Thanks for the thoughtful look at a Christian who has tackled both sides of the world ("Faith In Film," Feb. 27). I've been reading (Jeffrey) Overstreet's Web site for a number of years. His site is a mandatory bookmark — and always one of the first — on any computer I own.

Harry McFarland, Leavenworth

A changed landscape

Upon seeing your article "On Common Ground" (Plant Life, Feb. 6) in the Pacific Northwest section, I looked at the picture of Bradner Gardens and noticed it was the same plot of land my friends and myself used to play sandlot baseball and football on during the mid-1950s and early '60s. This land was an abandoned housing project from World War II. As kids, we groomed this land into a baseball and football field in which we had hundreds of games over the years.

It is amazing how time marches on and the landscape of your childhood changes with it.

Bill Ferrari, Bellevue

It doesn't have to be terminal

Thanks to Julia Sommerfeld for her excellent diagnosis of Seattle's social disorder ("Seattle (N)ice," Feb. 13). She delivered it with a perfect balance of investigative skill and bedside manner. And to any young Seattleites wondering how you can avoid a terminal condition, take the advice of this native and get the heck out of here for a few years! You'll be glad you did.

Scott Coughlin, Seattle

Picture perfect

Thank you for your excellent article on Jeffrey Overstreet and his work as a movie critic ("Faith in Film," Feb. 27). I have to say that I was really surprised at how objective and thoughtful this piece was — it's so easy for reporters to pigeonhole a "Christian critic" as a Jerry Falwell, James Dobson type. You let Mr. Overstreet's insightful faith speak for itself, which made your piece the first beautiful thing I've read in The Times all year.

Anika Smith, Seattle

This is still America

Oooooh, how apropos!! We've lived here eight years, and the experiences listed in "Seattle (N)ice" (Feb. 13) describe precisely the unpleasant things we've lived through.

We found the Northwest to be a very "cold" area where people are concerned. From cutting each other off on the freeway, not thanking you when you let people in on the road, to the superficial "we'll have to get together (never) sometime" from the people you work with to those living in your area.

There were several reasons I could come up with: ambition, selfishness and greed (me, me, me) of the high-tech culture; the cold personality that one finds in the northern European areas (Holland, for one, where money and greed are driving forces), and simple rudeness and lack of manners. As for the "welcome to Seattle, now go home" mantra — this is still America, and I am free to go where I please, and by the way, I'll bloom where I'm planted. Ha!

Nell Daniel, Federal Way