Smoke-free satisfaction

In his letter last week [“Quebec libertarianism up in smoke,” May 25], Dr. David Romano attempts to portray Bill 112 as the beginning of a massive crackdown on citizens’ rights and freedoms. Such scare tactics are needed because a direct attack on the smoking ban lacks credibility.

Second-hand smoke has been proven harmful, even deadly. Just ask Heather Crowe—oh wait, you can’t, because she died last week from lung cancer after waitressing in a smoky restaurant for 40 years, though she never smoked a cigarette in her life.

Dr. Romano makes vague mention of “the easy ventilation solution” but doesn’t bother to explain how it works or how it would solve the problem of bar and restaurant workers getting sick from second-hand smoke. Presumably they would still be in close and frequent contact with smoking patrons.

Anything that harms others can never be considered a right. It’s a bit like me saying the government shouldn’t interfere with my “right” to smack someone over the head if it gives me satisfaction. We have laws to protect people from being harmed by others, and that’s what Bill 112 is for. The smoking ban is long overdue, and it is supported by the overwhelming majority of the population.

And in case you’re wondering what kind of “Dr.” David Romano is, he has a PhD in political science. Which sounds about right, because it’s hard to imagine a doctor of medicine taking such an irresponsible position towards public health.

» Scott Jones

Vegetarian humour

In his May 25 letter, “Let the butcher be,” Sean Mallard states that more people would be vegetarian if vegetarians had a sense of humour. Well, for the sake of ignorant people like him, it must be mentioned that many outstanding professional comedians like Weird Al Yankovic and Steve Martin are vegetarians. Comic strip creator Scott Adams of Dilbert fame and many other bright stars are also vegetarian.

Exhibiting compassion for animals does not mean not having a sense of humour. As a vegetarian, I write jokes myself and when I’m hungry, I often say, “I’d kill for a veggie burger.” And, by the way, many veggie burgers taste just as good as regular meat burgers, if not better.

» Manish Patwari

Filipino props

I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed Raf Katigbak’s piece in the Mirror on being Filipino [“Growing up bananas,” Riff-Raff, May 4]. My mother is from the Philippines, but my father is Italian, so all I ever ate as a child was chicken adobo or canneloni. Anyway, I’ve been reading his stuff for the most part, and it’s really great!

» Geraldine

BOM comments

I can’t imagine the “various locations” incarnation of Moe’s is the one readers are thinking of in the Best Late-Night Eats category. There’s only one Moe’s that’s open 24 hours and ready to dispense breakfast or a burger after last call or before a stupidly early day, and it’s on the corner of Lambert Closse and de Maisonneuve. The chain may well have good food kind of late in the evening, but really, Montrealers can only ever mean this one below-street-level hole in the wall institution for a “Moe’s” that serves food at all hours.

» Eric Hortop

My family and friends thought it was a well-known fact that la Caverne, the amazing Russian restaurant on Côte-des-Neiges, had the best soup in this city and well beyond. Could someone have mistaken la Caverne with Best Soup second-place winner la Caverne Grècque (105 Prince Arthur E.)?

Since we’re on the subject, how about having best Russian restaurant as a category next year?

While I still have your attention, I feel that it is tacky to have “Tackiest Personality” as something to think about and actually vote for. What I like most about Montreal is that people are warmer and kinder than most other cities. Let’s keep it that way.

» Jaine D. Lennon

You guys forgot to mention that DJ Torus [#10 Best Club DJ] is the first girl hip hop DJ to be ranked in your Best of Montreal and is making a heat wave all over Montreal.

» DJ Torus

BOM corrections

The Bal en Blanc, #1 in the Best Rave/Party category, is organized by Playground Management and is not associated with the Bad Boy Club of Montreal. The title of Andrew Rose’s blog (#6 Best Blog, andrewrose.blogspot.com) should have read “The Mass is Secretly Obsessed With Nipple Dream.” DJ Static spells his name with a “c,” not a “k.”

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