Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/433121
Iamwritingthisona rainy morning in Phoenix af- ter two solid days of travel- ing from Philadelphia to get here. We encountered a vari- ety of weather, flight delays, and traffic patterns to make it here, and both of us are a little weary. This is a good time to reflect on the events of our last several days. We were greeted with large fluffy snowflakes glid- ing down on the Wednesday morning before Thanksgiv- ing in Pennsylvania we looked out onto the white fairyland that spread out before us. It snowed all day, but by noon the large flacks had turned to smaller specks that still floated on the unseen breezes that helped them glide down to a gentle landing. On Thanksgiving Day we watched the snow melt, and the pristine white landscape developed ruts, footprints, and mud patches as we stayed in- side by the fire to keep warm. We played UNO, Bandits, Five Crowns, and Mexican Train while laughing and sharing reminiscences. On Friday we ventured into the swamp of Black Fri- day at a local mall and caught up on some last minute win- dow shopping. We drove both the twisting roads that had once been wagon trails past the twin towers of the Limer- ick Nuclear Power Plant and on "modern" highways packed with shoppers. On Saturday morning we went to help out at a local homeless shelter and hung out with those enjoying the warmth and shelter on that cold morning. Many had in- teresting stories to tell, and all seemed to appreciate our pres- ence. One man told us how he had been a fire lieutenant but fell on tough times and was now taking community college courses so he could be a Fire Marshall. In some cases it is hard to tell the difference be- tween what a person tells you and the truth because the peo- ple in the shelter have learned to tell people what they think those people want to hear. Another person told us she had hurt her hip, but it didn't prevent her from walking up the steep stairway to smoke a small cigar outside. Two young men looked hardly awake; one managed to roll his own cig- arette (with pipe tobacco) be- fore he went outside to en- joy it. Another young man sat with both hands under his chin and his eyes closed the three hours we were there; his long skinny beard extending from his pale chin to his Ad- am's apple and his unkempt hair resembled Zonker from Dunesberry; someone men- tioned he was on his meds or he would be more noticeable. All those taking advan- tage of the shelter were clean, treated everyone respectfully, and eagerly participated in the day's chores. One volunteer helped everyone establish an email account; a lawyer pro- vided pro bono help for those who needed it; another person helped several people work on their resumes; and a person brought a hearty meal for all to share. All these things provided a perfect setting for me to re- flect on my first seventy five years since Sunday was my birthday. Being around multi generations gives you a chance to think about the differences each has experienced, the var- ious devices and conveniences each has, and the future that lays before them. The old winding roads and "modern" nuclear generator reminds me of the "progress" we have ex- perienced. The people at the shelter reminded me of the fragility of life, the importance of good decision making, and the role of critical points in one's life, and the clear need for all of us to support each other. One of the discussions we had over the weekend was the answer to the question: How is the local church different from a country club? The person asking the question indicated that over seventy percent of his congregation's budget was spent on the congregation, its building, and staff. We dis- cussed the pros and cons of his question, and in light of the morning's experience at the shelter wondered if con- gregations do spend too much on themselves. We pondered the unusual use of the grand jury process in Ferguson, Missouri. We wondered at the overall ag- ing of the world's population and the consequences for such things on governmental bud- gets, health care, and multi- generational families. Being seventy-five does have its advantages at the airport where I am not now required to remove my shoes before go- ing through security. Along with that advantage comes the inevitable toll of aging. I read a quote from a dis- tinguished American writer: "It is not noble to be superior to your fellow man; it is no- ble to be superior to your for- mer self." I wondered how I have changed and grown over the last seventy five years, how I have evolved, and