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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1984-01-18, Page 4Times -Advocate, January 18, 1984 PINIPMENIMMINIMIM • Imes - drvocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by 1.W. Eedy Publications Limited Times Established 18.73 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 IORNE EEDY Publisher JIM BECKETT Advertising Manager BILL BATTEN ROSS HAUGH Editor Assistant Editor HARRY DEVRIES Composition Manager DICK )IONGKIND Business Manager Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada: $22.00 Per year; U.S.A. $60.00 C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS 'A' and 'ABC' Times have changed After last winter's respite from the task of shovell- ing snow, area residents have been making up for the lost time this season. While some are already wondering where to dump the next load, they should be reminded that the huge banks bring along some potential hazards as well. Motorists have more difficulty spotting oncoming traffic as they approach concession intersections or drive out of laneways, and with braking distance ex- tended on icy orsnow-packed surfaces, a reduction in speed and an increase in alertness is required. In towns and villages, some sidewalks have been plugged, forcing pedestrians to share the roadway and that too requires some extra vigilance on the part of drivers. The main concern, as usual, is that of youngsters playing on the steep snowbanks or darting out of the canyon -like -walks or driveways. They're dwarfed by many of the banks and both they and motorists should be cautioned about the additional hazards. that ac- cumulating snow bring. A credible start Beef and sheep producers in Ontario may have questions about some of the aims and priorities outlin- ed by Agriculture Minister Dennis Timbrell in his $62 million program for their respective industries, but they have to give him full marks for the calibre of the people he has named to the commissions charged with organizing -the program. Of particular note is the appointment of former MPP Murray Gaunt. While governments often make such appointments to reward their former cohorts, it is indeed a pleasant surprise. to see Timbrell dip into the liberal ranks. Based on past experience and the normal patronage system that is employed in govern - Ment appointments, it is almost shocking. Coupled with the appointment of OFA president Ralph Barrie, the commission immediately benefits from an unusual degree of credibility, as it rises above— the usual suggestions that those named are done so from a political standpoint. Timbrell has not only reached across party lines in naming Gaunt, he has, in Barrie, a man keenly aware of the plight of Ontario farmers and experience' and expertise that are often not priorities in patronage appointments. Ontario's red meat industry is in trouble and needs a concerted effort from all those involved to arrive at the best solutions to improve the situation. Timbrell has shown some important leadership and a wise choice in his appointments. Hopefully he will be rewarded by getting the cooperation and ideas required from those in the industry to make the most of the investment of provincial funds. It may not be all that beef and sheep ptOucers had hoped for, but they must recognize that it at least stands a chance of giving them more than they have now or probably could have anticipated through their own efforts. Memory should linger Though some of them won't admit it, most mer- chants have reason to be happy with the improvement in buying habits this year. In a spirit of relief that things aren't so bad after all, consumers have upped their purchases by as much as 10 or 12 percent com- pared with the two previous Christmas seasons. Much as we all like to see business booming, it is to be hoped. that we don't get too carried away. We would do well to remember that the crippling inflation of the past decade was caused by the open-handed spending of consumers who forgot that money wasted eventually spells disaster. We should also bear in mind the fact that the cure for inflation's woes has been a painful one - and that more than a million Canadian families are still paying the price. There is every indication that 1984 will be a more prosperous year than the two which preceded it, but let us hope that memories of the lean years will linger just enough to foster common sense. Wingham Advance -Times Dream is better than .reality? It appears rather foolish to be sitting down at the typewriter to pen a column this week, given the fact that between the time of writing and it appearing in print, the editor fully expects to be sharing a huge portion of the Lotto 6/49 millions which are up for grabs. Similar to the problem being faced by the vast majority of Canadians, it is dif- ficult to be serious in one's other duties and responsibilities while planning how to spend in excess of $10 million or whatever portion comprises my share of the bounty. No matter how improbable the dream may appear, it is a dream that has stir- red the imagination of many in recent days as the jackpot swells to