8 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, March 20, 1990 Letters io the editor Separate school in Nestleton In response to Mr. Colin Kemp's letter in last week's issue, I feel that he has definitely misin- formed the public. I'm sure that Mr. Kemp "must not be aware" that an excess amount of our tax dollars are go- ing towards busing our children to and from school. It is therefore, in the best interests of the parents and community (if so worried about how their tax dollars are spent) to try and establish a Catholic school in a central area most feasible to the children who would be attending. The reason for the need of a separate school in the first place Very good neighbour To the Editor: Today, while driving up the 7th concession towards the Island road, I was surprised but pleased to see my neighbour Harold Mar- tyn, carrying a large green gar- bage bag and picking up the winter debris along the roadside. Can you imagine how lovely our countryside would be if there were less LITTER BUGS and more caring folk like Harold! Thank you Harold. Sincerely, Joy Forbes, R.R. 3, Port Perry is due to the lack of religious in- struction in the public school system and the move towards a totally secular society. As far as denying the communi- ty residents use of the Nestleton Hall (which our tax dollars are also paying for) we have only ask- ed for use of the downstairs level and washrooms. The hall would still be available for use. I wonder if Mr. Kemp's opi- nions would be the same if it was a public school system that was proposed for the area? It sounds to me like Mr. Kemp is prejudic- ed against the separate school system. Sandy Van Bortel, Caesarea, Ontario. Life's Like That by Julia Ashton Crazy English "To err is human." ter yet, excuse. It's difficult, ent. day mistakes. widel Langu cuses. This has become my favorite phrase, or bet- In fact it is my only comeback when some concerned person points out a blatant spelling, grammatical or punctuation error in my work. ou know, writi ence of about 20,000 readers. the finger on a computer keyboard and the whole meaning of a sentence could be differ- nd for an audi- n Take the word "shot." If, while typing this word my finger slipped and hit the wrong vow- el, the new word created (figure it out for your- selves) would be what I'd be in if the word was ever printed in this newspaper. But the problem goes far beyond typographi- cal errors. Ignorance plays a big part in every- Is this ignorance really unaccounted for? | think not, because | write and talk the English language, and although English is the most world, it is also the most bizarre. | am presently reading a book by author Richard Lederer. The book, entitted Crazy English: The Ultimate Joy Ride Through Our e, gives me a whole slew of new ex- eading this book really is a joy ride. Mr. Lederer uncovers aspects of our language He then points out that there is no butter in buttermilk, no egg in eggplant, neither worms nor wood in wormwood, neither pine nor apple ple. and no ham in hamburger. He said that if a sandwich consisting of a ham pat- ty in a bun was ever invented, they would have a hard time finding a name for it. The obvious choice would be a ger is made with beef. And to think, the man is just getting warmed in pineap e little slip of up. longer speaki "When we take the time to explore the para- i doxes and vagaries of English, we find that hot dogs can be cold, darkrooms can be lit, home- work can be done in school, nightmares can take place in broad daylight while morning sickness and daydreaming can take place at night, mid-wives can be men, hours -- espe. cially happy hours and rush hours --- can last an sixty minutes, quicksand works very slowly, boxing rings are square, silver- ware can be made of plastic and tablecloths of ) ] paper, most telephones are dialed by being spoken and written language in the pushed, and most bathrooms don't have any aths in them. In fact, a dog can go to the bathroom under a tree -- no bath, no room; it's still going to the bathroom. And doesn't it seem at least a little bizarre that we go to the bath- | room in order to go to the bathroom?" Mr. Lederer suggests that all English- citizens should be committed to an efburger, since a hambur- Chemical and lawn care To the Editor: Now that spring has arrived everyone's fancy will be turned to green lawns. Farmers will prepare for summer and fall crops. My hope is that this year everyone will be more aware of the dangers of chemicals used both in private and commercial lawn care. The herbicides, insecticides and fungicides used in chemical lawn care were developed to kill living organisms. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that they have serious effects on the health of humans and animals. They are also harmful to the soil and the soil life, and even the grass itself. It is possible to have a healthy, attractive lawn using only organic methods. The principle is to provide the ideal conditions for grass so that it grows vigourously and crowds out any weeds, and is also healthy and resistant to diseases and pests. Alternative lawn care products do exist, such as safer products. Unlike conventional pest controls and plant care products, safer products are made from natural substances found in nature. Chemical pesticides leave a tox- ic residue which can last for weeks, months, even years. Safer products are bio-degradable (Turn to page 15) Where do our elected reps. stand on issues 'From page 7) know the position of our representative? We thank Collingbourne for in- viting Mr. Stevenson to advise us where he stands on a wide number of issues and which he should think of doing anyway. Do so in your paper, not by party or private invitation, let us all know. We may not always agree but possibly respect will come. No one believes in shadows, they only exist when the sun is shining and things are good, but can easily die. Mr. Cureatz, the member for provincial govern- ment is also invited not only by our family but many neighbours and friends also. Sandra Smith, Oshawa Give us a word or two To the Editor: Re your paper of March 13. Well said G. Collingbourne! Now, will the real Messers Stevenson and Cureatz please stand up and address the issues of Meech etc., and Peterson's dumb stand on bilingualism? Just a simple word please to let us know that you really exist. E.B. Brown, Port Perry that | have never even considered. Take for example: asylum for the "verbally insane." Why? Well in what other language, he asks, do people park "In the crazy English language, the blackbird hen is brown, blackboards can be blue or green, and blackberries are green and then red before they are ripe. Even if blackberries were really black and blueberries really blue, what are strawberries, cranberries, elderber- ries, huckleberries, raspberries, boysenberries and gooseberries supposed to look like?" Mr. Lederer asks. miss on the avoided. in the driveway and drive on the paris , un- less of course, it is rush hour and then park on the parkway. And if you've seen a near rkway, collision. A close call is an accident that was And so you see, it's not really my fault when | make a mistake in my column. 1 blame the crazy fool who invented the English language. rivers [ you've actually seen a For Better or For Worse® NO, SIR. IF You WON'T HE HAS TO CUT DOWN, (TS ALL THE LEFTOVERS ¥ ELIZABETH. JUST LR oa i i | [I ons ars 5 He a q INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED S GUNS PNG Vig 193 QUEEN ST. PORT PERRY, ONT. LIL 1B9 ) E DOESNT i Po S BE (416) 985-7306 EXERCIGE. ~ ALL LINES OF 7 il GENERAL INSURANCE : 1 * » Kl WAAL REREEN wWhhddd sass wll vb. LMA Ar ' . t ' ' La LE I YY Me CN i. , fy og Wn ans dr ddan aa sy. MEF FRAY GWYN 0 THA CAAA a pv an happens. that. a hockey game. racin popping Rolaids in my mou Just before game seven, | noticed a banner taped to the lass which said "Go MoJacks. Win it for your fans." Amen to | think | recovered from the emotional grinder of last Thursday night without any permanent damage to my health. As | write this, the series with Napanee is yet to commence. One thing you can be sure of. This team will never quit. The guys played three games with their backs to the wall and w ike jelly Sure, just another hockey game. Viewpoint by John B. McClelland (From Page 7) It has to give the guys a lift when they skate on the ice for game seven and hear the cheers, the roar, and yes, even that gosh-dam air horn that left me partly deaf in one ear. You can bet those great fans are going to be with this team every step of the way from here on, no matter what against Uxbridge, and in game seven against the Eagles, they faced elimination for 45 minutes before the " Magic" hit like a ton of bricks. (pardon thé tired cliche) It was a "magic moment" but I'm sure | was not the only one in the arena that night watching the OT clock tick away, thinking "this is madness. Get a hold of yourself, boy, it's only ack "But if it's only a hockey game, why are my palms soak- ing wet, why is my shirt stuck to my back, why is my pulse and my head poy. S , in God ans." name am | by Lynn Johnston HOMEOWNERS - FARM - AUTO COMMERCIAL