Re “Fringe best bets,” Cover, July 3: When this was published, the Fringe hadn’t begun yet. What exactly makes these your top 10 best bets? Isn’t this sort of like saying the kettle is hot without even testing if it is because last time you used it, it burned you?
KRAZY_ERIC (VIA EYEWEEKLY.COM)

The editors respond: Well, Krazy (can we call you Krazy? Krazy_eric seems so formal and, um, goofy) that’s why we call them “bets,” rather than, say, “certainties.” Like football handicappers, we use the information we have available, including past performances, to try to guess which shows are likely to be good. But in theatre, as at the casino, you pays your money and takes your chances. That’s why we review the shows after they’ve been performed, too (see page 40).

Dion’s poverty diet
Re “The Political Shift,” Editorial, July 3: As a publication that promotes itself as a champion of the poor and the underdog, your continued defence of Stéphane Dion’s carbon-tax proposal is utterly confusing. Case in point: how would a carbon tax not affect the price of food? This is an extremely important issue relating to lower-income families, because the poor spend a larger percentage of their money on food than any other income group. This reality becomes darker when the facts clearly reveal that food processing and distribution are the biggest source of greenhouse gases. The fact is, if this proposal comes into play, I do believe it will drastically increase the price of feeding a family. Instead of calling it a Green Shift, perhaps the term Swift Shift to a food bank would be more appropriate. DAVID MAHARAJ

Toronto sucks
Re “Declining Debate,” City, July 3: As this and many other reports show, Toronto is on its way to ruin. Every new resident the city adds worsens the problem as new property tax will not cover the new expenses. Provincial grants have increased faster than downloading expenses so the continual blame on them is false. GLEN (VIA EYEWEEKLY.COM)

the gospel according to Banksy
Re “Taggers,” The Devil is in the Details, July 3: Agreed. As Banksy would say, “The time of getting fame for your name on its own is over. Artwork that is only about wanting to be famous will never make you famous. Any fame is a by-product of making something that means something. You don’t go to a restaurant and order a meal because you want to have a shit.” I don’t mind the tags, actually, I want to know whose art it is — but be modest. TB (VIA EYEWEEKLY.COM)

SEND LETTERS TO LETTERS@EYEWEEKLY.COM OR 625 CHURCH ST, 6TH FL, TORONTO, M4Y 2G1. NAMES WITHHELD ON REQUEST, BUT NAME, ADDRESS AND DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER MUST BE INCLUDED. ALL LETTERS BECOME PROPERTY OF EYE WEEKLY FOR PURPOSES OF PUBLICATION IN PRINT, ONLINE OR IN ANY OTHER FORM.

Email us at: LETTERS@EYEWEEKLY.COM or send your questions to EYEWEEKLY.COM
625 Church St, 6th Floor, Toronto M4Y 2G1