A snowy adventure

As a lifelong Central Valley resident, when the meteorologist mentions "inclement weather," my mind immediately turns to fog.

In the spotlight

More people across the nation than ever before have some idea where Turlock is located thanks to the national media attention our town and the surrounding area received in 2010.

Less is sometimes more

A tropical vacation is typically filled with snorkeling, jungle excursions and hours of laying on sandy beaches. And while my recent trip to the Caribbean Sea was filled with all of those things and much more, I couldn't help but bring back something extra - a more grateful and appreciative attitude.

For goodness’ sake

In the spirit of Christmas I've decided to blatantly steal some seasonal inspiration from my favorite television shows.

Wishing you well

"Merry Christmas!" What an odd combination of words to get so much attention. First, I want to begin with a statement that this is not a rant on the Christmas season and how it is being taken out of our society. It is an observation of a complex world where offense is the first reaction and best intentions are misinterpreted.

Birthdays

By the time you read this, it won't be my birthday anymore. Thankfully. But it is right now, and birthdays don't get easier as you get older.

Banning Happy Meals lawsuit is beyond stupid

As a strong proponent of parental responsibility, it both amuses and angers me to see some parents lining up behind an initiative to sue McDonald's over the inclusion of toys in their Happy Meals.

The Democrats' new pork: Trains to nowhere

In the last decade, the symbol for profligate federal spending was the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" - a huge proposed span that would link the town of Ketchikan, Alaska, population 7,500, to an airport on Gravina Island. Powerful Alaska Republican lawmakers tried to stick American taxpayers with a huge chunk of the tab for this dubious project.

The art of satire is alive and well

I have created a new award in honor of comedian Jon Stewart - the Swiftee. This coveted honor goes to the person who most personifies the king of satire, Jonathon Swift. Stewart and "The Daily Show" writers were channeling the renowned Anglo-Irish essayist when they shined a light during their Monday night Comedy Central program on the U.S. Senate Republicans and their hypocritical nonsupport of health aid to ...

What a dame

I don't care what they said about her in "Game Change." Bitchy? Who wouldn't be? Difficult? She had a right to be.

Season of hope

No matter how commercial the Christmas season gets, there is one pure thing the holidays always bring - hope.

'Don't ask, don't tell' on the way out

On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates released a long-awaited Pentagon working-group report on the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy enacted under President Bill Clinton. Most troops, the review found, would not object to a repeal.

Using their powers for good

I am usually not a fan of celebrity news. In fact, I cringe whenever someone in the office asks "Did you hear what Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt (or any other famous people) are doing?"

Giving rats a bad name

An interesting news story circulating on the Web this week really caught my attention. The headline read "1000 rats rescued from California Home." The basic story is that the reality TV show "Hoarders" found over 1,000 of the critters in a man's California home during filming. The rat colony was a result of one pregnant pet rat being brought home by a child who lived in the house. ...

The boogeyman is winning

I used to enjoy flying. I really did.

Inspiring students to take on STEM

Anyone tuned into science news has probably heard that the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search recently announced this year's winners. The competition is an opportunity for high school seniors in the United States to win scholarships for their original science, technology, engineering, or mathematics research. This year's 1st place winner, 17-year-old Sara Volz, used her own bedroom to make trailblazing research towards cost-efficient, algae-powered biofuel. Other students' truly incredible projects ranged from improving ...

High speed rail folks sue me, you and a dog named Boo

The $68 billion train wreck in the making – California High Speed Rail – continues rumbling down the tracks with all of the subtlety of General Sherman's march to the sea. The folks who never saw a cost overrun they didn't like have used an obscure state law to blanket sue you, me, and every soul on earth - and presumably the space station too. It is a bid to gain immunity from future ...

Penalizing the law-abiding to punish criminals

How do you fight lawbreakers? The new trend is to punish those who abide by the law. And - wherever possible - make responsible citizens pay even more. Have a problem with "meth heads" using over-the-counter flu remedies such as Sudafed to cook up their poison? Simply make those suffering from the flu get a doctor's prescription. That's the solution Senator Dianne Feinstein is proposing. Forget the fact it takes ...

