Columnists

The Public Eye: It's the Values, Stupid

By Bob Burnett
Tuesday July 05, 2011 - 10:00:00 AM

President Obama’s April 13th speech about the economy emphasized cornerstone American values. Voters must understand these values to fully comprehend what’s at stake as Democrats battle Republicans over the Federal debt limit and budget for the 14 months prior to the 2012 election.

While acknowledging there’s a streak of “rugged individualism” in the American character, President Obama observed Americans also share the belief that “we are all connected; and that there are some things we can only do together, as a nation.” As a community we build schools and roads. The President noted that Americans also share the belief that “each one of us deserves some basic measure of security,” which is why we have Medicare and Social Security. -more-


My Commonplace Book (a diary of excerpts copied from printed books, with comments added by the reader)

By Dorothy Bryant
Wednesday July 06, 2011 - 02:15:00 PM

“Stupidity is caused, not by brain failure, but by a wicked heart. Insensitiveness, opacity, inability to make connections, often accompanied by low “animal” cunning. One cannot help feeling that this mental oblivion is chosen, by the heart or the moral will—an active preference.” -more-


Wild Neighbors: Matters of Taste

By Joe Eaton
Tuesday July 05, 2011 - 09:04:00 AM
Anise swallowtail: a fennel specialist.

On our way to a Fourth of July block party this afternoon, Ron and I witnessed a mass emergence of gulf fritillaries. Ten or a dozen of them were fluttering around a passionvine-covered fence, getting accustomed to their wings. Some checked out the passionvine flowers, but with minimal interest. One had worked its way a few doors down the street and was filling up at a buddleia. By the time we passed that corner again, a couple of hours later, the butterflies had all dispersed. -more-


Eclectic Rant: Time for a Study of the Effects of Rent Control

By Ralph E. Stone
Saturday July 02, 2011 - 05:15:00 PM

Twelve cities in California have rent control laws, including Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco. Berkeley's "Rent Stabilization and Eviction for Good Cause Ordinance" was passed in 1980; Oakland's "Residential Rent Adjustment Program" was passed in 2007; and San Francisco's "Rent Ordinance" was passed in 2007. Enough time has passed to justify an independent empirical study of the effects of rent control, if any, on the quantity and quality of housing stock in these three cities. Why not start with Berkeley, Oakland, or San Francisco? -more-


Senior Power: This Case Management thing

By Helen Rippier Wheeler
Monday July 04, 2011 - 12:06:00 PM

A reader who can’t get a straight answer asks “What is this case management thing? How can I get it and do I want it? Is it true you have to turn over your Medicare or be on SSI and MediCAL? What can “they” do for me that I can’t do myself? And how much does it cost?”
xxxx -more-


On Mental Illness: Meditation and Medication

By Jack Bragen
Monday July 04, 2011 - 12:59:00 PM

Because persons with mental illness seem to get a raw deal in life, Buddhist or other meditative ideas of transcendence are appealing. It seems, despite what one might think, the playing field of meditative practices is more level compared to other areas that could be pursued. I have never believed I couldn’t practice meditation because of having a psychiatric disability. -more-


Pepper Spray Times

Grace Underpressure
Friday July 08, 2011 - 10:08:00 PM

Editor's Note: The latest issue of the Pepper Spray Times is now available. -more-