"This photo was taken by an unknown photographer in Miceli’s Italian Restaurant in Hollywood after I ate pizza with my first false tooth, courtesy of Neil A. Faus, D.D.S. and his client, actress Elizabeth Taylor, who gave me my beautiful new smile for $25."
Column 160 - Part 1 - COME, LET US WORSHIP: TEAR DOWN THE WALLS! (11/3/2017) REALIZING he was the son of a maverick inspired Jaime Olin Voltaire to share his painful struggle as the
only American-born son of a Mexican mother who helped undocumented immigrants enter the U.S.
If I’d known Jaime’s recent worship associate address at the Unitarian Universalist Church would be so
touching, I’d have publicized his appearance. Instead, I asked Jaime--once a homeless teenager in Monterey--to
share highlights in this new “In Their Own Words” series. (CLICK TO CONTINUE READING...)
Column 161 - Part 2 - COLOR YOURSELF UNIQUE AND HELP HEAL AMERICA! (11/10/2017) BELLYACHING over America’s political morass since the presidential election a year ago this week? If yes,
try coloring for the sake of the country and for your own good!
Coloring is a popular practice among therapists whose adult patients find peace, serenity, and hope by
sitting quietly and transferring emotions to paper in various hues of the rainbow.
In the wake of recent mass shootings around the U.S., as the nation contemplates the question of
whether to impeach #45 by invoking Amendment 25, the question arises:
Could coloring have assuaged the horrific rage that caused mass massacres of both victims and the
shooters? (CLICK TO CONTINUE READING...)
Column 162 - Part 3 - TOURIST DISTRACTIONS: THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO HAS LESS (11/17/2017) DEBATING whether to form a “committee” or “commission” on homelessness dominated Seaside City
Council’s November 2 agenda:
If councilmember Dave Pacheco had prevailed, a commission--with authority to move swiftly--would be
getting things done now.
As it was, the vote came at a time of mounting pressure by Monterey County Supervisors to resolve the
safe parking issue with Lapis Road residents whose live-in vehicles must be gone from the stretch of county
road north of Marina by Dec. 1.
District 4 Supervisor Jane Parker fought hard to... (CLICK TO CONTINUE READING...)
Column 163 - Part 4 - GROPING: IF YOU HAVE AN ITCH, SHOULD YOU SCRATCH IT? (11/24/2017) “GROPING.” If you weren’t familiar with this newsy term last Thanksgiving, you’re probably an expert on it
by now. Right? Test yourself by circling the correct answer:
1. Grope: a verb meaning to search or feel blindly.
2. Grope: an adjective describing one-sided sexual advance involving two or more people.
3. Grope: a noun meaning any uninvited pinch, punch or pat also, called everything from “copping a
feel” to “pinching ass.”
Obviously, a groper is the one doing the groping.
If groping oneself, there’s probably no reason to complain, since the act can be considered consensual,
whether or not sex is involved.
In other words, if you have an itch, scratch it—wherever it‘s located.
If, however, another person is involved in a physical act that can be construed as unwanted... (CLICK TO CONTINUE READING...)
Column 164 - Part 5 - AVOID GOING INTO HOCK WHILE FILLING SANTA’S CHRISTMAS SOCK! (12/1/2017) SHOPPING’s not really the Great American Pastime promoted by purveyors of Black Friday and Cyber
Monday, is it?
If you’re like me, living on inadequate Social Security, we might share a proverbial champagne appetite
for giving but beer budget for spending.
So, with the Season of mail order calendar/card/catalog cash seekers and street-corner Santas sweeping
down like off-course vulture-sleighs, how do you survive? (CLICK TO CONTINUE READING...)