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6A Daily News – Friday, June 8, 2012 Opinion DAILYNEWS 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 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 day's sports page, of Red Bluff High School teacher Lukas Kennedy having a prank played on him during an exhibition basketball game, caught a few people's attention. A picture on Tues- Worth a thousand words? During the open- ing tip off of the game, which raised more than $1,300 for St. Jude Children's Hospital, a student opponent grabbed the teacher's gym shorts and pulled them down as Kennedy Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. leaped for the ball. A classic pantsing. I understand why such a photo was a good rep- resentation of the game and the spirit in the gym. It was the last week of school, when energy is high photo would offend some readers, and to those readers I apolo- gize. I heard from two. Kennedy called the sports editor and expressed his disap- pointment, as he believed the photo and the comments he was hearing from students detracted from the real story — that students and faculty came together for a good cause and raised a good chunk of money. I'll suggest the and pranks are common. This one came during a very posi- tive event and it drew a large cheer from the crowd. As pranks go, it was pretty harm- less. photo we ran captured it well. Good news photos should tell a story, and this one let readers know the tenor of the game with just a glance. Any time students join teachers in a common activity that takes them outside their traditional roles, a good time can be expected, usually with a generous portion of clowning around. Teachers will go out of their way to put themselves in embarrassing situations, because there is nothing fun- nier to students. Just look at the annual Holiday Classic rally in the gym. The faculty skits get the loudest cheers. That was the mood for Mon- day's charity game and the A straight photo of a jump shot or tip off would have merely told the story of a bas- ketball game like any other basketball game. This was no ordinary basketball game. Again, I apologize to any readers who were offended by the photo and to the teacher for any taunts the picture prompt- ed. Our intent was simply to tell the story in the best way possible. 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. Apologia Commentary In last week's "I Say," the headline read, "Wither the Word Merchant." The fellow in question took umbrage at the headline and stoutly proclaims he is not withering away. I told him that is not what I had in mind. I used the word in the poetic sense. "If that is the case," he said, "the word you were searching for is 'whither.'" Drat. That's why he is the Word Merchant and I am not. I retract the headline and am humbled in so doing, but remain an avid C. Larimer booster. *** It was interesting to watch Wyatt Doo- ley, our 8th-grader grandson, perform in a musical at his school in Woodside. Although the town is about half the size of Red Bluff, the per capita income of residents therein speaks of monies made. This may account for the school's lavish (by Red Bluff standards) production of the musical "Thoroughly Modern Milie." It featured minimal yet clever mobile sets, the principal players wore micro- phones to amplify their juvenile voices and the cast of 80 was outfitted in cos- tumes befitting the 1920 flapper era depicted. This was certainly not the ama- teurish grammar school presentation I had anticipated. In my day, at Lincoln Street Elemen- tary, we once presented a mini musical titled "The Burgermeister and His Cat." I was the cat and my lines consisted most- ly of "Meow, meow." It was a challenging role. Mother made my costume of grey muslin with ears and tail. I was only in the fourth grade but obviously showing talent at a tender age. Unfortunately this was not a precursor to the legitimate stage. By the way, the late Robert "Brick" Muller was an eighth grader at the time and portrayed the role of the Burgermeister. Many years later he formed a jazz quintet at Chico State in which I was the drummer. But...I digress. So this Woodside production was a far cry from most elementary productions and would have appealed to even a non- parenting observer. Prior to the play, however, I faced a moment of indecision. The Duke of Windsor who once gave Noel Coward sage advice when attending royal functions. He advised, "Go to the loo at every opportunity." He may have said lavatory, but you get the idea. Any- how, I heeded this advice and sought out a restroom at the school prior to the per- formance. I was directed to a long hall- way at the end of which was a room marked "Girls" and one marked "Boys." However the lat- ter had an added admon- ishment: "For the safety of our students, boys only." Whoa! Was this saying, in effect, no men are allowed in this restroom? If so, I was on the horns of a dilemma, or, as Shakespeare might have put it "To go…or not to go." At any rate, I chose to ignore the wordage, and soon, relieved in mind and body, greatly enjoyed my grandson's per- formance. *** For the computer literate, there is a scam or spam in our midst. I recently received email from a friend in which he forwarded a message which read "wow this is crazy, you should look into this," followed by a web site. And then, osten- sibly, he sent another reading "awesome, you should check this out. Wow." The language employed was not characteris- tic of him and when I asked, he replied he did not send it. So, how did it get for- warded to me? All I can think of is that we had corresponded within an hour of this false transmission...and some one subsequently was able to piggy back their message to me. Any readers have the same experience? *** Robert Minch I Say suffer from gunfire and/or related crime. None of the responses were from danger- ous locations shown on the maps, and, in one instance, Idaho, has become a safe haven for law abiding citizens because they have no gun control laws, every resi- dent has a gun and appar- ently is not afraid to use it. Hmmm. I must do research to counter their (and the NRA's) conclu- sion that we are a safer nation with lots of weapons at our disposal. *** One Charles Jaffe writes, "It is not your salary that makes you rich; it is your spending habits." If this is so, I know a lot of frugal people who are evidently about to become rich… including me. *** In a recent column I reported an aver- age of about 100,000 people in the U.S. are wounded or killed by guns each year, and suggested that at least automatic and semi-automatic rifles be banned. Two male family members replied they were against the idea, citing right to bear arms and all that jazz, plus a plethora of statis- tics and maps indicating those areas in the United States that were most likely to who matched these ballplayers with their nicknames: Henry Aaron, Hank, Hammer, Bad Henry; Stan Musial, The Man; Don- trelle Willis, D. Train; Ivan Rodriquez, Pudge; and Vern Law, Deacon/Preacher. Good show from a baseball filbert. This week's quiz: Has any baseball manager ever put himself into the line up? If so, who did, and what were the cir- cumstances? *** Worth telling again: A highway patrolman noticed a truck being driven erratically. On close inspec- tion, he saw 140 penguins on the back seat of the truck and pulled the driver over for unlawful possession of animals. But when the driver explained he was taking the penguins to the zoo, the officer relented. "O.K., I'll let you off this time, so long as you are definitely taking them to the zoo." However, the following day the same officer saw the truck weaving along the road, and once again there were 140 penguins on the back seat. He stopped the truck and said, "I thought you told me yesterday you were taking the penguins to the zoo." "I was," said the driver. "And today I am taking them to a theme park." Last week's quiz was first answered by V. Shaw 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.