BART Strike: Is anybody else anxious?

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Fuck those overfed bolshevieks, I don't want to ride a crowded, stinky bus or take a 45 minute ferry ride in the mist. This will seriously inconvenience me, and convenience is something I value greatly.

Plus all the extra cars will pollute!

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:28 (twenty years ago)

i will have to chauffer Adam. So, no!

this strike seriously can bite me after I saw how much money BART managers make (let alone how much station agents make).

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:31 (twenty years ago)

It will make my office very unhappy as many of us come from the East Bay. I take MUNI so I should be relatively OK.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:31 (twenty years ago)

it has also not occurred to me until just now that if this happens it might be for more than one day. oh god!

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:32 (twenty years ago)

kyle, hold out and make him buy you the jodphurs, the double-breasted shell jacket, the boots, gloves and hat, otherwise, what's the fun in being a chauffeur?

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:33 (twenty years ago)

"BART negotiators are taking a quick break to freshen up after pulling an all-nighter crunching numbers and talking at the table with the unions in an effort to reach a settlement. They will return to the negotiating table later today..."

http://www.bartupdate.com/negotiations_update.html

They can gargle on my refreshing urine, BACK TO THE TABLE BITCHES>>

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:35 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, back to the table at 9 PM! By the time they figure anything out either way, most of their cutomers will be asleep.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:37 (twenty years ago)

I think ferries sound fun.

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:42 (twenty years ago)

Also, I am hoping I can just "telecommute".

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:42 (twenty years ago)

Also what about my commuter checks. They are worthless?

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:43 (twenty years ago)

The ferry's not bad, it's quite lovely as it passes Treasure Island, but it's $9 roundtrip and the Oakland/Alameda - SF ferry is a slowboat. They do sell beer, however, unlike BART.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:43 (twenty years ago)

I think they should allow commuters to operate the trains. I'd be happy to take a three-hour course on how to run them, it'd be a rolling party.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:44 (twenty years ago)

I'd like to take the ferry, I think. Kyle, I just realized that you might be leaving too late for me.

xp-oh how hard can it be??? They are on tracks so there's no steering. It must just be an "on" and an "off" button, maybe a pedal or something...

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:45 (twenty years ago)

Where I come from, strikes like this are a way of life! I'll deal.

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:46 (twenty years ago)

The Legend of Darius McCollum

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:48 (twenty years ago)

There are rumors that there will be a special ferry service from berkeley marina.

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:48 (twenty years ago)

http://ffmedia.ign.com/filmforce/image/article/577/577433/WOW-C1076-02-sm_1104889602.jpg

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:51 (twenty years ago)

There are rumors that there will be a special ferry service from berkeley marina.

where did you hear this? they have no ability to doc a ferry there.

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:55 (twenty years ago)

http://www.futurehorizons.net/FLJP_lg.jpg

http://www.futurehorizons.net/jetpacks.htm

I have just placed an order for an as-yet-untested heli-backpack, and demanding that BART reimburse me.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:55 (twenty years ago)

my boss

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:56 (twenty years ago)

http://www.actransit.org/riderinfo/sanfrancisco.wu

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:56 (twenty years ago)

I think it's terrible that we are all talking trash about the no.1 rated transit system in America!!!

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:56 (twenty years ago)

"Remember to bring the basics with you: a good book; a laptop with a fully charged battery; knitting needles and yarn; a big smile and lots of patience. "

fucking hippies

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:58 (twenty years ago)

Knitting needles!? Yarn!? For what, to stab the noobs and tie them up?

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:00 (twenty years ago)

I am reading a *great* book so that helps.

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:02 (twenty years ago)

AC Transit sucks ass. I actually have a reliable 250cc motorcycle but I'm scared to ride in commute hours, I hear too many reports of "motorcycle down" on KGO in the mornings.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:02 (twenty years ago)

KFOG?

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:03 (twenty years ago)

KMEL?

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:04 (twenty years ago)

No man KGO 810AM.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:04 (twenty years ago)

DID HE SAY "EAT MY SHORTS"

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:04 (twenty years ago)

"the no.1 rated transit system in America!!! "

I find this fact rather depressing, actually.

I haven't been paying attention to this strike, I'm mostly a MUNI man.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:06 (twenty years ago)

I find this fact rather depressing, actually.

try riding it!

