2006-08-06 by The Independent

VOL. 4 ISSUE 31

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ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR — SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, AUGUST 6-12, 2006

LIFE 17

Curtis Andrews brings African beat to St. John’s

Big wind blowing

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SPORTS 28

National rugby team to play U.S. next week

BANJO ON HIS KNEE

STEPHANIE PORTER

he CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro says there’s the potential for a “large wind generation operation” in Labrador — as much as three times as powerful as the proposed lower Churchill development. “By large, I mean the overall potential may by up to the 10,000 megawatt potential,” Ed Martin says. “It’s a world-class wind resource.” To put that number in perspective: the upper Churchill generates about 5,400 megawatts of power; the lower Churchill, at Muskrat Falls and Gull Island, is expected to produce 2,800 megawatts. The Holyrood generating station provides 480 megawatts. According to Hydro’s website, peak demand in the province in 2004 was 1,405 megawatts. In other words, a full-blown Labrador wind farm could potentially meet the province’s energy needs many times over. But Martin is quick to caution. “That potential may be (there), but generally speaking … the 1,000-2,000 megawatt development is what you’re looking at — for starters.” According to Martin, the province has asked Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro to research wind generation in Labrador, in preparation for its much talked-about energy plan. (A spokeswoman for the Department of Natural Resources tells The Independent the energy plan will be released before the end of 2006.) “Even though we know there’s a fair amount of wind in Newfoundland and Labrador, we have to be a little more scientific than that,” Martin continues. “We’ve gone up there and put up some wind monitoring towers so we can gather some information for Hydro and the province.” He hasn’t seen any early test results, but he says “we’re fairly confident.” The key with wind generation, he says, is regularity and dependability of the flow. Wind power is virtually impossible to store, so if the wind drops suddenly or stops, there has to be another source of power to fill the gaps. “So if you can marry wind with a hydro or river resource, you have something really effective.” In Labrador, Martin says the priority would be to provide enough power for Labradorians and indus-

Musician Fergus O’Byrne prepares to hit the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival stage in Bannerman Park Friday night. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the festival is scheduled to run through Sunday night. Rhonda Hayward/For The Independent

Questions of trust Fundraising agency that started life with $1 million in government money has little success RYAN CLEARY

See “Martin,” page 2

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Flash not around thy fridge magnets and thy knicknacks. Keep the whoredoms, idolatries and fornications down to a dull roar.”

— Ray Guy, page 5

BUSINESS 21

Fish and chips By the Beach in St. Philip’s LIFE 19

Nicholas Gardner laments restaurant service in St. John’s Scattered past . .12 World . . . . . . . . .13 Crossword . . . . 20 Shift . . . . . . . . . . 23

Rick Bouzan

Paul Daly/The Independent

non-profit agency that was handed $1 million by the Liberal government of Brian Tobin in 2000 to raise money in Canada and the U.S. for environmental projects here at home appears to have little to show for its fundraising efforts. In fact, the Newfoundland and Labrador Legacy Nature Trust has only raised $240,000 in cash and in-kind contributions from private corporations over the past six years, hundreds of

thousands of dollars short of its original objectives. The trust has also registered with Revenue Canada as a registered charity, apparently severing all ties with the province. A spokeswoman for the nature trust says the work carried out by the agency can’t be solely measured in dollars and cents. “Although the amounts of money there aren’t a lot in the big scheme of things we play another kind of role … by bringing groups together,” says Tammy Baldwin, the nature trust’s interim director. See “Noseworthy,” page 5

‘The fight is on’ Voisey’s Bay workers say they’re looking for equal treatment IVAN MORGAN

iram House says he sometimes wonders if he’s really back in Canada. House has worked in mines all over the world, including 12 years on Baffin Island. A year ago House accepted a position at the Voisey’s Bay nickel mine, in part to be closer to his home in River of Ponds on the Northern Peninsula. Now one of 117 Voisey’s Bay workers on strike against Inco Ltd., House says he took the job with the intention of joining a union and

going up against the company. “The last job I had was in Guyana, in South America, a Third World country. You would feel sorry for those people, living in mud huts and not having a lot of what we have here,” he says. “After I had a job offer come to me in writing (from Inco), and I seen the wage, you know, and I contacted a HR person (for Voiseys Bay) … I told the Human Resources fella that I felt sorry for those people, and now I am starting to feel like one of them, and he says to me, ‘Well, basically you’re working in a Third World economy.’ “That upset me — I came close to not accepting the job, but I am glad I did now, so I came

here for the fight — the fight is on and I am talking part in it.” Local 9508 of the United Steelworkers’ Union is entering its second week on strike against Inco after a year of contract negotiations failed. The striking workers handle heavy equipment and work in the mine’s mill. House, a control room operator, says he knew from the very beginning he and his co-workers would unionize and then negotiate for parity — but he didn’t think they would have to strike. He figured once the union was certified, Inco brass would realize they had to pay equal wages. See “Third World,” page 2

2 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

AUGUST 6, 2006

‘Third world economy’

Martin: ‘I need the numbers’

From page 1

House says the new union chapter isn’t looking for anything outside what Inco now pays other workers at other sites in Canada. Co-worker Curtis Saunders from Happy ValleyGoose Bay says the strike boils down to being treated like second-class citizens. This is Saunders’ first job on a mine site. A mill operator, Saunders agrees with House: most of the strikers just want parity with their colleagues at other Inco mines. Being treated with equality is especially important to Saunders. As an aboriginal, he is familiar with the struggles his people have faced to receive fair treatment. Picketing outside Inco offices in Happy Valley-

Goose Bay, both men say they’re frustrated. Other strikers are picketing outside Inco offices in St. John’s and Nain, as well as the offices of Innu Mikun Airlines, the airline connecting the isolated mine with the outside world. Although their actions have effectively shut down the site, Saunders says there isn’t any animosity among other employees at the camp. UNION SACRIFICE He says his union is making the sacrifice, but when they win their concessions, all employees benefit, as the bar for equality will have been raised for all. In light of the strike, Inco spokesperson Bob Carter says the mine site is currently on “care and maintenance mode,” with the 230 people left in Voisey’s continuing with their normal duties. No mining or milling is currently being done. Carter says Inco will not comment on any specific aspect of the strike, not wishing to communicate or negotiate through the media. The 117 strikers have left the site and returned to their homes. For those living in coastal Labrador, that presents another challenge, as picketing in Goose Bay or elsewhere would involve them paying their own transportation costs to get there. House says he will be flying home for a week, but then flying back to Goose Bay to picket, and paying his own airfare. “If someone is looking at me as a worker in a Third World economy,” he says. “If you’re in a third world economy, you gotta be in a third world country … That’s how they perceive us.”

trial development in that part of the province. “Past that, you’re into a resource the size of which you would want to export … like a lower Churchill or any other provincial resource that is there for the benefit of the province. “Once we have a scientific look at what the actual quality of the resource up there, we’ll be putting it into the energy plan. In that process, some big decisions will be made as to how to handle the provincial resource portion of that kind of resource.”

Martin says he hopes to have collected enough data in the next few months to begin making some policy decisions. But the wind monitoring will continue into the future — and he doesn’t shy away from saying a wind farm could be its own mega-project, a way of harvesting a limitless resource for energy and income. “My job isn’t to be excited about things,” he says. “I want the facts, the dollars and cents, the value to the province and all those good things. The fact we’re looking at it means we’re excited — but I need the numbers.”

Wind on the island: a measured approach

s the winds of Labrador are monitored and expectations build, Hydro is also looking at wind generation projects on the island portion of the province — on a much smaller scale, with a different purpose entirely. Because Newfoundland has an isolated electricity system — not connected to the mainland — the wind energy generated would stay on the island as well, supplementing the power Hydro provides to residences and businesses. Last year, Hydro publicized a request for proposals to purchase 25 megawatts of wind generation for its power system on the island. By the deadline of Jan. 27, 2006, 13 expressions of interest had been received. Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro CEO Ed Martin says the proponents have until the end of this month to submit detailed proposals with Hydro. One of which — if it is competitive in terms of pricing and compatibility with the existing system — will be given the green light. Martin hopes to make the decision this fall, and to see first power by 2008. “That’s a size (25 megawatts) we knew we could absorb into the system,” Martin

says. “It’s a fair size, but it’s not huge. “There’s only so much of a new resource such as wind you can absorb into the system without significant modification … It’s a good test case, allows us to get our feet wet. “And once we know more we may do more.” Martin is well aware of the private developers who come forward or who appear in the media from time to time, with wind farm business plans of their own. He says there’s a reason why, so far, those plans have met with hesitation. “If you look at Hydro, we’re the ones that have to provide transmission from the facility to market. You have to look at the environmental impacts of bringing that resource to market, you have to look at pricing, we’ve got to look at our own costs, have to look at what’s best in terms of the province. That’s why Hydro is forced to stand back and say, this looks really interesting but we have to be prudent. “That’s what you see on the island … we’re taking a measured approach. It’s just 25 megawatts, we want to have a look at it, we want to make sure it fits the system; we want to make sure the costs are right.”

AUGUST 6, 2006

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 3

SCRUNCHINS

There are rats in St. John’s — but they might not be hiding where you might think

A weekly collection of Newfoundlandia

his week’s column begins with the end to a 57-year mystery. You may have read it in Scrunchins last week, the story about the hated governor Sir Gordon Macdonald. Sir Gordon lived in St. John’s in the years leading up to 1949 and was loathed by many for his support of Confederation. Wrote John Crosbie in his book No Holds Barred: “A dour Methodist and onetime Labour MP, Sir Gordon was a highly unpopular figure among those who: (a) supported responsible government; (b) favoured strong spirits; or (C) played cards — categories into one or more of which virtually every Newfoundlander fell.” A letter to the editor appeared in The Evening Telegram as Sir Gordon was preparing to return to the United Kingdom. The letter appeared to praise Sir Gordon and express the people’s deep love and respect for the man. Far from it — the first letter of each line, read vertically, spelled THE BASTARD in black and white. The poetic farewell was signed by an anonymous Newfoundland patriot using the initials “E.A.” Who wrote the letter has always been a mystery — until now. Local author Paul O’Neill tells The Independent that before she died, the late Grace Sparkes admitted to him that she, lawyer Jack Higgins, Q.C., and Robert Furlong (who went on to become Chief Justice of Newfoundland) wrote the poem. Looks good on ’em …

THE ‘NEWFOUNDLAND PROBLEM’ In case you didn’t know, the late Grace Sparkes was quite the Newfoundlander. Born in Grand Bank in 1908, Grace worked as a teacher around the bay for years before marrying Gerry Sparkes, a dentist, and moving to Town. When the National Convention was called in 1945 to decide Newfoundland’s fate once commission government was over, Grace became a passionate supporter of a return to responsible government. According to Memorial University’s archives, Grace was convinced Confederation was “a nefarious plot hatched by Canadian and British governments to take care of the ‘Newfoundland problem.’” Grace, who worked for years with the St. John’s Daily News, received honourary degrees from Mount Alison University and Memorial. She began a new career at 78, playing Grandma Walcott in the CBC-TV productions based on Ted Russell’s radio scripts about the fictional community of Pigeon Inlet.

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John’s area is our backyards,” says Evans. “The densely packed sub-divisions are our worst problem, and it is all to do with human clutter.” He says patios, decks and garden sheds laid directly on the ground are the perfect habitat for rodents. Fences provide ideal runs. “People call the city and want to be protected from rats, when it is their own behaviour that is the problem,” he says. In other words — worrying about rats downtown, and relaxing when you get home at night, might be the wrong thing to do.

• A pamphlet on Rodent Control issued by the provincial Department of Public Works and Parks describes wild rats as “the most destructive vertebrate animal in the world.”

RAT FACTS

FARM AID For those who missed it, federal Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl announced a $550-million, two-year pilot project last week to help out up to 26,000 down-and-out farmers in western Canada. The program gives farmers two options: help in creating a business plan to boost revenues, or skills training. Families that operate commercial farms are eligible to receive short-term income support to boost their total income to $25,000 or $15,000 for individuals. Guess East Coast fishermen have been written off … and why exactly are the feds stepping up to help farmers — did Ottawa also oversee the annihilation of Prairie fields? I was sure the feds only did that with the Grand Banks. ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca

o you have a rat problem? Don’t think so? A rule of thumb quoted by experts familiar with the brown rat (rattus norvegicus) is if you live in a city or a suburb, there is always a rat within 15 metres. And the problem isn’t always where people think it is. This summer there has been some concern in downtown St. John’s about rats. There isn’t a heightened “rat problem” at the moment — no increase of complaints have been reported by City Hall — but some are concerned the digging associated with the harbour clean-up project will force rats who live along the harbour front to find somewhere else to live. These fears are stoked by stories — some legendary — of the problems encountered during the construction of Harbour Drive in the 1960s, when many old buildings, piers and wharves were removed. Residents of the time remember terrible problems as scores of wharf rats were forced to find new accommodations. Folklore now has rats attacking children and over-running homes. Eric Baggs, a laboratory assistant with the biology department at Memorial, is an authority on rats, both the laboratory kind and the wild types. He says rats flourish in practically any situation where there is food. Provide the right conditions, and the rodents will thrive. The right conditions exist on the waterfront. With approximately 120 million litres of raw sewage and storm water runoff entering the harbour daily, and an annual loading of some 4,200 tons of solids into the harbour, there is a more than adequate food source. Baggs says there are probably countless rats living along the waterfront. John Barry, construction engineer and project manager for site excavation with the harbour clean-up project, says there is no need to be concerned. He too has heard tales of the 1960s reconstruction, but says this project is very different. The current roadwork involves digging through solid ground and rock, and there are

no plans to dig anywhere near traditional rat habitat. Therefore, he says, there won’t be any disruption and no one will be overrun. While that may be a relief, David Evans, municipal arborist for the city of St. John’s, has more news for residents. Evans acknowledges the waterfront has its rats — and the folklore to go along with them — but in his experience, that isn’t where the problem is. He says suburbs, especially those where houses are built close together, are the real trouble spots. “The natural habitat for a rat in the St.

• Strong swimmers, rats are happy in or near water, and can swim for long periods of time underwater, and can indeed swim up through toilet outflows. • Rats are natural diggers — they quickly develop extensive underground burrows, where they nest. • Sexually mature at 12 weeks of age, a female rat produces an average of five litters of seven to 12 babies (referred to as kittens) a year, depending on the availability of food. With a steady food supply comes an inevitable explosion in population. • Rats can and will eat just about anything. • Nocturnal in habit, they prefer to live out of sight, and are only seen in daylight if severely disrupted or starving. • The brown rat, or Norway rat, is not really from Norway. Thought to have migrated from China through Europe to North America, St. John’s has probably had the rats since the arrival of the first sailing ships, inevitably rat-infested 500 years ago. • The province of Alberta has very strict rat control laws. They have been rat-free since the 1950s. • Experts estimates between one-fifth and one-third of the world’s food supply is eaten or spoiled by rates. • Rats communicate to each other with urine.

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SAVAGE STORY Jack Fitzgerald also has a book out this week, Ghosts and Oddities, which includes a story about Joseph Squires of Savage Cove. Squires joined the Merchant Marine during the Second World War and signed on to the Maiden Creek, a cargo ship leaving New York to pick up a cargo of iron ore at Bell Island. The vessel ran into trouble during a storm and the captain ordered all hands to abandon ship — except that swinging beams made it impossible to free the life rafts. Facing certain death, Squires volunteered to stay aboard the ship to get the boats safely away … and died doing it. The president of the U.S.sent a letter of condolence to Mrs. Squires; her husband was posthumously awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Cross. In July1945, Squires’ widow had the honour of christening the S.S. Joseph Squires, a 10,000-ton ship, in Portland, Maine.

By Ivan Morgan The Independent

DRIVE Our

WILDFIRE There’s a new book out this week, Wildflowers of Newfoundland and Labrador, that’s a must for any coffeetable collection. Peter J. Scott, a biology professor at Memorial, did the writing and Dorothy Black, an artist who lived in Baie Verte with her doctor husband and three kids for 15 years until 1980, painted the wildflowers. She travelled around the province with her family in a camper van — capturing specimens from the Bull Thistle in Nipper’s Harbour and Swedish Bunchberry in Pacquet to the Yellow Lady’s Slipper in Eddies Cove and Island Gentian in Daniel’s Harbour. The paintings were tucked away for 25 years until Peter contacted Dorothy last year and mentioned a book …

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4 • INDEPENDENTNEWS By Ivan Morgan The Independent

re MHAs allowed to moonlight — to work a second job? The short answer is apparently no, not without being docked

pay. The 1989 Morgan Report on Remuneration to Members of the House of Assembly reads: “To perform efficiently and effectively, a member needs to contribute all of his or her time to their responsibilities.” Current salaries, tax-free allowances and other expenses for MHAs are calculated on that principle. MHAs earn a base salary of $47,000, plus a tax-free allowance of $24,000. Factoring in how much it would take to earn $24,000 tax free, provincial MHAs make the equivalent of $95,000 a year. Some MHAs do have other jobs. MHAs Jack Harris (NDP Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi), Felix Collins (PC Placentia-St. Mary’s) and Kelvin Parsons (Liberal Burgeo-La Poile) are all listed as practicing lawyers with the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. Following guidelines outlined in the Morgan report, MHAs who work a second job “should be honour bound to inform the Speaker what proportion of their time they can devote to their duties. Their indemnity and their non-taxable allowance should be prorated accordingly.” In other words, an MHA’s pay would be scaled back to reflect the hours they can dedicate to their constituency. There is a little wiggle room provided in the original Morgan report in 1989 for MHAs who “because of the nature of their profession or occupation” can earn supplementary income “especially but not exclusively, if they reside in the St. John’s area.” The 2004 report of the Internal Economy Commission is clearer: “Every Member is deemed to be a full-time member unless the Speaker is advised otherwise by the Member.” MHAs who do work another job are to inform the speaker (Harvey Hodder), and have their salaries pro-rated to the time devoted to MHA work. If an MHA does not tell the speaker, the speaker is obliged to “communicate with the member to clarify his or her intention.” Contacted at his law office, Jack Harris, NDP MHA for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi and former leader of the NDP, says he works outside his duties as an MHA. He says he doesn’t feel that the statement in the Morgan report applies to his situation. “I guess the official position of the House, stated at one time by the minister of Justice, was that as long as when the House was in session and you are performing your duties, you’re actively participating on all the committees you are on,

AUGUST 6, 2006

Moonlighting MHAs Should MHAs who hold down a second job be docked pay?

