Ban assault weapons

O ur hearts are with the

people of Colorado in the wake of the horrible tragedy in Aurora. The shock and trauma from the images and stories from Aurora are still very much with us, and it is impossible to put in words the pain being felt by families and friends of the victims.

In the wake of this massacre, it’s time to put aside politics and reinstate the federal ban on assault weapons.

I just signed a petition urging President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney to ask Congress to reinstate the expired federal assault weapon ban today. I hope you will join the cause.

Bob McLaughlin San Simeon

Hearts to HART

The Homeless Animal Rescue Team (HART) had a great opening of their new care-place—well-attended by people, who, like the caretakers, love animals too.

One very special congratulation goes to Mary- Ann Zirretta, who not only gives a lot of her time and work to HART, but also created and painted two beautiful fun murals on two walls at the shelter. What a pleasure to see her creations, with happy critters posing.

Thank you Mary-Ann for your great talent and hard work (but for you, it’s pure pleasure—we know that). Love to all of you who care for the homeless cats in such a special way.

Helga Crummitt, Cambria

Out of the frying pan

I have no reason to doubt that we all received the sheet “Fats, Oils and Grease” with our water/sewer bill recently.

When garbage disposals were new in the ’50s, our town in the Chicago suburbs dithered about them and their value to the community. Conclusion: What’s wrong with the toilet? These things are just something more to break.

BUT, we knew that fat and grease were bad for the sewers already! My mother and I poured off bacon fat into a separate glass container: 1. To add flavor to fried food, 2. To keep it out of the sewer.

Other grease and fat were combined and, as the container filled up, tossed into the garbage. The bacon containers, same thing.

Oh yes, too much bacon grease and bacon are not good for your body either. You knew that.

Abbie Chapman Cambria

‘Ineptocracy’

INEPTOCRACY: A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers. In short, a government for the free-loaders.

David Manion Cambria

Train will cost more

So our Legislature passed the funding for our high-speed rail project. The cost reported of $68 billion is a hallucination. It was estimated closer to $100 billion previously, then reduced after the public outcry.

There will be cost overruns, miscalculations and graft. Just think of the Big Dig in Boston. Those who think that this will also help out the horrible unemployment in the Central Valley are mistaken. The labor force there is primarily agricultural; therefore, the labor will be provided by the union halls in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Gov. Jerry Brown needs to repay his union cronies who helped elect him. Paraphrasing Albert Einstein, “Insanity is electing the same people over and expecting different results.”

We gotta stop this nonsense soon, or California will be like Greece. Although I do like baklava.

Jim Major Cambria