Guest Column | Seismic Shifts: How the 2030 Seismic Mandate is Impacting California Hospitals
In response to the 1994 Northridge earthquake, California enacted stringent seismic safety standards for hospitals under the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act. While crucial for ensuring the safety and functionality of hospitals during and after seismic events, this mandate has presented...
Funny Papers Again Column | A Digest of Abridged Subjects
The following were subjects for full columns, columns I now know will, to use an archaic adage, never see the light of day. The research of these subjects runs to dozens if not scores of hours and each would use up the 1,000-word limit;...
Window on the World Column | āTis the Season of Gratitude
āTis the season of gratitude. I like that season. Close on its heels is the season of giving and sometimes that is also a good season; but Thanksgiving ranks right up there in my chosen holidays. Gratitude is such a simple but powerful sentiment...
Guest Column | Pandemicās Toll on Mental Health
When will the pandemic end? Thatās a complicated question, and difficult to answer. There will be no ālight switchā moment where our lives suddenly return to what we call ānormal.ā In many ways, this pandemic has been like a long, destructive storm, perhaps a...
Worthy to Print Column: Doggone It
I have these two dogs. They are a mix between Border Collie and Australian Shepherd. These are the absolute smartest dogs I have ever seen. They sleep in the house, but they are not allowed on the bed or any furniture, as far as...
Worthy to Print Column | Sweet Tooth
Do you have a favorite candy bar? I know that doesnāt open up conversation that is important. I mean, itās important, but probably just to me. I love candy, all kinds of candy. The other reason I ask is that Iām really wondering if...
Funny Papers Again Column | Monday Countdown: 6 Hrs. 39 Min. To Deadline
The past couple of weeks were filled with One Thing or Another and now I find myself in a predicament of words, one thousand of them to be exact. This happens to all of us once in a while, and whether it is This...
Letter to the Editor | Another Brave Woman
To the Editor:
On March 13, 2024, in Blackfoot, Idaho, a 39-year-old man broke into an elderly womanās home and assaulted her. However, despite her injuries, the woman was able to defend herself with a gun; shooting and killing the man.
The lady was transported to...
Worthy to Print Column | Happy New Year?
Well, 2020 is over. Letās pray 2021 will be a much better year. Itās unfortunate, but this shall not be a memorable New Year. Is there something about this year that tickles your fancy? I didnāt think so. As I sat back in my...
Worthy to Print Column | What Really Happened?
Hello! Have you seen any good movies lately? I ask that because I have been busy watching some films made a couple of years ago. They werenāt made by some fancy Hollywood director, but rather a few hidden cameras and a couple of shaky...




















