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GregStevens,Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDITORIALBOARD 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@ redbluffdailynews.com Fax: 530-527-9251 Mail to: P.O. Box 220, 545 Diamond Ave., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS E.B.Whitereportedlysaid"themostbeauti- ful sound in America" is "the tinkle of ice at twilight." In 2015's twilight, fortify yourself with something 90 proof as you remember this year in which: Welearnedthat a dismal thresh- old has been passed. The value of property that police depart- ments seized through civil-asset forfeiture — usually without accusing, let alone convicting, the prop- erty owners of a crime — ex- ceeded the value of property stolen by nongovernment bur- glars. The attorney general of New York, which reaps billions from gambling — casinos, off- track betting, the state lottery — moved to extinguish (com- petition from) fantasy football because it is gambling. Flor- ida police raided a mahjong game played by four women aged between 87 and 95 be- cause their game's stakes al- legedly exceeded the $10 limit set by state law. A Michigan woman was fingerprinted, had her mug shot taken and was jailed until released on bond because she was late in renew- ing the $10 license for her dog. New Jersey police arrested a 72-year-old retired teacher, chained his hands and feet to a bench and charged him with illegally carrying a firearm — a 300-year-old flintlock pistol (with no powder, flint or ball) he purchased from an antique dealer. The University of Geor- gia said sexual consent must be "voluntary, sober, imagi- native, enthusiastic, creative, wanted, informed, mutual, honest." Imaginative consent? Connecting climate change to sex, the National Bureau of Economic Research warned that hot weather leads to di- minished sexual activity. Else- where in "settled science," the government's dietary rules were revised, somewhat reha- bilitating red meat, sodium, eggs and other good stuff. Un- daunted, the Dietary Guide- lines Advisory Committee pro- duced a 571-page report call- ing for "bold actions" and "dramatic paradigm shifts" until mother-hen government yet again says, "Well, never mind." Since federal food po- lice dictated changes in school lunch programs, food tossed in the trash is up 56 percent, salt shakers are being smug- gled into schools, and there are black markets in potato chips. The IRS persecutes conser- vative advocacy groups but does not prosecute IRS em- ployees who are tax cheats: An audit revealed that over the last decade, the IRS fired only 400 of the 1,580 employ- ees who deliberately vi- olated tax laws, rather than the 100 percent re- quired by law. New York's City Coun- cil honored the "brav- ery" of Ethel Rosenberg, the executed traitor who spied for Stalin. Declar- ing her candidacy, Hillary Clinton said she will fight for, among many others, "truck- ers who drive for hours." Yes, hours. Elsewhere, she rejected the presumption of innocence, aka due process: Those alleg- ing sexual assault have "the right to be believed," which she did not believe when her husband was the accused. A 9-year-old Florida fourth- grader was threatened with sexual harassment charges if he continued to write love notes telling the apple of his eye that her eyes sparkle "like diamonds." A Texas 9-year-old was suspended for saying his magic ring could make peo- ple disappear. A young girl was sent home with a censo- rious note from her school be- cause her Wonder Woman lunchbox violated the school ban on depictions of "vio- lent characters." An Oregon eighth-grader, whose brother served in Iraq, was suspended for wearing a T-shirt that de- picted an empty pair of boots representing soldiers killed in action. The school said the shirt was "not appropriate." A Tennessee boy was threatened with suspension from elemen- tary school because he came to school with a military-style haircut like that of his step- brother, a soldier. A govern- ment arbitrator prevented the firing of a New Jersey elemen- tary school teacher who was late to school 111 times in two years. A suburban Washington high school promoted self-es- teem by naming 117 valedic- torians out of a class of 457. Two Edina, Minnesota, ele- mentary schools hired "re- cess consultants" to minimize "conflict" — children saying "Hey, you're out!" rather than "Nice try!" The principal of a San Francisco middle school withheld the results of stu- dent elections that did not produce properly "diverse" re- sults. When some deep think- ers in academia decided that yoga, like ethnic food, consti- tutes "cultural appropriation," a clear thinker wondered whether offended cultures would send back our polio vaccines. The American Coun- cil of Trustees and Alumni re- ported that 48 of the top 52 liberal arts colleges and uni- versities do not require Eng- lish majors to take a Shake- speare course. This list of 2015 ludicrous- ness could be lengthened in- definitely, but enough already. The common thread is the col- lapse of judgment in, and the infantilization of society by, government. Happier New Year. GeorgeWill'semailaddressis georgewill@washpost.com. George Will A list of 2015's ludicrousness Cartoonist's take At this time of year, at the end of the calendar trail, we are ad- monished by friends and re- lations to have a "Happy New Year." That there is little guaran- tee it will come to pass without in- cidents involving terrorist, guns or rage is a foregone conclusion. How- ever, hope springs eternal and I urge readers to find a way to cope with the coming year with- out too much reliance upon faith or Presidential candidates. What may confront many of us is loss; loss of companion- ship… and even loss of life. I am reminded of this after absorbing the final work of that marvel- ously erudite Christopher Hitch- ens, who died in 2011. His book, titled "Mortality," is an account of his struggle with esophageal cancer. One might think this writer of impressive essays and critiques would be la- menting the cruel fate of which was to be his lot, but the book is so well conceived and writ- ten that it is uplifting once one becomes aware that we all face a cessation of life…and how we approach it is a testimony to our own worth while we on this earth. The fact that