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Santa Clara County is one of the world's high tech magnets, but it's also one of the most expensive places to live. This Silicon Valley takes pride in its well-educated work force and urges each teenager to acquire the highest education possible. Consequently, there is an intensive push for teenagers to go on to four-year colleges and universities. High school grade-point average competition frequently exceeds 4.0 points, while driven students take more and more Advanced Placement and College Preparation classes. Unfortunately, that can result in an elitist attitude, giving status only to very academic students and highly educated people. A message frequently is suggested: only people with master's degrees and above can survive in our area.

It's time for a round-up of recent local news items that made me shake my head, roll my eyes and utter a two-syllable "Puh-lease."

"Private property was the original source of freedom. It still is its main ballpark."

"Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts."

Thanksgiving is a special time to share a meal in the company of family and friends. Unfortunately, for many people, spending time with family during the holidays is not always possible due to distance, finances or work schedules. No one knows this better than Marta Valle, who for the past eight years has been organizing a charity dinner at St. Catherine's Catholic Parish Center on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. She and a group of volunteers serve those who are away from their families, especially the day workers in our community.

Here's a collection of items that had me scratching my head lately:

"Today we march tomorrow we vote," read many signs during the nationwide pro-immigration marches of 2006, and during the midterm elections in November, Democrats regained control of both the Senate and House of Representatives. But it is hard to quantify how big of an impact the Latino vote had on the elections given that most exit polls indicated that the war in Iraq was a higher priority than immigration.

Forgive my crabby mood – blame it on the end this past weekend of Daylight Saving Time and the unfortunate return of Standard Time.

Ballot-box budgeting is bad public policy, and the Santa Clara County parks department demonstrates that principle perfectly.

by mario banuelos