#SF Car Services

[sgsanfranciscolimoservice]

Car Service SF

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Visit Car Service SF today and experience our exceptional service firsthand. Trust us to keep your car in optimal condition and deliver reliable, affordable, and efficient car service solutions.

[bnglimousine]

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[pastadoughie]

many people were confused about some of my previous posts, so for the sake of clarity i am condensing everything! tumblr has extremely transphobic moderation practices, often flagging completely innocent posts as explicit, solely for containing trans women in them or mentioning transgenderism. while letting untagged porn in sfw tags (ive literally seen porn tagged as "sfw agere") and blatent hatespeech, especially twards trans people (just look at the "gender critical" tag) go completely unchecked recently the CEO of tumblr had a big public hissyfit about people (rightfully) calling him transmysogenistic, going into random trans womens dms to harrass them, and saying that predstrogen saying she "hopes he explodes with hammers and then explodes again and hammers fly everywhere" is a death threat and saying he is calling the FBI on her (repeatedly misgendering her and calling her "it") and many bloggers, apon speaking out about it or even making harmless jokes (one trans woman posted a picture of a car and a hammer with the caption "reblog to scare matt" and got nuked for it) and many are very very angry (rightfully) about this whole affair and tumblr in general. if you would like to look into it i reccomend scrolling the "predstrogen" tag as she is the case most people are talking about at the moment. So, what can we do? this is clearly an ongoing issue, and, dispite having lost a lawsuit about their transphobic moderation in the past (see : https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21274288-tumblr-nycchr-settlement) its clearly not gonna stop with just user complaints, as staff members are perfectly content to just go scorched earth on users who even so much as lightly poke fun at them well if you want to help you should contact the human rights commision (i will give clear details further down) ! you dont have to be in the US, nor be an adult to file, and it only takes a few minutes. this is the best and most effective method to fix this, because it hits tumblr where it hurts. human rights acencies have a lot of legal and financial power and tumblr CAN NOT just ignore them, and given that this will be the seccond time this is happening, the commisions shouldnt be playing nice anymore eaither. its really important that AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE FILE, and with different examples! while maybe your case might not be enough to prop up a lawsuit on its own, we need to prove a general trend. so every little bit counts! to respond to another question abt this ive gotten, as for what exactly to report, you should a) write about an act of discrimination youve recieved on tumblr that was eaither administered by a staff member OR that staff refused to give adequate moderation action in for example : a terf posted some blatent hatespeech targeted twards you, and you reported them, and staff looked at the issue and refused to persecute it. example 2 : you were unfairly flagged, deleted, or otherwise punished by a staff member and you are queer ( AND the post they banned you for has some kind of tie to your gender, ex : a sfw transition progress photo ) OR b) if you have not personally recieved something like that, please look for other peoples stories (THEY SHOULDNT BE HARD TO FIND, within the last couple of hours trans people have been being banned LEFT AND RIGHT for trying to speak on this. i would reccomend checking some of the tags related to what happened with predstrogen) and you should describe that incident as best as possible (be sure to disclose that you are speaking for someone else, ideally you should tell the story of someone you know, if possible.) you can also mention any reports you have made twards people posting blatent hatespeech that, opon reveiwing tumblr refused to prosecute dispite it being very obviously against terms of service. just so nobody gets confused about the filing process, im laying it out in more plain languadge!!

first you should email the SF HRC (san francisco human rights commision), at hrc.info@sfgov.org and say something along these lines :

Hello, I am [full name] from [country or state] and I am filing a complaint against Tumblr, witch is owned by the parent company Automattic Inc. located at 60 29th St, San Francisco, CA 94110.

Tumblr has had previous issues with the NYC DHR for their moderation being unfairly biased against trans women (see : https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21274288-tumblr-nycchr-settlement).

Despite a legally binding agreement with the NYC DHR, staff members still regularly harrass users based on their gender or sexual orientations. For example : on [date of most recent infraction] [describe incident] (if you are describing an incident that did not happen to you specifically, say something like) This incident involves the user [username] who I am not affiliated with (or/) who I am filing on behalf of.

I can be reached for further inquiries about this incident at [email you want to talk over] or [phone number you want to talk over]. (if you would like to be anonymous) However, In the event of legal prosecution against Automattic I would refer to be kept anonymous, where possible, in court proceedings. alternatively, you can also call the SF HRC at : 415-252-2500, you can use the above text as a starting point for this as well, next you want to fill out the form for the NYC DHR (new york city department of human rights) here : https://www.nyc.gov/site/cchr/about/report-discrimination.page for company you wanna put : Automattic and/or Tumblr for address you wanna put : 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 for phone number you wanna put : (646) 513-4321 and for category of discrimination you can put : Discriminatory harassment and basis of discrimination you can put : Gender; Gender identity you can then use a similar script on the written section of the form. when describing a specific incident, you should attach as many screenshots and links as possible! (for links, include both a live link and an archival link, so take a capture with the internet archive and have that as an alternative, incase a staff member gets petty.) this should only take a few minutes at most, and it helps alot! you can fill this out if you are a minor, and you dont have to be a us resident, please please take the time!!! and, just to clarify because there are many posts going around that are confused about this tumblr moved offices to san francisco recently, so their main HQ is at : 60 29th St, San Francisco, CA 94110 they DO still have an office in new york city, and thats where their PREVIOUS HQ was, the address is : 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

[why-animals-do-the-thing]

California zoo accessibility data dump

I just recently got back from a short (and fully covid-cautious) zoo road trip in Oregon and California, and wanted to share my notes re: accessibility at the facilities I visited. I'll get this all integrated into the spreadsheet, too.

Wildlife Safari - Winston, Oregon

This is a large drive-thru safari park with a free walk-about area attached that contains some small exhibits. Guests stay inside their cars the entire drive-thru, although there's at least one place to stop and sit in a gazebo to rest and use the bathroom (porta-potty only). You can pull over to watch animals for longer, and go through multiple times if you missed anything. It's a long drive-thru and there isn't really a good way to truncate the experience if you've got some kind of emergency. The roads are not flat, but they're well maintained and not bumpy.

The walkabout area is very small and contains bathrooms, food options, and other guest services. The paths are mostly concrete and well tended, although you do have to cross the steam train tracks to get to lion/some of the lemur viewing. I believe the Australia walkabout area was also unpaved. There's lots of parking in a big, flat, paved lot.

