Miami Is All the Rage! But, What About San Francisco?

The study that AutoVantage does about road rage every year came out recently and Miami won again. My question is—how the !@^$#& did San Francisco fail to make this list?
With Barry Bonds as our hometown hero (and as the home of BALCO), we’re obviously the Capitol of ‘Roid Rage in this country, if not the world. But, with all the accidents, pedestrian fatalities and physical assaults on drivers, how is it that we never seem to be able to make this list? Quite frankly, it’s an insult to the motorists of San Francisco.
We’re just going to have to work harder this year at cutting people off, tailgating, yelling at each other and exchanging the appropriate hand gestures. If everyone makes a concerted effort, I know we can do it!
Driving recklessly is not a privilege, it’s a right. So, let’s exercise our right to drive like complete a-holes a little more. If we can all just honk a little more, if we bend a few more fenders; run a few more lights and make more California stops at stop signs; if we can pass other vehicles at dangerously high speeds just a little more—we CAN make a difference!
Let’s show this country that San Francisco is in the Top 10 in everything we do!
This appeared on www.aol.com today:
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - For the third consecutive year Miami has been voted the worst American city for road rage, according to a new survey.
The sunny Florida metropolis topped the poll of 25 cities because its drivers were the least courteous and most likely to run red lights, speed, text and talk on cell phone while driving.
It was followed by Boston, New York, Baltimore and Washington D.C. for the top five positions in the poll by Prince Market Research.
Pittsburgh was voted the most courteous city with Portland, Oregon not far behind. Seattle, Minneapolis and Cleveland were also cited as having the least road rage.
"The primary factor that we see year after year is that the Miami area is a combustible mix of two cultures on the road, and that is retirees out on a long leisurely drive, and young professionals on their way to work," said Todd Smith, of AutoVantage, a national auto club that commissioned the poll.
"We live in a fast-paced, gridlocked, multi-tasking world and that unfortunately has manifested dangerously on the roads, streets and highways across America," he added in an interview.
More than 2,500 Americans were asked in the telephone survey to identify factors which can lead to road rage. Talking on cell phones and sending texts and e-mails were cited the most.
Some of the more outrageous things people reported doing while behind the wheel were putting on makeup or shaving. Almost 50 percent said they were bothered by people who eat and drink while driving.
Other major causes for road rage incidents include speeding, tailgating, running red lights and changing lanes without signaling.

Acne Treatment

Acne can be so very annoying. I never really had a problem with it--you know, a few zits here and there, but nothing serious--but I remmeber some people in high school (there was thing one poor guy named Dave DeClue) who had a hideous road rash-looking irritation all over their face. Ouch! That's why I was happy when they asked me to write about a new acne treatment out there that can really help people with bad acne. Get rid of the rash! Clear up your skin and make it all good again. Check out the link I have provided here. It's to a site called http://www.acnexus.com/. It will help you get rid of that annoying acne once and for all!

Are U Looking for a Franchise That Will Make You $$ & Solidify Your Place in the Universe? Huh, R U? Maybe It's Time 4 U to Get With the Gator!

Are you thinking about starting your own business? Let me suggest that before you go out on a financial limb, that you seriously think about obtaining a franchise. There are a ton of really great franchise opportunities out there is the world right now. We're talking about finding a franchise opportunity that is ideal for you--that will tap into your talents and abilities, not to mention your passions, and give you a business that is proven to be successful and that you can call your very own. There's a web site out there that I have recommended before. It's called http://www.franchisegator.com/. Let the Gator get you the biz opp you're looking for. It's better now than later when you're talking 'bout the Gator!

Are YOU Looking 4 a New Laptop?

I think it might be time to purchase a new laptop computer. I bought the one I have about five years ago, so it's time. I guess I'll look at a site called www.buy.com. I have heard that they have some really great deals on laptops. The technology of the laptop computer has progressed significantly over the past half-decade. With Wifi and music downloads, not to mention streaming video, getting the right laptop for you is no easy task. Laptology (a word I just made up) is a science now, so I will have to really sit down and look at all of the available options b-4 I buy!

Inflatable Boats: Get One For Summer!!

Have you ever considered the benefits of buying one of the wide range of inflatable boats that are currently available? Why not enjoy a summer out on the water with an inflatable boat? It’s fun for the entire family. Your kids will love it and you’ll appreciate the cost. Inflatable boats are considerably cheaper than other watercraft, like jets skis, for instance. They’re great for fishing, going on adventures and excursions or just cruising around. You can use it as a learning experience for your children as well. Teaching them how to be responsible and safe on the water is a valuable lesson. Inflatable boats use small energy-efficient engines that will burn less fuel and cost less. And you won’t have to perform all of the maintenance that is associated with a fiberglass boat. It’s a great idea for this summer and many more to come.

McCovey Cove Has Lost Its Balls!

