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Series was balanced and in-depth All the hard work will pay off one day Ijust wanted to thank you for writ- ing such a comprehensive and balanced series on water issues and concerns of Waterloo citizens. I hope these articles generate some additional interest and activism from the greater commu- She voiced the ancient student's plea: "Give us a break!". I also used to wonder why it was that my teachers couldnt get together and work out a slightly more humane homework schedule which didn't invoke so much potential for colli- sions of medallions. Guest columnist Ashley Brooks' editorial brought back memo- ries of my own school days (which took place just slightly after the last Ice Age). Even nbw, 20 years later, I still wake up in a cold sweat some mornings. having dreamt about a Rt) it's not that I don't care. Truth is, like any- And again, that's OK. As many men so often say, ne else. I like my house to look nice. "As long as you're happy, Honey, we can paint this But like almost every other married men, I've whatever colour you like." come to the conclusion, quite happily by the way, Part of that, I'm sure, comes from the fact the that my opinion doesn't matter on some items, vast majority of men are colour challenged. In this/particular case. that would be the colours we paint the house. - - We've been five years in this house. and most of the walls in the main areas were still a brilliant shade of coptracty's btige, Mysteriously. small chips of paint began to arrive on the walls. stay for a few days, and then disappear. Then. sadly, the experiments ended. I quizzed my lovely and quite patient wife on these occurrences, and she revealed that yes, indeed, she was consid- ering paint colours. I should have kept quiet. That simple question led to an almost four-year search for the perfect Colour. Shortly after we moved in, the tegiaie signs of change were akin. - - _ _ Arid of course, I ww/apprised of every one. Nay, not apprised , con§ul_led! _ _ More bizarre than that, all the girls were brought into the discussion. plus their boyfriends. relatives, friends. neighbours. and I think the guy who want- ed to look at my gas hill. Everyone who even knew what a colour is had a chance to give their opinion. Again, ith nut that I don't care, I recognize. how- ever, a basic fact of married life. Ifwe both like something, we will get it, If she likes something and I dorit, we will gm It. If I like something and she doesn't, it's as ill don't (‘vi-n exist, When green is no longer green Catherine Fife Waterloo LET"] certain midterm in my third year Real Math course that l was sure I had failed. "I've failed - omigod I'm not going to graduate!", The most important tests were the ones that never received a grade: the most powerful tools I mastered were not the conjugation of a verb or the differentiation of a variable. True story. And I still occasional- ly pause to remember how grateful I am that "real" life doesn't come with a weekly homework assignment. Or does it? School is a microcosm of "real" life, meant to prepare us for "real" life. I've often said that many of the most abiding lessons I learned were not from the text books or the lec- tures. The lessons I learned were how to manage multiple competing deadlines, prioritize work. deal with difficult, demanding and yes'. unreasonable people. School is also about learning how to learn. It's about achieving and yes,sometimes failing, and learning-to deal with the fallout from these events. These forrhed'a solid basis for the careerfs) I've chosen. It's about learning to recognize and celebrate your successes with- out requiring external recognition. Each time we make a mortgage pay- ment someone doesnt always tum up to shower us with confetti (sad, but true...). School provides chances to learn alt of these lessons while the stakes are still relatively low. ,, ___ 7 A Once you prbceed into "real" life, the stakes become much, COMMENT Part of that. I'm sure, comes from the fact the vast majority of men are colour challenged. To us, still stuck in caveman times, there are only -- a handful colours - white. black, EV t r brown. red. green and blue, and r. ' [l I l ’ 1 maybe yellow. purple and pink. I R KE ‘ Of course we're wrong about that. \ "That's a nice shade of brown," I , t l say, only to be told, “It's not brown "LPs, g ‘ but Arabian Sands" or some such V 4 l bizarre name. out I missed a spot. The colours? Well they're really quite nice. I'm told they "warm up" the space and make it look more "open and inviting". Sure Homey, if it makes you happy. Um- room is green and the other areas are gold, Oops. I mean Sandstone Dream and Herbs du Provence. . Hear more of Brian's thoughts m1 1va WIN: the 1mm. Morning Crew Furry weekday morning/rom 6 to 9 am. on Waterloo radio ttation In"; 3 " K If, FM. Anyway, finally a couple of weeks ago. colours were chosen. This was done with the help of a colour con- sultant. And now it's all painted. Unfortunately. no one rushed home like in those decorating shows on television, exclaiming, "Oh my God!!! Oh my God!!" Close though. Someone did point much higher. So, I guess what I'm saying is, l HEARYOU. The world is a much fiercer place now than it was 20 years ago, both in and cm of school. We need my be prepared to compete in a world market. N