Category Archives: Bits & Pieces

Bits & Pieces

Scotts Flat Lake, Nevada County, Winter 2010

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I just recently bought a Canon Hf200 camcorder.  The last video camera I had must have weighed 30 pounds (just kidding). The Canon HF200 weighs less than one pound and is small enough to carry in my jacket pocket.

The Canon HF200 has 15X optical zoom, optical image stabilization and can record in full HD and outputs at 1920×1080. This is my first fully edited video and I am still learning the software that I just bought. If you are interested in the full specs for the Canon HF200 Click Here

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htW7RpS67d4

This video was shot during several periods this winter. Looking out from my deck, the lake is constantly changing  appearance,  even in the summer when the wind plays on the water and sail boats float like toys in a bathtub.

You can download a lot of video editing software for a free thirty day trial. I read all the reviews and tried about 4 different software packages and finally settled with Corel VideoStudio Pro X3. If you read the reviews online it will drive you nuts. All of the reviews seem to have horrible stories about their computers crashing and the programs freezing.

I had none of the problems with any of the software packages that I tried. Corel’s program can read my memory card from the camcorder which the other programs could not. It’s a fairly easy program to learn if you play around with it for a while. There are also a lot of tutorial videos on YouTube which really helped. After editing the video, I was able to download it to YouTube, which is part of the software. If you are interested in the specs for Corel VideoStudio Pro X3 Click Here

Canon HF200 Camcorder

Anyhow, this is my first try and it is not as seamless as I wanted, but it’s a start. I hope you enjoy it and any comments you might have on how to improve the beginning of my movie career would be appreciated.

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
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Bits & Pieces

A Boy Named Sam

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When my second family was growing up, our home was a safe haven for a lot of my son’s friends. They knew that they could come to our home, have a place to sleep, warm meals and a  refrigerator full of food for their taking.

Sam was one of those boys.  He always said I was like a real dad to him, and in later years whenever he and his friends and I had dinner, he always called me the king of dads. He said I was a dad to all of them.

A couple of times Sam got hurt. Once he went head over heels on his bicycle. I rushed over to help him, he was screaming and hollering. I talked to him, and doing therapeutic touch  he calmed  down until the ambulance arrived.

Then there was the time that he got stung by a wasp. He again was crying and screaming, again I rushed over and using therapeutic touch, I calm him down and he said the pain went away.

In the last two weeks, Sam has been coming over. He broke down several times. His dad was dying and he wanted me to go up to where his dad lived and do therapeutic touch on him. He also told me of the abusive childhood that he had. His dad shot his mother right in front of him. How his dad was mentally and physically abusive to him.

How one time he wanted to go to the county fair so bad and his father took everyone but him to the fair, than came back and taunted him and told him how they all had a great time and too bad he couldn’t go.

So I told him I would help him by going up and seeing his dad. I put it off most of the last two weeks, having got caught up in the day to day affairs. Finally, I told him I would up with him  last Friday.  Gotten busy that day, I kept thinking I should call Sam. Finally, I got home Friday evening and my son texted me wondering if I had called Sam. I texted back and said I would call him now. I called, no answer on his cell, so I left a message telling him that we could go up Monday for sure.

Well, the next text I got from my son was that Sam had committed suicide, he had shot himself in the early morning before sunrise. Later in the day, when his dad heard the news, his dad shot and killed himself.

So I sit here as I write this, with great sorrow and guilt, I wonder if I had just taken the time to help Sam’s dad, would this have happened? I had run to help Sam twice before, but I feel like I failed him in the end.

John J. O’Dell

By the way I changed the name of the actual person involved  to protect the remaining family members. But this did happen last Friday

Bits & Pieces

The Runaway Prius – What Gives?

Let’s go over the bad press that Jim Sikes is getting and then I’m going to take his side in case he was telling the truth. (Some doubt there huh?)

Here’s some comments by >John Voelcker Car Expert:

“But in one sentence: There seems to be a growing possibility that Jim Sikes, the bankrupt, heavily indebted real-estate salesman who claims his 2008 Toyota Prius accelerated uncontrollably for more than 30 minutes on a San Diego freeway, is not telling the truth.

Overseen not only by Toyota field representatives but a Congressional staffer, NHTSA investigators were unable to replicate the behaviors Sikes describes in his car. Pressing hard on the brakes did in fact bring the car to a stop, over multiple tests.

