HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-09-23, Page 7Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - Page 7
Opinion
Mistake to discontinue hands-on personnel
To the Editor;
I am very much concerned about the
elimination of the educated and experi-
enced nursing staff that examines the pa-
tients as she/he goes for a mammogram.
This professional person not only is an
expert in examination of the breast, she
teaches the patient about breast abnor-
malities, what to watch for and who to
notify if something is noticed.
We all know the family doctor does
not do this teaching, nor does he exam-
ine the breast as thorough at the times
ie: the annual physical examination, as
Letters
opin►O„l
he has many things to deal with. Not all
women will visit their doctor on a regu-
lar basis, however they will go for their
mammogram. Those people who do not
have a family doctor are now even more
at risk.
A digital mammogram is 15 minutes
away from where I live, however I drive
an hour to go where there is nursing staff
so I can be examined properly. Is this the
trend?
Of course, it boils down to money.
A Job Connect well done
To the Editor;
It was a pleasure to read the article
focused on the Summer Job Service pro-
gram available through Conestoga
College, Stratford Campus. This
Employment Ontario funded program is
quite a successful province wide program
available to students between the ages of
15-30.
As articulated in the article "Chamber
of Commerce's First Summer Student A
Huge Success," the program focuses on
building relevant workplace skills through
summer employment. We are delighted
the student, Stephanie Taylor had such a
positive experience with her summer
employment and gained valuable skills to
augment her education and future career
goals as a Medical Office Administrator.
We like to extend our appreciation to
employers such as the Goderich Chamber
of Commerce for participating in this
worthwhile program.
This past summer 137 employers par-
ticipated throughout Perth and Huron
County providing employment to over
300 students. Interested employers or
students can contact Job Connect at
1-800-463-0796 for further information
and to ensure participation/registration
for the summer 2010. Employer registra-
tion begins in early spring, space is lim-
ited so please register early.
• Sincerely
Jennifer Gibson
Summer Jobs Service Program
Conestoga College
Should we not be concerned about pre-
vention as well as the cure'.'
I feel this is an extreme mistake we are
making to discontinue these `hands-on
personnel.'
They tell us that breast cancer is one of
the main causes of cancer death in On-
tario. We all know someone who has had
the mammogram that was negative, yet
had cancer.
Sometimes young women, or those
with very dense breasts, are difficult to
be accurate. I have a niece, 36 years -
old, who has cancer of the breast and her
mammogram was negative.
Sincerely,
A worried patient
Janice Kieswetter-Ellah
Bayfield
Girls still guiding in Goderich
To the Editor;
We are writing with the hope that
your daughters continue to have happy
memories of the time they spent in
Guiding.
Maybe they remember campfires and
singing songs, like "There ain't no flies
on us." Maybe they liked making crafts
in the church basement and still have
their clothespin witch or beaded frog.
Maybe they remember playing with
Ladders with the other Brownies or
running around the Toadstool.
Whatever those memories are, we
want you to know that guiding contin-
ues to be present in Goderich and that
girls continue to enjoy these activities.
One reason that we have been able to
continue is the ongoing support from
Knox Presbyterian Church as they host
the girls in the church hall.
To thank them for their many years of
support, the current crop of Brownies,
Guides and Sparks are hosting a spa-
ghetti dinner in the church hall on
Friday, Oct. 9.
All proceeds will be donated to Knox
Church in appreciation of their support.
Please come out and join us for deli-
cious meal -and if you are lucky, maybe
we can sing a few campfire songs for
old times sake! Black Socks, they never
get dirty...
Deb Bell
Goderich Girl Guides,
Sparks, and Brownies
The 'Idiot Disclaimer Form' —It's time
A record number of drownings this summer
has police clamoring for a life jacket law.
As a strong swimmer and an experienced
paddler, I do not want to wear a life jacket
when I'm canoeing. My life jacket is right
there at the ready, cushioning my knees. A law
would mean I too will be subject to fine for not
wearing a life jacket. We will all be confronted
with unnecessary educational programs and
inconvenienced because of the recklessness of
a few. Ultimately, there will be a license to
operate a non -motorized boat , along with a
fee.
We don't need a life jacket law. What we
need is an "Idiot Disclaimer Form." It goes
like this ...
