Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/672481
Mytakeonhumorissimple.Withgoodhu- mor you cannot beat it. People love humor. I refer especially to the good jokes. I am not referring to "Have you read that book titled 'Under the Grandstands' by Seymour Butts?" Thatisacutejoke,but should I just leave that one at Chico Senior High School where I found it? Johnny Car- son, Jon Stew- art, Jay Leno, Bill Maher, Da- vid Letterman, Stephen Col- bert and Chris Rock are just a few of the names that make me think of humor. I am even loving this year's Presiden- tial election more than I have in the past because of the hu- mor I see in it. This year's candidates have helped make all our co- medians richer with mate- rial, such as when a friend of mine named Mike, who owns the Country Store at Oak Run just east of Redding, jokingly shared with me that Don- ald Trump might change his campaign slogan from "Make America Great Again" to "We Shall Over Comb." I think I responded with something like, "I hope The Donald doesn't ever get caught in a wind. How high would a human kite go?" It is my belief that humor is good for both the mind and body. It often can change just one moment in the day and as a,result make all twenty four better. For instance, have you,ever heard "What did one casket say to the other casket?" Well, it said, "Is that you coffin?" Also, since Daily News read- ers are well aware of my in- volvement and love of the po- litical arena I want you to enjoy the best soundbite re- garding the 2016 race for Pres- ident. It was described to me by someone as "electile dys- function." However distaste- ful that is, I wish I had been clever enough to have thought of that soundbite. Then there was the one time when I was on the campaign trail running for re-election and a constituent told me a joke I have never forgotten. That joke was about a stanch Republican who was given a death sentence when his doctor discovered he had a terminal cancer. After that horrible news, he immediately registered as a Democrat and told everyone he knew why. He would tell everyone that America would be far better off if a Democrat were to die rather than a Republican. He obviously thought that would greatly improve America. Then there's that story about a thief sticking a gun in a Congressman's ribs and de- manding that the representa- tive give him the money back that the official took while he was in office with his lousy voting record. This year's race to decide who our next President is turning out to be a gold mine for comedians. Even the Re- publican frontrunner Donald Trump said, "I love the Mex- ican people, but..." I am not sure anyone believes what he said. I certainly don't. I occa- sionally think that he must have meant that random statement as a joke. Even President Ronald Rea- gan was quoted as saying "politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession..., and I have come to realize it bears a very close resemblance to the first." Mytakeonthemovies This week in my movie world I saw "Jungle Boy," an- other outstanding Disney film narrated in part by Bill Mur- ray and Ben Kingsley. If you see this one, I feel you will really enjoy yourself. You will love the little jungle boy who gets to do what most of us never will. He gets to live with and love all animals. StanStathamserved1976-1994 in the California Assembly and was a television news anchor at KHSL-TV in Chico 1965- 1975. He is past president of the California Broadcasters Association and can be reached at StanStatham@gmail.com. StanStatham My take on a sense of humor "... a friend of mine named Mike, who owns the Country Store at Oak Run just east of Redding, jokingly shared with me that Donald Trump might change his campaign slogan from "Make America Great Again" to "We Shall Over Comb." Interview process for superintendent suspect Editor: I would like to publicly thank the four candidates that submit- ted resumes and went through the interview process for the po- sition of Tehama County Super- intendent of Schools. Each of these individuals spent time and money to go through the process, which en- tailed putting together a re- sume, a list of references and attending an all day meeting at the community center at which each candidate was inter- viewed for one hour. No candi- date was allowed to sit through any other's interview. There were three things that really bothered me though. Former Superintendent Charles Allen came to the in- terviews and then spoke to the Board of Education about the selection. He left the meet- ing and then returned to lis- ten to Richard DuVarney's in- terview and then returned to listen to the deliberations and vote. Most people in his posi- tion would not do that. There were three separate questionnaires about the job of superintendent of schools — one for administrators, one for employees and a separate one for the general public. None of these were the same and the ones for the administrators and employees asked who they would recommend. These ques- tionnaires were on the Internet with no provision for the public to respond any other way. There was a public meeting at the community center, which was attended by about 30 people. The board just said it had four good candidates and asked for a motion. There was no discussion about the other candidates. It was moved and seconded that Richard DuVarney be hired, the only discussion was about him living in Butte County and Tehama County residence being a requirement. I feel that all candidates should have been thoroughly dis- cussed and evaluated even if af- ter that the outcome was the same. — Gary Taylor, Gerber Teacher thanked for excellent work Editor: I would like to thank a special person our son had the opportu- nity to meet and get to know this past year. Rob Regnart is a 6th grade teacher at Vista School. He is also the basketball coach. My wife and I cannot begin to express our gratitude to this exceptional man who embodies everything that is good about teaching. Ethan's growth this year — academic, social and athletic — was substantial and obvious. Rob makes connections with kids that are necessary to both enhance the overall academic environment and promote