Some people just ask for mocking...

Racetrack, neighbor in a heated fight

Helicopters buzzing overhead, rock music pounding late into the night, blinding floodlights and really loud cars -- this is the nightmare that has come true for Mark Rivard, owner of a brand new dream home on a hilltop overlooking the Altamont Motorsports Park raceway, of all places.

"I'm living under conditions you wouldn't let a rat live under," Rivard said. "It's been horrible."

It all started a couple of years back when Rivard, president of Placement Pros, a job recruitment service in Pleasanton, started building his multimillion-dollar home on a 57-acre plot he purchased in 1999 on the rural eastern edge of Alameda County.

Never mind that the property line was just 120 feet from the edge of the racetrack.

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What kind of moron buys property right next to a race track and then is shocked when there's, y'know, loud cars and music coming from the racetrack? Altamont is a local landmark, and trust me, in a fight between a revenue generating attraction and some millionaire in his McMansion, bet on the attraction.

This is like buying a house a mile from an airport then demanding that the planes stop flying overhead.

My favorite part? "I have rights." I'd love to see where this jerk thinks his choice to live next door to a racetrack (that has been there for forty years) trumps the rights of the business owner and race fans. He thought the track was going to close? Too bad, dude, you were wrong. Now go cry me a river.

It's just this sort of arrogant prick that I love to see get his due.

Ah, the voices of true conservatives.

Time For Us To Go - a collection of essays by conservative writers saying that GOP control of all branches of government is as bad as having Democrats in control. I agree with them.

It's interesting to see the mainstream of the Republican party finally come to the realization that they were sold a pack of lies by Karl Rove and crew.

Thanks to wcg for the link.

Like Rams to the slaughter...

Holy crap, we have a football team!

San Francisco 49ers: 20
St. Louis Rams: 13

The surprising San Francisco 49ers put on the greater show on turf, making just enough big plays for another win over the St. Louis Rams.

Antonio Bryant caught a 72-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith, and San Francisco's defense stood strong in the final minutes of its second straight home-opening win over its oldest rivals, 20-13 Sunday.

Smith passed for 233 yards and Frank Gore rushed for 127 — including a 32-yard score — as the 49ers (1-1) followed up a narrow loss at Arizona last week with a cohesive victory over the Rams, who lost at Candlestick Park last September as well.

Smith completed just 11 of 22 passes but made good throws when it mattered, while San Francisco's defense forced Marc Bulger's fourth-quarter fumble and made another big stop in the closing minutes.

Under new coach Scott Linehan, the Rams (1-1) no longer have the "Greatest Show on Turf" offense that tormented the Niners for so many years — and they've scored just one touchdown in their first two games.

Coordinator Jim Haslett's defense played well again, but yielded those big plays by a San Francisco offense that rarely gained yards in bunches while going 4-12 last season.

Bulger went 19-of-34 for 185 yards and Stephen Jackson rushed for 103 yards — but mistakes and big stops limited the Rams to three points and 118 yards in the second half.

San Francisco scored its two touchdowns in the first 5 minutes after halftime, and the defense made them stand up.

After Bulger's fumble was recovered by Isaac Sopoaga at the St. Louis 17, Joe Nedney hit his second field goal to put the 49ers up by seven points with 5:20 to play.

The Rams then went three-and-out, with Bryant Young sacking Bulger — and the Niners ran out the clock, with Gore surging for key gains just as Marshall Faulk often ground up time against the 49ers in years past.

Our defense was amazing, sacking the Rams six times.