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Friday, May 24, 2013
No, Not Everyone Who Lives in Roseville wears Ed Hardy
by Shalini Chandra, published on August 28, 2011 at 10:35 PM
Storyline: Rosevillians Love Downtown
So please stop categorizing us as such.
I'm not sure what it is about you downtown folk. I know firsthand it's hard as hell to get any of you to leave the grid. Yes, I know, a lot of you don't own cars, and lord knows you can't ride your fixie all the way to Rocklin. No, it's not that far, actually. A lot of us up here drive down there all the time. ALL. THE. TIME. I suppose if I want to see some of my friends I have to come to them? Apparently.
But I digress. I have heard so many times people from Sacramento blast us up here in the 'burbs. "Oh, they are all Ed Hardy-wearing, steroid-taking, bleach-blond, over-tanned, fake-boobed douchebags who drive BMWs and lifted trucks."
Pretty sure the last time I checked, that's about 15 percent of the population up here. Don't act like this "type" isn't running rampant all over downtown either! All of those mortgage brokers who lost their jobs still live downtown, overpay for VIP booths and act like a-holes when out in public. It's not just a treat for us up here.
It would be really easy for me to just say all people who live downtown can't afford to buy a house, a car, are hipsters, wear god awful neon skinny pants and Toms and ride bikes because they are too cool for cars. (Don't act like you haven't seen this type all over downtown.) Also, the attitudes on these hipsters! Who died and made them god of "I liked this before it was cool"? Ew. No one likes an arrogant hipster. But me saying this and actually believing it all is just as bad as being stereotyped as a "typical Roseville dude-bro tool."
Image by: www.creativediscovery.com
I live in Rocklin. I grew up here and went to school in Roseville. My entire family lives here. I am quite sure that no one in my family, nor anyone in my huge circle of friends is, was, or ever will be what you all call a typical Roseville "bro." Not all of us have hideous tribal tattoos, wear Affliction, or fist bump our homies.
Perhaps, just perhaps, you should attempt coming up here and seeing what it's really like. Sure, we have The Fountains and The Galleria with its expensive brand-name stores. But, hey, guess what? We also have Ross, Marshall's and Target! There are a ton of good restaurants up here, quaint shops in downtown Roseville and even some quality hole-in-the-wall bars (for those of you who prefer a dimly lit, stinky bar that serves PBR).
I have several tattoos, buy my clothes from cheap stores, drink PBR sometimes and love to eat at hole-in-the-wall joints. Oh, and guess what? I drive downtown almost every weekend to a) visit my friends and b) go out. I am always amused when people assume I am from downtown, and by the look of shock and almost horror on said downtown person's face when I tell them I am from Rocklin. "Really? But you look so downtown!" Not sure if that's a compliment or not these days.
A recent article on this site said: "To the people of Rocklin and Nouveau Roseville, it is a bastion of filth and homelessness and liberal politics (Did you feel that generalization come sweeping past at warp sweep?)"
I felt compelled to leave my first comment ever on an article on Sacramento Press, and now here I am writing a POV article almost as a rebuttal.
So please, dear Grid Folk, be gentle in your stereotyping ways. I would think that people living downtown with "liberal politics" would be a little more understanding of things foreign to them.
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In most important ways we are one region with many facets. All types of people with all kinds of identities are spread about the whole region.
So excuse me if me and my ghetto wallet choose to stay in midtown.
I apologize for the ONE person who said that to you. Like my article states, most of us don't think like that and don't act like that. So to base your entire opinion off of one experience isn't really giving us up here that much of a chance? :(
Our offices are at the Amtrak station and for those who are car-less I highly recommend taking Amtrak with your bike up to old Roseville. It's not what people would expect given the stereotypes.
Considering that the main effect of facilitating mass transit to Roseville would be to make it easier for people to live in Roseville and work in Sacramento (thus taking their property taxes with them), there is no incentive for Sacramento to pay for something that would benefit Roseville and take away from Sacramento, in return for a large capital expense. So, no light rail line.
