There has been quite a bit of attention from the Sacramento Bee about the John McCrea story, and I’ve got a few things to say about it. I appreciate the attention to the SacRag, positive, negative or neutral, but I feel the need to correct a few details that I feel the Bee got wrong.

I think Rachel Leibrock missed on a few points. Call it poetic license, call it journalistic opinion, but I call foul. You may have noticed that there are many things in her 21Q blog entry in quotation marks, which I said, and other things that are not, but are attributed to me as they are accompanied by the words “so says”.

Her headline was “Lighten Up Sac – or so says Sacrag writer”. Well, that sentence implies that I said those words. I did not. I never said that Sacramento should lighten up, mellow out, take a chill pill, calm down, cool it now, or float on (oops, that last one shows my age). In fact, I acknowledged to her that I knew that I was running the risk of offending people with this story.

Another quote from her story is the implication that I said, “Ya’ll should step off, too.” Again, I never said anything to this effect. In fact, I don’t think I have ever used the words “step off” in my life, and I would expect my friends to punch me square in the face if they ever heard me utter this phrase.

Most offending to me is her claim that I feel that “SacRag readers don’t have a very good sense of humor”. Whoa. Damn. I have all sorts of problems with this statement.

First and most important, I never said that, nor did I say anything that implies it. In fact, the readers of the SacRag crack me up. Some comments to stories bug me, but I am still amused by the interaction that occurs on this site.

Second, please look at the comments that were made by readers. A total of six readers made negative comments about the story. Six. According to StatCounter, we had 1,053 unique visitors and 551 click-throughs to the entire story. I know that we have this level of daily traffic (although this was a bit more than usual), so I would never judge the readers of the Rag based upon negative comments from only six readers.

Third, I am not arrogant enough to think that if I write something humorous that others do not find funny, that this means that the dissenting readers are somehow deficient. Different strokes for different folks.

To conclude, I don’t want anyone to think that this article is “sour grapes”. We at the Rag provide media commentary and criticism, just as Rachel does when she writes her 21Q blog. Blogging is not necessarily journalism, as a blog provides opinions, interpretations and spin with more individual freedom than a piece of journalism that is subject to editorial control and a more stringent demand for neutrality and a consideration for a well-rounded presentation of opinions. We at the Rag have already acknowledged our mistake; I hope that our counterparts at the SacBee are big enough to do the same.

According to the AP, local personality and second horseman of the apocalypse Mark S. Allen may be filling in for Ryan Seacrest on American Idol. From the AP:

Ryan Seacrest will be taking an immediate leave of absence from hit Fox Television show American Idol. According to his publicist, Seacrest is dealing with a “medical issue” but should be back on Idol within two months. Seacrest will also be taking a break from his popular Los Angeles radio show on KIIS-FM. Filling in for Seacrest at KIIS will be Los Angeles DJ Dave Styles. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Seacrest’s spot on Idol will be filled by Mark S. Allen, a popular entertainment reporter from Northern California.

If this goes through, they might have to widen the doorways at Good Day Sacramento to allow MSA’s inflated head to fit.

***UPDATE*** Local well-known media blogger “Radio Matthew”, when not contacted about this story, was unable to confirm or deny the veracity of the claims. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about this as the day goes on.

According to the Democratic Underground and the SNR Blog, local progressive talk radio station KSAC 1240 is changing formats on Monday. Gone will be the left leaning talk radio hosts to whom apparently no one listens, and taking its place will be a whole station dedicated to gospel music. That’s right, we’re going to get some good old time religion on the AM dial.

Since the changeover is going to happen on March 31st, we assume that this isn’t an April Fool’s gaffe. Also, in in the irony column, March 31st will be observed as Cesar Chavez day. No better way to pay tribute to a noted labor leader than to dump the progressive station in favor of heavenly tunes.

