NUKE AD IS MISLEADING

A recent Vermont Energy Partnership advertisement in Seven Days [February 25, March 4] overstates the carbon dioxide consequences of a future without the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. The full-page ad states, “Without Vermont Yankee, Vermont carbon dioxide emissions would likely increase by two million tons annually, or a 10,000 percent increase.” The two million is a reasonable number, but this is approximately a 29 percent increase, not 10,000 percent, in Vermont’s emissions. Apparently the Vermont Energy Partnership did not take into account other sources of carbon dioxide, notably residences and transportation, in its statewide baseline assumption.

Robert Herendeen

BURLINGTON

Herendeen is a retired scientist and a current fellow at the Gund Institute.

‘BI’ PARTISAN?

While reading the Seven Days sex survey [“Stimulus Package,” February 25], I was disturbed to read a sentence in the ninth paragraph that describes the demographics of those who had taken the survey: “...fewer people claimed ‘bisexual.’ Finally made up your minds, did you?” Whether or not this was meant to be a witty attempt at invoking a laugh, I found it rather offensive. Some may read this and assume that the writer of the article agrees with the notion that bisexuals are just confused in their orientation, and they haven’t yet made up their mind. Unfortunately, we do live in a binary society of either/or. In this case you are either gay or straight, and when the writer poses such a question, it confirms the prejudice that bisexuality is just a phase before a confirmation of one’s true orientation. Being gay or straight is accepted as something that is not a choice and instead a biological predisposition. Why should bisexuality be any different? For such a progressive paper, this statement seemed like a step back in time.

Ramona Porter

BURLINGTON

MORE MONTREAL

Wonderful article by Karen Kane [“Montréal, Je T’Aime,” February 11]. Will there be more by this writer? Given the economy, my husband and I are looking for travel options closer to home, and we have an interest in that area. We could use more articles about it.

Linda Lawson

CONCORD, N.H.

ANYTHING BUT “NU-METAL”

Is Dan Bolles really calling Working Man’s Army “nü-metal” [CD review, February 25]? Calling a band “nü-metal” is universally understood to be an insult. Even bands that technically are nü-metal don’t appreciate being called it. Nü-metal is a genre that includes bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit and P.O.D. They rely on down-tuned guitars, are often slow, discordant and repetitive, and usually don’t involve any actual singing or good musicianship. Quite simply, as the three bands I just listed demonstrate, nü-metal bands suck.

Working Man’s Army is composed of talented, accomplished musicians, and Ian has a great voice! My favorite part of your review is when you mention that the album “features a couple of acoustic numbers amid the din of nü-metal crunch.” Nü-metal crunch? We are talking about a band that defies categorization, an issue that you discuss within your review. It’s a huge injustice to Working Man’s Army to label them with this derogatory term, mainly because it is so ill-fitting. Really, it doesn’t matter what genre you decide to lump them into, as the music is strong enough to speak for itself. Just don’t call them nü-metal.

Seth Gundersen

BURLINGTON

CORRECTION: Dorothy Dahm’s February 25 story, “The Daily Bump and Grind,” stated that Ilene Blackman “saw the legendary Gypsy Rose Lee perform on Broadway.” In fact, she simply saw the first run of the musical Gypsy.