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Michael Fitzgerald
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Monthly Archives: January 2008
A reminder all life is connected
The suffering Delta affecting Alaskan Orcas? Yes, because the killer whales are coming south to feed on salmon. A reminder that the Delta reverberates far beyond its boundaries.
An Orca website spouts off here.
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For events to flourish, City Hall must trust experts
When writing today’s column on the tourism expert’s advice for Stockton’s “brand,” I didn’t have time to read Ian Hill’s post on 209Vibe.com. I just did. I find one fact he revealed about the music permit process fascinating:
“Even though city council approved a streamlined process last March, some city employees still enforced the old, complicated process [...]
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Our flood solution needs a solution
The National Flood Insurance Program–the flood insurance Stocktonians must buy if they live in the newly expanded flood plain — is “troubled, “scheduled to expire within months” and “swimming in red ink.”
And being investigated by Congress. Thanks (I think) to reader Tim Nunes for this link.
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And then Jimmy buffet came over the fence
Reader Joan Singson writes:
“I woke up Sunday morning to the loud noises of the Parkwoods neighborhood parrots. They sounded so close that I got up to look. I was delighted to find them in my backyard, having a breakfast of fresh mandarin oranges. These birds are gorgeous, and they seem to love hamming it [...]
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It would have made a better Vice President, too
Reader Dave Hall gives us a laugh:
”This year, both Groundhog Day and the State of the Union address occur the same week.
“As it has been pointed out, it is an ironic juxtaposition of events: one involves a meaningless ritual in which we look to a creature of little intelligence for prognostication, while the other involves a groundhog.”
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"60 Minutes" does Ground Zero
Another day, another special on Stockton’s foreclosures. This time it was “60 Minutes.” Sunday’s edition claimed Stockton is reeling from “$1.4 billion in bad loans from one community alone.” Numb as I am to these stories, that fact is staggering.
Read it and weep here.
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Because prison is full of innocent guys
This interesting criminal sent me a letter from Mule Creek State prison offering to rip the lid off his unethical prosecution. I tossed his letter into my nut file.
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An inspiring immigrant success story
This guy came to America with no English, less than $5 and nothing but a job in the fields. Now he’s a brain surgeon and a stem cell researcher. A shining example of the American Dream.
But if you think about the farmer’s son in the story, it is clear every Valley resident has a choice regarding immigrants. [...]
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Ask and ye shall be told: What’s a Bellboat?