Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara California and to stay at San Jose’s Fairmont Will Cost A Mere 150K

I enjoy football like millions of people around the world but to pay a 150K to stay at a hotel and get some perks is not something I would do. These perks you get in my opinion don’t justify paying a price of $50,000 a night with a three-night minimum Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the four-bedroom Presidential Luxury Suite. All you get is 8 tickets to the February 7th game, with seats in Section 300/Corner Loge these seats are not even close to the field. Oh Wow! You also get two chauffeured Cadillac Escalades for the full stay. One good thing you won’t have to drive in this Silicon Valley traffic or the crazy traffic conditions around Santa Clara's Levi's Stadium on game day. You’re going to need your complimentary private bar and your case of Dom Perignon. If you always wanted a butler you get private butler service, in-room catered breakfast and an "Apple dream gift package" worth $5,000 and you get to pick the products you want. Wow! On Saturday a day before Super Bowl 50 you get a wine country excursion to Sonoma Valley, where the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn is located. You can play golf at the Sonoma Golf Club or indulge in spa treatments at the inn. You'll be treated like a VIP at local wineries, and eight magnums of wine will be shipped home for you. For a stay at San Jose’s Fairmont Hotel for a mere 150K you get all this. Not to mention standing in the long lines at the game and fighting the crowds. No Thanks! I would rather stay home kick back in my living room and enjoy the best seat in the house. Someone going to pay this kind of money just for 3 days, I think if you have money like that to burn why not give it to Feed America Don’t be so selfish. Oh well "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)".

LM

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/eat-drink-play/

https://secure.feedingamerica.org/site/Donation2?df_id=23470&23470.donation=form1&s_src=Y15YP1B1X&s_subsrc=c&s_keyword=feed%20america&gclid=Cj0KEQiAtMSzBRDs7fvDosLZmpoBEiQADzG1vFGfERvJIHv6zn_RAb9q-6FhTucKF7knGx4JysuhqOUaAiIM8P8HAQ

Halloween Parties In The 

Halloween Parties In The Bay Area

October is my favorite time of year. Fall is in the air. The leaves on the trees are falling and turning beautiful colors. It also happens to be my birthday month and Halloween is in October. There are Halloween parties all over the Bay Area for adults. Some of the cities that you can go are San Francisco, San Jose, Redwood City and Santa Clara. If you like dressing up in costumes just like you did when you were a kid, put on your best costumes you just might win a prize.

Ambiance Entertainment 30 Plus Club Infused 1217 Wildwood Ave., Sunnyvale, CA, Saturday, Oct 25 10:00pm

http://events.sfgate.com/sunnyvale_ca/events/show/371747939-30-plus-saturdays-halloween-bash

Monster Manic 2014 - Count Dracula's Halloween Ball

Fri Oct 31, The Julia Morgan Ballroom San Francisco, 9pm - 2am Cost $29 - $35

http://www.sfstation.com/monster-manic-2014-count-draculas-halloween-ball-e2154601

Halloween Goes Hollywood Dead Or Alive The Sequal Fri Oct 31 Bentley Reserve San Francisco 9pm - 2am $30 - $62.50

http://www.sfstation.com/halloween-goes-hollywood-dead-or-alive-the-sequal-e2154582

Annual Halloween Party Spooky DJs & more Fri Oct 31 Starlight Room San Francisco 8pm - 2am $15 - $30

Freaks Come Out At Night Friday, October 31, 2014 08:00 PM

Summit Sheraton Hotel, 399 Silicon Valley Blvd., San Jose

http://clubzone.com/places/summit-sheraton-hotel/

Fahrenheit’s Halloween Bash Fahrenheit Restaurant & Lounge 99 EAST San Fernado ST. San Jose 11:00pm – 2pm $5

http://clubzone.com/events/fahrenheits-halloween-bash/

Boo! – Silicon Valley’s premiere Halloween Party! SP2 Communal Bar and Restaurant 72 North Almaden Avenue San Jose 9am-2pm

http://clubzone.com/events/boo-silicon-valleys-premiere-halloween-party/

Halloween Soul Train Dance Party Friday, Oct 31 9pm Club Fox Redwood City, CA $10 adv / $15 day of show

http://www.zvents.com/redwood_city_ca/events/show/371540955-halloween-soul-train-dance-party

Huge South Bay Halloween Party Hyatt Regency Santa Clara 5101 Great America Pkwy Oct 31, 2014 8pm

http://www.kicktickets.com/santa-clara/93808/2014/10/31/huge-south-bay-halloween-party-hyatt-regency-santa-clara

LM

3 Free Excursions for Kids This Summer in San Jose

Are you wondering what to do with the kids this summer? They get bored so easily. I know you don’t want to hear Mom, Dad I’m bored all summer. Well plan on taking them on some free excursions. I put together a list you might consider.

