Good News with Larry Powell: Recent Episodes
PowerTalk 96.7 (KALZ-FM)
In addition to being the former Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, Larry Powell is also a minister, motivational speaker, writer, actor, singer, and songwriter. Larry enjoys inspiring students and families, and is very active in the community and civic groups ,as well as many professional organizations.
My wife’s brother, Steve, is a truck driver, a long haul truck driver. He drives around 5,000
miles per week. My wife will get a call from him one day and he’s in Chicago and then a few
days later he’s in some town in Florida or Texas or Colorado. He crosses from one part of
the country to the other on a regular basis. We get to spend some time with him once
about every six weeks. During one conversation, he began to share some of his
experiences. Truck drivers have to follow more laws than I ever imagined. They clock in
and out and do it through a computer software program in the truck. It keeps track of his
driving time and mileage and reports it back so he doesn’t violate any of the rules of the
road for truckers. He was sharing with me that as good as technology and GPS systems are,
on at least one occasion, the computer showed his truck in one city but he was actually in
another city. He was flagged for a minor violation because, as the computer tech said, the
“computer GPS is never wrong and you can’t be 15 miles from where it says you are.” Now
I don’t always know exactly where I am but I always know when I’m not somewhere I’m not.
I’m so glad that Steve loves his job and doesn’t even mind taking a load of computers with
GPS systems from LA to New Orleans, or was it Chicago or Cleveland. It’s always good to
know where you are even when technology does not. A big thanks to all the long-haul truck
drivers who keep Americans supplies with everything we need. Now that’s Good News.
My mom’s one of the smartest people I know. She’s well-read, witty, and stays up with
what’s happening in the world. She has knowledge, insight, and interest in a variety of
subjects and topics. She was born in the roaring twenties, lived through the Great
Depression of the 30’s, World War II, the Happy Days of the 50’s, the Hippies of the 60’s, the
bad fashions of the 70’s, the rockers in spandex in the 80’s, the irrational exuberance of the
90’s, the economic collapse of 2000’s, and the digital natives of the aught 10s and now the
upside down world of the 2020s. She can speak intelligently on almost any subject as a
member of the greatest generation. She grew up poor but didn’t act poor. She grew up
with a zest for life that belied the challenges she faced. She had to take care of an invalid
mother and was not allowed to finish high school…and she loved high school. So several
years back I decided to contact the current Superintendent of her high school, Willow
Springs High School in Willow Springs, Missouri and tell him about my mom and her love of
school. I requested that the high school issue her a high school diploma on her 90 th
birthday. A few days before she turned 90, I received that diploma in the mail and was able
to give it to my mom on her birthday, signed by the Superintendent and Board of Education
members. Thank you Willow Springs Bears for making a native daughter so happy. Now
that’s Good News.
The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is one of the most interesting places each year
to physically see the next generation of digital health devices. We’ve all seen or even used
pedometers to measure how many steps we take or apps that track our calorie
consumption. The next generation of wearable health technology has concentrated on
gathering individual data that is automatically be transmitted to our doctor. The future is
here now with a new industry of personal health monitoring. There are health apps that do
nothing but gather health data and notify us of an impending heart condition or high blood
pressure and all of it remotely. The devices also monitor our personal behavior and give us
immediate feedback with regard to the nutrients being released into our bloodstream as
they are broken down during and after eating a meal. There are devices that tell us what
we are about the food we are about to eat by sending a message to our smartphones with a
list of ingredients, healthy and unhealthy. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want an
electronic monitor beeping or buzzing and telling me the composition of my food. I don’t
know what’s in a polish sausage, but I do know I like it grilled and butterflied with mustard
and relish on a toasted bun. Think I’ll get one for dinner and text in my order with my
smartphone. Now that’s Good news.
I have a friend, Bob Greco, who is an Orthotist. You must be thinking: What is an Orthotist?
For anyone who has ever suffered from Polio, you know! He is the guy who builds and
repairs your brace, that unique device that gives you the ability to walk and move around
without crutches or a wheelchair. He is your mobility man and very essential to your sense
of freedom. Back in the 70’s I had only one brace and if it broke, it meant that I was home
bound and unable to do anything about it. My whole life was turned on its head. My brace
was a very important part of who I was and allowed me to move. When I was a kid, Johnny
Aliano was my first Orthotist. And of course I didn’t know him as anyone but the brace man.
One of the two braces I have today was built by Johnny in the late 60s. It is about 55 years
old. Back in those days, they built things to last. It was custom made out of steel and leather
and springs. Not much has changed today except that Bob made my newest brace out of
steel and aluminum in order to make it lighter and easier to move in. He also reduced the
amount of leather and saved me from those hot summer days in Fresno when that leather
would get all sweaty and created its own sauna right on my leg. I recently went back to Bob
to get my brace tuned up for what I believe will be my last time. You see the brace I have
now was built by Bob almost 20 years ago and just needs new leather now and then. It was
somewhat nostalgic knowing that the brace I have now will probably last me the rest of my
life. Johnny, Bob, and my brace have been great friends and given me an opportunity at
mobility and a great life. Now that’s Good News.
As an educator and involved in education for over 50 years, I have poured my heart, soul,
and energy into the education and care of thousands of students and their families. I have
been invited into their lives and for all intents and purposes became a part of their families. I
celebrated when they succeeded and achieved and I hurt when students suffered failures and
didn’t reach their full potential. There have been some amazing stories of struggles and
challenges that families have overcome. I have been given a place of honor and trust by
these families so when I read of an educator who violates that trust by abusing a child, I am
outraged. Educators are routinely placed on a pedestal that requires a level of trust that few
in society are given so freely. That trust is a sacred trust and carries an obligation to conduct
ourselves with the highest level of integrity and an unwavering duty to do only good and
never harm. I also know how hard it is to express a concern when an employee suspects an
administrator at a school has violated that trust. So I was thrilled recently when a staff
member contacted the Sheriff’s office with their suspicions and they turned out to be right. It
is so much better to report a suspicion and be wrong then to have done nothing. This
employee is a hero who faced fear and chose protecting kids rather than worrying about
losing a job. That’s dedication to kids! Now that’s Good News.
If I were to poll 100 of my friends, I would be hard-pressed to find one that said that they
liked going to the dentist. In fact, I would be hard-pressed to find any of my enemies that
would express pleasure at being in the dentist’s chair. I get it. That needle looks like it is 6
inches long and I know it is supposed to take the pain away. But that is assuming that you
don’t faint or scream or have your eyes fill with tears when the dentist injects you with
novacaine or lidocaine or whatever caine that is supposed to dull the pain. I also know that
just hearing that high pitch whine of the drill can send most people into spasms. Those
dental chairs often have grips at their tips for a reason. It is hard to have a relaxed attitude in
that chair and if there was nothing to grip, they might do something with their hands to the
dentist that would be very unpleasant. Then there is the conversation that is supposed to take
place between the patient and the dentist. It is usually a very one syllabic response to a
multifaceted question. You know what I’m talking about. The dentist asks you a question
knowing full well that all you can do is grunt out a response. Even though I don’t swear,
there have been times in that chair I felt it would be better to go ahead and swear and then
later ask God for forgiveness. In spite of everything associated with going to the dentist, I
have a great dentist who really cares about me and takes care of me. I actually look forward
to seeing him. I also look forward to the day when that drill has a silencer on it. Now that’s
Good News.
I’m a meat and potatoes kind of guy. I sometimes eat salad and a little bit of fruit. I have
been blessed with a very high metabolism and I can eat just about anything I want. I love
candy, ice cream, apple pie, and cake. I am hooked on fried chicken and chili beans. Just
thinking about it makes my mouth water. Throw in chips and salsa or cheese dip and I am in
heaven. I love cashews and almonds especially with carmel candy. I don’t gain weight or
have not been negatively impacted health wise. My good cholesterol is high and my bad
cholesterol is low. It obviously has nothing to do with my diet. It is the result of the genes I
was given at birth. My wife’s diet is one that is superbly healthy. She avoids everything that
is bad and eats fruits and vegetables like they are going out of style. She is careful about
everything she eats. She reads the labels and re-reads them. She studies food and ingredients
on the internet and is very well acquainted with every new health trend that comes along.
She is excited to try new food combinations that have been declared healthy and good for
you by one of the gurus of healthy food. My daughter is the queen of organic foods. She is
very disciplined when it comes to following a menu that is healthy. Even though I have
some great examples of how to eat, I am so glad that mom and dad gave me the ability to
enjoy food with little or no regard for my health. Now that’s Good News.