No, actually I'm quite fond of BART. When you have to take a 1.5 hour tube journey only to end up in Victoria station at 9 in the morning, you learn to love the small differences.

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:08 (twenty years ago)

You should be paying attention, it's an environmental holocaust of epic proportions, 310,000 people ride the train daily.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:09 (twenty years ago)

No, actually I'm quite fond of BART. When you have to take a 1.5 hour tube journey only to end up in Victoria station at 9 in the morning, you learn to love the small differences.

And I've been flying all these years like an idiot.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:10 (twenty years ago)

TUBE

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:10 (twenty years ago)

Plus going to the A's game is greatly facilitated by the spacious BART.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:10 (twenty years ago)

You'll believe an idiot can fly!

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:10 (twenty years ago)

DID HE SAY "EAT MY SHORTS"

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:12 (twenty years ago)

Go A's. Zito on the mound, pelting war like he wild.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:12 (twenty years ago)

A's

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:12 (twenty years ago)

C'mon guys i'm the Hitler of message boarding and i'm bringing a LOLlercaust to this thread.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:13 (twenty years ago)

You'll believe an idiot can fly!

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/13/elec04.prez.bush.texas.records/vert.bush.guard.jpg

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:13 (twenty years ago)

how many strikes has this been since 1990 or so?

― donut e- (donut), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:14 (twenty years ago)

I've ridden BART once and found it very comfortable and great -- at least mid-day on a weekday. But I'm wondering if the propensity of strikes should be counted against its No. 1 placing or not. Granted, one strike every few years is a spit in the ocean compared to typical construction shutdown/detours of NYC MTA subways.

― donut e- (donut), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:15 (twenty years ago)

I think the last one was in 1997.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:17 (twenty years ago)

It's actually a very good transit, rarely late and fairly clean... not too many crazies like MUNI. However, there isn't very much sympathy for this strike because all those bums are already making fat bank, it's not like United Farmworkers or something.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:19 (twenty years ago)

sympathy or not, if BART ain't runnin', it ain't runnin'.

― donut e- (donut), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:23 (twenty years ago)

YOU'LL HAVE SYMPATHY WHEN YOU HAVE TO WALK ZOMBIE-STYLE TO WORK HAHAHAHA. Me, I'll be taking cabs.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:24 (twenty years ago)

How much are they making? Can I become a BART operator, please?

― Ian Riese-Moraine has been xeroxed into a conduit! (Eastern Mantra), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:26 (twenty years ago)

1 in 3 makes over 100K.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:33 (twenty years ago)

(I get my figures from Matier & Ross)

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:35 (twenty years ago)

bart operators make 50k. station agents make 60k.

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:36 (twenty years ago)

WHAT?!

― Ian Riese-Moraine has been xeroxed into a conduit! (Eastern Mantra), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:37 (twenty years ago)

keep in mind that 50k is barely enough to live on as a single person in the bay area, but yeah, for a job where you just have to STAND THERE it's pretty good

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:38 (twenty years ago)

"50k is barely enough to live on as a single person in the bay area..."

WTF? Are you a cokehead gambling addict? I don't make near that and I do fine, even drinking hundreds of dollars in beer monthly.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:40 (twenty years ago)

that's insane. If you make more money than me and you're on strike for EVEN MORE MONEY, don't expect me to give a fuck.

I've never seen a station agent do a goddamned thing, even when I needed their help. they don't even like to answer questions.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:41 (twenty years ago)

(I may not ride BART much now, but when I lived closer to the 24th st station I took it every day. I may be riding it later today, in fact, since I have to go poster the Mission.)

― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:43 (twenty years ago)

think that most people pay $1200 for a one bedroom apartment and somewhere around $250 a month for a car payment or something, plus I think they have to pay a bunch for their health care (this is the sticking point), then those expenses are over half your income if you make 50k a year; if you have a kid, you're fucked. I'm not disagreeing that they're paid well enough; I'm just saying that that's only slightly above average salary for the bay area. of course if you think they don't DESERVE that much because they aren't a professional, well, then you can go argue with socialists or something.

