Tag: Show your Sacto

Maybe this will attract Brangelina

A bevy of local organizations is convening a “Sanframento” conference to discuss issues that concern the blurry econotransport* line between our conveniently located and charming town with the bay area.

No joke.

Along with UC Davis, this Thursday’s event will is being spearheaded by regional planning agencies and transportation authorities.

Note to sac-eats: Be sure to clear your schedule so you can weigh in with your SMEP! scheme. (As a former employee of a regional planning agency, I can say with great authority that yours would not be the most out-there idea presented in such a forum.)

*my own hybrid word of “economy” and “transportation”

Product Placement

Today’s Bee reports that Haagen Dazs is donating $100,000 to UC Davis to help find out why honey bees are disappearing at alarming rates. (OK, so I grew up watching Leonard Nimoy’s In Search Of and being frightened about the impending killer bees, and now the nice bees are vanishing? What gives? I want to keep bees.)

What products or companies would you suggest as possible sponsors or tie-ins to other issues plaguing our region, and why can’t I think of how to work Mayor McCheese into any of this?

Safety first! or Stickie finds a friend

From KCRA.com:

A man who lost control of his vehicle and was later treated for injuries may have buckled in a pack of beer, but not himself, according to a police report…Officers said Gritsyuk appeared to be unrestrained by a seat belt, but that a 12-pack of beer in his car was secure.

Odds that this guy owns a “Everyone has to believe in something….” bumper sticker?

Storm Watch ’08

Do we believe the weather prognosticators that these incoming storms will be of Biblical proportions?

I, for one, am not taking chances.

I’m about to go top off my gas tank so I won’t have to stand outside at a gas station at any point in the next few days. I’m also about to go take down the Christmas lights now so they’re not knocked off by Mother Nature and so they’re not up for several more days (I realize some will say we’re OK ’til Epiphany for leaving them up.)

What are your storm plans?

Thanks for Giving

Hungry?‘Tis the season for giving thanks for what we’ve got.  ‘Tis also the season for reminding ourselves that others don’t got nearly as much as we got. So the inevitable question arises in this season of bounty, “What can I do to help share that bounty with others?”  I’m so glad you asked.

Sacramento is rife with opportunity for donations of time, money, food, or all three.  While some high profile Thanksgiving Day events like Run to Feed the Hungry are chock full of volunteers for “day of” activities, help is still needed for set-up and registration.  If you’ve got some free time and want to help with the race, click here to help out.

Other opportunities can be found throughout the city, through a variety of organizations.  One of the best resources for finding volunteer opportunities is Hands On Sacramento, a volunteer coordination organization.  Hands On can match you, or even your whole family, with a one-time or ongoing volunteer opportunity that fits your interests and skills.  If you’re outside of Sacramento, check the Governor’s official volunteer site, CaliforniaVolunteers.org.   It’s a great resource for volunteering throughout the state, especially during emergency situations like the recent fires. Continue reading “Thanks for Giving”

Das Haus

As I run, bike, and drive around the greater 95864-95825-95821 ‘hoods, I see countless houses that have no resemblance at all to the original neighborhood homes. While a number of remodels have been completed beautifully that complement the vibe of the neighborhood, there are some which I’m sure make the collective neighbors’ skin crawl.

I’m talking mostly about “architectural fusion” elements that combine too many features that flagrantly do not go together.  Construction on some of these homes has been shoddy — I honestly saw a drooping balcony on one house in Arden Oaks.

Now I’m not saying every neighborhood should dictate exactly how a homeowner remodels his or her house, or telling people what color they can and can’t paint their house, but there seems to be a lack of common sense, eye for design, and courtesy to others who have to live next door to some of these abodes.

Please feel free to be specific about what you’ve seen recently — anyone in the Arden Park neighborhood can probably share their sentiments about one particular recent remodel.

Are we “Silicon Valley East”?

Computer programmer
From NASA for Kids’ careers page
on being a computer programmer

From the Computer Science Programming page on Sac City’s website

Sacramento is known as “Silicon Valley East” because of the large number of computer and high-tech companies that have moved to, or established a facility in, the greater Sacramento metropolitan area.

By whom? I don’t mean to disparage our tech sector, but has anybody actually heard that appellation used before? Also wouldn’t East be a bit too specific, considering we are just a few clicks East of San Jose? I think North would be better. Not sure what Redmond, Washington would think about that, though…

Besides, what’s wrong with Sacramento?

Sacramento based editorial writer for the LA Times, Bill Stall, writes an interesting article about Sacramento’s failure to make any “best places to” list. He does make you wonder, after listing all of the usual attributes, why we continue to get a bad rap.

I happen to live in Sacramento, which rarely makes any list of best places. My wife and I have talked of moving some place with lower housing costs as we both approach retirement, but have yet to find the perfect place.

I do find it curious that when the Internet boom was in full swing several years ago (approaching a decade, huh? wow.) the River City looked mighty appealing with its affordable housing, tree lined streets, and proximity to all things cool. And now folks talk of moving to areas with lower housing costs and populations. See a pattern forming here? Sacramento has been wined and dined until it put out and now is being kicked to the curb. Was Sacramento too easy? Should she have played hard to get? Most of our loyal readers can answer these questions as they’ve been through the bad, the good, and the bad again.

What does Sacramento have to do to get back on the “best places to” lists?