It was the summer of 1970. I was heading to Sanger, California, my birthplace and the
birthplace of my father, to interview for a teaching position at the high school, dad’s high
school. I was driving a lowered, white 1964 Chevy. It had a tiny half-size metal steering
wheel and chrome reverse rims. I had spent hours cleaning it up and waxing it for this very
day. I arrived about an hour early, a habit that continues to this day. I would rather be an
hour early than a minute late to a meeting or appointment. Even though I was born in
Sanger, I had only lived there for the first six months of my life. I did feel a very strong
connection since dad had told me many stories over the years of his childhood days and his
time at Sanger High School. Those stories seemed magical. I was now to interview to teach
at Dad’s high school. I could barely contain my emotions. I drove by the famous Chuck
Wagon restaurant with that intoxicating smell of chili dogs and on to the small downtown. It
was like I was floating. On 7 th street, I made a quick U turn across from Tejerian’s Clothing
Store and pulled into a parking spot for just a minute to soak in the experience. I backed out
and headed west toward P street to go to my interview. I looked into the rearview mirror and
to my surprise, I saw a Sanger Police Car with its lights on. I pulled over and the officer
asked for my license. He said I had made an illegal U turn on 7 th ? He asked why I was in
town. I told him about the interview at the high school. He was a Sanger graduate. He let me
off with a warning and a good luck wish. I got the job and thus began a 50-year love affair
with Sanger. Now that’s Good News.
I can taste them now even though my mother-in-law has been gone for many years. Hot beef
sandwiches. It was November of 1969 and Thanksgiving. I had taken a flight from Fresno to
Baltimore, Maryland with a destination of York, Pennsylvania where I was to join Dot. I was
planning to ask her to be my wife and to ask her father for her hand in marriage. My flight
schedule got me into Baltimore about 7:30 in the evening and Dot’s father picked me up. We
made the one-hour trip through the rain and cold to York. We arrived sometime just before
10 pm. I grabbed my bags and we walked up the long, icy walkway to the front door.
Because of polio, I was particularly careful when walking on icy surfaces, besides I wanted
to make a good first impression and not end up on my rear. As the door opened, I will never
forget that smell. It was an aroma that sparked an intense interest. Hot beef. It was alluring.
I was asking for Dot’s hand in marriage and her mom had fixed hot beef sandwiches with
brown gravy as a greeting. I hate to confess it but I found myself thinking almost as much
about that hot beef sandwich as I did about greeting Dot. A big hug and kiss changed
that…at least temporarily. After appropriate introductions, my mother-in-law to be invited
me to the kitchen and placed before me a hot beef sandwich on toast smothered with brown
gravy. I just knew that this was going to be a marriage…made in heaven. Dot, hot beef
sandwiches, and gravy. What a great start. Now that’s Good News.
Back in the early 1970s, my wife and I didn’t have much money but because we were
teachers, we had the whole summer. And, we had a 1969 VW Bug that got great mileage and
gas was cheap so we thought we’d go to Kansas City to visit my wife’s parents who were
attending a church convention. You can imagine two people and their luggage crammed into
a VW Bug. Just as we were about to leave, my wife’s brother arrived with his laundry basket
full of just washed clothes which he proceeded to dump into his suitcase and throw into the
back seat. He, too, decided he was going to Kansas City. That’s right! Three of us in a VW
Bug crowded together for a 4,000 mile roundtrip adventure. I threw on top what I thought
was a small 3 man tent with the expectation of camping along the side of the road since we
couldn’t afford even a motel 6 room back in those days. As it turned out, I mistakenly
grabbed the 1 man tent. For the next two weeks, three of us in a one-man tent camped in
many undesignated areas and often set up after dark in these strange places. One night we
ended up on an ant hill next to a cow pasture about 8 feet off of the highway and awoke to
two cow heads peering into our three-person one man tent. But you know, even with all of
the misadventures of that trip and only $125, I wouldn’t trade it for any of the 5 star hotels I
have stayed in since. Money doesn’t create memories, people do. Now that’s Good News.
It may not seem like much, but for most of my first thirty years of life with polio, I only had
one pair of shoes to wear at a time. That’s right. One pair. That one pair of shoes, always
black, was worn for every occasion…work, play, or fancy dress. I learned to take pretty
good care of that one pair of shoes. Back in the fifties, sixties, and much of the seventies, the
way that a brace was manufactured and personally handcrafted for each polio patient, the
shoe was permanently attached to the brace. There was no such thing as changing shoes
unless you could afford to own two braces and have a pair of shoes attached to each brace. I
could not afford to own two braces. I must confess, though, that I never felt like I was
deprived of anything. One pair of shoes was all I knew. I learned some valuable lessons
during those years that impacted me for the rest of my life. I learned that life could be good,
actually great, even when I didn’t have much. My life satisfaction was not decided by a
closet full of shoes but by learning to be content with what I had. I’m so thankful for those
early lessons in life because they made me appreciate what I have and not feel like I always
needed to add more stuff in order to have a good life. Though now, I do admit, because of
technology, I do have more than one pair of shoes and I like it. Now that’s Good News.
- 52 and counting years! Wow! That’s a big number. That’s a lot of years. That’s how
many years my wife, Dot, and I have been married. June 13, 1970. We were just kids with
hopes and dreams and likes and dislikes and we were just beginning to have thoughts about
each other. How could we ever image what it would be like 52 years later? We are still
thrilled with each other, and she still laughs at my silly jokes and I still marvel at her beauty,
inside and out. How did we become a part of a diminishing statistic of marital longevity?
We had our share of times that were hard between us. While we always loved each other, I
know there were times in those 52 years when we didn’t like each other completely. I know
it had to be harder on her than on me. Guys, as you know, are pretty much clueless when it
comes to understanding their marriage partner. I can remember some looks over those 52
years of “how in the world do you not know that?” My response often was “what?” I
thought things were going along so well. As I said, “clueless.” But you know what began to
happen, I actually began to “get it.” I began to understand that there was more to life than
football and golf. I didn’t die if I missed a game. After 52 years, I miss a game now and
then and Dot doesn’t ask me if I am playing golf this week, she knows I am. Bliss at last. Of
course, I have just come to realize though that when I play golf she has 5 uninterrupted hours
all to herself. Only took 52 years to get it. Got it! Now that’s Good News.
My dad is a hero. Plain and simple. I know what you are thinking. Every kid thinks his dad
is a hero. But my dad is a hero. It was 1965 when my younger brother and I were in high
school and we had both just learned how to drive. We were in a 1960 Chevy Bel Air. It was
green, not my favorite color. My brother was driving the family to an event in Sanger on old
180, a two-lane disaster of a highway. It was night and the weather was not very good. In
the front seat were my brother, my sister, and me. In the back seat were my dad, my mom,
and my youngest brother. Out of nowhere, a car heading toward us veered into our lane and
my brother only had time to hold on to the steering wheel as we crashed. Our car careened
off to the right into a muddy field and was sitting precariously in the mud. By the time we
realized what had happened; my dad had already gotten out of the car and saw the headlights
of the car that hit us out further in the field. He started running toward that car. We couldn’t
figure out what he was doing. After a couple of seconds, we saw dad jump on the car and
reach through the broken driver side window and frantically reach through the steering wheel
to the column mounted transmission stick and jam it into park. The car came to an abrupt
stop. Dad came back to check on us. Then we saw the circles that the car had been making.
The next circle would have driven the car directly into our stopped car and, without a doubt;
none of us would be alive today. I have marveled over the years at this humble, unassuming
man. My dad was a hero. Now that’s Good News.
What a great time I had this Primary Election Season and how I look forward to the General
Election in November. And I’m not even running for office. I was invited to offer some
political analysis and asked to do some prognosticating with regard to some of the candidates
who did run for office. I remember very well my first run for public office and not getting
elected. It was tougher on my family than on me. I didn’t have any clue how much they
would be impacted by my seeking office. They lived and breathed the whole experience and
took it all very personally. I am sure given the chance; they would have busted a few noses
for some of the inappropriate personal comments directed at me. Somehow, I was able to let
it roll off. I have been blessed that way. One of the things I tried to do as I offered some
words of insight into several key races was to ask the public to evaluate each candidate on
what they said they would do, not on what they didn’t like about their opponent. After all, I
already know what I like or don’t like about someone who is seeking re-election. I don’t like
hearing it from their opponent. I want to let all of you candidates who are still in the running
in the General Election know something: give me your ideas, your plans, and your thoughts.
I will guarantee you that if you don’t talk about your opponent, then I will evaluate you on
your words and not on their words about you. Wouldn’t it be amazing if every candidate did
that! There would be a lot more happy families and voters. Now that’s Good News.
I have been invited to speak at dozens of graduation and baccalaureate events over the years.
I always jump at the chance to do so. You see, the first question I tried to answer the first
time I was asked to speak was this: What would I have wanted to know from someone as I
headed off into this bright new world awaiting me after graduation? What words of wisdom
could have helped me be a better person, be better prepared for what I would face, and be
more likely to handle the challenges that were out there? It was really quite simple: It was
this: Adversity is not your enemy but is central to your success as a person. I have learned
my greatest lessons by going through difficult times and challenges and not by the many
successes that I have had. Don’t get me wrong; I love the successes and I am very grateful
for them but my character was developed much more by the hard times than by the good
times. I had to learn that life does not always work out the way you want but that you do not
have to be defined by the negatives. I applied for many promotions in one of the school
districts where I worked and I finished number 1 in those interviews and I still didn’t get the
promotion. As it turned out, if I had gotten any one of them I would not have ended up the
Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. I would have stayed where I was. My world was
expanded beyond even my biggest dreams because of promotions that I didn’t get. What
great lessons await our kids if they will just learn to be patient. Now that’s Good News.
They say you go full circle in life. I guess that is what’s happening to me. I have been
thinking more and more about my days in elementary school and all of the things I learned,
like who I was and what my potential was! My first five years of life were wonderful, even
with polio. I thought it was all a big game and mom and dad were there helping me play it.
Then came elementary school. Kindergarten. I was going to be away from the safety of
home and mom. How would I be accepted with a brace on my right leg? Would kids laugh
at me? It turned out that I had wonderful teachers who collaborated with mom and dad way
before there was such a label as “special needs” kids. I came to learn later that the school
district wanted me to attend a “special school” where all of my needs would be taken care of.
Mom and dad were having none of it. I was going to be in regular classes, with regular
students, with regular teachers, and do all of the regular things that regular kids did. I realize
now how special it was to have parents who advocated on my behalf and how close I came to
being in a special educational institution. Thanks to mom and dad, I went from almost being
in the institution to running the institution as Fresno County Superintendent of Schools.
Parents do make a difference when they speak up. Now that’s Good News.
6-24
In 1967 I bought my first brand new car. It was a Chevelle 396 SS. The SS stood for Super Sport. It was officially Bolero Red with Black interior and had a fourspeed stick shift and it was fast. It felt fast even when I was simply sitting at a stop sign. I just knew that I was destined to get my first ticket in that car. After all, I had taken it up to 120 miles per hour on old 41 heading to Bass Lake, my summer hangout. I loved speed in those days and feeling indestructible not being quite 20 years old yet. I was raised in church and so I knew that my mom and dad were praying for me. I needed it when it came to driving, fortunately not much else. In 1969, I met the person who was to be the love of my life. Dot, now my beautiful wife, was visiting her brother who was stationed at Lemoore Naval Air Station. She had been here for almost two weeks and was in the last days of her visit when we actually met. Golf had kept us apart for the first two weeks since that’s what I did with most of my free time back then. That’s another story for another time. We did meet and on our first date I took her in my Chevelle 396 SS to Bass Lake and we got there in record time. I am not sure what she thought of this brash young man who liked fast cars and had a lot less wisdom than I do now. I just know that somehow we connected and within a year, Dot Brewer was Dot Powell. Grace and prayer had prevailed. I survived and over the next 52 years I learned to drive a little slower though I still like fast cars as evidenced by my Tesla. Now that’s Good News.
June 23
You are not going to believe what I am about to tell you. Scientists have now come up with a regenerating polymer that remodels itself. In other words, just like a broken bone in humans can grow new bone at the sight of a break in the bone, scientists have developed a plastic that will regenerate itself at the sight of a break, a crack, or a hole and, in essence, heal itself. OK, I can imagine what you are thinking…so what? What does that mean to me? Let me tell you. We use plastic in just about everything these days. Most of your car is made of plastic or a polymer compound that is easy to form and style. Take those plastic bumpers that are a part of that form fitted look that makes your car look like a sleek, no rough edges, rocket going down the street. But what does that car of yours look like when you have been hit by another car or you have backed into a light pole or other obstruction that you didn’t see when backing up…even with the backup camera. Well soon, through this amazing technology, your bumper will be able to fix itself and fill the hole or the dent. This new polymer will operate much like our blood coagulates when we get cut by forming a gel that becomes hard to stop the blood loss and eventually form a scab. Soon your bumper will be able to do the same thing. Just think of how many fewer explanations you will have to give to your spouse about what happened to the car. I can see the headlines now: Regenerating plastic saves a marriage. Now that’s Good News.
June 22
Do you remember those days when we went to the theatre and wore those funny, flimsy glasses in order to see everything that was happening on the screen. 3 D. Wow. So advanced and entertaining. 3 D glasses had lenses that were red and cyan and for $4.47 you can actually get a brand new pair of 3 D glasses from Amazon. This was the pinnacle of viewing magic. It couldn’t possibly get any better than this…or could it? Now, through the magic of active liquid crystal shutter glasses, today’s 3 D spectacles, we can actually watch 3 D T V and not have to wait until a new 3 D movie comes out at the theatre. Standard T.V. or even HDTV transmits images in two dimensions, height and width. 3 D adds the third dimension---depth. John Perritano, who writes about High Tech Home Innovations, says “Think Avatar meets Dancing with Stars.” I love the imagery. 3 D glasses are actually two images of the same scene. Our brains are amazing. The left eye sees one of the images in the scene and the right eye sees the other images. Through the magic of the active liquid crystal shutter glasses and the brain’s amazing ability, the images are combined creating the illusion of a third dimension. Presto, a 3 D image is perceived even though the movie is still only filmed in two dimensions. I am looking forward to a 3 D TV even if it is really expensive. Maybe I will just wait for one of my friends to buy a 3 D TV set and I will pay for the 3 D Glasses. Now that’s Good News.
June 21
I just love my grandkids. They are bright, intelligent, creative, athletic, energetic, artistic, and remarkable in many ways. Now I know what you are thinking. He just described all of our grandkids. Well, you’re right. That is exactly how every grandparent should see their grandkids. These incredible bundles of potential are just waiting to be encouraged and directed to become all that they can become. Their futures are unlimited and they have few boundaries, right now. Why then, is it, that so many of these potential unlimited prodigies never do make it to where they were capable of getting? Why do these bundles of joy not become who they should have become? Let me tell you. We know certain things to be true. The old saying, “as a man believes in his heart, so is he” is truly accurate. From the earliest days of a child’s life, they begin to decide if they will be successful and competent or not. The old adage that more is caught than taught is really powerful. Every child watches those adults around them and catches a certain perception of themselves. They begin to become who they will be. What an awesome responsibility we have to our grandkids to make sure that they see in themselves what we see in them. Those positive words and actions we take now will determine for many of them whether life is good or bad for them. Guard every word you use with them to make sure that they “catch” a break in life and reach their full potential . Now that’s Good News.
June 20
In this digital world, what will they think of next? They already have and it’s called Smart Glass. Have you ever worried about neighbors being able to see inside your home but you wanted to be able to see outside and let light in? Now you can. Smart Glass, also called Switchable Glass, is a new type of glass for your home’s windows which allows you to control whether or not your neighbors can see inside your home and see what you are having for dinner or see other activities you are involved in. We now no longer need to put up shades or curtains or other window coverings to protect our privacy. Smart Glass windows can change from clear to translucent. An electrical charge energizes a special material inside the glass creating the transition from clear to transluscent. This unique glass also allows you to partially block the sun’s rays or completely block them. Some models of Smart Glass do all of this with automatic sensors or manually by the flip of a switch. Smart Glass can even save you money by decreasing energy costs. Another feature that I find fascinating allows a home-owner to project images on the glass that will flash and keep time with music. I am beginning to think that technology and inanimate objects like Smart Glass may actually be smarter than humans. Then of course I remember that it is called Smart Glass or Switchable Glass which means I can simply choose to not hit the switch and it stays as it is. I just wish there was a switch for some people I know. Might make them smarter. Now that’s Good News.
June 17
We have become a lazy society. We want what we want when we want it and we want it now with the least amount of effort possible to get it. Whatever happened to the good old American work ethic? I remember when there was all of this talk about how the digital world was going to create all this leisure time for us and we wouldn’t know what to do with all of that free time. Anybody out there in this wonderful digital world with all that free time? I didn’t think so. I am tethered to all of my digital equipment like my iphone, ipad, computer, and digital display even in my Tesla. You can’t get away from it. Whether we like it or not, we are connected 24/7 and I don’t see any way that we will ever unplug. Tesla and Google are also working to release driver-free cars so I don’t even have to work or concentrate while driving. I can listen to my kindle or music or 24 hour news shows or watch Netflix on the way to and from work or vacation or trips to buy groceries. Is there any wonder that our current generation of kids are growing up in living rooms and bedrooms and not outdoors? Work will be something that they read about in their history classes, or rather listen to on their digital devices since reading takes work. Wait a minute. Just think. Soon, I will be able to ride in a self-driving car and watch movies from Netflix in my car without so much as moving a muscle. That doesn’t sound that bad. Now if I can just get someone to write these Good News features for me. Now that’s Good News.
