America can do better

This country simply can't fall victim to politicians and hatemongers who preach exclusion as a solution. http://www.recordnet.com/article/20151212/OPINION/151219960/101035/A_OPINION
#guncontrol #trump #muslims #violence #massmurder

A healthy respect

A tough little guy learns a valuable lesson about looking before grabbing: http://www.recordnet.com/article/20151114/OPINION/151119858/101035/A_OPINION

#rattlesnake #Marysville #Eden

At least do the research

A few Sunday morning thoughts about the never-ending debate over gun control and gun violence in America: http://www.recordnet.com/article/20151017/OPINION/151019813/101034/A_OPINION #guncontrol #gunviolence

College is still worth it

Going to college isn't cheap, but the long-term cost to those who don't go on -- not to mention the cost to society -- can be much, much higher. #college #tuition #personalfinance #jobs
http://www.recordnet.com/article/20151003/OPINION/151009918/101034/A_OPINION

The smell of history



The Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor as seen from the bridge of the Battleship Missouri.


A few Sunday morning thoughts about #history, #patriotism, the #BattleshipArizona, #KimDavis, and #flying with an #infant

http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150919/OPINION/150919637

Peril of history

A few Sunday morning thoughts about #history, the #CivilWar and #politicians.
http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150905/OPINION/150909849/101034/A_OPINION

Home sales, prices up in San Joaquin County

Year-over San Joaquin County, CA home prices jumped 11 percent in July, the California Association of Realtors said today, to a median price of $288,700. Year-over sales also climbed last month, up 14 percent. Homes for sale stayed on the market an average of 23 days in July, roughly the same as in July 2014.
However, as home prices climb, affordability drops. CAR reported last week that in the second quarter of 2015, 37 percent of the county's households could afford a median priced home. That's down from 40 percent in the same quarter a year earlier. At the height of the housing boom in the mid-2000s, affordability in the county fell into the single digits.
According to CAR, it took a minimum household income of $56,550 per year to support a monthly house payment, including taxes and insurance, of $1,410.
Affordability tended to be highest in the Central Valley and lowest in the state's coastal areas. In San Francisco, for example, only 10 percent of the households could afford a median priced home costing about $1.3 million.
“While July home sales rose at the statewide level, the market is still constrained by low housing affordability and a tight supply in areas where job growth is robust, such as San Francisco and San Jose,” said CAR President Chris Kutzkey. “Neighboring regions such as Napa, Solano, and Sonoma are experiencing strong sales due to their affordability and proximity to job centers. However, housing affordability could become a bigger issue in these areas if housing demand continues to grow but supply can’t keep pace.”
#SanJoaquinCounty #homeprices #CA #AssnOfRealtors 

Mostly we just fear fear itself

A few Sunday morning thoughts about being #prudent or being #fearful http://recordnet.com/article/20150815/OPINION/150819849 via @recordnet #danger #exceptionalism

Packing in public

A few thoughts about arming the masses in the name of self defense: http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150801/OPINION/150809995 #2ndamendment #guncontrol #massmurder #firearms

Being poor warps the mind

A few Sunday morning thoughts about poverty: http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150718/OPINION/150719703/101035/A_OPINION
#poverty #poor #America

A few thoughts on the South, violence, America

http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150704/OPINION/150709910/0/SEARCH #race #blacks #Confederate #flag #violence #murder

War shouldn't just be painful to some

A few thoughts on a Sunday morning ... http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150620/OPINION/150629998/101034/A_OPINION
#war #draft #military

Let's get together

The San Joaquin County (CA) Civil Grand Jury today released its final investigative report for the current term, this one urging officials to consider consolidating the county's rural fire districts. http://sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/news/1401%20%20press%20release%20061815.pdf

Taken for a Ride

The #SanJoaquin County Civil #GrandJury releases report on #StocktonUnified bus purchase. http://sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/news/1407%20%20approved%20press%20release.pdf

Charity begins at home

The San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury today released its report on donation bins operated by for-profit companies. The report can be found at http://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/news/1410%20approved%20press%20release.pdf #charity #donations

Cruz incapable of control

A little rant about my favorite Republican schemer. #TedCruz #Republican #president #politics
http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150606/OPINION/150609760/101035/A_OPINION

Manteca school eyed by Civil Grand Jury

The #SanJoaquinCounty Civil #GrandJury today released a report on the #MantecaUnifiedSchoolDistrict.

http://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/news/1417%20approved%20press%20release.pdf

The customer is rarely right

A few Sunday morning thoughts on our self-service world. #customers #selfservice #shopping #business #retailing http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150523/OPINION/150529887/101128/A_OPINION

Not-so-benign neglect

#Stockton scolded by San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury over neglect of south city. http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150513/NEWS/150519865

After the cheering stops ...

#Boxing is just a one-ring circus with clowns in the ring and clowns all around it. #Maryweather #Pacquiao  http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150509/OPINION/150509681/101035/A_OPINION

Help along our way

Graduation season is a good time to remember that special teacher who made a difference in your life. #teacher #education #school
http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150425/OPINION/150429737/101034/A_OPINION

Intolerance reigns as nationwide epidemic

California has its share of intolerant nincompoops, but the Golden State hardly has cornered the market on nonsense. Unfortunately many of those peddling various forms of bigoted drivel find their way into public office where they are free to pander with abandon. #gays #same-sex #California #legal
http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150411/OPINION/150419981/101035/A_OPINION

Shifting politics even more toward the fringe

There are dangers with relying on a mind on Cruz control.
http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150328/OPINION/150329708/101128/A_OPINION

Please, guys, dial it back

Why is it so many rich, powerful and famous people find it necessary to hype their accomplishments?
http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150228/NEWS/150229659/101035/A_OPINION

No apologies extended

Just a little something written by an unapologetically biased #grandpa. A new lad in the clan can quickly change your perspective. http://recordnet.com/article/20150314/OPINION/150319855 via @recordnet #grunder #grandchild

Please don't share everything

In some ways the anti-vaxxers are like those people who unthinkingly hit the share button on Facebook. No thought. No critical thinking. No real research. Just an uninformed opinion that bolsters an existing bias. #vaccine #Facebook
http://www.recordnet.com/…/OPINI…/150219788/101035/A_OPINION

Keeping a few options open

Dee Grunder

When death comes our choices are few, but we should have whatever options are available. A proposal before the California Legislature, #SenatBill128, would do just that.  #deathwithdignity http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150131/NEWS/150139969/101035/A_OPINION …

There are not 1.6B terrorists

You don't have to be a particularly deep thinker to understand that not all of the world's 1.6 billion Muslims are terrorists, you just have to be willing to take a deep breath, count to 10, and think.

http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150117/OPINION/150119741/101127/A_OPINION

Turning the calendar with optimism

Hope and change are part of the American DNA. That won't change in 2015.
http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150103/OPINION/150109929/101127/A_OPINION