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The first of three big discrimination trials against Fresno State has revealed one indisputable fact: The athletic department at Fresno State has been troubled for a long time. No matter which way these trials go, I hope the university steps back and takes a look at how and why the politics of personal destruction became what this athletic program is known for.
At the heart of the problem is inept athletic directors going back several years. Gary Cunningham and Jack Lengyel probably did their jobs well, but the rest of the AD's had serious issues. Testimony Friday in the Lindy Vivas case revealed a "civil war" in the athletic department during the mid-1990s over gender equity and diminishing resources. The university reached the bottom of the barrel when it hired Scott Johnson as AD. The athletic department careened out of control under Johnson's clumsy guidance. (That must be why Mayor Alan Autry hired Johnson at the city for $115,500 a year. But that's a story for another time).
Phil Fullerton, a retired lawyer, suggests that the athletic department be dissolved and the operations go under another university umbrella. He says Vanderbilt has done this successfully: "At Vanderbilt, they abolished the Athletic Department, and merged it with the Intramural Program to create a new Office of Student Athletics, Recreation, and Wellness. It has responsibility for not only varsity sports but also 37 club sports with 1,000 participants and an active student intramural program. The physical plant including stadiums was combined with the Student Recreation Center and playing fields in a new Office of Facilities and Conferences. The university's Public Affairs Department assumed responsibility for publicity. Chancellor Gordon Gee announced at the time that 'Vanderbilt is committed to competing at the highest levels in the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA, but we intend on competing consistent with the values of a world-class university.'"
This idea is worth discussing, although Fresno State's problems have been caused by incompetent administrators allowing the personnel issues to get out of control, and a desire to win, no matter how many felons some coaches recruit as athletes. The combination has given Fresno State a black eye across the nation. That doesn't seem to bother the sports folks. If the football team has a good season, that's all that matters.
Maybe Fullerton is correct that the athletic department needs to be blown up. But I think the problems could be solved at Fresno State with a competent AD supported by a university president willing to buck the big-dollar boosters.
I don't know about you, but hearing the latest testimony of Scott Johnson, Fresno State's former athletic director, makes me cringe. Do you think he understands what is actually coming out of his mouth?
In the Lindy Vivas discrimination trial being played out in the Fresno County Courthouse, Johnson wants to persuade us that he fired Vivas as volleyball coach because he wanted to improve the volleyball program. Now we find out that Johnson doesn't even know how many volleyball players are actually on the court when the Bulldogs are competing.
From today's Bee story:
Then, Fresno State attorney Dawn Theodora asked Johnson: "How many players play on a volleyball team one match at a time?"
To which Johnson replied, "Seven or eight."
Some in the gallery broke out in laughter, aware that Johnson had answered incorrectly.
"You mean six?" Theodora said.
"Excuse me, six," Johnson replied. "You're right."
So much for knowing details about the athletic program at Fresno State. Maybe that's why the athletic department budget is in such terrible shape. "Why are all those numbers in the budget in red, Scott?" "Oh, that's because they are part of the Red Wave."
Now Johnson is the city of Fresno's economic development dirctor making $115,500 annually. Here's a hint for Johnson when he's talking to his bosses at City Hall. There is one mayor and seven City Council members.
If your children get free lunches during the school year or you know someone who does, be sure to check out Fresno County's Summer Lunch program.
The cost of those extra lunches can really cut into the family budget during the summer, and we all want the children to have the best nutrition possible. Children 18 and under can go, and there's no registration. At dozens of sites around the county, healthful lunches are being served under the auspices of the Fresno County EOC and Fresno Unified and Fresno County School Districts. The Summer Food Program is sponsored by the USDA. Some locations also serve dinner or breakfast, too.
And while you are there, check into getting food stamps. We are losing millions in the Valley because people who qualify for food stamps aren't getting them. The better our nutrition, the better our health. This is especially true for children whose little brains need fuel to develop well -- not to mention Mom and Dad, who need to keep their strength up to work and chase energetic children all day.
To find the location nearest you or to inquire about food stamps, call the Food Resources Hotline at (800) 870-3663. The hours and start and end dates vary, so it's important to ask about that.
I have three words for Charles Reed, chancellor of the California State University system: STOP THE INSANITY.
The reputation of your university in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley is getting pummeled in a trial in the Fresno County Courthouse. If I were you, I'd leave your Long Beach office, come to Fresno and offer a settlement that would cover the current Lindy Vivas discrimination case, as well as upcoming trials brought by former associate athletic director Diane Milutinovich and former women's basketball coach Stacy Johnson-Klein.
You may be getting positive reports out of Fresno on how the trial is going. I'd ask a few more questions of your lawyers because it doesn't look good from my perch. And it will only get worse in the following cases. Do the smart thing and settle.
You only have to read the words of former Athletic Director Scott Johnson to know that you've got a problem at Fresno State. Johnson, testifying under oath, said this on Wednesday: When asked if, in his entire life, he ever talked about a person's sexual orientation, Johnson responded, "never."
Most people couldn't answer never. But Johnson can, even though he presided over an athletic department that once held a party that participants called, "Ugly Women Athletes Day." And Johnson testifies that he "never" in his entire life talked about a person's sexual orientation.
Wow. This is your star witness, Chancellor Reed. He will testify in the upcoming trials as well. Former Bulldogs basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian calls Johnson a liar in his book published in 2005. I don't know about Tarkanian's claim, but Johnson's statements in court Wednesday sure make me wonder whether I'd be confident in winning a trial if he were testifying on my behalf.
There's been a lot of collateral damage already in this case, and there's no reason to believe that the nasty personal accusations will end when this trial is done. Maybe the law is on the university's side in these cases and jurors will reject the discrimination claims. Maybe not. But this has gone beyond legalities to the court of public opinion. That's your big problem, chancellor.
Someone has to be the adult, and say it's time to stop. That's you, chancellor. Find a way to get a settlement that's fair to the plaintiffs and fair to the university.
You're a smart man. Pull the plug and settle these cases. Fresno State's reputation will thank you.
Even as we hear news of a massive solar plant being planned near Mendota, a smaller but still significant project is already under way at Fresno State. 
Chevron Energy Solutions is building a parking structure topped with photovoltaic solar panels, which will be the largest of its kind at any U.S. university.
According to the university's Web site, photovoltaic panels installed atop 10 metal shelters will shade more than 700 parking spaces from the San Joaquin Valley sun and will convert the sun's energy into one megawatt of electricity. That's about 20% of the university's base demand and enough to power 1,000 homes. The $11.9-million project is scheduled for completion in the fall. (Photo courtesy of FresnoStateNews.com)
How cool is that -- literally! Shady parking spaces for 700 cars that can provide that much of the university's energy demand.
We think of solar energy as cutting edge technology, but it goes back farther than you might think.
