Pen-pricks

• The Weather Channel reports the annual autumn rains finally arrived on the West Coast from the Pacific Thursday, causing general aggravation all over Los Angeles. It never fails this time of year in Southern California. You wash your car one day, and the very next day you hit a pedestrian.

• NASA scientists cheered in the control room as they landed a craft on Mars Monday. It makes Americans curious. How is it that we can build a rocket that goes 140 million miles, lands on Mars and sends back photos but we can’t build a voting machine that works in Florida?

• The FDA sued companies that sell tobacco products in packages that resemble children’s juice boxes, candies and cookies. Product packaging affects all of us. I’m so glad that Hershey’s has re-sealable wrappers on candy bars so now I can enjoy half now, and the other half in a minute or so.

• A Men’s Health study says that to lose a pound a week men need to consume 500 calories less than the 2,500 calories per day it takes to maintain weight. A Harvard study revealed that thinking burns calories. That explains why there are so many lard-asses in Washington.

Argus Hamilton is the host comedian at The Comedy Store in Hollywood and a speaker. His email address is argus@argushamilton.com.

In my (short) two years at the Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization (YMPO), I have been privileged to work with both Roger Patterson as the County Engineer/Flood Control Manager and with Paul Melcher in his role as the Chief Deputy Yuma County Administrator.

I would like to congratulate Roger on completing over 35 years of service to Yuma County and on his well-earned retirement.

I would also like to congratulate Paul Melcher on his promotion to Director of Economic Development and Intergovernmental Coordination and I look forward to continuing our relationship, working on behalf of all of the people of the YMPO region.

A girlfriend and I decided to go to the J.C. Penney Black Friday sale on Thanksgiving day. The staff at the Yuma store made it an enjoyable experience.

About 30 minutes before opening, staff came down the waiting line asking everyone if they were going for an Xbox or large TV. They had brightly colored large sheets of paper, put the customer’s name on it, gave it to them, and told them where to go in the store to turn in the paper for the item.

We noticed as it got closer to opening, more and more people were gathering in the parking lot across from the door. We made comments on how they’ll be rushing the door when it opens. Nope. When they opened, staff made a human barricade along with uniformed security and kept the gate crashers at bay. Well done J.C. Penney! It made the entire experience much more pleasant. And every staff member I spoke with was more than pleasant and seemed to know where the popular items had been located in the store. Of course it was still early but they almost seemed to be enjoying themselves.

If all the Black Friday sales went that smoothly, I would go more often.

When I was just a little girl

Many many years gone by

I’d hop around and even twirl And look up in the sky. Oh Santa Claus is coming soon

I heard the sleigh bells peal

Dancing around humming a tune

I was sure he was very real.

Then we were doing a Christmas play

At our one-room school house there.

It would be great if he came today

Bringing lots of presents to share

With good little boys and girls like me.

I said Oh Santa, hurry and don’t be late

I could hardly wait to open and see

The gifts you bring and then celebrate.

Then Santa burst in with a Ho-Ho-Ho!

Looking familiar in his bright red suit

I wasn’t sure and didn’t really know

But the gift I got was so very cute.

Santa gave me what I desired

A beautiful handmade toy.

After a long day we were all tired

But still overflowing with joy

All was so quiet so I peaked down the hall

Everyone had retired for the night.

Then I saw a bright red suit hanging on the wall

And I knew it was a forever to remember night!

Merry Christmas and to all a good night!