June 16
We hear a lot about drug abuse involving heroin, crack, methamphetamine, marijuana, fentynal, and so-called designer drugs. They do great damage in our communities and cause untold heartbreak and pain physically, socially, relationally, and financially. Many people check out from the challenges of life by getting involved with and using illicit drugs. Nothing good comes from the temporary high, and yet, drug abuse continues…and in some ways, we contribute to it as a society when we make marijuana legal. As bad as all of these illicit drugs are, legal drugs through prescriptions are worse. Flindt Anderson has been working for years to create awareness, improve prevention, and provide hope to those caught in the vicious downward cycle of prescription drug abuse. His website gotpainusa provides us with some insight into how bad it is. “Prescription drug related deaths now outnumber those from heroin and cocaine combined, and drug overdose deaths exceed motor vehicle related deaths in 29 states and Washington, D.C.” More stats that drive home the point. Every day 2500 teens use prescription narcotic painkillers for the 1st time. 40% of teens and parents think that abusing prescription drugs is safer than doing illegal drugs. I am so thankful that we have help readily available like PAIN: Prescription Abusers in Need. If you have questions about your kids or grandkids, check out gotpainusa.com. You will be glad you did. Now that’s Good News.
June 15
Every year about this time I am incredibly impressed with the resilience of Americans, especially those Americans who live in the heartland of our country. The Midwest is where waves of grain flow and there is a heartiness that is second to none. The Midwest, where faith and hope are eternal and natural and a very real part of life. The Midwest, where some of the most devastating weather you can imagine appears as regularly as clockwork this time of year. The Midwest where towns cycle through disaster after disaster and have entire communities and neighborhoods destroyed. The Midwest where stories of ordinary people becoming heroes and taking care of each other as if they are all family. The Midwest where optimism reigns and within hours of houses and hopes being flattened, talk begins of rebuilding and renewal and phrases like “thank God we are still alive and our family is together. I have never had to endure a natural disaster or the loss of my home or the sudden loss of family or friends to events beyond my control. I hope and pray that I never face the destruction and devastation that our American brothers and sisters face in tornado alley. I do, however, hope that I and each one of us as Americans, come to realize that the beauty of America is not only in its land and lakes and mountains and fields but is immeasurably strong in the will of its people who face adversity and emerge with a sense of hope and optimism like those in our heartland. Now that’s Good News.
June 14
I have a very good friend who suffers from a form of vertigo. For any of us who have ever felt dizzy with the flu or some other ailment, you know how unbearable it is, even for just a day or two. This friend has lived a great life and has a great family, great career, and is optimistic for the future…even with the challenging impact of vertigo. He shared with me the other day that he had been to a specialist who is probably the best in the world for treating this condition. So needless to say, when you go to the best, you are pretty much assuming that they will be able to identify the problem and the cause and then provide you with the cure…or at least a treatment that will make it easier to endure. That didn’t happen. In this case, after a very short period of time with the doctor and having the doctor clearly identify the condition, the natural question was: OK, now how do we treat it? The doctor responded in a manner that none of us ever wants to hear. There is nothing that can be done and you will just have to live with it. In this day of high tech this and that, we have a collective expectation that anything can be dealt with and handled. After all, this is 2014 and we have computers and smart phones and smart people and so on and so on. The reality is that not everything has an answer and sometimes we just have to live with it. What impressed me about my friend was his optimism to “live well with it.” My hat’s off to my friend for an overcoming attitude in the face of difficult information, but I would expect nothing less from him. Now that’s Good News.
June 13
June 13th, 1970 feels like it was just yesterday. My brother, Steve, and my best friend, Randy Van Oosten, had taken the Easy Rider trip on their motorcycles from Fresno, California to York, Pennsylvania for my wedding to Dorothy Jean Brewer, the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. The rest of my family and several friends along with her family and friends were also now sitting in this idyllic little church and getting ready to hear the vows that we would make to each other. I was head over heals in love and about to begin this amazing journey
that would lead me to today, 52 years later and more in love than I could ever imagine. A beautiful daughter, Katelyn, and son in law, Brandon and four incredible grandchildren, Meesha, Niah, AJ, and Daniel, have given such joy to our lives and I am so thankful to God for this wonderful journey. Covid put the nix on our 50 year anniversary celebration but we are making up for it in year 52 by taking a cruise this summer to hear the music group, the Gaithers, and going to Alaska. I’m still blessed to have my mom with us turning 98 this summer. I couldn’t have written a better script for the last 52 years even with some health challenges, losses, tremendous victories, and unbelievable blessings. So, Dot, Dorothy Jean, my favorite person in the world, thank you for being my partner for these last 52 years. I can’t wait to see what other adventures we can add to our resume. Happy Anniversary. Now that’s Good News.
5/20/22
Science and technology work hand in hand to provide us with some amazing information that we may or may not know about. We have taken for granted how much water we use in the normal course of a day and how much is used for everyday items. I came across a quiz about water usage that astonished me and I believe that you will be impacted when you hear some of these stats as well. For example, did you know that it takes 16 gallons of water to produce a 12 ounce can of soda? You probably are saying to yourself, “no way.” Well, think about it. You have to not only make the drink but you also have to make the container it comes in and ship it to market. All of that takes water. What about bread? A loaf of bread takes 150 gallons of water. A pair of jeans takes 1800 gallons for one pair. One cotton Tee Shirt requires 400 gallons. A quarter pound hamburger is 1300 gallons. An automobile factory uses 75,000 gallons of water to produce one car. So, in order for me to get dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a cotton shirt, eat a hamburger and drink a 12 ounce can of soda, and drive the car to the restaurant, I use up just under 78,000 gallons of water and that doesn’t even count taking a shower or brushing my teeth. Without a doubt, this little science quiz opened my eyes to how much water it takes to just live life. I am so happy that science and technology can raise awareness of the value of water to a much needed new level. I am confident that we can take this information and make better decisions in the future. Now that’s Good News.
5/19/22
I really like living in a democracy. We get to vote regularly on who will represent us on local school boards, on city councils, or as mayor. We also get to vote on state and federal candidates and every four years for President. Elections provide us all with an opportunity to see what a person’s character and demeanor is like and whether they will run a positive campaign based on their beliefs and goals or run one that simply attacks their oppositions positions. You learn a lot about people when you see them under the kind of pressure and scrutiny that elections create. Elections and candidates just seem to get our juices going. We feel strongly about someone and the issues for which they stand. It is also quite interesting how many people have no clue about who really said something or did something. A recent poll was conducted in which well-known candidates and office holders were quoted. It turned out that many in the poll could not tell even one major issue that each candidate stood for or quote they made. They also incorrectly attributed quotes to those they didn’t like if they felt the quote was negative even when the quote was from candidates that they supported. More and more voters lack understanding of even the most basic issues and are impacted by the media they follow while not understanding the issues presented by that media. I am becoming more and more concerned that our duty and right to vote is being negatively impacted by a voter that is not well-read, ill-prepared, and simply wrong in the knowledge that they think they have. Democracy works best with a well-informed electorate. During this election season, let’s share the truth and not just the emotions. Now that’s Good News.
5/18/22
I get teary eyed every time I say the pledge of allegiance or hear the singing of the national anthem. I feel such pride and thankfulness that I get to live in the greatest country in the world. Patriotic exercises are required in schools daily and yet, we have lost some of the reverence that I think is appropriate when we say those words in the pledge. They have become rote and we just say them with little or no meaning attached. I try to say the pledge each time like it is the first time I have ever said it and with the appropriate feeling. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, One nation under God, individual, with liberty and justice for all.” My faith in patriotism here at home was restored with a moving incident that took place at Cy-Fair High School during the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence. Groundskeeper Clayton Allen Jr. put his equipment down and stood at attention to honor the moment. A teacher standing near a window took a picture of this simple, humble act and it went, as they say now, viral. What a lesson for all of us. The pledge of allegiance is one of those important patriotic exercises that binds us together as a nation and incidents like this remind of us that fact. Now that’s Good News.
