Letters for December 18, 2003

Before the last election, a classmate and I discussed it and found that we disagreed on the candidate and the issues. He said, “I will have to nullify your vote.” WRONG.

In these United States, the only qualified voter who can nullify anybody’s vote is he or she who refuses to vote. In that case, the vote nullified is his or her own.

Beth Miramon
Reno

A matter of opinion
Re “Bad to the bone” [RN&R, Foodfinds, Dec. 4]:

First the disclaimer: Braza Grill has been featured on the Best of Reno Dining show, an advertising vehicle I produce.

A couple of years ago, my wife and I visited RumJungle at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and enjoyed the Brazilian steak house experience. It was fantastic. We have been back several times. Then last year with our family, we visited a Brazilian steak house in Temecula and had the same terrific experience.

We were very excited that Pang Bai, a noted local restaurateur, had hired Vanderlei Oliverira, a Brazilian native, to open Braza Grill on South Virginia Street. Reno’s first Brazilian steak house.

I have eaten there five times with friends and family and thoroughly enjoyed the endless parade of fresh grilled meats on skewers, carved at the table, including bacon wrapped turkey, Brazilian sausage made from a special recipe by The Sausage Factory. Oh, those marinated meats. You have to try them all. They are on the menu as the Rodizio Grill. Braza Grill is a meat eaters’ paradise.

Howard Rosenberg once told me, after he had slammed a movie I wanted to see, that the point of a review was to give his opinion. Then the public should go see the movie and talk about it. That was where he had the most fun. So go visit Braza Grill for yourself and see if you agree or disagree.

Oh, and no, I’m not being paid to write this letter.

Sam Shad
via e-mail

Art or pornography?
Re “Body art” [RN&R, Art of the State, Sept. 18]:

Thank you for your publication. The thought and effort put into your publication truly makes it a work of art and a valuable read to the community. And, because your publication is so strong in both content and graphic design, you surely have captured a wide audience, including young adults and even children. As a result, why associate your literature with the pornography? I am referring to a recent issue where you published an image of a woman, completely naked, in full frontal view. Sure, some may call it art, but that’s another discussion. My point is simply that your publication has risen far above the need to use nudity as a tool to increase readership, especially when our world is already inundated with trashy media.

Please, continue to rise above the rest. You have a wonderful opportunity to be a very positive force in the shaping of our future leaders.

Mark Weber
South Lake Tahoe

Editor’s note: It would be antagonistic to no real purpose to reprint the photo and take up the question of pornography vs. art, but for those who want to decide for themselves, click on the link above.

Genetic testing is not for everyone

Re “Finding Normal” [RN&R, Cover story, Oct. 30]:

The decisions surrounding a diagnosis of breast cancer are more difficult, and there is less follow-up data regarding various treatment options, if breast cancer is attributable to an identified genetic mutation. If pre-menopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer (any age), or a family history of breast, ovarian, and/or sometimes other cancers suggests hereditary cancer, cancer-risk assessment by a genetics professional is suggested. Cancer is rarely hereditary, but genetic testing may be available for a “hereditary” cancer. Women who have hereditary breast cancer are at increased risk for a second breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Men, too, can carry a mutated hereditary breast cancer gene, develop breast cancer, consider prophylactic mastectomies and can pass the mutated gene to their offspring, who then have an increased risk for cancer.

Genetic testing is not for everyone. Cancer risk assessment involves a discussion of the basic principles of hereditary cancer susceptibility, assessment of an individual’s risk of hereditary cancer (breast or other hereditary cancer), discussion of available genetic testing, and discussion of the risks, benefits, and limitations of genetic testing. We can’t change our genetic information, but knowledge about our genetic information is empowering.

Robbin Palmer
Reno