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Dear Sir: '}â€"h;r;, has not been an impartial, objective and balanced article covering the Pomeroy affair to be able to form an informed opinion about it. +. It is true that every citizen of Canada has a legal right to a presumption of innocence. What is less clear is whether a politician can uphold this legal right amidst media perceptions that effectively portray him/her in a scanâ€" dalous fashion. Standards are much higher for elected officials and the preâ€" sumption of innocence lasts only until a formal indictment is made. At that point, innocence is replaced by a perception of scandal and the media takes over. The media have always believed that perception is reality â€" it‘s what sells newspapers. One has to wonder if Pomeroy will have justice anymore than O0.J. will south of the border. € I‘ve read an awful lot of fanfare surrounding this individual and his wife from the local press but no real facts â€" no real t_ruths only allegations. I have a bigger problem with the byâ€"law which permits the loophole of retaining an endless stream of the best lawyers in the province to be covered by the taxpayer than I do with the individual utilizing this provision. What happens in the event this individual is found guilty and cannot cover legal fees incurred? Who pays then? On the flip side, I wonder how redeeming the media and all those castigatâ€" ing Pomeroy today will be, should he be exonerated of all charges. We should remember that this is also a possibility and Pomeroy could return with a vengeance to wreak havoc on those who reeled havoc on his career. When you really get down to it, politics and perceptions can be brutal and unrelentâ€" ing. Te n ... Ian Oliver Publisher Robert Glasbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander Editor Geoff Hill Circulation Director Teri Casas Office Manager Tim Coles Production Manager Tan publisher _ f re Rd., ille, is one ie Metrol rinting, Pul in istributin Oliver o esn eruser, ce, ion Gu k ington , Collin Robert Glasbey Advertising DirectOT Connection, Etobicoke Guardian, etown In g:m/ Acton Free Pross, Kingston This Week, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist and Sun, Norman Alexander Editor fi,og,mwu,:,“fidg, Trome: '}Xi,%, Canadian ‘Champlon, Mvspcauge News: Hill Circulatio lewmarketâ€"Aurora Eraâ€"Banner, North York Mirror, Oakvil eaver, Orillia g::ffc CO y n Director Todar This Week, Peterborough This Week, Richmond HiV sas flice anager rmi ut iberal, Scarborough Mirror. C All material gublhhod in the Oakville Beaver is protected by eopyrliht Any Tim Coles Production Manager reproduction in whole or in part of this material is strictly forbidden without the consent of the publisher. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize and reject advertising. In the event of typographical error, advertising goods or services at the wr or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. Dear Sir: T find it somewhat sad to think that a Mayor, who has served the Town of Oakville in a manner which puts Oakville‘s best interests first, may be chalâ€" lenged upon unsubstantiated grounds. Mayoral candidate, Ed Schuermer, says although he has no political expeâ€" rience (this is somewhat disturbing in itself), he wants to represent small busiâ€" nesses. He seems to place "the Blame" of the difficulties facing small busiâ€" nesses upon Mayor Mulvale. I argl;e that his challenge is misplaced. If he would like to fight the forces which make "life" for small businesses a struggle, he should be running for provincial office. I think it is more accurate to thank the NDP of Ontario for the striking blows to small, locallyâ€"run businesses â€" those which are common in Oakville. Nice try Mr. Schuermer, but Mayor Mulvale, someone with Oakville‘s best interests at heart... will certainly have my vote. Roman Bandi Candidate may be running in wrong arena Political perceptions can be brutal The two main causes of animal extinctions since 1960 are the introduction of new species and the destruction of habitats â€" these two together acâ€" count for 75 percent of all extinctions. Known causes of animal extinctions since 1960 UA 467 Speers Road, Oakwlle, Ont L6K 354 845â€"3824 Fax: 845â€"3085 Classified Advertising: 845â€"2809 Circulation: 