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The Times Advocate, 2004-07-28, Page 66 Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday, July 28, 2004 Opinion Forum News Seniors' perspective Continued from page 5 Government of Ontario consumer hotline at 1-800-268- 7095 or cbsinfo@cbs.gov.on.ca Comebacks for yourTelemarketers • "Ask them to hold and then set down the phone and walk away." or "Pretend you can't hear them." or "Say you don't have a phone." or fake gastro-intestinal prob- lems in the bathroom. • "Give me your phone number and I'll call you right back." • I can't believe you got this number so quickly. I got out of prison yesterday. You know what I was in for? Selling telemarketers' personal information to people that do bad things to them. Can I get you to stay on the line for just about thirty five more seconds while this thing downloads your cubicle location and headset I.D.? or "This call will be recorded for quality assurance." • You've reached Santaland: If you have caller I.D., when you pick up the phone say, "Hello this is buddy the elf." Then talk really fast so they can't understand you when you say. "Loser says what?" • Guess where you have called... "Trixie's Call Girl Service. Press 1 for an appointment. Press 2 if you are seeking employment. Press 3 if you are a law enforce- ment officer." • Glad you called, Say: "Am I ever glad you called, my (wife) or husband is away and you can never know how lonely I am. How are you doing?" Miscellaneous Facts: 1. A Penny Saved: Save money by purchasing the least expensive dishwasher soap, then add a few teaspoons of vinegar to the dishwasher. The vinegar cuts the grease and leaves the dishes spot free and sparkling. 2. Keep an empty soda bottle handy, in case you ever need a hot water bottle. Just fill it with hot water and wrap it in a towel. 3. Keeping The Critters At Bay: Bay leaves should be placed in all kitchen drawers and in the flour and sugar containers to keep crawling insects away. Mice can't stand the smell of fresh peppermint. Plant it around the outside of the house to keep them away. Oil of Peppermint placed on a piece of cloth and placed in their favourite location will also work. Lest We Forget: Cecil Verity Pickard Cecil Gerald Verity Pickard was born on August 19th, 1896, in Exeter, Ontario, and he received his Public School and High School education in Exeter, Ontario. Lt. Cecil Gerald Verity Pickard, of the Royal Air Force, enlisted with the Canadian Army Dental Corps, in December, 1916, with the rank of Sergeant. He was home in Exeter visiting with his parents, in the early days of March, 1917. He informed them that he would be leaving for overseas shortly, after his return to his base in Toronto. He then left for overseas in April of 1917. He served with this unit until October, 1917. At this time, he was given the opportunity of returning to Toronto, Ontario, for the purpose of finishing his course at the University, but he chose rather to remain, and he transferred to a more active arm of the service, The Royal Flying Corps. After finishing his course as an observer, he proceeded to France early in May of 1918. With Nancy, France as his base, he continued flying steadily for three months, for the most part, bombing different German positions. On the 7th of August, he went to England, on a two weeks leave. He returned to Nancy, France, on August 21st. The following morning, he was detailed for a day bombing attack on Mannheim, Germany Although heavily attacked, they carried out the raid successfully, but on the return journey, the enemy attacked still more vigorously, and he was shot down over the town of Rastatt on the Rhine. Writing from Grosvenor House, The Greenway, Uxbridge, Middlesex, Lt. Brie said: "I was in the same Squadron with Cecil, and was very friendly with him, and before last August 22nd, we had both promised each other that if anything happened to either of us, the survivor would write to the other's parents. We came back off of leave in England together on August 21st and we were detailed for a raid on Mannheim, the next morning. I was flying as Observer with the leader, and Cecil just to my right, and a little to the rear. Soon after crossing the lines, we were heavily attacked, and owing to our radiator and engine being riddled, we were the second machine to go down. Then Cecil's pilot took the lead, and I will now give the story from different "eye- witness" accounts, which I managed to obtain whilst in Germany, as a prisoner. The remainder of the forma- tion got to Karlsruhe, and dropped their bombs, but on the return journey, they were again heavily attacked, and whilst over Rastatt, a place about 30 miles over and almost on the River Rhine, Cecil and his pilot were both shot down. There is no doubt that Cecil's death was instantaneous, but although he spun to the ground, into a woods from 1,200 feet, the pilot was still just alive, when released from the machine. His subsequent fate I do not know." "Cecil was given a full military funeral by the Germans, and the English Officer Prisoners who attended the funeral said everything was done very nicely. Seven of our Machines were shot down that day, but although our casualties were always very high, the Independent Air Force can justify the claim that their efforts did more to end the war than anything else. By the way, Lt. Cecil Gerald Verity Pickard, was buried in the Niederzwehren Cemetery at Rastatt. He was at the age of 22 years!" "Apologizing for having to write a letter like this, but at the same time, feeling that I had an obligation to carry out to Cecil, and expressing my deepest sympathy at your great loss. Believe me,--- Yours very sincerely R. Brie." Word was received of a fallen hero. After several months of suspense, during which time hope mingled with fear as to the fate of their son, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Pickard received a letter from one of Cecil's companions telling of his death, he being shot down while returning from an air raid on a German town. The word that the parents received at that time was that he was missing, and later word was received that his Machine had been seen to glide down in enemy territory. Lieut. Brie, who had been recently released from a German prison camp, was the one who sent the above information concerning Cecil's death. Cecil is buried in the Niederzwehren Cemetery, which is located 10 kilo- metres south of Kassel. The Commonwealth plots now form a separate cemetery, lying beside the Russian cemetery. The cemetery was begun by the Germans in 1915, for the burial of prisoners of war who died at the local camp. During the war, almost 3,000 Allied soldiers, and civilians, including French, Russian, and Commonwealth, were buried there. In 1922-23, it was decided that the graves of the Commonwealth service- men who had