For The Techies

Intel Museum

Robert Noyce Building

2200 Mission College Blvd

Santa Clara, CA 95054

Phone: (408)765-0503

The Intel Museum in Santa Clara is a great place to visit any time of year, but summer is probably the best. During the summer, the museum runs the Semiconductor Summer for children in 3rd to 6th grades. They will visit the museum once a week for four weeks and complete several hands-on activities. After visiting all four weeks, they will receive a special prize. A friend of mine took her 9 year old daughter last year she said her daughter wanted to go again this year.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Admission and parking are free and the museum is close to Highway 101. The museum's current summer schedule is available online.

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/company-overview/intel-museum.html

For Those of You Who Love Nature

Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation

298 Garden Hill Drive

Los Gatos, CA 95032

(408) 355-2240

The County offers many free group hikes and tours through their park trails. Check the Calendar of Outdoor Activities for specific details and requirements. They offer many different types of hikes, including Healthy Trails Toddler Treks, History Walks, and night hikes. Kids don’t sit on the couch this summer playing video games. Get outside enjoy the summer and meet some new friends.

http://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/Pages/Welcome-to-Santa-Clara-County-Parks.aspx?path=%252Fv7%252FParks%2520and%2520Recreation%252C%2520Department%2520of%2520%2528DEP%2529%252FPark%2520Activities%2520Calendar%252FCalendar%2520of%2520Outdoor%2520Activities

Book Worms

San Jose Public Library

150 E San Fernando St.

San Jose, CA 95112

(408) 808-2000

And other branch locations throughout San Jose

San Jose Public Library holds the Summer Reading Celebration every year. This year, the fun goes from June 12 to July 31. Children must read 15 books and then they will get a free book and certificate of completion. Registration is online and is fairly easy. When I was a kid this was something I always looked forward to.

http://www.sjlibrary.org

San Jose Earthquake’s New Soccer Stadium

The San Jose Earthquake soccer team was founded on June 15, 1994 as San Jose Clash. San Jose Mercury News had a contest in which the fans were encouraged to send in suggestions for the name of the franchise. That is how the name Earthquakes name came about. The San Jose Earthquake’s play their matches at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The capacity of the stadium is 10,525 seats. Well the new stadium will have a capacity of 18,000 seats. The stadium will be built on what is known as Airport West. This is on the west side of San Jose International Airport. The new stadium will have 12 luxury suites, mixed use residential, retail, R&D and hotel development. The groundbreaking of the new stadium was on October 21, 2012. There were 6,256 participants on hand digging into the ground. This set a Guinness World Record. Well the construction has begun and the new home of the San Jose Earthquakes is underway. The target date of the completion is the spring of 2014. I think this is going to be great for the economy in the San Jose, Santa Clara area. This means more jobs and it will allow San Jose to host international soccer matches.

LM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Earthquakes_Stadium

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/11/29/new-earthquakes-stadium-feature-field-level-suites

Northern California Says Farewell to the Space Shuttle Endeavour.

Growing up in the 1960s NASA’s space program has always been fascinating to me. When I look up at the stars, I wonder what it would be like to be up there and If there other civilizations up there? Well NASA’s Shuttle Space program is over. Space Shuttle Endeavor flew over California on September 21, 2011 for its final flight. It hitched a ride on top of a 747 jet. It took off at 8:17 a.m. from Edwards Air Force Base, located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County. Space Shuttle Endeavor then soared over northern California cities of Sacramento, San Francisco Burlingame, Mountain View, Atherton, East Palo Alto, Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, Fremont, Foster City, Los Altos, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Palo Alto, San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Jose and Sunnyvale. There were 100 of thousands of people cheered the passing Space Shuttle Endeavor. People even got emotional. George Kucera, 47 said, "That made me feel like a little boy again,'' he watched with thousands near the Golden Gate bridge, "I lost myself in a moment." Fifteen year old Alex Thanos of Redwood City said, "It was incredible, an once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was breathtaking." I saw it on TV and I started to get a little teary eyed. This was history in the making, I am sad to see NASA’s Shuttle Space Program end. All good things must come to an end.  

LM

  

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/09/space-shuttle-endeavour-sacramento.html

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-last-flight-of-the-space-shuttle-endeavor

The RISKS of driving on a suspended license.

Image by davidciani via Flickr

More and more California motorists seem willing to take a big risk by continuing to drive a car or motor cycle on a revoked or suspended drivers license!  Aside from breaking the law, it's dumb, extremely expensive, and often more costly to the driver's family and friends!

California Vehicle Code 14601 prohibits driving when you know your drivers license has been suspended or revoked. While only a misdemeanor, this crime could land first-time offenders in jail for not less than 5 days, be fined not less than $300. 

