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Shingles: the avoidable disease – by Judge Jim Gray
Shingles: the avoidable diseaseRecently I went up to San Luis Obispo to visit my aunt. One basic rule in life is that family is first, and I try to gauge my actions accordingly. My aunt is...
Books for the ‘resistant reader’ – by Judge Jim Gray
Books for the ‘resistant reader’In an earlier column we discussed one of the best ways for young people to expand their horizons and become more sophisticated in the world — and that is by reading....
Governing human conduct – By Judge Jim Gray
Governing human conductOn my second day of retirement, I went to my son’s high school to speak to his government class about laws and our judicial system in general. And I wanted to share some of...
The Libertarian philosophy – by Judge Jim Gray
The Libertarian philosophyI was a lifelong Republican until I realized my party couldn’t be counted on. Not to protect my freedom or my liberty, and not to be “fiscally conservative.” So I realized...
Classic liberal, conservative values – by Judge Jim Gray
Classic liberal, conservative valuesWhile accompanying my wife shopping recently, I happened to see a friend of mine. This is a man who has been quite successful in his business career, and whom I...
Job loss can happen to anyone – by Judge Jim Gray
Job loss can happen to anyoneJob loss can happen to anyone Save/Share By JAMES P. GRAYUpdated: Saturday, December 20, 2008 6:43 PM PST I had the good fortune to meet Anthony George Dodero — known to...
To a mind that is still – by Judge Jim Gray
To a mind that is stillThe Taiwanese author Chang Tsu once said “To a mind that is still, the whole world surrenders.” The best way to obtain a still mind is through meditation. But, although most...
IT’S A GRAY AREA: Grappling with mental illness
Grappling with mental illnessIt's A Gray AreaMental illness has been a part of the human experience for as long as mankind has walked the face of the earth. But within the last several years,...
No, it’s just the beginning – by Judge Jim Gray
No, it’s just the beginningIt's A Gray AreaMaybe some of you older types like me will remember watching the television police show “Dragnet,” starring Jack Webb. Then you might also recall that,...
“EXPAND YOUR CHILDREN’S HORIZONS” by Judge Jim Gray
“EXPAND YOUR CHILDREN’S HORIZONS”The two best ways to expand the horizons of our children is for them to travel, and for them to read. In traveling they can be exposed to unfamiliar places and also...
“A STITCH IN TIME SAVES KIDS” by Judge Jim Gray
“A STITCH IN TIME SAVES KIDS”Sometimes the court system doesn’t do what the community expects, and even has a right to expect. For example, it would seem to be fundamental that the Juvenile Court...
“IS OUR COUNTRY AT WAR” by Judge Jim Gray
“IS OUR COUNTRY AT WAR?”Is our country at war? That is a question that must be asked, because there are many important consequences for being at war. So are we? Well, the answer is no, we are not at...
WHY ARE WE STILL DOING THIS? by Judge Jim Gray
WHY ARE WE STILL DOING THIS?Let us face facts and let us not mince words: Our nation’s policy of Drug Prohibition is not working. As a matter of fact, this policy is actually causing much more harm...
“SEARCHING FOR VILLAINS” by Judge Jim Gray
SEARCHING FOR VILLAINS Recently a good friend of mine who lives in Northern California bought a new, expensive and fast car. When his neighbor, who has a similar type of car, noticed it he told my...
Government belongs to us – by Judge Jim Gray
Government belongs to usNo matter how you approach the issue, when all is said and done, it’s our government, and if it is not working, it is our own fault. In today’s large and complicated world,...
A positive world revolution – by Judge Jim Gray
A positive world revolutionRecently while I was flying home from Houston, where I had been invited to speak about our nation’s failed drug policy, I had the good fortune to sit next to a Continental...
Addiction is a medical problem – by Judge Jim Gray
Addiction is a medical problemI was gratified to see that the editorial board of the Daily Pilot endorsed Proposition 5, which is the Non-Violent Offender’s Rehabilitation Act, with the headline...
IT’S A GRAY AREA: The subtle nuances words have – by Judge Jim Gray
IT’S A GRAY AREA: The subtle nuances words haveConsider this: When we think, we really think only in words or something else that can be written, like musical notes, or mathematical or chemical...