Here's some background from the Solar FAQs Web site:
"The history of solar energy dates as far back as the Greek and Roman empires, during a time when myth and reality were intertwined. To the Greeks, Romans, and the Egyptians of that time, nature and the environment around them was seen as the home of the gods. The Egyptians followed the rising sun for guidance to the tombs of their kings and queens. Both the Greeks and the Egyptians used the sun as part of the mummification process in drying the dead bodies. Both the Egyptians and the Greeks used passive solar power to help them in their daily lives. The Greeks used a technique that incorporated mirrors reflecting the sun's light toward Roman ships prepared for war. The Greeks won that war due to the sun's resilient power.
Solar energy dates back to the times of ancient Egypt when Egyptians built rooms to store the energy from the sun."
I have resisted using this space as a place to rant about things beyond my control. We have too many screamers in this business. But I'll break this rule today to talk about the lack of customer service in what is billed as a "service society." I know, you're tuning out already.
I've been on the phone this morning with the city because my garbage was not picked up and to the cell phone company because of billing problems. It was a big waste of time. My issues were not resolved to my satsifaction. But what's new? Everyone I talk with on this subject has a horror story. You'd think customer service would get better with all the people complaining aout it.
But bad service is the norm so we accept it. In the case of the city, I can't go to another company to pick up my garbage, and it seems the cell phone companies have the same poor service. So I'm at the end of this screed without offering a solution. That's why I usually don't go down this road.
The subject came up again at the morning meeting of The Bee's editorial board on Wednesday. We need more women's letters on the Opinion pages. It's called e-mail, after all, not e-male. Think about it -- young women are being exposed to the shrillest of role models like Ann Coulter. How scary is that? We need some balance. Check out the nice work done in Thursday's paper by Tamara Beard and Janet Klise. By my count, we have 10 letters, yet only two or three are from women.
I know, I just talked to you about this the other day. But I am going to keep reminding you. Not sure what to write about? Well, call me at 441-6321 and I'll brainstorm with you. Try out your arguments on me and I'll honestly tell you if it makes sense. Unsure of your grammar, spelling, etc.? Don't worry about it, we can help with that, too. Every day I hear the women all around me talking and writing me private e-mails saying the brightest, wisest, funniest and savviest things. But for some reason, when it comes to jumping into the pool of public debate, men's letters far outnumber the women. It makes no sense to me, but numbers are numbers. If you need a little incentive, I recommend Arianna Huffington's excellent book, "On Becoming Fearless." I blogged about it awhile back and it's truly motivational.
Do you need an invitation? Consider yourself invited. You don't like the topics? Well, change the subject! Don't feel comfortable being negative? Then be positive. Lord knows we need more positive people. Bring recognition to something good in the community. Not sure how to do it? It's easy, here's how to do it by e-mail. Try it you'll like it.
There is a letter to the editor in today's paper from Fresno City Council Member Jerry Duncan defending Mayor Alan Autry's temper tantrum at the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting in Los Angeles. I have always thought Autry had impressive potential as a leader, but now he's showing himself to have the passion for public service, but not the temperament. That disappoints me. Please tell me he was just having a bad day..
Contrast his tirade with the masterful job Sen. Dianne Feinstein did on "Fox News Sunday" this week while debating Sen. Trent Lott. Take notes, Mr. Mayor. This woman is amazing.
I understand that he's an actor, but in this case, Autry was just acting out. It reminded me of the cartoon show on Comedy Central called "Lil Bush?" (Careful now, before you click, it's edgy humor.) Well, this display of temper makes me wonder if it's time to cook up a show of our own called "Lil' Autry." Now that could be fun.
The Republicans seem to have their act together on reforming California's undemocratic redistricting system, but the Democrats in Congress are holding back for purely political reasons. This story in the Los Angeles Times says All 19 Republican House members from California signed a letter urging that Congress be included in plans to change the way district lines are drawn for legislative offices.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposes Congressional districts being part of the reform because a fair system might hurt the Democrats' holding its majority in the House. Now that's standing on principle.
There are several redistricting proposals making their way through the Legislature. Sponsors want to put a reform plan on the February primary ballot. Voters would have to approve a change that takes redistricting out of legislators' hands.
Redistricting reform is important because the problems Californians complain about -- health care, our failing schools, an out-of-control prison system, crumbling bridges, levees and highways -- are not being dealt with because legislators are unaccountable at the ballot box. That's by design. They are essentially guaranteed re-election because their districts are drawn to keep them in power. By reforming the redistricting system, most legislative and congressional districts would be more competitive. That would force them to confront our big problems or defend their inaction at the next campaign.
Tim Woods of Echo Restaurant fame offers this Top 10 list:
Top 10 reasons the San Joaquin Salmon run will not be restored.
10. Columnist Michelle Malkin found a can of salmon in Fresno, proving there is salmon and ran with it for good measure.
9. Vic Rosenthal ...The right of return is not an option.
8. Columnist Victor Davis Hanson .....the vice president hasn't told him what to say or write.
7. The Zinkin family ....Salmon will not pay the development fees on property the Zinkins own.
6. The Episcopal bishops inability to control female Salmon even with the help of Africa.
5. John and Carole Harris......Salmon is not beef and will not stay in their motel on Interstate 5.
4 Salmon will not advertise on KMJ or provide Ray Appleton with a free trip to Tahiti.
3. Salmon will not attend Save Mart Center events or donate to Fresno State athletics.
2. Michael Der Manouel.... there is no state law to force Salmon to purchase insurance, so we can't have Police Chef Jerry Dyer arrest or shoot Salmon lacking insurance at check points in the name of God.
1. Gay Salmon will not vote for an evangelical Christian for mayor.
Fresno lawyer Phil Fullerton wrote a Valley Voices commentary June 2 on some of the dark history of his early days in the local legal community. He doesn't regret writing it, but he's concerned that people might come to some wrong conclusions about him. He wrote this note to me last week:
My Bee article on the practice of law was a mea culpa. And I surely have lots to be embarrassed about. There were some nasty things in those days and only by revealing them can we hope to change them. However, at the risk of being an egotist (and partly for my obituary) I thought that I would list some things that I, sometimes with Margaret, did to not excuse what was listed in the article, but rather to perhaps give it a sense of balance on the racism issue. A friend noted to me that we were acting tough as attorneys, but underneath did lots of good. You be the judge.
Our law firm was the first major law firm in town to hire a black secretary: Laura Eddings; an Oriental attorney, Ted Slocum (yes, Ted Slocum), and a Hispanic attorney, Val Saldana. I headed a committee at our church to sponsor in the 1970's a Cambodian refugee family of four. I led a trip for seven years to the Kaibito, Arizona, Navajo Indian school for a week with a busload of church teenagers and exchange students. Margaret and I headed first the Bullard and then the District program for AFS, a student exchange program. And we hosted two students for a year from Finland and from Chile, and another Rotary student from New Zealand for three months.
Our firm pro bono incorporated Fresno Metro Ministries and was active in its formation. Since then Margaret and I have been active in many of its activities including Multi-Cultural Clusters.
I successfully spearheaded a drive to get a visa for a Sikh priest for the local area on behalf of the Sikh Temple and pushed for and got rights of Sikhs entering the military service to carry out their faith with bears, turbans, etc.
Our firm represented the Counsel for Mexico in the Valley, Carlos Troyo for many years. I made innumerable trips to Mexico on behalf of injured and agrieved documents and undocumented workers and pioneered their rights including the case of Hinojosa v. WCAB which vastly broadened their rights going and coming to work.
Our firm did corporate work for Cesar Chavez, a Hispanic labor leader, and some litigation, including a pro bono case of a Hispanic girl not allowed to graduate from Delano High because she demonstrated (where all the attorneys had coffee with the judge, but I was excluded due to my client).
I have held many office in College Community Church including Moderator, the chief lay office. This church has been at the forefront of civil rights activities including gay rights.
Do these things excuse past wrongs? Of course not, but may instead put them into more of a picture of light and shadow, with a little of both.
The Armenian National Committee of America is sponsoring a "Call for Justice" tomorrow, asking Armenian Americans and others to phone their representatives in Congress and urge their support for Senate Resolution 106 and House Resolution 106, which would recognize the Armenian Genocide carried out by the Turks in the waning years of World War I.
You can find your representative at this Web site. Click on the name to get the representative's Web page and find the phone number to call.
Call California's U.S. Senators at these numbers:
Sen. Dianne Feinstein: (559) 485-7430 or (202) 224-3841
Sen. Barbara Boxer: (559) 497-5109 or (202 ) 224-3553
Just in the nick of time -- Fresno Unified School District pulled the soft drinks out of campus vending machines. Ad Age magazine says this week Pepsi's going on a $55 million spending binge to roll out Diet Max, a cross between a no-calorie diet cola and an energy drink. The ad campaign will say, "Wake up, people!"
The drink reportedly contains ginseng and 46 milligrams of caffeine per eight ounces, double that of regular Diet Pepsi but a third the stimulant level in coffee or energy drinks. Can you imagine trying to ride herd on all those wired-up kids?
The Pepsi folks are marketing it to men -- they say it will take the yawn out of that 2 p.m. slump at the office. Most of the editorial writers go for diet drinks, so if we suddenly have days with 10 editorials -- all about baseball -- you'll know we're overdoing it here.
Here's one possible solution to all the growling and chest-pounding over parking meters in downtown Fresno: a meter that calls you to let you know when your time is about to expire, and gives you a chance to pony up more money to keep yourself legal.
The meters, called PhotoViolationMeter, are the product of the Photo Violation Technologies Corp. They're currently being tested in Vancouver and Niagara Falls, after what its boosters call a successful test run in San Francisco. The meters accept ATM or credit cards in addition to change.
The meter even serves as a Wi-Fi hotspot: If you're sitting in your car at one, you've got Internet access.
If you do get a ticket, you can pay the fine right there at the meter. And here's something to interest cities concerned about scofflaws who park, get a ticket and don't pay: The meter will take a photo of a violator's license plate so the car can be traced.
Of course, this technology won't satisfy those who think that in Fresno -- unlike any other city in North America -- free parking is a birthright. But it would sort out some of the other issues.
Mayor Alan Autry may have gotten himself back on the good side of conservatives today after resigning from the United States Conference of Mayors because the group voted for an immediate pullout of troops from Iraq.
Here's the story that just broke.
Remember that Autry, who bills himself as a conservative Republican, has gotten criticism lately from conservatives for opposing mass roundups of illegal immigrants in Fresno County. Autry says it's hypocritical for the government to coax illegal immigrants to come to the United States to work in the fields or in hotels, and then arrest them for doing what government policies encouraged in the first place.
On Monday, though, he was back to his conservative side at the mayors meeting in Los Angeles. Autry said he opposed the Iraq resolution because it was proposed at the last minute and the mayors were not given time to debate it before they had to vote. It passed 51-47.
This is what Autry told Bee reporter Matt Leedy about the vote: "I have a lot of issues with the way this war has been run, but that's not the issue," Autry said in a phone interview. "The issue is: Do we send an arbitrary, ill-thought-out message? I believe we shouldn't."
A lot of people out there must be pretty frustrated with their teenagers and their schools, based on the public outcry over a 16-year-old who married her 40-year-old coach. The relationship started when she was 14. I know what most of the teens I know would say: "Ewwwwww! That's disgusting!" and make fake retching noises.
Personally, I'm confused about this. What are the cops thinking in Brunswick County, N.C.? Again, we have southerners acting out the dimmest stereotypes and the cops doing nothing. What is up with these people? Even if the parents couldn't bring themselves to bring charges because they were so emotionally distressed, law enforcement should have had the good sense to move forward. The school district couldn't seem to compile enough evidence. Heck, here in Clovis, the parents would have hired a private detective of their own and they'd have the evidence, fingerprints, photos and DNA samples ready for the district attorney in a week's time.
That's all goofy enough. But here is what got my attention. This is the FOURTH case in ONE year of an adult male teacher having an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl in this district. But wait, there's more. Is this so like bureaucracy? They are "considering" sexual harassment training. And maybe it should be conducted by "outside" firm... Ya THINK? (Is this 2007 or 1957?) Of course, there should be sexual harassment training. They should have been requiring it every year for 15 years! Where is their H.R. department? And how about offering a class in women's studies for the students? Frankly, I'm surprised this district hasn't been sued down to its boxer shorts by now.
Oh, and the board is also considering having teachers sign an "ethics pledge." Oh, yeah, that will help a lot. Gosh, why hasn't the sex crimes unit thought of that? When in doubt, the answer from bureaucrats is always, "More paper!"
There's a lot of squabbling going on here, but at least in Fresno Unified, the teachers are arguing over "test" scores and not "who" scores.
My colleague, Jim Boren, is going to love this one. When they first announced parks for "dogs," he got aggravated enough. "There aren't enough parks for people," he barked, "and they want to make parks for dogs?" He thinks the parks should be for everyone.
Well, now in Nuremberg, Germany, they are building a park and playground just for seniors. No one under 60 is allowed. And hey, it sounds pretty cool -- they're talking about a roller-skating track, trampoline, padded badminton court, a big oversized chess set. That's an OK start, but I would also want a beach volleyball court, Dance Dance Revolution, a bounce house, jacks, one of those rooms full of plastic balls, a see-saw, and huge, wonderful swiiiiiiiiiings, a track for riding quads, motocross track, bumper boats, tetherball, hopscotch and four-square courts, bumper cars, a train, a bungee and ferris wheel, Ms. Pac-Man, pinball, a carousel that plays the Beetles tunes. A water park for seniors would be cool -- I'd love one of those lazy river pools, where you just float around on an inner tube. Heck, yeah!
