Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/20785
4A – Daily News – Friday, December 3, 2010 Opinion D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y 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 let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. 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 submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity 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 vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents 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 I spend most of each day correcting minor grammatical errors and sometimes commit- ting my own. Over time it becomes almost automatic, as many folks tend to make the same, common errors – subject and verb disagreement, random punctuation and word choice errors. For example: a business is an it, not a they. Which is a word that should almost always be preceded by a comma, which many people don’t understand. The con- traction of it is is correctly written as it’s, while the pos- sessive form is its. We don’t wonder if someone is right, we wonder whether the person is right. We don’t try and do something, we try to do some- thing. But the common error that used to start me twitching was when writers would use till when intending an abbreviat- ed version of until, or ‘til. For years I taught reporters that a till is a cash drawer or box in which we store money. One reporter, after a brief lecture on the rule, managed to use till and ‘til in a single sen- tence of a story. Impressive, except he was wrong; because I was wrong. Like many lessons I’ve learned in the newspaper busi- ness, this one boiled down to age, but not in the way you would expect. Let’s start with the two options: till and ‘til. When used in place of until, the only logical, grammatically accu- rate choice has to be ‘til, right? Just like ‘twas. If you grew up in the past century, that makes perfect sense. And it should, because that’s when the usage of ‘til became popularized. In fact, till is a much older word meaning the same thing as until. Till dates back as far as the 14th Century and until came along later as a deriva- tion of till. Usage of either is correct and a matter of prefer- ence. But wait, you say, what about Keith Urban’s "‘Til Summer Comes Around” or Wilson Pickett’s "Wait ‘Til The Midnight Hour?" Well, the lat- ter is from the first line of the song "In The Midnight Hour," and the catchier riff is sometimes mistak- en for the title, but both are correct in that they are used in proper titles. Finally, using ‘til in the modern sense has become accept- able because it is so widespread. English is an evolving language, and I challenge anyone to refutiate that statement. Christmas story, orig- inal poem, photo or recipe to the Tehama Country Christmas Album, it’s not too late. The deadline has been extended to Wednesday, Dec. 8. *** Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. Once I learned the etymol- ogy of the words in question, I ceased twitching every time I saw a sentence that read, "Directors will not vote on the new rule cash drawer the board’s next meeting." *** If you meant to submit a I heard from a few cross readers when I got to the office Sun- day because we mis- takenly left the daily crossword puzzle out of Saturday’s edition. Some even thought we were discontinu- ing the feature. Don’t worry, the crossword is here to stay. We published Saturday’s puzzle in Monday’s edition, with a correction in the usual spot on Page 2A letting read- ers know that we had. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112, or by e-mail at editor@redbluffdailynews.co m. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. 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; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Idiosyncratic behavior modification Commentary During my brief stay with the Redding Record-Searchlight, I informed them of my penchant for referring to my wife as “the mis- sus” an arcane expression to be sure, to San Francisco as “Ess Eff” because that’s the way Herb Caen occasionally wrote it, “Hokay” for OK because that’s the way my ancient ears hear it. The editor said, “Whatever.” I added one move caveat: that I would refer to readers by their first initial followed by their surname. I got away with that for awhile until a couple of young whippersnapper editors said I would have to disclose reader’s first names. I said no, I won’t. They said oh yes you will for it was their policy. I said they could stick their poli- cy…and folded my tent. I mention the above because the Daily News has allowed my little idiosyncrasies and I thank them for it. But the time has come to abandon one such…the “Ess Eff” business. R. Ramsey called to say that now that our beloved Giants have won the World Series, they deserve a better moniker. I have to agree. Ess Eff has run its course. We won’t have a full blown church service, but perhaps a sim- ple graveside service...and from now on, the city and the team will get the full monty as “San Francisco,” or at least S.F. if pressed for space. *** L. Merry chides me for inaccurately refer- ring to the north east corner of Main and Oak. She said it should have been Main and Antelope Boulevard. I responded thusly: “Yes, you are technically correct. Oak Street, today, terminates at Main. Antelope Boulevard also terminates at Main. As a "greedy realtor" I am well aware of this desig- nation, even though I have long disputed it. You see, in my day (aren't you sick of this phrase?) the 1946 phone book listed Bill's (that would be Bill Bulkeley) Super Service at Main and Oak, even though he was actually located on the southwest corner of Rio and Oak where the convenience store is located today. The 1957 phone book listed him again at Main and Oak. However, it more succinct- ly listed Lakin's Flying A Station at Main and Oak...site of the Java Detour coffee place today. The point being, of course, Oak Street, back then, extended at least to the bridge. Antelope did not begin until one crossed the river.” That said, I asked this one half of the Merry Standish comedy duo what would she make of a station that called itself The Flying A? Her response was not appropri- ate for this family oriented newspaper, but she could have merely said “The Fly- ing Acronym,” but no... *** A fellow that I know is missing his front teeth... and apparently has no desire to have them replaced. What I wonder is, assum- ing he has a dog, how will he whistle for him? Just one of many personal observations con- veyed to readers without rancor or political implication. *** Robert Minch I Say cavort at a party for her three teenage chil- dren...much to the delight of all. Their con- duct is condoned as attractive and responsible adults merely having some innocent fun. And yet vot- ers, in California at least, have failed to ratify any use of the weed for recreational purposes. So we have, in effect, a double standard when it comes to marijuana — i.e., as long as one is of age and just having fun, what the hell! *** Last week’s quiz was answered correctly by many, first of which being early bird N. Rick, who knew that there were 7 Keys to Bald- pate in the novel by Earl Sources say over the past year, a million cat owners have used pheromone products to calm their pets. Our barn cats would get a big laugh out of such pampering of their brethren. A prominent veterinarian, Gary Landsberg, says, “We are seeing much more difficult, pathologically anxious, phobic or compulsive animals.” He recommends pheromones, along with psychotropic medication and behavior therapy. Uh huh. I suspect behavior therapy practiced on cats is an inexact science. Ask S.F. Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll. *** The missus and I found the movie “It’s Complicated,” with Meryl Streep, Alec Bald- win and Steve Martin very entertaining, but a sequence therein left me puzzled. The plot is, Meryl has been divorced from Alec for 10 years and is just now spreading her wings, so to speak, with Steve, her architect. As a lark, they smoke a joint, get awfully happy, and Derr Biggers, and the 7 deadly sins are allegedly wrath, greed, lust, sloth, envy, pride and gluttony. This week’s quiz: Name Gene Autry’s horse, and that of Roy Rogers, Buck Jones, Tom Mix and my son Brandon’s current horse. *** As an aside, I also appear on the Obituary page...heh, heh, not as deceased, in the lower right hand corner with an hour glass on top reprinting such topics as “We Said” and “Passing Parade.” Hope you will take a gander at same. *** A man consulted a lawyer and asked, “What are your fees?” The lawyer responded, “$50 for three ques- tions.” “That’s pretty expensive, isn’t it?” “Maybe,” said the lawyer. “So, what’s your third question?” Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff and former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine. He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. ‘Twas ‘til until till