Title: Alex Beam answers his February hate mail

" Hi I'm Alex -- living arts columnist for the Boston globe thank you very much to the people who've written me kind letters praising my work alas there will be none of those quoted in this podcast because I really like to focus on critical letters one of my main -- has praised saps the strength -- In a way it's only through criticism of my own wits stays sharp and I am happy to say the readers with its. Stage. 21 column I'm going to be using. They've got a significant amount of reaction appeared on February 5 but it used in the lead of course the story Barbara the fantastic Kentucky derby winning thoroughbred eventually gave up the horse ghost after many months under the care of the University of Pennsylvania veterinarians like kind of poked fun that Barbara almost called him saint Barbara because there was an on line. Tributes last comment slash hope which were notebook that was published at University of Pennsylvania and and literally over hundred people -- touching tributes to this magnificent horse my mother was one of them my mother I really -- to this day hasn't gotten over the past and Barbara in any case one reader from Lexington Massachusetts wrote in -- currently. And I quote Barbara was no -- good thing you were not around when man award died in a war of course was another legendary. Kentucky derby winner he was embalmed including to a casket. The funerals of big event in Kentucky his -- is still big attraction in Lexington you would really freaked."

" Out of that. Well not really of I must say when I wrote this column and as I do this podcast by the way in the final resting spot Barbara has still not been selected although it so I stopped short having a horse and bombed and put into the casket. There was one other hostile reaction to this column another -- its -- is really nicely written quite direct. I Johnson not -- the Boston wrote me and I quote. Your recent column on Barbara is quite possibly the most asinine Op Ed piece I've ever read."

" It simply appalling and quite frankly personally insulting I cannot discern single valid point from a I'm amazed that a piece about a horse credits and would be personally -- to -- not ski ridiculous oh oh going his letter continues. Just because people look are growing hate youth doesn't mean you should feel free to rail against could cause continue to quote spent some time around some of the beautiful race ways in the country's Saratoga. Churchill downs gulfstream Santa Anita. And perhaps only then we will be able to appreciate. Which only some of us can have the kinship of horses racing and quine awareness thank you. Johnson --"

" Here's a letter very cogent letter written in response to a column that was published on February 7. About a charity that was set up by Tom's god and Tom first the so called juice guys. Of Nantucket. Nectar fame Nantucket nectar is huge brand here isn't sure you know it's sort of a fruit like beverage. I called sugary sludge which wasn't very charitable but if you look on the side of the bottle it's perfectly accurate on Nantucket an actress. Cost almost three dollars a bottle and has always gibberish on -- how good it is not healthy it is. But some human want to compare -- to -- can sometimes seem to grant program drinking and connectors and therefore -- can't cook. In any event -- The other column was pretty harsh because. It attacked the charity that the -- guys it's set -- that that really hadn't existed for three years now and their defense. This huge conglomerate and Cadbury Schweppes has taken over -- and connectors. However there was still hyping the charity on the website and I in fact had been approached by a man who was trying to get a grant from the juice guys which was actually the name of the -- called -- guys care. And he discovered through a little bit of sleuthing that this has been completely dormant entity for three years. But a man named for us from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania wrote in to take immediate task is clearly a big fan of Hutus to juice guys Tom -- and come first and he launches into his letter and I quote. Are you gossip columnist rural."

" Order your opening paragraph for -- guys is borderline libel I have to stop quoting here because on something of an expert on all -- I've seen -- from both sides now mr. fort Lewis and I didn't come anywhere near as we start posting libel. We call in those fancy lawyers from the NY times with pursuits and we did not have to call and fancy word for this it was not as you say borderline libel however. I resume your letter your depiction of Nantucket connectors being quote the wildly overpriced sugary sludge -- originally marketed by the notorious -- guys. Is much more opinions and fact that he takes me tasks -- he says quote why are you using the word notorious. To define two guys who started this foundation. In the first place. Mr. -- that's an excellent question number copy desk are ever alert copy desk asked me the same question famous means well known or famous or notorious of course means known for the wrong reasons and it maybe it was a little bit unfair of me to call to Tom's. Notorious with a copy has asked that question I explained somewhat tongue in cheek that anyone younger than and more successful. I had to be notorious to me in that would certainly -- through two -- but indeed. They have no particular notoriety as a reader correctly points out mean they're not really don't live in infamy not famous for anything native. Anyway this terrific letter ends by saying why isn't the whenever I have firsthand information about anything covered in the news. You news reporters get it wrong many 80% of the time both that's right mr. Forrest writes. You're not in business to deliver news but to sell newspapers with sensational reporting. Is that what they're teaching in journalism school these days. And of latter. Gosh I don't know never happened attempted journalism school but with all due respect to myself. This particular column was not 90% wrong it was 100% right."

