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The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, March 17, 1999 Page 4 file Canadian talesman tOti/ © ^ Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climie and W. R. Climie 1854 - 1878 M. A. James, 1878 - 1935 • Norman S. 13. James, 1919 -1929 G. Elena James, 1929 - 1947 • Dr. George VV. James, 1919 -1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited Also Publishers of The ClaringtonICourticc Independent ' P.O. Box 190, 62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 Tel: 905-623-3303 HOURS: Monday, to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Fax: 905-623-6161 Internet - statesman@ocna.org Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 For 145 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Rick James Plant Manager - Rick Patterson Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Supervisor - Ralph Rozema, Tim Bowers, Kevin Britton, Suzanne Christie, Sharon Cole, Roy Gray, Laurens Kaldeway, Steve Kraayvanger, Barb Patterson, Sean Pickard, Tyler Sellick, Jim Snoek, James Stephenson, Vance Sutherland, Matt Sycr, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Editorial Laverne Morrison Brad Kelly, Jennifer Stone, Michelle Wyton Office Supervisor-Angela Luscher, Junia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford, Michele Rutherford Editorials Let's Prepare For Next Computer Scare : From what wc have seen, it would appear that the Year 2000 computer challenge has been met. Wc can safely predict that computers will run as normal on the first day of the new millennium and that the financial system will not collapse, telecommunications equipment will work and aircraft will not fall from the skies. The Year 2000 problem is being solved because of the massive amounts of publicity and the outright fear that was associated with this issue. But, there arc some lessons to be learned here. In fact, it would be unwise for us to assume that the world's computing computing system will operate without a glitch for the next 1,000 years. The millennium scare has taught us, first of all, the extent that wc rely on computers in our everyday life. The Y2K bug had the potential to bite almost everybody because of the simple reason that almost everybody requires a computer cither directly or indirectly. So, exactly how safe arc the systems we use? What would happen if terrorists, unfriendly foreign powers or evil geniuses managed to infect computer systems with some kind of virus? Would the world's computer systems topple like a house of cards? : One of the difficulties with computers is the fact that they arc inter-related and inter-linked in ways that few other tools have ever been. With non-computers, things are not so connected. For example, if one highway is cut off, all the other highways can continue to function and traffic can be re-routed. Computers don't work quite that way. In fact, one of the scariest aspects of the Y-2000 crisis was the possibility possibility that those businesses and individuals who had updated their own computers might still be dragged down by other systems which couldn't meet the Year-2000 requirements. The other amazing thing about the Y2K problem is the fact that some of the best minds in the world didn't foresee the problem when they designed computers in the sixties. ■ The Y-2000 scare should teach us to look very carefully at the machines which bring us information and entertainment, entertainment, hold our financial data, our medical records, and a long list of other important details about our lives and our businesses. How reliable arc they? How private is the information wc feed them? And, above all, how can wc avoid the next round of fears over computer meltdowns. The Y2K crisis may be solved. But what new threat might be waiting in the wings? Or arc wc being too paranoid? Policing Costs , Durham's elected officials arc getting ready to include a separate line on our tax bills indicating the costs of policing. The line might also say "Don't blame us!" For that, clearly is the reason why police services will be posted separately on the tax bill. Elected officials arc trying to distance themselves from the cost of policing. They do have a point. Police operate at arm's length from the Durham Region Council. They arc responsible to their own police commission. commission. And yet, it's the Durham Region which must pick up the tab. The situation is a little like having part of your household budget controlled by a next door neighbour who can spend as he or she sees fit and then send you the bill. ; Although regional councillors could, in theory, cut police budgets, such a decision could be appealed to a higher higher provincial authority. Durham also has to consider the fact that, out of all possible possible reasons to increase taxes, providing more funds for the police is the most politically acceptable. But, policing costs arc not the only aspect of municipal spending not directly controlled by Durham Region. Recently downloaded responsibilities such as GO Transit, land ambulances and social housing could be included on that list. In the case of GO Transit, the Greater Toronto Services Board calls the shots. And, while Durham