The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-07-29, Page 34Communit
Barry Page, of Goderich, has used his
personal computer to get into the new
wave of "desktop publishing. The little
---computers--are-eapabte-of-doing-biglobs;
limited only by the user's imagination.
At right, Page works out a program on
his Macintosh Plus personal computer
system. Above, he displays a sample
finished product from the machine's
printer. (photos by Patrick Raftis )
*Entertainment *Feature
*Religion *Family *More
GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1987
SECTION
Publishing at home now possible
Desktop Publishing means exactly that
- publishing on top of a desk. The ad-
vancement of personal computer
technology has given enthusiasts the
capability to set up, and even print,
publications using equipment which can fit
on the top of an average -size office desk.
Local entrepreneur Barry Page, a
technical writer for Champion Road
Machinery Ltd., was captivated by the.
idea of using a personal computer to pro-
duce complete publications, "from idea to
print," and decided to get in on the action.
Page hopes his one -year-old hobby
business "Signature Media," which pro-
vides desktop publishing services, will fill
a need in this community.
Although primarily aimed at advertising
copywriting and promtional graphics,
Page said the opportunites to create,visual
communications are vitually limitless.
Other publishing applications are:
posters, resumes, menus, price labels,
newsletters, small -run publications, video
scriptwriting, flyers and corporate image,
stationery - such as letterheads, business
cards and handbills.
COMPUTER EXPERIENCE
Page had some previous experience with
computers before entering this venture,
having worked with word processors for
several years in his full-time job. He got in-
volved with the idea of desktop publishing
at the suggestion of some of his collegues
at Champion, who were also involved in
computer hobby businesses.
The equipment needed for desktop
publishing consists of a basic personal
computer system: Page uses a Macintosh
Plus model, with a dot matrix printer. A
laser printer which gives a higher -quality
finished product is preferable, he said, but
at around $6,500 (compared to $1,200 to
$1,500 for a dot matrix model) laser
printers are an imposing investment for
the beginner.
• Sophisticated systems which allow com-
puters to "talk," via telephone to
phdtotypesetting machines give the
ultimate in quality text reproduction, Page
notes.
While he has already done several jobs
for area • businesses and organizations,
designing logos and pamphlets, Page said
"it's not all local businesses that come to
me," noting that he has had one customer
from as far away as Kapuskasing, Ont.
Page describes what he does as mostly
"design and co-ordination of material used
for publication." If a customer requires a
large run with high quality reproduction,
he sends the job to a local printer, once he
has done the design and co-ordination.
CREATIVITY REQUIRED
- When designing any product, Page said
he works to specifications and direction
from the customer.
• While design work is made easier by
computer assistance, Page said personal
creativity is also required.
"It does help to have an artist's hand and
imagination," he points out.
• Page said the desktop publishing in-
dustry, which he calls a "state-of-the-art
means of communication," • is rapidly
growing and now involves both profes-
sionals and hobbyists everywhere.
The trends shows how home computers
are rapidly proving to have more and
more practical applications outside the
traditional office setting.
"Computers are not all Pac Man and
games," he said. "This is the creative side
of it."
'Bush"Fire' a good story
if you thrive on suspense
BY YVETTE ZANDBERGEN
Laurie Fyffe's "Bush Fire," a true story
of murder that took place in the settlement
of Perth in 1828, is worth seeing for those
who thrive on suspense and surprises.
• It had its opening night Tuesday, July 21
at the Blyth Festival.
The story opens with Abigail Richardson,
a young wife and mother who, through
Jlashbacks, tells the story.
On the night of December 8, 1828, a fire
broke out in the cabin of Thomas Easby.
Easby's wife, Ann and four of their five
children died as a result. It was thought to
be an accident until Thomas Easby was ar-
rested and charged with murder.
What eventually unfolds is a tale of
mystery.The characters realistically repre-
sent a picture of a small farming communi-
ty where close-knit ties are not uncommon
and rumours are ever-present.
