Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/25408
6A – Daily News – Friday, February 18, 2011 Opinion Never a dull moment 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 I could say this is the reason I so enjoy coming to work each day, but it also is the reason many would not. 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 It seems there’s been no let up since the beginning of the Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale, which we attend every day to produce special bull sale pages in the Daily News. Along come a number of vol- unteer commitments that take up any free time that might otherwise crop up in a day and the finale was getting our annual visitor and new resident guide, Red Bluff 2011, to the printer Monday. It keeps a guy hopping, and I know many of you are stretched just as tightly with the economic downturn cutting staff to a mini- mum. The same or more has to be done by fewer people. Probably the least dull part of each day, though, is the interaction I have with readers. One such interaction came Thursday when a semi-regular let- ter writer called to ask why his sometimes lengthy letters to the editor were often cut in length when, as he pointed out, we had published a very long piece by another reader as a Guest View in a recent edition. Fair question, and I gave the best answer I could. Letters are sometimes edited for length and clarity. Usually this means elimi- nating redundancies and tangents from the main point. The reason for this is that we only have room for so many letters each day. Trimming one means including another – pretty impor- tant if yours is the latter letter, bothersome if your words were clipped. But what about the mountain of text allowed as a Guest View? Another fair question. You’ll note that Guest View pieces are rare. When I receive a letter that well exceeds the maxi- mum length but deals with an issue of general interest to Tehama County, I tuck it away in the sys- tem and run it when letters to the editor wane, occasionally in place of a syndicated columnist. As precious as Opinion Page real estate is, there are a few times when I scramble to fill the space and these Guest View pieces eat up large chunks of it with local con- tent. Of course, a particu- larly well reasoned or timely Guest View might run sooner rather than later, but most sit for a month or more until space allows. I hope the writer who called continues to submit letters, as I typi- cally enjoy his take on the issues, and I promise, when practi- cal, to wield the green pen with a lighter hand. *** Chip The other side of reader complaints is reader compliments. As mentioned previously, I receive a surprising number of the latter. One recent example that gave me a chuckle was when I attended an evening gathering of local pro- fessionals. A young lady I had never met face to face, though had exchanged e-mails with for years, had a surprising reaction as the Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. gathering adjourned and I stopped to introduce myself. She threw her arms around me in a big hug and thanked me for the direc- tion she noted your local newspaper is heading. Certainly more earnest than the, "I like what you’re doing" or "The paper looks great" comments I hear from time to time. This was a spontaneous outpouring of gratitude and I left the venue gleeful that this young woman and her husband were such avid newspaper readers. The myth is youngsters no longer read newspapers. Imagine my surprise the next day when I received an e- mail from the young lady apolo- gizing for the emotional reaction. No apology necessary, those are the moments that keep me from ever having a dull moment. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by e-mail at editor@redbluffdailynews.com. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445- 7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: governor@gover- nor.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 Mont- gomery St., Suite 240, San Francis- co, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224-0454. And never the Twain shall meet Commentary Traveler C. Larimer, aka The Word Mer- chant, late of the Daily News and the Bowman Gazette in North Dakota, has burned his bridges behind him and now, in lieu of gainful employ- ment at a newspaper near you, is working on “that book,” as he puts it. He has always planned to write a book, but just never got around to it. Now he has the time, the energy, the talent and the necessity to get the job done. With this in mind, he decided to try out a few chapters on his remaining but loyal fans. The first chapter had something to do with Gillette blades and his efforts, as a single parent, to keep food on the table while minimizing his own personal expenditures…the idea being if he could keep one blade working for a week, it would have constituted a modest saving. After reading this chapter I launched into a nit pick of how he should be writing more con- versationally…like Mark Twain, for example. He did not take it kindly. However, the next chapter he sent was a dandy and I told him he didn’t need critique, he needed a publisher. It was good stuff about an old guy and his dog and an auto mishap. And yet, I couldn’t resist giving more advice…and he told me to shove my advice, or words to that effect. Tsk, tsk. *** Speaking of Twain, I’m listening to a Book on Tape titled “The Autobiography of Mark Twain,” which he stipulated could not be pub- lished until 100 years after his death. However I need help in deciphering a sentence I have lis- tened to several times without understanding it. Mr. Clemens was invited to the White House to meet President Garfield. Samuel had been making some social faux pas recently, so his wife was in the habit of putting little notes in the watch pocket of his vest reminding him not to do something that might be sociably embarrass- ing to him and his family. Anyhow, while conversing with President Garfield’s wife, Sam found such a note on a small card, which he proffered to the first lady and asked her to sign it and add the words “He didn’t.” Puzzled, she reluctantly did so and then he showed her the note from his wife on the other side which read, “When at the White House, do not wear your artics!” Question: What did she mean by “your artics” Does any reader of my column have a copy of this book …and could they tell me what it means or is it some other word that I have misheard? I am as puzzled as Mrs. Garfield. *** Inquiries for commercial property, for lease or pur- chase, are picking up. This tail of the real estate dog is often a precursor for the resi- dential market, and for that we can all rejoice. However, sources say inflation may rear its ugly head once again…and for that, a land- lord should be prepared. The way we handle it is to insert a clause within a lease which stipulates annual CPI increas- es may be invoked. These ini- tials referring, of course, to the Consumer Price Index as published monthly by the thing I have written, the real reason for the visit is to see, at my age, if I am physically and men- tally competent to foist my opinion on others. The jury is out on this, but results have been mostly satisfactory resulting in no one leaving the office in tears. Mother would have approved. *** Robert Minch I Say Labor Department. During the recession, infla- tion was held in check, but now oil and food prices are on the rise. Years ago, at our old meat plant, we saw double digit inflation under the Nixon administration that was crippling. Today’s landlord or investor beware. *** And speaking of commercial properties, sometimes those involved with same dodge the bullet of financial calamity. For example, we were about ready to entertain a new tenant in a large building, and the absentee owner was delighted. New and well qualified tenants have been hard to come by these last 3 years. While we were in the final stages of negotiation, a per- sistent leak caused us to look further than a roof fissure, and we discovered a fractured truss which was causing a settling and modest wall opening allowing wind driven rain to enter the building. It is being corrected as we speak/write, but the point about dodging a potential financial calamity is this: if not discovered until after the tenant had set up shop and displayed his wares, there would have been hell to pay. Whew. *** It is often rewarding when a reader, who has never met me, stops by the office to check me out. Although initial remarks have to do with the reader’s acceptance or rejection of some- Last week’s quiz was answered by N. Rick and oth- ers who discovered the phrase “the grapes of wrath” can be found in Revelations 19:15 and referenced in 14:19. However, none knew of whom “Sid” was patterned in “Tom Sawyer.” According to his recently published autobiography, it was Clemens’ own younger brother. This week’s quiz: What was Lou Costello’s real name, and did he ever make a movie with- out Bud Abbot? There is a Country Music Hall of Fame. Name the first three elected members. *** Pumpkinland Chocolate Company on Highway 99E is a pleasant little commercial venture featuring produce year ‘round. Lately they are on a chocolate kick promoting home- made dark, white, milk and other varieties of same to the delight of travelers. However, they mention in their ads that their asparagus crop is about to harvest. Promise me, Pumpkin- land, there will be no chocolate covered asparagus. *** The doctor told Collins the bad news. He only had about 6 months to live. Collins protest- ed, “But doctor, my insurance will run out…and I can’t skimp and save enough to pay you in that length of time!” The doctor replied, “ O.K….let’s say 9 months.” 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.