Archive By Section - Editorial
Blown away by handheld device
I parked my ample butt on the granite steps and waiting in the shade of a campus building. As good as his word, Dan Hanson of Olympus Innov-X came to meet me to show me a real-life device that reminded me of Spock's tricorder in "Star Trek."
Support is key when dealing with disabilities
My very first job was working at a home for physically and developmentally disabled children. I started out in the laundry room, then worked my way to the kitchen and, finally, became a certified nurse's aide.
High school reunion success story
There was a moment that stood out during my 10-year high school reunion last weekend. It happened after people had some food and a few drinks, and the banquet hall was overwhelmed with loud chatter and pop-fueled '90s music. I was standing next to a friend and said the first thing that came to mind.
A lot can happen in 10 years
Ten years ago, I was nervously sitting in the back row of my high school graduating class. I had to, since my last name put me there. Why was I nervous? Was it because I was scared about the life I was going to lead in the coming years? No. I was nervous because I didn't want to trip and fall after I was handed my fake diploma ...
America without optimism
Of the only man ever elected four times to the White House, the historian James MacGregor Burns wrote: "If other leaders bent under the burdens of power, Roosevelt shouldered his with zest and gaiety. He loved being president. ... The variegated facets of the presidential job called for a multitude of different roles, and Roosevelt moved from part to part with ease and confidence." FDR's optimism was contagious. <span style="line-height: ...
Burning our own fuels
The Gulf oil spill has shown us just one of the downsides of petroleum. That makes the mind of even a geologist like me turn to several questions about the future. Could we Americans grow more of our own fuel – enough to run a number of our cars, trucks and airplanes? And, quite importantly, could we do so without displacing food crops like corn?
The un-recession
Good news. The folks in charge of such things announced this week that the recession is over. Actually, it's been over for some time. It officially ended in June 2009, according to the Business-Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research, which is responsible for making such determinations. As of then, our national output stopped declining and started increasing, along with a number of other key ...
The pursuit of the perfect me
A decade ago I retreated to a mountain cabin with a group of professional women. One thing led to another and soon we were having a bonding experience that I'll never forget - absent the "Kumbaya" song and campfire.
The party is — finally — over
After three years, California State University, Stanislaus' 50th anniversary celebration is finally coming to an end.
Does the turnaround model really work?
In an effort to bring Cunningham Elementary's dismal tests scores up, the Turlock Unified School District administration decided to use the turnaround model at the school voluntarily - before test scores dropped so much it became state mandated.
Zen and art of political machine maintenance
Jerry Brown has a secret plan to balance the California state budget. When the state attorney general and Democratic gubernatorial nominee recently visited the San Francisco Chronicle's editorial board, he brought with him a large three-ring binder with his ideas on how to bring state spending back into the black. But he wouldn't tell us what was in the book.
Record-breaking generosity
On Thursday afternoon I let my fingers do the walking - but not through the Yellow Pages. Instead I spent some time reading the "Guinness World Book of Records."
Book burning
Here's a really bad idea: Burn the Koran to send a message.
All aboard!
As a Midwest transplant, one thing I have found to be true with most Californians is their love of travel. Many of my neighbors and co-workers spend their weekends sightseeing, attending festivals and enjoying the great outdoors all around the state.
A heart for my family
I'm going to let the cat out of the bag…my given name is Pina. Pennie is my nickname. I was named after Grandpa Pino and my maiden name is Skittone. Have you guessed that I'm Italian? I'm proud of my family heritage and yes, Skittone Road in Modesto was named after my Great Uncle Johnny.
Articles by Section - Editorial
The next victim of LA’s insatiable thirst
Want to see the future?
The means to help producers impacted by drought
This week, we continued to see historic levels of drought grip much of our nation, impacting thousands of farm families. Although the hard work and innovation of our producers has fueled a strong farm economy in recent years, President Obama and I understand the major challenges this drought poses for American agriculture.
Patients need drug options, not limitations
Imagine being sick with a life-threatening disease. Most of us would want access to as many medicines as possible - including the full range of proven treatment options.
Entertainment at the fair a deal — but no seat saving
I love summer but the icing on the cake, for me, has always been looking forward to visiting the Stanislaus County Fair. Must-do things on my fair list are checking out the photography exhibits, looking at all the handiwork crafted by FFA and 4-H kids, seeing the farm animals – invariably there is always a big mama pig and her piglets – nesting in sawdust, viewing the putt-putt antique engines and checking out the ...
Time to invest in much-needed mobile infrastructure
Isn't life quite a bit easier with apps on your phone and fast Internet connections? Broadband-high-speed Internet-has become a crucial tool for rural and urban residents alike.
The ultimate gathering place
Every year at this time the county gets a little smaller. This phenomenon is not caused by a rip in the space-time continuum or is it a matter of geographical wonder - it's called fair time. In 2011, over 245,000 people made their way to Turlock to visit the fair during its 10-day run - that's three and half times the normal population of this Valley town. The sheer number of fairgoers is ...
Give popular culture a second chance
"Uncle Sam may hope someday…to Americanize the world," proclaimed an early twentieth century edition of the New York Morning Post. While the U.S. has undoubtedly positioned itself as the Western world's locus of popular culture for decades, the latest piece of news is revealing our even broader influence. Kim Jong Un, the young leader of North Korea, was recently given a special performance in his country that included scenes from Disney's "Dumbo" ...
Exceptional fireworks event, almost
If you weren't at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds on the Fourth of July, you missed one heck of a show. The music was great. The food booths were plentiful. And the fireworks, oh the fireworks. The firework show was, arguably, one of the best I've ever seen in person. If I had any complaint it would be that the show actually lasted too long, and that seems like a rather silly thing ...
Get connected
At least once a month a well-meaning friend or acquaintance will take me aside and ask with a grim look on his or her face, "So, how's it going at the newspaper?" I assume my questioner is expecting a negative response and that's why he or she is talking to me like I just lost my favorite pet. When I reply that things are good and getting better every month, I often get ...
Vandalism not a GOP trademark
Politics in America remains downright sharply polarized. Discernment, however, is required to recognize hypocrisy when it's being flung about the landscape.
Bring back Scandifest — and other cultural events
Diversity is the spice of life. The longer I live, the more truth I find in that saying. Growing up in rural Indiana, diversity was not that common. I can count on one hand the number of students I went to high school with who were not white Protestants from a nuclear family. When I first moved to Turlock, I was amazed at the number of different cultures who all lived, worked and ...
Campaign season flashback
The year was 2008 and five candidates were vying for two open seats on the Turlock City Council. The campaign season began just like any other with formal announcements of candidacies, followed by some neighborhood door knocking and debates held by the Chamber of Commerce, League of Women Voters and the Turlock Journal. Election same-old, same-old. Then, the next thing you know, the campaign train went completely off the rails. There were ...
Want to save the state from disaster?
Want to see an end to California's perennial budget crisis?
A different and very useful kind of bank
I work just a couple of blocks from a special kind of bank. It doesn't accept money for deposit, it won't finance a new car, and it wasn't part of the housing bubble. This unusual kind of bank deals mostly in seeds that it preserves, sometimes propagates, and often disperses without charge to anyone who has a research use for unusual strains of crop plants.
What not to target during the California crisis
It is irksome to know that California legislators continue to look upon sacrificing the state's education system and prison system as the best way to reverse the deteriorating financial situation. Most Californians are familiar with the recent "trigger cuts" that have been whittling down the quality of our education system at a dangerous rate. A few weeks ago, Gov. Jerry Brown proposed a $6 billion cut from K-12 school funding in November although ...
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