figures that only a civil servant or politician could comprehend. What no one can comprehend, pro- bably,'is why the escalation in the jackpot has been followed by a corresponding escalation in ticket sales. Whji does winning $7 million or $10 million create more interest and ticket sales than winning $1 million or even $100,000? It's a phenomenon the writer can't explain despite the fact he has been swept up in it and "invested" $5 along with a large group of fellow employees, many of whom are as infrequent buyers of lot -"r tery tickets as I. With the odds at an incredible 14 million to one it is obvious thaf my 15 fellow hopefuls would have been better advised to stage their own draw for the $80 and had the satisfaction of knowing that at least one among us would have been $75 richer. But what's $75 when there's still that dream of sharing $10 million? • • • • • • The author of a magazine devoted en- tirely to the lottery business suggests that no harm is done to participants as long as they view the purchase of lottery tickets as "inexpensive entertainment". For many .that's exactly what it is, although one would have.to question the entertairiment value for those who have BATT'N AROUND with the editor 1} waited in lineups for up to four hours to buy tickets that clearly have little chance of winning. However, there are many others for whom the lotteries are not inexpensive entertainment. Statistics indicate --that many low-income families squander money on lotteries in the hope of chang- ing their fortunes. Their philospohy is that it represents their lone hope and unfor- tunately they are prompted to spend even more of their limited funds as the jackpot and its corresponding dream grows to new heights. What they fail to understand is that the chances of not winning hardly change, regardless of how many tickets one pur- chases or how big the jackpot may be. That was demonstrated last week when Canadians spent a record 857.8 million on tickets and none managed to pick the win- ning numbers. While many of those tickets were pur- chased by "new" players, there were many of the old stalwarts who doubled and tripled their expenditures on the im- probable dream and obviously many of those could not afford to lose their money. • • • * * However;an equally important ques- tion in lotteries with bigackpots is whether many of us could really afford to• be winners. The fact is, some winners are losers in njiny ways and the horror stories that surround some instant millionaires should prompt people to hope they don't win, despite the fact everyone lives with the notion that he/she could handle the saltation. A story appeared recently regarding the winners,.of $2 million in a Lotto 6/49 draw last October and their advice is that the first thing a winner should do is hire a bodyguard. That may appear to be a rather small price to pay for becoming a millionaire, but the implication is rather frightening. The winners have been continually harassed and deluged with letters re- questing financial assistance. They've. had to change their phone number and the inference is that they keep looking over their shoulders while walking down the street or sit about fretting over the unpleasant experience with which they've been confronted. Those of us who have been enjoying the common pursuit of mentally disposing of the money obvigyrsly have an unrealistic view of what would happen to our lives with the burden of such a huge windfall. Would it be a dream coine true.... or a nightmare? The odds are 14 million to one you'll never know. There's probably more consolation in those odds than most peo- ple would realize. MONDAY P.S. Here 1 am back at my desk and still a pauper. The investment by the T -A staff resulted in a windfall of 810 in total or 62.4 each for a net loss of $4.37.5. Oh well, maybe next time! On Since this column will not appear until after Christmas, I won't send greetings, except that I hope you had a merry one and didn't get run over on New Year's Eve. Run over either way. Last year was a violent and fearful year on this earth. If I were a Bible - thumper. I'd surely believe that Armagedden is just around the corner. Even the plea of the U.N. to the Israelis and the Arabs that if only they'd get together and settle their grievances in a Christian manner didn't have much effect. However, I'm not going to write about the evil in the world and in man's heart. It's too obvious. I'm going to write about the good. I've been bereft for some weeks (I know, Roger Bell, 'you'll be say- ing he's been bereft for years.) Anyway, I've learned, andI hope it's not too late, that there is a deep well of goodness and kindness beneath our world-weary, ordinary, every=day sterility. I still can't believe that so many people care about me. My colleagues, ,to whom I thought I was just Old Smiley, have shown a' sensitivity I honestly didn't credit them with. With the men, it's the obligatory three thumps on my sore shoulder and a mumbled word of sym- pathy, or a, "How are you, Bill?" instead of the usual, casual "Hi." - With the women, it's more subtle. Ks just. a both bended knees caring look, a special gentleness, an invitation to supper, an offer to help me into my jacket, which is a painful bus' My principal has been a br (watch your type -setting there, Jack.) He has done Sugar and Spice Dispensed By Smiley everything logically possi- ble to ease my physical and emotional pain. Had I wished, I could have dined out every night of the week. As it is, I've had three roast beef din- ners, more than I've had in three years, with char- ming, caring families. A lady friend and col- league, who is an excellent cook, sent around a hot, right out of the oven, chicken pie. When I phon- ed to thank her and tell her it was the best chicken pie I'd ever eaten, there was a crash of thunder and a big limb fell off my oak tree.