The recipe for this park is one part politics and one part health. Politically, it seems the German "grays" are collecting a lot of political power with the changing demographics. They had a baby boom after World War II, too, just like the U.S. And there is, it seems, a little generational friction going on there, so the politicians are pandering to the powerbase with playgrounds.
Now the health piece of this, according to a little article AARP magazine and Deutsche Welle, is that the park was based on a Finnish study that claimed playground frolicking helped older Finns improve their balance, dexterity and speed after only three months.
I hope one of my friends throws a Jamba Juice in my face if I ever say things like this, but here is their rationalization, according to a story in Deutche Welle. "'Retired people need a space to be themselves without someone coming along and spilling ice-cream on their trousers or breakdancing," said social worker Andrea Weber, who specializes in the lifestyle of the elderly.' " It will be a place where the senior generation can find a refuge from younger people," said Deputy Mayor Horst Förther, who is also in charge of sport activities in the city. There's a politician for ya. Personally, I love break dancers and eating ice cream cones with little kids -- well, it's usually me spilling stuff -- is big fun. (Chocolate chip rocks!)
I've made my wishes known to everyone in my family -- don't ever put me in a place with only one kind of people. I want all ages all kinds of people in my life -- babies, teenagers, college students, young professionals, homemakers, men and women from every country possible. But that's just me. I can't see myself hanging out at the senior park, but you never know.
Well, gosh. Whatever happenened to grandkids? Aren't they the justification we are supposed to use for playing hopscotch and playing Marco Polo in our '60s?
Farmer/philosopher David Mas Masumoto measures his time left working by the number of harvests he's yet to complete. As we get older, many of us think about this issue in another way -- simply how long it is until we retire. But Mas gives us another measurement in his Sunday column.
Now I wonder how many columns I have left, or editorials or blog postings.
Here's the opening to Mas' column:
Over morning coffee, I was talking with my wife, Marcy, about plans to plant another heirloom peach variety and where on the farm it would grow the best.
She paused and asked, "How many more harvests do you have?"
The question floored me. Up to that point, I had never measured my life in the number of harvests left. That implied a finite number remaining. I had never thought to quantify my farming life.
"Years left" can either sound very depressing or like a wake-up call. You can do a lot with 10 more harvests. Then can you do twice as much with 20?
So how many harvests do you have left?
This Los Angeles Times story by Larry Gordon story ought to be posted on the door of every high school classroom in the state: It appears that some colleges are tracking seniors they've already admitted, and yanking their admissions if their performance tails off in the waning months of their high school careers.
That's a blow to the hallowed tradition of "senioritis." Kids used to be able to just about shut down once they'd received that anxiously awaited "big envelope" from a college. No more. In an increasing number of cases, seniors are getting bounced for poor performance in their last semester. And that usually comes too late to shift gears and get into another college.
Turns out local critics aren't the only ones upset with the Valley air district and the California Air Resources Board for postponing the date by which we'll all breathe clean air hereabouts. Here's what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had to say on the subject, in a statement that was otherwise full of praise for recent actions by the CARB board:
"I was deeply disappointed, however, that the California Air Resources Board voted last week to seek an 11-year delay in enforcement of federal air quality standards in the San Joaquin Valley. Regardless of whether the U,S. EPA's failure to grant California the authority to implement aggressive emissions standards is partly to blame for our inability to meet federal standards, the Air Board let the federal government off the hook by seeking delay.
"There are few environmental issues facing Californians that are more important to our children's health, our quality of life, and our economic security than air quality. When one out of six residents in the San Joaquin Valley has been diagnosed with asthma and one in five children carry an inhaler to school, it is a call to action."
That's kinder than some others have been.
It's surprising that it took this long for the outside media to discover Fresno Mayor Alan Autry's outspoken position on the nation's immigration policy. But in today's Los Angeles Times, there 's an extensive story on Autry, and his immigration remarks at his State of the City address last month.
As we know in Fresno, Autry has been a critic of large-scale immigration roundups, claiming it's hypocritical for the government to coax illegal immigrants to come to the United States to work in the fields or in hotels, and then arrest them for doing what government policies encouraged in the first place.
What makes people scratch their heads is that Autry is a conservative Republican. He's supposed to be a demagogue on the illegal immigration issue, not point out the hypocrisy.
According to Bee stories, Autry said some businesses are "totally hooked on illegal labor," and that chambers of commerce across the country and the governments of the United States and Mexico are part of a "coalition of greed" dependent on the cheap labor of illegal immigrants. The Fresno chamber was the sponsor of his luncheon speech, and there were a few business folks squirming in their seats.
That performance won't win Autry a Chamber of Commerce Legislator of the Year award. But then speaking the truth doesn't get you far in politics.
Maybe we're not really addicted to our cars. A story in today's Bee by business writer Bethany Clough reports that gasoline sales dropped last year in car-obsessed California for the first time since 1992.
This is from Bethany's story: "Californians bought 112 million fewer gallons from April to December 2006 than during the same period the year before. In February, the most recent month for which figures are available, the state's drivers bought 2.5% less gasoline than in February 2006."
The state Board of Equalization tracks gas sales because it collects the state's 18-cents-a-gallon excise tax. The experts say that while the drop is small, it's significant. They say high gas prices have changed driving habits in the Golden State.
The numbers show drivers are making changes, such as consolidating trips, car pooling and buying more fuel-efficient vehicles, according to agency spokeswoman Anita Gore.
Unfortunately, the trend is different nationally, with gasoline consumption on the rise. Calfiornia prices are much higher than in most other states. When gas prices hit California levels in other states, motorists there will begin changing their driving habits.
Now maybe the oil companies will have to rethink their price-gouging strategies. There appears to be a price ceiling in California -- at least for some drivers. So when prices hit $3 and more a gallon, many began cutting back on their driving.
SW Parra, an artist at The Bee, challenged a classroom of fourth- and fifth-grade students at Nelson Elementary School in Pinedale to create editorial cartoons. The winner was Zhuam Navarro, who was concerned about air pollution. Good for her! The cartoon showed alternative transportation options people should use instead of always driving their cars. Good point, Zhuam! Steve Parra used curriculum from the Newspaper in Education organization if you want to try this lesson in your own classroom.
The winner received a $25 gift certificate to Aaron Bros. Zhuam had never been there, so her world was about to get much bigger.
Do you draw editorial cartoons for fun? If so, e-mail them to me at gmarshall@fresnobee.com and if not -- give it a try, you might like it. Here is some inspiration: www.editorialcartoonists.com and if you click on classroom lessons on the left, you can teach yourself how to do it!
The post of deputy mayor will remain after Councilman Mike Dages failed to get support to strip the position from the city budget. Dages, who has been at odds with Mayor Alan Autry, couldn't even get a second from fellow council members when he tried to eliminate the job at Thursday's budget hearings.
The move by Dages was more about building a resume for his run for mayor next year than about whether a deputy mayor is needed in Fresno. Of course, with several other council members wanting to run for mayor, it's not surprising that Dages did not get a second to his motion. This council can be petty that way
The biggest problem with the deputy mayor job is that Autry hasn't set out specific guidelines for the post. Is it a ceremonial job or does the deputy mayor act as mayor in Autry's absence? Former Deputy Mayor Roger Montero thought he was in charge of the kingdom, and bullied his way through City Hall.
But Montero left under a cloud and his replacement, Jeff Eben, so far hasn't shown how he'll use the job. But with 18 months left in Autry's term, it doesn't really matter. This administration is winding down, and don't expect much to happen under lame-duck status.
I came across this article in the Washington Post "Getting Lost in the Great Indoors" by Donna St. George today. It seems that our kids are not getting enough time outdoors, and some experts suggest that this might be the first generation of "indoor children," who are online so much that they are unplugged from nature.
This reminds me of a very good book I read recently by Richard Louv of the San Diego Union-Tribune. It was called "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Chldren from Nature-Deficit Disorder." He links the absence of nature to the rise in obesity, attention disorders and even depression.
He finds that government and planned communities are complicit in this unhealthy trend. "Most housing tracts constructed in the past two to three decades are controlled by strict covenants that discourage or ban the kind of outdoor play many of us enjoyed as children." Some parents are sued when their children build tree houses, forts or playhouses without permits and some code restrictions require parents to tear down their kids creations altogether. At Oceano Dunes, Louv writes, kite flying is banned because it scares of a protected species of shorebird.
"Authoritative adults," he wrote, "from the Scripps Ranch Community Association chased kids away from a little pond near the public library, where children had fished for bluegills since Scripps Ranch had been a working cattle spread many decades earlier. In response to the tightened regulations, families erected basketball hoops. Young people moved their skateboard ramps to the foot of their driveways. But the community association reminded the residents that such activities violated the covenants they had signed when they bought their houses. Down came the ramps and poles; and indoors went the kids."
That's sad. You can e-mail him at rlouv@cts.com and his Web site is www.thefuturesedge.com.
I heard on the news this morning a family that was the scourge of the neighborhood because their children were squealing while playing in the family's swimming pool. One neighbor actually tried to take them to court but the (very wise) judge dropped the charges. Clearly, these neighbors need to be more respectful of each other all around, but gosh, this was not wild and wacky teenage boys like I've got at home most of the time, but just two little girls. Personally, I love hearing kids at play outside. We've got little children living on both sides of us and we love hearing their voices. Our friends are building their new home at Harlan Ranch right across the street from the playground, just so they have a view and an earful of all those kids playing outside. (And a very easy commute when their little granddaughter comes over to play!)
Once again, this research hands the Valley in an ideal opportunity for commerce -- we are home to some of the most exhilarating and exciting outdoor experiences in the world. Kings Canyon, Sequoia and Yosemite national parks just for starters. Not to mention the River Parkway, Millerton, Lost, Pine Flat and Bass Lakes.
First, we need to make sure we don't take it all for granted by taking our own kids to see the sights, and then we need to teach others by becoming the nation's leading authority on "green time" outdoor experiences with children. (Now, can we figure out how to set up a shuttle bus from Fresno to Yosemite, please?)
Here is a summary of the Post article by Renee Davidson of the Casey Journalism Center on Children and Families:
Concerns about long-term consequences -- affecting emotional well-being, physical health, learning abilities and environmental consciousness -- have spawned a national movement to "leave no child inside." It has been the focus of hearings, state legislation, grass-roots projects and a U.S. Forest Service initiative to get more children into the woods and a national effort to promote a daily "green hour." Today, 40 civic leaders are launching a campaign to raise $20 million to fund 20 initiatives across the country encouraging children to do what once seemed second nature: go outdoors. Advocates and researchers have documented the downturn in outdoor activity: One study found a 50% decline from 1997 to 2003 in the proportion of children 9 to 12 who spent time in outside activities. These concerns have touched a nerve -- in an era when people tell stories of backyard play sets that are barely used and children who are so accustomed to playing video games that they use their thumbs to ring doorbells or dial phones. Experts suggest a major factor in the decline of outdoor time is parental fears about leaving children unattended -- aggravated by excessive media coverage of horrific crimes.
While looking for examples of teachers' classroom rules for today's editorial, encouraging teacher union reps and school officials to practice what they preach during negotiations, I came across a mother lode of classroom rules that kindergarten teachers share with parents and each other by posting them up on the Web.
Lots of them use the ABC format to organize their advice and I found especially useful these very nice ones from Mrs. Pohlmeyer and Mrs. Magee and Mr. Steve that would be helpful to any new teacher and really handy for parents. The Internet is a great tool so parents and teachers can share all these good strategies. Wish I'd had the benefit of all that experience when I was a young mother.
The classroom rules that I liked best would not only work for the negotiations but could last those children their whole lives through:
-- Use an indoor voice.
-- Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
-- Follow directions first time given.
-- Treat self and others with kindness.
-- Always try your best!
-- We are good listeners.
-- We are helpers, not hurters.
-- We are builders, not breakers.
-- We are talkers, not shouters.
-- We are workers, not players.
Some also have consequences of the rules. Here are some samples I found::
Rewards:
-- Hugs
-- Parties
-- Smiles
-- Positive phone call/note
-- Snack
-- Tickets
-- Recess
-- Prizes
--Classroom Cheers
-- Certificates
One creative teacher does this: In order to encourage students to follow these rules and make good
choices about their behavior, I like to praise the children for their efforts
in fun and creative ways. We have a "CHEER" box in our classroom. When a
student or the class has demonstrated appropriate behavior, they are invited
to choose a cheer from the box! They receive their praise in a special way.
For example, one cheer is called the "penguin clap" where we all flap our
arms like penguins. There are several other cheers, too numerous to
mention. (Although I am sure the children will start to share them with you
at home!)
Well, gosh, maybe that penguin clap would work for the negotiators? Ya think? Or maybe we should go down this list if they take too long:
Consequences:
-- An apology
-- Cleaning or repairing damaged property
-- Verbal warning
-- Phone call home
-- Time-out
-- Lose privileges
-- Parent notification
-- Walk laps at recess
-- Student may not check out a book
I loved school so much -- that last one would have worked for me every time. I couldn't have survived without my books.