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:47 (twenty years ago)

No, I think it's fine that they make that much, but there are LOTS of large families making less than 40K and somehow getting by. As a single person with no kids, I enjoy hella disposable income, which I blow on cheap, shiny trinkets and sparkling wine.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:53 (twenty years ago)

Fuck, I need to move to SF and become a station agent. Hell, my mother needs to move to SF and become a station agent -- she barely makes $30,000 here. Admittedly, things are cheaper here, but she uses up her entire paycheck almost immediately after receiving it.

― Ian Riese-Moraine has been xeroxed into a conduit! (Eastern Mantra), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:59 (twenty years ago)

Make sure your mom knows that train operating is not a 420-friendly career path.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:01 (twenty years ago)

Didnt the governor step in last time and force them into a 30 day cool off period? Any chance the new gov will do this?

― svend (svend), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:02 (twenty years ago)

I'm not the Guv can because it's not like healthcare workers that perform an absolutely vital function, there are alternatives to BART... usually it's a 60 day cool-off BTW.

― andy --, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:08 (twenty years ago)

Make sure your mom knows that train operating is not a 420-friendly career path

Hah, she doesn't smoke at all (I would know, she's home all the time when not at work), so it's fine. I don't smoke, either.

― Ian Riese-Moraine has been xeroxed into a conduit! (Eastern Mantra), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:09 (twenty years ago)

You can't judge a job by what the person "does" but by how much shit/politics they have to take from their bosses.

― halll, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:16 (twenty years ago)

actually, a job where you just stand there sounds awful. It's probably hella boring, and what do you do when you have to go pee or poo?

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 00:29 (twenty years ago)

actually, a job where you just stand there sounds awful. It's probably hella boring, and what do you do when you have to go pee or poo?

"Back in 10 minutes" sign.

― Ian Riese-Moraine has been xeroxed into a conduit! (Eastern Mantra), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 00:58 (twenty years ago)

"Don't worry, these things drive themselves."

― giboyeux (skowly), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 01:00 (twenty years ago)

all these "you just push a button" foax are friggin nuts.

trains are big dangerous scary things that don't necc. require lots of detailed knowledge to run (altho they DO require a reasonable and specialized sort of such) but that require CONSTANT fucking attention, especially during peak commute hours when everything is squeezed together to try and move ppl. v. rapidly and due to performance reviews the supervisor is breathing down yr. back about running faster but to do that you risk cutting corners which means you risk safety, which is a big friggin deal when you're driving something as powerful and massive as a train.

not to mention dealing with drunks and asshole yuppies and c. &c.

there is a LOT of responsibility in having that many people and their movement at stake and transit foax get it from all sides.

bus drivers have it much worse than that.

mechanics are obv. a whole different story, and are much more obv. v. highly skilled.

a quick google btw reveals that the company is allegedly asking for a 4 year wage freeze + an increase in employee share in health insurance -- i.e. a significant REDUCTION in wages, not to mention that there have been some layoffs and employers want more, which always = more work and less safety for those workers who remain (and obv. those who remain are in fear of being next to be axed). one also has to ask about the wage figures how much of that is derived from massive forced overtime -- not to mention that the 100k figure is doctored anyway, since it adds in the employer's claim about the value of the health package they give BART workers, which they estimate at almost 40k itself! that's bullshit and pure statistical juggling. why don't they add what they pay in for medicaid and social security while they're at it? and safety equipment for that matter?

gah some quick googling isn't turning up some of the other sorts of information i'm interested in here -- the union doesn't seem to be v. aggressive at getting out its own side of the story or something.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 03:19 (twenty years ago)

BART management's side is that they have massive cost overruns and have to shave it somewhere and they can't raise rates on riders. of course learning what they blew on fucking "consultants" over the past three years kind of makes their side look like a load of shit. stop wasting so much money on those people and you'll get your budget in better shape.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 05:24 (twenty years ago)

Also, given that I've used BART only once exactly, far be it for me to make an observation much less critical observation...

...but when I used it, it seemed VERY nice and classier than even the tube in London (ok, so I was apparently very lucky that I happened upon working trains in London the entire weekend. Don't blame me. In fact, invite me back!).. the BART railcars have about four times the space as London Underground railcars, yet hardly anybody was using it..

...in the meantime, while I was in SF that time, I still found that sooo many people there still use their cars.. the streets are still filled with them, parked bumper to bumper, driving bumper to bumper. WTF? I realize that many people outside SF or the BART-friendly parts of upper San Mateo County or westside Alameda County need cars to do anything (let's pretend MUNI or AC transit just doesn't cut it for these people)... but I have a feeling many people use their cars without ever leaving SF for many months...

