OPINIONOPINION Mountain View News Saturday, July 18, 2026 
1010 OPINIONOPINION Mountain View News Saturday, July 18, 2026 
1010 
MOUNTAIN 

VIEWS 

NEWS 

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR

Susan Henderson 

PASADENA CITY 
EDITOR 

Dean Lee 

SALES 

Patricia Colonello 
626-355-2737 
626-818-2698 

WEBMASTER 

John Aveny 

DISTRIBUTION 

Peter Lamendola 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Lori A. Harris 
Michele Kidd 
Stuart Tolchin 
Harvey HydeAudrey SwansonMeghan MalooleyMary Lou CaldwellKevin McGuire 
Chris Leclerc 
Dinah Chong WatkinsHoward HaysPaul CarpenterKim Clymer-KelleyChristopher NyergesPeter Dills 
Rich Johnson 
Lori Ann Harris 
Rev. James SnyderKatie HopkinsDeanne Davis 
Despina ArouzmanJeff Brown 
Marc Garlett 
Keely TotenDan Golden 
Rebecca WrightHail Hamilton 
Joan Schmidt 
LaQuetta Shamblee 

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STUART TOLCHIN PUT THE LIGHTS ON 


LET'S THINK ABOUT TATTOS 

I am not interested in tattoos, but perhaps you are. It’salready 5 A.M, and I can hear my wife walking around probablycleaning the house. I have already been up for hours occupyingmyself doing the New York Times daily puzzles which appear inmy cellphone at midnight. The experience today was particularlyannoying. 

There might be some of you readers who similarly attempt 
to distract yourselves by messing with the puzzles when you awaken in 
the morning. By the way, what is the difference between distraction and 
entertainment? Also, why is there a “b” in “doubtful”? That is another question 
I may be able to utilize to entertain or distract myself later. (Also, what is the 
difference between “use” and “utilize”?) 

This jumping around isn’t helping. At first, I was going to explore the history oftattoos, but I got distracted (not entertained) by the distinction of words that 
appear on the computer screen as I attempt to create an article. Before I reach 
the end of this article, I hope you will understand our congruent attempts at 
whatever it is we might be doing. Again. I am confusing myself. I started to 
tell you about the word games that I usually do in the morning then I became 
concerned that I might be spoiling the fun of similarly ardent puzzle-doers by 
giving away clues to the puzzle today. But how? It is now Wednesday morning 
and I realize that this week’s paper will not be on the newsstands or delivered 
until Sunday, so I need not worry about that particular thing. 

Furthermore, specifically “worrying” is what this article is an attempt to avoid. 
Let me be honest, but just for a moment. My son has been in and out of the 
hospital for the past two weeks. When he has been home, he has been unable 
to eat or sleep or walk around, and I have been up all night just to keep him 
company. Yesterday morning my wife and I decided to take him back to Kaiser. 
First, we went to Urgent Care in Pasadena where some tests were performed. 
Then we were told to take him to Emergency in Baldwin Park. An ambulance 
was offered to us but my wife instructed me to avoid the ambulance because 
that would mean additional costs. Who knows? I 
don’t pay attention to such things in much the same way that I don’t pay 
attention to cleaning the house. I really cannot explain what I do instead, but 
it’s mainly being stuck in my head and criticizing myself for what I don’t do. 

That sounds ridiculous even to me; but all I can say in my defense is that it isconsistent with my attempt to share myself with my readers and gain a deeperunderstanding of myself and my readers. I presume to think of my readers,
both real and imagined, as co-creators of these articles. Perhaps, some of you 
have already guessed why I have said I am writing about tattoos specificallybecause I have said that I am disinterested in them. 

Yes I have been spending a great deal of time at the hospital at my son’s bedsideworrying about things. Last week, you might recall, I wrote about road signs 
that I observed going to and for from the hospital. Well, this week I intended 
to write about tattoos. I do not want to publicly question myself as to whether 
I was a sufficiently attentive single-parent to my “neuro -divergent” son. I use 
that word because I just learned the term and it is something to think about 
although those thoughts will probably lead nowhere. After all, my son is 54 
and I am 82 and such thoughts, although unavoidable, are exactly the kind of 
thoughts I am doing my best to avoid. 

Now back to the tattoos. Yes, at the hospital I encountered many people,
frequently very worried looking people, displaying tattoos. Even the medicalprofessionals were displaying tattoos. Upon meeting with the nurses and 
doctors and being frustrated that I could get so little information about the 
prognosis for my son I chose to avoid the frustration by asking people about 
their tattoos. Where and why, they got them? My son also became interested 
in the conversations although he generally was unwilling to speak about much. 
(He too is worried too but doesn’t speak about it.) We learned about waitinglists and costs and about famous tattoo artists that I couldn’t care less about. 

Well, my wife just appeared upstairs with some coffee and it’s almost time to 
get dressed and head to the hospital. If you are still interested, it is my hope 
to share good news, or at least more information, with you next week. Until 
then we can occupy ourselves wondering if Donald Trump has tattoos and by doingmorning word games! 

HOWARD Hays As I See It 


“I’m not prepared today that’s a civil offense. It’s not a criminal 

to say that it’s all lies, violation. When you get trained to be 

but it sure is looking a law enforcement officer, you have to 

that way.” – Rep. Sylvia weigh the risk, not only to yourself as the 

Garcia (D-TX) on individual, but the people around you. 

the Department of And they definitely did not do that.” 

Homeland Security Thirteen shooting victims have 

explanation for ICE’s been charged with “weaponizing” their 

killing of Lorenzo vehicles; officers “fearing for their lives”. 
Salgado Araujo Four have cases pending and seven had 

We remember (or should) the charges tossed in court. Last October 
names Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in Chicago, schoolteacher Marimar 
killed by ICE and CBP last January in Martinez noticed an immigration 
Minneapolis. Good was a writer who operation and followed in her car,
lived with her partner and child. Pretti warning of “la migra”. A CBP vehicle 
was a registered nurse with Veterans came up and sideswiped Martinez’ car,
Affairs. The Trump administration an officer got out and shot her five times. 
claimed officers acted in self-defense, DHS said “domestic terrorist” 
while video and witnesses exposed that as Martinez tried to ram a CBP vehicle, and 
a lie. Local authorities were blocked from charges were filed. Weeks later, those 
crime scenes and conducting their own charges were dropped. The government’s 
investigations, while the administration case wasn’t helped by CBP, the day after 
was claiming Good and Pretti somehow the shooting, allowing their vehicle to be 
had it coming. driven a thousand miles away to be buffed 

Six months later, there’s the killing out – rather than held as evidence. There 
of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston. was CBP officer Charles Exum’s text 
He and his bride came from Mexico 35 message bragging, “I fired 5 shots and she 
years ago as teenagers, raised three kids had 7 holes. Put that in your books boys.” 
and built a construction business. His Though DHS claimed it was Martinez 
son, schoolteacher Ronaldo Salgado, said who tried to ram the CBP, video showed 
he “dedicated his life to giving his family Exum turning his steering wheel towards 
the American dream”. It turns out Araujo, Martinez’ car as his partner tells him, “It’s 
with no criminal record, wasn’t the person time to get aggressive”. They lied. 
ICE was looking for. As before, they In another Minneapolis shooting 
claimed officers “feared for their lives” last January, it’s an ICE officer facing 
when Araujo’s vehicle was “weaponized” charges. A Venezuelan immigrant was 
and then, as before, evidence and shot through his front door, with the 
witnesses showed they were lying. The officer claiming the victim had beaten 
FBI announced it was launching an another officer with a broom handle and 
investigation – not into Araujo’s killing, snow shovel. The officer was shown to 
but into assault on a federal officer. be lying, and charged by state authorities 

Another killing in Texas with assault and filing a false report. 
happened in March of last year; 23-year-He’s now in Texas fighting extradition to 
old U.S. citizen Ruben Ray Martinez at Minnesota. 
a traffic stop on South Padre Island. It DHS blames “Democratic 
was only last February, though – eleven shutdowns” for their officers not being 
months later – when it was widely equipped with bodycams. Rep. Garcia of 
reported that federal agents, not local Texas calls that a lie, too: “just a freakinglaw enforcement, were responsible. excuse, because the bottom line is theyMartinez’ mother said she learned this made a commitment.” Congress had 
from Texas Rangers a week after her son provided $20 million specifically for 
was killed. They also told her they had bodycams last April. 
video evidence contradicting DHS claims Now another killing reported – this one 
that Martinez “weaponized” his vehicle in Biddeford, Maine. Joan Sebastian 
and they “feared for their lives” as they Guerrero was a 26-year-old from 
shot him three times through his open Colombia, here with a work permit 
driver-side window. and Social Security number. Again, it 

