Newest comments on The Sacramento Press written by Mark Urquhart

Mark Urquhart on "Best Doughnuts in Sacramento"

2012-01-27T18:02:16Z

Shoulda just asked a cop.

Mark Urquhart on "Will leasing city garages ruin parking validation?"

2012-01-21T17:15:37Z

The phrase "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" comes to mind.

Mark Urquhart on "Traffic Signal Confusion"

2011-12-29T19:10:17Z

There is a similar situation at the intersection of Franklin Blvd and Broadway. Traffic light, but no left turn signal which means it's impossible to turn left (from Broadway onto Franklin) when there is any significant traffic, which is always. Broadway is well known for red light runners anyway and this junction is a calamity waiting to happen.

Mark Urquhart on "Lions and Witches and Wardrobes (Oh My!)"

2011-12-05T18:03:43Z

The first weekend is over. Four performances, each one better than the last. Eight to go, with one night already completely sold out. This is a great show, not to be missed.

Mark Urquhart on "Monsoon to bring Indian cuisine to 16th and K"

2011-11-29T18:56:51Z

It's a bit farther than I like to walk for lunch but I'll give it a try. It seems to be a tough market (for Indian food) - I've seen two restaurants come and go in the last four years around 10/K area. There is a vendor that sells at the Wednesday farmers market in Cesar Chavez (now sadly gone until spring) that seems to do a good trade. I think to get the lunch crowd, you need to do a cheap, fast takeout service alongside the usual buffet, similar to the 'Golden Dragon' Chinese restaurant. I will gladly eat curry 7 days a week for lunch but it has to stay competitively priced and convenient for the huge State/City worker clientelle.

Mark Urquhart on "Real Relationships: Mother-in-law vs Daycare"

2011-11-22T18:01:45Z

Perhaps I was being a little flippant but I think the question was fair - Do they need two, full-time incomes or could they perhaps cut back on vacations or new cars or eating out and spend that time more profitably in the raising of their child. I have every sympathy if the couple are living paycheck to paycheck but parents should think about their child first, not their own comfort. As the parents of three children, we have seriously struggled at times to provide for our home (on one salary), but never regretted spending the valuable time working to help our children grow up. And before it is suggested otherwise, this is not a sexist viewpoint - I would be overjoyed to be able to swap with my spouse, and that may happen in the future. Now that the children are older, my spouse is considering a return to work. All I'm really saying is that if you have children, you should consider their needs ahead of your own. I don't think that is being narrow-minded.

Mark Urquhart on "Real Relationships: Mother-in-law vs Daycare"

2011-11-21T22:25:41Z

Do you NEED to go back to work? Perhaps your child needs you more. Just a thought...perhaps a puppy would have been a better bet.

Mark Urquhart on "The Causeway Classic moves to art"

2011-11-15T21:19:40Z

NOBODY should be allowed to play Mariachi music, (or Zydeco for that matter). Davis eh? I think I've heard of that place.

Mark Urquhart on "Hundreds gather to celebrate cars returning to K Street"

2011-11-14T21:17:17Z

Perhaps 'K' should look at 'R' for tips Shady Lady, Magpie Cafe, Burgers and Brews, a couple of boutiques - all goes to make this little stretch of 'transportation corridor' a far more fun (and safe) place to 'hang out'. The lack of shouty religious nuts, Courtroom/Jail effluent and panhandlers is just a bonus. It may just be me, but using a multi-story car park two blocks away takes the shine off of dropping in for a 'quick half' at the Dive Bar. Might as well go to the Fox and Goose instead.

Mark Urquhart on "Hundreds gather to celebrate cars returning to K Street"

2011-11-14T20:24:14Z

Moving the deckchairs on the Titanic is the phrase that comes to mind. It's not the lack of vehicular access that makes K st unexciting - it's the lack of any actual shops. And, again, what is the point of cars driving through a street without the ability to park anywhere? This then defeats the only other reason to visit K St - to get food or see a movie.

Mark Urquhart on "Ask Officer Michelle - Reporting Suspicious Subjects"

2011-11-07T22:08:32Z

I think the name was actually 'Bas Ted'.