can make decisions about ambulances and social housing, it is required to keep tip with provincial standards. The result is this: Durham Region seems to have less control over its own destiny. Is this evidence that Durham's days as our second-tier government arc numbered? Recycling School Designs Our local separate school, hoard has come' up with the idea of cloning schools to save time and money. The board is planning to use the saine design as a Peterborough school when it builds a new separate school in, Courlice this year. ; Apparently, such a move can trim about 30 per cent from lljc cost of engineering and architectural Ices And it can hosten construction by a couple of months. There is also some advantage to the fact that recycled school plans have been tested in the field If a building works efficiently, why apt duplicate it? After all. mass production has cumin efficiencies efficiencies in the realm of auto-making and other consumer products. Perhaps buildings are in the same categon And, with a school system the size of the separate board, it would be quite easy to ensure that duplicate buildings were not constructed in the same town or even in adjoining communities. communities. Most taxpayers would never know whether their com inanity school was built from scratch or "cloned" Irom an existing plan. The efficiencies that would result would allow hoards ol education to spend more money on school programs and less on bricks and mortar. Letters to the Editor Let's Get Rolling on Skateboard Park Dear Editor, Although the weather of late does not feel like it, spring is just around the corner. Wc all know it is. With this thought in mind, I am ' impelled to write this letter regarding the construction construction of a skateboarding/rollerblading park in Clarington. Last year, an article was published in your paper stating the Municipality was planning to build a skatcboarding/rollerblading park in 1999 with a price tag in the range of $150,000.00 (to the best of my recollection). I hope this construction will be happening soon, as the skateboarders and rollcrbladers arc already starting their recreational activity. As parents of one of these youths, and I am sure I can speak on behalf of many other parents, parents, this park cannot come soon enough. Obeying all the bylaw signs posted around the community, when asked where wc will allow our youth to skateboard, the answer that most clearly stands out in my mind is my husband's comment to our son. "Well it appears the only thing you can do with your skateboard and not violate any bylaws is walk around with it under your arm and look cool." With the new curriculum for grade nine making 40 hours of community work mandatory, mandatory, perhaps the town and the youths could gel together and help each other. The youths could offer their services, and satisfy their' community work and the town could have some volunteer work helping to create and maintain this park. Let's try and get this show on the road instead of the skateboarders and rollcrbladers before spring has sprung and gone. Sincerely, Debbie Chamberlain Some Facts About Licences Dear Editor, There has recently been a lot of media attention paid to graduated licensing. The current current requirements for a G1 licensed driver to apply for a road test is now eight months. , The Ministry of Transportation closed, down over fifty test centres across the province last year. The remaining centres arc providing inadequate information and are suffering suffering under the weight of those seeking their licences. The required time of eight months for a G1 licensed driver is a graduated system. The new driver must successfully complete a Driver Education course that is recognized by the Ministry of Transport, the Ontario Safety League and or the Driving School Association of Ontario in order to complete and gain a certificate certificate licence. Following this, the new driver can then book an appointment for a Road Test, presented on Test Day, or wait one year. Most drivers arc now required to wait between six to twelve weeks to have a road test appoint ment, due to Ministry cutbacks. The back log created by cutbacks is an everyday occurrence. occurrence. The G2 licensing system is similar in its setup, but is usually handled incorrectly in its information and testing, again due to. lack of- time and personnel. • Continued on page <Nonc> Statistics have shown that the graduated licensing system works, but many of the Ministry of Transportation employees arc overburdened and cannot effectively make this system work to its best capacity. When every driver on our roads is taught to have respect for the privilege of driving and take the time to update their driving knowledge, knowledge, perhaps then we can lower the excessive increases in both insurance premiums and 'Road Rage'. Sincerely, Annette Kitkemueller Accent on Advanced Driver Training Bowmanville, Ontario Thoughts Unlimited - by Rick James Still Sufferin' Last week's column about our introduction to snowboarding snowboarding must have hit home with a lot of readers. Everywhere I went, people were stopping me to say, "That's exactly what happened to me when I tried it. You're right, it docs suck." If you