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4A Daily News – Friday, February 24, 2012 Opinion Nuggets found in the search for history 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 As mentioned previously, I visit the Tehama County Library here in Red Bluff every month or so to gather historical tidbits for the 90 Years Ago… feature found on page 2A each day. The following just begged to 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 be showcased: "Cow Or Wife Badly In Need Of Inspection "SACRAMENTO, February 24 —Bronte Reynolds, editor of the state department of agricul- ture, is puzzled, and his brow is all corrugated. The livestock inspec- tion department has passed the buck to him in a knotty question which has arisen through receipt of a letter from a Yolo county rancher concerning livestock inspection. After reading the let- ter, no one in the department can figure out whether the rancher wants his wife or his dairy cows inspected." — Feb. 24, 1922 The letter that led to this quandary states as follows: "You know that when you were over here this Spring you looked at my cow — she has got- ten no better and I have gotten up five or six more, and as my wife is going away about the 20th, I desire to send her along if she has- n't tuberculosis, but if she has, I wish to kill her now. I will thank you to come and give her the test along with the others. Cannot you not come before this time?" An illustration of the need for proper grammar – more on that topic in a future column. *** By the way, English grammar didn't exist until the 15th century. It was prompted by the advent of the printing press and spawned by the owner of the first press in Eng- land, William Claxton. Desiring the largest audience for his printed works, Claxton borrowed from the roughly 30 dialects spoken in England at the time and forged the first, crude set of grammatical rules and common spellings. English teachers and readers of newspapers have been wagging their fingers ever since. *** Ever long for a glimpse of the past? Sports Editor Rich Greene's buddy has just the website – what- wasthere.com. An ingenious idea, the site maps the U.S. and allows visitors to post photos of specific loca- tions as they appeared in days gone by. stages, there are no postings in Red Bluff or Tehama County. Heck, there aren't even postings in my boyhood home of San Rafael – a city in the Bay Area nearly the population of our entire county. But we have to start some- where. Chip The end product will be the ability to choose a town and see the streets as they were years ago. When possible, visitors are able to fade the vin- tage photo into the Google Street View of the same spot. Cool beans. Seems like the type of thing my new corporate bosses at Digi- tal First Media would jump all over. Because the site is in the early Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. Those with vintage shots of Red Bluff, Corning and the rest of Tehama County may wish to upload them and see what happens. Maybe a look at our past, and how little Red Bluff and Tehama County has bowed to the pressures of the modern world, will encourage visitors and bolster the economy. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by email 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), 2595 Cean- othus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 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. Branding irons Commentary There are those who do not understand the need for the "Branding" of our fair city and county. We, who are long in the tooth, are aware of who we are and what we think we stand for. What's the problem? Are we lacking in trade and commerce? Yes, when compared to Redding or Chico. Is this good for our economy? No. Is it good for our tran- quility and small town life style? For sure...and yet a balance is needed. Enough commerce to keep food on the table and yet not so much that we become a second Red- ding. Our great asset is our open range whether you be chicken or citizen. If you can scrape out a living with what you've got, then you are ahead of the peace of mind game. Perhaps we should wait for the Branding committees to reach their resolve before advocating the status quo. *** Speaking of branding, in a letter to the editor, T. Robinson branded me a horse's rear end because of my article about return- ing slippers to Walmart. I don't think I know the fellow. He may be a greeter for that fine establishment, or related to the clerk encountered. In any case I regret he inter- preted my remarks in this fashion. Another reader, in reading his letter, commented that he did not get it. He did not fathom my attempt at mock pomposity. I once knew a Jack Robinson in high school, but don't think he had any sons, obtuse or otherwise. Oh well, the branding process is in vogue at present so I am in good company. *** In this continuing time of high unem- ployment, I came across a job description which may appeal to job hunters, but proba- bly as a last resort. Lauren Brent is a researcher at Duke University who has been conducting Rhesus monkey studies off the coast of Puerto Rico. Trying to determine if monkey relationships are determined by hormonal levels, and not wanting to subject the little fellows to blood sampling, she hit upon the idea of measuring said levels by following a colony about and collecting urine and fecal samples. She ran into trouble when the monkeys figured out what she was up to…and began fighting her for posses- sion of their own feces. Without delving into the subject further as readers might peruse these pages at breakfast, can you imagine what the late, great George Carlin would have made of the monkey's reaction to this theft? Depending upon his audience, he might have resorted to a euphemism as one monkey says to another, "Say, Fred…I notice my stuff is missing. I swear I left it near that palm tree about an hour ago." Maybe the Merry Manton Madcap team of Merry/Standish could use this as material for their next gig, which will be, by the way, on radio station KZFR, 90.1, on the 27th of this month at 11:30 a.m. *** The Wall Street Journal reported the U.S. cattle herd is the smallest in 60 splendidly. *** Last week's quiz asked readers to match up familiar spoken lines from famous films of the past and V. Shaw was first in with "Love means never having to say you're sorry." from Love Story, "Kiss me. Kiss me as though it were the last time." from Casa Blanca and "A heart can be broken; but it keeps beating all the same." from Fried Green Tomatoes. Robert Minch I Say years, which may mean higher prices at the meat counter. However, this might not be the case. For many years, I saw cattle on feed reports that suggested dire shortages only to see the government statistics revised months later to reflect more plentiful numbers. We called them "phantom herds." I suspect the current numbers are not greatly different from years past, so don't start loading your freezer just yet. *** Reading of the special maternity accom- modations for celebrities at Cedars-Sinai hospital in L.A., I note that the three-room suites offer hardwood floors, a personal aide 24/7 and other plush hotel-style amenities for about $3,800 per day, which is in addi- tion to their standard charges for delivering the baby. I regret not having such splendid digs for the missus when she birthed our four chil- dren some years ago. Our first child was delivered in the no frills quarters of Elmen- dorf Air Force base in Alaska...and the oth- ers at Saint E's in Red Bluff. Of course I can't speak for the missus regarding the ser- vice she received during her stay but I do know that nurse Aunt Dorothy stood watch and that mother and children came through This week's quiz: Lemuel Gulliver washed ashore on Lilliput. What was the name of the ship that was wrecked? If you went by the book, what would you gift for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd wedding anniversaries, and what was the name of the Beatles' record company? *** Humorist Lee Pitts laments the current naming of dogs with people names such as Emma, Katy, Lilly and Judy, and wants to know whatever happened to real dog names like Bingo, Buddy, Bandit, Buster, Rover, Lucky and Potlicker? I posed the question to Murray Clyde who replied that he would prefer his name to Potlicker any day. What can I say, Lee? *** A young couple met with the vicar who asked if they wanted a traditional or a mod- ern day service and they decided on the lat- ter. On the day of the wedding the groom was delayed by a flooded street and had to roll up his pant legs in an attempt to keep them dry. As he was late he hustled up the aisle only to hear the vicar whisper "Pull down your trousers." The groom thought for a minute and then said, "On second thought, let's go for the traditional service." Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine and author of the "The Knocking Pen." He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com.