Just doing our jobs

Local law enforcement agencies - namely, the California Highway Patrol and the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department - should take a lesson from the Turlock Police Department in media relations.

Don’t worry, be happy

On Sunday, my pastor preached that "God will provide." He went on to say that since God has our needs covered, there is no reason to worry. I left church feeling good about the message and thinking, "You're right Pastor Dave. There's no need to worry, God has my back."

An open letter to Denairians

Dear residents of Denair, Do you care about your community? Do you have any aspirations of outgrowing the shadow of Turlock to become your own, independent locality? Well, I hate to say it, but you've got a long way to go to prove it. I'm not sure if any of you are aware of this, but there's an election coming in about three months. According to the electoral calendar three members of your five-member Denair ...

Visiting Darwin’s grave ere I die

My Labrador-mix from the dog-pound is quite a mutt, but even so he shows Lab enthusiasm for retrieving sticks I throw into the river. (Just for the record, he's a specialist and won't retrieve sticks thrown on land.)

Hate should not drive health care debate

If my mom or dad caught me on TV acting a complete fool like some of the protesters at the various health care town hall meetings, I can guarantee you that my dad would fly up from Houston and smack the hell out of me.

Hammocks away

Can you smell it in the air? Freshly sharpened pencils, Crayola crayons and Gucci backpacks - the smell of a brand new school year.

A shocking pattern

I am one of those people. You know, the ones who keep pictures of adored pets in their wallet and who think a family Christmas portrait isn't complete without Fluffy and Fido in the shot. I love my pets and animals in general.

Karma or dumb luck?

I have an older brother in the Boston area who I don't see very often. He has a sick wife who was hospitalized for some time because of two failed kidneys. He took days off from work during that time, wanting to be by her side.

Cool it with beat it

On June 25, the world changed forever. It's hard to believe that it's been a month now. You know, since Michael Jackson died. He was the King of Pop. He was Captain EO. He showed us how to moon walk, for goodness' sake. The first album I ever bought was "Bad." While growing up, I incessantly listened to "Thriller," "Dangerous," heck, anything the man put out. And, yet, in just a month, I've grown sick ...

Cows, pigs and cavies — oh my!

I can't believe it's already that time of year again. The streets of Turlock are clogged with horse trailers. Local boot retailers are seeing an increase in sales and quad riders of all ages are suping up their engines. Yes, the Stanislaus County Fair is back in town.

To sleep, perchance to scream

Late the other night I was sitting in my room, minding my own business and absentmindedly watching a little television while scribbling some notes, when much to my surprise sunlight started shining through my window.

The kidnapping of our work

Plagiarizing, according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, is to "steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own: use (another's production) without crediting the source."

A Canadian primer for Americans

I'm what, 30 miles across the border? If that? It's amazing how quickly it becomes apparent that you're not in Kansas anymore, Todo. From the second I stepped off the plane and into Vancouver, Canada, for a week-long writer's retreat I felt as though I'd entered bizarro America. The subway is on the honor system; there are no turnstiles to check your tickets, you just walk on. They call gyros "donairs" for no apparent reason. ...

California’s Amber Alert celebrates seven years of success

It has been nearly seven years since California implemented its own statewide Amber Alert system. In that time, the system has helped recover 179 abducted children.

The sweet smell of money

The river of green flowing from Washington D.C. has finally reached Western shores. Ever since the House of Representatives and Senate approved the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the glitter of free gold has been a glint in the eyes of cash-strapped agencies nationwide and especially in the Golden State.

Sen. Snowe’s leave and the deterioration of American politics

Most local individuals would be far from alarmed to learn that a Maine woman recently announced her decision not to run for a fourth term as senator. In fact, there are few folks who devote enough attention to remember the names and term numbers of local politicians, let alone ones coming from the opposite end of the nation. However, it is not former Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe's leave of politics, but rather her reason ...

Living in 209

I am always amazed at how once a year, that perfect day arrives in the spring that finds the Valley trees all in bloom, the sun is warm and the air is so aromatic you cannot help but say "Wow." My perfect day was over the weekend when driving about on Sunday I happened to find myself among several orchards lined one after another with beautiful pink and white blossoms. The warm 75 ...

Life-changing moment

It seems like you go along in your everyday life working, sleeping, and playing a little when there's time and energy. Then something happens that changes everything. On Feb. 16 I became a grandma. I've known for the past seven months that this day would come and I was attempting to prepare for it. But there was nothing that could prepare me for the joy in watching my little girl become a ...

Make renewable energy mandates obtainable

Last year, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB x2, which requires California's utility districts to provide one-third of their total electricity from "renewable" sources by 2020. At the media event held for the signing of the more onerous Renewables Portfolio Standard program, the Governor and the bill's author, Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), spoke of how great this would be for California as a world leader.

There’s only one tax to support this year

This year, you and I will be asked to support a litany of tax measures. There's only one I plan to support: The continuation of the eighth-cent sales tax that fund the Stanislaus County library system until 2018.

Skills for American workers

As America works towards an economy that's built to last, we must make sure to provide American workers with the skills they need to compete.

What’s love got to do with it?

Entire aisles at grocery stores are decked out in red and pink. Every other television advertisement is for diamonds and local flower shops have increased the size of their storefront banners by 200 percent. It's Valentine's Day once again.

Documentary well worth the cost

The Turlock Irrigation District's new historical documentary, "The Irrigationist," looks to tell a story worth hearing &ndash; but at what cost? It's hard to imagine anyone taking issue with the basic premise of the film, commissioned to celebrate the district's 125th anniversary. Without the Turlock Irrigation District, there would be no water. With no water, there would be no Turlock &ndash; just look to some dying south Valley communities for proof. <p ...

Congress needs a grammar lesson

Are we trekking on a course towards disastrous censorship? As long as two poorly- worded bills loom in Congress, this appears to be the case. For individuals using the Internet on a regular basis, the issue should sound familiar. Simply put, the Stop Online Piracy Act (or SOPA) introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith, and the PROTECT Intellectual Property Act (or PIPA) introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy both intend to curb any aid on ...

‘Mr. Bulldog’ lives on

When taking on a new job, it's inevitable that you will be compared to the person who last held the post. Sometimes this can be a positive thing, especially when hearing a complaint. It's easy to say that being the new person you can't speak to practices of the past, but in the future it will be your mission to make things right. Sometimes, however, filling the shoes left by a predecessor can be ...

Ceaseless change dominates our dynamic planet

Nothing about Earth history is static or unchanging. That's particularly true of climate, and thereon hangs more than one interesting tale including recent news of a scientific advance in understanding how past climate has changed.

Agricultural education and our moment to shine

Be your neighbor’s keeper

I grew up in a small town. Now, I know native Turlockers like to think this is a small town, but they're wrong. The population of my hometown was around 3,000 when I was living there; it's over 4,600 today. Turlock boasts a population of over 68,000. Enough said. The best part of living in a truly small town is the security. I never locked the door to my house - or car, ...

Small claims—big headache

Why is court so complicated? I just feel the frustration ooze out of the small claims litigants. Most folks who sue in small claims court sue on "principle" and firmly believe that they are in the right. The judge, however, must follow the substantive law. In small claims court, it is the legal procedures that have been modified or set aside to give folks easier access to the Courts. People are also mistaken ...

Take a break and spur the economy

I love vacations. Unfortunately, my desire to travel the world far exceeds my financial means and time availability to do so. Don't get me wrong I still travel, just on a smaller scale and not as often as I'd like. When I finally do get away, I feel guilty about the money I spend and my absence from work. Thankfully, the Obama Administration is giving me a guilt-free reason to travel. President Obama ...