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Thursday, April 28, 2011

Odd Man Abandons Car on Interstate --DUH!

Yesterday (4/27/11) I was on Interstate 95, on my way to the Ft. Lauderdale office, and was approaching Boynton Beach when I saw the traffic backing up ahead. As I have many other times, I began slowing down and came to a complete stop behind a beautiful, bright yellow Corvette. I was the last person to stop in a line of approximately 10 deep in my lane (give or take), and I could not move to the left or to the right because of the heavy traffic. I was freaking out a little, because I was picturing someone not paying attention and smacking me in the rear end. I decided to take a peek in my rear view mirror, because it's one of those things you just have to know, right? At first the lane just behind me was empty, and I looked back in front of me for a second. When I looked in the rear view mirror again, I saw a Ford Escape, which was coming up on me very fast, appearing to be fish tailing a bit, and you guessed it... She had not been paying attention. BANG!!! She hit me at about 45 miles an hour, which pushed me into the Corvette in front of me.
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I was very scared at this point because if she wasn't paying attention, how many others would not be paying attention? As the traffic had now stopped to gawk at us, the Corvette was able to move to the left, past the HOV lane, into the emergency lane, and I was able to move there too. I saw the guy in the Vette get out and look at the back of his vehicle. He began walking towards me, so I slowly rolled down the window (in case he was a wack job and wanted to kill me for wrecking his Vette), and I told him I was very sorry but someone had hit me and caused me to crash into him. He was very nice and said he saw the whole thing happen, so he knew it was not my fault. He said that amazingly enough, there was not a scratch on his Vette. That's when the Escape pulled up behind us in the emergency lane. The girl inside couldn't have been much older than 21 and was crying hysterically, apologizing all over the place. She said she was on her way to Florida Atlantic University to take an exam. Just at that moment, I looked out into the middle lane of the highway, at what had probably caused the accident in the first place. There was an abandoned Chevy with a flat tire in the middle lane. I was wondering how that car had been involved, and was told later at the hospital that some guy had abandoned his car because it had a flat tire. I'm not sure why the guy left his car there, but his stupidity caused the entire accident. At any rate, the next thing that happened was a guy on a motorcycle (crotch rocket) apparently did not see the abandoned car and crashed into it, flipping over the top of the car and rolling over the hood, landing on the highway in front of the car. The guy got up and pulled his motorcycle from behind the car. He was going to ride off, but a cop who had come onto the scene made him pull over into the emergency lane as well. By this time, I had started to look for my license and my registration per the order of the policeman. I then realized I could not stand anymore because my back and leg were hurting pretty bad, so I sat in my car. The paramedics came and assessed me. We all decided that it would probably be best to take me to the hospital to get checked out. The nice paramedics put a neck brace on me, put me on a board, and drove me to the hospital. I got x-rayed and was very lucky to have only cervical and lumbar strain. The state trooper involved came to visit me in the hospital to give me a report and to return my license. He told me that everyone involved was very lucky to be alive, because this type of accident on the interstate more often ends up with serious injuries or even death. The lesson for everyone to learn from this, is that if your vehicle becomes disabled for any reason while you're driving on the interstate, move your car off to the side immediately (that should go without saying, right?). If you notice that your car is slowing because of mechanical difficulties, you should have enough momentum to get to the side. If you get a flat like this guy did, just ride on the wheel to the side. A wrecked wheel is better than the alternative. The second lesson is never take your eyes off the road when driving. If that young lady had been paying more attention, she would have realized that the traffic had stopped. It all turned out fine, my sister picked me up from the hospital, bought me a frosty McFrap, and took me to her house where my husband, parents and daughter were waiting for me. The two people at fault (the stupid flat tire guy and the young college lady) both received citations for their part in the accident. The best part of the story is that no one was seriously injured, so there was a happy ending for all :-)
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Sunday, April 24, 2011

