I'm in need of some techincal assistance for a problem that's beyond my knowledge of servers, blog software, and the like. For the last month or so I've noticed that there seems to be some malware installed on my blog that is causing all kinds of problems, not the least of which is that it's killing me on Google, and people are getting warnings in the various browsers and so on. I really do not know how to fix this so any advice or willingness to just do this for me would be appreciated (and you'd get paid).

Even better would be for someone to help me move this off Movable Type 4 once and for all and over to WordPress. I know I put out a similar call for that last year, but Real Life intervened, and I had to put it on hold. This would also be paid as well.

Email me at greg (at) dewar (dot) us with the subject line "NJC repairs" if you're interested.

Thanks!

Sounds great? I mean, hey, jobs jobs jobs, and like that?

There's just one problem to the earnest protesters and their message: there are NO COMPANIES in America that build rail cars as a business. None. Zero. Nada. There haven't been any for years. Those Muni LRVs you ride in were bought from an Italian company. Go to any city in the United States, and not one will have streetcars or commuter trains made by 100% American companies. The United States long ago abandoned this as an industry. Even the mini-subway under the United States Capitol Building was built by a Canadian firm.

Thus all these calls to "build in America" are nothing but emotional, election year hyperbole to whip up their base of support and get on television, but are doomed to failure. Inevitably some politicians jump on the bandwagon (band train?) and huff and puff to their heart's content. Just don't ask them why they haven't done anything while in office to fix the situation - you'll make their heads explode. (Also, remind them about the epic success Boston and San Francisco had with the Boeing streetc-....oh wait, that's right. They were a flop.)

More to the point, even though the firm fulfilling the contract for the BART trains is foreign, the actual cars will be assembled in....America. The majority of the party will come from....America. This is actually fairly standard - it's cheaper than shipping them from somewhere else, and the people building the cars will be...AMERICANS. (OMG!) Another fun fact- the same company BART chose built many of the train cars on Caltrain too. Where was the protest then?

People need to realize that the reason these things, like iPads and other items aren't built here is due not entirely to the "cost of labor" - we as a nation have decided we simply no longer want to be in certain industries, and the brain trust that goes on to innovate in things like LRV and train technology ends up finding a new home. Many parts are not available from any supplier in the United States, and industry here has shown no interest in pursuing some of these technologies. Why?

BECAUSE THERE ARE NO AMERICAN TRAIN BUILDING COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

Once upon a time, Muni and the old Market Street Railway used to operate factories right here in town back in the Good Old Days, and Muni's workshop still builds some cable cars. That, however is then, and this is now. It's time for the protesters to focus their efforts on something that's useful, and not wave around signs and toss out empty slogans. I realize that's not easy, but nothing worth accomplishing is.

This could also be an antidote to the not-so-fun event this weekend - the repair work being done by the MTA on the N Judah tracks. As always, a bus shuttle will run connecting people downtown. If you live in the affected area and have problems, or just want a contact number in case noise or other issues persist, go to the SFMTA page for the project for a list of emails and phone numbers. From what I have heard, progress has remained steady, and best of all once it's done, it's DONE.

For some reason, this apparently is one of the funniest things I've written. Click on over to the link and see what you think.

Locally, Pacific Catch has embraced the event since it began in 2010, and this year will be hosting an event at it's 9th and Lincoln location here in the Inner Sunset. The event will be a benefit for the San Francisco Food Bank, so you can have fun and know your money will go to help others in the community. Last year the event at Pacific Catch was one of the largest in the world, and it raised $6,000 for relief efforts in Japan following the tsunami that hit earlier that year.

The event starts at 6pm, with a "Swarm" check in from 7-730 pm, but there will be happy hour deals all day, and additional sponsors will be there including Scoutmob, Hahn Wineries, Screen Scape, and the Laugh Box. A DJ will also provide entertainment.

If you can, stop by and check it out. Pacific Catch always knows how to throw a party, and with the proceeds going to help others here in town, it's a win/win.

I've been attending these off and on for a few years now, and I have to say that every year the event gets bigger and better. That's great, because all proceeds go to benefit arts and science programs at the school, and while it's unfortunate our schools can't pay the bills for things kids need, it's good to know so many people are willing to step up and help out and close the gap.

This year's DogFest looks to be a particularly spectacular event, with a full day's worth of events, a silent auction, a dog show with celebrity judges, and all sorts of other fun activities.

I'm going to try and stop by and take some pictures. If you attend and do so as well, post a link in the comments to your photos.

PS: For Inner Sunset residents, don't forget about the Inner Sunset Community Meeting scheduled for Friday the 13th, as well!

Daniel had some experience delivering food as the owner of Los Yaquis in the Mission, and he and his business partner did some research, and found that there were no other businesses doing delivery of things like beer, food, and whatnot, particularly late at night on the weekends. Once the market at 10th and Irving was up for sale, they decided to make a go of it and give San Francisco the local delivery service that it needed.

