Monthly Archives: January 2008

Mayor spends thousands of dollars to learn transit user fees are necessary.

Dear Mayor Newsom You didn’t have to spend City taxpayer money on private consultants. Anyone could have told you: Just like any other shared and limited public resource, public transit needs user fees. Offering ‘free’ Muni is a destructive proposal. … Continue reading

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Update: Supes badger over taxi gate fee increase

The Examiner has an update on the saga of supervisor Alioto-Pier’s original proposal to considerably increase gate fees. (A gate fee is the rental price of a taxicab charged to cab drivers.) A much more reasonable $5 increase (compared to … Continue reading

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Going with the flow

I drove 33 hours during the past 3 days. During my shifts: I began to truly enjoy my graveyard (12am – 11am) shift. I whined at first because I didn’t retain a normal sleep schedule. Now I’m starting to realize … Continue reading

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Satellite TV: How did it start?

And now for something from the archives. Here’s a paper I wrote in March 2004 for Herb Terry‘s excellent history of telecommunications course about the initial failed implementation of direct broadcast satellite — the precursor to the miniature dishes many … Continue reading

Posted in media, tech | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Local media that shines: 92.7 KNGY

I drive a taxi. I drive 11 hour shifts. That’s a lot of time in a car. I need something for my brain to do. Passengers only talk so much, and this time of year is quite slow. Often I … Continue reading

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Does San Francisco suffer from hippie conservatism?

I’ll admit: I’m relatively new to San Francisco. I’ve only lived here for about a year and a half. In that short time I’ve seen a puzzling set of behaviors in the City that troubles me. Our City suffers from … Continue reading

Posted in econ, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Bike coalition makes good signage.

I like good signage. Good signage is clear in communicating a simple point or set of points. Good signage is a rare find. I was surprised to see these well-designed signs posted at the cab garage when I went into … Continue reading

Posted in marketing, taxi, transit | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Driving forward

During my shift today The City was slow as usual for this time of year. With just under one hour remaining on my shift, a lady hailed me in the Marina asking to head toward Tiburon to see her mother … Continue reading

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Media roundup: tripped out childhood memories and some good music

And now, some media worthy of your attention. Video Take some happy childhood memories, then trip out. This is what you get. First, Garfield. “Lasagna Cat” does live animation renditions of Jim Davis’ classic strips and then does a remix … Continue reading

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Will another gruesome Muni death stir Nat Ford to action?

The Examiner and the Chronicle both report on a disturbing incident which occurred Wednesday in the Sunset District. A man attempted to board the N-Judah around 9pm when the doors evidently closed on him. The train proceeded to drag him … Continue reading

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