Is it just the constant influx of SoCal'ers that can't get used to not using their cars? Or is public transportation in the Bay Area just very bad at promoting themselves? It seems even in Seattle that more people in the city use the buses than SF people use MUNI or BART.. Bay Area folks generally, and I stress "generally" a) walk, or b) drive. Granted, this is just a recent one-time observation...

I'm just surprised that cars still seem to dominate and crowd up SF, that's all. That was always the case since I've been visiting the city since the mid 90s... but I thought after the dot com bust that this would change.

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 05:35 (twenty years ago)

bart doesn't get many people to many places they need to go; it's also expensive and doesn't have a monthly pass option. it's designed for commuters going into the hubs of SF or Oakland and that's it.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 05:58 (twenty years ago)

BART is classy in the 1950's vision-of-the-future way, but it's a massive dud in that it's built on completely nonstandard components...from the ticket machines to the rail gauge. Every time they order a new batch of cars, it's essentially a custom order.

Also, putting carpet down in a public transit car is a bad idea.

I do love BART, even if it costs 2.5 billion to extend it just a few miles. It would have been wonderful if it had reached up to Marin, and all the way down the penninsula as originally planned. But, yeah, as it is it doesn't serve nearly enough of the population.

― mikef (mfleming), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 06:09 (twenty years ago)

BART looks wicked. you people are too lucky!

12 dollars for a round trip to the airport?!?!

― ambrose (ambrose), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:24 (twenty years ago)

no strike after all

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:05 (twenty years ago)

WHAT THE FUCK

I took AC transit in anyway. It was quite fun!

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

all these "you just push a button" foax are friggin nuts.

I wasn't being entirely serious!

I like the carpet.

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:08 (twenty years ago)

12 dollars for a round trip to the airport?!?!

Cheaper than cabs. Chepaer than parking there. Cheaper than Super Shuttle.

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

I still drive a lot because, ummmmm, I like cars.

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:11 (twenty years ago)

To work!?

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:22 (twenty years ago)

WHAT THE FUCK

did you forget to watch the news or check the internets?

people have often told me to take the bus because it's apparently empty in the morning. but work pays for BART.

the carpet is kind of nasty. they replaced it with hard rubber on some trains but that seemed to be just as filthy if not worse. I'm not sure why the London Tube is cleaner than BART when they allow eating and drinking on the trains. Maybe they have more people picking up rubbish. Anyway Tube stations have candy machines and BART stations don't even have fucking trash cans in them.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:27 (twenty years ago)

Candy machines and....THE OLYMPICS! TAKE THAT, WORLD!

did you forget to watch the news or check the internets?

I didn't have time! I had to catch the bus because there was a strike on! It was quite civilized.

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

i drove to work yesterday. someone I work with has found the only non-pay, unmonitored parking lot near the embarcadero; it's probably a mistake but he's been parking there for seven months. the day I try it I'll probably get towed.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

It was the first thing I heard on the radio this morning.

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:30 (twenty years ago)

KKSF doesn't have announcements! Just all smooth jazz all the time!

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:32 (twenty years ago)

They almost had me believing that I could drift across the bay to work on a particularly melodious saxophone riff.

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:33 (twenty years ago)

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41273000/jpg/_41273167_wildwoman203.jpg

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:38 (twenty years ago)

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41273000/jpg/_41273351_beck_red203.jpg

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:38 (twenty years ago)

I'm glad Becks is so happy for us.

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:43 (twenty years ago)

Ad are you still listening to smooth jazz?

Thank god it's over (for now), I set my KGO alarm for six but then went back to sleep when I heard the news.

― andy --, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:08 (twenty years ago)

i wish I could get up later than six!

there was no-one on BART this morning anyway.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:09 (twenty years ago)

Ad are you still listening to smooth jazz?

not right now. I wish!

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:25 (twenty years ago)

apparently MUNI station agents (not even train operators!) get paid more than BART ones!! All the MUNI ones do is let in little kids who pay 35 cents. Other than that they've got machines to do all the hard work.

― she's lost control (Jools), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:40 (twenty years ago)

Because of BART, my Oakland-SF commute is shorter than my old Oakland-Berkeley commute. Of everyone in my office who works in SF, my commute from Oakland is quicker... they live out by the beach and have to take the sad-sack slow-ass Muni.