Meet Keenan Cahill

I saw this 16 year old boy, Keenan Cahill, on the Today Show this morning, and I had to do a little blog post about him. People like Keenan, who have handicaps of some kind and are still able to have such a positive outlook on life, fascinate me. Every so often someone like this shows us that our problems are not so big, and the best way to live life is to have fun, despite issues that get thrown our way. Keenan has a rare genetic condition that stunts his growth and causes a multitude of other health problems for him, but he still has a marvelous sense of humor. His lip syncing antics finally got him a viral video when he was just 13 years old, and now he has many popular videos on You-Tube. My favorite of all his videos is this one:

What are you going to do the next time a big problem gets in your way? We can all learn something from Keenan. Check him out on Youtube!
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Saturday, April 23, 2011

Littering our World

There are people in our world who think only about themselves. Of course this statement is not shocking, and self centered people are even more prevalent in today's world than in years past. I find it odd that there are some people who don't even think any deeper than what they can see with their eyes, not realizing that their actions can have negative effects on not only nature, but all of civilization. Not all of these people, but many of them litter our world with their garbage. How many times have you seen someone toss a bag of fast food out of a car window, or how about the idiot who leaves his old couch on the side of the road for someone else to take to the dump? It does not happen as often as it did back in the 60's and 70's, because environmental ads have educated people about the effects of littering. Although our world has come far in preserving our earth for future generations, we still have a long way to go. There needs to be more realization that many natural treasures in this world will disappear or be destroyed if we don't stop to think about what's outside of our own tiny box.
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In the 1970's I saw two public service commercials that would change my life and many others' lives forever. Do you remember the Indian standing on the side of the highway crying about all the garbage strewn about our land?

This ad made a mark forever and caused many people to think further than their own backyard. Do you remember Hootie the Owl? I loved Hootie :-)

I guess people became desensitized to these commercials, but I wonder why there have not been more of these catchy ads over the years. Our environment is even more fragile than ever today because of the garbage that we don't see; garbage that was buried or lives under the sea. Everyone needs to do his or her part in keeping this world clean.

One of the semi-invisible environmental phenomenons that opened my eyes most recently, is the ocean dump below the surface of the water in the Pacific between California and Hawaii, commonly known as "The Garbage Patch." Several different currents in the Pacific Rim have pushed all of our litter into one large clump that is larger than our entire United States, all in one spot. Sea creatures of all kinds get caught and tangled up in this garbage patch and worse yet, they swallow all the plastic and it clogs their intestines. Need I say more?

There are strange and ignorant people in this world who still do not know that throwing their garbage on the road is bad or understand about the effects of their littering on the earth. Pass this blog on to anyone you know, so they can pass it on. As we did back in the 70's we need to educate the public any way we can, thinking about others, specifically future generations. Let's leave this world a better place.
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Sunday, April 17, 2011

Back Stabbing Political Marketing

Every four years, since I first registered myself to vote at age 18, I have listened to politicians talk maliciously about their opponents. It has gotten progressively worse over the years too, which I believe partly contributes to kids' propensity towards bullying (that's my theory anyway). Wouldn't it be nice if politicians left the name calling to young elementary school children who are just learning to get along on the playground and don't know any better yet?

I am tired of politicians during debates, slam their opponents with nothing more than rumors and viciousness. I get even sicker watching an individual on the receiving end of the abuse, sinking down to the abuser's level and coming back with even worse things to say in return. Negative campaign attack ads are nothing more than public bullying, and we wonder why this is a problem in our nation's schools. It's like no one is smart or imaginative enough anymore to come up with real things to talk about, so they have to resort to immature political bashing.
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When I heard that Donald Trump would possibly be running for president, I initially thought he would be a good choice, since he is such a successful businessman. I quickly changed my mind when I saw his most recent speech on WPTV News, and remembered that he is the king of drama. He loves to talk nasty about others and stir the pot, coming off as the proverbial "schoolyard tormentor." This is how he gains publicity and is able to successfully market himself for any position he wants. We need someone with maturity and a touch of sophistication, in addition to business expertise this time around, which does not accurately describe The Donald. Personally, I believe he may be better off sticking to being on television shows. After all, he is more of a character than a political figure.
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I want to hear about a candidate's qualifications, dreams for the country's future, an actual outlined plan for reaching stated goals, and why the candidate's experience will make him or her the best president. What do you want to hear America? I also want to see some intelligent, thoughtful ads this time around. Why would I want to hear a candidate talk bad about someone else (borrr-ing)? I suppose that kind of thing appeals to a lot of people, but then we have to ask ourselves as Americans, "why?" Why don't we just leave the dirt digging to the media? They can very successfully bury a bad politician. I challenge any future contenders for the presidency to keep the negative talk at bay, and lean towards a more positive approach when marketing themselves. Let's elect a grownup into office in 2012!
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Saturday, April 16, 2011

