Way to Go, Arnie!

California plans to terminate (at least partially) global warning!

In short, we're one vote away from a 25% reduction in emissions by 2020. The first state in the nation to tackle the issue.

It's about time!

"For years, the world has been waiting for the United States to step up to the plate and do something about global warming. This bill is basically the first step," said Bernadette Del Chiaro, an advocate for Environment California.

Business interests, especially oil companies, were irate and said they felt abandoned by the Republican governor, who had pledged to work for a bill they could support. They accused Schwarzenegger and Democrats of cobbling together behind closed doors a haphazard bill that could create unintended economic chaos.

--LA Times.

Buck up, oil companies. Nobody shares your pain.

You know you've been living in California almost 2 years when:

12 lanes of jammed traffic only elicits a smirk
You opt for a Rebeks smoothie over a Starbucks
Rain and clouds are a novelty (none since March!)
You watch Monday Night Football at the gym and not at a bar
You have no idea what season it is
you start counting calories (yack, I blame Jam for that:)
It's not hot outside, but you still drive with the windows up and the air on (smog, anyone?!)
You live 2 minutes from the ocean, but haven't been to the beach in months
You sometimes think you should trade your Volvo in for a Lexus (what? that'll NEVER happen:) You stop eating at any chain restaurants

Almost 2 years out here, I still can't believe it! California has a way of catching you. Suddenly the 6 months that you had planned to live out here turns into 1 year, then 1 into 2, and so-on and so-forth.

What else can I say? I guess I'll just sum it up with this little story that kind of acts like a microcosm for the whole mindset of Californians.

Back in Michigan, I used to wake up to cold and dark mornings. I'd have to let my car "warm up" after scraping ice off the windshield. The cold would jolt me awake and when I'd turn on the national morning news out of NYC, I'd be hit with the 7 o'clock headlines. Good Morning, America! Every bomb, terrorist attack, and murder would be covered in the 10 minutes I'd have time to watch it.

Now, in California, I never wake up to the dark, and it's never cold in the mornings. I "ease" my way into the day, and when I turn on the national news (still out of NYC), it's already 10 o'clock in the morning (7am Pacific time). By this time, they've already finished broadcasting the "hard news" and have moved on to the "challenging" stuff (see: fluff). Baking segments, celebrity gossip, and all the junk you'll never use/need!

A bit simple? Yes. But us Americans always prefer a nice lie over the harsh truth;)

On that note, I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend! Little bro and I are heading down to Baja, Mexico with some friends. Camping on the beach, baby!

Sleepy Santa Barbara

Be it north or south, I'm always laughing at how "normal" California really is once I leave the city limits of Los Angeles (don't get me wrong, I like the craziness..Jam and I saw 1 accident and 2 near ones in just under an hour on the road last Friday;).



Santa Barbara was literally a breath of fresh air, and the Santa Barbara Mission was def. worth checking out. I'm thinking if I had to live back in the 1780s in all its lack of modern-day convienences, I'd want to live in Santa Barbara. Perfect weather, the mountains, the ocean. I always think about how hard it used to be, living in those days. But who am I kidding? Look at this place! These guys had it made!

Iraq War Memorial

In Santa Barbera, Jam and I witnessed Arlington West, where every Sunday the group Veteran's for Peace puts up crosses for all the Americans killed since the US invaded Iraq (about 2,600 to date). Where there are no crosses, there are only questions when one thinks about the 20,000 injured, or the estimated 100,000 Iraqis who have died...and the ripple effect that has caused..all the people, all the familes affected.

Furthermore, while it's impossible to put a price on the death of a loved one, it's really interesting to note that $1.25 billion dollars are spent each week we are in Iraq. Imagine what else that money could be spent on? Poverty in Africa, poverty in the US...It's just amazing. These streets could be paved in gold.

Work+San Diego=Fun

Of all the places you could possibly go for work (on the continential US), San Diego has to be one of the best. Whether it's dining at the Hotel del Coronado, evening dinner cruises along the harbor, kayaking agaisnt the San Diego skyline, or staying out WAY too late in the gaslamp quarter, the town has it all. Yeah, it was a tough week at work.

Also, if any of you are heading down to San Diego, I have stumbled across the BEST Italian restaurant, on the Encinitas Blvd exit right off the 5. Lunch is the time to go, and Gusto Trattoria is the place to eat! I've simply never had Italian food that good in my life! It's such a bargain and so unexpected!

Anyway, I digress. San Diego is awesome.

Gov't Training...

If there's a terrrorist aboard your airplane, which passenger is the safest, the one sitting in 1, 2, or 3?

Snakes on a @#$#@$@ Plane!

Have Samuel L. Jackson call your friends. This has got to be one of the more innovative marketing ploys I've seen in a while!

Cause You Get It!

There's a new bridge spanning the Danube over in Budapest. The only question is: What will they name it?

The Hungarian Gov't is taking a vote to see what the name should be. Currently, Hunyadi Mátyás is in the lead, but not if you vote for Steven Colbert and let liberty ring!

He's down near the bottom of the names...

V for Vendetta

Civil War in the Midwest!? Oh, say it ain't so! I haven't seen a movie as good as this in awhile!

The best part was right after my neighbor and I finished the movie, CNN was on blaring about some new terrorist threat in airports...

Think 1984 meets Fight Club or Matrix...or, think the Bush Admin in about 50 years.