BOM psychology

Regarding your Best of Montreal issue [May 8]: research has found that when people are asked to remember something that they don't know anything about, they fall back on whatever information that comes most readily to mind. In psychology we call this the "availability heuristic" and I think it accounts for a number of BOM choices. For example, Harvey's pick as best hamburgers likely reflects the influence of heavy advertising.

In any case, I think many of the BOM results show the value of informed critics.

David Aboussafy - PhD student, McGill psychology

Comedian by choice

Re: Gaëtan Charlebois' article on the On The Spot improv troupe ["The Seven Year Itch," May 8]: First of all, thank you for taking the time to write such a positive profile. I also appreciate the fact that we didn't have to buy you drinks and give you money to get the article. I have respected your critiques for many years now and I hope you can appreciate the fact that I have a criticism for you.

As you provided background information on troupe members, you stated correctly that John Moore is on Mix 96, Robert Higden was in Love and Human Remains, Terence Bowman is in Radio Free Vestibule and Scott Faulconbridge is an up-and-comer in stand-up comedy. However, I was shocked, horrified and reduced to an enraged activist when I saw that my big achievement, according to you, was--and I quote--"Peacock's wife."

Yes, it's true that Simon Peacock, the new artistic director of On The Spot, is my husband. However, I was an On The Spot member long before Simon lived here.

I felt the identity of "wife" was used too casually in this article. We are individual artists, Simon and I. This is why I have kept my own last name. I love and respect my husband and feel that he is an essential On The Spot member because of his talent. I am also a member because I am a skilled improviser. I don't want people to assume, even for a second, that I am an On The Spot member because I am Simon Peacock's wife. I have earned my reputation with the same hell-gig sweat as the rest of the gang.

The hardest and most heartbreaking part of my life as an On The Spot player is when people assume I am only there because I am a woman or, in your case, because I'm married to the artistic director. If this were the case, believe me, I wouldn't have lasted this long.

Jennifer Peacock

Charest's credibility

In response to a letter last week on the issue of Jean Charest's credibility ["A skeleton in Charest's closet," (e)Mail, May 8]. Yeah, he does have credibility. That's why more Quebecers like him more than any other federal leader. That's why time and time again major newspapers pick him as the best leader for Canada. That's why more than 90 per cent of the people in his party endorse his leadership, more than any other party leader.

If credibility isn't being respected, trusted and supported by more people than any other political leader, than what is?

Bryan Cook - Concordia PC Youth

Gonzo debate

I am presently listening to the "debate" on radio and watching it on the boob. The signal between the two is off by about three-quarters of a second on CFCF, and just a smidgen off on CBC. Needless to say, it makes for the most interesting viewing even I've ever experienced: digital delay debate! It's like watching the party leaders verbally duke it out on acid!

I swear to (insert deity here), it is the scariest thing I've seen or heard since that shitty white lightning I did in '71. Echo... echo... echo... by those insidious talking heads... ahhhhh... hit me up with the Valium!! And now I'm listening to "Rage" and it's getting worse... Call 911!!!

Joey Kowalski

Main St. revisited

Just came from Main Street Verdun. May Day, 1997. Wellington Street, where panhandlers panhandle panhandlers. Where half the stores are closed and the other half sell second-hand junk. Where the unemployed roam the street and hang out in Harvey's and Dunkin' Donuts. And whence our local playwright, David Fennario, gets material for his plays.

We have an MP. Never see him around except for photo ops. Write to him. He does not answer. Seldom seen in Parliament. What does he do there? His paid staff answer the phone on his behalf. Like Pat Capponi said in her article two weeks ago ["Main Street my ass," May 1], will Wall Street once again give it to us in the rear end? Ask Raymond Lavigne, M.P. for Verdun/St-Henri. Either that or keep believing in the tooth fairy.

John C. Underwood

Corrections

Last week's Best of Montreal issue, under the categories Best Late Night Eats and Best Breakfast, included an incorrect address for Picasso restaurant. The correct address is 6810 St-Jacques W., phone 484-2832. The Picasso on St-Jacques is open 24 hours; the Picasso on Ste-Catherine is open until 4 a.m. weekends.

Also, for the winner in the category Best Souvlaki, our listing mistakenly omitted the address of Arahova restaurant in Laval at 3925 St-Martin W., phone 688-3535.

And while Rock en Stock was voted by our readers as a winner in the Best Used Record Store category, we failed to mention that Rock en Stock sell new records only.

The Mirror apologizes to both the winners and our readers for any inconvenience these errors may have caused.