The Meaning of Life Dear readers: The antiabortion forces have two arguments: that life begins at conception and that abortion is murder. Both are false. As to the first, Harold […]
Author Archives: Hank Oettinger
French Connection
Dear Reader: Re the October 1 Straight Dope: Roger Ebert had an interesting slant on the French-Jerry Lewis affair when I wrote to his Sunday page. I asked him if […]
The Real Del
[Re: “Del Close,” March 12] It’s come to this–speaking from notes because of the sneaky approach of alehousers’ disease: I can foresee some Goodman thespian holding up that famous skull […]
Great Moments in Daleyspeak
To the editor: As usual, the year-end edition was great [December 25]. I enjoyed the lingual lapses of the mayor, having made a collection of almost 100 of them by […]
A Radical’s Lament
oetting.qxd Dear Reader: I hope Studs Terkel’s Hot Type fantasy (April 17) about being appointed publisher of the Sun-Times comes true. In addition to upgrading Garry Wills and downgrading George […]
Your Beatin’ Heart
Cecil Adams in his fine answer about the heart [Straight Dope, February 16] credits William Harvey with the discovery of blood circulation. Along with a million other attributes to the […]
Who Killed JFK
To the editors: The October 22 City File has attorney Elmer Gertz touting Posner’s Case Closed about the JFK murder by saying “It should be forced down the consciousness of […]
Unfortunate Development
To the editors: As usual, my favorite issue of the Reader, the Year in Review, was extremely entertaining and informative [December 25]. Especially interesting was the treatment of the river […]
How They Wrecked Wisconsin
To the editors: Jerry Sullivan’s Field & Street column has always been a favorite of mine, and the September 25 issue was special for me. He pointed to the devastation […]
Caution, Quayle Ahead
To the editors: Thanks for the superb article by Florence Hamlish Levinsohn on the life and candidacy of Carol Moseley Braun [March 6]. What a wonderful opportunity Illinois has: to […]
Don’t Take Flak From Men Dressed in Black
To the editors: Catholic bishops put abortion No. 1 on their list of concerns [“Abortion 1990,” September 15]. The supreme court is poised to consider new restrictions. It puzzles me […]
The Measles of Mankind
To the editors: The following law is still in force, negating the necessity for an amendment to the Bill of Rights [Hot Type, July 7]. U.S. Legal Code, Title 1800, […]
When Life Begins
To the editors: Weary of the “when does life begin” controversy [Our Town, May 19], my concentrated study after discussing the matter with a friendly M.D. settled it as follows: […]
Holy Jokers
To the editors: I found great pleasure in Gary Houston’s review of the new book about the hero of my youth, H.L. Mencken [September 9]. Just as I was escaping […]