soapbox.A recent "special" meeting of the Marina City Council--where a 4-1 vote was taken against a citizen-approved initiative--makes one wonder whether a toxic cloud from the dump has drifted over city hall.

It''s too bad there isn''t a sliding scale admission at the local cineplex based on how much a movie cost to make plus the moviemakers'' original aspirations. Not all movies have a bajillion-dollar budget, and even fewer filmmakers desire to make the next Citizen Kane. Of course, my proposal…

Any talk about sex and love will eventually offend almost everyone listening. There are very powerful thoughts and emotions attached to both subjects that often create strife between any two points of view. Why do we love? And why do we attach such powerful emotions to our sex drive?