We have alot of history here in Sacramento -- so much that it might seem daunting to narrow it to a manageble list. Here is an attempt to do just that: seven "must see" places you can pedal to in about the time it takes to sit and watch a movie.  1. The State Capitol Following less-than-satisfactory assemblies of the state Legislature in San Jose, Vallejo and Benicia, Sacramentans successfully bid to make their city the permanent site for such high-level meetings. Ground was broken in 1860 and the neo-classical dome of the California Capitol was completed in 1874. The lower level is made of granite quarried in Folsom; the upper levels are made of brick plastered and painted to look like

 If you took a trip to, say, Phnom Penh, you would expect to be able to take a pedicab from your hotel to a restaurant and then afterwards around the city for a tour. The same would be true for most cities in Southeast Asia. But these days you might be surprised to do the same in Frankfurt or Delft … or even more recently in Boston or Sacramento. Pedicabs are being introduced in cities across Europe and America. The reasons are varied. Certainly they are a green alternative to cars or other forms of internal-combustion transport. There have been some technical innovations such as the electric assist that have made them more user-friendly. I like to think of their emergence in modern indus

... I pitched an idea for an event that celebrates the arrival of John Sutter and the subsequent founding of the city of Sacramento. While Old Sacramento annually hosts Gold Rush Days around the Labor Day weekend, I am not aware of an event that celebrates the city's founder and his fort. Is he too controversial? I hope not. A city should be able to celebrate its history and events such as this help promote civic pride and a sense of community.  Proposal A celebration of the founding of the city of Sacramento that highlights the lower American river and Sutter’s Fort and encourages folks to come out for the day and participate in period attire. A family event commemorating the landing of

Last Sunday I braved a 44 degree frigid morning and walked down to the Capitol to find a bunch of kids under-dressed in running shorts. They were finishing the Marafun run with their parents. Inspired, I pulled up the collar on my fleece jacket and determined I could stick around to catch the winner of the 26th Ca International Marathon. Stationed on the corner of 10th and L Streets I was one of six people interested in the outcome from this vantage point. In fifteen minutes or so we were rewarded with a blur of legs and motion that was Halefom Abebe (of Ethiopia) sprinting on his way to a winning time of 2:16:42.  I was inspired again. Back in the warmth of home I went to the Fleet Feet

When the pedicab industry was getting started in 2006, we lobbied city officials for permission to operate on K Street between 2nd and 4th, and 7th and 13th. To their credit they said "yes". Allowing all bikes here is another positive development. Little steps ... To K Street cyclists: beware the tracks and yield to pedestrians.

A new arena in the old downtown railyard that is accessible by public transportation makes alot of sense. I'd like to see that happen in the not-so-distant future.

Let's hear it for good news! And evoking the better angels of our nature ...

I really enjoyed District 9 -- there's so much substance there. It is a good story that is well-told and well-rendered on screen. I am looking forward to the sequel which is sure to follow. One story line that interested me is how the human species is shown to be overly violent and concerned with weapons and their power. This trait was common to the scientists at MSU testing the alien weaponry, their brutal security force who lived by it and the Nigerians who took an ancient approach at acquiring the use of the alien technology. All levels of society demonstrated the violence trait, which I suspect will become a fatal flaw as the story unfolds...

I can relate to this because I use the same game-approach technique for teaching soccer to kids. Take dribbling the ball, for example -- a fundamental soccer skill. Instead of telling young players constantly to "keep your head up and the ball close to you" as they tap it along, we play dribble across the square -- a game that forces them to do these things inherently. Games are more fun, more engaging, more effective and creative and the list goes on and on. I think you are on to something here, Lee.