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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010 7 GRAPEVINE with Mike OLeary The Way I See It Continued from Page 6 contribute to economic growth by creating employment and re- source-use activity. In thinking beyond these artifi- cial parameters that humans have set (and remember, they were only set during the middle of the 20th century), we can imagine a more sustainable way of living, as York University economist Peter Vic- tor has done in his excellent book Managing Without Growth: Slow- er by Design, Not Disaster. As Dr. Victor points out, we cant change overnight, but by imagining a fu- ture in which humans live within the Earths capacity to provide for our ongoing needs, we can steer ourselves in the right direction. Once we have imagined this better future, we can get serious about solving the challenges we have created with our now out- moded ways of thinking. Issues such as climate change, mass extinctions of plant and animal species, pollution and toxic chemicals in the environment, water shortages, and more re- quire scientific and political solutions along with the ef- forts and support of citizens throughout the world. Were well into the 21st century. Its time we started thinking and acting like respon- sible 21st century citizens. Its time to imagine what we really can be. 21st century... St. Joseph mourns The St. Joseph Catholic School community is in mourning for Mrs. Amber Nelson who joined the staff as a new Grade 5 and 6 teacher in 2006. Mrs. Nelson battled cancer for 22 months be- fore succumbing to the disease last Thursday. School officials said they are comforted in the knowledge that Amber will watch over us from Heaven as she watched over her class here at St Joseph School. We thank our Father in Heaven for the love and happiness that Amber shared with us. Amber Nelson leaves her hus- band David and family, including her mother and father Brenda and Peter McDonald. Crawford winter fun Exploring an Iroquois village, storytelling and a fire start- ing demonstration are on tap at Crawford Lake Conservation area in Milton each weekend until March 1. There are guided tours daily at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. along with workshops on winter birds you can build a birdhouse and snowshoeing. At 2 p.m., visitors can learn how to snow- shoe and children can make their own miniature snowshoes to use on the 19-km of hiking trails. Weather permitting you can rent snowshoes or cross-country skis. Crawford Lake Conservation Area is located at the corner of Guelph Line and Conservation Road, five-km south of the 401. Business nominations The search is on for the best business, best entrepreneur, best environmental iniative and best employee of the year in Halton Hills. The Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations in each of the categories selected nom- inees must meet or excel in the qualifications in their category until noon on January 29. A selection committee, includ- ing previous winners, will assess the nominees and select the win- ner in each category. For more information call Sue at 905-877-7119. Lottery winner Actons Brandon Valente will buy house and clear his debts with the $72,171 he won in the Pro Picks Pools lottery last week. The 26-year-old bought the win- ning ticket in a Haliburton variety store. Music at Knox Everyone is invited to Knox Presbyterian Church which is hosting an open-mic talent night on January 30 a family fun night featuring music and refreshments. Organizers hope that people who can sing, dance, act or tell stories will come and share their talent. The show begins at 7 p.m. Sing for supper Local songwriters are invited to submit original material to be considered for a CD being pro- duced as a fundraiser for Actons FoodShare food bank. Material up to three mp3s can be sent to tim@truemusicproduc- tions.com and tracks will be selected by a panel of judges in- cluding local music producer Tim Alberts at True Music Produc- tions, a Roxy concert promoter and FoodShare official. The deadline is February 26 and a CD release concert will be held at the Roxy on Mill Street on April 17 when the CD is for sale in local stores and businesses. For more information call True Music Productions at 905-702-7470. Olympic effort Talk about spirit check out the multiple displays at the Ral- lis Family Restaurant where the theme is all things Olympic. The walls are decorated with framed photos of the December 19 Olym- pic Torch relay through town, and a colourful tribute to the 2010 Games that open next month. Owner George Rallis was understandably proud when a scout for one of the out-of-town torchbearers in Acton was asked to find a good place for breakfast after the relay and chose Rallis. Photos of the Rallis celebration by family and friends of Aaron Wolkoff, the first person to