Regarding "Record dealer closes shop on a sour note" (Aug. 22), as a lifelong music addict, I too am sorry to see Record Rama close its doors for good. The changes in the music industry over the past three years alone would have been impossible to predict just a decade ago. I am also sorry to hear about Mr. Mawhinney's declining health.

However, when you consider that a large portion of his sales over the years were from collectible records and CDs that he paid almost nothing for (promotional/radio copies, trade-ins from customers, bulk purchases of collections, etc.), it's very clear that he struck while the iron was hot, and made his profit many times over for the large part of his business lifetime.

Make no mistake, Mr. Mawhinney was, at least at one time in his history, a very savvy businessman. However, one of the reasons his collection remains this large is because his merchandise has been traditionally overpriced to the consumer.

If he really wanted to move some of the $200 LPs and singles he hoards, all he would need to do is negotiate. As a longtime customer of his stores for nearly 40 years, I can assure you it was never easy to deal with him. It would take a virtual act of Congress to get an item out of the archive, just to see it, and the prices were cast in stone. Of course, many of these items are/were quite valuable on the open market, especially overseas. But when the demand decreases sometimes more aggressive measures to sell product are required. It seems Mr. Mawhinney's business practices were simply more antiquated than his merchandise.

Steve Acri
Sharpsburg

I agree with Mari Totin's distress on the removal of Lynn Cullen's show from the air ("Weekend Feedback: Cullen a True Professional," Aug. 21). It does a true disservice to the people of Pittsburgh and the surrounding area.

Whether or not you agree with her, Lynn makes the listener think, and God knows we could use a lot more thinking in our very dumbed-down world. It would be wise of mega-station KDKA, which claims to represent all of us here in "KD Country," to offer Lynn a job. She has a sizable audience, which would become larger on a bigger station. That would be good for all of us!

Debbie McTiernan
Sewickley

It was with great sadness that I read that Pittsburgh is losing a great treasure, the "Lone Liberal" Lynn Cullen. I remember the first time I heard her on the radio, I thought, wow, someone who talks about things I'm interested in. I'll miss her great stories about her family, her weekly conversations with her sister in St. Louis, and her stellar interviews.

She had "regulars" whom I enjoyed hearing from. It was a window into the thoughts and pulse of local Pittsburghers. I still have Reg Henry and Tony Norman in the Post Gazette, but on the radio we have little choice but listening to right-wing talking points. (If you don't think as the conservatives do, you are some sort of anti-American radical. Never mind that more than 60 percent of Americans disagree with the invasion and occupation of Iraq. I guess 60 percent of the citizens of the United States are radical.)

Cullen was no knee-jerk anything. Her opinions were nuanced and thoughtful. She could not be put on a bumper sticker. That's why I'll miss her.

Martha Hart Sweeney
Upper St. Clair

The Olympics came and went, and I'm still trying to figure out the why of it all.

Am I supposed to be moved by watching the American gold medalists stand on the podium with tears in their eyes, draped by an American flag, while our national anthem is played?

Is it unpatriotic to wish that the winners would simply pick up their medals without honoring their respective countries?

All praise and honor belong to God for his gift to the individual to have fine minds and bodies. So how about not being so patriotic and making it out that one country is better than another one?

Peace will come only when we learn to love one another and stop the unnecessary nationalistic pride that the Olympic games perpetuate.

Craig Galik
Duquesne

As managing director of Off the Wall Productions, allow me to comment on Anna Rosenstein's review of our production of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" .

First, I am grateful that the Post-Gazette has given us the exposure that we as a new theater need to succeed, and I appreciate Ms. Rosenstein's good wishes for our next play. My intent is to keep Off the Wall financially viable. This involves filling the seats and, equally important, securing grants and donations for our nonprofit venture. We do need the support of the local media to establish the Off the Wall name. Our goal is to deliver quality theater performances, and we fully understand that by inviting theater critics we occasionally must deal with a negative review. We put ourselves out there, but in turn we expect that the critic shall give us a fair chance.

One aspect of Ms. Rosenstein's review is of major concern to me because it goes far beyond artistic matters. Her remark that Off the Wall "just doesn't have the resources" to succeed is extremely inappropriate and unfair.

I was not asked by Ms. Rosenstein for copies of our financial statements. Off the Wall operated as a community theater during our first season, and I am proud to say that our books are balanced. With the start of our 2008-09 season, we will convert to Small Professional Theater status under contract with Actors Equity. The upcoming season is partially funded by the Heinz Endowments, Washington County Community Foundation and Washington Federal Savings Bank. Any financial shortfall is guaranteed by management and the board of directors.

Our professional actors and stage managers get paid as per Equity contract, and our directors work on individual contracts, which I assume is no different from any reputable theater in the Pittsburgh area. Not succeeding artistically is a subjective perception by an individual theater critic, and clearly your critic can express that opinion. The same critic claiming that Off the Wall does not have the resources to stage a production is improper and very detrimental to our supporters and staff.

Hans H. Gruenert
Managing director, Off the Wall Productions

Freelance writer Adam Page's "concert review" of Judas Priest (Aug. 18) was a total piece of rubbish. Often reviewers and fans disagree on opinions as to how good/bad a show was, but his was a waste of space. If someone cannot get the name of the show, band members or set list reasonably correct, please just skip publishing it.

"Metal Masters" is the tour, not "Monsters of Metal," and with only 16 North American dates we should consider ourselves lucky and show it the smallest modicum of respect by having someone actually attend, think and review it.

The audience was not "dressed straight from work" (it was Saturday) or made up of khaki shorts-clad masses. Almost everyone had the standard denim jeans and black T-shirt; it was not a DMB crowd.

To say Judas Priest played a "vanity set" is completely off base. A vanity set would have included either the entire new release (beyond the one song they did play, which was "Prophecy" and not "Prophesy" as indicated); or playing all of the hits. For crying out loud, they did not play their biggest song, "Livin' After Midnight," which they could have played as the opening riff and hammed it up. They even dusted off "Dissident Aggressor," which was never anything close to a hit and was recorded more than 30 years ago.

Please permit me to move toward conclusion by noting that Bill Ward was not on drums for Heaven and Hell this night, this tour or ever with this band.

The short and accurate review could have been: Priest still on top -- metal god Rob Halford and company deliver the goods; Heaven and Hell amazing -- what 66-year-old Ronnie James Dio did vocally and as a frontman was on the par of Mick Jagger; Motorhead still chugging along with force of nature Lemmy; Testament -- who really cares?

Sam Zets
Squirrel Hill

I would like to take this opportunity to comment on Rosa Colucci's review of Neil Diamond ( "Diamond delivers a gem of a concert," Aug. 20).

I attended the concert and have to say that even though it was expected that he would dazzle the audience, he did that many times over. This was not the first Neil Diamond concert that I attended at the Mellon Arena, but I must say it could be the best.

Even though Neil Diamond is 67 years old, the enthusiasm and showmanship was evident during the two-hour show. Every person in that arena was totally involved in the show, practically all singing with him, especially during "Sweet Caroline."

No one could walk away from the Mellon Arena and say that the show was a disappointment.

If nothing else, it can be said that this show was evidence that music appreciation has no age limits. Even though the older generation has enjoyed and loved Neil Diamond's performances, the younger generation was moved to give him a standing ovation more than once.

It was a shame that Neil Diamond didn't perform a second show in Pittsburgh, as I am sure he would have packed the igloo again for another stellar performance.

Norma Ruck
Aliquippa