If panic levels are an indication of how much people really care, there are a few items and issues that have come to the forefront lately that are clearly front and centre in the minds of mid-Islanders.
First, the less-than-important. The passion those in B.C. have for the Vancouver Canucks is admirable, but a mini-skid in the middle of the season — short season or not — is no real reason for panic, but if you listen to the talk shows and other forums for prognosticators, you’d think the Canucks were wallowing in last place.
A win over a good St. Louis team on Tuesday night has those diehards stepping away from the edge for now, but a loss or two will have them back looking over the cliff.
It’s laughable, really, and similar to the kind of panic being experienced in Toronto over the Leafs right now. If nothing else, it shows just how ingrained this game is in our national psyche.
Step away from the panic button, Canucks fans, step away. Perhaps this team won’t win the President’s Trophy this season. But how valuable has that piece of hardware been in recent seasons? They just have to make the playoffs so they can focus on the real trophy, Lord Stanley’s mug.
Meanwhile, B.C. Hydro’s Gary Murphy might not be near any panic button, but he may be thinking twice about hitting that ‘send’ button on his e-mail program in relation to the letter to the editor he sent to us late last month.
We have had at least a dozen responses to Murphy’s letter, and we thank him and those who responded for their contributions to the smart-meter debate.
There is, however, an air of panic to some of the letters. Many have been helpful in pointing readers to website and other sources of information on the topic.
We can’t pretend to be scientists who have all the answers about any possible harmful emissions. We do, however, have strong feelings about property ownership and the right to allow, or not, access to one’s land and home. And we are increasingly concerned about the stories we are hearing from people whose hydro bills have doubled or tripled since the advent of the meters and the dire straits they face in adjusting household budgets. Now, there’s a reason to panic.
— Editorial by John Harding