Decongesting the West Side

I share a car with my sister (until May) and she works downtown and I go to school downtown so it works out in the morning. When it doesn't work out however is at the end of the day. She's officially entered her "busy season" at work, which means she's in the office from 8AM until about 12AM every day (including weekends ... although the hours are a little better on the weekends). At any rate, since LA doesn't see it fit to have any sort of public transportation (other than 1 commuter express) that goes directly from Downtown to West LA (more specifically Santa Monica), neither of us can forgo the car for the opportunity to use public transportation...

Hopefully this will all change when Villaraigosa's plan to build a subway to Santa Monica ... one can only hope!! Oh and I don't think expanding the 405 is the way to go ...

The Bugatti Veyron

Fortune.com
Let's see ...
1,001 HP
922 foot-pounds of torque
0 - 62 in 2.5 seconds
253MPH top speed (without the second key? 233MPH)
Price? $1.4 Million

I can appreciate that ...

The passing of a friend

Words cannot describe the turbulence of emotions that accompanies the loss of a friend and so I will not try. What I will say is that from the loss we seem to forget the fights we've had, the trouble and the problems that somehow seemed so important at the time. It brings out the laughs, the mischievous behavior and all the good and wonderful memories that made your friendship what it was.

I want to dedicate this posting to my dear friend Russ who is no longer with us. He always made me laugh and even in his passing, through the tears I smile, because that is what I think he would have wanted us to do. May he rest in peace, he will be greatly missed by all.

The Lottery Winning Trend Continues...

CNN.com
Another $80 million win --a trucker this time! His first purchase? A house for his daughter -- she's apparently been meaning to move out of the trailer park. I swear I am NOT making this up!!! Do you think its that people who (themselves or their family members) DONT live in trailer parks simply don't play the lottery -- or is it that they just don't win?

I have high hopes for this man -- I really do -- I'm not being sarcastic!

One Man, One Year, One Thousand Bars

Achievement

One Man, One Year, One Thousand Bars

Dan Freeman 03.06.07

Forbes.com

I have to give this man props -- 1000 bars in 1 year -- that's averaging 3 bars a day (if he goes to one every single day of the year)

There are a number of issues that immediately came to mind as I began reading the article:
1. First, how healthy is it to consume (at the bare minimum) 1000 drinks in one year? I suppose some of us may do it anyway, even without the challenge, but I don't know, it just sounds like a lot

2. Second, how much money did this guy spend? I assume that once the story became known , he began to get free drinks, but still, that's a lot of drinks to pay for ...

3. And lastly, when did he have time to be productive?? I mean, taking on 1000 bars in one year is quite the task -- do you think he kept his day job? Or did the day consist of recovering from a hangover?

Just some things to consider when you read the article. All in all -- an alcoholic's dream come true...

Bosnian president rides to rescue

BBC News
One of Bosnia's three-member presidency has helped a woman in labour by escorting her car to hospital at high speed with his motorcade.


It's almost like it's taken out of a movie. A couple in distress rushing to the hospital with the woman in labor ... and here comes Zeljko Komsic, Bosnian president, escorting the couple to the hospital where the woman gives birth to a healthy baby boy. The parents promised to name their child after Mr. Komsic. I suppose all's well that ends well -- except for the name -- I don't know how I feel about that ...

Shut Up and enjoy the show

I wonder why more theaters are not doing this here ... from the LA Times:

Shut up and enjoy the show

From Times Wire Reports

March 2, 2007

A historic Russian theater has installed equipment to block cellphone signals in an attempt to stop patrons from taking calls during performances, Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Plays, operas, ballets and films in Russia are routinely interrupted, despite stern warnings to turn phones off.

This is my favorite part: Alexander Chepurov of St. Petersburg's Alexandrinsky theater, which was founded in 1756, said one actor had resorted to saying, "Turn off that stupid phone and let me finish my soliloquy!"