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-- 4 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, July 9, 1985 editorial Join The Fun Festival Days, 1985 version, is just about upon us. We would suggest there is enough of a variety of events lined up over the three days to appeal to just about everyone, no matter what their age. Festival Days is organized by the Scugog Chamber of Commerce and over the past few months, much work has gone into planning for the festivities. The event used to be known as Western Weekend, but the Chamber of Commerce committee rightly felt it was time for some changes. There are plenty of brand new events that appear to have all the makings for some good old-fashioned fun times. The success of Festival Days will depend on you. There is a complete schedule of events printed on page six of the Festival Days insert in this week's paper. Take a look at it, and come on out and join the fun. Show a little pride and community spirit. It's your show and the more people who take part, the better it will be. Queen Street and part of Water Street will be clos- ed to traffice for the entire three days. Merchants will be holding sidewalk sales. A midway will be operating at the north end of Water Street. Virtually all of the activities over the three days will take place in one of two locations: Queen Street in front of the Post Office and in Palmer Park at the new Bands- tand and the Festival Tent. Both are handy and convenient for the public. You "can dance, listen to music, see a magic show, find plenty to eat, watch a skit, sip a cool beer, enjoy any one of dozens of events and activities, or just stroll the street, taking in the sights and sounds of a mid-summer festival. So, come on Scugog Township. July 11, 12 and 13 is for you, and for the many visitors expected in the com- munity over the three days. Enjoy it, and help make it a great community SuCCess. ' Any Buyers? Leave it to the people at Stats-Canada to come up with some dizzying financial info about the 'net worth" of this fair country. The minions who toil away in the nation's capital must have put fresh batteries in the calculators, for they announced last week that all Canada's assets amount to $3.7 trillion, while the liabilities are $2.1 billion. That leaves a net worth of the country at a nifty $1.6 trillion; or put another way, each and every Canadian from babes in arms to seniors is worth $64,000. Knowing that, we can't help but wonder if the banks would let us use that 64 grand as collateral for a loan or mortgage. it may be comforting to know that Canada's net worth has been growing nicely at a rate of just over six per cent each year since 1961. But the balance sheet is turned a shade of red by the ever increasing size of the federal-provincial deficits. Just how Stats-Canada arrived at all this creative accounting remains one of our best-kept state secrets. And really, who cares? Maybe we should be thankful the Japanese have not made an offer to buy the country lock, stock and bar- Disgusting From a distance, Lake Scugog looks pretty nice on any bright summer day Blue water, gentle waves, white spray from a power boat, the often dazzling colours of a wind surfer's sail From a distance, the lake can be the very picture of pristine beauty. But venture a little closer to the water's edge and the scene quickly changes There are the weeds, to be sure; great tangled masses of grey-green weeds that look thick enough to stop a submarine And then there's the man-made garbage Floating beer bottles, styrofoam bait containers, plastic wrappers of every kind, pizza boxes, cellophane bags. garbage bags, Javex bottles, dead fish, oil cans, and coftee cups by the hundreds. These are just an example of the trash spotted recently along the shore and in the watef from Birdseye Park to the tennis courts: a disgusting sight People are worried about the weeds. They should be more worried that the lake appears to be a garbage dump. Why is it that some people drop their trash wherever they please: in the lake, along the shore, over the side of the boat. They should be dropped in the lake. \o) AA) 0) oKID'S 4 chatterbox by John B. McClelland GOING TO THE MOVIES Taking my children to the movies has become a troubling experience. My children, I'm sure, are much like other kids their age (nine, seven and five). They like to go to the movies. Because we don't go very often, it is something of a special treat, for them and myself. But there are problems, hidden pitfalls for the well- meaning yet unsuspecting parent. A couple of weeks ago as an end-of-school oc- casion, | decided to take my gang of three to the movies. Let me tell you that just finding a movie within eas driving distance of Port Perry is a bit of a problem. Stuff like Rambo or Beverly Hills Cop are immediately out of the question, of course. Walt Disney's Return to Oz was considered, but vetoed by the nine year old with hearty approval from the seven year old who said he saw the play at school this year. So, after careful deliberation and study of the movie listings in the paper, I suggested Cocoon. They all agreed, though the two older boys would have prefer- red Goonies. My choice of Cocoon was based on several sound reasons (so I thought, at the time). First of all, it was directed by Ron Howard. You know him, the Fonz's freckle-faced, clean cut, all- American side-kick on the popular TV show. If he had anything to do with Cocoon, it must be pretty harmless, I thought to myself. Secondly, the reviews for Cocoon were excellent One writer for Time magazine called Cocoon "the sum- mer's sweetest, most exhilerating fable." Another reviewer called it 'a cousin to ET and Close Encounters.' Those were both fine movies for all ages, so that's a plus. I was a little worried that the movie had a Paren- tal Guidance classification and a Theatres Branch war- ning that said "Swearing." But I was prepared to take the chance that "'swear- ing" meant the odd damn, sugar, or jeepers-creepers In fact, when I stepped up to the ticket w' ket at the Oshawa Cinema, I asked the young lady behind the counter just what "swearing" means, and whether this movie would be suitable for young children. "It has a PG rating, so that means it's OK for everyone,' she said quickly [shrugged and handed her a $20 bill OK, my three kids aren't saints [I'm not naive enough to think they haven't heard a four-letter word. In fact, I've muttered a few myself, even in their presence, like the time I got the car stuck in a giant snow-drift last winter But personally, I don't like swearing in the presence of any children, no matter what their age or the circumstance. Well, the swearing warning for the movie Cocoon is right on the money. There are no outright vulgarities, but the dialogue throughout is peppered with language: that might best be described as "salty." Early on in the film, I winced a couple of times at the language, and wondered if I'd made a big mistake bringing three children of such tender years to this picture. I won't go into a lot of graphic detail here. I don't think the language would offend most adults, but maybe it was a little 'too salty" for a seven year old with sharp hearing. The swearing was anything but gratuitous and in fact, right in keeping with the kinds of characters in this film. There was also a very clear reference to what hap- pens to a certain part of the male anatomy when a per- son jumps quickly into cold water. The audience, in- cluding my kids, got a chuckle out of that. I'm sure my five year old girl laughed because everyone else was laughing. And then there was the nude scene. Totally inno- cent, to be sure, but a clear view of a young lady's back- side as she walked into a swimming pool. Gee, I thought to myself, the marquee ad or the Theatres Branch warning didn't say anything about that. Just swearing. Don't get me wiong. Cocoon is a fine movie, but in retrospect I don't know if it's suitable for kids of five, seven and nine years of age. And that's the dilemma a parent faces these days when trying to select the right movie for a family outing. The parental "uidance and Swearing warning didn't mean a thing. Some movies with a PG rating have the warning "coarse language." The movie 'Life Force" with an AA (adult accompaniment) rating has the warning horror, violence, partial nudity. Now what the heck does that mean"? In theory, I could take my kids to see that film. So could any parent. The James Bond movie with all its violence and sex- ual innuendo has a PG rating. But surely this kind of film is not suitable for pre-teens, even if they are with their parents So what does a parent do when trying to select a film for the children" Rely on the marquee warnings? Try to find one with a Family rating? Good luck. Go to the movie first alone and then decide if it's OK for the youngsters"? (Turn to page 6) LOE a Se et hat Cia Lr ie SEL RS a