died all over Germany should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries. Niederzwehren was one of those chosen, and in the fol- lowing four years, more than 1,500 graves were brought into the cemetery from 190 burial grounds in Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse, and Saxony. Lt. Cecil Gerald Verity Pickard was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Pickard of Exeter, Ontario. On the 1901 Census of Exeter, Ontario, it shows Cecil's father, Robert, was born December 7th, 1867, and his mother Elizabeth, was born January 7th, 1863. His brother, Clarence, was born August 15th, 1894, his brother, Allan, was born January 2nd, 1895, Cecil him- self was born August 19th, 1896, and his sister, Marguerite, born April 8th, 1900. Next week: Norman Hilton Saunders W.W.11 Meeting the Devil: A few minutes before the church service started, mem- bers of the congregation were sitting in their pews talk- ing. Suddenly, there was a loud "bang!" and Satan appeared at the altar. Everyone started screaming and running for the door, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from the evil incarnate. Soon, the church was empty, except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his pew without moving, seeming oblivious to the fact that God's ultimate enemy was in his presence. So, Satan walked up to the old man and said in a loud booming voice DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" Yep." AREN'T YOU AFRAID OF ME?" "Nope." "DON'T YOU REALIZE I CAN KILL YOU WITH A WORD?" "Don't doubt it for a minute." "DID YOU KNOW I COULD CAUSE YOU PROFOUND, HORRIFYING, PHYSICAL AGONY FOR ALL ETERNITY??" "Yup," was the calm reply. "AND YOU'RE STILL NOT AFRAID OF ME??" asked Satan. "Nope." More than a little perturbed, Satan asked, "SO, WHY AREN'T YOU AFRAID?" The man calmly replied, "Been married to your sister for over 50 years." New licence plan: Safety versus privacy? (This letter was sent to Hon. Harinder Takhar, MPP Ontario Minister of Transportation, Toronto, ON) Dear Minister: We are aware that Ontario has revealed plans to adopt biometric technology on driver's licences, possibly to be integrated with health cards. The new technology would enable a North America wide data base of all drivers. As you are aware, such a system already exists for com- mercial drivers continent -wide. Currently, the records of Ontario drivers are accessible to police in neighbouring provinces and states. However, drivers whose licence has been suspended sometimes find another jurisdiction farther afield that will grant them a licence. A biometric driver ID data base for police across North America could help prevent sus- pended drivers from obtaining a licence elsewhere. Some drivers who break the law while in a different jurisdiction go scot-free. A North American data base would make it possible for drivers' records to include traffic infractions committed out- side the state or province in which they are licenced. Privacy concerns aside, in the event of a crash, a single smart card that combines the health card with the driver's licence may prove useful. It could enable emer- gency responders to access life saving med- ical information. If the proposed North American biometric ID is imple- mented, we hope Canadian and American customs offi- cials will be authorized to accept the resulting driver's licences as identification at border crossings. The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 led governments to look more seriously at standardizing licensing systems. Anti- terrorism legislation has also made many Canadians think about whether safety should take priority over pri- vacy. With the prospect of a continent -wide biometric identification systems for all drivers, the need to balance privacy with safety will be one of the challenges of the 21st century. EMIILE-J, THERIEN, President Canada Safety Council, Ottawa, ON God bless Canada Dear Editor: With regard to the federal election held June 28, 2004, I would like to say thank you to the candidates from each party for putting forth their best efforts in repre- senting their party and their parties' platforms to all Canadians. Whether you won your riding or failed to win, understand, you are ALL winners for doing your best. However, a big congratulations to our Huron -Bruce Member of Parliament Paul Steckle for winning his fourth consecutive mandate. Never before has a Liberal member of parliament of Huron -Bruce ever achieved this goal. There is a reason Mr. Steckle that you have received your fourth consecutive mandate with your constituents. You are by far, the most honest, loyal, trustworthy politi- cian that this country and riding has ever had the hon- our of knowing. You have always put the constituents of Huron -Bruce, first and foremost! When you were first elected in 1993, your slogan was, and still is "Priority; the People". You have never stepped down from those three words and I know that you still believe that 'We the people' are still the priority in your mandate. I know personally, that you are highly respected by your colleagues in the House of Commons and that Prime Minister Paul Martin has nothing but praise for the representation that you take for the people of Huron - Bruce. Mr. Steckle, on behalf of my wife and children we thank you for what you have done and still have to do to make this a better riding and country. Thank you for your commitment to making this great country of ours a little bit better because of your politi- cal talent. We as a family are blessed to have you represent us in Ottawa. May God continue to bless Canada! And may God bless Paul Steckle M.P. Huron -Bruce. Respectfully, PAUL AND PATTY DOUGHERTY & FAMILY, Exeter, Ont. An historical footnote In the course of researching a branch of the family which farmed in Lambton County in the 1800s I located a registry listing deaths in Brooke Township, including the village of Alvinston, in 1895. On the page of interest to me, covering approximately six months, 20 deaths were recorded; the certificates were signed by 11 differ- ent doctors. Citizens searching high and low for medical help these days will find that an astonishing ratio. By comparison, how many doctors can Stephen Township muster today? Or all of South Huron? Sadly, some aspects of our front-line health care can not match what we had a century ago due to underfund- ing, federal -provincial turf wars and policies which over the years capped medical school enrolment and limited the number of foreign -trained doctors allowed to qualify. In these days when we line up seemingly forever for hi -tech medical treatment, spare a thought for those saddlebag and horse and buggy heroes who looked after the well-being of our ancestors. And perhaps accepted a sack of corn or a couple of chickens as payment. KEITH KINCAID, Kingsmere Grand Bend