Mark Urquhart on "Joaquin Murrieta Meets Billy the Kid"

2011-11-02T18:43:42Z

Another brilliant example of why community journalism will often fail. SacPress should institute some quality thresholds and take notice of the community voting 'thumbs down' that they provide. What are they for if not to help flag articles that are offensive, illiterate or (in the case of this contributor) dull and disjointed? This author's submissions are always rambling and incoherent and the subject matter is risible to say the least. It often seems to be a dump of whatever blog it is that he/they own and has had the very minimum of sub-editing. If the Sac Press is a Community Press then I think the Community should also have a say in what will and will not appear here. Discuss.

Mark Urquhart on "Is David Garibaldi the Next Andy Warhol?"

2011-11-01T17:13:31Z

....Only if you consider Thomas 'painter of shite' Kincaid the next John Constable.

Mark Urquhart on "Is your America destroying congressional or senatorial power, Sacramento?"

2011-10-24T22:55:48Z

This is entirely crystal-clear to me. When he says "Yes, the k-8 students have been cleverly desired to draft chosen health for their solitude. But by whose timepiece? The Mayor of faction and me both believe your maturation, just like they advent in publishing houses, is when your majority of age has been established." means.... errr... just what it says.

Mark Urquhart on "Garibaldi Live: Really. Freakin'. Awesome."

2011-10-20T17:55:27Z

Actually he's pretty banal. Appeals to the older NPR crowd, which is fine. I prefer Rolf "Can you tell what it is yet?" Harris personally.

Mark Urquhart on "Zombies 'Thrill' with Sac Ballet Flashmob"

2011-10-18T02:57:40Z

This event just reminded me that India and James used to do ballet, from the age of three - see http://youtu.be/eEmtD52XoyQ and http://youtu.be/WbGcb4GUC_o respectively to see them in their prime. Sadly they had to give up for creative (and financial) reasons but I was wondering if it's worth giving them another shot, or if it's already too late? Billy Elliot was 10 or so though wasn't he?

Mark Urquhart on "Lions and Witches and Wardrobes (Oh My!)"

2011-10-10T19:15:37Z

Update Again! The Kickstarter Project to help with funding this production was successful! The production will be more gorgeous and fabulous because of it. In other news, the search for the elusive replacement Centaur continues.....Gentlemen please forward your resumes!

Mark Urquhart on "Lions and Witches and Wardrobes (Oh My!)"

2011-10-05T23:31:35Z

Update! Amy actor types (male, 18+) who want to be a part of this production can apply for the role of the Centaur, which has become vacant due to unforeseen commitments. Contact the director, Michael Peters (studyatthestudio@live.com).

Mark Urquhart on "“Hot Spot” Policing Reduces Crime"

2011-10-04T23:22:36Z

So if you put cops where lots of crimes are committed, the number of crimes committed goes down? That's a revolutionary concept - who would've thought of it? All our problems are over now! thanks so much - at last we can let the children play in the streets again without fear. Wait....

Mark Urquhart on "People with mental illnesses viewed as America's throwaways underneath the Capital City Highway!"

2011-09-27T20:13:30Z

Sounds like it was auto translated but then I noticed the 'schitzophrenic' - I've seen the same writing style before - an oddly fractured, almost cubist style with it's almost complete unreadability. One's brain keeps faltering over the weird mixture of tenses, punctuation and word use. Sadly it fails to communicate in any way.

Mark Urquhart on "Crime rate down 18 percent in Sacramento"

2011-09-22T19:08:08Z

Ruh-roh!

Mark Urquhart on "Crime rate down 18 percent in Sacramento"

2011-09-22T18:58:29Z

I think it's a nationwide trend http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_the_United_States, but if it kicks higher here and nowhere else then perhaps those cops were needed. On the other hand, if the trend continues down here and nowhere else, maybe it's time to lay off a few more?

Mark Urquhart on "A new kind of library"

2011-09-21T22:53:20Z

There'll be a bunch of ratty-looking book dealers scanning and beeping away every morning like they do at library sales. Turn the sprinklers on if you see them!

Mark Urquhart on "K Street work well under way"

2011-09-15T17:42:38Z

The 'Magic' that is missing on K street is not cars - it's content.You could provide free taxis to K street and the number of visitors would remain the same. It's popular at lunchtimes for State workers to feed and in the evening for the bars and clubs and cinema, the rest of the time it's scary deadbeat street. They'd be better off encouraging a Trader Joes to move in there to encourage day-round usage.

