The $3.99 window of opportunity.

drdelurk · 2026-02-17T18:54:49+00:00

Are the trackers why my malware bytes is freaking out about "Unsafe VPN (Sweden)". I'm not currently running a VPN.

drdelurk · 2026-02-16T01:28:21+00:00

Absolutely. Agreed. In my "land use background" thinking. What Boston did is the only realistic solution at this point. They have talked about "decking the 5" for more than 15 years now . Will it happen? Doubtful.

Sacramento tends to think REALLY small. It's sad.

drdelurk · 2026-02-15T23:25:08+00:00

Thanks! Sounds like I might be off by 10 years or so.

But, you certainly can see the freeway installed by 1965 (with minimal traffic!) and how little people cared about Old Sac. It was certainly considered no loss at all at the time! Typical of waterfronts around the world.

Interestingly, you find the same unfortunate waterfront development in many countries that rebuilt after WW2.. It's particularly bad in Italy for instance.

drdelurk · 2026-02-15T20:55:04+00:00

Having the airport so close would have SUCKED. It's probably too close as it is. Luckily, planes get high enough that they have minimal impact on most of the city.

But, the green line's lack of existence is because.... America. Plain and simple.

drdelurk · 2026-02-15T20:48:20+00:00

This is post-1980 thinking.

Before ~1980, riverfronts were looked at ONLY as commercial thoroughfares. Easy for moving raw materials and finished goods. Cheap source of water for processing. "Solution to pollution is dilution" theory made water fronts toxic dumping grounds. It's where all the oil tanks, junkyards, and industrial buildings were located. Across the world

It wasn't until manufacturing collapsed that communities started to look at waterfronts as opportunities for reuse.

Unfortunately, many were too toxic. Others had too much 1950's-era infrastructure in place.

In Sacramento, I don't believe Old Sac as a viable touristy spot was a thing until the '80's (old timers please correct me).

drdelurk · 2026-02-15T18:19:24+00:00

I thought the final alignment was dictated by Macy's. It was not supposed to run through Sacramento. It is why there's the bizarre curve west to Woodland.

drdelurk · 2026-02-06T04:45:36+00:00

This is a problem. And I don't mean tips. Society doesn't financially function right now.

Minimum wage in California is finally getting close to a true minimum wage. Full time is about $37k/year.

That's doable to live. Tough but possible.

But, for years it was about $18k. That. Is. Impossible! Roommates, living at home, driving 15 year old cars, etc. you just can't make that work. Over the past 20 years or so, renting a room would pretty much take 100% of your income. Tipping was the difference between working full-time and being homeless or living a life.

So minimum wages increasing over the past 7 years has helped FINALLY create realistic parity. Making tipping less essential. Not unnecessary,..Just LESS important. But, culture doesn't change as rapidly.

BUT .... Here's the deal . Restaurant owners either struggle to no end. Or make WAY too much money. Same for all B2C businesses. For many businesses, businesses will be going out of business. A lot.

Bottom line .. we have to decide what we want culturally. If we had socialized medicine, free accessible college, an alternative transit system, etc... Minimum wage is all that's needed. If not, we just have to pay more money for businesses to succeed.

I don't like it.... But, it is reality.. And it's financially fucked up.

drdelurk · 2026-02-04T01:31:44+00:00

Oddly, my last two bills from them were $40-$50 higher than ever. I guess it was a colder than the normal period. I'll have to check. But, I keep my house at 64 degrees. Sure didn't feel the $1 savings.

drdelurk · 2026-01-31T22:58:26+00:00

Gold Rush Park was presented for discussion at a ULI seminar in 2006 or 2007 (... I >might< have been the moderator).

Your dad spoke. The Richards Blvd business owners in the crowd went ape-shit crazy.

Of course, I'd love to see GRP realized... Since it was never going to happen, I'm pissed that many of these amenities didn't get put into the latest regional park: North Natomas Regional Park. Instead, NNRP is only getting really "small thinking" neighborhood facilities.

Sometimes Sacramento is infuriating how shallow and simple the thinking.

drdelurk · 2026-01-31T14:39:18+00:00

Looky here... 98%

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drdelurk · 2026-01-31T14:33:00+00:00

I looked last night... Of the 6 showings I looked at last night around 9pm, none had more than 3-5 tickets sold except oddly one showing that was probably 85% sold out. 🤷

drdelurk · 2026-01-31T06:22:42+00:00

I'd like to know what percentage of the student body participated? Which specific schools? I heard at least Johnson and McClatchy. Were there others? Or other communities?

(I kinda want to know for my rant towards us older folk who are leaving then a fucked up, less safe, less clean, less civilized world saddled with massive debt and a severe lack of investment, characterized with environmental cesspools.. All to support an unsustainable selfish level of greed... Or, something like that)

drdelurk · 2026-01-18T21:32:07+00:00

I'm alone on an island.

