A fresh start
Bins and bins of back-to-school items dispelled any hints that summer break would last forever.
We noticed kids and parents pawing around looking for a deal – just the right kind of deal in local stores two weeks back. What’s in style, what was so “last year,” seemed to be on kids’ minds. Nobody wants to look uncool on the first day of school.
Expenses for parents climb at this time of year. Between fresh haircuts, new clothes, shoes, backpacks and what not, these items sure add up in a hurry. Some might find the trade-off worth it after spending most of the summer entertaining and getting kids to camps.
For young people though, it is an exciting yet nervous time. Apart from the shopping spree and the fun that brings, adults need to have a few conversations about changes on the way.
It’s okay to have some butterflies, particularly those heading into milestone years or changing schools. Over half the stuff people worry about rarely comes to pass. Just be yourself and be open to new friendships is how we tend to advise.
For the greater public at large, it is an important time to practice best rules of the road. Kids get excited and tend to dart into the street. School zones – the scene of traffic cameras previously – remain a source of concern for parents and school officials alike.
Take your time and keep an open eye for children who are only trying to get to and from school safely.
The same applies for school buses and highway drivers. Watch for flashing lights and resist the urge to pass. Chances are that bus will turn off soon enough.
Better yet, leave a little earlier next week and avoid the stress brought on by unexpected bus routes and stoppages. Bus drivers have a great responsibility, and it is up to everyone to respect their diligent work, morning and late afternoon.
We wish all students in the county a great first day at school on Tuesday.
Lake America
A threat last week came through days later. Lake Ontario, despite its 400-year-old history, was wiped away with a presidential order renaming it Lake America.
It will always be Lake Ontario to those outside Donald Trump’s orbit, but each of us has thoughts on the matter. One friend recounted the old teaching aid acronym HOMES, which helped students remember lakes Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior. With Trump’s name change, American students can learn a new acronym: SHAME. The irony is delicious.
With the deftness of a trained seal, Google recognized the new name in its mapping functions within hours of Trump’s declaration. Defenders of this practice, chiefly American sycophants and tech nerds, point to the Geographic Names Information System.
With the declaration made, their naming regimen changes automatically. It’s an understood point, but at what time will changes be too salacious to ratify? This is a bad corporate policy for a company with tentacles around the globe. Sometimes there is merit in waiting rather than executing whims.
Uncertainty breeds doubt and that isn’t any good for anyone.
An unsurprising outcome when the change was made is the number of Canadian firms and government institutions that use third party Google maps. Until settings were reversed, Hydro One and the LCBO referenced Lake America.
This intertwining of American tech firms into the fabric of Canadian business needs the attention of legislators. The true price tag of using free services is now evident. It needs to change to Canadian sources.
The saddest part, however, is that the U.S. seems headed toward a time where their world view is myopic and lacks context with the international community. Tech companies are complicit with this, auguring a time when the public can’t rely on a basic set of truths.
It’s dumbfounding.