Your neighbours may also be criminals
Dear Editor,
Re: “I don’t want homeless ruining neighbourhood,” Letters, April 19.
Writer Kate Liu is concerned that (temporary modular housing) residents may have criminal records or mental health or addiction issues and there is no clear procedure for the public to know.
Ms. Liu should know that people from all walks of life have those issues including some of her current neighbours.
She just doesn’t know because they are not homeless.
Graham Taylor
Richmond
Tech has nothing on pre-digital aids
Dear Editor,
I am not a neo-luddite and I am a willing consumer of much of what the digital/binary-code universe has to offer. If I ever doubt that I rely on these devices to a great degree in my life, all I need to do is turn out the lights at night and look at all the little red and green numbers glowing or flashing in the darkness.
But, given the presence of all these digitally-related technologies and services, there are a number of tools and technologies that pre-date the digital revolution that are still very important to my everyday life and it has become important to me to periodically hit the pause button and reflect on how and why they continue to play such an important role in determining what the character and quality of my life will be.
The most important would be my eyeglasses (I have great difficulty wearing contact lenses), a technology that was developed in the 13th century.
I wear them from the moment I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night. I cannot function in anything close to a normal way without them and I thank Italian Salvino D’Armate for inventing the first wearable eyeglasses in the 1290s.
The second most important tool in my life is fire, without which the human species might not have evolved the way we did, and which ensures that my diet is safe, balanced, and healthy and my house is warm in the winter.
There is evidence to support the claim that Homo Erectus first used controlled fire approximately 600,000 years ago. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I prefer steaks and pork chops grilled over a gas stove burner or B.B.Q. over ones done in a microwave. Enough said.
The third and fourth technologies or tools that I realized I find constantly useful and depend on quite a bit are pens and pencils.
I have no idea how many times a day I use one or the other to jot down messages, notes, reminders, etc. I don’t wear a pen in a plastic holder in my shirt pocket, but I do make sure that there is a pen or pencil close at hand in almost every room in my house and in my car as well.
There is evidence that some of the Dead Sea Scrolls were written with a quill pen in the 2nd century B.C, and the first fountain pens emerged around 1827.
The patent for the ballpoint pen, the most common device used for hand-writing, was registered in 1888.
I could go on to list other common, everyday tools and technologies that were invented long before the digital revolution and which continue to enhance our daily lives, such as the paper clip (1901), the fork (Ancient Egypt), Post-it notes (1974), salt shakers (1858), the light bulb (1879), paper (Ancient China - 100 B.C.), nylon toothbrushes (1938), modern Aspirin (1888), window glass (early 17th century), rubber bands (1845), and a thousand or more other familiar objects and devices.
While digital-based technologies are constantly evolving and often made obsolete within months of their introduction, all of the tools and technologies listed above endure, many over centuries with only minor cosmetic or stylistic adjustments along the way.
Perhaps those who have come to believe that their lives could not possibly be meaningful without digital technologies should also hit the pause button now and then to take a closer look at the everyday details of their lives and think about what life would be like without the aid of such non-digital devices.
Ray Arnold
Richmond
Owen’s a real Champ
Dear Editor,
Re: “Richmond kid Owen leads by example,” News, April 5.
On behalf of The War Amps, I would like to thank reporter Alan Campbell for the article featuring Owen Greaves, a local member of The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program.
As The War Amps marks its 100th anniversary this year, stories like this help bring important awareness to the many vital programs we offer for all Canadian amputees.
Although the association has developed many innovative and unique programs over the past 100 years, there is still much to do to ensure amputees have the artificial limbs they need to lead full and active lives.
With the public’s continued support of the Key Tag and Address Label Service, our commitment remains to improve the lives of amputees, like Owen, long into the future.
Danita Chisholm
Executive director, CHAMP Program
The War Amps
Richmond is pretty good, you know
Dear Editor,
Re: “Good news, please,” Letters, May 3.
Vishan Hettiarachchi has made an excellent point in this eye opener of a letter. It is true that sometimes we become too focused on the negatives. This goes for individuals and communities. The author’s message of taking nothing for granted, trying to hold on to positives in our lives and strengthening bridges that connect us, is very timely and appropriate.
To that, I would like to add that life is too short and that we should be thankful for what we have rather than worrying about what we don’t have. We should count our blessings.
Despite all of its problems, Richmond is an excellent place to live in. Yes, things could be better. However, rather than complaining we should get involved and try to change them. After all, it is our own community.
Thus, the onus is upon each one of us to get involved and make it even better. Incidentally, thanks to you and your team, Richmond News is looking better with every issue. Keep it up!
Balwant Sanghera
Richmond
Near miss on Railway
Dear Editor
My kids and I narrowly averted a horrible accident.
Thankfully, my daughter was able to get a photo of the vehicle and the license plate.
It’s been an ongoing problem along Railway Avenue since the city introduced a right hand only turning lane.
People just use it as a lane to bypass left hand turners, many of them going well above the speed limit.
So many near misses and I’m sure many accidents that I haven’t seen. This had the potential for a catastrophe if I didn’t drive like a pessimist. Hopefully, my call to the police and the engineering department for the City of Richmond will have some effect.
Debra Dennill Watson
Richmond