the same time. there is also a whole world of possibility open to us. School, even with all its admit- ted flaws, is the experience that will prepare you. _ Even'at today's inflated tuition rates. it's the best value you will ever get for me money. - _ - At this time in your life you have the luxury of knowing that your only job is to learn, which is a tremendous gift. In terms of coping with it all. it might help to visualize each school term as a sprint. Our skills need to be World class. not just best in the class. Learn to focus on the goal, tune out the distractions, and visualize yourself flawlessly leaping over each barrier that will meet you on the way to the finish line Visualize how you will recover if you do stumble. - _ - Prepare yourself like an athlete, Be fit in body. mind and spirit. Hit the groqu running. - Then visualize yourself standing at the finish line, a little breathless, and feeling the more subtle. but lasting. enjoyment of a hard won It lasts for a finite) amount of “Him” F, l I. 1asperance Waterloo The recent announcement by the provincial government that it has made a deal with Bruce Power that will allow the nuclear electricity provider to go ahead with the refurbishment of two idle reactors is good news for the Ontario economy. The Bruce station near Tiverton, Ont., has eight reactors, including six that are currently operating. The two idle power units have been out of commission for almost 10 years. lt is owned by Ontario Power Generation, the government's elec- tricity utility, and operated by Bruce Power under a long-term lease. The "25-bi0ion brogram is the result of a deal between Bruce Power and the Ontario Power Authority, and will produce enough generating capacity tlo power ope million homes. After refurbishing and restarting Units 1 and 2, Bruce Power will then move onto refurbishing Unit 3 and replacing the steam generators in Unit 4. - In [Still the project could take up to seven years to complete and create 1,500 well-paying construction jobs for skilled trades people. - - - _ ___ . _ Although it may be premature to discuss, the Ontario Power Authority is also set to deliver a report on Dec. I that will likely pave the way - - a r ""1 for some new nuclear generators to be ‘ S l l I', I l c K I I l constructed in Ontario in the next 10 ‘ - LI ' . Depending on the success of the just announced Bruce project these new reactors may also end up at the 'I'wenon site. Nuclear energy is reborn In addition to the construction jobs, Bruce Power will also be replacing many of their current workers as they are set to retire, and they will also be hiring up to 500 more workers to operate 1 and 2 once they are restarted. To date, the provincial government has invested approximately $8.5 bil- lion on new electricity supply. In per- centage terms. this equates to: nuclear, 62 per cent; renewable. 20 per cent; and natural gas-fired generation, 18 per cent, ms is in addition to the approxi- mately $200 million the government has earmarked for conservation mea- Closing coal plants by2o09 left one option It is true that nuclear energy is not without its risks. Due to the complexity of these projects. almost all restarts and new construction have come in late and over budget. There is of course the question of what to do with nuclear waste and the huge concern over public safety if something ever went wrong at a nuclear power plant. . choosing to invest in the Bruce ia private utility) over Pick- ering ( a public utility) the risks of cost overruns are more great- ly borne by the private utility and their shareholders rather than the individual taxpayer: In the gdvernsdent's wisdom they have decided these risks are outweighed by the benttittwhich include ._- - -. . m o the construction provides a huge economic stimulus and job creation: _ - p q it shows the international and national business commu~ nity that Ontario is serious about meeting its long term electric- ity requirernerlts and nuclear energy bums cleaner than coal. - I ah, sure all of theses issues wéie considered by the govem- ment but it is this last point that is most critipal. Dwight Duncan. the former minister of energy, has called coal burning electricity plants a "dinosaur technology" that contributes to our bad air and smog-alert days. And we dont need reminding that this past year was the worst in history for bad air days in Southwestern Ontario. including a year when we had a smog-alert day irt mid-winter and one as late as October. Of course much of our smog problems are generated south of the border from coal-fired generating plants. We also know that our own coal-fired plants in Nanticoke. Sarnia. and Toron- to also make a measurable contribution to our had air. Because of this, the provincial government plans tn close down our coal plants by 2009. A difficult hut comm rhnico for the future. Getting nut nf coal and investing in nuclear cnt'rgy. natural gas. wind, and other sustainable mmhnds of oncrgy pmdur lion. in addition to heightened rnnservalinn programs. ares part of a multi-pronged approach aimed at securing our provinces long-term electricity needs and. coirtcidvnrallv, hrlping to wrun- our Innngnn pmsprmy Ii-mail your qm'SIinns m seanWseanstrickland.com With thanks, m gluhmndmmlr um and clvartajralliar-rg . nuclear techhoiogy is a proven and reliable source of ener-