Weekend Musings

Election Irregularities

Several posters have implored SooToday staff and editorialists to make their comments on this situation known. I made a brief statement in the News Response forum which I would like to expand upon here.

I stated that until we know the facts of the case, I will not be making specific comments on the matter.

realitycheck posted "The documents say that police Det. Sgt. Sean Sparling found that people who said they had moved to an address in Ward 4 had not. And that is a fact."

Yes, that is a fact. But it is not all the facts. It neither proves nor disproves the involvement of Lorena Tridico or any of her family. At this point, there are only allegations regarding their possible involvement.

Mr E later provided a number of quotes from the Sault Star, and stated "you can say alleged but why would someone confess and face possible fines/charges for fun?"

I don't know the answer to this. I guess it is possible that those making the allegations are deliberately trying to discredit Ms Tridico. We'll just have to wait and see how this all turns out.

I will say this: any Councillor who is found to be guilty of vote tampering or otherwise interfering with the electoral process should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Likewise, any citizen who is found to be guilty of a similar offence should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

However, until all the facts are known in this particular case it is appropriate that we refrain from passing judgment.


…so mad I could just spit!

I’ve noticed a disturbing and disgusting trend among many of today’s youth — and adults. Spitting.

I will admit right off the bat that I suffer from chronic post-nasal drip, and often have a problem with the build-up of phlegm. On occasion, if I am outdoors and walking along a road or sidewalk and there is no one around, I have been known to hork a loogie. I will never do this with people nearby, however.

Young people, particularly smokers, seem to be under the impression that spitting is perfectly acceptable and, for them, I guess it is. I watch them take a drag on their cigarette, exhale, and then spit. It’s like a ritual. Maybe they think if they spit after every drag they won’t get cancer?

What’s worse is that many of these people don’t actually "spit." What they do could be more accurately described as "targeted drooling." They lean forward, tilt their heads down, and allow a glob of drool to slowly extend from their lips until it releases and falls to the ground.

I’ve asked a few young people why they spit. Their response was "what else are you supposed to do?" Apparently the notion that a substance — saliva — that is produced within one’s mouth cannot be swallowed. (Note: that is the whole point of saliva production — to aid in swallowing.)


Saultites, Saultbies, Saulters

Dave Helwig received yet another message suggesting that the term he coined — "Saultbies" — is an insult. I’ve yet to figure out why this would be so. Certainly it isn’t the term that Sault natives have applied to themselves — "Saultites" — for as long as anyone can remember. But is it an insult?

Not in my opinion.

An insult, according to Oxford, is "Scornful abuse; an offence to modesty or self-respect."

A Helwig himself has stated on several occasions, his intent is not to be insulting. He coined the term as a light-hearted alternative to "Saultite" which, he said, suggests to him a geological formation. (Stalagmite, Stalactite, Saultite).

I find Saultbie to be amusing, and reminds me of the old Romper Room show, with Miss Beverly, Mr Do-Bee, and "all the good little Do-Bees."

As for me, I follow the old saw: "I don’t care what you call me, as long as you don’t call me late for dinner."

But… that’s just my opinion.