Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/108393
6A Daily News –Friday, February 8, 2013 Opinion Sick and wired 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 During a recent church meeting each of us was asked the best way to communicate with each other. The age range of the group was broad and I fall just about in the middle. Predictably, each of us had different responses and it made me think about how much has changed, and how quickly. I am likely to respond to a text much more quickly than an email, even though I receive both immediately on my cell phone. I'll sometimes comment on a Facebook post, but mostly I'm a lurker. Phone calls have become interruptions. And I only bother to check regular mail once a week because it's all junk and bills. When did I become such a jerk? I used to love checking the mailbox back when people still wrote letters. Same goes for email, but even that is becoming disappointing. In my inbox right now are 12 emails I've sent myself from the office to work on at home, 17 notices from groups with whom I volunteer, 6 reminders from places with whom I do business and one personal note from a friend. With one exception, my email is a high tech to-do list. Admittedly, I rarely bother to sit down and write an email to a friend or relative just to say hi. Instead, I'll occasionally post something on Facebook, which takes care of everyone in one shot. Real personal. I didn't have my first computer until I was in graduate school. Access to the Web isn't something I bothered with until I was in my mid-30s. A few years later I got my first cell phone. Today my phone regularly emits such a variety of beeps and whistles — each unique to distinguish between texts, emails, calendar reminders and calls — I worry I'll walk into a room and be mistaken for R2-D2. Somehow I managed to have friends and keep in touch with my family before all these advances. Maybe it was less overwhelming back then so each contact was simply more meaningful. I'm not trying to make any judgments here, just pondering the change. Technology's a great thing and favorites for those who don't use Twitter: I think we sometimes Rocky Horror Power forget how amazing it is Point Presentation that we can pull a phone Slipped Disc Mounout of our pockets and tain learn that University of The Devil Wears Central Missouri proPayless fessor Curtis Cooper There Will Be Slight just discovered a 17 Bruising million-digit prime Dependence Day number — the largest The Hills Have Dimever. ples Then there are the Honey, I Shrunk The times when I'm sitting Kids' Sweaters with friends and none of Chip The 40-Year-Old us can put our phones Vegan down long enough to Thompson Schindler's Grocery have a decent conversation. 545 Diamond List Mandibles *** Ave. The Decent Gatsby Speaking of being Mission Highly overwhelmed by technology, I've been neglecting Twit- Unlikely Look Back In Angora ter the last couple of months but I did come up with one of my spotted something this morning that will prompt me to check in own: Zhivago, DC. more frequently. Chip Thompson can be I'm a sucker for jokes that are more clever than funny, so when I reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 by email at saw #lessermovies I had to take a or look. The idea is to take the name editor@redbluffdailynews.com. him on Twitter of a movie and alter it to make it Follow @EditorChip. less enticing. I offer the following Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 1550 Humboldt Road, Ste. 4, Chico, CA 95928, 530-895-4217 STATE SENATOR — Jim Nielsen, 280 Hemsted Dr., Ste. 110, Redding, CA 96002, 530223-6300, Fax: 530-223-6737, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E m a i l : governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Doug LaMalfa 506 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-2253076. 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. Commentary Penny wise The penny, as currency, is not long for this world. One penny costs two pennies to mint. It seems like a no brainer to do away with the pesky thing even though Abe is enjoying revived popularity these days as evidenced by the new film. Canada is doing away with their penny. They estimate it will save them 4 million a year. Australia eliminated their penny in 1990. Sources say President Obama will monitor the results of the Canadian caper before deciding to scrap the bothersome coin. What will happen if we have no more pennies? Critics are divided. They say when merchants price their product, they will round the price to the nearest nickel, and that will get the job done. Others think it will drive up the cost of making nickels. I, for a change...no pun intended, have no opinion on the matter. It is enough for me to occasionally offer readers a penny for their thoughts. However, I would offer the Tuesday columnist