Outsourcing may be the answer for Caswell

At the southern terminus of Austin Road is one of 280 gems known as California State Parks. Caswell Memorial State Park is home to unique valley riparian woodlands. Such clustering of woodlands once covered immense swaths of the Valley floor alongside rivers. Today less than 2 percent of riparian oaks that existed when unsuccessful gold seekers turned to farming still stand. The 258 acres in the state park are home to perhaps a hundred ...

Economic two-step is getting old fast

On the front page of Wednesday's paper, there was a story about an open house at a new business in town and right next to it was a report on the number of unemployed in the county, which increased to 15.6 in the month of January. Along with the not-so-great news of increased unemployment, was the announcement that Post is closing its Modesto plant and laying off 140 workers. Sometimes it feels like ...

The new child abuse: Buying your kid a rifle

My brother Ronald knew how to safely use a rifle before he entered the fifth grade. His two kids - Joshua and Jennifer - were introduced to shooting long before puberty. Joshua was a serious contender for the Junior Olympics Rifle competition and earned a partial college scholarship based on his marksman skills. Ron is involved in running the Junior Rifle program that's part of the Lincoln Rifle Club. The 80-year-old ...

Proposed Delta water solution not good for region, economy

The following letter was sent to Governor Jerry Brown: The undersigned members of Congress express our bi-partisan concerns with the State Water Resources Control Board's policies surrounding the Bay-Delta and rivers tributary to the Delta. Many of us have been providing our various perspectives on the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan and we will continue to engage with you as the draft BDCP and related environmental documents emerge in the next month. However, for ...

College districts need to put education first, jobs second

Just 36.4 miles separate Delta College and Modesto Junior College. They both offer similar courses. Both have had to clamp down on enrollment and raise fees. But were all of the fee hikes and class caps necessary? The simple answer is no. That's because the fantasy known as "local control" takes precedent over education. San Joaquin Delta Community College District and Yosemite Community College District could easily be operated under one board and one ...

Complaining about roads second nature to Turlockers

New California gold rush: Folks making $200K+

They don't call California the Golden State for nothing. Contrary to some crying wolf, the better off among us aren't leaving California. Posturing politicians as usual miss the real story. The past two decades - according to the U.S. Census' American Community Survey - have seen a net 3.4 million people flee California for other states. If it hadn't been for high immigration from outside the United States and the birth rate the ...

Learning the lessons of Debi Austin’s life

It is with great interest that I've been following the story of Debi Austin, the woman from the trailblazing 1996 California anti-tobacco ad. Austin recently passed away after battling a host of health problems brought on by decades of smoking. Austin, who began her addiction at age 13, was already plowing through a pack of cigarettes per day before she graduated from junior high school. Not long later, she underwent a laryngectomy that ...

State water decision would leave Valley hanging dry

There is no life without water, and nowhere is this sentiment truer than in California, where water is critical to the vitality of every part of the state. But that does not give bureaucrats the justification to decimate the San Joaquin Valley to divert water from some areas to give even more water to others. The State Water Resources Control Board quietly decided on New Year's Eve to increase water exports for fish ...

From a nation of risk takers to a nation of litigators

A baseball fan turns away from the action at a minor league game in Idaho to chat with a friend. Suddenly, the crowd around him starts yelling. He turns back toward the field and is hit in the eye with a foul ball. Ultimately he loses vision in the eye. He sues. Earlier this month, NASCAR fans at Daytona sitting feet from the track where cars are racing at speeds approaching 200 mph ...

Yahoo's return to the Industrial Revolution

In January, the Journal relaunched its Women in Business publication after a four-year hiatus. When the advertising department first suggested bringing back this section, I was a little hesitant. Most of the women I know who hold leadership positions in their respective careers consider themselves professionals. Not women professionals. And all of the women interviewed for this year's special publication voiced the same opinion; gender was not a factor in their daily professional ...

The new math for employers

A side effect of more healthcare insurance coverage is becoming painfully apparent - a less robust economy for those struggling to stay afloat. It all comes down to two numbers: 49 and 29. Go above 49 employees and a business has to provide health insurance. Have an employee work more hours a week, and if you provide health coverage you have to extend it to them as well. The firms ...