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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-03-03, Page 44 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday,March 3, 2004 zkxna =CNA Editorial Opinion e n = MISIM TIMES ADVOCATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing casts. Jim Beckett Publisher and Editor Deb Lord Production Manager &Published by Metroland Printing, rt Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Metroland 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIALS Cleaning house ill the dominoes start to fall now that Via Rail chairperson Jean Pelletier has been fired? One hopes so. In the wake of the sponsorship scandal, Prime Minister Paul Martin has vowed to clean house and rid the government of those involved in the scandal that saw at least $100 million of our tax dollars wasted. Last week, two-time Olympic gold champion Myriam Bedard claimed she was fired for asking questions about the sponsorship program in January 2002. Pelletier responded in pure Neanderthal fashion, calling Bedard "pitiful." "I don't want to be mean," Pelletier said, "but this is a poor woman in a pitiful state, a woman with no husband that I know of. She's feeling the pressure of being a single mother with financial responsibilities. Basically, I find it pitiful." What's pitiful is Pelletier's boorish, redneck atti- tude. Imagine what he would have said if he was actually trying to be mean? Bedard, it turns out, has been married for two years. "I was refusing to do things that are illegal, and I'm just a victim of that," she said. Pelletier's firing was justified and a step in the right direction for Martin, who is furiously doing some damage control after his dream job turned into a nightmare when Auditor General Sheila Fraser released her report. Getting rid of Pelletier, an old crony of Jean Chretien's, is a gutsy move by Martin. Via president Marc LeFrancois and Michel Vennat of the Business Development Bank could also find themselves in the unemployment line before this week's Times -Advocate hits the streets. But while Canadians originally expressed outrage over the scandal, it appears such feelings may be subsiding — a poll on the weekend suggested the Liberals were once again rising in the polls. As much as the Liberals have done to upset Canadians over the past decade (the gun registry, the HRDC debacle, rampant patronage, the aura of arrogance that surrounds all things Chretien) voters probably feel it's better to stay with the devil you know rather than the devil you don't know. Once the Conservative Party chooses its leader (Stephen Harper and Belinda Stronach are said to be tied for the lead) that party could rise in the polls. It's then that we will see if Canadians are going to hold the Liberals responsible for the sponsorship scandal or if this country has truly become a one-party nation. About the Times -Advocate Turn off your cell phones I'm no Luddite, but I'm thinking it's time we put the brakes on this whole "technology thing," especially with respect to cell phones and digital cameras. When did it became necessary for everyone and his dog to own these devices? Hard to believe, but humankind did actually function before these items were invented. It would be easier to accept cell phones and digital cameras if they actually did what they were supposed to do. First, let's start with cell phones. My main problem with cell phones (particularly in this neck of the woods) is they don't work. Or sometimes they'll work for about 10 seconds before breaking up, leaving both callers to scream, "Hello ... hello? You there? HELLO! Damn." Secondly, if you're lucky enough to actually have your cell phone work, the basic gist of almost every conversation is, "Yeah, I'm on my way. I'll be there in 10 minutes. This required a phone call? My other problem with cell phones is they've created a society where everybody is supposed to be "available" at all times. It used to be you could escape the annoying ring of the phone by leaving your house; now, people expect you to be "plugged in" 24 hours a day, waiting with bated breath for their phone call. I have to admit I happen to own a cell phone, but it's simply a necessary evil. It's never turned on, I don't have voice mail and I only carry it with me in case of emergency, for times like when my increas- ingly -unpredictable car stalls on Airport Road or decides it simply doesn't feel like starting. Although, when I've needed my cell phone, I've usually forgot- ten to buy minutes for it, or I simply can't get a sig- nal. Like my car and cell phones, digital cameras only work when they feel like it. A good example of this is at last year's commencement at South Huron District High School. As parents elbowed their way in front of the stage to take their child's picture, I watched a good chunk of them miss the moment when their digital cameras simply didn't take the picture. Yes, we use digital cameras here at the T- A, but for sports or for situations where there's motion or the lighting is less than perfect, out comes the trusty 35 mm. A digi- tal camera's prime function is to save time and money and they've led people to believe it's OK to take pictures of everything that happens in their lives. You know, not every- thing is a Kodak moment. But the worst abomination of all devices is the new cell phone/digital camera combination. Now people can walk down the street, talk to their friends, take pictures of complete strangers and post them on the Internet simultaneously. Surely this is technology gone berserk. Surely, instead of these useless inventions, companies could be putting their time and money towards useful devices? SCOTT NIXON AND ANOTHER THING Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Holidays. Contact Us By Phone or Fax Classified ad & subscription sales ....(519) 235-1331 24-hour automated attendant (519) 235-1336 Fax number for all departments (519) 235-0766 Subscription Rates One year rate for addresses in Canada: $37+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $68+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada: $104 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $10.00 for 20 words, 20(c for each addition- al word+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announcements, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $15.00 + GST for up to 50 words, All ads must be pre -paid. The classified ad deadline is Monday at 10 a.m. Display Advertising To place a display ad, (519) 235-1331 weekdays 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. or evenings (519) 235-1336 (leave mes- sage) or toll-free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Fri. 4 m. -mail Us Website: www.southhuron.com TA e-mail addresses consist of the person's first initial and last name followed by @southhuron.com. For example, Jim Beckett's e-mail address is <jbeck- ett@southhuron.com> Our general e-mail address is ads@southhuron.com. The Times -Advocate Team Publisher/Editor Jim Beckett ext. 109 Advertising Barb Consitt ext. 110 Reporters Scott Nixon ext. 105 Pat Bolen ext. 113 Mary Simmons ext. 107 Customer Service Sue Rollings ext. 101 Carol Powe ext. 102 Composition Department Manager Deb Lord ext. 114/103 Sharlene Young ext. 103 Jacky Westlake ext. 103 Accounting Staff Anita McDonald ext. 104 Cassie Dalrymple ext. 108 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Carol Windsor ext. 111