We ran across this hardened escapee from Turtle Bay. Perhaps Turtle Bay is like Pelican Bay, and escapees should be considered dangerous.
We live along the Sulphur Creek watershed, so it was a clear path to freedom for the smelly escapee.
Did I mention that it smelled bad? Don’t let that smiling face fool you.
We took the Bullet Train to San Diego
We spent a few days in San Diego after taking the Bullet Train out of Redding. It just took a few hours. I remember when it took all day on I-5 back in the bad old days. What a great trip. The train was really nice, and we met some cool people. San Diego has a terrific Light Rail system. Look at what they’ve done to their cityscape HERE. We even took the Red Car to Tijuana for an afternoon of fun.
The Red Car is quaint and fun, but not as nice as our Green Car system that stretches from Shingletown to Whiskeytown. Of course, the best part of any trip is coming home to Redding. Our NicholsMelburg&Rossetto designed train station is one of the nicest in the world.
Of course I’m making all this up. I was thinking about this as we started getting so many e-mails this week about trying to beat down the proposed SCRIP (formerly Fix 5) building fees that are ostensibly meant to pay for widening I-5. Widening I-5? Are we maybe preparing for the wrong scenario here? They have “freeways” ten lanes wide in the Bay Area and they are still jammed. What if we had a decent rail system like they have in Europe? Why is that Europe has a better transportation system than we do? We are spending trillions of stimulus dollars and all we get is widened roads? I’m feeling really gyped. Where is the vision that built Shasta Dam? Our leaders today spend big, but think small.
Battle of the local Homeshows rage
Readers know we did the Homeshow at the Anderson Faigrounds last weekend. Its a 3 day burnout, but its always good to see so many of our friends and neighbors. That show has been going on for 30 years, and it was our 5th year there. Meanwhile another Homeshow is scheduled for this weekend at the Redding Convention Center, which is a much smaller venue. We heard this new homeshow is put on by folks from Eureka. One thing is for sure though, the new Redding Homeshow has been MUCH more well advertised. Which I suppose they must do to succeed. Is there room in town for 2 homeshows? Who knows. I guess we’ll find out.
Last week’s homeshow in Anderson is the one run by Popovic, which used to be an upholstery business. Now Jeff and Shirley do this show twice a year, and have a cookie store the rest of the time. This year they added a Baby and Maternity show to Fusaro Hall, which was welcome. From our perspective, the show was well attended by either aging retirees, or expectant moms. It was a striking contrast in demographics. Who knew there were so many moms and moms in waiting around here? I hadn’t seen so many pregnant women since, well maybe never. I guess all those new families will need bigger houses, so maybe the future of real estate here is bright. Come to think of it there are a few houses for sale near me that would make the perfect home for a growing family. Watch this space.
A couple of things to note too. I don’t think I’d seen seeds for sale here before. A reflection of the new interest in home vegetable gardening, no doubt. These seed packages were about 4 times the size of the ones you find at the hardware store. Too bad the photos on the packaging always seems to often look so much better than the results! The tomato packages never show the inevitable hornworms either. I’m going to stick to planting tomatoes though and growing a lot of my own vegetables. Heck, if I get that into my gardening I may even end up producing a whole fields worth on a farm! If I get all the necessary tools and equipment, and search up Mahindra tractors for sale near me, I’ll be good to go! However, I’ll just stick to growing in my back garden for now, but maybe not using the seeds provided here.
Our booth was next to the Egyptian Cotton booth, and they did a very brisk business. It was interesting to hear the shoppers talking about 600 thread-count Egyptian Cotton, and how it felt. The only problem was that the banner sign actually said in very small gray letters (the feel and texture of) EGYPTIAN COTTON. So for all we know it was cotton from Bakersfield or Bangladesh. It was the subject of much hilarity among the regular vendors. It worked though.
Actually, this was one of three booths put up by the As Seen on TV store. Showcasing products whose chief claim to fame is that you’ve seen them on TV. A testament to the power of TV advertising. Hmm. Maybe the new Homeshow in town will do OK after all; it is the one As Seen on TV.
