“About 14% of Americans now have at least one tattoo, but amoung 25 to 29 year olds, one third do.” – Fast Company 2010 April Edition

I just ran a speed test over at SpeedTest.net from my Comcast connection at home in the Bay Area.  I am getting about 20 mbps down and 3 mbps up.  How about you?

This is a random post but I’ve found my ficus love to drink coffee.  I think everyone knows you can pick up used coffee grounds at your local coffee shop (Starbucks etc) but I’ve also found plants love room temperature coffee.  Evidently coffee is high in nitrogen which is essential to plant growth.

Just a few blocks from where I work a group of protestors showed up which resulted in the onramps and offramps of the Interstate being closed.  My question to you is has a protest or bumper sticker changed your mind on a subject matter or upon seeing it did the protest or bumper sticker actually make you feel stronger than you had felt previously?  I’m all for expressing your religious or political views, but wonder if bumper stickers and protests over a highway overpass is the best way to get your point across.  It is one thing to express your passion for something and another to establish a relationship with people so each side can understand one another’s point of view.  By causing even larger Friday evening traffic jams I wonder if those who were for or opposed to the cause below feel any different as a result, or if they in fact feel even stronger than they had before.

“PLEASANTON — A tea party protest over health care reform that began near Stoneridge Mall spilled onto an Interstate 580 overcrossing and forced the closure of connector ramps at Foothill Road on Friday afternoon.  Approximately 400 demonstrators, fairly evenly divided between the pro- and anti-health care reform camps, showed up for a 4 p.m. protest organized by the Pleasanton Tea Party. The groups gathered outside the office of Congressman Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, but began marching toward Dublin and the I-580 overcrossing at Foothill and San Ramon roads.  Lining either side of the overpass, waving signs and flags, chanting, and blowing whistles, the well-behaved demonstrators fought for the attention of passing motorists.  Pro-health care reform marchers chanted: “What do we want? Health care! When do we want it? Now!”

Many anti-health care reform demonstrators carried signs demanding legislators “Kill the bill!”  Police officers and the California Highway Patrol, closed off the ramps as the marchers descended on the overcrossing, where they were still shouting and waving to cars passing below on the freeway Friday evening.  The closed ramps caused backups in both directions on the freeway. By 7:15 p.m., most of the protesters had vacated the overpass and traffic was again allowed, Pleasanton police dispatchers said.  Anti-health care reform protesters also demonstrated Wednesday and said they are contemplating calling for another protest Saturday morning at the same location.  Pleasanton Tea Party president Bridget Melson said her group targeted McNerney’s office because the congressman is still on the fence on the health care reform issue.  Joan Johnson of Pleasanton came out to join those demonstrating in favor of health care reform. She said she supports health care reform in principle and worries there are not adequate controls on health care costs, and that many have no coverage.”  Source: http://www.insidebayarea.com/