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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-07-19, Page 44 Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday, July 19, 2006 =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. Canada Jim Beckett — Publisher Deb Lord — Production Manager Scott Nixon — Editor tirt Published by iroland Printing, Publishing Distributing& Ltd. 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Metroland Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIAL Information and effort Awre we a lazier people than our ancestors? Those who make a point of telling us they alked 10 miles each way to school in the blowing snow would certainly have us believe so, but they're probably also the type would built their house with logs they cut themselves or with bricks they fired in their very own kiln. Us modern folk would argue we're more productive than ever — look at all our hobbies, all the gadgets we've mastered and how we've gained the talent to lis- ten to an MP3 player while catching up on the latest best-seller during our morning commutes. But two recent news themes would belie this smug sense of modern productivity. The first is the slew of facts and figures about how fat and unhealthy we are as a nation. Modern food — fast food, shake -and -bake meals, even power shakes fit into our modern, fast rou- tines, never mind the fact that a lot of the chemicals and addictives in many of these so-called convenience foods are so advanced, they could probably build their own computer. There is also so much doublespeak when it comes to food and exercise — is trans -fat free a license to gorge? How fast or slow should I jog/walk/bike? Is pilates or yoga going to give me that hot Hollywood body? Of course, the "right thing" — eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains while getting some daily exercise — isn't sexy. It's also not a magic bullet like that Atkins diet or some barely -legal pill. It's also not fast, so why both- er? Confusion and doing the right thing also plays into the environment — is ethanol really the way to go? How far should I turn down my thermostat? What's recyclable? It all can foster a general unwillingness to help out old Mother Earth because it takes time and effort, which aren't fun or fast, either. Luckily and surprisingly, former United States vice- president Al Gore's documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth," makes the global warming problem crystal- clear. The documentary shows the results global warm- ing from a number of angles — the melting of ice caps, changes in animal migration and changing weather patterns, to name a few. Independent scientists have approved the majority of the information in the docu- mentary, and despite what you think of Gore's politics, the facts and potential outcomes, such as a flooded Manhattan or submerged Florida, are as riveting as Superman or Jack Sparrow. Perhaps people will heed Gore's warnings because it's in movie form — so more wonderfully modern than a book or scientific journal. Gore, much like nutritionists, offers simple solutions: use less electricity, buy a hybrid vehicle if you can afford it, plant a tree. But it's not as sexy as terrorism or rising gas prices or Greenpeace demonstrations. Our forefathers were on to something with their physi- cal labour and unfast meals cooked by the hearth. Global warming and lowered life expectancies weren't much cause for discussion in their day — they seem to be a byproduct of our better, modern, life. — from the St. Marys Journal Argus NEWS ITEM: Duct tape used for space walk repair If you can't handle it, don't drive it I was only 16 years old when I earned my G2 licence, allowing me the privilege of driving without an adult commenting on my every driving move. Yes, the comments, they were a pain in the butt but definitely something that helped shape my driving expe- rience, allowing me to grow into a better driver. My mother taught me the rules of the road early in life and having grown up in a family who always owned smaller vehicles one thing she would say to me was, "People in larger vehicles will try to bully you on the road but just be safe and ignore them." Ok no problem, I thought. If someone in a larger truck or van wants to be an idiot putting their life in danger, I say go for it and have fun paying the consequences. So, over the years I've found that my mom was right, as always about most things (but don't tell her I said that). I've been bullied several times by cocky drivers in their trucks or vans. Now let me say, before any of the truck and van owners get angry with me — not all of the larger vehicle owners are terrible drivers but I've definitely seen my fair share. I remember once I was driving along Fanshawe Park Road, minding my own business when out of the blue this truck came right onto my bumper and after growing impatient with the fact that I wasn't going like 200 km/h he started swerving in and out of traffic. The funny part was he actually missed the green light and ended up beside me in the other lane. It seems sometimes these people are so consumed with the fact they have a bigger, faster vehicle that they somehow think they rule the road, trying to scare peo- ple driving the smaller cars. I've driven a large truck a couple times and I'll admit it was pretty cool. And maybe I did feel like I had a little more power but there's a difference between feeling and actually doing something about it. Just recently I encountered a driver, a woman who initially pulled out in front of me in her big black truck. So, having pulled out, making me slam on my brakes quite heavily, I tried to pass this woman. Well, I've had drivers speed up before when I've tried passing; I've also had people stick out their tongues and give me the finger but never in my life have I experi- enced the kind of immaturity this middle-aged woman displayed. She thought it would be appropriate to block me when I tried passing her. Trying to prove what, exactly? I have no idea. After doing so, this woman continued to drive back and forth from left, centre and then back to the right hand side of road after I attempted to pass her once more. She then decided just to drive right down the middle of the road so I couldn't pass her at all, which at this point my mother's words were going through my mind. "People in larger vehicles will try to bully you on the road, but just be safe and ignore them." I ignored this woman's ridiculous and immature driving for some time but eventual- ly I wrote her licence plate down and went to the police. And honestly I'm happy I did so. A part from her crazy driving she also got out of her truck at a stop sign and started screaming at me. The Lucan OPP were helpful and although I can't prove whether or not this woman's driving was due to her big powerful truck I would say it definitely had something to do with it. So, to the woman of the black truck or anyone else who is insecure enough to act or drive this way, I say if you can't handle it, don't drive it. NINA VAN LIESHOUT KICK THIS AROUND About the Times -Advocate Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. 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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 Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 EDITOR Scott Nixon ext. 105 REPORTERS Pat Bolen ext. 113 Nina Van Lieshout ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Kim Hern ext. 102 COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 103/114 Heather Bilcke ext. 103 Kelly Gackstetter ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Marg Pertschy ext. 111 Heather Clarke ext. 206