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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2007 7THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 20076 GRAPEVINE with Mike OLeary The Way I See It I like to think Im as much an environmentalist as the next guy. Like most people, I buy the occasional lottery ticket, dreaming of making the big score. The two things are linked, however obliquely. Have you noticed the new style of lottery tickets being issued? In response to the allegations of crooked lottery retailers, the best the rocket scientists at the lottery commission could come up with was a ticket almost twice the size, with a place for you to sign the slip on the front. And, of course, a remote device where you can check your own results. My point is this: how many more forests have to be sacrificed to produce the paper for this new format ticket? Paper, I should add, that is usually ripped up and thrown in the garbage rather that being recycled as most newspa- pers and junk mail is. My second problem is with the remote ticket checking devices. I dont think the world needs more plastic devices. Especially not ones whos sole purpose is to check tickets on a game with astronomical odds. My oldest daughter did her masters thesis on the lottery. In it she proposed that the odds on winning were so slight that buying a lottery ticket was in fact a tax on the poor and middle class. I proved her wrong. Right after witnessing her de- fend her thesis I bought a lottery ticket for spite. She ended up with her masters degree in Economics but I won ten bucks on that ticket. Thatll teach her, I thought. But I digress. I submit that, in these envi- ronmentally conscious days, that surely the Lottery Corporation can come up with a better solution to an internal theft problem. They appear to be reacting to the symp- tom of the problem rather that the problem itself. That being a few dishonest retailers. While were on an environmental theme, did you hear that Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize? Actu- ally, I think he split it with another person. Al Gore won a Nobel Peace Prize? How does that work? I mean, I know he popularized the environmental situation we find ourselves in because of greenhouse gases amongst other things. Gores winning the Nobel is a clear signal to me that the whole Nobel jury system has become way too politicized. That public relations and hype trump honour- able achievements these days. A clear case of style over substance if you will. There is no doubt Al Gore had had an impact, especially on west- ern society. But the man is basically a polished newsreader, much the same as Lloyd Robertson or Peter Mansbridge are. As opposed to doing anything for world peace I submit hes done more to create world panic. I havent experienced this massive a reaction since the Y2K scare had everyone convinced the worlds computers would dissolve into a mess of prime numbers and planes would be falling from the sky. We all know how that turned out and how many billions that were squandered world wide. I guess, with a Nobel under his ample belt, that Gores next temp- tation will be to run for president. If he does, Hilary is toast. That proves the old adage: every cloud has a silver lining. * * * Also along environmental lines, did you hear that one of the coali- tions against nuclear power down in the States has announced that a group of rock stars have come out publicly as being opposed to building more nuclear generat- ing stations? I wasnt familiar with many of the names, which is understandable. Im sure my children might recognize most of them. But one name stood out. They signed the Dixie Chicks. That would be the same group who, during a concert in London, England said they were ashamed George W. Bush was a Texan.. ~ Their careers nose-dived for some time after. So why would anyone who can spell atom think the Dixie Chicks endorsement would have a posi- tive effect on that same president? I would think the Dubya will either ignore the protest or triple the number of nuclear plants au- thorized to be built even after he leaves office. Regular readers will know that I dont have a lot of patience with movie stars, or other entertainers, confusing public popularity with, well, brains. So many of these types think they have a delusional mission to profess their often hair-brained schemes in public. The really sad thing is that many fans follow every word, as if theyre lemmings in full flight towards the cliffs of disaster. My prediction is that this public relations stunt will backfire and that it wont even come close to the presidents desk. * * * On a last note, I was up north closing up for the winter last weekend. A particularly sad time for me. On the drive back, I noticed that the yahoos on the 4011 are still at it. I was scooting along at a re- spectable 100 plus kph in the fast lane passing traffic. Sure enough, the speed demons were out weaving in and out of traffic. When I moved to the middle lane they passed me like I was stand- ing still. The faster the OPP get these Indy 500 wannabes off the road the better. Keep up the good work, officers. Think Green, Peace and Protect of its sons and daughters as the rest of the world is completely unaware of them. The Canadians proudly say of themselves and are unheard by anyone else that 1% of the worlds population has provided 10% of the worlds peacekeeping forces. Canadian soldiers in the past half century have been the greatest peacekeep- ers on Earth in 39 missions in the UN mandates and six on the non-UN peacekeeping duties, from Vietnam to East Timor, from Sinai to Bosnia. Yet the only foreign engagement that has entered the popular on-Ca- nadian imagination was the sorry affair in Somalia, in which out- of-control paratroopers murdered two Somali infiltrators. There regiment was then disbanded in disgrace a uniquely Canadian act of self-abasement for which, naturally, the Canadians received no international credit. So who t o d a y i n t h e Un i t - ed S t a t e s knows about t h e s t o i c and selfless friendship its northern neighbour has given it in Afghanistan? Rather like Cyrano de Bergerac, Canada re- peatedly does honourable things for honourable motives, but instead of being thanked for it, it remains something of a figure of fun. It is the Canadian way, for which Canadians should be proud, yet such honour comes at a high cost. This past year more grieving Ca- nadian families knew that cost all too tragically well. Salute to Canada... Continued from page 6 SCOOBY DOO! Acton BIA is looking for a life size Scooby Doo to use as a prop for the Halloween Haunted House. If you have one and are willing to loan it to us please call 519-853-9555. The Halloween Haunted House is on Saturday, October 27 from 1-3 p.m. at Off The Wall Youth Centre 45 Mill Street East followed by a Ghost Walk to receive treats from the downtown Merchants. Knitting, Crochet Banish the grey November skies with an explosion of colour and texture at Halton Hands in Motion Knitting and Crocheting Guild hosts a display of both decora- tive and functional items at the Marjorie Nazer Gallery of the Georgetown Library and Cultural Centre, 9 Church St., Georgetown. The free event runs from October 30 November 11 and is open dur- ing regular library hours. This year guild members were challenged to push the boundaries of knitting and crocheting by using unconven- tional materials, techniques, and/or subject matter in their creations. For more information, contact (905) 877 -1521 Book Sale Eden Mills is a tiny little village, well known for its Writers Festi- val. Now it may become known for another reason The Really Big Book Sale Plus! On Sunday, Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Community Hall. Anyone with books to donate, can take them to the Community Centre on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 9 a.m. and they will be included in the sale. Tables are available if you would like to come and sell your own books with half the profits yours. Donate 25% to the Eden Mills Community Centre and 25% to the Eden Mills Mill Pond As- sociation, specifically the Carbon Neutral Project. Contact Brian Skerrett (856- 0128) or Kit Bresnahan (856-1188) for further information or to donate items. Childcare Lessons Cherish Private Home Childcare is presenting How to become a Licensed Childcare Provider on Wednesday, Ovt. 24 from 5-6 p.m. at the acton Employment Centre at 45 Mill St. E. Call 519-853-5014 to register. Identify gulls Guelph Universitys Arboretum is offering a Gull workshop on Friday, Nov. 6 which will enable participants to develop their skills on identifying interesting gulls in the area. The unique workshop will show how gull plumage, size difference, bill shapes and behav- iours of 13 different gull species identifies them. A one day field trip to the Niagara River and Niagara Falls follows on Saturday, Nov. 17. Its one of the best places in the world to see large numbers of gulls of many different species. Register by Friday, Nov. 2 by calling the Arboretum at 519- 824-4120 ext. 5238. Quilters meet Halton Hills Quilters Guild will meet at Halton Hills Cultural Centre, 9 Church St. (at Main) Georgetown, ON, Monday, Ovt. 22 at 7:15 p.m. (Guild library at 7 p.m.) for the Lorraine Stang- ness Trunk Show. New members welcome. Contact Ann Totten, President at 905-877-6038. Whats Your Beef? Put it in a letter to the Editor! Deadline is Tuesday at noon. SOLEMN PARADE: Pipes skirled and drums beat as Legionnaires from the Fall Convention at Acton Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion marched to the Cenptaph on Mill St. Sunday afternoon. The solemn serivce for those who paid the supreme sacrifice had Legionnaires from many parts of Southern Ontario signalled an end to the threeday convention at the Legion by the Lake. The Acton Branch was applauded for their hospitality over the length of the convention. - Photo by Jack Carpenter