Archive By Section - Columnists
Jim Mullen: Some years, you just want to stay home
Almost everyone we know has packed up and gone south for the winter. The ones who haven't left yet will be gone soon. Our friends who live south of us are leaving to go even farther south. I have never been to Belize or Costa Rica or the Cayman Islands, but I constantly hear people say they are going back for the fourth or fifth time because they liked it so much. They also have much more money and time.
Brian Springer: Community makes a life wonderful
"It's a Wonderful Life" has always been one of my favorite movies, and the older I get, the more I can relate to its life lessons and subtextual meanings.
Jan Ting: Fear not the fiscal cliff
The so-called "fiscal cliff" is the confluence of three separate legal events on Jan. 1, 2013: expiration of a temporary payroll tax cut, expiration of the so-called "Bush" income and estate tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003, and mandatory spending cuts also known as "sequestration." Many commentators are expressing concern that unless Congress intervenes by Jan. 1, the economy will suffer a serious setback. But I don't think that's the worst thing that could ...
Danny Tyree: Philanthropy adapts, is entering the 21st century
Just as Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season for brick-and-mortar retailers and Cyber Monday launches the online shopping season, we now have #GivingTuesday (the day after Cyber Monday) as a starting point for charitable acts by individuals, groups and companies.
Nat Hentoff: US needs second Declaration of Independence
My spirits were temporarily lifted when, last week, the Washington, D.C.-based Daily Caller website reported "more than 675,000 digital signatures appeared on 69 separate secession petitions covering all 50 states, according to ... requests lodged with the White House's 'We the People' online petition system" ("White House 'secede' petitions reach 675,000 signatures, 50-state participation," David Martosko, dailycaller.com, Nov. 14). Moreover, in various parts of the country, citizens infuriated for various reasons by the re-election of ...
Kathryn Lopez: This holiday season, avoid being materialistic
For as long as I can remember, I've always thought about waking up obscenely early the morning after Thanksgiving, to check out the goings-on at the toy or department store. Not because I wanted to shop, but to visit the safari - it's always struck me as quite the exotic mystery, why anyone would want to walk away from a calm morning with family or friends to fight for a parking spot. Of course, now ...
Michael Reagan: It’s time for the GOP to reach out to others
Forget Republican comebacks in 2014 or 2016. Unless it gets its head and its heart straight, the party might never win the popular vote or the White House again. The GOP today is not my father's party. And until the hierarchy of the GOP stops talking about how great Ronald Reagan was and starts embracing what he really stood for, the party of conservatism is destined for the ash heap of history. Ronald Reagan was ...
Steve Lunetta: Renovation reveals new tax rip-offs
Our money pit known as the Meadview house is coming along nicely. For those of you who are unaware, Trish and I bought a fixer-upper disaster in Placerita Canyon last year. Every spare dime has been going into renovations. And aspirin to relieve my headaches. Living in a fixer-upper is certainly a challenge. There is always a project going on with the accompanying dust, mess and commotion. Everything is higgledy-piggledy. And for a neat freak ...
David Hegg: We all win when we partner to solve a problem
There seems to be too much "either-or" thinking today. It happens in marriages, in friendships and in politics. "Either-or thinking" is what I call it when two people or groups have opposing ideas and are on the road to an all out fight over which idea will prevail. The byproduct of such sentiment is competition that usually devolves into hyperbole, cynicism, personal attacks and fractured relationships.
Tim Myers: Council hesitant on speech issues
Why do "The Jersey Shore" and "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" command (relatively) large audiences?
Frank Ferry: Celebrate holidays in Old Town Newhall
The holidays are here and a host of festive opportunities perfectly suited to the season are available in Old Town Newhall.
Betty Arenson: With job title comes responsibility
Democrats prevailed on Nov. 6 and you won't forget that. The media dishes daily doses from all sorts of pundits and yahoos spewing their claptraps on how Republicans were and are wrong. As is typical of Democrats getting the job, they reject the responsibility that goes with it. The media supports the duplicity on every level.
