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How valuable is water? It is priceless in California, where water wars have occurred throughout its history. Itdateswaybacktothe early 1900s when Los Ange- les secretly began stealing wa- ter they thought they needed and wanted from the Owens Valley. A movie called "Chinatown" starring Jack Nicholson was made about that theft way back in 1974. Now I am happy to tell you that "desalination" is no lon- ger a pipe dream for all those thirsty people in Southern Cal- ifornia. As of early this year seven ocean desalination plants are under consideration along California's coasts from Dana Point through Monterey Bay. By the mid-2020s, those plants could be supplying 10 percent of the fresh water needed in parts of Los Ange- les and Orange counties. And, in Carlsbad there is another desalination plant that is on track to produce 8 percent of the water needed in San Diego County. Many people still say the technology is too new and ex- pensive to be a long-range so- lution to water needs. I don't think that is right. Let's seriously start get- ting a good part of our water from the Pacific Ocean. Desal- inating sea water means sim- ply drawing from the ocean through intake pipes that are either in the open or below the ocean floor. That water is then filtered for the bigger contaminants and some tiny sea creatures. Then it goes through a reverse osmosis system. That pressur- izes the water through mem- branes and separates out the salt. Viola! The remaining product is drinkable water. Yes, removing the salt from the Pacific is a more expensive process, but our citizens have developed a bad habit of tak- ing too much water from un- der California's ground. How- ever, an analysis shows it would cost the average house- hold only between $3 and $6 per month if we used desalted Pacific Ocean water. Bare in mind, California's population will not be declin- ing. I think we should have been desalinating decades ago. If we are getting close to colonizing on the planet Mars, which we are, let's start speed- ing up the process of desalina- tion. It makes a lot of common sense to begin creating a de- pendable and adequate water supply for a better future. As always, I would like to get your thoughts on this at StanStatham@gmail.com. There are environmental groups who still oppose desal- ination. However, California's State Water Resources Control Board has already established rules for the intake pipes, call- ing for them to be outfitted with screens that have open- ings no bigger than a credit card. America is actually behind the curve on desalination. I was pleasantly surprised re- cently to learn that there are now 18,000 desalting plants in 150 countries worldwide. Saudi Arabia is by far the big- gest and most successful pro- ducer using this technology. Our golden state would al- ways have had all the wa- ter it would have needed, but it should have been managed more expertly over the de- cades with more storage facil- ities (reservoirs). That is just one example. My take is that desalination should be a definite and signif- icant part of our water man- agement solutions now and in the future. I think the drought from which we are still recov- ering is another good reason to desalt some of the Pacific. Mytakeonthemovies "Beauty and the Beast" is a good and predictable Dis- ney film. The costumes, cast- ing, and musical performances are delightful. I was even re- minded of "The Sound of Mu- sic" film with Julie Andrews. I even think this movie is more for adults than kids. You will of course love the Beast. 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. Editorial My take on desalination Many people still say the technology is too new and expensive to be a long-range solution to water needs. I don't think that is right. Cartoonist's take In the peak years of my scour- ing yard sales and junk shops for second-hand, dollar-bin vi- nyl record al- bums, I didn't re- ally focus on com- pany labels. I paid more attention to genres and artists. Still, it's only fitting that I now shine the spot- light on a single company, since I learned that Capitol Records (the first major West Coast record company) cel- ebrates its 75th anniversary on March 27. Besides the Broadway mu- sical soundtracks, classical re- cordings, high fidelity jazz ses- sions and comedy albums (yes, I have a battered copy of Andy Griffith's 1958 pre-TV "Just For Laughs" album near my bed), Capitol has hosted some real pop/country/rock superstars over the past three-quarters of a century: Nat King Cole, Tennes- see Ernie Ford, Frank Sinatra, the Kingston Trio, the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Glen Camp- bell, Bob Seger and the Sil- ver Bullet Band, Queen, Garth Brooks, Coldplay, Katy Perry, and hundreds more. I did not realize until I started researching this column that TV star Bozo the Clown was actually created in 1946 for Cap- itol's new children's record li- brary. Bozo. Capitol. Somehow the two words seem to go together perfectly. ("Oh, the polls shifted suddenly since I started this three-day filibuster? Uh, I think I hear my page calling me.") My wife and I watch a lot of the current crop of time-travel TV shows ("Timeless," "Doctor Who," "DC's Legends of Tomor- row") in which someone is al- ways intentionally or acciden- tally altering history. I shud- dered when I thought about someone traveling back in time (either with an agenda or just a general flair for mischief) and altering some of the great re- cordings Capitol has contributed to the American songbook. What if there was no one to encourage Sloopy to hang on? What if all Helen Reddy's an- them could manage was "I am woman, hear me mansplain"? Or if Bob Seger's "Someday, lady, you'll accomp'ny me" was about public restrooms? Would it be as romantic if the original Beach Boys had sung "In My (Wiretapped) Room" or "Wouldn't it be nice if we were older/Then we could use Medi- care before it goes broke"? Would our musical legacy be as rich if it included "She Blinded Me With Settled Sci- ence," "Blue State Christmas" and "Be True To Your School Voucher"? Would it be tiresome if the Steve Miller Band's "Jet Airliner" was expanded to in- clude a verse for every single new airline surcharge? Do we really need a ditty as divisive as "Good Vibrations: The Kind That Will Hopefully Slide That Bleeding Heart Sanc- tuary State Right Into The Ocean"? It might promote healthier lifestyles, but wouldn't we lose some of the poignancy if the al- tered reality found oldies sta- tions playing "The Night They Bicycled Old Dixie Down"? Audiophiles with different lo- cations on the political spec- trum would probably come to blows if "Theme From A Sum- mer Place" became "A Summer Place? Everywhere Is A Summer Place! Watch Out For Drifting Polar Bears!" Could Loggins and Messina be bribed into producing "Your Mama Don't Dance And Your Daddy Don't Have A Y Chromo- some"? Could threats make MC Ham- mer sing, "U Can't Touch This ... Oh, Wait, You're A Celebrity, So Go Ahead And Grab"? Let's all be thankful for the Capitol discography as it exists — and pray that we don't wake up to hear a rebooted Ol' Blue Eyes crooning, "I've Got You Un- der My Skin (And I Feel Down- right Patriotic Now That The Government Can Track Me This Way)." Danny Tyree welcomes email responses at tyreetyrades@aol. com and visits to his Facebook fan page, "Tyree's Tyrades." Culture Take time to appreciate Capitol Records on its anniversary Another view Depending on your personal biochemistry, allergy season is either here or just around the corner. But I know allergens are beginning to make scouting forays into my nasal passages. "What's hap- pening? My nose is running all of the time and I'm sneezing. And my eyes are itch- ing." "Oh, that's right — allergy season is starting." Those who aren't plagued by yearlong sinus issues com- pletely forget this troubling time of year until it comes around. And when it does start — the quest for a cure begins anew. I think some folks go to al- lergy specialists quite a bit. Some 40-plus years ago, fol- lowing my first allergy at- tack, the doctor told me it was caused by tree pollen. Since then, I have only had the oc- casional chat with my general practitioner seeking an ever more effective medication. Way back when, all allergy medications turned you into a zombie. I remember trying to stay awake in class while drugged with antihistamines. Soon non-sedating drugs were developed. I've seen most prescription allergy medications become availa- ble over the counter through the years. My doctor recently sug- gested I try a different spray. When I went to pick it up, the pharmacist told me it would be $90 — and that was after my insurance. No thanks. Ninety dollars a month is too steep for me, so I made do with what I had. Many na- sally inhaled corticosteroids are available both as a generic and over the counter — and therefore much cheaper. At the big-box stores you can get 600 sprays for about 25 bucks. That's my kind of price, even if I don't use it all. I remember when I heard about "Neti pots" the very first time. We were gathered round the coffeemaker discussing our various sinus issues. "I use a Neti pot," said one of my buddies. He explained that it was a little ceramic pot used to pour warm dis- tilled water, saline and baking soda up one's nose every night. I had never heard of such a thing. Maybe it would work for me too. After some internet re- search, I found the Neti pot equivalent in a plastic squeeze bottle. The solution is sup- posed to be squirted up one nostril until it comes out the other. Although doubting my ability to do such a thing, it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. While not a cure, it did help in specific situations. Nonethe- less, it became one more me- dicament in my armamentar- ium of sinus medications. I often use enough tissues to fuel my woodstove (at least for a few minutes). Sinus issues can be a disgusting nuisance. I love the commercial where folks crash into doors and drop files when a big sneeze hits them. There is another where an allergy-suffering carpooler blows the whipped cream from her coffee all over the windshield. I can empa- thize, as some of my most hor- rific sneezes were experienced while carrying a mug of hot coffee to my wife. It required the self-control of a shaolin monk to keep from hurling java in every direction. There are tissues in both cars and throughout the house, and I always have my trusty hanky in my pocket. Since one never knows when a nose will erupt, then the only civilized thing to do is to be ready. All of my fellow allergy suf- ferers out there certainly have my sympathy. Whether its sprays or pills or squirting jets of scalding water — some- thing will work — at least for a while. So don't give up. It'll be au- tumn again before you know it, so hang in there. Corky Pickering and his wife relocated from the Bay Area to Cottonwood in 2014. He recently retired from the federal government as an attorney advising law enforcement. He has been a rock and roll bass player and a Marine JAG. He can be reached at thecork6@ gmail.com. Allergy season is almost here ChipThompson, 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: Daily News 728Main St., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS Danny Tyree Capitol has hosted some real pop/ country/rock superstars over the past three-quarters of a century. Stan Statham Corky Pickering Way back when, all allergy medications turned you into a zombie. I remember trying to stay awake in class while drugged with antihistamines. Soon non- sedating drugs were developed. I've seen most prescription allergy medications become available over the counter through the years. OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, March 23, 2017 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A4