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.

Threshold of hate

At what point does a crime become a hate crime?

This is the question I find myself asking, after hearing the story of the attack at the mosque on Fourth and V streets by one Ms. Cynthia Sunshine:

Police responded to the mosque at Fourth and V streets Monday, and found a copy of the Koran tossed on floor. A fire extinguisher had also been sprayed inside the building, creating a smoky haze. Neighboring homes and businesses had to be evacuated while hazmat crews determined what was causing the haze… Sunshine was booked into the Sacramento County Jail on charges of burglary and vandalism.

The target for Ms. Sunshine’s attack as well as the disrespect she exhibited with the Koran indicates something much more than simply burglary and vandalism. This is a hate crime, plain and simple, and her charges and punishment should reflect her actions. It’s unacceptable that the Islamic community be targeted in the way that they have been. Perhaps in the eyes of the law, this incident at the mosque will qualify, as it should. It’ll be interesting to see what actually happens, and if the law will actually stand up for justice.

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?

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!

Winning the war on drugs at school

The Sac Bee again shocks us all with the revelation that some teenagers are ocassionally “high,” in a feature piece on training school workers to recognize stoners, drunks, pill-poppers, and other losers among their students.

If “Jeannine” shows up at the high school dance with dilated pupils and can’t stop rubbing the frills of her blouse, Steve McPherson will be ready.

Unfortunately, what they don’t tell you is if “Jeannine” is wearing a “blouse” to her dance, you’ve time-traveled back to the 50’s, and Ecstasy doesn’t exist.

CoolDMZ Editorial Note: Don’t do drugs.

Speaking of the Bee, is it just me or is Backseat Driver a really good newspaper column? It says something about Sacramento that you can focus on transportation and yet somehow touch on all aspects of Sac life. Kudos to Tony Bizjak.

The Further Adventures of Fish and Chip

H. Salt Esq. is a venerable eyesore in what is otherwise a neighborhood of eyesores. Wedged between an alley and a motel that undoubtedly rents by the hour on 16th between E & F, this venerable chip shop dishes out the goods to diverse clientele. Now, I’m not sure if that precise location counts as part of Alkali Flats, but it’s definitely not the Riviera.

On my recent visit to H. Salt Esq. word of the day had to be “diversity.” Picture the scene: a Korean husband and wife serving English style fish ‘n chips to a mostly African American customer base including one guy who was a dead ringer for Flavor Flav wearing a long Jesuit swim team coat with those sunglasses that have a little piece of leather around the rim that kind of lays flush on your face. To top off the scene, picture the walls of the place decorated in a kitschy array of London town memorabilia faded from years of neglect and grease-laden air and the kitchen decorated in Oriental beaded drapes and Buddha statues.

Despite the general weirdness of the scene, though, the food was pretty good. It wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, and the fries were pretty weak, but the fish was very well done and not too battery. All in all, an interesting experience in both fish ingestion and people watching. Two down, 1500 to go.

H. Salt Esq.
16th st, Sacramento
Food** Ambience*** Service**

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.

Putting the “fun” at the beginning of Derland since 1947

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A little rain can’t dampen the funder at Funderland, Sacramento’s premiere spot for weird vintage carnival fun. I hadn’t personally been since I was a child, and let me tell you, it’s one of the best deals going in town. The train, the cars, the carousel (which was a little too fast for our birthday girl), the Flying Dragon (a toddler roller coaster), and as you can see the pink popcorn make even a drizzly day carnival-tastic. The only downside is a mild freakout every once in a while if you stare at stuff for too long.

Right Awn Friday!: Blowing smoke

rightawn.jpg

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”