Talk of the Town - talkofthetown's Blog - Bakersfield.com

Whatever happened to the decorum and civility at graduation ceremonies?

Thu, 28 May 2009 13:29:28 PDT

It’s hard to pinpoint when we decided there is no longer a line between our private and public selves. It could be the invention of the cell phone, which allows us to share our most intimate dramas with total strangers as we walk down the street gabbing. Or maybe the Information Age has blurred our boundaries by enabling us to put every stray thought we have on the Web for all the world to comment on. Whatever it is and whenever it happened, that break with apparently outdated notions of decorum and civility is most on display at high school graduation ceremonies.

Graduation, that annual rite that makes us giddy with pride and relief, is the long-awaited reward for students and their families who have endured years of test-taking, 3-in-the-morning science projects and schoolyard dramas. But instead of acknowledging their graduate's achievement with quiet reflection and joyous but respectful applause, many folks seem to have other ideas of how to behave: air horns, shrieks, cell phone calls to graduates in the actual ceremony and constant conversation.

Wednesday night I had the pleasure of watching my niece graduate from West High — "watching" being the operative word, since hearing any part of the ceremony was impossible. People were standing, chatting full volume in the aisles, as if this were happy hour at the corner bar. There was a family directly behind me who seemed to think they were sitting in their own living room. I might not have heard a word of the speeches from the stage, but I did learn that, no, those aren’t the actual diplomas inside the decorative covers and there was a horrible wreck somewhere between here and Visalia (which was why half the party came late, huffing and puffing and squeezing through rows of hapless attendees). Oh, and the uncovered coughing fit directly into the back of my hair? Someone please tell me the swine flu danger has passed.

But the worst thing about these ceremonies are the rival cheer sections for select graduates. Is it really necessary to prove that your child is popular by jumping up and down, hollering and activating the air horn (water-boarding has nothing on this particular torture device). My sister and I, from our nosebleed seats at the Convention Center, felt so awful for the kids who didn’t get that kind of reception we clapped our hands blood-red just so they could get a little love.

It’s true that we all have different ways of showing joy, and there are few occasions more emotional than seeing your child walk across that stage. But graduation isn’t a game show. When you create such a spectacle, it ruins it for other graduates and families and diminishes the importance of this milestone.

Make no mistake: these young people, with their diplomas in hand, still have plenty to learn. How about teaching them what class means.

— Jennifer Self

Reporter transported back to Mesozoic Era in fun dinosaur show at Rabobank Arena

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:18:56 PDT

“Walking With Dinosaurs: The Arena Spectacular” began its seven-show run Wednesday night at the Rabobank Arena with a lighthearted announcement: “Please switch off your mobile phones, as reception will not be available for 165 million years.”

In that fun spirit, the laughter — and, as beast upon prehistoric beast came out, the oohs, aahs, and a scream or two here and there — would continue throughout the two-hour show which delighted kids, parents, grandparents, couples, and even singles like myself. I kept thinking I would have wanted to bring my dog and see how he'd react as each mechanical dinosaur, lifelike in look, movement and humongous size, came out. Futuro would have barked for sure. Chihuahuas aren't deterred by another animal's size — don't make no difference how ancient or big. Take that, T-Rex.

Before the show began, I had the chance to go to a special party for the media attended by members of the local print, radio and TV press, their spouses, kids and other family members. The alcohol-free party began with dinosaur-sized pizzas from Cataldo's, compliments of Rabobank director of marketing and sales Shawn Brandon. There were also sugar-sprinkled dinosaur-egg-shaped cookies, and lots of little dinosaur-themed toys as centerpieces and on place settings on the tables — at least when the party began: By the end of the dinner, most had been pocketed. But I think that's what the hosts had intended.

After the party, I had some time to wander around the Rabobank's concourse and talk to some local people.

Four-year-old Andrew Mata and his 10-year-old brother, Michael, were there, along with their mom, Candy Pittman, and stepdad Erik Alvarez.