no coin of the realm for his opinions, for they are too imprudent to implement. *** DN subscribers may have noticed a Sunday newspaper in their mailbox. It is the Enterprise Record, which I think was formerly the Chico Enterprise Record. They may have dropped the Chico title to appeal to all of Butte County. Anyhow, it is being offered free and is a lively addition to our North Valley sensibilities. I have noticed a difference in the front page of the Record versus our own Daily News. The former seems to contain more "positive" local happenings than the latter. Perhaps our happenings are more violent than theirs, but it does seem counterproductive to headline local crime on the DN front page when we are trying to upgrade our image. It is not that crime is not newsworthy...but could it not be better relegated to the inner pages? Perhaps head the section with "Oh my!" and then subtitle it, "Look what has happened in our backyard over night!" Just a thought. *** As promised, the editor of this worthy newspaper, in the :" 90 Years Ago Today" section, told us of the denouement of previous reporting regarding the disappearance of a "colored man" known as Jack Johnson, some 4 miles west of the Hooker area. We are now informed that he was found dead near his place of residence by *** a local sheep man and his dogs. I find this story, As only 2.5 percent of the world's water supas incomplete as it is, very poignant. Here was a black man in the land of the whites, and proba- ply is fresh water, the Saudis, who have lots of oil but little water, have had to conbly feeling as isolated as native Indistruct desalination plants. ans. The cause of death was And now San Diego County not mentioned, and one wonhas contracted to buy 56,000 ders if foul play was afoot. acre feet a year of desalinated What was the source of the water a year from a private man's income? Was he "done plant in Carlsbad. It is expenin" because of a rumored gold sive as compared to natural cache? His name was J. Macresources, but some day other Donald but was known as such plants may be necessary "The Young Jack Johnson" of to quench the thirst of the prize fighting fame. Was he world's population explosion. buried in a local cemetery or Robert Of course we, in Tehama Potter's Field? Did we even County sit on a large underhave a Potter's Field in those ground aquifer, so at present, days? not to worry. Right, Tom *** Wulfert? "Football is not a contact *** sport. It is a collision sport. The Corning Chamber of Dancing is a good example of Commerce lists 18 Churches in their fair city a contact sport." Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty. of approximately 7,600 souls. That would *** And, speaking of sports, that was some average about 422 folks per church if all went Super Bowl last Sunday. After being down by to church at the same time every Sunday. Of 22 points well into the 3rd quarter, the Forty course some might go on Saturdays. In Red Niners came roaring back and got the game Bluff there are listed 40 churches for our latest within reach until, with only minutes left to be population count of 13,560...the average here played, 3 passing plays were called within 5 being 339 per church per. Some think we have yards of the goal line...all falling incomplete. too many Mexican restaurants but never Where was the terrific running ability of quar- protest there are too many churches. In any terback Kaepernick or that of Frank Gore? In case none will go hungry for either fare in this the coach's defense, we know that play callers neck of the woods. *** will try the opposite of what the opposition is "My nurse used to drop me a lot." anticipating. But, as the S.F. Chron put it, "With "What did your mother do about that?" all the imagination and innovation Coach Har"She got me a shorter nurse." baugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman An old geezer drove his clunker up to the toll showed all season, they couldn't get 5 short booth. yards when they needed them." Tsk, tsk. "Two dollars," said the booth collector. *** "Sold" said the geezer. Last week's quiz was first answered by V. "My sister is going to have a baby" Shaw who knew that Mr. Dithers was Dagwood "Did you call her up?" Bumstead's boss, that Dagwood's dog was "No, she knows about it." Daisy...and that Clark Kent worked for the Daily Planet when not in uniform. Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red This week's quiz: There are two pieces in an interlocking jigsaw puzzle that have different Bluff, former columnist for the Corning Daily functions. What are they called, what's another Observer and Meat Industry magazine and name for a groundhog, and what was the maid- author of the "The Knocking Pen." He can be en name of Li'l Abner's girlfriend Daisy Mae? reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Minch I Say