Time to start thinking about Halloween!

The season of candy and costumes is just around the corner. Have you picked out your costume yet? If you want a few good ideas for costumes year take a look at this article Movie Inspired Costumes for 2010 It has some great suggestions for kids and adults!

Sacramento, CA Area Museums Your Kids Will Love

If you look around us, the leaves are starting to turn colors, and the weather is sarting to cool down. Fall and Winter are almost here. that means finding indoor activities for your kids! Well, here is a great suggestion...the museums. This is a fun and educational activity for the whole family! To see which museums are at the top of the list check out this article on kid friendly museums in the Sacramento Area.

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A Personal Review on Budgetplaces.com Travel Booking Engine

I recently planned a trip to San Francisco. I was on a tight budget and just wanted to get away for a night with my honey. I was browsing the web for hotel rates in the area. I tried the obvious booking engines such as Hotwire, Priceline and Orbitz, along with several others. I was quoted anywhere from $80-90 for a low rate seedy hotel to 200-300+ for a basic hotel room in the area I was visiting. When I stumbled across this website called Budgetplaces.com. So, I put in my travel dates and hit search. I couldn't believe how much cheaper their prices were compared to the other big name companies! I was able to find a hotel room in the Downtown/Civic Center area for $80.00 including all taxes and fees! Plus, the hotel offered free parking! If you know anything about San Francisco, then you know how expensive and time consuming parking can be. When i checked the prices through the actual hotel website, I was quoted $179. Budgetplaces.com was less than half their price and cheaper than the prices from the more popular sites. Also, with Budgetplaces.com you only have to put down a small portion of the room total to reserve it and then you pay the balance upon arrival at the hotel.

But still, I was skeptical of using this company to book my hotel room. You know the whole 'too good to be true motto'. So, i decided to do a Google search on the website to see what previous customers had to say about their experience. I was only able to find one comment and I think that she was confused about the websites use of different currencies. You see, the Budgetplaces.com website is International, so you have to choose your language and currency in order to see the amount you will have to pay. From what I can gather the Budgetplaces.com website is a fairly new addition to the travel world. So, me being the risk taker I am, and finding it too hard to pass up a good deal when I see one, took the leap of faith and booked my room.

Wow! Was I glad I took that leap!! My hotel room was reserved as promise, the room rate was as promised, and I paid exactly what I thought I would, with no surprises!! They even gave me a personal call the next morning to make sure that everything went good and I received my hotel room. That's what I call service!! In fact, when I checked out of my hotel the next morning even the clerk was surprised at the low rate that I had received. Budgetplaces.com offers accommodations for hotels, motels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, even apartments! If you ask me, Budgetplaces.com is an excellent travel site to book your hotel accommodations. I will be using them again and would recommend them to anyone looking to save some money on a hotel room!

If you wish to learn more about Budgetplaces.com, please visit their website at: http://www.blogger.com/http//:www.budgetplaces.com

Judge Walker's Ruling on Prop 8

Today, Judge Vaughn Walker, lifted the stay of prop 8 with a 6 day temporary extension on the stay. Which means that same-sex couples can begin receiving marriage licenses starting on August 18, 2010 at 5pm. Judge Walker, has given a good push to the all time debate of same-sex marriages and at the same time his ruling will allow time for an appeal to be made. Sounds like a fair ruling, giving ample opportunity to the people surrounding this debate.

The 14th amendment states that: "Only a marriage between a man and woman is valid and recognized in California." Walker stated that he could find "no rational basis" that marriage should be defined as only between a man and a woman.

With Judge Vaughn Walker being only one of three openly homosexual judges, he is receiving a lot of  criticism stating that he is unable to make an unbiased decision, since he is a supporter and activist on same-sex marriages. Supporters of  Prop 8 have filed an appeal and will be heard in front of Justice Anthony Kennedy.  