McCovey Cove used to be one of the really fun things about going to AT&T Park and seeing a San Francisco Giants game. With all the boats and activity, it was like a big pool party. I hadn’t seen that many drunks on the water since my last booze cruise or since the annual houseboat trip I take to Lake Shasta each summer.
It was a raucous crowd in rowboats, kayaks, floating dirigibles, ski boats – I even saw a guy one time floating around in a wash basin. The interplay among the sea faring revelers was one of the most fun aspects of the whole affair, especially when Barry Bonds came to bat.
We met one gentleman last season that made quite a nice little career out of kayaking in McCovey Cove and retrieving Barry’s home run balls. Known to everyone as “Kayak Man,” he was out there every game, day or night, and had captured more than his 15 minutes of fame for getting some of Bonds’ more celebrated homers, including #660. People would notice him on the streets of San Francisco and his chest would puff out. He even made a little side income producing “Kayak Man” t-shirts and bandanas.
But, now all that is dead. Bonds has been blacklisted out of baseball and McCovey Cove is just another body of polluted sea water. As if on cue, even the seagulls are staying clear. The other day, I did see a sea lion in McCovey Cove…taking a dump. Even the sea mammals of the bay know when a place has been relegated to The City’s “B” List.
The state of the Cove is really indicative of how the whole season is going for the Giants. They’ve been losing games in droves and Barry Zito, their big star pitcher, hasn’t won a single game. It’s sad to see how far the team has fallen since Barry left town.
Yes, it’s true—McCovey Cove (and the SF Giants) has lost its balls.

Did Eight Belles Die in Vain?

When I saw Eight Belles put down Saturday at the Kentucky Derby after breaking both of his front ankles, I swore off horse racing then and there. I used to be a big fan of the sport, and believe me, I have given the track a lot of my cash over the years, but when I saw that incredibly beautiful animal being killed, it broke my heart. These scumbags will never get another penny from me, that's for certain.
Two years ago, the world was shocked at the Preakness by the awful shattering of 2006 Derby winner Barbaro’s right hind leg. They tried to save that horse but failed. And now this.
And then, when they interviewed the Eight Belles’ trainer, some clown named Larry Jones, this is what he had to say: “These things are our family, you know. We put everything into it that we have and they’ve given us everything they have. They put their life on the damn line, and she was glad to do it!”
What a complete a-hole this jerk is. How does he know that Eight Belles was glad to die for a sport where she is repeatedly beaten by a jockey so that she’ll run faster? Do you think the horse really gives a damn whether she wins the race or not? What a ridiculous and uncaring remark to make. I’d like to saddle up Jones myself and whip his ass for a mile and a half and see how much he enjoys it.
Now PETA is in on the whole thing, calling for the suspension of Eight Belles’ jockey. Me, I want the trainer to go down. I think he is just as responsible.
PETA does some crazy stuff on behalf of animal rights, but when I heard about how many horses get destroyed like this throughout the country every year, it made me ill.
Here are the facts: The Washington Post reports that there are 1.5 career (and life) ending equine breakdowns every per 1,000 starts, which comes out to about two per day. USA Today reports that there were 55 equine deaths at one track alone, Del Mar near San Diego, between 2004 and 2006.
These animals are forced to perform for our entertainment. And when we push them too hard or they run into some bad luck out on the track, we kill them. I won’t accept it any longer.
I doubt that the sport of horse racing will cease to exist just because I’m not throwing down my little $10 bets anymore. But, if enough of us step away from the betting window—it just might.
Here is what AOL Sports reported about the incident today:
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is seeking the suspension of Eight Belles' jockey after the filly had to be euthanized following her second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
Gabriel Saez was riding Eight Belles when she broke both front ankles while galloping out a quarter of a mile past the wire. She was euthanized on the track.PETA faxed a letter Sunday to Kentucky's racing authority claiming the filly was "doubtlessly injured before the finish" and asked that Saez be suspended while Eight Belles' death is investigated."What we really want to know, did he feel anything along the way?" PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. "If he didn't then we can probably blame the fact that they're allowed to whip the horses mercilessly."Guillermo said if Saez is found at fault, the group wants the second-place prize of $400,000 won by Eight Belles to be revoked.Saez, a 20-year-old Panama native, was riding in his first Kentucky Derby. He frequently rides for Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones.A call to the jockeys' room at Delaware Park, where Saez raced on Sunday, went unanswered.Eight Belles, the first filly since 1999 to run in the Derby, appeared fine until collapsing while galloping out after the finish.The letter to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority also sought a ban on whipping, limits on races and the age of racehorses, and a move to softer, artificial surfaces for all courses.

Pens Can Carry Your Marketing Message

If you have a business that you are attempting to promote, you should consider purchasing marketing pens. Put your name, tagline, slogan or message on a pen and you will start to see the money pouring in. People LOVE free pens. It's natural, G. You can get a colorful pen, marker, ballpoint or soft tip, and all of a sudden--you'll see a real spike in business. It's an effective way to get your name out there in an inexpensive way that is proven. Check it out! Marketing pens are the way to go in 2008!

Wind Chimes

Now that the weather is getting nicer, maybe you should think about buying a set of wind chimes. Here is sunny (but windy) San Francisco, wind chimes are the best! Our neighbors have them and we can hear them every night and it's quite relaxing. There is a web site called www.gardenfun.com and they sell some really great wind chimes. I especially like their animal and bird wind chimes, including dogs, turtles, hummingbirds and all kinds of creatures. It's an excellent time for wind chimes!

Men's Jewelry

I don't wear jewelry. I don't have a watch or chains, even a ring (which will change when I get married) I just don't like the way it feels on me. But, I have found a great web site called http://www.jewelelegance.com/ that offers some really great deals on all kinds of men's jewelry. They have a lot of very high-quality items that are more than reasonably priced. Their experts can assist you in selecting the type of rings, necklaces and other jewelry that appeals to you. They also have a lot of really good specials going on all the time--check them out!