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Now this will be interesting. Under the federal Real ID Act, the DMV in California will be tightening down on procedures for getting a driver’s license. That’s good, right? Well, not so fast.
It means longer lines at the DMV. Every driver will be affected. Those getting their first license or those renewing their old one will have to pay more and jump through more hoops. Here's the kicker: California also won’t be able to allow drivers to renew their licenses by mail. Your identity must be confirmed in person. You can schedule an appointment -- next decade, maybe.
All in all, it will be a real pain for most Californians. Do you think the DMV can do this smoothly? You must be dreaming. And will this make it safer, or is it just one more thing to allow Congress to say it's doing something to fight terrorism?
Real ID is the subject of our lead editorial on Wednesday. Check it out. You'll probably come away angry. But just in case you enjoy being frustrated by government bureaucracy, then Real ID is for you.
Today is Fat Tuesday, and just as they always do, the people in New Orleans are celebrating in the streets.
The celebratory mood isn't confined to the Crescent City. The Tower District's ninth Mardi Gras parade Sunday gave local residents a chance to get into the spirit of the pre-Lenten season, and they grabbed at the chance.
But for New Orleans residents still waiting to return home after evacuating in Hurricane Katrina's wake, this is no time to party.
Two writers on The Fresno Bee's Op-Ed page take a look today at whether this celebration is appropriate this year, just six months after the city was devastated when levees broke in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, scattering two-thirds of its residents to other parts of the country.
Eugene Robinson's piece is titled "Triumph of human spirit or waste of resources." New Orleans resident Andrei Codrescu, author of "New Orleans, Mon Amour," says New Orleaneans have to celebrate Mardi Gras, to prove to themselves, and the world, that they will come back from this devastating blow.
Whether you agree or not with New Orleans' decision to go ahead with this year's Mardi Gras celebration, you have to admire the resilience of the human spirit that allows residents to laissez les bons temps rouler ("let the good times roll"), even as much of the city is still destroyed and empty.
This indomitable human spirit, this will to overcome obstacles, is within all of us. We may only see it under the worst possible circumstances, but it's something we all have. And it's worth celebrating.
A recent article from adage.com reports a trend that many workers are reluctant to take vacations, scared the boss will discover that he or she can do without them. A study last year by Universal Orlando Resort said about half of workers left vacation time on the table. That has led some employers, concerned about the health and productivity of their workers if they don't take time off to recharge, to add policies mandating that employees take at least a weeklong vacation.
One of our church pastors reminded me this week of a story leadership experts like to tell about a young lumberjack. He was hired on the spot after the boss saw him cut down a tree faster than any of his other workers. As the week wore on, however, the boss became less and less impressed and by Thursday, he told the young man to pick up his check. His services were no longer needed. The treecutter was stunned. He had worked harder than any of the other workers -- he took no breaks and couldn't understand why he wasn't appreciated. The boss, however, had watched the young man's productivity go from best to worst as the week wore on. When he heard the young man's defense of his work ethic, the boss asked an important question: "Did you stop to sharpen your saw?"
Ridership on the Valley's Amtrak trains -- the San Joaquins -- rose last year, with a big jump in the traffic between Fresno and Bakersfield. A Bee business story Tuesday suggests higher gas prices may be the reason. Whatever the cause, it's good to see. California and especially the Valley were made for train travel, and more is better.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration, which tried to kill Amtrak outright last year, has proposed a new budget for this year of $900 million. That's a 30% cut from last year's budget. And it gets worse: Nearly half the money is tied to vague "discretionary grants," to be handed out at the whim of the Secretary of Transportation. And it gets worse. Another $290 million is committed to debt service. So the actual amount of guaranteed money for the system is around $210 million. Last year's budget was $1.3 billion. Check out a memo from Friends of the Earth on the subject
Amtrak's enemies rail against subsidizing a system that doesn't make a profit. It's curious: Every form of transportation in this country -- especially cars -- is heavily subsidized, but that's evil only when it comes to trains.
The story of Janete Perez in Eddie Jimenez's column today makes me want to kiss that child on both cheeks. A graduate of McLane High School, she is getting ready to graduate from the Ivy League's Brown University. She already has a job lined up as a program manager for Microsoft. Good for her. But what really impresses me was her determination, despite discouragement from her family. They wanted her to stay closer to home, like many Valley parents. She was inspired, however, not to settle for "good enough" as Mas Masumoto would say, but to shoot for the stars by a school counselor, Diana Rodriquez, who is now at Sunnyside High. Bless you, Diana.
Now, of course, Janete's parents are her biggest cheerleaders. They should be very proud of their daughter. Our niece is having the opposite problem. She's been accepted to several of the nation's best medical schools, but she's getting pressure from her fiance to go to a state school so she can be near him. The family, of course, has a united voice: "Are you crazy? Take Georgetown!" Her heart is pulling one way, her head another. She's a brilliant young woman. I'm sure she'll do well no matter what the choice. But it's not easy.
