SAN JOSE GREAT CITY TO GROW UP IN

SAN JOSE GREAT CITY TO GROW UP IN San Jose is part of the Silicon Valley; San Jose has a diverse culture. San Jose has a lot of festivals. The Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, Jazz, Music in the park and Tapestry and Talent festivals etc. San Jose was voted one of the top ten cities to grow up in. I agree I grew up in San Jose. They have the Children Discovery Museum, Tech Museum and a lot of parks. I think growing up in San Jose, gives children a better rounded education on the different cultures. The schools are integrated and the neighborhoods as well.
http://www.cdm.org/index.asp?f=1 http://www.thetech.org/

http://www.kcbs.com/pages/5078414.php?contentType=4&contentId=4575656

L.M.

WILDFIRES IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

WILDFIRES IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA This is the season for wildfires; unfortunately Northern California has two wildfires burning. Santa Cruz Mountains are on fire again, just last year we had the Loma Prieta fire. Another fire burns near the Altamont Pass, threatening I-5 and I-580 East of Livermore. The Lockheed fire caused 2,400 residents to evacuate from the communities of Swanton and Bonny Doon. I hope Cal Fire can get this fire under control for all the evacuees, because loosing your possessions in a fire is devastating. The air quality is poor in the areas where the fires are burning. California is a dry state; it doesn’t get much rainfall so wildfires are common. I guess this is one of the prices we have to pay to live in this beautiful state. http://cbs5.com/local/bonny.doon.fire.2.1128496.html http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=6158746 http://cbs5.com/local/altamont.pass.fire.2.1128060.html Lynn

Strange Things On The Road.

When you drive for a living you see lots of strange things on the road. About a month ago I saw something that you might call a bad joke on Halloween. I was returning late from a job about 1:30am driving North on Highway 580...about 5 miles South of Tracy.

There was no one on the road except me, and, what I was barely able to see putt-putting in the right lane far ahead in the distance. As I quickly gained ground I saw what had to be one of those 40 to 50-year old VW buses, however this one was completely covered in white, sheet like fabric!

When I say completely covered I'm including head lights, tail lights and all the windows...except for part of the windshield and driver-side window. This was literally a slow rolling sheet-mobile covered in everything ghostly white except for four hub-capless tires, and going 40mph down a 70mph highway.My first instinct was to pass this thing and get far, far away...but as I finally caught up I saw something even more freaky.

The driver was heavily dressed in a white,hooded robe that covered every part of him/her...except for a pair of dark shadedglasses, partial nose and mouth. The hood covered the rest, and I though I was looking at the white grim reaper...or something!!!

As I sped ahead glancing back in the rear view mirror I was thinking mass murderer psychoterrorist, prankster, gangster, mobster, monster, radical or just someone really stupid!! As I was about to dial 911 for the California Highway Patrol, I quickly glanced at the rear view mirror and noticed bright red lights pulling something over...way back to the right.

The CHP came through....but who...or what did they stop--and what ever became of this? After a month of waiting for some news, I still haven't heard a peep about my mystery ghost roller in the night. But, I'll keep my eyes and ears open. Drive carefully.

PeteCam

"Best Wishes"--PTCJr

SHOOTING AT A TOLL BRIDGE

SHOOTING AT A TOLL BRIDGE It was a tragic state of events that happened August 11, 2009 on the Richmond San Rafael Bridge in California. A man pulled onto the bridge shoot a man sitting in his truck on the side by the toll gate and pulled up to toll gate and shoots his girlfriend. I can’t even imagine how the commuters felt seeing a man with a gun shoot two people, let alone the toll takers. I feel for the toll takers, because they are so vulnerable. They have to deal with armed robberies, random shootings and breathing in car fumes all day. If this kind of thing keeps happening, the toll booths should be bullet proof where you have to put your money through a slot. I am sure this will give the toll takers peace of mind. http://cbs5.com/local/toll.taker.shot.2.1124999.html http://sfappeal.com/alley/2009/07/guilty-plea-in-gg-bridge-toll-shooting-and-robbery.php http://a.abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/state&id=6960404 LM

