Not long ago I received an e-mail ripping The Bee for, in the writer's view, "an extreme right-wing propaganda approach that is utterly irresponsible."

"Water Wealth Contentment Health."

Five Points is quite an interesting place to spend a weekday morning.

As a 12- year-old growing up in southwest Modesto, Joel Preciado was heading in the wrong direction. Then he discovered The Salvation Army's Red Shield Community Center.

America is a great nation. In fact, despite the problems that plague it, the failures that frustrate it and the shortcomings that stymie it, it's the greatest nation on the face of the Earth.

"The purpose of journalism is to provide people with information they need to be free and self-governing."

An optimist, my dictionary tells me, tends to take the "most hopeful or cheerful view of things or to expect the best possible outcome."

A recent conversation with a very disgruntled and very angry reader brought to my mind a line from "Network." At a key moment in the 1976 film, actor Peter Finch's character, Howard Beale, shouts the classic words: "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

A week after nearly 40 people were laid off from The Modesto Bee, the editor tells readers that the staff is still hard at work. "Those remaining are every bit as dedicated and talented, and together we will continue to serve you, in print and online."

Starting today you'll find some new and different things in your daily Bee, as we continue to adapt and evolve in this era of unprecedented challenge and change.

When the news broke 10 days ago about the pending arrest of a suspect in the brutal murder of Chandra Levy, the words of two people triggered two widely divergent emotions in me.

Once upon a time, back when I joined The Bee, you could count all the TV channels on your 10 fingers and maybe a toe or two.

In this era of ever- increasing government secrecy, it's nice to be able to celebrate a victory for the public's right to know.

It started out ever so slowly, with a story every so often.

When it comes to openness in government, President Barack Obama gets it.