Jack Harris

and you are doing your job, then whatever else you do with your time is between you and your constituents — it’s a political matter,” he says. “I don’t have another position (besides MHA). I don’t have a job which requires me to be somewhere for set hours a week. I conduct a part-time law practice and I have done that since I have been elected. I don’t see that as being in conflict with the Morgan Commission Report.” The other MHAs listed as practicing lawyers

Paul Daly/The Independent

were also contacted by The Independent for comment on this issue, but did not return calls. Harris says it’s a matter of interpretation. “I never saw myself as in conflict with that rule. What you are asked to do is to advise whether or not you are able to devote yourself full-time to the duties required as an MHA and I am satisfied that I have done more than that.” Harris says the speaker “is well aware” of his activities as a part-time lawyer.

The Commissioner for Member’s Interests, Chuck Furey, was not available for comment, but sent a statement to The Independent noting that the determination of full- and part-time status is an issue for the Commission of Internal Economy of the House of Assembly. Despite The Independent’s repeated attempts to contact the head of the commission, Harvey Hodder did not return calls. — With files from Nadya Bell

St. John’s conferences booming, sluggish season elsewhere By Nadya Bell The Independent

onference tourism in St. John’s did well again in July, but ruralbased adventure tourism is seeing fewer people in smaller groups this summer. “We’ve got a mixed bag of feelings there,” says Nick McGrath, president of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador. “Many members are saying that July was the best July they’ve had in years now, others are optimistically hopeful that it’s going to be a good year, but they’re not seeing the numbers they were hoping to see.” Delays in Marine Atlantic ferry traffic and a shortage of rental cars on the Avalon have interfered with business in the busiest days of the tourist season. St. John’s has seen a slight increase in tourist traffic at hotels over last year — which jumped 14 per cent from 2004 — says Mike Buist of Destination St. John’s. Buist says July was a good month, with 400 to 500 more room nights sold than last year’s record of 45,000. “We were a little worried or concerned it might slip after that record year but so far we are maintaining a little bit ahead of the pace last year. To me that’s a bit of a surprise,” he says. “We are tracking on par with last year, so if we can maintain those gains, that would be tremendous.” Extra capacity has helped meet the demand that has grown over the last five years — the city has 2,215 rooms within its limits, not including university residences. Buist says St. John’s does not sell out of rooms anymore. “The additional capacity has allowed us to move into the next tier in the convention-meeting market, so we’re able to attract comfortably the 1,500- 2,000 delegate conferences, where previously we weren’t able to do that,” he says. The Canadian Dental Association and the Canadian Bar Association are scheduled to hold their annual conferences in St. John’s this August.

Targa Newfoundland will keep hotels busy in September, as will the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses, and the Canadian Capital Cities Conference. A Tim Horton’s conference is scheduled for October. But adventure tourism operators are looking at a smaller scale industry this summer. Peyton Barrett of the Adventure Tourism Association of Newfoundland and Labrador says some aspects of tourism are up somewhat, and others are on par with several years ago. “It’s a whole new ball game, and we’ve got maybe more tours, but less people on each tour. The groups have gotten much smaller in their travelling.” She operates Experience Labrador, a hiking and kayaking business in southern Labrador. “I can’t say anyone was raving about the tourism industry, they were saying steady as she goes, up a little bit from last year.” But last year, many adventure tourism businesses in Labrador and the west coast had a 40 to 50 per cent decrease in customers. The west coast of Newfoundland experienced a bumper year in 2003, but reductions in ferry service to Labrador has negatively affected businesses. Buist says Marine Atlantic traffic is decreasing every year. Ten years ago the ferry accounted for the majority of traffic, while now 70 per cent of out-ofprovince tourists come by plane. Buist says 90 per cent of convention attendees arrive by air. They often snap up rental cars — and the resulting shortage hurts those who want to visit rural Newfoundland. “We don’t even have a bus tour to Bell Island. If you don’t make it easy on tourists, how do you expect people to get out and see our beautiful region and province? We don’t make it easy,” he says. “That’s not government, that’s the private sector that has to pick up the opportunity because we do believe there is an opportunity there.”

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AUGUST 6, 2006

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 5

BOOK OF EXTRAS In which the whole tribe of Assembly-ites maketh themselves a golden tomcod. God is angered thereby. CHAPTER ONE (1. Dan-El shooteth the breeze with God up on the mount; 23. Word cometh that the Assemblyites waxeth exceedingly naughty and maketh unto themselves gold rings and hairshirts which sayeth, I’m with Stupid, and divers droll things. 34. The Lord commandeth Dan-El to get down there and smite these whoredoms.) 1. And, lo, the Lord speaketh unto Dan-El like unto a friend; and sayeth, I like what thou hast done with thine hair. Also, thine suits are exceeding spiffy and likewise thine shoes. 2. Then said Dan-El unto the Lord, verily the hairs of mine head are numbered. And they spoke in this wise and shooteth the breeze for Dan-El had found favour in the eyes of the Lord for bringing the Newfyites out of Liber-Al bondage; and like-

RAY GUY

A Poke In The Eye wise the Labradorites.

Dan-El: Get a grip. Get down there toot sweet and put the fear of the Lord into them. Yea, all they who go whoring after fridge magnets and gold rings and likewise ransack the public purse like Gaderene swine.

32. Sorry I smashed thine bloody Ten Commandments. Runnest thou off an other set, then will I deliver it. Whom shall I smite? 33. And the Lord said: The Amorites, the Cannanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites and the Jebusites.

3. This goeth on for some time until …

27. Yea, go on ye CBC if thou hast to and put the sandals to the lot.

23. And the Angel of the Lord cometh like unto a mighty rushing wind and sayeth, This just in.

28. Thou shalt be like unto one who pisseth against the wind, but still.

24. For, lo, the whole tribe of Assembly-ites seemeth to have got their fingers into the pie. And are fallen arse over kettle into blasphemies, idolatries, whoredoms, creative expense accounting and uncircumcised travel allowances. I am just saying. Shoot not the messenger.

29. And Dan-El sayeth unto the Lord: Lord, thou gottest me drove cracked. Go here, go there. Do this, do that. Lug bloody Ten Commandments down the hill. Who made Thee the Chairman of the Board?

36. So Dan-El went down from the mount and into the midst of the stiffnecked, whoring, fornicating, uncircumcised AssemblyItes; and the skin of his face shone and they were afraid to go nigh him.

30. Then sayeth the Lord unto Dan-El: Thou sailest pretty close to the wind. One E-mail from Me and thou shalt have the Holy Father on thy case.

37. And his wrath increaseth a hundredfold when he saw they had gathered together all the gold rings and had beaten them into an altar in the shape of an tomcod: and did bow down and worship it and dance in their nakedness before it. And would have sacrificed virgins but, lo, there were none to be found.

25. And Dan-El lifteth up both hands unto the Lord as if to say: What can you do? That lot is like unto trying to make a silk purse out of an sow’s ear. Turn thy back for one minute and thou seest what happens? 26. Then sayeth the Lord unto

31. And when Dan-El heareth this he was sore afraid and hauleth in his horns. Saying, OK, OK, Understood. Put it down to a case of ye mid-term jitters.

34. And Dan-El said: What about the Mount Pearlites? 35. And the Lord said: The jury is still out.

38. When he forthwith chastizeth them for sticking their fingers in the pie they rebelled and said: Easy for thee to say. Thou hast got more shekels than Kell-Oggs haveth flakes of corn. 39. And when Dan-El heareth this he became like unto an mighty raging crackie and sayeth, Yea, the quarter billion shekel range, so what? Regardest Craig DoBin, regardest Ver-Binski and the Other Fella. Or To-Bin, in with nothing, out with lots. What is thy first clue? 40. And it came to pass when the skin of his face cooleth off, DanEl said unto them: Look. Grind down that altar of a tomcod into the dust; build up in its place a golden altar in the shape of an oil rig. Flash not around thy fridge magnets and thy knicknacks. Keep the whoredoms, idolatries and fornications down to a dull roar. 41. Then, said he unto them, it shall be well. And I and the Lord God Almighty shall be pleased. 42. And, lo, it was well.

Noseworthy: ‘Reasonable progress has not been made From page 1

Colin Windsor in police custody in Brooks, Alta.

Rob Brown/Brooks Bulletin

Public perception Newfoundlander accused of murder in Alberta ‘just strange,’ say acquaintances Harbour Mille Pam Pardy-Ghent For The Independent

s a teen growing up in Harbour Mille, Colin Windsor stood out. Friends and acquaintances say he painted his nails and eyes black and wore sunglasses to protect his “sensitive vampire eyes.” He talked of Satan and witches and his need for “donor blood” to drink. He did not fit in well in this small outport on the Burin Peninsula, yet he lived and finished school here before outmigration and the search of a “better life” led him to follow his parents to Brooks, Alta. “He was just strange,” says a friend who knew Windsor in both provinces. “There is a typical Newfoundlander, you know? And Colin wasn’t one.” Windsor, 30, was charged July 13 with the second-degree mur-

der of 17-year-old Ashton Moen. Moen was reported missing on June 19 by her family when she didn’t come home. She didn’t show up for her shift at WalMart. Windsor was allegedly the last to see her alive. Her body, wrapped in blankets, was discovered July 1 by a man walking his dog near the Bantry Canal, south of Brooks. Residents of Harbour Mille knew something was up before the official charge was laid. Windsor still has roots in the community and when he allegedly confessed to police and his parents, members of his extended family in Newfoundland were also contacted. By all accounts, Windsor was always “different” and seemed to enjoy it. Most say he was “harmless,” and “just being Colin.” Everyone who spoke about Windsor asked that their names not appear in print. Windsor was a co-worker and

casual acquaintance of Aston’s. They met at Wal-Mart. “If you needed a friend, she was there, especially for the underdog,” says Ronan Moen, Ashton’s father, in an interview from Books. Ashton’s parents say they were led to believe Windsor was younger that 30. Her father says the two were not seeing each other. Windsor’s next court date is set for Aug. 23. He will remain in custody until then. Police believe the murder occurred on June 19, the day she went missing. They have also stated that she was probably not killed at the location where her body was found. Don Weisbeck, mayor of Brooks, says he’s sick about what’s happened in his community. “This is a small community, 10 to 12 per cent of it Newfies, this is a unique incident …”

“I think the trust is in a pretty unique position in the conservation community because we’re involved in a lot of different kinds of projects.” Rick Bouzan, executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Wildlife Federation, a group that has tried for years to access money from the trust and review its operations, is calling for a full-scale public audit. “We think there’s some kind of cover-up here and the public once again had the wool pulled over their eyes,” Bouzan tells The Independent. The office of the auditor general reviewed the nature trust in 2003, producing a report critical of how the $1 million in seed money was approved (the cheque was written on an emergency basis about a year before it was cashed). The auditor general found the nature trust had not complied with the trust agreement because “reasonable progress has not been made towards raising matching funds for conservation.” One of the trust’s main objectives was to raise funds for conservation in the province and match conservation needs with sources of support. Although the trust had established a fundraising target totaling $465,000 for 2001 and 2002, it only raised $5,500 in project funding from outside sources. To the end of 2002, the trust had spent just over $300,000 on administration since it was incorporated in September 1999. According to the auditor general’s report, in June 2003 government decided to reallocate about half of the $1-million pot to another environmental organization — a decision that was reported in the local media. That didn’t happen — the money stayed with the trust. “My only assumption would be that she (thenLiberal cabinet minister Julie Bettney) saw the good work that we are doing and she saw the potential and where things are going,” Baldwin says. “Otherwise they would have made a different decision.” Over the past seven years the nature trust has

been involved in about 20 environmental projects in Newfoundland and Labrador, raising $240,000 in cash and in-kind contributions. Baldwin couldn’t provide a breakdown. She also says the trust has secured about $1.5 million in funding from federal government sources, plus another $110,000 in cash and inkind contributions from the province. Again, the initial intent of the nature trust was to raise money from private mainland sources. The $1 million in seed money was initially slated to last five years — with $200,000 a year to cover administration costs. Baldwin says the trust actually spent about $150,000 a year in recent years. She wouldn’t say how much government money is left, although she did say about $100,000 of the trust’s seed money has been invested in environmental projects. Baldwin says the mandate of the nature trust has evolved over the years, so that it no longer concentrates solely on raising money so much as helping co-ordinate environmental projects. The trust takes 10 to 15 per cent of any money raised — from private and public sources — to pay for its continued operations. “The value of the trust goes way beyond the dollars and cents that are coming in,” Baldwin says. “We’ve provided so many different kinds of supports to different groups and there are so many different organizations and individuals in government departments that have a real belief in the trust. “Every year I speak to so many people who say, ‘Wow, what a unique role … you guys are doing great work.’” Baldwin says the nature trust’s five-year agreement with the province ended last year. “We’re totally free of government yes, but that’s not to say that we’re not in contact with them.” Contacted by The Independent, auditor general John Noseworthy says his office will conduct another review of the nature trust this year as part of its normal follow up to a previous investigation.

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6 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

AUGUST 6, 2006

Question period T

he stress and strain of running a newspaper is nothing like coaching a team of seven-yearolds for an hour, although conversations with the Gators, as we’re known on the field of soccer battle, are just as entertaining. “Coach, coach,” says the centre forward, running at my heels, pulling at my shirttail as the play unfolds around us. “I have a question. I have a question. I have a question.” It’s hard to handle a question when your team is down 3-2 and you’re busy herding the little wizards up the field toward the opponent’s net, soccer ball pin-balling off their delicate little arms and legs, and there’s a chance, just a chance, of a scoring opportunity. But then there’s more than one way to score than simple talent and determination. It’s not unheard of for any member of any team in the league, goaltenders included, to run off after a passing butterfly. The entire three-man defensive unit could just as suddenly collapse into a heap of failed summersaults. “What is it, Gator?” “Ah coach … I forgets.” “No, no, I got it. I ’members now

RYAN CLEARY

Fighting Newfoundlander coach: Do you think that cloud up there in the sky looks like a duck?” Hard to tell. The general rule of thumb (if it looks like a duck, and quacks likes a duck …) doesn’t apply in the case of cloud formations. The question is not unlike so many others that crop up in the run of a day in that there are no clear answers.

office to wrap up investigations into the political spending scandal, will Jim Walsh — the former Liberal MHA fingered by auditor general John Noseworthy for overspending his constituency allowance by $228,000 — remain on paid leave (he makes $120,00-plus a year) from the federal Transportation Safety Board the entire time?

ARK, WHAT’S THAT YOU SAY? This year’s 188th annual Royal St. John’s Regatta will go down in history as one of the wetter ones, raising the question whether the slick racing shells should be redesigned into more of an Ark shape for next year’s event, big enough to hold two of everything? (With the exception of the committee that decides whether the Regatta should go ahead.)

WAR FRONT On Friday, Premier Danny Williams issued a media statement offering his deepest condolences to the family of Sgt. Vaughan Ingram of Burgeo and three other Canadian soldiers killed in combat in Afghanistan Aug. 3. Flags outside Confederation Building were flown at half-mast in honour of Sgt. Ingram’s supreme sacrifice, which was the right thing to do. When will the federal Conservative government reverse its decision not to lower the Canadian flag over federal government buildings whenever a soldier falls? The question may be old, but it’s worth repeating for every life lost.

POLITICAL PAY If it really does take a year or two for the Constabulary and auditor general’s

LIBERAL QUERY Federal Liberal Party candidates are busy these days submitting op-ed

After 500 years, fishing nets are suddenly all the rage in Town, leading to the next obvious question: How long before Ottawa puts a quota on crows and seagulls that get caught in the twine? pieces to newspapers around the country. Ken Dryden has the latest piece on the fighting between Israel and Lebanon. Asks Dryden: “But how can the Jewish people trust? But they must trust. But how can they?” NET EFFECT The big debate in St. John’s earlier this summer was over whether or not to force residents to cover garbage at the curb. Now that that’s settled, the big question is what to cover the garbage with? After 500 years, fishing nets are

suddenly all the rage in Town, leading to the next obvious question: How long before Ottawa puts a quota on crows and seagulls that get caught in the twine? A more important question: How long before foreigners move in and start overbirding? SOCCER SUPREMACY Back on the pitch, the Gators continue their back-and-forth battle for soccer supremacy. The game is delayed after halftime when one of the coaches (I’m not saying which one) lines up his team (of Gators) facing the wrong net — their own (ends change at half-time, which is easy enough to forget with a sky full of distractions). All is corrected in short order and the game continues. A few players pick up their intensity; more still stop to chat with opposing players, share hugs, pick bugs from the grass and run to the sidelines for a sip of water and the occasional pee. The time winds down until the final whistle. “Coach, coach,” says a Gator, pulling on my shirttail. “Did we win?” “You Gators played wicked,” I say. And they did — easiest answer of the week. ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca

YOUR VOICE ‘Newfoundlanders have short memories’ Dear editor, The Independent has been involved in much controversy in recent weeks from the political chums of the MHAs for your coverage and the investigative reporting of the happenings within government. Your paper does not report the news it creates the news, there is major difference. It seems many of our residents do not like investigative

reporting — it might damage the image of their champions. Keep up the good work. I guess we wish we had this type of reporting years back during the Mount Cashel episode … it may not have been brushed under the mat at the time. Newfoundlanders have short memories. Boyd Legge, Mount Pearl

‘What a fantastic place to live’ Dear editor, It’s been a month now since the Magnetic North Theatre Festival closed in St. John’s. An intensely inspiring event, I write now not only to applaud its quality, but also to mark it as an inspiring example in a summer of continuous artistic excellence. I experienced 10 of the 11 main Magnetic North shows, and took in several of the other late-night and industry-based festival offerings. It was an incredible series of professional presentations — flawlessly scheduled, facilitated, and executed. Kudos to the organizers, local and visiting, and to the participants and audiences. You could sense the respect and pride in these rooms. We are truly fortunate to have been the designated site for Magnetic North this year, and I wish artistic director Mary Vingoe, and all the festival staff, continued success. The Sound Symposium followed Magnetic North, then the Nickel Theatre Festival, and Jazz Festival. The George St. Festival roared by last week, and the Newfoundland and

Labrador Folk Festival is reeling right now. The Shakespeare by the Sea Festival continues, as do the many dinner theatre offerings around the city. The Wonderbolt Circus, the Mermaids in the City, buskers’ festival, all of the regular artistic output that we tend to take for granted — it just goes on and on. Not to forget the wave of great work that continues all around the province. Seriously, this place is the cultural capital of Canada. What a fantastic place to live. What an easy place to feel alive. No wonder the conference traffic (and traffic in general) is so thick these days. Who wouldn’t want to bask in such an intense flow of vibrant creative energy? The current provincial support for culture and heritage activity is surely strengthening the pulse of this thriving environment. I say bravo and pray it continues. It’s exciting to see the artistic growth and expanding harvest — and witness the world taking notice. Peter Soucy, St. John’s

‘A damn fine article’ Dear editor, Thank you so much for the article (‘Rip-off program’, July 23 edition). Pam Pardy Ghent really got to the heart of what should be driving this issue (the people). I hope we get to do it again, and my office is always open to Pam. Her article, once we are successful, will have helped in the final resolution of this issue. Also, it was a damn fine article if I do say so myself.