ACCIDENTS ON MUNI TRAINS AND BUSES

(ACCIDENTS ON MUNI TRAINS AND BUSES) MUNI train and bus accidents in San Francisco Ca. are getting more severe. It seems like San Francisco’s MUNI train operators are getting into accidents that are causing havoc on the streets of San Francisco Ca. There was a hearing August 10, 2009 where people voiced the concern about the MUNI train and Bus system. A day after the hearings a MUNI bus hit a woman at Ninth and Market street and shut down Market between 8th and 9th street. The people are scared that this problem is getting out of control and they fear for there safety. People want answers on how MUNI intends to fix the problem. One man at the hearing said he was hit by a MUNI train driving his SUV. It was a good thing that he was in a big SUV, because if he were in a smaller car it would have been deadly. MUNI finely filled the position of Chief Safety Operator this might cut down on the accidents or put a better safety system in place. The Chief Safety Operator better make stricter guide lines for the drivers. If not then San Francisco MUNI will keep paying lawsuits in the millions of dollars. http://www.kgoam810.com/article.asp?id=1451877&spid=15884 http://www.kgoradio.com/Article.asp?id=1422000&nId=1&spid=30365 LM

Rattlesnake

Image via Wikipedia

On a scorching hot day last week I was driving on a narrow road just West of Santa Theresa Golf Course, when, suddenly I slowed down to get a better look at what was

slithering off the right shoulder of the road. It was a rattlesnake about 5 feet long with a thick, rattle-like tail. I quickly pulled over and stopped about 40 feet short of where this reptile was making its get-away towards an open ditch.

As I hopped out of the car I had just enough time to see the snake dissappear into the dry bushes and trees just off the road, which jutted down into a steep ravine...and apparently to the safety of the arid foothills.

This wasn't the first rattlesnake I've seen in this area over the past several years. The last one was run-over and killed in the middle of a similiar road...which inspires a few other interesting recollections: The first is a joke you may have heard... (What's the difference between a dead rattlesnake in the middle of the road...and a dead lawyer?? Answer: There are skid marks in front of the rattlesnake!!) .

These next observations aren't so funny: California is a hot bed for a number of species of rattlesnakes, all very poisenous. Being bitten leads to serious injury and often...death. So, be extra careful when walking in hilly, rocky, dry areas especially the open countryside.

Awareness and avoidance are keys to rattlesnake safety. Don't bother them and they won't bother you. The danger is stumbling upon them suddenly, causing them to coil and strike at lightning speed with a venomous bite meant to protect them, and...possibly kill you. So, STAY AWAY...especially in the late Summer months of August and September when rattlesnakes often shed their skin and often go temporarily blind, making them even more dangerous.

Years ago I played lots of golf... often at Santa Theresa, and often in the late Summer. Hearing the hisses and rattles from the hillsides off the fairways, kept me from even thinking of trying to find an errant shot. Better to suffer two penalty strokes, than to take one from a rattlesnake. I also saw a few shedded snake skins over the years, one measuring seven feet long! It reminded me of one Santa Theresa Golf "Urban Legend"!!

The story goes a golfer was searching for his ball behind the green at the end of the 11th hole, where the area behind the green sinks down into dense, dry ravine of trees and bushes. Allegedly, the poor soul stumbled onto a nest of baby rattlesnakes and their mother....suffering multiple bites. It was the last hole the golfer ever played.

While I can't be sure this story happened, I'll close with one final lesson a guy learned while stumbling on a rattlesnake crossing the road....just like I mentioned at the beginning.

Only, he stopped and picked up the snake... a large diamond-back rattler, which then laid a huge bite on his hand. This man made it to a hospital in the nick of time, only to barely escape with his life. He also nearly lost what was left of his hand. The large dose of bite-. venom ate away most of its tissue. The next 6-months were the most painful and regrettable for this man or anyone else to possibly imagine.

I watched this on the "Animal Planet" cable channel. Rattlesnakes have their rightful place out in the open country, but if you come upon one trying to cross the road, stay away...and let it cross!!

Thanks.....PeteCam

"Best Wishes"--PTCJr