It began when Yao was speaking to the Houston Chronicle in Nanjing, China, where his Team China is in the FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament, which leads up to the start of Olympic play Aug. 10 against Team USA. Yao expressed concerns over team chemistry with Artest and repeatedly referenced the infamous Detroit brawl in 2004 of which Artest was a huge part.

“Hopefully, he’s not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands,” Yao said.

Reached by phone a few hours later, Artest – who had spoken with Rockets shooting guard Tracy McGrady but not Yao since the news of the agreed-upon trade broke – said Yao is merely the latest person to believe “all the propaganda.”

“I understand what Yao said, but I’m still ghetto,” said Artest, who will earn $7.4 million next season and be a free agent next summer. “That’s not going to change. I’m never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don’t think he’s ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he’ll understand what I’m about.

“If you go back to the brawl, that’s a culture issue right there. Somebody was disrespecting me, so he’s got to understand where I’m coming from. People that know me know that Ron Artest never changed.”

Really? I mean, really? So, being a violent thug, that’s a cultural thing we’re supposed to ascribe to, what, all African Americans? All urban residents?  Seriously, Ron, exactly which demographic would you have us believe owns a cultural right to be a jerk? And I’m guessing whichever group you specifically mean will probably have a fairly massive problem with your characterization.

Godspeed, Artest, I hope you’re Texas’s trouble now.

All that local grocery history, scrubbed out - the retro signage, the old-school feel, the miraculous, all-knowing wine department and deli counter employees GONE.

So where will they go? What will we do in the meantime?  Sometimes, I really hate change.

But, times change.

We received a post card in the mail the other day telling us that following the City Council’s 2007 approval of “the Central City Two Way Converstion Project” traffic on N Street between 28th and 21st will soon be converted from one-way (eastbound) to two-ways (east and west).  There will still be bike lanes and parking in each direction.

Poor 21st Street - it already sucks in the morning and now more will be forced on at N Street. And I’m guessing the currently sleepy 22nd and 23rd Streets will awaken with drivers avoiding N and 21st. 

The postcard says the plan’s purpose is to increase neighborhood liveability, reduce traffic speed and volume, and improve local access.  Though N can be quite a fast street at peak travel times, it’s relatively quiet outside of morning and afternoon commute hours. I guess I’m a bit ambivalent on this. But I would be ragingly against it if it led to “traffic calming” being inserted onto my area of the grid like what’s in Boulevard Park.

Other upcoming conversions seem to include: two-way traffic on 9th and 10th Street (really? the whole length?) and converting 3d Street between I and J Streets.

I’ll admit I’m torn over neighborhood associations in general: nightmares of NIMBY-ism run rampant balanced against local residents coming together to beautify a park, etc.  Anyone with comments on the relative strengths or weaknesses of a particular association is invited to comment.  Are these local orgs effective? Off-putting?  Did you even know you had one in your area?

The site also breaks down Sactown by neighborhood, with Downtown and Midtown coming in . . . second and third?  After an area called “Richmond Grove.”  Okay, I’ll bite.  I’ve only been here for about 7 years, off and on. On the map, it seems to be an area saddling 15th/16th, South of Q.  It’s only a point ahead of the tied-for-second Downtown and Midtown, but I wouldn’t think that most Sacramentans would peg that particular portion of the grid as their go-to walking destination. Computer algorithms are tricky things, y’all.

Any Fresno transplants available to comment on the relative walking strengths of the city that, by all reports, we’d be if you took away our Capital City status?

Move over Big Spoon, there’s a new yogurt craze in town.  It’s Yogurtagogo.  If you can get past the name, you’ll find some tasty treats that fit right into the Midtown landscape.  Seemingly based on the Big Spoon business model - Y-agogo adds a certain amount of “hip” that fits it’s 18th and L location to basic structure: enter, grab the one-size-fits-all-appetites container, fill and mix flavors from 6 flavor options, hit the topping bar, and pay by weight.  (At 43 cents/ounce, it’s more than a normal Big Spoon, but less than Big Spoon Raley Field.)  The store itself is still minimalistic, like Big Spoon, decor wise, but with a mod, Ikea design flair.  Where Y-agogo might win some fans, however, is with its fresh-fruit topping options and its “tart” yogurt flavors that much more closely match what actual, non-frozen yogurt tastes like. If you don’t like regular yogurt, you may not like the tart flavors.  Regular fro-yo tastes just like ice cream, for the most part. This does not. Prepare your mouth accordingly.  I happen to love yogurt, so I’m down with the tart flavors. I’ve heard of some non-fans already though.  They DO, however, have more traditional, ice-cream like fro-yo flavors, if that’s more to your liking - and plenty of the traditional chocolate, candy, junk foody toppings as well.  They also get bonus points for frequent buyer cards and accepting credit/debit cards. (Does Big Spoon? I didn’t think they did, could be wrong.) 

Y-agogo should do gangbusters in Midtown. I love that its closer a stroll than Big Spoon. And, for dessert options, it kicks the pants off the consistently, heartbreakingly disappointing Rick’s.

And, for any SoCal transplants or Disneyland lovers, I give you this tip: you ever have one of those Dole Pineapple Whips from the Tiki Room snack bar? (You know what I’m talking about.)  Y-agogo has a non-dairy pineapple flavor substance that’s JUST like a whip. And it is my crack. I love it. Never take it away. High-five, Yogurtagogo.

Should we take anything from this? Fargo couldn’t raise more? Personal loans shouldn’t be allowed? Money doesn’t guarantee electoral success? (See: Checchi, Al; Harman, Jane; Angelides, Phil) Or does the notion of calculating per vote cost rub your inner die-hard democracy lover the wrong way? (It shouldn’t, it’s a basic political science data point, but I kinda know what you mean.)  In 2000, Fargo beat a challenger who outspent her by about $500k.  So is she that good? Is comparing 2000 with 2008 and apples/oranges situation?  And if we adjust for the powerful incumbency factor that gives all officeholders a boost, is she left with any advantage at all? 

A particularly sensitive economic indicator for tracking crime rates is consumer confidence, which is measured in monthly surveys that ask people about their financial circumstances and the general state of the economy. Consumer confidence has plummeted in recent months amid concerns about the mortgage crisis, rising prices and stagnant incomes.

My own research has shown that crime rates tend to rise when consumers become pessimistic. Why? Economic theory predicts that people weigh the costs and benefits of law-abiding versus criminal behavior. Like it or not, a failing economy increases the temptations of crime.

This is from an LA Times article (linked above), but the lessons may be useful here in Sacramento as well - especially in the mayoral race context.  Beefing up patrols and shoveling money into SacPD’s budget isn’t a bad idea, per se, when crime is on the rise. Unless, of course, those increases come at the cost of other city programs for health, educations, and other critical services.  Consumer confidence won’t rise because more cops are visible. It may rise if Sacramentans are confident that even through the tough times, we can rely on basic services and our collective survival.