Archive By Section - Columnists
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.
A ‘main course’ for senior survival
There's no place like home." Throughout our lives we frequently hear that phrase, and often it prompts different reactions.
City expanding sports complex
In an effort to continue bringing high quality recreational facilities to our community, the city will be breaking ground this week on phase four of the Santa Clarita Sports Complex. This new phase includes a new gymnasium, a multi-use playing field, more parking and landscaping, and a new and expanded skate park, investing $25 million in this popular city facility located in the center of Santa Clarita.
I’ll have my Velveeta and eat it, too
Being single wasn't so bad. But at the time, I would've given up both my arms and a leg to have a wife like I have now. I would've given up my vision and my hearing. Heck, I would've taken more drastic measures and trashed my prized DVD collection to be with someone.
A conversation about the gay marriage ruling
When I want a different view of the world, I go and visit my friend Libby. Some of you may remember Libby from past articles. Libby drives a BMW, retains a comfortably upper-middle-class lifestyle, and owns a small poodle named Ralphie who wears more bling than some rappers. Libby lives the good life in Santa Clarita and feels horribly guilty about it. Ralphie doesn't care. He's just happy being a dog.
Articles by Section - Columnists
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.
Jason Stanford: The revised legacy of George W. Bush
New polls show that George W. Bush is not as unpopular now as when he left office. That bodes well for a public examination of his legacy, but it's difficult to look back on his presidency as something other than a preventable catastrophe.
The Village Idiot: Tv or no TV?
Remember when TV used to sign off for the night? No infomercials, no reruns, no experimental public-access foolishness - nothing at all but snow. Or, if you were lucky, a test pattern.
Tina Dupuy: The Theory of Relative Laziness
My working theory - you could call it a philosophy, or a freestanding reason of how the world works - is what I call the Theory of Relative Laziness.
Charlie Vignola: America worried about the wrong things
America has always had a propensity to whip itself into a frenzy about the wrong things, but seldom has it been so clear as it has been the last few weeks, particularly in the wake of the Boston Marathon Bombings.
Danny Tyree: R.I.P. George Jones
Editor's note: The following column ran in 2006 marking the 75th birthday of George Jones. The longtime country singer died Friday at age 81 and will be remembered at a public memorial Thursday at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
David Hegg: The need for adversity
We're all familiar with the old saying "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." It is often used to remind us that most really important things in life come with adversity built in.
Donna Brazile: Accountability needed
In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, lawmakers are demanding answers from the FBI. They want answers not only about the Tsarnaev brothers - Did they act alone? Why did the do it? - but also about our security and intelligence operations.