whether I am a contributing member of society rather than a carping old grump. I know I have more grow- ing to do, and I look forward to that. JoeHarropisaretirededuca- tor with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHar- rop@sbcglobal.net. JoeHarrop Seventy-five and counting Lackofrespectfrom school board Editor: Did you know the Red Bluff graduation requirements are changing? What about a bunch of administrative policies? I wanted to learn more about this myself so I requested on Nov. 17 that the matter of "Red Bluff Graduation Require- ments" be placed on the Dec. 10 agenda for discussion. Imagine my surprise when the item did not show up on the agenda and I was forced to make my presentation dur- ing the public comment portion of the meeting. Apparently, the administration does not follow local rules for public meetings. I was even more shocked when I finally got up to make my presentation that a board member told me to "wrap it up" when I had not even been speaking one full minute. Ap- parently, I was not going to be given respect and courtesy re- garding my concerns about po- tential changes being made to graduation requirements that affect certain rights with re- spect to health education. I was further disappointed when a board member grilled a well seasoned agriculture sci- ence teacher about her personal qualifications and abilities to teach a new agriculture science option. I hope administrators and board members will treat teach- ers and members of the public with respect and courtesy even if your views are different than ours in the future. — Jenny Alexander, Red Bluff Obamacare's a Ponzi scheme Editor: Socialism — government pro- duction of goods and services, can be very efficient. In Social Security and Obamacare how- ever, it's not implemented intel- ligently, efficiently, or fairly. Since government lacks spending and borrowing limits, both programs facilitate infla- tion and embezzlement. Congress spent the Social Se- curity fund and now pays ben- efits with current receipts. Obamacare funds are used by private insurers to pay extrav- agant salaries, overhead and shareholder dividends. Only a portion pays medi- cal claims, which themselves aren't entirely legitimate. Hos- pitals billing $10,000 per night for care indicates charging for losses treating indigent patients and also embezzlement. Yes, embezzlement. Say in- stead of paying 23% of your $50,000 per year earnings — raised 3% per year — to Social Security and Obamacare for 40 years, you invested this money privately for a 5% return. Liv- ing a clean, healthy life and ac- cordingly needing negligible medical services, you'd have $2,226,000 and $111,300 per year interest forever retiring at age 65. Under Social Security and Obamacare, the insurers ac- crue interest on the principal, pay maximum $31,704 per year when you're eligible and keep it all when the surviving spouse dies. Accordingly, for many — if not most — these programs are nothing more than Ponzi schemes. — Nathan Esplanade, Corning The myth of 2014 gas savings versus 2013 Editor: Comparing 2014 year to date, to 2013 shows only $46 gasoline cost savings driving our 45 mpg Prius, and 31 mpg Civic a com- bined 14,700 miles. The Civic is in Northern California and the Prius in Indianapolis. Gas prices reduced 10 cents from $3.47 in Indiana, and 12 cents from $3.75 in California, from 2013 average annual costs. Depreciation, and not gaso- line or maintenance is the big- gest cost of operating a vehicle. For many decades, depreciation costs are reduced by keeping vehicles about 20 years. Long term ownership also decreases annual license and insurance costs. The $46 gas savings won't cover much of a shopping spree. — Joseph Neff, Corning Continued debate over Middle East Editor: Evidently Mr. Wolfe has never read a book by two prom- inent Israeli archaeologists called The Bible Unearthed. It said the Bible was a product of some writer's imagination not an accurate accounting of his- torical events. So to answer Mr. Wolfe's question, absolutely no. An- thropologists and archaeolo- gists don't prove the validity of the Bible. Instead of being a historical document the Bi- ble, on which the Israelis base their claim, is a fictitious com- position. Science persuades with rea- son and logic, religions mainly use intimidation. All the major religions at one time or another required your conversion or your death. It just so happens the Islamic crazies are playing that role today. And I have no sympathy whatsoever for them, only total disgust. On the other hand the Pales- tinian