Category: Misc

Right Awn Friday!: Blowing smoke

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It’s that time again, kinda.

On the heels of the wildly successful inauguration of “Kudos of the Week” last week, I thought it was time for a change. It was getting stale and predictable. And so, like government wire tapping scandals, I’m changing the name and making what’s old, new again!

Welcome to Right Awn Friday! This is the one time during the week where I like to pause and reflect on a story that just makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over (which coincidentally and in actuality, I am).

So who gets the big ups this week? Get your fists ready and find out after the jump…
Continue reading “Right Awn Friday!: Blowing smoke”

To the guy in the rust-colored Humvee

When I showed you one of my fingers, it was because you sped around me when you should have seen that I needed to get over because a bus had stopped in front of me. When you showed me one of your own fingers, I laughed, because clearly you wouldn’t have cared if I was stopping to let Ghandi cross the street. I don’t think anyone but you and I saw you then also spit on my car, but I don’t think anyone needed to see you actually do that to know that you were capable of it. I’ll go you one further: a meer glance at your car and people know you’re an a-hole. Nice one, tough guy.

Arghco

More and more, I’m starting to become convinced of the evil that is oil.

Did you know that when you use your debit card to buy gas at Arco gas stations, they put a hold on your account for an amount between $70 to $100, for a week?

Most people don’t realize this because most of us have more than $70-100 in available cash in our accounts at any one time. But a friend, who is a branch manager at a local bank, recently described to me several instances where people who had less than $100 available in their accounts were not able to withdraw money. The crime perpetrated by these people? They bought $20 worth of gas using a debit card at Arco, and Arco put a $70-100 hold on the account attached to that card.

Why this gas station would do this, and how they could get away with it, no one knows for sure. But, not to mention the debit card fees that Arco charges that negate any savings you get from buying their gas, this further goes to show that the savings you think you’re getting at Arco doesn’t come without a price.

UPDATE: Turns out that this behavior isn’t specific to Arco, but to most gas stations in varying degrees. Thanks RonTopofIt, for digging up this link.

Spider-Man backpacks: the new Swatch?

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This morning when I got on my bus (50E, the fastest ride from the Southside to downtown) I saw three young men–about 12 or 13– all with Spider-Man backpacks like the one shown at right. I thought it was sort of cute, like maybe they were way into Spidey when the blockbuster movie came out and they aren’t ready to grow up yet, or mom wouldn’t shell out for a replacement. But it was three of them. And then waiting for my return bus after work, I saw an older high school gal, perhaps even 18, sporting Spidey on her back. What is the deal? Anybody hip to the youth of Sacramento and their customs? Should we be worried? Was it 2 separate sightings with no connection and no implication?

Is it just my imagination?

Photo of The Fireside sign

The Sac Rag
never forgets

I don’t take H or J street to or from work as often as I used to, but on occasion I like to mix it up and give it a go. Lately I’ve noticed that there is a lot of remodeling going on near the college and/or East Sacramento. For example, a few days ago I stopped at the light on H & 53rd and glanced over to my left and noticed a Starbucks. Seriously, when did this happen? I swear, these joints pop up like those inflatable rafts you’d always see on old 60’s sitcoms. And for the life of me I can’t remember what was even there before. These places ARE everywhere. Speaking of, check out this dude that has taken it upon himself to visit every Starbucks in the world. And how soon before the Yahoo! lawyers come calling the YaketyYak cell phone store next door? But, I digress.

What’s going on, Sacramento? Are local coffee houses dead? It’s no secret that I’m a coffee chain lover myself, but I’m all for patronizing a local establishment when possible. Speaking of, what happened to Mace’s? Man, this town can get away from you if you’re not paying attention.

Hitchhikers Guide to the NorCalaxy

California is the place to be, apparently. The Wharton School of Business over at the University of Pennsylvania (home of the Trump, don’t ya know) has released its idiot’s guide to Northern California, Southern California, and California in general. What would you add to their list?

No mention of CoolDMZ’s birthday, though. Obviously they didn’t do their research.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I don’t think I’m taking too much liberty in using this forum to wish our fearless co-leader COOLDMZ an amazingly happy birthday. I thought about putting something clever like “It’s Yo Birfday” until I realized that that wouldn’t actually be all that clever. So I’ll just go with a simple “Happy Birthday” and leave it at that. Anyone care to join me?

Sign o’ the Times

Coming into work this morning I noticed a homeless man pushing a homeless woman in a wheelchair. A pretty common sight when you live/work in the downtown area. What struck me about this particular pair was the effort this man was putting into keep everything together. They had a dog on a leash that was swaying from side to side which was making it difficult for him to keep the chair on track. Their belongings were piled so high he was unable to see clearly. All the while trying to maintain a lit cigarette without using his hands.

So they finally stop at the light at 29th & K. I look over and see that the women is holding a cup of coffee (what looked to be Starbucks, of course) and is reading a magazine. I had to look closely to see that she was reading People magazine. Yes, as you would expect in the year 2006, homeless folks are also curious as to why Brad and Angelina are moving so fast.

Kudos of the Week: CCR-bustin’

As a Sac Ragger, sometimes it just seems too easy to poke fun at Sacramento. It’s too easy, because well, many times this town is just asking for it. But every once in a while we come across stories that just make you want to throw your fist in the air and give a shout out in approval. This is what we at the Rag like to call giving up a “Right On!” (pronounced right-awn!).

I’ve decided to start a new weekly feature here on the Rag, called Kudos of the Week. Every Friday, I’m going to pick a feel-good story from the past week that I feel is worthy to acknowledge, with the hopes that, you know, I can find something every week to appreciate. If I can’t, I’m hoping one of the legions of Sac Rag faithful can, and if so, feel free to send me your tips at singhcity-at-sacrag-dot-com.

So, in this first and inaugural edition, this week’s Kudos of the Week goes to…
Continue reading “Kudos of the Week: CCR-bustin’”