Opinion

Education, Opinion, Politics, San Diego July 11, 2016

Jenny Craig, ‘Papa’ Doug Manchester disgrace USD by hosting Trump fundraiser

As proud alumni of the University of San Diego, spanning different generations, races, faith traditions, genders, sexual orientations and professions, we love and care deeply about the mission and moral core of USD. We support and cherish USD’s mission to operate as a “preeminent Catholic university known for educating students who are globally competent, ethical leaders committed to the common good and empowered to engage…

Blogs, Fire, Police/Fire June 30, 2016

Perfect media storm: What if a fire broke out at an abandoned Escondido meat market and social media, TV news went wild?

Nothing like fire to spark interest in the “mainstream media” — it’s the easiest and most colorful spectacle to trot across local TV — and social media. Throw in spectacular smoke, large numbers of responders and close proximity to freeways and morning rush hour traffic and voila’, the perfect 2016 media storm. (Updated at 4:30 p.m.) It’s an easy story and no doubt interesting although…

Editorial, Opinion May 29, 2016

Welcome to the monkey house: June 7 California Primary edition

Beginning with baboons, researchers have studied these great apes because they have more than just DNA in common with humans. They are masters of social interactions living and loving, working and warring in tightly knit clans. Princeton University researchers have found is that the biggest problem for baboons are other baboons. Which brings us to the 50th Congressional District and District 3 County Supervisor contests….

Editorial, Opinion, Politics April 20, 2016

Say it ain’t so, Congressman Hunter Jr.

Escondido’s Congressman Duncan Hunter, an Alpine resident, won his last election by a 40-point margin in a District that was 44 percent Republican registered and 31 percent Democratic registered voters. No California Republican incumbent congressman ever has lost a race in a GOP-majority district. This time around, he can’t seem to get out of his own way. In recent weeks, Hunter has been involved in numerous…

Animals and pets, Blogs, Columns/Blogs January 12, 2016

Living with dogs; Why I like monasteries

LIVING WITH DOGS Yes, yes, I’ve moved again. The last place didn’t work out even though it was incredibly beautiful. The tribe that lived there was, well, not my cup of tea (to the say the least.) Well-meaning, maybe but from another universe I think. Anyway, I’ve relocated and am living with two, and sometimes more, of the cutest dogs, both personality-wise and physically, the…

Blogs, Columns/Blogs, Opinion December 21, 2015

Shadows across the Hidden Valley

Gregory Paul Welch and Ivan Rios couldn’t be more different. You may not know them, but you’ve seen them. As this holiday season winds down Grand Avenue to its inevitable conclusion, the poignant reflections of these two ghosts casts a spell along the city’s shadows. Walking the streets of Escondido today, delivering newspapers to stores incarnate, these men’s stories struck an odd note surrounded and…

Blogs, Columns/Blogs November 4, 2015

Casey Anthony legal team member, and RSF resident, Todd Macaluso sentenced

Casey Anthony attorney, and Rancho Santa Fe resident, Todd Edward Macaluso, Sr., is going to prison, sentenced in federal court to five months for fraud. Guess who’s not going to sue me over this story. I’m not surprised Macaluso was sentenced for his role in defrauding clients by forging their signatures to obtain millions of dollars from investors. I’m just surprised it took this long…

Animals and pets, Blogs October 28, 2015

Dolphin Escapade

(Introducing Izabelle Joie Doucet. She is an energy worker and animal communicator. She will hold a special workshop Nov. 21 at beautiful View Ranch, San Marcos where water springs and flows from  1,000-feet deep aquifers defined by 7-foot high, mystical Stonehenge-like rocks, standing on unnaturally erect. The ranch also houses rescued horses on the oldest knoll in San Marcos. Workshop participants will need to bring…

Blogs, Opinion, The Grapevine October 10, 2015

Getting out the real story the Grapevine way

It is easy to Google anything and read these days, but what are we being fed? The fact is anyone can write words on a piece of paper and post or print it. As a reader, it is very important to consider the source. First of all, who is the author of the story and is it journalism or one’s own point of view or…

Opinion, Public Policy, San Diego October 6, 2015

Escondido features most county poverty outside of El Cajon, policy initiatives researchers say

Local non-profit research and advocacy group Center on Policy Initiatives this week found that Escondido’s poverty rate was just about the highest in San Diego county. Only El Cajon’s 22.8 percent was barely higher than Escondido’s 21.6 percent overall rate. El Cajon had 28 percent poverty rate for children, Escondido? It was 28.5 percent. Otherwise across the land, Vista had an 18.6 percent rate, San…