We host an exchange student from Norway, Merete, and we talk a lot about "people pleasing," the huge price people pay for it and the importance of not getting tricked into it. How wonderful that Janete found the strength to take a risk -- to stand up for her dream. I wish her every happiness in her new career.
David Mas Masumoto wrote a fine piece for the cover of Sunday's Vision section, dissecting the horrible tendency we have in Fresno and the Valley to settle for less than the best. It resonated with me because I've been angered and frustrated for years by the monstrous inertia that often plagues us.
A favorite example of mine was the naysaying and sneering that went on during the long years it took to build Grizzlies Stadium. One of the frequent complaints was that Fresno didn't need a "gold-plated" stadium, as if to suggest that less will always do.
One of the most encouraging things about all this ferment lately -- about downtown, the arts, the social milieu, the Creative Economy Council, the Regional Jobs Initiative -- is that it represents a determination not to settle for something less than the best.
I recall meeting a friend in the stadium at the end of the first game played there some years ago. He is a third- or fourth-generation Fresnan, and cherishes the town as deeply as anyone. He also hates that ennui that leaves us constantly having to endure second- or third-rate stuff. We greeted each other with no small amount of glee at finally being in the new stadium, and then he took a slow look around at the capacity crowd, the fine spring evening sky, the lights, the players leaving the field -- the whole beautiful scene. Then threw his head back and screamed -- perhaps to the demons of mediocrity -- "We deserve this!"
A few people nearby laughed; some raised fists in support and smiled -- they knew.
Maybe that ought to be the battle cry: "We deserve this!" Because we certainly do.
I honestly thought it was an anti-casino TV commercial.
It starts out with a couple hiking through the forest, enjoying the scenic vistas of Yosemite. Slowly, the peaceful sounds of nature, birds chirping, leaves rustling, are overtaken by snippets of electronic noise.
Suddenly, it seems to take a menacing turn. The scene around the couple spins, and jangling slot machines push up through the pine needles covering the ground, finally obliterating the forest. This is the point where, I swear, I thought casino opponents would say that Indian gaming is ruining our nature retreats.
But all is well in the end -- the couple's garb changes from hiking to evening attire, as they find themselves smack in the middle of the casino at Chukchansi Gold. They walk up to one of the slot machines and the woman pushes away the last remnant of the forest, a pine branch.
I'm not anti-casino, or even anti-gambling, but this seemed an odd way to make either seem appealing. I preferred the casino ad where Mr. Big Spender swaggers through the casino, or where the lobster dinner comes out of the slot machine.
We have an editorial running in Monday's paper about Fresno County's decision to eliminate a program that counsels siblings of teen parents.
Why is this kind of program worth saving? Because it is a one-on-one approach to teaching at-risk children that it's not normal or ideal to have babies when you still can't take care of yourself.
You might assume that younger siblings, seeing how having a baby at a young age can negatively affect an entire family, would think twice about having babies of their own. Studies have shown the opposite -- younger brothers and sisters are more likely to have children before they reach adulthood.
The cost factors of teen pregnancy are an immense burden for our state. But we can't forget that behind all the numbers are children having babies before they are ready -- or able -- to care for them. And that's a burden that we can't afford -- either as individuals or as a state -- to ignore.
It seems we've salvaged -- at least for the moment -- the $1 billion in funding to upgrade gritty Highway 99. The Assembly speaker now is on record supporting the Highway 99 money. Fabian Núñez, the Democrat who runs the Assembly, sent a letter to The Bee in response to our editorial on Thursday warning that big-city legislators were talking about stealing the Valley’s transportation funding. Here’s the opening of the speaker’s letter to The Bee:
“In response to the Feb. 23 editorial, 'Highway 99: When is it our turn?': The Fresno Bee was right. Highway 99 is 'the lifeline of the Valley’ and a critical component of the state's overall freeway system.” He went on to say that the $1 billion for Highway 99 remains in the Democrats’ plan for the Valley.
Here’s the link to the entire letter, which ran Saturday: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/lets_ed/story/11848562p-12561557c.html
Here's the link to editorial in Thursday's Bee: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/story/11835832p-12550548c.html
The Bee's editorial shining a light on the possibility of the Valley losing the money made a difference, just as a legislative committee began carving up the bond pie. Now if the Legislature tries to pull back, at least we have the speaker’s words on the importance of the Highway 99 bond money.
But Valley legislators must remain vigilant. The Highway 99 bond money proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger could be removed by the state Senate or in some last-minute deal that seems to be so prevalent in the Capitol.
We've been through a rough patch lately here at The Bee. We lost a good friend and colleague in Donald Coleman, and then, the day before Donald's funeral, long-time editorial page editor Tom Kirwan died unexpectedly.