5/17/22
Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most amazing people, people who are really local heroes. One of them is Armen Bacon. Armen is a Fresnan through and through. She went to local schools and has a profound knowledge of Fresno and its people. She also has a unique way of looking at her surroundings and sharing her perceptions through her gift of writing. I know that gift well because she served as my Administrator for Communication when I was Fresno County Superintendent. Her book, Griefland, gives insights into how she was able to turn the tragedy of losing her son into hope for the future when hope seemed impossible to achieve. You never fully recover from the loss of a child but Armen demonstrated that there is hope on the other side of darkness and that darkness cannot permanently blurr hope. All of us face challenges in life and we must make choices to allow those challenges to either destroy us or use them to find that ray of hope that is often behind the veil of darkness. Armen made the courageous choice of confronting her pain, her fears, and her tears and we are better off because of that choice. When faced with despair or hope, choose hope just like our local hero, Armen Bacon, did. Now that’s Good News.
5/16/22
I must have over 60 passwords that I have to remember and it seems that each time I log into a place requiring a password, it wants me to change my password to a stronger password. That stronger password also makes it more difficult for me to remember and thus, I usually retreat to one that I can easily remember, which means that the password is not very strong…and so I am caught up in this vicious cycle. I can either have a strong password that I can’t remember or I can have a simple password that I can remember and that can be hacked by a beginner hacker. Relief may be coming soon. At the world’s biggest high tech fair, CeBit, developers demonstrated several answers to the crazy making problem of passwords. Some of the solutions leave me baffled because I don’t understand how they work. One that did make sense was the biometric solution where a fingerprint or palm print could be used as a password. Smart Phones already use a fingerprint as a means of providing some protection. Another is face recognition technology. According to the spokesperson for one of the companies at the conference, there are already many millions of people using face recognition. All I know is that I want them to come up with something quick that doesn’t require me to remember my 60 different passwords. If they don’t, I will just go back to 123456 and add 789 to make it stronger. What I really want is a free pass on passwords. Now that’s Good News.
5/13/22
Recently my wife and I experienced how absolutely impenetrable a bureaucracy can be. Our insurance company changed the provider through which our prescriptions are obtained. We have some longterm medicines that help to keep us well. I hate to admit it but it must be age. We have been on this new insurance program and it did appear to be working until we ran into the renewal of a medication. This is where bureaucracy comes in. The medication was rejected by the insurance company when the pharmacy put the request into the computer even though they had previously covered it for two months. Seven phone calls, two doctor visits, two pharmacy visits, and a call to a retiree hotline all of which combined for 7 hours of trying to get through the bureaucracy and the statement we all hate: “You need to call this number and they can help you.” It turned out we needed to call 7 different numbers to finally arrive at the one we really needed to call. While most of the folks were pleasant, they were pleasant at turning the problem over to someone else. My wife and I are college educated and of reasonable intelligence and we still hit the bureaucratic wall of “not my responsibility.” Our last call was to Rosemary who worked the retiree hotline. Wow! Within 6 minutes the problem was solved with a phone call to the provider. We need more Rosemarys who are pleasant and competent at breaking through that bureaucratic wall. Now that’s Good News.
5/10/22
Paying taxes has never been high on my list of things I like to do. In fact, just the opposite is true. When I took a look at how much we pay in California, it just made me feel disgusted, especially when I see so much waste and tax money being given to people who are able-bodied but game the system simply because they don’t want to work. When I heard the story of Jason Greenslate, the defiant, food stamp surfer dude who allegedly turned down an offer of a job that pays $80,000, it just reinforced what many of us feel is wrong in America. We should not be supporting with tax money people who can work but simply choose not to work. Those who choose this lifestyle really make it tough on families who truly are struggling and need our help. Americans are a very generous people, in fact, the most generous in the world. Americans have stepped up time after time to help victims of natural disasters both here and around the world and we do it gladly. I firmly believe that more money would be available to help the needy if the government got out of the business of welfare to those who don’t truly need it and allowed the American people to send their dollars to those who do need it. A donation is always more powerful and less resented than a tax demanded that is used to help those who abuse the system. Donations up and taxes down! Now that’s Good News.
5/11/22
As the former Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, I was painfully aware of the statistics that surrounded foster kids and their futures. When a child is “put into the system,” it usually means that their chances for a regular or normal life are greatly diminished. There are just so many of them that have been abandoned or taken from parents who were not capable of caring for them. Now don’t get me wrong. I clearly understand that the foster care system with all of its challenges, still offers a better life than the one the kids had before they were in foster care. It is just so painful to see so many kids with such great potential get caught up in a system that is underfunded and under resourced. One great hope in all of this lies in those families who are committed to foster-adoption. Until my daughter and her husband got into the program, it was pretty much an intellectual thing for me. I knew about the pain and the probabilities but I didn’t have to deal directly with the realities. My job was just to get them the best education I could. I now know that that is not enough. We must develop a much more rigorous program that supports foster-adoption parents who really love kids that have been thrown to the system and realize that society will be so much better off if we can get these kids in a healthy home environment where they can be cared for and nurtured and loved. I learned a valuable lesson about my adopted grandkids: they are just as much my grandkids as those born into the family and there are many families out there that can know the joys that I have known. Join me in the joy! Now that’s Good News.
5/10/22
I am one of the most fortunate men around. I have a beautiful wife who loves me and who also loves our community. Her name is Dot Powell. She has spent most of her career working in some of the most challenging schools and neighborhoods in Fresno. Professionally, she was an educator for 33 years serving as a teacher, resource teacher, vice principal, and finishing her educational career as an elementary principal. Instead of retiring to the good life, which she so richly earned, she started two nonprofits and began working to change the lives of students and families who faced poverty and illiteracy. She also developed a passion for writing and, through her children’s books, a way to highlight local heroes who have made a difference in the world. One of her books is entitled: My Home Town Hero: Wilbur Plaugher. Wilbur was about one of the most famous rodeo clowns to ever live and he lived right here in Fresno County. When he was in his 90s, he still rode horses. He lived an exciting and exemplary life, one that was a model for students. Sometimes we don’t have to venture very far to find heroes. Many of them live right here, some just next door to us. It is time that our local heroes find a place in the hearts and minds of our kids so they know that you don’t have to go very far to find someone to emulate. Wilbur Plaugher was a local hero. Now that’s Good News.
5/9/22
I have never had much trouble detecting the emotions of other drivers and I am willing to bet that you haven’t had much trouble either. The occasional digital gesture has served to tell me far more than I usually wanted to know. There have also been some words that I cannot, and do not, use that have helped me to read the emotions of other drivers. Well, guess what? Technological tests are now underway that attempt to capture a driver’s emotions through an on-board emotions detector based on the analysis of facial expressions. You may ask “why is it important to capture a driver’s emotions?” Quite simply, irritation can make anyone who drives much more aggressive and far less attentive than they should be. We also know that fatigue creates a greater risk possibility as well and is something that can also be captured with an emotions detector. Just think of the possible applications while driving. If overly agitated, a voice could be triggered that reminded me to calm down or some soothing music could start playing or perhaps a preprogrammed message in which my spouse reminded me to get it together. But then again, our spouses already have built in emotions detectors so maybe my choice is a technological device or a human one. In this case, bring on the high tech one. It might make my marriage last longer. Now that’s Good News.
3-24-22
It is funny how our minds work. With the war breaking out between Russia and the Ukraine, it got me to thinking about the devastation and fear that takes place with war. I found myself reflecting on Flight 77 that hit the Pentagon on 9/11, where many children, including infants, were inside a daycare at the Pentagon. The daycare supervisor was in a panic over how to evacuate so many, some in heavy cribs. There was no time to bundle them into carriers and strollers. Just then a young Marine came running in and asked what he could do? Upon hearing the need to evacuate, he ran back into the hall and disappeared. About 2 minutes later, the Marine returned with 40 other Marines and they started taking infants, cribs and all, out of the building and down to a park near the Potomac. At about ¾ of a mile, the Marines circled the heavy cribs. It looked like the old West and covered Wagons under attack. Outside this circle of cribs were 40 Marines, forming a perimeter around the children. They remained there until all parents could be notified and pick up their children. A Chaplain said there wasn’t a dry eye around. The thought of those Marines and what they did and how fast they reacted to danger was amazing. Would you expect anything less from a United States Marine? Now that’s Good News.
3-22-22
About nine years ago, I was playing golf, which I find myself trying to do more than I use to, when I received a call from my daughter informing me that their court date to hear the disposition of AJ, their foster son, was settled. My daughter was so excited because AJ was finally set on the legal journey to become her son and my grandson. There are so many children who do not have a good home situation and as a result of my daughter and son-in-law being foster-adopt parents, I have come to discover this amazing network of couples who are child-bearing age who have decided to bring children home rather than to just bring a new child into the world. So many children’s lives are now going to be positively changed and they will not face the devastation of poverty and neglect and isolation but will instead have security, feel wanted, and have a sense of belonging. I wish I could give a big hug to all of those fos-adopt parents who are willing to risk the heart-breaking loss of losing a foster child back to the system just for the opportunity to give a child a new home and new hope. Now that’s Good News.
