Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/124385
6A Daily News – Friday, April 26, 2013 Opinion I've been regimented 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 The stealthy volunteers of the Red Bluff Union High School Sober Grad Night planted a small flock of flamingos on my front lawn Tuesday morning as I slept. Attached was a note explaining that I could have the flock evicted by making a donation to the cause. Each year these folks hit lawns around town, usually at the request of a friend or business associate of the occupant, in a creative fundraiser. Though I can't figure who fingered me, the gesture brought a smile to my face as I shuffled through the kitchen to start coffee. My trusty guard dog, Scooby, snored blissfully through the invasion of high schoolers. I was heartened to see him staring intently, growling and on point out the kitchen window 30 minutes later, after he had eaten breakfast and happened to notice the cartoonish colony. Colony? That's right. It's one of several names for a group or flock of flamingos, which are monogamous and can fly as fast as 35 mph. Others include regi- ment, flurry, stand and flamboyance. *** Time to take a deep breath after the 11 Day of Round-Up, a busy time for many of us but one we are always a little sorry to see pass. It's always nice to see a whole community step up for something that puts us on the map. Thanks to the Round-Up Association's new public relations person, Ruth Nicolaus, we received some fine previews of what would be happening at the rodeo this year and posted results throughout the weekend after each performance. Regarding a couple of calls I received inquiring about riders injured during the Wild Horse Race on Saturday, turns out one suffered a broken leg and the other a gash to the noggin, but neither was major and, as one rodeo director put it Tuesday, "He's probably in his truck right now on his way to the next rodeo." *** If you're not worn out from the rodeo, there are a couple of great You will not find a more satisevents on our heels. fying display of beautiOf course, the Civil fully preserved and War reenactors will take restored machines on over Samuel Ayers Park display in these parts. for the weekend for the And the pulling comMelee at Dog Island. petitions Saturday are This is always an elaboa hoot, not to mention rate treat and a good the hospitality of the opportunity to check out hosts. A fine way to the improvements made spend part of your at our twin parks by the weekend close to Cleaner, Greener Red home. Bluff volunteers a few If a quieter weekweeks back. Chip end day is what you The other event, I will had in mind, head out argue, gets sold short. The Nor-Cal Antique Thompson to the Vintage Trailer Tractor and Engine 545 Diamond Show at Woodson RV Park in Corning or the Club's Spring Gas-Up Ave. Les Schwab Pro-Am vintage tractor and at Wilcox Oaks Golf engine show is coming Club, where you'll see to Ridgeway Park today Big Break Greenbrier contestant through Sunday. Aside from an old diesel Kub- Isaac "Sasquatch" Sanchez comota riding mower in Idaho that peting among the pros. belched a constant cloud of smoke Chip Thompson can be that would have given Air Pollution Control Officer Alan Abbs an reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or email at embolism, I've never spent any by time on a tractor. But I do appre- editor@redbluffdailynews.com. him on Twitter ciate fine machinery and the sim- Follow @EditorChip. pler the better. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 1550 Humboldt Road, Ste. 4, Chico, CA 95928, 530-895-4217 STATE SENATOR — Jim Nielsen, 2635 Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico, CA 95928, (530) 879-7424, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 5583160; E-mail: 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) 3930710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary What's in a name? Though reading TIME for over 60 years as a source of information, we found little of interest in the issue of 29 April/6 May. It lists the 100 most influential people in the world. We did not find it boring because we were not included... but that so many people named were unknown to us. A cursory count indicates that only 10 per percent therein rang a bell of familiarity. Does that mean we are living in a vacuum...or does it mean, being octogenarians we are no longer "with it?" If we had the energy, we might assemble our own 100 most influential people...but when John Growney did not get the nod to replace the late George Russell as interim Tehama County Supervisor, we realized that our voices were not being heard. Tsk, tsk. *** A new book titled "Cronkite" details the life of the famous newscaster who died at the age of 92 in 2009. He maintained the sobriquet "The most trusted man in America" for all of his broadcasting years and taught himself to deliver his broadcasts at the rate of 124 words per minute versus the norm of 165, thus making his delivery more understandable. I mention this distinguished fellow as an example of "title." He was never referred to as "Walt Cronkite." It was always "Walter." Let that be a reminder that some folks appreciate being addressed by their given name. *** We, as a household, have long favored Charmin Ultra Soft Bathroom Tissue. By any other name it is toilet paper, but for marketing purposes it sells better as bathroom tissue. It is made in the U.S. of A. of domestic and imported materials. The only warning on the plastic bag enclosing the product has to do with avoiding suffocation by keeping it away from babies. Otherwise the buyer can use the product in any way he or she sees fit. However, in the latest batch, I found a flaw in one of the rolls. All rolls, regardless of brand, are conveniently perforated at intervals to ensure easy detachment. The length of the tissue detached has probably been determined by repeated testing by paid volunteers…usually college students would be my guess. And yet, the roll of which I speak had a flaw. When separated at one particular point, the tissue's perforations did not go the entire width of the roll…and left the user Field for more than 40 years before moving to with a long strip of tissue with no apparent use L.A. , that the Chicago River's flow was engineered to run backwards in 1900...and that I could fathom. You may considthat Terminus and er this of little concern, but I Marthasville were the former consider it a waste of product names of today's Atlanta. and a waste of time…and This week's quiz: What time is money in my book. cities in the U.S. were first to Fortunately for the people have, 1) a traffic light, 2) a at Charmin, I am not of a litibaseball stadium, 3 a skygious nature, but I do expect scraper? them to remedy this problem *** by the next roll I encounter or The 92nd running of the there may be repercussions. I Red Bluff Roundup was a often note long lines at Walgalloping success... more mart at the return counter. It Robert important than the running of would not be good PR for the the Kentucky Derby. If you Charmin people to learn that did not make the scene, you their product was being should check out the Official returned by multitudes of disSouvenir Program. Great satisfied...and for that matter, color photos of contestants unsatisfied users. past...even the ads were great, and an "I Say" *** A recent Tail Winds Newsletter offers a free article about Hall of Famer Bullfighter Joe health tip: "If you can't afford a doctor, go to an Baumgartner was fairly well written. *** airport. You'll get a free x-ray and a breast Speaking of the Round-Up, when I heard of exam. And if you mention Al -Qaeda, you'll get the renaming of the arena in honor of Frank a free colonoscopy." Moore, it had a posthumous ring to it, which *** Something else I did not know: Clergy have prompted a call which fortunately confirmed he served in the official position of House Chap- is alive and kickin'. Congratulations Frank for lain since the office was created, and yet the this well deserved tribute. *** status of the Chaplain remains unfixed. It is A guy was driving along a country road noted that neither the Constitution nor the law recognizes such an office. It was not until the when his car broke down. He was looking under payment of his salary, and his taking of oath, the hood when an old horse trotted up. The adopted in 1862, did his official character horse peered at the engine and said, "You better become established. Since 1914, the Chaplain's check the fuel pump." The guy was so shaken Prayer has been included in the Congressional that he ran to the nearest house and told the Record. The Chaplains of the House of Repre- farmer what had happened. The famer asked, sentatives and the Senate only became full- "Was it an old white horse with a black patch on time positions in the middle of the 20th centu- his rump?" The guy confirmed that it was. The farmer replied, "I'd pay no attention to him if I ry. My question is, why are they on the payroll... was you. He doesn't know the first thing about and what function do they perform? They utter cars." a prayer and then retire to their private office to Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red read their fan mail? Give me a break... Bluff, former columnist for the Corning Daily *** Last week's quiz was answered first by F. Observer and Meat Industry magazine and Boest by letter and S. Rodriquez by e mail. author of the "The Knocking Pen." He can be They knew that the Dodgers occupied Ebbets reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Minch I Say