letters.

A Hacker Speaks

While reading "Cyberpunks" (3/27/00) I found a few errors. Good and bad hackers are not referred to as white hats and black hats. The correct terms are white knights and black knights. If the average hacker is a male between 16 and 25, why are most of the people arrested--and most of the ones you mentioned--in their 30s? Also, it's not true that hackers aren't programmers. A wannabe hacker uses software written by others. But to hack properly, you need to know enough about programming to understand how systems work, and how certain holes and bugs can be used to advantage. Most software for hackers includes tracking, bugs, and viruses to make fun of new-bees. Most of my friends and I are hackers, so this info is accurate.

PETER RIPPE Wakefield, R.I.

More people should write about the white-hat hackers and fewer about the black-hat hackers.

BENJAMIN HUNT Midland, Texas

That Dog Won't Hunt

A $2,500 robot dog? ("Say Hello to Dog 1.0," 3/27/00). This is an outrageously stupid and senseless idea!

NICOLE PIKE Pelzer, S.C.

Friends Across a Border

It's a wonderful idea to create a camp where Palestinian and Israeli teens have to cooperate and possibly become friends ("Seeds of Peace," 3/13/00). It gives them a chance to find out that an opposing teen is just like them, only on the other side of the battle.

OLIVIA RENENSLAND Wilton, Conn.

Hair-esy?

Keri Russell's new short hair is great ("Bad Hair Daze," 3/13/00). The Felicity ratings nosedive was because the shows were not based on real-life issues. No one made a big deal when Michelle Williams on Dawson's Creek cut her hair, so why start now?

AMANDA BRZEZINSKI Milwaukee, Wisc.

It's shallow that anyone would stop watching just because of the hair. I don't watch Felicity, but if someone shaved their head I wouldn't care.

DAN VANTASSELL Bryan, Ohio

Setting a Bad Example?

I was amused, as well as disturbed, by your recent display of irony. Sparked by the title on the front cover --"Boys Bulking Up, Girls Getting Plastic Surgery: What Are Media Images Doing to You?" (2/14/00)--I opened your...