Net planned to thwart suicides from bridge

In addition to being one of San Francisco’s most iconic landmarks and a popular tourist destination, the Golden Gate Bridge is a morbidly popular spot for suicide. An estimated 1,300 people have jumped off the bridge to their deaths since it opened in 1937.

Now, the transportation commission that oversees the colorful bridge (first-timer visitors quickly learn its color is red, not gold) is moving forward with a plan to install a net about 20 feet below the span. The net would be wide enough to catch jumpers; the hope is that it would dissuade anyone from trying.

The cost to end suicides off the bridge: $50 million to design, build and install the net.

E-mail service will help conservatives, Reagan’s son

Michael Reagan is lending his father’s name to begin an e-mail service for conservatives, @reagan.com

“You now can put your name next to the name of the Greatest Conservative of all, my father Ronald Reagan,” Michael Reagan announces in a news release/marketing e-mail. “When you purchase your e-mail address @Reagan.com you are supporting truly conservative causes.”

That’s fine, but he is exaggerating – at best – when he argues conservatives should not use any of the other big e-mail providers because “every time you use your e-mail from companies like Google, AOL, Yahoo, Hotmail, Apple and others, you are helping the liberals.”

His reasoning? “These companies are, and will continue, to be huge supporters financially and with technology of those that are hurting our country.” Talk about overgeneralization.

Those companies don’t dwell nearly as much on the red and blue political colors as they do green – for money. And Reagan is also seeing green – while those other services generally offer e-mail free, your @reagan.com address will cost $39.95 a year ($34.95 if you act by Saturday).