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.

Renewing Turlockers’ civic virtue

On the Stanislaus County website, there reads a thought-provoking saying, "Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in."

Common sense scores two wins up in Sacramento

Big Valley Christian High in Modesto wanted to build a press box for its football field.

Roads can wait; Turlock has tougher problems to tackle

I have been a resident of Turlock for 13 years. During that time I have had at least two tires go flat and multiple bumper scrapes due to the poor state of our city's roads. Despite my own personal run-ins with Turlock's famous pot holes, I must respectfully disagree with those Turlockers who feel that the state of the roads should be a priority for city officials. Please allow me to plead my ...

What’s next? Ban on plastic straws, dime for paper ones?

The cost of shopping in San Francisco is going up Oct. 1.

Big Brother on the road

Tougher fuel efficiency standards have the potential to turn our freeways and highways into havens for potholes. The Congressional Budget Office is projecting a $57 billion loss in federal gas tax funds through 2023 due to the new federal fuel efficiency standards that have just been adopted. The revenue reduction - roughly 13 percent less than what was originally projected just a year ago - will also impact separate gas tax collections for ...

Get rid of the death penalty, get rid of plea bargains

Recently, editorial page editor John Diaz asked Mark Klaas whether he expects to feel closure if California executes Richard Allen Davis, the man who kidnapped, toyed with and then killed Klaas' 12-year-old daughter, Polly, in 1993. A jury found Davis guilty and sentenced him to death in 1996. From the early days after Davis snatched Polly from a Petaluma slumber party, Klaas has been a highly visible advocate for strong laws to protect ...

Everyone, not just 53%, pay federal taxes

Teachable moments: Don't expect them from politicians - or their hacks - whether they are Republicans or Democrats. The flap over the comments that 47 percent of Americans don't pay income tax and that nearly half the population receives government benefits is a perfect example. First off, we all pay federal taxes and a lot of them. The most visible of all taxes are income taxes of which 53.6 percent of ...

Getting a handle on stress

Stress is a part of life; how you deal with it is what matters. This axiom seems simple enough, but recognizing when stress is overwhelming us and then actually taking steps to reduce its affects is another matter. When it comes to stress, I am an expert at dealing with true emergencies - I can handle fires, flat tires and criminal acts without breaking a sweat - but the daily pressures of life ...

A Food, Farm and Jobs Bill as soon as possible

After spending much of August out of Washington, Congress is back – and rural America is watching closely, hoping for passage of a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill as soon as possible. With farmers facing the worst drought in decades this summer and the current Farm Bill set to expire on September 30 of this year, time is running out for Congress to act. You and I both know the stakes couldn't ...

SB 9 puts lives of criminals above safety

A few things to consider before voting on Prop. 34

Your son and his 16-year-old best friend are celebrating the fact he just got his driver's license.

Reviving the power of questioning

With the 2012 Presidential Election just around the corner, the American public is caught in the midst of a torrent of propaganda. As the popular trend of politicians fashioning their own facts abounds, folks here and around the nation encounter the same issue: what are we supposed to take to heart? I think the newer generation is hit hardest by this difficult decision. They're the most impressionable, having only recently been exposed to ...

Customers put to work

Walter Reuther - a labor leader if there ever was one - was once given a tour of a modernized Ford assembly plant.

Democrats honor labor with exception of farm workers

Honor labor.

Getting more out of each gallon of gasoline

It's commonplace to observe that we live in very partisan times. Red versus blue factions dominate our public discussions, and there often seems very little room made for agreement in the middle.