•(Take it easy, Suze, wherever you are. I was only being polite.) There have been letters, not just cards of sym- pathy, from two former cleaning ladies, my wife's hairdresser, her former piano students, and many others she dealt with, say- ing how rpuch they had liked her. My neighbors have been superb, as always. Flowers, food, offers of help, and the decency to leave me alone for a while, to gnaw the bones of my rief. Her piano -tuner and his ife drove two hundred miles to pay their respects. A card would have done. Even my son, with whom my relationship has been rather hit-or-miss in the past few years, has turned into a hovering angel. No phoney sym- pathy, no maudlin meanderings. Hard work. He's done more practical hard work around here than in all the other years put together. Preparing food and making me eat. Shovelling snow. Vacuum- ing rugs. Shopping for groceries. Making me -rub castor oil into my sore shoulder. Forcing me to eat porridge (ugh) but making it so delicious` h'" fruit and stuff that I ac, tually enjoyed it. I could go on for two col- umns. But I won't. This is just a note of thanks to God that he has put into people not nastiness and bitchiness and 'self-pity and self-centredness (they developed those on their own), but kindness And tenderness and goodness apd gentleness and the ability to care for one in- significant fellow human. Something else I've learned. John Donne said, "No man is an island." Of course he isn't. A man is a mere tuft of grass in a quagmire. In comparison. a woman (most women), are continents. :Suze and I used to bicker constantly, as I'm sure you' do, about who had the hardest job. She: "You haveno idea what I do around here. You're useless. You can't even change a light bulb; or won't. I have to deal with all the workmen, pay the bills, clean the house, wash your dirty clothes, and come up with a gourmet dinner." And so on. I: "Yabbut you can sleep in in the morning if you want, have a nap after lunch, watch soap operas, visit friends, and you don't have to get up every mor- ning and face those rotten kids all day. And, besides, who earns all the money so you can have all that freedom?" On both bended knees, I take it all back. You'll never hear a male chauvinist in this columri, ever again. She's been gone only a few weeks, and I'm surrounded by un- paid bills, dirty laundry, grubby sinks, ring around the bathtub, and huge piles of paper that have to be dealt with. I can't run the washing machine. I burn everything I put in the oven. And I can't FIND anything. Yes, there's a trium- phant, slightly malevolent radiance in the sky. She's reading my column. Exciting, but little scary Last week I said that I would talk for a few weeks about computers. O.K. First offa few facts about the importance of computers in our society. By 1985, it is estimated that 80 percent of all employment in the U.S.A. and Canada will in- volve computers in some way or another. Look at farming. Already many farmers are tapping into information networks set up by thg government. Others are using com- puters to keep track of their books or of stock records. By 1990, anyone who does not know how to operate or use a computer will be considered func- tionally illiterate. By 1995, it is estimated that 75 percent of all pro- tivity exceeding 500 billion dollars a year. As more and more peo- Perspectives. By Syd Fletcher duction work will be handled by robots. Think of the changes. More and more people will be involved in the 'infor- mation industry," revolv- ing around computers, an industry expected to snowball into business ac- ple get a (mall, cheap computer in their homes, one accessible ' to telephones, letter tnail will be replaced by instaneous electronic letters from one home to another. Certain- ly the business communi- ty is already using this type of communication. It's far faster and much more efficient. Perhaps we'll even vote on a varie- ty of issues in Parliament by the same method so that we can bypass the ex- pensive representative system we presently have. Just as the industrial age has transformed our society so that instead of 95 percent of our popula- tion in Canada working on farms (as it was in 1900 as opposed to the 5 percent now) so will the next 50 years see a tremendous change in our working and living,patterns. It's gojng to be exciting, but believe me it's a little scary. Change is always a' little frightening.