We regulars lurk in a corner of A News Cafe, loitering over our coffee mugs as we argue and gossip and share the news of the day. This is the place for whisper and buzz, didja-see and have-you-heard, eye-rolling, head-shaking and teeth-grinding.
At The Corner Booth, you’ll get news, views and reviews. Local folks, local events, local humor. What’s everybody talking about at YAKS or Starbucks or Gold Street Café? We’re probably discussing it over here in the corner, too.
You’re welcome to join us if you can stand the noise. My name’s Steve, and I’ll ask the waitress to bring you a fresh cup. Can’t be too careful. Sometimes these jokers put salt in the sugar bowl.
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Cool new thing on the Shasta Public Libraries website. “Good Reads” shows new books in various genres as they’re added to the library collection. You can sign up for regular updates that’ll arrive in your inbox, along with events at the library, etc. Click here for “Good Reads.”
- What I’m reading: “His Illegal Self” by Peter Carey.
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They Fired All the Copy Editors, Part I: “Create something great and still have time to thaw the fish sticks.” From a Microsoft magazine ad. Error in logic. Who thaws fish sticks? Doesn’t that defeat the whole point of fish sticks?
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Did you see that Total Fitness, which closed Dec. 24, is being reopened as a new EveryDay Fitness site? The folks who own EveryDay Fitness in the downtown mall have taken over the location on Athens Avenue and are remodeling it. Businesses around Athens and Cypress have been hammered by the bridge construction, but the gym apparently has a loyal membership that lives nearby. Phone 246-1902.
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Speaking of bridges, Corner Booth regulars still mutter and shake their heads over the funding coincidences and superior planning that resulted in nearly every river crossing being under construction at the same time. Redding is a much smaller town when you never cross the river. Cozy, really.
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The Hilltop business district remodeling project is starting to shape up. Now that the decorative palms are relaxing in the median and landscaping is under way, maybe we can get those utility lines buried. With the upright palms and the forest of business signs and the power poles leaning every which way, driving Hilltop can make you dizzy.
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Some folks in Redding are not crazy about palm trees, but here’s what I say: If you’re staring out the window at a swaying palm, in January, you’ve made some pretty good choices in life. Folks in the Snow Belt pay a lot for the same privilege, and they have to go to Florida.
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They Fired All the Copy Editors, Part II: “As governor, he has kept up an international profile with a specialty in dealing with rouge nations.” From Nedra Pickler’s AP story about New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, as spell-checked in the Monday edition of the local paper. “Rouge nations?” What a drag.
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This comes from the Redding Chamber of Commerce newsletter: First 5 Shasta has awarded more than $15,000 in grants to 11 licensed child care providers for quality care and early literacy projects. Good job!
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Is “Milk” still not in Redding-area theaters? I don’t see it in the listings. Did it come and go while I was out of town? We saw the biopic while on vacation, and it was terrific. Sean Penn almost certainly will win the Oscar for his portrayal of gay activist Harvey Milk. I once saw Sean Penn as he was ducking into a limo in Hollywood. Like a lot of movie stars, he seemed very short in person. Great actor, though.
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Our son has his ringtone set to loudly play the theme from “Star Wars.” Every time he gets a call, I want to break out the light-sabers.
Tips Appreciated
Send news, gossip and juicy tidbits to steveb.anewscafe@gmail.com.