Tom Purcell: Federal government has turned into a money factory
Good morning, class," says the sixth-grade teacher. "Today, we have a special guest from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving. Mr. Bob Johnson is going to tell us how money is made. Feel free to ask questions."
Charles Vignola: Conspiracy of fools by conservatives
As someone who works in Hollywood, I find the concept of conspiracies very entertaining. Some of my favorite movies and TV shows, from "The Parallax" to "Homeland" revolve around grand, byzantine plots engineered by shadowy figures to manipulate the masses, thwart democracy and control the world.
John Rosemond: Living With Children
Q: My 12-year-old grandson has become obsessed with things he wants, including a cell phone (the most expensive, mind you), an iPad, and expensive designer jeans. He begs, throws tantrums, pouts, refuses to speak to his parents, and the like. When told not to say another word, he leaves them notes, draws pictures, or comes to us or the other grandparents. These obsessions and his very manipulative behavior are a mystery because he's never been ...
Articles by Section - Columnists
Jim Mullen: Village Idiot
I know there are couples who enjoy cooking together and make it look like a well-rehearsed ballet. They savor the aroma of their secret recipe for wild salmon over lemon couscous, stir each other's soups and sample each other's sauces.
Kevin Buck: Jesus would be a liberal Democrat
Recently my wife unearthed some old Signal newspapers, one of which contained a letter to the editor I had written. The Signal printed that letter on May 17, 1996.
Tom Campbell: Drink it like it’s water? Only if it IS water
Maybe you remember when you were a kid and you poured a giant glass of orange juice, and your mother said something like this: "Take it easy! Orange juice is expensive, and you're drinking it like it's water!"
Kathryn Lopez: Much hope in Pope
Rome - "May God forgive you." That's Cardinal Timothy Dolan's translation of a joke that Pope Francis told the College of Cardinals a day after being elected the 267th pontiff.
Steve Lunetta: Dogs have owners, cats have staff?
I've never liked cats. I find them to be obnoxious, arrogant, and down-right evil. If you've had a bad day at work, a cat's first response is "good, you are here. Feed me. Now."
Steven and Cokie Roberts: Dolley Madison was a model of savvy
When Dolley Payne Madison became first lady in 1809, she instituted Wednesday evening gatherings at the White House where political rivals could meet and talk.
David Hegg: Ethically Speaking
Let's say, for the sake of discussion, that ethics are those moral principles by which individuals order their lives. Further, let's agree that, broadly defined, the study of ethics is the attempt to identify these ethical sets, and determine which offers the best life.
Tom Purcell: How not to celebrate St. Patrick's Day
Ah, St. Patrick's Day is upon us.
Frank Ferry:Live from City Hall
The city of Santa Clarita's annual Teen Scene Unplugged is back, but with a new name and theme for local teens and parents.
Tim Myers: A decline in enrollment hits the SCV
When we moved to the SCV in 1996, the big educational news of that time revolved around over-strained elementary and secondary school facilities.
Danny Tyree: Taking a break from the pollsters
According to a Politico story titled "GOP Looks For Answers," the National Republican Congressional Committee is taking major steps to prevent a repeat of the misleading poll results that embarrassed the party in the 2012 election cycle.
Joe Guzzardi: The Gang of Eight backs off amnesty
The Senate's notorious Gang of Eight, a small cadre of amnesty advocates who hope to pressure Congress into passing disastrous immigration reform legislation, has developed a new game plan.
Alice Khosravy: Signs of life emerge in California GOP
Each year people across the country wait for Groundhog Day and hope that spring will come early.
Steve Lunetta: Dirty deeds done for dirt cheap
One of the strangest songs ever written by the Young brothers and Bonn Scott was a little ditty that talked about a gentleman who was willing to do anything for a small fee.
Gary Horton: Helmets may not be cool but staying alive is
Just put a lid on it!
