We will never forget Ozzy
Dear Editor:
R.I.P. Ozzy Osbourne, you rocked it big time and better than most.
Paranoid, War Pigs, Crazy Train and Iron Man amongst others. What delicious irony. Ozzy will be remembered long after the crazy train that is the conspiracy theory blight wing in the U.S., including cabinet ministers, their media drum beaters and yes, their paranoid leader.
Grant Maxwell
Nanaimo
Feucht is entitled to free speech
Dear Editor:
Let me say this as plainly as possible. I probably completely and deeply disagree with just about everything Sean Feucht says. Just reading what I have about his views online convinces me of that.
But, the principle of “free speech” is completely neutered meaningless if the only “Speech” that is allowed on public property is that which does not offend “community values” or the values/views of the local governing “authority.”
Even though I will not attend Sean Feuchtѻý concert, I am glad that my community, the City of West ѻý, has not joined the chorus of those communities that have decided to abandon their responsibility to protect and defend our Charter Rights and even to extend them to visitors.
Gordon Swaters
West ѻý
What tariffs will mean for Canada
Dear Editor:
Donald Trump has paved the way for Canada to be the next global superpower over the next decade, and under the leadership of Mark Carney significant progress has been made in changing Canadaѻý global trade and logistics.
Trumpѻý supporters remind me of the chained prisoners in Platoѻý allegory of the cave—finding solace in their ignorance.
The President of the United States has stated that the U.S. does not need Canadian steel, aluminum, softwood, or copper.
Really?
Thatѻý why Prime Minister Mark Carney has opened trade with new partners, developed significant new logistics chains, and implemented a trade-free zone amongst provinces to facilitate Canadian infrastructure projects.
It won’t take long for Trump to realize that the loss of trade with Canada will be more detrimental to the U.S. than to Canada. This also applies to power: electricity; oil; and natural gas.
However, if Trump decides that he needs these items he may decide that the way to ensure access is to invade and conquer. This is not as far-fetched as some would assume, given Trumpѻý unpredictability. But it is easy to invade – to occupy is another matter.
Prime Minister Carney is establishing Canada as a future global energy power, while President Trump is diminishing the American economy as well as the global economy.
In addition, countries are now arranging international contracts in currencies other than U.S. dollars, further encouraging global diversification away from the USD.
The world is changing, and countries now considered foes may well become strong allies.
Patrick MacDonald
ѻý
Love, Psalms, and the Double Helix
Dear Editor:
I attended the first of Paul Simonѻý three concerts at Vancouverѻý Orpheum Theatre: an iconic venue for the iconic singer-songwriter.
The concert was wonderful.
The first of two sets was “Seven Psalms” -- a 33-minute, seven-movement composition performed as one continuous piece. Simon was backed by his superb 10-piece band, with additional vocals from his wife Edie Brickell.
The second of the seven psalms is titled, “Love Is Like a Braid”.
The first verse:
“Love is like a braid, some say
And I, I don’t disbelieve it
Cowrie shells, fine combs made of jade
To ornament and weave it”
The first definition of “braid” in the dictionary: “threads of silk, cotton, or other material woven into a decorative band for edging or trimming garments”.
In 1962, a Nobel Prize was awarded to Francis Crick, James Watson and Maurice Wilkins for their ground-breaking discovery of the thread-like DNA molecule: a double helix.
But the work of Rosalind Franklin, a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer, was central to the understanding of DNA. Her contributions were largely unrecognized during her lifetime. A documentary on Franklinѻý life and scientific contributions (“DNA: Secret of Photo 51”) was broadcast in 2003 on NOVA.
Crick described himself as agnostic, with a “strong inclination towards atheism”. In 2003, Watson spoke at Youngstown State University and was asked by one student, “So you don’t believe in God?” The scientist answered, “Oh no, absolutely not. The biggest advantage to believing in God is you don’t have to understand anything, no physics, no biology. I wanted to understand.”
Yet thousands of years ago the psalmist wrote: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my motherѻý womb...your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139: 13;16).
The phrase “you knit me together” anticipates that we are literally knitted or woven together at the molecular level.
Itѻý interesting to also note that the 2011 album cover for Paul Simonѻý “So Beautiful or So What” is titled “DNA Mutation” and was designed by visual artist and NASA systems engineer Sven Geier.
In Sept. 2009, evolutionist Richard Dawkins was a guest on CBCѻý The Hour.
The TV host, George Stroumboulopoulos, asked Dawkins: “What is one single thing that you can say that definitively proves that evolution is a fact?”
Dawkins’ response: “Comparing the genes molecularly across all animals and plants. It falls on a precise hierarchical pattern, which is obviously best interpreted as a family tree, and this becomes possible--becomes quantitatively possible--because all living creatures have the same genetic code, which means you have literally reams and reams of textual information, just like a book, in every cell of every body, of every creature, and every plant in the world.”
So...a pattern of highly organized textual information, comparable to books, is evidence there “wasn’t” any intelligent design involved?
In Jan. 2001, creationist Henry M. Morris wrote: “A number of evolutionists have even argued that DNA itself is evidence for evolution, since it is common to all organisms. More often is the argument used that similar DNA structures in two different organisms proves common evolutionary ancestry.
Neither argument is valid. There is no reason whatever why the Creator could not or would not use the same type of genetic code based on DNA for all His created life forms. This is evidence for intelligent design and creation, not evolution.”
David Buckna
ѻý
Near collision on bike lanes
Dear Editor:
Our concern about the Lake-to-Lake bike lane is the entrance and exit at South Main Street and Sandbridge.
Concrete barriers in the form of curbs, as well as solid triangles and boulevards, make it hazardous both for car drivers and bicycle riders.
For car drivers, the space in which to make the turn when exiting has been reduced. Clear vision of road traffic is not there until actually out on the road.
A near collision of car and cyclist has been observed there.
Doreen and Jim Houston
Penticton
Company profits without scrutiny
Dear Editor:
I should think recent news stories would generate obvious questions.
Why is there no mention of investigation into drug companies charging outrageous costs for life-altering treatments? In particular the medication necessary to make life a little more tolerable for Charleigh Pollock. Are theses companies (in this case BioMarin pharmaceuticals) profiting without scrutiny?
The City of ѻý has introduced a “60 second idling control bylaw to help improve the air around us” and yet will approve drive up windows at fast food outlets so lazy folks can sit on their arse to get their coffee fixes.
A glaring inconsistency, don’t you think?
Paul Crossley
Penticton
Not guilty, but also not innocent
Dear Editor:
The judge has rendered the decision in the much-publicized sexual assault case involving Team Canada hockey players (Sept. 26)
Far be it from me to second-guess Canadaѻý criminal justice system in its findings. However, what those five young men did in that hotel room was disgusting and morally corrupt. While found not guilty, they were certainly not innocent in this dictionary meaning of the word: “a pure, guileless or naive person.” The shame of their behaviour should follow them for the rest of their lives.
The young woman complainant was brave to endure the treatment meted out by our justice system.
Bill Williamson
Saanich