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.

Bringing back the “need-to-know basis”

I was reading this story on news10.net about how security at Arden Fall mall used license plate scanners and HD cameras to help police arrest a car thief and couldn’t help but think, “should they really be telling us this stuff?”

One quick scroll down to the comments area (my love/hate with comments continues, btw) and I found I was not alone.

but I wish they wouldn’t release information like this to the media. There are a lot of effective tools out there for law enforcement that have been effective because the bad guys don’t know what they are or where they are. Now there is a better chance that bad guys will know not to drive stolen cars to the Arden mall, which will reduce the effectiveness of the program.

So, what’s your take? Does publicizing these advanced security measures simply help educate would-be criminals to commit craftier crimes? Or, does knowing about this stuff prevent someone from attempting an illegal act? I’m leaning toward the former.

What about you?

Cupcakes vs. Frozen Yogurt

http://www.icingonthecupcake.com/
Icing on the Cupcake - 1121 Alhambra Blvd.

Not sure I get the cupcake thing, but I’m noticing more and more of them popping up all over Sacramento. The only business that seems to be outgrowing cakes in a cup is self-serve frozen yogurt. I’m all for economic recovery and seeing a “Grand Opening” sign is much more comforting than a “For Lease” sign, but I’m curious as to who is eating all of these cupcakes. It seems like a niche business at best.

Speaking of, I did try out Tops Yogurt the other day and was put off by the policy that the employee must fill your free sample cup. Granted, I’ve long wondered when these places would start doing this to control inventory (the obvious scene of the high school crowd coming and filling up on sample after sample comes to mind) but it’s tough when you’re not trying to abuse it.

Is it easier to get a commercial loan if you are opening a cupcake or frozen yogurt shop?

Another DUI for Kings player

Another member of the Sacramento Kings was arrested Thursday night for driving under the influence. I know, blah, blah, yawn, yawn.

What does interest me though are the comments and statements that make up these articles.

…said in the team statement Friday that his client is cooperating fully with police in nearby Rocklin.

Really? So we should think a little more of his client because he’s not kicking and screaming and telling everyone to eff off?

In a press release, Wright said, “I’m sorry for having gotten myself into this situation. I sincerely apologize to my teammates and coaches, the Sacramento Kings Organization, the Sacramento community and my family.”

In your prepared statement the best you could come up with was “having gotten myself into this situation”? And in the history of doing something wrong, how many people have not apologized afterward?

Now *that* would be a headline.

Downtown Ice Rink is open

Sacramento’s original outdoor ice rink, the Westfield Downtown Plaza Ice Rink, opened today at noon.

The 7,000 square foot ice rink can accommodate up to 150 skaters. The rink is located at 7th and K Streets (across from the Westfield Downtown Plaza) and is a short stroll from Old Sacramento, the State Capitol, popular downtown restaurants and light rail trains. Because the ice rink is an outdoor facility, the quality of ice may be affected by weather and other elements. Please note that the ice rink facility does not have lockers/storage and skaters are responsible for their personal belongings onsite.

Remember, as an outdoor facility, the rink may close at any time…

In the event of inclement weather, poor ice conditions, war, acts of God or other reasons beyond the Downtown Sacramento Partnership may close ice rink operations without advance notice.

Good to know. If things get out of hand with our enemies in foreign lands and it starts to go down, your local ice skating rink may close without letting you know.

In other ice related news, Iceland reopened this week in, what, 8 short months? Impressive. Rick Kushman over at the Bee also wrote an article about the frosty stuff. Wait, so did Bill Lindelof, using the same photo.

Voting details for today

In case you’re looking for the same online resources as I am, here are a few links that may be of use to you:

The Property Associate Information is pretty slick (we may have discussed this here before) as you can use the General Map Viewer tool to find out all sorts of information about your local area.

Put this to a vote

My neighbor and I were talking about the amount of political mail we were receiving and if there was anything we could do about it. He said he would contact the County and ask to be removed from any lists, etc.

Here’s the response he received:

The only way to be removed from their mailing list is to not be registered to vote. If you wish to not be registered anymore you may send us something in writing with your signature requesting us to do so at 7000 65th Street, Sacramento, CA 95823. Thanks.

Awesome. That’ll show’em. This could be my new response when I am hit up at the grocery store to register. “Excuse me, sir, are you registered to vote in Sacramento County?” “No, I am not, I was, but I had to unregister to stop receiving campaign propaganda, sorry.”

What’s worse (Halloween edition)?

I visited the Party City store yesterday on Arden Way and couldn’t help but notice the costumes designed for our little ones. Seriously, what’s worse? Dressing your “boy” up as a Convict Clown (“This scary clown should be locked up”) or Rapsta (“F’Shizzle, this costizzle is the dizzle!”)?

Scary thing is, I am sure many kids will be one of these without ever visiting the costume store. You can guess which one, yo.

Kid's costume: Convict Clown
Kid's Costume: Rapsta
Sweet dreams, junior
Notice the tatted sleeves.

Sacramento ranks 6th in Halloween list

Trick-or-Treat Rankings from zillow.comZillow.com’s Trick-or-Treat Housing Index has Sacramento coming in at #6, ahead of Chicago and Boston.

There is a common belief that wealthy neighborhoods are the Holy Grail for harvesting the most Halloween candy. However, to provide a more holistic approach to trick-or-treating, the Zillow Trick-or-Treat Housing Index was calculated using four equally weighted data variables: Zillow Home Value Index, population density, Walk Score and local crime data from Relocation Essentials. Based on those variables, the Index represents cities that will provide the most candy, with the least walking and safety risks.

That’s decent news for Sacramento. We need decent news, right?

If you haven’t played around with walkscore.com, give it a shot. My house only received a 43 out of 100 and was deemed “Car Dependent” with 81% of Sacramento residents having a higher Walk Score.

What’s your Walk Score?

CAKE to play show in Sacramento

CAKE
Creative Commons License photo credit: anthony_goto

From CAKE’s newsletter:

Blue Lamp show tomorrow (Tuesday, October 19th at 9pm) in Sacramento. First come, first served.

As usual, no cameras or recording devices are permitted. Your presence is enough.

CAKE has also announced the release of their new album, “Showroom of Compassion.” We have an outstanding variety of pre-sale bundles to offer!

I wonder how the Facebook group is going to handle this. Ah, yeah. Ah, right.

Math and the housing market

Help me out here, folks. I was reading this article about former Kings basketball star Kevin Martin being sent a notice of default on his million-dollar Rocklin home and I am left curious.

Martin, who will earn $10 million this year playing for the Houston Rockets, first missed a payment on his $1.5 million home loan in June, according to Foreclosures.com. His lender filed the notice of default last month…Martin’s Rocklin home is listed for $1.1 million as an “active short sale,” meaning that if someone buys at that price, his bank could take a loss…Martin paid about $1.9 million for the home in the gated Whitney Oaks subdivision in July 2007.

Is the 1.5 million number referring to what he owes on the house still? And how does someone making 10 million a year allowed to short sell his home? And we’re supposed to rest assured knowing that Kevin is not going to walk away from this home because he’s a stand-up guy? What if this property had gained in value? Would he have donated the profits of the sale to a local charity? You know, because he’s a stand-up guy? I wonder. You invested in a property that went south, you have to live with the consequences, right? At least you do when your income hasn’t been severely altered like so many others in this country. Obviously I am no expert and do not know the details of this particular case, but it sure is tough to read as a tax payer and Sacramento resident who is upside down on his home that someone with the means to pay his bills is finding away to get around them.

Help me out here. Am I way off base? I am assuming I can blame Obama here though.