Silverio Villegas Gonzales was turns out he wasn’t the guy they were 
a Mexican immigrant who’d lived in the looking for. Having just left for work,
Chicago area for twenty years. After DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said 
dropping his kids off at school last Guerrero “weaponized” his vehicle. The 
September, he was cut off in a “targeted department issued a statement that agents 
traffic stop” by ICE. Putting his car in shot him “fearing for public safety”. DHS, 
reverse, DHS claimed he “dragged” and along with the FBI, promises a thorough 
“seriously injured” an officer, prompting investigation. 
another to shoot him at close range. Video “I’m not prepared today to say 
shows DHS lied; an officer describing that it’s all lies, but it sure is looking that 
“nothing major” with no apparent injuries way.” 
as they drag a mortally wounded Gonzalez Guerrero had already been shot 
from his car to the ground. Illinois state multiple times when he was dragged from 
Rep. Norma Hernandez says ICE was his car to the ground and cuffed. His wife 
“wrong by even wanting to pull him over, and three-year-old daughter, still in her 
because it was out of their authority. If it pajamas, were there as he lay dying. 
was something with a driving infraction, 

RICH JOHNSON 


FROM THE DESK OF THE COURT JESTER 

Why do I write? Why do I write what I write? And why,
for heaven’s sake, would anybody print what I write? In a public 
newspaper? 

I’m certain my esteemed publisher, editor and identical twin sister,

Susan Henderson, asks herself that question every week. I’m guessing 
the answer is to fill otherwise empty space. 

Okay, Susan is not my identical twin sister. If you saw us together you would eventually 
come to the same conclusion. So, let’s just forget that minor discrepancy and move on. 

By the way, why is there air? Have you ever asked that question? These are the types of 
existential realities I like to address in my columns. And I’m in luck because comedian 
Bill Cosby answered that deep, probing question way back in 1965. His answer…to 
blow up volleyballs, and to blow up basketballs. That bit of existential truth won Cosby 
the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 1966. 

When people meet me, after the initial shock, they often ask why I can’t be more like 
Marcel Marceau. Don’t know the gentleman? Marcel was a French mime artist. For 
those of you unaware “mime” is the “art of silence”. 
My favorite entertainer of all time (who speaks) is a actor named Danny Kaye. His 
talents were somewhat limited. All he could do was act, sing, dance, and make you 
laugh. I hope all of you have seen the 1955 comedy film “The Court Jester” starringDanny Kaye. It’s a classic. 

A court jester was an entertainer employed by kings and queens to lighten the mood byjuggling, singing, and making people laugh. Like me, these highly intelligent individuals 
acted as trusted confidants and social critics, holding the unique privilege to mock the 
royal court and deliver bad news without facing punishment. 

Court Jesters were known historically as "fools”. And I gladly take my place alongside 
the rest of the “fools” throughout history. 

Back to the comedic classic “The Court Jester”. There is a funny bit in the movie where 
the Court Jester ends up having to duel with a real knight. The duel begins with the 
two knights drinking a toast. Facing certain death, a friend of the court jester comes 
alongside him whispering in his ear that one of the drinks is poisoned. 

The friend continues: “Remember: The pellet with the poison is in the vessel with the 
pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true.” 
But oh-oh, suddenly there is a complication. Someone dropped and broke the chalice 
from the palace. So now forget what I just told you. And remember this: 

“The pellet with the poison is in the flagon with the dragon; the vessel with the pestle 
has the brew that is true!” 

I won’t tell you the outcome of the movie. It’s a nail biter. Back to court jesters. There 
have been a few notable court jesters throughout history. 

Will Sommers: The trusted and sharp-witted jester to King Henry VIII.
Jane Foole, one of few female court fools, served under Henry VIII and Queen Mary I 

Sir Jeffrey Hudson aka “Lord Minimus” A famous dwarf jester who jumped out of a 
giant pie at a royal dinner Triboulet, the official court fool for French kings Louis XII 
and Francis I. 

And my favorite, Roland the Farter He had to guarantee performing a jump, a whistle, 
and a fart every Christmas or King Henry II would not be very happy. 

In closing, Saturday night, August 8th, my band, JJ Jukebox will yet again be performingfun rock at the Nano Café in Sierra Madre. Great food, full bar and good fun rock 
music. The concert starts at 6:30 and ends at 9:00 or thereabouts. Call the restaurant 
after 4:30 Wednesday through Saturday to make reservations (626) 325-3334. 322 W. 
Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre. 

In closing, never forget the following existential truth: Wherever you go, there you are! 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com