Archive By Section - Columnists
Tim Myers: Top 10 stories for this year
In my humble opinion no exercise promotes general boredom and yawning more than the annual top 10 lists. At the end of the year the media punishes ordinary souls with mind numbing listings of the top 10 films, songs, news events, what have you for the year just ended, nearly always biasing their choices to the safe and still memorable events of the last half and in some cases even the last quarter of the year.
Bob Kellar: Live from City Hall
Earlier this month, the United States Congress restored a commuter tax benefit that will help millions of public transportation users save money.
Right Here, Right Now: We already have gun control
Vice President Joe Biden said, "I guarantee you, we'll get [gun control] done by the end of January."
Kevin Bayona: End of the Chavez era
With all the trouble and intrigue brewing in Europe and Asia, little attention is being paid to the looming crisis unfolding in Latin America. Venezuela's fiery leader, Hugo Chavez, is reportedly on the brink of death after recovering from surgery related to an undisclosed form of pelvic cancer.Chavez has been fighting a severe lung infection in a hospital in Cuba, while the future of Venezuela hangs in the balance.
A bad day for good taste in Santa Clarita
Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012 is a date that shall go down in Santa Clarita epicurean infamy. That day, after a glorious gourmet run spanning over a decade, Chef Jason Park and Maru Sushi served their last meals to an appreciative and saddened Santa Clarita clientele. Jason's Maru Sushi story isn't just about food. More, it's a story of perseverance, commitment to principle, and the personal pursuit of perfection. Unfortunately, this story also exposes the sadder ...
Washington is a reflection of the national soul
Washington, D.C. - There was a young man - 23 at most - quietly saying his morning prayers on Capitol Hill on the third day of 2013, and it seemed for a moment like a warm ray of light in the midst of a blistering cold spell.
In the new year Congress should ring out the old
n early December, a CBS News poll found the 112th Congress' approval rating was 9 percent. That's the lowest rating since CBS began measuring Congress' approval in 1977. That 9 percent is so close to the margin of error that it might not be possible to sink lower without a shovel. On New Year's Day, Congress jumped over the fiscal cliff, trying to pull the nation with it. Like ...
Tom Purcell: Real issues lie ahead of U.S. in 2013
Washington's self-created "fiscal cliff" crisis has been somewhat resolved, which means we can continue ignoring the real fiscal crises that are dead ahead.
Protect and serve
ar is hell. But when it's justified, I suppose it must occur. Our country, however, has been in perpetual war since World War II; perhaps out of some silly notion that constant war keeps us away from economic depression. It certainly does keep some military industrialists very rich. Have you heard? We're renewing our troop efforts in Africa in 2013. Is every other nation out there "evil" in some way? Are we just "fixing" everyone ...
Steve Lunetta: Letters ask the questions of the year
Here at the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, we get numerous letters that scream to be published. Some are profane, some are funny and some are thoughtful. However, they never fail to entertain.
Tom Campbell: Castaic Lake Water Agency looks back at 2012
Well, you could say we saved the biggest news for last, and in any case 2012 will go down as a landmark year in the history of the Castaic Lake Water Agency, with the purchase of the Valencia Water Co. - a move that consolidates 84 percent of the Santa Clarita Valley's retail water connections under the agency's umbrella.
David Hegg: Essential values to live an ethical life today
Someone has said "if you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything." In the wake of a long list of human-initiated tragedies in the past year, it is time for us all to think about what we believe in and are willing to stand for. That evil exists in this world is a given. The idea that evil can be prevented underlies every code by which societies have attempted to order themselves. We have ...
Tim Myers: Resolve to swear off false equivalence
"False equivalence is a logical fallacy which describes a situation where there is a logical and apparent equivalence, but when in fact there is none." - Wikipedia
Frank Ferry: Canyon Country community center to open
The city of Santa Clarita works hard to increase and improve the quality and quantity of recreation, community services and sports programs for residents. This effort has taken many forms, including building new parks, trails and facilities, creating partnerships among public and private entities, offering high quality, accessible programming, classes, events and sports teams for youth, special needs, and adults.
Scott Wilk: Don’t be fooled, California is still broke
On Jan. 10, Gov, Jerry Brown will release his 2013-14 budget proposal. Brown has made pronouncements that he will be pursuing a "robust" agenda that reflects his interest in creating a legacy for his administration on issues such as high-speed rail and addressing the state's capacity to store and deliver water. While advocating for about $100 billion in new spending for these stated projects, Gov. Brown has called for fiscal restraint from his own party ...
Articles by Section - Columnists
The Village Idiot: Plan the marriage first, then the wedding
"I got an email today," Mel told me. "Chardonnay and Jackson are splitting up. They only got married four months ago. It's so sad. I played guitar at their wedding."
SCV Voices: Special interests only ones to benefit from toll roads
I was reading the article last week about making the HOV lanes on the I-5 through Santa Clarita toll lanes ("Metro committee approves I-5 toll lanes in SCV," April 17).
Blame the bombers, and nothing else
We are fortunate that the Boston Marathon bombing manhunt rendered both radicalized 26-year-old Tamarlan Tsarnaev and his 19-year-old brother Dzhokar no longer any threat.
No television, no worries
Besides aliens with eyes in the back of their heads, a possible interracial baby mix-up at the maternity ward and "Bet he'll laugh if I say 'shoehorn,'" one of my most indelible memories of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" has proven strangely prophetic.
Texas blast exposes disaster relief hypocrites
As of this writing, we know the fertilizer explosion in West, Texas, killed at least 14 residents and injured 200 others with many still missing.
Steve Lunetta: For the true scientist faith is inevitable
A co-worker the other day made an interesting comment. She said "I think its amazing that you are a scientist but still be a Christian. That must be very difficult to do."
Peter Funt: The only way to win is to not give in to fear
A Boston firefighter, one of many who rushed in to aid bomb victims last Monday, told a TV interviewer, "We will win. I promise you, we will win."
Cher Gilmore: Celebrating good news on Earth Day
On this 43rd anniversary of the first Earth Day, several recent good news events for the environment are worth celebrating:
David Hegg: Find grace in tolerance and disagreement
During the recent edition of college basketball's championship tournament I took great pleasure in cheering for my team. And, we did pretty well, but lost in the Elite Eight round.
Phil Kerpen: Sick people versus lobbyists
What if you had to choose between making insurance more affordable for Americans with pre-existing conditions or funding lobbyists and political hacks? That's the decision the House will face when it considers H.R. 1549, the Helping Sick Americans Now Act, sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania. It should be an easy choice.
Tim Myers: Setting a bad example
I often utilize the term "geography" partisan. The definition of a geography partisan? An elected official or someone who aspires to elective office who adopts a party label pretty much solely because that party stands dominant in the particular area where the individual lives.
Dick Cesaroni: Congress, listen to the voters, not the NRA
I am a wavering Republican. By that I mean I am at the crossroads of going to the right, left or just canceling my participation all together.
Frank Ferry: Live from City Hall
In Santa Clarita you know you can shop for the latest styles or eat at a terrific restaurant, but did you also know that you can enjoy some of the best hiking in the region on oak-shaded trails with creeks and waterfalls?
What other abuse can be heaped on Castaic?
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority has plans to place a carpool lane on Interstate 5 northbound from Highway 14 to Parker Road in Castaic. In fact, a Metro committee approved the plan - as a toll road - this week.
Right Here Right Now: Ending bad finance deals in education
In a rare display of solidarity, the California Assembly approved AB 182 by a vote of 73-0.