Shalini may not have heard those folks, but I have heard it plenty. Growing up in Citrus Heights without a car, and without any desire to own one, is considered just short of insanity: car ownership and driving is considered the required ritual of adulthood and participation in society. Riding public transit is the mark of the untouchable, the contemptible, and the otherwise unworthy. Maybe things have changed somewhat, but I still hear some pretty toxic comments about public transit, mostly from people who never ride it, nor visit downtown Sacramento, and are utterly unwilling to do so.
I would never again ride public transit unless I was put in the same situation again. I think a lot of the toxic comments regarding the public transit come from those types of situations rather than people who think they are too good to ride it, have never ridden, and would never ride it. I just prefer not to be harassed that early in the morning or late in the afternoon after a long day at work and I don't think I should have to deal with being harassed just because I am in public. Due to budget cuts the police and security officer force was almost nonexistent on the light rail unless it was the beginning or the end of the month and even then they are only there to check people's tickets and kick the people who don't have one off the train. I watched a woman being harassed for a good 15 minutes, there was a police officer standing only a few feet away who kept his head down while this was happening. The only reason it stopped was because other patrons stood up and said something. INSANITY. Would I prefer to not drive a car an hour and a half to get from Citrus Heights where I live to South Sacramento where I work? Hell Yes! Would I prefer to not have to pay close to $200 in gas a month just to drive to all my destinations? Hell Yes! Will I put up with or force my daughter to put up with harassment and the insanity that comes from merely sitting on the light rail in order to do so? Um... No thank you. Get more cops out there to clean up the issues and maybe I would consider it again.
I think the main message of this article is that people just need to live and let live and stop putting other people into "boxes" when they don't know where those boxes came from or why they are there. Everyone is different and that's why different situations work for different people. Alas this will never happen because it is the human condition to judge others even though we are probably guilty of the exact same thing we are judging them for.
Kudos to you Shalini for writing this article and for having an opinion!!
I am glad you got the message I was trying to convey, instead of just reading and blindly judging. :)
I ride public transit a lot, although I'm a creepy looking guy so one assumes I avoid much drama. But my wife also takes transit, and has done so without incident, so it seems like not everyone's experiences are the same.
Meanwhile, one of the reasons I got sick of the suburbs was because I did get harassed by people in cars! Once I was sitting at a bus stop in Citrus Heights and some guy in a truck berated me because apparently my socks weren't manly enough.
Steph- the article wasn't a jab at the grid kids, it was a jab at the stereotypes that they believe about us up in the burbs, and the misinformation that they spread about it. You know I love my grid friends too.
(When you're awake more re-read what I wrote LOL)
It isn't necessarily about the people--it's more about the place. I drive through Roseville or Elk Grove and can't tell where I am. Sure, they have a Marshall's and Ross and Target--so does every city everywhere. Take photos across the country of places like this, you need to check the license plates on the cars to even tell where you are. Part of the appeal of a place like midtown Sacramento is its sense of place--its identity that makes it like nowhere else. Roseville has a little slice of this along Vernon Street, but it is shrinking in the face of development.
And part of the grumpiness which some central city residents express for residents of the suburbs has nothing to do with where they buy their clothes, their tattoos (or lack of them) or the number of gears on their bike. It has to do with the seeming assumption many have that Midtown is some kind of Disneyland playground, set up exclusively as a party zone, and people don't actually live there. Or at least that's how many behave. Not all, I assure you--but enough to give the bad reputation.
My basis for this piece was to prove that stereotypes are everywhere, and none are better than the other. Also, for people to step out of their comfort zones and expand, explore new horizons....instead of choosing not to do so based on rumors.
South Sac has a horrible reputation, but some of my best friends live there, great eateries, and shops etc. I don't keep myself from going because people think it's "ghetto". It is part of the Sacramento area and I would like to experience what it has to offer.