Obviously the penaltlies multiply for further convictions, and are even steeper for DUI offenders...however, there's another major consequence.  Upon each arrest, the vehicle is immediatly impounded, towed, and stored for a minumum of 30 days, and what's worse...quite often the offender is driving someone elses car!

I'll share a true life example of this, and how an innocent car owner suddenly became a victim too! A friend of mine loaned the family's second car(a Suburu Legacy hatchback) to his 21-year old step-daughter to go pick up a friend. She'd done this before when her own car was out of commission  for one reason or another.

What he and his wife did not know was that his step-daughter had two outstanding warrents for un-paid traffic tickets, and had her drivers license suspended!  That afternoon she was pulled over by a California Highway Patrol officer for running a stop sign near the intersection of Bascom Avenue and San Carlos Street in San Jose, California.

She was taken to jail, and the Suburu was towed to a yard in Santa Clara, California, not far from the CHP headquarters on Zanker Road.

My friend was suddenly caught in a financial mess.  Even if he chose not to bail-out his step-daughter, how was he going to afford losing his car for 30 days....and paying tow and storage charges of close to $2000?

Also, this second car was used to transport he and his wife's handicapped granddaughter(and wheelchair) to doctors appointments, as well as other family needs!  It was more than just the money! It was the inconvenience!

However, as hard as my friend pleaded with the CHP, state law requires 30 days impound, unless, in certain instances...you can manage to get the offending drivers license re-instated, and show proof with DMV documentation.

Fortunatly, my friend took an extra step and decided to visit the CHP office with his step-daughter, to discuss any possible options with the CHP sergent in charge. This particular officer was very understanding, and agreed to release the car from impound....if his step daughter promised to take care of her tickets and get her license re-instated.

My friend was lucky!  He got his Suburu back that afternoon, however, he still had to pay the tow company $335, but that's a lot cheaper than $2000!

I have a feeling there are many more car owners and family members suffering a much worse fate than my friend and his step-daughter. Should you find yourself in a similiar mess you may try what my friend did, and get lucky.

However, the best advice is to be VERY CAREFUL who you loan your car to....if anyone at all!  As for you violators, GET REAL!  SMARTIN UP!  It's dumb enough to ignore paying your tickets.  Why be an even bigger idiot by letting them go to warrent...and having your drivers license suspended in the first place.

Thanks, and stay safe on the road!

Sincerely, PeteCam4

Related articles by Zemanta

• Italy considers banning 80-year-old drivers (telegraph.co.uk)
• Drive Sober, Boat Sober or lose your licence (newswire.ca)
• Elderly motorists need more support | David Bizley (guardian.co.uk)
• Drunken driver arrests down compared to 2009 (sfgate.com)

Santa Clara Traffic

Check out the entrance to Santa Clara's Traffic Court on Homestead Street every weekday morning or afternoon. It is always lined with city police cars, motorcycle units, and CHP vehicles who's officers are inside testifying against the many drivers they issue tickets to.

Still, motorists continue to speed, even  though Santa Clara's city streets are unusually filled with radar traps....especially just west of the San Jose Airport on both DeLaCruz Blvd and Lafayette Streets.

I travel those corridors every day for work, and it seems I'm either changing lanes to let speeders pass, or watching them get tickets on the side of the road!  It's not that I'm some "goody goody" slow-poke who never breaks the speed limit, but it's not that hard to see cops pointing radar guns at you!

They are always there, where Coleman Ave becomes DeLaCruz Blvd....stretching past the Hwy 101 interchange. Yet, folks continue to plow through at well over the 40mph speed limit, which should be fast enough for them!

Heading to work the morning of April  6th, I saw three cars pulled over by motorcycle cops. Then, I saw two more getting tickets(on DeLaCruz Blvd) on my way home! It occures to me those getting cited, and those getting away with it--are creating a very DANGEROUS situation on a heavily populated street. 

For whatever reason, they are not paying attention.  They are driving as if with "tunnel vision". They are headed for either danger or an expensive citation.  They need to SLOW DOWN!

 I even saw a driver get pulled over ahead of me as three cops just stood in the middle of the street.(Aviation Rd.) They stopped the whole group of us.(7or8 cars)  Then, they physically led the lead car to the side for a ticket, by way of this unusual speed trap.

The Santa Clara Police Department seems to be making a statement....Slow Down! We should heed this advice, in Santa Clara, and in every city in the Bay Area.

Thanks, and be safe of the road.

PeteCam4 

Related articles by Zemanta

• Santa Clara Restaurant Attracts Patrons From Around the United States (prweb.com)
• "Renewable Energy for Underserved Communities" to Be Explored at Santa Clara University Conference (eon.businesswire.com)
• Santa Clara to discuss wording of stadium measure (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Santa Clara University Announces Undergraduate & Graduate Commencement Speakers (eon.businesswire.com)

Road Rage

Image via Wikipedia

Road rage is an act of agression by a vehicle driver toward another.  If taken to the extreme, it often leads to physical assault, injury, and even death. It has risen to epidemic proportions throughout the country, whereby more drivers fear being victimized by road rage than by drunk drivers.

Between 1000 and 1500 people are killed each year due to road rage incidents, most involving firearms and other weapons...including the assailant's car. In every day, common cases, plain old aggression and aggressive driving also cause over 50-percent of all car crashes in this country.

How  do we slow this disease down, especially here in the Bay Area?  To start with, we all need to lighten up when driving.  I'm going to share an incident that happened to me a few weeks ago that may offer some help::

I take DeLaCruz Blvd every day when working for StreetWise Special Delivery. I was driving South the other morning between Hwy.101 and the San Jose Airport, when I nearly ran a small truck off the road. It happened at a wishbone fork that leads right to Santa Clara or left where it turns into Coleman Ave. I turned left onto Coleman at the same time this small truck turned onto Coleman from the Santa Clara, ElCamino Real side.  I was either not paying attention or he drifted into my huge, sunrise blind-spot....because I never saw him!. I changed lanes and cut him right off,  not realizing a thing until we stopped a half -mile ahead at the airport entrance stoplight. 

This is the perfect road rage scenerio!  The driver could either lay on the horn, flip me off, get out of his truck screaming for a fight, or pull out a weapon and physically assault me. It happens all to often, but thankfully...not to me, at least not this day. What did happen was just the opposite, and an example to learn from:

...I heard a tap on the horn from behind me and turned around. The man signaled me to roll down my window. (I thought something may be wrong with my car) He then leaned out of his window, and, in a calm voice intoned..."Did you know you just cut right in front of me?" You almost ran me off the road back there at the bridge." I apologized and said....  "I didn't even see you...is everything OK?"  "Yea, I'll live. Just be more careful next time, and have a nice day", he said.  I told him thanks and apologized again. We both drove off on our seperate ways,  safely and free of  road rage!! This truck driver teaches a great lesson! Lighten UP!

...It comes down to the basics.... Don't drive in a bad mood, avoid being in a hurry, and drive defensivly as opposed to aggressively!  Always signal when changing lanes.(57% don't) Do not tailgate, do not drive slowly in fast(left) lanes, and above all...AVOID possible confrontations on the road. This means no return screams, obscene gestures, horn honking or high beams. If threatened or taunted by another driver, avoid and evade them.

If pursued, use your cell to call police and/or drive to a station if possible.  Do NOT drive home, and do NOT leave your car unless safely away from danger. These rules should help reduce road rage incidents, but it may also come down to common sense.

If you make a mistake behind the wheel and have the chance...apologize appropriatly. Be cheerful and polite to other drivers especially in heavy traffic where most road rage originates. Smile, and let the other driver in, or slow down...and let them pass peacefully.

If we all follow these basic steps, perhaps we can pave more PEACEFUL roads to drive on.

Continue to drive safely out there, and avoid THE RAGE.

Sincerely..PeteCam4

   

  

"Best Wishes"--PTCJr

SANTA CLARA CA. IS A CITY THAT LIKES TO PLAY

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

SANTA CLARA CA. IS A CITY THAT LIKES TO PLAY
The City Of Santa Clara has a wide variety of activities for all ages.Santa Clara caters to seniors. Santa Clara has a senior center for 50 years and older, with a variety of classes and activities. Santa Clara has an adult softball league for the softball enthusiast that runs in two
seasons spring/summer and fall. For the basketball novice to the skilled
player, there is a league for you. It also runs in two seasons fall/winter and spring. Santa Clara has a Teen Center that is open to 8th through 12th graders who live in Santa Clara or has family in Santa Clara. Santa Clara
also has a great skate park. Santa Clara also offers a Junior Theater, for all you actors out there. For all the youth out there Santa Clara has something for you to. Santa Clara has a youth center, with after school programs, recreation classes, sport camps and special events. Santa Clara has beautiful Central Park, Community Recreation Center and a lot of other
centers and activities.


http://santaclaraca.gov/park_recreation/pr_seniors.html
http://santaclaraca.gov/park_recreation/pr_adult_league.html
http://santaclaraca.gov/park_recreation/pr_teens.html
http://santaclaraca.gov/park_recreation/pr_skate_park.html
http://santaclaraca.gov/park_recreation/pr-junior-theatre.html
http://santaclaraca.gov/park_recreation/pr_yac.html
http://santaclaraca.gov/park_recreation/pr_facilities.html