• Another installment of the weekly random thoughts, cheap shots and bon mots.
• "I'm not dead! I'm not dead!" Mayor Brent Ives is breathing political life back into the Tracy Hills project/development deal. The matter will appear on a future City Council agenda.
• My broker gave me this advice Thursday afternoon: "After today I think a diversified portfolio of canned goods and bottled water might be most appropriate." Yeah, Wall Street might be in trouble.
• The folks who live near Bakersfield are not surprised: The town of Arvin is the smoggiest town in California.
• A recent poll says fewer Americans trust the media than did 20 years ago. That might be true, but I still trust the media a whole lot more than politicians. Well, maybe except for stuff owned by this guy.
• Random thought of the week: "Exercise. Eat Right. Die Anyway."
• Cavlin and Hobbes quote of the week: "If mom and dad loved me at all, they'd buy me a pair of night-vision goggles."
• Attention all alert readers!!! Send me your own random thoughts for publication in a column (if I get enough) or for posting right here on the blog.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Sorry state of education
It strikes me as odd that the Lammersville School District would choose to close its charter school at the same time educators are clamoring for new and novel learning approaches to bolster California's sometimes-pitiful education system.
Charter schools, like Lammersville, New Jerusalem, and Millenium in Tracy, offer students who struggle in a traditional classroom a second chance at getting the education they need. That and the pleas of parents served by the school weren't enough to keep the place open.
Stagnant test scores and low test scores were the reasons given for the closure. Still, it seems a shame for those affected. If we want our students to excel, we should be finding ways to open more possibilities for success, not finding ways and excuses to shut them down.
Charter schools, like Lammersville, New Jerusalem, and Millenium in Tracy, offer students who struggle in a traditional classroom a second chance at getting the education they need. That and the pleas of parents served by the school weren't enough to keep the place open.
Stagnant test scores and low test scores were the reasons given for the closure. Still, it seems a shame for those affected. If we want our students to excel, we should be finding ways to open more possibilities for success, not finding ways and excuses to shut them down.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
What about the homecoming?
Tracy's Tyler Jackson came back from Iraq a lance corporal. He leaves the Camp Pendleton brig today a private after spending about 17 months locked up for his role in the killing of an Iraqi civilian.
No one knows what is next for this young man who went to serve his country and got mixed up in the fog of war with a commanding officer who decided killing an innocent civilian — Hashim Ibrahim Awad, if you care to put a name to the father, grandfather and longtime police officer — was as good as killing an insurgent.
Pvt. Jackson deserves to be welcomed by his community. A ticker-tape parade and hero's welcome are not necessary. But he should be given the respect and understanding due anyone who enters a war zone and does not emerge the same person.
He deserves to be able to start his life over. Hopefully, Tracy can grant him that second chance.
No one knows what is next for this young man who went to serve his country and got mixed up in the fog of war with a commanding officer who decided killing an innocent civilian — Hashim Ibrahim Awad, if you care to put a name to the father, grandfather and longtime police officer — was as good as killing an insurgent.
Pvt. Jackson deserves to be welcomed by his community. A ticker-tape parade and hero's welcome are not necessary. But he should be given the respect and understanding due anyone who enters a war zone and does not emerge the same person.
He deserves to be able to start his life over. Hopefully, Tracy can grant him that second chance.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Mind the signs
Word on the street in downtown Tracy is that Steve Flores — the police officer whose new beat is the town's central business district — isn't just looking for ne'er-do-wells causing trouble for business patrons. He's also on the lookout for cars that have overstayed their welcome.
A few folks who work downtown have told me that officer Flores is making it a priority to enforce the downtown's 2-hour street parking limit, as some business owners have evidently complained about cars that take up semi-permanent residence on the streets.
Downtown visitors, you have been warned.
A few folks who work downtown have told me that officer Flores is making it a priority to enforce the downtown's 2-hour street parking limit, as some business owners have evidently complained about cars that take up semi-permanent residence on the streets.
Downtown visitors, you have been warned.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Friday random thoughts
This week, a special "Animal House" version of the Friday random thoughts.
• "Remain calm. All is well.": While some pundits and the Bush Administration claim there's a lot of improvement in Iraq because of the surge, basic essentials like running water are still hard to come by. So, what's that about positive progress?
• "Face it Kent, you threw up on Dean Wermer.": All that pressure might be getting to Barry Bonds — he's having more than a little trouble hitting that magical No. 755, and Bud Selig must be tired of following him around.
• "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part." "We're just the guys to do it.": White House staffers won't answer Congressional subpoenas, and the Justice Department refuses to investigate contempt charges levied at those White House staffers by Congress. A futile gesture indeed.
• "Oh boy, this is great!": There's still plenty of time left this summer for another vacation.
• "Now, she should be good-looking, but we're willing to trade looks for a certain morally casual attitude.": A study done by folks at the University of Texas found that the reasons men and women in college have sex are pretty much identical. And love isn't the No. 1 for either.
• "May I have 10,000 marbles, please?": Boundless hope and optimism will only get you so far, but dark glasses, a trenchcoat and a the magic word can get you enough marbles to disrupt a parade. (I'm sure there's a life lesson there somewhere.)