Abigail, a role played by Karen Barker, is
the main link to the tale. She tells the story
through flashbacks while waiting for her
husband to come home. The transitions
from present to past are done smoothly, giv-
ing the play a sense of continuity.
The most amusing character in "Bush
Fire" is Agnes Tullis played by Lorna
Wilson. She is a wise old woman who tips the
bottle often and dabbles in spells and curses.
Although others rarely pay heed to her, her
comments and brief appearances add some
comic relief to the drama.
Martha Irving plays the character of Ann
Easby, the young wife and mother who was
killed in the fire. She was called "a fallen
woman" in the play and her behaviour is
questioned by most. A close friend of Ann's
was Abigail's mother, Constance Richard-
son, played by Laurel Paetz. When they are
together, a sense of friendship is evident and
the amiable personalities of both women are
stressed.
Peter Smith plays the role of Andrew
Richardson, husband and father of Con-
stance and Abigail. He is portrayed as a
hard working and honest man whose main
priority is his family. Andrew's friend and
confidabt is ,coroner William Matheson,
played by Neil Foster. He is not a primary
Ti-lEATRE REVIEW
figure in the first half of the play but' his
character becomes significant as his profes-
sional abilities are questioned.
The three remaining characters of "Bush
Fire" are store owner Clarence Caldwell,
played by Wayne Nicklas, Abigail's
childhood friend Martin H. Balderson
played by Greg Spottiswood, and the Crown
Attorney, Mathew Haggart, played by
David Marr. Although they are minor
characters, their roles round out the play by
giving the audience variety and information
and in some cases, injecting a bit of humor.
Clarence Caldwell, the busy -body store
owner, portrays a small community gossip
monger who would like to see Easby hung.
Abigail's ,friend Martin is a child with nor-
mal childhood curiosity. He adds a light ele-
ment to the play with his humourous corn-
• Ments and occasional naivety.
Matthew Haggert, Crown Attorney, is
, determined to find the truth through his
questioning of the witnesses in Easby's
trial. He grabs the audience's attention with
his commanding performance.
The most important character, Thomas
Easby, is not seen in the play, Even during
the trial we are reminded of him through the
witnesses which leaves a feeling of curiosity
in who Easby really is. What type of person
would kill his wife and children if in fact, he
did.
Since Easby is not seen, it is up to the
viewers imaginations to decide what kind of
person he is. This enhances the production
by making the audience rely on accounts
from others to determine their image. They
receive a cross-section of opinions ranging
from Mrs. Tullis' calling him a "beast from
hell" to the unbelieving opinion of Andrew
Richardson.
A unexpected twist in "Bush Fire" will
take the audience by surprise. As the play
unfolds the pieces fall together answering
all questions and revealing a deep secret.
Laurie Fyffe's "Bush Fire" had its opening night at Blyth Festival Tuesday, July 21.
Abigail Richardson, played by Karen Barker, and Anges Tullis, played by Lorna Wilson, ex-
change dialogne.(photo by James Hockings)
Left,
WILLIAM
THOMAS
1
North to
Algonqin
Years ago we'd canoe through Algon-
quin -Park every summer my good buddy
Red and I.
But then Red moved to Calgary, that
treeless, flat city that so badly wants to be
noticed it's willing to saddle its citizens
with a lifetime debt load to host the next
Olympics. It was about, the time that the
mayor of Calgary was refusing to accept
"Those bums from the East," but
somehow Red got in anyway.
And so the tough treks north to places
like Lake of Two Rivers and River of
Three Lakes and Stream of Two Creeks
and A Big Puddle stopped. Until Canada
Day, July 1 when Red and -I first watched
the Blue Jays self-destruct in late innings
to the Yankees, then dined on Weber's
hamburgers, Muskoka's haute cuisine and
finally slept badly in the back of a van at
Lake Opeongo.
