Washington fiddles while the debt bomb ticks. Is it any wonder why we hold politicians in such low esteem?

 * ... GRIDLOCK: Watching the gridlock, posturing and grandstanding in Washington over the debt crisis leaves little doubt why politicians are held in such low esteem. David Brooks, a conservative columnist for The New York Times, wrote Tuesday that Republicans had missed what could have been a "glorious moment in Republican history" by rejecting President Obama's overtures for a $4 trillion debt deal and failing to reach a compromise. Likewise, the Wall Street Journal's Gerald F. Seib added that the failure of both sides to reach a compromise reflected the "general selfishness... and self destructiveness of politicians." Both Brooks and Seib predicted the result would be a legislative maneuver that would simply "kick the (debt) can down the road" while accomplishing very little. (file photo of David Brooks)

 * ... THE PORCH: If you are looking for something new and fun to do then stop by the Bakersfield Museum of Art Thursday evening for its Porch Story Slam. The concept is simple: folks gather at the museum, a "topic" for an oral short story is posted, and people volunteer to tell their own story in front of the crowd. Some are humorous, some sad, some poignant, but it all makes for a grand evening. The show gets under way at 7 p.m. and dovetails with the Third Thursday festivities at Central Park.

 * ... DIVERSITY: If you question how diversified our community is, consider this note from Matt Revenaugh. "The intersection of Chester Lane and  Oak Street is a microcosm of the American and Californian dream. On the west there is Village Auto Sales, proudly owned by what is sure a Palestinian-American family. On the east is Ralene's Filipino cuisine, Saigon Restaurant, The Empty Space and now the Irish Heritage Club. North of the intersection are another dozen businesses all owned by a different shade of the human skin. When people ask how Bakersfield is special, I want to show them it's where people from everywhere wave and call each other neighbor."

 * ... ALZHEIMER: Sandy Morris wrote to correct an earlier post on the local alzheimer's disease association holding a fund raiser. It was actually the Central Coast chapter that I wrote about, not the Alzheimer's Association of Kern County, which holds its own golf tournament to support local programs to combat the illness. Sandy said the difference was that money raised by the Kern County group stays here, while the Central Coast chapter sends part of its funds to the national organization for research. The local group is holding its golf tournament on September 9. Stay tuned for more details.

 * ... MEMORIES: Eighty-two year old reader Robert Hall submitted some of his memories of our town. Among them: "... the Powell truck assembly plant on Union Avenue, the Wimpy's Liquor Store at 34th and Chester Avenue, the Mosrite Guitar Factory south of Truxtun Avenue and west of Q Street, Mother's Bakery on Baker Street, Owens Toy Store on 19th and L streets an d the Bakersfield Hospital on 19th Street across from Central Park." 

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: From reader Sue Castro: "You might be a Bakersfield newcomer if you don't remember when sheep were herded down Calloway Drive from the pastures off 7th Standard Road.  What a great experience to be behind hundreds of baa-ing sheep, watching the herd dogs do their jobs. It was a regular occurence until around 2003.  Those were the days."


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