Are you among the millions who made a New Year’s resolution or resolutions under the title of self-improvement? A new diet, a new job or a new outlook on life in your future? Research shows that more than 100 million Americans make resolutions every January but only one out of five actually stick with it. Good for those 20 million people. For the rest of us, consider the resolutions you have made in the past. Did you stick to them? Why not? (Yes, I AM assuming you didn't.) I can only imagine that you set out to change your life. You planned on losing 25 pounds, finally snagging that job you always wanted, and you planned to quit smoking. All. In. One. Year. I mean, since those things a

Mayor Kevin Johnson’s 2011 New Year’s resolutions included bringing labor and business together, keeping the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento and – as Johnson sees it – his final scorecard tallies seven successes, one fail and two goals “still in progress.” In a blog post from Dec. 31, Johnson listed 10 resolutions for 2011. At a press conference Tuesday, Johnson tallied up his successes and his not-quites: 1. Bring business and labor together to create jobs and grow the economy – Johnson said his commitment to “work with business and labor to improve the economy” was realized in 2011 in the way that representatives from both sides were “front and center” in teams working on developing a n

With the New Year often comes the resolution to get in better shape. A little sweat and determination is enough for some to lose those extra inches or build muscle mass. The rest of us need a fitness goal-- something to work toward and accomplish.   If you have lived in the Sacramento area for at least one summer, you've probably heard of Eppie's Great Race. The unique triathlon consists of a 5.82-mile run, 12.5-mile cycle and a 6.35-mile paddle on a racecourse located on and alongside the American River.   What makes Eppie's Great Race so attractive to the thousands who participate every July is that it is an athletic event geared for both novice and competitive athletes, teams and indi

I'm listening to "Strictly Game" by The Harlem Shakes as I drive to a Wells Fargo ATM a few blocks from my apartment to get forty bucks for more weed at 8:30pm on a Saturday that doubles as my birthday. The lyrics are appropriate (This will be a better year…) and I sing along with hope that the chorus applies to me, too. I'm still thinking about the voicemail from my father that assumed I didn't pick up the phone because I was out partying. He sounds drunk. Is it bad that I don't want to call him back because I'm embarrassed that I'm not out partying? But should I be? I'm high enough already and worried that the headlights in my rearview mirror belong to a cop, so I make a full stop, count