Sometimes I know the world we live in is an ugly place.  An article in yesterday's Miami Herald says "The FBI is investigating threats against Leonard Pitts Jr., a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Miami Herald, after a column he wrote about black-on-white crime triggered a furor on white supremacist Web sites."
Days after the Herald published Pitts' column, which ran in The Fresno Bee on June 4, a white supremacist Web site posted his address, home phone number and wife's name. Several other Internet sites followed suit, and one gave directions to his house along with a satellite image of the neighborhood.
Pitts has received dozens of hostile phone calls at his home and about 400 e-mails, said Dave Wilson, The Miami Herald's managing editor for news.
The Herald articles goes on to say that Wilson tried to prevent the incident from escalating by sending an e-mail to Bill White, editor for the site, asking him to delete Pitts' address and phone number. He said White replied: "We have no intention of removing Mr. Pitts' personal information. Frankly, if some loony took the info and killed him, I wouldn't shed a tear. That also goes for your whole newsroom.''
Out of all the columnists we use, Pitts is one of my favorites. His opinions are thought-provoking and written in down-to-earth language. He speaks with common sense. The fact that his words have angered those who spew hate only reinforces my respect for his work.
My colleague, Russ Minick, wrote earlier this week about the pleasant trip he took with his family to a Major League Baseball game in Oakland using public transit. Here's another vote for that mode of transportation in getting to the ballpark. I'd love that opportunity in Fresno, but mass transit here is essentially no transit. Our leaders would rather subsidize cars than buses and trains. And then we complain that people are dying from air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley.
We have made bad choices in Fresno, but more on that at another time. Here's my trip-to-the-ballpark story:
I was visiting my daughter this week in San Diego and her Father's Day gift was tickets to an interleague game Tuesday between the Padres and the Baltimore Orioles in the new downtown ballpark. Watching baseball is a father-daughter tradition in our family. We toyed with the idea of driving to the game and paying the outrageous parking fees charged in downtown San Diego. Fortunately, we decided to take the San Diego Trolley to the ballpark.
My daughter's apartment is in La Jolla near UCSD where she is going to school. So we drove from there to Old Town, parked for free and hopped on the trolley. The cost was $8 each for the round trip. It was scenic and swift, and we arrived early enough at Petco Park to see batting practice.
The game was excellent, the Padres winning a lopsided 12-6. The best part was that we were back in Old Town about 35 minutes after the game. If we had driven downtown, we'd still have been in ballpark traffic by the time we were back on I-5 for the short trip to La Jolla.
It would be very cool if we could take a trolley or other form of light rail to see Grizzlies games in downtown Fresno. What are the chances?
California's legislators and governor are already the highest paid in the nation. So, naturally, they just got a raise, courtesy of the California Citizens Compensation Commission, a panel of gubernatorial appointees created when voters approved of Proposition 112 in 1990.
The gov's pay goes to $212,179 -- although Ahnold doesn't accept his salary. Legislators are up to $116,208 -- leaders in the state Senate and Assembly, including Clovis' Mike Villines, the Assembly minority leader, will get $133,639.
Attorney General Jerry Brown and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell got 5% raises; all the others got 2.75%, not quite keeping pace with inflation. But don't feel sorry for them: Legislators got a 12% boost last year, and constitutional officers got 18%.
But, hey, we're certainly getting our money's worth from Sacramento. Look at all the good work being done to solve health care problems, clean up our air, secure plentiful supplies of clean water, build a transportation system for the 21st century, revive the fading higher education system, improve public school performance ...
I'm disappointed by news that the Fresno City Council gave initial approval to lift wagering limits for Texas Hold'em games in Fresno, proposed by Council Member Mike Dages.  As an editorial board, we have opposed our city getting involved in legalized gambling in the past, but obviously California voters disagree.
Still, why jump on the Texas Hold'em bandwagon, which is red hot right now, and allow no-limit wagers just for that game, and not other, less popular games?
Gambling addiction is a real problem -- why make it easier for addicts to do more financial damage to themselves and their families?
The Web site for Gamblers Anonymous has a list of 20 questions to ask yourself to help determine whether or not you have a problem with gambling.
The council could give final approval next week. I hope they don't.
(Photo by John Walker/The Fresno Bee)
The cluelessness of some of the Fresno City Council members in managing Fresno's homeless would be funny if it weren't so sad. Now the council majority has come up with an idea for a law that bans the homeless from city property but carries fines as punishment. Do they not see a hole when they are falling into one? How is it that that a homeless person would pay a $500 fine when he can't afford a place to live? Henry T. Perea, Cynthia Sterling and Blong Xiong are a bit curious about that, too.
Let's play this all the way through here. They can't pay the fines, so they are now not only poor but lawbreakers? And then, do we pay police officers to look for them instead of gang members? And then the homeless get arrested? And then if they're guilty, do they go to jail? And then taxpayers pay top dollar for their food, lodging, supervision and health care? And then we have overcrowded jails? And then we have to build more jails? And then if we cannot afford it, are they released early? And then they walk out with no jobs, money or places to stay? And then they have to find a place to sleep somewhere? And then they lie down under the bridge? And then?
Just asking.
Since the Valley is becoming well known for its expertise with gastric bypass surgery, folks might want to take note of this story in today's Bee or they may be trading their fat clothes for jail clothes. Even one glass of wine might put them over the legal limit for driving. That, in turn, is likely to put them face to face with Chief Jerry Dyer's finest, who are known nationwide for busting drunken drivers.
I wrote an editorial and did a podcast awhile back about drinking and driving and people kept asking me, "So how many drinks can you have and still be OK?" The answer is that it depends on the person. Folks from alcohol treatment centers in the Valley are seeing a spike in the number of clients who have had weight-reduction surgery only to become alcoholics. The counselors say this happens in cases where the cause of the original obesity was a food addiction. If the addiction isn't treated, the addict just changes the substance abuse from food to alcohol. Other people have found themselves dealing with gambling, compulsive overspending or other addictive behaviors to replace the food.
Most of us are familiar with the rules about PDA (public displays of affection) in Valley high schools. They're pretty reasonable, geared to teaching adolescents how to keep their raging emotions under control in public. Yes, it takes some judgment and monitoring on the part of the adults, but that's part of teaching children to behave in civil society.
When schools decide to take the ridiculous "zero tolerance" route, however, you get a school like this one, which allows no touching at all -- no handshakes, no high-fives, certainly no hugs. A good student got sent to to the office for putting his arm around his girlfriend at lunch, which makes me think that these administrators need more to do.
