The Perfect Gas Station

What is wrong with San Francisco? Besides all those other things you just thought of? I'll tell you - gas stations. I mean, the actual, physical setup of the structure and the odd amenities offered and not offered.

Ok, sure, there are plenty of wonderful attributes to this city I moved to almost two and a half months ago. But for all the fuss about reducing my carbon footprint and using public transit, sometimes I need to still drive my car to get to far away places or locations that public transit doesn't connect.

Besides, San Francisco is one of the most dense cities in the US - the streets are lined with cars that need to be taken care of and also need fuel.

Enter the confusing and inept world of SF gas stations.

Statement of disclosure: I have only been to four different stations in the city so far. I know an n=4 isn't great, but it's enough to get my complaints!

#1 why do you advertise the CASH price and not the credit? Because you want to trick me to your station, then laugh when I don't have cash. I never knew there was such a thing as gas CASH vs. gas CREDIT price. I had NEVER paid for gas with cash until I moved to this city. For those who don't know, the credit price is 30 cents more expensive PER GALLON!

#2 Why must you have payment "islands" instead of letting me pay at the fuel pump like every other gas station? Everyone must crowd around a central computing unit, and there are a surprising number of old ladies and foreign nationals that are confused by the endeavor.

#3 Why have a fee for using a debit card? Credit cards already charge me 30 cents extra PER GALLON! And if you don't have cash, you must pay a fee to use your debit card. Is this more incentive to pay with cash? Is there a big financial benefit for you to do this?

#4 Why do you have flat screen TVs at the pump but now towels or fluid so that I can wash my windshield? I thought that was one of the main staples at gas stations across the country - apparently not in San Francisco.

These are just a few of my frustrations in dealing with SF gas stations so far. If you have the answers to these, or any other quirky questions about gas stations on the left coast, please let me know. Otherwise, I will let you know when I find the first all-organic gas station. Oh, wait a minute...

Double the science, double the fun

Just inherited a nice PC monitor in my lab. Now I can do science TWICE as fast!

I AM

An agnostic because of science, an atheist because of probability, an anti-theist because of religion.

For your clarification.

Massive Member

Working in a biology lab is great fun. Although there are many rules to work with vertebrate animals, each standard has been thought through very carefully to consider the ethics of each action. In a mouse lab, we take very good care of the mice, making sure that their bellies are full of food, that any pain they experience is minimal, and that they can enjoy the company of mice of the opposite sex (or same, whatever fills their balloon).

Well, a new male was born in my old lab that seems to have all the female mice crowding just to get a better look ... ok, even the male mice (especially some fabulous ones) are also clamoring to glimpse this biological phenomenon. After years of working in a lab, I have seen mice born with extra toes, extra fingers, split tails, six legs, testicles with tumors that take up the entire peritoneal body cavity, massive spleens, and even two heads. But even *I* had never seen this before.

Males used for breeding purposes in a mouse colony are called 'studs'. This little guy brings a whole new meaning to that word - I'm sure he will be able to fulfill his post well:

Sorry I don't have a control picture to place beside this one to clarify for anyone who is unfamiliar with mouse work. For those of you who may not get it, this male has quite a massive phallus - in fact, it's close to an order of magnitude longer than a normal mouse phallus at his age (~7-10 days old). See the big pendulous member between his hind legs? That's not a double tail, that's his lady-pleaser.

Well, we'll see what the ladies think. I'm hoping he will be used for breeding purposes if possible, but if the mechanics don't look like a good prospect, well, he'll have to live with a bunch of males ... maybe there'll be a cohort in his cage that will be happy about that.

Microscopic Porn

I start my new post-doc on Wednesday. Yay! I hope the people in lab will be nice and fun.

I already miss my friends back in Durham. One of my buddies insisted that he missed me so much he started seeing signs that reminded him of me during his late night studies in the microscope room. He sent me this picture of some cells he's been studying in culture:

The name of this particular cell line? RAW. The name of the cell line is RAW.

I love my friends.

A History of God

OK - trying to get back into the blogging world. Just published a new post over at Pascal's Bettors. It's about Karen Armstrong's book, "A History of God". Check it out. I'll be back with more stuff here soon.

Happy Sunday!

Crossing the Continent to the Left Coast (Part VII)

Nevada is almost as beautiful as Utah (well, the northern part at least). The drive has been amazing and the mountain are majestic ... And annoying to drive over sometimes.

We made it to Reno and dad pointed out the historic whorehouse "Mustang Ranch". When asked how he knew about it, he said tv and friends ... Riiiight.

Actually, that is right. Dad watches lots of tv and has some risqué friends.

We're almost to California - yay!

Crossing the Continent to the Left Coast (Part VI)

After 828 miles of Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada we are stopping for the night. I can tell you that my favorite state for scenery thus far is Utah.

The tiny pictures above do not do it justice. The first was taken after entering Utah from the desolate, barren Wyoming. Green was nice to see on the hill sides, and going downhill was a big plus too. The view on I-80 up to Salt Lake City was simply amazing. Then, we travelled through the salt flats of Utah. AMAZING. We had our first bit of rain over the approximate 100 miles of salt. Is this where Mormons search for souls? Maybe they take non-Mormons, give them some salt from here on their food, and it magically converts them. Or maybe it's what makes their women so fertile to grow the religion.

Either way, I'm pooped for the night. On to Reno and then San Francisco tomorrow!

Crossing the Continent to the Left Coast (Part V)

Wyoming. Is. Big. After 180 miles of Nebraska to finish we took on all 400 miles of Wyoming. It is reported to be the least populated state - I have no trouble believing that at all. Trouble is, there's not a lot of different stuff to see, and what little there is is not green.

But we escaped to the utopic Utah! Mote on that soon.

Crossing the Continent to the Left Coast (Part IV)

Renewable energy anyone? Wyoming has brought lots of windmills and cattle ranches thus far ... as well as a transmission fluid pressure leak :-/ Dad and I are proceeding with caution and will let you know what's up after getting through Laramie - hopefully there will be no gay bashing while I'm visiting.