Category: Misc

Zoning Improvement Program Takes an Ugly Turn

It has come to my intention that the United States Postal Service plans to rip apart a normally happy and content zip code as of July 1.  Yes, it’s true, a new, unholy creation, the “95811,” will be created to take over some of the peaceable lands once inhabited by the loving peoples of the 95814.  Who is responsible for this, you ask?  I’m guessing that it’s evil developers, or chain stores or maybe even Michael Moore.  Also, I am not yet sure, where the boundary lines are for this abortion of a postal code, but when I do find out, I’ll let you know so that you can steer well clear of it.  Until then, stay vigilant, dear reader.

Google’s free SMS service is for real

I’m always about 6 months to 18 years late to the technology game. As such I am just now getting my cellular phone hooked up with SMS (Short Messaging Service), or “texting” as the kids like to call it. And while I am still fumbling about with my opposable thumbs and my text messaging shorthand (AAMOF, I’m a total NUB…or something), I have come across a free service from Google that is quite handy.

Google SMS allows you to text a search query to 466453(“GOOGLE” on most devices) and your results will be sent back to you in a matter of seconds. It’s really quite nifty. The site offers up a cheat sheet of search terms you can use (Local weather, restaurants, flight updates, movie times, calculator, and even conversions) and the whole thing is free (you know, you have to have the text messaging service from your cellular provider, of course).

So the next time you are out and about and need some quick directions or a movie time close to you, give it a shot. Now, if they just made cell phones that could take pictures I’d be all set!

Best Towing: Totally the Best

So, my car went kaput on me yesterday in an underground parking lot downtown.  Normally I’d just call AAA, but I knew it would have to be towed to the dealership due to alarm malfunction, so I called my warranty company.  The process took a while to navigate, but eventually my warranty company said that a truck was on the way.  I was pretty pessimistic about the ability of a tow truck to navigate the narrow aisles of the garage and still be able to clear the 8′ ceilings, but hope springs eternal.

To the rescue came a bright red tow truck from Best Towing.  At the helm of the truck was Viktor, a stolid, competent man in his mid thirties.  While Viktor was hooking me up I learned that he was not just an employee but the owner of Best Towing.  A Ukrainian immigrant who had been Sacramento for 11 years, Viktor had started a security company years ago, but could never find a reliable towing company to tow cars from the properties that he was guarding, so he started his own.  If that ain’t the American way I don’t know what is.  He adroitly maneuvered the truck through the maze of the parking lot without once scraping his lightbar on the ceiling or clipping an SUV parked in a “Compact” spot.  Also, as we drove down Arden way, he pointed at Tex Wasabi’s and said, “Have you been there?  The sushi is horrible, but the pulled pork is pretty good.”

I liked Viktor a lot.

Best Towing– 916-339-2378

Dead whale sighted off coast of S.F.

The Bee reports that a civilian boater reported seeing a dead 50-foot long whale floating near the Golden Gate Bridge early this morning. Since it’s been a while I’m going to go out on a limb and say it could be a hoax. Or it could be this guy:

But it could be a dead whale, not related to Delta and Dawn, that the Coast Guard has observed floating near Angel Island for several days.

Naah, it must be one of the 2 that we know by name…

More development strong-arming on K Street

I still do not understand the tactics that the City of Sacramento is employing to “revitalize” downtown, K Street in particular. Read today in the Bee that the city is suing developer Moe Mohanna to force him to trade property with Joe Zeiden. This would give Zeiden the 700 block and Mohanna the 800 block. I have ranted about this in the past, and you’ll be happy (or much more likely, unhappy) to know that I’m still up for more ranting.

Continue reading “More development strong-arming on K Street”

Don’t go around in circles for PC repair

Last week I was in need of some specialized computer repair on an out-of-warranty laptop computer. I asked around for recommendations and nothing really turned up, so I took a chance on Circular Systems, also known as that weird little computer shop on 28th and T. I had a great overall experience. Turns out the problem with the laptop’s monitor was fixed by giving the insides a little tuneup, which didn’t cost me much at all. And even though the tech had mentioned the possibility of needing replacement parts and therefore could easily have milked me for those parts and additional labor, he was honest and speedy in telling me he had fixed the problem.

So if you’re in the market for some more advanced PC repair and don’t have a nerdy friend or coworker who can do it for you and you don’t want to take it to Best Buy and can’t use a warranty, Circular Systems is your place.

Circular Systems
455-6888

Schedule mixup at San Juan

How bad is this San Juan scheduling mix-up? Actually, that’s not a rhetorical question, I still have no idea how this actually happened. The CBS13 story is very vague:

Some principals told students they could come for a shorter day while other students were taking the exit exams but in essence they needed to be there the whole day for the state required classroom minutes to count.

And those shortened days off added up to 4 whole school days at Encina? Wow. I can imagine being pretty pissed if I were a San Juan parent right now. After all, as we all know, all the schools really have to do is babysit the kids for a predetermined amount of time. I kid the everybody…

But seriously, the exit exams are not a new thing, and neither is the “required minutes of instruction” thing. How could things get this bad? Could nobody remember what they did during exit testing last year? Anybody else got a question?

It’s all the rage

Most have you have probably heard by now that Sacramento ranks #8 nationally for road rage.

As someone who spends a great deal of time on the road during the average workday, this comes as no surprise to me. People tailgate, switch lanes quickly, then gun it — only to end up at the same red light as the person they were trying to pass. I know with certainty that if I leave a safe distance between me and the car ahead of me, someone will cut me off to take that space. Continue reading “It’s all the rage”