The Nader Effect


Nader reminds me of many charming, talented, ambitious, wily men from the Arabic-speaking world (“Nader Agha’s holdings span Monterey County, but he’s looking to conquer the world,” Dec. 15-21). Arabic is a poetic language and reflects a culture where the word is sometimes used as a substitute for the deed – there is often no need to take it literally. Nader once bought some valuable – and heavy – antiques from me. They were great bargains, as he paid half-price at the end of an estate sale. But at the same time, he also carried them away with his own labor. That’s in the great American tradition. – Furryfriend | via Web


Peace, Joy, Burn in Hell


WOW! It’s so amazing that their (sic) are STILL promoters of the evo lie! (“Human evolution reappraised at Gentrain Society of Monterey Peninsula College,” posted Dec. 1 in advance of Jan. 4 event). Wake up, folks! God made it all! We were never apes nor sludge from the sea! No cave men and very limited amounts of Dino the Dino. This 2012 I encourage all who read this to make their best effort to repent of sin and get right with God! Jesus is the reason for the season and ONLY He can cancel our eternal burn notice! Look up to live and live ready! No one escapes physical death, day of judgment and then our being sent off into our chosen eternity! Eternity happens, is a choice and lasts forever! John 3:3=Happy Eternity; Revelation 20:15=The eternal burn! Watch “23 Minutes in Hell” on YouTube and let Bill Weise educate you about this VERY real eternal place! God’s peace, joy, salvation to all! – getreal365 | via Web


(Editor’s note: Getreal, we’re pretty sure Jesus thinks you’re doing it wrong.)


Bearing Witness


Hey, Mike Lawrence: Ya’ so sure that your client didn’t do anything wrong? (“Collins faces new felony charges, prosecutors allege witness interference,” posted Dec. 21.) Give me a break. Collins is the most arrogant man on the Central Coast. Trying to tamper with a witness – pure arrogance! Go to jail, do not collect $200… can’t wait until we see him getting a public defender. – mobofreestyle | via Web


Desal Tanks


Never a dull moment (“Holiday tidings from judge to Marina Coast: the basis for the desal plant is bogus,” posted Dec. 21). – Eric Palmer | via Facebook


You can say that again. You think the county never tires of litigation? – Julie Law | via Facebook


Short Stories, Shorter Comment


Punting is Cambridge, not Oxford (101-Word short story contest, referring to the story “Young Writer,” Dec. 22-28.) – Eyeswideclosedtotheobvious | via Web


(Editor’s note: Duh, who doesn’t know that? Also, your name is too long.)


Incubus Intrigue


What beautiful art! (“Video: Brandon Boyd walks and talks art at Museum of Monterey,” posted Dec. 20.) The interview with the commentary about the art was extremely interesting. Brandon is so easy to listen to, even when he is not singing. Thanks for sharing. – Jackiejeanbean | via Web


Voicemail Trifecta


(Editor’s note: The following are transcriptions of messages left on our voicemail, at night, all from the same anonymous caller. Consider it our post-Christmas/Chanakuh gift to you.) 


I think you make a really poor choice for your cover (“Nader Agha,” Dec. 15-21). I mean, that’s a smug guy. Can you imagine how he is in the course of his business? 


Why would you put such a person on the cover at Christmas. At least Time magazine had the decency to put a protester on the cover. 


Why don’t you go listen to Mr. Freberg’s “Green Christmas” from 1958 on YouTube and get these people, in the holiday season, off the cover. Greed, ambition, ruthlessness – all-American values just so we can get the almighty dollar. 


As people have said about this area, why don’t you just stick stacks of it on the mantle and worship it? And it’s not because I haven’t been exposed to money, it’s just who you hold up. 


I mean, I’ve had personal nasty stories on Steve Jobs, yet we hold him up. I have personal nasty stories on Frank Sinatra, yet we hold him up. Stop admiring these people. I don’t know this guy personally but I have a very good gut for people based on my lending career and I can tell you once you get him out of that cozy chair, he’s not nice. 


So you’re a pretty good paper but every once in a while you take what I call an easy shot at notoriety, just shock-and-awe, which anyone can do, and I think your coroner cover was one of those (“How the coroner’s office investigates death – and why it’s more difficult than it should be,” Dec. 8-14). 


I remember in the past when you tried to save a retail store that was going under so you kept showing nude men, you know, with tiny purses up their crotch. Yeah, or coming up out of the water. That’s a cheap shot. And you tried to put it back on me as if I’m a prude. Heh. I’m no prude, I just know a cheap shot when I see one. 


Try in the new year to do your best, and by and large, you do.


I question how you can give a calendar hot pick to that free concert (“Monterey Bay Symphony holiday concert,” Dec. 15-21). 


No, I didn’t go, why would I? 


Military color guard at Christmas? Great, they’re in uniform and weapons – just don’t get enough of that, do we? 


We just finished a war we should never have been in and we’re saber rattling again at Iran. And we have military all around us and it certainly doesn’t convey peace on earth when you see them parading around with their weaponry. 


Yankee doodle dandy. Really Christmasy… it’s not so much of a hot pick as free “you get what you pay for,” and I’m not going. 


Correction 


A Dec. 22 article on the California Community College system incorrectly stated that a report issued by the system’s Student Success Task Force recommended tying college funding to matriculation rates. In fact, the report discourages performance-based funding and recommended a stronger investment in basic skills education to improve matriculation rates. In addition, part-time students who take classes to develop skills for current or future jobs would be given priority enrollment under the task force recommendations.


The full report can be read at http://bit.ly/qy7qMA.