Sound Off
Sound Off for Nov. 30, 2008
Managing Editor Steve Mullen: We've heard from many readers over the past week who are upset with our decision to eliminate the Classified Corner puzzles.
Sound Off for Nov. 23, 2008
Jenner: In case you hadn't noticed, we changed our comics lineup last week, which prompted complaints — and a few compliments. Here are some excerpts:
Sound Off for Nov. 16, 2008
Reader: For many months I have stood on the sidelines and read Valerie Schultz's column without a word. I was pleased when the opinion disclaimer was added to the column. I don't know if management or her editor has asked for columns regarding Catholic life and the faith or if she just feels the inspiration to speak on such matters. Whatever the case, you can no longer allow her column to be placed in the Eye Street (entertainment) pages of your paper.
Sound Off for Nov. 9, 2008
Reader: I am a new resident to the Bakersfield area, an avid reader of The Californian and a 19-year-old college student.
Sound Off for Nov. 2, 2008
Reader: Well, Lois Henry again is proving that she's lost her way from San Franfreako. Instead of commending Ken Mettler for standing up for his rights to be on any corner in Bakersfield, she used the argument that if one of the high school students from Kern County had done this the student would be at least suspended. Well, Lois, what if the student was not on campus?
Sound Off for Oct. 26, 2008
Reader: You have any word on this? Probably as important as the Mayor's baseball boondoggle. Love to read the latest on it.
Sound Off for Oct. 19, 2008
Reader: I opened my Californian newspaper (Saturday, Oct. 4) and saw the headline "Kern picks Palin in poll." The article stated that it was a Bakersfield.com poll. In other words, the participants were not chosen at random, they were self-selected, which can cause significant problems on how accurate the results are. The headline should have probably read, "Bakersfield.com users pick Palin". This would be closer to accurate. How do you know that you had a broad cross section of Kern County residents in this poll? Could the participants respond more than once to the poll? I know Channel 17 has done phone-in polls for years, but they have always mentioned that these are not "scientific polls". The Californian's poll would fall under the same category.
Sound Off for Oct. 12, 2008
Reader: I noticed your response to a writer in today's paper who complained that you removed two paragraphs from an article that were critical of Sarah Palin. I admire your decision not to print "anonymous" comments. I am concerned, however, about the following:
Sound Off for Oct. 5, 2008
Reader: I was interested to compare the Los Angeles Times article you printed on Wednesday's front page headlined "Don't take Palin lightly, aides warn," by Stephen Braun and Tom Hamburger, with the version of the same story printed in the Times.
Sound Off for Sept. 28, 2008
Reader: Outstanding article! I want you to know how very much I appreciated the first-person article on officer-involved shootings that ran last Sunday and Monday.
Sound Off for Sept. 21, 2008
Reader: A reader wrote to "Sound Off" last week explaining how she was troubled by the increasing displays of physical affection between same-sex couples in the media.
Sound Off for Sept. 14, 2008
Reader: After reading last Sunday’s Californian, I could not help recalling a Shakespeare quote: “the (Californian) doth protest too much, methinks.” Clearly, neither the liberal press nor media can stand the heat (and public outing) now that a clear image has been demonstrated as to the media bias in this election year. It has become so obvious that even neutral polling has made the point. The Californian is no different and the Sunday paper further demonstrated this point.
Sound Off for Sept. 7, 2008
Reader: When it comes to scrutinizing candidates, Editorial Page Editor Dianne Hardisty's "Sarah Barracuda" column misses the point. The charge that the left-wing media made, even before Palin had a chance to stand before the American people, is that she should not be running for VP because she is a mother of children. Yet this very media has never challenged Obama on the same issue even though he is a father. This is a double standard and pure sexism.
Sound Off for Aug. 31, 2008
Reader: I think that your newspaper has ran more positive and more stories supporting the Democratic side. As a newspaper you should be showing all information for both sides. I am Republican and do not like the information you have been printing. If this continues, I hope that more people in my situation feel the same way and discontinue your newspaper.
Sound Off for Aug. 27, 2008
Reader: I am not wilting away!
Sound Off for Aug. 24, 2008
Reader: I just wanted to tell you that I was really surprised at all the negative comments that were made concerning the new format.
Sound Off for Aug. 17, 2008
Reader: Messing with the comics again. You are using old survey results to eliminate comics that are miles ahead of some of the newer ones. Sherman's Lagoon is really funny on almost a daily basis. Marvin is so-so, and can be at least cute.
Sound Off for Aug. 10, 2008
Reader: I guess I just don't quite get it, but it never occurred to me that any article written by one of your column writers was anything but his or her opinion, and not the opinion of the newspaper.
Sound Off for Aug. 3, 2008
Reader: I was surprised to find that, once again, Planned Parenthood was omitted from the list of health and wellness organizations named in the Annual Edition of the Kern Life Magazine.
Sound Off for July 20, 2008
Reader: Love the paper. Read it every morning. Thanks to a great delivery person who has it in my driveway early. That said, pet peeve. I realize the line dividing "sports" from games and exhibitions has been blurred, but come on, poker is a card game! Are the results of the World Series of Poker featured in the sports section because World Series is in the title? Riveting action here, right there with the infomercials airing on television at 2 a.m.