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VOL. IX, No. 15 April 10, 2004 IN THIS ISSUE:
 Zvonko Springer continues his description of the work done by the KWALE DISTRICT EYE CENTRE Patricia Hughes-Scott wrote in an article published in Coastweek newspaper, January 09, 2004, that worldwide one person becomes blind every five seconds. Of the estimated 50 million people completely blind, some 90 percent live in countries of the developing world. In this article titled Kwale Distric Eye Centre - 'Serving the Community with Affordable Eye Care', she mentions that in Kenya the rate of blindness is 10 times that of Europe. In other words, in Kenya one person in every 100 is totally blind, of whom the blindness in some 80 percent could be preventable. More than half of the visual problems are caused by cataracts in the eyes. About a decade ago, Dr. Helen E. Roberts, a British ophthalmologist, settled with her family on the South Coast of Mombasa in the Kwale District close to Diani Beach. She was appalled by the blindness plague and resolutely started the task of providing affordable and accessible eye care to the community. Helen's husband, an industrialist and plant manager, helped build a humble one-room office without any plumbing or water supply, but it had to serve every need at first. With Rotary Club of Diani funds and donations of most of the equipment, some 850 patients were treated and 50 operations were carried in the first year of 1993. Ten years later and after four phases of development, the Eye Centre now comprises an air-conditioned op-theatre with new equipment continually added, a de-humidified store for instruments and pharmaceutical medicine, an in-patient hostel with male and female wards, laundry and kitchen facilities, a day care room for private patients, and new offices for the administration. A new standby generator and their own water-well, including plumbing and sewage, provide the main necessities of the Eye Centre. Through funding they purchased a Landrover and a motorbike for the field work to visit scattered hamlets and small villages. The statistics show a constant rise in the Centre's services to patients from all over Kwale District. In 2002, a total of 7748 patients were seen in the field and another 9051 came to the Centre for treatment. Some 1383 eye operations were performed and another 1235 cataract surgery carried out in the same period. KDEC is different from a regular clinic as it provides accessible and affordable eye care in the second-poorest province of Kenya. Kwale District stretches over 8.5 sq. km on the southern Kenyan Coast. The population of around 600,000 people mainly subsists on farming and sea fishing, with some employment in the tourist trade. According to a WHO study in 1999, on average one employed person supports 16 dependents, thus few people have money to spend on any kind of health care. KDEC is a charitable institution and patients pay only an affordable contribution for their care. A special charity fund pays for those who cannot make any contribution, like single mothers with a lot of children. The service quality of the Centre is given by its international associations and its Medical Director, Dr. Helen E. Roberts, MBE MBChB MRCOphth FRCOphth. From the beginning, KDEC recruited community-based workers as trusted and respected persons who were taught to identify eye problems and counsel people where to go for treatment. Initially, folks were afraid through ignorance and didn't know that cataracts are treatable, but also were afraid that someone would take their eyes. Village Health Committees were formed to identify and address the populace regarding the needless blindness. To be concluded.
Jack Peaker takes up an entirely different challenge in his THREE CAREERS PLUS In my next move, back to Toronto, I was appointed sales manager over eight retail and four wholesale salesmen. We had a new revolutionary product to promote called Nu Kote, made with plastic coating instead of wax as was the case with regular carbon paper. I went with groups of salesmen to blitz various cities. I became familiar with computers when they were first intoduced. They required ribbons and we manufactured the wide inked ribbons. The rirst computer was Remingtons Univac, a huge machine that required a 13 1/2-inch ribbon. We bought our first house on Elvaston Drive in Victoria Village. Daughter Alison was followed by Marie, then Avril (born April 1). I was then enticed by an attractive offer from competing Mid City Carbon and Ribbon to move back to Montreal as General Manager. We bought a bungalow on Brunswick Drive, Beaconsfield, close to schools, etc., which was great for our daughters, who still have many friends from that area with whom we still keep in touch. Perks included availability of Martin's Restaurant for customers, family and friends. The president of Mid City's wife was a Martin. I was also a member of the prestigeous St. George's Snow Shoe Club. All went well for eight years, then there were some reverses. My duties were mainly in marketing and photocopiers, business forms, carbonless paper, etc., were beginning to make carbon paper obsolete. Also the province of Quebec, under Rene Leveque, was threatening to separate from Canada. I resigned my general manager's position, sold our house at a considerable loss, and moved back to Toronto. I joined Canada Carbon and Ribbon for a short time. Our daughters disliked our apartment and missed Beaconsfield intensely. We did not blame them. CAREER TWO Morley Peaker, my father, after retiring from Auditor General's Department, bought a farm at Manotick, 12 miles south of Ottawa. He acquired a few cattle, including five Aberdeen Angus. My brother Jim and I were enchanted with these beef cattle and added a few more, plus a bull. The herd was given the name Rideau Angus and later moved to Kemptville. I believed that this fine breed of cattle were underpromoted by the office in Guelph and I came up with ideas for promotion. The 1970 president of the Canadian Aberdeen Angus Association, John Willmott, had asked me more than once if I would like to work for the Association in the Guelph office. I was first appointed secretary-manager and later general manager by President Norm Wade of B.C. We liked that we were moving to a smaller city and an interesting house on Walnut Drive. It was a model for the Guelph gas company to display their many products and had been featured in Chatelaine magazine. The next 11 years (1971-1981) were dedicated to improving the Angus breed in Canada. There were problems. The breed had originated in Scotland where smaller, short-legged cattle were popular. Animal science professors on this side of the ocean were preaching that the breed must change to larger, taller animals that grew faster in the feedlots. At the same time, there was an influx of European breeds, starting with Charolais from France, that met the criteria of the experts. No marbling was required in Canadian Beef Grade Standards. Fortunately, in Western Canada there were numbers of these taller Angus, bred to survive better in deep snow. Bulls with impressive measurements that would be used successfully to promote the Canadian Angus included Great Northern (Blacklock Mchenry 13y) and Canadian Colossal (Camilla Chance 37t). Beef-producing countries around the world were interested and this triggered my world travels. With the financial