Look at this funny cow picture I took!

This cow picture always cracks me up! I think it's so funny for some reason!

Shop the line! Phoenix, Arizona

While the the Metro is being built, there are a lot of shops that feel the pinch of their shoppers not being able to get to them as easy as before. This site, www.ShopTheLine.net, is dedicated to supporting small business on the Phoenix portion of the METRO Light Rail line.

Buying goods and services from local companies is the smartest investment we all can make.

The city of Phoenix encourages you to purchase here first, and keep your community going strong.

Click here for the official website!

Other cities may be ready to follow Phoenix and ban texting

Phoenix passed an anti text messaging ordinance in late September that fines drivers from $100 to $250.

Apache Junction Mayor John Insalaco has indicated he intends to discuss a text-messaging ban with other city officials this week.

Mesa Mayor Keno Hawker says he'd like a statewide ban, so drivers don't have to keep track of different city ordinances.

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman also wants the Legislature to find a statewide solution to texting and driving.

Chandler city staff hasn't received any formal proposals from the city council or the police department, but it expects discussion about the text-message ban in the near future.

Seems like common sense to me but who knows...

Another great day!

What a wonderful day it's tuning into. This marks the third day in a row with double digit temps! YAY! It feels so good to get outside and walk around or play some basketball with the kids.

It's gonna be a great fall I think.

Your guilty pleasure...

I thought I would give a little free advertising for some good people at the website mysweetconnection.com/

It for people of Arizona to stop in and chat, have some fun and win prizes! There is so much to do there you'll just have to have a look for yourself.

Enjoy :)

Mercury first WNBA championship!

The Phoenix Mercury's slogan for the 2007 WNBA playoffs was "One team, one city, one goal."

On Tuesday, it was one big party as the new WNBA champions and about 1,000 of their fans celebrated at a U.S. Airways Center rally. A championship banner was unfurled as purple and gold confetti fluttered from the ceiling.

Phoenix rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat Detroit in the best-of-five series. The final score of the clincher - PHX 108, DET 92 - flashed on a scoreboard above the dais.

Championships are rare in this city. Among the four major pro sports teams, only the Arizona Diamondbacks, in 2001, have brought a trophy to the desert.

Way to go Phoenix Mercury!

Is the heat going away yet?

Finally we get double digits here in Arizona instead of the intense triple digit temps we've had for so long.

There was even some light rain late last night followed by a really cool lightening storm!

Tougher DUI laws take effect in Arizona

Finally something to help combat the ever present problem of drunk drivers!

Motorists who insist on driving while drunk will find themselves facing a new penalty if they get arrested in Arizona from now on.

A new law that took effect 12:01 a.m. last Wednesday says those convicted of even a first offense will be able to drive only vehicles equipped with an ignition interlock device for the next year.

That's not the only change in statutes in store for those who break the law.

Judges are going to lose their discretion to reduce the jail time of those guilty of "extreme'' DUI. These are motorists whose blood-alcohol content (BAC) is at least .15, nearly twice the legal limit of .08.

And legislators agreed to create a whole new penalty for the most inebriated of motorists: Anyone with a BAC of at least .20 will spend at least 45 days in jail.

This year's changes are the latest in a series of efforts to cut down on alcohol-related accidents in Arizona.

But the key measure instead focuses on preventing repeat offenders.

The devices are wired into a vehicle's ignition. Motorists must provide a "clean" breath sample - below .04 BAC - to get the vehicle to start.

Arizona first started requiring interlocks in 1998. But the law has, until now, limited that mandate to the vehicles of repeat offenders as well as those who are convicted of "extreme DUI", a figure that means a BAC of at least .15.

Cydney DeModica, spokeswoman for the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, said about 7,000 of these devices, which can be rented from six private firms for about $60 a month, are in use at any given time.

But until now, only New Mexico mandated these interlocks for even first-time offenders.

Two other laws deal with those whose level of intoxication is far beyond the legal limit.

State law requires those convicted of extreme DUI to serve at least 30 days in jail. But the law also has let a judge reduce that to 10 days if a person completes court-ordered treatment or screening programs. That option is now a thing of the past.

