Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/62613
4A Daily News – Friday, April 20, 2012 Opinion DAILYNEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer's home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Welcome rodeo fans The Red Bluff Round-Up Rodeo gets underway tonight for the first of three of compe- titions wrapping up Sunday — in case you hadn't heard. The annual rodeo and more than a dozen complementary events that make up the 11 Days of Round-Up draw thou- sands to Red Bluff and it's up to us to make sure they have the time of their life. just to get out of buying a tick- et, right? Bluff and its various organiza- tions do a great job offering plenty to do for visiting rodeo fans — and lucky us, we get to enjoy them, too. Back to the rodeo. Red In an amazing act of com- promise, the vast majority of Red Bluffians will be out of town this weekend to make room for our guests. At least that's the impression I got dur- ing the Chili Cook-Off when I tried to sell tickets to Satur- day's Kiwanis Pancake Break- fast. Just about everyone I approached was going to be out of town this weekend. Of course, they wouldn't say that This year includes the addi- tion of a carnival downtown, which I hope is well supported so it will grow in coming years. Shops decorate as part of a contest, but many would likely do so without the competition just to show their Round-Up spirit. munity didn't grow up to be cowboys. Ditto for those in the com- munity who take the Sunrise Rotary's Roving Jail threat seriously and dress in Western attire for the week. Between you and me, it's easy to see why many pillars of the com- Concerts, mixer, parade, car show, cowboy poetry, art show — the 11 Days of Round-Up are packed with activities for the community and visitors to enjoy. But there's one type of activity no amount of organiza- tion or effort can offer — courtesy. That's where you, me and everyone in town this weekend can make sure our visitors leave happy. town who may be searching for an address or street name. Offer direc- tions or recommen- dations when you run into a visitor looking for a meal or store. The more courtesy Chip Say a friendly hello to those you pass on the street. Open a door for someone. Be patient in traffic as a nod to those in from out of Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. we show our guests, the more likely they are to tell their friends what a friendly place Red Bluff is and that could pay dividends for years to come. That's all for now, par'ner. See you at the Round-Up. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by e-mail at editor@redbluffdailynews.com. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Cean- othus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Home on the range Commentary When I get a call from some- one thinking of making a home in Tehama County, I give them the following sales pitch: fair city has a river running through it, majestic mountains to the east and west, lots of elbow room just outside the city limits…and is a great place to raise children. If they ask about job opportunity I lament that we no longer can rely on the timber, sheep and cattle industries for they have been sharply curtailed. However, orchards are springing up all over the place and we will have, once again, a tree covered valley blessed with ample sun- shine as when the Indians were the only inhabitants. We have a unique city center in Red Bluff, the heart of which features, on a couple of blocks of Main and Walnut , splendid two storey Victorian era com- mercial buildings in which, in my day, the merchants often conducted business on the main floor and lived with their fami- lies on the second. What a con- venience, and what a saving! And yet, those not in such endowed, building wise, could reside in splendid Victorians just blocks away and walk to work daily. Such a fine living and working environment we had…and still have, for that matter. Anyhow, this is the "brand" Our we have bestowed on our little community for well over a cen- tury. It sufficed then and hope- fully may continue to do so. We have all the elements necessary for long and productive life right at our doorstep. Who could ask for anything more? *** proclaimed it haute couture. But men's fashion does not seem to have suffered such excess…and about the only thing you can say about us guys these days is that we have mostly abandoned the tie. This is a step in the right direction. But the trend, ala Hol- lywood moguls, to not wear socks with their loafers, seems a bit gross. *** Beds: Although today's young appear to shun marriage vows, they are "sleeping togeth- er" (an admittedly awkward euphemism), and should there- fore carefully consider the ques- tion of double versus twin beds. If a bedmate tosses and turns during the night, twins may be the answer. However, there is nothing like a companion's warm body on a dark and stormy night…the downside finding that side of the bed vacant because of divorce or worse. My father chose twins because of his late hours at the meat plant. Not wanting to dis- turb mother, who kept more con- ventional hours, after arriving home, he would doff his work clothes, shower and attempt to get into his twin bed undetected. However, this worked to his dis- advantage one night when, in total darkness, he plopped into the twin only to discover that mother had rearranged the beds the previous day…and he hit the cold floor with a resounding thud. He then used his favorite modified blasphemy, "Good…gosh damn!" Mother and I laughed about that one for years. The New Yorker featured a retrospect of the designs of fash- ion gurus Schiaparelli and Prada. To the uninitiated, they appear absurd. It is as though they just draped their models with anything handy, and then Stanley failed to remember the layout of his new house and crashed into a wall when rapidly rising after his first morning therein. *** And speaking of beds, Uncle Good advice from a solved cryptogram: "To maintain a well balanced perspective, each man who owns a dog that worships him, should also have a cat to ignore him". *** The resourceful folks at TIME have logged in with a provoca- tive of the garage directly to the west behind the old Trede Brothers Saloon? *** Mr. Graham titled "RETHINK- ING HEAVEN." Unbeknownst to me, there is no clear consensus, worldwide, on what heaven really looks like. The Buddhist sees it as Nir- vana, the ultimate cessation of ego and desire. The Tibetan Buddhist faction sees it as Mountain Kailasa in the Himalayas which no human has ascended. The Hindu god Vish- nu reposes far above the highest heavens in Vaikuntha, the Islam- ic folks believe the dead must await the Day of Resurrection to receive judgment, though Judaism's Torah says little about heaven and Taoism begats a suc- cession of 26 heavens. It is all nonsense, of course, but evident- ly as hard to enter these premis- es as it is to type them. *** subject Robert Minch I Say Last week's quiz was prompt- ly answered by N. Rick, J Ange- lo and R. Ramsey who knew that Motorola developed the first cell phone in 1973 and it weighed a ton, and that it was the ol' Bam- bino Babe Ruth who avowed he deserved more money than the President at the time because he "had a better year." This week's quiz: Without looking, are all of the buildings on the west side of the 600 block on Main in Red Bluff two storey, are any on the east side two story …and what was the name research shows that you made a profit of over $600,000 dollars last year, and yet you have not given a dime to community charities. What do you have to say for yourself?" The lawyer replied, "Did your research also show that my mother is dying after a long ill- ness, and has medical bills that are several times her annual income? Did your research uncover anything about my brother, the disabled blind veter- an in a wheelchair? Did you know of my sister, whose hus- band died in a traffic accident and left her penniless with three children?" was the chair- man of the United Way. One day it came to his attention that the fund had never received a donation from the most successful lawyer in town. He called on the attorney and said, "Our Sheepishly, the charity solici- tor admitted he had no knowl- edge of any of this. "Well," said the lawyer, "as I don't give any money to them, why should I give any to you?" Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine and author of the "The Knocking Pen." He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.c om.