What’s our problem?

Sam and Ralph calling it a day.
Sam and Ralph calling it a day.

Interesting commentary on capoliticalnews.com about this recent article in the Sacramento Business Journal regarding unemployment rates in Sacramento.

In the middle of downtown Sacramento there is a building with a gold dome. People from all over the State come there for three purposes. The Republicans to give back freedom, allow families to keep more of the money they earn and to allow business to grow so they can hire people. The Democrats have two purposes. One, in the belief you are incapable of spending your own money they take as much as they can–so government can spend it. Their second purpose is to assure that business have a high cost of operation and that regulations force as many jobs to Texas.

I am always humored by the “my side is better than your side” debate with politics. Reminds me of the old Sam Sheepdog and Ralph Wolf cartoons from the ’60s. “You’re the problem!” “No, you’re the problem!” “Hey, it’s lunch time, who wants a pizza?”

The people of Sacramento can not be very smart. They have a bad unemployment problem. Instead of voting for themselves and their families, the voters of Sacramento appear to believe they are not competent enough to get a job, spend their money, get into a school or get government contracts without the iron fist of government in someone’s face–taking from some and giving to others, while growing a government that has tanked.

What do you think? Are we smart? Just not *very* smart? I’m all for voting for myself and my family. Where does that line form?

Kings win, World Peace loses

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Bringing youth together all around the world
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Kings beat the Lakers at home for the first time in more than three years, 100-91 on Monday night. Former King Ron Artest, er, Metta World Peace wasn’t too worried about the loss.

“We have a lot of games left, a lot of games left,” World Peace said. “Everything is going OK. Everything will be great.”

I think I’ll get a few more weeks of fun out of the “World Peace said” thing (and by “a few more weeks” I pretty much mean this post). For example, why did Artest change his name?

“Changing my name was meant to inspire and bring youth together all around the world,” World Peace said in a statement released after the name change court hearing.

Alrighty then. Dream big, right?

At any rate, it’s a good win for the Kings and it is nice to have the distraction in town again. Might replace the “this is some cold spell we’re having, huh?” ice-breaker.

People wait in lines to act like people


$70 for the toddler version!

We all know about the Black Friday deals that bring out the best in people, but running a close second is the release of Air Jordan basketball shoes. Just like in 2009 (wow, to the day no less), folks went nuts this morning trying to get their hands on the $170 sneakers.

When Champs, which was selling the highly coveted Air Jordans, couldn’t handle the crowd, workers called in security and Citrus Heights police officers. Now, store management is refusing to open the gate until the crowd disperses.

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

More from KCRA…

Many said they will easily sell the shoes on Ebay for up to $500. Arden Fair’s security team hired eight off-duty Sacramento police officers to secure the area. Overnight, as some people tried to cut in line, fights erupted, according to those who were waiting. In past years, people who managed to buy Air Jordans sometimes lost them to armed robbers as they left the mall’s property.

Pa rum pum pum pum.

On the plus side, I did notice that my 2009 post mentions the shoes selling for $175. This year’s version are going for $170. Inflation, shminflation.

Holiday fun in the Capitol District

My family and I took in The Nutcracker at the Community Center Theater Saturday afternoon. Ron Cunningham’s staging was enjoyable as always, and even the littlest ones in our party enjoyed the heck out of it. I love the whole vibe of that building, and as it turns out I dig the vibe of the Capitol District in general.

After the performance we checked out Buckhorn Grill for the first time. Though they are known for their tri-tip I opted for a full rack of ribs. The place smells terrific, as you’d imagine for a place grilling tri-tips non stop, and the fare is really good. The layout is a little weird with the lobby filling up when it gets a rush but other than that, this is a great casual place. Continue reading “Holiday fun in the Capitol District”

Behold the Bivalve

About this time of year I start craving soups like nobody’s business. Potato, meatball, vegetable, barley, pea oh yeah pea; I can’t get enough. But this winter (I know it’s not technically winter yet but go with me here), I’ve discovered a hankering for a different kind of warming treat, the bowl of bivalves. That’s right: mussels, clams, cockles, etc.. I’m chewing through my bottom lip just thinking about it. Here’s a quick tour of some of the best bowls of shells in town.

