tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71006401252796377682024-03-12T21:34:06.927-07:00From Noise to VoiceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-69893510145500837092013-05-31T12:45:00.002-07:002013-05-31T12:45:39.614-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FBaO3RM1d8I?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Here's a video showing how a auto lens cap works.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-79711104862628045672013-05-29T10:33:00.001-07:002013-05-29T10:33:36.952-07:00My Review of Adorama Auto Lens Cap for Samsung EX2F<div class="hreview"><div class="item"><p><a href="http://www.adorama.com/LNCEX2F.html?kbid=XXXX">Originally submitted at Adorama</a></p><div><img src="http://images.powerreviews.com/images_products/07/12/24467657_100.jpg" class="photo" align="left" style="margin: 0 0.5em 0 0"><p style="margin-top:0"></p></div><a href="http://www.adorama.com/LNCEX2F.html?kbid=XXXX" style="display: none;" class="url fn"><span class="fn">Adorama Auto Lens Cap for Samsung EX2F</span></a></div><br clear="left"><p><strong class="summary">It Works Well for What I do</strong></p><div>By <strong>Hiker P</strong> from <strong>Los Angeles, CA</strong> on <strong><abbr title="2013529T1200-0800" class="dtreviewed" style="border: none; text-decoration: none;">5/29/2013</abbr></strong></div><p><div style="margin: 0.5em 0; height: 15px; width: 83px; background-image: url(http://images.powerreviews.com/images/stars_small.gif); background-position: 0px -144px;" class="prStars prStarsSmall"> </div></p><div style="display: none"><span class="rating">4</span>out of 5</div><p><strong>Pros: </strong>Easy to Use, Small / Compact, Allow One Hand Operation</p><p><strong>Cons: </strong>Cause Shaddow, Not Completely Sealing</p><p><strong>Best Uses: </strong>Weddings/Events, Travel, Sports/Action, Wildlife photos, Video, Macro Photography, Family Photos, Indoors/Low Light</p><p><strong>Describe Yourself: </strong>Casual Photographer</p><p><strong>Was this a gift?: </strong>No</p><p style="margin-top:1em" class="description">I bought the Samsung EX2F for my hiking trips. I want something better than my iPhone cam. This auto lens cap works very well. Before, I have to use both hands to take the cap off befor taking a shot. With this auto lens cap, I can operate the camera with one hand.<br xmlns:pr="xalan://com.pufferfish.core.beans.xmlbuilders.xsl.Functions"><br>Cons: 1) the flaps caused a very slight shadow...2) This lens cap does not seal the lens completely as the factory orignal one would. There are gaps in between flaps...<br><br>Otherwise, it would be a 5-start rating.</p><div class="prCustomerPics"><p style="margin-top:1em" class="prCaption">Closed</p><a href="http://images.powerreviews.com/images_customers/07/12/41539916_339874_raw.jpg"><img height="74" width="100" alt="thumbnail" src="http://images.powerreviews.com/images_customers/07/12/41539916_339874_thumbnail.jpg"></a><p><strong>Tags: </strong>Picture of Product</p><p style="margin-top:1em" class="prCaption">Open</p><a href="http://images.powerreviews.com/images_customers/07/12/41539916_339875_raw.jpg"><img height="74" width="100" alt="thumbnail" src="http://images.powerreviews.com/images_customers/07/12/41539916_339875_thumbnail.jpg"></a><p><strong>Tags: </strong>Using Product</p></div><p style="margin-top:0.5em">(<a href="http://www.powerreviews.com/legal/terms_of_use.html" rel="license">legalese</a>)</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-40873553139581135212009-11-04T12:52:00.000-08:002009-11-04T13:02:14.079-08:00Roxio is a piece of junk!I use a blackberry. So I installed a Blackberry Desktop utility in one of my machines...everything was find until it try this automatic update thingie....<div><br /></div><div>BB uses Roxio to manage media. All I can say is Roxio is piece of shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....whatever...</div><div><br /></div><div>As part of the update, windows installer keep trying to install Roxio Media Manager...Mange my assssss! and it could find one of those .msi files even after you point the stupid computer to the folder where the file is and still gives you an error....anyway... I don't use this piece of no good Roxio and so I click cancel to stop the installation.... oh, did I mention, this piece of you know what takes a long time to scan the machine? Roxio is my new dirty word... so if I call you Roxio...it's not a complement! anyway....I can not cancel the installation!!!! Roxio just simple goes back and start the whole process again........hocking up all cpu power...</div><div><br /></div><div>You restart the machine? It just jump right back trying to install a piece of shhhhhhhhh you don't need!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>ROXIO is a piece shhhhhhdhhshdhfdas %&(@#&*%&$!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>anyway... search the net and found out this is not an uncommon thing....</div><div><br /></div><div>Bottom line? Download windows installer cleanup utility from MS and delet ROXIO...</div><div><br /></div><div>You Roxio, you!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-69748333625132317732009-06-04T05:57:00.001-07:002009-06-04T05:57:42.923-07:00NYTimes.com: Bullets Over Beijing<table width="528" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="10"> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif" width="10" height="1" alt=""> </td> <td width="518" valign="top"> <table width="518" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="518"> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif" width="1" height="16" alt=""> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="518" valign="top"> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/apps/emailthis/head_1.gif" width="134" height="29" alt="The New York Times" border="0"></a> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/apps/emailthis/head_2.gif" width="198" height="29" alt="E-mail This" border="0"> <!