the Sac Rag

The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run was to be held this coming weekend, and it has been cancelled for the first time in its 35 year history.  Some idiots have been calling radio shows saying that if the runners are stupid enough to go 100 miles, then what’s a little smoke?

The bottom line is that hundreds of people have invested countless hours and few thousand dollars (at least, for the locals — even more so for people coming from every corner of the world) to train for this.  I was an entrant in the race in 2006, so I know how much of an emotional, financial, and physical investment this takes.  

Continue reading “Fires/Smoke Cancel Local World-Class Athletic Event” »

Today marked the 5th anniversary of the Innocence Lost National Initiative, which fights the sexual exploitation of children. To mark the occasion, the FBI conducted a five-day sting titled Operation Cross Country in 16 cities across the country that resulted in the arrests of 356 individuals engaged in sexual trafficking of minors and the recovery of 21 children.

In Sacramento, four children were recovered and two adults were arrested.

Congrats to the Sacramento FBI office and Sacramento Police Department for saving these four lives.

(I love scooping the Bee.)

I am by no means a competent NBA analyst, but I did want to point out one interesting tidbit about Chad Ford’s mock draft analysis of the Kings’ #12 pick: His pick is Lionel Mario Chalmers, and his alternate is Roy Hibbert. Not since the draft of 1997 which saw stars like Chris Wiggum and Ted Krustofsky have the Kings chances in the draft been so Simpsons-centric.

But seriously, what do we think of drafting a point guard at #12? FFT, writing on his new domain altsac.com, says don’t do it because Beno can start. Again I know nothing but for some reason my gut says drafting point guards is a tricky business, especially if you want a player to contribute right away or at least soon.

With the heat wave ushering in the summer ‘08 season, Sam McManis has a timely article on staying hydrated.*

Being an avid ultramarathoner on the trails, I have a lot of experience with two issues that can easily ruin a perfectly awesome day: blisters and poison oak. Here are some of my tips for making your outdoor adventures more comfortable, whether you’re a trail veteran or considering making your debut out on one of our region’s many recreational treasures.

Continue reading “RunnerGirl’s Quick Tips for Outdoor Adventures, Summer ‘08 Edition” »

Ok Raggers, I am in the middle of an attempted hairstyle  renaissance.  The problem is that for years I’ve only gotten quick and easy chop-shop jobs in Sacramento.  I have no go-to stylist or barber and now need to find someone who’ll do a good job with men’s hair.

And at an affordable price- I can’t spend more than what my wife spends or else marital discourse will ensue.

So any suggestions of people/places to go who can do something fun and stylish? I don’t think my last haircutter understood anything but “Number 3 on the sides and back.”

Tonight at the “Movies on a Big Screen” at 4th and F Street in West Sacramento, the 1935 Hitchcock thriller “The 39 Steps.”

This 1935 UK Alfred Hitchcock film was the first to really attract US audiences to his work. The tightly-plotted screenplay was loosely based on the 1915 novel of the same name by Scottish author John Buchan.

I’ve actually never seen this one, though I remember it being my grandpa’s favorite film. Enjoy the trademark cameo by Hitchcock himself as Step #14.

Which is why you’ll see me at the “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” auditions at Jackson Rancheria on Monday, June 23 at 7am. Click here for more details.

And while I’m up in Jackson, I might stop at some of my favorite daytrip spots.

Thanks to Lisa Heyamoto for hipping me to this event.

I know this is sort of an out of character post for this here blog, but occasionally when specific homes that I have always admired go on the market I think it warrants a posting. There are certain homes in town that I have just always wanted to live in. You know, while the people who own it are on vacation. Just kidding! I’m also hoping that merely being mentioned by CoolDMZ will help move some inventory and get the market back on track.

This house, 1025 37th Street is right behind the parking lot of the Subway on 37th and Jay streets. When I was a kid I always thought that porch was pretty gnarly (that’s what we said back then), and I loved the idea of living next door to Winchell’s (which formerly occupied the Subway space). It has always been on Mrs Cool’s and my short list of dream homes. I cannot believe it is on the market for $350k, that seems like a total steal, even though it is adjacent to the parking lot of a liquor store. Somebody snatch it up! And then have me over for a sittin’ party on that wraparound porch. Did I mention it is right near a Peet’s?

In a lot of ways, Tapa the World is the anti-late-night hangout. Despite the many years of being one of the only kitchens in town open until midnight, the joint has resisted the urge to turn itself into a euro-tinged, ultra-douche lounge, and instead focuses on putting damn good food on the tables until the clock hits 11:59.

I was at Tapa a few weekends ago with a few friends in from out of town. Having the newcomers in tow made me look at the old Spanish gal with a new, appreciative perspective. At 10:30 at night, there weren’t too many other places in town at which we would have had nearly as much fun, eaten nearly as well, or drank nearly so exotically. Continue reading “Tapa the World” »

California is a very large state. I’m not an expert but I think it’s like, one of the biggest states. You would think the smart folks at Boing Boing and the London Telegraph would know that. Instead, Boing Boing, referencing a hoax by law enforcement at “El Camino High School in California,” linked to this story from the Telegraph. This made me waste a whole 4 minutes of my lunch hour tracking down the original story, which comes out of Oceanside, CA and not San Juan Unified.

Continue reading “San Diego “your classmates are dead” hoax” »