assistance of our Federal Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce, my travels included Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Czechoslovakia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico, as well as the birthplace of the breed. Some of the trips involved World Angus Forums. Travel coast to coast across Canada included visiting members' farms, attending provincial meetings, opening sales, and attending shows. Regular visits with my counterparts in the American Angus Association, St. Joseph, Missouri, helped to keep me informed. Demand for Canadian Angus was strong from Argentina and my frequent trips there have left a lasting memory. The huge estancias (ranches), sometimes with 30,000 acres, were owned by wealthy Argentines. I saw much of that fertile country from private planes and chauffeur-driven Mercedes. We happened to be in Buenos Aires when Argentina won the World Soccer Cup. That celebration was indeed something to behold. Ten days in Czechoslovakia, along with the Slezinas of Southolm Ranch,Alberta who spoke the language, was spent instructing their livestock officials in our methods of feeding, housing, etc. beef cattle.We were treated royally with special entertainment for our enjoyment. Since the Federal Government helped finance out-of-country trips, we attempted to promote Canada as well as Canadian Angus. At the Porto Alegre Livestock Show in Brazil's cooler south, our exhibit would display an Angus bull and as hundreds would line up to go through we would give out up to 10,000 maple leaf pins. One trip involved putting on seminars in five different Brazilian cities. On that trip I enjoyed a most luxurious flight when Professor C. M. (Red) Williams of University of Saskatchewan and myself were bumped by Varig Airlines into first class between La Guardia and Rio De Janiero. My counterpart from the Holstein Associatoion and two other professors were envious. My part of the seminars involved showing slides depicting superior types of beef cattle. When I was on a flight in Canada with wealthy Argentines, they insisted I travel in first class with them at their expense. Anyway, it worked. Angus exports largely outnumbered exports of any other breed. To be concluded.
THE MATERIALIST A very successful lawyer parked his brand new golden Lexus in front of the office in preparation for showing it off to his colleagues. As he was stepping out, a truck came along and completely tore off the driver's side door. The lawyer immediately grabbed his cell phone, dialed 911, and in less than five minutes a policeman arrived. But before the officer had a chance to ask any questions, the lawyer started screaming hysterically that his Lexus, which he had just picked up the day before, was now completely ruined and would never be the same, no matter how much work the body shop did on it. After the lawyer finally wound down, the cop shook his head in disgust and disbelief: "I can't believe how materialistic you lawyers are," he said. "You are so focused on your possessions that you neglect the most important things in life." "How can you say such a thing?" asked the lawyer. "My God," pondered the astonished policemen, "don't you even realize that your left arm is missing? It was obviously ripped off when the truck hit you!" "Oh my God!" screamed the lawyer, "My Rolex!!!"
These are actual excuse notes from parents (including spelling): PLEASE EXCUSE... My son is under a doctor's care and should not take P.E. today. Please execute him. Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was sick and I had her shot. Dear School: Please ekscuse John being absent on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and also 33. Please excuse Gloria from Jim today. She is administrating. Please excuse Roland from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side. Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels. Please excuse Tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea and his boots leak. Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust. Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was his father's fault. Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday. Sally won't be in school a week from Friday. We have to attend her funeral. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the Marines. Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well. Please excuse Mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover. Please excuse Burma, she has been sick and under the doctor. Maryann was absent December 11-16, because she had a fever, sore throat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever and sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night.
Shirley Davis posted this warning from Sherry Hanson: VISA AND MASTERCARD SCAM My husband was called on Wednesday from VISA and I was called on Thursday from MasterCard. It worked like this: Person calling says, "This is <name> and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud department at VISA. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I am calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by <name> bank. Did you purchase an anti-telemarketing device for $497.99 from a marketing company based in Arizona?" When you say "No," the caller continues, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?" You say, "Yes." Caller continues: "I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 800 number listed on your card 1-800-VISA and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control #" (Then gives you a six-digit number.) "Do you need me to read it again?" Caller then "needs to verify you are in possession of your card. Turn card over. There are seven numbers; first four are your card number, the next three are the security numbers that verify you are in possession of the card. These are the numbers you use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. Read me the three numbers." Then says, "That is correct. I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions? Don't hesitate to call back if you do." You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA security department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was put on our card. Long story made short, we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA card and they are reissuing us a new number. What the scammer wants is the three-digit PIN number. By the time you get your statement, you think the credit is coming, and then it's harder to actually file a fraud report. The real VISA stated that they will never ask for anything on the card. They already know! What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up. We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily. They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.
Carol Shoemaker sends these explanations of BRA SIZES Have you ever wondered why A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, G, and H are the letters used to define bra sizes? If you have wondered why, but couldn't figure out what the letters stood for, it is about time you became informed! {A} Almost boobs... {B} Barely there. {C} Can't Complain! {D} Dang! {DD} Double dang! {E} Enormous! {F} Fake. {G} Get a reduction. {H} Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up.
HAPPY EASTER To view my Easter card for you, click on:
The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge. - Albert Einstein |