Veggie Express


I was watching the Today show this morning, and they showed this produce market in Thailand that sits right next to the rails of a train track. Although I thought the Thai people to be a bit odd for placing their veggies where they can possibly be smushed, apparently due to the lack of space, this is probably the only place they can set up. This market is actually a tourist hot spot for those who are visiting that area (they even throw in swimming monkeys). According to Richard Barrow who keeps a blog on Thailand, some of the produce is actually kept on trays with wheels, so they can easily be rolled out of the way of the train. It really is an ingenious use of space in a pinch and, as long as everyone is aware of when the train is coming, no one gets hurt.

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Sunday, April 10, 2011

To Nip or Not to Tuck... That is the Question.

Cosmetic surgery is on the rise in the United States and I, for one, find the obsession with recreational procedures, both odd and a little disturbing. I remember when I was a kid, my grandmother used to call it "plastic" surgery, and it was not as widely accepted back then as it is today. It was only for the wealthy. I remember as a little kid, hearing not so nice comments, as well as, snickering going on behind the backs of well to do Palm Beachers. It is kind of sad that today there are so many people unhappy with who they are, that they need to have surgery to change themselves. Of course it is a personal choice, and far be it from me to ever judge anyone for wanting to look their best. However, eating right, exercising, having a good beauty regimen and doing things in moderation can go a long way in maintaining a nice appearance. Below are several good reasons not to get caught up in the drama of cosmetic surgery:

1. The most important reason is that going under the knife is risky, no matter who does it. Even good doctors make mistakes. Some people have anatomy that is different from the norm, and they can end up disfigured or even worse, dead. Check out this video and then comment below on whether you would ever consider doing this to yourself. These women spent years recovering from botched surgeries. Is it really worth it?

2. Life is all about the way we live it. If you like going places, exercising, gardening, socializing, volunteering, etc. then you may want to reconsider any major cosmetic procedures. For example, if you are laid up for several weeks because you were sliced open, or can't go outside because you had your skin chemically peeled, where is the fun in that? That is time you will never get back.

3. Your real friends are going to like you no matter how old you get or how small your boobs are, so why sweat the small stuff?

4. It costs a lot of money (no need to elaborate).

5. Lastly, it's called plastic for a reason. If you get enough of these procedures done, you'll look plastic. Anything like this requires periodic maintenance, and the older one gets, the more maintenance is necessary to keep the plastic from spreading (just an analogy).

With all that being said, there are people who have been disfigured by an accident or illness and cosmetic surgery can do wonders for them. For everyone else, God made you the way he wanted you to be. It is understandable that we all want to look our best, but at what cost?
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Friday, April 8, 2011

The Donald For Prez!

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The 2012 presidential election is quickly approaching, and again we are all faced with the typical odd candidates that every election seems to bring out of the woodwork. You know what I'm talking about, right? The fake, "I am going to make miracles happen" type. I saw yesterday that The Donald is considering running for president this time around. Personally, I think we have a fighting chance with Donald Trump. There are several good attributes that I am sure most people cannot argue with.

1. He has worked his way up from nothing.

2. He lost his fortune, went bankrupt and then became even more rich (Go Donald!!). This means he does not need any more money, and since he is already powerful, he will not be easily persuaded to do the evil that Congress seems to be able to talk others into.