Sacramento Zoo - Sacramento, CA

This is a very cute, small inner-city facility - a good option if you don't want to try to walk a huge zoo in one day. There's lots of shade from all the plants and a good amount of benches throughout, including picnic tables with shade canopies. The paths are almost entirely flat and paved, with the exception of a boardwalk ramp up to the giraffe feeding and okapi viewing platforms. The cafe has gluten-free and vegetarian listings (maybe vegan?) on their menu. No straws are provided for animal safety, but if you need one, they can give you a reusable curly-straw from the slushies (kinda long and awkward for a normal cup) as an accommodation. They've got both water fountains and water bottle filling stations. Being build in a larger city park and recreation complex, there isn't a dedicated parking lot just for the zoo: the closest is across the street, shared with another attraction, and is kinda small. I've never had issues finding parking when I've gone, but sometimes it does involve a bunch of walking to get to the zoo entrance - if you have mobility or stamina limitations, probably best to get dropped off at the entrance and wait (there are benches).

San Francisco Zoo - San Francisco, CA

The SF Zoo is huge. There's lots of green / garden / swamp space that doesn't have habitats in it, but it means exhibits can be pretty far away, so plan your route accordingly. (Going out to the grizzly bears is the longest loop). Depending on the time of day, there's not always a ton of shade for guests either. There's a decent amount of benches, and quite a few are in decent proximity to animal viewing. After a somewhat long but not steep hill right at the entrance, the paths are all paved and fairly flat. There's a hill going down into/up from the Australia area / kids playground, but it's the only one I really noticed. There's a long elevated boardwalk through the lemur habitats that connects to the top of the new Madagascar construction - if you can't do stairs, as of Spring 2024, that's the only way to get up there to look down on the mandrills or see the top of the fossa habitat. (It's still under construction, so there might be an elevator in the building in the future). Back by the grizzlies, there's an old indoor rainforest building - while there's buttons to automatically open the door going in, I didn't find any on the first inside door going out. It makes sense they don't want both doors to open at once since it's a bird airlock, but not having independent ones on each door meant the day I used an ECV I got stuck in there until a nice staff member noticed.

All three times I've ever been to SF most of the little food kiosks haven't been open, and the vending machines for drinks have been hit and miss - so bring your own, or stock up at the cafe if you need to have supplies with you - but there are water fountains and water bottle filling stations around the zoo. There are interpretive audio boxes through the zoo in English and Spanish, used with a key you get at the entrance(?), but I heard a lot of complaints in passing about some of them not working. There's lots of parking at the zoo in a flat paved lot, and there's a specific dropoff area on one side for rideshares/mobility needs.

Oakland Zoo - Oakland, CA

To be clear up front - Oakland was the hardest facility to visit on this whole trip, with regards to mobility. We went twice, and I used an ECV (electric scooter) one and walked the other. Neither option was easy and both were exhausting. Oakland is a super hilly facility - you basically have to drive up a major hill to get to the zoo. The bottom half of the lower zoo can only be reached by going down pretty steep paths. The hills are also not graded to be "flat", so if you're in a wheelchair or ECV, you're going to have to lean to compensate for the tilt and balance the chair... while controlling it going down a steep hill. It's exhausting and kinda scary. (I don't even let other people carry my camera because $$, but I had to ask for help so I could focus on driving the ECV on those hills). There's also a lot of areas of the pathways that are not in the best repair, or patterned with pressed-in images, and multiple places actually have brass bugs embedded in the pavement so that they stick out above the surface. Lots of tripping hazards and/or things to rattle your teeth out rolling over. A couple places in the upper zoo (the California wilds area) the paths switch from paved to sand and back again, for drainage, maybe? On the upside, there's a lot of benches everywhere, including directly across from prime viewing areas.

Getting up to the upper zoo requires using a gondola - there's no walking option. You can actually take wheelchairs and ECVs on these, but you have to be ready to advocate for yourself. Normally, they don't stop the carriages completely, and expect people to walk on while they're still moving slowly. You can ask them to slow them down for you (I did, because knee issues plus torque is bad), or stop it completely if you need the time/help. When I took an ECV on, they had me disembark and get in one carriage, and they loaded it into the subsequent ones. This is fine because I can walk and stand on concrete for a while without it, but I'm not sure how that practice would work for people who need their mobility aids the whole time. They were very nice about managing the stopping and the loading and didn't make it feel like an imposition, too. If they stop the carriages completely at any point, there will be a loud buzzer/alarm when the ride starts back up. If you're close, it's pretty loud and startling. As they leave the track at the bottom the gondolas tip and dip a little, which can be scary if you're not expecting it - I think it's just the transition of the car from the loading bay onto the track itself. The rest of the ride is very smooth. The track is pretty high up and gives a great view of the bay and the surrounding cities, but face uphill if you don't do well with heights. Once at the upper zoo, the path from bald eagles through jaguar is mostly a boardwalk, but it's not too bumpy.

Oakland's parking is hard if you're not there early in the day, IMO. The overflow parking gets pretty far from the entrance, and starts to go up the hill towards the upper zoo. If the lot looks busy, drop anyone with mobility/stamina issues off at the entrance before parking. Unlike many other zoos I've visited, Oakland's ECVS have added sunshades, which is really nice (and which I should have used).

Monterey Zoo - Salinas, CA

This is a fairly small facility with most habitats on one level, but some big cats and bears are up a pretty big hill. The walkways are paved and flat, and there's an ADA-graded boardwalk ramp that takes you to the top of the hill. The pipes used for the handrails on both the stairs and the ramp get very hot in the sun, however. There's a boardwalk up to the rhino overlook. They indicate that their bathrooms are accessible, but the ones in the main building didn't have bars for transferring - I didn't check the ones up on the hill. At one point in the day speakers along the path started playing really loud pop music (drowned out the birds) and it was very overwhelming. There's lots of handicapped parking spots across from the front entrance, but if you don't have a tag, the rest of the spots are up a bit of a hill and a small walk from the entrance. They do have a note, though, that they can help if you need accessible parking and don't see any, so you could probably call/have someone to go in and ask for an accommodation.

Sequoia Park Zoo - Eureka, CA

This is another nice small facility, very doable for a half-day trip. The paths are paved and flat, and there's benches available. There's a lot of shade, although it can depend on the time of day, and places to fill a water-bottle. The sky-walk through the redwoods is accessible, but might be a little difficult depending on mobility limitations - its' a very sturdy boardwalk through the canopy of the tall trees. (I had more thoughts on this from my last visit, I'll dig out those notes). If you can do even part of it, it's worth it, and there's places to turn around. Because it's in a residential area of the town there's not a huge dedicated parking lot, but lots of street parking and a decent lot directly across the street. I've never had difficulty finding parking, and you can drop people off at the entrance easily.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

Support me this summer on the Clarion Write-A-Thon and help raise money for the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop!