― andy --, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:40 (twenty years ago)

What part of Oakland do you live in, Andy?

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:42 (twenty years ago)

I live near Chinatown, about halfway between Lake Merritt and 12th St. stations. It's cool because I can take any Eastbound train from the City, I don't have to wait for a special one. Although, truth be told, there are much finer girls on the Richmond and Pittsburgh lines, the girls on the Fremont and Dublin lines look tired and overworked.

― andy --, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

The finest girls get off at Ashby! With me!

I sorta always wanted to live close to downtown Oakland, unfortunately it is not really to Mrs adam's tastes...

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:56 (twenty years ago)

The carpet and upholstery is the reason why BART trains almost always smell like piss.

I didn't notice any difference in my Muni commute today (25 minutes for 4.6 miles at 7:30am).

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:57 (twenty years ago)

I don't really notice any smell of piss...is it me?

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:58 (twenty years ago)

Adam you don't smell that much like piss. I would think you would notice.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:59 (twenty years ago)

Does American pee smell different?

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:00 (twenty years ago)

I didn't notice any difference either on Muni.

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:01 (twenty years ago)

The finest girls get off at Ashby! With me!

i have noticed this to be true.

The carpet and upholstery is the reason why BART trains almost always smell like piss.

I notice this every once in a while. I think it's spilled coffee. and piss. the new trains reek of new upholstry which is also bad. the rubber floor trains reek of rubber. Almost all of these smells are better than smelling stinky people.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:05 (twenty years ago)

You guys are high, the finest ladies get off at Rockridge or Downtown Berkeley, though some posh normal girls travel on to Walnut Creek.

― andy --, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:17 (twenty years ago)

i'm telling you there is a brunette at ashby and that's all I'm gonna say about it.

other than my wife no fine women get off or on BART at the same time as us at downtown berkeley. I must be taking the ugly train.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:20 (twenty years ago)

No, he's right about Berkeley but not ROCKRIDGE. ugh.

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

ambrose: 12 dollars for a round trip to the airport?!?!

M. White: Cheaper than cabs. Chepaer than parking there. Cheaper than Super Shuttle.

I could be wrong, but I think ambrose was exclaiming at how cheap that is. It costs 12 POUNDS (at least last summer) roundtrip between Heathrow airport and central London.

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:01 (twenty years ago)

I post corrected.

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:03 (twenty years ago)

No, you are right.

And Heathrow is the cheapest airport to get to!

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:03 (twenty years ago)

Michael doesn't know shit about England. he hates it!

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago)

SF is much, much less expensive than London in general though.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:07 (twenty years ago)

I think it can be cheaper if you live in London and have an Oyster card, but the idea of $12US roundtrip between London and Heathrow is, I'm guessing, a steal.

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

Yes, it is.

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

Granted, roundtrip between SeaTac airport and downtown Seattle is between $2.50US and $4.00US by King County Metro. But that's just my shitty little town.

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:12 (twenty years ago)

Isn't Seattle bigger than SF? I always assumed it was.

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:13 (twenty years ago)

Michael doesn't know shit about England. he hates it!

*Raises eyebrow slightly*

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

Isn't Seattle bigger than SF? I always assumed it was.

City limits? barely. Greater metro areas? HAHAHAHAHAHAH.. no.

...

Between Portland and PDX airport, it's $3.80 roundtrip via MAX (unless that's changed since).

Between Vancouver and Vancouver airport roundtrip is $14.50CAN. (the transit fare is only $4.50CAN, but you have to pay a $10CAN airport entrance fee)

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

Population or size? Population-wise, SF is about 50% bigger. There are very few cities in America that are smaller size-wise than SF.

Tokyo station to Narita Intl. Airport is $30-40 US comparitively, using the transit-equivalent of BART.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:16 (twenty years ago)

HAHAHAHAHAHAH

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:16 (twenty years ago)

It also takes forever, gygax.

xpost

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:17 (twenty years ago)

I hyperbolized that laugh. It was meant to be more cherubic, not patronizing and assholish. Sorry, adam.

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

it's okay.

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

Population-wise, SF is about 50% bigger.

Greater Seattle population is around 2.5 mil, I think.

