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Here's yet another example of how so-called soft news stories can make a difference.

Last week I wrote a Monday Merced Matters profile of Jillian Garcia, a 7-year-old who's raising money to help kids with cancer.

Jillian doesn't have cancer, nor does anyone in her family. But she somehow got the idea that kids with cancer need help. Better yet, she decided to take action. She's making necklaces to sell to raise money for her effort.

These just showed up on my private e-mail account, and I won't tell you who sent 'em or put 'em together, but his initials are Capt. Bruce Drake.

As you might guess, I'm flattered. This is what the soldiers in Kirkuk wrote to run with the photos:

Thanks for coming out and spending time with us. You are welcome to return to our Brigade any day and anytime.

MAJ Sean Wilson
CPT Bruce Drake

A couple weeks ago members of the Merced City Council made their second tour of the Wal-Mart distribution center in Apple Valley.

Before the visit, city officials asked Merced residents to submit questions they wanted answered during the tour.

Readers on the Sun-Spot have been wondering whatever became of these questions. More importantly, were they answered?

Today I asked the city for copies of the questions.

Anybody who's done a tour of Iraq as a McClatchy rotator gets two weeks off right after that, and you can go anywhere you want.

I'm probably the only rotator ever to go to Texas.

Before I returned to Merced July 20, I hit Dallas, Austin and Corpus Christi to see family and friends. Missed Fort Worth, where I also have family--but if y'all would keep in touch you'd see me when I'm around!

If you are a friend (or more) of grammar, check out “The ‘Blog’ of ‘Unnecessary’ Quotation Marks” at http://quotation-marks.blogspot.com/. It is exactly what its title describes, and it made me, nerd that I am, laugh out loud.

For those who haven’t already clicked the link and jumped ship, it displays literary gems such as “If you are having ‘chest pains’ or are in ‘Labor’ please inform representative at desk.” I wonder who patients are supposed to tell if they are having actual chest pains or labor?