" But thank you for writing mr. --"

" On February 14. I wrote a pretty powerful column about the trials Scooter Libby Vice President Cheney's aide who prosecutor Fitzgerald is trying to put away for supposedly leaking information about the identity of Valerie plane who was under -- The CIA the Strauss gotten an incredible amount of attention in the Boston globe every newspaper in America else on the evening news. I think the trials -- complete fraud and I made that case very powerfully column which I think you can pick up very quickly if you read it. The reason I fuel as a fraud is if you remember. What the so called crime watch the crime was -- columnist named Robert Novak revealed the fact that Valerie plane was a CIA agent and his widely syndicated column and even George Bush says this is a serious crime like to find out who leaked this information was three years later we know who leaked the information it's a now retired Deputy Secretary of state. Named Richard armitage who actually was born in Boston, Massachusetts. And we know now that the government and never got -- to prosecute either armitage or Robert Novak who is the person who committed the crime of disclosing the CIA. Agent's identity instead Patrick Fitzgerald has spent two million dollars of taxpayer money prosecuting Scooter Libby Scooter Libby did not reveal the CIA agent's identity to Robert Novak has come trial that he revealed -- it and other journalists however that was generally after Novak published his column so liberty in no way is culpable of the original crime that shocked the nation several people wrote -- take me to task as I knew they would because -- trials that -- is a political touched -- basically it's just a substitute really differ for hatred of the bush and Cheney administration and that's -- point -- in the column. I think people should be free to hate that Cheney bush administration that they should be very different from attempting to put people in jail for crimes it didn't meant in any case here's Gregory loose a reader asking for your column was quote supposed to be well humorous and he points out to me. It's been stated since the beginning of this trial that mr. Libby is on trial now he goes into capital letters for impeding the plane investigations. Capital letters in the hope that you actually retain. This information. And he explains to me because I'm sick if Libby had not attempted to withhold information to protect Cheney in the investigation would proceed in fact after the Libby trials mr. Fitzgerald's mandate will still be in effect as has been his practice in other cases I'm sure that you continue to follow. The -- trail wherever these well I'm almost certain that there will be no follow to -- Libby trial that's fine Gregory -- disagrees with me and he goes on being this is what we're all waiting for your -- attacked me personally says what could your intention in writing frankly I haven't the slightest idea however I would suggest. Seeing that you are auditioning for the national critic's job. That you pay closer attention to your own paper I have no idea what it means but national critic's job. But that he explains more clearly -- upon a vast New York based conspiracy interest -- that the Boston globe is owned by the New York Times the paper that more than any other -- administration's war and getting the US into rock why mr. dean are you planning to move to New York. Judy Miller's position is available. This is. -- sardonic wit referring to Judith Miller the widely pilloried national security reporter for the New York Times a woman with whom -- actually agree to sympathy but I won't get into that here but any case -- is using a Miller in the -- times and stick to beat me over the head. Lastly reader named Bernard Shriver made a point to me that many many other readers made that actually buttress this point I was trying to make him calm that this is merely a piece of political -- prudence exactly if you will let go Whitewater prosecution for Clinton's. Tribal -- quote everyone seems to forget the amount of money wasted on investigating the Clinton's what do we get for the 50 million dollars there nothing how was -- when Republicans waste millions and billions even trillions of dollars. Don't want us up in arms and virtually no one report unfavorably about it and you're worried about two million dollars I mentioned in the column of the Fitzgerald investigation. Might cost around. Two million dollars schreiber goes on. The mainstream media in this country is amazingly bereft of any ability to keep their eyes on the true prize because like the current administration. You are beholden to big money interests. Great job god mister schreiber I wish I was beholden to big money interest because and I live in a much bigger house and my children were going to much nicer schools. And I wouldn't drive mine for your -- clunky prone to engine failure Toyota prius but thank you for your thoughts."

" Please continue to share your thoughts as we please write and without user would be new podcast. Without you there would be no -- I'm Alex beam you can reach me by email me. The last installment FEMA team quote. Dot com thank you so much for reading and thank you so much that."