-- ADX: Begin TopRight-EmailThis --> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_click.html?type=goto&page=www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/opinion&pos=TopRight-EmailThis&sn2=94d3287b/805f85e3&sn1=8d4aec5b/7952bf03&camp=foxsearch2009_emailtools_1011074b_nyt5&ad=500DOS_88x31_b&goto=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Efoxsearchlight%2Ecom%2F500daysofsummer" target="_blank"> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/adx/images/ADS/19/61/ad.196151/500days_nytimes_88x31_v03.gif" width="88" height="31" border="0"></a> <!-- ADX: End TopRight-EmailThis --> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif" width="1" height="10" alt=""> </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#DBDBDB"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" alt=""></td> </tr> <!-- BEGING MESSAGE SENT BY ... --> <tr class="bgc2"> <td width="518" style="padding:11px;"> <font class="bodycopy"> <strong>This page was sent to you by: </strong> py8888@hotmail.com </font> <br /><br /> <font face="Times New Roman,Times,Serif" size="-1" color="#666666"> <strong> OPINION </strong> </font> <font face="Times New Roman,Times,Serif" COLOR="#000000" SIZE="-1"> | June 04, 2009</font> <br /> <font face="Times New Roman,Times,Serif" color="#000066" size="+1"> <strong> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/opinion/04kristof.html?emc=eta1"> Op-Ed Columnist: Bullets Over Beijing </a> </strong> </font> <br /> <font face="Times New Roman,Times,Serif" COLOR="#000000" SIZE="-1"> By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF</font> <br /> <font face="Times New Roman,Times,Serif" color="#000000"> Twenty years after the events in Tiananmen Square, why is China frozen politically even as it has transformed economically? <br /> </font> </td> </tr> <!-- END MESSAGE SENT BY ... --> <tr> <td background="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/apps/emailthis/dot_horz.gif" width="4" height="1" alt="" border="0"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif" width="5" height="1" /></td> </tr> </table> <table width="518" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="11"> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif" width="11" height="1" alt=""> </td> <td width="507" class="small"> <table width="507" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <!-- BEGIN MOST POPULAR EMAILED ARTICLES --> <tr> <td width="507" class="bodycopy"> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif" width="1" height="16" alt=""> <br /> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/apps/emailthis/todays.gif" width="232" height="21" alt="Most E-mailed" border="0"> <br /> 1. <a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/my-brief-life-as-a-woman/?em&emc=eta1">Well: My Brief Life as a Woman</a> <br /> 2. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/health/02well.html?em&emc=eta1">Well: Better Running Through Walking</a> <br /> 3. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/opinion/03friedman.html?em&emc=eta1">Op-Ed Columnist: Obama on Obama</a> <br /> 4. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/dining/03lunch.html?em&emc=eta1">A Tour Guide Tames Lunch in Midtown</a> <br /> 5. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/dining/03speak.html?em&emc=eta1">Bar? What Bar?</a> <br /> <br /> <font color="#CC6633">»</font> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/gst/mostemailed.html?type=1">Go to Complete List</a> <br /> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif" width="1" height="10" alt=""> <br /> </td> </tr> <!-- END MOST POPULAR EMAILED ARTICLES --> <tr> <td width="507" background="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/apps/emailthis/dot_horz.gif"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <!-- ADX: Begin Center1--> <tr> <td width="507"> <table width="507" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td class="advertisement" align="center">Advertisement</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="small"> <!-- ADXINFO classification="button_120x60" campaign="foxsearch2009_emailtools_1011074g-nyt5"--><TABLE WIDTH="388" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#F8F5EC"> <tr><TD><font size="2"> <br><b>My Life in Ruins</b> The star of 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' is finally going to Greece. <br>Watch the new trailer!<br><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_click.html?type=goto&page=www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/opinion&pos=Center1&sn2=fe4dff39/22b960e1&sn1=8c35ec6e/9edef787&camp=foxsearch2009_emailtools_1011074g-nyt5&ad=mlir_120x60_recipientpage&goto=http://www.foxsearchlight.com/mylifeinruins" target="_blank">Click here to view trailer</a></font></td><TD valign=middle><CENTER><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_click.html?type=goto&page=www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/opinion&pos=Center1&sn2=fe4dff39/22b960e1&sn1=8c35ec6e/9edef787&camp=foxsearch2009_emailtools_1011074g-nyt5&ad=mlir_120x60_recipientpage&goto=http://www.foxsearchlight.com/mylifeinruins" target="_blank"><img vspace=5 src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/adx/images/ADS/19/82/ad.198294/mlir_120x60.gif" width="120" height="60"> </a> </CENTER> </TD> </tr></table> <br /> <br /> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <!-- ADX: End Center1--> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="518" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <td colspan="2" bgcolor="#DBDBDB"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" alt=""></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif" width="1" height="10" alt=""> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="398" class="footer"> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/copyright.html" class="footer">Copyright 2009 </a> <a href="http://www.nytco.com/" class="footer">The New York Times Company</a> | <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/privacy.html" class="footer">Privacy Policy</a> </td> <td width="120" valign="top" align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif" width="1" height="19 " alt=""> <!