Andrew, definitely the chattier of the two boys, said, “We saw the commercial when the people were building the dinosaurs and now we're here to watch 'em.” When asked which of the dinosaurs he liked best, he said, “The one with the long neck because it has a big 'ol head. I got the toy of him. I got two.”

His brother likes T-Rex.

The funnest family I met were Magbaleta-Villa-Forneys: Mom, Michelle Magbaleta. Dad, Atilano Magbaleta. The kids: hers, Luke Villa, 8, and Joshua Villa, 6; his, Nia Magbaleta, 8; and theirs, Eris Magbaleta, 3. Finally, there was grandma, or “Nana,” Barbara Forney. My, how families have evolved.

Luke said it was his idea to get tickets for the show, so he told his mom. But it was actually Nana who bought the tickets: Let's see, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 — we're talking several hundred dollars' worth.

“That's all right,” Nana said. “It's coming out of their will.”

I also met 39-year-old Kathy Jimenez, who had her hands full with concession stand food. But that's not what I was looking at. My eyes were on her tail: a $20 green stuffed contraption she had purchased from the merchandise stand that stayed busy ALL NIGHT. It was fastened with a belt that fit around her waist and made it look like she was part-woman/part-dinosaur.

“It makes me feel like a kid again,” she said, as her friends smiled. “Who doesn't love dinosaurs? Who didn't play dinosaur when they were little? If my arms weren't full I'd show you my small arms because I'm a Tyrannosaurus Rex,” she said as she did a little shuffle across the floor.

Walking With Dinosaurs PR people, hire this woman!

Posters were on sale for $10. T-shirts for $25. Blow-up dinosaur dolls for $15. I'm sure vendors are having to replenish merchandise after every show to ensure it doesn't become extinct from all the sales.

Back to the show.

Well, talk about sophistication in set design including movable mountains, inflatable plants and flowers, light and video projection, and an entrance for the dinosaurs that looked like a set of giant jaws. The sound was amazing as well, with the favorite offering coming in the last segment, where the mama T-Rex's roars sounded as loud and low and earth-shaking as nearby thunderclaps, while those of baby T-Rex (an actor in costume) were the cute Hannah Montana version.

Aside from a short first act, a long intermission, and a slow beginning of the second act where a flying dinosaur suspended from wires was introduced, the show was mesmerizing throughout. And educational, too, as the narrator talked about the different ages of dinosaurs and the changes that came upon the planet through the millenia.

We saw eoraptors, brachiosaurus, stegosaurus, torosaurus and others whose names I didn't know and are too difficult for me to try to Webster or Wiki online.

After the show, I caught up with Luke, Nia, Joshua and their family. Hands down, the T-Rex moments of the show, including the interaction between the Mama T-Rex and her young, were the kids' favorite. They all said they liked T-Rex because of its power — but Nana, and Nana always knows best, said it was probably because it's the easiest dinosaur name to pronounce.

Mom liked the brachiosaurus, she said. They were the biggest and two of them were out in the arena at the same time and rubbed necks in a show of affection. “Maybe that's why, as a mom, I liked it,” she said. It was a tender moment, indeed, but I kept thinking the long necks on the things were going to hit the hanging lights or something and snap. Didn't happen. Phew.

If you live in Bakersfield, it is in your biological destiny to go see Walking With Dinosaurs. So what are you waiting for? The show continues through Saturday, with 3 and 7 p.m. performances Thursday; a 7 p.m. one on Friday; and three on Saturday at 11 a.m., and 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $33.50 to $69.50. Check out rabobankarena.com for more details.

-- By Louis Medina, Calfiornian staff writer

Latest Charles Manson prison photo

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:19:07 PDT

Corcoran State Prison has released a new prison photo of their most notorious inmate, Charles Manson.

Manson is 74. The 'Manson family' killings took place 40 years ago.

The navel fluff phenomenon explained

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:10:07 PST

Ever wondered why your belly button attracts such an impressive collection of visitors by day's end?

Well, an Austrian scientist has studied 503 pieces of his own navel fluff and made some interesting observations, like:

Chemical analysis revealed the pieces of fluff were not made up of only cotton from clothing. Wrapped up in the lint were also flecks of dead skin, fat, sweat and dust.

This is the same scientist whose other projects include monitoring the erosion of his wedding ring.

Today's youth more into music than sex

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:54:31 PST

According to a new survey of British youths and young adults, 60 per cent of 16-24 year olds would rather go without sex than music for a week, which increased to 70 per cent for 16-19 year olds.

The Youth and Music Survey 2009 was more interested in youth's listening habits,, and music-buying habits, but they obviously threw the sex angle in there so more people would read the survey!

Cancel Christmas: The date's all wrong, say scientists

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:40:07 PST

No more Christmas cards with snowy winter views. Those carol singers knocking on your door should be wearing shorts and sandals, not wrapped up in scarves and mittens.

Using computer software to track the exact location of the Christmas star 2,000 years ago, astronomers have calculated that Christmas should be celebrated on June 17th and not on December 25th.

But it's not a knock on religion, the astronomers say. In fact, the opposite is true.

Smile, it's good for me

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:45:28 PST

A note to all the grumpy gits you meet around town — and on the most rarest occasions, on these blogs: Happiness is contagious.

That's right. If you surround yourself with smiley, happy people, you're more likely to be a smiley, happy person yourself.

So put the pills down and head to the nearest Chuck E Cheese.

The only irony to this report is that it was published in a British journal — a nation of the most morose souls you're ever likely to meet.

You know the economy sucks when ...

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:36:48 PST

A Wal-Mart shuts its doors.

GM boss pleads poverty, eats at Quiznos

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:05:08 PST

Well, why didn't you say that?

Of course if you drove your own car and ate at a sandwich shop on the way we'll give you $25 billion of taxpayer money.

The big 3 automakers drove to Washington today instead of flying their private pimp planes, and they even deigned to eat with the peasants at Quiznos.

Quiznos? Everyone knows this is the richer cousin of Subway. If they were really trying to score points with the lawmakers they're facing today (who also have probably never eaten at a fast-food sandwich shop in their lives) they should have got a greasy bucket of KFC.

Then and only then will you get that $25 billion Christmas present you're begging for.

Depressing Christmas cards

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:22:51 PST

If you haven't already posed with fake smiles for your family Christmas card, here's a novel idea which pokes fun at the depressing economy.

The cards showcase vintage photos from the Great Depression with humorous captions.

See them here.

Leading Catholic: Disney has corrupted kids

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:18:03 PST

Ahh, Disney. Good, clean, wholesome entertainment for all the family.

Little ones learn right from wrong. Good always triumphs over evil. If Disney ruled the world it would be be called Disneytopia.

So it was something of a shock to hear the following from one of Britain's most prominent Catholic clerics, Christopher Jamison:

"The message behind every movie and book, behind every theme park and T-shirt is that our children's world needs Disney," he says.

"So they absolutely must go to see the next Disney movie, which we'll also want to give them on DVD as a birthday present.

"They will be happier if they live the full Disney experience; and thousands of families around the world buy into this deeper message as they flock to Disneyland."

He continues: "This is the new pilgrimage that children desire, a rite of passage into the meaning of life according to Disney.

"Where once morality and meaning were available as part of our free cultural inheritance, now corporations sell them to us as products."

Fr Jamison, who is one of Britain's most prominent Catholic clerics, claims that brands such as Disney market themselves to be about more than mere materialism to create an addiction to consumption.

"This is basically the commercial exploitation of spirituality," he says, adding that as a result Disney and other corporations "inhabit our imagination".

For the full extent of the cleric's withering criticism, go here.

Kid comes before designer jeans

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:00:41 PST

The economy is so bad and times are so tough that terrific sacrifices must be made just to survive.

