Monthly Archives: January 2008

Ask and ye shall be told: What’s a Bellboat?

By Site Admin | Published: January 31, 2008 | Comments closed
In an item below, a (former) resident of Stockton-on-Tees England recommended “Bellboats” for Stockton’s waterfront. Here’s what he was talking about. What, no ice chests of cold Bud? Will such an idea fly on the Delta?  
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

A reminder all life is connected

By Site Admin | Published: January 30, 2008 | Comments closed
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. 
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

A message from Stockton, England

By Site Admin | Published: January 30, 2008 | Comments closed
I guess I’m not the only one who gets Google news alerts of stories with the word “Stockton” in them. Whatever the case, from Stockton, England, comes this: “I have just picked up your article which I found very interesting, having been born in Stockton, England and having invented a water based festival and the boats [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

For events to flourish, City Hall must trust experts

By Site Admin | Published: January 30, 2008 | Comments closed
   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 [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

Our flood solution needs a solution

By Site Admin | Published: January 30, 2008 | Comments closed
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.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

And then Jimmy buffet came over the fence

By Site Admin | Published: January 29, 2008 | Comments closed
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 [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

It would have made a better Vice President, too

By Site Admin | Published: January 28, 2008 | Comments closed
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.”  
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

"60 Minutes" does Ground Zero

By Site Admin | Published: January 28, 2008 | Comments closed
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.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

Because prison is full of innocent guys

By Site Admin | Published: January 28, 2008 | Comments closed
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.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

An inspiring immigrant success story

By Site Admin | Published: January 28, 2008 | Comments closed
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. [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed