An abstract music video with score by Craig Padilla and me.

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Skip@RR

An appropriately hypnotic video by visual artist Zrnho set the music Craig Padilla and I recorded in 2010 using analog synthesizers.
Set the controls for full screen and full volume, and get ready to space out…

Nice to see this indigenous Redding music translates across the Atlantic. Pleasurable listening right down to the cerebral cortex for me, as it brings back fond creative memories. Thanks Zrnho. Your work is inspiring. Check out many more clips at his prolific online video channel. Gotta love the interweb.

Should mention too that you can buy this CD directly from Craig, and get a better fidelity recording along with the cool cover art. CraigPadilla.com

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Redding Dragstrip begins 2012 season with Street Legal Race

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Skip@RR

Street legal racing at the Redding Dragstrip keeps competitive spirits with powerful machines from racing on the streets of our community.
Redding dragstripIt’s safe and legal to speed at RDS. Saturday, putting the hammer down at 6pm.
Just $5 gets you in, $10 to race. Redding style prices, for sure.
Redding dragstripBetter here than on the street. Modern motorcycles have astonishing speed. Just gotta try it out somewhere…
Redding dragstrip jet carOh by the way, The Beast will return for Kool April Drags. This year the plan is to chain a car to the back of this thing and toast it. A “Car-B-Que.” I kid you not. Two nights in a row! That should be…I don’t know what, but I’ll be there.

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Gas prices in perspective

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Skip@RR

From my phone, I posted an image onto Facebook of what looks like high gas prices in Redding.
Fuel prices in Redding Gas$90 bucks for 20 gallons. I got some interesting comments about the “high” cost fuel. The thing about Facebook, and the internet actually, is the global nature of the viewers. I got 2 comments from the UK:

Nick Rothwell: “Wow … that’s almost as high as half what we pay in the UK.”
Ben Richards: “You’d have a revolution if you saw UK prices”

Presumably, Ben meant “another” revolution. But I get the point. I wondered what they pay in the UK vs US so I went to WolframAlpha for a gas price computation. Here are the top 10 countries for gas prices:
Wow indeed. I guess “high priced gas” is a relative term. Still, I don’t think we in the US are set up to run on $8 gas, unlike say, the Netherlands. And saying that, we may need to look more closely at how they manage it.

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The Water

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Skip@RR

A little Norwegian time lapse, set to Moonlight Sonata. Perfect before bedtime.

The Water from TSO Photography on Vimeo.

I really enjoy this artists work: facebook.com/TSOPhotography. I think you’ll like it too. You may want to Like his fan page to encourage more of his fine art. It would be lovely to do something similar with our Trinity Alps as subject.

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RIP Ronnie Montrose

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Skip@RR

Saddened to hear of the passing today of rock legend Ronnie Montrose. I have some of his LPs, and have always been a fan. He played live here in Redding. Early ’80s, I think. I can’t recall if it was at the Red Lion or the Holiday Inn, but it was in a big conference room at a hotel on Hilltop. (Anyone remember which?) Probably just a stop on the way somewhere else. I was there with Brent Taylor (Taylor Motors, Hi Brent!) who is a hard rockin’ guitarist himself. We were grinning ear to ear at the pleasure seeing and hearing Ronnie in a such a small room. Montrose had toured mega-arenas all over the world. I recall it was a few short sets, but Ronnie displayed extraordinarily expressive pitch control and blazing speed. He made a big impression on me. A virtuoso player.
Ronnie Montrose Open Fire once played Redding CA
I imagine you’ll hear plenty of Rock Candy and Bad Motor Scooter in eulogy. Classic rock pieces that help define the genre. Straight-ahead rock fun. If you haven’t heard some of his more Prog Rock work, you might like this video from the Open Fire days.


Crazy to think that bands toured with temperamental Moog Modular synths like keyboard player Jim Alcivar here. I think it even drifts out of tune. Typical! Classic stuff. The video below was shot just a few weeks ago. A favorite from the Gamma days. Thanks for the music Ronnie, and our condolences to your family and friends today. Get on your bad motor scooter and ride!

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Local restaurant targets dietary niche

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Skip@RR

All can food in ReddingTo be sure, it’s a diet my cat would approve of. Every restaurant needs a niche.
All can food in ReddingThe sign has been like this for a few months now. Really Redding is easily amused.

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Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday celebration at Moseley Family Cellars

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Skip@RR

Erin Murphy at Moseley Family Cellars in Redding CA Yesterday evening, Erin and her friends attended the Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday celebration at Moseley Family Cellars, at their location at 1300 Market Streeet in Redding.

Celebrants partook of Jambalaya, King’s Cake, and other traditional Mardi Gras foods, paired with Moseley’s Chardonnay and Zinfindel. And served with New Orleans style jazz and zydeco in the downtown Redding tasting room.

“Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler” (Let the good times roll!)
Erin Murphy at Moseley Family Cellars in Redding CA Erin Murphy at Moseley Family Cellars in Redding CA
Erin Murphy at Moseley Family Cellars in Redding CA

Erin Murphy at Moseley Family Cellars in Redding CA

Aaron Rader, Erin Murphy, Mimi Moseley, and Marty Moseley celebrate in Redding

Erin Murphy at Moseley Family Cellars in Redding CA

Joe Baker gets the baby in the cake.

If you can’t actually be in New Orleans, wine tasting in Downtown Redding offers an alternative. Moseley Family Cellars is located across from Old City Hall Downtown, and can be reached at (530) 605 4222.

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LED suited snowboarder

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Skip@RR

You may have seen it, but I had to share it here. It’s beautiful.

Glowing Man HD from Jacob Sutton on Vimeo.


The Ski Park looks pretty nice today, although there is no night skiing tonight. Had to post this webcam snap to make up for the drier one I posted earlier in the year. This looks like good Spring skiing.
Skip Park Feb 21
And here’s a recent terrain park video from earlier in February:

Pleasant winter days in Redding, and this awesome Ski Park is just about an hour away. That’s Really Redding.

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Video of a quick motorcycle ride up Buckhorn

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Skip@RR

Ran across this interesting video the other day. Highway 299 is the road from Redding to the coast. The Buckhorn Summit is characterized by some tight corners along the mountainside. This rider strapped a video camera to his bike, and went for a fast ride.


For years, I drove this road weekly. Going back to when there were one-lane bridges in Trinity County on 299. The road is much better now, but Buckhorn can be a challenge. Before you try a fast ride, just be aware that the road is particularly unforgiving. Misjudged corners can easily become fatal errors. Not only that, but you never know who, or what, you’ll find in your lane as you go round. You feel lucky?

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Catch Redding’s Hollow Lane at Bombay’s tonight at 8 -video

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Skip@RR

I’ve posted about this Redding band last year. They’re playing out tonight at Bombay’s, so go support a local band working it. Here’s a recent video. Tight tight tight:

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