Open Letters

Dear city of Moreno Valley:
Driving through your town is a big pain, thanks to your love of traffic signals (that you don't have synced).
But do you really have to make things worse by having construction on nearly ever main east-west/north-south roadway that leads to a freeway?
Seriously. In the two-plus years I've been a regular driver through the town, I can count on one hand the number of days I don't recall coming to, or going around, areas of road construction.
I know that some of them are not your fault, as they work to upgrade water pipelines through the city. But c'mon. The other day I dove onto a side street to get around a jam caused by construction on Cactus ... only to run into more road work. As I turned back to Cactus, I came upon the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. First, there was the "END ROAD WORK" sign, followed by, not 10 yards away, a "ROAD WORK AHEAD" sign.
It was absurd.
About as absurd as the flashing arrow sign being placed across the busy intersection from where the lane actually ends (as it has been at Perris and Alessandro recently). The "LEFT LANE CLOSED AHEAD" sign is great, but the arrows give us no clue as to when it actually closes.
While we appreciate the fact that you're upgrading your infrastructure, and welcoming new businesses (the reason for the construction at Perris/Alessandro), isn't there a way to help the beleaguered drivers going through your city?
Sincerely, The angry guy yelling and pulling his hair out at every light that turns yellow just before he gets there.

Dear gas/oil companies:
"Summer blend?" "Increased demand?" "Market conditions?"
Uh-huh. Sure.
It was really, really nice of you to raise your prices by 40 cents in about two weeks recently. I love the fact that you get to do that and give us those excuses. Because if any other industry did it, there'd be riots.
You've got us by the balls, and you know it. We're so conditioned to paying whatever you charge, that you can change it at will and we'll keep coming.
How about easing up a bit on that profit expectation for a little bit longer? Take it in the shorts just like the rest of us, who've endured pay cuts, furloughs and layoffs.
Other businesses have. Stater Bros., for example, posted lower profits over a recent period ... but saw sales go up. It inspires loyalty in your customers when you make the effort to make things affordable for them when you sacrifice your bottom line.
Well, hope all your research and development helps you when the revolution comes ...
Sincerely, The guy who's looking forward to getting a hybrid or electric car

Dear Laker Fan:
I love your enthusiasm. I really do.
But let's talk about those car flags for a second.
They were all cute earlier this decade, and it's a nice way to show your team pride without putting a permanent sticker on your car, but there comes a point when enough IS enough.
And really, I have no problem if you want to put ONE on your car. Because you know when (if?) the LA Kings make a run to the playoffs, there'll be one in my car.
But two? Your car looks like it should have diplomatic plates and secret service riding along. And three (or more)? Forget about it. We got the point with the first one. You're a Laker fan. But if you're a big enough Laker fan to be sporting three flags now, shouldn't you just break down and get a cling for the back of your car or something? And why just break them out now? Why not drive with them all season?
In the meantime, go Lakers. Finish this thing off so Kobe can get his ring without Shaq and my nights can get quieter.
Sincerely, the guy who's just bitter because he hasn't had a reason to put a team flag in his car.

Dear Costco:
Why do you tease us so much?
You bring in a new product that we try and love ... only to not see it there the next time we're in one of your warehouses (sometimes, only a couple of days later).
I understand that's the nature of your business. And that you only have so much room for some of these items. But ... they're sooooo good.
Sigh. Better now.
Sincerely, the guy who bought three bags of apple chips before they disappeared again (and after the baked potato chips with pepper were replaced)

Dear Gary Bettman (and anyone else in the NHL front office):
You need to do something about this schedule.
Get new TV partners, shorten the regular season, shorten the time period of the playoffs. Anything. There is no excuse for you to have been in the position for the NBA to even have had a chance to finish before you did this week.
But that almost happened. The Lakers could have finished a sweep on Thursday before your Game 7 was played, and that would have been tragic.
Your regular season starts a good two- to three-weeks before the NBA's does. There is no good reason for you to still be playing at the same time.
Let's face facts. Your league needs all the coverage it can get in the MSM, and you can't finish before the more popular league? You're already fighting baseball and NASCAR for extra eyeballs, and you're taking on the Lakers? With your final games going head-to-head with the NBA Finals? Hell, a Denver-Orlando final would be getting more coverage than your storied championship.
I know you have a lot on your plate, what with the whole fight to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix (and out of Jim Balsillie's hands) and a 2009-10 season that will be interrupted by the Olympics (and BTW, shutting down the season for Canada in 2010, and not for Russia in 2014 is bad form, especially with all the Russian stars you promote). But let's find a way to finish this thing sooner. End of May would be nice.
Sincerely, someone tired of seeing the NHL taking a back seat