3-21-22
I have always liked fast cars. It started with a suped up 55 Chevy when I was in high school. Since then, I have owned a Chevelle Super Sport, a corvette, a 370 Z , a Tesla, and about 30 other cars. I have a reputation for taking care of my cars. My Tesla is garaged every night of its life and is washed and waxed at least twice a week. I kept all of my cars tuned up and took pride in them. I have always thought that a car reflects a little bit of your personality. The Tesla is the fastest car I have ever had. It can go about 165 miles an hour and reach 60 in about 3.1 seconds. I’ve done the 60 but not the 165. What a fun car and because it is electric and I have solar at home, I don’t pay $5 a gallon for gas. I love speed but I use it less than I used to. My reaction time is good but not as good as it once was. I have had to deal with the fact that age begins to catch up with everyone, me included, whether I like it or not. I have thoroughly enjoyed each stage of life from fast cars to fast grandkids, great family and great friends. Now it’s time to reflect more on the speed and actually do it a little less. I guess the memories will have to do for now and every so often, my Tesla does just reminds me of those memories as my head quickly pushes back against the headrest. I’m not dead yet! Now that’s Good News.
3-18-22
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes and can make all kinds of sounds…or no sound at all. There is a treasure that exists at Fresno State called the Silent Garden, a non-profit foundation. It is the dream child of Dr. Paul Ogden, Professor Emeritus, from the Deaf Studies Program. Dr. Ogden says that you cannot tell that a person is deaf by seeing them. He also says that interpreters are angels of mercy. But there is only one sign interpreter for every two hundred deaf and hard of hearing people in our community. The Silent Garden Project was set up to meet this growing need by forming a self-supporting endowment which provides sign language interpreter scholarship funds. What a wonderful thing it is for each of us to be able to freely hear and communicate with those around us. The wonderful world of communication is opened up to deaf and hard of hearing people when we contribute to the Silent Garden. Your contributions actually help break the Sound Barrier for our deaf and hard of hearing family members, friends, and co-workers by giving them the ability to communicate fully. Ironically my words right now go out only to those who can “hear” the message but is intended to help those who cannot hear. You can give voice to the Silent Garden through your donations. Now that’s Good News.
3-17-22
Several years ago I had the pleasure of hosting a group from China who came to California to learn about our schools. They came from Quangxou, a city of 13 million, located about 75 miles from Hong Kong. I learned that many of the parents in China realize the importance of a global education and global awareness. Because most Chinese have just one child, they pour every dream and hope they have into that one child. From the very earliest point in life, the focus is for that child to get into university and be successful…and for those who can afford it, that means at least some of their education in America. You might say, well, I thought the Chinese had found the secret to a great education with their success in science and engineering so why would they want to come to an American school. Simple. Creativity and innovation. Almost since our birth as a country, American schools have been centers for creativity and innovation and the digital world is no different. We have developed an environment where it is safe to risk challenging the status quo and thinking outside the box. If parents from the largest country in the world will sacrifice anything for their children to be educated in America, how can we do less, after all, we have the gift of a free education? Now That’s Good News!
3-16-22
I spent over 50 years in the public education arena advocating for equity and access because I know the value of an education. Graduating from high school is now a minimum standard that opens the door to a world of opportunities. Those with a high school education not only have more career options, they have more life satisfaction. Then there is another step…college or career. For too long we have made it seem as if college is the only option. At the end of high school, every student should be prepared to go to college, go to trade school, or go to work but it is their choice and their choice should be honored. Students can have a successful life if they become experts in a trade. As baby boomers continue to retire in greater and greater numbers, we must find replacements for plumbers and auto mechanics and on and on. We designate and recognize activities that honor students who go to college. It is time to designate Day of the Plumber and Day of the Mechanic. After all, a functioning bathroom and car are essential parts of everyday life. Now that’s Good News.
3-15-22
I am old enough to remember a time when politicians vehemently disagreed with each other during debates and then went out to dinner together with families. Like many of you, our government leaders now seem to be operating with a hatred and anger toward each other rather than simply disagreeing with ideas and positions that the other side takes. In doing so, we have more and more intractable positions and have lost any sense of working together to find answers even for problems where we have common ground. I learned a long time ago the difference between a principle and a preference. I do not give in on my principles for they are foundational to my beliefs and to who I am. They give me purpose and direction and guide my decision-making. On preferences, however, I do not hold the same passionate positions. I can demonstrate a lot more give and take when it comes to things that I simply prefer more than others but they don’t tear down the core of who I am and what I believe. The problem is that we now fight tooth and nail for principles and preferences and such strained relationships make finding any common ground unlikely. I can stand firm without being disagreeable or obnoxious. With proper role models, maybe our kids can too! Now that’s Good News.
3-14-22
When I was Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, I had the pleasure of overseeing Scout Island, a gem along the San Joaquin River with property on both banks of the river. I was amazed by the natural history and remarkable vibrancy of the San Joaquin River and the flora and fauna and life found along the river. It was inspiring. Scout Island is a treasure that benefits thousands of students every year. But I also want to compliment the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust for their efforts at preserving the river and providing unique opportunities for families to have a river experience. Those experiences include Conservation, Education, and Recreation. Rivers don’t just take care of themselves; they require management and conservation in order for all of us to enjoy the natural splendor. Thanks to the Trust, you can enjoy walking, jogging, cycling, horseback riding and amazing views. You can even take a canoe trip. So gather up the family and some of your neighbors and enjoy a habitat that is there and will remain available because of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, heroes of the river. Now that’s Good News.
3-10-22
Rugged individualism. Historic work ethic. Can do attitude. These traits helped to
establish America and Americans as a force to be dealt with in the early days of our
new Republic. Challenges were seen as short-lived obstacles over which we would
triumph. Impossible was not a word in the vocabulary of Americans. The more
difficult the task, the more determined and focused we became. There was an
expectation that success was in hand. It was just a matter of time. In today’s
America, those traits that made us successful early in our history are being ridiculed
and we are now unfortunately using a strategy that encourages reliance rather than
independence. It has led to a situation in which 46% of all Americans pay no
Federal Income tax. We are 4% away from a situation in which the genius of
America can be completely undermined at the ballot box by people who don’t work
voting for a redistribution of the wealth of those who do work. When that line gets
crossed and more people receive than contribute, the great experiment that is
America will be over. Our history is very important and instructive. We still have
time to prevent the end of America as we know it if we become students of history
and get back to what made us successful. Independence rather than reliance. Now
that’s Good News.
3-9-22
Most of you have seen the movie, the Wizard of Oz. An all-time favorite movie.
After all it has a beautiful young girl and an almighty Wizard. Throw in Munchkins
and monkeys along with a scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion and you have movie
magic! Each character is in search of something special. The scarecrow wants a
brain. The tin man wants a heart. The lion wants courage. And Dorothy wants to
get home to Kansas and Aunt Em and she is sure that the Wizard can make it all
happen. With today’s technology, we are seeing more and more people who think
that there is some digital answer out there that will make all of their dreams come
true if they can just find the Wizard. Just like Dorothy found out, the Wizard turned
out to be just bells and whistles and lights and not much more behind the curtain.
She had to find her own way back to Kansas and she had the ability to do it through
the relationships she already had and not through the wizardry of technology.
Don’t depend on the wizard. Trust yourself to do the right thing and then do it. With
a little hard work and determination, you will find your Kansas. Now that’s Good
News.
3-7-22
My two grandsons, Daniel 7 and AJ 9, celebrate birthdays today and on Saturday.
They are both remarkable kids who are each talented in their own ways and are a
joy to be around. In their young lives, I have watched them adapt to Covid19
restrictions and they have handled them with a skill that I wish many adults had. I
certainly give the lion’s share of the credit to their parents who made adjustments
and sacrifices to make sure that these two youngsters (and two older granddaughters
as well) still enjoyed life during the last two years of Covid19 restrictions. They
followed the protocols, even when the protocol didn’t make sense, and still found
ways to have birthday parties and family get-togethers to celebrate these important
benchmarks in their lives. It was such a delight to see how my daughter and son-in-
law managed to navigate two years of craziness with minimal negative impact on
their family traditions. They, and many other families like them, deserve
recognition for their efforts to make sure that family life continued even under such
dire circumstances. So for my part, Happy Birthday to Daniel and AJ and may the
Lord grant us full relief from Covid19 for your 8 th and 10th birthdays. Now that’s
Good News.
