Opinion

Most of us know sunflowers. In the Salinas Valley, they are a common sight in yards and fields up and down and across the land. Many among us remember rows of the tall, large yellow blooms were spaced among the row crops as wind...

You know what I don’t like, let me tell ya what I don’t like. I don’t like all these little shortcuts that have infested the King’s English in past few years. I have had to be aware of how to use words as I...

I will remember this month, this May of 2024, as one of journalistic chaos and don’t you wanna know why? Let me tell you why; and in the telling offer up a plea of “guilty with prejudice” to the charge of Unwarranted Opinion. If one...

To the Editor: With the passing of another Fourth of July “holiday,” other pet owners, veterans and myself can breathe another sigh of relief. Well, except that the Fourth of July “holiday” now seems to last a good month, as the selfish and irresponsible among...

I was going to finish my traveler tales this week — my account of when we went to pay homage to the Queen of England and then what we did after that — but I got distracted. No, I felt the need to paint...

It was one of those defining moments. Near reminiscent of the morning we watched one and then two towers collapse; when we got the news Diana died in a car crash. Not apocalyptic like that, but still shocking and time-defining. The newsflash came across...

I have a saying that is used just about every day: “Nobody can beat two people.” I know, it sort of sounds strange coming from a guy that hasn’t raised his hand against anyone in at least 25 years. I mention raising my hand...

What is patience? In my handy College Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary, patience is described as “The act of waiting calmly for someone or something.” Now that we know what it is, can anyone tell me if you have patience? I used to have a...

To the Editor: Well, it is happening again. I am accused of a “crime” and the evidence is a grainy photo. I received a letter from Waste Management that said we would be fined for putting plastic bags and film in our garbage. This is...

An end of the year, month-by-month chronicling of stand-out events of the past year is an age-old newspaper tradition, and as I have never attempted such a column, I thought this year I’d give it a go. In beginning this, don’t know what events...