Harry Stemp Jan 07, 2010
Harry Stemp was born in Uxbridge in 1934. He started his career with the Uxbridge Times-Journal as an apprentice typesetter at age 14. He soon began writing sports for the Times-Journal and eventually owned 10 community newspapers in central Ontario including the Times-Journal. He started writing his award-winning Stemp’s Stew in 1965. The column came to an end shortly after he sold his newspaper chain in 1989, but was rejuvenated in 2006 when Harry became a regular contributor to The Cosmos.
Not a high-tech kinda guy
Think I have mentioned before that I am not at all excited about the giant steps being made in trying to bring all of us knee deep into the world of technology.
Maybe I am too old to bother with the latest phones that are able to take photos (I have a camera for that) or send text messages. I do that at home on my computer. Nor do I have any interest in meeting friends on Twitter or any of the other number of sites that I feel do nothing more than invade my privacy.
However, I love e-mails and the fact that I can go on Google and source thousands of pieces of information in a short amount of time. No more hauling out large reference books and slowly thumbing through the pages.
Something else I enjoy is the world of Skype. It's an Internet phone system that lets me talk to friends all over the world for a few pennies a call. But there is something new in Skype that I absolutely refuse to be part of. By obtaining a Skype phone number I can call computer to computer around the world at absolutely no cost. Sounds great but I have had a few bad experiences.
Dear friends of mine love this service. They have a camera connected to their computer and have a Skype phone number. They convinced me to try it out. I did and, in my mind, it was not a pleasant experience.
As soon I hit 'send' this huge face immediately popped up on my screen. It was a bit unnerving until I realized it was the friend I was calling. Their camera was working.
Proceeding with the call, I found it a real distraction looking at my friend as he fidgeted with his ears, scratched his neck or ran his fingers through his hair. As if that isn't enough, they work through the speaker on their computer so anyone who is in the room can hear both ends of the conversation.
That's not bad, you say. Well, without announcing who else is in the room, it could be more than a bit embarrassing.
“How are Joe and Doreen doing these days? Still getting drunk as skunks and making an ass of themselves in the local bar?” could be a harmless question unless Joe and Doreen are sitting within a few feet of the computer. Get what I mean? Dangerous!
So I have opted not to connect my camera to my computer and also not to get a computer-to-computer phone number. I will stick with my probably outdated system and pay the few cents it costs me to stay in touch with far-off friends. It's a lot better than what it costs to make a normal overseas call and somehow I feel a whole lot safer doing it my way.
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The New Year's Day Levee is a popular event across the country, but I have a feeling that we have seen the last of the Mayor's Levee in the Township of Uxbridge.
According to reports (I didn't attend) the members of council outnumbered the residents in attendance. Too bad, but guess people have better things to do on the first day of the year.
On the flip side the President's Levee at the Uxbridge Legion was, as usual, a crowded event and those who attended not only enjoyed the fellowship of friends, but also were in for a pleasant surprise.
The McEnaney family (Home Hardware) donated a lovely Hammond organ to the branch in memory of their father, Richard, a World War II veteran, and a gift from their mother Glory who is no longer able to play this beautiful musical instrument.
Our very own Walter Taylor attended the Levee and entertained the gathering for most of the afternoon. The beautiful sounds of this gifted organ made the Levee a huge success, and a wonderful way to welcome in 2010.
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Would be remiss if a huge pat on the back didn't go out to the members of the Uxbridge Optimist Club who, once again, organized the Fantasy Of Lights at Elgin Park.
The Fantasy of Lights has become a much-anticipated annual event, which brings the Christmas message to young and old alike.
The Optimist Club is not blessed with a large membership. They say that good things come in small packages. That certainly rings true when we think of the tremendous amount of effort it takes to pull off this appreciated community project.
There have been nothing but positive comments throughout the community and you will be pleased to know that one Optimist member told me it would be bigger and better next Christmas Season.