IT’S A GRAY AREA: Dear Mr. President – by James P. Gray
IT’S A GRAY AREA: Dear Mr. PresidentIf you could have a dinner conversation with our next president, what would you want to discuss? I asked myself that question and, after some reflection, decided...
“JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY” by Judge Jim Gray
JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITYWhen I completed a draft of this column I forwarded it to several people for their comments, including a local rabbi friend of mine. I want to share his response with you. He...
“COMPARING THE WORLD’S GREAT RELIGIONS” by Judge Jim Gray
COMPARING THE WORLD’S GREAT RELIGIONSFor a long time I have wanted to take a class about the comparative religions of the world, but it has never worked out. Nevertheless, and especially considering...
“THE RELIGIONS OF ISLAM AND HINDUISM” by Judge Jim Gray
THE RELIGIONS OF ISLAM AND HINDUISMThe response to the column about Judaism and Christianity was good, and many people requested to be informed about the time and date of our session in which I have...
BUDDHISM AND HUMANISM – by Judge Jim Gray
BUDDHISM AND HUMANISMThe Buddhist religion dates back to about 563 BCE with the birth of Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini, Northern India, which now is in Nepal. He was the son of a king, and in...
“THE COSTS OF LITIGATION” by Judge Jim Gray
THE COSTS OF LITIGATIONAt the conclusion of most of my jury trials I tell the jurors that our system of justice is probably the most expensive, time-consuming and unwieldy that has ever been devised...
“THE ANSWER IS: IT DEPENDS” = by Judge Jim Gray
THE ANSWER IS: IT DEPENDSOne of the lessons I learned in law school was that the answer to most questions is: it depends. What does that mean? Well, before you can give a reasoned answer to a...
“A BIG QUESTION OF OUR DAY” by Judge Jim Gray
A BIG QUESTION OF OUR DAYA big question of our day, and one of the largest issues that will affect the peace of the world is: Can people keep religion and government separated? For the next decade...
DRUG PROBLEMS VS. DRUG MONEY PROBLEMS – by Judge Jim Gray
DRUG PROBLEMS VS. DRUG MONEY PROBLEMSAs all sophisticated people know, life is full of distinctions. One of those critical distinctions that we will discuss today is the difference between drug...
“WHAT TO DO ABOUT GANGS AND POVERTY” – by Judge Jim Gray
“WHAT TO DO ABOUT GANGS AND POVERTY”What should we do about the criminal and antisocial acts and other aberrant behavior of young people in gangs? It’s a tough issue. Law enforcement obviously has...
“FROM ONE UNGUARDED MOMENT” by Judge Jim Gray
“FROM ONE UNGUARDED MOMENT”“One Unguarded Moment - A Lifetime of Regret.” How often have you seen or heard about an example of that situation? In the heat of the moment all of us have done some...
“I’M JUST A GIRL FROM CHINA” by Judge Jim Gray
“I’M JUST A GIRL FROM CHINA”A short time ago I was waiting at the San Jose Airport for a flight back to Orange County, and I started talking to the young lady sitting next to me. Since American...
ARE ATTORNEYS FRIENDS OR FOES? by Judge Jim Gray
ARE ATTORNEYS FRIENDS OR FOES?Okay, yes I am a member of the legal profession, and yes I agree that our profession has some problems. But by and large I am proud of my profession, and I think it is...
LET’S LOOK AGAIN AT NUCLEAR ENERGY – by Judge Jim Gray
LET’S LOOK AGAIN AT NUCLEAR ENERGYWith all of the debates and even diatribes today about the harms of our oil dependency, environmental pollution and global warming, it surprises me that there have...
SCHOOL UNIFORMS ARE THE RIGHT CHOICE – by Judge Jim Gray
SCHOOL UNIFORMS ARE THE RIGHT CHOICEHaving been raised in the public school system, my first exposure to school uniforms took place when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer teaching in the smallest town...
WE MUST REGAIN FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY! by Judge Jim Gray
WE MUST REGAIN FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY!In my view, the most dangerous threat to our safety and security is not the possibility of being invaded by another country, or even the terrorist actions of any...
“FACING FACTS ON THE DEATH PENALTY” – by Judge Jim Gray
FACING FACTS ON THE DEATH PENALTYThe death penalty is certainly an emotional issue that affects many people in numbers of different ways. So in today’s column I will address head on most of the...
FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THE DEATH PENALTY – by Judge Jim Gray
FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THE DEATH PENALTYIn last week’s column we discussed the five traditional rationales for the implementation of the death penalty. But there are additional important facts that...
“LET’S REVITALIZE OUR HEMP INDUSTRY!” by Judge Jim Gray
LET’S REVITALIZE OUR HEMP INDUSTRY!“Hemp” is the name that is commonly used for the industrial (non-drug) usage of the cannabis plant, which is otherwise known as marijuana. The use of cannabis for...
“HERE’S THE PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS” by Judge Jim Gray
HERE’S THE PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTSIn an effort to discuss issues small as well as large in this column, I will devote the space this week to the penny. Our penny coin was originally named after the...
“COMPETITION MAKES BETTER SCHOOLS” by Judge Jim Gray
COMPETITION MAKES BETTER SCHOOLS The first time I met Dr. Milton Friedman I heard him talking informally about the general failures of our “government schools.” He called them government schools...
“YOUR BODY IS THIRSTY” by Judge Jim Gray
YOUR BODY IS THIRSTYIn my travels I have been blessed to meet and become friends with numbers of interesting, dedicated and community-minded people. One of them is a man named Bob Butts from Moosic,...
“WHO ARE YOUR HEROES?” by Judge Jim Gray
WHO ARE YOUR HEROES?Who are your heroes? People want to know. Do they include Teddy Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Adolf Hitler, Ronald Reagan, Michael Jordan, or Jesus Christ? Or Che Guevara,...
“FREE TO CHOOSE” IS THE SLOGAN FOR PROSPERITY” by Judge Jim Gray
“FREE TO CHOOSE” IS THE SLOGAN FOR PROSPERITY We are about to enter another New Year. May it meet your (reasonable) expectations, and may you prosper. Okay, that is the formality, but I actually...
WELFARE PROGRAMS ARE A BAD DEAL – by Judge Jim Gray
WELFARE PROGRAMS ARE A BAD DEALGovernment minimum wage laws and welfare programs were designed to do good things. But like so many other well-intended efforts, they are a bad deal for almost...
“STAYING IN SCHOOL IS THE RIGHT CHOICE!” by Judge Jim Gray
STAYING IN SCHOOL IS THE RIGHT CHOICE!Frequently in my discussions with junior high and high school-age children I tell them that right at this moment each one of them has a job. What is it, I ask?...
“ARE WE HAVING A DISCUSSION?” by Judge Jim Gray
ARE WE HAVING A DISCUSSION?I am not a fan of politics. Often politicians engage in appeals to our fears and other emotions and our more base instincts. But I am a fan of addressing the issues of our...
“IT’S TIME TO NORMALIZE OUR RELATIONS WITH CUBA” by Judge Jim Gray
IT’S TIME TO NORMALIZE OUR RELATIONS WITH CUBA Back on January 1, 1959, Fidel Castro successfully overthrew the regime of Fulgencio Batista in Cuba and installed his own government. People tend to...
SEEKING RESTORATIVE JUSTICE – by Judge Jim Gray
SEEKING RESTORATIVE JUSTICEThe main purpose of the Criminal Justice System is to reduce crime and all of the harm and misery that accompany it. Although there simply must be negative consequences...
LET’S AGAIN PUT OUT THE WELCOME MAT FOR TOURISTS – by Judge Jim Gray
LET’S AGAIN PUT OUT THE WELCOME MAT FOR TOURISTSLike you, I love and am proud of our country, and I would like to show it off to more people from around the world. In my view, doing this would...
“GOVERNMENT IS THE REASON FOR OUR HEALTHCARE COLLAPSE” by Judge Jim Gray
GOVERNMENT IS THE REASON FOR OUR HEALTHCARE COLLAPSEWithout any question the healthcare system in our country is not working. The evidence of that failure is all around us. Healthcare costs are out...
“THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP” by Judge Jim Gray
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIPRecently I heard about a poll taken of high school students that asked them only two questions. The first was: “What are the benefits of being a citizen of the...
“THE CHILDHOOD OBESITY EPIDEMIC IS HERE” by Judge Jim Gray
THE CHILDHOOD OBESITY EPIDEMIC IS HERE Our children have an obesity crisis. Today a full 15 percent of our children between the ages of 6 and 17 are obese, which is up from only 5 percent in the...
“IT’S TIME TO GO METRIC” by Judge Jim Gray
IT’S TIME TO GO METRICBob Dylan was quoted as saying that “one is either busy being born or busy dying.” In my view, that is as true for societies as it is for individual people. So are we as a...
“Let’s Go With What Works” by Judge Jim Gray
Let’s Go With What Works In last week’s column we discussed why our policy of Drug Prohibition is not working and why it will never work. That probably was a discouraging column to read for many...
“CHARITY BOLSTERS CHP FAVORITISM” by Judge Jim Gray
CHARITY BOLSTERS CHP FAVORITISMRecently a good friend of mine who lives in Northern California bought a new, expensive and fast car. When his neighbor, who has a similar type of car, noticed it he...
IT’S A GRAY AREA (15) “THE REALITIES OF TERRORISM” by Judge Jim Gray
IT’S A GRAY AREA (15) "THE REALITIES OF TERRORISMWhat are the goals of Terrorists? This is, of course, a complicated question. But in my view terrorists have essentially three goals, which are: To...
“HERE IS A PRESCRIPTION FOR A CHANGE” by Judge Jim Gray
HERE IS A PRESCRIPTION FOR A CHANGE There is a way both to increase the quality of healthcare in our country and at the same time to reduce its cost. This can be achieved by allowing pharmacists to...
“PEER COURT IS A HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS STORY” by Judge Jim Gray
PEER COURT IS A HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS STORYAll right, I agree that numbers of things with our young people are not going well in our world today, and I have certainly seen enough of that when I was...
“LET’S RESTORE REALITY TO” by Judge Jim Gray
"LET’S RESTORE REALITY TO"Is it just me, or do you also feel that our presidential elections are an enormously expensive, all-consuming and never-ending practice? If so, why not restore some...
“THERE IS AN EASY SOLUTION FOR SOME OF OUR TRAFFIC PROBLEMS” by Judge Jim Gray
THERE IS AN EASY SOLUTION FOR SOME OF OUR TRAFFIC PROBLEMSWhat if there were a change we could make that would all at the same time reduce our dependence upon foreign oil, help clean up our air,...
“TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT” by Judge Jim Gray
TOO MUCH GOVERNMENTTo state the obvious, bureaucracies are found at all levels of society, including businesses, churches, law firms, universities, hospitals, charitable organizations – and...
“THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION” by Judge Jim Gray
THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATIONI seldom get angry at illegal immigrants. They are simply doing what our system so strongly encourages them to do, and they almost always come to the United States...
“CONGRESS SHOULD PASS SUNSET LAWS” by Judge Jim Gray
CONGRESS SHOULD PASS SUNSET LAWSWhat is one of the best ways to reduce taxes and still maintain appropriate services from the federal government? The answer is for Congress to pass sunset laws. ...
Synopsis of the musical “Americans All” by Judge Jim Gray
Synopsis of the musical “Americans All”After the Overture, Act I, Scene I is set in the kitchen or family room of a male high school teacher’s house on the first day of school. Teacher and his wife...
“Fender-Bender Justice” by Judge Jim Gray
Fender-Bender JusticeHere is a suggested improvement for the Civil Justice System: take all automobile collision cases with a value of less than $50,000 out of the trial courts and in its place...
“WHY WE NEED THIRD PARTIES” by Judge Jim Gray
WHY WE NEED THIRD PARTIESWhat’s the matter with our government today? Why has our political world descended into such ugly partisanship, and why don’t politicians more often address and act upon the...
“ESCHEW MEDIOCRITY” – Judge Jim Gray
ESCHEW MEDIOCRITY Are things in our great country really breaking down? Is Yogi Berra accurate when he says that “The future ain’t what it used to be”? In my opinion, the answer to these questions...