Information Overload

StuffBak

StuffBak worked! GF lost some keys with a StuffBak tag on it in the park, and StuffBak was quick to put this StuffBak customer in contact with the finder. The awesome person who found the keys sounded predispositioned to return them, as he didn't want the included StuffBak reward. However, it was nice to know that he was able to call a 24/7 toll-free number that could have arranged their return if yours truly was unavailable.

No Justice No BART No Sense

Shutting down BART stations and causing delays during rush hour at the end of a dreary Monday is not a great way to earn regular BART riders' support for causes like No Justice No BART, the group that "organized" yesterday's protest of controversial BART Police Department shootings. No Justice No BART demands that BART Police be "abolished" but doesn't suggest who should provide BART security in its place...

San Francisco Taxi Cab Strike Today

Taxi drivers in San Francisco are on strike today to protest 5% credit card transaction fees (some cab drivers have already discovered Square as a less expensive alternative to easily collect credit card payments on their iPhone), and continued delays by the city to implement fare increases. Uber is using the occasion to promote their convenient private car service by offering 50% off trips in SF proper today starting at 4 AM.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

What cost a billion dollars and is nestled between Bellagio and City Center? The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas contributes to the desert city's own sort of reality distortion field that the economy is just fine. The Germans were savvy bankers to pickup the property for a fraction of its multi-billion dollar price, and participate in the Marriott Rewards program.

Autosock

Autosock is awesome! The simple tire chain alternative added extra traction to Subaru's stock mud plus snow tires. Autosock installed like socks around Subie's two front tires in under ten minutes along a dark, snow covered, lake front cabin road. They were also a cinch to remove before getting back on the main road that was finally cleared by plow crews.

Uber For iPhone

It was down-pouring the other week in San Francisco so this bipedal commuter tried Uber, a private car service powered by a nifty iPhone app. Uber makes it easy to reserve a private car, and watch it traverse a map in near real time complete with an ETA. Uber delivered an immaculate white Town Car in under 10 minutes. The driver was courteous although new to the city and the English language. Tip is included in the $15 minimum trip fee, which is nice since Uber will most likely serve as a backup when the overtaxed cab fleet is busy.

National Opt-Out Day

This somewhat infrequent flyer is glad to avoid the airport today, a day that some have declared to be National Opt-Out Day, or what could go down in history as National Biggest Cluster-F At The Airports Since 9/11 Day. (Civil liberties aside, the biggest disappointment with AIT scanners is that they don't work like the body scanner in Total Recall.) The TSA seriously needs better PR. On the flip-side, opponents of TSA policies should propose alternative solutions, or have the cojones to say that passenger gateway security was good enough pre-AIT.

SOS Movers

SOS Movers (a.k.a. AnyTime Movers) is staffed by weekend warriors who are actual warriors in the U.S. military. Don't hold their unsettling marketing, sales, and flat-rate pricing against them. It turns out that they're the real deal! This Yelper would rate them 4 stars out of 5... Some furniture and boxes could have been handled with better care, but it's hard to complain given the price and service of Army/USMC troops.

I-680 Alameda County Express Lane

This driver is glad the Sunol grade is not part of the daily commute. Came across the new Southbound I-680 Alameda County Express Lane on Monday. The carpool/toll lane seems hella confusing for drivers who encounter them for the first time. Caltrans apparently expects daily commuters to read the directions beforehand. For example, it's totally intuitive and convenient to stick one's FasTrak transponder into its Mylar bag when using carpool lane mode instead of lone driver mode! The Express Lane design is disappointing for a freeway to Silicon Valley.

CLEAR is back (sorta)

The CLEARcard ID program that enables registered travelers to skip to the front of participating airport security lines is coming back from the dead! Past members are receiving emails from the new CLEAR company to reactivate their accounts, which will work with their original Clear cards. Alas, it seems like there might be a bit of a wait before SJC and SFO flyers can get back into the fast lane, as new contracts are setup with each airport.