And legislators have also decided to crack down even harder on the most intoxicated motorists: Another new law spells out those who get behind the wheel with a BAC of at least .20 must serve at least 45 days in jail.

This is something that has been needed for so long now. You can now feel sfaer when driving the streets and highways of Arizona.

Coyotes will host the third annual CoyotesFest from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15

Phoenix Coyotes President and Chief Operating Officer Douglas Moss announced that the Coyotes will host the third annual CoyotesFest from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 at Jobing.com Arena where the entire team will be on hand for autographs, photos and more. The party is the final stop on the 2007 Coyotes Caravan and will begin with the unveiling of the new RBK Edge Coyotes jerseys followed by two split-squad practices beginning at 11:30 a.m. Single game tickets for the 2007-08 season will also go on sale for the first time at the Jobing.com Arena box office.

In addition to player autograph and photo booths, General Manager Don Maloney and Coyotes executives will host a town hall meeting where fans can ask questions about the upcoming season. The Coyotes broadcast team will be conducting interviews and providing commentary throughout the day while the 2007-08 Pack Dancers will make their season debut.

All fans in attendance will receive 10% off on the new RBK Edge Coyotes jerseys while season-ticket holders, as always, will receive a 15% discount. There will also be an Old Logo Item Garage Sale.

Kids can play in the interactive kids zone featuring inflatables, face-painting, balloon artists, and bubble hockey. All fans will have the chance to experience life as a broadcaster with the Coyotes up in the press box and can try their hand at play-by-play in the mock broadcasting booth. Those in attendance can also compete against Coyotes players in “Coyotes Feud.”

The doors open at 10:30 a.m. and admission is free with the exception of a $5 fee for the press level experience and itemized prices for the garage sale, with all proceeds going to Coyotes Charities. The Aramark concession stands will also be open.

Family Fun Fest at the Phoenix Zoo on Sept. 29

Just wanted to let you know about the Family Fun Fest! It will be held at the Phoenix Zoo on Sept. 29 from 10am-1pm.

There will be lots of kids activities "Mad Science Experiments", "Baby Signs Story Time", "KidzArt activities", "Music, Movement & Magination", and lots more!

Tickets will be sold in advance at www.azfea.org

The cost is $7 per person (kids 3 and under are free) AND your ticket includes admission to the zoo! So you can check out the fun fest, then spend the day at the zoo! YAY!!!

If you need more info, contact Jenny at funfest@azfea.org

Hope to see you there having a blast!

Can you imagnie anything like this!

This place looks unreal! So beautiful and peaceful. Have a look at this picture of a place called "Havasu Falls"!



There are a ton of great falls, some are called the Navajo Falls, Mooney Falls, and Beaver Falls!

Here is a link for more information - click here!

I'm sure this would make for a great time with friends and family! They have camping, horseback riding, lodges and even offer helicopters rides! You need reservations!

Should be a nice night in AZ!

Weather predictions for tonight are looking good. Supposed to be around the 80 degree mark with a chance of thunderstorms! I love the storms here in Arizona. The lightening and thunder are simply amazeing. I hope we get some rain!

I'll try and take some pictures if the storm does end up here!

Labor Day weekend fun!

What a great Labor Day weekend we had! We all hung out at the homestead and had a BBQ with a ton of friends and family. I know a lot of people headed out to the lakes and did some boating. I was told that the police were there in large numbers running the DUI check point. I hope none of you got busted!

I think it's more than common sense not to drink and drive in the first place, but to drink and drive on a holiday weekend...your just asking for trouble!

Anyway, I hope all of you enjoyed your Labor Day weekend as much as we did!

Mercury to face Shock in Finals

The Mercury will begin their third straight playoff series on the road when they travel to Detroit to face the Shock in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night (4:30 pm., ESPN2). Game 2 will be Saturday at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Get tickets by calling 602-252-WNBA

Old dog track on the outskirts of Arizona

While driving out towards California on the I10 from Arizona, I would always see this old abandoned dog race track not far from the FWY. I had always wondered what it must look like inside and what the story behind it was. Although I have never found out any historical information about the old dog race track, I was able to get inside and take some really cool photos.