Right now the business is still testing out various models to see what works in a 7 x7 city like ours. Currently the delivery minimum is $30, and there's a Scoutmob offer that gives you 50% off your order (minus alcohol and energy drinks), and they have a wide variety of food to choose from.

My favorite was the wonderful selection of Columbus brand meats and cheeses, as well as the sandwiches from Los Yaquis. Best of all there are an array of products one might want to order in odd situations: you've returned home late from a long distance trip and your kitchen has only the elements of food, or perhaps you're feeling ill and just want someone to deliver some chicken soup and fruit juice while you get over that nasty flu.

Those with memories that extend past 2006 may recall Kozmo.com, which was a wonderful idea, but blew up during Dot Bomb 1.0. Room Service has a chance to suceed as it's starting out slow and is working to find what things people really want and what they do not. In the near future they will be offering Illy coffee, and they also plan on opening up a wine cellar and offering custom gift baskets for delivery as well.

Overall you can't go wrong. Their prices don't seem to be too much different than anyone else's, and the fact they will deliver ANYWHERE says a lot. This is the kind of business we want to encourage, because the idea of more delivery businesses means more people can live without a car. Check them out sometime when you and your friends want something but perhaps don't feel like hopping on a Muni to get something late at night!

Room Service
900 Irving Street, SF, CA
1 block from the 9th and Irving N-Judah stop
415 566 7666

Any announcements about rumors in District 5 will be made at a later date.

My questions is simply this: Why are we having this meeting in the first place?

The TEP was completed FOUR years ago, and was done so with tremendous public input. There is no good reason to have more endless "talk" and "outreach" for this plan. If we hadn't had an incompetent (Nathaniel Ford) at the helm of the SFMTA for so long who took this multi million dollar plan to improve service and put it on a shelf to rot, and a Mayor who used the SFMTA like an ATM machine, we'd be a lot further along towards having something we could all enjoy.

Instead, the agency is still stuck in first gear with the endless prattle about "parking meters" and the like, and there's no one really standing up and taking on the problem the way we should. Instead of trying to find rent money in the couch cushions, the SFMTA, the City of San Francisco, and its associated politicians need to get a grip on reality. The way to fix the system was completed years ago. Now it is time to look at how much it costs to pay for that plan, and then find the money accordingly, through a combination of efficiency at the agency AND replacing stolen gas tax money and work order money with something permanent (and that is NOT PARKING TICKETS).

I've been saying this for several years now, and it's time someone listened. I'm not the only one who has seen the problem and discussed it, and I won't be the last. But as we all know, the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. It's time for someone at City Hall to wake up, stop coming up with new ways to bust the budget, and show some leadership on this problem.

I'm not holding my breath, though. Given the political games the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors and the assorted special interests would rather play at City Hall, it's not likely the people's business will be a priority anytime soon.

Here's the latest update from the SFMTA, verbatim. As always, the weather may affect this schedule so if you're not sure what's going on, call the numbers listed below in the update and your questions will be answered.

Construction scheduled for March 30- April 2 has been scaled back due to the weather forecast.

Dear Neighbor/Business Merchant/Muni Customer:

Construction work will still take place and the N Judah Line will be under bus substitution. However, the extent and noise of the work will be at a reduced level. Driveway access will be maintained and there will not be overnight noise.

Work slated for the weekend of Friday, March 30 until Monday, April 2 includes:

• Potholing work on Carl Street between Cole Street and the Sunset Portal Tunnel area


• Roadway work on Carl Street between Hillway Avenue and Cole Street

• Carl Street will remain open with two-way traffic and adjoining streets open as well


• Street parking will not be available in and around the construction sites


• Temporary bus stops on Frederick Street (two at Cole, two at Willard, and one at Stanyan) for the N bus shuttles will require parking removal


• Local access will be granted and all local businesses will remain open

• Muni buses will provide substitute service for the N Judah Line.


• N Judah bus shuttles will substitute for N Line rail service and will operate all weekend between Ocean Beach and Church Street.


• The first outbound stop will be on the northwest corner of Market and Church streets.


• The first outbound accessible stop will be on 14th Street at Church Street.


• From La Playa to Arguello the N buses will follow the regular N Line route.


• East of Arguello the N service will re-route around the construction and street closure.


• The service will run as an express between Cole and Frederick and Castro and Duboce.


• N Owl bus service will be rerouted from Carl Street onto Frederick Street.

Please visit the project webpage at www.sfmta.com/carl or contact 311 for service details and updates. If you have any questions or should any issues arise please contact the project team via e-mail at CarlStRail@sfmta.com.

Extreme commutes can include one that requires many transfers in San Francisco, or a commute to and from San Francisco to other counties (and vice versa), or really be anywhere in the Bay Area.

The goal is to have readers suggest to Extreme Commuters how they might make their ride easier, and highlight the weak links in the Bay Area so that they might be fixed. Hopefully, someone at the alphabet soup of transit agencies is reading this.

