you are a real son of a bitch dot com

Have you ever had a driver make you so angry with their absent minded, rude, or flat out dangerous behavior that you want to rat them out to the world? Now you can! Go to www.platewire.com and and put the word out about exactly what happened, who did it, and where. You can post the license plate and everything for full effect. Also, if the offenders happen to be registered to the site, they will get an email from the site with the specific complaint. Granted, with the 59,000 members on board your complaint will be a virtual message in a bottle and the intended recipient will most likely never see it. However, it is a good feeling knowing you did something constructive rather than just stewing over it. And who knows, maybe someone else on the site has a similar complaint about the same driver. Hopefully in time more and more people will join the fight and this will become a real solution to an ever growing problem.

We are mad as hell, and we are not going to take it anymore!!!!

Gun Nuts

Today one of my coworkers, an engineer, invited me to join him and a group of other of the engineers here to an indoor shooting range to fire some guns. He said to me with a straight face "It's a great way to relieve stress. Especially when you have a picture of your boss to shoot at."

Uh, yeah. Where do I sign, Charlie? By the way, did I ever tell you that you are my favorite engineer???

Holy shit, I had no idea that I was surrounded by gun nuts! What is it about some people that makes firing a gun fun, or in this case theraputic? Do they think about shooting people when they fire them? Anybody in particular??? Is it a short penis thing? Maybe it is cause I hate guns. I dont know if its the fact that most guns that land in the wrong hands were purchased legally, then either stolen in home robberies or picked up by children since most of the time they are stored improperly. Or maybe it's the fact that guns bought for protection are most commonly used in accidental shootings. Or maybe its the fact that people are scared and need guns to make themselves feel more secure, when all they really need to do is stop watching the news and lock their windows at night. When I think about the logic that this country has adopted where toy guns are dangerous and should be banned but we have a god given right to keep real guns, it's frightening...

When I need to relieve stress, I find that sex is a great way to deal with it. Unfortunately, it's in short supply these days but there are other ways to cope, like running or working out. Calling friends can do the trick too, but I never thought to pick up a gun to relieve stress. I just don't get it.

Rebuilding???

The Giants made yet another stellar free agent signing when they picked up former starting pitcher Russ Ortiz. Who will ever forget in the 2002 World Series when Dusty Baker came out to the mound to pull Russ Ortiz with a five run lead with one out and two on in the 6th inning in favor of a bullpen so tired that they couldn't hold the lead and the Giants eventually lost the game and then the World Series. At the time, Russ Ortiz was the Giants ace, this is what he looked like...

Last year Russ Ortiz went 0 and 8 with an 8+ ERA. Brian Sabean says that he "looked good in Puerto Rico" Looked good? What did he do, lose 100 lbs??? My baseball team is the shits....

Grandpa

My Grandfather passed away yesterday from emphysema, he was 89 years old. Below is a picture I found of him from the 303rd Bomb Group website, the battle group he belonged to during World War II. I also attached his obituary below to give you a little more detail about him. With a sharp wit and kind, soft voice, his words always commanded full attention when he spoke. He had a really neat way to use knowledge and wisdom to deliver a funny line and completely catch you off guard.

When I was 11 years old my Grandmother passed away. One of the most profound memories I still carry from that time was a day after her funeral. I was at their house in San Francisco and I came downstairs to see my mom about something. I found her in the breakfast room sitting at the table with Grandpa, my dad was sitting on his opposite side. Grandpa was crying. This was pretty shocking to see, especially knowing him they way I did. Grandpa was always composed and either in a serious tone or joking, but never emotional. This was the first time I had ever seen someone heartbroken over a loss of someone dearest too them. It was as if we buried a piece of him the day before. He seemed confused and overwhelmed within his grief. I never forgot that day and from time to time it would come to mind, wondering if he ever really did come to peace with Grandma's passing. A couple years ago he visited her grave and as he left he was overheard saying "25 years is a long time..." I can only feel happy for him now knowing that he is finally reunited with Grandma. I will miss him a lot and I will never forget his smile and polite laugh. But I can get through the next few days knowing he is as happy as he has ever been right now.





Edwin B. Barry Ed, age 89, died after a brief illness from complications of lung disease, in San Francisco, January 5, 2007, surrounded by his loving family. Born and raised on Bernal Heights in San Francisco, Ed attended St. Paul's Grammar School and Sacred Heart High School (1935). He graduated from San Francisco State College, where he was elected student body president for 1942. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps prior to WWII and rose to the rank of captain. During the war, stationed in Molesworth, England, he served as commanding officer of the 1114th Quartermaster Company Service Group, 303rd Bomber Group (Hells Angels). Ed was an engineering operations planner with Lockheed Corporation and a veteran's services specialist with the Veterans Administration. Preceded in death by Kay (Lucey) his beloved wife of 33 years, Ed is survived by his children, Bonnie Dines (Michael), Bartholomew (Sharon), John (Brenda), Dennis (Suzanne), Kevin (Donna), Kathleen Ryan (Ken); sister-in-law, Joanne St. Clair; 13 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and 18 nieces and nephews. Visitation will begin at 3pm, Sunday, January 7th with a Rosary at 4:30pm, held at Duggan's Serra Mortuary, 500 Westlake Avenue, Daly City. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 8 at 10am at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 221 Valley St. (at Church St.), SF. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma.