The writ has been dropped and election signs dot the landscape. However, the campaign has yet to generate much excitement.

We know that Premier Dalton McGuinty is Kermit the Frog this election.

And he’ll likely find it is not easy being green in this part of the province. Those who hate wind turbines have already announced that they will be voting for the PC Party. Those who love green will, no doubt, be voting to keep the government in power.

The issue is much like the love-hate relationship of Kermit and Miss Piggy. Will Kermit keep his legs or will the turbines continue to turn free?

The three major parties are promising to spend more money. When you look at the province’s finances, you might wonder what the three party leaders have been smoking. They’ll likely have to cut spending,

The best suggestion is to vote for the best candidate in your riding. Go to an all-candidates meeting, listen to what they have to say on health care, education, the province’s finances, and then make your decision.

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Sobeys’ decision to shut its Kincardine Foodland outlet is bad news for downtown Kincardine and the people who live there.

The store is in walking distance of downtown apartments and many of the homes in the town core. Many of those living in the core do not have a car or are unable to drive – meaning they will be greatly inconvenienced. (Sounds like Kermit’s type of store.)

Foodland will also be missed by those who enjoy shopping in a smaller store where goods are easier to find.

The closing will leave a big hole in the downtown shopping area. Every time a business closes in a shopping zone, fewer people are attracted to that area. Not only that, many choose to live downtown because of the convenience of having grocery and other stores nearby.

The chances of another grocery store coming in are likely not good. There are only three major grocery chains in this province. The two biggest – Loblaws and Sobeys – are already here. Will the third move in or will someone buy a franchise from one of those chains?

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Maudlin: foolishly sentimental or self-pitying.

I’m glad the anniversary of 9/11 has passed.

I have found the media coverage of the event maudlin and over done.

There is no question that 9/11 was a tragedy for New York City as well as the 3,000 people who died and their families and friends.

But the media coverage sends the wrong message to the world – the lives of American citizens are worth more than the lives of Iraqi citizens.

The U.S. government used the 9/11 attack as an excuse to launch a war on terror and a war on Iraq. More than 100,000 civilians have died in that country.

Nothing has changed in the last 10 years – the U.S. spends billions on Homeland Security. The idea of figuring out why Muslims might hate the U.S. has never been a concern of the U.S. government.

The war on terror launched by U.S. President George Bush has had a big effect on this country. The Canadian government has spent an additional $92 billion on national security since 9/11.

The world has major problems – global warming, a faltering economy, to mention two. In North America, health care consumes a bigger and bigger share of government budgets. Why are we wasting so much money on a war on terror that is turning North America into a police state?

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Thank you for all the kind comments Dana and I received after last week’s announcement on the sale of The Independent. The announcement surprised everyone, including two of our three children.

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We took a tour of Goderich Sunday afternoon. The tornado caused much damage but much of the town was spared. The clean-up is progressing quickly and I would like to believe our neighbouring town will soon be back on its feet and back to normal.

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There weren’t any famous actors milling around, but the Kincardine International film Festival was a hit in my eyes.

Dana and I enjoyed Friday evening’s film, Midnight in Paris, and she and her sister, Sharon, enjoyed The First Grader on Sunday evening.

Hats off to myFM. Hopefully they’ll stage their third annual film festival next year at this time.

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I received my free copy of the Canadian edition of The Old Farmer’s 2012 Almanac recently.

According to the blurb that arrives with the almanac, its weather forecasts are 80 per cent accurate. That means most of Canada is to have teeth-chattering cold this winter and most of us should keep the snow shovel handy. Summer is to be cooler and drier than normal.

The end of the Mayan calendar is Dec. 31, 2012 but it will not mark the end of the world says the almanac.

And for your information, there will be three eclipses visible in North America in 2012.