If you’re an IT nerd like me (or you’re thinking of getting caught up in the Web 2.0 revolution) our own Sacramento Public Library has a great tool for you: a subscription to Safari, the technical book publishing online service. If you’ve got a library card (even one that currently has fines!) you can access full text tech books through the Web. Just bookmark this link and fill in your info. Then curl up with some hot ginger tea, an eye-friendly monitor, and an e-book on TCP/IP.
Category: Misc
Right Awn Friday!: California, the winter wonderland
Damn, Gina! It’s Right Awn Friday! time!
As always, Sac has had an interesting week this week. From kids suing to graduate high school (um, you ever heard of studying?) to people getting stuck in hours of traffic to motivate themselves (don’t these last two items seem related?), there’ve been a few things to write about.
And let’s not forget the weather. How clearly can we see, now that the rain is gone? Sunny, warm and comfortable…exactly for what California is known, which is kind of ironic in a way.
Find out why, by strapping on your skis and making the jump…
Continue reading “Right Awn Friday!: California, the winter wonderland”
Only 3100 miles from Ocean City!
This post by John reminds me how much I’ve always hated that “close to Tahoe, close to SF” mantra about Sac. Maybe it’s because I don’t generally you know, “talk” to “people” or “have” “friends” but I don’t hear that phrase as often anymore, because I think Sacramento outgrew it, but not in a good way. It has now morphed into the “loft living, huge chain restaurants, attracting people to move here rather than make the city usable for those who already live here” attitude that The Sac Rag and our friends on the blogosphere have been railing against for months. It’s a city that wants to believe it has more to offer than proximity to cooler stuff but can’t quite be comfortable owning what it has. Let’s own what we have, people.
Paging Dirk Benedict
I’m sure this phenomenon is by no means unique to the Greater Sacramento region, but nothing makes me feel more like Ward Cleaver than shaggy haircuts on the young men, aged 8-12. I get the feeling that the parents of these boys with the shaggy hair (what’s next, slingshots in the back pocket? hooch? marbles!!!??) think it looks very appropriate, a classic hairstyle, even. Wake up. Your kids are walking all over you. This new shaggy cut, the rebirth of the coif made famous by Shaun Cassidy (pictured) and his ilk of the 70s, is no better than the rat-tail was, but at least with the rat-tail, everybody knew what was going on–if your kid had one, everybody but you thought it was ugly, unless their kids also had rat-tails.
Watch out for them, Sacramento. If you see a group of young men, and one of them has a shaggy haircut, I guarantee that’s the one who will cause the trouble. Would you trust that he had not spit on your pizza while delivering it? Would you let him anywhere near your daughters? Would you trust him to give correct insurance information when he rear ends you in his 4Runner (if not now, soon enough)?
Some great hairstyle research to be done at Gene’s Barber Shop.
It’s cool to recycle
News10.net reports that “the City of Sacramento will collect e-waste for disposal beginning Thursday. Residents will be able to dispose of computers, computer monitors and televisions on Neighborhood Clean-up Program pick-up days.”
As a recent LCD monitor purchaser I was interested to learn more about this program. Did you know that you’ve been paying a CRT disposal fee since 2003? And have been charged to dispose of these items at your local landfill? Well, with a little know how and some handy links from your friends at the Sac Rag you can recycle those oversized remnants of 90’s computer use for free AND help the environment at the same time.
Your best bet is to start with a company that specializes in recycled computer equipment. Appliance Distribution, Inc. (916-930-5240), for example, offers free pick up within 10 miles of their facility. Cell phones are a real pain, too, and can easily be recycled in several ways. You can print a free mailing label or find a drop-off location near you by visiting this site. Earth911.org has some great information, too, on all things environmentally friendly including where to take your old batteries, both big and small.
Update: Sacramento County has a great page answering the question “How Do I Recycle or Dispose of…“
Sacramento Zoo to teach about science
The Bee reported today that the Sacramento Zoo will include lessons on evolution as a part of their ongoing lecture series. Opponents voiced their concern for a lack of “alternative theories†and preferred for zoo docents to educate visitors by simple pointing and saying, “Look at the pretty animal that Jesus made for you.â€
Here is the schedule of events:
* Feb. 22: “Science and Non-Science: The Truth Behind Intelligent Design,” on why intelligent design is fundamentally nonscientific, and flaws in intelligent design arguments, by Maureen Stanton, professor of evolution and ecology at the University of California, Davis.
* March 22: “The Hard Evidence For Evolution,” on how fossil finds support evolutionary theory, by Richard Cowen, paleontologist and UC Davis professor emeritus of geology.
* April 26: “History of Evolutionary Thought,” on the people, politics and debate of the 19th-century era when Charles Darwin published the seminal book on evolution, “The Origin of Species,” by Robin Whittall, zoo education director.
* All lectures are on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is $8 for members, $9 for the general public. Teachers may qualify for discounted admission of $5. For more information, call (916) 264-5889 or see http://www.saczoo.com
Right Awn Friday!: Sacramento Idols
Is it just me, or did this week go FAST? It’s time once again for Right Awn Friday!
There’s been a lot of negativity in the news this week. It seems like the new year has brought us a lot of crime and controversy. However, let us not forget those people in this city who are trying to use their limited resources, ambition, and even more limited talent to make a difference in the world.
So who will get the shout out this week? Get your Right Awn fists ready, and find out right after this break…
Continue reading “Right Awn Friday!: Sacramento Idols”
Grand Jury questions
Friends, I have been summoned by the County for possible Grand Jury work. (I sure hope I don’t have to weigh in on a case involving anything snarky!) I have questions, however. If you have ever served on the grand jury, and The Sac Rag is a site you might have heard about, maybe you can help me by telling me how this works. Do they give you a pager? Is there a Bat signal? Do you check in every Monday? How much actual time should I assume I’ll have to commit? Are there doughnuts?
Hooray for blogging
Big props from the Sac Bee today for prominent local bloggers Jason of Eyes of Argus and John of Uneasy Rhetoric, two favorites of this blogger. Also mentions the Rag, as the word “snarky” is dropped in the first sentence and we’re listed as part of the wide variety of area blogs. Thanks, readers and commenters, for keeping The Sac Rag going!
I think the most important part of that article is the quote from Elk Grove Mayor Rick Soares: “I really don’t have time for Internet chat rooms where people trade conspiracy theories back and forth.” Classic!
Can’t wait to wait
Sacramento’s love affair with a line continued on Saturday as more than a 100 people waited for over 2 hours in front of the Pet Smart on Arden Way to have their personal documents shredded for free.
Sure, I get that identity theft is real, but who are these people that have boxes upon boxes of records to shred?
“Fifteen years’ worth of stuff in here,” said John Wachter, 53, of Carmichael as he dug through a 20-pound bag of old bank statements and receipts. “Don’t remember buying half of it.”
Hmmm, perhaps some of these folks are better off waiting in line at the Oprah show the next time she discusses hoarding.
On the other hand, perhaps these “free” shredding days are part of a master plan to hook the public like a drug dealer offering the first few hits “on the house” with the hope you’ll come crawling back ready to pay any price. A little over the top, you say? Check this out:
An employee could be entitled to recover actual damages sustained if his or her identity is stolen as a result of your inaction. Or you could have to pay statutory damages of up to $1,000 per employee.
Ugh.
The Sac Rag 