How Convenient

The Air/Water machine at the 76 Station on Watt & Fair Oaks
There will be $0.50 fee for reading this post.

I think we’ve all figured out by now that more and more gas stations price their product depending on your method of payment.

The two-tiered system is completely legal, however is not an option for many gas station owners. Pumps that have the technology able to track dual-prices cost anywhere between $12,000 to $15,000, meaning many small stations simply cannot afford such a luxury…and are stuck with smaller margins due to processing costs.

Wouldn’t NOT upgrading pumps at a cost of around 60K to 100K also help with those margins?

At any rate, here’s a photo taken at the 76 Station on Watt & Fair Oaks. If you have coins on you, it’ll run you $0.75 to fill up those tires. If you don’t, the price goes up to $1.25. You know, “Same as Cash.”

Perhaps the most awesome sign in the region?

I don’t often find myself out in the greater Madison and San Juan area, but on a recent trip, I drove past this, gasped so hard it required a huff on my Albuterol, and pulled a quick and highly illegal u-turn. I challenge the SacRagians to find a more awesome sign than this one in the 916.

Email sign photos to RunnerGirl1971@gmail.com for consideration for some sort of fantastic prize.

Sunday is Last Chance for Pecans

It’s time to get nutty! Most folks know that fresh almonds and walnuts abound in Northern California. But pecans? I found them for the first time at our Sunday farmers’ market (8th and W Streets) this fall. Exclusively sold by Calvin Acres Pecans, you’ll pay $6 for a 1-lb bag.

These naturally sweet nuts won’t be around long! This Sunday is your last chance of the season. After that, you’ll have to wait until next fall’s crop. But don’t worry—if you want to eat pecans in the summer, stock up now. You can freeze and enjoy them until the next harvest.

Be on the lookout, or not

Citizens of the Sacragosphere:

Copyright © 2010, KTXL-TV
Tell me have you seen her, er, him?

Police are requesting your help! Authorities are looking for the person, place or thing that may or may not have robbed what could have been a bank somewhere within our area. Witnesses say they saw what could have been something. Be on the look out for a man or woman, with blonde hair or maybe a wig, wearing a black jacket and pink dress unless they are wearing something different today.

Be vigilant, if you wish.

Sac Rag News. We report. You figure it out.

Free Kings Tickets for Your Birthday!

Happy birthday, Aquarians! The Sacramento Kings want to help you celebrate with FREE tickets. According to their website, anyone with a January birthday “can select an upper bowl seat ($25.50 value) or a lower bowl seat ($79.50 value), your choice.”

Being the water girl that I am, I attempted to obtain my free ticket online. One for me, plus one for my January birthday pal. In fact, I probably have a dozen friends with January birthdays. Sadly, the online system won’t allow you to select more than one free ticket at a time. So, you’ll have to link up via cell to ensure you’re all booking seats in the same row. An added burden, but hey, they’re FREE.

Hurry! Tickets are only available for two more games: January 26 against the Warriors and January 30 against the Bobcats.

Aw, SNAP!

I’m just now reading this article on sacbee.com from Monday about the increase in food stamp use in Sacramento.

With more people on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the marketplace is shifting as more retailers accept food stamps and some retailers consciously market to those customers.

Well, that’s a catchy name isn’t it? And now even Whole Foods Market accepts your SNAP stamps. Our society sure loves to react to the symptoms of problems rather than the causes, huh?

Since 2004, SNAP benefits have converted to Electronic Benefit Transfer, or what is essentially a debit card loaded with the benefit amounts that are deducted by retailers. As discreet as gift cards, EBT cards lessened the social stigma and simplified the process for retailers, Berg said.

Wasn’t the “social stigma” sort of the deal you made with the government when you accepted the assistance? That is, regardless of where you stand politically, isn’t shame the one constant social regulator we have left?

That and the “Pants on the Ground” song, of course.

The California Automobile Museum

TESLA Motors Roadster electric vehicle sports car EV
Tesla girls, Tesla girls

I had occasion to visit the California Automobile Museum (formerly The Towe Auto Museum) this weekend and boy was I impressed. I’ve never been much of a “car guy” but I appreciate a sweet ride when I see it. The inventory is quite remarkable and with the new “Born to Ride” exhibit showcasing the evolution of motorcycles you get quite a bang for your buck ($7 for adults with an AAA card). I enjoyed the “Going Green” exhibit as well and got my first look at a Tesla Roadster which will be up for auction on January 22, 2010.

Check out the fact sheet for more details or visit them on Facebook or Twitter. Great reviews on Yelp, too.

It’s a bit tricky to get to with downtown construction (link to Google map), but there was plenty of free parking once I got there. They also participate in Sacramento Museum Day (free admission!) which will be held on February 6, 2010.

I want to ride my bicycle, part deux

The Sacramento Business Journal reports that Sacramento ranks fourth in the U.S. and first in California for bicycle commuting among the 70 largest cities.

“I think the city has been good about making conditions better for cyclists,” he said, noting a number of changes the city made last year in midtown.

Several streets, including P, Q, 19th and 21st, went from three lanes to two with bike lanes. The city also converted a number of parking meters to bike racks.

Remind me where midtown is again?

At any rate, we are very fortunate to have the American River Parkway (great article here, btw) and other trails that help make bicycling easier and safer in Sacramento. I do think that employers can make it easier to commute by bicycle (many have already, I know) by providing secure bike lockers and storage areas for equipment. A lot of bicycle commuting has to do with the type of job you have, too.

What have your experiences been with bicycle commuting? When HeyMeg wrote about this topic in 2007, safety was a big concern. Still a major issue? Access to trails from outlying cities?

What the CLUCK?!

What you are about to hear is truly fowl. You may want to cover your ears. According to the Sac Bee, a local family has been issued a notice by the city to have their unruly chickens removed. Keep in mind, we’re not talking about roosters here, but chickens. According to the story, a neighbor complained about the hens’ raucous “cooing.” The nerve!

I for one would like to create a top ten list of the most horrible ways to wake up in the morning:

10. Oven door shutting, followed by the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls
9. Wind chimes tink-tinking
8. Kittens purring
7. Waves lapping the beach
6. Rain drops pattering on the window pane
5. Birds singing
4. Hummingbird humming
3. Water fountain splashing
2. Leaves rustling
1. Chickens cooing

Indeed, I’m sure the disturbed neighbors would rather wake up to my top ten list of the absolute best ways to awake each morning: Continue reading “What the CLUCK?!”

Two former Marauders named to all-decade Rugby team

Kirk Khasigian and Kort Schubert, late ’90s graduates of Jesuit High School (my alma mater), have been named to Rugby Magazine’s team of the decade for the ’00s. Khasigian is labeled “far and away the best hooker of the decade.” So the one fact most of us now know about rugby is that it has a position called hooker.

All kidding aside, Khasigian and Schubert were early members of a Jesuit Rugby program which won national championships in 2003 and 2004. I’m sure they had more than adequate hookers on those squads. Congratulations dudes!