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6A Daily News – Friday, May 10, 2013 Opinion Are you part of a zero TV household? 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. 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According to the Associated Press, the Nielsen ratings company has finally recognized a trend called "Zero TV Households." Such homes now number five million, up from two million in 2007. While three-fourths of these individuals/families actually physically own a TV, the vast majority of them have given up on traditional cable and satellite packages, preferring to receive their programming through the internet or subscription services such as Netflix. Laptops, tablets and cellphones reign in these homes. Nielsen finds that the "Zero TV Households" people tend to be younger, single and childless. They eschew the standard pay TV model because of cost considerations, a desire to make productive use of their time and — in extreme cases — "Because lately when the weather is just right, I've been picking up Honey Boo Boo free on my body piercings! Dude!" Industry experts are wondering if the pattern will hold or whether, as the households age, they'll evolve into the typical Dish-worshipping couch potato mode. Most likely they'll age into a mode of "Hey, I'm ordering pizza and having some friends over to watch my tattoos sag." Rebelliousness has certainly changed over the decades. Where once Janis Joplin and Kris Kristofferson really socked it to the Establishment, today's nonconformists seem to be singing "Freedom's just another word for 'I'm watchin' all my 'Game of Thrones' into a 30-minute rerun in one big marathon of 'Two And A Half instead of at the discreMen.'" tion of programmers.'" I guess my wife and I When I was in high were pioneers. We subschool, I aspired to being scribed to cable TV a TV programmer when we were first marsomeday. Perhaps it's ried and lived in town, merciful that I wound up but we've made do with in a different career path, rabbit ears, videotapes or I would be spending and DVDs since movmy middle-age years ing to the country in wrestling with viewers Danny 1993. Depending on the who won't spend like package, we've probathey're supposed to. bly saved from $12,000 Yes, broadcasters are to $24,000. It has made desperately brainstormfor awkward social situing ways to undo the ations as we've grown damage. These include accustomed to saying, bribing the governor to act like a stereotypical dopey dad, "Haven't seen it," "Haven't seen it," encouraging the local sheriff to "I've heard of it," and "I'm not sure consider a spin-off set in Las if it's on our set or not because my Vegas, crafting an award-winning view is blocked by the big stack of "very special episode" of chitchat dollar bills." about the weather patterns that Danny welcomes reader ehave held for the past two mail responses at %$#@& weeks and "Bringing in theoretical physicist Stephen tyreetyrades@aol.com and visits Hawking to explain how we can to his Facebook fan page cram 35 minutes of commercials "Tyree's Tyrades." Tyree Tyrades 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) 558-3160; 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) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 2868537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary They had it tough in the early days In the 90 days ago (7 May 1923) section of the DN: "Fire Destroys Home of Minch Family" and continued, "Fire late Saturday afternoon completely destroyed the dwelling house on Oak Street between Johnson and Franklin occupied by B.F. Minch and family who conduct a grocery store on the west side of town and are well known in local business circles. A man's gold watch and a few minor articles constituted the only property saved from the blaze." This event ended a long string of bad luck for the family. Two of the five sons had died a few years earlier and the mother died two months prior to the fire. Father and grandfather were operating the Cash Grocery on Walnut (later home of Bayless Studio) and the loss might have sunk the hopes of a less resolute family. I noted of interest that a gold watch was one of the few items saved. That would have been grandfather Benjamin Franklin Minch's, which he later gave to my father David, who, after his demise was inherited by yours truly…and now has been conveyed to our son Brandon in that tradition *** Our annual Roundup bonfire down in the grove at the ranch was discussed in a column several weeks ago. I had read an article in the Smithsonian Magazine, regarding fire and the possible influence of same on the human mind. Here are more quotes from the article by T. Wynn: "For early hominids, a fire at night served as a light source and a way to deter predators. After the sun goes down, our ape cousins spend the entire evening asleep or inactive in nests. But the creation of artificial daylight enabled the hominid brain to adapt and evolve to the point where humans now remain alert and active for over 16 hours a day." Some more alert than others, I would say. The article continues, "Fire also altered the quality of sleep. During REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the most vivid dreaming occurs and the brain consolidates long-term 'procedural memories', which allows us to retain skills and repeat previously learned tasks. By regulating attention, our ancestors were able to make contingency plans in which alternative responses to problems were planned in advance. These attributes underpin our ability to cope with the huge variety of tasks required by modern life." Such as forming groups to deal with the homeless and ground water concerns in N. Rick who discovered that a word of plural number, with an added "S" becomes plurAntelope? al no more and no longer sweet. The word is *** "care." Nick Paumgarten, in a This week's quiz: How New Yorker article about can this rhyme be conwriter James Salter: "Getstrued as a calendar aide? ting old is easy for no one, "Janet was quite ill one but it seems uniquely illday. Febrile troubles came suited to a man who, in his her way. work and in his life, has put Martyr-like she lay in such a premium on vigor. bed; Aproned nurses softly Its ebbing has softened an sped. air of self-assurance that Maybe, said the leech was often taken for arrojudicial, Junket would be gance. Salter feels that age Robert beneficial. is an insult, a personal Juleps, too, though assault." freely tried, Augured ill, for This may be a valid Janet died. assumption for many, but if Sepulchre was sadly you've got your health, a made; Octaves pealed and few pennies and your wits about you, you can endure many assaults, prayers were said. Novices with many a tear, Decorated and keep coming back for more. Janet's bier." *** *** I was impressed by a simple line in the Many churches claim a "first." The phone obituary of one Sharen Mae Kessey who died at 70 on the 27th of April: "She had a good book lists at least 8 in our area, all with the word "First"preceding their name: Church of time and was sorry to leave." Nicely put. God, Assembly of God, Baptist, Southern *** To use R. Reagan's much repeated debate Baptist, Christian, Lutheran, Church of the expression "There he goes again..." it might Nazarene and United Methodist. All claim to apply to the Tuesday columnist's favorite be "first" in their denomination. This is apparshopworn proclamation, "...God given rights ently OK with other churches having no such and freedoms." Is he referring to "life, liber- distinction. Although imitation is the sincerest ty and the pursuit of happiness?" Nope, the form of flattery, I can't imagine any more "right to bear arms." Each citizen now pack- churches adapting the "first" moniker, and ing a piece is assured the Lord is looking suggest new sects might adapt the preamble "second," i.e. the "Second Baptist Church" or down admiringly on him. Tsk, tsk. the "Second Assembly of God," the thought *** A friend informed me, with a straight face, being they might develop a following among that he was walking past the jail the other day the young who are always on the lookout for and spotted a midget climbing down the out- something new and innovative. Just a thought. *** side wall. He said the midget turned and An unwed mother, with hair as black as a smirked at him...and my friend commented, raven, delivered a baby with bright red hair. "I thought that a little condescending. The doctor asked, "What was the color of *** The May 1 edition of the DN contained a the father's hair?" The mother answered, "I don't know...he Recent State Prison report regarding Jason Allen Pope, who was sentenced for carjack- never took off his hat." ing and 2nd degree robbery. The article conRobert Minch is a lifelong resident of tinued, "The victim was giving the Pope a Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning ride in his vehicle." Surely couldn't be the real Pope, could it? Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine and author of the "The Knocking Probably just a typo. Pen." He can be reached at *** Last week's quiz was first answered by rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Minch I Say