Author: CoolDMZ

"X-ray vision to see in between / Where's my kimono and my time machine?"

Who knew there was such a thing?

CSUS nursing major Nicole Honaker was recently crowned Miss Sacramento County (I say recently because there is no mention of the date in the article. Somebody won’t be winning Miss Junior Reporter!) Lest you think an academic-minded woman should be shamed by participating in such an event, you’ll be happy to know that during the swimsuit competition contestants are merely to walk past the judges, not to pose or even stop on the stage. At a certain point can we just get rid of that category? What’s next, you just show them a swimsuit you bought? Anyway, congrats Miss Honaker. Maybe next year we’ll do a Miss Sac Rag…

Rag Alert: Seat belt sting snags several

RonTopofIt and SinghCity are out on assignment and reported back with this image of a CHP seat belt sting operation in effect in the midtown Alhambra corridor. RonTopofIt reports several stops in a few block radius of the picture (Alhambra and L, obviously) with seat belts being the topic of “conversation” in all cases. If you’re heading toward that area in the next hour or so be advised the fuzz are clamping down. Also buckle up because otherwise if you crash you might die.

Heckasac on Fargo

Beckler’s comments on the newest proposal for K street revitalization are spot on. I wholeheartedly endorse her use of the F word. Fargo is endorsing making K street “unique,” and here’s what Beckler has to say about that:

Well, if by “unique” you mean “copying another city’s idea” I guess you could say it’s unique to try to make our town look like the Holy Grail of revitalized downtowns.

You know what was unique? That mural on the inside of the entrance to the Tower Records on K Street. I haven’t been down there much lately–is the mural still there?

Jensen interviews Newhart

A great interview of comedy icon Bob Newhart on the Retrocrush podcast by Rockass.net and I Can’t Believe it’s Not Comedy’s Keith Lowell Jensen. Jensen manages to do a great interview without being starstruck–something I can’t imagine being able to do with someone of that stature. I always imagine myself as doing that Chris Farley interview bit. Jensen captures some really great trivia bits (that his wife contributed the “the show was all a dream” idea, for example) and some priceless reminiscing about Newhart’s early days. Don’t miss it, comedy fans.

Bee takes on predators

I’m sure the Sacramento Bee’s three-part series this week on sexual violent predators is top-notch jouralism. I think it’s full of eye-opening details, in-depth reporting and Pulitzer Prize-worthy material. It seems like a momentous achievement, an invaluable look at a problem most of us try not to think about. Of course, since every third word is “rape” and every 4th paragraph is about child molestation, I’m trying hard but I can’t get through it.

Attention tech geeks-slash-library patrons

If you’re an IT nerd like me (or you’re thinking of getting caught up in the Web 2.0 revolution) our own Sacramento Public Library has a great tool for you: a subscription to Safari, the technical book publishing online service. If you’ve got a library card (even one that currently has fines!) you can access full text tech books through the Web. Just bookmark this link and fill in your info. Then curl up with some hot ginger tea, an eye-friendly monitor, and an e-book on TCP/IP.

Hwy 99 road rage update

CHP may have a lead in the hunt for the highway 99 maniac driver from the other day.

CHP Valley Division Chief Stan Perez told CBS 13 that an anonymous caller told the CHP that they had also been harassed by someone on Highway 99 and gave the CHP a license plate number.

No word from CBS 13 on whether the anonymous caller was on the same Marysville to Bakersfield stretch of that highway.

Can we wrap this up here? I’ve got somebody on hold

Since it happened in South Sacramento County I suppose it’s only a matter of time until Jason brings his all-seeing Eye to the mix, but are you following today’s CHP wait-time scandal? Check the SacBee for the details of a road rage incident and CBS13 for the news of the CHP’s investigation into its own handling of the related 911 call.

The story itself is frightening. And although the major outrage here is the length of time these poor women had to wait for help, what stuck out for me (my wife actually picked up on this first, this morning over coffee and baby biscuits) was the attitude of the 911 dispatcher. (Italics mine, because people generally don’t talk in italics.)

Driver: I need help. There is a guy trying to run me off the freeway. I don’t know who he is. Oh, my God. Oh, my God!
[apparently there was a pause there on the driver’s end, which was a wee bit more than this dispatcher could stand]
Dispatcher: Hellooo?

I’m sorry miss operator, I was handling a little situation there. But it gets better:

Dispatcher: Ma’am, I need to find out where you are.
Driver: I am [on] 99 south.
Dispatcher: Ma’am, 99 goes all the way from Marysville all the way down through Fresno. That doesn’t help me.

Because I have the luxury of time and distance, I can throw my name behind “that’s like saying you’re at Starbucks,” but I’m not the voice you hear when you’re in dire need. I realize the investigation is well underway, but I pledge to bring my considerable local celebrity to bear and demand that this 911 dispatcher be fired.