#20yrsago Doonesbury to be dropped for being “too controversial” https://web.archive.org/web/20040723071326/https://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000581723

#20yrsago Secret Swing visit report https://web.archive.org/web/20040725050428/http://candycritic.bravejournal.com/entry/4178

#20yrsago Game developer: the real pirates are my publishers http://draginol.joeuser.com/article/21895

#20yrsago Imagineering head on Tiki Room rehab https://web.archive.org/web/20040806155355/http://www.laughingplace.com/default.asp?WCI=MsgBoard&WCE=T-51032-P-1&Refresh=0721171722

#20yrsago In-game product placement’s dystopian future https://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2004/07/oh_great.html

#20yrsago Downloading isn’t killing music https://web.archive.org/web/20040724060140/http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1265840,00.html

#15yrsago Last Galapagos Pinta turtle finally knocks up a mate’s eggs https://web.archive.org/web/20090725192130/http://scienceray.com/earth-sciences/paleontology/lonesome-george-to-finally-be-a-father/

#15yrsago Photographer who shot demolition of flyover arrested for terrorism https://web.archive.org/web/20090713000304/http://monaxle.com/2009/07/08/section-44-in-chatham-high-street/

#15yrsago New ebook publisher from publishing veterans with novel ideas https://web.archive.org/web/20090715095849/http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20090712/SMALLBIZ/307129981

#10yrsago Ocala, FL criminalizes sagging pants https://web.archive.org/web/20140723182151/https://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/ocala-bans-sagging-pants-city-owned-property/nghFj/

#10yrsago Infamous SF “eviction” lawfirm abuses DMCA to censor video of protest https://web.archive.org/web/20140723193431/http://sfappeal.com/2014/07/infamous-sf-eviction-lawyers-use-dmca-claim-to-silence-protest-video/

#10yrsago UOregon police kept a “Eat a Bowl of Dicks List” for their enemies https://www.techdirt.com/2014/07/21/cops-wrong-firing-lawsuit-leads-to-public-release-vulgarly-titled-enemies-list/

#10yrsago California Highway Patrol seize medical records of woman beaten by cop https://www.techdirt.com/2014/07/21/california-highway-patrol-seizes-medical-records-woman-officer-was-caught-tape-beating/

#10yrsago Florida principal broke rules by cancelling summer read of Little Brother https://www.pnj.com/story/news/education/2014/07/21/thomas-policy-followed-little-brother-dispute/12957445/

#5yrsago Podcast: Adversarial Interoperability is Judo for Network Effects https://ia903006.us.archive.org/6/items/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_304/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_304_-_Adversarial_Interoperability_is_Judo_for_Network_Effects.mp3

#5yrsago Violent mobs of alleged Triad gangsters dole out savage beatings to Hong Kong democracy protesters, cops nowhere to be found https://globalvoices.org/2019/07/22/armed-mobs-attack-anti-extradition-protesters-in-a-suburban-hong-kong-subway-station/

#5yrsago FBI agent describes finding “Frankensteins” and a “cooler full of penises” at an unregulated Arizona body-donation center https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2019/07/19/cooler-penises-frankenstein-head-found-phoenix-body-donation-company/1720254001/

#5yrsago Nebraska Weather Service commemorates climate emergency by baking biscuits inside a hot car https://twitter.com/NWSOmaha/status/1151879325257535488

#5yrsago Louvre purges every mention of the Sackler opioid family after artist’s protest https://www.france24.com/en/20190721-sackler-name-removed-louvre-opioid-crisis-france?ref=tw_i

#5yrsago Elizabeth Warren’s banking proposals are designed to demolish the private equity sector and force finance to serve the people https://thereformedbroker.com/2019/07/21/elizabeth-warrens-banking-sector-napalm/

[littlewestern]

What’s the story behind 999 and 2903? How did they meet? What made them get together?

LOVE this question.

If you don't already know, while 2903 lives at the IRM currently, he was actually originally donated by the AT&SF to the MSI first in 1961. The reasons for this are unclear to me, if we're being honest. DJ might know more, but it was a weird placement and in retrospect kind of surprising that the MSI even accepted the donation. 2903 is big and heavy and moving him onto (and later off of) the lawn was a whole ordeal that is a story unto itself.

Too, as we've talked about before, 2903 isn't the kind of engine that the MSI typically exhibits. They specialize in one-of-a-kind machines whose history is both known to the public and representative of societal advancement. 2903 fails to meet any of these qualifications. He's not unique, many of the 2900 class are preserved across the country (one was even restored to operation in 2021). His history is not known or well-documented (much to our chagrin), and his class doesn't represent any kind of advancement in science or industry, not really. He was built after steam had fallen out of use, constructed out of necessity because of the war. If you wanted to take a reductive/uncharitable view of it, he represents a step backwards. Needless to say, he didn't exactly fit in when he first arrived.

And then one year later, in waltzes the Queen of Speed herself. Checking all the prerequisite MSI boxes (and even having been shown off at the Century of Progress, like Pioneer), 999 is the definition of the perfect museum exhibit. She has pedigree, history, and is emblematic of a moment in history; The turn of the century when anything seemed possible!

So these two should have been like oil and water. And at first, they were. In 2903's estimation, 999 and Pioneer were both stuck-up famous engines who probably didn't even know the meaning of hard work and probably spent their days sitting around learning $5 words and soaking up praise from all those worlds fairs they attended! He threw more than one barb at 999 that caused her to stop talking to him for a week.

But the thing is. 999 knows very well what it means to do menial, dirty work. After her fame had waned and the Penn had decided they wanted to phase out all of their steam engines, 999 had been relegated to switching work. For the last eight years of her service life, the Queen of Speed shunted milk cars. Her feelings on this are deeply complicated, but needless to say she's quite a bit more than 2903's first impression of her. Their experiences are far closer than he thought at first.

Too, 999 likes to buck expectations. She's famous, yes, but she's also very quick to cut loose and enjoy herself. She enjoys crass jokes, coarse language, and has no problem slumming it when necessary. She's been around a long time, she's accustomed to every kind of yard there is. Once she figures out that 2903 is being rude as a cover for the fact that he feels completely out of his depth, she softens on him almost immediately. It helps that he's got that rugged handsomeness and down-to-earth working-engine charm that eludes Pioneer entirely. Pioneer is handsome and charming of course, but 999 used to meet slick talkers every day in service. 2903's tendency to speak plainly is refreshing!

Thanks for the question. I love them so much. 999 could have anyone, but she chose 2903, and that's what makes them special to me.

