Hang the Hays

It's about time! I believe the new regulations do alienate smokers and I hope that they will encourage them to quit ["No ifs, ands or butts," Dec. 9]. As an ex-smoker, I understand the "social nature" of smoking and I must admit that I miss it at times. But honestly, I really feel poisoned by second-hand smoke, it literally makes many people sick to their stomachs and I feel it should be banned indoors completely or separate rooms should be made for smokers.
This is in regards to Matthew Hays' article ["Hang the DJ," Dec. 23]: what you know about DJing and music, my insecure little friend, couldn't fill a thimble.

The proliferation of DJs in local cafes and restaurants like Santropol is a good thing. There are DJs who like to spin something beyond the latest Crapcore techno. These are some of the only venues they have to really play around with sound--where they can mix offbeat, obscure jazz with d&b or anything, and usually not have to deal with dipshits like you griping about it. Santropol is one of the few places supporting creative and progressive spinsters.

And, yes, most of them are affiliated with labels: Ninja Tune, Interchill and Alien 8 are some of the best, funkiest and most innovative electronica labels in North America.

And you can bet there will be yet more DJs to come. They'll be showing up everywhere in cafes, tearooms, restaurants. I tell you, it's far nicer and easier to eat, have earnest conversation or whatever, with someone dropping chill, atmospheric beats on wax than to be forced to listen to some wheezing fuckwit in the corner playing Neil Young covers.

Most of the employees, management and clients at these new venues really enjoy the DJ thing. Unfortunately, the local scene, which should be supported, gets trashed and misrepresented by bitter, brainless writers in this overgrown club flyer you call a paper. Way to diss your local talent while sticking a crappy American house DJ on the cover.

--Doug Campbell

Men of cloth

In response to Matthew Hays' complaints about the Paramount movie complex in his recent "Reeling" ["Asian invasion," Dec. 2]: that's entertainment.
I read with interest your article by Philip Preville on the new head of the Brewery Mission ["Controversial clergyman," Dec. 16]. I take exception to the idea in the article that the average pastor lives "hidden away," isolated with no "outside contact." Most of us serve the elderly, the poor and the broken, as well as, yes, serving spiritual needs.

While I admire maverick clergymen, it takes the guts of the "ordinary" man to go about doing good and decent deeds daily without fanfare. This person should not be ignored, forgotten or denigrated.

-Archpriest Anthony Gabriel, Pastor, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church

Mr. Ripley redux

Jonathan Goldstein's statement in his film review for The Talented Mr. Ripley, "Patricia Highsmith's novel has finally been brought to the big screen," is false ["Mr. Rip-Off's European vacation," Dec. 23]. It was finally brought to the big screen in 1959 by Rene Clement in a film titled Plein Soleil (Purple Noon) with Alain Delon and Maurice Ronet.

Paramount and Miramax have kept the link between these versions hush-hush (who knows why?), but any well-informed film critic would know such a thing and inform the public of it, don't you think? They might also note that the 1959 film version of Ms. Highsmith's novel was a huge inspiration for Roman Polanski's first film, Knife in the Water.

Is Mr. Goldstein one of the very well-educated, intellectual types who has no clue of what's going on?

--Peter Arzouian

Boys do cry

I read with interest the mention of Boys Don't Cry by Matthew Hays ["Who's on top," Dec. 30]. Readers familiar with the story of Brandon Teena know that he was subject to violence at the hands of his killers and indifference on the part of police officers who refused to take his complaints seriously prior to his murder. Like other transsexuals and transgendered people, Teena lived in a world with few resources or social services.

Readers may be interested to know about a community-based health care project for transsexuals and transgendered people. Action Sante: Travesti(e)s et Transsexuel(e)s du Quebec, project of CACTUS Montreal, offers weekly activities, orientation to health care, accompaniment to services, safe access to hormones and assistance in changing identity papers. We may be reached at 890-7015 (pager).

--Viviane Namaste, ASTT(e)Q coordinator

Correction

Regarding the dance article in our year-in-review issue ("Well weathered," Dec. 30), please note that the lighting designer for Jocelyne Montpetit's dance project was local talent Marc Parent, not Axel Morgenthaler.