The reason for the switch? Apparently KSAC was losing money and having difficulty finding advertisers. I’m not sure if this says something about the viability of liberal talk radio, or if it says something about the intelligence of liberal listeners in regard to their lack of interest in the crap that is normally hawked on talk radio (e.g. male enhancement, gold coins, balding remedies, and vegas timeshares pimped by that crazy broad from “That ’70s Show”). I’ll let you, the people, decide.

Here’s an opportunity for anyone with some free time this summer and no need for additional income. If you think that print journalism is in your future, take a peek at this listing from Craigslist: Continue reading “Young, Would-Be Journalists, Lend Me Your Ears” »

Sorry to harp on this, but the entertainment editors over at the Bee really need to chat with Carla Meyer before they choose their cover art for the Ticket section. In today’s edition, the entire front page is taken up with the likable presence of Owen Wilson fronting for his new movie, “Drillbit Taylor.” Open up the Ticket, however, and you may or may not be surprised to find that Meyer gives the film a tepid, two-star review filled with ringing non-endorsements like:

Though it contains funny moments, “Drillbit” is derivative, disjointed and sometimes tasteless (and not in a good way).

Other options for the front page? Th’ Losing Streaks, a favorite local band featured positively in the Ticket, “Hammer” the new Adam Carolla movie given a three star review, or heck, maybe something about Easter.

Yes, yes, we all like Owen Wilson and his bent-nose charm, but really, if the Bee is going to give up valuable real estate to pimp a new movie, they might want to make sure that it’s good first.

In today’s Bee, intrepid transportation reporter Tony Bizjak interviews new RT manager Mike Wiley. In the interview, Tony asks Mr. Wiley about his dreams for RT–including the Monorail!

A: My wild thought is I want to make sure transit is a core service that everybody can depend on, whether they choose to or not. I know that’s not sexy, like running a monorail.

Q: What, no monorail?

A: I don’t care about the mode. I just want everybody to be able to use the system. To me, we need a backbone of frequent service within reasonable walking distance.

Now, as a member of the media, Tony can’t come out and say that he’s 100% for the Sacramento Monorail! Expansion Project (SMEP), but I’m sure, as a right-thinking Sacramentan, he’s on board. Now, if we can just get Mike Wiley on the same page, we’d be set. And once that Monorail! is up and running, we can start on our new campaign, Fan Boats! Continue reading “SMEP and Other Transportation News” »

Admit it, you’ve looked somebody up…

No, this isn’t about the prolonged pissing match between stubborn Moe Mohanna and stubborn city officials and stubborn homeless people along K Street.  This is about my hood, the ‘Cade, Arden/Arcade that is.

The former home of Tower Records and Tower Books on Watt Avenue at El Camino is slowly turning into a commercial property nightmare, replete with graffiti, homeless folks, and that harbinger of property worthlessness, the Spirit Halloween Store.

It’s true, the site of former greatness, where I bought my first J.J. Johnson album is now just a dirty shell, attracting crime and dragging down the neighborhood.  I, as a citizen, want to do something about it.  Here’s the problem though, I have no idea what to do.  Do I start showing up at those worthless Arcade cityhood meetings?  Do I start an “action group”?  Do I call Marcos Breton? Or even better, Carlos Alcala?  Tell me, readers, for I am lost in a sea of citizen action.

It’s raining!

I’m speculating that we can all look forward to team coverage on “Rain Watch ‘07: Holiday Edition” since we haven’t had nearly enough of this wet stuff in some time.

Who are the most rookie reporters who will have to report from Blue Canyon today and tonight?

This week, the News and Review has sunk to an all time low with their cover story and issue dedicated to Sebastian Bach. If you cannot tell from my homage to both AC/DC and Mad Magazine in the title of this entry, I am precisely the target demographic for an issue dedicated to a washed up, middle aged metal singer who has not had a hit song since 1989 and has found a new career as a reality TV star. Big whoop. And, if I don’t care, how is anyone else going to give a flying fuck about Sebastian Bach?
Continue reading “Bach in Blech” »