BART Blue Sky Festival...San Francisco celebrates smog-free skies! Vendors push environment! Free BART tix!

The promotional publicity still for Bart's "Blue Sky Festival" which kicked-off today in downtown San Francisco  on the waterfront  was straightforward and to the point.

The shot featured a relatively smog-free pristine blue sky with a few lazy fluffy clouds gently billowing here and there on the horizon.

The message was crystal clear!

Thanks to BART'S visionary efforts to enlighten motorists about alternatives to fossil fuels - the picturesque city by the bay is boasting that ridership is up on environmentally-safe public transport - and that fumes that once plagued the skyline are dissipating somewhat.

To celebrate, BART tossed an upbeat soiree that environmentally-conscious folks - and businesses - responded to in droves!

In essence, the "Blue Sky Festival" is centerpiece for the exchange of great environmental info, that runs in tandem with Earth Day which rolls around every spring.

Tourists, residents out giving their dogs a stretch, and city workers on lunch break, strolled through the plaza and munched on organically-grown strawberries, nutritious health drinks, and tasty energy-raising snacks as they mulled over environmentally safe products, and energy sources.

And, thanks to a popular local band - the Venusians - did so with a bounce in their step.

Their sound - consisting mainly of percussion, synthesizers, and strings - was somewhat reminiscent of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra (featured on YouTube) according to one observer with a keen ear.

Two Polar Bears danced around the stage to joyously celebrate a turn-around in their community.

Uh-huh!

Thanks to a new wave of environmental consciousness family members are being saved from extinction!

BART also offered up a nifty reward to curiosity-seekers who made a concerted effort to pop by and check out the booths.

Every attendee who presented a "passport" with six stamps on it (provided by the vendors present) was gifted with a free $6.00 BART pass!

But, a big buzz broke out in the crowd, when the opportunity to win a snazzy "fold up" bike presented itself.

Handy, when 'ya consider, that is the only two-wheeler that Officials on the Public Transportation system allow.

Other "green" friendly businesses participating included Bike Link / eLock, Breathe California & Greenbelt Alliance, City Car Share & ZipCar, Rock ' n Socks & Rickshaw Bagworks, Jamba Juice and Premier Organics.

If 'ya missed it, catch the Blue Sky Festival next year!

Or, at least, check out EarthShareCA.org for more details.

 http://www.thetattler.biz



San Francisco...rainy day tips! Subterranean forays a delight!

 



If you're like moi, and hate the prospect of hauling around an umbrella all day under the unpredictable skies of picturesque San Francisco, there is another novel option.

For example, along Market Street - in the subterranean tunnels that house BART - savvy world-class travellers are not only discovering the delights of an intriguing underworld that are blocks long beneath the bustling city streets above - but remaining drip-dry in the process!

The emboldened few have been caught up in the "other-worldly" nature of the phenomenon, in recent days (myself included).

Entertaining street musicians strum here for their dinner, after all, as stylish cosmopolitan commuters pass through exacting revolving turn-styles - to exciting destinations beyond with a sense of adventure in their every step.

Gosh, I think I may plunk myself down one day soon, and offer up a handful of my sketches to tourists for a song.

Ah, back to my bohemian artistic roots, at long last!

See 'ya there!

http://www.thetattler.biz



Night Skyline in San Francisco!

Tap...fraud @ Metro Line's transit carrier! Rude insulting staff ignore problem!

 

Chances are that if you held a reduced fare card (pass for Disabled passengers & Seniors) for METRO Transit in Los Angeles, there was a bit of arm-twisting to get you signed up for the new-introduced TAP card.

In fact, any individual who was on record with Metro Transit Authority with a "special-rate" monthly pass, was automatically issued a TAP card, which was summarily mailed out to their address on file.

Was that a breach of privacy?

That's only the beginning of the shocking practises that are going down at TAP in a bold-faced effort to scoop up business for the dishonest corporate entity that is contracted to provide the TAP card (which is loaded and used to gain access throughout the month to access Metro Line, busses, and so-forth-and-so-on).

Now, TAP has set up a web site to encourage commuters to log on and load their TAP cards on the Internet with a credit card, direct debit account, you name it.

There is one problem, though.

City travellers have complained to Metro line employees (at the La Brea &  Wilshire outlet) that not only were their cards billed the applicable fee - but on more than one occasion - their accounts were dinged twice for the monthly charge.

Uh-huh!

Tap is "double-dipping".

In addition to that fraudulent conduct, it should be noted that when a client inputs their account number and attempts to add credit to their Metro Line tap card, oftentimes the fee is applied to the Antelope Valley Line or some other transportation service around the Southern California area.

If the individual attempts to use their card at the turnstile on the Metro line in Los Angeles, it is rejected - at which point - they must deposit a one-way fare with a cash payment until the issue is resolved.

When one customer contacted Tap employees at the in-house phone line at the La Brea Street Metro outlet (Los Angeles) and attempted to have the credit switched from Antelope Valley to the Metro Line service - he encountered rude insulting conduct from the employees - who just didn't give a damn.

Although one individual noted that they were disabled and on a limited budget, and that they needed to the credit back right away, the incompetent impolite worker showed no compassion or understanding.

"You have to call your credit card carrier and ask for a credit back.  I can't do that for you," she barked at the astounded local resident.

A call was put in to the credit card carrier and the operator promptly informed the individual that Metro Line would have to issue the credit back since the charge was posted from their web site.

Talk about a run-a-round!

Bottom line?

TAP is a useless Metro Line Service that is actively defrauding the general public (in particular the disabled and seniors unable to fend for themselves) and promoting a business venture that is not only useless contribution to the City of Los Angeles but a fraudulent one that should be stopped in its greedy tracks.

Mr. Mayor, what do you intend to do about it?

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz/