Happy 4th of July!

Today's Scrabble word is gamay, a red grape.

I'm surprised the N&R decided not to take a pot shot at rival E-R by proclaiming the windowless E-R building as one of the ugliest spots in Chico.

And what about most of the commercial strips in Southeast Chico where chain store design and architecture dominate? Or large stretches of Mangrove Avenue.

My least favorite is the Bank of America building along the City Plaza. That building, along with Taco Bell and Jack in the Box, ruin the main downtown plaza.

I think local muralists Scott Teeple and Gregg Payne should work on some of the walls of the buildings listed by the N&R. Their art will go a long way to improving some of those buildings.

Today's Scrabble word is bename, or to name.

Across-the-board 7.5% cuts in City departments and renegotiated employee group wage concessions will lead to a stronger City fiscal position for the next several years.

The E-R editors might complain about the time it took to make tough budget decisions, yet this opinion largely ignores the reality that important budget decisions should be deliberative, transparent, and give the public plenty of opportunities to weigh in.

The current Council majority has followed this deliberative process and has made some correct, albeit tough budget decisions. Kudos to Councilor Steve Bertagna for also voting with a 6-1 majority.

Bertagna is a good example of what happens when an elected official has likely decided not to run for re-election. He's taking principled positions, not just pandering to prescribed political expectations.

According to Reid:

"Bauhs, getting set to compete in the 10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials on July 4, has clocked the second fastest 10,000-meters by a U.S. runner this year, the fastest time in the history of NCAA Division II, and the fourth fastest time ever by an American NCAA athlete. He will toe the line in Eugene, Oregon, Friday at 9:20 p.m. in a Chico State Track & Field uniform as one of only seven American athletes who have met the Olympic “A” Standard and, thus, would be guaranteed a spot on the United States Olympic Team in Beijing, China, by finishing among the top three. If he does, he will be the first Chico State athlete to compete in the Olympics."

I think everyone in Chico will be hoping Bauhs places in the top three this 4th of July.

It would be an amazing feat for a runner who wasn't even on the national radar screen a few years ago.

Today's Scrabble word is bedrid, or bedfast.

In honor of all the fire safety personnel working to protect our region, I share this photo of a Seagraves fire engine circa 1916 in front of the old fire station between 4th and 5th.

Image courtesy of Chico Fire Department and Special Collections Dept. Meriam Library, CSU, Chico.

Today's Scrabble word is grue, a shudder of fear.

Jon Stewart waves his magic wand when discussing our "Still President."

Today's Scrabble word is wiz, a very clever or skillful person.

Nelson Mandela celebrated this 90th birthday this past week.

The U2's Bono and The Edge sang a brilliant rendition of "Happy Birthday" to call for a public holiday for peace in honor of Mandela's birthday.

Check out Mandela's nonprofit 46664, named after his prison inmate number, which organizes concerts to raise funds for AIDS charities.

Today's Scrabble word is smeek, or to smoke.

Unity in Unity, New Hamsphire.

Today's Scrabble word is bothy, a hut in Scotland.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is encouraging people to not buy fireworks to prevent further fires.

Chico City Councilor Tom Nickell wants to take one step further by asking the City and Butte County to "ban" fireworks on 4th of July.

I'd go two steps further than Nickell to call for a ban on fire in general. No candle lighting or incense burning. No fire BBQs. No playing of The Doors' hit song "Light My Fire."

And definitely no attempt to recruit Earth, Wind, and Fire to perform at any casino in Butte County.

"Where the Hell is Matt?" recently posted his latest travel video collage.

I've written about Matt's other travel videos in previous years.

This 2008 video shows Matt dancing badly with other people dancing equally badly from all over the world.

Today's Scrabble word is afreet, an evil spirit in Arabic mythology.

According to the alert:

"Yesterday Butte County exceeded the federal health-based average 24-hour Ambient Air Quality Standard of 35 micro grams per cubic meter (ug/m3) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5)...Today the Air Quality Index is forecast to reach 205. At this level the air quality is rated VERY UNHEALTHY for all people; these conditions are expected to continue until the fires are extinguished."

I guess this is a good excuse to stay inside. Or maybe a good reason to break out that fashionable summer mask you've been wanting to show off outside to your friends.

Today's Scrabble word is cerite, a mineral.

Loyal readers know I'm a strong Barack Obama supporter.

But #4 of the Five Things About Obama is icing on the cake for this supporter.

Sometimes the E-R advocates “compact urban development” to minimize the need for the City to accelerate sprawling development on the outskirts of town to preserve agriculture and open space.

Yet other times, the E-R advocates against the most minor land-use changes that may help minimize sprawl.

For example, the City Council majority recently voted to increase medium-density minimums to seven units per acre.

The E-R wrote:

“The housing market in Chico is challenging, as it is everywhere, but the City Council did builders no favor by increasing the minimum number of homes on land zoned for medium density to seven homes per acre. Nobody is clamoring for lots on one-seventh of an acre. Granted, only 14 acres of vacant land will be affected by the change, but as the city goes through the General Plan process and assigns new growth areas, a medium-density minimum of seven homes will become the norm. Better pray that you have good neighbors, because they're going to be awful close. And don't tell your kids to go out and play in the yard — you won't have one.”

Former Congressman Bob Barr is leading the Libertarian Presidential ticket.

Republicans in key swing states are worried about Barr's impact.

Like me, you probably were scratching your head about Barr's Vice-Presidential running mate Wayne Allyn Root.

According to his website bio, "Wayne is the youngest-ever recipient of his own star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars." Next time I'm in Vegas, I'll have to check out that star.

Today's Scrabble word is ani, a tropical American bird.

The annual Power Lunch with Warren Buffett bidding starts this Sunday, June 22 through Friday, June 27 to benefit the Glide Foundation, a social services organization affiliated with Glide Memorial Church.

Glide is well-known in social services circles, but the organization became more well-known to a wider audience due to the Will Smith film Pursuit of Happyness, which centers on a a rags-to-riches story of a man who benefited from Glide's services.