Tom was especially important in my career. He hired me to join The Bee's editorial page department in 1989, and taught me almost all I know about the craft of writing opinion pieces. My successes here I largely owe to Tom; my failures have come mostly on those occasions when I forgot what he taught me.
He was also a warm and kind man, thoroughly decent and gracious. He did much to shape the public landscape of this city and region for the better. He worked in the anonymity of the unsigned editorial, but still managed to gather hundreds of friends and admirers.
Some of them will be at Tom's services, which are tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Chapel, 1525 E Saginaw Way (just west of Blackstone and just north of Dakota).
And the Fresno County Board of Supervisors will have a moment of silence for Don and Tom at their Tuesday, Feb. 28 meeting.
Saturday is Valley Voices day on the Op-ed pages, which is reserved for commentaries and personal essays by Valley people. This week we have three serious pieces that will definitely get you thinking.
Phil Fullerton, a retired lawyer, asks the provocative question, would a civil war in Iraq be so bad? He thinks not; many nations survive them and come out stronger for it. Perhaps Iraq would too.
Don Blakeley, a philosophy professor at Fresno State, stands back and takes a big-picture view of the Muslim cartoon controversy.
And Craig Easter, a Fresno potter, reminisces about the final day of Hans Sumpf clayworks, a longtime Valley business that recently closed.
Enjoy! Then write a letter to the editor www.fresnobee.com or post a blog comment and tell us your ideas.
On Tuesday, Fresno's creative community will hold its March on the Mall, and then head to City Hall and tell council members how they think the Fulton Mall can be improved. Many of you have already offered solutions to the mall's problems in letters to The Bee. We have republished them on our Opinion page on Fresnobee.com. Here's the link: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/lets_ed/topics/story/11834973p-12549947c.html
The March on the Mall is a good way to get involved in your government. It begins at noon Tuesday at the Clock Tower. The Creative Economy Counci's report to the City Council is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. You can read the CEC's report on Fresno's future here: http://www.fresnocec.org/
A few weeks ago, I offered my take on the Fulton Mall in a column. You can read it at http://www.fresnobee.com/columnists/boren/story/11771582p-12491296c.html
The Fulton Mall is a jewel of downtown Fresno and deserves your attention. Don't let the City Council make a decision on the mall's future without hearing from you.
The March on the Mall will include these activities, according to the event's sponsors:
"During the march, numerous volunteers will act out different activities that represent a vibrant life on the mall from waiting at a fictitious light rail stop to enjoying live music to sitting on benches and using a make-believe Wi-Fi network. In addition, dozens of volunteers will simply walk up and down the mall to demonstrate what it would look like if it reached its full potential."
The Bee's Joan Obra writes in her weekly column Wednesday that a number of new restaurants are about to hit the scene. I live near the Tower District, so I'm particularly interested in what's coming to my neighborhood, especially if it involves food. Joan tells us that a "pan-Mediterranean" restaurant called "M" is planned for the former Daily Planet/Coconut Club space, and that's a wonderful bit of news. Mediterranean is one of the cuisines that's missing there. Periodically there is talk of an Indian restaurant -- ah, samosas! ah, curry and vindaloo! -- somewhere in the area. That would be nice, too. Anybody have any other culinary niches they would like to see filled?
OK, the fight's on. I wrote earlier about the Mommy Wars being egged on at "Good Morning America." www.abcnews.com. I really feel mothers shouldn't line up against each other, but help each other along the way. What was I thinking?
On this morning's show, the claws came out. Frankly, I'm surprised this topic is still pitting women against each other. This is such old news. I first wrote about this 30 years ago and, it really was a bitter fight. Career women were calling the housewives boring little dregs and the housewives were calling the working women bad mothers. It got pretty vicious sometimes. I thought that was all so passe. Not true!
I even got a comment on my blog item from a stay-at-home dad -- he wants to fight, too! Although, he's the first one I've seen with a sense of humor. Well, OK, knock yourselves out. Jump in here on the comments line and attack if you want. There is a lot of pent-up self-righteousness out there.
The truth is, at every step, we make compromises with ourselves, our husbands and our children to keep everyone as happy and healthy as possible. We just have to do the very best we can to balance the emotional, financial, spiritual needs of ourselves, our husbands and our families.
It's great for women and men to talk about about our ideas, our choices and about how we feel about them. But really, it's not a fight. It's a fascinating and fun journey we all make together. Let's share the maps.
Our editorial page on Thursday will be devoted to getting more state funding to improve Highway 99 through the San Joaquin Valley. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has put $1 billion into his bond proposal for Highway 99 upgrades, but legislative leaders want to give the Valley’s money to San Francisco and Los Angeles. Here's the link to Thursday’s editorial: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/story/11835832p-12550548c.html
This is an in-your-face challenge to the Valley. Are we going to let L.A. and San Francisco steal our lunch money again?
I turned on the TV this morning and I almost fell off my exercycle. The big story being promoted on "Good Morning America" was titled "The Mommy Wars," which was being framed as a "new" argument between women. The audience was being invited into a "fight" over whether highly educated women should work or stay home with their children. It's going to go on for another day. www.abcnews.com
Fortunately, most of the women they chose to interview -- except for one writer -- didn't want to dictate what other women should do with their lives. They clearly didn't want to fight about it and understood working was an individual choice. That's the rational approach. There is nothing to fight about. Well, count me a conscientious objector in this war. I'm all for women vetting their choices with other women -- it helps you to clarify your own values. But trying make a one-size fits all recipe for being a wife and mother is like trying to make a supper menu that every toddler would eat. Ain't happening.
For anyone who really thinks there is only one right answer, I've got two words for you: "Wife Swap." Have you seen the wacky mothers on that TV show? Working is the least of their issues.
Remember all that campaign rhetoric from Valley legislators about how effective they are in Sacramento? Now we'll see if they can back up their big talk or shrivel when confronted by legislators from the state's population centers. The battleground is state funding for Highway 99.
The $1 billion that Gov. Schwarzenegger has proposed for Highway 99 in his strategic growth bond is under attack from Bay Area and Southern California legislators. If the Valley loses this funding it will be because our legislators don’t have the juice to represent us when the stakes are high. We should not forget that at election time.
This isn’t a party issue. Democrats and Republicans across California don’t like the idea that the Valley may finally get its share of state resources, even though Schwarzenegger thinks it's a good idea. Valley legislators must take a stand for fairness, and to show that they can deliver for their constituents.
These are the people who must get the job done for the Valley: State Sens. Chuck Poochigian and Dean Florez, and Assembly Members Dave Cogdill, Juan Arambula, Mike Villines, Nicole Parra and Bill Maze.
The Legislature is finalizing the governor’s bond proposal, which could go before California voters this year. The governor has proposed a $12 billion strategic growth bond for the state, and the $1 billion for Highway 99 would be part of it. That funding would be a down payment on upgrading the main highway in the Valley. The overall cost for fixing Highway 99 is $6 billion.
This is a big test. Will the Valley get its fair share of the bond or will we continue to be second-class citizens when it comes to allocating state resources?
In tomorrow's lead editorial, we'll be taking stock of the Regional Jobs Initiative and its progress toward creating thousands of new jobs in the Valley. The effort is showing some signs of success.
We also take a look at China's efforts to clamp down on Internet users. Some big outfits -- Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Cisco Systems -- have gone along, but there's evidence that a resistance is brewing among the Chinese people themselves.
And we write about the recent study that suggests calcium isn't the miracle of bone preservation we've been led to believe it is. It's the latest word from The Women’s Health Initiative, a multiyear federal project that tracks thousands of women to try to figure out the true roles of diet and medicines in fighting disease.
I talked to a Fresno businessman recently who was in talks with someone in Vermont to build a Web site for his business.
"Why do you have to look to Vermont for that? Can't you find someone locally who can do the job just as well?"
His point was that the Internet has made place irrelevant -- we are no longer "limited" to shopping among local vendors to find what we need as far as goods or services.
Today, during an editorial board meeting with representatives of the Regional Jobs Initiative, a Fresno-area volunteer effort to create jobs, I was reminded of this previous conversation when Ashley Swearengin, the head of the RJI, said one of her group's goals is to get the Valley work force to the point "where they can compete on a national, or even global level, because anymore it's all the same."
That is an eye-opening way to look at how we need to go about addressing our region's problems. We can't just work on making things better here today than they were five, 10 or 20 years ago. We're not just competing with our own past record.
We need to think of solutions that put us on a level playing field with the global marketplace that is the world today.
There's a study out from NASA that shows the folks at Tree Fresno are doing more than beautifying Fresno with their projects, they're cooling the city as well.
But there is more we can do to defeat the heat. Most folks are putting dark tile or composition roofs on their homes when they build or reroof. According to NASA's study -- wrong choice for a hot city like ours! Well, the materials are probably fine, but the color just won't do. We should have white roofs.
"We found that vegetation is a powerful cooling mechanism," according to a spokesman on the Web site http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/nyc_heatisland.html.
"It appears to be the most effective tool to reduce surface temperatures. Another effective approach is a man-made approach to cooling by making very bright, high albedo, or reflected light, on roof tops. These light-colored surfaces, best made using white coatings, reflect the sun's light and thereby, its heat."
Well, that makes sense. Now, about that dark gray tile we just put on our roof that's designed to last a lifetime -- oopsie.
