VICTORIA — Never in the history of human conflict have so many said so much about so little, and done it badly on top of it. Frankly, the job the media have done, so far, of reporting on the Gulf war stinks. It began with the three Cable News Network reporters holed up in a Baghdad hotel room. What a farce. Three guys getting all excited about explosions they themselves said were about 10 miles away. And what about the stupid game of hiding from hotel security personnel? For hours on end, not the war, but the reporters themselves were the story. And that’s a journalistic no-no. What the three provided wasn’t news coverage but enter-— tainment. “Third night of terror in Israel.” Scud missiles hit Tel Aviv and Haifa. Twenty-four injured. Population horrified. Three dead. Mark me well, this isn’t an assessment by the Israelis. It’s westem media types trying to outdo one another in the use of sensational language. The Israelis know better. They have been living with the threat of war for more than four decades, and have actually fought three of them. They don’t use linguistic superlatives. Twenty-four injured and three dead — two of heart attacks — is a better tally than they would dare hope for. - The daily briefings are another source of constant bewilderment. “Sir, can you give us any indication when the ground war will begin?” one reporter wanted to know. “Yes, of course, 2 p.m. tomorrow, and would you mind, phoning Mr Hussein with that information?” The other day, I heard a television interviewer ask an environmentalist what the terrible oil spill inthe Gulf would do to Saddam Hussein’s image back home. I suppose he’ll lose the green vote. What a dumb question. Here’s a guy who has killed thousands of his own: people with poison gas and some yahoo s Canadian reporter wants to know whether the oil spill will harm=his politcal image>: é And speaking of oil spills, if I see the same two Inept war coverage birds wading through the oil slick one more time, I°ll cancel my cable subscription and stop watch- ing TV. I was also not amused to find out that the spill for which Hussein is blamed wasn’t the one we were shown for days on end. That one was still in the middle of the Gulf. The one we saw on TV and on the front pages of our newspapers was a small spill that had resulted from an artillery shell. For several days, the media neglected to tcll us the difference. The media call it the biggest spill in history. Perhaps it is, although I suspect that the collective slick that resulted from the sinking of thousands of ships during World War Two was a tad bigger than this one. The difference is that back then we didn’t think of it in terms of pollution and environmental disaster. We also didn’t know about oil booms and other oil slick containment and removal techniques. But nature obviously did, because the slicks disap- peared soon after the war. I don’t feel qualified to judge the acceptability of one death, as opposed to 100,000, but I am qualified to judge the media’s performance in this war. It’s been pathetic, so far, and I don’t sec any signs of improvement. Wars have never been easy to cover. Censorship and restrictions on travel make it difficult to give - an accurate picture of what’s happening, but that doesn’t excuse the travesty foisted on us in the name of war coverage this ume around. In the absence of hard news, the networks trot out an endless procession of so-called experts. There are the retired generals who know nothing, but talk self-importantly of military strategies; there are the psychologists who wax wise about how our children will deal with the war. And, of course, there are the reporters trying to outdo one another in describing what little they know in the most sensational terms they can find in their thesauruses. To sum it up, media coverage “of the war is a testimonial to massive incompe- tence and ineptitude. THE ORGANIZATIONAL meeting of the Sidney and North Saanich Community Arts Council Thursday featured a good cross section of the arts — visual arts, crafts, drama, music and literary arts. Organizers report a strong feeling that the time is right to form such a council and such an umbrella organization is needed to enhance arts in the area. Directors elected were Janet Remmer, Sidney Clarke, Eleanor Blaauw-Cooke, and Pauline Holdstock, with Chris Doman as president, Daphne Pollard as treasurer and Dianne Cross as secretary. Membership is welcome to any person active or interested in the arts. For further information, call Cross at 656-4201. kK * THOSE WONDERFUL OLD photographs The Review has been publishing in support of Sid- ney s Centennial Celebration under the standing head Portraits of the Past, were made possible through the generous efforts of the Sidney Museum. The first photograph included a museum byline, but subsequent photographs didn’t. Incidentally, thanks to many knowledgea- ble residents, the identity of a house published in the Jan. 23 issue is now known. * *K * THE KINSMEN MOTHERS’ MARCH was the big winner as the 676 Kittyhawk Air Cadet Squadron, under the direction of Major James Cumming, gathered 35 cadets and 15 parents for a Jan. 22 blitz covering 20 routes on the Peninsula. Over $1,000 was raised by the squadron, as part of its program to promote service, good citizenship and leadership for youth. The money will go to the Kinsmen Rehabilitation Foundation of B.C., which provides equipment and services for disa- bled people in the province. * x O* ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for summer employment is the Environmental Youth Corps who are seeking 16-24 year-olds for employment Opportunities across the province. Successful applicants will work on projects close to their communities that relate to enhancing our environ- Time is right for arts council ment — from building campsites and picnic areas to collecting data for environmental studies and responding to non-hazardous environmental