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6A Daily News – Friday, January 4, 2013 Opinion Best of intentions for 2013 DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY 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 letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. 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 submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong community 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 vehicles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its communities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the residents 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 A new year and another chance for an overweight, chain-smoking, functional alcoholic like myself to dream about becoming a guru and practitioner of all things fitness and nutrition in the coming year. I could fantasize about a gazillion lifestyle changes to make through a New Year's resolution or honestly gaze into the future and see if Rich2K13 will be any different than the previous version. So let's take these resolutions one at a time and see which one works out best for me. Resolution: Quit Smoking Chance of completion: 0.02 percent, unless heart attack occurs during the calendar year in which case this rises to 50 percent A popular favorite and one us smokers will toss out to family members with the stipulation "sometime this year." Oh, I know the dangers and what not. I know I smell like an ash tray, blah blah blah blah blah... But I also know the only way I'm going to quit is if I decide to do so on my own. Likely what will happen in 2013 are three attempts to quit. One will be so light-hearted that it will only last a few hours and surely only be enacted because I was too lazy to go to the store. A second attempt will be made using electronic cigarettes, but will fail because all I'll take from the experience is reinforcing why I love smoking to begin with. The last will be a more serious attempt that may even stretch past 24 hours. At some point some nonsmoker will say something to me about how much of a better person I've become. I will then think to myself, I don't want to become a person who points out others' flaws to feel better about my own being. At which point I will go visit Paul at the store and buy a pack of cigarettes. Resolution: Eat more healthfully Chance of completion: 58.3 percent Considering I actually followed through with this one last summer and saw success, I think I could give it another go around and know off 10 more pounds. Of course there's no reason to start a diet until the true end of the year — the Super Bowl. And then there's that deep fryer I bought the wife for Christmas... mmm wings. OK so give me five more weeks through the football season and then I'll meet halfway and just least three times a week. I think I can handle it. deep fry green beans and I'll keep it up with mushrooms until Septhe ultimate goal of tember when pigskin entering a Thanksgivreturns. ing 5K. A 7-month resoluAfter completing tion. Good enough for that I'll end the year me. believing I too could be Resolution: Work healthy and then be out more willing to tackle the Chance of compleother bad habits with tion: 85 percent resolutions of 2014. If I'm not going to I think we have a quit smoking and only plan. eat better for half the Rich It's the best of year, perhaps I could everything. A little bit counter balance that by of self-improvement actually working out. Except if I'm truly being hon- with the belief it will lead to furest with myself I think the Camels ther improvements except I don't and Cheetos may be what's pre- have to commit to those until I finventing this from happening in the ish the first which might not happen at all and if I do I'm pretty first place. Still, I have to give it a go. This sure I get a free t-shirt. The perfect New Year's Resois the resolution to peg 2013 success on for the above mentioned lution. Still, there's one more resolureasons. I'll start easy with Nintendo tion I should consider. Resolution: Stop drinking Wii tennis until I can make it from Chance of completion: 0 percouch to fridge without being cent winded. Nah, how else would I come When the weather turns nice I'll use walking the dogs again as up with these column ideas? an excuse to exercise. Rich Greene can be reached at The long hot summer will do its best to convince me to give up, 527-2151, Ext. 109 or by email at but by then I should be jogging at rgreene@redbluffdailynews.com. Greene 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: governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Ceanothus 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) 3930710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary Be it hereby resolved... SF Chronicle's columnist Jon Carroll proposed New Year's resolutions for his readers. He suggested, "Don't run your boat into an iceberg, become one with the universe…or at least two, sing on key, let bygones be bygones, refrain from grand theft auto…not the game, the real thing, and share less on Facebook." All sound advice in my book. However, a recent discussion brought to surface a different resolution I should embrace. On a cold winter morning, on the first day of the New Year, the following conversation occurred between, our very large bullmastiff Murray Clyde and myself. "I've been thinking…"said the big dog. "What else is new? I replied. "No, I mean deep thinking such as the meaning of life and such. Have you noticed that when the Saturday columnist writes about his discussions with 'Sam', he is really talking to his dog?" "What would make you think that?" I asked. "Well, the two discuss things that only a dog and his..." "His master?" "I would say 'provider'. A dog and his provider. Anyhow, everyone that writes needs someone to bounce their ideas off. Your Editor seems to rely on the Sports Editor when he's in need. It provides a release without getting anybody mad." "Which means nobody gets upset when I write of our discussions?" "Yes. As long as it is a two way discussion, no one takes offense. It is when you pon…uh…" "Pontificate?" "Yes, pontificate. As when you pontificate about subjects in which you think you know all the answers, but you really don't. Such as religion." I pondered this for a moment and then replied, "Well, you may have a point there…but I usually respond to that particular subject when attacked…when someone takes me to task for my belief or non belief. That's only a normal response." "Yes, but you respond with stuff about 'natural selection' and so forth…and there are those who will not put up with what they think is blasphemy. If you want my opinion…" "O.K. Let's have it. I've suffered opinions recently from everybody, including relatives. Might as well add yours and stir the pot like the witches in Macbeth." I then listened attentively as the big dog this time of year by broker M.Chapin, and suggested I confine my rants to the City Coun- much appreciated. *** cil and other policy makers as The recent issue of TIME opposed to organized relimagazine highlighted the gion. I will try to abide by his outcome of the election for suggestion and deem it my President. Though TIME New Year's resolution. Of came out in favor of the course, keeping it will be incumbent, they hedged their another matter. decision for making Obama *** "Person of The Year", by As you know, J.K. Rowlmaking their cover sheet easing has long been churning ily detached and discarded at out best sellers regarding the discretion of subscribers. Harry Potter. They are basi*** cally books for children but Robert "Delta 351, this is the contain moral metaphors for Tower. You have traffic at 10 all ages. This you know. But o'clock, 6 miles." are you aware that she has "Tower, we have digital written a new book titled watches. Give us another "Casual Vacancy" which is hint." decidedly not for young chil*** dren as she uses the F word very "If you want to feel rich, count the things freely. Whereas it is well written and plotted as you would expect, it is not, as the late Sydney you have that money can't buy." Proverb *** Lindauer would have put it, for your maiden Last week's quiz was first answered by N. aunt…unless said aunt had prurient interest. One thing is constant in her writings: she Rick who reported that Whoopi Goldberg's knows how to develop her characters and hold real name is Caryn Elaine Johnson, that Santa's reindeer are all female because the a reader's interest. does do not shed their antlers in the winter as *** The New Year's Day edition of the DN do the bucks, and that a Baron of Beef is a cut recapped happenings of the past year but failed composed of at least two sirloins cuts and a to mention the purchase and demolition of the portion of the back bone. Thus week's quiz: The pharmacy moving building at 455 South Main, which once housed tenants such as the old Red Bluff Ford from Belle Mill Landing to South Main is Agency and before that, Minch's Case Farm named CVS. What do the initials stand for? Re Implements and a General Electric Store. The novelist H.G. Wells, what do his initials stand new building, rapidly rising, will be home to a for, and how about P.G. Wodehouse. *** CVS Drug store and will certainly revamp A little boy and his grandmother were retail activity in the area. walking along the seashore when suddenly a *** The recent passing of Linda Elsner closed a huge wave came along and the boy was swept chapter in the history of the Wood family, long out to sea. The grandmother, horrified, fell to a fixture in Red Bluff history. Her father, Dr. her knees and said, "God, please return my O.T. "Jack" Wood, and her mother Barbara, beloved grandson. I beg of you. Send him back were prominent in our local society and great safely." And lo, a second wave washed in and friends of my folks. The witty and intelligent deposited the little boy on the sand at her feet. Linda may be best remembered as She picked him, looked him over, and, looking owner/operator of the Facts and Fictions book- skyward, said, "He had a hat!" store on Walnut. She is survived by her daughRobert Minch is a lifelong resident of ter Melisa of Chico. Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning *** A package of Pistachio nuts lasts a long Daily Observer and Meat Industry time. Although very tasty, they are small and magazine and author of the "The Knocking do not open readily to the elderly hand. How- Pen." He can be reached at ever, they are gifted to our office annually at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Minch I Say