-- Begin: ADX open rate counter gif --> <img src="http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_remote.html?type=noscript&page=emailthis.nytimes.com/openrate&posall=Bottom1&pos=Bottom1&query=qstring&keywords=" height="0" width="0" alt="" /> <!-- End: ADX open rate counter gif --> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <!-- $Revision: 1.20 $ --> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-49684422982282244502009-06-01T13:47:00.001-07:002009-06-01T13:47:56.700-07:00幸福是什麼?What is happiness?幸福是什麼?<br>是圓的還是扁的?<br>其實不是圓的也不是扁的。<p>你手上如果拿的是扁的,<br>心裡想的是圓的,那是不幸福的。<p>一樣啊,如果你手上拿的是圓的,<br>心裡想的是扁的,那也是不幸福。<p>所以不管是你拿到圓的或是扁的,<br>只要你手上拿到的那個東西,<br>你越看越喜歡,那才是真正的幸福。Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-9034064991577961852009-05-21T16:28:00.001-07:002009-05-21T16:28:53.055-07:00Bank of America phone service sucks! (part 2)So, as I was saying, online bill paying with with B of A was going<br>fine. Then a couple of months ago, while I was doing banking online,<br>there's this thing pop up on my screen. "New Security Feature!" or<br>something like that. Normal I would just close the pop up window if I<br>was surfing the net. But, this time is I am inside B of A banking<br>website. So, the ad intrigued me. So, I click the link...<p>So, this new security feature offers you added security by preventing<br>unauthorized person ability to create an online payee....etc. Usually,<br>when you add an online payee, B of A send you an email notifying the<br>additions. You call B of A if this is not an authorize entry. That's<br>after the fact...<p>The new feature gives you an ability to prevent someone from creating<br>anything with out a randomly generated authorization code. How does it<br>work? You ask. Here's how. If you sigh up for the service, they give<br>you this credit card size device which a code can be generated and<br>display. With the code, you can add a payee or do large amount<br>transaction (you set the limit)...How cool is that? The catch, It cost<br>$$...but wait! it gets better..<p>You can use your cell phone to as a receiver for this code thingie.<br>They will send you a text message with the code each time you add a<br>payee. And the best part of it? It's free! How cool is that? Being a<br>cheapskate I am, I sign up for the free service. And it works! I set<br>the preference. Each time if you trying to add someone or do something<br>the system have the window pop up and ask you to enter a code. A few<br>seconds later, a text lights up my cell phone with a code. You enter<br>that code and going with your banking business. So what's the problem,<br>you ask....Well...<p><br>stay tuned for part 3...gotta get ready to leave work on time. Lakers time!!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-46622643299555358932009-05-14T18:57:00.001-07:002009-05-15T16:53:27.433-07:00Bank of America phone service sucks (part 1)I had a bunch checks to our vendor for bill paying stolen last year. It took me over 9 months to recover the lost/stole fund. So, I decide to use online bill paying whenever I can. Besides, I keep getting this advertising from B of A blaha blah blah about how good their online banking is... oh..24/7 never close....whatever. Then, postage keep going up, for ever check I send out, It costs over 40 cent (yeah, you can call me a cheapskate). So, I open some account with B of A after years of not doing business with them.<div> <br /></div> <div>Things were going well. I use ATMs to do most of my deposit because 99% of our payment from customer are in checks. Cool, no lines. These ATMs near my office even have scanners that scan the checks as you deposit them. You don't even need to fill out deposit slips anymore. How cool is that?!<br /><br /></div><div>Online Bill Pay? Easy enough, just enter the payee information, enter the amount and the date you want the check to send; click, you are done. Couple of vendors didn't recognize and called for payment....<br /><br />So, you ask, what's the problem? Stay tuned for part 2...<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-43866319943128978692009-05-12T13:47:00.001-07:002009-05-12T13:47:21.944-07:00Testing Email PostingDo you see this??!!<br clear="all"><br> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-55244076085482753392008-11-20T10:13:00.001-08:002009-05-14T19:03:30.016-07:00I Know You Love Me (Be Nice To Me) No Matter What...Parenting is fun! (I mean it...:))<br /><br />[note: this entry was make back in November of last year. One of you must have pissed me off pretty bad...]Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-38871265433078811792008-11-18T12:29:00.000-08:002008-11-18T14:37:01.165-08:00This Is For You, Peter!Ha... I win one for once!<br /><br />I got a speeding ticket couple of months ago for driving 35 mph... 35 mph! How did I get it? I was accused of driving 35 mph in a construction zone... There weren't any sign or blinking lights indicate I was about driving into a construction site. Beside, I was on the west bound lane while construction was on the east bound side!<br /><br />I got ticketed by a cop hidden behind a construction truck with a laser gun... Sneaky him and unlucky me... I pleaded with the officer and he smiled at me and said, "You can fight it in court!"<br /><br />I was so pissed. I decided to fight it. So, I went to court, the first time to plead NOT GUILTY. The Judge asked if I want to waive my right of a speedy trail. "No," I said. I am not waiving no right for this! I posted $257 bail (the ticket amount) and the trial was schedule for today at 10 am.<br /><br />This morning I showed up in court with photos/charts and whatever evidence that can help my case at about 9:45pm. Went thru security check, "stripped searched" (I'll save this one for another post later). Checked the trial calendar posted outside. The trial time was scheduled for 10:30! The clerk told 10 o'clock when I posted bail. Anyway, at least I won't be late, I thought to myself. Then I checked the list of names, mine is one of 20 cased to be heard. They listed the ticketing officers' names next to the defendants. I checked and didn't feel good at all. The officer who sited me appears the most! This mean the chance him not showing up is not great (if cops don't show up, judge dismisses your case).<br /><br />I walked the court room around 10:15 and sat down... I look around and there's only one cop sitting in the section reserved for officers testifying in the upcoming cases. He doesn't look familiar...good news so far.<br /><br />The the judge help up a stack of paper and said, "Last chance for requesting traffic school..." Then he start calling the names off the list, "Mr. So and so, your case is dismissed."....after 6 or 7 names, my name finally called..."..... You case is dismissed. Your bail money will be refunded to you in 4 to 6 weeks."<br /><br />Haha... The cop didn't show up! I win one for once!<br /><br />The End.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-8600572355334939342008-11-06T13:32:00.000-08:002008-11-06T13:34:11.753-08:00I agree with You, President Bush...."No matter how we cast our ballots, this election gives us all reason to be proud of our democracy and our country."<br /><br />George W. Bush<br />Nov. 6, 2008Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-6064706268337886982008-08-24T12:20:00.001-07:002008-08-24T12:20:54.217-07:00LA Times - Beijing's Olympic triumphThis story has been sent from the mobile device of py8888@hotmail.com. For real-time mobile news, go to http://mobile.latimes.com.<br/><br/><b>Beijing's Olympic triumph</b><br/><br/>BEIJING -- The air turned an eerie white four days before the opening ceremony, then became a murky haze that hung over Beijing for a week.<br /><br />The Chinese still chalked up some of those sunless days in the "blue sky" category, according to their measurements of air pollution, which was one of the reasons to wonder if a clear picture of the 2008 Summer Games ever would emerge.<br /><br />The sky actually went blue in the middle of the first week of competition, the sun came out most every other day, and the Beijing Olympics wound up looking as most expected.<br /><br />They were a triumph of the will for a people and a government determined to show their skill and confidence, as both athletes and organizers, to a world that once treated China as a weak, servile nation.<br /><br />China won the most gold medals, hardly a surprise when a country of 1.3 billion people decides such a goal is important and commits enormous resources to achieving it. China also built sports venues that combined gargantuan scale and striking architecture in a way no previous Olympic host could afford.<br /><br />China carried off these Olympics with no organizational snarls, no doped Chinese athletes and no qualms about creating virtual reality -- flags blown by fake wind, computer-enhanced fireworks for TV -- to enhance an artificial image of perfection.<br /><br />Yet the images the sports world will remember most from China's coming-out tribute to itself -- the Games lacked the spontaneity to be a party -- were those of foreigners: a U.S. swimmer, Michael Phelps, who could hang a record eight gold medals around his neck; and a Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt, who rejected a TV commentator's description of him as " Superman 2."<br /><br />"I'm Lightning Bolt," he said. And who would disagree after watching Bolt break world records in all three of his events, the 100 and 200 meters and the 400 relay?<br /><br />"The two icons of the Games were Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt," International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said Sunday, when Rogge also chose, inexplicably, to diminish the Jamaican by saying he had not shown enough respect for his rivals.<br /><br />Rogge could crow about increased Olympic TV ratings, especially in the United States, where the live-in-East-Coast-prime-time successes of Phelps and gymnast Nastia Liukin made NBC look brilliant for insisting finals of those events take place in the Beijing morning.<br /><br />Doping never became the issue Rogge expected when he predicted from 30 to 40 positives, based on purely mathematical projections of past results and increased numbers of tests.<br /><br />As of Sunday, with analysis reports on the final five days' samples yet to come, there had been just six positives out of 4,600 tests during the Games, only two involving medalists, none of them gold medalists. There were 26 doping violations in 2004, including three gold medalists.<br /><br />"It is more difficult to cheat," Rogge said, noting that 39 other athletes were banned from competing in Beijing after being caught by pre-Olympic testing.<br /><br />Yet that did not spare either Phelps or Bolt from questions about doping, so skeptical has the world become after years of watching dirty athletes beat tests.<br /><br />U.S. Olympic Committee officials promised a clean team, and none of its athletes were caught for doping as they racked up more total medals, 110, than anyone else -- and more than any U.S. team in a non-boycotted Olympics since 1904.<br /><br />The U.S. effort was most impressive in team sports. Of the 11 teams that competed in Beijing, only men's soccer and women's field hockey failed to win medals. The field hockey team earned props just for qualifying -- and then tied two games to finish a respectable eighth of 12.