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Artichoke Awards, 22 years and counting
It never occurred to me when I first gave out Artichoke Awards I'd be doing
it 22 years in a row. Artichokes were the premier local product in former
years. Pedro Valley's Italian farmers were famous for growing this
aristocrat of vegetables. Golden Artichokes, though only symbolic, are my
way of cheering on excellence. A Purple Artichoke, on the other hand, is a
symbolic, spoiled, over-the-hill vegetable which designates something I
disapprove.
A Golden Artichoke with Oak Leaf Clusters to Judge Arthur Scotland and his
fellow judges for de-fanging the Coastal Commission, at least temporarily.
The commission is a prime example of arbitrary, insensitive, remote
government. When the ocean threatened our cliffs and homes of fellow
Pacificans, some commission folk chose to urge the waves do their worst.
It's cruel when desperate citizens are told by distant bureaucrats they
must rip out the rip-rap that protects their homes, all to fit ivory tower
theories of how things should be.
A Golden Artichoke to Paul Chakkapark. While most of us just theorize about
building local visitor-serving attractions, Paul's creating a wonderful and
original piece of architecture at Crespi drive and Cabrillo Highway. I wish
his enterprise fantastic success.
A purple artichoke to SBC, that faceless Texas electronic company forcing
us to opt out if we don't want our privacy invaded. Though some Tribune
letters to the editor would have you believe otherwise, I'm not completely
stupid. I shouldn't have had to phone SBC and wade through their automated
electronic maze for twenty minutes to finally learn the letter they sent me
just agrees to give me the privacy I demanded. Their reply was completely,
and I think deliberately, obtuse. Privacy is not a service like Caller ID
or Directory Assistance. It's a right, much like life, liberty and pursuing
happiness. Others I've talked to agree.
A purple 'choke to the group called PETA, which takes a good goal, treating
animals fairly, and carries it to ridiculous extremes. Furs are out of
fashion. Sixty years ago furs were highly advertised. The competition was
thriving. Today the fur business hangs on by a thread, yet anti-fur
fanatics act as if it was still tripling its market every year. A few
rabbit furs ain't worth arguing about.
For those recently arrived, Karl Baldwin was the man hired by our first
City Council to be our first City Manager. He did a great job, then moved
on to use his skills on behalf of U.S. government efforts to help
developing nations.
When he finally retired, he chose to return to Pacifica and, typically,
stay involved. He might have just sat on his rocker, watching sunsets from
high on Pedro Point. Instead, he's earned his Golden Artichoke for hard
work for the Friends of the Library and the Pacifica Historical Society,
and those are only the endeavors I've happened to observe.
A flock of purple artichokes are hereby awarded anyone, on either side of
the recent Measure E debacle, who vandalized, ripped off signs, used lies
and exaggerations or misled folks while attempting to persuade voters. Even
those who thought the other side terribly wrongheaded in its arguments
weren't justified to spray paint their signs, tear them up or rip them off.
Every time the opposition is lied about or vandalized, they feel justified
retaliating. Democracy thrives on discussion, not vengeance.
A Golden Artichoke to Steve Wright and all those working to bring FireCams
to Pacifica. One life saved or one serious injury averted will more than
balance the cost. Firefighters will get a valuable tool, one that's needed.
What a great idea.
Paul@thereactor.netis one way to get in touch with The Reactor. Check his website at www.thereactor.net. The opinions of the longtime Tribune columnist are his own, and
not necessarily those of this or any other newspaper. Once in a while his
wife agrees with him.
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