HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-10-09, Page 5THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2002. PAGE 5.
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Look up ... 'way up
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don't know how far ahead you book events
in your date calendar, but if I were you, I
wouldn't bother filling • in any
appointments beyond Feb. 1, 2019.
Because that's the day the world ends. At
11:47 a.m. Eastern Standard time, to be
precise.
I know. 1 know — you're full of questions —
why so sudden; why weren't you told earlier;
how will this effect your RRSPs.
Relax. Uncle Artie will explain all.
It's all the fault of a large chunk of rock that
goes by the folksy moniker of 2002NT7. It's a
rogue asteroid orbiting our sun once every 837
days. It is about the size of a small Prairie
town.
At 11:47 on the morning of Feb. 1, just 17
years from now, calculations indicate that
NT7, as ' it is familiarly known, should be
crashing through the earth's atmosphere at a
speed of , 18 miles a second. Depending on
where it hits, it could create the greatest tidal
wave of all time, or wipe out a continent,
throwing up enough dust to block the light.of
the sun for several months or even years.
And that doesn't just mean lousy tans for
beachgoers — the world's food supply will be
drastically affected. Crops will fail; trees and
plants will wither and die. Nuclear winter will
be upon us.
The last time this happened the earth was
populated by dinosaurs. One day a couple of
old Bronties looked up from their salad
brunches and noticed a speck in the sky that
seemed to be getting bigger.
That particular asteroid was about the size of
Saskatoon. It smashed into the earth just off
you can't get on a
days for politicians
do a lot more than
hole.
One recent afternoon both Progressive
Conservative Premier Ernie Eves and Liberal
leader Dalton McGuinty were swinging away
in tournaments — Eves at Milton and McGuinty
at Kleinburg.
A few days later the premier was away from
the legislature playing with hockey stars. The
opposing leaders seemed to .spend half the
summer flailing away in golf tournaments.
Eves has started an annual golf tournament
in memory of his son, killed in a car crash,
which raises money to 'help young people, a
worthy cause.
It is much the same elsewhere. The federal
Liberal caucus finally emerged as being in
favour of pushing out Prime Minister Jean
Chretien in favour of Paul Martin over golf at
an out-of-town retreat.
When former Newfoundland premier Brian
Tobin asked Chretien recently to avoid
recriminations that would hurt their federal
party, their talking was done — where else? —
on a golf course.
U.S. business leaders, shepherded by former
president George Bush, were invited to New
Brunswick to negotiate about investing there
over golf, and ex-premier Frank McKenna
explained he matched up the foursomes so
they would be most likely to develop into
business partnerships.
McKenna haspointed to one special benefit
politicians derive from golf. and there are
many.
They get some enjoyment and relaxation as
they devote their talents to trying to hit a ball
into a tiny hole. It takes them away from the _ . everyday cares of their offices.
They get some exercise, although not a lot,
about equivalent to a slow walk in the open air.
Golfing itself is not going to get the heart
the Yucatan peninsula and wiped out nearly 70
per cent of all living species on the planet,
including the dinosaurs.
Don't remember the fireworks? No surprise.
It happened 65 millions years ago.
Yet we've been bombarded from space,
constantly, before and since. It's funny how
little attention we pay to stuff falling on us
from outer space — considering we get about
200 tones of celestial debris every day.
Granted, most of it is just dust, galactic ice
and tiny meteorites too small 'to even register,
but every once in a while a lustier intergalactic
gatecrasher barges in.
Scientists estimate that every century .or so,
the earth takes a hit from an asteroid about the
size of a backyard swimming pool.
And approximately every 300,000 years we
play host to an asteroid the size of, oh, say
2002NT7.
The bad news is: we're overdue.
The good news is: it almost certainly won't
happen on Feb. 1, 2019. It looks at the
moment, as if NT7 could be on a collision
course with planet earth, but that's the case
with dozens of potentially dangerous asteroids
every year. As astronomers re-plot the orbits
and refine their calculations, the odds against a
pumping.
It is a sport middle=aged men with paunches,
which means most politicians, can play. It does
not require as much energy as jogging or even
brisk walking, more commonly recommended
for fitness.
It stamps those who do it to some degree as
good sports, which is how politicians prefer to
be seen rather than as studious intellectuals a
little out of touch with the real world.
Politicians golfing can look human, average
guys, not aloof or stuffed shirts, and doing
what many people do.
Politicians can play golf for charities,-which
gives them satisfaction, and get some respect
for it, because media are more inclined to show
pictures of them golfing than sitting in the
legislature.
Politicians have found they can raise money
from their party members by playing golf,
because many would rather play with them in
the open than sit inside listening to speeches.
They can spend time playing and socializing
with big busineSs tycoons, many of whom have
taken up golf, and the Tories and Liberals are
particularly eager to get all the support and
cash from big business they can.
