TIDBITS
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The Ins and Outs of Eating
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by "DeDe Gourmundo"
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What's New?
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     There was quite a bit of bootlegging going on in the old days at
Point Richmond.  Now things are on the up and up.  Rumor has it that Chuck 
Wise at the Baltic is thinking of opening a micro brewery.
     Hidden City has added a Sunday Brunch to their schedule.
     If you get the urge for a snack from Rosemary's Bakery after hours,
drop into Video Point: Rijung is stocking baked goods along with the videos.

Clean Air Gets a Grilling
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     With the great summer weather comes that ubiquitous great American
tradition of grilling food while relaxing on decks, on balconies, and in
yards throughout the area.  Everyone wants to enjoy the temperate climate 
and the fresh air, but good clean air is getting hard to come by.  If you 
are like me and hate the smell of charcoal lighter wafting through the air,
try lighting your charcoal the non-chemical way.
     There are several methods.  One is to use the plug-in electric element
to heat up the coals.  This works great at home but there aren't any
electrical outlets at Keller Beach, Miller/Knox Shoreline or other parks.
     Then there are propane or electric grills -- again, great for home but
not very practical to drag along on car camping trips.
     You might try getting one of those can-like gadgets that make lighting
charcoal easier.  Stuff two sheets of newspaper (Oh, no! Not the _Channel_)
into the bottom section, dump in the charcoal, and light the newspaper.  
You won't even get your hands dirty.  Through some mysterious principle of
physics (convection, Bernouli principle, or the Towering Inferno Effect),
the air is funneled through rapidly and after a brief puffing volcano
stage, the charcoal briquettes start burning briskly.  I wouldn't have
believed it if I hadn't seen it myself.  If you are not a hard-core
Bar-B-Quer who can't give up grilling your tofu and veggies (or your
shrimp and sirloin) -- give this gadget a try.
     If you are into solar, look for some of the designs for home-made
solar ovens.  But on those days that the air is really bad, try cooking
inside; if it is too hot to cook, relax, and kick back.  Brew up some
sun tea in a big jar.  Take advantage of the fresh produce available, if
you're lucky, pick it out of your own garden, and prepare yourself a nice
big green or pasta (remember when it was called macaroni?) salad.  Need
a protein fix?  Keep yourself and the kitchen cool by preparing yourself
some fresh chilled Ceviche.

Soy Beans Propel AC Transit Buses
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     We all know that beans cause gas, but enough to drive a bus?  AC
Transit's Richmond Division buses are now running a million mile road test
using a clean-burning soybean oil product, biodiesel fuel.  Over 100
standard 30-, 35- and 40-foot and articulated 60-foot buses are being
tested on freeways and steep hill climbing neighborhood routes.
     The Iowa Soybean Promotion Board and the National Soy Diesel Development
Board are providing the biodiesel fuel for the road test.
     Whether used alone or blended with conventional petroleum fuel, it has
been shown to cut particulate exhaust emissions, carbon monoxide, and sulfur 
dioxide.  (If the results of the test are successful.)  In small scale tests
carbon monoxide emissions were reduced 21%; particulates 31%; and total
hydrocarbons 47%.  According to the above agencies this alternative fuel
source yields beneficial results with little or no modification to today's
diesel engines.
     The Assistant General Manager for Operations for AC Transit, Robert H.
Garside, said, "If biodiesel can prove successful here, it conceivably
could help AC Transit to meet and, possibly, to exceed future clean air 
mandates while continuing to operate an effective heavy-duty diesel bus 
fleet."
     Well, that's it from the Fresh Air Front.
     Chow, Ciao!