Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/180894
4A Daily News – Friday, September 27, 2013 Opinion Crokus column 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. Unions Poor Lumex. An abbreviated effort this Some flowers are even too week, as the fair is keeping us pretty sounding for girls' names, all hopping. A visit to the though I've heard of some using flower building at the fair them. Ambrosia, Candytuft, reminded me I started this colCaspia, Dahlia, Fuchsia, umn a couple of months back Hyacinth, Wisteria and Zinnia. and never got back to it. Among the standard girls' We were having a discussion names are Heather, Ivy, Lily, around the newsroom the other Daisy, Camellia, Holly, Iris, Jasday about a family with two mine, Myrtle, Petunia, Pansy, daughters, each named after Rose and Veronica. flowers. The family also has a I tend to enjoy strange words son, who is thankfully not Chip and generally have a sense of named in this vein. But it got me to thinking Thompson humor around language. Good thing I've never been about what a manly flower 545 Diamond asked to name a child, else there's name might be, had the parents Ave. a distinct possibility young elected to go that route. First Whortleberry Thompson would and best idea so far is Crokus. be struggling through life someKing's Spear is certainly manly, but doesn't work really as a name. where right now. Ditto Madder, Mandrake and Nettle. Chip Thompson can be reached at Other possibilities are Aster, Boronia, Eric John, Filbert, Phlox, Ranunculus, 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by email at Saxicola, Tracelium, Watsonia, Sage, editor@redbluffdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @editorchip. Valerian and Lumex. Editor: We're constantly told by conservative blabber mouths that if it were not for unions and welfare moms our financial outlook would be so much rosier. As Polson pointed out in Your his Sept. 17 column even if this country confiscated all the money from those making $100,000 and up, it would barely put a dent in the national debt. What I have a hard time understanding is if taking billions from the well off folks won't get us in the black financially, how will denying basic necessities to those in need do the trick. Those Republican spokesmen like to ignore the huge cooperate subsidies handed out yearly. And let's not forget the military industrial sink hole. And of course our banking institutions must never be scrutinized or we would realize most of our debt is for monies that do not nor ever did actually exist. They are simply digits typed into a computer. Abolishing all union activity may not bring us closer to financial utopia but it would surely make Hitler bow over with laughter. Orval Strong, Gerber 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 Turn 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 Jeffersonia J. Harrop wrote recently of the movement to create a new state to be called Jefferson He has had a couple of articles on the coming state of Jefferson. However I am in touch with an expert in matters of secession. Actually he is not an expert but just a retired fellow with a lot of time on his hands. Anyhow he contends that "Jefferson is just the first step in a three phase plan whereby California Counties would split off into the 52nd state because they have nothing in common with Oregon counties, and then Tehama County would create the 53rd state because of our obvious differences with counties like Shasta and Butte. Red Bluff would then take the north part of Tehama County into a 54thstate, splitting off from the south county because of our differences with Corning. I think it's a great plan, but I need to go on the record as opposing the formation of a 55th state by splitting Antelope off from Red Bluff -- that is just too radical for my tastes." Unfortunately, at this point, the fellow goes completely bonkers and states that the 54th state of Tehama will be looking for proper religious incantations to commence their new legislative sessions, and that "this is a great opportunity a for the Church of Bob". I am flattered that he thinks I am the man to head The Church of Bob, but publicly I must remove myself from any religious movement…unless there is substantial money involved. So, until my collection plate runneth over, do not refer to me as Reverend Bob…or even just Bob. Like most men of the cloth, I have my standards…and my price. *** Speaking of religion, the new Pope is my kind of Pope. He has warned that the Catholic Church's moral structure might "fall like a house of cards" if it doesn't balance its divisive rules about abortion, gays and contraception with the greater need to make it more merciful, a more welcoming place for all. A good start. *** Why don't advertisers on sports radio (KNBR for example) realize that listeners invariably turn the volume down during commercials, but will no longer increase the volume when they hear that tired and constantly repeated recorded exclamation from a previous game "...hit well to center began father's long and lucrative career in field...and that baby is ...outahere!" It insults the wholesale meat business. *** the intelligence of listeners trapped in their Last week's quiz was promptly (and vehicles during gridlock. Intelligent adverearly) answered correctly tizing is a rarity. Most by J. Yingling who knew advertizing is akin to intelthat the 5 pronouns in order ligent design, which apparderived from the word ently appeals to a different "ushers" are he, her, hers, sector of the population. she and us....and when *** Napoleon perhaps said the Have received calls from words "Able was I ere I saw readers who would like to Elba," he was uttering a purchase Joe Konte's (my palindrome. son-in-law) new book "The This week's quiz, for a Rivalry Heard 'Round the change of pace, we extractWorld." It can be ordered Robert ed from a Jean Barton tour from Amazon over the of Shasta Dam the followinternet or at any Barnes & ing questions: How thick is Noble store. It is affordable the dam at its base, how and vastly entertaining, high is it story wise...during especially for baseball filthe building of same from berts. 21 September 1938 until *** A faded and fragile copy of the Red Bluff completion in 1945, how many hours in the Daily News dated May 12, 1920 was care- day did construction operate? *** fully laid on my desk recently by S. Sale. M. Lyons thought the following jokes She recalled I had written about Mr. and Mrs. Leo McCoy and thought the paper with were right up my alley. On a Sunday morning, a mother went to an account of their daughter Alice's to Mays Brown wedding would be of interest. The wake up her son and told him it was time to paper carried the story on the front page and get ready for church. He replied he was not extensively detailed the names and location going. "Why not?" she asked. He replied, of the many guests who travelled from afar "I'll give you two good reasons: they don't for the event. The bride was described as, like me... and I don't like them." His mother "...one of the most popular girls of Red replied, "I'll give you two good reasons why Bluff, a young woman of charming person- you should go to church: 1) You're 49 years ality and splendid education and training old, and 2) you're the pastor!" A kindergarten teacher gave her class a and a graduate of Mills Seminary and the University of California." Of lesser note in "show and tell" assignment. Each student this edition of the DN, was an article about was to bring to class an object that repreHeavy Weight Champion Jack Dempsey sents their religion to share with the class. The first student said, "My name is Benbeing brought to trial for attempting to avoid the draft...and that the committee to promote jamin, I am Jewish and this is a Star of David." The second said, "My name is the Iron Canyon Dam project was well represent- Mary, I am Catholic, and this is a rosary." ed to see the great project through to The third student said, "My name is fruition. However, the most interesting item Tommy. I am a Methodist, and this is a for me was the notice that George E. Strong casserole." was making delivery of choice baby beef Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of and that "If you didn't get your meat from me last Saturday, you missed something." Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning This is the same fellow who 8 years later Daily Observer and Meat Industry went bankrupt and lost his meat plant there- magazine and author of the "The Knocking by providing my father a year later to pur- Pen." He can be reached at chase the property from the bank. Thus rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Minch I Say