A while ago I went driving around the dog track to see how one would gain entrance to it. It was not as easy as you might think. There is only one way into the track and it's a small opening in a chain link fence which has a few old trailers behind it. I assume people live in the trailers because there were kids toys scattered all over the dirt as well as old equipment, for what I have no idea. It gave me a "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" feeling so I just floored it and drove straight to the track.

Anyway, this is a slide show of the best photos I took when I was there. They are 5 seconds long and there are about 37 I think total. There was some real interesting things to look at, however the whole place is infested with birds and has about 2 feet of bird crap everywhere!

Have a look at my video!

Mexican Trucks Get the Go Ahead

Another sad day in history as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a request by the Teamsters and other groups to halt the Bush Administrations test program allowing Mexican trucks to haul goods on U.S. highways.

The Bush administration can go ahead with their pilot program that will allow as many as 100 Mexican trucking companies to freely haul their cargo across the border and anywhere within the U.S. for the next year, a federal appeals court ruled late Friday.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request made by the Teamsters union, the Sierra Club and the nonprofit Public Citizen to halt the program. The appeals court ruled the groups have not satisfied the legal requirements to immediately stop what the government is calling a "demonstration project", but can continue to argue their case.

The trucking program is scheduled to begin Thursday. In court papers filed earlier this week, the Teamsters and Sierra Club argued there won't be enough oversight of the drivers coming into the U.S. from Mexico, and that public safety would be endangered in a hasty attempt by the government to comply with parts of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The trade agreement requires that all roads in the United States, Mexico and Canada to be opened to carriers from all three countries. Canadian trucking companies have full access to U.S. roads, but Mexican trucks can only travel about 20 miles inside the country at certain border crossings like in San Diego and El Paso, Texas.

As an informed citizen of Arizona I can only hope nothing bad comes from this, however knowing all the we do about Mexico, I feel afraid for my fellow drivers out on the road. I think this will prove to be a huge mistake that will be evident by more drugs in the U.S., more illegal aliens being brought in and put in stash houses by the coyotes and more truck related road accidents then ever before. I hope I am wrong, but I feel it seems to be the future with the current administration.

Drive careful and keep your eye's open!

UFC star Tito Ortiz in AZ for blood drive

Mixed marshal arts champ Tito Ortiz is fighting off blood shortages this Labor Day holiday weekend with United Blood Services, Arizona's largest non-profit community blood provider. Ortiz has signed on as host of the "Ultimate Blood Drive II" today, Sunday, September 2, at Glendale Community College. All donors who join his fight to save lives will meet Tito Ortiz and receive a personalized autographed photo of the champ. Participants will be entered into drawings for apparel from his Team Punishment Athletics clothing line and a limited edition lithograph photograph. One donor will win lunch with Ortiz in appreciation for joining his crusade!

Ortiz may be known as "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy", but much of his time and energy outside the fighting arena is dedicated to charitable activities. Through the "Ultimate Blood Drive II", he is helping United Blood Services knock out the traditional decline in donations over the Labor Day holiday. Many regular donors take off for extended weekend get-a-ways this time of year, thus reducing the available donor pool by as much as 25%. Tito Ortiz has challenged his fans to step up and save lives.

Help Tito win his fight to save lives by donating blood on September 2 at Glendale Community College. To make a donation appointment, call 1-877-448-GIVE (4483) toll free or visit bloodhero.com and enter "Tito" for the sponsor code.

Phoenix Mercury kicking butt!

Arizona's very own Phoenix Mercury is doing a great job and has made it into the 2007 Western Conference Finals! Not only that, but they have won game 1 in San Antonio and are heading home after beating the Silver Stars!

The Phoenix Mercury will play again today, September 1st, against the Silver Stars for game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. With their backs to the wall, the Silver Stars are in a must win situation in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Don't miss any of tonight's exciting basketball action!

Click here for the Phoenix Mercury schedule.