Thank goodness there are at least two bastions of journalistic purity remaining on the Peninsula to protect the public from the power mad media moguls like myself who have shamelessly abused the power of the press to advance a political agenda. I am referring, of course, to the Weekly and to that other haven of holiness, the Herald.

I deserved the lashing with the squid-o''-nine-tails (Squid Fry, 11/2-8) and now that I have recovered from the sting, I can assure you that I will, in the future, aspire to follow in the path of righteousness. No longer will I ask questions of civic leaders that are blatantly unfair, such as, where will you get the money to fix the sewers?

From now on, I will be inspired by the the journalistic integrity shown by my bigger bretheren of the Weekly and Herald as evidenced by both papers'' endorsements, and coverage of the mayoral and council races. I will go henceforth and sin no more, bringing only news of harmony and goodwill amongst our civic leadership. Who wants to focus on issues anyway? They do tend to spoil the party.

Oh! And one last thing: Better take some medication, Squid old boy, my ad placement malady appears to be catching, given the Koffman ad below your column and the full page Pebble Beach ad (primo placement) on page 7, opposite the letters. I''d hate to see you seduced away from the path of righteousness. I look forward, as usual, to your next column.

David Goldbeck
Editor, Pacific Grove Beacon

What About Moss Landing?

Apparently your crack journalistic team was so busy trashing the Goldbecks and the Pacific Grove Beacon ("Votes of Confidence," 11/2-8) that they failed to notice that, unlike most "local elections," candidates for the Moss Landing Harbor Commission are voted on by all of Monterey County.

Had you seen fit to include candidate profiles and/or endorsements on the people running for office here, I think your voting readers would''ve had a much clearer picture of whom they [were] voting for, and why. By ignoring this particular race, you have done the Moss Landing Harbor District, the community of Moss Landing and your readers a grave disservice.

Colleen Beasley,
Moss Landing

FilmFest 2000 a Success

No community event could ever have a better partner than the Weekly. The world cultures and human rights film festival (Monterey Bay FilmFest 2000, 10/27-28) was a thrilling success, all due to the wonderful collaborative partnership between our local, all-volunteer United Nations Association (UNA) group, Coast Weekly and the dedicated, talented staff and students at CSUMB''s beautiful World Theater and Institute for Teledramatic Arts and Technology (TAT).

The large crowds on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon were satisfying, the theater-filling audience on Saturday evening was beyond anyone''s expectations.

I''ve read and enjoyed the Weekly for years, but have never before fully appreciated how it is a publication and business really dedicated to our community. To Bradley Zeve, Jeanne Howard and all the other Weekly people who devoted so much energy to making this inspiring event a success, and hopefully a new tradition, one giant "thank you"!

Larry Levine,
President, UNA/Monterey Bay

FilmFest Redux

Thank you for your extraordinary efforts in presenting the films we saw Saturday evening. We are so grateful that these kinds of ideas were shown on the Monterey Peninsula to promote respect, compassion and peace. If you are there again next year, we will be, too.

Amy Essick and Frank Takacs,
aeft@mciworld.com

United Nations Sucks

The United States should get out of the United Nations. The UN is nothing more than an attempt at a world government bureaucracy. While the UNA complains about the United States'' UN "debt," in 1997 the U.S. paid $312 million to the UN. The next highest payment to the UN was $195 million which was paid by Japan, who isn''t called on to engage in "peacekeeping" operations.

The UN often meddles in the affairs of other countries, usually making the situation worse. In Rwanda, UN "peacekeepers" failed to intervene when Tutsis were murdered by the Hutu rivals. In Somalia, UN "peacekeepers" brutalized and sometimes murdered Somali citizens. Even the UN admits child prostitution thrives wherever "peacekeepers" are found. In spite of this, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, in September of 1999, called for the UN to be able to intervene in the affairs of other nations whenever it wants.

When UNA President Larry Levine states in the Weekly ("United We Stand," 10/26-11/1) that the U.S. should take more of a leadership role, I agree. We should take a leadership role in leaving the UN, and let countries form temporary alliances to take care of regional problems and/or conflicts.

Brian L. Burleson,
Seaside

Down with the Critic!

I just finished reading the review of Viva Zapata! ("Work in Progress," Oct. 19-25). The definition of a critic is "judge of artistic works;" if Chuck Thurman is a critic, I''m a dog catcher in the Ukraine.

Thurman did not mention the great music, young actors that gave outstanding performances, the lights, or props never ever seen in the sod-breaker town of Salinas.

A cast of 40-plus, and the audience wanted and did jump to their feet, a standing ovation. And one young actor, Cain M. Camargo, new to stage, was nothing but great, a natural, a joy to watch.

Hey, Mr. Critic! You should critique a pit bull dog fight.

Bill Baltezar
Salinas

Limit the Population

How could anyone not conclude that California has reached the level of being classified as overpopulated after examining the following evidence:

1.) California''s fertility rate of 2.4 children per woman has now equaled that of Sri Lanka and Chile, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and State population statistics.

2.) Californians for Population Stabilization estimates that immigration and births to immigrant women accounted for 80 percent of the state''s population increase of almost 5 million during the past decade.

3.) California, the archetype of unlimited space, is already about 40 percent more densely populated than Europe where population remains stable.

4.) The demand for new housing has already exceeded 250,000 units per year, according to the state treasurer Phil Angelides.

5.) California''s present overpopulation of 35 million will swell to a space-choking 52 million in 25 years if no new population-limiting legislation is enacted.

What must be done to prevent our quality of life from dropping off at an exponential rate is to enact immigrant-limiting legislation, e.g., HR 41. Other population-growth-reducing measures, such as limiting tax exemptions to the first two children and requiring that all health plans offer contraceptives must also be enacted.

Bill Hickman,
Salinas