Common Sense

"Don't be afraid to see what you see. " — President Ronald Reagan It is my hope — and more importantly, the community's hope — that our employee associations help restore Costa Mesa's fiscal health and return it to being a model of balanced government. First, we have to stop the bleeding. Our city has been hemorrhaging money for the past four fiscal years, draining $33.6 million from its reserves, despite eliminating more than 120 employee positions, delaying infrastructure repairs and cutting into many services.

The news last week that the county's system for posting warnings about contaminated water was both striking and rather expected. It was striking because of the ramifications of the reports on Orange County water quality, written in part by a UC Irvine professor. The bottom-line is that the posting of warnings appears to be seriously flawed, largely from the lag time between when water is tested and when warnings are posted. In Huntington Beach, for instance, the beach posting error rate approaches 41%, UCI professor Stanley Grant said.

How should parents handle Internet websites such as Myspace.com? Parents of younger kids should handle most Internet activity with the same care they would use in letting their kids play in the street. It's probably OK if a parent is closely watching; otherwise you're just asking for trouble. Parents of teens and older kids should also be vigilant and observant, but at this age the kids themselves are mostly responsible for their own actions on the web, just as they are in most of their other interactions.

Imane Boudlal was given compromises and different positions with Disneyland where she could wear what she wanted ("OC Now: Muslim worker taken off Disney's schedule," Aug. 25). Instead, she refused and did so very visibly in front of her entourage consisting of videographers, photographers and reporters. Disney has a costume policy. She knew this when she accepted the position. She has one of two purposes here: To make a statement by forcing Disney to submit to her unreasonable demands or to receive a sizable judgment from Disney for her "pain and suffering.

This presidential campaign seems as if it’s been going on forever. I think it’s a good thing; the longer this takes, the better we get to know them, warts and all. My recipe for success in choosing a candidate is simple: Look for someone who has plain old common sense in his or her political policies and personal life. I started out a Rudy Giuliani fan. As a former New Yorker, he was my guy. He cleaned up the city and handled the 9/11 attacks with courage and fortitude.

The planet?s climate is clearly out of balance and is warming, the American Geophysical Union announced Thursday. UCI scientist Michael Prather leads the scientific society of more than 50,000. ?It?s not a consensus statement. It?s a common sense statement,? Prather said. ?Will everyone agree with it? No. Does 99% of research support it? Yes.? The group?s statement takes a more firm stance that humans are responsible. ?Many components of the climate system are now changing at rates and in patterns that are not natural ?

It is interesting that if you search through the etiquette books on the bookstore websites, such as Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com, many that have received excellent reviews from the critics receive harsh commentary from readers. The reason? Most of the readers claim that there is nothing new here and that, after all, manners are just common sense. If it is just common sense, why is it that so many people are writing about manners now? Is it, then, just a dearth of common sense that prompts people to become livid about the behavior encountered in a store, the office or on the freeway?

There's a time and place for everything -- and that includes cellular phones. Cell phones should not be used while watching a movie, attending church, looking for a book at the library or book store and sitting in classrooms. Such devices -- when on -- simply don't belong in the classroom. Seems like common sense, right? While we believe cell phones have no place on school grounds, it would probably be difficult to ban their existence entirely.

EDUCATION: "We must provide good pay and good benefits to secure and retain quality teachers for our future generations. A good education is the foundation for tomorrow. We must make sure that we provide for all people regardless of race and culture." ENERGY: "In order to assure a reliable supply at a reasonable price we need to re-regulate. This must be done in a way that respects private enterprise and protects consumers." ABORTION: "While many debate [the issue]

Some of volleyball's best, including Olympic gold medalists Steve Timmons and Ricci Luyties, will be among the athletes featured in a two-day, pro-am tournament taking place at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort Sept. 21-22. The public is invited at no cost to cheer on their favorite players, including event organizer Brian Lewis, a three-year pro, and veterans Randy Stoklos, Tim Hovland and Misty May. The competition will feature 40 teams comprised of some of the sport's leading professionals.

