Columnists

ON MENTAL WELLNESS: Anger is a Valid Response in Many Situations

Jack Bragen
Sunday May 22, 2022 - 04:48:00 PM

Anger happens; it just does. Even "enlightened" Zen Masters experience anger and must cope with it through breathing exercises or with other mindfulness. (I've witnessed as much firsthand and have also read of it.)

If you try to deny your anger, it potentially becomes an internal agent of self-harm. If you try too hard not to be angry, this can cause you to disassociate, or it can cause an uptick in symptoms of a psychiatric illness. If you live with someone with whom you must walk on eggshells, it could become a problem, adversely affecting your wellness. -more-


SMITHEREENS: Reflections on Bits & Pieces

Gar Smith
Sunday May 22, 2022 - 04:13:00 PM

The Buzz in the News Biz

Is Sacramento the only capital city whose daily newspaper is named after an insect? I'm speaking, of course, of the Sacramento Bee.

So how did Sacramento bumble into naming its newspaper-of-record after a bug (instead of Press, Journal, Registrar, Herald, or Tribune)? According to the Bee's website: "An editorial on the first day of publication said: 'The name of The Bee has been adopted as being different from that of any other paper in the state and as also being emblematic of the industry which is to prevail in its every department.' So, the promise was a paper as busy as a bee." And it would be fair to expect the editorial mission would also include stinging criticisms delivered with biting sarcasm.

Itching to follow in the Bee's flight-path and redub other news dailies after insects and other bite-sized animals? How about renaming the Napa Register the Napa Gnat, along with the Fresno Fly, the San Jose Mercury-Newts, and the San Francisco Salamander.

Primary Statements -more-