Golf also is the sport of the baby boomers
Final Thought
Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.
— William Shakespeare
head-on smackdown begin to lengthen.
Doctor Benjamin Peiser of John Moores
University in Liverpool, studies asteroids for a
living. He has declared NT7 a mere flash in the
pan. "In all likelihood, in a couple of months
additional observations will eliminate (NT7)
from the list of potential impacts" he says. "I
am very confident that ... it is actually not on
a collision course with Earth."
Which is good to know, for those of us who
plan to be around 17 years from now.
Still, if not then — when? And how much
warning will we have?
After all, these experts didn't even know that
NT7 existed just a few short weeks ago. YOu
have to wonder what else is lurking out there
that they haven't noticed yet.
Such as 2002Everclear.
This is a giant gas cloud currently bumping
around in the Aquila constellation and
identified by three British astronomers just last
year.
How giant? Would you believe 1,000 times
larger than our own solar system?
That's the big news. The even bigger news
is: scientists have determined that this
humongous gas Cloud consists entirely of ethyl
alcohol.
Enough ethyl alcohol that, were it bottled,
they say, would result in 400 trillion, trillion
pints of beer.
Why, that's enough to fuel three, even four
Grey Cup weekends.
I hate to be a fatalist, but if we have to be hit
by something from outer space, I know which
intruder I'd choose.
Forget Armageddon — it's Miller Time.
now reaching or at middle age, who vote and
generally have money they can donate and are
about the most powerful group . jn winning
elections.
A premier or party leader does himself a big
favour if he can get them to equate with him.
The mania for golf has now left other sports
far behind as the favourite of politicians. A few
years ago Tory premiers John Robarts and
William Davis, and attorney general now chief
justice Roy McMurtry liked to woo the jock
vote by letting it be known they were
university football heroes, and they had
injuries proving it
Liberal premier David Peterson was happy
to remind he had been a useful university
boxer, but fewer of today's politicians have
participated in such physical sports, which are
less popular.
Horse racing is called the sport of kings, but
golf has now emerged as the sport most suited
to politicians.
Those aspiring to get to the top in politics
should research their facts, polish their oratory,
brush up their French and practise their golf
swings.
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S A Bonnie
Gropp
The short of it
Another year awaits
I t's the time of year for birthdays around
our house. From the end of September to
the end of the year we celebrate not one.
not two, but seven special days at ouri holm
While many people think of New Year's as
the time for rumination and reminiscing it is
now, with birthdays serving as constant
reminders that 12 months has passed, when I
find myself reflecting on what has happened
since we were a year younger.
And taking the time for some retrospection,
I couldn't help noticing, it's been an
interesting year in our household. Over the
course of 365 days there has been a great deal
of change. The status quo has not remained on
any level.
When I think of our children, September
2001-2002 has been a time of growth and
movement. All four have changed their living
spaces, two to different cities, two to different
areas of the 'same city. One has changed jobs,
one has begun college.
For their parents, most significantly we find
ourselves on our own. In such a short time, I
have gone from anticipating the days of less
laundry, easier meals, bedrooms that stay
clean and fewer groceries to buy, to the reality.
(This might the be time to note that
ironically it seems four kids out of the house.
does not necessarily mean any more money in
the bank, however. )
Personally as well it has, been a huge year. I
have recognized that I am no longer 25, though
there is still an on-going debate with my mind
on this one. I have had to recognize the
changes that have come into my life and do
what I can to become comfortable with them.
I have learned to spoil myself, to take some
time for me.
I got a haircut, joined a gym and took golf
lessons, all ideas I've had for 20 years.
New friendships have been made, old one:,
strengthened and enjoyed.
But what really comes to mind when I think
about the past 12 months is how quickly a year
passes, yet it can bring so much change. We
can see ourselves one way today, and know
that we can never be certain we will look the
same when the last page of the calendar is
flipped. We can meet someone, lose someone.
There can be surprises in store for us
physically, mentally and emotionally.
Everyone has, at some time or another,
endured a rough walk through life. There's a
mishap, a *stumble, then you regain your
footing, only to trip and fall. A kick from an
enemy, you roll and tumble.. A moment to
revive yourself is followed by dismal rain, fog
then thunderstorms. You are thwarted by rough
terrain, obstacles and predators. ,
Then, when you finally think you can stand
no more, the sky clears, the path smooths and
you are strengthened by new insight and
wisdom. Difficulties eventually led you to the
better path.
And though it might not feel it at the time, it
can happen so quickly. And to such extremes.
My year .has been good. but had anyone
suggested, how things were going to be now. I
would have been somewhat skeptical. _
This year has not been without its
challenges, but as I look back to how far 1 have
travelled, how far my family has travelled, the
many changes we have experienced, it has
been an incredible time..New adventures have
begun, new opportunities await.
golf course these
who are trying to
knock a ball in a
About why politicians like golf