Category: Misc

Name this raptor UPDATED with photos

A family of 4 or 5 raptors has nested in Tahoe Park above the playground, and I need help identifying them. I’ll have to go back with a better camera, but in the meantime if anyone who has been there recently can shed some light, my kids and I would be grateful. All I know is it is not a red tailed hawk; we see enough of those to spot them. It is a small raptor with a white belly and grey back and hood, and a striped tail. I have concluded that they are Merlins, a small falcon breed that apparently is becoming common in urban areas. Whatever they are, they are neat! Today we found a bird carcass below the nest; I imagine one of them fell and died and stray dogs ate it? Or perhaps they killed and ate a pigeon–would birds do that?

UPDATE Monday 1:00 PM: Mrs Cool and the kids snapped some awesome photos today, including some that add an air of mystery to the proceedings.

Continue reading “Name this raptor UPDATED with photos”

New bus terminal to be vagrant-free?

I wasn’t quite sure how moving the Greyhound bus station was going to suddenly make the Greyhound bus station from an unsavory place into some sort of haven for the weary traveler. I do see that the location will be next to a police outpost, and I guess with the budget woes hitting law enforcement the best way to get police presence is to be next door to one.

Continue reading “New bus terminal to be vagrant-free?”

I didn’t say *bomb* squad…

Suspicious object found in Folsom field

I wasn’t aware that “bong” was commonly known enough to appear in a news article. There’s no euphemism for that? “Tobacco smoking device?” “Tobacco paraphernalia?” Do we not use euphemisms anymore?

The “bomb squad/bong squad” joke is pretty easy but I suppose you would have to call out the bomb techs. That thing could easily be an IED…the kind you put your weed in.

“Rise Guys” leaving for SF with Don G move, new show for Carmichael Dave

I had heard on the Twittersphere that Don Geronimo would moving to mornings, and that Carmichael Dave would now have his own show. But what I didn’t hear is that the reason for the shakeup is that the Rise Guys are leaving town! (sans The Phantom) The article mentions the 12 years Whitey and The Phantom have hosted on KHTK, but I thought they had been around much longer. Help me out, how long has it been really? I’d look it up but their page on CBSSac is gone already and Wikipedia doesn’t have anything. Am I thinking of something else?

I don’t think about them much these days, though they are on my morning commute from time to time. I’m no prude, but I don’t dig on gross “in your face” morning shows or put down comedy, though I do acknowledge that Don G puts together a fun show. I am bummed this morning to see that there will be no more Rise Guys!

UPDATE Thanks to Scupper for helping me pinpoint the Rise Guys history. I don’t know why more people aren’t mentioning this today. They have been on Sac radio for more than 20 years probably! Maybe close to 30?

I vividly remember their “You Can’t Win” trivia contest with super hard questions. Radio is the best.

UPDATE 2 @DonGeronimoShow Tweeted me to confirm he will be leaving Good Day Sac.

World Masters visitors experiencing senior moments?

We_Are_Here
Creative Commons License photo credit: peterworsley

KCRA’s headline says it all: “Confusion Among ‘World Masters’ Athletes.” You know, because they are over 50. Rumors hold that they are also unclear as to how to program the VCRs in their hotel rooms to record “Matlock” as well.

Last night as my family exited “Fresh Choice” on Howe Ave (kids eat free midweek!) we passed what I now realize must have been a group of foreign WMAC visitors staying at the Larkspur Landing. We remember seeing them pointing at the street signs at the corner of Feature Drive and Cadillac Drive, and we now realize they may have been among this number of lost foreign visitors. It is funny to picture people getting lost at that corner, as if it is part of a big confusing metropolis! I’m guessing they were heading to CSUS and I’m hoping they made it there via the bike trail.

Who is the superhero we need, Sacramento?

Who is the superhero we need, Sacramento?


Rainn Wilson in “Super”

I finally saw “X-Men: First Class” over the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. The recent spate of comic book pictures has me thinking about what Sacramento could use in a superhero. (Okay, let’s be honest, I didn’t need any help thinking about this.)

You know that things are bad all over because of the budget, and that our crime problems continue apace. (Being facetious there.) But what exactly does our area need? Continue reading “Who is the superhero we need, Sacramento?”

Sacramento inches closer to car theft capital

stopped in traffic on a warm evening (365-160)
Creative Commons License photo credit: Robert Couse-Baker

Over at the new ranSACkedmedia.com, Isaac Gonzalez covers the news that Sacramento is now the #6 city in the country for car theft, up from #11 two years ago.

In Sacramento county over 9,500 cars were stolen in 2010, an average of one every 60 minutes. Amazingly, 8,900 of them were recovered.

That does seem too good to be true!

Swim season starts today

Swim season at the City’s pools, such as they are, opens today with hours at Doyle and Johnston pools and the Mama Marks and Robertson Park play pools. Clunie, McClatchy, Pannell Meadowview and Sim pools open next week. With only 6 pools open for 4 hours weekdays and a little more on the weekends, I suppose it is the best they could do. The pools that will remain open are basically open every day. It seems like they will be so crowded that you’ll wish you had just let the kids open a hose in the front yard, but what are you gonna do.

Summer Parks and Rec catalog [PDF] (Sadly, no picture of Andy and April on the cover)