Best Roadsters Ever

Suffering from a mid-life crisis or whatever? Roadster! I've owned a couple of roadsters in my life. There was a red Mazda Miata ... then the yellow M-B SLK-230 ... and finally a blue Chrysler Crossfire. So, vroom vroom ... I am a roadster-authority! Most of the cars that I've owned in my adult life have been two-seater sports cars!

Do you know that I recently traded in my 1999 sunburst yellow Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Kompressor roadster? Yep! I drove that beautiful car for just short of 10 years.

My ex-hubby was always BEGGING me and PLEADING with me to let him have MY roadster to drive. But, I resisted -- you see, I like to park my baby in the boonies and walk -- he likes to cram the car into the tiniest parking spaces and then look for DINGS. Well, we are now divorced, you know? Oh, and I have debated what that next car of mine might be. So, I've been looking around at the best roadsters ever for actually several years. I was trying to find my next dream car.

Drum roll ... In August 2011 I took the leap and traded in my SLK-230 on a 2006 Chrysler Crossfire -- convertible roadster. No, it is not yellow, but it is a pretty blue -- SEE!!! I'm telling you that I suffered through a terrible case of separation anxiety in giving up my baby. I had pampered that SLK-230 and kept the mileage low at 58,600 miles. Now, I do seriously hope that somebody else is taking GOOD care of my former baby.

There seems to be a good variety of roadsters.Vroom vroom ... ladies and gentlemen ... start your engines ... the best roadsters ever!

I love the roadster as it's a great little car for anyone suffering from a mid-life crisis or whatever! Welcome to the Best Roadsters Ever. Vroom Vroom!

Photo Credit: That's a picture of my new, "old" Chrysler Crossfire convertible roadster. vroom vroom!

The Best Roadsters Ever Poll
Have I got your engines started??? Which would be your pick for best roadster?

1. Audi TT
2. BMW Z4
3. Cadillac XLR
4. Chevrolet Corvette
5. Chrysler Crossfire
6. Dodge Viper
7. Honda S2000
8. Mazda Miata
9. Mercedes-Benz SLK
10. Pontiac Solstice
11. Porsche Boxster
12. Saturn Sky

The Best Roadsters Ever

Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Kompressor Roadster

The Top Five Reasons the Mercedes-Benz SLK Kompressor is the Best Roadster

Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.9; Consumer Rating: 8.5

• The Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Kompressor roadster is very stylish for a car its size.
• Roadsters come in the coolest colors; particularly sunburst yellow, fire-engine red, or that bright orange!
• The hardtop convertible roadsters are my favorite.
• Performance-wise, a roadster packs a lot of punch.
• They've got great resale value!

What would be your Color Pick for a Roadster?
Can you pick just one?

1. Black Onyx
2. Bluestone
3. Chili Pepper Red
4. Forest Green
5. Midnight Blue
6. Pearl White
7. Silver Pearl
8. Sunburst Yellow
9. Tangerine Orange
10. Techno Gray

Best Roadsters Ever Contenders:

1. Audi TT Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.3; Consumer Rating: 9.5
2. BMW Z4 Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.9; Consumer Rating: 9.2
3. Cadillac XLR Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.8; Consumer Rating: 10.0
4. Chevrolet Corvette Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.8; Consumer Rating: 9.4

Best Roadster Contender: Chrysler Crossfire
Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 8.2; Consumer Rating: 9.3

See that “best roadster ever” of mine? Look below! Ah, there it is. I traded in my 1999 bright yellow Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 Roadster [that I had just short of ten years]. I traded it for a 2006 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster! I love love love the Crossfire! Mine has the upgraded duotone leather interior. It’s so sporty. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten compliments on this roadster convertible. In fact, the owner of a local paint dealer told me that he wants that car when I get ready to sell it! And, another guy that I met recently told me that the Crossfires are in hot demand! Yeah.

By the way … you should see that Crossfire zoom over the bridges with it air flap up!

The Best Roadster is a 2006 Blue Chrysler Crossfire : Mine!

