The city of Sacramento is trying to get its long-promised wi-fi network moving forward again. Before you call your service provider to cancel your high-speed connection, read the fine print. “Free” means free with banner ads. To get ad-free service you’d have to upgrade to pay about $20, which is a good deal if it all works out. Last time the city pulled out at the last minute after they realized other cities were getting a better deal. Most cafes in the area offer free wi-fi already, but I’m sure there will be even more locations where people will be happy to log on. Parks? Rooftops? Light rail?

In my (unpopular) opinion, I am of the belief that trains should be as loud and as removed from pedestrian and vehicular traffic as possible. As much as I love trains - let’s face it: they’re dangerous. And unless you can HEAR it coming, there’s an increased chance of you getting clobbered by one.

Well, apparently that’s a risk we’re willing to take in Sacramento. Residents have been fighting for silence from freight trains that run through the city- and except for a little stalling on part of the engineers, it looks like they’re finally going to get it.

This idea seems ridiculously short-sighted to me. I mean, I’m a homeowner - I totally get why someone would want a quiet neighborhood. But doing a risk-of-injury-to-benefit-of-no-horn analysis does not lead me to thinking that this is a good idea. Trains roll fast; they can’t stop on a dime; they’re lethal as all hell. All you need is one parent on a cell phone (or even on a hands free device), driving a kid to a friend’s house with 10 other screaming gromlets in the back of the van — and maybe they wouldn’t notice a train coming; especially if the crossing guards are on the fritz and that train didn’t blow its horn.

I don’t know. Seems like a large price to be willing to pay. To those in favor of the policy, just remember: you asked for it.

How are we in Sacramento ever going to protect and look out for each other if we won’t even open the screen doors and talk to our neighbors??? I was out walking for school board member and had to talk to more than one person through a screen door (the creepy white ones where they can see you but you can’t see who you’re talking to)…how are we suposed to help easch other when we don’t even know or won’t even talk to each other????

I seem to surprise a great many drivers when I try to cross the mini one-way freeways of midtown every day on my way to/from work. Folks, I’m not trying to conduct some bold move of civil disobedience, I’m commuting just like you. Maybe one car out of five will slow down–or even stop–to let me use the crosswalk.

We’re downtown in a city and some people walk and bike, so get used to it. I yield to you when I’m driving in the suburbs, so pay me the same courtesy when you’re in my neighborhood (not that every midtowner stops either).

Yes, I was looking at my Netflix queue to see if I had anything coming up that looked good. I confess I have nearly 300 items in the Q, so forgive me if I forget what’s on the list.

While I was there I looked at the top 25 DVDs rented for Sacramento. Number 1 was “Portrait of Courage: The Untold Story of Flight 93.” That makes sense, considering we’ve only recently passed 9/11 - the five year remembrance. The other two in the top 3 were DVDs from prior TV seasons. “Medium” and “Dead Like Me” were #2 and #3 respectively.

You’d think in a legislating law-obsessed city, we’d be watching some law flicks or old courthouse reruns. But actually, we’re focused on the macabre and otherworldly. Oh yeah, #8 was “Burning Man: Beyond Black Rock”–that gives me some hope. Maybe we’re a city full of new age bong-smoking pagans. Or maybe not. Either way, we sure like our ESP and psychic connections. Does anyone out there know if we’re a psychic sinkhole? Or should I call that a psychic “hotspot”? Hey, if Sedona, AZ can be one, why not Sactown?

That’s the way prices are going on the the new and hip downtown apartments…the 800 J Street Lofts start at $1120-that’s for a 500 sq. ft. studio…the 1801 L Street project must be even more expensive since they don’t even list the prices on the website (but there is some soothing music when you go to their homepage)…just called over there and they start at $1350 for a one bedroom (about $750 sq. ft.)…The Fremont Mews, which looks like a bad dorm to me start at about $1300 for a one-bedroom…where are all these wonderful, high-paying jobs in Sacramento that people can afford this much money in RENT (a mortgage would be understandable, but you’re really just throwing this money away)…or is Sacramento becoming a city of renters where home wonership is a thing of the past???? Well, either way, the apartments look REALLY cute and I’d love to live there, but don’t think I could justify the money. If anyone wants to donate, that’s another story…

By an overwhleming majority, the Sacramento County Young Democrats voted to OPPOSE Measures Q and R, the building and financing of a new arena in Sacramento. The Youg Democrats decided this was a BAD DEAL for the future generation of Sacramento, and were not preapred to have working men and women pay additional sales tax to finance an arena that will benefit the Maloof millionaires…and has no guarantees to bring about downtown revitlaiztion (which is already happening, in my humble opinion).

There were representatives from both sides of the issue there…I could see the YES on Q and R side was in major trouble when their best argument was that while it’s not a perfect deal, there’s no alternative and it’s the best deal we got so we have to vote on it…to not be able to defend the merits of this deal, yet ask Sacramento County residents to subsidize this public handout is unconsionable!!!

Godd job Young Dems!

If the calendar didn’t remind you, this morning’s gale should have: welcome back to fall - yesterday marked the equinox, so if you felt especially balanced, credit the especially balanced daylight/darkness. Days just keep getting shorter from here . . . .

Speaking of which, there’s no denying that the air today feels a bit autumnal, eh?

With the winds and fall weather, of course, come increased allergens in the air and piles of snapped branches in the road. Mind your driving today, kids, along with your use of flammable objects: winds and dry = extreme fire danger.

I’m guessing we’ll have at least a few more days of summery weather before it really gets nippy. But are you for this temperature dip or against it?

Interesting article in the Bee today. In sum, Orangevale’s Family Christian Center has been running “Club Retro” out of the church auditorium for the last three years, hosting rock concerts and drawing “countless teens to God.”

The problem is, this church is located on Hazel Ave, and edges a residential community. The area is not zoned for “night clubs” - which is how some residents and county officials are describing the Club - and the excessive noise, littering and loitering caused by the big draw of teens is starting to tick some people off.

The unfortunate thing about this situation, though, is the way it’s being characterized by the supporters of Club Retro. They’re viewing it as an attack on their beliefs, but that’s not at all the issue. If the complaints are true - these teens are making a ton of noise in a residential area, and leaving a trail behind them. What homeowner would want to put up with that?

A nuisance is a nuisance. People have a right to the quiet use and enjoyment of their land. That’s why areas are zoned - carved out, if you will - for residential communities. Businesses that generate noise, litter, traffic, etc., are generally kept together, away from these communities, for this very reason. Just because this happens to be a business that sends a moral message and provides a safe place for teens to party (which I do think is great, by the way, in an appropriate location) doesn’t mean folks have to put up with it.

Some mornings I truly wonder if it is just me or is the traffic actually worse? I take the I-5 over to the 50 then the Business 80 loop, so I usually get a taste of any and all traffic issues, for which I am utterly grateful (read sarcasm here).

But aside from listening to some great radio, I do get a chance, while sitting on the Northbound I-5/Eastbound 50 ramp to notice that for more than a month, a potted plant that appears to have fallen out of a vehicle is still there. It adds color to the weeds pushing up through the cracks in the pavement. And then I can imagine a futuristic world in which all the freeways will be taken over by weeds.

Another radio update and it appears Chevron is partnering with UC Davis to research fuel from urban waste. The official quoted on the radio said there wasn’t enough corn in the world to produce enough ethanol to meet fuel needs. …But waste is another matter. Definitely renewable. Definitely in low demand and in high supply. Good luck UC Davis. I hope you find away to put our sh*t to work.