Mark Urquhart on "Urban Rifle Hike"

2011-09-12T19:11:57Z

So your personal tribute to 9/11 was to walk 10 miles round Sacramento carrying an uncovered rifle. Did ya not thank that was maybe a stoopid thing to do? You are very lucky you weren't shot by some nervous cop who'd been told to look out for unusual activity by DHS. Apart from the waste of manpower and people's time this was an unusually foolish stunt, legal or not.

Mark Urquhart on "No, Not Everyone Who Lives in Roseville wears Ed Hardy"

2011-08-29T20:55:42Z

You're just pissed cos she drew a picture of you!

Mark Urquhart on "Parking Enforcement Fail "

2011-08-25T16:05:57Z

Those nice people at KTXL - Fox40 interviewed me about this and will hopefully help straighten this matter out once and for all. http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-who-polices-the-parking-police-20110824,0,7612557.story

Mark Urquhart on "Parking Enforcement Fail "

2011-08-25T16:03:21Z

My sentiments entirely!

Mark Urquhart on "Bill Maher: Stand-up Standup"

2011-08-23T19:08:27Z

Oh come on - Rick Perry is pretty funny!

Mark Urquhart on "Too many taxis in the city?"

2011-08-23T18:57:56Z

If there were too many taxis, wouldn't the fares go down due to the robust competition? I think that answers the question. Perhaps the fear of having to lower prices is driving the argument.... BWDIK?

Mark Urquhart on "Co-op candidate forum focuses on boycott"

2011-08-08T21:22:50Z

Oh shut up all of you!

Mark Urquhart on "Co-op candidate forum focuses on boycott"

2011-08-03T18:39:26Z

Much as I dislike Israel's treatment of Palestine I don;t think boycotting their products is a good idea. The world is full of reprehensible regimes, even the US is not above inclusion, depending on where you stand on civil liberties/torture. Better to educate and keep the standards of safety, freshness, environmental concern and quality of the products you provide rather than wasting time picking apart the world's political systems to determine suitability. (Anyway, I'm still mad at the doomed Elk Grove SuperCoOp that should never have been built and that cost the members a boat load of money!).

Mark Urquhart on "Wanderlust 2011: Could you be love – or be loved?"

2011-08-03T18:28:49Z

Nice article (and pictures) - I wondered what that was all about. Praps next time....

Mark Urquhart on "Ask Officer Michelle - Receiving Suspicious Money Orders"

2011-07-26T18:30:42Z

You can try paying them in to your bank account and they will probably accept it. And, assuming you have sufficient cleared funds, or if you have a good relationship with your bank, they will let you draw on the amount. The problem comes when the check/money order fails to clear. Then you will be left with a depleted bank account, a nasty letter (and charges) from your bank and possibly even some interest from law enforcement if the check was stolen/altered. Best practice is to find the financial institution that issued the MO//check and contact them directly. Or, if you really wan to accept it and pay it in, make it clear to the person that gave it to you that there will be a minimum three week delay before you ship any goods/services. Scammers know this tactic and will pressure you to honor the check immediately, which is a major red flag in itself. Visit http://www.scamdex.com and search there for matching details - they have hundreds of thousands of scam examples.

Mark Urquhart on "No longer a ‘pedestrian mall,’ K Street prepares for cars"

2011-07-21T18:45:58Z

Oohh - a nice little Trader Joes would be awesome there. If only!

Mark Urquhart on "Katya Belinsky, Elk Grove Psychic Artist"

2011-07-21T18:07:48Z

How many 'thumbs down' wank articles does one have to write before SacPress asks them to cease and desist? This one is a classic example of cruddy promotion masquerading as journalism.

Mark Urquhart on "No longer a ‘pedestrian mall,’ K Street prepares for cars"

2011-07-12T23:27:54Z

I can't see any point in letting people drive THROUGH K street but not park anywhere. I'll be great on a weekend evening - boom-box cars, oh so loud motorcycles etc. Just a waste of time IMHO.

Mark Urquhart on "Sacramento airport's Terminal B complex to open early"

2011-07-12T23:22:31Z

I like the giant, red rubber chicken - classy!