situation is entirely dif- ferent. They are constantly and miserably mistreated by their Israeli neighbors. Those missiles Mr. Wolfe talks of do very little dam- age to Israeli property but a lot to the Palestinian cause. So it wouldn't surprise me at all if we discovered that Israeli units were firing ineffective missiles towards their own people so as to excuse another major mili- tary campaign in Palestine. That tactic has been used be- fore. Our government provides for Israel much better than it does for its own people. Stop arming just the one side of the conflict and see how fast Israel runs to the peace table. — Orval Strong, Gerber Your opinions Cartoonist's take Hey guys, Will Durst here with your eagerly awaited Top Ten Comedic News Stories of 2014. Now, here's the deal: please do not confuse these amusing accounts with the Top Ten Legitimate News Stories of 2014. No. No. No. They are as different as silky and spiky. Banjos and bull- frogs. Strawberry daiquiris and Chinese made assault rifles. Ear- rings and peas. Oh sure, we saw plenty ex- amples of super serious humor- resistant stuff that went down over the previous 12 months, in- cluding but not limited to: Eb- ola infested ISIS members fly- ing into Ferguson, Missouri on Malaysian Airlines, carry- ing pictures of Bill Cosby ogling Janay Rice's butt. But fortu- nately, there were also quite a few events that lent themselves to massive humorosityness. So for anyone looking for a column with the vision and courage to lampoon, sati- rize, mock, scoff, taunt, tease, rib, ridicule, josh, jibe and kid these episodes of entertaining elucidation, you've come to the right place. Because here they are: the Top Ten Comedic News Stories Of 2014 as determined by the executive council of the Comics, Clowns, Jesters & Sati- rists Union, which, as you prob- ably are already aware, is me. Read 'em and weep: 10. A new study by German scientists suggests that beer helps prevent prostate cancer. So let's stop calling them bars, and start referring to them as what they really are: clinics. And we are self-administering patients. 9. Winter Olympics in So- chi. The entire world is relieved when Vladimir Putin doesn't en- ter the biathlon by slapping on skis to shoot Ukrainian journal- ists. Shirtless. 8. Series of Ice Bucket Chal- lenges sweep the country. Minor celebrities enjoy being seen as all wet. During the hazy days of summer. When the Polar Vortex comes calling, not so much. 7. Toronto Mayor Rob Ford runs for re-election, but due to ill health has to pull out and convinces his brother to run. Torontoans refuse to give the Fords another crack at it. 6. Pope Francis says his reli- gious theology is not in opposi- tion to evolution. This guy really does look determined to drag the Catholic Church kicking and screaming into the latter half of the 19th Century. 5. Alaska, Oregon and D.C. join Washington and Colorado in the legal marijuana club. Stock of Frito-Lay, the makers of Funyuns and Cheetos, sky- rockets. 4. Donald Sterling's rac- ist statements result in a life- time ban from the NBA. And many folks hope he lives to be 105. And is forced to bunk with Cliven Bundy. 3. The Midterm elections. Mitch McConnell says he wants to work with the President. Yeah, the same way a 5-year-old with a magnifying glass wants to work with ants. Only a mat- ter of time before GM is forced to recall McConnell as a faulty airbag. 2. Arizona debates SB 1062, which would legalize bigotry based on religious beliefs. The return of Jim Crow with a cac- tus beat. The postal abbrevia- tion AZ apparently stands for Angry Xenophobes. And yes, xe- nophobe starts with an "x" but they don't know that. 1. ObamaCare rollout. The President said it could have gone smoother. You think? An anvil studded with titanium spikes could have rolled smoother. Will Durst is an award- win- ning, nationally acclaimed po- litical comic. Go to willdurst. com for more about the docu- mentary film "3 Still Standing," and a calendar guide to per- sonal appearances such as his hit one- man show "BoomeRag- ing: From LSD to OMG." Email Will at durst@caglecartoons. com. Will Durst Top ten comedic news stories of 2014 GregStevens,Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDITORIAL BOARD How to have your say: 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 no more than two double-spaced pages or 500words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section will be published. Email: editor@red bluffdailynews.com Phone: 530-527- 2151ext. 112 Mail to: P.O. 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