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Times-Advocate, 1988-06-08, Page 4Page 4 Times•Advocate, June 8, 1988 Times Established 1871 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 Imes dvocate Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario, NOM 1S0 Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386. Phone 519.235-1331 ROSS HAUGH Editor HARRY DIMES Composition Manager CNA cC NA JIM BECKETT Publisher & Adsertising Manager DO's SMITH Business Manager SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada: $25.00 Per year; U.S.A. $65.00 Lets avoid tragedy This week has been designated as Na- tional Water Safety and Safe Boating Week by the Canadian Red Cross Society and some of the cautions put forth are. ap- plicable in this area. While we are very close to Lake Huron, almost every Canadian resident lives with- in easy driving distance of several bodies of water. If the body of water is large enough to launch and float a boat, its large enough to drown a person. Each year, numerous swimmers and boaters get into serious trouble that often ends in disaster simply because of careless and unsafe behaviour. Activities in and on the water are sup- posed to be fun, but recreation can very quickly turn into tragedy and in many cases alcohol is involved. The Red Cross reminds all water enthu- siasts that mixing water and alcohol in a different way, not in the glasss, can get you in over your head and in a permanent way. - Another aspect of boating which is ig- nored by many is almost as important as drinking and operating a boat. That's not wearing a lifejacket or personal floating device. The Red Cross says, "Wearing a lifejack- et is like taking out aquatic insurance, just in case something goes wrong. But it won't do you any good if you're not wearing it." Red Cross statistics. indicate approxi- mately 80 percent of the boating - related drownings could be prevented if only boaters would wear their insu- rance. This summer again, law enforcement officers and provincial boating officials will be continuing to crack down on the use of alcohol on the waterways. The crackdown started in 1986 was initiated because there was an urgent need frit- strong orstrong moves against drinking boaters and also because of the success of the "Don't Drink and Drive" programs which are proving very successful on our highways. Impaired boaters are the same as im- paired drivers in that they not only en- danger themselves, but frequently put the lives of others in danger. The Red Cross has been highly visible in the education of water safety over the past 40 years and officials continue to remind all water sports participants that mixing alcohol with water is asking for all kinds of trouble. Remember, don't drink on the water and wear a lifejacket. It can save your life, but only if you are wearing it. By Ross Haugh For proper use only . "How many times do I have to preach the same sermon?" I asked in utter frustration, "if you want your things to last, use them only for their intended purpose". • Another brand-new toy had bitten the dust because it was used as a weapon instead of an instrument of peaceful cooperation. "You don't clobber Stephanie .with a model airplane because (1) there are bcttcr ways to ' resolve conflicts, (2) clobbering her with a model airplane is totally inefficient, and (3) model airplanes break if they're used for anything except flying thcm according to instructions". "Can it be fixed?" "I refuse to try. If the plane had broken as- the result of a crash landing, I'd get out my model airplane. repair kit and give it a shot. I will not fix it because oncc,again you've used things in an improper fashion." When .will they Icarn? A • hulahoop is for hulahooping, not for a tug of war. A baseball bat is for batting baseballs, not for slamming against the swing post. A bicycle is called a hi -cycle because it is designed to have two wheels on the ground, not one. If you want. to ride on onc wheel, save up for a unicycle. And I've made the kid:: write it out 25 times: "Use things properly or don't usc them at all". "Daddy can you repair my %valkman? It doesn't play any more." "What do you think I am, an cicctroncis wizard? How did it get broken?" "Duncan took it apart, and he doesn't know how to .put it hack together." "You have hundreds of pieces of Lego. They're for putting together. taking apart and putting toSether again. Walkmcn arc not designed to be fiddled with." "Daddy, where is your crazy 1 glut?" "Why?" "I have to iix my scissors". "Number 1: you can't fix scissors with crazy glue. Numbcr 2: how did thcy get broken?" "What kind of glue do you need to fix them then?" "How about answering Numbcr 2 first?" "I only tried to open my window. It was stuck." "Would you say, Alexander, that the designer who created this device mcant it to be PETER'S POINT • used as a combination paper scissors and crowbar?" "What's a crowbar?" "Exactly.? I assembled the whole crew for a lesson. "You've gbt to learn to use things properly. Everything has its purpose, its design. When you use things for their intended purpose, they serve you well, and they last. Using things for the wrong purpose is called abuse or misuse. It means that things will break and go wrong. It's the same with alcohol or drugs. You know that Mommy and Daddy sometitbes have a glass of winc with their dinner. That is the proper usc. But some people drink too much and get into trouble." "YCs, and they drink and drive and smash into things or even kill people Stephanie offered. •"That's right," I said, "do you know any other examples of how . people abuse things?" "Somc kids at school use drubs" Alexander said, "and that's bad". "Well," I said, "using drugs is somctimcs necessary. When you're sick, the doctor orders certain drugs which make you better. That's the proper use; But some people abuse drugs, and that's just like abusing alcohol. It's daltgcrous and wrong". After that, the kids used .the right Things for the right purpose - for at least half an hour. After supper Elizabeth reminded me again that the light bulb in the upstairs hall needed changing. There is an understanding at our house that only men can change light bulbs in ceiling fixtures because it involves the technical skill of operating a screwdriver. Since the other men in our family ..are still tooshort, this means if I don't do it, it doesn't get done. So Lot the screw driver from the basement, a new light bulb from the broom closet, and the little chair from Stephanie''s room. I stood on•the chair, tool; the shade off, got down from the chair, put the shade down, stood on the chair again, unscrewed the old light bulb, screwed the ncw light bulb in, got -down from the chair, threw the old light bulb into the waste basket, got the shade, stood up on the chair to put the shade back on, whcn the tiny tittle chair collapsed just a tiny little bit, but enough to send me flying in onc direction, and the glass shade in the opposite direction. "Daddy, do you think my little chair was dcsigncd for a big ratan like you to stand on?" Stcphanic scolded me with•her right hand on her hip, just like her her Mommy sometimes docs. I felt defeated, not to mention my sore elbow and wrist. Why didn't I get the step ,ladder? I'II have to get Stephanie's little chair fixed. I'll have to buy a ncw ceiling shade. And the kids arc making me write 100 times: "Use things properly or don't use them at all. Use things ...". Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by 1.W. Eedy Publications'timited Itrk // k smainek \ "PITY THE BANKS CAN'T DRY UP AND BLOW AWAY AS WELL." It's Have we got a show for you. That's the slogan of the Young Company players of the Huron Country Playhouse and it sure tells the truth. We had the. opportunity to watch their rendition of "Stories From Around The Bend" at the recent annual meeting of the South Huron Big Brothers and Big Sisters Association. The Young Company is exactly as the name implies, a company of young profcssonals just start- ing out on their theatrical ca- reers. "Stories From Around The Bend" provides an interesting and humorous review of the his- tory around Grand Bend and Lake Huron. The Young Company will also be presenting two other shows throughout this area this summer. They are "Everything Old" and a. clown and mime show. All three shows will be presegt- edat the Old Towne Hall in Exet- er during Heritage Days on Fri- day and Saturday, June 17 and 18. Thanks to the Exeter Lioness- es , one of the shows will be pre- sented to the residents of Exeter Villa on June 16. The shows put on by the young players arc certainly affordable to any -group looking for entertain- ment. The charge is only $50 plus a small transportation fcc from Grand Bend for each pro- duction. The Young Company will also beproviding seven one-week theatre workshops for young a good company people between the ages of six and 15. These workshops are perfect for those who would like to learn about singing, dancing and acting. Anyone wishing to get further information on the shows or the workshops should contact Kar- en Kneale or Caroline Smith at the playhouse. * * * * * * ** *-* ** * * * Getting on the spot news is sometimes a matter of luck and being in the right place at the API From the editor's disk 'by Ross Haugh t right time. That's exactly what happened recently to Adrian Harte of our editorial staff. Adrian dropped into Looking Good to talk to Karen Pfaff about BIA matters at the same time as a squirrel decided to vis- it the ladies wcar establishment. The squirrel was actually the first to arrive, but barely. Just as Adrian came through the door, he head Terry Heywood say,"We should call the T -A to get a picture of the squirrel." Before anyone could get to a phone, Adrian came up from behind and replied, "Here I am." He was able to get a couple of excellent shots which appeared in last week's issue. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Getting back to the Big Broth- ers and Big Sisters Association, here is -a group of volunteers which deserves a lot of credit for providing much needed compan- ionship to arca boys and girls who are living with their single parent mother or father. The first executive of 11 per- sons was formed on September 27, 1977 and one of those is still going strong as a board member. c'rc talking about Jim Chap - an, recently retired principal of Exeter Public School . Jim is now vice-president and doing an excellent job as co-ordinator of the annual bowlathons wich raise close to $10,000 each year. Jim works closely with Jim and Marlene Bedard at the Zurich Lanes and Don and Audrey Watt at the Lucan Lanes. These four people am to be commended for offering their bowling establish- ments each spring for the bowla- thons. • Connie Illman is president of Big Brothers and Dorothy Chap- man is in charge of matching up _the youngsters with their adult paartncrs. Most of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters take time out for at least a couple of hours each week to spend with their young- er counterparts. As a group each year, they go on a picnic, enjoy a fishing der- by and have a day with the Blue Jays in Toronto. Keep up the good work. Amazing discovery Last week I promised to share with you a discovery in the com- puter world which is truly amaz- ing. This particular invention is by several Canadians. It is :called Mandela. I saw it demonstrated at a huge educational computing conference by five or six Grade seven students from North York. Picture this. A computer is hooked up to a music synthesizer which has thc capability of producing all sorts of sounds ranging from trumpet blasts to the sweet tones of a ma- rimba. It is also attached to a tele- vision camcra which is focussed on the youngsters. On thc computer.- screen is drawn an African scene, com- plete with a waterfall, trees and d rum s. One of the children reaches her By the 7 Way by Syd Fletcher hand up into the air and you sec that her image is appearing on the centre of the African scene and that as she reaches into thin air that her hand is going toward the drum (on the screen). Shc strokes gently with her forefinger and you actually hear the drum. She walks forward into the wa- terfall and the synthesizer plays a harp arpeggio. What is happening is that the digitized video image of the child is actually activating the different sounds on the synthesizer. She` becomes thc hand control or the keyboard of the computer even though she is not touching it. Somc very unusual dramatic productions havealready taken plaoe. Imagine a group of six or seven year olds in such a situa- tion and the glee which would erupt in them as they created such unusual effects. Jt is surely an exciting period of time in which we live.