October 31, 2003
f1 weltmeister
Not my Hallowe'en costume, but I like it:
Markus Grondstra as Michael Schumacher.
Perviously on FSP: Michael Shumacher's back yard.
October 26, 2003
About Page Two
Page Two is a feature here at FSP which provides a category of meta data,
to explain what the recurring links in FSP are. Presently, the recurring
links are presented in the LINKS section in the leftmost column, towards
the bottom.
Rather than just throw up a list of unexplained links with an implicit
click here, FSP gives you a reason to click.
Or better, Page Two gives you context, and you decide if you're
further interested.
October 24, 2003
San Carlos transit oriented development
The City of San Calros on the San Francisco is finally getting developed
some transit oriented housing, between its downtown and the train station.
A good thing, finally.
Pacific Hacienda consists of two buildings, one at 618 Walnut Street
and one at 633 Elm Street which faces City Hall.
Locals got a chance to tour inside the project, consisting of 89
1- or 2-bedroom condominiums and additional office space at
633 Elm St. The project has been six years in the making, well-worth
the wait for Wuthmann. For him, the location was ideal as the project
is just blocks away from downtown San Carlos, the library, the City
Hall and the train station.
According to the sales office at Pacific Peninsula Group, 49 units
have already been purchased or reserved. The prices begin at $395,000
for a one-bedroom unit and $649,000 for two bedrooms.
The project also includes 13 below-market rate units for those with
low and moderate incomes. Affordability is a relative term in San
Mateo County. For the condominiums priced at $265,000, ranking at the
low end, a one-person household can make no more than $63,350.
For more info on Pacific Hacienda and BATN.
More on eligibility for low/moderate income status in California:
The 89 unit luxury condominium development will include 13 one-bedroom
Below Market Rate units priced specifically for the low income and moderate
income categories as established for San Mateo County.
The income limits for eligibility for these units are determined by family
size and are as follows:
Maximum allowable household income - Low Income
1 Person - $63,350
2 People - $72,400
3 People - $81,450
Maximum allowable household income - Moderate Income
1 Person - $76,850
2 People - $87,850
3 People - $98,800
October 22, 2003
October 14, 2003
Grocery Strike
Dierbergs is a good grocery store for the masses when it's fuctioning normally.
Bright, clean, spaceous, orderly, well stocked. Alas they have locked out their workers,
and I won't be shopping there this week.
Pity there's no Adronico's, Draeger's or Ranch99 (oh, how I miss Yaohan) in STL.
The outstanding fresh seafood; your selection cooked for you as you wait.
But not in STL.
And WebVan and Kozmo, RIP.
For now I have to make due with Whole Earth Foods on Brentwood and
Wild Oats on Ladue.
Perhaps it's time for another trip to the coast.
For now, there's Ko's Lemmongrass and Pho Grand.
October 06, 2003
s/sense/stop/
Woodbridge Crossing Wooded Frk ?
That's how some direct mailer approximated a neighbor's address.
October 05, 2003
Carquinez Strait bridge
New Al Zampa Memorial Bridge across the Carquinez Strait in the San Francisco Bay.
October 04, 2003
MINI agenda
2003 Oct 10-12: GM's Autoshow in Motion, UMB/Riverport Amphitheatre, Earth City, MO.
2003 Oct 14-17: Kumho Tire Challenge at Ikea, Schaumburg (Chicago, IL).
Kumho has MINIs, not Minis like this:
2003 October 18: Southern Missouri road Rally.
For those in St. Louis:
There will be a meet-n-greet at the Home Depot/Borders Parking lot at Watson Rd. and Lindbergh Blvd in the Sunset Hills Plaza.
We'll leave the parking lot at 9:30AM.
From there we'll take I-44 to the formal starting point in Cuba, MO.
Official Start Location (THIS IS A CHANGE):
The official starting location will be the Wal-Mart parking lot in Cuba. This is on the Southeast side of I-44 and Hwy. 19. The exit for Cuba, MO is Exit 208, exit and head south, Wal-Mart will be on the left hand side. The group from St. Louis should arrive between 10:30AM and 10:45AM. We'll leave the parking lot around 11:00AM.
2003 Oct 19: autocross and MINI meet at Tire Rack, South Bend, IN.
October 03, 2003
What I Drive (for Friday Five)
It is better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
1. What vehicle do you drive?
2002 MINI Cooper.
2. How long have you had it?
1 year, 6 months. 19,000 miles.
3. What is the coolest feature on your vehicle?
Handling on transitions between corners, thanks to quick steering, and a
responsive suspension. An excellent car for a slalom.
The buttons on the steering wheel which control an iPod are also cool.
Thanks, Bridger.
Also note the cat-rescue mode, as seen in the owner's manual.
4. What is the most annoying thing about your vehicle?
No limited slip differential available as a factory option.
5. If money were no object, what vehicle would you be driving right now?
Audi RS6; and Lotus Elise.
If I had the money for the RS6, I'd not buy it but keep the MINI
and enjoy it more, on closed course private roads.
Also, with the money left over from not buying the RS6, I'd get a
Subaru WRX STi.
October 01, 2003
Parking lot II
Should entire parking lots be paved, or should strips of vegetation remain ?
Minnesota pollution control Agency shows that vegetation and soil's
natural filtration control water polution.
NRDC's stormwater strategies show more pics illustrating similar ideas.
See also Walkable parking lots.
But this is just silly.
More info from Washington State.