845â€"9742 or 845â€"9743 Tonya Waller ; onsidering the abundant evidence at hand, I supâ€" ; pose I should have realâ€" ized the obvious eons ago; that in modern society, sleep probâ€" lems and disorders are epidemic. You‘d think this tired fact would have dawned on me (or, yawned on me) when, for instance: Q Countless members of that strange sect of society known as "parents" tell me they have a terrible time staying awake past the bedtimes of their children. I know my wife, to cite an examâ€" ple, hasn‘t remained alert or awake passed the opening credâ€" its of a rented movie since, well, since she joined the strange sect of society known as "parents." Waking up in a sleepy society (Granted, the majority of movies available over the past eight years are hardly worth staying alert or awake...) Q Our oldest son, Matthew, began his alarming, frequent deepâ€"sleep sessions of walk and talk. Actually, stumble and scream. I think a guy should start seriously contemplating sleep problems and disorders anytime he‘s torn from his dreams, wrenched from his slumber by the bloodâ€"curdling screams of a child who has just greeted a wall. With his face. But the fact that we are, indeed, one sad, sleepy society didn‘t really hit home until I recently received in the mail "The Sleep Better, Live Better Guide". This great Guide, pubâ€" lished by "The Better Sleep Council" is crammed with mindâ€" boggling evidence, information, and statistics about the innumerâ€" able sad sorts like me who have difficulty successfully socializâ€" ing with the sandman. A guide guaranteed to put you to sleep The Sleep Better Guide states that one of every five North Americans "may be living in a twilight zone of sleep deprivaâ€" tion that undermines their health, sabotages their producâ€" tivity, blackens their mood, clouds their judgment, and increases their risk of acciâ€" dents." Wow. That paragraph alone nearly cured my insomnia...Nearly, but not quite. The Guide calls sleepâ€" deprived people "the waking wounded." And notes that these sleepy souls are, typically, comâ€" plainers who are unable to perâ€" form at their peak levels, and unable to cope with much of anything. According to Boston‘s Institute For Circadian Physiology, disrupted sleep and sleep disorders cost North American businesses as much as $70â€"billion yearly in lost proâ€" ductivity, industrial accidents, and increased medical bills. So, how much sleep do peoâ€" ple need? The Guide says not everyone needs the old eightâ€" hour beauty rest every night. What people need is enough deep, uninterrupted shuteye to wake feeling full of renewed energy. About two people out of every hundred can get by on five hours (Jackie Gleason reportedly slept only two or three hours a night). A few people in every hundred need ten hours (my wife, for instance, swears on weekends that she needs twelve; our boys don‘t buy it and neither do I). Studies suggest sleep needs change as we age. The older we get, apparently the less we need. Wonderful. Since I‘m averaging about forty minutes a night now, I can look forward in my dotage to 10 good minutes of sleep nightly. Ouch. The Better Sleep Council‘s Guide is excellent. It contains interesting, eyeâ€"opening inforâ€" mation regarding what happens to humans when we sleep. It addresses the complex stages of sleep, and discusses in depth REM. Because I‘m such a smart guy, a real rocket scientist type, I read and fully understood the entire section on REM (and, yes, I think their latest compact disc, Monster, is boss!) Also, the Guide offers 10 terâ€" rific tips on how to sleep better; tips on buying a good bed; and advice on what to do if you posiâ€" tively, absolutely cannot sleep. These tips include snacking on "snooze food" (carbohydrates are sedatives); trying to stay awake (rather than worrying about going to sleep); or playing mindgames (counting sheep, playing the name game, reviewâ€" ing your tax returns from the previous seven years)... Finally, if late some night you still find yourself suffering from any of the more than 100 sleep disorders that have been identiâ€" fied by sleep specialists (everyâ€" thing from insomnia to snoring, sleepwalking, and teethâ€"gnashâ€" ing) give me a call â€" chances are I‘ll be up. Or, perhaps even better, write the Better Sleep Council in Downsview, Ontario.