Archive By Section - Columnists
Fix the budget breach
Yesterday, June 15, 2008, was the deadline for the California Legislature to constitutionally pass the state budget. Legislators have now missed their obligation for the 21st straight year. It's the "government work" syndrome. Once Article IV, Section 12 of the California Constitution was breached with no repercussions or public outcry, than the breach became an acceptable norm.
Happy Father’s Day to SCV’s fab dads
Have you hugged your father today? Did you call? Send a card? Write a note? Today's the day to honor the many dandy dads in the SCV. My dad taught me to drive, taught me which wild plants that were safe to eat, taught me to think for myself, taught me how to ride a horse and taught me about honor. I miss him.
Congressional finger-pointing won't ease the pain at the pump
On Sept. 19, 2001, then-Fed chief Alan Greenspan, former Clinton treasury secretary Bob Rubin, and Bush economic advisor Larry Lindsey met with congressional leadership to detail the economic fallout from the horrific attacks perpetrated eight days earlier.
I now pronounce you 'Party A' and 'Party B'?
The English language is about to lose two more words. On June 16 at 5:01 p.m., say goodbye to "bride" and "groom." It is at that moment that the state of California and all of its 58 counties will change the official State Marriage license. No longer will you see the words "bride" or "groom." When I married decades back, I was the groom and became the husband. My wife was the bride and became ...
Global warming myths — what's the harm?
Last fall, a U.K. high court judge ruled the global warming film "An Inconvenient Truth" could be shown in schools, but it contains nine scientific errors. Thirty-five errors were exposed by Lord Christopher Monckton, a policy adviser to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, in his document entitled "35 Inconvenient Lies."
My father, my buddy: Wish you were here
Every year on this Sunday, as well as on most every other day, I say a quiet thank you to the extraordinary man who was my father.
A salute to fathers ... and sons
This year, my Father's Day came early. Sunday, June 8 was a beautiful, almost-summer day. Our family - my wife, Kate, sons Peter, 10, Will, 8, and daughter Kathryn, 6 - and I decided to spend the day at the beach with our friends, the Simpson family. We met at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach. The surf was running a nice 2-4 feet, the water was a warm 64 degrees and the beach ...
Evidence unclear on global warming
Well, our friends the Democrats are at it again. On the same day that the Dow Jones industrials dropped almost 400 points, the jobless rate rose to 5.5 percent, and gasoline prices in California jumped to $4.50 per gallon, U.S. Senate Democrats were busy gathering votes to increase taxes so they could save us from the effects of global warming. In case you haven't heard, legislation known as the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act was pulled ...
The ‘Friday the 13th’ incident
My wife and 4-year-old son think I'm crazy. Today is Friday the 13th, a day that rains bad luck on some people, and I don't want to discover that the air conditioner in my house broke again. I don't want to "accidentally" turn up dead. Even worse, I don't want to find out that TCM is canceling its cable programming. Therefore, on this Friday the 13th, I'm staying clear of bad news and bad luck. ...
Path cleared for grand new day
All of America owes the Democratic National Party a deep debt of gratitude. That's because, after a tough campaign and much soul-searching, Democrats have said, "Yes we can!" and have shut the door on dynasty politics.
Disrespect for America is a growing business
Maybe it's an election year, but America-hating still seems to be very popular these days. In recent weeks, it's Barack Obama's ex-Pastor Jeremiah Wright of the Trinity Christian Church spewing his disgust for America.
But nobody walks in L.A.!
So maybe you've heard that gas prices are pretty high these days. I guess I was in a state of denial until last Sunday, when I went to my favorite gas station to fill the family van. While diligently cleaning the windshield and checking the tires, I almost didn't notice the pump meter passing $50, then $60, then $70 for my fill-up! I was in complete amazement when the pump finally clicked off at $76.13.
Plastic bag tax hurts families
There is no debate when it comes to the importance of recycling in our state, and the need for all Californians to do our part to reduce littering. But Assembly Democrats have taken the push to encourage more recycling to a new extreme by passing a misguided proposal that will force grocery stores to charge their customers a new tax of at least 25 cents per bag on all the paper and plastic bags they use to take groceries home.
Hit one out of the park for Boys & Girls Club
Where's the June gloom? It seems to me that the weather for the SCV Boys & Girls Club Auction is historically "warm!" A Night on the Diamond for Boys & Girls Club
Gas prices: Who’s to blame?
Psychology defines an addiction as a state of being enslaved to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma. Observing Washington, one would think that at any given moment some pol might explode into a shivering, sweaty bout of honesty with no eye to grandstanding if "business as usual" became business as it ought to be.
Articles by Section - Columnists
Jason Stanford: Will Obama beat the 6-year itch?
If the 2010 elections weren't bad enough for Democrats, here comes the "six-year itch."
Tom Purcell: No-fault Internet addiction
nline chat host: Good morning, cyber pals. As you know, the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the psychiatric "bible," is to be released this month.
Will Durst: To drone or not to drone
Put on your tinfoil hats, everybody. Or didn't you get the memo? It's paranoia time in America again.
Gary Horton: Victimhood: the new secret to success
Picture a modern-day Adonis with flowing, jet-black hair and rugged features for which women swoon. Picture an entrepreneur – a master of his own high-tech business.
Jim Mullen: It’s time for spotty training
My wife and I forgot to have children. We are so busy going to movies, plays and concerts, buying nice things for the house, taking long vacations without looking at a school calendar, reading all the latest best-sellers and going to restaurants with nice white tablecloths that it simply slipped our minds.
Rick Jensen: A slippery slope
Your 9 year-old daughter runs out of a public swimming pool shower, crying because a 45 year-old naked man is lounging in the sauna, "full monty." You call the police. The police arrest you for violating the man's rights and send both you and your daughter to "behavior modification counseling."
David Hegg: Ethics and a quality life
The basic question in the study of ethics has always been that of determining right and wrong, moral and immoral. Some find right to be that which aligns with authoritative truth or standard, while others base morality on the consequences of individual actions. The former - deontologists - and the latter - consequentialists - have argued back and forth for centuries, and the battle rages on today in academia.
Timothy Myers: Let the good times roll again!
One of my coworkers during my time working for Ernst & Young found himself working for KB Homes during the middle of the residential real estate boom, putting together the analyses or so-called "land packages" for the acquisition of property for the building of tract homes.
Peter Funt: Rambunctious raccoons are laughing at me
Our backyard is filled with the pleasing sounds of spring created by birds, frogs, crickets and teens down the street testing their new cars. But lately there are also the haunting sounds of raccoons laughing at me.
Live from City Hall
For the past few months, the city of Santa Clarita has hosted a series of local town hall meetings in Saugus, Canyon Country and Newhall to share important community information and hear from community members regarding issues of importance to them.
Kevin D. Korenthal: Make all marriages civil unions
Rights, as established by the Constitution of the United States of America, are greatly misunderstood.
Leyla Ramos: Veterans deserve more employment
When our veterans come home from war, they are greeted by "welcome home" signs, banners, applause, hugs and cheers. The popular line "Thank you for your service" is heard time and time again.
Tom Purcell: Reverse psychology vs. the Nanny State
Get this: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to ban the sale of cigarettes - now legal to people at age 18 - to people younger than 21.
George Runner: Obama steals California Gov. Jerry Brown’s playbook
Given California's chronic problems, it's hard to imagine anyone sees our state as a model - but it's clear the Obama administration does.
Kevin Bayona: Bush legacy hinges on his war on terror
The 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush, was recently honored with the dedication of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