• Calvin and Hobbes quote of the week: "We're studying geography! Now which state do you live in?" "Denial." "Sighhh... I don't suppose I can argue with that."
• "Remain calm. All is well.": While some pundits and the Bush Administration claim there's a lot of improvement in Iraq because of the surge, basic essentials like running water are still hard to come by. So, what's that about positive progress?
• "Face it Kent, you threw up on Dean Wermer.": All that pressure might be getting to Barry Bonds — he's having more than a little trouble hitting that magical No. 755, and Bud Selig must be tired of following him around.
• "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part." "We're just the guys to do it.": White House staffers won't answer Congressional subpoenas, and the Justice Department refuses to investigate contempt charges levied at those White House staffers by Congress. A futile gesture indeed.
• "Oh boy, this is great!": There's still plenty of time left this summer for another vacation.
• "Now, she should be good-looking, but we're willing to trade looks for a certain morally casual attitude.": A study done by folks at the University of Texas found that the reasons men and women in college have sex are pretty much identical. And love isn't the No. 1 for either.
• "May I have 10,000 marbles, please?": Boundless hope and optimism will only get you so far, but dark glasses, a trenchcoat and a the magic word can get you enough marbles to disrupt a parade. (I'm sure there's a life lesson there somewhere.)
• Calvin and Hobbes quote of the week: "We're studying geography! Now which state do you live in?" "Denial." "Sighhh... I don't suppose I can argue with that."
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
This is success?
More than a few writers and pundits are saying what a resounding success the military surge in Iraq has been already, including this Wednesday Tracy Press commentary.
However, most of these fail to cite hard facts and statistics about the situtation, relying instead on the same type of anecdotal evidence that has been used to demonstrate success in Iraq for four years. I hope that the stories of improvement and achievement are true, even though it might not be enough to stave off the county's eventual collapse.
The political situation in Iraq is falling apart. Just today: "Baghdad shook with bombings and political upheaval Wednesday as the largest Sunni Arab bloc quit the government ... ."
Not positive news.
How much ineptitude on the part of the Iraqi government can we tolerate? How much money will be spent, and how many soldiers will be killed or injured before the United States decides enough is enough, regardless of how effective and skillful our military actions are? Or will we simply stay forever and essentially annex Iraq as part of the new U.S. empire?
However, most of these fail to cite hard facts and statistics about the situtation, relying instead on the same type of anecdotal evidence that has been used to demonstrate success in Iraq for four years. I hope that the stories of improvement and achievement are true, even though it might not be enough to stave off the county's eventual collapse.
The political situation in Iraq is falling apart. Just today: "Baghdad shook with bombings and political upheaval Wednesday as the largest Sunni Arab bloc quit the government ... ."
Not positive news.
How much ineptitude on the part of the Iraqi government can we tolerate? How much money will be spent, and how many soldiers will be killed or injured before the United States decides enough is enough, regardless of how effective and skillful our military actions are? Or will we simply stay forever and essentially annex Iraq as part of the new U.S. empire?
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Friday random thoughts
• The House on Thursday helped the Farm Bill take another step forward. It thoughtfully provides for food stamp and nutrition programs — and for California nut, vegetable and fruit growers — but still puts too much primacy on subsidizing Midwest cash-crop agribusiness.
• Simply FYI: In 2005, the Farm Bill gave out $1,471,397 to "Tracy" area farms. An outfit called Crimson Valley North was Tracy's top recipient with $99,168 in federal subsidies.
• I wonder if the CHP could set up some kind of checkpoint for this? Although, pulling over the Discovery at speed might be a little tough.
• Attorney General Alberto Gonzales might not be able to recall much more than his name while under oath, but the FBI director and federal documents don't have the same memory problem.
• Help goes hand in hand with hope: It's nice to see the senior center and private merchants help our community's most vulnerable. Kudos all around.
• Maybe it's the bland, recited statements that are to blame: Does anyone else find it disturbing that the YouTube debates questions were infinitely more interesting and thought-provoking than the Democratic candidates' answers?
• Random thought of the week: "It's good to be back. But it'd be even better to be gone again."
• Calvin and Hobbes quote of the week: "Somedays, even your lucky rocketship underpants aren't enough."
• Simply FYI: In 2005, the Farm Bill gave out $1,471,397 to "Tracy" area farms. An outfit called Crimson Valley North was Tracy's top recipient with $99,168 in federal subsidies.
• I wonder if the CHP could set up some kind of checkpoint for this? Although, pulling over the Discovery at speed might be a little tough.
• Attorney General Alberto Gonzales might not be able to recall much more than his name while under oath, but the FBI director and federal documents don't have the same memory problem.
• Help goes hand in hand with hope: It's nice to see the senior center and private merchants help our community's most vulnerable. Kudos all around.
• Maybe it's the bland, recited statements that are to blame: Does anyone else find it disturbing that the YouTube debates questions were infinitely more interesting and thought-provoking than the Democratic candidates' answers?
• Random thought of the week: "It's good to be back. But it'd be even better to be gone again."
• Calvin and Hobbes quote of the week: "Somedays, even your lucky rocketship underpants aren't enough."
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