Mark Urquhart on "Sacramento French Film Festival has a fantastic opening night"

2011-06-21T00:58:50Z

Nice review! As an enthusiastic repeat attendee I can confirm that this is one of the premier high spots in the Sacramento Cultural calendar. Two weeks of concentrated French and French-themed movies and the foyer full of francophile cineastes in deep discussion is my idea of perfection. Looking forward to #11 in '12

Mark Urquhart on "Jury deliberates in Sacramento homeless case"

2011-05-26T16:39:18Z

If you house the homeless population we have at present, within a week there will be twice as many. It's a big State in a big country. Sacramento already seems to be the favored spot for the homeless - let's not make it any worse by inviting more to come and enjoy the great benefits at Sacramento taxpayer's expense.... and don't forget two ongoing projects that aim to provide single occupancy homes for the astonishing price of just $300,000 each.

Mark Urquhart on "The 10th Sacramento French Film Festival (June 17-26, 2011) Unveils its Film Selection!"

2011-05-26T01:10:14Z

Fantastic Poster! This is always the greatest fun to be had in Sacramento in the Summer. You have to be able to understand French or be able to read (English) subtitles which scares off the riff-raff so only the very nicest people attend. (et moi?, Oui, je suis une de them - pardon my Franglais!).

Mark Urquhart on "Man on the street: "there ought to be a law...""

2011-04-21T21:58:40Z

Gas Leaf Blowers There also needs to be a law that laws need to be enforced, not just written.

Mark Urquhart on "Zipcar attracts car-sharing fans"

2011-04-08T20:26:39Z

I tried, really I did, but I couldn't see a single real-world example which this would be a solution to. Perhaps if I could use it to drive to SFO/SMF and leave it there.....

Mark Urquhart on "Residents, financial community in disbelief over investigation of Fair Oaks financial adviser"

2011-04-04T20:52:10Z

Nice - 'supporting' your colleague, publicizing the allegations and running an ad at the same time. I can't believe TOM IS A CROOK. Just as well there are SOME honest people around, like, just as an example, Alan Canton WHO IS NOT A CROOK.

Mark Urquhart on "Ground broken on downtown SRO "

2011-03-30T15:33:11Z

Taking that money ($276,000) and using it to buy up foreclosed properties around the area and giving them to homeless families (first, not loner bums) with a low mortgage would have so many more benefits to the region, including: 1. Some of the f/c inventory would go down. 2. Homeless/poor families would get a place to live and a fresh start, in a real community (not some hobo hotel/instant ghetto). 3. River side parks may become usable again by the public. and many more. This is a colossal waste of public money and a bad, bad idea for Sacramento downtown.

Mark Urquhart on "Oak Park residents envision something other than McDonald's for vacant lot"

2011-03-29T20:48:40Z

Sounds a perfect place to build a McD. I can't see the problem - it's sure to be popular, except possibly with the immediate neighbors. The food is cheap and tasty and that's all that matters, right? "There are so many fast food restaurants in poor and low income communities, especially Black communities, because the people in these communities can afford to purchase the food due to the food's cheap price. This is why you see and hear so much about dollar menus today, things (cheap food) you can purchase to eat that cost less than a dollar. Dollar menus are clearly going to appeal to poor people. Poor people allow economics (internal and external economics) to dictate how they live and what they will eat." Read more: http://www.dherbs.com/articles/fast-food-conspiracy-359.html#ixzz1I1WdcNVe

Mark Urquhart on "Ground broken on downtown SRO "

2011-03-29T20:29:52Z

$47,400,000 / 150 = $316,000 I had to do the sums myself to believe it! So let me get this right - We (the tax payers) are building 150 single-occupancy homes at a cost of $316,000 each? How/Why could this ever get past any kind of sanity check? I guess this is the reason why redevelopment zones are under attack. Again I say - build it and they will come......

Mark Urquhart on "A haven for pets at Loaves and Fishes"

2011-03-01T21:46:27Z

If you build it they will come...

Mark Urquhart on "Loaves & Fishes to get new 'welcoming center'"

2011-03-01T21:00:16Z

To paraphrase - "If you build it, they will come"

Mark Urquhart on "Black Parallel School Board meets to discuss SCUSD problems"

2011-01-12T22:42:07Z

They should get together with the Hispanic Parallel School Board, the Asian Parallel School Board, the Pacific Islander Parallel School Board, the Filipino Parallel School Board, the American Indian Parallel School Board and the Other Colors Parallel School Board ..... or they could try to get on the REAL School Board and really make a difference there, neatly avoiding preferences, racism or cultural stereotypes.

Mark Urquhart on "HPI Chronicles - Book Coming Out March 2011"

2010-12-23T20:58:13Z

A Bio is not a news item, or even a feature - it's background and should stay that way. Why not just tell us about your book instead?

Mark Urquhart on "Hey Friends, that's not a "flash mob" that's my grandma!"

2010-12-22T21:34:51Z

Can I just ask a question I don't think was answered yet? Did anyone inform/warn/ask the Galleria management before the event? I strongly suspect that if asked, they would have refused for exactly the same health/safety/insurance grounds that caused the event to be ejected. It seems that the event was planned and advertised for some weeks before hand. The organizers should have had the courtesy to check with the owners of the building before 'mobbing' it so spectacularly.

Mark Urquhart on "We should not stand divided or with conditional love to address youth violence"

2010-12-22T21:26:24Z

What cogmeyer said. Slavery ended in 1865 or so. time to move ahead and reinvent the african american and rise above the self-imposed stereotypes of black youth culture. This kind of change comes from the family. Perhaps we should be targetting and educating the older generation in the hope that that will help build a stronger family base so clutural change can happen.

Mark Urquhart on "Hey Friends, that's not a "flash mob" that's my grandma!"

2010-12-21T19:30:00Z

It's not a fllash mob when everyone knows it's going to happen - it's a disorganized, unofficial, mass event and as such, in a publically accessible (but privately owned location like the Galleria), it has serious security and safety implications. For a real flashmob, see what the Sacramento Ballet were doing in the summer.

Mark Urquhart on "DSP program works on homeless issues"

2010-12-21T19:16:14Z

That's a heck of a lot of information I (and I'm sure many others) did not have. Thank God someone is doing this job.

Mark Urquhart on "Editorial: Crime and the City "

2010-11-30T18:42:48Z

Might as well do what the Bee does - take the news feed from Norm and repost it, verbatum., then leave the readers to make endless hateful speculations on the victims and perps.

Mark Urquhart on "Water"

2010-11-30T18:34:56Z

That's the problem with citizen journos - no citizen copy editors!

Mark Urquhart on "Measure D failing"

2010-11-03T18:07:25Z

Et in Arcadia ego.

Mark Urquhart on "K Street cars meeting Thursday"

2010-10-12T18:27:11Z

Why?

Mark Urquhart on "Mad Doctors Push Universal Health Care"

2010-10-09T01:21:07Z

Good luck to them. The American public believe the lies about public healthcare that the Health-for-profit industry puts out - Ain't capitalism great?

Mark Urquhart on "Jim-Denny's on Man v. Food Wednesday"

2010-10-05T17:35:44Z

I cycle past this spot every day but I'm ashamed to admit I've never been inside. I hope to rectify that soon.

Mark Urquhart on "17 candidates attend forum on proposed Arden Arcade city"

2010-09-30T23:52:30Z

Does anybody ever vote for MORE Government? This seems a ludicrous solution to a non-problem for 98,000 people.

Mark Urquhart on "Mati's Indian Express to move to Midtown"

2010-09-21T22:53:02Z

Great news! I love curry, me!

Mark Urquhart on "Cracks in the system"

2010-09-18T04:09:23Z

Fix the sidewalks ya bum!

Mark Urquhart on "New retail store serves local DIY food and drink crowd"

2010-09-07T18:54:42Z

Good luck to him. perhaps now I will make (alcoholic) ginger beer again as I've been threatening to do for years.

Mark Urquhart on "Indian Grill: homestyle Indian/Pakistani food downtown"

2010-08-03T18:59:41Z

I love Indian food. One more restaurant to add to the new one on 21st St and the lunch time buffet on 10th/K will be welcome - American 'Indian' restaurants tend to go a lot for sweet, mild curries, usually chicken based. I'd like to see more lamb and some vindaloos which live up to their name! ....and poppadoms - I saw a menu that asked $2 for a poppadom!! they should be free, people!

