Question of the Day

Yesterday we learned that the vegetarian restaurant The Lettuce Inn will be relocating within downtown Concord which got me thinking about my own meager vegetable intake. When I’m at a restaurant I try to convince myself to order a vegetarian dish. But then I see any number of meat dishes listed and I get an unbearable urge to order that instead, even if I know it will be less healthy. How can I convince myself to eat more veggies? Are you a vegetarian? If so, what made you become one? Health, environmental or something else?

Although Vitamin Shoppe closed in downtown Walnut Creek this spring, the multi billion dollar vitamin and nutritional supplement market is still booming. Do you take any vitamins/nutritional supplements or do you believe they have no effect? I take vitamin D and L. reuteri probiotics. I feel good but maybe it’s just a placebo effect?

Traffic in the Bay Area can get pretty insane during rush hour. I feel lucky these days that I don’t have to commute as I work from home but throughout the years I commuted around the Bay Area both by car and BART. How long is your commute? Do you car pool or take BART? Would you consider moving to be closer to work?

Photo by Flickr user Alexander Lemke

As I browse cute pet photos on reddit sometimes I feel like I should get a pet dog or cat but the time and financial commitment is not insignificant. I know my kids would love one but for now a fish will have to do. Which animal do you think makes the best pet?

This week we learned that Rotator Taproom will be opening soon in Walnut Creek where Farm Creek Brewing Company used to be. There is also a taproom at Calicraft Brewing Company off Ygnacio Valley Rd and in Concord there is Hop Grenade. What is your favorite taproom and why?

Yesterday was the fifth Spare the Air day in the Bay Area and last month was the hottest ever month recorded in California. Wildfires are causing smoky conditions in the East Bay and elsewhere; Yosemite Valley and other parts of national parks are closed making it difficult to make travel plans. I try not to run on Spare the Air days but forgot about yesterday’s alert. Was that irresponsible on my part or is it no big deal? Do you take precautions on Spare the Air days?

From the Spare the Air website:

On these Spare the Air days, we urge residents to cut back on any activities that cause pollution – such as driving, using oil-based paints, gasoline-powered lawn mowers, or household aerosol products like hair sprays.  People who are sensitive to unhealthy air are advised to limit their time outdoors, particularly in the afternoon hours.

This week there were three separate killings on BART; a stabbing at the MacArthur station in Oakland; they caught the suspect at Pleasant Hill BART station, a potential homicide at the Pleasant Hill BART station, and a fatal punch that happened at the Bay Fair BART station in San Leandro. According to the SF Chronicle BART violent crime is up 69% over the past decade.

I’ve encountered rather uncomfortable situations while riding BART myself over the years. Do you feel BART is getting more dangerous? What is the worst thing you’ve seen on BART?