Category Archives: Bits & Pieces

This fall the Tahoe National Forest plans to accomplish approximately 1,200 acres of pile burning and 300 acres of underburning on the Yuba River Ranger District within Nevada, Sierra, and Yuba counties. Prescribed burn operations will begin this week and will extend through the fall, depending on current and predicted weather.

The planned pile burns are located in approximately 40 administrative sites across the district. Sites likely to be most visible include those along Highway 49 adjacent to Goodyears Bar; near Forest City; along Canon Point Road west of Downieville; west of Alleghany; in the Pendola Fire area; near Cascade Shores; and along Highway 20 east of Nevada City. Underburning will occur along Highway 20 east of White Cloud and north of Camptonville.

The prescribed burns will reduce the understory vegetation to enhance the chance of forest survival from high-intensity wildfire; improve wildlife habitat and forage; and re-create the ecological benefits from low-intensity fire.

The Forest Service will only initiate the burns with favorable weather conditions, including humidity, temperature, and wind speed and direction. Moisture levels within the vegetation itself are also considered. Forest Service fire managers work diligently with air quality management districts to minimize smoke impacts to the communities.

For questions regarding these prescribed fires, please call District Fire Management Officer Mike Cherry at (530) 478-6253.

For more Tahoe National Forest information, go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tahoe/home.

Read an interview with a TNF Fire Cheif, Jeanne Pincha-Tulley on why the Forest Service uses Prescribed Burning.

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Bits & Pieces

You Think We Have Traffic Jams in Nevada County?

October 16, 2013 jd

httpv://youtu.be/ySSrG7HgvIQ

Thousands of Bangladeshis crammed ferries and trains, leaving Dhaka on Thursday to return to their home villages and celebrate Eid al-fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Don’t show this video clip to the airlines, they may get some new ideas on seating. I also wonder if they have enough life preservers for all those people on the ferries?

Bits & Pieces

Grass Valley Chickens To Fly Out of Town

September 5, 2013 jd

Operation Chicken Airlift began with a phone call last month from a California egg farmer to the Animal Place sanctuary in Grass Valley.

Thousands of “laying hens” that had outlived their usefulness were about to meet their demise, the farmer said. Was the animal group interested in saving them from death by carbon monoxide?

Thus began a unique rescue effort that will send 1,200 white Leghorn chickens on a $50,000, cross-country cargo flight this evening from Northern California to upstate New York. On the East Coast, the chickens will be ferried to sanctuaries where they will live outside of cages and roam the land without the expectation of producing breakfast for the egg-loving public.

Source: Sacramento Bee

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Bits & Pieces

Women Need To Be Listened To

June 16, 2013 jd

httpv://vimeo.com/66753575

“Don’t try to fix it. I just need you to listen.” Every man has heard these words. And they are the law of the land. No matter what, a woman wants you to listen.

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Bits & Pieces

Are You Ready for Google Reader’s Demise?

June 10, 2013 jd

httpv://youtu.be/_GNuP06Kfp0

Video: Google Reader Shutting Down! How To Export and 7 Alternatives

The announcement earlier this spring that Google would be shuttering its news aggregation and RSS service (known as Google Reader) prompted tech bloggers and readers at Lifehacker to chime in with worthy, free alternatives.

The Old Reader might be the best alternative for Google devotees who don’t like change. Users can sign in via Google, but the similarities don’t end there. The app even “looks a lot like Google Reader… You get many of the same keyboard shortcuts, and even get the same ability to follow other Old Reader users and share interesting stories with them—the way you used to be able to with Google Reader,” writes LifeHacker’s Alan Henry.
NewsBlur is described as the alternative reader that is “more fun” and “easy on the eyes” than its counterparts. Be aware that free accounts are capped at 64 blogs, 10 stories at a time, and by specific public sharing options. The pro version is relatively inexpensive though, at just $24 a year.
Feedly is a reader favorite at LifeHacker for its layout options, rich social experience, and clever news suggestion algorithm. But if you’re looking for a web app, you may want to look elsewhere; Feedly is really more of a browser add-on, unless you’re reading on a mobile device.
Netvibes is for the Google Reader user who catches up on their computer. While they have mobile sites, the full, editable dashboard does not come in a truly mobile version. But if you’re looking for a new homepage to greet you each morning, this might be the one. The dashboard includes neat widgets for weather, finance, and news.
Pulse will satisfy your inner designer. Praised by the late Steve Jobs and winner of the coveted Apple Design prize, this reader and news aggregator will help you track your current feeds within an appealing user experience. Pulse’s algorithm is also praised by Lifehacker for being “great at lifting the interesting stories to the top” and finding other news you might be interested in.

Each of these products includes the option to import your existing Google Reader feeds. But Lifehacker also put together a handy guide to exporting your Google Reader data, if you should run into any problems doing so.

Source: “5 Best Google Reader Alternatives” (March 17, 2013)
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Bits & Pieces, Entertainment

Scramento Home Winemakers June Jubilee Roaring Sucess

June 8, 2013 jd

Judging wine at the Sacramento Home Winemakers June Jubilee

The Sacramento Home Winemakers June Jubilee was a roaring success with 121 wines judged and over 100 members and their families attending. They had 13 cellar rats (they are the ones that pour the wine for the judges) a couple of data gurus and twelve judges.

All this was held in Judy Pinegar’s barn in Loomis, CA. With the weather at 100 degrees, thanks has to be given to BBQ chefs Joe McGilivray and Manual for their great barbeque skills. After the judges swirling, sniffing and tasting, 4+ hours and 24 flights later, the gold wines emerged and were lined up for the Best of Division rounds that included 14 reds.

When the best of show was completed, and the competition was stiff, the judges remarked that Sacrmento Home Winemakers were some of the best that they have judges. Wines judged included lively whites, beautiful roses, unusual red blends, outstanding petite sirahs, creative fruits and desserts; a flight of 8 well-crafted tempranillos and fruit intense blackberry wines.

Chief Judge Mike Touchette, assisted by Jubilee Coordinator Judy Pinegar and Assistant Coordinator Shannon Shackelford, announced the winners.

Best of Show – Dave Hicks, 2012 Viognier (Judy Pinegar to the left in the picture)

Best of Show – Dave Hicks, 2012 Viognier (pictured above)

Best of White – Dave Hicks, 2012 Viognier

Best of Rose/Blush – Carl Sweet, 2012 Primitivo

Best of Red – Terry Piazza-Perham, George Smith and Roberta Sparkman, 2011 Petite Sirah

Best of Fruit/Exotic – Rex Johnston and Barbara Bentley, 2012 Wild Blackberry

Best of Dessert – Donna Bettencourt, 2009 Blackberry Port

A complete list of awards can be found at this link: 2013 Jubilee Awards.

Check out Jubilee photos on Sacramento Home Winemakers facebook page. More Jubilee photos to be added to this web site soon.
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O’Dell Realty
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Bits & Pieces, Entertainment

Dodgers Ace Zack Greinke Buys Mansion in LA

May 10, 2013 jd

Photo Credit: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

After a mid season trade brought him from Milwaukee to Anaheim last year, Zack Greinke extended his stay in Los Angeles by signing a lucrative six-year contract with the Dodgers this offseason. And it appears the pitching ace has settled into his new West Coast surroundings quite comfortably. With $147 million burning a hole in his pocket, Greinke recently picked up a prime piece of real estate in L.A., shelling out nearly $5 million on a massive Craftsman compound in Studio City, CA.

Built in 2012, Greinke’s Greene & Greene-inspired home is the work of noted architect Ray Keller. Weighing in at nearly 11,000 square feet, 7 bedrooms and 9 baths, the home itself certainly has enough room to move, but it also wades out into very Californian, Renaissance Man territory with luxuries like a gym, library and the amenity every big league pitcher will tell you they need, an art studio (just ask Barry Zito). A 9-car motor court anchors the one-acre grounds, while the two structures found on the property are linked via a walking bridge. Last, but certainly not least, Greinke’s new manse rounds out with a pool, spa and waterfall.

Source : NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
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Bits & Pieces, Environment, Government, Nevada County Information

Burning Permits Now Required In Nevada County Starting May 1st

May 2, 2013 jd

httpv://youtu.be/4At3U_mVe7w
Residential Debris Burn Demonstration

Escaped residential debris burns continue to be a leading cause of fire suppression calls in Nevada County. Learning to safely and cleanly burn vegetation debris helps to minimize smoke emissions and allows firefighters time to respond to true emergencies. It is your responsibility to know and follow local and state burning regulations. Failure to follow these regulations is a misdemeanor offense and you may be fined and prosecuted for the expense of containing a wildfire.

Visit the Fire Safe Council website to:

Northern Sierra Air Quality

Burn Day Info

Western Nevada County 530-274-7928

Truckee 530-582-1027

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Bits & Pieces

Nevada Irrigation District Water Lines Extended to Rattlesnake Road

May 1, 2013 jd

NID employees Chad Garvey, left, and Andrew Browning prepare to install a new water meter along Rattlesnake Road near Grass Valley

GRASS VALLEY – Treated water is now available in the Rattlesnake Road-Wheeler Cross Road area near Grass Valley, following a water line extension project completed this month by the Nevada Irrigation District.

NID and area property owners shared costs in extending a 16-inch main line from Dog Bar Road, across Wheeler Cross Road to the Rattlesnake Road intersection and 1000 feet north on Rattlesnake Road.

The job, with about 3000 feet of new pipe and three new fire hydrants, was completed for NID by C&D Contractors, Inc. of Nevada City. New pavement overlay has been added throughout the project area.

Chip Close, NID’s interim water operations manager, said the project progressed rapidly through planning, design and construction after contracts were signed with participating property owners. ”Our new customers were receiving water within nine months,” he said. ”Our contractor was able to take advantage of the dry weather and good working conditions this winter.”

Officials said the new pipeline is part of the district’s master plan and can eventually be extended across Rattlesnake Road to existing pipelines near Highway 174, depending on public demand.

District maintenance crews are now installing new water meters at the 13 parcels that participated in the water line extension project.

Area residents with questions about NID water public water supplies may contact NID Business Coordinator Shannon Matteoni at (530) 273-618

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Bits & Pieces

How Does the Internet Work?

April 16, 2013 jd

Ever wonder how the internet works. Amazing to say the least. Here’s a video from the World Science Festival that gives you an example of the web’s workings.

The World Science Festival created this short video explainer as a setup to Internet Everywhere: The Future of History’s Most Disruptive Technology, a sold-out program featuring Internet pioneer Vint Cerf of Google, MIT’s Neil Gershenfeld, lawyer and Internet advocate Elizabeth Stark and Alex Wright, director of user experience at The New York Times.

The video lets you ride shotgun with a packet of data—one of trillions involved in the trillions of Internet interactions that happen every second. Look deep beneath the surface of the most basic Internet transaction, and follow the packet as it flows from your fingertips, through circuits, wires, and cables, to a host server, and then back again, all in less than a second.

See all content from Internet Everywhere

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John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
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