People were lined up this morning to get into Big!Lots in Redding on Saturday, a day after Black Friday sales.

Anybody know why? I’m trying to guess, but coming up blank on that idea.

Took some night shots of the palm trees on Hilltop with their new lights:
I was partly inspired to try this by the beautiful night photos of Las Vegas seen HERE.

I went to Redding new Brewstore across the street from the library, and bought supplies to make an India Pale Ale.

The good folks at A News Cafe have agreed to run my beermaking story on their lovely website HERE. You can follow along in weekly posts as I attempt to make Igo Pale Ale.

Making your own beer is Really Redding. Really fun too, so far…

It’s been a mild Fall, and sometimes the best colors seem to come from a rapid cold snap. Still, these Redding Fall colors look just fine.

I have said here before that my hometown newspaper is both beloved and infuriating. Lately, the discussion about public figures declining to speak to the paper has focused a ’searchlight’ on the infuriating issue of disparaging anonymous online comments actively encouraged at Redding.com. The online version of our hometown newspaper is rapidly becoming more a public nuisance than asset.

Here’s what I see is wrong with Redding.com’s deliberate decision to encourage cowardly behavior in their comments section.

1. They have the ability to verify identities of writers and/or regulate comments before they appear, but choose not to do so.
2. They ostensibly champion open access to information, but deliberately offer comment writers a way to disguise their identity. Truly hypocritical.
3. They profit from increased page-views, without regard to accuracy of the information on their site. A cynical and absolute conflict of interest.

This is a small town. The one local paper has (had) enormous influence on public opinion. If enough anonymous online comment authors use this platform to call you a scoundrel, the unsubstantiated words take on an air of ‘truthiness.’ Our newspaper bears a greater responsibility for accuracy, but has now deliberately abandoned their place in our community. The old saying about how ‘if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen’ doesn’t apply. Anonymous public bashing isn’t heat, its flame. No individual in our small town can long afford to have their character burned alive by faceless bullies and cowards given an online bully pulpit. The flaming sheds no light, only pain.

The fact that controversy driven page-views increase revenue breeds corruption. Are deliberately incendiary comments being submitted by Redding.com itself? If not already happening, it surely will. Who would know?

In the early days of Redding, there was more than one local newspaper. The new online nature of news and information calls for a new proliferation of publishing models. There is low barrier to entry for online news sources. The power of integrity will prevail, and allow for new voices to arise. I encourage others who have given up on speaking to Redding.com to continue to vote on this by ignoring their calls. If enough influential people stop talking to them, they’ll figure it out, or die in isolation. The sooner the better.

Thanks to http://xkcd.com/ Cartoon used here under Creative Commons Remix provision.

Redding.com currently lives on the reputation of the newspaper’s former golden years of journalistic integrity. But now their ugly present direction seems likely to reduce their relevance to an ever smaller audience of the mean-spirited, spitting incoherent vitriol at one another. Send the commentards back to Craigslist, where they are generally harmless and generate no revenue.

It pains me to see that Redding.com has chosen this path. I believe our community benefited from the role a strong newspaper played in our past. I advertise at Redding.com. The individuals that work for the RS are generally thoughtful and well-meaning. But I feel strongly that their current unregulated comment policy seems ill-considered in our small town, and will ultimately prove to be self destructive. And I’m sorry about that.

Seen above is my dad on October 18 1950 with the motor pool of his company, the 14th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squad. They are in Japan prior to deploying to Korea for bomb disposal duty as part of the US Army support for the Marines. My dad is fourth from the left in the top row. Seen here as a young man of 18, he’s now 77, and living in Redding along with my mom Pauline.

According to my dad, only 5 of these soldiers seen here survived the “forgotten” war in Korea, with its 54,229 US killed in action. See The Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Click on the image to see a larger view of these young men. Today is a day to consider the faces of those soldiers, and the lives not lived. It’s a big photo, so may require patience to load.

He’s not one to talk about it much. I try to imagine disarming weaponry in the freezing cold on the border of China. I guess I can understand not wanting to dwell on it.

Thanks Dad. Thanks to all veterans.

Erin and I worked on the November issue of The Voter last night. We added an innovation to the online article about the State Senate 4th District candidates. We included the Podcasts of the 2 Republican candidate talks recorded at the Shasta Association of REALTORS. So you can see them and listen to them too. Hopefully we can do this with the Democratic candidates as well. Click on the image to view.

The 4th District has been repesented by Sam Aanestad, who has termed out. The 2010 candidates so far are listed below.
Republican:
Doug LaMalfa
Rick Keene
Democrat:
Paul Singh
James Reed
Lathe Gill

These 12 intrepid entrepreneurs want you to consider shopping their local establishments. Click on the image below for more.

Shop all 12 to enter their drawing for a Grand Prize. These local shops are your friends and neighbors. They are not the faceless executives at the big box stores that so often characterize our town. When you shop local, you support and enhance your own community. Plus, these are some way cool shops. A couple of our favorites, Kimberly Nicole’s, and Wild Thyme.

We like amusing signs here at Really Redding. This one’s on Hilltop.

That works out to only $37 each for most of you. Meanwhile, the nearby Herb Specialists shop looks certain to be another marijuana collective. Especially in our town, with about 30 collectives scattered about (See Bruce Ross’ handy guide map). Ironically, it’s not.

Get your legal advice following a bus. It’s a sign of the times.

Finally, there’s this. The view while stopped at the light going south on Hilltop at Mistletoe. Intentional or accidental, you decide.


We are easily amused here at Really Redding.

We make decisions about law and governance in Redding’s supermarket parking lots. Our initiative process puts power directly in the hands of the people – people shopping – and goes around the legislators we pay to get this stuff right. Shown above is the bait. Seen yesterday in Redding, a couple of signs for a petition to legalize and tax marijuana. Not a bad idea IMHO. But it’s bait and switch. He’s actually being paid to have you sign several petitions. One concerns marijuana, but another squashes municipalities from starting their own utilities. Sponsored by PG&E of course, but he doesn’t tell you that. Another has to do with car insurance. He doesn’t explain the complex issue well at all, and why would he know? And am I knowledgeable about the subtleties of car insurance laws. No. I’m not. Are you?
Check out this totally relevant link to Thomas Elias in Redding.com today. “Just say no to signature gatherers.”
However, that being said, just say yes to voting today. It is an election day, so be informed and make yourself heard.