The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Text messaging hieroglyphics? The first one I can recall is ASAP. We all know that means-- as soon as possible. Probably FYI (For Your Information) was next, and after that, I'm guessing it was TKS (Thanks). What I'm talking about is the recent slaughtering of the English language due to the rise in popularity of text messaging over cell phones. Years ago, when computer chat rooms came into being, there was a small movement, but now, with cell phones entered into the fray, it's rampant. I use text messaging on my cell phone once in a while-- it's quick, easy and cheap. I've sent messages across town, and across the country, all with amazing speed and ease. But I'm not cool-- I use full words and add punctuation to make it right. Sometimes the hieroglyphics escape me, and I'm looking at my cell phone, wondering what language this stuff is written in. I guess I'm just a born traditionalist and reject change, especially when it comes to words. I recall, back when I was a teen, I was going to sell my car. In those days, most guys simply put a sign in the rear side window to advertise the car while driving around. My girlfriend at the time said she'd make the sign for me and I immediately agreed. When she produced the sign, I was mortified. She had used a marker to make the words `4 SALE' with my phone number under it. Being my girlfriend, I HAD to place the sign in the car, but unfortunately, it blew out the window one day as I was booting down the highway. "Damn Scotch tape ain't what it used to be," I recall saying. In retrospect, she was decades ahead of her time. She was taking advantage of text messaging lingo long before the cell phone was invented. Apparently a 13-year-old British girl wrote an essay in text messaging short-hand, that left her teacher totally baffled. She wrote "My smmr hols wr CWOT. B4, we used 2go2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3:kids FTF. ILNY, it's a gr8 plc." The teacher finally had it translated, (proba- Ted Brown bly by some other teen) and it read "My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York. It's a great place." Okay, when I see it `translated' I find it a bit clever-- annoying-- but clever. In response to text messaging short-hand, I've researched it a bit and have a list of some of the more common acronyms to help me decipher messages. Some, like `How r u?' (How are you) B4 (Before) or BTW (By the way) are pretty easy to figure out, and G/F and B/F are straightforward to save letters for `girlfriend' and `boyfriend'. (But ya gotta get it right, 'cuz apparently BF is Best Friend, not Boy Friend".) Other short forms get downright impossible, like BAU (Business as usual), G2CUA (Good to see you again) or TLK2UL8R(Talk to you later.) And `TNSTAAFL' (There's no such thing as a free lunch)! That one would take me `4ever'. Keeping up with the times, (and to make more efficient use of this space in the newspaper,) I've decided to take a shot at writing in text messaging short-hand this week. OTTOMH i DT it wil wrk & most PPL will GU B4 they FIO. OTOH PPL who GFI wil no wht i wrte & W/B if they wnt. BTW EMA @ BTM. IAC its EZ TD & i hope 2 HFU SOL. C U L8r, T. (The full message, in English, will appear next Friday.) (Ted Brown can be reached at tbrown@independentfreepress.com) DON'T MISS OUT Only A Limited Number Of Seats Available For September Call To Register Today! · Micro-dermabraison · Advanced Aesthetics · Chemical peels Diploma · Photo rejuvenation · Electrolysis Diploma · Post graduate Medical · Vascular blemish treatments Aesthetics All Diploma Programs Include Free Kits CERTIFICATE: · Waxing · Manicure/Pedicure · Make-up · Skin care · Body/Spa · Business · Fibreglass/Gel nails FOR CLASS SCHEDULES CALL If long distance:1.866.993.2831 Fax 905.453.3676 49 George Street South (at Queen) Brampton, On L6Y 1P4 905.453.6214 Registered Private Career College Members of the Ontario and National Association of Career Colleges Visit us at: www.mellennia.on.ca 2006 MUNICIPAL HOLIDAY CLOSURE CIVIC CENTRE · The Civic Centre will be closed Monday August 7, 2006 ACTIVAN · Closed Saturday August 5, 2006 and Tuesday August 8, 2006 SENIOR'S CENTRES Acton Senior's Recreation Centre & Georgetown Senior's Centre · Closed Monday August 7, 2006 SWIMMING POOLS · Open Monday August 7, 2006 for the following recreational swim times: Acton Indoor Pool · Leisure Swim · Family Swim · Lane Dick Licata Outdoor Pool · Leisure Swim · Family Swim Gellert Community Centre Pool · Lane Swim · Leisure Swim · Family Swim Prospect Park Wading Pool · Leisure Swim Georgetown Indoor Pool · Closed for the summer 519-853-3140 2:00 to 3:00 pm 3:00 to 4:00 pm 4:00 to 5:00 pm 905-877-1021 1:00 to 2:30 pm 2:30 to 4:00 pm 905-877-4244 8:00 to 9:00 am 2:00 to 3:30 pm 3:30 to 5:00 pm 519-853-3140 1:30 to 4:00 pm FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS 905-877-1133 · Administration closed Monday August 7, 2006 PUBLIC LIBRARIES · Closed Saturday August 5, Sunday August 6, and Monday August 7, 2006 The Following Services Will Remain OPEN For Normal Operation ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS · Burial arrangements (905-873-2601, ext 2614) for a reduced schedule of interments CANINE CONTROL · 905-877-6235 · Shelter by appointment only · Emergency calls only FOR EMERGENCIES · FIRE/POLICE/AMBULANCE: DIAL 9-1-1 109 Happy 10th Birthday Jessica! Congratulations MEGHAN McCRACKEN on your graduation from the Double Degree Program at Waterloo and Laurier with both a B.Math and B. Business Administration. ROAD CLOSURE TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE DUE TO EVENT Notice is hereby give in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, and Town of Halton Hills By-law 2003-032 regarding the following temporary road closures for the purpose of the following community event. LEATHERTOWN FESTIVAL Sunday, August 13, 2006 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Main Street/Hwy 25 to Fellow Street on Mill Street Organized by: Acton BIA If you require any additional information regarding these temporary road closures, please contact Kelly Withers at 905-873-2601 ext. 2330. 110 Love Mom, Dad, Kristina, Kyle and family xoxo Meghan McCracken Love Dad UÄâx fÑÜ|Çzá TAXI & AIRPORT SERVICE GEORGETOWN: 905.873.0097 ACTON: 519.853.0024 24 Hour Taxi Service INQUIRE ABOUT OUR FLAT RATES TO OTHER MAJOR DESTINATIONS ARENAS Acton Arena & Community Centre 519-853-0020 Mold-Masters SportsPlex 905-877-8488 Georgetown Memorial Arena 905-877-9612 · All closed Monday August 7, 2006 HALTON HILLS CULTURAL CENTRE · Closed Saturday August 5, Sunday August 6, and Monday August 7, 2006 UÄâx fÑÜ|Çzá gtå| Toll Free: 1.866.953.0024 Servicing Georgetown, Limehouse, Acton and Surrounding Areas 1 Halton Hills Dr., Halton Hills ON L7G 5G2 Tel.: 905-873-2600 · Fax: 905-873-2347