Best Roadsters Ever Contenders:

1. Dodge Viper Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.3; Consumer Rating: 9.3
2. Honda S2000 Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.9; Consumer Rating: 9.4
3. Mazda Miata MX-5 Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 8.0; Consumer Rating: 9.4
4. Pontiac Solstice Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 6.9; Consumer Rating: 9.1
5. Porsche Limited Edition Boxster S Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 8.1; Consumer Rating: 9.0
6. Saturn Sky Edmunds -- Editors' Rating: 7.4; Consumer Rating: 9.1

Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2007: Edmunds Roadster Convertible Under $60,000
Winner: 2007 Porsche Boxster.
 Now in its 10th year, the entry-level midengine Porsche still delights. With its 245-horsepower flat-6 engine, nearly perfect weight distribution and those legendary Porsche brakes, the Boxster carves up canyons like nothing else on the road. Fit and finish is typical Porsche solid, the power top goes up and down quickly and easily, and the usual leather seats and Bose stereo system make it feel great even when you’re not running through the canyons. If that’s not enough, the upmarket Boxster S offers a higher-output version of the same flat-6 with 295 hp and 251 pound-feet of torque. Add in the slick-shifting six-speed and there’s not much more you could ask from a convertible.

Honorable Mention: 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class.
Mercedes’ little boulevard cruiser doesn’t get the respect it deserves. It may look like a Sunday cruiser, but start throwing it around some turns and it’ll impress you with its performance. Go for the 3.5-liter V6 and you get more than just 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, you get one of the best sounding six-cylinder on the market. If that’s not enough, there’s always the 355-hp AMG version. Regardless of which engine you choose, all SLKs have a retractable hardtop that turns the diminutive coupe into a full-blown convertible at the touch of a button. And of course, all models feature plenty of safety features and luxury appointments, including a nine-speaker CD stereo. While problematic sight lines keep it from the brass ring, the SLK-Class is still a great choice in the stylish two-seat roadster class. –Edmunds.com.

Consumers' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2007: Edmunds Roadster Convertibles

Convertible Under $25,000: Saturn Sky.
Saturn boldly dropped its top and went speeding off in a new direction this year with the launch of its first-ever convertible, the Sky. The people have spoken and they clearly think Saturn’s turn was a wise one: The sleek-looking Saturn Sky soaked up the sunshine in the No. 1 spot, with 34 percent of the votes. A perennial favorite, the Mazda MX-5 Miata trailed in 2nd place with a 30 percent showing, while last year’s surprise winner, the Pontiac Solstice, had to settle for 3rd place, with 19 percent of the votes. The Mini Cooper convertible was next with 13 percent, followed by the Volkswagen New Beetle (2 percent) and the Chrysler PT Cruiser (2 percent).

Convertible Under $35,000: Honda S2000.
A year ago the Honda S2000 lost by a bumper to the BMW Z4, after claiming the cup in this segment the previous two years. Honda’s high-revving drop top got its groove back for 2007, scoring a win with a 30 percent showing. Lurking in the S2000′s rearview mirror was a familiar name, the Ford Mustang, which rode the wave of the 500-hp Shelby GT500 version to get a respectable 27 percent of the love. Twenty-one percent of the voters picked the Pontiac G6 and its retractable hardtop, while another hardtop convertible, the Volkswagen Eos (12 percent), struggled to play catch-up, along with the Toyota Camry Solara (5 percent) and Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder (3 percent).

Convertible Under $45,000: BMW Z4.
Behold the juggernaut that is the BMW Z4. Its hard-edged beauty and commanding performance made it a winner in the “Convertible Under $35,000″ category last year. A slight price increase placed it in a loftier class of competitors on this go-round, but these new challengers were not mighty enough to topple this conquering Teuton, which claimed the top spot with a 20 percent showing. The solid credentials of the Saab 9-3 were enough to take the silver (19 percent), and the Swede was followed by the feisty Lotus Elise and elegant Audi A4 (both at 18 percent). The tail end of the caboose consisted of the Nissan 350Z roadster (15 percent) and the Volvo C70 four-place hardtop (9 percent).