This had to be one of those Internet rumors that would quickly turn out to be false: The Bush administration has given a contract to provide security and oversee other operations at six American ports to a state-owned business of the United Arab Emirates. But it's no rumor -- and Bush administration representatives even say it was a wise decision.
Who cares if the United Arab Emirates had been a base of operations and a financial haven for terrorists who attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001? Who cares if the UAE continues to allow terrorists to thrive?
I have a four-word response for the Bushies: What are you thinking?
This not only doesn't make sense from a security point of view, it's bad politics from an administration already reeling from its mishandling of Hurricane Katrina, the Medicare prescription drug mess, the CIA leak case and the recklessness of Vice President Dick Cheney.
But it seems that nothing has really changed since 9/11, at least when it comes to handing out government contracts. They'll outsource anything.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff doesn't see a problem, according to the Associated Press. Of course, Chertoff also oversaw the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina. Maybe it's time to put Britney Spears in charge of homeland security. At least we'd know what we're getting. Britney couldn't be any more out of touch than Chertoff.
Call me silly, but I'm very concerned about the six ports whose operations are being outsourced by the Bush administration. Those ports are in New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. Can't the administration find someone in this country to run these ports?
Please say this is a joke!
A new Fresno organization has an impressive agenda, including halting the community's "brain drain," fixing downtown and making the entire city more livable. The Creative Economy Council just finished a report on improving Fresno, and its recommendations will soon be made to City Hall.
You can read the report by going to http://www.fresnocec.org/. The group offered nearly 100 recommendations on making Fresno better. A key goal is attracting more "knowledge workers" to the city. Most of the CEC members are creative young professionals who are bringing a new perspective on revitalizing downtown. We're fortunate to have these folks getting involved instead of getting frustrated and fleeing to other cities.
True to its name, the group has developed a creative way of making its many points. One is the March on the Mall scheduled for Feb. 28. That’s also the day the CEC report will be presented to the City Council. The march on the Fulton Mall should create quite a buzz around the report.
The march is aimed at demonstrating how vibrant Fresno could be if our leaders embraced the creative possibilities. Hundreds of volunteers will be on the mall that day playing out a variety of vignettes of urban life.
According to the CEC’s Web site, you’ll see:
-- Gatherings of artists painting on their canvases.
-- “Knowledge workers” sitting on benches with laptops pretending to access a free Wi-Fi network.
-- Professionals standing in line at a fictional trolley/light rail stop waiting for the next train.
-- Shoppers with shopping bags bustling up and down the mall.
-- Street performers, such as magicians, jugglers, guitar players and others entertaining mall visitors.
-- A group of tourists on a guided tour of the Fulton Mall.
The Creative Economy Council has a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of ideas. That can only be good for Fresno.
Rep. George Radanovich, a six-term Republican, who has a relatively safe seat because of a redistricting system in California that protects incumbents, may be a bit worried about his election chances this time around. Democrat T.J. Cox is expected to be a tough opponent, although any Democrat is a huge underdog in this GOP district. But Radanovich is spending a lot more time in the Valley than in years past, which is an indication that he knows he won't be able to waltz to re-election in November.
Here’s another hint that Radanovich may be concerned: Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the new House majority leader, reportedly will be in Fresno next week for a fund-raiser for the Mariposa Republican. The Radanovich event is scheduled for noon Wednesday at the Copper River Country Club, according to those who have been e-mailed details of the fund-raiser. Boehner is making a California swing, and has added the Radanovich event onto his schedule.
Does Cox, a chemical engineer and business owner from Fresno, have any chance of beating Radanovich? Cox supporters say Radanovich has lost touch with the 19th District and knows he is in a lot of trouble.
But Valley Republican guru Michael Der Manouel Jr. countered with this statement in the FlashReport: "Cox could spend $10 million and Nancy Pelosi could spend another $10 million and Congressman Radanovich wouldn't lose."
Here's a link to the Der Manouel post: http://www.flashreport.org/blog0a.php?postID=2005103011082502&post_offsetP=0&authID=2005092213375049
Here's a link to an earlier column by John Ellis in The Bee on the 19th District race:
http://www.fresnobee.com/columnists/ellis/story/11413518p-12157704c.html
There's plenty to read on the Opinion pages of The Bee over the holiday weekend. Tomorrow we address the testimony of "Scooter" Libby, who may have implicated his boss, Vice President Dick Cheney, in the leak of a CIA's operative's name. We also pay tribute to an old colleague and friend, Tom Kirwan
On Sunday, we welcome Lewis Greene, the new director of the Chaffee Zoo, and raise the issue of oil companies drilling on federal; lands without returning a cent to taxpayers. Finally, we have kudos to Joey Cheek, the American Olympian who used his gold medal-winning performance to highlight tragedy in Darfur.
On Monday, our editorials contrast the performance under pressure of Abraham Lincoln and George W. Bush, and we discuss the danger of sexual predators released from jail after their sentences are up.
Tuesday, it's back to work for some of us, and we offer opinions on the old Hotel Fresno downtown and the state air board's decision to formally categorize cigarette smoke as a pollution hazard. Let us hear what you think.
We complain a lot about everything that's wrong with the public school system. But sometimes, administrators get some things right.
Last night I was at Reyburn Middle School for the academic awards program at which our daughter Alyssa was being honored. The gym was packed for two good reasons. First, more than 600 seventh- and eighth-graders were honored for achieving honor roll with GPAs of 3.25 or better. Second, every child being honored had at least one parent on hand to celebrate. Many had their entire families.
Guest speaker Jeff Eben, principal of Clovis East High School, emphasized to the parents how important it is to get involved with your children's education, and to stay involved. It was clear from the size of the crowd that he was preaching to the choir, but no one minded him making the point.
One of my favorite parts of the night, though, came from a child I've never met. Krishna Galaviz received a certificate for achieving eighth-grade honor roll status. Krishna, who has Down syndrome, was the hit of the party for both students and parents, but not because anyone mentioned the fact that she is developmentally disabled.
Instead, Krishna sat alongside her classmates, walked up to the stage with her classmates, and received the same certificate everyone else received. What made her stand out -- in a positive way -- was that she jumped up and down and spun circles with her award, both on stage and when she returned to her seat. She was so excited that she couldn't sit still, she kept turning around, waving and blowing kisses at her family, and everyone around her.
Having special education programs available in our public schools is vital. Giving those students the help they need to learn is one of our most important obligations as a society. But there are also times, like last night, when the best recognition is not special, but regular. Last night Krishna was one of more than 600, and she reveled in being treated no differently than anyone else.
It's a moment neither she nor her family will ever forget. And neither will I.
Once a month on Saturdays, we turn the Valley Voices page over to the commentaries of the Valley's young adults. This week, we have three compelling pieces by students in three different colleges. Amy K. Noel, who's in the Smittcamp Family Honors College at Fresno State, writes about her dream of going away to school in New York. When she got a full-ride scholarship to Fresno State that she couldn't turn down, however, her initial disappointment was quickly eclipsed by a big surprise. Clare Godinho, a journalism student at Fresno City College, heard about the proposed program cuts Fresno County wants to make to its mental health services and she decided to find out what's at stake for college students. Justin Duckham, a student at the University of California at Merced, says we should have seen the signs of oil addiction coming.
If you enjoy those pieces -- wait, there's more. On Sunday, Marissa Honda, a student at Clovis West and a fifth generation Japanese American, writes about a little-known part of World War II history, and that was the Japanese American men who became conscientious objectors during the war after the internment order was enforced. In some circles, they still are shamed for their stand. Marissa says it's time for that to end.
The family and friends of Don Coleman said our goodbyes in services held Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. Don was a treasured colleague and confidante and his quieted spirit has left a huge hole in our newsroom. In the printed remembrance given to each of us as we came in the doors of the sanctuary, his "Fresno Bee family" was listed among the survivors. I was struck by the truth of that sentiment.
As I looked around the room at St. John's Cathedral, I was struck by how closely bonded we all are to those with whom we share our workdays. Sometimes we see our coworkers more often than our own families. Much as the experts may try to divide our worlds between work and family, sometimes there is no way to do that. Sometimes, our coworkers are our family.
I was on campus this morning at Fresno State, speaking to a class of journalism students about copy editing. I thought I might come away from the experience with some new perspective on the state of journalism's future.
Instead, my main impression was "Who dresses these people?"
It wasn't the students in the class I visited -- they all seemed respectably dressed. Maybe the instructor warned them I was coming -- in any case, they weren't the offenders.
It was as I was leaving campus, driving back to work. I saw a young man walking west on Barstow toward Cedar wearing what looked like Guinness pajama bottoms and flip-flop sandals. Then as I waited at the light, I was mooned by a guy on a bicycle whose trousers hung low on his -- let's be honest -- backside.
I remember the remarkable sense of many kinds of freedom that I experienced when I went away to college. It's a great time of experimentation and exploration, especially away from the rigid fashion dictates of high school.
Still, this is also a time in young people's lives when they are learning how to be adults, and how to represent themselves in the workplaces that will follow college.
Pajama bottoms and flip-flops? Really. It's college, not a slumber party.
I've fallen into a silly habit since the day I first gained access to e-mail. Each winter I send brief messages out to family and friends -- "108," "76, "39" -- counting down the days until pitchers and catchers report for baseball's spring training.
It's part of an ancient obsession with the game that I share -- perhaps "inflict" is a better word -- with family and friends. Most of them are afflicted with the same obsession, at least to some degree. Many, in fact, think the last two words of the "Star-Spangled Banner" are "Play ball!"
