Where have all the cowBOYS gone?

Take a moment and transport yourself to the 50s. The ideal man was rugged, manly and was ready to take on the world in a white t-shirt, distressed denim and a letterman’s jacket. Cigarette in their mouths, flask in their pockets, these were all-American men. Not that alcohol-guzzling and tobacco-consuming makes someone more masculine, but you get the idea.

Jump to the present day and take a look around Sacramento and the result is alarming. The city is plagued with an entirely new and alarming subculture: the Metrosexual man.

You’ve most likely had an encounter with more than one. Their designer jeans are more expensive than their girlfriends, their 100 dollar t-shirts have more rhinestones than any teeny bopper’s, and they look as if they spent the past 48 hours getting ready.. to run errands. No, that’s not a purse they’re wearing, it’s a Louis Vuitton “man bag”. Where have all the men gone?!

There’s a difference between daily grooming and over-the-top maintenance, but this group seems to have blurred the line between the two.

Women might be partly to blame. Men are repeatedly subject to the women in their lives begging them to cut their fingernails, put on a clean shirt, and wear some jeans that aren’t eight sizes too big. But it seems as if they’ve taken it about 3,000 steps too far.

The media might be guilty for this outbreak. Billboards and magazines are infiltrated with ads of androgynous humans that look scarily all the same. Pencil leg jeans are practically painted on men and women’s fashion proudly encourages menswear styles. And they might as well throw a lacy corset and fishnets on a Dolce and Gabana model.

If you haven’t yet had a meeting with one of these well-kempt men, look no further than any fitting room or makeup counter in a local department store.

It used to be girls lugging piles of this season’s must-haves into the dressing rooms and spending hours involved in impromptu fashion shows for their friends. Saunter over to the men’s departments and the same can be seen. Salespeople have to reassure “guys” that yes, their butts look fine in the boot cut True Religions and yes, that Affliction shirt compliments your skin tone.

Impatient shopping partners must endure indecisive males who can’t decide between two pairs of jeans because one pair has a green tint to it and the other has better stitching. Plus, they are worried that their purchase might go out of style so they might just want to wait for the new ones to come out next week. Are these guys for real?

Move a little further over to the cosmetics counters and Metrosexual almost crosses the line into full-on females. If a male can apply makeup and sell perfume better than his associates, then so be it and more power to him for his amazing talent. But men actually wearing layers of foundation, more mascara than Tammy Faye (rest in peace), and platforms higher than the girls at Centerfolds? It’s really no wonder our world is so screwed up.

The situation isn’t completely bleak, however. It’s great that men feel so comfortable that they can express their femininity and partake in conversations where they once stood silent with gaping mouths. Plus, it is just a little refreshing to see a man that takes pride in his appearance and isn’t so manly that he can’t trim that mass of hair on his chest. Menswear divisions all over are rejoicing at the sight of their skyrocketing sales.

And hey, if you can share jeans and hair products with your boyfriend, at least you’ll both be saving money right?

Would you like a side of bad attitude with that?

Just take one glance at a picture of a service station from the 1950s and it’s no wonder why everyone was so damn chipper. Beaming attendants would rush out to arriving cars, often weary from long car rides, and fulfill the car’s every need. Windshields were cleaned, the tank was quickly refueled and the tires were filled with air. All of this was done while the satisfied family sat in the car, not needing to move a muscle.

Imagine this scene taking place now and it’s hard not to laugh. Yeah right! Times have changed and it’s hard to find good service anywhere. Sadly, amazing customer service is the exception rather than the norm.

It would seem fair that paying outrageous insurance payments every month should guarantee you not only peace of mind but outstanding customer service. But let’s get real here. If an experienced teenager swerves into your lane unexpectedly, smashing in the front of your new (and beloved) car, get ready for frustration on a whole new level.

Being involved in a fender-bender is stressful enough, but dealing with the service of claim agents who are supposedly there to “help” brings forth a whole new wave of inconveniences… and if it’s a dispute over whose fault the accident was, you’ll most likely receive the worst customer service ever.

Expect a game of phone tag to last approximately forever between not only your insurance company but the other driver’s as well. If you’re in the “good hands” of Allstate, get ready for a letter in the mail saying “you’re dispute is being processed” instead of a return phone call, complete with an auto signature at the bottom. Makes sense; who has time to sign their name anymore?

While the powers that be are trying to decide who’s at fault, you get the privilege of driving a wrecked car around with absolutely no sympathy from anybody employed at the aforementioned insurance companies.

From there, you will most likely deal with a rental car company and a body shop where all of the employees seem to hate their jobs and make you feel as if it was you that filled out their job application and managed to get them hired. Would it really hurt anyone to smile and genuinely mean “have a good day”?