"Don't be afraid to see what you see. " — President Ronald Reagan It is my hope — and more importantly, the community's hope — that our employee associations help restore Costa Mesa's fiscal health and return it to being a model of balanced government. First, we have to stop the bleeding. Our city has been hemorrhaging money for the past four fiscal years, draining $33.6 million from its reserves, despite eliminating more than 120 employee positions, delaying infrastructure repairs and cutting into many services.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You are judged by the company you keep. If you feel that others are not supporting your goals, then it is time for a frank talk. The people who are good for you grow closer while detractors disappear. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): If you have energy and enthusiasm, you can excel. But you must use common sense before you invest your money. If in doubt, it is best to ask for advice from a loved one or a successful professional. GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

I got a chuckle — in a good way — out of City Councilman Steve Mensinger's column in the Daily Pilot this week in which he tells how he spent his own money and time, and along with a couple of other volunteers, fixed up City CEO Tom Hatch's office ("Community Commentary: Setting the record straight this time," April 14). Now, I barely know Mensinger. We've nodded in passing, and that's about it, but I'm becoming a fan. Back when Mensinger's name was being thrown around to be appointed to the City Council, I had no idea who he was, so I asked someone in the know.

The lawn that just won't die! Surprisingly perhaps, that's exactly the fear that many people have when contemplating switching their lawn to something else. We fuss and labor over our lawns. If we miss a watering, forget to fertilize or ignore our little green oases, we quickly see the outcome: browning, dieback, weeds, disease and so on. So, when the time comes, you'd think it would be easy enough to murder them. Not so. Grass lawns, especially those in California, can be tenaciously persistent, refusing to die, returning months later to haunt the executioner.

Imane Boudlal was given compromises and different positions with Disneyland where she could wear what she wanted ("OC Now: Muslim worker taken off Disney's schedule," Aug. 25). Instead, she refused and did so very visibly in front of her entourage consisting of videographers, photographers and reporters. Disney has a costume policy. She knew this when she accepted the position. She has one of two purposes here: To make a statement by forcing Disney to submit to her unreasonable demands or to receive a sizable judgment from Disney for her "pain and suffering.

TODAY Wine Tasting Taste wine from the Fontodi winery, a leading producer of Chianti in the Tuscany region of Italy, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wine Lab Newport, 2901 W. Coast Hwy, suite 100, Newport Beach. The cost is $20. For more information, visit http://www.winelab.net. Corona del Mar Residents Assn. The Corona del Mar Residents Assn. Board of Directors meets at 7:30 a.m. the third Thursday of each month at the Newport Beach Country Club. Corona del Mar residents are encouraged to attend.

The 5-year-old walked home a few blocks in the snow of a Chicago winter. Home was a cramped apartment where he lived with his parents and three brothers. When he got to the door, he saw on it a sheet of paper affixed with a thumbtack. Although he was a good reader, he had never seen the word “notice,” but he did recognize the number “three” and the word “day” that appeared just before the mystery word. The boy’s clothes were hand-me-downs from his two oldest brothers.

The Orange County Board of Education voted unanimously last week to oppose a state bill that would declare May 22 as Harvey Milk Day to honor the assassinated gay-rights activist and San Francisco councilman annually on his birthday. “This bill would provide that the governor proclaim May 22 of each year as Harvey Milk Day, and would designate that date as having special significance in public schools and educational institutions and would encourage those entities to conduct suitable commemorative exercises on that date,” reads an excerpt from state Senate Bill 572. “If you want that lifestyle, don’t make my tax dollars pay for it, and don’t make me teach it to my children,” county Board of Education President Alexandria Coronado, who represents portions of Costa Mesa and other cities, told the Daily Pilot on Wednesday.

When considering circumstantial evidence, jurors are instructed to look at the situation as a whole and use their common sense. But what if common sense leans to both sides of the argument? In the trial of John F. Kennedy, 43, of Long Beach, jurors are likely facing that very question. On one side you have Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Matt Murphy, who claims Kennedy was the “muscle” in an elaborate plot to rob and kill a Newport Beach couple out at sea in 2004.