3-4-22
Mom and dad taught me a long time ago that if you don’t stand up for what is right,
you will fall for anything. Right and wrong does exist. We have become
accustomed to the term tolerance and thus have allowed wrong to go unchallenged
because of political correctness. Tolerance has moved to advocacy. No longer is it
enough for us to be politically correct or silent, we must now become advocates for
things we believe to be wrong or we get labeled as “your just out of it and you are
behind the times.” It doesn’t matter how you package garbage, it is still garbage and
it smells like garbage. No amount of perfume will cover the smell. Marijuana use
is an example. We are losing thousands of kids to marijuana use daily and the
media and social outlets seem to wink at its use as if it is non-consequential in its
impact. Our kids are followers and they have believed the lie that marijuana is “not
so bad.” Students are losing their focus, their desire to succeed, and their zest for
life. A big thanks goes out to so many educational leaders for recognizing the
devastating impact of marijuana on the future of our youth and their renewed efforts
to eliminate it. Now that’s Good News.
3-2-22
I have to admit that I liked fast cars when I was a kid. I thought I was indestructible
and was such a good driver that I would be able to handle any driving situation. My
first fast car was a Chevelle 396 Super Sport. It had over 400 horsepower, was
Bolero Red with Black Leather interior, had four speed manual transmission and
was flat out fast. I have had an RX7, a Corvette, a 370Z and a Tesla Model 3 to
name a few of 30 plus cars I’ve owned. I still like fast but I want you to know that I
control my speed now and am much more conservative with it. I like to think it is
not because of diminished capacity with age but through the wisdom I have gained
with age. I treasure personal health more than the thrill of speed and potential
disaster that comes along with speed. I like the number 55 more than I use to. I like
grandkids, afternoon naps, and spending time just lazing around. Now the question
becomes: How do I help my grandkids understand that life is still fun while mostly
obeying the speed limit. Maybe I will send them a text. That way, I know they will
read it. Now That’s Good News.
3-1-22
The new iphone 13s are now in the marketplace. Each new release is an event unto
itself. Thousands of folks rush to the local Apple store to be among the first to get
the latest and greatest digital device. I have to admit, the pull to be the first is quite
strong and it is amazing to see that your fingerprint and facial image are now the
standard and that each new generation seems to be twice as fast as its predecessor.
But a new disease has emerged as a result of technology. We now have an anxiety
disorder that is commonly known as wait time disorder. Nothing is fast enough
anymore. The old device is way too slow. Waiting is anxiety producing and I must
have the newest or I will simply die from having to wait a micro second longer.
What will I do while I sit here and wait for my device to respond? What if people
see that I have a device that is slow? Will I get criticized for being digitally
deficient? Micro-seconds do count in the digital world and I do not want to be on
the outside looking in. I learned a long time ago that a few deep breaths and a little
down time was actually good for you. Maybe we should use those faster chips to
take a deep breath and relax. Can’t hurt our health, can it? Now that’s Good News.
2-28-22
There are very few Americans who would watch someone struggle to survive and
not lend a hand. We are, after all, the most generous people in the world. But
America is called the Land of Opportunity not the Land of You Owe Me even if I
don’t want to work. Americans are known for giving a hand up rather than just a
hand out. We also use to be a people who wouldn’t take a handout without working
for it. Americans making over $500,000 a year give about 3.4 % of their income
for charitable causes. Those making under $50,000 a year give about 2.1 % of their
income. Everyone can afford to give something. How about one less Starbucks a
week? Where you put your money tells where your heart is! I’m still a firm
believer in individuals being able to designate their giving rather than the
government designating it. Charitable giving required by the government through
higher taxes is less efficient, gives credit to the party in power, and reduces the
amount of giving that the needy actually receive. Instead of government money, I
would rather give a hundred dollars and know that it all went to help someone in the
Land of Opportunity get that Opportunity. Now that’s Good News.
2/25/22
I was thrilled to be able to participate in wrestling in High School. We had 13 weight classes from the little 95 pounders to unlimited. My senior year I wrestled the 120 pound weight class. I am 5 foot 10 inches tall so I was your typical bean pole of a kid. Having had polio complicated my participation in most sports but not wrestling. Most sports required two normal legs and good size. Wrestling on the other hand just required meeting a certain weight limit so the little guys, and a guy with polio, could be heroes, too. You didn’t have to be big to participate. I remember thinking: “If I win, I will be seen as a champion and it doesn’t matter that I don’t weigh 240 pounds.” Wrestling is one of the true equal opportunity sports that allows you to advance based on merit, not based on size. I am looking forward to the day when I once again get to cheer for wrestling at Fresno State and see the little guy be the “big man on campus.” Now that’s Good News.
2/24/22
IPhones, iPads, iPods. So many digital devices and most of us have more than one. I personally have four of them. I know I need each one to make sure that I am connected with the world and all of my personal friends and acquaintances, business friends, news outlets, facebookers, tweeters, and all the other members of my digital family. I am more connected than most…and yet it seems that isolation is present in this connected world. Sounds impressive to say I have 5000 friends on Facebook but that begs the question. What is a friend and doesn’t friendship require spending time together….preferably in the same room at least some of that friend time. I am getting increasingly concerned about the loss of our social skills because of the digital world. I am going to start a new trend…digital free time DFT when we lay down our devices and actually schedule face to face time and not facebook time. Now that’s Good News.
2/23/22
There have been many leaders in Fresno over the years and we have been so fortunate that most of them have loved our community. One of them, Dr. Peter G. Mehas, was bigger than life. His impact on Fresno and the Valley was undeniable and over a very long period of time. He advocated for students at the local, state, and national levels. For those of us who knew Pete, he was not shy about speaking up on behalf of what was right and it didn’t matter who might be offended or uneasy about it. He was unafraid and unapologetic when it came to seeking what was good for our community and the valley. He took an interest in me when I was a wrestler in high school and that interest eventually led to being hired as his Deputy Superintendent and his successor as County Superintendent. I will miss his friendship, his hugs, and his love for anything Bulldog. I now know what the G. stands for in Peter G. Mehas. It stands for Great. Peter the Great. Now that’s Good News.
2/22/22
Coach Dale Thomas, of Oregon State and a member of the NCAA wrestling rules committee, took his team to Fresno State to wrestle a dual match in the late 1960s. I officiated the match. Coach Thomas got in my face over a call I made. The Oregon State wrestler had pulled down his top while still on the mat, which according to the rules, resulted in a team penalty point. Coach Thomas raced out to where I was standing and began yelling in my face and pointing his finger. The home team crowd, which had benefited from the call, went crazy and started yelling at Coach Thomas.
But they couldn’t hear the conversation. What Coach Thomas said to me was: Good call young man, good call all the while shaking that finger at me. You see he was trying to motivate his team to try harder. I learned a valuable lesson that day that everything is not always as it appears. We need to be careful and reserve our judgment about others until we know all the facts. They might just be pulling a Coach Thomas. Now that’s Good News.
2/18/22
When my daughter and son-in-law become Foster-Adopt parents, I became keenly aware of the amazing number of children who need foster care. My eyes have also been opened to the number of parents who treat their children as throw-aways. There is little or no thought about having a baby and the responsibility that goes along with a having a child. I hear a lot about the right to have children but very little about the rights of a child to be born into a loving, caring home where they are wanted. One former foster child who was in multiple foster homes and is now a foster parent herself, shared that there are foster parents who are in it for the money and then, there are those who are in it for the love. Although she didn’t know it at the time, she now recognizes why some homes were so much better than others. Foster kids know the difference between parents who love and parents who love money. Many thanks go to those foster parents who love their foster kids even on a temporary and often an emergency basis. Now that’s Good News.
2/17/22
Every day there is some new technology announced and I find myself totally enamored with the possibilities. The latest is one about your child’s baby teeth and dental pulp. For years we have been able to use stem cells to treat cancer and blood diseases through bone marrow transplant therapies. Now researchers are finding that mesenchymal stem cells, found in high concentrations in the dental pulp of baby teeth, may, in the future, be able to “provide living teeth from dead and damaged teeth and grow replacement tissue for bone, cartilage, nerve, skin, muscles, and blood vessels.” Some research is now proposing for parents to save their children’s baby teeth in a clinical way that preserves their child’s own dental pulp, thus creating the potential for a life of unmatched health. For many children, they are beginning life at a time when the scientific possibilities of unprecedented health and treatments are not a thing of science fiction or Star Trek but are fully within grasp. Keeping baby teeth may soon be the newest health bank. A Tooth Bank, so to speak. Now that’s Good News.