I am happy to read that this whole idea of zero tolerance is falling out of favor. It's lazy policy designed to save school administrators time and it also frequently makes school districts look like idiots. Sometimes they even wind up in court over it. The Boston Globe recently printed an Associated Press story by Ray Henry. Here's how it starts:
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Fifth-graders in California who adorned their mortarboards with tiny toy plastic soldiers this week to support troops in Iraq were forced to cut off their miniature weapons. A Utah boy was suspended for giving his cousin a cold pill prescribed to both students. In Rhode Island, a kindergartner was suspended for bringing a plastic knife to school so he could cut cookies.
It's all part of "zero tolerance" rules, which typically mandate severe punishments for weapons and drug offenses regardless of the circumstances.
Lawmakers in several states say the strict policies in schools have resulted in many punishments that lack common sense, and are seeking to loosen the restrictions.
"A machete is not the same as a butter knife. A water gun is not the same as a gun loaded with bullets," said Rhode Island state Sen. Daniel Issa, a former school board member who worries that no-tolerance rules are applied blindly and too rigidly.
Issa sponsored a bill requiring school districts to decide punishments for alcohol, drug and non-firearm weapon violations on a case-by-case basis after weighing the circumstances. It passed the Senate and House and now heads for the governor's desk.
Some have long been aware of the problems of zero tolerance. For the last decade, Mississippi has allowed local school districts to reduce previously mandatory one-year expulsions for violence, weapons and drug offenses.
More recently, Texas lawmakers have also moved to tone down their state's zero-tolerance rules. Utah altered its zero-tolerance policy on drugs so asthmatic students can carry inhalers. The American Bar Association has recommended ending zero-tolerance policies, while the American Psychological Association wants the most draconian codes changed.
I just spent an hour over Cokes having a delightful discussion about women's issues with Kathryn Forbes of the women's studies department at Fresno State. She sometimes writes for the Valley Voices page and has a commentary coming soon about Title IX and what it means for women athletes.
As part of our discussion, I encouraged her to teach the women in her classes how to write for the Opinion pages. Nationally, we find that fewer women than men participate in Opinion pages. Enough of that! It doesn't make sense because many women are wise, generally tend to be very good with language, good communicators, good at bringing people together, are often terrific public speakers yet somehow they silence their own voices in the public discourse.
It's important that young women, especially, be lured into the public arena of ideas. We have two young Valley women who are studying at Stanford University writing for us soon. One is Claire Gibson, who graduated from Edison High School, and Haley Minick, who went to Clovis West. They took a class in health and environmental policy and part of the learning process was getting them to write a commentary for their hometown newspaper on something they care about. Claire's piece on sprawl is scheduled for Saturday on the Valley Voices page and Haley's on high-speed rail is coming up soon. I applaud the professors who encourage their students to enrich the civic debate with their passion and their fresh academic knowledge.
In Sunday's Vision section, two writers square off on the question "Will congressional action against price-gouging help keep gasoline prices down?" 
Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., the senior Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress, argues that laws against price-gouging are the first step toward lower prices and a sound energy policy.
On the other side, Robert Hardaway, a professor of law at the University of Denver College of Law, says politicians make things worse by ignoring the law of supply and demand.
What do you think?
Illustration by SW Parra/The Fresno Bee
I drove to the Bay Area with my parents and a nephew yesterday to see my beloved Cardinals play the Oakland A's. It was a splendid Father's Day, and included a vivid reminder of something we don't have around here: fast, efficient, inexpensive mass transit.
It's become our habit on these trips to park the car in Pleasanton and get on BART to get to our Bay Area destination. We parked the car and the train was waiting as we finished purchasing our tickets. We shot into Oakland in the company of other baseball fans, and struck up several pleasant conversations on the short trip -- something impossible to do from behind the wheel of a car.
As we crossed the short footbridge that connects the BART station to the stadium, I looked to the north to see the parking lot stuffed with cars -- none of them ours. The return trip was a breeze; an empty train -- BART adds trains for big events such as baseball games -- was waiting for us again. We sped back to Pleasanton. We were turning south out of Altamont Pass and cruising back to Fresno less than an hour after the end of the game. It's an altogether civilized way of getting around -- cheaper and less polluting, with an added social element we enjoyed thoroughly. And I couldn't help wonder -- again -- whether we'll ever get our act together here when it comes to transit.
And the Cardinals, after falling behind 5-1 in the first inning, rallied to win the game 10-6. As I said, a splendid day.
We've heard all the excuses rationalizing the illegal downloading of music and movies. Dress it up anyway you want, but taking something that doesn't belong to you is stealing. One excuse is it's faIr game if you can get it using a computer. So that would justify identity theft because you can get personal information through a computer and then open up credit card accounts in the vicitm's name. How many would say that's okay?
John Zelezny, a media law lawyer who has authored textbooks on the subject, writes a commentary in today's Bee about illegal downloading and file-sharing. He pegs his piece to the second anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case: MGM v. Grokster.
Zelezny explains why stealing intellectual property hurts people, and the ramifications this growing practice has for the creative community.
Let us know what you think about Zelezny's commentary. This issue is only going to get bigger as technology makes it even easier to pirate music and movies.
Finally, school officials are calling a halt to graduation ceremonies after students complete middle school. It was one of those silly things anyway, spurred on by parents who planned over-the-top ceremonies for their spoiled children. Going from the 8th-grade to 9th-grade is a milestone, but a student doesn't need to be transported in a limo to celebrate it.
In the Clovis Unified School District, formal celebrations of 8th-grade promotions are ending. Here's a story in The Bee explaining it.
According to the story, the 8th-grade events often are similar to high school graduation ceremonies and some parents spend money on them like their kids were graduating from college. Clovis is joining other districts in putting the promotion to high school in perspective.
This is getting to be an old story: An illegal immigrant is threatened with deportation, and the sob stories begin.
Marguerite Grimmond, 80, was born in Detroit, but at the age of two she moved to Arbroath in northeast Scotland with her Scottish mother, according to the Associated Press. Now British officials say she may be deported to America because she is in Britain illegally.
"My mother was Scottish, my husband is Scottish and my children are Scottish, so I never even realized I was not. It's a horrible feeling to think I may be deported," she said in a crass bid for sympathy.
The real question is, what part of the word "illegal" does Ms. Grimmond not understand?
Margaret Okuzumi, the executive director of BayRail Alliance, offers an interesting take on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's tepid and confusing support for high-speed rail in California, in a piece she wrote for the Web site California Progress Report.
Okuzumi has written passionately and persuasively about high-speed rail and other transit issues, mostly from a Bay Area focus. Check out an earlier piece on the need for high-speed rail.
That was a pretty eye-catching July magazine cover for Muscle & Fitness I saw on the newstand at the store the other night. There's something about a half-nekkid governor that gets your attention. We here on the public policy beat don't get much of that. Jumping out from the car, shelter, cooking and news magazines is none other than our Governegger Photoshopped next to a life-size version of himself in his body-building prime. The article marks his 60th birthday, which is coming up July 30. The article is written like a movie, you just get a sample on the Web site.
I haven't gotten my invitation to his birthday party yet, have you? Gosh, I am just not sure what to get him... Maybe a toy high-speed train... What are you getting him? Maybe the Valley should go in together and get him something really memorable so he'll never forget us. Ideas?
Just as soon as Brian Calhoun annouced his campaign for Fresno County supervisor against incumbent Susan Anderson on Thursday, she sent the Fresno councilman a swift message about the tone of next year's campaign.
"I have a record. He has a record -- he even has a criminal record," Anderson said. Do you think she's been saving up that quote?
Her statement, of course, was in reference to Calhoun's drunken driving arrest in the hours after winning re-election to the City Council in 2004. So on his announcement day, Calhoun was suddenly having to defend himself. Not a way you want to open your campaign. But at least that issue is now in the open and Calhoun knows that Anderson is going to use it against him in the campaign.
In today's story in The Bee, Calhoun said he regrets the incident and hasn't had a drink since the night of the arrest. "I made a mistake and I apologize for it," he said.
Yesterday I blogged about Angelina Jolie requiring the reporters covering the opening of her new movie to agree to a number of restrictions on their reporting. Today, the fallout began. Here's what the New York Times had to say.
From the Times article: "Ms. Jolie's lawyer, Robert Offer, said that the statement was the fault of a 'bone-headed, overzealous lawyer' -- meaning himself -- and that his client was unaware of the move. 'This was my creating something to protect her from the press's talking about personal matters, a document that would limit discussion to the film,' he said. 'But it was drafted overly broadly. It was well intended, but I understand how it was received.' Ms. Jolie herself declined to comment."
OK, so a loyal retainer has fallen on his sword, taking the blame for the gaffe. Fine.
On the other hand, maybe that's what I get for trusting Fox News as the source of the original blog.
Well, this could be fun: Mayor Alan Autry and former City Council Member Craig Scharton will square off in a special one-hour version of Channel 18's "Valley Press." The topic: downtown Fresno.
Scharton kicked this off a few weeks ago with a rant on the op-ed page of The Bee, an open letter to Autry headlined "Mr. Mayor, the downtown river idea is full of leaks."
Here's the note with the details from Jim Page, the marketing director for KVPT, Valley Pubic Television:
"I'm pleased to announce, in the event you haven't heard, that Craig Scharton and Fresno Mayor Alan Autry will appear on KVPT's Valley Press on Friday, June 29 to discuss downtown issues. This special one-hour edition will start at 7 pm (as opposed to its usual 7:30 slot) to accommodate a 30-minute question-and-answer period from a studio audience.
"More information will follow on additional viewing/listening opportunities via the Web and KFSR, 90.7."
Let the fur fly -- and go to a neutral corner in case of a knockdown.
Looks like 7-7-07 is turning out to be a lucky day for a lot of couples in love around the world. Al Tompkins of the Poynter Institute says Las Vegas and even Wal-Mart are going nuts over the day, promoting it as the luckiest day of the century.
Fresno County Clerk Victor Salazar says there won't be any marriages performed in the office on that day, since it's a Saturday, but the staff will definitely be prepared for a surge in requests for marriage licenses. Apparently, lots of people in the wedding business are seeing a tsunami of business on that day. Judy Gentile Gaither of Lou Gentile's Flower Basket noticed the interest in that date quite some time ago and and she's had conversations on the topic with wedding planners and others in the bridal biz. Colette Gehrke, manager of Cakes by Joann, says there have been a lot of phone calls inquiring about services on July 7 and business is already about 50% over a normal July weekend.
Tompkins finds that all 12 of the Six Flags theme parks are holding mass weddings and The Wall Street Journal says hotel reservations in Vegas for the weekend are six times greater than for the previous weekend.
The surge is international:
The Vancouver Sun is calling it a "stampede."
The date is so popular, it has even inspired its own wedding merchandise branded with the date, from teddy bears and underwear to doggy T-shirts spotted with 21 hearts and poker chips made of chocolate.
Date-inspired wedding slogans range from "Lucky in Love 777" to "We Hit the Jackpot 777 On Our Wedding Day." There are more than 20,500 Google hits for the term, 777 wedding.
As for me, I'm already married to the perfect husband, so I think I'll just stay home with him. I'm a very lucky woman.
Never was I more excited to see the sprinklers going on someone else's lawn than when I pulled up to my house last night.
The house next door to us went into foreclosure a couple of months ago.  After unsuccessfully trying to sell the house at auction, the bank that now owns it had the water turned off and the lawn was dying. What had been the best looking yard on our street quickly became a brown symbol of an empty home.We had watered a tree in the front yard ourselves a few times, to try to keep it alive. Now, finally, the water -- and not ours -- was flowing again.
I talked to the realtor, who said she'd be listing the house for sale soon, once she gets it cleaned up. I told her I was glad to see that someone would finally be paying attention to the property again.
We've seen several houses in this situation in our neighborhood in Clovis, and neglected lawns hurt property values for all of us who live near them. These dead yards are also a depressing reminder of how many families have lost their homes in recent months.
It's frustrating -- we've never even had a real neighbor in that house. The people who built it -- at the height of the housing market -- sold it without ever moving in, and the young single man who bought it was also a "flipper" -- someone who buys a property with plans to sell it quickly with a profit. But it didn't work out for him. The market went south and he ended up losing it.
With the recent softening of the real estate market, have you noticed an increase in homes that have gone into foreclosure near where you live?
(Cartoon by Rex Babin/The Sacramento Bee)
Fox News reports that Angelina Jolie, busy promoting a new movie about freedom of the press, has started requiring journalists who interview her to sign contracts that constrain their questioning of the star/celebrity/Mother of the Year/hypocrite.
Jolie plays the widow of the murdered Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in the new movie, "A Mighty Heart." She must be mighty concerned about controlling her image, on the one hand celebrating freedom of the press on the screen and on the other stomping all over it in real life.
Few journalists have signed the contract, according to Fox News. Make that zero journalists -- anyone who would sign such a document is a panderer, not a journalist.
Mayor Alan Autry is still pushing his river for downtown Fresno, but the idea was dealt a blow on Tuesday when City Council members questioned the cost, and whether Autry can get this done so late in his term. He has only about 18 months left in office.
The river is a key to the mayor's downtown revitalization plans. The problem is Autry has been talking about a downtown water feature since he was running for his first term back in 2000. The idea languished until recently and now it could cost $65 million. Had Autry done more than talk about it over the past several years, he may have had a chance of getting it approved. Now it's doubtful.
Here's The Bee's story on the council reaction to Autry's proposal.
Do you think a downtown river is feasible and would it bring people to the central city? Fresno residents need to let the council and mayor know how they feel about this idea. Comment on our blog and we'll make sure the City Hall folks know what you think of this proposal.
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