Greater Bay Area population is around 5 mil.. but this includes almost all of Alameda County, the upper half of San Mateo County, Marin County, southern part of Sonoma county, Solano county, most of CoCo, etc.

so that's really 100% bigger, I think.

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:20 (twenty years ago)

oh, and I guess San Francisco County, too...

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:20 (twenty years ago)

When I get older, I might have some facts for you too.

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:22 (twenty years ago)

Will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, or a bottle of wine?

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:30 (twenty years ago)

Seattle proper actually much bigger than San Francisco proper (35 sq miles.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:30 (twenty years ago)

If a had a party, and invited everyone I knew, you would see the biggest gift would be from me and the card attached would say "thank you for being a(n internet) friend".

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:31 (twenty years ago)

FWIW - BART from SF to SFO roundtrip is less than $10, not sure where that $12 quote refers to.

also FWIW: SF is 46.7 square miles.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:32 (twenty years ago)

Oh, ADAM, I LOVE your poetry! Kinda makes me feel like a WOMAN again!

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:33 (twenty years ago)

No I meant that Seattle is 35 sq miles bigger (actually it appears to be 37, but whatever.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:34 (twenty years ago)

I don't think any of us can handle the truth!

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:35 (twenty years ago)

central Seattle feels about as big as central SF, but the outskirts of Seattle proper extend north and south further than SF does, but not by too much... That said, West Seattle, Lake City, Crown Hill, and Georgetown all feel like separate little cities.

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:36 (twenty years ago)

Actually, central Seattle feels smaller than central SF.. i take that that earlier comment.

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:36 (twenty years ago)

Which is the taller? Space Needle or Transamerica Building?

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:38 (twenty years ago)

I think even Starbucks headquarters is taller than the Space Needle.. haha.

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:40 (twenty years ago)

Transamerica building by a bunch.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:40 (twenty years ago)

That said, the height of the tallest SF buildings is HORRIBLY compromised by existing on the lowest part of the city, as far as elevation goes.. SF could look more towering if we were to just shift around some of these skyscrapers strategically..

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:41 (twenty years ago)

Which is more tasty? Cancun or Burrito Loco?

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:42 (twenty years ago)

What IS the tallest building west of the Mississippi river, anyway?

Is it Transamerica in SF? or is it First Interstate in L.A.?

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:42 (twenty years ago)

US Bank Tower in LA.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:44 (twenty years ago)

U.S. Bank recently moved its southern California regional headquarters to Los Angeles as its logo was added to the skyline atop the former Library Tower, now U.S. Bank Tower, the tallest building west of the Mississippi. U.S. Bank is a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp.

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:44 (twenty years ago)

xp!

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

Which is better? Starbuck's or Peet's?

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

Starbucks modeled itsself after Peets.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:46 (twenty years ago)

Okay.

Which is better? Amoeba or Sonic Boom?

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:48 (twenty years ago)

haha, Peet's and Sonic Boom are across the street from my 'hood.

Is there a Starbuck's across Amoeba on Haight?

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:53 (twenty years ago)

no.

Who is better? donut bitch or gygax?

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:53 (twenty years ago)

anyway, Amoeba >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sonic Boom, although I like both.

Peet's >> Starbuck's... but almost every independent Seattle cafe >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Peet's.

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:54 (twenty years ago)

Better at what?

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:54 (twenty years ago)

I'm more buttery than gygax

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:54 (twenty years ago)

Is there a Starbucks across Amoeba on Haight?

There are probably 50 coffee shops up and down Haight and none are Starbucks.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:57 (twenty years ago)

I gave up coffee. I drink decaf green tea now.

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:59 (twenty years ago)

Is the Gap still on Haight and Ashbury?

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:59 (twenty years ago)

Wow I just went over that in my mind and Gygax! is right.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:00 (twenty years ago)

Yeah that Gap is still there.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:00 (twenty years ago)

it is pretty amazing.

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:00 (twenty years ago)

It was one of the very first GAPs, 1967 or 1968, but it was located across the street in what is now the ice cream parlor.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:01 (twenty years ago)

Starbucks wanted to open in Hayes Valley (peripheral neighborhood to Lower Haight) and the community voted them down. Starbucks eventually ended up issuing an apology to the neighborhood's residents. A pretty rare event these days.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:03 (twenty years ago)

Like a BART strike, but with coffee.

