Oh well, my favourite secret hiking spot is now a pile of burned grass.
Firefighters are continuing to battle a wildfire in Brisbane early this morning that had burned 300 acres on San Bruno Mountain near a residential area, lighting up the sky with flames and sending smoke billowing over the area.
The fire was about 75 percent contained early this morning and it was expected to be fully contained sometime Monday, said Scott Jalbert, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
“The fog came in and helped us out tremendously,” Jalbert said.
Steep terrain and the dark skies prevented firefighters from getting full containment, Jalbert said. But, 200 residents who had been evacuated from their Brisbane homes late Sunday were allowed to return to their properties. No structures burned.
Going to go up later today and take pictures to post. I hope the butterfly species that lives there and only there will be around for another year.
Most alcohol research tends to deal in the standard drink — whatever contains 0.6 ounces or 1.2 tablespoons of pure alcohol, be it 1.5 ounces of 80 proof liquor, 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or assorted spirits of other strengths.
But just as the portions in many a fast-food restaurant are “super-sized,” a new study finds that the same thing holds true in bars and restaurants, at least in northern California.
They say that like it’s a bad thing!
…”the typical wine, beer or mixed spirits drink in bars is larger than a standard drink, often by 50 percent or more.”
Bar drinks often stronger than standard :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Nation
Because there isn’t enough free market in the world. Let’s introduce the parking meters to it.
6/16/2008
Imagine a system of parking meters that:
– increased the fees when fewer spots were available, and decreased them when there were less
– that you could pay for with your cell phone
– that texted you when your time was almost up so you could ‘feed the meter’ without going back to your car.
Well, imagine no more, just come to San Francisco. 6,000 or so meters are to be being replaced with these new fancy dodads, that include underground sensors to check if there is a car in the space.
Now, those that you know me are well aware of my propensity to suggest technological solutions for all problems. I won’t even boil water without a microwave, unless it’s absolutely necessary. And this new system has a number of excellent benefits:
– there will be, as the system intends, more spaces available during peak hours
– there will be, as the system intends, a discouragement of car use.
– there will be, as the system intends, and increase in revenue.
Howewver,
– there will be major pissed off-ness when people try to figure out why the parking meters, that used to involve the simple process of putting coins in, now require and instruction manual and haggling and bartering with.
– there will be major pissed off ness, when you find out that the change you brought will only last you 1/2 the length of your doctors appointment.
– there will be major pissed off-ness, when parking charges go through the roof in order to pay for these ridiculous doodas, with the bulk of the cash going to pay for the fany pants meters, and none of it going to into the city bank.
Hey, maybe it will work. I think it’s someone’s free market obession run amok.