Manila Clams at Magpie– The current offering is a ridiculous bowl of goodness featuring chili flakes, seafood broth, garlic, saffron, cherry tomatoes, and tarragon. Served with a couple of crispy spears of bread it’s a winter wonderland of goodness. Continue reading “Behold the Bivalve”

Parking lease proposal stinks?

Sheedy, literally asking the speaker to define "monetize"

The more I think about the current proposal to lease the City’s parking operations to fund a big upfront payment on the arena, the worse the idea sounds. I guess you could say I’m approaching Heckasac levels of frustration with the idea.

Last week Cosmo Garvin highlighted the numbers in the initial report on the parking proposal, and it’s pretty obvious that the City would be giving away half a billion dollars of future parking revenue for the prospect of getting half that up front. As Garvin points out, the high-end figure of $245 million is probably not realistic. And even that number means giving up $205 million–5 times the City’s budget deficit. Councilwoman Sheedy said as much during the Tuesday night meeting, citing Chicago, “The Big Windy Apple” as they call it, as a large city that sold some of its parking interests. Continue reading “Parking lease proposal stinks?”

Adrienne welcomes latest KCRA weather person, mentions what we’re all thinking

KCRA’s Adrienne Bankert welcomes the newest member of the weather team, Tamera Berg. Toward the end of the clip she mentions what everyone is thinking…

Let’s just hope Tamera fares better in the online search creepos department.

As RonTopOfIt put it, you gotta love being the person who gets a start on Sacramento weather forecasting in early December… “Morning fog, highs in the 50s” can get you through your first month, at least!

Can You Hear Me Now? — Better Cell Reception In the Future

The Sac Rag just got a note today from AT&T letting us know that they are beefing up their mobile coverage in our area. Specifically:

AT&T’s network enhancements include two new cell sites in the city of Sacramento. The first new cell site provides improved coverage and capacity along 4th Avenue from 5th Street to Riverside Boulevard, and along Riverside Boulevard from 2nd Avenue to 13th Avenue.  The site also improves indoor coverage in areas bounded by I-5, 11th Avenue, Land Park Drive, Robertson Way and 4th Avenue.  The second new cell site provides improved coverage and capacity at Sacramento International Airport and the surrounding areas.   It’s a temporary site that will improve coverage even more once it becomes permanent.

Since I live near Riverside Blvd and 4th Ave, I can personally attest that the AT&T reception there is about as good as it is in a lead-lined bunker in the Gobi Desert. So this is great news to me. Where else in the ‘Mento is the phone reception atrocious? For which carrier?

Sugar Plum Vegan- No More Excuses

Jean Reno says, "Eat your vegetables."

Being a vegan is a choice. An increasingly common choice. My buddy Bill? Vegan. Keith? Vegan. Law& Order SVU’s Christopher Meloni? Vegan. Nicholas Sparks? Nuttin’. (Which mean he eats nothing but nuts, and not peanuts because they are legumes!) What I’m trying to say is that no matter how silly veganism might seem to us real Americans, it’s catching on. And the more adherents it attracts, the more it needs to step up its game.

I’m looking at you Sugar Plum vegan restaurant! You’re giving the vegan business a bad name. I’ve been to the ‘Plum three times in my life. The first two visits were mediocre to good, with the desserts being the highlight of the trip. My last trip, however, was atrocious. It was as if they just didn’t care anymore, like they were just going through the motions, almost as if a gang of international bank robbers (mostly an American gang but with Jean Reno and that African dude from Blood Diamond thrown in for texture) Continue reading “Sugar Plum Vegan- No More Excuses”