[keiossance]

Dear W14 & SF-23,

*flicks lighter on, burns edge of paper*

*throws lighter and paper in between the two liveries, fully coated with kerosene*

*both cars slowly begun to melt and combust*

*watches as the flames go higher*

"Thank you...for ending your service."

*walks away from the dead of night as the fireworks continuously crackles at the Yas Marina Circuit*

[lahooozaherr]

I just want to remark on this interview with Pedro Pascal and how he talks about his grief over the experience of losing his mother. As someone whose actually lost both parents, I empathize so much. We get caught up a lot in the excitement of how genuinely amazing and good looking he is(rightfully so!). But I just wanted to note what he’s been through and how much he has persevered. Grief is so hard to shoulder through life, especially from the loss of a close loved one. Sometimes, depending on the person, especially when it’s a parent.

SF: How does a 23-year-old you make sense of your mom’s passing at that age?

P: It was obviously very traumatic. And, uh, the circumstance of it, is one that uh… Because she died in Chile it means, um, the services are immediate. They don’t, uh, embalm. So it was—it was getting the news and then getting on a plane and flying overnight to Santiago to go to the funeral.

SF: So you take a plane from New York—

P: From LA, I was in Los Angeles when I found out. ‘Cause I’d been testing for a pilot called Dark Angel, which was a really big deal at the time because it was sort of the first thing that James Cameron’s name was attached to after Titanic. And it was like a supporting role, it was like, you know, number four on the call sheet for—which again was gonna be the thing that was gonna change my life.

SF: Instead your life changes in a completely different way.

P: Yeah.

SF: On that plane ride, what’s going through your head?

P: You know, I can’t say I know. I remember that there was a man sitting next to me. He didn’t know what was going on. But, airline travel is often a pretty hostile experience. (laughs) I just remember that there was a man sitting next to me and he was just kind of protective in a way. He could see that I was obviously going through something, and I remember—I don’t know, I don’t know, maybe the stewardess was like, I wasn’t very responsive or something, and she wasn’t, like, being sensitive to something that was pretty obviously going on, and he kind of answered for me and he was a complete stranger. He was like, “he said he doesn’t want,” you know, “he said he doesn’t want it.” And, um, I just can remember that. And, I obviously didn’t sleep, and it’s an overnight flight, and so then you go and… It was summer in Chile as well, so it was very beautiful out, and, um, it was a very beautiful day. And none of that seemed to coincide very well with what was happening. And so, I—I remember it being an unbelievable thing to get through, to be honest with you.

SF: What do you mean by unbelievable?

P: I… I just loved her so much, and uh, she was just kind of the, you know, love of my life in a way and, um. The world doesn’t stop, and the sun doesn’t stop shining, and it was meant to. You know, emotionally, it was hard for me to register, just to comprehend that you could be in a car going to a cremation service and see a family kind of like playing in the yard. Experiencing something so drastically different, right in front of you.

P: Not even mildly, you know, like a beautiful summer day, and, uh, I—I remember that more than anything. Everything stopped, and I was very resentful that nothing stopped.

SF: That other people could be experiencing joy.

SF: That’s kind of the most unnerving part of people dying in your life, which is that they mean so much—in your case, she meant everything—and yet the world continues on.

P: Yeah. I had a hard time with that. Part of carrying on was wanting to get work, and yet it seemed so absurd to feel preoccupied by an audition for maybe a television show or something like that, or a beer commercial.

Credit to @alwaysbethewest for the transcript

[poipoipoi-2016]

@youzicha

#trying to understand wtf is happening to svb because uh. i want my salary

The business model of banks

The way banks work is that they take in deposits and make loans.

So I put money in a bank, but ALSO I took money out of a bank to get a car loan which let me buy the car that I used to commute to work to pay off the car loan. And also drive to Death Valley. GOOD little car. Could go from Vegas to SF on a tank of gas.

What this means from a bank's perspective is that your bank balance is a problem and the loans they make are assets. Because you took in $20K of deposits and then gave me an $18K car loan that I paid back at $400/month for 5 years. And at the end of 5 years, you will have taken $18000 and turned it into $24000.

And if one person asks for $2K back, you have $2K. And if someone(s) a year from now asks for $10K back, you have:

$2K in cash

But also the $4800 in cash I paid you last year. Minus the amount of money you spent last year running the actual bank.

The money used to found the bank (The Equity)

The ability to shop around and say "Poi is going to pay us $400/month every month for the next 4 years and if he stops doing that, you get a gently used Chrysler 200 to sell. How much are you willing to give us for that cashflow?" <- THIS IS THE PROBLEM

So as long as you are:

Liquid, meaning that you can give people their money back when they ask for it

Solvent, meaning that if EVERYONE asked for their money back, you'd sell off all the loans you'd made, give them their money back, and also have a >$0 pile of cash to go Scrooge McDuck in after you shut down the bank.

you get to keep existing.

If you're liquid, but non-solvent and somehow manage to hide it, this is called Bernie Madoff. But also "The Bank of Japan in 2023".

If you're solvent, but non-liquid, someone rolls up and buys your assets for "The value of your liabilities and also this Snickers Bar" and that's a pretty standard action.

And if you're non-liquid and insolvent, uh look crypto is weird but go look at FTX. There's a list of creditors and several months or even years from now, you'll get a fraction of your deposits back based on the recovery value of the underlying assets.

What specifically happened to SVIB

So you are a bank in 2019. And specifically, you are the Bank of Startups. And startups are very bad loan risks and also have giant piles of VC checks so they don't actually need loans.

$200 Billion of VC checks in fact. Which they gave to you. And because you're a good bank, you put $20 Billion in the cushion fund and now you have to figure out how to use $180 Billion to generate enough money to keep running the bank.

Unfortunately, it's 2019 and all the liquid risk-free assets pay 0.08% and that's not enough money to pay your bank tellers. So you make a (in retrospect dumb, in practice I'm not sure it's dumb enough I scream just at SVIB) decision to put it into:

A bunch of Treasuries that pay 1.5% or so

A bunch of mortgage-backed securities which are default risk-free b/c of post-2008 reforms. If someone forecloses, the government pays you back at par.

Corporate bonds which are risky but hey that's why you charged 5% right?

So these are illiquid, but they're not like... that illiquid and if interest rates ticked up a percentage point, a 5-year bond with 3 years to go is still like 98% of face value, it's totally fine.

And now you have $4-6 Billion/year to pay your bank tellers with and also improve that cushion.