On a note of possible follow-up, we lost another fisherman last week to cancer, and while I pray his family will see the money taken, it really concerns me that included among the dying thoughts of fishermen are whether or not their family will see the money they are owed. Eli Baker, St. John’s

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History lesson Confederation wasn’t such a good deal for Newfoundland By James R. Chalker Editor’s note: the following letter was written to the local media in February 2005 following several editorials that appeared in The Globe and Mail. The editorials were critical of then-prime minister Paul Martin for being outnegotiated on the Atlantic Accord by Premier Danny Williams and his “unreasonable” demands. The information is worth repeating …

am guessing that Prime Minister Martin is more aware of historical facts relating to the Confederation of Newfoundland with Canada than the editorial staff of The Globe and Mail. I do not include Margaret Wente in that group, as she was born in Illinois, and knowing what I do about Americans and their education system, history, generally speaking, in unimportant to them, and therefore ignored. The following historical facts should be noted: PREPARATIONS BEGIN In September 1945 Prime Minister Atlee sent P.N. Clutterbuck to Ottawa to make an arrangement with the Government of Canada to ensure that Newfoundland would become the 10th province of Canada. Canada agreed and undertook to prepare its proposals (Terms of Union). SMALLWOOD SELECTION Joseph R. Smallwood was recognized in 1945 as a strong advocate of Confederation by some advisors to Prime Minister Atlee, and was chosen by certain people as the Newfoundland advocate of Confederation with Canada. In fact, in November, 1943 Joseph R. Smallwood left the only full-time job he ever had (as the Barrellman employed by F. M. O’Leary Ltd. in St. John’s) to move to Gander where he could establish a two-year residency for the District of Bonavista Centre, and thereby be entitled to run for election from that district to the National Assembly set up by Prime Minister Atlee in December, 1945. There is information to support

the fact that Smallwood during the period that he lived in Gander was paid a salary by the Canadian government, and traveled back and forth on military aircraft to Ottawa to obtain information and advice on how to ensure Newfoundland’s Confederation with Canada. DEBATE TOPICS The National Convention sat from June 1946 to February 1948 and received and debated the proposals for union forwarded from Ottawa in October 1948. OVERRULED The National Assembly by a vote of 29 to 16 rejected the proposals for union and the inclusion of Confederation on the ballot paper for the National Referenda, which took place in June and July of 1948. Notwithstanding that it was the role of the National Convention to recommend the forms of Government to be on the ballot paper, the English government overruled the National Convention (which it had the legal right to do), and ordered that Confederation with Canada was to be on the ballot paper. SECOND VOTE On the second referendum in July 1948, Confederation with Canada received a very narrow majority — 52 per cent compared to 48 per cent for responsible government. NEGOTIATING TEAM In the fall of 1948 a delegation of seven Newfoundlanders was appointed by Governor Gordon Macdonald and sent to Ottawa to negotiate the Terms of Union. This was similar to closing the barn door after the horse had fled. Imagine agreeing to sell your house, and after entering into that agreement start to negotiate the purchase price for the house. MISERABLE TERMS The financial Terms of Union were very miserable, totally inadequate and created a fiscal imbalance. Chesley A.

Crosbie (the father of the John C. Crosbie) a member of the Newfoundland delegation appointed to negotiate the Terms, refused to sign, and returned to St. John’s. The major problems with the Terms of Union include: No. 1: MacDonald, Curry, a highly reputable firm of chartered accountants, then practicing in Montreal, examined the financial terms offered by the Government of Canada, and concluded that these terms (including all the federal government grants and subsidies) would result in the first full financial year of Newfoundland as a province in a deficit of more than $4 million. After that it would only get worse. No. 2: On entering Confederation, Newfoundland had a nest egg of approximately $35-$40 million, which unfortunately Premier Smallwood wasted on ill-advised financial support for local industries. Even so, the $35-$40 million surplus was only a small amount of money when compared to the millions of dollars required to build an appropriate infrastructure so that Newfoundland would be reasonably comparable to the maritime region. This infrastructure included roads, schools, technical colleges, hospitals and Memorial University and cost many millions of dollars, all of which is now part of the huge debt burden that Newfoundland has. No. 3: Another problem was Term 29. This was supposed to be the term that would enable Newfoundland, after some eight or 10 years of Confederation, to review its financial position and through a federal royal commission make recommendations as to the additional support Newfoundland needed in order to survive over the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, this term when drafted had no teeth, as it did not require the federal government either to accept the recommendations of the royal commission, or to contribute any amount. You may recall that when the findings of this commission were submitted to See page “Rejected,” page 12

AUGUST 6, 2006

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 7

Why CBC, why? N

o one is watching CBC-TV. You can’t state it plainer than that. I think CBC-TV has completely lost it, whatever “it” ever was. In a 200channel universe, why should anyone watch CBC? The One, CBC’s pathetic attempt to clone Canadian/American Idol, was an idea that should have been laughed off the table when first uttered. Instead, the geniuses running the public broadcaster decided not only to run it, but to preempt the only credible programming they have: The National. Apparently some executive on the public payroll thought CBC should be in the reality TV game. Here’s a news flash: they are — it’s called The National and it’s the best reality show in the business. It’s the only thing I watch on CBC-TV except for my beloved Coronation Street (don’t you just know Karen is going to walk back into Steve’s life and mess everything up). I think The National and its satellite news programs are excellent, with superb reporting from some of the finest journalists in the business. But our local programming is a mess.

IVAN MORGAN

Rant & Reason After all the fanfare and excitement of their return to a full hour, Here and Now has been ho and hum. And their ratings reflect that, with the privately owned and operated NTV Evening News miles ahead of them. It’s odd — with excellent journalists, first-class anchoring and a healthy budget, the show still seems to be so much less than the sum of its parts. Why? The news is still the news, I suppose, but something is missing (a bright spot being Krissy Holmes doing the weather for a few weeks). Don’t ask me what the problem is, I’m no television executive, but I suspect a few of them in the Prince Philip Parkway building aren’t either. Local CBC has in the past produced some of the best programming ever made in this province — fabulous shows that defined a generation. Those of us of

they are cooking up. Who’s betting it’s a half hour talk-variety show called Out of the Mist? That’s the kind of brain power we are seeing these days. CBC — television and radio — used to fulfill its mandate of quality programming. Again, for those of us of a certain generation the late great Ernie Coombs (Mr. Dressup) and Bob Homme (The Friendly Giant) are as familiar a childhood memory as our Mom’s cooking or carefree summer holidays. These men (ironically, both Americans, Coombs being born in Maine and Homme in Wisconsin) are as Canadian to me as Tim Horton’s or really boring movies. Local shows like Up at Ours and All Around The Circle, As Loved Our Fathers, Pigeon Inlet Chronicles and Land and Sea (still going strong) portrayed us to ourselves. We need more of that. I have my own suspicions about what is wrong at the CBC, and it is based on my understanding of the kind of people who make it to the top of large autocratic institutions. From our own Chris Brookes to Toronto’s Moses Znaimer,

CBC has passed on more talent than some small countries can generate in a century. One assumes the people who made these blunders are now in charge. That explains a great deal to me. And for the record yes, I am always looking for freelance TV and radio gigs with the Mother Corp. and sometimes they are kind enough to give me one or two. And I was told by more than one person that writing a column like this was not the wisest career move. Nonsense. I have worked with great people at CBC — the problem I think is systemic. There is a CBC culture that I think is killing our public broadcaster. It needs to be changed. Not everything should have to be cleared by, or made for, Toronto. But as I said, don’t look to me for answers. I am just another Canadian lying on a couch, tired after a long day at work, frantically frisking for the remote as the news ends and a voice says “Coming up next on CBC-TV …” Ivan Morgan can be reached at ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca

LEADER SILENCED

YOUR VOICE Bureaucratic injustice Dear editor, What is it about some civil servants who manage to work their way to a position of authority where they can play fast and loose with the futures of those who served their respective systems faithfully? In my case, when I was about to retire from teaching I applied for the summer-service time I had worked as a university student with the Newfoundland parks system. I knew of a number of people who had already received such service credit, but I was repeatedly denied the pension time by an employee of the teachers’ pension and payroll division. I have no fear of saying this because I have all the correspondence to document the affair. Finally, to clinch my case I had to stand up a teachers’ retirement seminar in Gander, relate my experience and then approach the particular public servant, who was present, with a letter authorizing that same pension service for a friend and fellow teacher of mine who held the exact same job with the parks service. In fact, I had replaced him in the job. What were the first words out of the mouth of this bureaucratic demigod? He was stupid enough to say to me, “What if I take back Mr. X’s park service?” I just laughed at

a certain age remember Wonderful Grand Band, and the impact it had. There is nothing produced locally anymore that our local young people can watch and really relate to. To see their own, Newfoundlanders have to turn to the network, and watch shows like Canadian Idol on the rival CTV network, or This Hour or The Mercer Report, or Rex Murphy ranting and roaring on The National (now there’s a gig). Even then, they see local people reaching out to a national audience. There is little or nothing that allows us to see ourselves. Radio-Canada in Quebec is nothing but Quebecers talking to themselves. Why can’t we have a few bucks to do that down here? CBC is a vast, bland, politically correct programming wasteland. Even their “first run” movies are titles that you can buy for a buck in any remainder bin. Happy Gilmore? Give me a break. There is a rumour there is money available for new local programming. If that’s true it’s exciting, but one shudders to think, in the wake of The One, what

him and reminded him that we do have a legal system in Newfoundland, a system I had no qualms utilizing. Naturally I got my service time. Yet it left me with a disgusting opinion of such little bureaucratic “s—heads.” What provoked this narrative on my part some nine years later? Residual anger and the news story regarding a decorated squadron leader, Clifton Wenzel of Ontario, who had served in both the Second World War and the Korean War with the Canadian Air force and the Royal Air Force risking his life for the war effort. When Mr. Wenzel applied for a pension in 1961 he was denied on the basis of insufficient service time. Now here’s the rub. Through Access to Information requests he found that people who had less operational experience than he had been granted a pension. His case was reviewed by the Canadian Forces ombudsman and he was awarded $1.13 million. The civil servant who initially turned me down has yet to apologize to me for his uneven and illegal treatment. I must check out the statute of limitations on bureaucratic stupidity and arrogance. Aubrey Smith, Grand Falls-Windsor

Innu Nation president Ben Michel, a longtime advocate of Innu rights in Newfoundland and Labrador, died suddenly on Aug. 1. He apparently suffered a major heart attack while attending an aboriginal festival on an Innu reserve near Sept-Iles, Que. A funeral for Michel was scheduled for Aug. 5 in Sheshatshiu. He was 53. Paul Daly/The Independent

Drawing the nationalist line

‘Billingsgate’ latest name for scandal

Dear editor, Because I admire Susan Rendell’s writing and usually agree with the points she raises (eg: builders should not block access to coastal trails and seashores —and politicians should not allow them to), I am reluctant to take issue with her column.

Dear editor, Ever since U.S. Republican President Richard M. Nixon’s plumbers broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate, an office (apartment) hotel complex in Washington, D.C., there has been a fondness for applying the suffix gate to political scandals. The most memorable use, to my mind, was a scandal over in Cape Breton. Some wag christened some politicians’ impropriety as “Coalgate.” Baublegate and Trinketgate have been used to describe the most recent post-Smallwood emanations from Confederation Hill. Mr. Editor, I suggest the constituency allowances/gold rings for pigs’ snouts/baubles and trinkets-to-wowthe-masses scandal be henceforth

ABUSIVE LANGUAGE The word billingsgate is derived from the coarse, foul, vulgar, abusive language for which the old fish market was famous. And wouldn’t our homegrown politicians cause the rest of us to descent to using coarse, foul, vulgar and abusive language? Now to a much more serious matter. There have been news reports of late

necessary to reinstate all three types of forecasting — marine, public and aviation — in order to ensure both the safety of all those depending on accurate weather forecasts and the return of all of the quality jobs the weather centre had previously provided our region. It is now apparent that the return of aviation forecasting is not necessary to achieve either of those objectives. The

aviation industry likes aviation forecasting the way it is, and the full complement of staff is still being restored to the Gander weather centre, which means even more attention can be paid to enhancing marine and public forecasting. The safety and quality of all forecasts will be ensured, and the jobs that previously existed at the weather centre will be fully restored. While Gander’s

In today’s world it should be very evident that nationalism can quickly become racism.

However Rendell’s prejudice in the July 30th article, The Americans are coming: Bush-whacked and heading north, cannot be ignored. In a supermarket line-up she spots an overly friendly man with a funny accent and without more evidence and despite his protest that he hates Bush, brands him a “red neck.” This is exactly what Margaret Wente and hundreds of others do to us Newfoundlanders — we too are overly friendly, we talk funny and so are branded “goofy newfies.” I think we should have the grace not to do it to others. In today’s world it should be very evident that nationalism can quickly become racism. Bernice Morgan, St. John’s

known as Billingsgate. Billingsgate is, or was until 1982, a wharf and fish market on the left bank of the Thames, below London Bridge. The market was established in the reign of Queen Elizabeth the First. So the denizens, from earliest times, would have known of the New-FoundLand.

that the public servant named by auditor general John Noseworthy has spent some time recently at the Waterford Hospital and on the psychiatric ward of the Health Sciences Centre. Yes, when a person’s world starts falling apart depression can be a consequence. A depressed patient can often be a suicidal patient. Take very good care, Mr. Bill Murray. Were you to die between now and some future court date … well, let’s just say remember former deputy minister of Justice of Newfoundland, Vincent McCarthy, and how convenient his being dead was in exculpating others in the rape of Mount Cashel. Tom Careen, Placentia

Pat on the Conservative back Dear editor, When I was the federal Conservative candidate for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor I made a campaign pledge to fully reinstate the Gander weather centre. In fact, I was the first candidate to raise the issue. In contrast, my Liberal opponent made no commitment to have any forecasts — marine, public or aviation — produced in Gander.

I’m very proud that I put the Gander weather centre on Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s agenda. I’m equally proud that my party, now the Government of Canada, is fully addressing both the economic and safety concerns that stemmed from the removal of weather forecasting from Gander by the Liberals. Like most people in Newfoundland and Labrador, I assumed it would be

elected officials continue to posture and bicker over the weather centre, they are doing absolutely nothing about the current and genuine issues that I and my federal Conservative colleagues are addressing, such as ensuring the financial viability of Gander International Airport. Aaron Hynes, Eastport

8 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

AUGUST 6, 2006

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 9

IN CAMERA

Busy bees By Nadya Bell The Independent

ubrey Goulding says he used to have terrible arthritis in his knee, brought on by an axe injury. After treating himself with bee stings, he says he’s completely healed. “I gave the bees a little shake to agitate them, placed the jar over my knee, and I got about seven or eight good stings out of it,” says Aubrey, the beekeeper of Paradise Farms Inc. It’s not the most mainstream therapy — but he swears by the restorative power of bees and their products. Viola and Aubrey Goulding keep bees for honey, beeswax, pollen and other beneficial bee products in their backyard in Paradise. Their garden is full of berries — strawberries, raspberries, cherries, black and red currants — the bees keep well pollinated. The Gouldings have three hives in their backyard and a sweet-smelling shed where Aubrey prepares the honey. The rest of their honey is collected from 21 hives stationed at farms around the northeast Avalon. According to Aubrey, each hive has between 45,000 and 60,000 bees. Standing next to one, there doesn’t seem to be nearly that many in the air — it’s no worse than a swarm of blue-bottle flies over a ripe manure heap in July — but the pathway leading to the hive sounds like a regular bee highway. Every September, Aubrey removes the frames full of honeycomb from the hives, and places them in a large steel drum where the honey is spun out. It’s then filtered and heated so it flows smoothly into jars and buckets for sale as Canada No. 1 grade honey. None of the bee products goes to waste. Viola prepares skin creams and balms out of the beeswax with natural ingredients. Her creams for face, baby’s bum, gardener’s hands and pet’s paws are sold across Canada. Their most powerful (and popular) product is the fisherman’s hand balm, especially designed for skin dried out from sea salt. Viola has stories from people who suffered skin problems until they began using her balm. “A woman came in who was able to wear her wedding band for the first time in years.” Voila says honey has healing properties — no microbes can live in it, and it produces hydrogen peroxide. The Gouldings also sell propolis, a resin bees produce while constructing their hives. According to Aubrey, it has immune-boosting properties. Brown, golden and yellow globs of pollen fall off the bees’ legs into a trap at the entrance to the hive. It is bitter and rich tasting — Aubrey says it reminds him of unsweetened dark chocolate — and is, he says, more nutritious than vitamins. They do not collect enough of the precious pollen to sell. Newfoundland has an advantage over the rest of North America in honey production — the island does not have any varroa mite, an insect that can destroy hives. Other honey farms use pesticides, but the Gouldings do not use any drugs or chemical treatments on their hives. The honey is not rated as organic — Aubrey says it would be impossible to ensure everything the bees come in contact with during their flight is organic. He only uses natural materials and products, and says bees are sensitive enough that if they came in touch with anything dangerous, it would kill them before it got into the honey. Demand for Paradise Farms honey surpasses their supply, but Aubrey hopes the early season this year will increase production. He says they’re already three weeks ahead of last year, and expects to be harvesting 25 to 30 per cent more honey. During the season, Aubrey checks for the queen or recently laid eggs every week to ensure the hive is healthy. If there is no queen, he has to raise his own, or quickly order one by mail from Hawaii. Although Aubrey will open the lid of the hive without protection, he wears a full white suit and uses smoke when he checks for the queen. He says it’s sweltering in the suit but it helps calm the bees — although bee stings are beneficial, he says he doesn’t always want to get stung. “The smoke warns the bees of danger so they start eating the honey,” he says. “That makes them lazy and they don’t mind me.” www.beenatural.ca

With the help of hundreds of thousands of bees, Aubrey and Viola Goulding produce a line of all-natural products, including Canada No. 1 grade honey, face cream, balm for dry skin, and immune-boosting propolis. Independent photo editor Paul Daly and reporter Nadya Bell dropped by Paradise Farms Inc. to experience the buzz.

AUGUST 6, 2006

10 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

The 188th Royal St. John’s Regatta was a wet one.

Rhonda Hayward /The Independent

Best Regatta yet It may have been wet and windy, but 188th day at the races had its victories

just finished reading the daily paper for the times and stories relating to this year’s Royal St. John’s Regatta. It was great to see the reactions from the much-deserved championship crews. It wasn’t so great to read yet another negative article by Robin Short, The Telegram’s sports editor. While reading through yet another suggestion on how the Regatta committee should change the layout of the sporting event, a nerve was struck when Mr. Short wrote, “the latest Regatta was one of little emotion or excitement,” and that this year’s Regatta “may go down as the worst in a decade.” Yes it was a wet, soggy and occasionally windy day but to many, including myself, it was the best Regatta yet! How can I say that? I witnessed and experienced many victories – most obvious included the OZ FM ladies’ crew winning their 10th championship and the Crosbie Industrial men’s crew becoming only the 3rd crew in history to post an official time under 9 minutes. Personal victories I witnessed included Ron Brennan winning his first championship race; Siobhan Duff and Tracey Hogan retiring on a winning note; young Brent Hickey winning his first championship and breaking the 9-minute mark with his father, Bert, who did so 15 years prior; and Bernadine Ring rowing her 25th Regatta. The list goes on … I had a pretty amazing victory myself this year. After 14 years of rowing, I made my first championship race.

Being 5 foot 4 inches and 140 pounds (soaking wet) I was always told I would never make a championship race but my heart is bigger than my other muscles. Pulling up to the stakes on Regatta Day evening brought much emotion and pure excitement. My Lambs Rum men’s crew finished in third place but I was probably the proudest loser ever. The emotion was overwhelming. My mother passed away of cancer in 2000 and Regatta Day was our day – I wanted, more than anything, to have her at the top of the lake. I bowed my head into the boat, shed a tear and knew she was there. I pulled into the wharf and saw the man who got me involved in the sport, my Uncle Gordon, who in recent years was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He stood trembling, shedding tears but beaming with pride, waiting to congratulate me. Once the tears were over the celebrations began and when I was under the lights with both my men’s crew and North Atlantic ladies’s crew accepting 3rd place medals for both championship races, I was honestly the happiest man alive. The fact of the matter is, I am just one person, one rower, one coxswain … there are many others who had personal victories on Aug. 2, 2006. No there weren’t any records smashed or people running into the waters of Quidi Vidi after the championship races – but some rowed their first race, some their last race and some their best race. I write this having just arrived home from the annual post-Regatta gathering at the boathouse. My night and rowing season ended with a song by Eddie Williams (of the Crosbie Industrial crew) of our rowing forefathers before us. The noisy room turned silent, there were many glistening eyes and I looked around with pride at my fellow rowers. Only 51 more weeks until next year!

AUGUST 6, 2006

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 11

Regatta Hall

of Fame T

his year saw two new additions to the Regatta Hall of Fame. The 1979-80 General Hospital crew – the first ladies’ crew to win a championship race in the new format, meaning having to turn at the buoys – was inducted. Members of the crew include Mike Summers (coxswain), Sharon Dominic, Janet Preston, Daureen McGruer, Susan Greene, Corinne Gillespie, Linda PrestonRuskell and Martha Cooper. The General Hospital crew rowed the course in a time of 6:11.28 in 1979 and returned the following year to complete the course in 5:49.99. Paul Campbell, Regatta committee president from 1998-99, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame during a luncheon at St. John’s City Hall.

The champion OZ FM Ladies’ crew took this years title.

Rhonda Hayward /The Independent

Independent picks earn B

ased on the Regatta Day results posted on www.stjohnsregatta.org, The Independent picks printed in last week’s issue predicted 17 of 26 races correctly for an impressive 65 per cent mark.

No triple crown T

Crosbie Industrial won the men’s championship race.

Rhonda Hayward /The Independent

he VOCM/Paint Shop Triple Crown wasn’t awarded this year. The Placentia Regatta champions were O’Dea Earle (men’s) and OZ FM (ladies). The Harbour Grace Regatta champions were O’Dea Earle (men’s) and Smith Stockley (ladies). With Crosbie’s Industrial winning the men’s championship and OZ FM winning the ladies’ championship last Wednesday in St. John’s, this year’s triple crown went unclaimed.

AUGUST 6, 2006

12 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

Leave dead moose out of it CLARE-MARIE GOSSE Brazen

think it was the moose that did it. More specifically, the implied offscreen rogering of a freshly deceased, large, hairy moose in episode three. I’m referring to Hatching, Matching and Dispatching and the peculiar path the CBC has recently paved for the locally produced show. After months of waiting to hear if the series would be given the green light to produce a full season by the public broadcaster, the writers have been asked to submit three new scripts for approval. If these three episodes pass the CBC’s test on paper, 2M Innovative Inc — Mary Walsh and Mary Sexton’s production company — can go ahead and write some more. Well, how gracious of the CBC. In interviews, both Walsh and Sexton have managed to keep their personal feelings (re: being strung along) to themselves, squeezing out through gritted teeth that yes, they’re surprised by the CBC’s request, but what can you do? It must have been a tough pill to swallow (and keep down), especially for two ladies used to speaking their minds. I for one wouldn’t have liked to have been anywhere near Walsh when she heard the news. I imagine her tirade — perhaps delivered at an elevated decibel and accompanied by the sounds of breaking glass — may have gone something like this: “Those mother-f***ing sons of bitches! They keep us hanging for months without a single word and then those pansy-arsed clueless hacks have the bla-

Joel Hynes and Shaun Majumder.

Paul Daly/The Independent

tant f***ing nerve to demand three f***ing scripts for their approval?! After a Gemini Award-winning pilot — aired in f***ing January 2005! After six well-received episodes which had to wait another f***ing year to make it on the air and, now, even if we do get a full f***ing season it’s not going to see the light of day until May two thousand and f***ing seven?! What a crock of …” etc, etc. (I would like to point out that the previous paragraph is pure imagined, set-

ting-the-scene fiction and in no way am I either quoting Ms. Walsh or calling the CBC f***ing sons of bitches or pansyarsed clueless hacks.) I really like Hatching, Matching and Dispatching and I’m glad the CBC are at least re-running the six episodes aired earlier this year because I missed a few, forgetting to set my VCR to the Fridaynight time slot. I think the casting is fantastic and the story lines full of some perfect comedy gems. The writing doesn’t hold back — and that’s a good

thing … except, perhaps, when it comes to coupling bestiality and necrophilia. Those two babies on their own might be pushing it, but combined together (with some weed smoking) could perhaps lead to your broadcaster getting the hump. Which brings me back to the moose. In episode three (which re-ran Aug. 1) the boys, Nick (Joel Hynes), Cyril (Shaun Majumder), Troy (Jonny Harris) and Todd (Mark McKinney), go for a trek in the woods to shoot themselves some moose. Long story short, the dimwitted Cyril ends up being coerced into engaging in some dearly departed moose love. It happens off camera, but still … I was watching from my sofa and yelping as Cyril ventured stealthily in: “You’ve got to be kidding me? No, no, no, no … awwwww.” Still, it wasn’t worth practically cancelling the show over (if in fact that was what piqued the execs). What about just pulling the two Marys aside and saying: “Well, congrats on the show, it’s really great, but would you mind laying off the dead moose love in future? You wouldn’t? Oh super, off you go and record a full season then.” It’s utterly ridiculous that the CBC has been stringing Hatching, Matching and Dispatching along since early 2005 and so far all we’ve seen are seven episodes. It seems to me the public broadcaster is suffering from a case of extreme flakiness. The only way to ensure success is to go all the way (no moose pun intended). When it comes to new programming as with any business venture, it’s all or nothing. If you’re going to back something, back it with everything you’ve got. If you’re not prepared to do that, then cancel it with one fell swoop and put the people involved out of their misery.

I’m not about to get deeply into the ratings and programming problems CBC has been experiencing of late (the national media has that pretty well covered so far), but the recent cancellation of The One is a prime example of flakiness (albeit coupled with sheer stupidity). Taking the worst elements of Idol (cheesy performances) and Big Brother (cringe-worthy behind-the-scenes moments involving house-mates) and airing it as The One and expecting it to succeed is hilarious, particularly as The One was competing in the same realityTV saturated time slot as the wildly popular Rock Star: Supernova and Canadian Idol. Why not try something at least vaguely original if you’re going to bump The National? I happened to catch about 10 minutes of The One a couple of weeks ago and after sitting in stunned silence for a few moments, I snapped out of it long enough to narrowly prevent vomiting all over myself as I managed to relocate the channel flicker. But we all make mistakes. CBC, I suggest you apologize to Hatching, Matching and Dispatching and give them a goddamn season already. HMD, lay off the moose love and remember those lanky beasts are for avoiding in your car on the highway, putting in stews and their mammoth poops are for avoiding with your dog who will roll in them. Perhaps more scenes involving Joel Hynes in his Y-fronts and cowboy hat might be more in order? And if CBC doesn’t pull up its socks, maybe Showcase would be interested in the ever-dysfunctional Fureys. I hear whispers Trailer Park Boys might be wrapping up soon … Clare-Marie Gosse’s column will return Aug. 20.

Rejected the findings

SCATTERED PAST

From page 6

A fishermen’s museum By Nadya Bell The Independent

arly last week, sitting on a bench next to four large stacks of crab pots behind the Petty Harbour Convenience and Gift Shop — with the big Slush Puppy sign out front — Jack Stack looked across the harbour. “This place’ll be busy now tomorrow, with the food fishery,” Stack said. He had no idea how right he was. The next day, Aug. 1, David Taylor and his son, David Lewis Taylor left the wharf to fish for cod. Both drowned when their boat sank. Stack says he sits by the water most days. He worked in the fishery until the ’80s, when he gave it up to go into construction. I told him I had just been to the town’s museum. The Petty Harbour and Maddox Cove Museum is small and sparse. It is a tribute to centuries of life in the small community — and to

centuries of hard work. Most of the things displayed are tools or household objects. Realistically, fishermen don’t leave much behind: a red wooden lunch box with a rope handle, a keg of molasses, Jim Doyle’s copper kettle … people have lived in Petty Harbour since 1675, but they haven’t been the materialistic type. The museum fills an old classroom and three smaller rooms in the St. Edward’s school building. Two rusty sewing machines are on display in the main room. Below them are pieces of early electrical equipment: mint green and peach circular light switches. Petty Harbour was the first “electrified” outport, thanks to the Reid Newfoundland Company, which installed the power plant in 1899 to provide power to the St. John’s streetcar system. A small cooper’s room in the museum has a sharpening stone on a stool belonging to Martin Hefferton. The stone has a wellworn groove, and the walls are

Rhonda Hayward/For The Independent

covered with rusty saws, hammers and tongs. A davit, the crane used at the ship’s bow for hoisting an anchor clear of the side, sections of manila rope, fish nets and cod jiggers all bear the marks of hard use. The kitchen is full of tools and sparse decorations as well — a sink, cast-iron pot, and kitchen knives sharpened down to nothing . On a bench next to the stove is a Queen Elizabeth II serving tray. On Sept. 23, 1977, King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium visited Petty Harbour. In a photo on the wall of the museum, Fabiola holds flowers and is surrounded by children. They were accompanied by thenpremier Frank Moores and his wife. There is a big mural in the museum across the back wall showing what Petty Harbour used to look like, and a panoramic photo from 1891. Flakes for drying fish stretch all the way down the harbour. They took the flakes —

properly called the island rooms — down 20 years ago, Stack says. “Eventually they go down to the ground,” he says, pointing to one remaining white stage. “We was out every winter cutting sticks and bits of wood to keep it up. That’s a lot of work.” He says this loudly, as if I should be made to haul logs for a month if I want to see the flakes. TRAGIC STORY He says his father told a story of a rock that fell off Boone’s Head and killed a child 100 years ago. Apparently they used the rock as a headstone. In the Anglican graveyard, there are headstones dated 1822 and 1843, but it’s hard to read the inscriptions. It’s possible one of the headstones was carved from a boulder, but none is boulder shaped. What brings a museum to life is history, the stories of people who have lived in a previous place or time. Sun on steep hills, and stacks of orange crab pots on the dock.

Prime Minister Diefenbaker, he rejected the findings, and in fact he said he would not agree to pay Newfoundland anything. This created a local controversy somewhat similar to the outrage concerning the Atlantic Accord, and eventually Diefenbaker changed his mind. The fact that Newfoundland has been very badly treated since 1949 is very plain and obvious. It was all due to fears of Prime Minister Mackenzie King that offering reasonable and fair financial Terms of Union to Newfoundland would have resulted in strenuous objections by other provinces such as Ontario and Quebec, which King as a very astute politician, knew he could not afford to do. No. 4: While not a major point, the negotiating team for the federal government insisted in 1948 that Newfoundland be financially responsible for the aboriginals living in Newfoundland and the Newfoundland delegation agreed. This was done notwithstanding the provisions of the Indian Act and the Constitution of Canada at the time, under which the federal government was responsible for all Indian (aboriginal) affairs. Over time, the federal government has assumed a greater degree of financial responsibility for the aboriginals living in Newfoundland. Canada is a very interesting country. If a province receives a benefit from the federal government, other provinces either shout “unfair” or “me too.” It doesn’t matter whether the province receiving the financial benefit richly deserves it. The jealousy and one upmanship existing between provinces is very pronounced. All provinces should be delighted if a “havenot” province receives a benefit, which ultimately may make it self-sufficient. Recent pronouncements by the premier of Ontario seem to support the opposite view; he has been suggesting quite loudly that the Atlantic Accord settlements for Newfoundland and Nova Scotia are “unfair.” The editorial board of The Globe and Mail appears to support this untenable position. For the first time since Confederation, the Government of Canada has offered Newfoundland a fair deal when it comes to the Atlantic Accord or for that matter anything. James R. Chalker is a St. John’s lawyer.

INDEPENDENTWORLD

SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, AUGUST 6-12, 2006 — PAGE 13

A woman holding a Cuban flag shouts slogans in support of Cuba's President Fidel Castro Aug. 1.

Jose Luis Quintana/Reuters

‘Be very careful’

Canadian reporter in Havana gets a taste of official Cuba at its most oppressive

HAVANA, Cuba By Tim Harper Torstar wire service

“M

r. Timothy, you must come with me. There is a problem in your room.” I had just tucked into a pork sandwich at the hotel bar when the ominous voice from behind stopped me mid-bite. I was about to get a hard lesson in the sensitivity to foreign journalists poking around in Cuba as long-time President Fidel Castro — potentially — lingers near death. For three days here, I was prevented from reporting on the situation in this country, even as other journalists arrived on tourist visas and reported without official detection. My crime? Playing by the rules, applying for the needed visa upon arrival in Havana, an instance when honesty did not necessarily pay. As I was escorted by hotel security from the poolside bar, I was led into the main building where waiting for me were a uni-

VOICE FROM AWAY

formed member of the Cuban ministry of the interior, an official-looking balding gentleman who may have been his superior and a fourth man who appeared as if he could have been a maintenance worker brought along for an interrogation he may have found amusing. All the while, the hotel security man mumbled something into his wrist. I was marched through the lobby of my upscale Havana hotel as if I was some type of flight risk who might try to swim to Miami, brought up six flights on the elevator, directed to my room, told to open it so we could deal with the “problem,” and made to hand over my passport to the hotel security agent who interrupted my sandwich in the first place. It was the fifth time in two days here that some official had walked away with my passport without explanation. This was official Cuba at its most oppressive — a world away from the welcoming vacation beaches known to most Canadians. The fact that the interior ministry could immediately find me at a hotel restaurant —

not in my room — led me to believe that I had been closely monitored during my stay here. Who had so easily pointed them in my direction? Hotel security? Perhaps the cab driver with whom I chatted on the way back to the hotel, maybe the two young Cuban men with whom I had shared a beer the evening before? Were they listening in on my phone calls? That possibility had led to a roll of the eyes and laughter from a government official with whom I had met earlier in the day, but my visit came five hours after I left her office. “You are a journalist,” the government official kept telling me. I readily agreed, but time and again I told him I had written nothing, mindful of the half-written report that sat on a computer downstairs in the hotel business office. Where was my camera? They wanted to know. Who was my boss? Where did I work? Who had I spoken with? What was that tape recorder doing on my

It was the fifth time in two days here that some official had walked away with my passport without explanation. bedside table? The official, the little man with the tie — none offered identification or names — would gratuitously and randomly throw out English words and phrases, for no apparent reason. “Be careful, be very, very careful,” he said solemnly, his tone reminiscent of some old black-and-white Hollywood product he had once seen. The only words in English offered by the man in uniform caught me off guard. “Are you sick?” he said. I hesitated, wondering whether he was offering a judgment on my state of mind. See “No one was eager,” page 14

Food for thought St. John’s-native Dreena Burton has turned her passion for tasty, plant-based food into a career By Stephanie Porter The Independent

reena Burton laughs as she remembers a moment from her daughter’s final day of pre-school this year. “All the other kids were having popsicles, and Charlotte ran up to me holding hers, asking ‘Mommy, does this have meat in it?” Burton says. “She’s certainly more aware of her diet than ever — in the past year she’s been asking questions, and understands.” Burton has been vegan —eating no animal products, including dairy, eggs, meat and fish —for going on a decade now. Her husband has adopted the same diet; both their children, now aged five and 20 months, have never had a drop of milk, never tasted beef. All four are healthy and happy. The St. John’snative, now living in White Rock, B.C., is so passionate about her

food choices that she’s turned it into a career. Now hard at work on her third cookbook (already published are The Everyday Vegan and Vive le Vegan!), she also runs a popular blog, contributes to magazines and websites, and does the odd public appearance. The picture of health, with clear skin, shining hair and eyes, and a big smile, Burton is a fit (and fitting) spokesperson for a lifestyle choice that is slowly gaining popularity. “More people become vegan for the compassion of animals, they’re more activist,” she says. “But then we took the other route, doing it for health reasons … yes, animal kindness and compassion are still important for us. “It’s made me a little sad that people don’t do it for health — then they don’t eat healthy, and that’s where it gets a bad rap. You can eat a junk food vegan diet, just like you can eat McDonald’s every day.” Burton believes as much in avoiding processed, pre-packaged food as she does in staying away from animal products. Her recipes use whole grains, unrefined flour and sugar,

and lots of legumes, fruits and vegetables. (But, she adds, she loves deserts, and the sweeter recipes in her collections are as rich and tasty as any— gone are the health-food cakes and cookies that taste like sawdust and sit in the stomach like rocks.) Burton’s diet evolved gradually. While in St. John’s — and working for a satellite telecommunications company — she gave up red meat. When she and her husband moved to B.C., she became a vegetarian, cutting out other meat and fish. Before long, she eliminated eggs and dairy. “There’s so much information, so many products available,” she says. “There’s lots of stores to shop at and restaurants you could still eat in.” When people ask her for guidance on adopting a vegan diet, Burton speaks from experience: take it slowly. “Adopt a few new foods, drop a few. People try it all at once and they find it’s too much … do it step by step, get used to it. Even if you’re just eating a few more vegan meals, See “I love,” page 14

AUGUST 6, 2006

14 • INDEPENDENTWORLD

‘No one was eager to accommodate me’ From page 13 “Are you sick?” Then he pointed to a handful of ibuprofen that sat on my desk, an over-the-counter drug I use to ease back pain. It was made clear that if I wrote anything about Castro, I would be gone, “bye, bye,” the one man said as the other chuckled sardonically, but the tone also suggested that my penalty would not be an air-conditioned limousine ride to the airport. I would never come back to Cuba. Did I understand? In the midst of the interrogation, a surreal element was injected when the power went off in the hotel. In the darkness, he didn’t miss a beat and continued his questioning. I could go to the pool and enjoy the hotel, I was told. Could I go downtown, I asked? Oh sure, I was told after a moment’s hesitation. Eventually, it was explained that I was simply being “reminded” about a promise I made at the Havana airport during a four-hour odyssey after which I was finally admitted as a tourist, while vowing to seek the proper papers. I did, although it was clear no one was eager to accommodate me.

