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.

“A popular local blog” receives mention

After months of lamenting on this here web log, the citizens of Sacramento were rewarded today as the Sac Bee finally did a piece on the whereabouts of Paul Joncich and Jennifer Whitney and in doing so found time to mention the Sac Rag.

It helps that he’s had tremendous support from viewers, Joncich says. A popular local blog, sacrag.com, has served as something of a grief-support group for fans of “Paul and Jen” — their casual on-air names for each other.

Casual on-air names for each other? At any rate, it is a good piece and answers many of the questions many Sacramentans have asked since their departure.

Joncich and Whitney still wish they had been given the opportunity to say farewell to viewers on the air when they left. (Valenzuela, who left in late January, negotiated a good-bye statement into her severance agreement.) “The viewers were confused when Jennifer and I just disappeared,” Joncich says.

They sure were.

Keep your smote out of my taco

Who is Garth?

Back in February I wrote about a vending machine at Taco Bell that was selling body tattoos and imitation gold jewelry. Well, I’m happy to report, those questionable items are no more! Did the bouncy ball make a triumphant comeback, you ask? Alas, we can only hope. No, for 25 cents these days you can own your very own power stone. Sounds innocent enough, right? Well, as you can see by the accompanied documentation, that’s open for debate.

The Web site is ooogy. Like myspace.com ooogy. Anyone have any clue what’s going on here? It could be some sort of Dungeons & Dragons thing, but I have my doubts.

“Frater, you open this gate straight away or I swear on Sacristy’s knee I will smote it asunder!” “Settle down you blustering bully. It is the middle of the night, you will surely wake the castle,” Frater hushed as he struggled to raise the heavy gate, “and you will not smote Garth Spandrel for Cinquefoil would have your hide.”

Uh, uh, ok. I think I’ll take my chances with the grills…

Bunch of quacks

Ok, how long was I supposed to go without mentioning this eBay auction for the X-ray of the duck? Seriously, 92 bids so far for $4599.99?

Regrettably, IBRRC reports the duck succumbed to its injuries and passed away quickly, quietly, and peacefully after the x-rays were taken, and not from the alien bursting through the duck’s chest in classic gory Hollywood style.

Some could take the use of the word “regrettably” out of context here, but I digress. And I love how they mention the existence of crop circles to help with the story.

“Cordelia’s a hot bed of alien activity,” Holcomb explained. “We’ve seen the crop circles, so it stands to reason we’d see an alien face staring out of a duck.”

Now that’s just the funniest thing I’ve read in a while. “Reason” and “alien face staring out of a duck” should never be used in the same area code.

“Three’s a crowd” to the rescue

The Feeder Line at Peet's Coffee & Tea
The feeder line embraced
at Peet’s Coffee on 19th Street

A recent Associate Press poll found that most Americans are in a hurry and lose their cool in a hurry when waiting in line or on hold.

Almost one in four in the AP-Ipsos poll picked the grocery checkout as the line where their patience is most likely to melt like the ice cream turning to goo in their cart.

Hmmm, doesn’t that mean that almost three in four didn’t pick the grocery checkout? At any rate, I have to agree that a grocery store line does seem to irritate me faster than other lines around town.

“We walk in the door with the clock ticking with various degrees of loudness in our heads. And if I get to the checkout and if I have the perception it’s not working efficiently, often that clock gets even louder.”

A line not working efficiently you say? If only there was a way to make a line work more efficiently.
Continue reading ““Three’s a crowd” to the rescue”

A home’s best friend?

KCRA.com recently reported that home invasions are on the rise in Sacramento.

In the last 28 days, the Sacramento region has experienced at least nine home invasion robberies. In each case, the homeowners were tied up, bound or held at gunpoint.

Yikes. What can we do to protect ourselves, you ask? Well, Sacramento Police Department Sgt. Terrell Marshall recommends installing a home security system and to never blindly answering a knock at your door. Makes sense to me. However, his first recommendation is what led me to write today.

Continue reading “A home’s best friend?”

Foreclosures and comedy

Two interesting articles on the Sacramento Business Journal’s Web site today.

  1. Sacramento 1Q foreclosures top 2,500
  2. Old Sac tour operators give visitors a history lesson with a side of fun

There is not much to the former that hasn’t been hashed out here many times already. My only comment would be what does foreclosing on a house have to do with a slowing housing market? Seems to be tied to either folks losing their jobs or their 5 year interest only loans surfacing and folks can’t make the new refinanced loan payments.

I am thinking that sac-eats can comment on the latter link. Has anyone taken this tour? Seems like a decent idea. But then again, I’ve lived here ten years and have only been to Old Sacramento 2 or 3 times.

No right just rules

Today, I’m looking to complain. Specifically, I’m looking to complain about my gym. I’ve been a member of California Family Fitness for many, many years. So many years, in fact, that if I were to quit and try to re-enroll I couldn’t afford it. Therein lies my problem. You see, what bugs about this gym (and many other gyms, I am sure) are the rules.

For example, it used to be that you couldn’t access the gym without your gym card. If you did, you were hassled about not doing it again and to please pee in this cup. Then they came up with keychain cards. Great idea, problem solved. Alas, people still forgot their cards. So Cal Fit came up with a photo identity feature where your account included your basic information AND your photo to identify you if you forgot your card. Great idea, problem solved. Not so fast, you still need your card because it was taking the staff too long to look each person up who forgot their card, back to being hassled.
Continue reading “No right just rules”

Sacramento loses an original

Cbs13.com reports the passing of Zelda’s Original Gourmet Pizza owner Zelda Breslin.

Friends remember she ran a tight ship, riding herd on restless customers waiting in line, discouraging patrons from lingering after meals and insisting on cash-only payments.

Wow, I had no idea. I have only been a handful of times and have enjoyed the pie. I’ve never had the opportunity to experience Zelda herself, however. How disappointing. I’d love to hear from you down/mid townies on your experiences there and with Zelda.

Any way you slice it (waa waa waa), she’s a part of Sacramento history and deserves recognition on this here web log.

Independence, shmindependence

The President of the United States of America has spoken many times about our need to become less dependent on foreign oil by reducing consumption and using alternative energy sources. In a true show of defiance, Sacramentans said “No way, dude!” and increased their demand for the popular gas guzzling Hummer sport/war utility vehicle/tank.

According to news10.net:

“People are still wanting them,” Hummer of Sacramento spokesman Andy Mullins said. “People are still buying them.” In fact, Mullins said Hummer sales at the dealership quadrupled in April 2006 over the same period last year.

That’s right, what does the President know anyway?

“People definitely mention (fuel economy),” Mullins said. “It’s not like they’re oblivious to what’s going on with the market, but it definitely doesn’t seem to get in the way of their purchase decision.”

Booya! Take that, Powers That Be!

Some may argue that the folks that can afford a Hummer can also afford the gas to put in it. While I agree, I find it odd that those in that tax bracket see no need to lead by example and do right by their President. But that’s just me, I could be wrong.