Archive By Section - Local Columns
Reform spending? In Califoreclosure? Like that will happen
Why, they ask up in Sacramento, don't people trust us? There are at least two million reasons why. That happens to be the amount California State University Chancellor Charles Reed spent of your money to hire high-priced private sector lobbyists to lobby your state representatives to get even more of your money. If that sounds outrageous, you haven't heard anything yet. Reed spent the money without seeking bids and did so on top of $1.1 ...
Michael Jackson’s star-studded memorial service
It's Tuesday morning and I'm online trying to find the best PC feed to view the Michael Jackson memorial services.
For whom does your cell phone ring tone toll?
Rip-off AT&T's intellectual property and make it available for free and faster than you can text "SUE U" the communication giant would unleash lawyers upon the offender in droves.
Why do people need to save face or be macho?
The guy was a jerk. We were driving the right way down a one-way parking lane outside Trader Joe's in Modesto Saturday when he turned the wrong way and stopped within three feet of my front bumper. I sat there waiting for him to move. He stared. Thirty seconds passed he did not move nor was there even a single car passing behind him in the travel lane in front of the stores. Another 15 ...
San Francisco values: Protect bong shops & ban chain stores
Hey man. The land of hippies has gone for government controls to protect head shops from competition. No kidding. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors last week unanimously passed a moratorium on the opening of new tobacco paraphernalia establishments for three years on Haight Street in the Haight-Asbury neighborhood immortalized by the "Summer of Love." Given there are three dozen plus head shops already on Haight Street selling everything from bongs to bubblers, this obviously ...
The Adventures of Arnold in Wackoland
The Mad Hatter has nothing on the California Legislature these days. Sacramento - The Craziest Place on Earth – makes Mr. Toad's Tea Party look like a meeting of the Mensa Society. After missing the deadline (surprise, surprise) to pass the budget Wednesday, the Twiddle-Dees and Twiddle-Dums on both sides of the aisle were blaming each other for swelling the deficit by another $2 billion. If that is supposed to raise your ire and side ...
Respect the flag & you’re respecting sacrifices made on your behalf
There is no law governing what you can and cannot do to the American flag. No law exists against burning the flag either in protest or just because one wants to do so. It is extremely debatable whether one really would want any law on the books tightly regulating how the flags displayed or used as criminalizing how the symbol of the nation is treated arguable would erode basic freedoms. But given that, it is ...
Will Manteca deliver now that they mean business?
There was a time not too long ago that Manteca's permit process for new development and the little guy read like a script for a B-grade horror flick.
And that’s the way it is: Twitter, pop deaths & the digital media
It was reported last Thursday that Walter Cronkite is seriously ill and "not expected to recuperate."
Why are we convincing kids they will fail in school?
"We're going to do badly in school next year because there are going to be more kids in my classroom." – Words of an elementary student on a San Francisco TV station news report.
Brazen bank robbers and their lawyers
Bank robbers aren't nearly as brazen as some of the lawyers that represent them. Sometimes the bigger crime is how an attorney can either twist the constitution or use the legal system to rob the people of justice. Many times lawyers use creative legal strategies to try and get their clients off the hook or at least find them some additional dollars through litigation after they're arrested. If bank robbers are caught clearly on tape, ...
Why California is still the true Golden State
There are those who have lost faith in California. They point to dysfunctional folks up in Sacramento, too many people, air pollution, and the high cost of living as reasons why they flee convinced the fabled California Dream has turned into the California Nightmare. As they look at California in the rear view mirror, they're convinced those who stay are crazy to do so. Yes, things do look bleak at times and you've got to ...
AMERICAN CULTURE
Michael Jackson died this week. Have you heard? While it's sad that a supremely-talented musician met his demise, in the big scheme of things, Jackson's death means nothing more than Uncle Morty's. The day Jackson died, and in the days following, I have repeatedly turned on the news expecting to be informed about the many pressing concerns this country currently faces, including the ongoing political conflict in Iran or America's floundering health care reform issue. ...
Michael Jackson: The third one to die
"Well, that's two. Wonder who'll be the third…" said a lone voice in the Manteca locker room. We were standing there in reverent silence before the Fox News Broadcast of Farrah Fawcett's death. It was Thursday.
Califoreclosure now giving bucks away to buy cars
California is $24 billion in the hole and slipping. Teachers are being laid off by the tens of thousands. Taxpayers are losing their homes left and right. Our streets could end up with potholes wider than the state of Rhode Island. So what is Sacramento doing? What else but giving away more money. The California Air Resources Board will give those who turn in vehicle models 1976 or older into a licensed dismantler $1,000 or ...
Articles by Section - Local Columns
Safeguards against PG&E style file browsing at Manteca City Hall
Is the plan PG&E proof?
Tax Internet sales until virtual cops can protect us
The Internet.
Summer heat and keeping dogs safe
DEAR DIDI: It hasn't been all that hot yet but I noticed when I was walking my English Bulldog the other day he refused to stay on the sidewalk. Can you tell me about temperatures for walks and what I should watch for when I take her in the car? -Worried Mommy in Manteca
Taxes you pay go to PG&E & not Headstart
Pundits - and editorial cartoonists - are having a field day over Congress' decision to restore funding for air traffic controllers while letting programs such as Headstart for low-income kids and Meals on Wheels for shut-in senior citizens take federal budget hits.
The Pope and Godless capitalism
"This is called slave labor," said Pope Francis.
Cinco de Mayo is as American as you can get
People need to stop having heart palpations over Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
Meeting your Ripon neighbors at jury duty, plus an unexpected pleasure over lunch
Meeting a couple of Ripon folks, and one from Linden and another from Tracy was an unexpected pleasure in my brief two days of jury duty this week – especially when four of us just happened to go out to lunch together on Thursday.
Kentucky Derby’s horse tie to French Camp
FRENCH CAMP – It's a funny thing, this horse racing business.
Guns: Being judged by 12 instead of being carried by 6
She's a single mom in her early 30s. She lives in an old farmhouse in an almond orchard five miles east of Manteca. The closest neighbor is a quarter mile of a way but the trees make it impossible to see their home.
Want a safe environment for vacation? Then stay out of Yosemite
Yosemite National Park is not Disneyland.
Perhaps Manteca should work with Wal-Mart to create a homeless park
The aging RV was parked under a stately tree providing relief from the 90-degree midday heat.
Count your blessings that disco didn’t survive the ‘70s
Bell bottom pants. Flare-leg pants. Men's rayon tie scarves. Polyester suits.
California makes sure car buyers pay the price twice in taxes
Call it farmer smarts
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