carry the torch in Acton, is part of the Olympic display, engineered by Eileen Quackenbush. The big hullabaloo about the new scanners that are be- ing installed at Canadas major airports seems to be much ado about nothing, no pun intended. The apparent new round of pan- ic at airports was caused by the Christmas Day attempt to blow up a Detroit bound airliner. The terrorist element in the world has had to become more imaginative. There was a case several years ago by some dim- wit to use his shoelaces to blow up a transatlantic flight. That failed I forget why. In this latest attempt the wannabe bomber hid the explosives in his underwear. Instead of exploding it caught fire and another heroic passenger beat the smouldering mess out with his hands, suffering burns for his efforts. I must admit my first reaction was that I hoped the good guy have the bomber a few extra shots for the rest of us. The feds, in my opinion over reacted to this incident, immedi- ately ordered the installation of new scanners at major Canadian airports. The civil liberties types immediately went into panic mode. The new scanners pro- duce and image that penetrates clothing to produce a full body image. Anything shaded differ- ently than the black and white image prompts further inspec- tion. Like most people I have seen pictures of scans in the news- papers and on T.V. Perhaps its my advancing age, but I found absolutely nothing titillating about these images. Truth be told they reminded me of pic- tures of a robot. IF you find that arousing my suggestion is that you seek professional help or a good mechanic. The actual panic began state- side and spread quickly north. The Americans suggested that any passenger not subjected to increased security might have difficulty entering the excited states. The actual breakdown in security was caused by the failure of American intelligence agencies to share information. This ball-buster, plotter was even reported to American intel- ligence (an oxymoron?) services overseas. On at least two or three occasions the opportunity was there to intercept him be- fore he boarded an airplane. His own father advised U.S. officials overseas that his son was a po- tential threat. Because of their failure the rest of the world has to suf- fer flight delays and intrusive searches. Actually, you dont have to put up with all this, you could always just stay home. There are no increased security procedures, provided you travel in Canada, preferably by car or bus if you must be environment- ally sensitive. Other security measures just seem knee-jerk. Not being able to leave your seat in the last hour of the flight, have a blanket over your lap, or have carry-on lug- gage on flights to the U.S. are but a few. It reminds me of the ban on nail clippers. I dont see threatening to ruin a flight at- tendants manicure as being a serious threat. Canada has decreed that travel- lers under 18 wont be scanned. The reason? Because the gov- ernment is concerned that the images produced could violate international laws regarding child porn. I dont mean to minimize the growing problem of child porn. Obviously, its ab- horrent. But, to even connect the two proves to me that someone other than perverts has a dirty mind. Somewhere in a six bed- room cave Osama in hiding is laughing his butt off. There is also an up-roar over intensive personal questioning. Some are claiming its primar- ily people of mid-east ancestry that are being singled out. While I doubt that to be a fact I can understand how individuals come to that conclusion. No-one wants to think that authorities suspect they are capable of mass murder or mayhem based on their ancestry. But it doesnt just happen to Muslims or folks with mid-east ancestry. On her last visit to Ireland, my youngest daughter was intensely questioned by officials in Bel- fast. Why? Our name is southern Irish and mostly Catholic. She was returning to northern Ire- land after finishing school to visit friends she had met while attending school there. She was staying at a friends house in a county well known as an I.R.A. stronghold. No, she did not know the address and telephone number, she was being met. Was that racial profiling? Of course it was. Was she angry? Yes, Erin is a sweet girl who wouldnt hurt a fly. After thinking about it though and remembering all the problems northern Ireland has had for decades she under- stood. She still didnt like it, but she understood. So if youre going to go to the airport, youd better heed the ad- vice of my school boy loosely translated Latin saying Always wear underwear. It was funny 50 years ago. Semper Ubi Sub Ubi NEW YEAR SOCIAL: Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott, second from left, and his wife Lisa greeted constituents, including Georgetown Councillor Dave Kentner and his wife Gerry at a New Years Social on Sunday in Fergus. Submitted photo