Issue: November 17, 2011
Greetings SN&R readers,
In this week's issue:
Jonathan Raymond, Sacramento's Superintendent of Schools, last year launched a plan to turn around the city's failing schools. He declared the seven with the worst test scores to be "priority schools" and set about reforming them, despite the controversy that attracts. Recently, he's announced the efforts to have been successful. But an SN&R investigation of the test data seems to indicate otherwise. Cosmo Garvin reports in this week's feature.
Also this week, Bites gets sport with this politics and explores the possibility of Sacramentans using the referendum process to vote on the proposed Sacramento Kings arena. In news, Hugh Biggar looks at drug testing at UC Davis and Sacramento State on the eve of the annual Aggies versus Hornets Causeway Classic. Also this week: beloved Midtown newsstand and shop Newsbeat says goodbye, Laura's Law fails to be implemented in most California counties, and Bill McKibben celebrates the green movement's XL win.
On the Arts&Culture front: Every Monday night, come rain or shine, a rotating cast of aspiring stand-up comedians descends on Po' Boyz Bar & Grill in Folsom to hone their craft in often soul-deadening conditions. The patrons range from indifferent to absent, leaving the comics in attendance to stare into the spotlight abyss saying funny things to a dwindling audience. So goes the local comic open-mic scene; Raheem Hosseini reports. Also this week: Josh Fernandez talks pipes and dreams with Arden Park Roots, and winter gets spelled with a "Y."
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Sports, not drugs
Sacramento State University, UC Davis’ different goals in drug testing college athletes.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Raising hell
Sacramento State students and faculty join strike over California State University back pay.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Laura’s Law languishes
Why Laura’s Law hasn’t been implemented in most California counties.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Occupy Newsbeat
The Occupy Sacto movement holds its ground—and more; Newsbeat in Midtown shuts its doors. Sadly; The old Rex Cycles location on 20th Street discovers its true potential: a parking lot.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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The rock market
Sacramento State’s Geology Club will auction a diverse selection of rocks.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Can you say ‘victory’?
Will Obama’s Keystone XL Pipeline action effectively kill the project?
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Letters for November 17, 2011
Love, hate, indifference—readers express their opinions, sometimes about each other.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Destroy the lies that bind you
Hot sex, hot fights and the hard, cold truth about kicking out an ex.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Contemplating cats
Ferals have something to teach us about our own animal nature.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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60,000 foster children in need of adoption
Names of 60,000 foster kids are read aloud on National Adoption Awareness Day.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Protecting the Iraqi marshes
Sacramento State University professor Michelle Stevens fights for the protection of the Mesopotamian marshes in Iraq.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Why is Mexico such a dump?
Why is Mexico a dump and why do I hear Mexicans playing polka music?
This article was published on 11.17.11
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No really, let’s vote
Let’s put the Sacramento Kings arena subsidy plan to a referendum.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Proposition 8 anonymity? Grow up.
Campaign to keep Yes on Prop. 8 donors’ names secret fails in court, again.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Road to nowhere
House Republicans want to throw out a rule that protects national forests.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Editorial Cartoon
This week’s cartoon from the mind of John Kloss.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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The shame sensibility
On Herman Cain, Joe Paterno and people’s disgusting, shameful, horribly skewed sense of right and wrong.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Chasing the laugh
The Sacramento open-mic scene is hardly funny business.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Robin Hood in the Forest of Frogwarts: A British Panto
SN&R reviews a new production by City Theatre of Sacramento City College.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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The Seagull
SN&R reviews a new production by the Sacramento State Department of Theatre and Dance.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Twelfth Night
SN&R reviews a new production by Big Idea Theatre.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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White Christmas
SN&R reviews a new show by Runaway Stage Productions.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Holiday haste
SN&R highlights a handful of events happening in the upcoming week.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Have you heard the one about the gay dance instructor?
SN&R’s Patti Roberts reviews the new production at the Sacramento Theatre Company.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Philosophy for beginners
Nigel Warburton provides an accessible, funny and informative book on the history of philosophy.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Optimistic about humanity
Evolutionary psychologist Steven Pinker says people are becoming less violent—and he’s got evidence to back it up.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Post-war Eden
Mixing fiction with memoir isn’t a bad idea, provided you’re clear about it.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Local Laramie
Theater One produces The Laramie Project at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Green rush, interrupted
It’s been more than a month since the feds cracked down on medical cannabis. How are California dispensaries doing?
This article was published on 11.17.11
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A busy Midwestern winter
SN&R’s Jeff Hudson reviews an original winter season play by Buck Busfield at the B Street Theatre.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Formoli’s Bistro: A formidable feast
The East Sacramento bistro loads up on big flavor combinations.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Orange you going?
Placer County Mandarin oranges: Good, and good at fighting allergies!
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Dining out with pinched pennies
Don’t give up on dining out completely just because the money’s tight.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Be proud, pumpkin
The lowly pumpkin takes pride of place on autumn tables.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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It’s all gravy—kinda
Nutritional yeast tastes better than it sounds, and makes a great “gravy” sauce, too.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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A dream turned real
Arden Park Roots talks to SN&R about an idyllic month spent recording Pipe Dreams.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Junior G-man
The FBI, built by one man—and it wasn’t Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Jack and Jill
Which is the worst idea: Two roles for Adam Sandler, or that one of them is in drag?
This article was published on 11.17.11
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Like Crazy
Drake Doremus has made a small love story that carries a big wallop.
This article was published on 11.17.11