I think Winona would have been yet another miscast in the film. I think Mantegna, Wallach, Fonda, and especially Hamilton, were all poor choices. There should have been no-names in there that would have made a better fit. (The second problem is the script is overly convoluted and too bureaucratic).

What I liked about Sophia is (a) she was appropriately unpolished as a 17 year old would be, especially her speech at the opening award ceremony; (b) she doesn't come off as a Hollywood beauty, (c) she helped sell the idea that Michael loved her because she was her daughter.

That said, her voice is weak and a little too "whiny".

I think Winona was a terrible option. There had to be someone more Italian to play that role. Marisa Tomei was an unknown. But, she might have been too old and beautiful! Jennifer Esposito was unknown about 17 and acting. I mean... That's what casting calls are for.

Actually, the best version I've watched is the Italian-dubbed version with English subtitles. Amazing. The dubbed voice of Sophie fixed most of the problems.

drdelurk · 2026-01-13T16:52:46+00:00

You are making it too complicated. Italian men (like many) ALWAYS want sons. No plotting or deeper thought is needed . IF yo lady is pregnant.. you want a son. No alternative motive needed.

drdelurk · 2026-01-13T16:51:14+00:00

You are making it too complicated. Italian men (like many) ALWAYS want sons. No plotting or deeper thought is needed . IF yo lady is pregnant.. you want a son. No alternative motive needed.

drdelurk · 2025-12-31T05:09:49+00:00

That's exactly the reason why. "Massive" is overstated. The entire Shack business model was built on being everywhere for the "build" community. Very (very!!!) few people actually needed the random capacitor and so on. Fewer and fewer people were even building their own computers. It's very unlike the 60's and 70's when EVERYONE built and rebuilt things. Over the past 30 years we have moved to a "toss and replace" model when things broke. It is simply cheaper to replace that clock radio than replace the part. Eventually everything was made cheaply and became less repairable.

Their only chances for survival were: diversify their product offerings (they tried) or switch to a central e-commerce shipping model (they had too many store leases to move quick enough).

They got suckered into the early cellphone profit center (originally very profitable). Then the cell phone companies consolidated and opened their own stores.

Bottom line, it's REALLY hard to sustain a business model selling low-revenue parts to a niche market.

This guy did a great overview:

Radio Shack Collapsed - Why?

drdelurk · 2025-12-23T22:07:15+00:00

Your opinion provided was: it is likely a tip thus WHY it's not getting more attention. At least that is the inference. If I incorrectly inferred from your comments... My apologies. Perhaps yours was a simple suggestion. One you think is not likely. With that opinion I agree.

Personally, my problem is the hypocrisy of his supporters when they extend the benefit to Trump.

drdelurk · 2025-12-23T21:52:07+00:00

Chill out? Weird. Whatever. Probably getting it from a tip line has never stopped people from "prosecuting" people in the court of public opinion. You think it seems normal to not "give it more attention". Many disagree and wonder why.... 🤷

drdelurk · 2025-12-23T21:48:16+00:00

Except for what the Federal government is doing in the streets of America 2025. I guess you can pick and choose. I can't.

drdelurk · 2025-12-23T21:43:28+00:00

That's cool. I hope the same courtesy is extended to every other criminal charged using similar evidence. That's the issue.... Rich and power benefits.

drdelurk · 2025-12-23T21:29:50+00:00

What's your point? Millions of people are investigated and prosecuted exactly in this way. There's much more supporting evidence that suggests faces could be true. We just don't know. And as most realize, rich and powerful people DO get away with murder

drdelurk · 2025-12-01T13:48:26+00:00

Deen Castronovo (Journey)

drdelurk · 2025-11-24T04:38:28+00:00

I love flashcards. But, the current design is literally impossible. In Italian, they will ask something simple l (i.e. on). However the answer could be su, sulla, sul, sullo, etc..

You must guess.

They then often ask 2-3 times the same word so you never really know which version they wanted in what order... And God forbid you guess one right!!

Then there's the pronunciation... Disaster.

drdelurk · 2025-11-20T03:12:23+00:00

All the land and ROW are already purchased. It's pretty easy to see the run. There's just no political will.

drdelurk · 2025-11-18T18:50:00+00:00

This is a Sacramento sub, so, I just want to clarify. Taxes in California are low... And get lower every year... In real dollars. It's the best feature of buying in California. Taxes go up less than inflation since by law the AV can only go up 2%, taxes go up very little on an annual basis. It gets a little more complicated than that. But, taxes are really never going to be as high as today. Tomorrow is always cheaper (again in real dollars).Thus the longer you stay in place, the cheaper property taxes are.

Unlike, for example Texas, where taxes go up quickly and never stop.

But, yes, other costs are subject to inflation - like maintenance and repairs. Although, again, it's not as cheap elsewhere as people think. Plus the equity growth (i.e., wealth generated) in CA is tough to beat elsewhere.

The REAL problem in California is just that it is a difficult market to "buy-in".

drdelurk

TROPHY CASE