Bad service doesn’t only plague automobile companies. Try to flag a sales associate down at Macys and see how far you get. Or try to order a Dirty Martini from a bartender at a crowded bar and consider yourself lucky if you get as much as a nod. They can get a better tip from the hot guy ordering a round at the end of the bar.

It’s disheartening that this is where service is heading but just look on a local CraigsList job listing and it seems to make a little more sense.

With the cost of living sky-rocketing more and more everyday, shouldn’t employers pay accordingly? Wages are usually offered at 10 to 13 dollars per hour, and that’s with job experience. Forty hours a week will give you around 1600 (give or take) a month, which is barely enough to survive on.

A lot of the disgruntled employees that seem to enjoy making consumer’s lives miserable are just actually just stressed about how they’re going to make next month’s mortgage payment. Combine low wages with a lack of emphasis placed on the importance of good service and it’s a recipe for not only failure but angry customers.

So what’s the answer then? Employers should get back to the basics and mimic companies such as Nordstrom that have a reputation built on excellent customer service. They must be doing something right; the Nordstrom brothers might as well have dollar signs tattooed on their foreheads and their employees are always (genuinely) smiling.

Even if the customer ISN’T always right, is it so hard to fake it?

Exhausted and Hungover... but at Least They Have A's!

On a typical Friday night in Sacramento, from Old Roseville to Downtown and everywhere in between, the bars are usually crowded with college students. Shots of yummy poison are downed, bar tabs add up quickly and there’s always a feeling of excitement and crazy carelessness in the air.

Fast forward to Monday morning and a harsh reality sets in. The same students that were pouring vodka tonics down their throats and partying until the sun came up are now regretting their decision to forgo sleep and studying for a weekend of fun. Sleep deprivation and a hangover set in and it’s a race to complete last week’s reading assignments. Hilarious pictures were taken and unforgettable memories were made, but is it worth the constant fatigue and stress?

The dilemma of balancing a social life and school is one that many college students face and exhaustion seems to be a rapidly-spreading epidemic. Just take a walk around Sac State on any given day or hour and you will see hundreds of students with a death grip on their iced white mochas, caffeine the only thing helping them sleep-walk through law classes and fraternity meetings.

While this state of exhaustion isn’t unique to Sacramento by any means, the importance of partying and good times seems to be promoted more often than in surrounding areas. A new bar, club or lounge seems to be popping up on every corner of downtown every month. It’s hard to focus on school when the week’s parties are strewn across the ground and under your windshield wipers on postcards in addition to being broadcast all over the radio.

To make things even more stressful, many students have to balance part-time or full-time jobs, sports, children, volunteer work and Greek activities alongside their academics.

“I know that I shouldn’t go out as much as I do but I work about 40 hours a week and have school, homework and fraternity events. Even though sometimes I’m so exhausted that I pass out in my second beer, looking forward to fun times with my friends keeps me going,” said Christopher Berry, a junior Business Major at Sacramento State.

One reason many students feel the need to spread themselves so thin is attempting to become the ideal 20-something. It’s not enough to be a responsible student and work enough hours to eat and barely make the rent. Gone are the days when “student” is an acceptable profession.

Many students hold sales or real estate jobs on the side to pay for expensive car payments, weekend trips to Vegas, and ridiculously expensive nights out to local bars and clubs. Forgoing a flashy ride and a social life to hit the books has become a the exception rather than the norm.
It seems to be an evil cycle that just keeps spinning. By the end of the week, you’re so exhausted that all you can think of is closing your eyes and curling up into the fetal position in your bed.

You’re driving home, in anticipation of some much-needed REM sleep, when you hear your cell phone ringing. All of your friends are meeting up at the Park (the lounge on 15th and L, not the one with swings) and want you to join; they won’t accept no for an answer! That’s when the reasoning starts in your head: maybe 5 hours of sleep is sufficient; class doesn’t start until 10:00 anyway and an hour is definitely enough time to write the final draft of a term paper.

Who needs sleep when there's so much fun to be had?

Query letter for story #1

April 20, 2007

Tom Morrisey
Executive Editor, Sport Diver Magazine
460 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 200
Winter Park, FL 32789


Dear Mr. Morrisey,


Divers have thousands of options when choosing their next diving destination. Many aren’t aware of the awesome experiences waiting for them in Lake Tahoe, California.

Nestled in a picturesque surrounding of the Sierra mountains, Lake Tahoe is not just an average lake. Visibility ranges from 60 to 100 feet on a good day, which surpasses even some of the most popular ocean dive sites!

The average family or individual diver doesn’t necessarily have the time or money to book a week-long flight to a tropical destination across the globe. Lake Tahoe has something to offer entire families of divers at all skill levels and reasonably priced diving excursions are easy to come by.

There are numerous reasons why divers should experience Lake Tahoe diving at least once. It is a playground of rock formations and home to a wall that drops down to depths of 800 feet. With over 10 amazing dive sites, the options are endless.

The piece is planned to be around 700-1000 words in length and can be tailored as needed. I think it would fit in with your other diving destinations in California.

I am a journalism major with hopes of pursuing a career in journalism. I am currently taking a magazine writing course taught by Professor Mike Fitzgerald, who writes for Reuters as well as many other magazines and newspapers. I have been a certified PADI scuba diver for four years and am a lake diving enthusiast as well. I hope I can spread my enthusiasm to your readers.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Casey L. Kirk

Query Letter for story #2

April 20, 2007



Rob Turner
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Sactown Magazine
The Elks Tower
Penthouse Suite 1400
921 11th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814


Dear Mr. Turner,


Immediately upon entering the city limits of Loomis, California, visitors will find themselves wondering if the clocks have stopped and the decades have been reversed.
Hiding just past the rapidly-developing Roseville and Rocklin lies Loomis, a small city with a population of only around 6,300 people. Don’t be fooled; this city has much to offer to anyone with a tank of gas to spare.

The Secret Ravine Vineyard and Winery offers tours and wine produced from locally-grown grapes. If visitors drive a little deeper, they will find the residents’ cherished Blue Goose Fruit Shed. Once used as a fruit packaging shed, it now is home to community gatherings, art competitions, and poetry readings among other things.

Driving along the winding roads, it is hard not to stare in awe at the beautiful, rustic homes sitting on plots of land from one acre to beyond. The trees and foliage frame the picturesque scenery perfectly and you can feel the sense of community in the smiles on residents’ faces.
The piece is planned to be around 500-600 words but can be tailored as needed. I think it would fit perfectly in your “Tank of Gas” section.

I am a journalism major with hopes of pursuing a career in journalism. I am currently taking a magazine writing course taught by Professor Mike Fitzgerald, who writes for Reuters as well as many other magazines and newspapers. I am also a resident of Placer County, which Loomis lies in.

I hope that I can share the secret of Loomis to your readers. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon.



Sincerely,


Casey L. Kirk

"Tom-Tom" Barnard

For our upcoming story I will be profiling Thomas Barnard, also known as “Tom-Tom“. Thomas, 23, is lives behind Rebounds sports bar, which he also frequents. He has been attending Sierra college for the past four years and plans on becoming a zookeeper someday.

From the first five minutes I met Thomas I knew he was the quirkiest person I ever met. His apartment has an entire wall of 4x6 photo frames devoted to head and group shots of his friends and family, most of them crooked. My assumptions about him were confirmed when he pulled up his shirt and showed me his stick figure tattoo on his stomach, which looks like a 3-year-old drew on him.

These are just some of his many oddities. However, when he goes to work at his two jobs as a server (at Crush 29 and Sweetwater) he is as professional as it gets. His guests would have no idea about the true Tom-Tom.

I am still trying to figure out what direction to head in for the story and any suggestions would be appreciated and would like to “shadow“ him for a night, which I plan on doing this weekend. I have also sent out emails to several of his close friends asking for quotes about Tom-Tom. Out of curiosity, does this sound like a story you all would be excited to read?

Loomis, California

When I first drove to Loomis, I couldn’t believe anyone would want to live there. Not only did I get completely lost on the meandering road, but all I could see were trees and houses. I immediately wondered how the residents could survive without a Starbucks (joking).

It turns out, they are getting along very well. The populace of Loomis love the small-town charm and many residents have lived there their entire lives and don’t plan on going anywhere soon.

I briefly visited Loomis and noticed that not only does it have a beautiful scenery as a backdrop to almost every house, but also is home to a bed and breakfast, a yearly Eggplant festival, and a vineyard and winery to boot! I will be going back this upcoming week to explore the town more in depth.

The locals are proud of their little city (population 6,300) and youth football teams as well as band members receive community support to the fullest. I talked with two high school graduates of Del Oro High and both recalled football being almost an obsession for residents.
There has recently been controversy surrounding the Blue Goose Fruit Shed, which was once a packing house but has been turned into a community center and many of the neighbors favorite.
The shed has a produce market and poetry readings along with other community events are held here. There are plans to develop the land it’s sitting on, though, and locals have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to save it. There’s even a website devoted to saving the shed!).

So far I have talked with three local “Loomisans” and quickly drove through. I have read about the Secret Ravine winery on their website and read “Great Neighborhoods” article in Sacramento Magazine, which featured Loomis. So, essentially, I still have my work cut out for me.