Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/26921
6A – Daily News – Friday, March 11, 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 It’s March and Daily News readers know that means the return of the popular Munch Madness feature. For those new to the mad- ness, it is a bracket style compe- tition among Tehama County 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 restaurants. Each eatery goes up head-to-head against another for the honor of advancing to the next round of competition. A single dish is chosen each year for the competition — 2009 we did burgers and 2010 was breakfasts. With no further ado, this year’s overstuffed opponents are burritos. Who doesn’t love the portable, filling and inexpensive burrito, and there are plenty of places in Tehama County you can find outstanding examples. I’m eating one such as I write this, in fact. Contestants were selected based on the number of votes received in the Daily News’ Best of Tehama County contest. But once the bracket is in place, those votes go out the window and all restaurants start as equals. The first four match ups will appear in Saturday’s edition along with the bracket. *** Commenting on commenting Lots of feedback from read- ers and web users about our switching the commenting forum for the Daily News online edition from Topix, which allowed anonymous comments, to Facebook Connect, which requires readers to post along with their names. Not surprisingly, the over- whelming majority of remarks I have received have been posi- tive. Seems many simply avoid- ed reading comments due to the vitriol that so often accompa- nies anonymity. Many said they are eager to return to the conver- sation now it is more civil. Equally expected were the handful of gripes I got from those who enjoyed being able to post anonymously. A common complaint was that Red Bluff is a small town and these folks worry about repercussions if they are identi- fied when they make claims or accusations. The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees anyone accused of a crime the right to face his accuser. The Four- teenth Amendment extends this right to states. In my experience, folks who make nasty remarks about others anonymously are sel- dom as understanding when those remarks go the other way. and notes from area classrooms. The idea came from Tang Lor, who covers educa- tion, as a way to high- light some of the pos- itive stories submitted by teachers and administrators. In the end, we decid- ed identified com- menters would be more likely to make con- structive contributions to community dis- course and that anony- mous commenting was too easi- ly taking that discourse in the direction of name calling and insults. *** debut of the Daily News Educa- tion Page, bringing you news Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. This type of sub- mitted content typical- ly appears on Page 2A each day and much of it will continue to do so. But each week we’ll pick a handful of items to appear, we hope in color as space allows, on the Educa- tion Page. Submission guide- lines are the same as those for other com- munity news items — by e-mail to clerk@redbluffdai- lynews.com, by fax to 527-9251 or by mail to PO Box 220, Red Bluff. The other Ed page Today’s edition features the 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: 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. Trouble in River City Commentary There has been a rash of local crime lately. Fights, domestic and otherwise, often with knives, thefts of anything left unattended…and tire slashing. It would certainly be a bummer to approach your auto planning to drive to work and find all four tires flattened. Would you be irked or worse? I would think so. We are not accustomed to violence in our fair city. We live, work and raise families here expecting it to be safer than the big cities. We may be a bit spoiled in this regard. We presume the microwave will light up and cook our oat- meal or cream of wheat every morning without fail. We expect our cars to start up on first turn of the ignition, and will roll merrily to work on functioning tires. But our plans and expectations go awry when the bad guys are about…and there are more thieves and miscreants these days because many are out of work…and many need to feed their habits because they are too weak and undisciplined to clean up and get a life. But you know all of this. It just gets tedious and a bit frightening to think we may be surrounded by morons intent on bettering their lives at our expense. Fortunately not all miscreants carry out such acts of violence as described above. On the lighter side, the DN cited a police report, “A female customer, in a red muumuu, was chasing Walmart customers in her electric cart and refusing to leave the store when ordered by management.” I regret not being privy to the exchange between the cart driver and man- agement as the store attempted to regain con- trol of the aisles. Would they have issued a coded warning over the loudspeaker, “Red Baron at 4 o’clock,” meaning to be on the lookout for a large woman in a red muumuu driving erratically and possibly armed and dangerous? She couldn’t have been a dissatis- fied customer because Walmart’s service does not create dissatisfaction. Could she have been a county employee, sufficiently irked by recent Board of Supervisors decisions, to engage in a little civil disobedience to emphasize her dis- satisfaction? On the other hand perhaps she was merely frustrated at no longer being able to participate in go-cart events. Only the shad- ow nose. * * * R. Ramsey brings to my attention an article in the Redding Record Search- light headlined, “Scientists plan to shoot owls to save related rivals.” The article reports that the more plenti- ful and aggressive “barred owls” are stealing the food and thunder from the much maligned “spotted owls”...and that thinning the barred herd is the prudent thing to do. I’m not so sure about this. Fish and game wildlife has often not pros- pered under the guidance of the feds, and there is no rea- son to think that bespecta- Robert Minch I Say cled scientists, armed with shotguns could hit the broad side of a barn when it comes to decimating the bad birds. And what of the damage to the barns? Somebody should demonstrate in our state’s capitol...preferably dressed as a barred owl. * * * The phrase “presumed innocent until proven guilty” is bandied about with great regularity. You might ask your favorite attorney where it can be found in law and when it is relevant, if at all. Aw, c’mon...everybody has a favorite attor- ney to ask, don’t they? * * * Last week’s quiz was answered most promptly by L. Gaines who knew that Captain Andy Hawks was the skipper of the Cotton Blossom, his wife was Parthenia Ann Hawks and that Edna Ferber wrote the novel “Show Boat.” This week’s quiz: Laurel & Hardy had a theme song. What was it? What was the full name of the actor who was the first Flash Gor- don in the movie serials, and what female allegedly rode through what city in England nekkid? * * * Lee Pitts is a clever humorist who appears in the Farm Bureau newspaper. He recently wrote of a typical ranch wedding: Q. What should the bride and groom wear? A. Lots of boots and buckles, no soft shoes, sidearms or handcuffs. The bride should wear a white Stetson, a black one if it’s not her first trip down the bridal path. Q.What music should be played? A. “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” Q. What flowers are appropriate for a ranch wed- ding? A. No alfalfa sprout garlands in the hair or any- thing that might attract hun- gry cows. Q. Are guests still seated on the bride or groom’s side? A. No. The groom probably has no friends and it might get con- fusing if the two lovebirds are related. Q. Invitations are so expensive. How can they be deleted? A. Just spread the word you are having a roping after the wedding and everyone will show up includ- ing several lonely cowboys who just want to kiss the bride. Q. Is our only concern having a wedding out of doors is that it might rain? A. I hope so. Spouses are like buses, new one comes along every 10 minutes but a good rain is rare. Q. My future husband is flat broke. Do we need a prenuptial agreement? A. No, you need your head examined. What do you see in this guy anyway? * * * A Lee Iacocca quote making the rounds on the internet, suggests that the current President of the United States is not worthy of office. The only trouble with the quote is that it was made in 2007…when George Bush was in office! * * * A woman ran excitedly into her house one morning and yelled to her husband, “John, pack up your stuff. I just won the lottery!” “Shall I pack for cold or hot weather?” “Whatever. Just as long as you’re out of the house by noon!” 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. Munch ado about lunching