SLY: Political ads not as mean, still annoying

Is it worse this year? Are the political ads — radio, TV and mailers — meaner and more misleading? Our editorial board (names below) spent part of this week's meeting mulling over that topic and couldn't agree. My take: Ads are increasingly distorted about votes and views, but are not as low as in some previous years. The TV ads on the congressional races will not be missed on Nov. 7. There's nothing more I want to know about Dan Lungren or Ami Bera, and every time I look at Ricky Gill, 25, all I can think is that he's younger than my sons, who are both productive, employed citizens — and they're not prepared to be congressmen, either.

What's annoying me most? Phone calls from campaigns and pollsters, especially during important baseball games.

We often hearken to an era when California got things done. There's a new documentary out about that time, "California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown," told through the eyes of his granddaughter. It will be shown Tuesday at Modesto's State Theatre. Reception at 6 p.m., film at 7.