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8 - Orono Weekly Times Wednesday, August 9,2006 Basic Black by Arthur Black Life: It's a risky business the sound of 'heat bugs' zinging in the trees. On My, it's been a quiet summer in our neighbourhood. neighbourhood. I drive by the baseball diamond each afternoon and there's nobody there. Passing the school track I occasionally occasionally spot the odd jogger and maybe one or two old duffers like myself walking their dogs. I hardly ever see any kids. I remember my pre- pubescent summers. They were chock-a- block with kids running, biking and lollygagging every which way. Spontaneous baseball games, hanging out at the comer store, riding our bikes around the schoolyard, heading off to 'the bush' to climb trees, scoop frogs and throw rocks. We played catch, tag, touch football, football, flew kites - a few diehards even dug out their sticks for a game of road hockey, this with really hot afternoons we trekked down to the swimming hole for a dip, purloined bath towels towels slung over our shoulders. shoulders. Back then, Canada's population was only about half what it is now. So where are all the kids hiding? Answer? Take your pick: hunched over a computer; fiddling with Game Boys; watching Survivor re-runs or down in the basement hooked up to their intravenous intravenous iPods. According to Mary Rivkin, associate professor professor of education at the University of Maryland, kids just aren't spending as much time outdoors as they used to. "We're afraid of being outside because of strangers, sun and insects," says Professor Rivkin. Besides, she says, "Outside play takes lots of supervision." supervision." We were too stupid to know that, back in my day. In our brute ignorance, ignorance, we just went ahead and played by ourselves. I don't recall any instructors OR strangers. As for sun and insects - we basked in one and collected the other in jam jars.. We considered free sunshine and weird bugs to be two of the best reasons for being outside in the first place. But we don't trust Mother Nature enough to leave her alone with our kids anymore. When we teach youngsters about the Birds and Bees - nowadays it's not about procreation; it's about West Nile Vims and anaphylactic anaphylactic shock. Speaking of threats, real and perceived, the next time you're at your local swimming pool, think twice before you try a one-and-a-half gainer off the diving board. It might not be there. According to the Wall Street Journal, diving diving boards are being removed from swimming swimming pools all across the U.S. and new pools are being built without them. Too dangerous? Nah. Lots of people are injured in swimming pools across North America every year, but surprisingly few of the injuries involve diving boards. Trouble is, the ones that do, also involve lawyers. U.S. legal beagles representing representing injured divers (or people injured by divers) routinely win damages of $5 million or more. It's a brave pool owner who will okay a diving board with that threat flutter-kicking in the wings.. You have to wonder just how cocooned the fear mongers would have us be. Did you know it is now illegal to feed pigeons in London's Trafalgar Square? Drop a sun flower seed near Nelson's Column and you'll have coppers on your case faster than you can say Bobby's your uncle. "Public hygiene" is the official explanation. explanation. Amazing the British Empire held out against pigeon poo as long as it did, I guess. It was an Englishman who wrote the famous line 'Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun' but we've all been cured of that. Nowadays we treat the sun as if it was some rogue nuclear reactor. We don gloves and floppy floppy hats and lather up in sunscreen to protect ourselves ourselves from it. Which brings us to the latest red alert - sunscreen. sunscreen. Seems that nanotechnology nanotechnology (the science of mucking around with sub-atomic particles) has produced a flock of microscopic additives which scientists have been enthusiastically shoveling into new products like... sun screen. One such additive--the additive--the titanium dioxide dioxide nanoparticle, which is used to .block and absorb sunlight-- has been found to cause brain damage in laboratory