Archive By Section - Editorial
Ads not so Super
"Wow, what a game on Sunday, am I right? That Drew Brees, he, uh, he looked good out there! And Peyton's interception, when he threw that ball to that guy in white and gold! He'll never get into the Hall of Fame now!"
Don't ask, don't tell
I don't get it. Since 1993, more than 13,000 soldiers have been discharged from the military under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy. Countless others are effectively denied access to mental health and other services because they can't tell. In 2006, a blue ribbon commission concluded that the policy - at that point - had cost the military some $360 million because of the loss of qualified and trained soldiers and the need to ...
Fighting frozen toes
This winter opened with bitter cold for much of the nation - including parts of the country not used to snow and ice. Here in the northern tier states we are, at least, equipped to respond to winter storms, but they always pose a challenge.
We need jobs here, jobs now and jobs to stay
Ask anyone on the street what they believe is California's top problem and most will tell you it is unemployment. The state's economy is so bad that most people worry about their job, are out of work themselves or know someone who is.
Sign of the times
Another sign of the Apocalypse was recorded last week when the one and only book store in Laredo, Texas - which has a population of 250,000 people - closed its doors. People in Laredo now have to drive 150 miles away to San Antonio, Texas to buy a "Twilight" book. When news of this literary nightmare reached me, I imagined a "Book of Eli" -esque scene where culture-starved Laredoians set up ambush sites for travelers ...
We’re losing access to our history
I was lucky enough to spend Saturday, the only sunny day this week, wandering up and down the coast of Monterey Bay. I took in the sights and sounds of Cannery Row in Monterey, I watched seals play at the Santa Cruz Municipal Warf, and I ate far too much seafood in Capitola.
Federal court has become the new feelings forum
Forget the law. Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker has allowed the trial over a challenge to overturn Proposition 8 - the 2008 California ballot initiative that limited marriage to "a man and a woman" approved by 52 percent of California voters - to turn into what the measure's opponents like to call a "teachable moment." That's another way of saying that the law isn't as important as feelings in this trial.
We’re all on the same team
Cheerleaders and coaches have very different roles on a sports team. Cheerleaders are meant to rally community spirit and motivate and inspire the players on the field. They do this by accentuating the positive. I have never heard a negative cheer. Not once in all my time as student, parent or as a sports reporter have I heard "Our team lacks talent and skill, oh yeah!" Even when the scoreboard is shouting the imminent defeat ...
Mother Nature clobbers us
Many of us - perhaps most - living in the far Western states know what it is to feel the power of seismic waves passing through the Earth. The sharp jolts are unmistakable, and the sense of chaos is terrifying even to those of us who like a thrill.
It’s called the Brown Act, Parks Commission
Attention all local elected officials and members of public boards: You are responsible for knowing and adhering to the provisions in the Ralph M. Brown Act.
Turlock humdrum
I hate to admit it, but the City of Turlock has a well-deserved reputation as being, well, a bit boring.
Ears of corn
It's a world-famous grass, and crucial to our bellies. It's called Zea mays by botanists; rock-heads like me call it corn. Compared to many plants, it's excellent at tolerating drought and heat - almost in a class by itself in that regard.
The courage to dream
Turlock is not starting out 2010 in the way that I had hoped. In fact, after reading Journal reporter Sabra Stafford's article on the mini-crime spree that rang in the new year and reading the police call log for the past weekend, I'm thinking about moving.
Is it bread or is it cheese?
We Scandinavians have several strange customs, including our hallmark fish dish, which is cod that's been processed for days in caustic lye. This truly imaginative creation is known as "lutefisk," which means lye-fish.
A glimpse into the future
As another year ends, it's natural to look ahead and wonder what the next 12 months will bring. Lucky for you, the Journal editorial staff have all gazed into their crystal balls and made some predictions for the year 2010.
Articles by Section - Editorial
Times are a-changing, but not enough
As both high school and college graduates don their academic regalia and stand before family and friends in a public display of triumphant, it's easy to read the enthusiasm and optimistic outlook on their faces. These newly-minted grads are ready to take on the future – whatever it may hold. Ask any graduate what their future plans are and you will hear a mix of altruistic goals like curing cancer and finding a ...
An epidemic of whooping and worse
Even if you don't have kids in your household, you could be exposed to serious diseases that often affect children. And at the moment there's a sharp spike upward in one contagious disease that you could help protect yourself and youngsters against by getting a simple shot at the doctor's office.
The problem with government isn’t a few bad apples
Americans get angry when they learn of government bureaucrats spending lavishly at a Las Vegas hotel or Secret Service agents consorting with prostitutes. As well they should. Such conduct wastes money and drains Americans' respect for their government.
Bring on summer
While the official start of summer is still three weeks away - June 20, to be exact - the season began for many last weekend. Local lakes, rivers and parks were full of families looking to start summer with a bang - or a splash and the sizzle of a grill.
To the Class of 2012: It’s all about attitude
Dear graduates:
Berryhill working on sensible Delta solution for state water, fish needs
It doesn't have to be "us" against "them" in California water politics.
Entitlement 101: Cheat in honors class & sue school to stay in class
A sophomore at Sequoia High in Redwood City in an English honors class is caught cheating and is kicked out of the class. His parents sue as it may hurt his chances of getting into an Ivy League school.
Student loans rates aren’t what ail higher education
It's time that common sense guided higher education spending in California.
More than breasts, bones, and babies
I spent two hours the other day standing in front of the greeting card display at my local grocery store trying in vain to pick out the perfect Mother's Day card for my mom. Mother's Day is the one day in the year that I take the time to express just how much I love, appreciate and admire the woman who put up with me for over three decades. I finally realized that ...
One for Turlock
Turlock itself has seemingly been at the center of my priorities these past few weeks. I recently participated in the 2012 Ode to Turlock Poetry Contest, in which I composed a seven stanza poem praising Turlock as a locus of culture, strength, and agriculture. I was both honored and humbled to be selected as one of the winners of the contest, and was invited to present my poem at a poetry reading night ...
Thank you, Mr. Lincoln
I had an opportunity this week to acknowledge and help commemorate a genuinely transformative event in American history. The action itself was simple – the stroke of a pen. And, as it turned out, the man wielding the pen has been immortalized for very different achievements. But this one, in its own way, changed the world. It was 1862, and President Abraham Lincoln, in the midst of the Civil War, signed a piece ...
A hand up for homeowners
Today the American economy is continuing to heal from the great recession. Unemployment rates are falling, and we've added private sector jobs for two straight years. That means more than 4 million Americans are back on the job. At the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we're focused on growing the economy in rural America and I am proud of what we've accomplished. One important part of our work has been supporting homeowners who ...
We’ve lost our bearings regarding economic reality
What is wrong with us?
The troubling case of James Hooker
Americans have a fixation on sex scandals. A short list includes: Gary Hart, Bill Clinton, Tiger Woods, Charlie Sheen, Rob Lowe, Rev. Jimmy Swaggart and Ceres' own Gary Condit. So it comes as no surprise that James Hooker seized the nation's interest.
Raising awareness one step at a time
As we head full-steam into Relay for Life season, it's hard to miss the purple ribbons strung on lampposts down Main Street and the car wash, barbecue, and candy fundraisers Relay teams all across town are holding almost every other day. Every time I come across these Relay events I am reminded of the millions of people who battle cancer every day - and those who passed away due to the disease, leaving ...
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