Opinion

I'm making my list and checking it twice for items I'd like Santa Claus to bring to South County:

No more huge trucks on highways, pack those loads on the rails

Well, the eggnog is in the stores, I find myself avoiding eye contact with smiling people ringing bells, and most of the people I see are still at that point where holiday cheer hasn't yet turned to holiday panic. Yep, it still must be early December.

1. Greenbelt worries

One day I picked my daughter up from high school and she was very excited. "Dad, I received my math test back, and with a bonus question I got 106 percent!" "That's great," I replied. "But you know your mother expects 110 percent." She gave me a long serious look, and then we both burst out laughing. The message her mother and I have always tried to convey to her is that we know she is capable of success, and as a result she is expected to succeed. Having high expectations for our children should be encouraged not only at home but at school as well. Research shows that given the same resources, all students can learn if they are held to the same expectations.

"This train is bound for ... Gilroy."

Rubbing a score in a rival's face

Today, the Internet dominates how we conduct business, communicate, and share information. I don't believe that 10 years ago anyone could have foreseen its impact. We access it with desk tops, laptops and wireless hand held devices. Crucial to this access is the Internet provider (IP). Two of the main providers in Morgan Hill are Verizon and Charter. One provides access via your phone lines (DSL) the other through television co-axel cable. Both advertise options and programs which center on bandwidth. Bandwidth is often described as megabits per second (MB/sec). Verizon has plans up to 3.0 MB/sec., locally, and Charter has up to 10 MB/sec. Bandwidth is important to the user as the higher bandwidth gives you faster access to Web sites, downloads and uploads. Residents have the option of installing a modem and a router so that family members can access the Internet from their own personal computer or device. Some of these connections are hardwired or connected via a wireless home network. Wireless at the moment is slower.

1. The city's below market rate pricing guidelines are in accordance with ABAG and HUD and should remain

A final rip-roaring CHEER for the awesome Live Oak High School football team. Despite their devastating loss Saturday against Archbishop Riordan High School's crusaders in the Central Coast Section Middle School Division title game, the Acorns have put Morgan Hill on the prep football map in style. The Acorns were playing in the first CCS final since 1989. Despite facing a more athletic team and missing its quarterback, the Acorns played with everything they had against the West Catholic Athletic League's fifth-place team. The team ended the game strongly with three touchdowns in the final 13 minutes. Kudos also to first-year coach John Michael Porras for his leadership and hard work to transform the team into one of the best the school has ever had. Last, but not least, a big congratulations to the Sobrato High School Bulldogs for their first division win in four years. This accomplishment means the determined Bulldogs advance to a new division.