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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-05-23, Page 4Page 4 May 23, 2007 • The Huron Expositor Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO Keeping a weather eye prudent during tornado season At least one funnel cloud touched down north of Seaforth last Tuesday during a storm that lasted only minutes but created a significant amount of damage. And while throughout the region, barns and stor- age sheds were flattened, huge trees were snapped off or pulled by their roots from the ground and debris was spread throughout the countryside, we can all be thankful that no one was injured or made homeless by the storm. Environment Canada warning preparedness meteorologist Geoff Coulson says that while the F1 tornado confirmed to have passed through the area is at the low end of the Fujita scale measuring tor- nadoes, its 120 to 180 km/h winds are still extreme- ly dangerous. He says the weather wcgs of severe weather are meant to be taken seriously since anyone who has not taken shelter when objects are flying around in severe wind or golf ball -sized hail is falling is placing themselves m harm's way. During the past several years, it seems we have become part of the "tornado alley" in Southwestern Ontario. And, that means we need to increase our aware- ness of tornadoes, what they can do and how to pro- tect ourselves and our family during such severe weather events. One of the more comforting facts about tornadoes is that the odds of dying from a tornado are 12 mil- lion to one. However, damages from tornadoes range upwards to tens of millions of dollars each year. Usually occurring during the afternoon or early evening hours tornadoes are most common during the months of hours, to September. Most tornadoes look like a violently twisting fun- nel cloud, but some may look more like a large, low- lying cloud, a large ram shaft or even smoke from a fire. The shape can change before your eyes, warns Environment Canada. The best way to protect yourself is to find shelter away from windows, doors and exterior walls. If you're outside, find a ditch to lie in and resist the urge to stay inside your vehicle or trailer since they can be lifted by the tornado. As scientists warn that more severe weather will become the norm as global warming becomes reali- ty, it's wise to keep a weather eye to the skies when you've heard the Environment Canada weather warnings. Susan Hundertmark Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com OUEBECOfi MEDIA Canada WM MEDIA 'We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." L •.40 40 ' It's not ean answer during the information age We are supposed to be living in the information age. Computers are becom- ing faster and more sophisticated every day, hooking us up to anyone worldwide with the inter - net. Everyone is babbling into cellphones every- where you go - even if it's just to seek an opin- ion on what scent of deodorant or what brand of soup to buy at the grocery store. And, fancy gadgets like blackberries allow us to "text" our friends and workmates - often at the same time we're supposed to be focussing on something else - instead of hav- ing an old-fashioned conversation. And yet, when it comes to getting basic, meaningful information out of anyone - espe- cially if that person works for government - I'd say we're more accurately living in the age of bafflegab and suffocating information con- trol. There was a time not so long ago that while researching a story, you could call a govern- ment employee at the provincial and federal level to get information or even - gasp - an opinion, about an issue and receive it during the course of the conversation. But, the process involved in gaining the most basic information from government today is far more convoluted and frankly, exhausting. It's pretty typical today that the initial your questions. What seems to be lost in the process is the idea that good interviews are conversations, with one question leading to the next in a spontaneous fashion. Heaven help you if you ask a question dur- ing the interview that has not been pre - approved - then it's back to the drawing board with another series of approvals and phone calls. Often so much of the life has been choked out of the conversation by the approval process that you find you've spent three days of phone tag to receive the barest bones of information - something that could have been gathered in five minutes during the initial contact - if wily any kind of sharing had been allowed. What's most galling is when a government official calls to make a request for coverage and then expects you to jump through the various hoops to gain information you weren't even looking for in the first place. request for information is only the beginning of a long process of writing out ques- tions, having them and their answers approved, receiving phone calls from intermedi- aries setting up appoint- ments for interviews and then finally, getting to speak to a real person who may or may not be able to answer See NO, Page 6 Ron &e All right children, It's time to turn in your history homework assignments. Oh come on now. You " This is a thinly veiled didn't really expect us attempt to twist history to waste our time with to suit your agenda of that ridiculous 'make mind control over the work' exercise did you? Youth of the nation. by David Lacey Another detention? It's not a detention I'm a political prisoner. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 36.18 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS; - 34.17 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. Foreign: 36.18 a year in advance, plus $181.48 postage, G.S.T. exempt U.S.A.: 36.18 a year in advance, plus $92.56 postage, G.S.T. exempt Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occu- pied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. 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