HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-02-18, Page 7Opinion
Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - Page 7
Writer offers his fond farewell to Snug Harbour
Letter to the Editor,
After living in denial the past year
ignoring the rumors of Snug Harbour's
pending fate, myself and many other
residents of the marina decided the worst
case scenario would be to sacrifice a few
slips in order to share. the facility with
Letters
opinion
the Coast Guard cutter.
With little or no warning I read in the
Signal -Star that council has decided to
orphan 24 boaters to make way for com-
mercial and industrial expansion which
appears to be more lucrative than operat-
ing an aging municipal marina for a
handful of boaters.
It bothers me that there was no discus-
sion at an earlier date with the patrons of
Snug even after I g§ent a letter to Town
Hall asking to be included in any meet-
ings of interest dealing with Snug
Harbour and its future. Many of us have
called Snug Harbour home for several
decades and will find it difficult to re-
locate to another facility.
Neil Mckee
Goderich
A child could be perfect summer addition to homes
To the Editor;
Huron County for Children of Chernobyl
is looking for loving families to host a child
from Belarus in the summer of 2009.
Our charitable group was formed in 1998
for the purpose of bringing children here to
Canada for a respite visit. They are still suf-
fering from the effects of the Chernobyl
nuclear disaster in 1986. Their homeland is
affected by the toxic pollution —found in the
soil, plants, food, air and water. Our fresh
air and nutritious food helps to improve
their immune system and reverse the ill
effects of radioactive contaminants they are
exposed to on a daily basis. Our tender lov-
ing care gives them a reason to smile and a
fighting chance.
We fund raise as a group to cover all
travel expenses to bring the children to
Canada.
There are many benefits ,and rewards to
be gained from hosting a child and a won-
derful learning experience for our own chil-
dren. •
Host families may request a child, boy or
girl, who they think would be best suited to
fit in easily with their family life. Interested
Breathalyzer features same designs
To the Editor;
Everyday citizens are being falsely
charged and convicted due to a faulty
device termed, breathalyzer. There's a
hidden injustice behind this machine
which never calibrates true alcohol read-
ings in the blood. A well-known attorney,
Lawrence Tayler, states "this is a machine
to say the least unreliable."
The National Criminal Justice Service
in the US reports "the court granted a
state injunction prohibiting the use of the
model 900A. In Japan alcohol breath
detectors used by the national Police
Agency "even gave false readings for
people who had consumed absolutely no
alcohol."
An article titled, Tough and Lenient
DWI/DUI Judges, expresses that "Breath
tests of blood alcohol are really simply
estimates of BAC, which can only be
tested accurately by drawing a sample of
blood."
So why the use of breathalyzers nd not
blood samples? Because of the need for
expediency, not justice.
This device calculates approximate
readings only. These readings are easily
deviated from the truth because of a num-
ber of factors.
1. Temperature — "temperature is criti-
cal: if it is low the test result will be
falsely high" Can an officer influence the
result? Yes.
2. Frequencies: The model 900A is vul-
nerable to radio transmissions to produce
a false reading. RFIs are constant at the
station.
3. Ethyl and methyl: Prof. D. J. Hanson,
PhD says, "alcohol breath detectors give
off false readings." Any methyl or ethyl
compounds will register whether it is in
your Iungs or mouth. Some common
products which contain ethyl or methyl
are paints, varnishes, stains, gasoline,
solvents, thinners etc. Breathing these
can convict you.
4. Neglects health: A diabetic or some-
one on a low -carbohydrate diet scientifi-
cally proven, will give high false read-
ings. In Ontario alone there are one mil-
lion diabetics. A medical article explained,
"a diabetic may show symptoms of some-
one who has been drinking."
5. Hidden deviation: an error of +10 or
-10 mg/ 100m1 for the purpose of conve-
nience is allowed in the calibration of the
machine.
6. 0.04 per cent range of error: The two
sequential tests taken at the station must
read within .02 per cent of each other.
7. Partition ratio: It doesn't calibrate
your physical partition ratio. Medically
stated an individual's ration is between
1100-1 to 3500-1 and higher. The instru-
ment uses a convenient partition ratio of
2100-1 with everybody for calculations.
8. Chemical inconsistency: it must con -
tain, "exactly the correct amount of
chemical solution: too little and the result
will be falsely high." A technician must
measure millimeters of potassium dichro-
mate 0.025, silver nitrate 0.025, sulfuric
acid 50 per cent by volume and the cor-
rect addition of distilled water.
9. No recognitive ability: It doesn't
recognize the location of ethyl or methyl
in your body. If you have: a) an upset
stomach and disgorge, b) if you burp, c)
if you have a heartburn condition, d) if
you have hiatal hernia, etc. It samples
compounds from your alveolar cavity not
your lungs.
10. Unreliability: the manufacturer
families may apply for the program by call-
ing Lynn Dawe at 519-527-2060 before
February 24.
Sincerely,
Lynn Dawe
Chairperson
Huron County for
Children of Chernobyl
since 1954
admits to corrosion and deterioration of
parts. It can trap ethyl and methyl to
influence false readings. There's not a
100 per cent warranty for sampling the
exact alcochol in the blood nor warranty
of "fitness for a particular purpose." The
instrument has had the same design since
1954. If you go to Halton -Toronto our
instruments are in their -museum.
Should such instruments not be locked
behind bars for destroying the lives of the
innocently convicted?
Del Almeida
Goderich
A letter -writer's correction
To the Editor, •
I am somewhat abashed to report that
a customer informed me yesterday there
is a third arboretum of the same calibre
as Ottawa and Guelph, part of the Royal
Botanical Gardens in the Burlington/Ham-
ilton area. There are,. of course, smaller
arboreta as part of botanical gardens in
places like Toronto, London, Barrie, Sud-
bury, etc. and unfortunately my wording
made it sound like these don't exist; they
do. However, I know of only three
(now) that are of the scope which we could
create here in Goderich (with our existing
trail system) that would also be the only
one on the west coast of Ontario.
I apologize for my misinformation.
Christine Ferguson
Goderich
Its a cold fro';, y walk-
ing
Y S
ng down a country r ad. The
beauty in nature I behold. The ice
on the trees, shinning like dia-
monds in the sun. My thoughts go
back to when I was young. We
made our own fun. We made snow
forts, snowmen together. We didn't
err about the weather. Angels
in the snow, tobogganing down
hills. We had thrills and spills. My
friends skated on the pond.
The ic" as smooth as glass.
We learned how to stick handle
and pass. Gosh! We had fun in the
snow and winter. It brought us
close together. The memories of
those days go on and on. Our out-
door rink was the pond. We didn't
have to win, we didn't keep score.
Our outdoor rink was much more,.
It was a place where we skated for
miles, it brought laughter and
smiles. f cherish there moments in
the wintertime. These thoughts of
fun in winter on a stormy day. The
winter blues quickly go away.
'Bob -Raper
;F.XAS�/n