<br /><br />"It's important that our teams do well, because so many kids get their start in sports on a team," USOC Chairman Peter Ueberroth said.<br /><br />Evaluating an Olympics depends entirely on perspective, both national and journalistic. We all see only a tiny slice of the 11,000-thousand-layer cake (that record number of athletes competed in Beijing) the Summer Games have become.<br /><br />I reported on just three sports -- track and field, road cycling and swimming -- yet was fortunate enough to see what many would consider the two most thrilling purely sports moments of these Olympics: Bolt's world record in the 200 meters and the come-from-behind victory of the U.S. men in swimming's 400 freestyle relay that kept Phelps' record quest alive.<br /><br />But the observations here necessarily rely on what my colleagues at The Times and Chicago Tribune saw at events in virtually every other Olympic venue.<br /><br />They watched U.S. boxers have their worst Olympic performance in 60 years, Australia's Matthew Mitchum prevent China from sweeping the diving golds, and BMX cycling (emphasis on the X) add the element of youth culture IOC officials had hoped it would when it made its Olympic debut in Beijing.<br /><br />None of us heard an athlete take China to task for its repression of dissidents or its treatment of Tibet or its failure to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. U.S. swimmer Amanda Beard held a news conference to unveil a poster in which she had unveiled herself to protest the treatment of animals on fur farms, but Beard has also stripped for Playboy.<br /><br />"The Olympics is a time where you can address international issues, domestic issues," U.S. silver-medal fencer Erinn Smart said. "We are aware of the struggles in Darfur and Tibet, but we really were focused on the competition."<br /><br />We all saw the Chinese volunteers do their country proud with not only relentless friendliness but also remarkable efficiency. Have a computer problem? Three volunteers descended in five minutes, to address the issue and solve it too. Arrive at a venue without an umbrella on a rainy day? Volunteers requested you wait on the bus until they found one.<br /><br />The media from every country, both print and broadcast, concentrated on their own athletes, which is both understandable and unfortunate.<br /><br />It means that most in the United States did not get to know enough about shooter Abhinav Bindra, who became India's most eligible bachelor after winning the first gold medal ever for the country of 1 billion people.<br /><br />Or open-water-swimming winner Maarten van der Weijden of the Netherlands, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2001 and told his chances of survival were slim.<br /><br />Or taekwondo bronze medalist Rohullah Nikpai of Afghanistan, who won his war-ravaged country's first Olympic medal.<br /><br />Or judoka competitor Tuvshinbayar Naidan, a decided underdog in several matches, who won Mongolia's first gold medal, setting off spontaneous celebrations in the capital, Ulan Bator.<br /><br />In countries with dozens of medalists, it is too easy to overlook how much a single medal can mean to most of the world.<br /><br />Meanwhile, China fulfilled predictions by winning the most gold medals, 51, to 36 for the United States, which nevertheless maintained the top spot in overall medals it has held since the sports breakup of the Soviet Union in 1993.<br /><br />The Chinese had a development plan called "Project 119," the number of events in which they believed medals were possible out of 302 total. They wound up remarkably close with 100, an increase of 37 over four years ago, which had been China's previous best performance.<br /><br />China also suffered the biggest disappointment, when national hero Liu Xiang withdrew from the hurdles with an Achilles' tendon injury, but it had few others. Its superstar diver and gossip column celebrity, Guo Jingjing, helped compensate with another riveting performance, successfully defending her 2004 golds in 3-meter springboard and synchro.<br /><br />"I did watch her, even though I'm not supposed to," said Christina Loukas of Riverwoods, Ill., who finished ninth in springboard. "I can't help it."<br /><br />Loukas had seen the athletic excellence that defines most Olympic Games. There was plenty of that visible over the last 16 days in the Olympic bubble China created, when the only reality was sports competition for the ages, baby-toothed Chinese gymnasts and all.<br /><br /><i>Philip Hersh covers Olympic sports for the Times and the Chicago Tribune. Times staff writers Bill Dwyre and Kevin Baxter and Tribune reporters K.C. Johnson, and Melissa Isaacson contributed to this report.</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-48072711846357034262008-08-11T16:40:00.001-07:002008-08-12T09:52:26.292-07:00Craving for 15 Minutes of Fame<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site205/2008/0808/20080808_114235_ROMERO_EDWARD.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site205/2008/0808/20080808_114235_ROMERO_EDWARD.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>According to an article in the <a href="http://www.sgvtribune.com/rds_search/ci_10147940">San Gabriel Valley Tribune</a>, Pastor Edward Romero (left) vandalized 2 upscale hotel rooms in Beijing in protest of Chinese government.<br /><br />I don't know if Mr. Eddie knows, the hotel he vandalized is owned by the French. Yes, the French...<br /><br />Do you think the average Chinese citizens understand his antic? They would be mad. How do you like if someone come to our house and make a mess then <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="definition">disappear</span>?