Mark Urquhart on "Cow shooting provokes protest and probe"

2010-07-29T22:20:58Z

Poor cow! Normally they would have waited until it stole an ambulance before shooting it.

Mark Urquhart on " Parent of Autism Children in a down-ward spiral? "

2010-07-27T20:40:16Z

I strongly believe there's a secret Government program to provide paranoid schizophrenics with laptops and internet access to spread garbage just like this. Of course, I'm a paid secret Government Psy Ops operative and my job is to ridicule this kind of thing. It's all a conspiracy - tinfoil hats on!

Mark Urquhart on "DWB from downtown: Auditing the auditors "

2010-07-27T19:20:13Z

Maybe, just maybe, this man has learned his lesson - it was back in 2007 after all - and maybe he has truly changed and, I dunno, become born again or something? Apart from this previous, admittedly scurrilous behavior, his work seems to have been of very high quality, a position that could benefit Sacramento in a very real $$$ way. Don't you think that he has had his punishment and that he deserves another chance? The guy is 64 now - when will he be 'allowed' to resume the work he is qualified to do? Will he die before then? Just asking, coz a guy has the right to know when the great unwashed considers it 'safe' for him to earn a living. Just one last thing - it's not as if he's the highest ranking public employee who's ever been accused of sexual impropriety is it? I can think of a few in California alone, including at the top of the tree.

Mark Urquhart on "Hopeful homeless in search of a 'safe ground'"

2010-07-27T18:54:50Z

Looks like a pretty thin 'crowd' - everyone must have been busy stealing from recycling bins. "Give a man some food from Loaves and Fishes and he eats for a day (or a week or forever) ....."

Mark Urquhart on "This week at the Capitol!"

2010-06-30T22:07:37Z

'thsas' (if that is your real name) - the answer is probably the same way you get off work - they take vacation.... or in my case, I biked over on my lunch break. See my pics here:http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53533&id=1619707722&l=b5a2829e6d

Mark Urquhart on "Ask Officer Michelle - Sac PD Officer Fitness "

2010-06-30T17:45:45Z

Hey, Frank Cannon was huge and he always got his man - and what about 'Ironside'? solved the crime every time, despite being in a wheelchair..... Size isn't everything!

Mark Urquhart on "This week at the Capitol!"

2010-06-30T17:32:05Z

Soooo .. all State employees are Socialist? If I didn't know better I'd think you were just being a troll (troglodyte.more like).

Mark Urquhart on "Cultivating a healthy comment ecosystem"

2010-06-24T23:22:37Z

In the spirit of a citizen press, I think you need to give the citizens the tools to vote against (or for) contributors. Nobody would buy a laptop from someone on eBay with zero feedback or a website with 0 Google PageRank; both are indexes of confidence and both are difficult to effect except by good (Internet) behavior. So, my suggestion is: 1. Create a ranking system that allows people to vote up or down on contributors (or commenters) 2. Create filters to allow people to set their own comfort level. Perhaps allow ranking based on various cultural indicators. It's always more powerful to marginalize than kill - don't make martyrs.

Mark Urquhart on "Bombay offers gateway to India"

2010-06-06T07:52:23Z

I can't wait - I just need someone to go with. I find most US-style Indian food to be over sweet and not that spicy, also a huge reliance on chicken. Maybe this one will have a nice hot lamb curry - yum yum.

Mark Urquhart on "Greyhound terminal moves forward"

2010-05-28T20:32:43Z

I love the old building, hope it doesn't get trashed. Not sad to see the bus station go though, it's grubby and is just one reason the area is full of the great unwashed. The new building looks like Lego so it'll impress my son, if nobody else.

Mark Urquhart on "Tretheway claims police officers' union stole his online identity"

2010-05-28T18:09:50Z

It's not identity theft unless they pretend to be him - it's really just cyber squatting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybersquatting) and there's well documented (civil) methods to deal with that - Ray shouldnt be foamin at the mouth over this issue, and he should have had the foesight to register it before the other guys did. it's only about $8/year - I'm sure he can afford it. what a pissy fit over nothing!

