Letters to Calendar: Remembering Glenn Frey

Glenn Frey remembered

Your article on the life and times of Glenn Frey moved me [“An Appreciation: Took It to the Limit,” Jan. 18]. Thank you for creating such an informative and elegant tribute.

Jim Cain

Bath, N.Y.

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Frey’s band was one of the biggest of the 1970s, and it pretty much single-handedly pioneered the L.A. country-rock sound with its fingers on the zeitgeist of that era. All good, but what always strikes me when I listen to the band is its craft. The Eagles rocked, but with uncompromising professionalism, well-structured songs, vocals with incredible harmonies and spot-on and creative playing.

Coby King

West Hills

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Thank you for the article. I think “Lyin’ Eyes” is his very best song because when you listen to the phrases in the song, the words become mental pictures in your head and you can almost become part of the picture as an observer.

Ed Lamphier

Irvine

Vilification of a virtuoso

At age 4, I decided I wanted to become a professional violinist after watching Itzhak Perlman perform on “Sesame Street.” Throughout my childhood, I sent fan mail to Mr. Perlman, to which I would always receive a response. These letters from my violin- idol inspired me. I disagree with Mark Swed’s allegations that “Perlman has not grown as an artist.” [“Perlman Revisits Glory of the Past,” Jan. 14]. I consider this characterization inaccurate and unfair.

Sam Fischer

Concertmaster of the

Desert Symphony and the

Riverside County Philharmonic

Studio City

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I think the remark about Mr. Perlman collecting exorbitant fees is of no relevance whatsoever to his musical talent. It almost seems like a personal attack.

Arnie Keren

Los Angeles

Movie departs from reality

I must protest the movie review of “13 Hours” by Kenneth Turan [“Here, Confusion Reigns,” Jan. 15]. It is not strong enough to just say “not everyone supports” the version of events in the movie. According to the House Intelligence Committee report, there was no stand-down order given to American personnel attempting to offer assistance that evening.

Alex Magdaleno

Camarillo

Spike Lee’s Oscar boycott

Regarding: “Will the List of Oscar No-Shows Grow?” [Jan. 19]: It’s ridiculous to boycott the Oscars because you don’t agree with the nominations.

The person who should be the most upset by not getting a nomination is Johnny Depp.

Ray Uhler

Rancho Santa Margarita

Pictures capture film festival

Thank you for featuring some of the extraordinary directors participating in the Palm Springs International Film Festival in such a fun manner.

Ricardo DeAratanha’s photographs tell us a little more about the directors who participated in the retreat.

Mary Brent Wehrli

Palm Springs

Art reveals nature

Thank you to Liesl Bradner for her article on the inspiring work of Phoenix artists Lauren Strohacker and Kendra Sellers [“Projection Art: ‘Animal’ Exhibit Taking Flight,” Jan. 10]. Their video projections of vanishing native species addresses the threat of the extinction.

As most urban dwellers lose their affiliation with all that nature bestows on the human species, we lose our will to protect it and will suffer the consequences.

Elaine Livesey-Fassel

Los Angeles

Meditations on ‘Billions’ series

In Mary McNamara’s review of the new “Billions” series on Showtime [“In ‘Billions,’ White Alpha Males do Battle,” Jan. 16], she didn’t mention the two notable scenes showing the main characters — played by Paul Giamatti and Damien Lewis — taking time out of their busy schedules, one fighting crime the other committing it, to meditate.

Neither seems to have gained any observable benefits — not calmer, happier, more relaxed. They are still at the mercy of their ego. As the nuns used to say about the Catholic Mafia members, “but think what they’d be like without the faith.”

Mary Jeanne Hawes

Newport Beach