The questions at immigration included queries about what I knew about Castro’s illness, how I found out, what did I think of Castro, what kind of stories about the president does my newspaper publish? After 90 minutes of appeal, I was granted entry, only to face almost three hours more of waiting and sweating at Cuban customs. Every piece of paper I had in any bags was scrutinized. At one point, six officials huddled in deep conversation while they studied a scrap of paper on which was written my computer password, a piece of gibberish even to English speakers. I was questioned about an old travel itinerary from Washington to Ottawa, which had been simply left in the bag for no apparent reason. In fact, anything that indicated my U.S. address came under intense, microscopic scrutiny, including whether I had been to Miami — the scene of loud antiCastro protests — and whether I knew the “mafia” there. After a couple of hours, I forged a relationship with my overly efficient customs officer, who ultimately wanted to know if I was rich. That provided a much-needed moment of levity. Ultimately, I was convicted of a terri-

ble crime and made to hand over the day’s copies of The New York Times and The Washington Post, plus some printouts of wire service stories dealing with Castro’s illness. But first, I was asked to offer a cursory translation and everyone huddled around to look at the newspaper accounts. The paperwork dealing with the seized newspapers — which I gleefully and politely offered to simply hand over — took another 90 minutes of lecturing, passport seizures by one official after another and endless forms handwritten in triplicate. Finally, here was the my crime — quickly getting to Cuba to try to tell readers about the mood on the street, the fallout of a protracted illness or death of Castro, and the future of the country. News of Castro’s illness broke very late Monday evening. Six hours later, at 4:30 a.m., I was headed for the Washington airport to catch a flight to Toronto where I could get a connector to Havana. Clearly no time to obtain the needed papers, an explanation that curried no favour here. So, at the beginning of the third day here, essentially under house arrest, I did what they wanted. I left.

NB Power kick-starts wind power production

eventeen proposals from 10 wind power companies have been selected by NB Power to kick-start significant wind power development in the province. NB Power announced last week it will increase its wind power generating capacity, seeking 200 megawatts over three years of production. In June 2005, the Crown corporation announced it would commit to acquiring 400 megawatts of wind energy by 2016 at an average of 40 megawatts per year for 10 years, and put out a call for proposals. It received 35 proposals from 19 developers by December 2005, and last week announced the 10 short-listed companies have until Aug. 28 to submit their final proposals. NB Power has said that one of the reasons the selection process took more than seven months was because they were looking to spread wind farms out across the province, to increase the chances that at least one farm would generate energy at any given time. The Crown corporation wants agreements signed by October, and

expects generation to come online before 2010. Brian Duplessis, NB Power’s vicepresident of corporate communications, says the 80 megawatt increase over the next three years will increase the learning curve, but will also allow the company some breathing space by 2009. In March, the province asked NB Power to accelerate installation of the 400 megawatts of wind power. “That will give us some time to assess how these companies are doing,” Duplessis says. “There isn’t a timeline on the additional 200 (megawatts). This is not generating capacity we need tomorrow. This is generating capacity we need over a period of time.” He says NB Power’s priority is to get the best agreement over a long period in negotiations with the private sector, regardless of the time it took to make this most recent announcement. “Obviously wind developers want to push everything to go faster. But this is a competitive marketplace, and we want to make sure the competitors give us the best price.” — Telegraph-Journal

‘I love working on deserts’ From page 13 you’re getting health benefits.” Burton points to a new study that links a vegan, whole-foods diet to a reversal in type-2 diabetes. “Which is great, because there are negative stories out there,” she admits. “But when you read health literature, you always hear: increase your intake of vegetables, increase your intake of whole grains, nuts and seeds, beans and legumes. “Well, that’s a plant-based diet. You don’t hear, well, increase your eggs and meat … get another few hunks of cheese in you. It’s about getting more whole foods and plants in you and yet people think that’s so radical and hard. But it’s kind of what we should be doing.” What about negative perceptions or “hippie” or “granola” stereotypes? “My family is a pretty normal family, we just eat this way,” she says. “We do everything else the same, we just eat whole foods, which is something we all need to get back to. “It’s not that weird, or difficult, or time-consuming, or expensive. It’s just a change in thought about what you want to eat and your habits.” Burton wrote her first cookbook as a basic, how-to guide — it’s reflective of her first steps and creations as a vegan, with plenty of explanation about products and varieties of foods that may be unfamiliar. (She also offers plenty of wheat- and soy-free recipes, for those with allergies or preferences.) The second cookbook, Vive the Vegan! was published in late 2004, arriving the same month as her second child. It’s a family friendly book, with lots of information on cooking for vegan infants and toddlers. Many of the recipes are quick and simple — perfect for busy lifestyles or those with youngsters underfoot. The cookbook was named one of “five favourite vegetarian cookbooks” by the very mainstream Homemakers magazine, and is slated to soon go into its third printing. Combined, there are more than 20,000 of her first two efforts in print. “I had no intention of doing a third, and then, through the blog, people started asking questions, asking when the next book was coming … then I got creative, and here I am writing another one. “It’s crazy, because I’m really busy and with the girls, I could be sitting back and relaxing a bit more, but it’s a passion.” This next book, titled Eat, Drink and Be Vegan, will focus on celebratory and

party food. “Because a lot of people see veganism as a real deprivation diet. People think you can’t have yummy food or don’t understand all the food you can eat … there’s lots of dips and deserts, because I love working on deserts.” www.everydayvegan.com http://vivelevegan.blogspot.com Do you know a Newfoundlander or Labradorian living away? Please e-mail editorial@theindependent.ca

AUGUST 6, 2006

INDEPENDENTWORLD • 15

G-8 leaders may as well stay home next time By James Travers Torstar wire service

emember the G-8 summit and its pious commitments to peace and world trade? It’s been three weeks since a self-congratulatory conclusion and the wreckage is everywhere. A conditional signal that Hezbollah and Israel should cease fire turned out to be a green light from the U.S., endorsed by me-too Canada, for the worst Middle East violence in decades. And a communiqué urging negotiators to resuscitate failing trade talks was followed by an almost immediate collapse that looks fatal. It would be easy — perhaps even smugly satisfying — to dismiss both as more proof of failed international leadership. It would also hit the mark. Along with a primary agenda once again made secondary by momentous events, world leaders meeting in Russia for the first time faced two significant, connected challenges. They needed to prevent an incident from becoming a crisis and they had to demonstrate just a little confidence that when it comes to harmonious global cohabitation, butter is better than guns. Instead of advancing either or both,

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President George Bush

they retreated to a contradiction. Terrorism, as defined by U.S. President George W. Bush, is being confronted militarily in the Middle East while the already lacklustre effort to tackle its causes is being abandoned in Geneva.

Jim Young/Reuters

For those not paying attention, the U.S. president is now morphing the decades old Arab-Israeli conflict into his worldwide war on terrorism. Besides dehumanizing the enemy, making it more comfortable to take

sides and tolerate civilian casualties, that ignores a lot of history as well as the awkward reality that terrorism is a tactic habitually — as well as almost universally — used in Middle East transitions from underdog to overlord. But politics is the art of never letting facts get in the way of a good yarn. So a disproportionate, regionally destabilizing response to a foolishly provocative, if hardly unusual, kidnapping and thankfully inept rocket attacks is being simplified and justified as part of the bracing struggle of good against evil. Meanwhile, the loss of a much more lasting antidote to extremism is being minimized as a minor setback. Muted by the rolling Middle East thunder is the troubling news that the impossibly protracted Doha round of World Trade Organization negotiations is being abandoned for dead. Without determined leadership, winwin becomes lose-lose. At risk now are hundreds of billions in future growth, discipline in managing existing world trade and overarching solutions to the complex problem of easing the international flow of goods and services. This is worrying for Canada beyond the negative implications for world cooperation. It means this country will

have to play catch-up in a game of bilateral agreements that, in the absence of international rules, will be won that much more often by the most powerful players. Short term, there is some domestic political advantage for a federal government that won’t have to explain the erosion of marketing boards, particularly to trade-savvy Quebecers holding the power to deny Conservatives a majority. But that pales beside the long-term damage to a country that relies so heavily on multilateral trade and diplomatic remedies. So what, exactly, did Stephen Harper and peers accomplish in St. Petersburg? Well, they got Russia’s wink-and-nudge compliance on transparent, less political, market-based resource trading and they talked about both controlling infectious disease and driving economies with education. Competitive resource trading is important to Canada and the other issues are worthy, too. But in failing to seize the moment, seven powerful men and one woman mostly succeeded in substituting an illusory, fleeting and cynical consensus for needed progress. If they can’t do better, they might as well stay home.

Liberal candidates face debts

t looks increasingly likely candidates for the Liberal leadership — the guinea pigs of the new federal funding rules — will find themselves facing whopping personal debt as their reward for public service. The 11 Liberal hopefuls must work with a ban on corporate funding and a limit of $5,400 for personal donors. “We are being held to the highest standard ever,” says Alex Swann, spokesperson for Bob Rae, former Ontario NDP premier. “I’m not saying we don’t welcome the transparency, but it should be noted we’re the first party to have to go through this.” All but one candidate, Toronto MP Joe Volpe (Eglinton-Lawrence), had to take out loans in order to get their campaigns off the ground. Most borrowed $100,000 or $200,000, often from family and friends, sometimes from themselves. These loans must be repaid with interest within 18 months of the leadership vote. But Elections Canada results show that only two candidates — Rae and Ignatieff — raised enough money by June 30 to even cover the debt. Rae raised about $285,000 more than the

$100,000 he borrowed from his brother, John Rae, a Power Corp. executive. Ignatieff, who borrowed $125,000 from campaign director Ian Davey, raised $294,000 by the end of June. Campaigns are scrambling to meet the new rules. “It’s a system that’s in place for all, but it’s difficult with these new rules,” says Taras Zalusky, campaign manager for Vaughan MP Maurizio Bevilacqua. “There’s added pressure because you don’t want to leave the candidate in a difficult financial situation.” York Centre MP Ken Dryden bemoaned the difficulties with the new rules earlier this week. His campaign had to lay off paid staffers last week because the money just isn’t coming in as had been expected. He raised about $44,000, small in comparison to the $100,000 he and his wife, Linda, loaned his campaign. Gerard Kennedy, a former Ontario cabinet minister, raised only $3,000 more than the $100,000 he borrowed from three family members. A campaign spokesperson says the debt is not a problem. — Torstar wire service

Take Paul’s word for it. Paul Shallow is finishing the (paid) workterm component of our IT program. He’s system administrator (LINUX, UNIX, Windows) for a local engineering firm. They’re happy. We’re pleased. He’s delighted.

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AUGUST 6, 2006

16 • INDEPENDENTWORLD

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INDEPENDENTLIFE

SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, AUGUST 6-12, 2006 — PAGE 17

Tribal beats

World traveller, percussionist and Carbonear native Curtis Andrews helps bring traditional African music to St. John’s By Mandy Cook For the Independent

Andrews realized he had to go to the source to satisfy his desire to learn more. “From the first rehearsal I knew I was going to go to Ghana,” he says, brown eyes bright and animated. “It was something about the music, the gestalt of it all — the combined power of the whole. Because I had heard African music before but I had never experienced it. That was as close as I was going to get here in Canada.” The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Council are taking this perceived lack of musical diversity to task in its mandate. Jean Hewson, artistic director of the folk festival, says a variety of musical offerings reflect the changing cultural face of Newfoundland and Labrador in recent years. “(The program) was mostly the type of music that basically came from the founding cultures like the Irish and the English,” she says. “But of course our culture keeps changing all the time and people keep moving here and adding to our cultures. “We need to pay attention to the people who are moving to Newfoundland by choice who choose to come here and live and work here and who have different types of traditions of their own. They are also part of our community.” Hence Dzolali, and other folk music definitely not native to Newfoundland — like Mopaya (African) and the Forgotten Bouzouki (Greek). Andrews says the local folk festival is unique in the fact that it caters primarily to local musical acts — whereas in other centres across the country, folk festival line-ups characteristically focus on visiting musicians. “This folk festival is good because they have a lot of local people playing,” he says. “A lot of folk festivals like Calgary, Winnipeg, wherever, the vast majority are people travelling through on tour, which is cool because you get all these crazy acts from all over the place, but a lot of the people who live there don’t get a chance to perform.” Alison Carter, a local dancer

ith a shout from above, percussionist Curtis Andrews bounds barefoot down over his stairs to open the door. Clad in a red dhoti — a cotton wrap once popularized by Gandhi — and a green and gold African tunic, the Carbonear native is the epitome of multicultural cool. Fresh from a four-month musical study stint in India, he’s back long enough to touch down at the annual Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival. He and 13 others will take to the stage drumming, dancing and singing in his African music ensemble, Dzolali (pronounced Jo-la-lee). Seconds after admitting a guest into his colourful and percussion-packed house, Andrews is drumming out a beat from a selection of four conga drums taking up centre court on the living room floor. They are made of gleaming blonde wood and are shiny new. “I just got them,” Andrews explains in his slightly hoarse accent — almost a cross between a Rastafarian and a Newfoundlander. “So I’m excited.” One of them is obviously different than the three professionally manufactured Western standard drums. It’s a souvenir from Andrews’ time in Ghana, and is carved from wood, covered with antelope hide and tuned with leather straps tightened around wooden pegs. These drums, plus an assortment of other instruments collected from Andrews’ world travels — such as a metal bell, or gankogui, and a metal finger piano called a lammellophone — will all be included in Dzolali’s Aug. 6 performance in Bannerman Park. In addition to the instruments, the musicians and dancers will stamp, clap and sing the indigenous songs of the Ewe (pronounced Eh-weh) people of Ghana. Andrews spent a total of seven months in the African country, stemming from his experiences with drummer Frederick Kwasi Dunyo, who visited and performed in St. John’s during the 1998 Sound Symposium. It was then

Curtis Andrews

Rhonda Hayward/For The Independent

See “Inspires,” page 18

Salt fish and Shmattes

Local community welcomes more the 70 visitors during Jewish come-home week By Nadya Bell The Independent

fter a Sunday morning prayer service at Cape Spear on Aug. 13, the Shofar — a traditional ram horn — will sound in honour of Jewish families returning to visit the province. St. John’s small Jewish community will celebrate their history and welcome back over 70 people as part of Kum Ahaym or Jewish come-home week,

running Aug. 9-13 in the city. Salt fish and Shmattes, a history of Jews in Newfoundland by Robin McGrath, will be released as part of the events. “I’m very pleased that St. John’s has become so beautiful and I think these people will be pleasantly surprised when they return,” says Claire FrankelSalama, president of the local Jewish Association. The Jewish community was at its largest in the 1960s, with 80 families. Today there are closer to 25 Jewish

families in St. John’s. Many of those visiting are the children of Jewish Newfoundlanders who have never visited the province. “This province was good to them, it holds a warm spot in their hearts,” says Frankel-Salama. Among other activities, they will be touring Rodrigues Winery near Whitbourne, the only kosher wine producer in Canada. Western English Jews were the first to come to St. John’s in the early 20th

century as merchants and peddlers. Israel Perlin established a formal Jewish community in St. John’s in 1909 with a synagogue on Henry Street. “They would take clothing or whatever and put it on their backs and go off to the little outports of Newfoundland on the train, and they would pedal their stuff,” says Frankel-Salama. Several families — Wilansky, Silver, Smilestein and Levitz — established successful clothing and jewelry stores downtown. But Frankel-Salama says

she’s seen the community shift from merchants and business people to professionals working at the university or hospital. One person returning is a kidney specialist who will give a lecture at the medical school. “It’s a totally different type of community, there are very few people left — Sidepstein is left, the Feders, the Sidels — but not too many really that See “People come,” page 18

AUGUST 6, 2006

18 • INDEPENDENTLIFE

GALLERYPROFILE

Showy Lady’s Slipper by Michael Bennett

Peonies by Eleanor Wells

Photos by Rhonda Hayward

Botanical art I

nside the visitors’ centre at Memorial University’s Botanical Garden hangs the second part of the annual garden and nature art exhibition — a couple dozen paintings, photographs and sculptures by a range of artists. Just steps outside lies the inspiration for many of the works — the colourful, ever-changing flower, vegetable and herb gardens. The rock garden, perennial garden, shade garden, cottage garden and even the new medicinal garden can be considered worthy exhibitions in themselves — created by nature, guided by the staff. Many of the indoor artworks are by members of the Botanical Garden’s Tuesday group — a group of artists, amateur and professional, who gather weekly to study the plants and draw or paint. Most of the year, they sit outside,

amidst the pathways, bridges, benches and beds. “In the winter, when it’s too cold to work outside, we’ll bring them in,” says Wilf Nicholls, director of the garden. “We’ll bring plants from the greenhouse to the conference room so they can work, or, if there’s a booking in the conference room, we’ll exile them to the greenhouse,” he laughs. “We’ll do everything we can to keep everyone warm and productive.” The Tuesday group is open to anyone who purchases an annual Friends of the Garden membership, and Nicholls says there’s almost always work by participants on display in the Bloomin’ Teapot, the on-site café. “Used to be, we had one art show a year and that used to be in late September or October … the whole

building was used for the art show and the only people that ever came were the artists and their friends because it was the end of the season,” he continues. “So we decided to change it around and show during the season, and it’s been a great success.” Pieces for this year’s official exhibition, the 29th annual, were divided into two groups. The second is on display now, and includes work by Michelle Whitten Lacour, Sylvia Bendsza, Cathy Driedzic, Lydia Snellen, and many more. The pieces aren’t judged — they’re displayed on a first-come, firstserved basis — but Nicholls says “there’s never been a piece we haven’t been proud to show. “We’ve had people participate from age seven to 87 … if people are willing to share their art, we’re willing

to show it. “Mostly, we just want to rejoice and celebrate the talent.” As Nicholls walks from gallery to garden, it’s obvious he takes pride in both. The bright colours and love for nature shown on the walls indoors are reflected in the work of the garden staff. “It’s been a spectacular growing season,” says Nicholls. “It started off with a bang, and it’s still going along at a real good pace. There’s lots left to see … there’s always going to be something.” Nicholls points to a rock garden, nestled along a stream, full of bloom. The 10-foot high sunflowers are not yet flowering. He opens a greenhouse door and shows off lush vines creeping up the walls and across the ceiling, dripping with bunches of grapes.

Between the educational programming, research work, bird watching, public activities, maintaining the kilometers of trails and thousands of plants, Nicholls admits sometimes the hardest job is in marketing. “We’ve always been known as a nice garden and we’ll do our utmost to stay as nice a garden as we can,” says Nicholls, pausing in front of a bed of plants destined for the annual driedflower sale in the fall. “Everybody works so hard here and one of the toughest things is remembering to keep the rest of the world aware of what we’re doing.” The Botanical Garden is open daily until fall. The second part of the annual garden and nature art exhibition is up until Aug. 27. — Stephanie Porter

The Gallery is a regular feature in The Independent. For information, or to submit proposals, please call (709) 726-4639, or e-mail editorial@theindependent.ca

‘Inspires me to move’ From page 17 and choreographer, will be performing with Dzolali. While Andrews learned the drum parts from Dunyo, she learned the dances from the visiting performer, too. She also realized she wanted to work African dance into her life — by organizing a group or travelling to Africa herself. Hence, Dzolali began to take shape. By way of explanation to the non-initiated, Carter makes the comparison between classical dance and the traditional, community-taught African dance. “Ballet is about lightness and lifting off the earth and African dancing is about being drawn down into the earth,” she says. “African rhythms are unfamiliar to me, which inspires me to move. It doesn’t have a straight 4/4 rhythm. “The sounds of the drums can really drive you — some of the dances can be long and you get tired, but I’ll start listening to the music and think, ‘I’m so lucky to be able to do this in St. John’s.’”

Dzolali performs several dances. One is a war dance, depicting movements suggesting preparation for battle, training and learning to fight. The dancers make a grid formation and mimic ducking and fighting manoeuvres, all the while stamping their feet and shaking their arms, bellies and heads to the frenzied rhythm. Another dance is the agricultural dance, or “Deine,” where movements suggest planting and harvesting. The dancers demonstrate the celebration of a good crop with fast, exuberant stomping, twisting and sometimes shaking woven baskets in time to the wall of drummers. They are sensuous, earthy and low to the ground as they form concentric circles and throw huge grins over their shoulders at their fellow dancers spinning behind them. There are no jazz hands or pointed toes anywhere in sight — just fierce bare feet matching the tribal beats. Dzolali are scheduled to perform Aug. 6, 3:40 p.m. in Bannerman Park during the 30th annual Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival. More performance dates to be announced.

‘People come as refugees’ From page 17 are still here, and that are still Jewish,” says Frankel-Salama. The Sidels are a fourth-generation Newfoundland Jewish family, as are the Wilanskys. Both attend the Beth-El Synagogue, on Elizabeth Avenue. Over the years, many older people in the community left Newfoundland to live closer to their children who work on the mainland. The last rabbi left in 1986, but the community continues to pray and celebrate holy days together. To replace the rabbi, the community hired Hebrew teachers to instruct their children. Frankel-Salama says there are now a few pre-school children in the community who will start to learn the traditions and language of their culture. They are an egalitarian conservative synagogue, meaning both women and men are allowed to carry the Torah for prayers. “We accept anybody and there are a lot of intermarried couples in our community, but the services are fairly traditional,” Frankel-Salama says. Beth-El opened in 1960 and was renovated and reduced in size in 2000.

The rabbi’s house and parking lot were sold, along with one wing of the old structure. While the new building is smaller, it now has insulation and good plumbing, and they have kept the original pews from the Henry Street synagogue. The synagogue renovations were finished in early September 2001. A large number of passengers stranded in St. John’s on Sept. 11, 2001 were Jews returning home for the Jewish New Year holiday in the United States. Helping Jewish refugees who land in Newfoundland is an important part of Frankel-Salama’s community work. “A lot of people come through here, just like they come through Halifax,” she says. Frankel was on the national Jewish aid immigration services board in the 1990s, and helped a number of Russian immigrants who landed in Newfoundland. The congregation was almost double in size at the time, but she says all of the refugees eventually moved elsewhere in Canada. “That’s part of our history. People come as refugees, you take care of them. You don’t think about it, you just do,” she says.

AUGUST 6, 2006

INDEPENDENTLIFE • 19

NOREEN GOLFMAN Standing Room Only

egatta Day has passed, the days are getting shorter, school supplies are starting to overtake gardening tools, and we’re already assessing the 2006 tourism season. Sadly, summer is fading faster than Mel Gibson’s credibility. It’s now possible to reflect a bit on what is working, and what is not working in these tourist-challenged parts. Last weekend a whole bunch of people from St. John’s ended up in Harbour Grace for the opening of a show of photographs by Sandy Newton. Indeed, the Independent featured Sandy’s lovely work, based on her trips to Turkey, on its feature artist July 30. The air was thick and humid and the gallery where Sandy’s work is being exhibited was crowded and buzzing with conversation, a wonderful way to spend a lazy afternoon. Victoria Manor Shoppes & Gallery is owned by Randy Follett and Tina Riche, both well known in the local arts community, and it’s well worth the drive from any point on the Avalon, as is Harbour Grace itself, of course. But it’s nice to have, as they say in tourism jargon, a destination. Victoria Manor embodies the best features of cultural tourism. On the ground floor is a small shop jammed with local products, hand-knit goods, glass, candles, the kind of small, original, transportable stuff tourists and pathologically early Christmas consumers feel compelled to stuff into their suitcases. The upstairs gallery spaces, deliciously white and welcoming, are dedicated to showcasing the work of emerging artists who might not yet have the opportunity to break and enter into St. John’s spaces. By mid-afternoon, many red dots of claimed purchase were starting to appear beside Sandy’s photographs. According to the enterprising, easy-going owners, the work in the gallery will always be of quality, affordable, and, like the mitts downstairs, easily transportable.

A photo from Sandy Newton’s Payzaj, an exhibition on display in Harbour Grace.

Tourism notes The Manor, so called, once a home, practically screams charming, with just enough Queen Anne architectural detail to make it sing out to the visitor. Follett and Riche have painted the cladding in a decidedly non-heritage mustard colour, adding to the whimsy of its character. Now the challenge is to make sure visitors to Victoria Manor come not only from St. John’s, for whom a trip along Conception Bay can seem as exotic as a passage to India, but from elsewhere in the province, as well as from mainland sites. A good coffee bar or café in the vicinity, where shop and gallery patrons can talk about Sandy’s photographs or compare notes with other tourists, would enhance the whole experience. Victoria Manor, happily competing

with the Kyle for attention in Harbour Grace, confidently demonstrates the possibility of good tourism potential. Build it, and they shall come, chat, talk, spend. Also on the good side of the ledger is the demonstrated success of all the summer arts and culture festivals, measured by record-breaking box offices, filled

Let’s tell the feds once and for all: the waterways to the island of Newfoundland must be supported as natural extensions of the TCH. From sea to sea.

B&Bs, crowded bars and restaurants, and almost hyper real expressions of good will. Contrary to the cliché, you actually can buy that kind of success, and so any public money that flows towards these events, whether on the west coast, in Trinity or St John’s, is worth every ministerial signature. The opposite side of the ledger, however, is almost frightfully dark. The other day I bumped into a retired couple from a suburb just outside Quebec City. Missus was able to ask directions in passable English but the Mister was pure unilingual. My rusty French got us all through to weather forecasts and where to have fish and chips, but I am still haunted by her complaint about the poor quality or even lack of translated information materials on the island. They were struck by this as they drove

along the island towards this coast, and unpleasantly surprised by the unintentionally comic translations on the brochures up at the Johnson GEO Centre. The Missus’ examples recalled the mockery English speakers make of the linguistic anarchy of Chinese food menus. Suddenly it felt uncomfortable to be on the receiving end. Even more alarming is the crisis of Marine Atlantic. At the best of summer times, the ferries that transport tourists from North Sydney to Port aux Basques or Argentia are overcrowded ovens, offering artery-clogging fare and uncomfortable seats in life-denying manner. But when you’ve bought all those high-quality tourism ads, rearranged your vacation plans, and headed east from Pennsylvania or Ontario with a carload full of children, you want to board one of those bloody mechanical monsters, bad food or no bad food. It’s almost too painful to conjure the image of hundreds of frustrated visitors, camped out this week in stinking hot cars or on lawn chairs in North Sydney, waiting for the parts to come in. The edge of the world, to be sure. We should be treating those people like refugees from 9/11, showering them with attention, food, tents, fans, safe harbour from the punishing sun and the interminable wait for the Leif Ericson to get her engine repaired. When the leaves turn and fall off the dogberry trees, when winds start howling and Canadian Tire runs out of snow shovels, do we simply forget about how dependent we are on those slow-chugging beasts? If the province is really serious about its tourism agenda it should make replacing or fixing up those ferries with higher end, human-friendly, and reliable service as important a priority as rural Newfoundland or health care. Let’s tell the feds once and for all: the waterways to the island of Newfoundland must be supported as natural extensions of the TCH. From sea to sea. It might mean a lot of foot-stomping, flag-lowering, tantrum-throwing histrionics, but we all know the guy who can do it, and he needs to do it now. Noreen Golfman’s column returns Aug. 20.

Can I get some service here?

e entered the restaurant early for our meal — a good clue as to how our evening was to progress. Since there was no bar available for us to sit and have a drink before our meal, we had to watch as the staff “flipped” our table and prepared it for us. Good service is a misnomer, as sadly there are few places where it truly shines in St. John’s. When going out to dinner with friends I am taking in the experience of dining out — I love eating in restaurants, but I want the experience to be subtle, not overbearing. The fine dining experience is being strangled to death by a lack of good, sophisticated service. When we went out to dinner to celebrate with a friend I was appalled at how the wait staff was so familiar with us, even though it was our first time there. Infractions committed during dinner included a not-so-welcome joke about where one might find a washroom; frequent touching of a guest’s arm; and pulling up a chair to sit close to our table while describing the evening’s selection of desserts. These transgressions, unfortunately, are more common than ever before, even in the fancier establishments where one expects a certain level of decorum. Sadly still, it has been slipping for some time. Sir Wilfred Gowers-Round (1855-

NICHOLAS GARDNER Off the Eating Path 1945) became so intolerant with the state of waiters that he proposed a “manifesto of rules” for the wait staff to follow, including: 2. The ultimate goal to waiting is inconspicuous service 4. Under no circumstances should a waiter ever touch a diner. I am in agreement with those two rules. Our meal, even though the food was great, was for me, overshadowed by the service, which lacked the grace commanded by the weighty bill. However, if we re-examine the Gowers-Round Manifesto and compare it to recent studies targeting specifically the service industry, contradictions arise. While Gowers-Round commands inconspicuous service, modern suggestions in service techniques allow and encourage service staff to be a part of the overall dining experience, all in an effort to increase gratuities. In recent surveys, touching a customer can result in an average increase in gratuities of 11.8-14.8 per cent. Sitting down at eye-level, in the biz referred to as squatting, nets an average increase of 4 per cent, bringing the total

increase to nearly 19 per cent. We experienced both techniques. While I might malign some of the techniques as being rude, they work for some people, and in a more casual setting, they are more acceptable. This type of familiarity is expected in establishments more suited to family or casual dining, as it puts the diners at ease. Fine dining, on the other hand, is about the overall experience, not relaxing. As a diner who looks at all aspects of the restaurant when choosing where I will go, service is one of the key ingredients. If the room is dim to the point of not being able to read the menu, then the room is too dark. The room should be comfortable to sit in for a good amount of time. My friends and I sat at a table, which was near a door, and thankfully a breeze gave us some relief as the dining room was a furnace of heat and the room had no central air conditioning. When eating out at a fancy restaurant, we want to believe that our thoughts are catered to. When the food is being served, we don’t want to hear “who’s having the …” as if we have ordered the blue plate special. We expect the server to remember. We want to know that they got it right the first time. We wish to linger over our wine, discuss, chat and laugh without clutter or interruptions and we want the chance to ohh and ahh over our food —

which is the reason we chose the restaurant in the first place. While there were some problems in service, the food was great, the compact wine list held some spectacular gems, and the net result was that we would certainly dine there again. As guests in a restaurant we are bombarded by questions, choices, over familiarity, and wordy menu descrip-

tions — which to the untrained eye require a degree in modern Greek to decipher. All I really ask for is simple — beautiful, elegant service, and a smile. Is that too much to ask? Nicholas is an erstwhile chef and current food writer now living in St. John’s. nicholas.gardner@gmail.com

AUGUST 6, 2006

20 • INDEPENDENTLIFE

WEEKLY DIVERSIONS ACROSS 1 Says thing for sing 6 “What’s the big ___?” 10 Cob covering 14 Purse (Fr.) 17 Occupied (2 wds.) 18 Midday 19 A single time 20 Spanish aunt 21 Not communist 23 Kind of muffin 24 The classifieds 25 -ish 26 Synagogue 27 Unreason’s opposite 29 NZ parrot 30 Sea swallow 32 Digestive fluid 34 It runs in spring 35 Ripen 37 Bad hair ___ 39 Head scarf 42 Wander 45 Capital of New Caledonia 48 Area bordering on the Sahara 49 Rodent 51 Charge with improper conduct in office 53 It almost wiped out the buffalo 54 Kind of rug 55 Be prone 56 Lodger

58 On the ball 59 To be (Fr.) 61 Not yet determined 63 Expel 67 Hebrew prophet 69 Kind of stew 71 Slangy refusal 72 Things 75 Sold(i)er material 76 Couple 78 Pianist, Beethoven specialist 79 Leaf of paper (pub.) 81 B vitamin 82 City’s summer problem 83 He wrote Microserfs 86 Lake (Fr.) 87 Most densely populated prov. 89 Wind dir. 90 Exigency 92 Make haste 95 Provincial rep. 97 Lively Spanish dance 100 Do like a volcano 102 Fraternity letter 103 Broadcast 104 Move 105 Explosion 108 Intermediate: prefix 109 Sicilian volcano 110 Promising words 111 ___-Severn waterway (Ont.)

112 Whichever 113 Christmas in Quebec 114 Slangy negative 115 Ebb and neap ___ DOWN 1 Lawful 2 Silly 3 Ticketyboo! 4 Greek letter 5 Ensembles 6 Fortunate (2 wds.) 7 Crocheted items 8 Greek dawn goddess 9 Picnic spoilers 10 Metal in a boot sole 11 Not ready to eat 12 Shoo! 13 Country of Masai Mara Reserve 14 Surveillance 15 Adjutant 16 Spanish house 22 Detection cry 28 Grey 31 Dub 33 Sugar-coated nut 36 Cavern often flooded 38 About 31.5 million seconds 40 “Polar bear capital of the world” (Man.) 41 Wrong side up 43 Partook of 44 Russian space sta-

tion, once 45 Longest river 46 Leave out 47 Of hearing and sound 50 Long-jawed fish 52 Sharpens 54 Slumbered 57 Rx writers 58 N.B. tanning time 60 Grow 62 Sea between Greece and Italy 64 Vacant 65 People of Scandinavia 66 Now and ___ 68 Fall mo. 70 Labour 72 Green lights, in brief 73 Cadge 74 Peril 75 Hard drinker 77 German river 79 Obsequies 80 Like convenient shopping (2 words) 84 Using the Web 85 Remove from the throne 88 Norwegian dramatist 91 Lair 93 Was brilliant 94 Provides a clue 95 Papa’s partner

96 Legal attachment 98 Eight (Ital.)

99 Norse god 101 Unit of electricity

106 Japanese capital, once

107 Three: prefix

WEEKLY STARS ARIES (MAR. 21 TO APR. 19) A more harmonious aspect favors all relationships. Family ties with mates and children are strengthened. Libra is Cupid’s choice to win the amorous Aries’ heart. TAURUS (APR. 20 TO MAY 20) The bold Bull is ready to take on fresh challenges. Expect some opposition as you plough up new ground — but supporters will outnumber detractors. GEMINI (MAY 21 TO JUNE 20) An upcoming job change could mean uprooting your family to a far-distant location. Weigh all considerations carefully before making a decision one way or the other. CANCER (JUNE 21 TO JULY 22) A long-standing problem is

resolved by a mutually agreed upon compromise. You can now focus on getting the facts you’ll need for a decision you’ll soon be asked to make LEO (JULY 23 TO AUG. 22) The Big Cat needs to be wary of what appears to be a golden investment opportunity. That “sure thing” could turn out to be nothing more than a sack of Kitty Glitter. VIRGO (AUG. 23 TO SEPT. 22) You give of yourself generously to help others, but right now you must allow people to help you. Confide your problems to family and trusted friends. LIBRA (SEPT. 23 TO OCT. 22) Relationships benefit from a strong harmonious aspect. Things go more smoothly at

work. Someone you thought you’d never see again asks for a reconciliation. SCORPIO (OCT. 23 TO NOV. 21) A minor distraction interferes with travel plans, but the delay is temporary. Meanwhile, expect to play peacemaker once again for feuding family members. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 TO DEC. 21) Keep that positive momentum going on the home front. Arrange your schedule to spend more time with your family. You’ll soon have news about that job change. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 TO JAN.19) Control that possessive tendency that sometimes goads you into an unnecessary display of jealousy. You could be creating problems where none

currently exist. AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 TO FEB. 18) A new project holds some challenges you hadn’t expected. But don’t be discouraged; you’ll find you’re more prepared to deal with them than you realized. PISCES (FEB. 19 TO MAR. 20) Yours is the sign of the celestial Chemist, so don’t be surprised if you experience a pleasant “chemistry” betwixt yourself and that new Leo in your life. YOU BORN THIS WEEK You enjoy being fussed over, as befits your “royal” Leonine nature. You also have a strong loyalty to family and friends. (c) 2006 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Fill in the grid so that each row of nine squares, each column of nine and each section of nine (three squares by three) contains the numbers 1 through 9 in any order. There is only one solution to each puzzle. Solutions, tips and computer program available at www.sudoko.com SOLUTION ON PAGE 27

INDEPENDENTBUSINESS

SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, AUGUST 6-12, 2006 — PAGE 21