<br /><br />Mr. Eddie accomplished nothing only to satisfy his crave of his 15 min. of fame. His action has possibly put the lives of Christian workers on the ground in danger. I have friends who gave up their comfortable life to serve the Lord and people of China.<br /><br />Mr. Eddie, if you really wants to do something good for China, read up on Hudson Taylor. Learn from Rev. Taylor.<br /><br />WWJD?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-89011153160409033202008-08-07T10:42:00.000-07:002008-08-07T11:17:03.003-07:00DANGER, OPPORTUNITY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mUhJJVpjlFU/SJs8EZssKbI/AAAAAAAAARY/uSBwbDitV4I/s1600-h/DANGEROPPORTUNITY.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mUhJJVpjlFU/SJs8EZssKbI/AAAAAAAAARY/uSBwbDitV4I/s400/DANGEROPPORTUNITY.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231841438436436402" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-15755689029258232162008-08-01T09:43:00.000-07:002008-08-01T09:57:27.371-07:00More Shaking...IndyMac Bancorp Files for Ch 7.IndyMac nomo according to <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/gc06/idUSBNG5428920080801?sp=true">Reuther</a><br /><blockquote>Chief Executive Michael Perry, the company's sole remaining employee, in a court filing said he didn't have information normally required to file for bankruptcy protection because the FDIC has sole possession of IndyMac's books and records.</blockquote><blockquote>IndyMac shares closed Thursday at 13.5 cents on the Pink Sheets. They are expected to be worthless.</blockquote> The rest of the article is <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/gc06/idUSBNG5428920080801?sp=true">here</a>.<br /><br />IndyMac Federal Bank is not part of this filing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-50841519594941606072008-07-29T12:07:00.001-07:002008-07-29T13:08:46.730-07:00Shaken Up But Ok...I am sure you know by now. There's a 5.6 or 5.8 earthquake here, centered in Chino Hills which is about 15-20 miles from where I am.<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=117631292961056724014.0004532e13c4a4ede9c08&s=AARTsJoSaW_bCzPr1R5ybFA6EBU3MuTRNg&ll=33.958501,-117.752101&spn=1.594692,2.334595&z=8&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=117631292961056724014.0004532e13c4a4ede9c08&ll=33.958501,-117.752101&spn=1.594692,2.334595&z=8&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /><br />It started out with two bumps, up and down, followed by horizontal motion. At first I thought there was a truck driving by but when the ground start shaking I realized it's an earthquake. I crawled under my desk thinking I'd got no chance trying to run the length of the warehouse if the building were to come down. Thank God the shaking stop seconds after it started.<br /><br />This is the strongest earthquake I felt since the Northridge Quake about 15 years ago. However, this one didn't feel as long as Northridge. Maybe today's happened in daylight vs. Northridge was very early in the morning...<br /><br />We experience no power outage nor interruption with internet service. Cell phones were not working but I think it's because the circuits were jammed by everyone trying to make a call. Text message didn't seem to work either. However, my Blackberry text service were working fine as I was able to communicate with family in New York.<br /><br />My co-worker lives in Chino Hills. I hope and pray everything is ok for everyone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-19781181113656690592008-07-21T14:56:00.000-07:002008-07-21T15:17:48.910-07:00Will You Pay to Get Home Sooner?There is a proposal called "Congestion Pricing" from our transportation agencies to turn the HOV Lanes into Toll Lanes. I was going to blog about it. TheRealZajac did an excellent job articulating the issue over at the <a href="http://thefcblog.com/">Foothill Cities Blog</a>. You can read about it it <a href="http://thefcblog.com/2008/07/21/congressional-reps-oppose-toll-lane-conversions/">here</a>. <br /><br />Regional traffic issues are complex. But one thing is clear, if you want less traffic on the highways, offer alternative modes of transportation which will get us out of our cars.... How about extending the Gold Line eastward?? Many who work in Downtown LA will be glad to give up their cars and ride the train to work and home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-21037001692327950102008-07-14T09:54:00.000-07:002008-07-15T10:59:45.686-07:00It's Not My Fault!.... Oh, Really??More on IndyMac....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mUhJJVpjlFU/SHzlGELFOBI/AAAAAAAAAQw/OTQ9HnE3sg8/s1600-h/senchuck_tv.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mUhJJVpjlFU/SHzlGELFOBI/AAAAAAAAAQw/OTQ9HnE3sg8/s200/senchuck_tv.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223301560205129746" border="0" /></a> Chuck Schumer said on Sunday, <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iMH1zWFNBBmWjVYySTQNCLNMTnigD91T6C100">"Don't blame me for calling 911..."</a> Yeah right... It's not certain that whether IndyMac' would have faced the same fate had Chucky not write that public letter to the Feds. One thing for sure, Chucky's letter destroyed however little confidence the depositors have. YEA, CONFIDENCE ......Bush was talking about it this morning...<br /><br />My friend, after finding out the bank's take over by the Feds, waited in line at 4am Monday morning....got all his deposits out...<br /><br />IndyMac Bank was brought down by the the mortgage crisis. Here's some thought....<br /><br />"Stated Income Loan" = LIE about your income<br />"No Doc Loan" = LIE about everything<br /><br />Where's the regulators when this was going on? The Feds say they <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/14/news/economy/fedrules/index.htm?cnn=yes">are on it now</a>. Better late than never...<br /><br />But, where did all that $$$ go? Who gets all the $$$. Any form of government rescue/bailout means us tax payers are left holding the beg!