And if you don't do these things, Silicon Valley Investment Bank does not exist. CHASE BANK does not exist. This was a prerequisite to having banking services in this country post-2008 in literally 0 interest rate environments.

And then the Fed goes on a historically unprecedented interest increase. So your 1.x% bonds are now competing in the market with 5% bonds and your 2.6% mortgages are competing with 7% mortgages and hoooo boy.

A 2.6% $400K mortgage pays you $20K/year and is currently worth $260K at 7%. $180 Billion of assets marked down to ???? Billion. 7 years to break-even and your bank tellers need to get paid.

Now for most banks, this isn't a problem. They're an actually profitable Bernie Madoff by design as a feature. They can't give everyone their money back, but they don't have to. And the bonds are paying up and the mortgages are paying up and 5% nominal GDP growth isn't a lot, but it's something and of course, you're making NEW loans at 7% so if you can just keep paying 0% interest on bank deposits and keep pulling in 7% interest loans, you'll make it out of the next few years, and you're suddenly solvent again.

Except for you.

Because you are the Bank of Startups.

And when interest rates went up, VC funding went down. So you have these perfectly good businesses (for now at least) that are constantly and continuously drawing down on their bank accounts.

And remember, this isn't 1982. You're only making 2%. Your cap ratio is 5%. All those mortgages paying in 5% of book value every year and if you get out over your skis, you cease to exist. You're going to hear the words "Duration Risk" a lot and this is that.

So you try to do an equity raise. You'll sell the rights to some of that 5% cashflow (and remember, it's increasingly 7% interest/10% cap which is slightly more exciting) in exchange for the money you need NOW TODAY to pay out your withdrawals.

At which point Andreesen goes "Uh what my friends?", tells all of his buddies to pull their cash, and $42 Billion gets withdrawn in less than 24 hours. Leaving $160 Billion behind.

And now we remember that bank accounts over $250,000 (IE: One paycheck at a $6.5 Million payroll company) aren't technically FDIC insured.

Lessons Learned

And the thing is that I really can't just blame SVIB here. They got stuck in a pretty terrible trap caused by the US Government. And the US Government likes it when you buy Treasuries and likes it when you buy and SVIB was, more or less, doing the things you as a society wanted them to do.

And the Federal Reserve explicitly destroyed them for it.

Don't get me wrong, they were weird. But I'm not sure they were weird enough especially given the constraints of 2019-2021 that I can just go "Eh, screw them". Spread that blame AROUND.

And any bank that can survive a FORTY PERCENT drawdown in the value of the underlying assets.... isn't a bank. At least not as we mean it here in 2023. The Fed's stress tests involve a 'severely adverse scenario' where 10-year US Treasury yields are at 0.7% (and only get to 1.5%). They're currently at 3.6%.

The second set of lessons that we learned today goes like this:

There are lots and lots and LOTS of reasons that small or medium businesses might temporarily or permanently want more than $250K in raw USD cash in a bank account at some point. This is now a banking risk. (There's some tricks you can play if you're really large, but those also have limits)

However, if you bank at Chase Bank (or any other bank on the too-big-to-fail list), you are infinitely insured. Because CHASE BANK is backed by the entire combined firepower of the US Government and banking sectors. If Chase Bank stops existing, the nukes have fallen.

So why would I ever use a local bank for anything at all ever again? At which point you now get another round of contagion in the system where everyone gets out of these regional banks. Because remember, EVERY BANK IN THE WORLD INCLUDING THE BANK OF JAPAN is now insolvent.

Because they were destroyed for the crime of "Doing exactly we wanted them to do". Oh sure, in a risky sort of way, but see that note above about the Fed Stress tests.

Where "What we wanted them to do" involved buying government debts

Are you uh... 100% absolutely certain you want to be teaching those lessons? That if you buy US Treasuries, you will be destroyed for your crimes? That if you use a regional bank and they are destroyed for their crimes of making loans to the Feds, your business dies with it?

[not-so-rosyyy]

Car break-ins happen alot in SF, its become a common occurence, like care rental services give you heads up and tell you never leave your valuables in car etc.

WELPPP 😭

if the story was true tho, i hope the thief was able to steal Z's camera and would do us a solid by posting the photos or something. maybe the NWH photo dump is still there too idk /j

[eckswizi]

For those of us out there who long for good rapid transit and walkable cities in car-centric North America, it can be really easy to doomscroll and it can seem that America is completely incapable of divorcing itself from car culture. But I want to let you all know: right now, at the end of 2022, it’s a great time for rapid transit. So much new construction is going on as we speak, and many new projects are almost finished. I want to go through some of the new projects that have opened over the past 12 months, or will open sometime in the next 12 months, and I want to remind you all that good transit is possible, and is becoming more of a reality with each passing day.

Here’s the most significant new construction from the past year:

The DC Metro finally opened Phase 2 of the Silver Line extension, a long awaited line that extends the DC Metro into a well populated part of Virginia. Additionally, the extension has a station at Dulles International Airport, one of the most major airports in the country.

The Los Angeles Metro opened the first half of the new Crenshaw Line (aka the K line), adding a whole new line and 6 new stations (7, counting the new lower level at the existing Expo/Crenshaw station). The new K line returns service to an area of Los Angeles that had not seen passenger rail service in several decades. The second half of the extension is still under construction, and will connect the K line to the existing C Line as well as LAX.

San Francisco’s MUNI Metro, the system that operates SFs light rail, trolley, and cable car systems, opened their brand new Central Subway. The Central Subway travels roughly North-South through the heart of the city, perpendicular to the existing Market Street Subway. The new subway line will provide service to the densely populated but underserved Chinatown neighborhood, among others.

A whole new system opened this year! Honolulu just opened the Honolulu Rail Transit, operated by the HART, is the first major rail rapid transit in the US to feature platform screen doors and driverless trains.

The MBTA (Boston) just opened the final phase of their Green Line Extension! The GLX, as it is called, brings rapid transit service to the heart of the densely populated town of Somerville, MA. 7 new stations opened as a result of the extension, with one station being rebuilt entirely!

During the summer, Amtrak extended its Ethan Allen Express route to Burlington, Vermont, with two stations in between. The extension returned intercity rail service to Burlington Union Station and the heart of the city for the first time in about 50 years!

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR; NYC), North American’s busiest regional rail system, completed a project which improved its mainline by adding a third track. The third track is a much needed improvement that allows for more efficient and frequent train operation on a heavily used corridor.

Tempe, Arizona opened a downtown streetcar earlier in the year. The line goes around downtown, and makes the city center more easily walkable, as well connecting to the Phoenix Valley Metro.

Minneapolis opened their new D Line BRT service, a rapid bus service that is but a small part of a massive ongoing transit plan for the Twin Cities

Chicago opened a new flyover junction for the Brown Line, which will speed up and improve service on the Brown, Red, & Purple Lines

Upcoming

A whole new system is opening soon! Honolulu, Hawaii is soon to open the first phase of their new driverless elevated rapid transit. It will be the first non-tourist passenger rail in the state in several decades!

The LIRR will soon open a massive new underground line that allows trains to access Grand Central Terminal in the heart of Manhattan. The new terminal will also relieve pressure from the over crowded Penn Station.

The NYC Subway (MTA) has received its first shipments of its new R211 subway trains, which will be a much needed new fleet of modern rolling stock. The new trains will fill the gap left by the retirement of the 59 year old R32s. Additionally, the MTA also received several sets of the R211T, a variation on the R211 which includes an open gangway between subway cars, like an accordion/bendy-bus.

Seattle’s Link Rapid Transit is currently making major progress on several new extensions, with most of them estimated to open around 2024. The existing line will be extended in both directions. Additionally, the existing line will be complimented by a second line! There will be a total of nineteen (19!!!) new stations, as well as six (6) new stations on the Tacoma Streetcar!

CalTrain, a commuter/regional rail system that serves the San Francisco peninsula, is electrifying their system. When completed, it will bring faster, quieter, and more eco-friendly rail service to the SF Peninsula. Ignoring rapid transit, CalTrain will host the first electrified main line passenger trains to operate west of the Mississippi in several decades.

The TTC (Toronto) is currently making huge progress on their newest train line, the Line 5 Eglinton. It is a brand new light rail line that will have 24 stations along Eglinton Ave in Toronto, and will have connections to the Line 1, Line 2, and Line 3.

The TTC is also constructing the Line 6 Finch, another brand new light rail line north of Toronto! It will run west from the Line 1 along Finch Ave, and will have 18 new stations!

Montreal’s new REM (Réseau express métropolitain / Metropolitan Express Network) is almost ready to open its first phase! The REM is a new light metro line that has one line and three branches, with twenty-six (26!!!) new stations. The line will connect downtown to the airport and several major suburbs.

The MBTA is currently constructing a new commuter rail line that, on two branches, will provide service to Fall River and New Bedford, two notable cities on the south coast of Massachusetts.

Vancouver’s Skytrain is currently working on a massive new expansion of their Millenium Line to travel west and serve a densely populated but previously underserved section of the city.

The LA Metro is currently working on a new subway tunnel through downtown that will connect the A, E, and L lines. When the project is completed, the E and L will be merged into one line.

Mexico City is currently constructing a new commuter train to traverse the heavily traveled corridor between Mexico City and Toluca.

Construction is currently ongoing for the Southwest LRT Line in Minneapolis, a large extension to the currently underserved southwestern parts of the Twin Cities

Calgary is currently most of the way through construction on their new Green Line, which will be the third Light Rail line to serve the region.

Ottawa’s Trillium Line is currently closed for modernization and is expected to reopen this year

Chicago has an ongoing project to overhaul the infrastructure on the aging Red and Purple Lines

Additionally, there have been *countless* new stations constructed and a multitude of other minor construction projects that will have some major effects. Here’s some highlights:

The SEPTA (Philadelphia) added Wawa station to its regional rail system

The MBTA is currently most of the way through construction on a new station to serve the city of Pawtucket, Rhode Island

In the fall, the LIRR opened a new station called Elmont-UBS Arena

NYC Ferry established a new service to Coney Island

A new platform at Baltimore Penn Station

Much, much more

Lastly, let’s not forget the fact that a massive number of new transit lines and rail extensions have opened over the past few years, including major openings all over the country. I’ve definitely forgot something, and the fact that I have is because there is so much that has come out of 2022. We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. From where we are, rail transport and public transit in North America is only going to improve, and I can’t wait.

[lilykong]

Things I want to remember about Lori

Among many memories:

When we were in 8th grade, we somehow got the inspiration to try out to be 8th grade commencement speakers. We had no business trying out for this - we didn't really like anyone and we didn't particularly have much school pride. But there must have been this inherent drive to make our mark at the school; maybe it was our way to do something together at school for the last time. I distinctly remember we AIM-ed a friend of mine for some inspiration, and he said to say something along the lines of how middle school is the "stepping stone" to the rest of our futures. We definitely put that in the speech and definitely didn't get chosen.

In 7th grade, I met Lori. I'm sure we met in 6th grade, too, but we didn't get close until 7th. She always brought these little tic-tacs to school that were individually wrapped. The tic-tacs looked more like Advil shaped and on contact with the tongue, tasted like marshmallows before mint. She always brought me one or two. She'd fiddle with the wrapper in her hoody front pocket, and by the end of the day, her fingers were metallic. I'm going to buy a bunch of those tic-tacs if I ever see them in the future.

In 8th grade, a group of us got to go to Catalina Island on a trip to learn about marine biology or something. I honestly don't remember much about the trip anymore other than learning about echolocation by crawling through a pitch dark tunnel and eating little bits of cooked squid. But the funniest thing I remember is that Lori and I decided that we would not take showers after snorkeling in the afternoon, because we'd go back in the water the following day. The following day, the showers were out of service, so Lori and I returned home with unwashed ocean hair (compounded over 3 days). My mom was not pleased.

Lori and I went to different high schools, but we still made it a point to see each other throughout the year. Definitely every summer and every winter. Our catch-up sessions always lasted for hours, and our favorite places to meet were Catalina Coffee and Coffee Cartel. She was such an amazing listener, and I always felt so heard and seen. I think we trusted each other at a young age.

When we were grown adults, Lori came to visit me in Berkeley when she was living in Napa. We went to an Allen Stone concert and decided to go out to Raven, which was the hottest club in SF at the time. At Raven, we ran into Lori's Coffee Meets Bagel date from earlier in the day, lol. He bought us drinks but Lori was definitely not very interested. To be honest, I don't have many memories of Lori from the actual club, but when Raven closed for the night, we somehow got ourselves out and called an UBER POOL (to save money). Lori sat in the back with two strangers, and I sat in the front. Once we got to my apartment, Lori was so knocked out, I had to lift her out of the car. I was not quite stable myself so we teeter-tottered a bit in front of said strangers and fell in unison onto the ground. It was so embarrassing, and we got scratched and bruised, lol. The funniest part of this continuous story is that the next morning, I woke up to Lori sleeping on the floor. When I stepped on the ground, I felt that it was damp and authentically thought that Lori peed on the ground in her sleep. Later, we found out that Strawberry Creek ran below the apartment building and it literally seeped up into my room, which is wild and a total housing code violation that we probably could have gotten rent abatement for.

