Eva Alvarez student “Who the heck are you?” Jenise Coates student “I love you.” Rosa Diaz student “If you didn’t like my picture, too bad for you.” Sandy Matthews student “Being caught at community college sucks for you.”
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
Keep on keeping on, kids
Baby Boomers like me may be graying, but we’re still marching�
The media are making a big deal about the earliest Baby Boomers turning 65. I’m not there quite yet (I’ll be 64 this month), but I do consider myself to be in the good company of the 70 million Boomers born between 1946 and 1960 or thereabouts. Some days I feel completely over the hill, […]
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Should marijuana be legalized?
Mike Covington retail “Yes, because it could be taxed. And it’s safer than alcohol.” Kyle Robb recreation “It’s just a plant that helps people, and hemp can be used as a fuel, and we can build houses out of it. It’s a great resource. Even George Washington grew it.” Antonio Garcia mechanic “No, I don’t […]
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Give us the details, governor
During the campaign, Jerry Brown rightfully addressed school dropout rates in his plan for education�
img2892 Gov. Jerry Brown presented a 12-point education plan during his campaign. Brown wisely crafted a proposal that encompassed multiple elements of public education, among them the cost of higher education and changes in the state testing program. Although each component of that platform could spur positive change, Brown’s interest in raising high-school graduation rates […]
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More people impact students than just teachers
Oceano
I am a local, bilingual elementary teacher. My credentials, experience, stress level, work load, accountability, and the responsibility I bear are worth at least $120, 000. I am light-years away from it. But I do not want more money. I earn enough to meet my needs. I want fewer students in the classroom; I want […]
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Let’s pump our way into better financial shape
Santa Maria
We are in a recession with a large number of unemployed. I have a suggestion that might help in alleviating that problem. I have traveled to Oregon through the years and am impressed at the fact that when stopping for gas, not only do the employees pump the gas, but they’re often willing to clean […]
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Forget Black Swan, see The Red Shoes
Santa Maria
I have to disagree with your positive evaluation of Black Swan (“Dark Swan,” Jan. 27). As a former ballet dancer, I looked forward to the dancing, but was disappointed that it didn’t live up to that old gold standard, The Red Shoes with Moira Shearer, which appeared in the 1950s. Not only that, but in […]
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My health-care crisis
There is no lesson more profound than a life-threatening illness
My health-care crisis is not national in scope. It does, however, involve all the elements necessary to be a crisis: money, emotional difficulty, pain, family discourse, faith, good doctors, bad doctors, amazing nursing care, insurance companies that do not respond to your requests, borderline bankruptcy, never-ending physical challenges, and the quintessential diagnosis of cancer in […]
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What celebrity would you like to see enter politics?
Kevin Willis clerk “They should stay out of politics and stick to whatever their business is—unless they have a background in economics.” Martin Johnsen picture framer “Bill Maher. He seems to be honest and straightforward.” Bill Psomls retired “Bill Maher. He’s knowledgeable and knows more about politics than politicians.” Stephanie Palomarez artist “Oprah, although she […]
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Be healthy past 50
Take your life into your own hands
Uncle Bob’s health changed for the worse at about 60. He had been on medication for a long time. It was the usual: blood pressure medication, cholesterol pills, diuretics, and others. As years went on, his list of medications grew. When he finally died after a long, painful, and slow spiral down, everyone said, “Well, […]
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California is broken because you can’t fix stupid
Santa Maria
There’s been a lot of talk about how Arnold Schwarzenegger failed to fix California’s deficit, but very little about why. How liberal voters, unions, and activist judges fought, opposed, and attacked him at every turn; how 80 cents of every government dollar were spent on employee salaries and benefits; and how hyper-environmentalist, anti-business regulations, and […]
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How do you explain the shooting?
San Luis Obispo
While certainly expected, I’m stunned at the callousness exhibited by political entities and supporters who place the blame for the Tucson Tragedy on the shoulders of the mentally ill. Political rhetoric used the term “man it up” on many occasions to indicate it’s time to take a tough stand no matter what it costs others. […]