Mark Urquhart on "Ask Officer Michelle- Neighborhood Fence and Noise Issues"

2010-05-23T18:25:17Z

.... and God help you if the noise issue is a dog! I won't go on, the memory of the three years we had to put up with a 'left in the back yard all day while the owner was at work' mutt that barked his nuts off every time I went outside still haunts me. The Cops were completely useless in that case (they all love doggies!)

Mark Urquhart on "Grocery Outlet to open 17th & Capital"

2010-05-11T17:10:01Z

They've obviously done their homework - extreme value foodstuffs - perfect for the hobos in the parks

Mark Urquhart on "An 'Unusual' Mother's Day At The Antique Faire"

2010-05-11T17:06:10Z

It's a pretty good fair, but why do they feel it necessary to charge $3 admission? I think that probably puts people off, it does me - I go to antique shows to buy stuff - I don't consider it a theme park or a history exhibit and frankly, 50% of what's on sale is pretty modern 'tat' that belongs (came from) a thrift store.

Mark Urquhart on "What Happened to Adult Spaces"

2010-04-26T23:33:04Z

Ahh go move to SF, there's no kids there to spoil your "adult" fun. Personally I get pissed by self-obsessed adults who drag their precious laptop/cellphone/ipod everywhere they go like a comforter. Give me kids any day! Perhaps there's just a lot of people with borderline narcissistic personality disorders in coffee shops/bars these days.

Mark Urquhart on "RT Cracking Down On “Freeriders”"

2010-04-23T20:19:56Z

Subdidize, of course! I firmly believe that public transport has wide-ranging and not-easy-to-quantify financial and ecological and social benefits. Make the fare 25c if you like but enforce it for all. The guy with the black plastic sack full of bottles is probably not paying his way - get him off!

Mark Urquhart on "RT Cracking Down On “Freeriders”"

2010-04-22T23:57:00Z

Good. I hate subsidizing cheapskates. Why not train all RT security to check tickets - I see a lot of black and yellow security guards who could be doing something useful (and lucrative).

Mark Urquhart on "'Bodies Revealed' back in Sacramento"

2010-04-22T23:49:46Z

There's something repulsive about this that I can't quite put my finger on. Whether it's mawkish curiosity or just a lack of respect for the dignity of life/death I can't say, but I will not see it and neither will my children. It's similar in some ways to those old Victorian dioramas they used to make with birds or kittens or puppies dressed up as people.

Mark Urquhart on "Target Calls it a Remodel. Is it? "

2010-04-22T23:30:32Z

Thanks for watching and noticing and reporting.

Mark Urquhart on "Tea Party April 15 2010 at the California State Capitol"

2010-04-17T03:52:53Z

More zany pictures here : http://www.facebook.com/dumbtube#!/album.php?aid=45822&id=1619707722&ref=mf

Mark Urquhart on "Sacramento Ballet | Carmina Burana"

2010-03-27T04:13:23Z

"Burana, Carmina - Carmina, Burana - let's call the whole thing Orff!" Sorry, it had to be said! :')

Mark Urquhart on "Termite Swarm Season is Here!"

2010-03-02T17:45:22Z

Informative, but an ad, nonetheless. The Sac Press actually pays it's bills with advertising so I suggest Dave speaks to them and ask their current rates.

Mark Urquhart on "Building industry balks at city's fee proposal"

2010-03-02T17:38:31Z

I agree with Steph 100%. Stop sprawl (which often happens because it's cheap to break new ground) and give incentives to re-developers of brown field sites.

Mark Urquhart on "Ask Officer Michelle - Dealing with a Pesky Neighbor"

2010-02-23T01:22:11Z

Loutish behavior is one thing, drunk driving is another. Perhaps if Thomas's kid was a victim of a 'beer run' he would be keener to 'play the policeman' - maybe not, maybe he'd just applaud the guy for getting on with his own life and not worrying about anybody else's - the good citizen that he is. "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"

Mark Urquhart on "Ask Officer Michelle - When Recycling Becomes a Larger Issue"

2010-02-16T04:21:38Z

Worst of all possible advice! I hope your neighbors (who ave had their peace disturbed, stuff stolen, identity used) don't lynch you!

Mark Urquhart on "Ask Officer Michelle - When Recycling Becomes a Larger Issue"

2010-02-16T04:20:03Z

No, this is the very best use of our coppers!

