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6A – Daily News – Wednesday, March 9, 2011 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 Switch Editor: PG&E compares its Smart- Meter signal-radiation with microwave oven leakage, wire- less telephone signals and wire- less Internet signals. 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 The SmartMeter has batteries enabling communication trans- missions between it and PG&E. The SmartMeter also records amounts of energy useage. Please install a simple tog- gle-switch on the shell of the SmartMeter so that the resident can switch-on the communica- tion feature one eight-hour-peri- od per month, enabling PG&E or a local municipal power com- pany, to gather the amounts of energy useage for billing pur- pose. The resident already is trust- ed to put out the garbage four times per month, so surely can handle toggle-switching once per month, to reduce unwanted signal-radiation. Please give us back control of our castles. John Bauer, Martinez Fireball Editor: It is not often that a person gets to see a large fireball, almost as large as a table ten- nis ball held at arm's length, shooting across their "bow" as they drive, and up close at an apparent distance of only about one mile! Why should I bother report seeing this fireball, I asked myself? Because a sighting like this one was so rare, with unusual circumstances, and creating a lingering curiosity in me, per- haps others will be encour- aged to report sightings too, when and if they are seen, I concluded. It was about one year ago. It was around 7:30 pm and it was dark out. I was driving alone and heading northwest- erly on Tehama County Road A8. I was halfway past the homes in the small residential community of Las Flores, located immediately north- west of Gerber. The air and sky were clear and windless; no other vehicles were on the road near me, or in my site. While driving past the homes, directly ahead of me about one mile or more, and in direct alignment with the county road. there appeared a flashing, red emergency vehi- cle type light that caught my eye and attention. The light was the type that flashes in a round-and-round circular motion —— if that indicates the type of emergency vehicle —— but the vehicle with the light was not moving. Due to darkness and dis- tance, I could only see the light, but not the vehicle through the trees and open strip of railroad right-of-way. Because I am familiar with this area, the light appeared to be very close to where the railroad tracks are at that loca- tion, as would have been Highway 99W and the resi- dential area of Proberta. I was now past the Las Flo- res homes and passing over a large federal irrigation canal. Suddenly, a fireball appeared streaking from out of the west, southwest on my left, and headed east, northeast. Later, at home, I used a Tehama County road map to determine these compass directions. To my astonishment, the fireball appeared to pass about 400 feet directly over the location of the flash- ing red light! At the time, I wondered if the emergency per- sonnel saw it pass overhead, because my side-view of the streaking fireball only lasted about 3-4 seconds. It appeared to pass perpendicular to my direction of travel, at a dis- tance of about one mile or less, from my location. Other than appearing round and a 100 percent uniform mass of flames, there were no discernible features. The path of the fireball appeared to have a slightly downward angle. There was no long fire "tail". I looked as I drove, but was unable to see if an impact occurred, because of the high earthen berm created from the excavation of the irrigation water canal I had just passed over, and due to darkness and distant trees. This sighting was spectacu- lar and curiously interesting. It was a rare phenomenon of nature to witness up close. Have you seen one, too? Clyde K. Muir, Red Bluff Jan. 18 letter Editor: What's with this lady? Mr. Mazzucchi's article on our President’s speech had noth- ing but praise for it, the true heroes of the day, and for members of both parties that are usually at polar opposites coming together. I thought it was refreshing to have every- body on the same page. Your Turn And then I looked down the page and there was Polson spouting his usual drivel. "The shoot- ings had nothing to do heated political rhetoric." That's all they had to do with. Moron. And then he points out that he on numerous occasions has pointed out the "rhetoric of President Obama suggestive of violence, and the over the top words, threats and actual violence by those on the left." We finally get some politi- cal commentary that is civil and Polson comes out with that piece of garbage, stirring the pot of hateful discourse, and throwing blame at every- one but his conservative hacks. Mr. Polson is the bell ringer. He makes me puke. After one day of relief from the slings and arrows and the insane notion that the two major parties in this country could actually agree on something for once, we get this garbage? Why don't Mr. Polson and Ms. Sargent crawl back in their ice cave with Sarah Palin and her gunsight? Damn. It didn't take long for those people to reignite my anger. Thanks a lot for giving them space. Fred Boest, Red Bluff Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramen- to, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramen- to, 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: 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 Fran- cisco, 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. FIRST step toward America’s future Commentary It's a compelling event -- some- thing we all better hope we see more of, if America is to thrive. I speak of the FIRST (For Inspi- ration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Compe- titions, which will be taking place at various cities across America through April. Teams of high school kids spend months designing and build- ing computerized robots. They raise money and manage budgets. Then their robots go head-to- head in a rollicking contest. In the process, the kids become so excited about science, math and engineering, many go on to study these subjects in college. Which is precisely what Ameri- ca needs. A chief reason why America has enjoyed massive growth and prosperity is the innovation and productivity made possible by our scientists, engineers and inventors. We became prosperous by cre- ating faster, better, cheaper ways to make high-quality products. We led the world in innovation for many years. But, according to a study by the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering and Institute of Medicine, we're beginning to fall behind. Consider: • In 2009, 51 percent of U.S. patents were awarded to non-U.S. companies • China has replaced the U.S. as the world's No. 1 high-technology exporter and is second in publica- tion of biomedical research arti- cles. • Between 1996 and 1999, 157 new drugs were approved in the United States. In a corresponding period 10 years later, just 74 were approved. • Almost one-third of U.S. man- ufacturing companies responding to a recent survey reported some level of skills shortage. • According to the World Eco- nomic Forum, the U.S. ranks 48th in quality of math and science edu- cation. We've surely got our work cut out for us. Science, math and engineering are difficult to master in college -- they cut into party time, and many students avoid them. Besides, why study such chal- lenging subjects when you can stumble through a second-rate law school, then collect 30-percent commissions by suing companies that actually produce stuff? Our kids need to be motivated to become sci- entists, mathematicians and engineers. Which brings us back to the FIRST event. FIRST is a nonprofit founded in 1989 by inventor and entrepre- neur Dean Kamen -- the type of fellow America better start producing more of. to major in engineering -- and twice as likely to expect to pursue careers in science and technology. These kids need our support. FIRST is always looking for volunteers, mentors and dona- tions. FIRST's vision is to "transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders." FIRST is succeeding. This year, nearly 250,000 high school students will participate in FIRST Robotics Competition, Tech Challenge and LEGO League events. Tom Purcell town. And the robotics con- tests are an absolute blast to watch. The more who attend, the more inspired these kids will be. Go to usfirst.org to learn more about FIRST competitions that may be taking place in your The robotics contests alone are producing results. An independent study by Bran- deis University's Center for Youth and Communities found kids who participate are three times as likely Tom Purcell, a humor columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web at www.TomPurcell.com or e-mail him at Purcell@caglecartoons.com. Attending would be one small step for you, one giant leap for America's future. ———