Seattle Waterfront Handcar

With the very sad demise of Seattle’s Waterfront Streetcar, and the extremely unlikely chance that it will ever come back, as the removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will cause waterfront condo prices to skyrocket, I have an alternate idea to bring a bit of Seattle’s railroad history back to the waterfront. This idea is part history, part touristy. Manually operated handcars along the remaining track along Alaskan Way. Most people don’t know that Alaskan Way use to be the domain of the railroads – in fact, it …

Cruise ship app

Almost EVERYONE today carries a smartphone. Carnival should create an Android and iOS app that can connect to the ship’s WiFi but can only access the ship. This app can be a way for passengers to communicate with each other, look up show times and schedules, use maps of the ship, request or schedule services and even scan QR codes around the ship that would give them information about where they’re at or what they are seeing. Carnival could also send messages and information to passengers, coordinate disembarking, …

Uber takes 33%, plus $60/mnth and doesn’t pay tolls

I recently took Uber across a San Francisco bridge, which cost the driver $4 in cash. Cash that I don’t carry. Cash that I can’t add to a tip in the Uber app. I apologized to the driver (he wasn’t upset in the slightest and fully expected to pay the bridge toll.) It surprised me that the Uber app doesn’t recognize that I went through a toll and automatically add it to my fare – especially considering that Uber charges my a ‘safe rider fee’ separately from the …

Uber’s “Safe Rides” fee is ridiculous

I’m a huge fan of Uber. But, I also know they take a huge percentage of each fare (I’ve heard from Uber drivers as much as 30%.) However, I also understand websites and technology and the costs to run such businesses, so when I see $1.65 fee on top of an $11 fare – of which Uber gets 20-30%, it makes me click on the link next to the ‘Safe Rides Fee’ line item. Here’s their reason for charging that fee: I WAS CHARGED A SAFE RIDES FEE …

Quora: “What are the Disney movies one should watch before going to Disneyland?”

Part of the story of Disneyland was that Walt wanted the guests to be the star of the show. That’s why you fly around as Dumbo, rather than just flying around in an ‘airplane’, and why you ride in bobsleds through the Matterhorn, rather than simply running around a welded steel track. When Disneyland opening in 1955, Sleeping Beauty Castle was the central point of the Park – even though Disney’s version of the movie wasn’t even complete. It ‘Sleeping Beauty’ wasn’t released until January 29, 1959 – …

Call Uber to get a battery jump

I recently left my headlights on and killed my car battery. It’s not the first time I’ve done that. That’s why I carry jumper cables in my trunk. Cables are great – when someone will give you a jump. This most recent time was the last straw though… it was 98° in Anaheim and I was on the top-deck of a parking garage at the Anaheim Convention Center. Apparently the Anaheim Convention Center isn’t as concerned with helping guests as Disneyland is… when I asked if they could …

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