learn- ing. I visited his classroom many times over the course of the year and the camaraderie and en- gagement of his students was truly amazing to witness. He brings joy to the classroom, and his students feed off his tireless energy. Whenever I needed to talk to Rob, he was always avail- able and willing to talk about whatever issues Ethan faced this year, whether academic or social. Making the transition from K-5 to middle school can be dif- ficult and downright scary for many kids. We explored all of our options in deciding which school Ethan would attend. At the end of the day, he wanted to go to Vista "because all my friends are going there." Little did we know that he would make another in his very own teacher. My wife and I thank God for men like Rob Regnart, and all the other fine teachers at Vista School who make a difference in the lives our of young kids each and every day. — Pat Gleason, Red Bluff A new direction? Editor: I was recently reading letters to the editor on behalf of Kathy Brandt and her recent departure from her many years of service as basketball coach because Red Bluff High School wants to move in a "new direction." Wait a minute. What about students and parents who have put in many hours of service and dedication to programs and are discounted and thrown out in spite of positive community in- put and support? And replaced with what? And why? Our family has been treated in much the same way after many years of service to the band program. The adminis- tration has received input from students, teachers, parents and completely discounted it for their "new direction." — Jenny Alexander, Red Bluff Your opinions Cartoonist's take Even though I've been writ- ing this column for more than 17 years, my mother still takes a per- verse pride in meeting new peo- ple and badgering them into ad- mitting that THEY don't "get" my sense of humor, either. She and my aunt have repeat- edly voiced their opinion that I should write "something sen- sible" that a "normal human" would understand. As the late, great Merle Hag- gard sang, "Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading I denied". So I'm still doing my tongue-in-cheek third annual tribute to mothers down through history who haven't received the proper respect. For example: Green Bay Packers coach- ing legend Vince Lombardi's mother, who said, "No, winning isn't the only thing — you also have to remember to bring your trophy home, doofus." Charles Darwin's mom, who said, "Kissing your great-aunt isn't going to kill you — and if it does, it just proves you weren't the fittest." The mother of "Soylent Green" star Charlton Heston, who warned, "Don't touch that. You don't know who it has been." Showman P.T. Barnum's ma- ter, who agreed, "Maybe there's a sucker born every minute — but I'll bet none of them put their mother through the sort of labor pains YOU did!" Popeye the Sailor Man's mother, who fumed, "Stop all this jazz about living in a frying pan! I don't need Child Protective Ser- vices beating down the door." James Bond author Ian Fleming's mom, who declared, "If you think you're getting these either shaken OR stirred, you'll have to settle for a bottle of formula, kid." Ellen DeGeneres's mother, who promised, "Someday your prince will come — and maybe he'll be carrying a secret note from his sister." Elvis's mother, who com- plained, "You've got some ex- plaining to do, young man. The neighbors found a hunk'a hunk'a burning SOMETHING on their front porch." Willie Nelson's mother, who demanded to know, "If all your friends were being rolled up and smoked when they died, would you be rolled up and smoked when you died?" Rose Kennedy, who asked little JFK, "What's all this 'Ich bin ein toddler' stuff?" Johnny Cash's mother, who an- nounced, "The baby just walked his first line!" Mount Everest explorer Sir Ed- mund Hillary's mom, who in- sisted, "'Because it was there' is no reason for me to clean up that mountain of laundry in your bed- room, you little ingrate." Poet Emily Dickinson's mother, who grumbled, "Be- cause you could not stop for the ice cream man, he kindly stopped for you? I told you to come straight home, missie!" Hulk Hogan's mother, who ca- joled, "Just act nice for the home movie, and you'll never have to fool with an embarrassing video again." Charles M. Schulz's mom, who said, "So the puppy followed you home? And can you keep him — and his Sopwith Camel?" Author Stephen King's mother, who said, "So the puppy followed you home? RUN! Run for your life! But not to the car! And watch out for clowns! And prom dresses!" Untold numbers of mothers during Europe's Black Death, who answered chants of "Bring out your dead!" with "Not until they've got clean underwear!" Perhaps next Mother's Day I'll be less jocular and try some- thing more sober, more tradi- tional, more uplifting. Maybe we can even persuade Paula Deen to cater the event. You remember her mother, right? The one who insisted, "No running with scis- sors — unless they're deep-fried scissors. Mmmm...?" Danny Tyree welcomes email responses at tyreetyrades@aol. com and visits to his Facebook fan page Tyree's Tyrades. Danny Tyree Honoring history's greatest moms, the third attempt 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@ 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 By Danny Tyree Stan Statham Assemblyman James Galla- gher, 2060 Talbert Drive, Ste. 110, Chico 95928, 530 895-4217, http:// ad03.asmrc.org/ Senator Jim Nielsen, 2634 For- est Ave., Ste. 110, Chico 95928, 530 879-7424, senator.nielsen@ senate.ca.gov Governor Jerry Brown, State Capital Building, Sacramento 95814, 916 445-2841, fax 916 558- 3160, governor@governor.ca.gov U.S. Representative Doug La- Malfa, 507 Cannon House Office Building, Washington D.C. 20515, 202 225-3076 U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, One Post St., Ste. 2450, San Fran- cisco 94104, 415 393-0707, fax 415 393-0710 U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, 1700 Montgomery St., San Fran- cisco 94111, 510 286-8537, fax 202 224-0454 YOUR OFFICIALS OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, April 28, 2016 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A6