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.

Computer Talk

With your oversized bifocals and pocket protector firmly in place, please to point your Internet browser here to view the “Top 10 Windows XP Tips Of All Time.”

I come across lists like these all the time which tend to simply advertise for third party software or restate the obvious. However, this particular one really addresses some issues you may be facing with your XP machine. Whether it’s Tip 10 (Halt background services to improve performance), Tip 8 (Scrub your hard drive clean) or the CoolDMZ favorite Tip 7 (Run two displays on the same PC), there’s something for everyone…and by “everyone” I mean like 4 or 5 of you Sac Rag readers that understand what a Registry is.

And no, Runnergirl, it’s not THAT kind of registry.

To Catch a Thief

From the “hmmmm” file, News10.net reports of a new technique to catch would be thieves at Lodi High School. In order to curb a recent a rash of burglaries local police officials have “…coated cell phones, CD players, cash and other valuables with a nearly invisible powder or paste that changes color with body heat. The powder, designed for use on currency, stains fingers a bright purple. The vivid color remains for several days.”

I warned you, hmmmm.

“We weren’t telling any of these kids to go steal this stuff,” explains Canestrino. “We were just kind of providing the opportunity to choose to do it on their own.”

“Kind of”? This is the police officer’s quote, mind you. You know, like a grown up and stuff.

“Let’s face it. Kids make bad decisions and this is more about a learning experience for them,” said Canestrino. He hopes publicity surrounding the sting will reduce property crime on campus.

Ok, ha ha, jokes over. Seriously, what are you really doing to catch the thieves?

Gas Debate: More Fuel for the Fire

Regular Sac Rag readers know that we love to debate the principles of supply and demand as they pertain to the Sacramento housing market. With that in mind, I’d like to offer up a preemptive discussion about gas prices and the proposed annual Gas Boycott that is surely making it’s way to your electronic mail inbox.

A boycott of a couple of brands of gasoline won’t result in lower overall prices. Prices at all the non-boycotted outlets would rise due to the temporarily limited supply and increased demand, making the original prices look cheap by comparison. The shunned outlets could then make a killing by offering gasoline at its “normal” (i.e., pre-boycott) price or by selling off their output to the non-boycotted companies, who will need the extra supply to meet demand. The only person who really gets hurt in this proposed scheme is the service station operator, who has almost no control over the price of gasoline.

While we’re on the topic, don’t forget to visit this site to find the lowest prices in our fair city.

Lowered Expectations

This whole Internet thing has really taken off over the years. So much so that it is widely considered a credible medium for communication, especially from “trusted” news sources. With that said, when did it become so acceptable to publish mistake laden and/or poorly written news stories?

Take this “story” from the Associated Press via cbs13.com.

(AP) FAIRFIELD, Calif. Fairfield police are looking robber who wore only black underwear as he held up a convenience store.

Please to explain how an author, editor, journalist, etc. can publish a story without viewing it for errors. I know I can’t publish a post on this here web log with a typo or grammatical error without hearing about it before it has even finished pinging rss feeds. Furthermore, the date on this story is “Apr 19, 2006 7:08 am US/Pacific” and it is currently Apr 19, 2006 12:48 pm US/Pacific as I type. Ugh.

Perhaps I am just annoyed because this error has distracted me from the overall hilarity of this story. And that title, come on, is rich.

To blog or not to blog

I’ve been visiting the wikiHow site for some time. Aside from the silly posts, there are some valuable ones, too. However, none were really worth mentioning here until I stumbled upon this one today on How to Dissuade Yourself from Becoming a Blogger, which may be of some assistance if you are considering jumping on board the web log train.

Find five completely random blogs, and read them daily for a month. After thirty days, you will absolutely dread your self-imposed requirement to read all that dreck. Any blog you create will most likely be on par with what you’ve been reading. Don’t put anyone through that.

Hard to argue that one, huh?

Write on a regular basis in Wordpad instead. If that doesn’t satisfy your urge, and you feel that you must post your blog online, then you might just be craving attention and validation–which you’ll never truly find in a blog. If you give up on your Wordpad journal after about three days, you’ll do the same with a blog. That just takes up server space.

Man, bloggers are such losers.

Free Coffee (sort of)

You regulars know that Peet’s Coffee & Tea is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month. They are offering free cups of coffee every day from 1pm to 3pm (this week Garuda, next week Major Dickason’s!). Here’s a calendar to keep track (also available in the store).

You’ll notice that they are also offering a free 1/4 lb of coffee on Fridays from 1pm to close. It’s vague on the signs in the store, but worth noting this detail:

COMPLIMENTARY BEANS
Every Friday take home a complimentary bag of beans with any purchase, as you take a journey through Peet’s history.

This is a cool gesture and all, but the words “free” (or in this case “complimentary”) and “purchase” shouldn’t be used in the same sentence. Unless it’s “no purchase necessary” of course.

Adios Paul y Jen, Hola Univision 19!

Sacramento Business Journal reports that Spanish-language television broadcaster Univision had the No. 1 local evening newscasts for viewers under age 50 in the Sacramento market in February, beating all the major networks…

KUVS-TV Channel 19 had the top-ranked newscasts at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. in both the adults 18-34 and the adults 18-49 demographic brackets, according to the results of the February sweep by Nielsen Media Research.

Trabajo de Niza, Sacramento. ¡Divulgan, usted deciden!

“Blue and Gray Flannel Shirt” Robber Still at Large

It’s been a while since a great police description of a crime suspect has been worth mentioning. However, News10.net warns us that the “Poncho Robber” has struck 22 times in Sacramento recently and folks better be on the lookout.

The robber is described as a white male; 5 feet, 6 to 8 inches tall and weighing 150 to 180 pounds. His hair is brown or blonde and worn short. He is believed to be in his 30s or 40s.

Brown…or blonde, hard to say. 30’s…or 40’s, it’s anyone’s call. 150 to 180 pounds, if only people that knew me saw a 30 pound range in describing my weight.
Continue reading ““Blue and Gray Flannel Shirt” Robber Still at Large”

I’ll drink to that…

KCRA.com reports that Chico State has canceled the remainder of its 2006 softball season after a high school recruit was admitted to a hospital for an alcohol overdose. Glad to see that dry campus thing is going well.

Which reminds me…while there has been a ban on alcohol at sporting events on California State University campuses, our own Sacramento State has decided to stay wet.

The fact that Sac State will continue to allow the sale of alcohol on campus is good news for students who enjoy washing down their pizza with a beer.

Amen.