- Thumbs up To the passerby and the West Shore RCMP officers who jumped into neck-deep water to save a driver whose vehicle had flipped upside down in a water-filled ditch on Thursday. It was a reminder that police officers are always ready to risk their lives to save ours - and also that there are individuals who will rush to help as well.

- Thumbs down To the Saanich school district, which is moving recess at elementary schools to the end of the day in order to reduce the workload of the principals and other exempt staff who are supervising playgrounds during the job action by teachers. This might make bureaucratic sense, but it defies common sense. It would be like eating all of the day's meals at the same time.

- Thumbs up To everyone who donated money, time and energy to the United Way. Even though the annual campaign fell $600,000 short of its $6.3-million goal, every penny still counts. When times are tough, it might be harder to find money to give, but the need is great. Your donations make Greater Victoria an even better place to live.

- Thumbs up To the B.C. Hydro crews who were called out twice in the past week to restore electrical power to homes throughout the region. Every year, power lines come down during windstorms, and crews leap into action so we can have heat, light and more. It's not a comfortable job, and it's not without risks - so we should be grateful to those doing the work.