Monday, July 30, 2012

SNR roundup.

The News and Review was extra interesting this week.  Let's do a little roundup.

First of all, Sacramento's Jude Law (I did not make this nickname up), Patrick Shelley, is on the cover.  I was VERY disappointed in this cover story because it did not answer the central question: is Sacramento the bike theft capital of America?  I have heard people throwing this around and I wonder if it's true.  This is a case where statistics are needed, not anecdotes.  I mean, it's obviously a problem, but is it commensurate with a city of our size, or out of hand?  For instance, the only numbers he gives are Davis vs. Sac (and yeah, I got that most people don't report it): in 2011 1150 bikes reported stolen in Sac, 390 in Davis. The population of Davis is 66,000 people, with far more bikes per capital I'm sure.  The population of Sac is 472,000, and I'm not sure if the Sac police statistics include metro area, which would double it (probably not).  Anyhoo, so Sac is 7 times the size, but only has 3 times the number of bike thefts?  You could argue that people in Davis report it more but you would have no evidence to back that up.  And he doesn't even mention a single other city.  Pretty weak analysis of an important issue.  It is important to focus police attention on it if it is a disproportionately serious problem, but if it's the same per capita as any other city, then it's kind of just a part of life and the shitty economy.

OK, moving on.  The Streetalk is pretty scandalous.  I can't believe adults would admit to stealing as adults. 

LOVED Cosmo's thing about Flywheel Arts Incubator.  This is the kind of muckraking that is so important and that you rarely find in the Bee, unless it's busting state workers.  OK, that's not fair, the Bee does rake some other muck.  Anyway, this sounds corrupt as hell and I hope someone is paying attention.

Then, it's the debut of the weekly beer column "brew the right thing" ok, which title is better, this one or the ones I made up? Poll at right.  All kidding aside, that's cool there's a brew column and I really hope to see DB contributing.

I'm so glad the SNR is around, for many reasons.




32 comments:

beckler said...

I have so many funny column titles and stupid blogger won't let me post a poll!

beckler said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
DJ Rick said...

I had three bikes stolen in Davis within two years time as a student there. Around that time, I remember hearing a story of the cops finding a house full of bikes, including several reported stolen. I sought out the story and saw pictures of a bedroom full of bikes and a garage full of bikes.

Back then, I knew a dude that was involved in a car theft ring that fed into a chop shop. He was more like a friend of a friend. The ring only dealt with expensive sportscars. The closest I got to seeing anything was his backyard which had two Porsches in it.

Just got back from L.A. and Bakersfield. Bako is an awesome weekend destination. Gotta go back just for Basque food and antiques sometime. In L.A., I wanted to watch all the shows I'd missed in Sac due to the bands playing at all my least favorite Sac venues. So, I just read everyone's comments about Harlow's being off the hook. The Intelligence were awesome in L.A. on Thursday night in an impeccable-sounding room that puts Townhouse to shame, but on Friday night, King Tuff sold out the Echoplex, and was about ten spaces in line from getting in. Bummed to miss out completely, but I still can't believe Harlow's is a good habitat area for rockin' funtimes, so I'll just choose to disbelieve what y'all wrote.

Anonymous said...

There's still time to change the column name. We could change it every week. Get that poll up!

NM

gee whz said...

I am super stoked about the disabled parking placards article last week. I know I have mentioned this before, but about 75% of the cars near the capital have placards which gives them free parking. A lot of the people are working, so their car stays in the space all day.
Gbomb

beckler said...

I know, they should do more busts, but it's obviously a delicate proposition, since you can't always tell when someone is legitimately disabled.

gee whz said...

I just think there should be a central city tag for people who are going to be parked at a meter for more than 5 hours. And maybe an associated fee. I am certainly not suggesting that the disabled should have to feed the meters two hours, but free parking downtown is quite a perk.
gbomb

Anonymous said...

is "Brewz Newz" going to be an option in the poll?

beckler said...

fuck, I am tired of blogger holding me back. you'll just have to weigh in one by one:

1: brew the right thing
2: I only have eyes for brew
3: What I like about brew
4: Brews are so beautiful, to me
5: It had to be brew
6: Hey, Brew, get into my mouth
7: I can't live, if living is without brew
8: It's all over now, Baby Brew
9: make up your own!

beckler said...

aw, it's making me sad that no one is voting

Anonymous said...

9: Me and Brew and Everyone We Know

-DB

Anonymous said...

You had me at "brew". Wait, no, don't use that one, please!

JD

Anonymous said...

My vote is for "I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about brew now"

-miller

Anonymous said...

i think the most important thing to note is that he for real looks like Jude Law.

-Gabba

Anonymous said...

I didn't read the article on accessible parking, but don't they give out way more of the placards then they actually have spaces for? those spots are supposed to be larger so that if you're a wheelchair user you can actually get in and out of your vehicle. You're kinda screwed if you can't find one.

undercover caterer said...

I like 2, 4 and 7.

The placards thing makes me nuts. I work for a program serving elderly and disabled and there are only 2 disabled parking spaces at my building. One is ALWAYS taken by a lady at my work that is constantly walking around the building (for exercise). You'd think that she could manage the short distance from an actual parking spot--about 20 feet.

Shannon said...

Brews are so beautiful to me made me laugh the loudest.

Anonymous said...

Dancing on Brew

Anonymous said...

Ah Ha Ha Ha ha Ha, I Know This Much is Brew.
-Spandau

Anonymous said...

With or Without Brew

Anonymous said...

Preface that w/ "I Can't Live..."

DJ Rick said...

That's pretty close to #7 anyway. So, that gets my vote.

Anonymous said...

Brew Dat!

Anonymous said...

Brew you feel like I brew?

DJ Rick said...

Nothing Compares 2 Brew

Why Don't You Brew What You Did When You Brew What You Brew to Me?

Anonymous said...

Brew dont bring me flowers

The Armeniac said...

I like #6 or Brew Makes Me Like A Natural Woman/Man( a bit ungainly I know)

The Armeniac said...

I like #6 or Brew Makes Me Feel Like A Natural Woman/Man!!

DJ Rick said...

1 2 X Brew

Anonymous said...

I like 8, but here's mine:

- Brew Shook Me All Night Long
- Will Brew Love Me Tomorrow

Anonymous said...

^Skpr^

Anonymous said...

I've noticed as Jude has grown up he looks more & more like Patrick