Later into our adulthood, Lori and I got to fulfill our teenage dreams and became roommates in a dingy Berkeley apartment. She told me one day that she was considering adopting a dog and that if she did, she would write off dating for the foreseeable future. She was truly a woman of her word. She adopted Daisy, a spunky yorkie mix, and we co-pawrented her. She was an annoying (but cute) dog, and my blood pressure used to rise whenever she would bark without reason at just about anything. I will love Daisy in perpetuity though, because she will always be something Lori and I shared.

The image I remember of Lori - petite as ever, hair color of the month (pink or blonde balayage or black), skinny jeans, t-shirt (for some reason I imagine a striped shirt), cardigan, scarf, little backpack, and flats. Or shorts with leggings and flats. Bitten nails, aside from maybe one or two longer nails. And a hint of mustard yellow, of course.

Lori was generally a pretty quiet person but when she thought something was funny, she'd have a little explosive burst of laughter. And on the topic of her quietness, she was by no means a pushover. She had immensely strong personal convictions/integrity and drive (and stubborn).

Lori always sent cards - for the holidays, birthdays, big moments. Her message was always short and concise, but she never missed one. She also always sent a little something for Abbie.

She always called kids, kiddos, and called dogs, puppers.

I miss her so much already. Lori was kind of a time capsule for me -- a witness to the most insecure and awkward years as teens. The safest place to be in friendship. A vault of a confidant. Lori may have been the one who taught me loyalty and reciprocity in friendship. She could not stand to owe anyone a single dollar, even though there were moments I just wanted to shower her with love. I wish I did more for her. It really is true that when you lose someone, you think about the things you could have done while they were alive with you. I will miss you forever, Lori. Thank you for being one of the best friends I could have ever asked for.

[ssupremebattery]

SF Sonic Battery

Supreme Battery: Trusted Dealer for SF Sonic Battery in Chennai

When it comes to reliable and powerful battery solutions, Supreme Battery is your go-to destination for the best SF Sonic Battery in Chennai. Known for delivering high-performance batteries, SF Sonic is a trusted brand that offers long-lasting and efficient power backup solutions for cars, inverters, and other applications. At Supreme Battery, we take pride in providing our customers with premium SF Sonic batteries, ensuring that their power needs are always met.

As authorized SF Sonic Battery dealers in Iyyappanthangal, we carry a wide range of SF Sonic batteries designed to meet different power requirements, whether you need them for automotive or home inverter use. Our Iyyappanthangal outlet offers expert guidance and professional installation to make sure that you get the right battery for your needs.

For customers in Porur, Supreme Battery is a leading name as SF Sonic Battery dealers in Porur. We stock the latest models of SF Sonic batteries, renowned for their durability and consistent power delivery. Our team ensures that you receive top-quality products, along with exceptional customer service, from selection to after-sales support.

If you're located in Ambattur, you can rely on Supreme Battery as your trusted SF Sonic Battery dealers in Ambattur. Whether it's for your vehicle or inverter, we offer a variety of SF Sonic batteries that ensure maximum efficiency, extended life, and uninterrupted power supply. Our Ambattur outlet guarantees fast delivery, professional installation, and ongoing maintenance services.

At Supreme Battery, we are committed to being the top supplier of SF Sonic Battery in Chennai, providing our customers with high-performance products and exceptional service. Whether you need batteries for automotive, inverters, or other applications, we have the perfect SF Sonic solution for you. Visit any of our outlets in Iyyappanthangal, Porur, or Ambattur for the best battery solutions and experience our unparalleled commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Let Supreme Battery power your world!

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

Tonight (July 18), I’m hosting the first Clarion Summer Write-In Series, an hour-long, free drop-in group writing and discussion session. It’s in support of the Clarion SF/F writing workshop’s fundraiser to offer tuition support to students:

https://mailchi.mp/theclarionfoundation/clarion-write-ins

#15yrsago Shanghainese disco bunny steals UK govt official’s heart, nicks his Blackberry https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gordon-brown-aide-a-victim-of-honeytrap-operation-by-chinese-agents-38803lj6qxn

#10yrsago TSA screening about to get a lot worse https://memex.craphound.com/2013/07/19/tsa-screening-about-to-get-a-lot-worse/

#10yrsago TSA orders airport valets to search parked cars https://web.archive.org/web/20130721045336/https://www.whec.com/news/stories/S3101080.shtml?cat=566

#10yrsago MIT blocking release of Aaron Swartz’s Secret Service files https://www.wired.com/2013/07/mit-swartz-intervene/

#10yrsago MIT and Aaron Swartz’s Secret Service files: what has MIT got to hide? https://freedom-to-tinker.com/2013/07/19/mit-asks-to-intervene-in-swartz-foia-suit/

#10yrsago Hating Millennials — the prejudice you’re allowed to boast about https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/09/opinion/bors-millenial-comic-strip

#5yrsago Trademark troll who claims to own “Dragon Slayer” now wants exclusive rights to book covers where someone is holding a weapon https://memex.craphound.com/2018/07/19/trademark-troll-who-claims-to-own-dragon-slayer-now-wants-exclusive-rights-to-book-covers-where-someone-is-holding-a-weapon/

#5yrsago London luxury housing market bubble bursts: 39% of sales last quarter were to deep discount wholesalers making bulk buys https://app.ft.com/content/99072e92-8a6b-11e8-bf9e-8771d5404543.html

#5yrsago Scientology’s $5,000 E-meters are surprisingly well-engineered https://hackaday.com/2018/07/19/whats-inside-a-scientology-e-meter/

#5yrsago Would an armed leftist movement finally provoke sensible gun laws in America? https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/07/18/want-gun-control-arm-the-left-it-worked-before/

#5yrsago Twitterbot mines Venmo’s public-by-default transactions and tweets presumably sarcastic drug buys and sexual services https://www.vice.com/en/article/qvmkvx/twitter-bot-venmo-buying-drugs-photo-names

#5yrsago 60 Congressional Democrats form a Medicare For All caucus https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3epbm/exclusive-over-60-house-democrats-are-forming-a-medicare-for-all-caucus

#5yrsago Porn blackmailers supercharge their scam with password dumps, make bank https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/adult-site-blackmail-spammers-made-over-50k-in-one-week/

#5yrsago Burberry torches £28.6m worth of unsold inventory to keep prices high https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44885983

[sfdriven]

SFO Airport Car Service

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[diwanautocare]

Your Guide to Finding the Best Battery and Tyre Dealers in Thane and Bhiwandi

Maintaining your vehicle’s performance and safety is crucial for every driver, and selecting the right battery and tyres plays a key role in this. If you live in Thane or Bhiwandi, finding a reliable battery dealer in Thane and trustworthy tyre dealers in Thane or Bhiwandi is essential to keeping your car in top condition. From high-quality batteries to durable tyres, this blog will guide you through the best options for your vehicle, whether you're looking for Ceat tyre dealers in Thane or a tyre shop in Bhiwandi.