A quality op-ed could be made about this topic, but this aint it.
It comes off instead as reactionary, defensive, immature and really self-absorbed.
What I find the most wonderful about this article, is not the article itself, but a person willing to put a tough point of view out there, spark conversation and then participate civilly in that conversation.
If you believe you could write a better opposite editorial, then this site is perfect for you, because you can! And I would love to hear your point of view as well. We also offer many services to amateur writers to help them improve, from workshops (always free) to free copy editing.
I do hope to see you write your first article and I appreciate you reading and contributing comments to The Sacramento Press.
Most if not all of the perceptions and stereotypes talked about in the above article are ones that I have heard before. Stereotypes that portray Central City folk as hipsters are quite prolific, as are stereotypes that portray suburbanites as narrow-minded.
Overall I think the discussion here is quite excellent, with very little pure emotion and name calling. This article clearly has sparked great discussion.
Of course, but complaining about categorization and then doing the same is a different matter.
While roseville is a nice area to raise a family, it lacks several critical components that define a well balanced community. Franchise chains have destroyed local businesses. Antiquated planning makes traveling in that area a serious nightmare. Neighbors spend an entire lifetime living next door yet dont even know each others name. Xenophobia runs deep in those parts.
Suburban sprawl is uneconomical, unsustainable, and a result of decades of selfishness.
Many who live in that area travel to midtown and have so many 'opinions' on homelessness and local issues. Let me just say if youre going to complain about Sacramento County you should live in Sacramento County, not Placer.
We are considered part of The Greater Sacramento Area. We have interests on what goes on there, or are we not allowed to?
By the way, it is bad form to lurk on your own article responding to every post. This isnt your blog.
One of the largest errors of modern Americanism is the assumption we can 'save the world/country/state' when the solution lies in enforcing strong values and sustained involvement in the local community. Roseville's City Councils idea of a 'community' is expanding the parking spots at the mall.
Instead what we find is people being forced to commute to sacramento due to work (because roseville sucks for jobs) - spending now more than an hour in their car driving straight into their garage totally ignoring the issues that urban dwellers must face then have the audacity to drop words of wisdom on the homelessness problem in 'their area' over a steak plate at chilli's/denny's/red robin/bucca de beppo/cheesecake factory/ etc.....
All im saying is Roseville Rocklin should be worrying more about Roseville Rocklin and less about Sacramento.
I moved to Midtown for the simple fact that I enjoy city life more than urban life, at least for now. I like walking places, and Roseville didn't really work out in that way for me.
I never have understood the petty whining between places that are 15 minutes apart. Or even 15 hours apart by plane. My friends in Paris, when I lived there, were the same as my friends in the United States. They just spoke in a different language and thought all Americans ate McDonald's every day and carried pistols stuffed in their jeans pockets.
I've never worn clothes by Ed Hardy, Affliction, Tapout or any of the other ones that are similar, even when I lived in Roseville, but I also don't think that makes me any better than (or essentially different from) those who do.
Until a problem is resolved, it is always worth speaking more about it.
No one is saying that the author shouldnt post any responses at all but this is a bit much.
I've never been one to open my mouth and just let people say what they want and sit back and watch. If I feel the need to reply...I reply. There are no rules saying the author can't communicate with her readers. Perhaps you should try it more?
Of course we don't ban it or anything, but I have seen situations where serious discussions of public consequence get squashed because people are afraid of one dominant figure shouting them down. It can sometimes have a chilling effect.
That said, This is Shalini's first article (on SP at least), it is good and passionate and raw in my opinion and I'm glad we have that on the site.
This is a rule of etiquette in many forums and public blogs and it is one people learn over time - or abuse. I think Shalini will be more the former than the latter.
Me personally? Well, I grew up in [ahem] Citrus Heights, BUT -- we were only three blocks from the Placer County line, i.e., Roseville! I moved to Midtown (except way back then nobody called it "Midtown", it was still "downtown") when I was in my mid-20s because, naturally, I wanted to be cool. Subsequently, I spent so many years being cool by swilling PBR in scuzzy bars that now I'm stuck here, because I can't afford a nice house in Roseville or Rocklin. HOWEVER, I do shop at Macy's as opposed to Purple Heart, and favor dress slacks to skinny jeans.
My parents now live in Rocklin. I was just up there over the weekend. You know what they need in Rocklin? A little more beige stucco.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(You are a managing editor, which is hilarious! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!)
Some issues get covered over and over again, but often are covered with the same viewpoint by the same people with the same employer. They are often great at their craft, but lack authenticity and direct experience. Shalini may grow into her craft or maybe not, but we respect her authenticity.
I'm glad our platform encourages this kind of post and conversation. I am also proud of our staff for recognizing that community engagement is of primary importance for our mission.
BINGO. Nicely put!
Watching new contributor S. Chandra's birth (or lamb @ slaughter!) process unfold, however, feels unseemingly if not outright perverse. But apparently the (Castle Press? Macer Media?) biz model aint dead yet. Like fresh blood and guts along the freeway...
I say, as I normally do, Research something and have good backing support and evidence before opening your mouth. I think some theological document, probably Christian Bible, states something along the lines of a fool speaks often a wise man knows when to speak and when to keep silent.
or... A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.
or... The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
or...The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
I enjoyed her irreverent and sweeping generalization of both folks in the 'burbs and on the grid. It was a comedic break from all the madness going on around us.
Renaldo Et alia-
Have a cocktail and relax.
Suburb vs. Urban center is repeated all over the country. In DC, it's Dupont Circle vs. Fairfax. In San Francisco, it's the Mission vs. Danville. In Sacramento, it's Midtown vs. Roseville. I think it's just recently that public opinion has put the two on more equal footing, considering in the past there was no fight and the Rosevilles of the country would be held in much higher regards than the Midtowns. Now, we're seeing that flip flop and the way urbanization seems to be going,and Roseville will be the "ghetto" and Midtown the ideal.
Midtown can be for all ages, I don't see why not.
Worthy of, that is...
including this author's (edited!) first blunt stab.
(OK now the arbitrary and bias monitors of this site can remove another comment they don't like because I used the word "hell")
yet YOU live there :-p
Great boarding, Urkel.
Shalini had an interesting point and I laughed at the pic, because that is what I saw in midtown. Her generalization is spot on from what I saw and I was one of those guys drinking PBR in both Roseville (when you can find a sh*tty enough bar that has it) and midtown... This is hilarious... if you wanna grow up, go to Roseville, or stay in midtown because it i never never land...
http://www.neatorama.com/2011/03/14/hipster-trap/
... is that people love coming to the city and you're basically bitter at friends who don't come out of the city to see you in near the middle of nowhere.
Could this be because maybe, A. the city is chalk full of stuff to do in a small sq. mileage? B. Fixies are a sensible way to get around such a dense population without having to rely on public transit. (Maybe people could get a little more creative with their disses and quit making the fixed gear bike a go-to for insult throwing at the urban crowd.) C. Most of us work hard and pay ridiculous rent to live in a place that saved us from the suburbia you stagnate in? D. If the Ed Hardy fits...
Also, I have no patience for an article that says, "don't stereotype us, look on the inside," and then proceeds to bash a group for its stereotypical aspects. - even if this is done so jokingly. For the record, stereotypical hipsters are just as annoying and sad as complacent suburbanites who bitterly deflect how jealous they are at people who actually left the shell of their place of birth and tried something different, and were maybe changed by the experience. Yes, they seem unimpressed, you would too if you've seen a tenth of the crap we do on a weekly basis, simply on the walk home.
http://kelly4nia.tumblr.com/post/9599879931/my-response-to-the-following-piss-poor-argument
Also- What you see downtown on a daily basis is something I'm pretty sure we see up here also. Have you seen the homeless, mentally ill, poor people who hang out near the rail yards up here?
I AM downtown a lot. So I do in fact, see what you see in your own domain even.
I'm guessing most people who replied to this article, didn't see the reference for which inspired me to write this in the first place.
Which raises the point, Shalini--why haven't you moved downtown yet?
But, financially right now it's more feasible for me to live with family as I am a FT student, and very little work hours :(
Not saying you don't have interesting thoughts (as well I stated that), but don't think that since you have them you need to puke them out into the public stream of consciousness, especially if you aren't working to back them up, and especially if you're just complaining about something. Blog or tweet it on some personal channel, not a noted news source.
Basically this blog post was a waste of space. Maybe take a journalism course before the next one, where they teach you to support the claims you make. You can get sued on some "extreme" cases, not saying there are any here, but for future reference.
Also, I really don't expect you to see any truth or logic in my argument because you're operating in super defensive mode - this was your baby and you worked on it, I just don't think you worked on it hard enough.
Please don't waste the public's time with a half-(bleeped*) attempt. (the following change was made per the SacPresses request), not to be too harsh but maybe we should have screened the author's post with have the verve.)
Also, maybe people haven't read the other blog you're discussing, did you cite if? Provide a link to it? If that's the last link in your post, all I have to say to that is what a hilarious and awesome read. Did you really think that you were in any way even on the same level as that writer to provide a counter argument, if so, you came up way short or as they say in Knight's Tale, "you have been weighed, you have been measured and you have been found wanting." Whatever the specifics of my previous argument toward your argument that is the main theme you need to be gleaning from this...
This was hardly my baby, just a matter of opinion that I felt needed to be heard (read).
As for the article that I linked, yes that article was great, but I was more concentrating on her blurb about us suburban folk, rather than the rest of her actual article.
I apologize if my writing standards aren't as high as yours, since apparently you must write for a living. Not everyone who writes on sites like this, with the average Joe being able to submit articles, will be at your level.
I sent my article to sacpress copy-editing so it WAS actually screened. I'm not sure what else you want?
I don't consider this a waste of space, and take that VERY personally. It's almost like you cannot write a reply without attacking. Which kind of shows your character. I have gotten several emails from different sacpress staff applauding my article, how many comments it's garnered, and for me to be willing to put something like this out there KNOWING it would piss people off.
I really don't put much weight in the SacPress approval as they let the piece run in the first place and I've read the mediator's comments, sounds like a parent trying to keep their kids from fighting by telling them they're all wonderful. Of course they like it, you got them increased web traffic. So what.
Maybe you should take the comment personally and let it sink in so that you understand that people aren't pissed off at your argument, it really didn't stir that much attention or conversation, but rather the way you went about making it did. It's garnered so many comments for that reason. Paris Hilton gets a lot of response for making hotel videos and saying, "that's hot" often, but I wouldn't read her book. If you did take any amount of journalism then you should understand exactly the points I'm making, because your instructor would have pointed out how to properly make arguments and support them...
Also, I did say that if you were referencing that article that you linked to in your post then all I had to say was that piece was wonderfully written, and it's even funnier that you think your counter could go up against such a funny piece of writing that was playful and enjoyable to read. I literally could quote me stating that, it's two posts above. Please read it again carefully this time.
Finally, my apologies, really, for having standards. I should be more like the rest of the population with that fifth grade reading level, hitting up a Twilight novel or two, addicted to reality TV and more knowledgeable of what's going on with the Kardashians than at the White House.
The Sacramento Press is a platform that allows anyone to contribute without gatekeeping. Anyone can simply sign up to be a community contributor and start writing. Each article when first posted appears on the front page below the editorially selected articles.
The sentiment of leaving writing to writers is obviously one with which I strongly disagree. To me that is much akin to saying leave politics to the politicians. The Sacramento Press aims to publish and hear as many voices as possible. Each member of this community has a right to speak about issues that concern them.
Our goal is not to filter voices from our site and deny those writers a chance to improve their skills. We work hard to elevate the work people do over time. We do so by offering free copy editing, free workshops on a wide range of topics and general support to our community.
And while increased traffic is of course important to our site, we are far more concerned with elevating our community in general and encouraging increased civic participation. If it was solely profit we were after we could have made far more money opening a Subway franchise than an online community news site.
If you have any feedback about our site, its values, the merits and pitfalls of community contribution or suggestions, feel free to email me: feedback@sacramentopress.com.
Similarly, I would not presume to call myself a mechanic because I can change my oil, nor a baker cuz I make my friends some cookies. Those cookies, although I eat them, I would not attempt to sell. As a professional writer, I feel the same about the language which I have spent the last two decades studying, and last decade working in, in several aspects (news, literature, blogging, social media, marketing, and a further list of credentials I could continue to drop, but I feel is a bit childish to point these things out as a support. The writing should speak for itself, and in this case does, loudly.)
Also, I agree with you that writers should not be stifled from attempting to come into the public light, or learn or branch out, how would new writers emerge if not for that? But isn't that what a blog is for, exactly? Again, my argument has not strayed from that point, not that the piece was written or that validity of the argument, but rather the delivery of the argument and whether or not it was worthy of a news site. Part of being a professional writer is taking the throwback from critics. Just because it is negative doesn't mean it's not a solid argument. I'm sure as a news service you are more than able to see that it's all part of the machine, and that although harsh, the comments that are strongest aren't attacking the person but rather the writing, and come at the person when the "writer" sought to quelch any negative responses to her work.
To quote :August 29, 2011 | 10:17 AM
So you're saying those who work in Sacramento, spend 8+ hours a day there 5+ days a week have no room to talk about what is going on in the city?
We are considered part of The Greater Sacramento Area. We have interests on what goes on there, or are we not allowed to?
or her response to Renaldo, or to me earlier.
And Geoff, again having worked at a newspaper for years previous, I know exactly what kind of profit they are looking to make. Yours was a noble sentiment but one which really holds little weight. Remember how the newspapers, for the last, I don't know years, have been a dying medium and scrambling to figure how to keep turning a profit so as to stay alive, turning almost wholeheartedly to the Internet and web traffic to solve its dilemma?
(I feel that it's quite appropriate that I leave my comments here as I noticed you openly addressed them in the comments section rather than emailing your response to me. Any feedback I had to offer your site previous, I did so in contact with one of your staffers, leaving my feedback on what I thought I needed to be addressed.)
But I thank you for supporting my argument on diplomacy earlier with your response.
Please note 4 and 6. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/mediums
me·di·um (md-m)
n. pl. me·di·a (-d-) or me·di·ums
1. Something, such as an intermediate course of action, that occupies a position or represents a condition midway between extremes.
2. An intervening substance through which something else is transmitted or carried on.
3. An agency by which something is accomplished, conveyed, or transferred: The train was the usual medium of transportation in those days.
4. pl. media Usage Problem
a. media A means of mass communication, such as newpapers, magazines, radio, or television.
b. media (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The group of journalists and others who constitute the communications industry and profession.
5. pl. media Computer Science An object or device, such as a disk, on which data is stored.
6. pl. mediums A person thought to have the power to communicate with the spirits of the dead or with agents of another world or dimension. Also called psychic.
We understand your opinion that the Sacramento Press should require a certain level of journalistic experience or education, and that content should be restricted to certain predetermined "serious" topics. You have made the point several times that this article does not meet your high journalistic standards.
I am not defending Shalini's article, since the article is guilty of being youthfully written, trivial, based on stereotypes, and unfair to single speed bicycles etc etc. But I am happy that the SacPress defends Shalini's ability to write and post this article. If you find an article to be garbage stop reading and move on. Or leave a nasty comment.