3. He means business, and I seriously doubt those corruptors in Congress can make him change his mind. Once The Donald has made a decision, that's it. He does not change it. Does anyone remember that gargantuan flag he had on his property at Mar a Lago? He made officials see his side. Congress is not going to be able to easily sway him.

4. He will surely bring our country out of the bottomless pit of debt.

5. Taliban --Your Fired!!!!

Who would be a better candidate than Donald Trump?

Sunday, April 3, 2011

The Charlie Bomb

It was not a big surprise that Charlie Sheen’s My Violent Torpedo of Truth' tour bombed. Charlie’s life just keeps getting sadder, and he is without a doubt losing at this point. Let’s face it; his tour was bound to be a disaster without writers. His groupies and tag along co-dependent friends over supported him so much that his ego became even more ridiculously inflated. I can imagine how those little meetings around his patio table went. “You can do it Charlie, we’ll help you!” As a result, none of them apparently realized that without writers, he would have to come up with enough entertaining material to last at least an hour. DUH!!
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Before Charlie’s show was half over, people were telling Fox News that they were so disappointed. Wow! Really?? The guy spent the last month acting like an idiot and babbling incoherently to anyone who would listen, even at one point admitting he did crack. I can’t believe anyone thought they were going to get a good show.

Charlie’s last-ditch effort to regain the interest of his Detroit audience was to ask them who had ever done crack. He must think everyone does it, which further proves he is totally out of touch with reality. Then when only a few in the audience raised their hands, he threw insults to the rest insinuating that Detroit seemed like a good place to buy it. That’s not a good way to keep your fans Charlie.
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The writing is on the wall. If his show doesn’t get any better as he travels from city to city, at the very least, his reputation will go further into the toilet and he’ll end up having to discontinue the tour. If that happens, the lawsuits will be numerous, which will only compound his problems. He really is just making an enormous fool out of himself. I wonder when or if he will ever come to his senses. Hopefully he will get the rehab he needs before his life comes to a screeching halt from his shenanigans.

Friday, April 1, 2011

I Heart Tree Huggers!

I love tree huggers, and fully support their nuttiness because in my opinion, progress is way out of control. They say, "you can't stop progress," well why not at least steer it in a less destructive direction? This tree hugger, Ana Rodriguez, was arrested when she decided to climb up a tree on the property that Scripps Research Institute is going to develop, in an attempt to save the forest. Others had also been arrested earlier in the month for doing the same thing, living in the trees for months to protest the future development of the property in Palm Beach Gardens.
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I have lived in Florida since 1966 when Palm Beach County was mostly undeveloped. There were trees as far as the eye could see, most roads were two lanes, some of them dirt or pot holy, and it was quiet and dark at night. We were able to see stars in the evening sky. From the time I was able to appreciate the beauty of Florida, I have steadily watched people move down here from the north to destroy our paradise. You rarely hear crickets anymore and there are no more fireflies.
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I lived in Dubois Park before the county came in and made it a public park. Now hundreds of people visit Dubois daily, throwing their garbage in and around the garbage cans and into the water. It's even been closed a few times for high levels of bacteria in the lagoon. I watched the very first condominiums being built on the beach in Jupiter, destroying many natural habitats and native plant life. I've seen two lane roads turn into 6 lane super highways and hundreds, if not thousands of acres of trees, ripped out of the ground year after year.
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I realize everything has a ripple effect and to completely stop progress would be a bad thing, but our community's political and business leaders seem to enjoy lining their pockets, having little regard for the environment or the future of our state. I admire Ana Rodriguez' chutzpah. She is trying to protect what developers are going to destroy. Why does Scripps have to tear down every single tree in that area? The answer is, to save themselves money. So now we'll have even more concrete and blacktop heating up our already withering and unstable atmosphere. Call me a tree hugger, I don't care. Over development is killing Florida and someone needs to stand up to these tree bullies. Go Ana!!