September 08 - Pacific San Diego Magazine

More documents

Recommendations

Info

PARTS look ma, No Hands Put down your cell phone and pick up an Ego EGO Bluetooth Cup Manufactured by Funkwerk egohandsfree.com By Carissa Casares Mom always said not to put anything in my ear that’s smaller than my elbow. Now, California’s new cell phone law has me considering jamming a Bluetooth headset into the side of my head. Wireless technology is great, but I’m not ready to look like a cyborg just yet. And if cell phones cause brain tumors, the last thing I need is gamma waves in my ear hole. Funkwerk to the rescue. The German-based manufacturer of Bluetoothenabled products, whose headquarters for the Americas is located at the epicenter of cutting-edge technology (kidding, it’s in Clairemont), recently unveiled Ego, a new line of sleek devices that help drivers avoid sticking it in their ears. Egos do a lot more than just facilitate phone calls. In addition to voice-activated dialing, some models enable users to stream MP3s from their cell phones to their car stereos, provide turn-by-turn audible directions to any destination and even display videos. (Better keep your hands at ten and two, because keeping your eyes on the road just got harder.) For just over $100, the Ego Cup provides a simple plug-and-play solution. Named for its ability to fit in just about any cup-holder, the Cup draws power from a cigarette lighter and boasts superior speaker-phone functionality, which is enhanced by noise-cancelling technology that helps the person on the other end of the line to hear you instead of the Harley roaring by. “The Cup is a user-friendly, quick solution to dealing with California’s new law,” says Courtney Berg, Funkwerk’s public relations representative for the Americas. Ego’s most popular model, the feature-packed Flash, requires a more expensive hard-wired installation. However, with the increased cost comes additional capabilities, including caller ID, storage for up to 10,000 phonebook entries and a text-to-speech function that reads your text messages aloud. Now that’s music to the ears—and a whole lot easier than trying to get your elbow to fit inside. what a gas! Ten small ways to save big bucks at the pump By Derek Shaw While biofuels and hybrids allow some car owners to take a step in the right direction, it’s wishful thinking to expect all Americans to afford the premium sticker price for either. Realistically speaking, immediate relief to painful gas prices lies in the garage. There are dozens of ways to make your car less wasteful and more earth-friendly. Here are ten easy ones: 1. Not so fast. Driving at a slower, steadier pace conserves a lot more fuel than you might think. Gunning it is the fastest way to end up with an empty tank. Cruise in the highest gear possible without straining your engine. 2. How low can you go? Unless your car requires premium gasoline, skip it. Higher octane means more money but doesn’t necessarily translate to improved mileage or performance. Your car will likely run just fine on the cheaper stuff, but it’s best to consult your owner’s manual for minimum gasoline grade requirements. 3. American idle. Most cars don’t need to warm up anymore. The longer you sit in the driveway, the more gas you’re burning. Don’t leave your car running when it’s unnecessary and avoid idling for more than a few minutes. 4. Excess baggage. A heavily loaded roof rack can reduce your fuel economy by five percent. Filling up your backseat and trunk means that you’re carrying excess weight. Improve gas mileage by leaving the heavy stuff at home. Your passengers will appreciate the legroom. 5. Under pressure. Half of the cars on the road are riding on under-inflated tires, which leads to worn treads and wasted fuel. Check your tire pressure at the gas station regularly. It’s fast and often free. 6. Bust a cap. Tightening your gas cap prevents fuel from evaporating. According to the Car Care Council, nearly 20 percent of vehicles have gas caps that are damaged, loose or missing, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize annually. 7. Chill on the A/C. You’ve probably heard it before, but it’s easy to forget during summertime. Take advantage of that beach breeze—crack the windows and open the vents. Air conditioning can diminish your fuel economy by up to 20 percent. 8. Cover up. While your vehicle bakes in the summer sun, fuel is evaporating from the tank. Parking in a garage minimizes the problem and helps your car endure the elements. Try a windshield shade to block the sun, protect your interior and reduce suffocating heat and the consequent need for more A/C. 9. Running on Fumes. When your fuel runs low, your tank stops receiving a steady supply of gas, which makes your engine run much less efficiently. While increasing time between visits to the pump may seem less painful to your wallet, you’ll wind up wasting more money if you don’t keep your tank above one-third full. 10. Freshen up. Clogged air filters can reduce gas mileage by up to ten percent. Experts recommend changing air filters as often as you change your oil—every three months or 3,000 miles. 30 | SEPTEMBER 2008 « PACIFICsandiego.com