But it is truly pathetic for someone who claims to be a journalistic to suggest that a young writer's work should never see the light of day.
I do not feel the slightest twinge of shame over this article. The Sacramento Press was built to be, and is, an open platform for the Greater Sacramento community.
The wonderful thing about our site is that you can choose to read whatever you'd like. Beyond just that, which is true of any site, you can use the 100's of RSS feeds we provide to filter what you read from our publication. If you only want to read what our paid full-time editorial staff writes, we give you the tools to do that. That will allow you to avoid reading what our community contributors write.
You can filter in a number of other ways as well.
If you have any more feedback about our site you can reach me directly by emailing feedback@sacramentopress.com. If you'd like to know more about how to configure a custom set of RSS feeds, please contact support@sacramentopress.com.
Thank you for reading and participating .
Let the market (in this case the comment section) decide if a writer or he topic is worthy, not book burners like Kelly Strodl et al.
I have yet to see any of these substantively addressed anywhere. Instead, we get bloggers whining about "hipsters", and oligarchs trying to out-"vision" one another with the forward-looking, vibrant, outside-the-box brochurespeak which has resulted in high-rises being built full of units which go for seven figures -- smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood where the median income is about 18 grand a year.
Oh, and lest I forget, there has been the protracted and bizarre public bloviating over the fate of what we called "roach coaches" during that summer I worked construction. Whenever these things became cultural bellwethers, it certainly got past my radar.
Anyway, I would suggest to any would-be policy-maker to ask anybody who has spent any appreciable amount of time living, working, or hanging out in Midtown what the effect would be if the four things I listed were dealt with effectively, and make that your "vision" for the neighborhood.
Re G. Samek's comments: So how do I get the RSS feed icons to be even smaller than they already seem to be nearly everywhere on the site, please? Can they be, perhaps, made invisible?
Seriously, though, many people who use RSS look to their browser to find the available feeds. In Safari there will be an "RSS" button in the right side of the address bar that you can click and hold to see all available feeds. Firefox 5 and 6 hides RSS a bit, but you can find them by going to Bookmarks → Subscribe to this page → Name of RSS feed. I'm not sure about Internet Explorer.
Here are some feeds, you can play with their patterns if you want to discover more:
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They are not prominent in our design because so few people use RSS feeds and those who do often use other means to subscribe than the organic logo button on a page. Compounding the problem people place these buttons all over their sites. I have to hunt for them all the time.
We do what we can to have a clean design up front for 99% of our users. We have very deep capabilities that you can access as a power user like the "storyline" tab, tagging systems, a very robust search capability and RSS feeds galore. We are even working on an API for developers.
I have lived in this grid all of my life, except for my attempts at college life. I hear all kinds of things demonizing Rosevillians. I THINK NOTHING OF IT. BUT, when I see trucks of people coming off the freeway to bike and party and get wild in my hood, I explore much deeper. Maybe people from Roseville are different than the villians that invade our local chill spots every weekend. Here in Midtown we are trying to keep things janky but on weekend nights it just gets turbo and duchey. I am sure there will always be evil in ROSevilLE. When any of you burbies come downtown - please behave.
And yes. We ARE different than the frat boy types that come to party in your hood.
1. This is exactly what Sac Press is all about.
2. The article is RAW opinion.
Is there a good amount of people living in Roseville that wear Ed Hardy and act like douchebags? Sure! Is there also a good amount of "hipsters" living in Midtown? Sure, we know that! Everyone's got an opinion about it, and this just happens to be hers- good for her to post it for locals to read.
Take it for what it is people. It's stereotypical and contradictory, yet truthful and I think laughable. Sac Press needs more opinion pieces like this. If anything, it would result in increased community participation. (doesn't the amount of comments on this thread prove that?)
As a side note, if the opinions of other human beings make you unhappy- there are large amounts of other local news stories on Sac Press that you could put your energy towards. One article does not a newspaper make... right?
— Isaac Asimov