Monthly Archives: October 2008

Why a journalist needs a silver tongue

By Site Admin | Published: October 31, 2008 | Comments closed
One juicy detail I left out of today’s story of the “brain-crazed maniac” John Goins. A Record reporter talked his way off Goins’ death list. Reporter Alvin Mathews, who covered Goins’ bogus damage suits, ran into Goins about 10 days before Goins went barking mad. “Your name is on my list, too,” Goins warned him. “Why me?” asked Mathews. “You [...]
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The counter-demonstrator’s tale

By Site Admin | Published: October 29, 2008 | Comments closed
The (frankly inadequate) photo below, snapped by a bystander with a cel-camera, shows a Stockton resident Sean M. getting arrested. This was over the weekend, after M., 43, a retired north Stockton resident (who sheepishly asked his name be withheld) spotted “Yes on 8” demonstrators waving signs at the four corners of the busy [...]
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Another insanely petty dispute

By Site Admin | Published: October 29, 2008 | Comments closed
Speaking of disputes so petty they verge on the insane, which we are in today’s column, how about this one? A Nevada man demands, and gets, a hearing before the state Gaming Control Board because he felt a jackpot shorted him by … wait for it … 25 cents. Realizing how pervasive such disputes are is almost to get a more [...]
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Mayor loses round vs. PG&E — does he care?

By Site Admin | Published: October 28, 2008 | Comments closed
A judge last week dismissed the City of Stockton’s lawsuit to clarify whether if had the legal right to take over he municipal utility from PG&E.   Since the city is actually suing PG&E, or vice versa, there’s nothing to rule on, said Superior Court Judge Carter Holly.   Not that it matters.   The only people who seemed enthusiastic about [...]
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The latest city motto

By Site Admin | Published: October 28, 2008 | Comments closed
Dave Waldon writes: Concerning our city’s trees. It’s not just the trees as you know, it’s also reduced fire and police protection, and I’m sure road maintenance as well. How about a new motto for the city: “Stockton – You’re On Your Own.” The libertarians will love it.
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Huzzah, tree lovers founding a tree group

By Site Admin | Published: October 27, 2008 | Comments closed
Becky Potten writes:   Thanks for the column in Sunday’s Record.  FYI…a group organized by Stockton Beautiful is meeting with the Sacramento Tree Foundation on Wednesday, trying to pick their brains for organizing a Stockton Tree Foundation or like organization. The next stop will be Atwater (thanks for the tip) … By December we hope to have our [...]
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Author Hillerman dies; visited Stockton twice

By Site Admin | Published: October 27, 2008 | Comments closed
Vince Perrin Writes: The sad news at 1:30 a.m. this morning that detective/mystery writer Tony Hillerman had died reminded me that Hillerman visited Stockton twice.   The first time (was) early in his career  … Hillerman had just launched what was to be a highly successful series of novels featuring two Navajo reservation detectives, detectives Leaphorn and Chee….   Year’s [...]
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Coming soon: more commuters

By Site Admin | Published: October 24, 2008 | Comments closed
One of the irritating things about growth is the difference between the projects that get approved and the projects that get built. Brookside was supposed to have more homes and less office space so it did not harm downtown. When a slump slowed home sales, more office space was approved. Spanos Park West was pitched as [...]
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A cultural component to ground zero?

By Site Admin | Published: October 24, 2008 | Comments closed
Interesting study going on down at Fresno State: assessing how Latinos handle money. From the press release: Avalos said, “it is well known among participants in the financial system that many Hispanics don’t trust banks and, thus, don’t use checking accounts.“ He added that many Hispanics finance autos, homes, furniture and other major items without understanding the terms and [...]
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A cool link

By Site Admin | Published: October 24, 2008 | Comments closed
Speaking of freezing people cryogenically (which we actually were, below), check out this story of cryogenics gone terribly wrong. –Thanks to Zack Johnson
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