Bleary-eyed and bushy eye-browed we
arose next morning to conquer Algonquin
- to go where few men have gone before,
to live in the wilds by cunning and instinct,
to ... relive seven days of our younger lives
-Witbdut averting hurt.— -
We didn't have to remind each other of
how much time had elapsed since our last
canoe trip.. The portage and Opeongo
stores did that precisely: twenty dollars
per day to rent a canoe!
• "No, no" came our early morning. pro-
test "we don't want to rent a Chrysler, we
just want that 15' Kevlar with all the patch
jobs."
Twenty dollars a day. "Does it come
with two guys that paddle and pottage?"
Twenty dollars a day. "Do you own it at
• the end of the rental?"
You can actually rent a car these days
for less money than you can rent a mold-
ed piece of fiberglass from an Algonquin
outfitter
•
Opeongo, I believe, is an old Indian word
for "Gotcha!"
And then there's the Ministry of Natural
Resources.. Here's a department of
government which has stood by while most
of our lakes and rivers are being polluted
and now that the fish are pretty much in-
edible, they come up with the bright idea
to charge us to catch them. Ten dollars for
a fishing licence. Had the Ministry of
Natural Resources been in charge of dos-
ing the barn door after the horse got loose,
they'd have slopped the horse with an en-
try fee when he returned and pawed at the
door. Then there was the per night, per
person fee to be in the park. Algonquin, I
believe, is an old Indian word for "Cash!"
But were we bothered by the profiteer-
ing that has taken hold of our great out-
doors? But of course not, for this was
Canada Day and we as Canadians have the
feel of government footsteps up and down
our spines.
And so we launched our canoe with our
eight -pound back packs and forty -dollar
Tilley hats and thrust our paddles into the
cold, dark depths of Lake Opeongo until we,
were hopelessly lost in Jones Bay.
When you're lost in the wilds, the first
thing you notice is that you can't stop
somebody and ask directions. According
to our map the last resident of Jones Bay
was John Dennison, a pioneer farmer who
was killed by,a wounded bear in 1881. No
information remains to indicate hether .
or not the government was able td extract
a death tax from Jain or collect a bounty
on the bear.
Like the lost tribe of, the Faeawii we
paddled in circles in the land of dead
pioneers and bleeding bears until a woman
and her 10 -year-old son breezed by as if out
for a Sunday spin and put us back on
course. Gawd but I hate it when you're
playing the roles of two tough Tilleymen
and you require an off-stage cue from
Maid Marion to move the plot along. When
the lady was well out of earshot we told her
to mind her own damn business and like
two rugged coureurs de bois (remember
the rotating mail strike was still on) we
plunged deeper into the guts of the beast
known as Algonquin.
We sliced through the waters of the East
Arm like men on a mission. Fur traders
laden with beaver pelts, Eskimos in
kayaks brimming with whale blubber or
early enterpreneurs hauling rafts laid low
by pallets of ashtrays with pictures of
Mounties - these ground breakers showed
no more grit and grace than Calgary Red
and I. We portaged into Wright Lake and
crossed it•in a push and eight strokes of the
paddles. We portaged into Bonfield Lake
and took its measure with the disdain of
two men overmatched for the enemy
earth.
We set up camp at the start of a three-mile
portage that would take us so far into the
busy oblivion that no woman, with son or
not, would be able to tell us where to go.
Maybe it was the smoke that waffed
around the campfire until you sense you're
Wrapped in a very bad Tampa cigar.
Maybe it was the meal Red cooked which
reminded me why when I see a sign that
reads "Home Cooking" my car ex-
celerates reckless in the opposite direc-
tion. Maybe it was the 26 -ounce of brandy
from a 'plastic orange juice bottle that
seemed to evaporate in metal cups that
still carried the 89 cents Canadian Tire
price tag.
But at some point a jack rabbit came in-
to our camp and did an Irish jig around the
fire.
• Sid, this young, leggy rabbit hopped
around the camp sniffing and eating the
food scraps we threw at him and then pro-
ceeded to run around in circles kicking up
his heels and disappearing into bushes on,
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