A CENTER-CUT, NO-FAT REVIEW OF WHAT WAS SAID THIS PAST WEEK BY FOLKS THE WORLD OVER AND RIGHT AT HOME “Much will be written about the legal theory behind it all, and the implications for the national fight for marriage and lots and lots of constitutional scholars and civil activists will be talking on the television. The religious right is sure to spend millions trying to get a ballot measure to change our state constitution, and the political talking heads will make much hay for the next week. They will spout off about polygamy and the downfall of society, issues that the court, in its wisdom dealt with specifically by saying that this does not open the door to polygamy. Not that opponents will actually read the ruling, just like they don’t actually read the Bible.” — SMDP columnist David Pisarra writing in “Your Column Here.”
“Money aside, it still seems like quite an honor to have a star. On the other hand, PeeWee Herman has one. The most recent Walk of Fame honoree was Sean “Diddy” Combs on May 2. I can only wonder why it took so long.” — SMDP columnist Jack Neworth writing in “Laughing Matters.”
“However, few packaged therapies exist that can truly heal me when I ail. My mom’s chicken soup is my No. 1 panacea. I keep a stash of it in the freezer at all times, but at present, the stock is running dangerously low. And unfortunately, FAA guidelines are such that I’m no longer able to transport any soup back with me when I visit my family. You know, because apparently, I could blow up a plane with a matzoh ball. So, that means that the only instance in which the remaining soup may be consumed is if my death is imminent. My cold last week was bad, but even I’ll admit it wasn’t that bad.” — SMDP columnist Meredith C. Carroll writing in “Meredith Pro Tem.”
“Dispatches from Dystopia” — KARMA’S A BITCH.” SMDP columnist Ryan Hyatt
“In every profession, there is a line which should not be crossed. In some, there is a line which cannot be crossed. When you work with young people, especially children, you assume the role of the protector. Knowing the world is full of things and people who might do them harm, your love and care sends the message that no matter what happens, nothing can hurt them while they are with you. As a parent, teacher, priest, pastor, school administrator, doctor, coach, or baby-sitter, you’re assuming a responsibility which should be more important to you than any and everything else — a responsibility for their innocence.” — SMDP columnist Kenny Mack writing in “Word in Edgewise.”
“I would like to say that it is somewhat upsetting to hear people talking about foreclosures as if they are rampant on the Westside. They evidently are not. In the past year, the most difficult part of being a realtor in this market isn’t how challenging business has been. The real drag these days is the unrelenting negativity of the media and of some people.” — SMDP columnist Simon Salloom writing in “Simon Says.”
“A danger with political polls is that people like to back a winner. Voters enjoy being able to say after the election that they voted for the person who won. That’s why they don’t show the results on TV until the polls have closed. If a poll says that Candidate A just moved ahead of Candidate B, there are people who will climb on the bandwagon and vote for Candidate A just because the poll says he or she is ahead. When that happens, the poll turns from being a way to measure public opinion to a device that forms public opinion.” — SMDP columnist Lloyd Garver writing in “Modern Times.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 17, 2008. Read the original PDF.