Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/43482
4A Daily News – Friday, September 30, 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 Online consumer survey: A work in progress 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 What newspapers do you read? What websites do you visit? Where do you shop? How do you use our newspaper and our website? Answers to these and other lifestyle and shopping questions will not only help the Daily News to provide Tehama County businesses with infor- mation they need and want, but could also win you a terrific prize. The Daily News has part- nered with Pulse Research, an independent, respected, research company, in conduct- ing this study on our behalf. This survey should take approx- imately 20 minutes to complete, online. We continue to live in uncertain economic times. Results of this research will pro- vide insight into the economic climate of Red Bluff and Tehama County and enable us to strengthen the community bonds we share. The Daily News has an oblig- ation to its readers and website users to be proactive within the communities we serve. This is not an obligation we take light- ly. With a better understanding of your shopping and purchas- ing plans, we will be able to demonstrate to local businesses that Daily News readers and website users are in the market for the products and services they offer, and – most impor- tantly -- that regardless of the state of the economy, there is always discretionary spending, and demand for specific goods and services. This poses an opportunity for local businesses as well as our readers and website visitors. In showing local businesses that they need to advertise so our readers can bring shopping dol- lars their way, our local econo- my will be strengthened. The more local ads we publish, the more local dollars stay in our communities. We are in the unique position of being able to positive- ly affect our readers, local businesses and ourselves, but we can- not do it without you. This online survey takes a little time to complete, but rest assured it is time well spent. We need a min- imum of 100 complet- ed surveys to provide sufficient responses to Pulse Research. We're approaching 50 completed sur- veys at this writing. Remember that when we reach 100 and we're done, we will select four participants who will each receive a $100 gift certificate good at the Tehama County business of their choice. Greg Stevens Publisher's Postscript If you participate, your information will be kept confidential and used for this sur- vey's purposes only. Those who complete the survey will not receive any solicita- tions resulting from their participation in this study. Thank you in advance for your participation in help- ing make our local economy stronger. Greg Stevens is publisher of the Daily News and can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 105 or by email at gstevens@redbluffdailynews.c om. 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; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Take care Commentary As the U.S. population ages, daughter Melody finds herself as an executive in the expanding home health care business. As such, she visits homes where care is needed or where patients require relocation for more total care. She recently visited a man in his home who was basically non- responsive but understood what was said to him. While oth- ers of his family were in another part of the house making arrangements for his transfer to a care facility, Melody was left alone with him. She wanted to engage him in small talk to assure him that the best of care awaited him. However, at the time, she knew nothing of his background and could only manage small talk of the weather etc. It was not until later she learned the fellow was the inventor of the coin operated Laundromat, which he patented for great financial gain. And also, in his later years, opened a jazz club called Kim- ball's East where he booked all the top names of the jazz world. Melody, being a jazz buff, could have talked for hours with Mr. Kimball on that subject if she had only known, at the time of her visit, of his contribution and con- nection to jazz. However, not all of her encounters were so rewarding. After concluding an emotional visit with a woman who had reluctantly decided to have her husband transferred to a total care facility, she approached the woman, opened her arms and said, "I know this has been particularly hard on you...and, as I am a hugger, may I give you a hug?" The woman instantly stepped back and said firmly, "You may certainly not!" * * * J. Wagoner took umbrage at my brief description of Roger Ebert in a recent column stating merely that "...he hasn't been well." That, of course, may be the understatement of the year. He has suffered the ravages of cancer to the extent that his jaw has been removed and is unable to speak or eat. That is indeed a calamity and it is a wonder he still has the strength to write of his ordeal in a candid fash- ion. * * * Red Bluff has a tenuous foothold in the lit- erary world. In 1842, when Charles Dickens arrived in Boston to begin his first tour of the U.S., he stayed at the... Tremont Hotel. That was in bean town, of course, but with a prop- er travel agent he could have made his way out west to our fair city and famous hos- tel. Hmmm. Will have to check to see if our Tremont was up and running in those days. * * * TIME reports a recent Nielsen survey determined social networks and blogs dominate America's online time. Whereas only 2.6% of Web users go to current events and global news, a whopping 35.1% view "other" sites. You may won- der what sites are included in "other." The survey, believ- ing discretion is the better part of valor, included porn in the "other" group...allowing folks to specu- late how much smut makes up that list-leading category. Probably not much, right? * * * Regarding my book (due out hopefully in our and your lifetime) of my life and hard times in the packing house business, cousin B. Kelsey suggests a few possible titles: Blazing T Bones, Gone With The Beef, A Tale of Two Filets, Mutiny On The Hoof, The Day The Cow Stood Still, Some Like It Rare and (groan) Gunga Dinner. Surely readers can come up with something more dignified. * * * please note that he favors the teaching of cre- ationism in school...and maintains that evolu- tion is just a theory. To combat such specious blather, friend H. Merhoff proposes a new bumper sticker. An old one read, "NO MORE TAXES!" The new one should read, "NO MORE TEXANS!" * * * Robert Minch I Say Last week's quiz was first answered by N. Rick when she e-mailed that Robert Service wrote "The Creation of Sam McGee," Alice Szigethy established "Alice's Restaurant" (I had Alice Brock, but close enough) and that the destroyer that rammed JFK's PT 109 was named Amagiri. And L. Brown, for full credit, answered "Yes" to the question did the destroyer have a name? He reads carefully every line of mine looking, perhaps, for the gaffe often lurking in my prose. This week's quiz: In contemplation of his demise, what might a lawyer have said begin- ning with "My final_____" A childless rail- road conductor, "End of the ____" an elevator operator, "Going_____?" and an atheist, " I was just______." * * * Our 14-year-old grandson, Wyatt Dooley, has been instructed to attend church with his parents. His mother, noting his fidgeting and disinterest, made the mistake of telling him of her father's (me) arrangement with his father about 65 years ago. Wanting his son to be ath- letic, but faced with his same disinterest in religion, proposed that when his son (me again) could beat him in tennis, he would not have to attend church again. As of this date, Wyatt is honing his tennis skills in anticipa- tion of secular Sundays in the near future. It worked for me, kid. * * * And speaking of religion, if you're think- ing of voting for handsome Texas Gov. Rick Perry for president if he gets nominated, A couple received two theater tickets with the message, "Guess who sent them." They rang up all their friends but no one admitted sending them. So, they went to the play and had a wonderful time. But when they got home, they discovered their house had been burgled. On the kitchen table was a note read- ing, "Now you know." The opening night of another play was so bad that as the audience started to leave at the end of the second act, a noted critic raised a restraining hand and proclaimed "Wait! Women and children first!" 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.