Skinny Puppy is not dull

We at Ninja Tune would like to address a misquote in the Neotropic article published in the Nov. 5 issue of the Mirror ["Alone in a crowd"]. Unfortunately, Rupert Bottenberg misunderstood what was actually a self-effacing comment by Riz Maslen. Riz actually said that Nettwerk (Puppy's label) found her mix on Funkungfusion a little dull, and that it took some convincing by me, Philippa Klein, for them to select Maslen for the remix project.

Unfortunately, this comment emerged in the article as Riz calling Skinny Puppy "dull." Riz is a big fan of the group and was extremely upset, not only by the misquote, but by the barrage of threatening and obscene e-mail she received from angered Puppy fans. First, we would like to apologize to Nettwerk and any fans who thought that Riz was attacking Skinny Puppy. Secondly, we would also like to express our shock and disapproval to all those folks who sent disgusting, inappropriate and threatening e-mails to Riz. Even had this been her opinion, hate mail is reprehensible and hurt Riz very deeply. People get misquoted all the time, and we are sure there was no malicious intention on Rupert Bottenberg's part. What surprised us was the violent and threatening reaction by many of the Puppy fans, which is why we felt it so necessary to address this issue in print.

--Philippa Klein and Jeff Waye Ninja Tune

Bemoaning Boskey bashing

Bob White's letter of Nov. 19 ["Glad to see Boskey go"] concerning Sam Boskey's ineffectiveness as a city councillor because he cannot get a "tree removed or a pothole fixed" is the most superficial assessment of a city councillor that I have ever seen!

Where were the rest of Montreal's councillors and Mayor Bourque when Sam Boskey penned a letter supported by Rotrand, Applebaum, Searle and Melançon that called upon Le Tour de L'Ile de Montréal to raise $60 million (projection) for charity as does London's marathon? Not a single other councillor supported the initiative. Will Sonya Biddle?

As for as his hope that Marvin Rotrand be defeated in a future election, Mr. White is obviously against having people with intelligence and potential at Hôtel de Ville!

--Murray Levine

Anglo losers go home

How right you are, Kristian; you are a big-time loser ["Deathly departed," Nov. 19]. Moving away from your home town is a simple part of growing up. To call it "the cruelest part of living in Montreal" is simply absurd. You're starting to sound like an anglophone extremist who believes that the existence of English is threatened and will be one day soon wiped out. Why don't you start sending contributions to Howard Galganov?

Seriously, I can't imagine how you would whine if you lived in the Gaspé or any rural area of our country. Even if you were from Toronto, a place which you seem to think has streets paved with gold, you would find that your friends may one day strike out on their own and leave you behind.

The biggest joke is that you bemoan the loss of an Australian friend. Do you believe that your personality is so magnetic that no one who has met you should ever leave Montreal? Get a grip! What's sad is that you took a subject that could have been touching (the loss of cherished friends) and turned it into trite bullshit.

There is opportunity in Montreal, and people who cry wolf about an "anglo exodus" are doing a disservice to themselves, the community and to French-English cooperation and co-existence.

--Leoance White, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue

Clarification

In our Zamboni story ["Lord of the Rinks," Nov. 12] journalist Johnson Cummins jokingly referred to Zamboni's competitor Olympia as being "the Tab" of ice-cleaning machines. Not so, says Cary Miller, president of Leclair Equipment Ltd, the exclusive distributor of Olympia machines. Miller strenuously objected to Cummins' metaphor, pointing out that the Olympia is used "throughout the world." Furthermore, according to Molson Centre Zamboni driver Keith Tombs, who was profiled in the piece, the Olympia is indeed "a fine and worthy machine." We hope this clears up any ice-maintenance misunderstandings.

Sound Check '98

Corrections to the listing of local bands in last week's music directory should be sent to attention of Michel Thibodeau at the address or fax number below by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30. Corrections will be printed in the Dec. 3 issue.