2/16/22
My memory is only a faint one of my maternal grandmother. But my life has been enriched by the stories that mom has shared with me about how grandma spent most of her adult life bed-ridden as an invalid and still maintained an optimistic point of view. And was she optimistic! She just knew that life was going to turn out right. Nothing could get her down or keep her there for any time at all. I have come to realize over the years that while grandma had a positive disposition, it was really the amazing care my mother gave to her and the optimistic attitude she had that made the difference. As our population continues to age and experience all of the challenges that go along with it, we must continue to show that we care for those who gave us our start and help them enjoy their final years in a setting where they are nourished and supported and made to feel significant and important. We owe so much to the generation that came before us! Now that’s Good News.
2/15/22
I can still clearly remember the day when the young 7th grade girl came up to me at school and said, “Mr. Powell, when do I get my check?” Needless to say, I was a bit confused and found myself stumbling for words. Check? What check? I asked. She went on to say that her mother got a check every month and that she didn’t work, so she wanted to know when she was going to get her check. I was simultaneously devastated and angry. Here was a 13 year old girl with no aspirations for the future, and thus a not so happy life ahead and she didn’t even know it. Work gives worth to each one of us. That sense of accomplishment and of giving it my best. I had watched my dad come home every day and felt the sense of accomplishment and purpose he shared. I look forward to the 7thgrader who comes up to me and says, “I can’t wait until I get to go to work so I can contribute to my community, just like my mom and dad have. I’m hopeful because many in this latest generation are contributing to their communities. Now that’s Good News.
2/14/22
Warriors and heroes come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities. They are often bigger than life and are/ trail blazers who fundamentally change the way we look at ourselves and the world. They make life better for all of us even when their path is difficult. Jim was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates at about the same time as Roberto Clemente. Jim was a devastating hitter and was, no doubt, destined for the Professional Baseball Hall of Fame one day. On one freak play, a throw hit him in the face and blinded his left eye. Game over…at least professional baseball. He has written a book titled: A Baseball Career that ended in…a Split Second: The Life and Faith of Jim Aldredge. The book chronicles his amazing life after the baseball dream ended. He went on to get his doctorate, became a city manager, a university professor, and received wide-spread recognition for his new professional life. His tragic loss of sight did not define him but demonstrated that beauty can come from ashes. Now that’s Good News.
I must admit that I love pizza and I have my favorite toppings and crusts and places to order one.
Although we're in the last part of spring, we've been getting a taste of what summer will bring.
I am one of those guys who loves smelling certain foods as I walk through the County Fair.
There are certain things that a real newspaper provides you just can't get from an electronic version.
We've all heard identity theft but have you heard of a case of boyfriend misidentification?
Dot and I and a couple of friends not too long along spent a wonderful time together in Boston, New York, and Washington D.C.
Are you afraid of snakes? Do you fear the dark? How about the fear of falling? Everybody has a phobia.
When Tesla announced a new super charger that operates at 250 kilowatts, every Tesla owner was immediately interested.
For all of us who have been through the hassle of airport security, we tend to have lost our patience when it comes to "getting though an airport."
Jan and Bud Richter are icons in our community and they have set a standard of community engagement that is remarkable in their lifetime.
If you think you are seeing double and you live in Grass Lake, Michigan, you're probably right.
Did you know that blue light from smart phones and tablets has a negative impact on us?
I have always admired warriors and heroes. They simply do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.
When your kid asks you if they can use the garage it might be worth letting them do so.
I am no longer amazed at the stupidity of criminals but I am forever grateful as are the police.
It was 53 years ago this month that President Lyndon Johnson signed into law HR 6675, the Medicare Act.
If you are like me, you probably anticipate going to your favorite vacation spot each summer.
The convenience of online shopping is amazing and made shopping easier and without facing crowds.
Many of us start a solid vacation together on the Monterey Peninsula, my favorite vacation spot in the world.
iPhones iPads, iPods... there are so many digital devices and most of us have more than one
You can thank Senator John Conness the next time you visit Yosemite National Park in all of its majesty.
I love gadgets, especially electronic or digital ones, and boy have they gotten more and more sophisticated.
The first time I heard the name Elton, it wasn't Elton John. It was Elton Powell, my grandfather.
By regaining the lead in super computing, the United States once again is on the cutting edge of everything digital.
I had to be about 9 or 10 years old when I was in 3rd or 4th grade; they were digging up the street in front of our house to put in a sewer line.
I was once told that kangaroos can be very smart and are also very aggressive and that it's not wise to mess with them.
A family in Sheridan Township, Michigan heard some noises and it ended up creating quite a chaotic scene.
Firefighters are known for their bravery and their willingness to go into buildings that ordinary people would never go into.
When disaster strikes any airplane at 32,000 feet, nothing good happens unless you have Captain Tammie as your pilot.
I've come to realize over the years of writing stories that nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to what criminals do.
It seems to me that the only way to find a flight anymore that doesn't cost an arm and a leg is to book it 6 months to a year in advance
There is so much fraud taking place across the country today that it can feel overwhelming at times.
As a former educator, I've heard every excuse you can imagine for missing or late homework.
Every once in a while, you hear about a mother who was not going to put up with her child's misbehavior.
I'm in favor of anything that gives me an additional tool that will help with my efforts to find privacy on the internet.
The advances being made in nano medicine surgery through robots is right out of science fiction.
INRIX is a firm that consults with cities on transportation related issues, like how traffic affects cities.
We just finished one of the most important weeks in any true golfer's life: The Masters Golf Tournament.
There's no law that requires criminals to be smart. In fact, there are so many criminals who demonstrate just the opposite.
The Quokka is a small macropod about the size of a cat and is found on some of the small islands off the west coast of Australia.
We've all heard about college students suing their college or university for some of the craziest things.
There are many ways that would-be fathers learn that they are in fact going to be a father.
Thanks to the careful work of Librarian John Myers, this significant treasure was found.
My heart goes out to the families, school personnel, and community at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.
There are currently seven teenagers who are running for Governor in Kansas and one of them doesn't even live in Kansas!
Sometimes you just have to give extra credit to critters that find a way to escape the inescapable.
The study showed that by sending electric impulses to the brain that memory could be improved by as much as 15%.
Researchers used electrocorticography or EDoG to record the electrical activity and coordination.
One Massachusetts couple after 70 years finally had the wedding they always wanted... in a church.
Most of you know what I think of criminals. They are often not very smart and have some of the worst luck of anyone I know.
The official word is out... six more weeks of winter, at least according to Punxsutawney Phil!
When we lose someone we love, let's remember the good things and the fun times we had with them and that laughter is the best medicine.
83-year-old Willard Burgess removed all doubt about what he would do when confronted with a situation in which the police were chasing a suspect.
I like donuts. More specifically, I like Krispy Kreme donuts. They must have a secret ingredient that is addictive in some way.
When will it ever stop? Never is my sincere hope. When will what never stop, you ask? Criminals being stupid.
I did a little research on the origins of Halloween and came up with some fun facts about Halloween that you may not know.
What had originally been simply and observe and follow operation turned into a rescue operation.
A day in the life of a policeman or policewoman is not easy and is often life-threatening or life-altering.
It's kind of hard for us to believe but at one point in our history, women did not have the right to vote.
There's just something special about all those old wild west stories and the colorful characters and legends who made them happen.
Every golfer wants to be able to say that they have had a hole-in-one at some point in their career.
Every family that has a dog knows the same fear: what if our dog gets out while we're gone?
You gotta love elite thinkers, you know, those people who come up with those wild and way out ideas.
My wife and I were recently invited to a wedding and a reception that was very well done.
It's nice to see a big company like Tesla using technology to look out for its customers.
I just can't get over how amazing some people are in the midst of a big crisis and how often heroes are created when least expected.
I have always liked going to the fair, The atmosphere is electric with great food, events, displays, and shows.
Bergeson was working on his house when he accidentally shot himself in the heart with a nail gun.
When I read about a whole street that was purchased for $90,000 in San Francisco, it certainly caught my interest.
A 91-year-old woman from Thailand, after 10 years of studying, has finally received her college degree.
The best of the B Western Movie Cowboys were Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and Hopalong Cassidy.
When I talk to firefighters about their jobs, it becomes quickly apparent that they don't just fight fires.
At a McDonald's in Toronto, you could also get a cup holder that folds open into a boombox speaker for your phone.
One of the most terrifying things for anyone who drives on a freeway is the fear of a wrong-way driver.
I love the taste of lobster and have spent more than a dollar for a fine dining experience when I get to eat one.
Summer is wedding season and weddings take place in all kinds of settings and locations.
During one of the runner's training exercises on a nature trail, he encountered two black bears.
I've always liked Pope Francis. He is one of the most unassuming Popes in terms of ostentation.
There are times that a court somewhere in America will come out with a decision that just doesn't pass the giggle test.
I noticed almost every person inside the airport terminal had their head down looking at a smart phone or tablet.
Recently we had friends visiting from San Diego. They used to live in Fresno. The day they were here it was over 110.