Walter and Jane Tucker

Rhonda Hayward/For The Independent

‘It’s a destination’ Popular restaurant bringing new traffic to St. Philip’s beach and marina By Ivan Morgan The Independent

alter Tucker can’t sit still. He’s up from the table, walking around the restaurant he owns with his wife Jane. A paper napkin wafts to the floor — he picks it up. A stray french fry falls off a plate being rushed to a hungry customer — Walter stoops and tosses it into the garbage. A table is not cleared, and people are waiting to be seated — he points it out to a staff person. He straightens items on the counter. This is his business. It shows. Jane is part of the bustle in the kitchen. It’s starting to get busy, with the parking lot beginning to fill. The line-up is already to the door. Walter and Jane are run off their feet. They don’t really even have the time to talk about their successful business, By the Beach Restaurant and Take-Out, located, like the name says, by the beach in St. Philip’s. If there is a secret to their success, it’s best described as sweat equity. Walter says

he always had plans for a business on the property the restaurant sits on. He and his wife operated an office equipment business for years, but wanted to do something new. They sold typewriters and, as Jane says, “that kind of slowed down.” The couple noticed dockside traffic was increasing, as the small harbour evolved from a fishing wharf into the pleasurecraft marina it is today. With renovations completed by the federal government, and more visitors around, they decided to see if there was room for a fish and chips shop. They wanted to start with a building on the site, but it wasn’t big enough for a septic system (town water and sewer was still a few years away). So, about seven years ago, they converted a small trailer into a take-out operation. “(That) worked out great because we didn’t have to invest a lot of money and we got to assess the market,” says Jane. “Right from the minute we opened the doors we were busy.” Four years later, based on the success of the small take-out — which they ran with help from family and one employee —

they decided to expand. They got private financing and built a restaurant with a large open dining room and deck that offers a clear view of Conception Bay and Bell Island. This month marks the third anniversary of the opening of their bigger location. Even though the business is 11 kilometres away, Walter estimates 90 per cent of customers are from St. John’s. To get to their restaurant, hungry visitors have to drive past a lot of other eateries. “It’s a destination,” says Walter. “People can come out, eat their fish and chips in the restaurant, on the deck or on the beach, look at the boats, watch the whales — there were porpoises jumping out of the water there yesterday. We have minkes, humpbacks … customers can go for a walk. It’s a nice, inexpensive evening out for the family.” The guestbook reflects the importance of tourism for the business, with signatures and comments from people all over Canada and the world. Although By the Beach offers a varied menu, it’s known primarily for fish and

chips. Jane claims the reason people love the fish is they don’t pre-cook it. “It takes a little longer, but the wait is worth it,” she says. Their biggest frustration is with the Killick Coast operation. They claim the Killick Coast sign on Thorburn Road, outlining local features and attractions, directs people straight past the St. Philips harbour to Portugal Cove. “The only coastal access for miles,” says Walter, “and the sign directs tourists past us.” Hurdles aside, the Tuckers are pleased with their success. Employing 10 to 12 people during the busy season, they aren’t all that small a business anymore. Having realized their dream, the Tuckers now wonder about letting go. They are thinking of selling and retiring. Jane says the strains of success are better than the strains of failure — but cautions they are strains nonetheless. “Careful what you wish for,” she laughs, as she heads back into the kitchen to feed, as she does almost every night, hundreds of hungry people.

Stop the bleeding Recommendations of workers’ compensation review committee hit and miss, says Board of Trade president Ray Dillon

early a century ago, the Ontario government commissioned Judge Sir William Meredith to design an insurance policy for workers. Three years later, in 1913, Meredith submitted a report that has since become the basis of the workers’ compensation systems throughout Canada today. His five guiding principles are meant to provide a reliable, equitable and manageable compensation system. However, in a system that is 100

RAY DILLON

Board of Trade per cent employer funded, the third principle — “security of payment” — will continue to be a challenge unless we stay diligent in our attempts to make the system more efficient for all stakeholders. Newfoundland and Labrador’s

workers’ compensation system is in the middle of a legislated five-year statutory review, as per Section 126 of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act. The committee conducting the review has completed its final report, based on public consultations held earlier this year, and has handed it over to the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment. Feedback on the report from the public and stakeholders has been

received. Now, government has some decisions to make on which of the committee’s 44 recommendations, if any, might be implemented. Employer and labour constituencies alike are waiting intently. From the perspective of employers, a few of the measures proposed are positive, but many more have the potential to erase gains made in recent years. Since the last review five years ago, progress has been made toward

improving the province’s workers’ compensation system, but barriers to its long-term stability still exist. The system, and the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission itself, is undergoing significant transition as major new programs and initiatives are set in motion. A perfect example is the new framework for determining employer assessments, called PRIME (prevenSee “We must continue,” page 22

22 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS

AUGUST 6, 2006

Confederation conditions Sue Kelland-Dyer says province should help Ontario out but only if …

iscal imbalance is the new buzzword for “we don’t get enough.” Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Quebec’s Jean Charest shouted it the loudest at the recent Council of the Federation meeting held here a few days ago. Let’s try to get a grip on the gripe of the central Canadian whiners. McGuinty believes that Ontario is paid less per person by the Government of Canada than any other province for services such as healthcare and education. He claims that’s causing a crisis for his people. Charest claims Quebec is not understood — as usual. McGuinty doesn’t consider that his predecessors, like Mike Harris — architect of the “common sense revolution” — may be the cause of stripped public services. Then there’s the absolute fiasco that was Ontario’s energy plan, which partially privatized hydro, oversaw the meltdown (figuratively speaking) of nuclear plants, and resulted in the collapse of power reliability. Ontario is largely responsible for its own economic mess. The province was not ready for high-energy prices or a high Canadian dollar. As a result, industry, particularly manufacturing, suffers. McGuinty simply wants you and me to pay for it.

SUE KELLAND-DYER

Guest column Ontario must do the following before we agree to help: No. 1 — Ontario must support Newfoundland and Labrador in its efforts to achieve joint management of the fishery, No. 2 — Ontario must support Newfoundland and Labrador in its efforts to convince the feds to finance the lower Churchill project, No. 3 — Ontario must support Newfoundland and Labrador in our bid to build a refinery to process offshore oil and gas. What can we do for Ontario? Forget selling them any hydro or giving them any more minerals. We can lobby Ottawa, with all our political might, but only if Ontario agrees to more conditions. 1) Each province gets 10 per cent of federal government jobs. 2) Each province gets 10 per cent of Crown corporations headquartered there. 3) Each province gets 10 per cent of

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty

Paul Daly/The Independent

all federal development funds. 4) Each province elects five Senators. 5) Each province gets 10 per cent of new immigrants for a period of 10 years. 6) Each province hosts a cabinet meeting once every two years. 7) Each province gets two cabinet ministers and two parliamentary secretaries. 8) Each province gets 10 per cent of

military spending. Keep in mind, the federal government lives in Ontario and Quebec — how many billions do the feds pay in rent? When Premier Danny Williams said he was willing to compromise to get a new equalization deal what was he talking about? A heartfelt thank-you to Ontario and Quebec for not reaching a deal — now we don’t need to find out.

Compromise in this federation means the loss of billions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of people, hundreds of communities, and our self-reliance. The Con-federation is an agreement between provinces and territories to share resources and revenue to provide common services. That includes sovereignty of the borders — land and sea — health, education, and social commitments to give our people equal opportunity. Natural resources are supposed to be owned and controlled by individual provinces and, for the most part, they are. But what’s in the water is free for all. Fish for grain sales; oil for immense profits to Ottawa, and our people shift back and forth across the country to increase Alberta’s productivity. We can only fix the fiscal imbalance when our Terms of Union reflect ownership of resources as if Newfoundland and Labrador were her own country. We have paid three times in this Confederation: first with the offshore, second with our taxation, and third by helping to employ tens of thousands of federal employees in Ontario and Quebec. Sue Kelland-Dyer was a policy advisor to former Liberal premier Roger Grimes.

‘We must continue this course’ From page 21 tion, return-to-work and insurance management for employers and employees). PRIME is at a critical stage that will last for the next few years, requiring huge adjustments in reporting and administration by employers and workers. The magnitude of this transition puts significant strain on the system, without the additional weighty changes proposed in the committee’s report. Employers have invested substantially in early and safe return to work, occupational health and safety training and administration, and other legislative requirements. Their efforts have contributed to safer workplaces — there has been a 26.7 per cent decrease in the lost-time incidence rate (the number of accidents per 100 workers) since 2001. As a direct result of employers’ efforts, assessment rates have gradually declined. The average base assessment rate dropped from $3.19 to $2.75 per $100 of assessable

payroll at the beginning of this year. We’re making progress — but the rate remains the highest in the country. The duration of workers’ compensation claims remains a major concern and an impediment to a more sustainable system, something the review committee wisely acknowledged. According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, average claim duration in Newfoundland and Labrador dropped from 116 days in 2001 to roughly 102 days in 2004. Again, we’re making progress, but we’re still dramatically higher than the national average. In fact, that progress appears to have halted at least for now, as average claim duration crept up to 103 days in 2005. The commission has made measurable strides in bringing down the unfunded liability over time, and its funded ratio is now over 92 per cent. It would appear the system is headed in the right direction financially. But healthcare costs are rising sharply, and

Unfortunately, employers are being asked to shoulder more than a reasonable share of the load. by no means is the system on firm financial footing. Increasing benefit levels now, therefore, is not a wise option, something the review committee recognized. The review committee also noted collaboration among stakeholders is essential to advancing our workers’ compensation system. Collaboration requires buy-in from key stakeholders, and that buy-in will only come with a fair balance of responsibility for supporting and enhancing the system. Unfortunately, employers are being asked to shoulder more than a reasonable share of the load. Many of the measures proposed — such as mandatory early and safe return to work committees and training — would not only place more burden on employers and workers, but would also impose substantial additional costs on the system. The committee acknowledged the system must be affordable, but many of its recommendations fly in the face of that very principle. Further, many of the proposed measures would create unnecessary and excessively onerous requirements for employers, workers, and the commission, which clashes with this government’s commitments to reduce red tape. After the last statutory review in 2001, there was general consensus and a concerted effort to “stop the bleeding” and focus closely on achieving a more financially sustainable system. We must continue on this course, and I am sure Judge Sir William Meredith, if still alive, would bang his gavel in approval. Ray Dillon is president of the St. John’s Board of Trade.

AUGUST 6, 2006

INDEPENDENTSHIFT • 23

AUGUST 6-12, 2006

What’s new in the automotive industry

FEATURED VEHICLE

The Subaru Outback SE: exceptional, functional, powerful, but above all, affordable. Model shown, nicely equipped starts at just $34,900.

Rhonda Hayward photos/For The Independent

‘Dirty mechanical laundry’ I

’ve had 26 cars over the past 26 years, which averages one per year, but they tend to last longer than that. I have four right now, and that seems to be a comfortable amount. The most I had at one time was seven; too many really, so I decided to thin the herd a bit. Three vehicles were selected to go: a nice little station wagon, a truck with a wooden box (a.k.a. the Lumbergini), and a little hatchback that a tomcat peed on (it reeked). I put an advertisement in the Buy & Sell, “Garage Sale: three vehicles must go, price range $150-$250.” The following day some lucky guy bought the peedon hatchback for $150 and drove away with the windows down. Here’s where it got interesting: I traded the remaining station wagon for a guitar, and gave away the truck to person No. 1. He left it in my yard for a week and finally gave it to person No. 2, who took it to his yard for a couple of weeks. Another character, person No. 3, popped by looking for a truck, and we all agreed that he should have it. Person No. 3 towed it to the local garage for assessment, and left town shortly thereafter, for good (or bad). His exgirlfriend called me up to confirm her ascension to the throne as person No. 4 to enjoy all rights and privileges of ownership, up to and including driving, selling, giving away, and scrapping the Lumbergini. I declined her amusing offer and visited the local garage to settle clear title and mineral

rights to the truck that couldn’t even enough fuses to start the engine so I be given away properly. The propricould put it at the end of my driveway etor informed me that once he received to be towed away, and I called a metal the truck, persons No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 recycling company to take it away. No entered individual verbal contracts more person number whatever for me, with him to sell what parts he could for I just couldn’t stand the drama. 50 per cent commission. I gave him A few days went by and the van was the registration, he became person No. still in the driveway, which is unusual. 5 and I lived happily ever after. These recyclers are usually quicker MARK Someone gave me a mini-van once. about picking up vehicles, which fetch WOOD He wanted a nice home for it where it a bounty of $25. The following could be coaxed along mechanically morning my wife received a WOODY’S Saturday without costing a fortune to maintain. phone call from her friends who were WHEELS home from away and would be comI promptly demonstrated my abilities by replacing the rear wheel hub. The ing over in half an hour. I went on only one available was equipped with anti-lock emergency housecleaning duty. While I was so I modified it with my anti-anti-lock hammer. panicking, the phone rang again — the recyI loved that little van but time was running out clers will be over for the van within the hour. — it was heading back to the ground from That will be nice, I thought to myself, I’ll clean whence it came, one rusty flake at a time, some- out my shed, too. times two. I eventually parked it in my shed and My wife’s friend arrived promptly with her dismantled every usable piece I didn’t need. husband and two small children, a perfect Wipers, radio, seats, hubcaps, etc., even the young happy family visiting on a summer day. knob off the gearshift littered the floor. I left We sat on the front deck enjoying the ocean

I returned to the deck to face the music, having personally shattered a lovely family gathering with such a vulgar display. I figured I was dead.

view, basking in a familial way. A five-ton boom truck suddenly pulled up in the driveway — a rather large flatbed truck with a crane. I was expecting a discreet tow truck. My wife was horrified, her friends were perplexed, and I was confused. “I’m here for the van,” the driver shouted above the rumble of diesel-hauling noise. I opened the shed, put a milk crate on the floor of the van and drove it out alongside his truck. He deftly threaded a chain in through one window of the van and out the other and lowered the boom to hook up the van. I returned to the deck to face the music, having personally shattered a lovely family gathering with such a vulgar display. I figured I was dead. The rusty van was hoisted 25 feet in the air like so much dirty mechanical laundry. The shame! Our friends, however, were both photographers and seized the moment as a juxtaposition, perfectly incongruous and worthy of their attention. “Good clouds in the background, too,” they agreed as they snapped pictures. Matt leaned over and mentioned that they, too, scrapped a car recently but only had it towed away because they couldn’t afford a boom truck. I quickly regained my dignity and composure. “We knew you were coming,” I replied. “Nothing but the best for my wife’s friends.” Mark Wood lives in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s and owns four lawnmowers.

24 • INDEPENDENTSHIFT “If you ain’t first, you’re last,” goes the racing driver’s boast from Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. This being a Will Ferrell vehicle, we’re not meant to take either the math or the claim seriously. Certainly not in relation to Ferrell’s rather surprising career, which has seen him vaunt from also-ran status on Saturday Night Live and the Austin Powers movies to star billing as a major comic talent. For those keeping score at home, Talladega Nights is neither the high point nor the low point of Ferrell’s resumé. It lands well below Old School and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy but well above last year’s Bewitched burnout. Pop culture theorists may blink at Ferrell’s late-blooming popularity, since he’s not the typical comic actor. He’s big and lumbering, and often plays characters that are too dense to realize their arrogance is entirely unjustified. He also has an alarming propensity to run around in his underwear (or less), a joke from Old School that is literally run to the ground here. But he’s absolutely fearless about playing the fool, which he does with no shame or apparent forethought. His enthusiasm is infectious, and it’s why parts of the patchy Talladega Nights are very funny. The downside is that Ferrell and his writing partner Adam McKay (who also directs, as he did Anchorman) are also utterly without shame in their eagerness to recycle old ideas. This pair could make a blue box jealous. Talladega Nights, which doesn’t

AUGUST 6, 2006

Running on retreads PETER HOWELL REVIEWS TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY have a whole lot to do with Talladega, transposes Ferrell’s asinine oaf from Anchorman’s 1970 TV newsroom to the racetracks of NASCAR, the noisy fascination that also fuelled Cars, this summer’s Disney-Pixar release. And it feels like a place we’ve been before. Ferrell again plays a cocksure char-

acter, this time a racing champ named Ricky Bobby, who gets his comeuppance and has to fight for redemption. Again, along the way he is vexed by a challenger and distracted by idiots. The only real difference this time, apart from the vastly greater production budget, is that the challenger is male.

Sacha Baron Cohen, star of TV’s Da Ali G Show, provides initial amusement as a snotty French racer named Jean Girard who is determined to put the allAmerican Bobby in his place. But as the script piles on the stereotypes — Girard is snooty, gay and (horrors!) a jazz fiend — the laughter dims. You

Subaru has turned steel and rubber into gold.

Fiat sexiest car? Britain’s Top Gear Magazine has crowned the Fiat 500 as the sexiest car in the world after a survey of its readers. This just has to be good news for the new Fiat Trepiuno 500 which arrives early next year. Even Sally, the sexy Porsche 911 Carrera from the Pixar film Cars, only rated 10th. Readers say although the Fiat is stumpy, it has a “wholesomeness” that makes it the sexiest car in the world.

Crossovers on fire If the car world were the fashion world, crossovers would be coming out this fall as “the new black.” The latest automaker to jump on the bandwagon is Dodge, which will launch a crossover, based on the new Chrysler Sebring platform, in early 2008, following the debut of the Sebring’s twin, the Dodge Avenger, in late 2007. The new model initially will be built in Mexico, with later expansion to DaimlerChrysler’s Chinese operations, possibly indicating global aspirations for the new vehicle. Rumours reported in Automotive News have the Dodge crossover followed by a Chrysler version in the 2010 timeframe. Baby Aspen anyone?

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BMW has most technology BMW integrates the most technology into its cars. So says the Telematics Research Group, a Minneapolis technology consultancy. The TRG scored individual models in 30 areas including telematics, phone, head unit and navigation, audio, radio, video, and driver assist. BMW placed four individual models in the top 13, the odd amount because there’s a sixway tie for eighth through 13th place, while runner-up Mercedes-Benz had three. BMW aced the telematics and phone section (seven for seven) with each of its four sedan/coupe lines and racked up points on the driver assist section with most models offering adaptive cruise control, sonar parking assist (but not video), head-up displays, and night vision. BMW would have picked up another point had the index included cockpit control knobs (iDrive), but the feature wasn’t on the list, and besides not every buyer believes controllers are a technology improvement. BMW lost opportunities to roll up the score by not having touchscreen displays, camera parking assist, and only one of the two satellite radio formats.

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may find yourself longing for the more subtle humour of the Coen Bros., who in The Big Lebowski had John Turturro play an obnoxious Latino bowler who didn’t overstay his welcome. There is nothing subtle about Ferrell and his crew, however, and that is both virtue and vice. Few can play the deadpan moron as well as Ferrell, although John C. Reilly certainly tries hard with the role of Carl Naughton Jr., Bobby’s best pal and racetrack support man. Carl is so stunned, he can’t understand why Bobby would be upset when he runs off with Bobby’s wife (Leslie Bibb), after the hussy dumps her dethroned hubby. Bobby also has trouble feeling the love from his demanding mama (Jane Lynch of 40 Year Old Virgin) and his runaway papa (Gary Cole from Office Space). Both ma and pa seem too young to be Bobby’s parents, but never mind that. At least dad provides a few laughs when he forces Bobby to get into a car with an angry cougar, a rite of manhood designed to put the fire back into his son’s belly — if the cat doesn’t slash it open first. The scene may well remind you of the panther perfume cologne from Anchorman, as it did me. Complaining about refried jokes won’t get you very far with Ferrell either, however, since he’s determined to milk his belated success for all it is worth and for as long as he can get away with it. Good thing the cars are so noisy in Talladega Nights; he might otherwise hear the sound of his wheels endlessly spinning. Two out of four stars. — Torstar wire service

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INDEPENDENTSHIFT • 25

wo weeks ago, Pierre Bourque Mont Tremblant. I started in Formula was sitting in the shade amid Fords in 1979 and, in fact, was a team35C heat at the West Edmonton mate of Scott Goodyear’s in ’81. Mall Grand Prix and he had a big bag “I was going to do something with of ice wrapped around his left arm. Gaston Parent in 1982 — he was Gilles “I’ve been running ovals in the Villeneuve’s manager — but then NASCAR Busch East Series this year Gilles got killed and Gaston lost interand I’ve only been turning left,” the est. So I took up fly fishing instead. Ottawa journalist-cum-racing driver “My last race was in 1989 at Troisexplained. Rivieres. I was driving Formula “This is my first road race (the CASAtlantic and qualified 13th and finished CAR support race at the eighth.” Champ Car World Series What happened then? event) and I’m not used to “My grandfather, Edouard turning right. Bourque had been mayor of “My arm hurts; the ice is Ottawa (1949-50). A council helping.” seat had opened up and I was Bourque, 47, is a most interasked to run. The riding was esting guy. He’s an Internet downtown — lots of seniors pioneer, a painter, a politician, lived in the area and seniors a businessman, a husband and tend to vote — and I had NORRIS father and an entrepreneur. name recognition, so I won. I MCDONALD Now, after more than 15 years got a taste of politics. away from the game, he’s also “The Liberals then asked a racing driver — again. me to run federally in He’s best known for his Montreal in the 1993 election. Internet news site, Bourque It was an east-end Montreal Newswatch (www.bourque.org), at riding and Chrétien was the enemy. The which you will find headlines and links Bloc (Quebecois) was very powerful, to all the top stories on all the top and the Bloc won.” Internet news sites around the world, You must have been devastated. including the Guardian (U.K.), The “Well, I went back to Ottawa in 1994 Australian and CNN. and the Internet was just starting and I It’s said that just about all federal had friends who ran the Hill Times (a politicians — from St. John’s to weekly newspaper covering federal Nanaimo — or their aides, call up the politics). They asked me to write about site first thing every morning to a) this new phenomenon. catch up on what’s happening in the “So I wrote about the Internet for country and the world and b) get a them, and for Maclean’s and USA laugh out of the latest Parliament Hill Today, among other publications. It gossip and rumours at the popular feawas about that time that the Drudge ture, “Heard at Hy’s:” Report (a U.S.-based web site) broke Bourque’s most famous claim to the story about Monica Lewinsky and fame came on April 1, 2002, when he President (Bill) Clinton. It was a huge reported Paul Martin, who was then scoop and it gave the Internet legitimaFinance minister in former prime mincy. ister Jean Chrétien’s cabinet, planned to “I included my email address at the resign “to breed Charolais cows and bottom of all my articles and I received handsome fawn runner ducks.” a large amount of mail from people The day of the report, the Canadian who were interested in the evolution of dollar fell three-tenths of a cent to the Internet as an information tool. I 62.41 cents (US). Only after Bourque saved their addresses and, when I owned up to the April Fool’s joke did launched my own web site in 2000, I the dollar recover. aimed it at the people who had e-mailed And Martin did quit the cabinet me.” shortly afterward. You’re 47. What brought you back to In a wide-ranging interview at racing? Edmonton, Bourque talked about his “I’d been out of racing for 15 years. I life and his passion for auto racing. met some people connected with the Who writes ‘Heard at Hy’s?’ Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame — “I do. I don’t eat there all the time, of George Daszkowski (chairman of the course, but people there feed me Archives Committee, who told me this things.” week that Bourque was largely responVery funny. Now tell me about your sible for getting Canada Post to issue its car racing? Gilles Villeneuve commemorative “I went racing for the first time in the stamp in 1997) and Thom Dickinson fall of 1978. I took a course at the Jim (president) - and through them I met Russell Driving School at Le Circuitsome folks from NASCAR Canada and

TRACK TALK

Pierre Bourque

Backontrack AFTER 15 YEARS AWAY, PIERRE BOURQUE IS BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL “Well, I’ve been running in the NASCAR Busch East Series (Grand National cars) and the last race in the series is on the road course at Lime Rock, Conn., at the end of September. I’m hoping to be rookie-of-the-year in that series (he’s fourth in the rookie standings and 18th in the championship), so I wanted to `bone up’ on road racing and CASCAR is a great way to go. “I talked to a few teams and then I met Dave Whitlock (whose Whitlock Motorsports team is running Bourque in three races, including the one in Edmonton) and we hit it right off. I’ll run three races with him this year and then, who knows?” Why car racing? “I love the competition — there’s

nothing like it anywhere else. It’s driver against driver, machine against machine. It’s the ultimate.” You’ve got a busy schedule. “I’m running the full NASCAR series, I’m doing the three CASCAR races (including the one this weekend at Trois-Rivieres and the Champ Car support race at Montreal Aug. 25-27) and — oh, did I tell you? — I’m going to do some ARCA stock car racing as well. I’ll be racing an ARCA event at Nashville Speedway on Aug. 12 (next weekend).” Any plans for Daytona (as in, the Daytona 500)? “Not at the moment, but you never know. I’ll be testing with the ARCA series at Daytona this year. We’re going to test at Michigan and Talladega, too.”

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I caught the bug again.” How did you prepare to get back out there? “I went to the Buck Baker Racing School at Rockingham (North Carolina Speedway) not once but twice, Mike Loescher’s Finish Line Racing School at the short track in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and Andy Hillenberg’s Fast Track School at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “I needed sponsors, of course, so I talked to some of my web advertisers about backing me (Driving.Ca., Canada.com, Working.com, Dose.ca, Full Metals Minerals and Pollara Strategic Public Opinion) and they said, `Sure, we’ll help out to start.’ So here I am.” Why CASCAR?

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26 • INDEPENDENTSHIFT

AUGUST 6, 2006

Lost highway THE NEW SUPER HIGHWAY SAVES TIME, BUT IT’S KILLING FAVOURITE ROADSIDE ENTERPRISES

ike a giant stretching an asphalt ribbon between his where my people went. Is my waitress at Ray’s Diner, thumbs, the road to my cottage has become who’s 80 if she’s a day, still wearing her bright blue eye straighter, shorter, faster. shadow? Is the house with the big fake butterflies glued on It has happened incrementally over the past decade. Like it still there? How many small engine repair businesses the proverbial tortoise, the government has been slowly (once as ubiquitous as mosquitoes) are still alive? carving a new path through the ancient rock. The old highFor most parts of the route, they’ve twinned the existing way was a two-lane deathtrap, and when the signs went up road. There is an old steel bridge over Moon River, and I years ago (Building to Bring You a Safer just learned they will be demolishing it and Highway!), we all shrugged at the estimated replacing it with a smooth concrete one. Every completion date. Everybody knows roadwork is time we have driven over that rusty bridge, we like home renovation: twice the estimated cost, have all sung Moon River at the top of our lungs. three times the estimated time. Well, the first two words of the song anyway, For 34 years the charge to the cottage has been nobody knows the rest. Anyone in the car for the all about time. Making good time, personal best first time shrinks into the seat and wonders where time, longest stuck-in-traffic time, best time to the lunatics came from. leave, no time for stops. I should welcome this How can they take it down? Even my father, development that has actually made a three-hour gone 10 years now, dutifully sang his two words. LORRAINE trip into a two-hour one. I am flying with the My father, gripping the wheel and determinedly SOMMERFELD crows. swerving us around idiots going too slow, and Instead, I find myself discovering the true other swerving fools who didn’t know how to costs of this massive project. As the monster drive. Flashing his high beams, swearing, and machines rape the Canadian Shield, all the roadyelling as we raced to be at the cottage to relax. side enterprises in the tiny towns are being My mother would do that quick intake of breath passed by. In most small communities, the highas she clutched her armrest and stomped on her way is the lifeline. Like moths around a porch light, many imaginary brake pedal, certain that this would be the time of the businesses string themselves along the highway in we were the cause of the accident, not merely held up by order to stay alive. it. It’s always been precarious, with the gas stations and One restaurant not far from the cottage has been cut off motels and restaurants praying for a decent summer trade from the flow of traffic. We all go whenever we’re up in an to carry them through the long isolated winters. As effort to keep it open. Good wishes and sympathy don’t “progress” has unrolled in front of them, I’ve watched one keep a place going; I’m unwilling to sacrifice any more of after another board up their windows and stop cutting the the things that have formed so many of my childhood weeds. memories. I’m sure we could get breakfast anywhere, but The new road truly is a super highway. I get disoriented we couldn’t get Marg telling us we were having the speflying along with none of the familiar landmarks to anchor cial. Not asking us. Telling us. I don’t want its name, my route. What’s most disconcerting though, is something Memories, to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. I discovered last week. I purposely tried to take the old A better road is a safer road, and in theory it’s a noroute, and couldn’t understand where it went. New ramps brainer. But sometimes in retrospect, the collateral damage take away old options; you truly can’t get there from here. is far higher than we realized. Stubbornly, I tried from another direction and met the Someone has turned out the porch light. same frustration. Like being trapped in a Twilight Zone episode, I wonder www.lorraineonline.ca

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INDEPENDENTSPORTS • 27 Solutions for crossword on page 20

Paul Smith/For The Independent

Solutions for sudoku on page 20

Cheap scopes not up to task From page 28 to $1,000 on a hunting rifle, and then add a scope for $50. Experts agree this is the absolute wrong approach. All rifles built today are excellent quality and will shoot accurately enough to harvest game within sensible hunting distances. If you’re on a budget, buy a cheaper rifle and put more money into optics. Scopes are far from created equal. The top scopes are built to the most demanding standards, using the best optical glass available on the planet. As you can imagine, they are very expensive, up to $2,000 — but the average hunter doesn’t need this level of technology. The cheapest scopes are under $100, but perform poorly in low light, exhibit wandering zero (bullet impact) points, and often fail catastrophically at the most inopportune time. You’ve probably heard hunters complain about the scope being off. They did the preseason sighting, but later the scope wandered off its zero. This is often blamed on a dropped or bumped rifle, but more likely occurred as the rifle repeatedly discharged a high-energy hunting round, each shot whacking the poorly manufactured scope with hundreds of pounds of force. Its mechanical mechanism just wasn’t up to the task. The o-rings on my old scope were likely cracked from repeated firing. To compound the problem, many of today’s shooters are opting for the more powerful magnum rounds that punish scopes more than the tamer rounds from bygone years. The bottom line: buy the best scope you can afford. There are many great scopes on the market, ranging from $200 to $1,000. All will do the job — but you do get what you pay for. On the high end, the scopes are lightweight, robust and dependable, with very precise mechanical adjustment and fantastic low light performance. On the lower end, the biggest compromise is probably low-light performance — but they will perform adequately. Buy from a reputable manufacturer and you can’t go wrong. Leupold is a U.S. company with an outstanding reputation in the hunting world. They torture test their products far beyond what most of us would dream of putting our gear through. Zeiss is a well-known German manufacturer of fine optical instruments. Their entry-level product is a little pricey but, as they say in the shooting world, it’s hard to beat German glass. Zeiss’s low-light performance is phenomenal. Those are just two of many fine riflescope makers. If you are in the market for better optics, do a little research. All the companies have websites, and there are great virtual retail stores. If you’re not digitally inclined, check out the mail order catalogues like SIR and LeBaron, or have a chat with your local gunsmith. I’ve really only scratched the surface on hunting optics. Before the leaves fall, I’ll attempt to explain some of the technical jargon you’re likely to encounter in those product descriptions. Paul Smith is a freelance writer living in Spaniard’s Bay, enjoying all the outdoors Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer. flyfishtherock@hotmail.com

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INDEPENDENTSPORTS

SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, AUGUST 6-12, 2006 — PAGE 28

Justin Mensah-Coker and Pat Riordan

Rhonda Hayward/The Independent

International affairs Canadian national rugby team talk about why St. John’s is the perfect place to take on the U.S. By Bob White For The Independent

he Canadian senior men’s rugby team is hoping to use home-field advantage for a huge game, the Aug. 12 qualifying match against the U.S. The winner heads to France next month for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. The Canadian team arrived in St. John’s last week, marking the first time several of the players have set foot in this province. One thing’s for sure, Newfoundland and Labrador’s hospitable reputation was immediately noticed, and many players have already remarked how “at home” they feel. “As Canadians, we are proud to play for our country, and this place is what Canada’s all about,” says Vancouver native Pat Riordan, enjoying his first taste of the province. “It’s a huge country and it’s all about sticking it out in a rough place, just like the Rock. And you really get this sense of community here, and I’m sure that will help motivate our team.” Canadian assistant coach John Tait, who played for Canada for several years, says there’s no doubt St. John’s was chosen as the site for this important game because of all it has to offer. And, yes,

that includes the weather. “I couldn’t think of a better place to play the States,” says Tait, who has been to the province several times. Interestingly, the Ontario native played basketball for University College of Cape Breton during the mid-1990s and faced the Seahawks at Memorial a few times. “The way people here get behind their teams played a big part in the decision to come here. And look at the support the Rock gets. That’s the kind of atmosphere we’re looking for.” ACCLIMATIZED Speaking of atmosphere — Tait says it’s not an accident the team is in town more than a week before the game. “That’s one of the reasons we wanted to get our team here a little earlier than normal,” he says. “There’s a 95 per cent chance it’s going to be windy and you have to adjust to that. We wanted our guys to get acclimatized before the game.” Tait says the Americans don’t arrive in St. John’s until two days prior to the game. He figures it won’t give them much time to get used to conditions. Either way, fans can expect both teams, which are quite familiar with each other, to be ready for action. “There’s experience on both teams, so

both teams will be well prepared on (game day),” says Vancouver’s Justin Mensah-Coker, also getting his first taste of Newfoundland this week. “It should be a good battle.” Mensah-Coker is hoping the home crowd can create an environment that will provide a lift for the Canadian side — and rattle the Americans’ concentration. “We know that fans here love their rugby and that should be a huge advantage for us,” he says. All agree the addition of veteran Canadian team member and Newfoundland rugby icon Rod Snow to the lineup will be an important factor during the game, both on the field and in the stands. It will mark the first time Snow has played for Canada in his home province. “For a guy like myself, having Rod in the lineup means a lot because he just adds a lot of composure to our team, he’s a guy that’s been here before,” says Mensah-Coker, who will play in his fourth international tournament with Canada. “He’s a huge plus for us to have on our team.” Tait is also thrilled. “Rod’s leadership and physical presence in the scrum will be important for us. He’s a dominant force and has been a big part of the Canadian team for years.”

Snow, a member of the Rock, is no doubt a leader on the province’s senior side. The Rock played the Rugby Canada Super League’s final against the Saskatchewan Prairie Fire Aug. 11. The Rock hoped to repeat the championship they won for the first time last year in Regina. (Game results were not known before The Independent’s press deadline.) Snow’s Rock teammates Mike Webb, Robert Wilson and Andrew Fagan were named to the 30-man Canadian squad for the World Cup qualifier, but Tait expects Snow and B.C. native Webb to be the only locals in the 22-man Canadian lineup for the big game. The assistant coach says Wilson and Fagan can use the experience to become important members of the Canadian team down the road. The last time St. John’s hosted such an important international match was in 1985, when Canada defeated Honduras 2-1 to qualify for the 1986 World Cup of soccer. Riordan says he enjoys hearing about that game — and about the lift the local fans gave the Canadian team. “Hopefully, that trend continues with this game,” he says. “We’re excited to be here and we think this place will have a great gelling effect on our team. We are confident that if we play to our strength, we will get the job done.”

Riflescopes: you get what you pay for

n the first day of the 1998 moose season, daylight began to break just as Robert Richards and I finished the long, unforgiving uphill trek to our favourite moose lookout. We had done the prerequisite scouting and knew there were plenty of moose in the area. Robert had called out a fine 14-point bull just a few evenings prior. Optimism and enthusiasm were mercifully diluting the burning in my lungs and legs. We sat quietly in the still morning air as it evaporated the sweat from our brows. We watched and listened as the

PAUL SMITH

The Rock

Outdoors landscape lightened. I felt a few pecks of rain on my face. An easterly wind seemed to appear out of nowhere and ominous clouds were moving in. This wasn’t going to be a pleasant fall day. It began to pour while we scurried to get our raingear on. Our optimism faded as a chill settled into our bones. We knew only a silly

moose would be out in the open. All the sensible ones would be tucked away in heavy timber. We sat in the pouring rain for two hours, but no silly moose appeared. Time for a boil-up. The warmth of the fire, homemade bread and hot tea reinvigorated us. We would give nasty weather moose hunting our best effort. We decided to walk the cutovers and the big timber — if the moose wouldn’t come to us, then we’d go to them. Two hours and much sweating later, we spotted a young bull on the edge of the trees. We executed our stealthiest stalk, crawling and crouch-walking to

An easterly wind seemed to appear out of nowhere and ominous looking clouds were moving in. This wasn’t going to be a pleasant fall day. within 150 yards. I lay down and rested my rifle across my pack. This should have been a routine shot. As my breathing settled, I chambered a round and took a first look through my scope. What a shock! All I could see were

water droplets and fog, with something black and indistinguishable in the background that might have been a moose. The o-rings that seal the optics from the elements had failed, rendering the scope useless in wet weather. All that effort, and I had no shot. It was time to upgrade my gear. Summer is passing quickly and hunting season is just around the corner. If you were lucky enough to draw a moose or caribou licence, it might be time to start getting that rifle tuned up. It’s typical for hunters to spend $500 See “Cheap scopes,” page 27