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:03 (twenty years ago)

remember that, when there was going to be a BART strike?

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:04 (twenty years ago)

Starbucks's coffee is moderately better than Peet's who still have that old style West Coast over-roasting thing going on but I never go to either. Give me Illy or give me death! Actually, scratch that. Give me medium roast mocha java beans and I'll be fine.

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:06 (twenty years ago)

Have you tried that new French coffee place on Pine, Michael? They filter it through grouse. Mmmmmmm, c'est merveilleux!

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:08 (twenty years ago)

They filter it through grouse

No, and I'm not sure I approve, especially when we have these pigeons.

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:10 (twenty years ago)

i was in a meeting

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:21 (twenty years ago)

and missed all the fun

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:21 (twenty years ago)

Write a song about it!

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:22 (twenty years ago)

Did you drive this morning, kyle?

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:23 (twenty years ago)

no, I took BART. I only drove yesterday because I needed to get to bayview after work.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:25 (twenty years ago)

I'm so bored I want to cry.

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:25 (twenty years ago)

xp-not by kyle! I meant by work!

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:25 (twenty years ago)

the fun? I just talked about Seattle a little. I can't imagine anything more boring to read.

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:26 (twenty years ago)

We compared the great icons of these two major west coast cities and found there was more to laugh about than to fight about!

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:27 (twenty years ago)

try reading half written pages of speculative specifications about a webbased file transfer system with a lot of undefined categories like "programs" "components" "packages" and "clients". (xpost)

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:28 (twenty years ago)

try entering and removing names in a giant database and always making sure you are using the standard USPS abbreviations.

― a disco message (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:30 (twenty years ago)

We compared the great icons of these two major west coast cities and found there was more to laugh about than to fight about!

well, assuming southern California is a country, yeah.

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:31 (twenty years ago)

um, maybe BART is better than the Tube

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 7 July 2005 12:04 (twenty years ago)

eight years pass...

This hasn't been posted yet?

Gag.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/bart-strike-reveals-tech-transit-worker-divide

― now is not the time for motorboating (dandydonweiner), Monday, 8 July 2013 19:03 (twelve years ago)

“One of the guys on our team said he's putting in his two-weeks notice once he found out he could make working for BART,” White said, joking. His solution to address those disgruntled BART workers? “Get ‘em back to work, pay them whatever they want, and then figure out how to automate their jobs so this doesn't happen again.”

haha

― iatee, Monday, 8 July 2013 19:05 (twelve years ago)

Sarah Lacy, founder of tech news site Pando Daily, said the BART strike exacerbated what she sees as a philosophical divide in the Bay Area. “People in the tech industry feel like life is a meritocracy. You work really hard, you build something and you create something, which is sort of directly opposite to unions.”

srsly go fuck yourselves.

― wmlynch, Monday, 8 July 2013 19:07 (twelve years ago)

“Get ‘em back to work, pay them whatever they want, and then figure out how to automate their jobs so this doesn't happen again.”

Fuck that guy forever.

― JACK SQUAT about these Charlie Nobodies (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Monday, 8 July 2013 19:07 (twelve years ago)

Have fun in public, Sarah Lacy.

― now is not the time for motorboating (dandydonweiner), Monday, 8 July 2013 19:11 (twelve years ago)

iirc bart is already very automated

― iatee, Monday, 8 July 2013 19:12 (twelve years ago)

then the computers deserve a pay raise too.

― now is not the time for motorboating (dandydonweiner), Monday, 8 July 2013 19:15 (twelve years ago)

eleven years pass...

BART out of service indefinitely.

― imperial frfr (Steve Shasta), Friday, 9 May 2025 15:05 (seven months ago)

yikes!

― sleeve, Friday, 9 May 2025 15:07 (seven months ago)

I didn't hear it but folks were saying there was a massive explosion around 4:15am on the east side of SF which aligns with when the BART central systems are powered up. Info is scarce, just that "we are working out, please explore alternatives".

― imperial frfr (Steve Shasta), Friday, 9 May 2025 16:07 (seven months ago)

that sucks

― Andy the Grasshopper, Friday, 9 May 2025 16:45 (seven months ago)

looks like service is restored, but big delays everywhere

― Andy the Grasshopper, Friday, 9 May 2025 16:45 (seven months ago)

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