Convertible Under $60,000: Chevrolet Corvette.
Value may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you consider the 400-hp Chevrolet Corvette, but that’s exactly what this classic roadster promises to bring to your garage. Chevy’s singular drop top offers iconic good looks and world-class performance, all for a surprisingly affordable price. It’s little wonder, then, that the Corvette was miles ahead of the competition in this race, with a staggering 50 percent of the vote. Porsche’s graceful Boxster was a mere silhouette on the horizon with a distant 2nd-place finish with 20 percent, and it was followed closely by the redesigned BMW 3 Series, now a hardtop convertible at 17 percent. The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (9 percent) and Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class (5 percent) brought up the rear.

Convertible Over $60,000: Cadillac XLR.
In an upset of World Series’ proportions, Cadillac’s XLR, with its chiseled styling and retractable hardtop, took the win in the top-end convertible category. With 29 percent of the votes, the Caddy clipped the Porsche 911 (25 percent) and soundly trounced another pair of highly qualified drop tops, the athletic BMW 6 Series four-seater (including the M6) and the always elegant Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, which earned 14 percent each. The Jaguar XK (11 percent) and Lexus SC 430 (6 percent) weren’t even in the XLR’s rearview mirror. –Edmunds.com.

Roadsters: Fifty Years of Top-Down Speed
Quick, tight, and heaven on curves, the roadster provides a driving experience unlike any other. Car buffs will simply devour this tantalizing and unique history of top-down two-seaters, featuring a garage-full of nimble sports cars; automobiles born to go flat-out fast at Le Mans; and seemingly sedate sedans that secretly possess the souls of race cars.

More than 100 photos show off these beautiful classics, capturing the physical sensations of being in an open car, on the open road. British beauties, including the MG, Triumph, and the eternally glamorous Morgan. The sleek Alfa Romeos and Bugattis have the smooth, swift Continental style; these were built for speed, not comfort. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the luxurious Auburn and Duesenberg were the cars of the stars. Porsches, the MG-TC, Jaguar XKE, Ferrari: every car will make you hunger to get behind the wheel.

Your turn: Am I right? 
What's the best roadsters ever? Are you into roadsters? Got a favorite? Do you love roadsters? Did I include your pick? Have you owned one or plan to buy? I’d love to hear from you.

History: The Best Roadsters Ever was originally created on Squidoo by JaguarJulie on November 9, 2007. Highest lensrank ever achieved: #2,129 overall. Lens #149 in the quest for Giant Squid 200 Club.

DPT Vaccine

DPT Vaccine : What is it; is it Safe? Do you know what the DPT vaccine includes and whether it is really safe? We want the truth! The DPT vaccine is a mixture of three vaccines: to immunize against diphtheria, pertussis [whooping cough] and tetanus. It also comes with its risks of adverse reactions, although it has been "reported" that severe problems closely following DPT immunization happen very rarely.

If you were to ask my mother about the DPT Vaccine of the early 1950s, she may tell you a different story about how safe it WAS back in the 1950s. I had an older brother but he is no longer with us! I created this page in remembrance of my older brother who I sure wish I had the opportunity to get to know before he passed away. I want to think that he is an angel in Heaven looking down upon us and our family, and particularly smiling at my mom.

You know, this particular lens has been a challenge for me and my mom. I wanted to be considerate of the pain she has gone through, over the years, since losing her firstborn. She doesn't like to talk about it much. The DPT vaccine is a sore point for my mom. I don't believe she has ever stopped to visit this personal page of mine because of her bad memories.

Do you know what the DPT vaccine includes and whether it is really safe? Yes, no ... maybe??? I think we all just want to know the risks and be able to make an informed decision about what is safe for ourselves and for our children. That's all.

Photo Credit: Whooping Cough Vaccine Being Tested for Potency on a Rabbit.

The DPT Vaccine Poll
Please take a moment to answer our question. What type of experiences have you had with the DPT vaccine?

1. I personally had an adverse effect to the DPT vaccine.
2. Somebody in my family had an adverse effect to the DPT vaccine.
3. I know of someone who had an adverse effect to the DPT vaccine.
4. Only positive experiences with the DPT vaccine.
5. Not sure.

Is It Safe?

In this book, Dr. Stephanie Cave explains vaccinations the pros and the cons. With detailed facts about each vaccination, as well as regulations and laws, this book provides easily understandable information to help parents make a knowledgeable, responsible choice about vaccinating their children.

Stephanie Cave, M.D., is a family practitioner in Baton Rouge who specializes in children with autism and related disorders.

She has been featured on CNN regarding children and vaccinations and testified in congressional hearings in July 2000.

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About(TM) Children's Vaccinations

My Brother Bruce Alan - RIP

You see, I had an older brother who received the DPT Vaccine as directed, however, he was one of those reportedly "rare cases" of the severest of adverse reactions requiring hospitalization for high fever and uncontrollable seizures. He quickly became a "test subject" for the Cleveland Clinic. Unfortunately, there was not much that could be done for him. He died shortly after his fourth birthday! I wish that he was with us today; however, because he received the DPT vaccine and had severe reactions to it, he is not with us. See the picture to the right? That is a baby picture of my brother.

What is the DPT Vaccine?
First hand experience with the DPT vaccine!

DPT, (sometimes DTP) is a mixture of three vaccines, to immunize against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus.

DTP vaccine may be distinguished as “DTwP” and “DTaP”, with “wP” referring to “whole cell pertussis” and “aP” referring to “acellular pertussis”. (The acellular form is considered safer and contains far fewer antigens than the older preparation.) Current versions of DTP in Europe do not contain preservatives; older ones contained Thiomersal. In the Netherlands, DTP refers to a mixture of diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis vaccines. –wikipedia.com.

What is Diphtheria?

Diphtheria (Greek (diphthera) – “pair of leather scrolls”), is an upper respiratory tract illness characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane (a pseudomembrane) on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity. A milder form of diphtheria can be restricted to the skin. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultatively anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious disease spread by direct physical contact or breathing the aerosolized secretions of infected individuals. Once quite common, diphtheria has largely been eradicated in developed nations through wide-spread vaccination. In the United States for instance, between 1980 and 2004 there have been 57 reported cases of diphtheria (and only five cases since 2000 as the DPT (Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus) vaccine is given to all school children. Boosters of the vaccine are recommended for adults since the benefits of the vaccine decrease with age; they are particularly recommended for those traveling to areas where the disease has not been eradicated. –Learn more about Diphtheria at wikipedia.com.

What is Pertussis?
Also known as Whooping Cough

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium, Bordetella pertussis; it derived its name from a characteristic severe hacking cough followed by intake of breath that sounds like ‘whoop’; a similar, milder disease is caused by B. parapertussis. Although many medical sources describe the whoop as “high-pitched,” this is generally the case with infected babies and children only, not adults.

Worldwide, there are 30-50 million pertussis cases and about 300,000 deaths per year. Despite generally high coverage with the DTP and DTaP vaccines, pertussis is one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable deaths world-wide. Most deaths occur in young infants who are either unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated; three doses of the vaccine are necessary for complete protection against pertussis. –Learn more about Pertussis at wikipedia.com.

What is Tetanus?
Commonly referred to as Lockjaw

Tetanus is a medical condition that is characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani.

Infection generally occurs through wound contamination, and often involves a cut or deep puncture wound. As the infection progresses, muscle spasms in the jaw develop hence the common name, lockjaw. This is followed by difficulty swallowing and general muscle stiffness and spasms in other parts of the body. Infection can be prevented by proper immunization and by post-exposure prophylaxis. –Learn more about Tetanus at wikipedia.com

Report on the first symptoms of neurological damage

In 1994, the Institute of Medicine of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences published a report stating that if the first symptoms of neurological damage occurred within the first seven days following vaccination with whole-cell pertussis vaccine, the evidence was compatible with the possibility that it could be the cause of permanent brain damage in otherwise apparently healthy children. It continued by stating:

This serious acute neurologic response to DPT is a rare event. The estimated excess risk ranged from 0 to 10.5 per million immunizations (IOM, 1991). The committee stresses that this is not the strongest statement regarding causality; the evidence does not “establish” or “prove” a causal relation….

The evidence remains insufficient to indicate the presence or absence of a causal relation between DPT and chronic nervous system dysfunction under any other circumstances. That is, because the NCES is the only systematic study of chronic nervous system dysfunctions after DPT, the committee can only comment on the causal relation between DPT and those chronic nervous system dysfunctions under the conditions studied by the NCES. In particular, it should be noted that the chronic nervous system dysfunctions associated with DPT followed a serious acute neurologic illness that occurred in children within 7 days after receiving DPT.

Severe problems with DPT?

Severe problems closely following DPT immunization happen very rarely. These include a serious allergic reaction, prolonged seizures, a decrease in consciousness, lasting brain disease, or even death.

Our Last Summer Together!
July 1953, Cleveland, Ohio

The significance of this picture? It is from the Summer of 1953 as I rode my little tricycle with my brother Bruce Alan. We lived on the Westside of Cleveland, Ohio in a little brick bungalow on Dennison Avenue.

You know, I don’t really have any memories of this time together with my brother. If you look closely at the picture, you see that I look much healthier than my brother who was 18 months older than me.

It is personally very sad to think that I never got to know my older brother. You saw the baby pictures of the beautiful baby boy?

This was our last Summer together.

Only .0007%?
Such severe neurologic events occur after approximately 1 in 140,000 doses of the DPT vaccine (0.0007%). Most of the reactions to DPT injection are thought to be from the pertussis component.

Our Last Fall Together!
Autumn, 1953, Cleveland, Ohio

What a sweet picture of me and my brother Bruce Alan. I’m not sure if mom or dad put us in that little wagon, but it sure made for a great photo opportunity.

I think this is one of my favorite pictures of me with my brother. It surely is the last Fall we spent together in Cleveland, Ohio. Such were the days in the early 50s, with not much of a care in the world. Well, except if you didn’t have your health.

I really wonder, what kind of experiences I could have had with my brother if he had survived his crisis all those years ago.

The P in the DPT Vaccine may be hazardous to your child's health.

Swinging with My Brother!

Autumn, 1953, Cleveland, Ohio

This is probably my second favorite photo of me with my late brother Bruce Alan. In the previous photo, you could see the two of us in that wagon. In the background, was this swing.

I’m thinking we enjoyed a lot of time in our backyard on the Westside of Cleveland either in that wagon or on this swing! But, we needed mom and/or dad to help us out.

Push us, please … mom! Higher … higher!

P.S. I miss you Bruce!


Our Last Christmas Together!
December 1953, Cleveland, Ohio

What is the significance of this picture? Well, it is the last Christmas that Bruce Alan spent with us! As I was going through my photo album preparing to scan a few memories of my brother, I came upon this picture.

I think this must have been a Polaroid that my dad took of us kids sitting around our Christmas tree in Cleveland, Ohio. We lived near Kamm’s Corner not far from the Cleveland Hopkins Airport.

In the picture, left to right, Bruce Alan, my sister Diane and me!!

RIP Bruce Alan : March 5, 1954

This is the actual “holy card” that I had in my photo album that commemorates the passing of my brother Bruce Alan. In Loving Memory of his beautiful short life.

He was just 4 years old [and almost 2 months] when he passed away on March 5, 1954.

The significance of this image? This is a “holy card” that I received from my grandmother Julia Nagy.

That is my handwriting as a young child. In Catholic School, we took penmanship and my handwriting improved.

What’s also interesting is that this “holy card” was printed in Italy! Gosh, I wonder if a lot of those cards are still printed in Italy.

Of course, that was a lot of years ago!

RIP Bruce
xoxoxo

Is It Safe?

In this book, Dr. Stephanie Cave explains vaccinations the pros and the cons. With detailed facts about each vaccination, as well as regulations and laws, this book provides easily understandable information to help parents make a knowledgeable, responsible choice about vaccinating their children.

Stephanie Cave, M.D., is a family practitioner in Baton Rouge who specializes in children with autism and related disorders.

She has been featured on CNN regarding children and vaccinations and testified in congressional hearings in July 2000.

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About(TM) Children's Vaccinations


What do you think of the DPT Vaccine?

Are you familiar with any adverse reactions to the DPT vaccine? Know someone? Your comments are welcome.

History: DPT Vaccine : What is it; is it Safe? was originally created on Squidoo by JaguarJulie on December 21, 2007. Highest lensrank ever achieved: #2,818 overall. Lens #216 in the quest for Giant Squid 300 Club.