Hitch, as he was known by his fellow writ- ers, was a lifelong atheist, adds a certain flavor to his work, and the advice he gets from friends and acquaintances as he ad- vances through the final stages of his malady is often humorous as well as touching. During his hospital stays he lamented most his loss of speech and had not realized previ- ously what an asset it is to com- municate in this manner as op- posed to the printed word. As an aside, do you suppose a preacher gains adherents via his spoken word rather than the text from which he quotes? The late Rob- ert Schuller comes to mind. Hitchens refused to cower in the face of the unknown, and so should we all, which takes cour- age…and is obviously easier said than done. ••• A week ago there were two columns published in the Daily News that should be required reading for local readers. The first was Dr. Joe Harrop's column in which he discussed, chapter and verse, the frustra- tion local attorneys have expe- rienced at the hands of a long time presiding judge. That this recently demoted judge was al- lowed his ways for years is a wonder. I guess it all comes down to attorneys and other judges reluctant to disparage judges for fear of retaliation. Tsk, tsk. The second column, which has far more reaching conse- quences, is the dismantling of Donald Trump by that most eloquent and erudite syndi- cated columnist, George Will. Any reader of his 26 Decem- ber column, printed in this pa- per, who still does not under- stand the folly of supporting the Trump buffoon should not be allowed to vote next Novem- ber. Let me single out just one paragraph of Will's condemna- tion: "If you look beyond Donald Trump's comprehensive unpleas- antness…is there a disagreeable human trait he does not have?... you might see a fundamentally sad figure. His comprehensive boasting is evidence of his inse- curity. His unassuageable need- iness suggests an aching hun- ger for other's approval to ratify his self-admiration." His column concludes, "If Trump is the Re- publican nominee in 2016, there might not be a conservative party in 2020, either." ••• We have an ornate chiming clock on the wall in our office that is no longer keeping good time… that is, it is running slow. At my age, this could be considered a good omen meaning that the ag- ing process is slowing down as well. However, that is wishful thinking and time marches on. That said, if a reader knows of a clock repair person in the area, please let me know. Gary Ramsey Jewelers no longer trafficks in clocks, or so says Gary. ••• On Antelope Boulevard there is a property that has been leased by various tenants over the years. The current occu- pant has small barns for sale. However a new sign has sprung up on said site that proclaims "Christ has come and is com- ing again," or words to that ef- fect. This is obviously a personal proclamation because it would seem to have little effect on the sale of the barns unless Christ was in the livestock business as well as that of saving souls. ••• Sources say Chicago is called "The Windy City" not for the weather but apparently when that city sponsored the World's Columbia Exposition in 1883, they promoted the event so ag- gressively it offended people in New York, whose press nick- named it "The Windy City" to mock its bragging rights. ••• Police Log in Tuesday DN read in part, "Justin Tucker, 39 of Bella Vista was arrested on the charge of fleeing from a peach officer while driving reck- lessly." Although our police force may be undermanned, it seems counterproductive to hire a peach officer to monitor drivers. I mean, drivers might well ig- nore such an official armed with a ladder rather than a firearm, and flee as did J. Tucker. ••• Uh huh Department: Actor Robert Downey Jr. in 1996, was convicted of drug and weapons charges and served a year in the slammer. However, Governor Jerry Brown recently pardoned him. Despite Downey's pre-pardon $5,000 contributions to Gov. Brown's re-election, plus a $50,401 donation to the Oak- land School for the Arts, a char- ter school Brown helped to found in 2000, said donations had nothing to with the pardon, or so says Evan Westrup, spokesper- son for Brown. In fact, Evan con- tinues, "Each pardon application is assessed on its own merit and consistent with dozens of others who were granted pardons. This individual, Robert Downey Jr. ob- tained a certificate of rehabilita- tion." Right. A certificate of rehabilitation trumps a donation every time. ••• In place of the usual closing joke, those who savor the pun will appreciate the following business names: "Jurassic Pork" a food van, "Surelock Homes" a locksmith, "Lawn and Order" landscape, "YahPoo" plumbing, "Deja Brew" wines and spirits, "Nin Com Soup" restaurant, "Planet of The Grapes" winery, "Tequila Mock- ingbird" bar and, my favorite, "Florist Gump" flower shop. 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. I say Happy New Year or simply getting through it? An audit revealed that over the last decade, the IRS fired only 400 of the 1,580 employees who deliberately violated tax laws, rather than the 100 percent required by law. Sounding off A look at what readers are saying in comments on our website and on social media. Police issue common sense reminder. Shyanne Klupp: On Red Bluff Police warning to not leave parked vehicles unlocked So they had to have crew come from Redding to shut of gas when there is PG&E right across the street. Jim and Peggy Cogar: On a gas leak that shut down part of Luther Road in Red Bluff George Will Robert Minch StateandNational Assemblyman James Gallagher, 2060Talbert Drive, Ste. 110, Chico 95928, 530895-4217, http://ad03.asmrc.org/ Senator Jim Nielsen, 2634 Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico 95928, 530879-7424, senator. nielsen@senate.ca.gov Governor Jerry Brown, State Capital Building, Sacramento 95814, 916445-2841, fax 916 558-3160, governor@governor. ca.gov U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa, 507Cannon House Office Building, Washington D.C. 20515, 202225-3076 U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, One Post St., Ste. 2450, San Francisco 94104, 415393- 0707, fax 415393-0710 YOUR OFFICIALS OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, January 1, 2016 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A6