Category: Business

BOOBS!

Just a tip: don’t take your kids to the downtown mall today even though the carousel is looking awesome. There’s a rather vivid display apparently demonstrating the point that wearing fur is bad but objectifying women for the sake of making a minorly relevant social point is A-OK. Translation: there’s totally topless women protesting fur in front of the mall entrance, surrounded by super lame businessmen taking pictures on their camera phones. Personally I don’t think I should have to walk past that to run a quick errand at the mall. On the other hand if you’re in the mood for gazing at some bare boobs you might want to hop on the downtown bound light rail and stop at St. Rose of Lima.

Valentime’s Day

One of my resolutions for ’06 was to be kinder and gentler when pointing out others’ grammatical, spelling, and pronunciation gaffes, but has anyone else heard the radio spot for a local business marketing their goods for “Valentime’s” Day?

It’s for a business that is apparently trying to compete with Shari’s Berries. Keep your ears out for it, and you too will wonder in amazement how someone could invest so heavily in radio advertising and not even get the name of the holiday correct. Next time I hear it, I’m sure I’ll hear the non-word “supposably” in there, too.

Whose default is it?

The Associated Press reports that Sacramento County lenders filed 321 notices of default in December, the highest number in nearly three years.

More homeowners are having trouble making mortgage payments on homes they bought during the Sacramento region’s housing boom, which has cooled over the past several months.

Ruh, roh. Didn’t see this one coming now did ya?

Not sure how this relates to the housing market debate we’ve been having here recently, but my guess is that more people are being forced to sell their homes to escape foreclosure thus creating more supply than there is demand in the housing market? So maybe I do know how this relates to the housing market debate afterall. I just figured that more people were selling their homes to “cash out” on the housing boom when it appears some are selling for other reasons.

More homebuyers could be in for a shock over the next two years as their low introductory interest rates expire or their interest-only payments end. Adding to the problem, some borrowers hurt their credit score or took out loans, eating up what little home equity they built up.

Didn’t 5 years seem like SO far away?

Home outlook analysis iffy

Shock! Horror! Front page news that the housing market is in poor shape!!

When the market picks up, [the guy in the story will] consider selling again.

When will that be? That’s what everyone is trying to figure out.

Well, let’s see. Examining the graph at right, and I know I’m no economic genius, but I put the Rag’s crack research staff to the test and they told me that they estimated the housing market will pick up (in terms of the time houses are staying on the market) somewhere between February and May, like it does every single year. I’m so sick of the worked-up negative real estate news. I know the market is fluctuating, but come on, some level headedness is called for.

The once and future site of…

Site of the new am/pm gas station

Has anyone else noticed that a “new” AM/PM gas station is being constructed at 29th & J Street? You’ll recall that there was a less than inviting AP/PM there before so I was quite pleased when I saw it leveled. Did anyone ever get gas there? If so, did anyone ever get gas there WITHOUT being assaulted by panhandlers?

I sort of just assumed a new Starbucks/Jamba Juice/Flingers combo unit was going to take its place. Not to be. So what’s going on here? Between the .35 ATM surcharge and the $75 pre-authorization thing, I’m thinking we could do without.

Sacramento’s Virtual Market


Apparently this is a
21st century device

I’m not really sure what to make of this, but it seems like if you are wanting to find a local business and other methods just aren’t doing the trick, you might want to check out Sacramento’s Virtual Market.

For example, the device pictured at right is a seed moisture meter sold by Calibration Plus of Woodland.

Sac-eats, any plans for a trip to Tugboat?

Countdown to April 15th

As sure as the sun rises, you always know it’s tax time as you drive through the Fulton and Hurley intersection. It seems to be a brother-sister pair who are forced to don the Lady Liberty costume and take turns drumming up customers for their parents’ tax business, but both seem to have an easy-going demeanor (even acquiescing to my request for a photo — even though the light turned green just as I was about to take the picture.) I can only imagine what the costume would be for the Kabob House next door.

Elk Grove co-op floundering

According to Bob Shallit, the new Natural Foods Co-op in Elk Grove is not faring well.

…[T]he only signage that people can see from the parking lot – the words “food, inspiration and community” – is confusing.

“Some people think we’re a church,” says GM Paul Cultrera.

But the folks in charge are confident that “things will improve as a result of signage changes, increased advertising and visits by co-op staffers (some dressed as giant veggies) to schools, churches and neighborhood associations.” Not sure how that’s gonna go over with those “co-op is a cult” people, but good luck, hippies.

F65: Lookin’ local

Every time I drive past F65, the aptly titled commercial project at the corner of Folsom & 65th, it grows on me a little more. It’s not the Starbucks and the Dos Coyotes, two businesses I can live without, it’s that the corner is anchored by an offbeat trio: Strings Italian Cafe, Pita Pit, and most importantly local favorite Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop. Say what you will about any of these, these are not your average minimall fare. Plus, the fallen statue head is totally Clash of the Titans, and now that I’ve put that out in the open, F65 owes me a cut of the profits for the sudden spike in 28-40 year old males who will now suddenly want to shop there.