Today's New York Times has just such a heart-wrenching story. A Florida mother has decided to make the ultimate sacrifice and forgo this season's designer jeans so she can buy her young daughter a big bundle of Christmas presents which will no doubt end up in next spring's yard sale.

Thanks to the ever-observant Gawker for taking the piss out of this story.

Predicting the stock market

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:19:46 PST

The Dow is up right now almost 250 points, but only the eternal optimists among us think the stock market hasn't reached its nadir.

In times of uncertainty we always look to trusted sources for comfort, and even if the prognosis is not good, at least we have an idea of what's coming.

Here's a clip from Time Magazine's story, "Looking for the Bottom":

This dark outlook augurs a U-shaped recession. The downturn, which began in the fourth quarter of 2007, will be longer than the usual 18 months. The recovery will probably be anemic and for the next few years the U.S. economy is likely to grow below potential. That's the best-case scenario. It suggests that we are many months, and perhaps thousands of Dow index points, from a market bottom.

Judge: Obese fliers should get two airline seats

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:33:11 PST

If you're fat and flying within Canada, you won't have to suffer the indignity of unintentionally rubbing up against the person sitting in the seat next to you.

A new ruling — which could have implications across the airline industry worldwide — means Canada's two largest airlines must give disabled and morbidly obese passengers an extra free seat on domestic flights, beginning in January.

The airlines are worried people will abuse the ruling and try to get two seats when they don't really need them, but it's unknown whether frequent Canadian fliers will begin a concerted effort to pack on the pounds in order to take advantage of the new ruling.

More details here.

Palin's unfortunate interview backdrop!

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:13:18 PST

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin continued a long tradition and pardoned her state's turkey from its impending doom, but the fowl massacre carried on happily behind her during a long post-pardon interview.

See video here.

Record number of pot plants seized in state

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:24:37 PST

State and federal drug enforcement officials say they have pulled more than 5 million marijuana plants from public and private land this year, a record amount.

If half the nation's domestically produced marijuana is grown in California, and California has, like, a massive budget deficit, would it make sense to legalize the herb in this state, tax it and sell it?

Your thoughts?

Safe haven or easy way out?

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:58:34 PST

A 5-year-old boy last night became the 35th child dropped off in Nebraska as part of that state's safe-haven law.

The wording in the law is vague and doesn't mention an age, only 'child.' Thus, 'children' as old as 17 have been abandoned by their parents or grandparents to be cared for by the state. In a few cases, the child didn't even know they were being abandoned.

Lawmakers are meeting today in a special session to work on changing the law so it applies to infants only.

Allowing young, scared, unprepared mothers to drop their newborns off at hospitals and fire stations is one thing. Dropping your teenage kid off because you can't be bothered to care for them anymore is something else entirely.

Where's the good gas prices news?

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:26:25 PST

Let's ignore for a minute that the falling price of oil is a sign of the generally crappy economy.

I get that.

But what's got me puzzled, is that when oil prices were way up not too long ago we were drowning in hard-luck stories about pizza delivery guys who couldn't afford a tank of gas. Barrel loads of companies were passing the higher cost of gas off to us, the consumer. Food prices were through the roof, partly due to higher transportation costs. Airlines were sticking passengers with hefty fuel surcharge fees.

Now that the price of oil is down and I can get a gallon of gas for the very reasonable price of $2.27, suddenly no one's talking about gas prices anymore.

Surely I'm not the only one who's thrilled they're not paying $65 to fill up their car.

The Californian had an article in its Business section today warning us to 'enjoy it while it lasts.'

McDonald's shines in bad economy

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:01:34 PST

So much for the recession making everyone a bit thinner.

McDonald's same-store sales rose 8.2 percent in October, even as sit-down chain restaurants are feeling the pinch of a tighter economy.

Perhaps the Porterville McDonald's isn't such an anomaly after all!

10 most irritating phrases

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:52:26 PST

Researchers at Oxford University have released the top 10 most irritating phrases.

I'd like to add two of my own:

"Like I said"

"110 percent"

Here's the list.