Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/142209
6A Daily News – Friday, July 5, 2013 Opinion 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. And then I took it higher It finally happened. Without fail, when I'm driving State Route 99E to Los Molinos or Chico and I pass through Dairyville, I sing the Eddy Grant tune of the same name when I pass the sign for Electric Avenue. But Thursday, returning from the Los Molinos 4th of July festivities, Electric Avenue came on the radio just in time for me to pass by the sign for Electric Avenue. It was oddly satisfying to hear it sung correctly for a change. *** Have you noticed the portion of the slough next to the Red Bluff Elks Lodge, which has been dry since the dam was ordered permanently opened? The enterprising Elks have mowed in the vegetation the word ELKS — large enough it can likely be spotted from passing airliners. Maybe they just did this landscaping, or maybe I don't pay enough attention when I visit the lodge. But I'll guess some of you haven't noticed it yet either. *** Another local must see is the sunflower field on Willard Road between Reeds Creek and Live Oak west of town. I ride my bike out there regularly and the site of the cheery fellows, as far as the eye can see, peering happily to the east makes me feel for a moment as though I've pedaled my way into the peloton at the Tour de fine, but the reader France. took issue with the I gasp for air and sub-headline, which feel my legs cramp read "Man killed in up and it snaps me boating incident." right back. She argued the A photo of the word killed gave the field appears on page impression the death 4B in today's ediwas an act committed tion. by another person *** rather than an acciAn astute reader dent, which this was. called the other day The reader suggestto comment on a ed I should have writheadline she Chip ten "Man dies in boatbelieved was misworded. Thompson ing incident." Point taken. The story involved a boater 545 Diamond Chip Thompson can who drowned in Ave. be reached at 527Black Butte Lake 2151, Ext. 112 or by Sunday. email at The headline was "Black Butte drowning," which was editor@redbluffdailynews.com. 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 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 Family ties When my father was writing his I Say columns from about 1939 through 1964, mother would lovingly save them by pasting them in various scrapbooks. One such had a cork like material as front and back covers, and the individual heavy paper sheets therein were held together with binder holes in the margin in which a fabric twine was laced to hold all the pages firmly together. This twine was then tied in the center with a bow so that later pages could be added or removed. I mention this because when I began copying the columns for reprint in Wednesday's Passing Parade, I would pull out pages for that purpose…and the first time I did this, I was untying a bow that was last tied by my mother. It was what might be called today a "channeling experience." It was as though I was looking over her shoulder as she tied the bow and then replaced the album again until the next column pasting. It was a strange yet rewarding experience. And it was Mother, of course, who taught me to tie my shoes. Tying the bow and tying the knot. Two different endeavors with hopefully the same lasting results. ••• Great leaders and statesmen are perceived to have insights not often experienced by common folk. And yet they occasionally error in their judgments. Take this paragraph from one such as was first uttered in 1933: "It is not possible to form a just judgment of a public figure who has attained the enormous dimensions of Adolf Hitler until his life work as a whole is before us. Although no subsequent political action can condone wrong deeds, history is replete with examples of men who have risen to power by employing stern, grim and even frightful methods, but who, nevertheless, when their life is revealed as a whole, have been regarded as great figures whose lives have enriched the story of mankind. So it may be with Hitler." It seems inconceivable that Winston Churchill could have penned such idiocy two years after Hitler's seizure of power. Of course the horrors perpetrated by the Butcher of Buchenwald were yet to be unveiled…but still, "…enriched the story of mankind?" I think not. ••• Speaking of bows, the bow tie somewhat defines the user. Sources say wearers of Regardless, they deduced that in writing same suggest a fusty adherence to a con- numbers in sequence; one, two, three etc. a trarian point of view. The bow tie hints at person won't employ the vowel "a" until "one thousand." Spoken intellectualism, real or aloud, one might say "one feigned, and sometimes hundred and one" for suggests technical acumen, example, but that is not the perhaps because it is so answer we were seeking. hard to tie. Bow ties are This week's quiz: Name worn by magicians, couna common word that ends try doctors, lawyers and in "ous" besides tremenprofessors and by people dous, stupendous and horhoping to look like the rendous. Being in love above. But perhaps most of might help find one of the all, wearing a bow tie is a answers. way of broadcasting an Robert The word "infinite" aggressive lack of concern means very large. Can you for what other people add five letters and make it think. In high school our become the opposite. And, Boy's Glee Club fancied for your information, there bow ties, yet we seldom are only two words in the lacked concern for what English language that end in "gry": hungry people thought. The bow tie originated during the Pruss- and angry." Sources say don't bother lookian wars of the 17th century: the Croat mer- ing for a third. There ain't any. ••• cenaries used a scarf around the neck to Researchers for the Massachusetts Turnhold together the opening of the shirt. This was soon adopted (under the name cravat, pike Authority found over 200 dead crows derived from the French for "Croat") by the near greater Boston recently, and there was upper classes in France, then a leader in concern they might have died from Avian fashion, and flourished in the 18th and 19th Flu. A Bird Pathologist examined the centuries. It is uncertain whether the cravat remains and confirmed the problem was definitively not Avian Flu. The deaths then evolved into the bow tie. Dr. Bill Martin was and is known to wear appeared to be vehicular impacts. However, a bow tie from time to time, but I don't see during the analysis it was noted that varying him as being "fusty." Dictatorial when it colors appeared on the bird's beaks and comes to enforcing rules of tennis, but sel- claws. By analyzing the paint it was determined 98 % of the crows had been killed by dom "fusty." impact with trucks...while only 2% were ••• Natives, aware of our weather this time killed by impact by car. An Ornithological of year, dress sensibly when out in the sun Behaviorist was hired to determine why by wearing light colored clothing and light there was a disproportionate percentage of colored head wear. Pith helmets were once truck kills versus car kills. He quickly conin vogue and worn by members of the Sale cluded that when crows eat road kill, they family such as the late Latane. However a always have a look-out crow in a nearby tree trespassing transient out in Antelope was to warn them of impending danger. His conspotted and considered up to no good clusion was that while the look-out crows because he was wearing a heavy dark over- could say "Cah"...none could say "Truck." Note: D. Rhinehart is the supplier and coat in the oppressive heat. perpetrator of this humor. Tsk, tsk. ••• "I wonder why women wear evening Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of gowns to nightclubs. Why don't they wear Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning nightgowns?" George Carlin. Daily Observer and Meat Industry ••• Last week's quiz was answered first by magazine and author of the "The Knocking either F. Boest, J. Yingling or L. Bullock via Pen." He can be reached at letter, answering machine or personal call. rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Minch I Say