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 may have talent

No sword swallowing allowed
Creative Commons License photo credit: Genista
You won’t be able to perform
this talent at the audition

From kcra.com we learn that auditions for the popular television show will be held today and tomorrow.

Come down to the all new Hyundai Store in the Westfield Downtown Plaza in Sacramento for your chance to put together an audition video which will be sent directly to the show’s casting director.

I did enjoy the “What Not to Bring” page.

We are sorry, but during the taping we cannot have fire, swords, or other sharp objects at the venue. If you have prop or dull swords, knifes, or other props that appear dangerous but are not, or if you need sharp tools (i.e screwdrivers, scissors, etc) to do your act, please bring a DVD of your act if your act.

And remember to…”arrive 10-20 minutes early to your taping location and a staff member will give you the rundown on what is expected. Each session will only last 90-seconds and you will only get one chance to get it right. You will not be able to re-do, so if you make a mistake, keep going.”

This can’t miss.

A city under a social experiment

Follow me on this one, folks. According to fox40.com, the Sacramento Police Department has a theory, well it appears they have several, but at any rate.

…they’re looking to stop crime at it’s lowest level. “You stop the smaller crimes, you stop the social disorder, it’ll have a prevention effect,” says Sgt. Renee Mitchell of the Sacramento Police Department. In other words, stop the purse snatching, prevent the murder.

Hmm, okay. I’ve always believed in the theory that states, “Stop the purse snatching, prevent someone from losing their purse.” But, I’m willing to go with it.

Detectives have identified 42 spots in the city where they get called — a lot. For the next 90 days, you’ll see more officers at half of those locations, at random times throughout the day.

How long before the Sacramento Bee comes up with an interactive map detailing these 42 spots and when the cops will be there? (I wrote this as a joke, only to find this at sacbee.com!)

Think of it as a city under a social experiement. The thought is if criminals don’t know when cops are going to be there, they’ll be less likely to commit crimes. Conversely, if the officers are broken of their patrol habits, they’ll be more vigilant and therefore more likely to spot trouble.

Conversely?

What do you think? Who is being tested here, the criminals or the police officers?

You said “Gentle”

I am happy to say that while I get older and grayer and worry more and more about retirement and kids driving too fast down my street, I can still giggle when I see something like this…

Gentle Massage is open late.
Gentle Massage is open late.

My Butthead reaction was supported by this page I found while researching this particular parlor.

Let us indulge you with the elements of relaxation…Free table shower every visit!!

Uh, huh, uh, table shower? I’m getting, like, old and stuff.

Sacramento Museum Day is coming

Humpty Dumpty Sat On a Wall...
Creative Commons License photo credit: UhDuh
Fairytale Town is on the list!?

The 13th Annual Sacramento Museum Day will be on Saturday, February 5, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All participating museums close at 5 p.m. with the last guests admitted at 4 p.m.

From this latimes.com article:

Though it’s tempting to museum-hop until you drop, realistically you’ll be able to squeeze in only two or three museums on the free day. The museum association also offers the following advice…Expect a wait at the more popular sites such as the Crocker Art Museum, the Sacramento Zoo and the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park. Park your car and use a free shuttle that services most of the museums on the list.

There are 26 museums participating in this year’s event so this is a good opportunity to visit a museum less traveled.

Free beverage offer at Peet’s

From their Facebook page,

Enjoy a FREE beverage when you buy one for a friend. To celebrate the New Year come in to Peet’s for any hand-crafted beverage of your choice and receive a second beverage free. View coupon for details. (If you don’t want to print the coupon, you can show it to your barista on your mobile device.) Offer good through Tuesday, January 18, 2011.

I will test the “show it to your barista on your mobile device” option, but it has worked before with these offers.

Now finding a friend to enjoy a beverage with me is a different task.

DUI Checkpoint on Thursday

Attention Sacramento Kings players and personnel, according to Sacto 9-1-1…

The Sacramento Police Department will conduct a sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint beginning at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, at 21st Street and Capital Avenue.

A commenter did call the Bee out on the misspelling of “Capitol Avenue.”

It’s what happens when you cut & paste directly from the PD press release, no actual journalists get hurt doing that.

If you’re asking yourself why cops announce DUI checkpoints in advance, you’re not alone. Luckily, the Bee offered up this link to “Why cops announce DUI checkpoints in advance.”

There some snark to be had about this article. I’m sure the two of you Sacramentans that aren’t off this week will enjoy it.

Lockdown television series features Sacramento

I was skipping through the channels last night when I came across an airing of National Geographic’s Lockdown series.

This episode featured Sacramento, and not in a fun, “hey, we have a lot of trees are close to San Francisco“, way.

Filled with nearly 2,500 inmates accused of everything from drugs to kidnapping to torture, Sacramento County Jail faces a huge problem: maintaining order and control in a highly overcrowded space with a dwindling number of officers.

It was powerful stuff. Using toilets to communicate with other inmates, applying martial arts moves to subdue unruly inmates, it was all there. Shows like this remind me that we are very fortunate to have people in this world who are willing to take on jobs so others don’t have to. For now, of course, as budget cuts continue to dominate the plot lines.

Hitting the reset button

We at the Sac Rag realize none of you care about the Sacramento Kings professional basketball team, but you can’t help but be depressed moved bummed out by this post-game press conference after another ugly loss.

The sad state of the Kings is making national news and while a coaching change seems to make sense, owner Joe Maloof is denying anyone is on their way out.

When pressed, Maloof said definitively that Petrie and Westphal will be in their positions for the remainder of the 2010-11 season regardless of how many games the team loses. “Yes,” Maloof said. “We’re not making any moves. The answer is yes.” A person with direct knowledge of recent statements by a high-ranking member of the organization painted a different picture, telling CBSSports.com that frustration with the Kings’ 5-22 record had reached a breaking point. At one point after the Kings’ 84-79 home loss to the Bucks Thursday night, owner Gavin Maloof was overheard in the tunnel saying that the culture of the organization had to change. “It’s time to hit the reset button,” Gavin Maloof said, according to the source.

Maybe the NBA could take over this team, too?