Email me if you'd like to submit to a short questionnaire and I'll post it here in a future entry. Today we have a tale from NJC Reader @makfan, who commutes from San Francisco to .

1. Name/Occupation:

My name is Mike and I'm a software engineer in Silicon Valley.

2. Neighborhood/City you live in:
I live in Castro/San Francisco.

3. Neighborhood/City you commute to:
I commute to the Sunnyvale/Mountain View border near 237, two or three days each week.

4. What lines on (Muni/Caltrain/VTA/Other) do you take and how long does it take you each way? While you're commuting, what do you do (read, listen to music, sleep, etc):

Southbound, I nearly always leave home between 6:25 and 6:30 am. I take MUNI Metro to Caltrain (usually the T, but I have to be prepared to take L or M and wait for the N at Powell or the 30/45 on 5th Street). I almost always take Caltrain at 7:14 am to Mountain View. I grab the light rail at MV (only 5 minutes leeway with the latest VTA schedule changes) to Middlefield, then either walk one mile or take the VTA 32 community bus the last mile.

Northbound, I usually leave the office around 6-6:10 and walk back to Middlefield to catch VTA at 6:30. Then I take Caltrain at 6:46 pm. Sometimes I get picked up at Caltrain, otherwise I repeat the T or N ride back to Castro.

I usually do nothing on Muni and VTA but people watch. On Caltrain, I use my iPad to read, work puzzles and follow Twitter. I always eat breakfast on Caltrain. On the way home, I often meet up with a friend on Caltrain and we chat or watch the Sharks if it's an away game day. On home game nights, I take the last local Caltrain and don't hit the city until midnight.

5. What is the weakest link in your commute? What would make things better?
I'm always at risk of missing the Caltrain I want because of MUNI delays. Also, I can almost walk from Mountain View to my office in the time it takes to ride VTA because we're just not that close to light rail. If Caltrain expresses went to Sunnyvale, the same VTA 32 bus from there would save time.

In general, with so many transfers, I am completely at the mercy of the schedules. A recent 3 minute VTA change has made my transfer at Mountain View in the morning shaky because Caltrain did not change to match it. I have an injury right now so I try not to walk that last mile but if I miss my usual light rail, the next one doesn't have a good bus connection.

6. Has your commute made you consider moving closer to your job or changing your job to one closer to home? Have you considered other changes to accommodate your ride each day?
The sleep deprivation gets to me at times. I own my home and don't really want to sell it right now. Also, my partner's job is near our home and he needs to be close to work. The saving grace is that I get to work at home at least 50% of the time, so I don't have to do this every day. I wish my office was in an area with more services - I can't do a single errand at lunch here, except for the post office.

7. Anything else you'd like to say/vent/express?
Similar to your first respondent: why no WiFi on Caltrain yet? Why do the agencies change their schedules without seeming to consider the people who transfer? Why is it so hard to buy/add Clipper tickets, especially away from SF? Why do the outbound MUNI trains stop at the far end of the platform instead of near the middle?

Baseball nights going home on Caltrain are not much fun. I don't mind people enjoying their sports and an adult beverage, but it goes from a relatively quiet ride to a party zone. When you are just wanting to go home and eat dinner, the noise and litter from food and drink gets annoying. The trains are completely full.

The upside for me is that I have made some new friends on the train, which I wouldn't have done driving solo. I typically drive once a month and always look forward to getting back on the train.

The event includes a potluck dinner where people are invited to bring a dish to share as well as utensils and plates, and later will have people break out into discussion groups on topics that attendees propose at the event. It is being orgainzed by the Inner Sunset Park Neighbors and if you'd like more information, or find out how you can help out the event, contact Adam Greenfield via email.

We are fortunate to have so many people who take the time to organize events and other community amenities that enhance the neighborhood as a whole, and promote the idea of the Inner Sunset as a place where people find ways to work together, rather than the choose-up-sidery stuff you see elsewhere. Let's keep up the good work!

Despite all the best intentions and efforts, as is, the "plaza" isn't much to look at, and isn't very pleasant. On a rainy day it becomes the world's biggest puddle, and I don't see many people enjoying it, save for the usual band of homeless people, who don't like it either (or so I've been told by said folks). Hence, my thinking out loud - what if instead we kept all the escalators and the elevator, and covered up the whole thing and made a nice park on top instead?

As I Googled around on this issue it seems I'm not the only person who's discussed this in the past. The Chronicle's John King brought up similar issues when the Newsom administration made some moves to try and improve the place. He, like I, called for the City to hit the reset button and start over.

This isn't the most pressing issue in the world, but a better urban infrastructure inevitably leads to more improvements, public and private. If nothing else, it would make the Powell Street station and the Cable Car turnaround a bit more pleasant.

If you had a reset button for Hallidie Plaza, what would you do?