Trailer Joe's not scared of new competitor Trader Joe's
I checked with the staff at Trailer Joe’s down on Hwy 273 to see if they felt threatened by the upcoming opening of competitor Trader Joe’s up in Redding. There was much laughter and derision when it was pointed out that Trader Joe’s probably didn’t even carry cigarettes or lottery tickets. “How do they even expect to stay in business?”, said one incredulous customer. There was, however, much agreement with having the outhouses in front of the store instead of out back, which might be an innovation worth copying. See below:
Kool April Drags coming up soon
Less than a month to the Kool April Nites car show, and the drag races that accompany the big event. Bob Lidell of the Redding Dragstrip asked me to make an ad for the program, and this is it. I like how it turned out, if I do say so myself. They are my photos too. Click on the ad to go to their website, where I am the volunteer webmonster.
The non-profit Redding Dragstrip brings a fair amount of money into town. The Redding Dragstrip is the longest continuously operating NHRA racing facility in the US. This one event pretty much makes or breaks their whole season, so pray for sunny skies at about 70 degrees. Start praying now…
Sulphur Creek before and after yesterday’s big rain
Seen above, Sulphur creek from the bridge on the north side of the Sundial from Friday. Seen below, the same creek yesterday, Monday, after a big storm blew through.
Also seen, this Rainbow over Redding. No sign of the rumored Irish guy at the end of it with a pot ‘o gold for you, though. A pot o’ debt perhaps. Luck of the Irish. Have a fun and safe St Patrick’s Day!
Apology for yesterday’s Record Searchlight expose’
Sorry readers. Turns out my “discovery” yesterday that RS has been running and re-running the comic strip of the long dead Charles Schulz for years was not any kind of scoop at all. Several of you informed me that it was a well known fact, and is done intentionally. Of course, that’s even sadder. Like the movie Groundhog Day, except it’s neither funny nor poignant. Maybe surrealist. Anyway the good news is that while researching the post, I discovered a couple of interesting comics by actual living artists. One actually plays on the comic in question:
Done more in the style of the underground comix I remember from my misspent youth, they imagine a post apocalypse Chuck Brown, exploring the classic male adolescent themes of revenge and heavy weaponry.
Folks, you can’t make this stuff up.
I also discovered Garfield minus Garfield:
Finally, a reason to read Garfield. And a new way to see the strip as an art project. Brilliant really. Click on either image to go the the artist website. Warning, you will never view a Garfield strip the same again. OK, maybe that’s a good thing.
Five years in the future, will we see the RS still running dead artist work, over and over, caught in a deathspiral timewarp? Look how easy it is to find better material. Meanwhile, vibrant living art and culture move on, sadly leaving the RS behind….
(Edit) Well I guess we know the answer to that question. 5 years and beyond…
Amusing sign spotted on Mistletoe Avenue
Imagining 10 dimensions in 11 minutes
This was an interesting and fun video about how to conceptualize 10 dimensions, although we beings only seem to occupy 3 or 4 of them. At least, so it seems. Well worth your 11 minutes.
Watch Imagining the ten dimensions in How to Videos | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
After watching this, I lay in bed the next morning wondering if time, the 4th dimension, was actually arranged on a Möbius path. We might find ourselves at the start of our path when we reach the end, like the Flatlander in the video. That would be odd. Anyway, thanks to my brother Ron for sending this one.
Redding Dragstrip Awards Banquet
Saturday night we attended the Awards Banquet for the 2008 Drag Racing Season for the Redding Dragstrip. It was held at Win River Casino Meeting upstairs. They gave a great prime rib dinner.
We really like the staff of Win-River. They are very professional and every bit as good as any meeting providers I’ve ever encountered. And I’ve met many, in years at management at Kodak. I was impressed.
I’m only a casual fan of the sport, not a racer. I do their website, and do enjoy taking pictures out there. And it’s important to me that the dragstrip provides a safe place for street racers who would otherwise be racing on your streets. I really like that among the pros, it’s very much a family thing. There were lots of kids running around the banquet. A great time for all.