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-78747920471964827582008-07-11T17:34:00.000-07:002008-07-11T18:07:50.819-07:00Oh NO! Feds take over IndyMac BankWow, this is major. I never thought this would ever happen again after the Savings & Loans failures of the 80's.<br /><br />Pasadena Star News is reporting the <a href="http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_9854144">Feds take control of IndyMac Bank</a>.<br /><br />My home mortgage is with IndyMac Bank. No, it's not an ARM which would have cost me an arm and a leg, it's a conventional 30 year mortgage. What happen today will not change anything according to my agreement with the Bank.<br /><br />You $ is safe up to $100,000...<br /><br />here's a blurb from a friend who went to an IMB branch this afternoon, <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />"The Feds took over Indy Mac this afternoon and all their branches are closed. The new name is Indy Mac Fed and they will re-open next Monday normal hours. I imagine there will be long lines. I went to the one in MP Atlantic Square and there was a traffic jam and people milling around"</span><br /><br />Here's more information from <a href="http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/IndyMac.html">FIDC</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-61025722014841241542008-07-04T11:46:00.000-07:002008-07-04T11:51:42.232-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mUhJJVpjlFU/SG5woxM4JBI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/ICDg9aCIwms/s1600-h/american-flag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mUhJJVpjlFU/SG5woxM4JBI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/ICDg9aCIwms/s200/american-flag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219232863873410066" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-35122048828873428252008-06-30T10:07:00.000-07:002008-07-01T15:47:27.167-07:00Look Mom, NO Hands!Starting July 1, California will ban talking on a hand held cellphone while driving. Check out this funny video by Dan Neil of the L.A. Times. <br /><object id="WNVideoCanvasDEFAULTdivWNVideoCanvas" width="300" height="264"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="quality" value="high"> <param name="wmode" value="windowless"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="movie" value="http://video.latimes.com/global/video/flash/widgets/WNVideoCanvas.swf"> <embed src="http://video.latimes.com/global/video/flash/widgets/WNVideoCanvas.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="windowless" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="isShowIcon=true&affiliate=LATMS&affiliateNumber=421&backgroundAlphas=100,100,100,100&backgroundColors=eeeeee,eeeeee,eeeeee,eeeeee&backgroundRatios=0,25,130,255&backgroundRotation=270&borderAlpha=100&borderColor=aaaaaa&borderWidth=1&clipId=2613621&closecaptionPaneLabelText=&closePaneLabelText=&commercialHeadlinePrefix=Commercial&controlsBackgroundAlphas=100,100&controlsBackgroundColors=eeeeee,eeeeee&controlsBackgroundRatios=0,255&controlsBackgroundRotation=270&controlsBorderColor=212121&controlsBottomPadding=8&controlsButtonLeftBorderColor=c7c7c7&controlsButtonRightBorderColor=656464&controlsHeight=40&controlsOffFaceColor=828282&controlsOverFaceColor=454444&controlsSidePadding=8&defaultStyle=flatlight&disableTransport=false&domId=WNVideoCanvasDEFAULTdivWNVideoCanvas&emailErrorBorderColor=ae1a01&emailErrorMessageFaceColor=ae1a01&emailFormFieldAlphas=80&emailFormFieldColors=dddee0&emailFormFieldRatios=0&emailFormFieldRotation=90&emailInputFaceColor=454444&emailMessageLabelText=&emailPaneLabelText=&emailSentConfirmationMessage=&errorMessage=&fullScreenControlType=none&hasBevel=false&hasBorder=true&hasBottomBorder=true&hasFullScreen=true&hasLeftBorder=true&hasRightBorder=true&hasTopBorder=true&helpPage=http://www.latimes.com/about/site/stv-flash-video-about,0,301457.htmlstory&hostDomain=video.latimes.com&idKey=DEFAULT&imgPath=http://latms.images.worldnow.com/images/static/video/flash/&invalidRecipientFieldMessage=&invalidSenderFieldMessage=&isAutoStart=&isMute=&landingPage=http://www.latimes.com/video/&loadingMessage=&offFaceColor=828282&overFaceColor=454444&overlayBackgroundAlphas=92&overlayBackgroundColors=b6b6b5&overlayBackgroundRatios=0&overlayBackgroundRotation=90&overlayOffFaceColor=454444&overlayOverFaceColor=ffffff&pauseButtonText=&playAtActualSize=0&playButtonText=&playerHeight=264&playerWidth=300&recipientEmailLabelText=&sendEmailButtonText=&senderEmailLabelText=&senderNameLabelText=&shareListItemHighlightBorderColor=ffffff&shareListItemOffFaceColor=828282&shareListItemShadowBorderColor=b1b0b0&shareListListItemOverFaceColor=828282&sidePadding=3&smoothingMode=auto&staticImgPath=http://latms.images.worldnow.com&summaryGraphicMessage=&summaryGraphicScaleStyle=stretchToFit&summaryPaneLabelText=&tabBackgroundAlphas=100,100&tabBackgroundColors=e6e6e6,e6e6e6&tabBackgroundOverAlphas=100,100&tabBackgroundOverColors=eeeeee,eeeeee&tabBackgroundOverRatios=0,100&tabBackgroundRatios=75,255&tabBackgroundRotation=90&tabBackgroundSelectedAlphas=100&tabBackgroundSelectedBorderAlpha=100&tabBackgroundSelectedBorderColor=aaaaaa&tabBackgroundSelectedBorderWidth=1&tabBackgroundSelectedColors=eeeeee&tabBackgroundSelectedHasBevel=false&tabBackgroundSelectedHasBorder=true&tabBackgroundSelectedHasDropShadow=false&tabBackgroundSelectedRatios=0&tabBorderAlpha=100&tabBorderColor=aaaaaa&tabBorderWidth=1&tabFontSize=10&tabHasBevel=false&tabHasBorder=true&tabHasDropShadow=false&tabHeight=26&tabLeftBorderColor=e5e5e5&tabOffFaceColor=828282&tabOverBorderAlpha=100&tabOverBorderWidth=1&tabOverFaceColor=454444&tabOverHasBevel=false&tabOverHasBorder=true&tabRightBorderColor=868686&tabShadowColor=333333&topPadding=3&videoSliderBackgroundColor=cccccc&videoSliderKnobBackgroundAlphas=100,100&videoSliderKnobBackgroundColors=cccccc,cccccc&videoSliderKnobBackgroundRatios=0,255&videoSliderKnobBackgroundRotation=90&videoSliderKnobBorderColor=959495&videoSliderKnobOffFaceColor=444444&videoSliderKnobOverFaceColor=212121&videoSliderKnobShadowColor=5a5a5a&videoSliderLoadIndicatorColor=828282&videoSliderProgressIndicatorColor=454444&volumeSliderOffColor=cccccc&volumeSliderOverColor=828282&" width="300" height="264"></embed></object><br /><br />Can you imagine people doing these while driving? Then again, I've seen women putting on makeup while driving. It's legal? How about checking email on your BlackBerry (guilty party here...)