If the stay is granted then what? Back to the drawing board. It seems to me that a lot of money and a lot of people's time are being wasted on this issue. We have so many more issues that critically effect our state. Isn't there something better that we could be spending our money and time on? If same-sex marriage is passed in California, it will help generate revenue for many local businesses and government. According to estimates given in the Prop 8 trials in 2008, San Francisco stands to gain approximately more than $37 million a year and the state just under 500 million in three years. Some people seem to think that this amount of money is chump change compared to our state deficit. Well, if our state is so broke and our economy is hurting too, is it still chump change? Isn't generating a little more revenue better than no revenue?

I think that there are too many people in office that are stuck in their own ways. They are the ones that are using their personal and religious beliefs to hinder the just judicial system, that our country and state rely on for change. The back and forth of this issue is a long drawn out debate that is frustrating for both sides! I say, enough already! Grant our same-sex couples in love, the right to marry and help generate more income for our state and local businesses that are hurting in our slowed economy.  

Jet Blue Employees Incident, A Look at Society's Lack of Common Courtesy

Let's face it. We all have bad days, and some are worse than others. But is it really the person who just served your foods fault? Probably not. So why treat them as if they just ran your cat over, just because your boss yelled at you today? If you were the Jet Blue employee that got hit in the head with a bag, followed by no apology, would you have reacted the same? I believe that Steven Slater had just had enough. The service industry can be a fun and rewarding job, but at the same time it can be frustrating and stressful. In the service industry, it is your job to put the customers needs before yours. To insure that they are happy with the service and feel good about their experience. Doesn't sound too difficult does it? Well, let me tell you, it is. Every time you're treated in a rude and impolite manner, the harder it gets to tolerate the next wise guy who lacks respect for others.

Having been in the service industry for several years, I can relate to his frustration. I think that our society as a whole has forgotten about a thing called common courtesy. People are supposed to do things like, offer an old lady help cross the street, a friendly wave when you are let into traffic by another driver, apologize for your mistakes, a simple excuse me, an I'm sorry, or a please and a thank you! So many people today have forgotten about the world around them. Has our society become so self-involved, that they have forgotten how to treat others with courtesy and respect! I am a firm believer of the phrase " Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you" This is a long lived motto by many, but forgotten by many more. I think that it is high time that people stepped out of their own little worlds and take a look around them.

We all deserve respect and courtesy, the same as the people around you. Take time to do the little things that matter so much. It only takes a second for a thank you, but will last a lifetime for the recipient! So, next time you are out and about, make sure you are courteous and respectful to those around you! You never know, you might get treated the same!

Gay and Lesbian Marriage, What's the Big Deal?

So, the other day I was sitting around watching the tube, when a news spot came on. The anchor was talking about the Prop 8 craze.  He stated that who are we to claim the sanctity of marriage when you can go out, get wasted, get married by an Elvis impersonator in the middle of the night and have no recollection of it the morning after? I thought to myself, he had a good point. I have always been the one to say , "To each his own". I believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and views. What works fine for one, may not work for the other. With all that has been said and that is going to be said on this issue,  the end of this debate seems to be nowhere in sight. Is it safe to assume that the state will legalize marijuana, before it allows same sex marriages?  What's the big deal? Why does our society fear change? Our nation is supposed to be one of equality and understanding. Isn't that why people are literally dying to get into our country? As far as this issue goes, it seems that neither equality, nor understanding are being considered. We have many brave men and women fighting for our country. For our freedom, for our rights!! Many of which are part of our gay and lesbian community. It's OK for them to die fighting for our country and our freedom, but who is fighting for them and their rights? I think that California needs to step out of the dark ages, expand their horizons, and come to the realization that society in our country has evolved, and with that our rights and privileges should expand right along with it. Many same sex couples are already leading a "married" life anyways, so why not offer them the opportunity to share in the advantages that a legal marriage can bring. When two people in love wish to experience and share the joy that a marriage can bring to their life, who are we to deny them? People are people. Whether you are white, black, Asian, Mexican, straight, gay or lesbian, we all have feelings, opinions, and the right to lead a happy life. Is it really going to make marriage less significant? If anything, I believe that it will make it stronger, as it will allow more love to be shared within and throughout our communities.