To the Nose: CBS has a policy of not showing political ads during the Super Bowl and you find a conspiracy [Feb. 4, 2004]? MoveOn.Org is a front group for the DNC and George Soros, but a little peckerwood like you wouldn't mention that, would you?

BTW, when the best ally you can find is Ron, uh, Wyden, uh, the senior, uh, senator from, uh, Oregon, it means the game of life is trying to send you a message:

Grow up!

Chris Hawes
Boring

ELECTRIC BLUE

I want to thank you for putting together such an important article ["Taser Crazy?," Feb. 4, 2004] before the situation gets out of hand. It would be interesting to see a follow-up on how the Portland Police Bureau works with this issue as the taser program grows. As a Portland citizen I think that Police Chief Foxworth is sorely mistaken that this will not jeopardize relations with the public. Any abuse or unnecessary use will do just that. The only reason that I can see for not learning from other successful police-force procedures in other cities is arrogance. My hope is that Mayor Katz will take a very active role on this issue over the next year.

Kurt Gritman
Southeast 31st Avenue

SAVIOR TIME

What should've been an article on the Open Source Development Lab and its mission turned into a Linux soapbox. "The Rebel Alliance" [WW, Jan. 28, 2004] gave the impression that Linux is the savior of the digital universe because it doesn't cost Windows' $100. But the time and money spent to keep that free operating system up to date and running far exceeds the $100 saved.

Linux finds a home where time is not money and knowledge is available. Most people use their computers for business, Web browsing, email and printing pictures in a thought-free environment. As a professional Web developer, I look at the profit margin. I worked on Unix and Linux servers until the summer of 2002. The time I save working with Windows servers dramatically offsets the initial investment.

Poor security in Windows is a thing of the past. Windows integrates its security into every level of access to the machine. Linux's security works independently of its third-party components (e.g., Apache).

Open source is not limited to Linux. Open-source communities exist for all programming languages. Microsoft's developers' network provides complete references and tutorials for their operating system and software--and their seamless integration. Open-source software generally suffers coding inconsistencies and untreated bugs. There's something to be said for software that comes from paid programmers.

Many Linux users spite Microsoft or like to show off tech skills. The fun is gone for me. I'm the biggest geek I know, and I don't have to waste time configuring my system from a command line to prove it.

Steve Schieberl
Southwest 38th Place