Did you feel it? That chill in the air, dense with the mist of morning fog? Did you smell it? The scent of burning leaves, cinnamon and vanilla, and pumpkins lit on a Halloween night? Did you taste it? The heat of spiced cider taking the chill off your innards and the rich warmth of […]
Commentaries
Posted inOpinion
Falling in love with fall
Reminiscing about golden seasons passed
Did you feel it? That chill in the air, dense with the mist of morning fog? Did you smell it? The scent of burning leaves, cinnamon and vanilla, and pumpkins lit on a Halloween night? Did you taste it? The heat of spiced cider taking the chill off your innards and the rich warmth of […]
Posted inOpinion
Don’t axe me, I just lurk here!
How one writer got in the spirit by selling Halloween
OK, baby boomers, take a little walk down memory lane with me. Remember when we used to make our own Halloween costumes? We’d go through our mothers’ costume jewelry and makeup or our fathers’ shirts, hats, and ties, and come up with clever costumes in which the neighbors wouldn’t recognize us (or at least we […]
Posted inOpinion
Keep the left lanes on freeways for passing only
Washington prohibits drivers on highways’ left lane except for overtaking slower vehicles; California should do the same
It’s not unusual to see drivers speed onto the freeway, then immediately steer to the outermost left lane and remain there, refusing to relinquish it when a faster car closes, even though no one occupies the lane to the right. No one in power seems to care about this dangerous behavior. If you could do […]
Posted inOpinion
Get me to the airport on time
How flying the friendly skies meant one wild ride
I hate airports. I loathe them not because of the long lines for tickets, security screening, and check-in. Nor do I hate them for the noise, solicitors, or over-priced food and coffee at packed eateries. I abhor airports for one simple reason: I am virtually always “The Ride.” Those of you who have been “The […]
Posted inOpinion
Art must not flinch
Turn your back on insanity by aligning yourself with the natural order
We live in an insane world. There really is no other way to describe it. And it is we human beings who are responsible. For we humans invented insanity. There is no insanity in nature. Although we, as humans, are a part of nature, we do not embrace what nature does. As a whole, we […]
Posted inOpinion
California PTA is suing the state
The legislature and governor have failed to follow the law for school funding
California State PTA has a long, proud history of speaking up for all children and youth in our state. Today, we’re doing so as never before as part of a coalition that has filed a historic lawsuit against the state of California. The lawsuit—Maya Robles-Wong v. the State of California—is straightforward. It asks the courts […]
Posted inOpinion
Coming to your census
As this decade’s undertaking wraps up, find out why the government thinks you count every 10 years
Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled … .” Chapter 2, verses 1 through 5 of the Gospel according to Luke historically document one of the earliest known censuses. But it was not the first. There are ancient Egyptian population records […]
Posted inOpinion
Create a path to local jobs
California’s financial plundering has forced me to think outside the box
As a mayor and a businessman who cares deeply about his city and county, I am concerned about our economic situation. On a state and national level it is bad, but on the local level, where we can really feel and see it, it is even worse. I gauge my opinion on the fact that […]
Posted inOpinion
Do do that vuvu that you do so well
An American’s take on World Cup soccer mania
When I first heard it, I thought a swarm of bees had moved in. “Call a bee-keeper,” I yelled to my husband. “We’ve been invaded by bees.” “That’s not bees, Love! That’s vuvuzelas!” he chuckled. Vuvu-wah? “They’re plastic horns the supporters are blowing at the Cup games,” he continued nonchalantly. Oh, God. The World Cup […]
Posted inOpinion
Hunting and pecking
It’s here, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here! I love elections. I love the election time of year and what elections represent and getting to know candidates and exercising freedom and the right to vote and basically everything else about it. Elections! Yeah! I love it all, except one thing: Elections tend to […]
Posted inOpinion
Sophisticated bamboozle
PG&E’s attempts to protect its monopoly are troubling
There is chicanery afoot in California in its worst form, which will keep us from meeting our evolving energy needs in a changing world. Here in California, as is true in the rest of the country, we need to be free as citizens to explore other sources of energy. Many communities are now choosing to […]
