Regulating ourselves into bankruptcy

A study was quietly released last week by the governor that highlighted the absolute abuse that California families, small businesses and farmers are taking from over-regulation by bureaucrats in state government.

American dreaming

I had a dream last night. I was famous, a super star. Everyone knew who I was. I don't remember the reason. Maybe I had cured cancer, or maybe I had rescued a man from a burning building. Perhaps I was a famous author. But the reason doesn't matter compared to the feeling, compared to the knowledge that I had done something incredible. That I had earned the respect of my fellow man. It was ...

A leap of faith

If you are reading this on Saturday morning before 8 a.m. and plan to head north on Highway 99 towards Sacramento, make sure to look up and wave as you pass Acampo. I just might be able to see your friendly gesture as I rapidly descend to the earth from 13,000 feet in the air.

If you build it, you still have to advertise

Here's a challenge, Journal readers. Sit down at your nearest computer, visit the search engine of your choice, and try to find a facility to hold a soccer tournament in the Central Valley. Pretend you're a little league baseball commissioner and search for a set of fields for your year-ending tournament. Heck, Google up a patch of shovel-ready industrial park alongside Highway 99 while you're at it. Maybe I'm not using the right search terms. ...

A moment of silence

On Tuesday night, the Turlock City Council stood together, bowed their heads and sent a clear message to those who would try to stop them from beginning every meeting with a prayer.

A furlough by any other name ...

Since when does the word "furlough" mean "mandatory un-paid day off?" According to my Illustrated Oxford Dictionary, the word "furlough" means "a leave of absence, especially granted to a member of the services or to a missionary." I always thought a furlough was something that you granted to someone, not something you forced on an employee. I first heard the word "furlough" used in that context about a year ago. If I remember correctly, ...

Pot talk smoking online

A debate is raging this very instant on our nascent Web site, turlockjournal.com. Or perhaps I should say, a debate is blazing. The myriad stories about local government, state budget cuts, and even murders just haven't been able to get our readers riled up in the way that a green, leafy plant has in these past few weeks. Yes, the TurlockJournal.com comment section is veritably alight with varied viewpoints on the vile demon weed of ...

Stay away from my Xbox, Mr. President

How dare you, Mr. Obama? Just because Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Master Chief are not registered voters, that does not give you the authority to lambast them at every turn, good sir. When, in a June 15 American Medical Association speech, you advocated, "raising our children to step away from the video games and spend more time playing outside," I first became concerned with your anti-gaming policy. Shortly after that speech, however, I foolishly ...

Your eyes and ears

Lately, I feel a little bit like a shoemaker. Shoemakers used to be important tradespeople in every town in America until the industrial revolution made their jobs obsolete. I imagine shoemakers across the country talked about the end of their profession in guild meetings and in trade newsletters in the 1900s. Newspapers probably had headlines like "Cobblers clobbered by machines." This same doomsday talk has been reported far and wide about my trade, the newspaper ...

Have you forgotten?

Even without movies like "Pearl Harbor" and "Saving Private Ryan," I know that on Dec. 7, 1941 - "a date which will live in infamy" - the Japanese pulled off a massive attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, that decimated the United States' Pacific fleet and pulled America into WW II as a full combatant. I also know that June 6, 1944 - D-Day - was the day that U.S. soldiers, along with the Allied forces, ...

Eggzamining ‘Sunny Side Up’

If you haven't heard about the "Turlock Sunny Side Up" temporary public art project, it's a pretty eggcelent idea.

Good news, bad news

Almost every week I get a phone call from someone who asks, "Do you cover good news?" I always answer, "Yes, of course we do." These callers then proceed to give me a story idea about a local club event, interesting person or outstanding student.

Keep violent criminals behind bars

California's criminal justice system is complicated and a confusing mess, and the recent proposal to release thousands of convicted criminals back into our communities early makes it even worse.

Stumbling on good finds in odd places

About a decade ago I was cruising up a 130-mile long reservoir behind America's largest dam - Grand Coulee - built across the mighty Columbia River. The area around the reservoir is rural, but it's hardly the isolated wilderness of the Yukon. Nevertheless, geologists are still finding some quite intriguing things that lie in such rural places, because there are many outcrops still on Earth that we just haven't looked at seriously.

Bulldog to bulldog

I started my current career adventure as a bulldog, a Ceres High Bulldog that is. I then became a Wildcat in college and now I'm back in Bulldog territory, only this time in my high school's rival town.

And a little child shall lead them

Little kids are amenable to learning new habits - generally much more so than those of us who are set in our ways because this isn't our first rodeo. That's why it's sometimes more effective to teach children health science information rather than to do outreach aimed directly at their parents.

Supreme Court case obscenely out of step with the times

What is obscene cussing and should the government regulate it?

Nothing new under the sun

Out with the old, in with the new. That is the rallying cry for many come January. I'm not quite sure about the "out with the old" part, but in 2012 the Journal is bringing in new - and hopefully exciting - features for our readers. One of the most interactive projects the Journal is undertaking this year is our Readers Recipe Book. Throughout the year, the Journal will be collecting recipes from ...

The worth of water

According to the "Longman English Dictionary," a New Year's resolution is "a decision to do something better or stop doing something bad in the new year." Not surprisingly, New Year's resolutions generally serve only as broad ideals that individuals fabricate in an attempt to freshen themselves for the new time period; exercising more, controlling expenses, or simply behaving nicer constitute the main desires. Despite the truth that such resolutions rarely survive the temptations that unfold, ...

Preserving prime ag land, planning for a sustainable future through regional collaboration

Stanislaus County is a unique community. Ours is a county where city leaders come together on a regular basis to discuss ideas, strategies, and opportunities where regional collaboration can best be implemented.

Plan needed for successful New Year’s resolutions

Hitting below the belt

If you've made a New Year's resolution to eat right and trim down, be forewarned that medical science shows your brain has it in for you and will actively promote your failure on two different fronts. That's not good news, of course, but you should know about it so you can strengthen your resolve as best you can. Here's the scoop. It's relatively easy – particularly if you are significantly overweight ...

LGBT History Law step in right direction, but lacks guidance

California Senate Bill 48, also known informally as the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) History Law, officially becomes law with the New Year and overall I agree with the law - with a lot of The new law, which is titled the FAIR (Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful) Education Law, is controversial because it requires social science instruction to include a study of the role and contributions of lesbians, gay, bisexual and ...

Turlock continues to see success, despite challenges

Turlock had many successes in 2011, in spite of a challenging economy and a state government and legislature bent on taking money away from local government. Though the diligent work of our city staff and improving local economy, we were able to cut expenses and maximize revenue to reduce our projected 2010-11 budget deficit by $2.5 million. We have already seen stabilization and a slight increase in our local sales tax revenue, as ...

Keep cursive alive

Some of my fondest childhood memories are the times I spent with my Grandma Stout. Being the only grandchild of her only son meant that the world actually did revolve around me when I came to visit. We would spend hours together playing board games, talking, shopping - and playing school. My Grandma Stout was a fourth grade teacher for most of her life and when we played school, it was serious business. ...

Hands-free, means HANDS-FREE

I don't know about you, but I get so very irritated with folks who drive and talk on their cell phone. You've seen them-numerous unsafe lane changes, fastest driver on the road, turning without signaling, etc. It is obvious that they are unable to multi-task.

Christmas coconuts and other weird traditions

When I was a little kid I assumed that everyone celebrated Christmas exactly the same way that my family did. Christmas shopping was done no sooner than two weeks before Christmas. The outside lights did not go on the house until after Dec. 9, which happened to be my sister Sandra's birthday. And above all I knew that Santa did not wrap the presents he left on Christmas morning.

Christmas choices

Right around now is when people start fretting over creches in the public square and arguing as to whether publicly funded Christmas symbols violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment. And right about now is also when certain Jewish groups begin insisting that the answer is to place a Hanukkah menorah right next to that creche, which leads atheists to complain about a plague on both their houses. Years ago I was ...

Hefty parental issues

Is your kid overweight?

Handmade, heart felt

In my hope chest at home I have five dresses that my aunt hand-made for my daughter when she was little. Even though my daughter is now a grown woman, I will keep these dresses from her childhood as keepsakes - with the hope that they will eventually be passed down to her daughter one day. I thought again of these dresses when I was interviewing Barbara Cameron of the Turlock Quilt Guild ...