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4A Daily News – Friday, March 23, 2012 Opinion Is it all in my head? 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 Maybe it's because they are the 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 first things readers see, but head- lines are most often the subject of complaints and compliments. A perfect example of this is the alliteration in the headlines for the Annie's Mailbox feature we run each day. As previously stated, the features arrive without headlines and I like to have a little fun com- ing up with them. For the most part, this little exercise has been well received. But maybe not. I've been told dozens of times how much readers enjoy the head- lines each day. Still, these com- ments are mostly made in person, so maybe readers are just trying to be polite. On the other side, I had a phone call about a year ago from a reader who said he considered the alliter- ative headlines to be a complete waste of ink. Fair enough, but that was about it until this week when I received not one but two com- plaints. I assume they were from different people. The first was an email from somebody claiming to be a former subscriber who had happened upon a recent edition and was upset that the silly headline thing was still in place. She labeled it self-indulgent. I freely admit that it is self- indulgent. I started doing it because it was a fun challenge for me each day and readers seemed to really enjoy it. This former reader went on to say that the frivolous headlines are disrespectful of readers with seri- ous problems in their lives who are seeking advice. While I avoid making light of the more serious questions, the former reader makes a good point. My intent has never been to belittle or trivialize any of the problems needing guidance. I apologize to anyone who may have been offended. The other complaint came through the circulation depart- ment. Because the folks in circula- tion speak with loads of readers every day, complaints often come through that office. This complaint simply said to stop running the silly headlines in question. One complaint versus praise from many is something I can live with. But three complaints, two within days of each other, has me wonder- ing. Today's Annie's Mailbox feature will be the final alliterative head- line for at least a week or so until we get a better idea who likes and who dislikes the diversion from the norm. We'll post a reader poll on red- bluffdailynews.com so you can give me and my alliterative headlines a thumbs down, or up. *** In case you missed them... "Beetles hold up bridge" The existence of a few elderberry bushes, which can play host to an endangered beetle, have caused yet anoth- er delay to the now 15- year-long project to replace Bowman Road Bridge in Cotton- wood. Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. A couple of recent headlines for local sto- ries in the Daily News got some chuckles here at the office. "Squirrels threaten to flood Gerber" Rodents have been burrowing into the levy that protects Gerber from flooding and some good, honest folks are working hard to address the problem and avoid fur- ther risks. No laughing matter. Neither headline elicited criticism; at least none that made it to my desk. I might suggest readers looking to get their dander up consider that it will cost $10,000 for environmental types to transplant the elderberry bushes in a suitable location so as not to upset the rare bug. Sort of puts humorous head- lines into perspective. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112. or by email at 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. War no more Commentary If you are getting riled up about Iran accelerating its nuclear capa- bilities, and believing this should require military intervention, con- sider humorist Mark Twain's not so funny "prayer" written long ago. "Oh Lord our father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle…be Thou near them! With them…in spirit…we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. Oh Lord, our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of their guns with shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us lay waste to their humble homes with hurri- canes of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their lit- tle children to wander, unfriended, the wastes of their desolate land in rags and hunger and thirst; water their way with tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spir- it of love, of Him who is the source of love, and who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek his aide with humble and contrite hearts. Amen." * * * When Tuesday rolls around, I pick up the DN and welcome it as a long lost friend. Not publishing on Monday definitely makes the heart grow fonder. * * * I understand there are wild pigs out in the foothills east of town and can be shot with an appropriate license. I am not in favor of this sport, but do find it clever they are referred to by Lee Pitts as "Ham On the Lam." * * * Did you know that American business has a habit of rewarding and punishing people because of the way they look? Economist D. Hamermesh, at University of Texas, Austin, has done a series of studies on the role that appearance plays in the workplace. He finds that better looking men earn 4 per- cent more than average looking men. At today's average wage rate, a man with above- average looks can earn $230,000 more over his career than his ill-favored peers. The numbers are similar for women. Height also affects how people do in the work force. Taller people get paid more, on average, and have a better chance of getting hired and ending up in manage- ment positions. You may wonder how I, lacking good looks and no more than average in height, have done so well in the work force. It is because, according to C. Larimer, I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. So it just depends on your folks after all. * * * And speaking of good looks, in politics the beauty contest dynam- ic is even more marked. The last President shorter than average was William McKinley, and researchers found that the better looking candidates won 72 percent of the Senate races and 69 percent of the gubernatorial ones. That's good news because it means that Newt Gringrich will not make it to the White House. * * * In my grandmother Essie Alford's day, the big thing in edu- cation was memorization. Even years later, I recall having to mem- orize The Ride of Paul Revere. Why? Because the source of such information might not be always at your fingertips if needed. However, things change, and sources say today's students tend to learn not the subject but where the subject can be obtained and explained. This is known as being symbiotic with our computers. Once we might have had to pour through the Ency- clopedia Britanni- ca. Today we just Google it. I sus- pect many of my quiz answers come from Google or a like search engine. If information is easier to obtain these days, why aren't we becom- ing smarter? Class? If you know the answer, just raise your hand instead of reaching for your laptop. * * * If there were a book to be writ- ten about the large Sale clan, with the passing of Latane, our leading orchardist, it could be titled "And then there was one." Of the eight children of Mary and Ritchie Sale, all at one time living under the roof of their magnificent two story home on the corner of Sale Lane and Gilmore Ranch Road, only Douglas remains. Virginia, Lelia, Lindley, twins Latane and Mar- garet, plus Eleanor and David, have all gone to their reward…but there was a time when the whole boisterous group filled the home with gaiety and laughter. I was privileged to be present during the mid '30s and early '40s to bear wit- ness to that marvelous family. Sit- ting around a huge oval oak table at dinner time, with father Ritchie carving and the siblings adding their witty comments regarding the day's events, was a spectacle to behold. To coin a phrase, those were the days…. * * * Last week's quiz asked simply Robert Minch I Say what was absent from a lengthy sentence. John Yin- gling, former manager of the Red Bluff- Tehama Coun- ty Chamber of Commerce, quickly sup- plied the cor- rect answer. The sentence contained the letter "e" but no other vowel. This week's quiz: Fill in the blanks by using proper names as verbs: Is Clare Booth____? Does Saul _____? Can Alistair______? Did Ezra _____? * * * Daughter M. Konte offers answers to what every woman should know. Q. Should I have a baby after 35? A. No, 35 is enough. Q. I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move? A. With any luck right after he finish- es college. Q. My wife is 5 months pregnant and so moody that some- times she's borderline irrational. A. So, what's your question? Q. My childbirth instructor says it is not pain I'll feel during childbirth but pressure. Is she right? A. Yes in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current. 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.c om.