get PARTS Tanked Fill ‘er up with high-octane agave by michael benninger Tequila has the power to make all of your troubles (along with your cell phone, inhibitions and maybe even your job) disappear. But what if tequila’s main ingredient, agave, could solve some of the world’s biggest problems without giving anyone a hangover? A team of Mexican scientists is working on an epic agave-toethanol project that could forever quench America’s thirst for fuel. What’s more, this ambitious plan holds the promise to reinvigorate economies around the globe and simultaneously help restore the environment. Agave is rich in sugar, making it ideal for producing ethanol, which can then be processed into eco-friendly fuel. Just one acre of agave plants can produce 2,000 gallons of ethanol; the same amount of corn reaps a mere 300-400 gallons. In short, less land could be used to produce more fuel, and that’s just one of the benefits associated with this wonder crop. Currently, Mexico produces 95% of the world’s supply of consumable agave, but this adaptable plant has the ability to thrive in dry, infertile wastelands all over the world. Large-scale agave harvesting could create new jobs and new markets, even in poverty-stricken communities in arid climates on seemingly worthless land. This resilient crop is affordable to harvest, impervious to droughts and doesn’t require irrigation or agrochemicals. Plus, agave absorbs nitrogen from the air and then releases it into soil, naturally improving the quality of the ground in which it grows. It’s a win-win for Mother Nature and mankind. Recently, INE (Mexico’s national ecology institute) signed on to provide funding and assistance for the project, which may result in almost 20,000 acres of agave being harvested for fuel south of the border. The only drawback? There’s plenty of negative speculation as to how this plan might impact the cost and availability of tequila. The best bet is to head to Chevron with some limes and salt. Salud! The 4 - 1 - 1 on 5 - 1 - 1 By Lauren Tait Even though you just spent $75 to fill your tank (halfway), you’re out of gas and stranded on the 5. Now what? When you need a tow truck, tire change, gasoline or any other type of non-emergency roadside assistance, fear not… 5-1-1 is here to bail you out. The San Diego Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) Mobile Call Box Program offers non-emergency assistance to drivers on County freeways and highways. By dialing 5-1-1 toll-free from a cell phone, distressed drivers can connect to the same live-answering call center available through those yellow roadside phones without having to abandon their vehicles or trek down a treacherous highway in the dark. 511sd.com, sdcallbox.com Sad DIMR’S ® TURN OFF YOUR HEADLIGHTS. Reusuable Nipple Covers. Happy Services available by calling 5-1-1 or visiting 511sd.com include: » Roadside Assistance » Live Traffic Reports » Transit Information » Ride Sharing » Driving Directions » Public Transit Information: Bus, Trolley, Rail » Bicycle Routes Designers: Denim of Virtue, Chip and Pepper, Hanky Panky, Billy Blues, Twisted Heart, Red Engine, Lockheart, and PurseHook 3460 Ingraham St., Ste. B * Pacific Beach 858.273.4677 * ishopatscene.com Located on the corner of La Cima and Ingraham in PB
Page 7 and 8: SAN DIEGO'S #1 LANCE DEALER 1 year
Page 9 and 10: Mission Tan Open 8AM-9PM daily! FRE
Page 12 and 13: VOICE photo mobileS Sitting behind
Page 14 and 15: J VOICE Camron car: 2000 Toyota Tun
Page 16 and 17: TUESDAY BROWN BAG SPECIAL $2 NATTY
Page 18 and 19: COOL TURE Dance - Art merges with t
Page 20 and 21: BODY moving StILLS Modern fashion b
Page 22 and 23: STYLE nifty ‘50s vintage gets a f
Page 24 and 25: driven stilettos to the metal
Page 26 and 27: PROFILE it up hammin’ The founder
Page 28 and 29: HOME Design of the times See the la
Page 33 and 34: TASTE dynamic DUOS San Diego food a
Page 35 and 36: dynamic DUOS continued WHISKEY GIRL
Page 38: TASTE A Currant CHEF of the month A
Page 41 and 42: ar » restaurant nightclub » loung
Page 43 and 44: Sick Cruisers from $105 to $1005 EN
Page 45 and 46: frozen DRINK of the month WiiiNGS i
Page 47 and 48: NFL & College Games on Hi-Def Satel
Page 50 and 51: STYLE GET VIP TREATMENT Come see Ro
Page 52 and 53: LOVE Po Pazzo bar & Grille: 1917 In
Page 54 and 55: THINK taxicab confessions I have a

September 08 - Pacific San Diego Magazine

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?