full summer block party at Wingfield Park.

We’ve also prided ourselves on being the definitive source for local arts information for the last two decades. So, we’re hoping to turn this event into a celebration of the local music scene. That’s where we want your help, dear readers. What local bands or solo performers would you like to see on the amphitheater stage at Wingfield Park?

And don’t feel limited by genre. We know you probably expect to see some pleasant, light-hearted, family-friendly, acoustic-guitar-strumming, ’60s soft rock—good-day-atthe-barbecue type music. And yeah, we’ll probably want to include some of that. But we’d also like to highlight some of the weirder, riskier, wilder music in the community—so, hip-hop, EDM, metal, punk and whatever else. Some of that stuff might not end up on the main stage, but we hope to do some afterparties and late-night events as well.

Just be sure to keep it local.

In recent years, there have been several attempts at starting music "festivals" in the city, and just to be clear, this is not that. This is just going to be a few parties—fun community celebrations with a focus on local music.

Please send music recommendations for our events by email to contest@newsreview. com with “Party Music” in the subject line.

—Brad Bynum bradb@newsreview.com

Trainor on Oregon

Re “Is occupation terror?” (Let Freedom Ring, Feb. 11):

Brendan Trainor, self appointed expert on the criminals—er, um, “heroes” who took over my national wildlife refuge at gunpoint up there by Lake Malheur, knows so much about the situation that he doesn’t even know the name of the damned county where this all took place. It’s Harney County, not Hanley County, cupcake.

Secondly when a bunch of fruit bats spend weeks telling the world how much they want to kill law enforcement officers, and then one of them tries to run a cop over with his vehicle, it should come as no surprise that when he gets out of the car and reaches into his jacket, the law enforcement officers opened fire immediately and killed him. And no, Mr. factually devoid granny boy, Finnicum didn’t just “drive into a snowbank”; he accelerated and aimed his vehicle directly at a law officer and tried to run him over. This is called attempted murder of a law officer, and the cops had every right to blow his brains all over the landscape at any point after he tried that little chickenshit maneuver.

Oh, and by the way, it wasn’t just a maintenance shack they took over. You lied about that, and you know it. It was an office building. With computers and file cabinets inside it that had personal information such as the addresses of the government employees who worked at the refuge. I guess that, as usual, all I can really say about your wild fabrications and piss poor journalism is that you, sir, are a liar. But you’re obviously a big fan of these kind of people. So next time some of these nuts try to take over a government facility, I suggest you get yourself a cute little AR-15, thump your atrophied old chest a few times, and go join them. Mostly so I can either come visit you while you wear your orange jumpsuit in prison, (which would be a hilarious thing to see) , or come visit your desolate grave after the feds rightfully cap you. Chris Rosamond Reno Re “Is occupation terror?” (Let Freedom Ring, Feb. 11):

First, I didn’t see anyone else exiting the truck before Finicum was shot. Second, Finicum, who had just asked the cops several times to, “Just shoot me,” did exactly what someone would do, who wanted martyrdom for himself, but the safety of the other truck passengers. He quickly exited the truck, stuck both hands up in the air, walked approximately 25 feet to the rear of the truck and away from it, then he pretended to be fumbling to get his gun. He got his wish. He was “martyred” and the other truck passengers were not harmed by any stray bullets.

Scott Perry Salinas, California

Letters that make us cry

Re “Songs that make us cry” (cover story, Feb. 11):

As soon as I saw the cover story, I started making my list, and I didn’t see any of my weepy songs in the article. They are:

“For Once In My Life” by Stevie Wonder.

“A Room Full of Roses” by Mickey Gilley.

“I’m Sorry” by Brenda Lee.

Anything by Patsy Cline, but especially “Crazy.”

And always, “God Bless America” by Kate Smith.

How about a story about movies that make us cry? I’m making my list. Hey, I’m running out of tissues! Brad MacKenzie Reno

Re “Songs that make us cry” (cover story, Feb. 11):

Thanks very much for your great piece. I found it in my ASCAP daily news letter. I can relate to many of your respondents’ answers as to the songs that make them cry or the reasons in the songs. I am an amateur musician and have a little band. We play what is known as “Americana” style music. That is a fancy word sometimes for hillbilly music or “Old School” country music.

At any rate, there are some songs that I have learned and in the process of learning them, would actually not be able to sing the song because it would make me start crying in the middle. One in particular is “Seminole Wind” by John Anderson, which I first heard the day after the “storm of the century” back in the 90s. It describes the total greed and corruption that has devastated the Florida environment and the lives of the Seminole tribe. I could listen to the song and get emotional but to sing it and to say the lyrics out loud made me cry. I think the tears were guilt of what my people (white people) have done to this state and this planet and to Native Americans. It took me about a month to be able to get all the way through “Seminole Wind” without crying.

You are correct in that different songs strike different chords to different people, but thank God, that is just one of the many powers of music. Lew Dawg Cloninger MrHillbilly49 The Stray Dawgs Plantation, Florida

Erik Holland Snowden legacy

Apple is taking a stand against President Obama’s administration and the FBI because of Edward Snowden’s courageous actions. Technology companies would never have stood up to the Obama Administration if Edward Snowden chose to stay silent. Suddenly Apple and other tech companies are embarrassed because they created an all you can eat data buffet for the NSA. Now Apple is rightfully trying to make amends to privacy conscious consumers.

However, my concern is that Apple iPhones might already have some sort of anti-encryption back door built into their software in the Chinese and Russian markets. In order for Apple to sell iPhones in China, or Russia, Apple had to agree to the these repressive regimes internet and telecommunications regulations. Unfortunately, I worry that Apple might have inadvertently built in technological back doors into their iOS and iPhone software in the Chinese and Russian markets that can be exploited by the NSA. Earl Ammerman IV Reno

Our Mission: To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages employees to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Editor-at-Large/Publisher D. Brian Burghart Associate Editor Brad Bynum News Editor Dennis Myers Special Projects Editor Jeri Chadwell-Singley Calendar Editor Kelley Lang Contributors Amy Alkon, Kelsey Fitzgerald, Bob Grimm, Ashley Hennefer, Shelia Leslie, Eric Marks, Jessica Santina, Todd South, Brendan Trainor, Kris Vagner, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young Design Manager Lindsay Trop Art Director Brian Breneman Marketing/Publications Manager Serene Lusano Marketing/Publications Designer Sarah Hansel Production Coordinator Skyler Smith Designer Kyle Shine Distribution Manager/Operations Coordinator Kelly Miller Senior Advertising Consultants Emily Litt, Gina Odegard, Bev Savage Distribution Director Greg Erwin Distribution Drivers Tracy Breeden, Alex Barskyy, Denise Cairns, Steve Finlayson, Debbie Frenzi, Vicki Jewell, Marty Troye, Warren Tucker, Gary White, Joseph White, Margaret Underwood

President/CEO Jeff VonKaenel Director of Nuts & Bolts Deborah Redmond Human Resources Manager Melanie Topp Marketing/Promotions/Facilities Manager Will Niespodzinski Executive Coordinator Jessica Takehara Business Manager Nicole Jackson Payroll/AP Wizard Miranda Dargitz Accounts Receivable Specialist Kortnee Angel Sweetdeals Coordinator Courtney DeShields Nuts & Bolts Ninja Christina Wukmir Senior Support Tech Joe Kakacek Developer John Bisignano System Support Specialist Kalin Jenkins

N&R Publications Editor Michelle Carl N&R Publications Manging Editor Shannon Springmeyer N&R Publications Writers Kate Gonzales, Anne Stokes N&R Publications Consultant Catherine Greenspan 405 Marsh Ave.,Third Floor, Reno, NV 89509 Phone (775) 324-4440 Fax (775) 324-2515 Website www.newsreview.com Got a News Tip? Fax (775) 324-2515 Calendar Events www.newsreview.com/calendar Want to Advertise? Fax (775) 324-2515 or rnradinfo@newsreview.com Classified Fax (916) 498-7910 or classifieds@newsreview.com Job Opportunities jobs@newsreview.com Want to Subscribe to RN&R? renosubs@newsreview.com

Editorial Policies: Opinions expressed in RN&R are those of the authors and not of Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact the editor for permissions to reprint articles, cartoons, or other portions of the paper. RN&R is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or review materials. Email letters to rnrletters@newsreview.com. All letters received become the property of the publisher. We reserve the right to print letters in condensed form and to edit them for libel.

Advertising Policies: All advertising is subject to the newspaper’s Standards of Acceptance. The advertiser and not the newspaper assumes the responsibility for the truthful content of their advertising message.

RN&R is printed at Sierra Nevada Media on recycled newsprint. Circulation of RN&R is verified by the Circulation Verification Council. RN&R is a member of CNPA, AAN and AWN.