Aliens in Our Midst

For last week's cover story, Gendy Alimurung spent a weekend mingling with people who believe aliens have made contact with Earth — and finding something surprising: “an unexpected whiff of truth” (“Alien Encounters,” Nov. 29).

In response, we heard from a friendly alien — sorry, “star person” — named Qlomeli, who writes, “You all want to believe in something great, bigger than your mortal and short existence. Aliens are like the neighbors you currently have in another country here on Earth: We know they're there but don't have to break down the front door to their home to make sure. I quite enjoy being here in anonymity. I especially enjoy the women.” Um, thanks?

Phyllis Elliott of Santa Monica is concerned for the poor aliens who might find themselves on our planet. “One need only look at our treatment of each other — let alone of the other species living among us — to realize we are not doing aliens a favor by encouraging them to come here. Intelligent life would not want to land on a planet where schoolchildren get shot and conscious animals are slaughtered on conveyer belts.” Make sure to check out Part 2 of Alimurung's story on page 15 this week.

All Types

Another Alimurung piece — this one about a bridal shop catering to plus-size brides (“Here Comes the Bride,” Nov. 29) — had reader C. Sonn fuming. “My God. I'm thrilled that every body type is getting more options for wedding dresses, I truly am, but is it really necessary for the bridal shop owners to throw in some 'skinny shaming'? I mean, seriously: 'Personally, I don't want a whole bunch of skinny girls shopping up here.' Can you effing imagine if a shop owner had made the same remark in reference to plus-size girls? There would be outrage and lawsuits.

“Why why why is it OK to openly shame skinny people? … I apologize that this is the body I was born with.

“I believe that every woman deserves to feel relaxed and comfortable and safe and beautiful when looking for her wedding gown. However, why is it necessary (and so accepted!) to make a whole section of people feel bad about themselves or that they are wrong just for being the way that they are in order to make plus-size women feel better? Isn't that the exact behavior of shaming and discrimination that this shop was trying to prevent?!”

Congratulations

L.A. Weekly Music Editor Ben Westhoff took first place in the news category at the National Entertainment Journalism Awards for his 2012 story about KDAY, “The Gangsta Rap Oldies Station.” Former Editorial Fellow Tessa Stuart took second place in the same category. And Zachary Pincus-Roth, the paper's Deputy Editor for Arts & Culture, was the first runner-up for Journalist of the Year. Congratulations to all.

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