emergencies. Applications are available at the local Canada Employment Centre, or call the Corps’ Hotline at 1-800-663-0340. Ce a AN EVENING OF INFORMATION on native land claims is being presentcd by local justice group Project Saanich and the Saanich Native People, next Tuesday. Hear well-known B.C. and Alberta land claims lawyer.Louise Mandell, together with native leaders, speak on this import- ant question, starting at 7 p.m. in the Lauwelnew School at 7449-West Saanich. More information is available at 656-7433. * OK WHAT WEEK IS IT? It's White Cane Week, Feb. 3-9, sponsored by the Canadian Council of the Blind and The Canadian National Institute for the Blind, to promote awareness of blindness and visual impairment across Canada. Access to Information is the theme this year. Over half a million Canadians have a vision-related disability but only a small percentage of them are braille readers. KK OK TheReview Wednesday, February 6, 1991 — A7 frames Dorman’s Carpet Cleaners e CARPET CLEANING e UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Owner Wilf Dorman gives personal attention to all orders $570 Nortnlawn Terrace, Sidney, B.C. FREE ESTIMATES Phone: 656-4754 - 30 Years Experience JUST US Peninsula Video Productions Complete S-VHS and VHS Production Facilities Corporate, Educational and Personal Projects 8 mm & 16 mm Film to VHS Tape * House Contents * Collections * for insurance Taping of lectures & seminars Book Early and Reserve Wedding Dates 696-1437 TOWN OF SIDNEY Applications are invited from residents of the Town’ for appointment as members-at-large on the Economic Develop- ment Committee (2 positions). The appointments will be for an indefinite period at the pleasure of Council. Written applications with personal resume indicating exper- tise and experience suitable for the position will be accepted by the undersigned until 4:00 p.m., February 15th, 1991. For any additional information please contact the Administrat- Or at 656-1184. G.S. Logan, A.C.I.S., P. Adm., C.M.C. Administrator, Town of Sidney 2440 Sidney Avenue Sidney, B.C., V8L 1Y7 NOTICE OF INTENT RE: LIQUOR CONTROL AND LICENSING ACT APPLICATION FOR “A” LICENSED ESTABLISHMENT (Motor Vessel) Pursuant to the provisions of the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, the undersigned has - applied to the General Manager, Liquor Control and Licensing Branch, Victoria, BiC. for an “A” license to be operated on board a motor vessel situated at: Name of motor vessel, M.V. Hindeloopen; Home port, Sidney; Name of applicant, James Edward Kelley and’ Jennifer Gaye Stephenson; Area of operation, B.C. Local Sheltered Water, not more than ten nautical miles from shore between Victoria and Nanaimo. The above type of license may be issued to a motor vessel and permits the service of all types of liquor by the glass as approved by the General Manager of the Liquor Control and Licensing-Branch: Hours of sale are any 14 hours between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Monday to Saturday, Sundays between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight: The following conditions will apply: 1. Minors not permitted on board unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian; 2. Cruises must be a minimum of three hours in duration: 3. Sale of all inclusive tickets (liquor) not permitted; 4. Liquor may be served only while the vessel is at sea. Other restrictions as stated in Branch Circular No. 552 will apply. Persons interested in obtaining a copy of this circular may do so by writing to the General Manager. Residents and businesses located within the area of operation of this proposed motor vessel are requested to register any comments by writing to: THE GENERAL MANAGER LIQUOR CONTROL AND LICENSING BRANCH PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA V8V 1X4 OPINIONS MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE MARCH 14, 1991 TO BE CONSIDERED. Province of British Columbia Ministry of Government Management Services and Minister Responsible for Women's Programs Purchasing Commission Asset Investment Recovery 4234 Glanford Ave Victoria, BC ¥8X 1X4 RE-TENDER OFFER FOR PURCHASE FOR REMOVAL OF BUILDINGS McKENZIE AND DOUGLAS, ISLAND VIEW PROJECTS Offers must be received on “O.T.P. #675” by the Purchasing Commis- sion 4234 Glanford Avenue, Victoria, B.C., V8V 1X4, facsimile number. 387-0386, telephone number 356- 8326, not later than 2:00 p.m. February 22, 1991. Lot 1 3876 Douglas Street Lot 2 3890 Douglas Street ~ Lot 3 3906 Douglas Street Lot 10 671 Kenneth Street Lot 4 3912 Douglas Street Lot 11 673 Kenneth Street (Garage Lot 5 3936 Douglas Street only) Lot 6 3966 Douglas Street Lot12 6871 Central Saanich Road Lot 7 4009 Valleyview Road Lot 13° 6905 Central Saanich Road (additional) Lot 8 4011 Valleyview Road Lot 9 4013 Valleyview Road Viewing: Saturday, February 16, 1991, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Bid forms may be picked up on site. Prospective Purchasers viewing buildings enter at their own risk. For further information and “Conditions of Sale”, please contact Myrna Anderson, Purchasing Commission, Victoria, B. S , telephone 356-8509. The structures must be removed from sites within 30 days, commencing from the date of acceptance. Prospective buyers MUST familiarize themselves with the following: 1. Zoning by-laws and building codes in area where they are contemplating placing the building. 2. Conditions under which the structure can be moved on highways and within municipalities. All bidders must satisfy themselves as to the quantity, type, kind and/or condition of all item(s) advertised and the successful bidder(s) will be responsible for the removal of such item(s) as may be applicable. The successful bidder must make full payment within 10 days of notification of acceptance of his/her offer. The highest or any offer will not necessarily be accepted, but the bearer of the successful bid will be required to pay 6% S'S. tax.