"So you got a belly full of beer and you
think it's a good idea to take this boat into the
dark of night, rowing nowhere in particular
without a life jacket, just to impress the people
at the party?"
"Yeah, cool."
"Okay, just sign this "IDE" It confinns that
you're an idiot and any rescue, ambulance or
hospital expenses you incur will be paid out of
your estate. Have a great trip and I love the
way you opened that beer bottle with your
teeth.
We don't need any more laws. We're
already lawyered to death. What we need is an
on -the -spot confessional that absolves the rest
of us from the fallout of a truly idiotic act.
In Anchorage, Alaska a man walked into a
bank last week and asked to see his account.
He provided the teller with correct details of
his account and upon request, pro- was arrested and failed three sobriety because her car was undamaged. Nobody
duced proper photo ID. Then he passed tests. Then he pulled out his "get -out- drives aimlessly around Toronto without being
the teller a note that read: "Give me all of -jail -free" explanation. He had not rear-ended. If Marcia had been an astronaut
the money in the till. I got a gun." been drinking as the cops suspected. `and made the cross-country trip wearing
"No problem sir. Here's $2,500 in
small, unmarked bills. Just sign here."
"A receipt?"
"No, it's an "IDF." It confirms your
home address as well as the fact that
you're an idiot. That way, we don't
have to set off the alarm, lock down
the bank and scare all our customers. The
police will come to your home tomorrow
between eight and noon:'
All the IAxld's
A Circus...
"And you should smile and take off your
hat. For sure this surveillance tape is going to
make the head office highlight reel. Next?"
In Montgomery County, Ohio, after Stanley
Wright stuffed $400 worth of clothing under
his shirt, he filled out a job application before
leaving the store. Police confirmed that all
details — name, phone number and address —
checked out, when they went to his home to
arrest him.
"Sign here, Stanley"
"Not that 'I'm an idiot form'"
"No, it's a two-year employment contract
with health benefits. We came to tell you that
you got the job!"
"Really?."
"No, you're an idiot and your ass looks
humongous in those plaid pants!"
After Jonathan Sweat crashed his SUV into
the Florida State Attorney's headquarters he
He had been smoking marijuana. So
there!
"Sign here, Jonathan."
"If that's the idiot form, I'm not
signing."
"No, it's an order form for Domino's
Pizza. You sign for the large pie and
I'll check off the toppings."
Last week Marcia Simmons of Noonan,
New Brunswick claimed she was carjacked at
a nearby campground and forced to drive her
tattooed captor all the way to Toronto, without
getting out of the car.
After being forced to drive aimlessly around
Toronto for three hours, the 44 -year-old
woman said she was released unharmed. Back
home, her family was in full panic mode.
In Toronto police began an intense manhunt
logging "hundreds and hundreds of hours."
Friends and family raised money for her return
to New Bninswick. Yesterday, she confessed
that she'd made the whole thing up. She just
drove to Toronto for reasons unknown.
"Okay, Marcia, just sign this "IDF' sheet."
"That's not the `I am an idiot' disclaimer, is
it?"
"No, it's an expense form, we're going to
pay you mileage and meal money for your trip
to Toronto. We all thought it was very enter-
taining."
Police became suspicious of her story
Depends, this unfortunate incident would
have ended in a movie deal.
"Ah, Prime Minister Harper, that Canadian
woman, Suaad Hagi Mohamud, the woman
your Border Services people labeled an impos-
ter because she didn't look like her passport
photo, the woman who spent 86 days in jail in
Nairobi, Kenya because your government
ordered her arrested ... yeah, that woman. The
innocent one.
Your government's incompetence and para-
noia are going to cost Canadian taxpayers
around four million dollars in a settlement.
Right?"
"More, because we'll probably fight it."
"Okay, sign here. It's a ...."
"I'm quite familiar with the "IDE" They
come across my desk almost every day."
"And what did you learn from -this deba-
cle?"
"Well, Canadians traveling abroad must be
very, very careful?'
"Actually, you better sign a second "IDF."
And Mr. Prime Minister, in the future, you
might keep in mind that nobody looks like
their passport photo "
"Good point."
"Sir, is that Tim Horton's party pack all for
you?"