Importance of Choosing the Right Battery for Your Vehicle

The battery is the heart of your car’s electrical system. Without a well-functioning battery, your vehicle’s engine won’t start, and all the essential electrical components, including lights, air conditioning, and infotainment systems, will fail. Therefore, selecting the right battery dealer in Thane ensures that you get a high-quality product that enhances your car’s performance and reliability.

What to Look for in a Battery Dealer in Thane

When it comes to choosing a battery dealer in Thane, here are the key factors to consider:

Reputation and Reviews: Look for dealers with positive customer feedback and a strong reputation for quality products and services.

Range of Products: A good dealer should offer a wide variety of battery brands and types, from lead-acid to advanced lithium-ion batteries, suitable for different car models.

Warranty and After-Sales Support: Ensure that the dealer provides warranties on their products and offers after-sales services, including battery installation and troubleshooting.

Competitive Pricing: Price is always a crucial factor. Choose a dealer that offers competitive pricing without compromising on quality.

Some of the well-known battery brands available from battery dealers in Thane include Exide, Amaron, and SF Sonic, known for their durability, long lifespan, and ability to withstand extreme conditions.

Finding Reliable Tyre Dealers in Thane

Just as important as the battery, tyres are critical to your vehicle’s safety and handling. A high-quality tyre can improve fuel efficiency, provide better grip on the road, and offer a more comfortable ride. Therefore, finding the best tyre dealers in Thane is essential for your car’s overall performance.

Why Ceat Tyres are a Popular Choice

One of the leading tyre brands in India is Ceat, known for its durability, performance, and affordability. If you're looking for a Ceat tyre dealer in Thane, you’ll find many authorised dealers that offer a wide selection of Ceat tyres suitable for various vehicle types, including hatchbacks, sedans, and SUVs.

Ceat tyres are designed to handle various road conditions, from city streets to rough terrains, making them a versatile choice for drivers in Thane and Bhiwandi. Also visit Car Tyre Dealers in Thane.

What to Consider When Choosing a Tyre Dealer

Here are some essential factors to keep in mind when selecting a tyre dealer in Thane:

Range of Tyre Brands: A good tyre dealer should offer multiple brands, including Ceat, MRF, Bridgestone, Apollo, and Michelin. This allows you to compare and select the best tyre that suits your driving needs.

Expert Advice: Tyre selection can be overwhelming, with numerous options available. Choose a dealer who can provide expert advice on the best tyres for your vehicle, considering factors such as driving conditions, road type, and your budget.

Tyre Services: Many tyre dealers in Thane offer additional services such as tyre fitting, wheel alignment, and balancing, which are important for maintaining the longevity and performance of your tyres.

Warranty: Make sure that the dealer offers warranties on their tyres, so you’re covered in case of manufacturing defects or premature wear.

Ceat Tyre Dealers in Thane: Why Opt for Ceat Tyres?

Ceat tyres are known for their safety and affordability. If you’re looking for a Ceat tyre dealer in Thane, here are a few reasons why Ceat tyres are a popular choice:

Durability: Ceat tyres are designed to last, with robust tread patterns that offer long-term performance and resistance to wear.

All-Terrain Performance: Whether you're navigating city streets or rough rural roads, Ceat tyres are engineered to provide maximum grip and stability.

Fuel Efficiency: Ceat tyres help improve fuel efficiency by reducing rolling resistance, saving you money on fuel in the long run.

Affordability: Ceat tyres are competitively priced, making them a budget-friendly option without compromising on quality.

Tyre Shops in Bhiwandi: Local and Trusted Dealers

For drivers in Bhiwandi, finding a trusted tyre shop in Bhiwandi is essential for ensuring that your tyres are in good condition and suited to the local driving environment. Bhiwandi is known for its industrial activity, and the roads can sometimes be challenging for vehicles, requiring tyres that can withstand heavy usage and rough terrains.

Key Factors for Choosing a Tyre Shop in Bhiwandi

Availability of Leading Brands: Look for shops that stock a range of trusted tyre brands such as Ceat, MRF, Apollo, and Bridgestone.

Tyre Fitting and Maintenance Services: A reliable tyre shop in Bhiwandi should provide comprehensive services, including tyre fitting, wheel alignment, and tyre rotation. These services ensure that your tyres wear evenly and last longer.

Customer Service and Expertise: A good tyre shop will have knowledgeable staff who can guide you through the tyre selection process, taking into account your driving habits, road conditions, and vehicle type.

Pricing and Offers: Tyre prices can vary, so it’s worth shopping around for competitive pricing. Some dealers may also offer discounts or promotions, so be sure to ask about ongoing offers.

The Importance of Regular Tyre Maintenance

Whether you’re in Thane or Bhiwandi, maintaining your tyres is just as important as selecting the right ones. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your tyres:

Check Tyre Pressure Regularly: Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is essential for safety, performance, and fuel efficiency. Under-inflated tyres can cause excessive wear and increase the risk of blowouts.

Rotate Your Tyres: Tyre rotation ensures even wear across all four tyres, extending their lifespan and maintaining optimal handling.

Check Tread Depth: Worn-out treads can be dangerous, especially on wet roads. Regularly check the tread depth and replace tyres when they become too worn.

Alignment and Balancing: Misaligned or unbalanced tyres can cause uneven wear and reduce fuel efficiency. Regular wheel alignment and balancing help prevent these issues and improve overall performance.

Conclusion

Whether you're looking for a battery dealer in Thane, Ceat tyre dealer in Thane, or a reliable tyre shop in Bhiwandi, it's essential to choose trusted and reputable dealers who can provide high-quality products and services. The right battery and tyres not only improve your vehicle's performance but also enhance safety, fuel efficiency, and driving comfort.

By paying attention to expert advice and investing in premium products from established brands like Ceat, you ensure that your vehicle remains in top condition for years to come. So, whether you're getting your car ready for a long road trip or simply ensuring that your daily commute is smooth and safe, finding the best tyre and battery dealers in Thane and Bhiwandi is the key to success.