?<br /><br />Oh, be sure to wear your headphone when you are yapping on the phone while driving. IT'S THE LAW!<br /><br />7-1: David Pierson of the Times has more on <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-handsfreelaw1-2008jul01,0,2305542,print.story">hands-free cellphone law enforcement</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-11146301487964718522008-06-29T16:45:00.000-07:002008-06-30T12:15:14.796-07:00"JAPS GO HOME"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mUhJJVpjlFU/SGgFdU1cl6I/AAAAAAAAAPs/1V9cPREvMGw/s1600-h/IMG00054.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mUhJJVpjlFU/SGgFdU1cl6I/AAAAAAAAAPs/1V9cPREvMGw/s200/IMG00054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217426169675945890" border="0" /></a><br />This morning, I found our mailbox in pieces, laying on the ground, ran over by a car during the night. My house is next to a high traffic intersection. It's not a strange thing a car jumped the curb and ran up to the sidewalk. It has happened before...<br /><br />As I was picking up the pieces, I found a note stuffed inside the mailbox...How nice, I thought to myself, the guy is nice enough to leave me his/her contact information...<br /><br />Boy, was I wrong! I found the scribble be...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mUhJJVpjlFU/SGgTIWsUMOI/AAAAAAAAAP8/ereLdgFgHMo/s1600-h/IMG00053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mUhJJVpjlFU/SGgTIWsUMOI/AAAAAAAAAP8/ereLdgFgHMo/s200/IMG00053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217441202560053474" border="0" /></a><br />"JAPS GO HOME"<br /><br />My message to the person who did this...<br /><br />First of all, I am an American! A Chinese American, proud to be!!! Go home? Home is here!!! If you don't like it, YOU GO HOME!!! You are a coward! You did this hiding in the dark of the night...<br /><br />In a few months, this country is getting ready to possibly elect the first African American president. It saddens me that we still encounter this kind of bigotry today. Chinese American Citizens Alliance was founded over 100 years ago to combat discrimination. As a member of the Alliance, this type of incident only motivates me to work harder! We are still fighting the same battle!<br /><br />Peace!<br /><br />P.S. Thank you for all concerned phone calls and emails. I have reported this incident to the police....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-541168277678589222008-06-13T22:10:00.000-07:002008-06-13T22:15:08.405-07:00Rest in Peace, Tim Russert...I can not believe my eyes when I read the news of the passing of Tim Russert, host of NBC News "Meet the Press."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-84983981585489480892008-06-05T19:30:00.000-07:002008-06-05T19:33:24.466-07:00Noise to Music?<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v233/pyoung90012/?action=view&current=Guitar.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/pyoung90012/Guitar.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This guitar has been sitting here for a while....I am going to learn how to play it...Wish me luck and get ear plugs in the meanwhile....:)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100640125279637768.post-19562226406464189662008-06-05T13:08:00.000-07:002008-06-05T16:53:09.321-07:00Arcadia Alarm Permit FeeI was watching the City Council meeting on cable TV the other night (yeah, I know, I was bored and there's nothing else interesting to watch). One of the items discussed was a proposed fee for people who installed alarm in their homes and businesses. The proposal was a $40/year "Alarm Fee".... I guess we have to paid to make our homes safer. Wait! We do! We pay to get the alarm installed, we pay to have our alarm system monitored.... Now the city or the police department wants to get the hands in my wallet for more...gee, what's new?!<br /><br />The main reason for the city to consider imposing a fee is more than 90% of the time police responded to false alarms. Each time costs the City $175.<br /><br />Here's my questions, how many false alarms does the police respond to in an average day? According to the Police Chief, majority of the false alarms are caused by repeat offenders. REPEAT OFFENDERS, did you say? Do we have to pay our policy officers if there NO false alarms to respond to? Do alarms help the officers do their jobs? Can alarms be a crime deterrent?<br /><br />It is obvious the police or the city knows who are repeat offenders. Why doesn't the city or PD charge them?! If they cause the problem, should they pay to fix it?! Why make everyone pay for the few who cause the problem? I believe alarms help police and they deter crime. Shouldn't we encourage home owners install properly installed and monitored alarms? Charging an annual fee will encourage no one.<br /><br />This one really amazed me.... One of the councilmen said (to the Chief), "I know you are out sourcing the billing and administration of this....They (the vendor) take their cut and it doesn't cost the city a dime. We can do this..." I can't believe I voted for you!<br /><br />Hey, Councilman, just because it's easy and doesn't cost the city to bill me and get my money, it doesn't mean you should to it! HANDS OFF MY WALLET!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6