Now the count is down to 0 -- as my dad reminded me this morning with his own brief e-mail. Spring training officially begins tomorrow. To paraphrase e.e. cummings, it's the force which through the winter drives the baseball fan.
I've always treasured this quote from Tallulah Bankhead, the famous actress, who said: "There have been only two geniuses in the world -- Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare." Sharp lady.
The recent alcohol-related death of former Fresno State student Danny Daniels Jr. at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity has drawn many people into debates over underage drinking and personal responsibility.
Recently in Minnesota, a similar discussion is brewing, but with a twist. According to the Star-Tribune, an intoxicated 20-year-old student called 911 without hesitating when another underage drinker, an 18-year-old guest of a friend, passed out.http://www.startribune.com/462/story/215460.html.
However, the caller didn't get a pat on the back for his life-saving rescue. Instead, Nick Stremer got slapped with a $140 citation for being an underage drinker himself. And that's set up a whole different debate. Should the caller have gotten a hero's citation rather than a fine? A number of people have felt so strongly about that they have stepped forward to pay the caller's fine.
One of those people was Julian Kycia, whose son, Patrick Kycia, of Stillwater, Minn., a sophomore at Moorhead State, was found dead in the Red River after a night of drinking at a fraternity house. "Maybe if there had been somebody like Nick around, someone who had an eye on my son, Patrick might still be alive."
When Stremer went to court, he was told one of his options was that he could plead guilty and pay a reduced fine of $70. So he took responsibility for his own mistake, dug into his own pockets and paid up.
That story had a happy ending but here is the scary part: In a survey last year at the University of Minnesota, only 54.5% of students said they would likely call for help if they found a fellow student passed out from drugs or alcohol. That's unnerving. The university has a "Don't Stall, Call" campaign going on to get students to react quickly to health emergencies by calling 911 pronto. Some people are saying that's not enough, suggesting a medical amnesty program should be in place for anyone who makes a life-saving call.
The police defend their actions in giving citations, saying just because you do the right thing doesn't give you license to illegally drink or take drugs to excess.
I think the police have discretion in these cases and they should use their best judgment in each incident without having a blanket policy. The results of the campus survey are most disturbing, however, in that they show how ignorant students are about the symptoms of overdosing. One of the reasons Stremer called for help is because he was educated in first aid and he knew the situation was potentially serious. I don't believe most students would intentionally allow someone to die. I think they are young, uninformed, inexperienced, afraid and one of the solutions to improving on those survey numbers is to empower them with facts.
No one who saves my child's life with a phone call is going to be paying fines, that's for sure.
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I got a note that said just that. The note was quite proper and signed -- well printed -- from the postmaster. The apology seemed sincere.
The note was printed on a plastic bag containing only the cover of my August issue of San Diego magazine. It arrived a few days ago, which was six months after it was supposed to be in my mailbox. The rest of the magazine -- the "best restaurants" issue -- was not in the bag. The front of the plastic bag said, "Received without contents." Ya think?
Here's more from the note from the friendly mail folks: "We sincerely regret the damage to your mail during handling by the Postal Service. We hope this incident did not inconvenience you."
Well, just a bit. The San Diego restaurant issue had no restaurant reviews -- just the cover. Okay, it got damaged in handling, but why did it take six months for what was left to get to Fresno? After the magazine got ripped up, someone at the post office carefully sealed the properly addressed cover in plastic and sent it on to Fresno. Somewhere along the way it got diverted. My imagination searched for clues. Heck, this is almost a cold case.
I'm thinking the magazine cover might have stopped off at Disneyland for a little R&R before heading through difficult Los Angeles traffic and then over the Grapevine. There could have been a detour at Magic Mountain. We could be talking about an amusement park junkie here just waiting for a chance to escape from the rest of that stuffy magazine. Maybe it got mugged in Bakersfield, or even spent some time cavorting with Buck Owens before getting back on Highway 99.
Finally, the long lost magazine cover found its way to Fresno. That could have been the end of this sad story, but the last part of the note from the Postal Service gave me hope: "We assure you that we are constantly striving to improve our processing methods in order that even a rare occurence may be eliminated."
That's good enough for me. I'm confident that other magazines will not face such treatment because the Postal Service cares.
The feds don't seem to get that. . . at least that's what the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed rollback of dust rules suggests. But State Sen. Dean Florez is working to ensure that California standards protect the health of Valley residents, even if federal standards are relaxed. We sound off on that issue in our main editorial on Wednesday.
We also say that the latest version of the Patriot Act puts your privacy at risk, and our third editorial says one semester of high school civics isn't enough. You get a nice variety of opinions from us on Wednesday, and we'd like to see what you think on these issues.
Check out our editorials, and then give us your take.
"I love Valentine's Day!" I was telling one of my single colleagues on the way up the stairs today. Easy for you, he said, you've got somebody. (Boy, do I ever have the world's best husband!) He went on to say that he got five or six e-mails today from single women who consider Valentine's Day just a day to feel bad.
