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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-06-08, Page 44 Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday, June 8, 2005 =CNA Editorial Opinion 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 EDITORIAL Politically entertained In the entertainment department, Parliament Hill is the gift that keeps on giving. A desperate prime minister, a just as desperate Opposition leader, sponsorship scandals, secret tap- ings, MPs switching parties and unprecedented voter cynicism have all made the dealings in Ottawa over the past year far more interesting than they usually are. While Paul Martin and his Liberals looked like politi- cal geniuses a couple of weeks ago for convincing Belinda Stronach to cross the floor and join the Grits, thus helping save them in a confidence vote, Martin took a hit Monday when London-Fanshawe MP Pat O'Brien quit the party to become an Independent over his opposition to gay marriage. O'Brien has long been an opponent of gay marriage and, frankly, it's surprising more MPs of the Liberal's conservative wing haven't also left the party over the issue. Perhaps O'Brien's defection will open the door for more MPs to leave the Liberals. Although, continuing the Tories' "just -can't -win" streak, O'Brien decided not to join Harper's Conservatives. But the latest truly bizarre story is news from Vancouver that Air Canada is investigating an incident in which MP Gurmant Grewal was allegedly seen in a waiting area at the Vancouver airport trying to get passengers to transport a package to Ottawa. What was in the package? Why did he want others to carry it on the plane for him? Grewal, of course, is the same Conservative MP who secretly taped conversations he had with two Liberals and then accused them of trying to coax him into leav- ing the Conservative party and join the Liberals by offering him certain "rewards." With Watergate so much in the news with the revela- tion of who "Deep Throat" was, Grewal should realize that recording conversations is risky business for politi- cians. It certainly didn't do Richard Nixon any favours, as his secret Oval Office tapes revealed him to be not only a crook, but someone who had the vocabulary of your average street thug. Whatever the investigation into Grewal's rather strange behaviour at the Vancouver airport concludes, it seems he has lost more credibility than the people he was accusing of wrongdoing. He's now taking a stress leave. And people say Ottawa politicians are boring. If only they could govern as well as they entertain. WLCOME ToTWE KARLA CHANNEL! ALL KARLA! ALVrHETIME! /l 1 SADLY, I'M NOT SURPRISED.. AlksWc The man's kitchen There comes a point in a man's life when he begins to evaluate himself. He looks around and questions his values, his possessions and how he looks at life itself. And if he does- n't, the woman in his life will, starting with his kitchen habits. For the unsuspecting single man, here's a hard won tip. Any question that starts with "honey" is usually laced with a ques- tion about some utensil you don't have and don't think you needed but are about to acquire. It can start gradually, as it's pointed out the prized 'Mugs and Jugs' glasses accu- mulated over the years aren't the family utensils of choice. It can be something like "Honey, what's in that container at the back of the fridge?" "I'm not sure, mom gave me some leftovers at Christmas." (Conversation recorded over prepara- tions for Easter/Canada Day...Thanksgiving.) Or it can be a full blown tropical storm during the always high risk/low payoff first try at making a dinner together for the family. It starts slowly. "Honey, where are your oven mitts?" "Right there," as you point at one blackened, food encrusted mitt with several large singed holes in it before tossing over a towel. "I lost the other one." It builds up. "Honey, where are your coffee filters?" "I couldn't find the right size, just rip a hole in those." "Honey, where are your pots?" "There's the big one, and there's the small one." The storm breaks. "Honey, this grill looks pretty baked on." "Don't worry, it burns off." "Honey, where is your plate set?" Here's another tip, guys. Don't wait till half an half before the guests arrive to tell her the mismatched set of three yard sale plates is all you have. Instead, try opening the present your sister gave you for Christmas that's been on that top shelf ever since (sorry, sis). It can be a lifesaver. And remember, look around your kitchen, before someone else does. PAT B BACK 40 VIEW OLEN About the Times -Advocate 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: $38+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $70+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada: $130 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $11.00 for 20 words, 20¢ 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 p m. E-mail Us Web site: 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 Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 REPORTERS Scott Nixon ext. 105 Pat Bolen ext. 113 Stephanie Mandziuk ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Kim Hern ext. 102 COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 114/103 Sharlene Young, ext 103 Heather Bilcke ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Christina Scott ext. 108 Marg Pertschy ext. 111