Author: RonTopofIt

RonTopofIt is a complex personality, as are most of the small breed of modern day renaissance millionaires. He wishes more people were like him and yet believes that it takes all kinds. You've met RonTopofIt many times, you just don't remember him.

Sacramento is the biggest loser

When not social networking, apparently Sacramento enjoys cutting jobs.

The Sacramento region topped job losses in the nation for the last year, according to new figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ninety-three metros suffered declines, and 13 were unchanged. The Sacramento-Arden Arcade-Roseville metro area lost 14,500 nonfarm jobs from January 2010 to January 2011. Atlanta and Las Vegas came next, with respective declines of 12,300 and 9,500.

Nonfarm? Why the face? Man, how can Stockton do us like this?

Morning Commute

I knew that the flood concerns were at their highest level yet in Northern California this winter, with two dozen major river segments now at “monitor” stage, but I had to see it to really believe it. Wow. I was not prepared to walk my bike, waist-high, over and under and through the woods and am paying for it today with no dry socks. The Del Paso Boulevard floodgate was a real sight, too.

Here’s a slideshow of some photos I took this morning on my way in. Starting around mile 3 of the American River Parkway.

To tent, or not to tent

There is quite a comment thread going on over at sacbee.com about this article on the tent city situation in Seattle. It’s off-topic already, of course. A lot of Loaves and Fishes bashing.

The tent cities around Seattle run on a system of self-governance, where residents elect leadership councils and vote weekly on matters such as whether to require hand sanitizer in the kitchen tent and who should take charge of cleaning blankets. There is zero tolerance toward drug and alcohol use; profanity and spitting are discouraged. No more than 100 campers are allowed at each site. The encampments are managed by nonprofit organizations, and nearly all financial support comes through fundraising. Residents work security shifts, screening visitors for arrest warrants and patrolling the cramped aisles between tents.

Yowza, no spitting? What is this, Russia? This is some idea though. Kevin Johnson is on board, too.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said last week that he is frustrated that a plan has not materialized. He said a tent city could provide a place for the homeless to transition into permanent housing and “integrate back into mainstream society.”

Well, I wouldn’t go that far… Continue reading “To tent, or not to tent”

I’m Moe Greene

This story from Sacto 9-1-1 made me chuckle as I can’t believe the movies this guy was pirating.

A Sacramento man pleaded guilty today in federal court to felony copyright infringement in a case involving the pirating of DVDs…His inventory for sale or rental included unauthorized copies of Hollywood movies such as “The Godfather” and “Indiana Jones”, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Really? You are going to do time for Indiana Jones? And people are still pirating DVDs? And selling/renting them in stores?

According to court documents, Yan Akhumov, 45, of Sacramento, distributed unauthorized copies of copyrighted motion pictures in Music Land stores that he controlled in Rancho Cordova, West Sacramento, Citrus Heights and North Highlands.

Ah, why didn’t you say so. Carry on.

Sacramento Gas Prices

sacramento-usa-gas-prices-chart
We're beating the USA!

As gas prices are back in the news (blaming Obama? get out!), here’s a reminder about www.sactogasprices.com.

There many tips out there for saving money on gas, here are a few I enjoyed.

  • Avoid stops. If approaching a red light, see if you can slow down enough to avoid having to actually stop (because you reach the light after it is green). Speeding up from 5 or 10 miles per hour will be easier on the gas than starting from full stop.
  • Anticipate the stop signs and lights. Look far ahead; get to know your usual routes. You can let up on the gas earlier. Coasting to a stop will save the gasoline you would otherwise use maintaining your speed longer. If it just gets you to the end of a line of cars at a red light or a stop sign a few seconds later, it won’t add any time to your trip. Ditto for coasting to lose speed before a highway off-ramp: if it means you catch up with that truck halfway around the curve instead of at the beginning, you haven’t lost any time. In many cities, if you know the streets well, you can time the lights and maintain the appropriate speed to hit all green lights. Usually this is about 35 to 40 MPH.
  • Limit your driving (now that’s a concept!). This article includes ideas such as carpooling, combining trips and taking the first parking spot you find.

I wish folks would adhere to these tips regardless of gas prices. I hate that I get passed aggressively by folks when I try to coast into a stop sign or light.

While we’re talking about it, what do Sacramento drivers do that irritate you?

Opa! Opa! tries to be hipa hipa

Opa! Opa! Coupon Image

Got this coupon in the mail the other day from Opa! Opa! and it made me think, “Et tu, Opa?”

I get that they are trying to be clever, and current, and cute, but the softening of the f-word in our society is really starting to annoy the fuck out of me. I’m just getting over the Cee-Lo song and now Pink, sorry P!nk, drops another kindler, gentler f-bomb song on us. Admittedly, I am a curmudgeon and many of you may tell me to chill the eff out, but it’s tough when you have young ones around the house telling you that they’re not saying the real word so it’s okay.

And I get it, Opa! Opa! disclaims that “OMG” means “OH MY GOSH!” (what, we’re censoring His name now?) and “WTF” is meant to stand for “WOW THOSE FRIES!” and it’s an attention grabber (it grabbed mine, right?).

I don’t know, what do you think? Take it easy, RTOI? Lighten up, it’s only an ad for hummus? Let me know. I gotta run, another car just ran a stop sign on my street and I’m going to call the sheriff.

If you’re illiterate, don’t read this post

This one is a little too easy to pick on, but what the hell.

But some of the unemployed job seekers say they are facing a new challenge as some companies aren’t even considering applicants who are currently unemployed. Some companies have even gone as far as posting signs, stating you must have a job just to fill out an application.

I guess they are going with the old theory that you need to have a girlfriend in order to find a girlfriend? That it takes one girl to find you attractive in order for another girl to think you’re dreamy? It’s actually not that wacky if you break it down.

Some employers admit they believe the unemployed have lost their skills or workers who are currently employed, are better qualified.

It’s simple. Whoever returns the bike is obviously the person who stole it. So they don’t deserve any reward!

Yowza at IHOP

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1

Via news10.net, “a group of angry mourners, apparently offended when a news crew tried to get too close to an impromptu memorial service, beat up two employees of a Sacramento television station Sunday.”

One news crew films another news crew getting attacked. It was only missing the eye witness video of the news crew filming the news crew getting attacked.

People are still going with the UGG boots, eh?