missed last week's column, Kim and I tried snowboarding snowboarding for the first time and both of us came away with nagging injuries. She is sure her tailbonc is cracked and I re-injured an old hockey injury in my shoulders. Although I would never speak on her behalf, I have to agree with a number of readers who suggested that I shouldn't be trying contact sports now that I've hit the magical magical 40 mark. Nall, we're not getting older, we're just getting more aches and pains. After a week of avoiding anything remotely dangerous, I figured it would be okay to take our thrce-ycar-old daughter, Miranda, out for another ski lesson this past week-end. A ski lesson for her means that Dad gets to hold the tow rope with one hand while she gels pushed up the hill between my knees. In case she gets in trouble, I have my other hand to pick her up and carry her the rest of the way. For the trip down the hill, we have a number of training methods. She can ski down the hill beside me while clutching my poles. Or, she skis between my knees and I hold her by her waist. We've tried a tether, but she's not quite ready for that yet. Our final technique is for me to ski down the hill backwards, holding her in control with my poles. All of the above seem to work well. It can he quite tiring for good ol' Dad, hunched over someone less than half my height, but we both have fun doing it. Normally, my hack can handle the strain, hut I guess I didn't didn't heed the warnings my brain was receiving about snowboarding the week-end before. Before we even reached the ski hill, I reached in the back of the truck to fetch a ski boot and heard a muffled "click" in my hack. Oh, oh, that can't be good. Having heard that sound once or twice before, 1 knew the correct action should have been to load Miranda back in the truck and head home for an ice pack. But, how do you explain to a three- year-old that Daddy's hack is instantly too sore to go skiing? What the heck, let's give it a go! Two hours later, Daddy's in deep trouble. The white flag is raised and I'm able to convince Miranda that she's tired and has had enough. I started limping towards the car, dragging her behind me up the slope to the parking lot, praying she wouldn't remember 1 had promised her hot chocolate after our lesson. "Daddy, aren't we going to gel Imt..." Okay, so maybe a rest in the chalet would help. She sipped on her hot chocolate while I stretched anti twisted in front of other skiers whose eyebrows grew higher with each groan, Normally, I can get kinks like this worked out, hut this one was gelling tighter, It was time to get out of there. With half a cup of hot chocolate left, I cracked open the parenting bag of sneaky tricks. "Hey look over there...slurrrrrp." I left just enough hot chocolate in the bottom of the cup to get away with my devious plan. One more sip for Miranda and it was time to go home. Okay, so I won't win the Parent of the Year Award. Too bad! I had to get out of there. The trip to the ear would have been easier in bare feet on broken glass and fiery coals. After twenty minutes, wc made it, but not before Miranda went head over heels in the only mud puddle in sight. That was probably some sort of payback for stealing the hot chocolate. Three days later, my aching sacroiliac is belter, but not much. I'm writing this column on a laptop computer while silting on the couch strapped to a heating pad. Fortunately, the ski season is just about over so I won't miss much. Spring is just around the corner when I think I'll try some other spoil less dangerous. Next up, bull riding, parachuting, and hang gliding. Dow Jones Over 10,000 As I'm cuddling with my heating pad writing this, CNN just reported the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumping over the 10,000 mark. For those not familiar with the Dow Jones indicator, it's a value placed on 30 major stocks on the New York Exchange which serve as an indicator of how well the stock market is performing. performing. Dow stocks include companies like Coke, Disney, Exxon and General Electric, So, with all the excitement of this historic moment, it's time to play Rick's Stock Market Game again, Faithful readers will recall about two years ago, I randomly selected a number of stocks from the Toronto Slock Exchange using a dartboard. Then, 1 contacted contacted a professional stock broker and asked him to select five slocks lie thought would perform well over a four week period. When the results were tabulated, the random dart selections selections clobbered the professional stock broker's choices, Proving that, once again, if slock brokers were any gootl at what they do, tliey wouldn't have to he stock brokers for very long. The problem with repeating this game now is that most stock brokers won't want to give me their picks for fear of losing. So, if there is anyone out there with a financial background who is up to the challenge, feel free to send in your five favourite slocks. Then I'll get out the dartboard and pick mine. You can fax your picks to me at 623-6161. When I unhook from the umbilical cord of my heating pad, I'll tabulate the results anti print them each week. The gauntlet has been dropped for anyone up to the challenge. challenge.