Mark Urquhart on "Local Accredited Senior Appraiser Unites Accounting & Appraisal Acumen"

2010-02-12T23:27:02Z

I, for one, found this to be a heart-warming story of one man's search for his own ego, which he finally discovered rectally.

Mark Urquhart on "Is The Sacramento City Council Being "Greenwashed"? Part 1"

2010-01-13T02:09:01Z

This isn't the place to argue your case. I think we've heard enough of this tedious civil matter.

Mark Urquhart on "How to ask the city for green waste bins"

2010-01-06T20:35:34Z

I have reported scavengers in the past, calling the police dispatcher as instructed but I see no evidence of any results. The scavengers who trawl the Curtis Park neighborhood certainly don't look like they're trying to avoid detection - on the contrary, they sail down the center of the street with their shopping carts (isn't shopping cart theft illegal?) in broad daylight. A week before Christmas, a Ford Custom van was cruising down our street with two men doing the scavenging. I reported it to the cops who turned up immediately. Other than talking to the guys, nothing seemed to happen - the cop didnt even get out of his cruiser. The laws may be there but I really don't think anyone is interested in enforcing them. Perhaps the garbage truck drivers should report every scavenger they see - they must see hundreds on a daily basis - perhaps that would help reduce the nuisance.

Mark Urquhart on "Ask Officer Michelle - Speedy Issue at 20th/K Streets"

2009-12-27T23:12:53Z

Why bother when there's a really easy place to watch and make revenue - south end of Alhambra - caught me out anyway and gave me a $270 fine. My own fault I know but I suspect the motives behind the location of this radar check site.

Mark Urquhart on "Focus on Social Media and Your Business Could Miss the Mark"

2009-12-15T15:51:12Z

Numbers in online services are very difficult to quantify accurately. Most are 'free'. This means that people have no financial stake and are 'free' to use them or not. In nearly all cases, the accounts will never timeout so if you create a Facebook account in January 2007 and never visit the site again, you'll be surprised to see it's still there in January 2010. The reason for this is simple; the more 'members' a SN site has, the more 'important' it looks. It alsoo helps with little things like IPOs to blag 'I have 30 million gazilion users'. They're not going to remove your 'inactive' account, ever!

Mark Urquhart on "A Slice Of Reality"

2009-12-13T19:15:29Z

I had a quattro formaggio pizza at One Speed on Furlough Friday Lunchtime, and maybe it was the reluctant Yoga session my wife forced me to have beforehand, but it was truly one of the best pizza's I have ever eaten. The coup de grace was wafer-thin slices of apple. I love the olive-oily, puffy crust too. $14 for the Pizza, shared between me and my vegetarian wife, with a few bits of Italian sausage on my side. Decent (and highy alcoholic) house white and draft Two RIvers cider - unbeatable! Maybe I'll get round to some other places for pizza (Hot Itallian and Zeldas are the only other places I usually consider), but One Speed is well worth a try!

Mark Urquhart on "Sutter Capitol Pavilion"

2009-12-03T17:02:40Z

Is it just me, or is Sacramento becoming one giant medical campus?

Mark Urquhart on "City's ill-conceived utility code encourages scavenging, marginalizes Homeless."

2009-12-03T00:38:56Z

Scavenging is a curse in Sacramento - the Police do nothing - there are plenty of rules against the practice but no enforcement. Read the notice on the front of any shopping trolley sometime - have you ever seen the cops confiscate a shopping trolley? I often watch the guys going through the recycling bins along K St while the Police (in cars and on bikes) watch - if they don't enforce the rules there, they sure as hell won't in Curtis Park. Having grubby people snooping around my house while I'm asleep or out to work is an obvious threat to security - people who encourage this behavior by giving the ok to 'their' friendly hobo should have more sense. Letting people take your cans and bottles is taking the cream of the top of the whole recycling program. You dont think the City gets much money for your old flyers and copies of the sac bee do you? The cost of providing recycling collection is offset by the money they get from the materials - you do the math! People, you should also think about Identity theft - who says the scavengers are just after your cans? what about all those credit card offers, statements, utility bills? And I entirely agree about equating homeless with scavengers - We had a lady drive around at breakneck speed in her grey Datsun, coming onto all my neighbors property to get her swag.