laboratory mice. Does it have the same effect on humans? Nobody knows... yet. But a scientist scientist . with the U.S. E 'n v i r 6 n m e n t a 1, Protection Agency says "The general message is that we should take these results seriously and be veiy careful with nanoparticles." nanoparticles." So what's your pleasure: pleasure: no sunscreen and skin cancer? Or sunscreen sunscreen and brain dam-: age? A funny guy named Kevin James says "I discovered discovered I scream the same way whether I'm about to be devoured by a Great White or if a piece of seaweed touches touches my foot." Same here, Kevin. I think we all need to work on recognizing the difference. Police RIDE stats for Classified Business Directory €88* Auto Wreckers and Used Cars JOE MENDONCA Manager Phone: 905-987-4636 91 Cowanville Rd„ Newcastle, ON L1B1L9 LARRY JACKSON PLUMBING & WATER CONDITIONING • Rump Repairs & Installation • UV Lights • Water Softeners • Free Estimates For Friendly, Expert Service Call 905-983-6214 "We're here to serve you" ROBERT E. JACKSON Heating • Electrical Air Conditioning Authorized Consumers Gas Dealer Independent Lennox Dealer Furnaces • Air Conditioners and Appliances Main Street, Orono 983-6221 GRUNDY'S COUNTRY UPHOLSTERY 3375 Cone. Rd. 7 (905) 983-9874 www.grundysupholstery.com BRYON GRUNDY ♦rom <SHH3Q- 9 Fine Finishes by T. Osmond COMPLETE Furniture Repair and Restoration Caning • Veneering • Carving French Polishes & Wicker Repair 905-786-2477 Experience You Can Trust RESTORATION & General Contracting Inc. 24 Hour Emergency Service Water • Fire • Smoke Wind Damage Custom Homes Additions • Renovations Interior/Exterior Certified • Licenced Insured ADAM CUMMINGS 905-697-7172 adamrci@bellnet.ca ; V/: 'i; ' Orono Veterinary Hospital Dr. Derek de Haan Dr. Mathew Stephenson 30 Cobbledick St., Orono f LOB 1M0 Tel: 905-983-9010 ! Fax: 905-983-5308 0 # R >„ Complete Residential Renovations, Additions and New Structures Windows'Soffit'Interlocking Waterproofing • Doors • Roofing Ceramic Tile • Siding : Eavestroughing 'Chimney Repair - Specializing in Stone Facing ~ FREE ESTIMATES Call Mike Bonneau Mobile: 905-435-4181 Home: 905-983-9005 6495 Leskard Rd„ Orono LOB 1M0 Automotive Specialties BRIAN COUViER Licenced Technician 117 Mill St. Orono LOB 1M0 905-983-9919 "Look to us for all your, general repairs to most make <5 models" Rims • Tires • Brakes • Tune-Ups Custom Exhaust Systems. ■ Castrai Engine Oil & Filler Service 'Specials' Car & Truck Accessories V Professional Installation I&T Carpenters • Licensed • 27 Years Experience • Custom Homes • General Contracting • Additions • House Trim • Stairs • Decks •Windows «Doors • Barns And all carpentry- related work. IVAN JONES TONY FANARA Orono 905-983-5303 Hampton 905-263-9988 Debra IngUs Interior Design 'apery f >-~r j --|i 4312 Conc&6rK*l 905-983-5900 Clarington Beech Centre 26 Beech Ave„ Bowmanville Modem Facility Historical Setting Weddings, Banquets, Meetings (30 to 250 people) Self-catering kitchen. 905-697-2856 CHATTERTON ELECTRIC RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL POLE LINE CONSTRUCTION Dave Chatterton Orono, Ontario Tel: 905-983-5546 If no answer: 905-983-5940 ■ This past-weekend, - the Durham Regional - "r Police Traffic Services Branch conducted R.I.D.E. in various locations locations throughput the region. Over the course of the weekend,approximately weekend,approximately 2,500 vehicles were stopped, with the following results: 6 - roadside breath tests 2-12 hour Driver Licence suspensions 1 - drivers arrested for an Impaired driving offence 7 - provincial offence notices issued 1 - Novice Driver charged with blood concentration above zero The Durham Regional Regional Police will continue with their efforts to stop impaired driving throughout throughout the rest of summer summer and into the fall season. season. The Traffic Services Services Branch would like . to encourage everybody to plan and don't drink and drive. Drive to stay alive. Your support Is vital. Research into the root causes of heart disease and stroke will help millions live longer, healthier lives. As a leading funder of heart and stroke research In Canada, we need your help, Call 1-dbb-HSHNFO or visit www.heartandslroke.ca . $ IICARf ANO 51*0*1 FOUNDATION Finding answers. For life.