Well, those friends of his might really like a Reuter's wire story out of New Delhi, where Hindus and Muslims are burning Valentine's Day cards. Protests were held Tuesday and about two dozen women separatists, veiled in black from head to toe, rummaged shops and burned -- Valentine's Day cards.
The Hindus and Muslims were making it a political statement, saying it's a Western import that spreads immorality among the young people. But they just might find an unexpected alliance in their cause among American women who don't appreciate watching that parade of red roses, heart balloons and puffy bears marching through the office -- right past their desks.
Actually, the Indians just might have a point. According to a story in the Wall Street Journal, Valentine's Day -- is the single biggest day of the year for private investigators, as they track down cheating spouses.http://online.wsj.com/public/article/. Even two-timers, it seems, try to do something nice for their mistresses on Valentine's Day. It's called a "business trip."
From the story: "If anything is going on, it will be happening on that day," says Irene Smith, who says business at her Discreet Investigations detective agency in Golden, Colo., as much as doubles -- to as many as 12 cases some years -- on Valentine's Day. Martin Investigative Services in Anaheim, Calif., has been booked up for Valentine's Day assignments since the end of January. Founder Thomas Martin, a former agent of the U.S. Justice Department, says the firm, which charges $95 an hour, will handle 14 to 20 suspected infidelity cases (today), nearly double its usual load."
So, where do you stand on the great Valentine's Day debate? Thumbs up or thumbs down?
Anyone still need a last-minute Valentine goodie for your sweetie? As I drove to work this morning, I must have seen 20 vendors along different corners of Clovis Avenue, selling flowers, balloons, who knows what all.
Of course, I've never been much of a street-corner shopper, on holidays or otherwise. Except for the fresh produce stands during strawberry season. Now there's a reason to brake in heavy traffic!
Something about the over commercialization of every holiday on the calendar seems to take some of the romance out of the day. A Bee article today talks about some unlikely businesses that cash in on the holiday.
For my own part, I was up till midnight last night making personalized photo Valentine's Day cards for my husband, my mom and our kids. What do you do to keep the holidays meaningful?
Juan Arambula served two terms on the Fresno Unified School District's board, then two terms as Fresno County Supervisor, before being elected to represent Fresno in the state Assembly.. Over the years, he developed a well-deserved reputation as a conciliatory, soft-spoken peacemaker who could get people to come together for their mutual benefit.
Now we learn there is something more lurking beneath that gentle exterior.
According to an article on the Web site Capitol Weekly, Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, an Orange County Republican, was lambasting various Democrats for being "soft on crime" the other day in a lengthy debate on a contentious sex offender bill.
Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Carson, became so angry at Spitzer that she said she was about ready to "punch him." Then it really got rough: Arambula threw down the figurative glove and offered to go "outside ... after the cameras are turned off," to instruct Spitzer directly on his "softness."
Yeah, don't mess with us Valley boys...
There's an outfit in Danielsville, Ga., called American Specialty Trucks that's customizing pickups for serious college football fans. They paint the trucks in school colors, embroider logos on the seats and make hood ornaments of the schools' mascots. The company made a deal with the NCAA and started up this product line last fall.
Turns out one of the best sellers is the Fresno State Bulldog edition, with about 25 sold so far, according to a story in the Raleigh News and Observer. Other big sellers are trucks tricked out in the colors of the universities of Michigan, Tennessee and Texas.
Haven't seen any of the local versions on the streets, but they must be out there somewhere. And who's selling them locally? Go 'Dogs.
Jim Boren's column on Sunday about Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante going public with his weight-loss plan was a very popular read over the weekend http://www.fresnobee.com/columnists/boren/story/11798878p-12516132c.html I am not surprised. We all want to see Cruz succeed because then there might actually be hope for all the rest of us who struggle. That would be me, too. I wonder if going public makes his chances for success better or if it just puts more stress on you, and then you want to eat more etc. We will see!
We had an interesting discussion at our morning editorial board meeting Monday about the rising profile of obesity as a public policy issue. Because of all the insurance costs associated with it -- and the effect on our children, who are becoming increasingly obese according to studies, we are all becoming more and more interdependent. If there are huge health care costs being incurred because of obesity, heart disease or diabetes, we will all pay for that. Businesses are already reacting to it. For example, at The Bee we have a gym for employees, a Weight Watchers group, a cafeteria that offers lots of healthy choices and short seminars on health issues that employees can attend during the lunch hour. It's not usual to see people walking around the block instead of eating pastry during their coffee breaks. That's, of course, in addition to our health-care plan. Other companies are thinking likewise.
We usually feel that our health habits are nobody else's business, but increasingly, like smoking, we see that it often affects others in ways we may not realize.
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