Indeed, Sikes’ 2008 Toyota Prius has a “smart accelerator” function built into its throttle software: If both the brakes and accelerator are floored, it cuts power to the engine, making it impossible for the accelerator to overpower the brakes.”

So OK, if you put on the brakes and the accelerator quits working, how did Sikes burn his brakes out? The claim is that you can gently put on the brakes and then continue to accelerate. So you can gently put your brakes on and burn them out in a short period of time?

Here’s some more from John Voelcker

“The website The Truth About Cars rented a 2008 Toyota Prius to test the braking behavior. Its report is worth reading in full.

It concludes that Sikes could have applied the brakes at “moderate” pressure while continuing to accelerate, which would produce the smoking brakes and the worn-down brake pads that were observed by the investigators.”

OK, to defend Sikes a little more, I had a brand new 1999 Chevy Silverado. While in Sacramento, the engine fuel mixture started acting up and making the engine run rough. I took it into the Chevy dealer, he checked the on board computer and said the fuel mixture was OK. But then he came back after checking for fuel problems on 1999 Chevy trucks and stated that there was an upgrade for the on board computer that would fix the problem.

Now, I wish that was the end of the problems with that truck, but it wasn’t. I would drive the truck and try to come to a stop and the brakes wouldn’t work from time to time. Now that’s a thrill! To make a long story short, the Chevy dealer drove my truck several times, finally kept it for five days and could never recreate the problem.

I had to go to arbitration to get GMC to take my truck back. The reason I won in arbitration is that there were numerous cases just like mine on the web. The brakes wouldn’t work and the on board computer did not catch the problem. It didn’t catch the fuel problem and it didn’t catch the brake problem.

As I said before, I ran my 2005 Prius up to 50 mph on Brunswick Road and put it in neutral with no problem.  So my question to you and that everyone else is asking, why didn’t he put the car in neutral? The 911 dispatcher told him over and over to put the car in neutral and he completely ignored her. But let’s take that a little further. The driver of the runaway Lexus, who was a highway patrolman, did not put his Lexus into neutral. Of course you heard that he had a fatal crash that killed him, his wife and his daughter. So what happens, does a person panic when the car suddenly gets away from you? I don’t know.

So, who’s telling the truth, Mr. Sikes or the experts who say Mr. Sikes isn’t telling the truth? By the way, you can see they are really digging for dirt on this guy.

What do you think?

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker

Bits & Pieces, Nevada County Information

The Useless War on Drugs in Nevada County

Although this raid on a marijuana plot in North San Juan happened last September, I think it is still newsworthy.  The producer of this film makes a good analogy of pot growing versus farmers growing tobacco.

According to the video, the pot grower grossed over $1,900,000. More people die from using tobacco than any other drug on the market. Somehow, we don’t seem to be raiding too many tobacco growers. The number two killer drug is alcohol. One in ten deaths in Europe is alcohol related and one in twenty five world wide are alcohol related.  As far as I know, we’re also not doing drug raids on bars.
Death rate extrapolations for USA for Smoking 440,000 per year, 36,666 per month, 8,461 per week, 1,205 per day, 50 per hour. Note: this automatic extrapolation calculation uses the deaths statistic: 440,000 annual deaths each year are smoking-associated (CDC)  Average number of years of life lost because of smoking, 12 years.

Source: WrongDiagnosis.com

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctd–dipNOs

In 2000, 85,000 deaths were alcohol related and 17,000 deaths for all illicit drugs. In 2006, 38,396 persons died of drug-induced causes in the United States. This category includes not only deaths from dependent and non-dependent use of legal or illegal drugs, but also poisoning from medically prescribed and other drugs. It excludes unintentional injuries, homicides, and other causes indirectly related to drug use, as well as newborn deaths due to the mother’s drug use.”  Seems like the war on drugs isn’t working.

Source DrugWarFacts.org

I almost lost a son to drugs, so I know the pain and suffering that drugs can do to a family. So I am not a fan of any drug on the market, including tobacco, alcohol or marijuana.  However, it seems extremely meaningless to continue to fight a losing drug war when we take a blind eye to the number one and number two killer drugs. The money spent on drug wars could be used much more efficiently to cure  people who have a drug addiction, be it tobacco or any other drug on or off the market. Prohibition did not work, why do we think we can win the war on drugs?

As Carl Jung said: Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism.

What do you think?

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
Questions about Real Estate?
Call 530-263-1091

Bits & Pieces

Driver in Runaway Prius Afraid to Put Transmission in Neutral

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2005 Prius. This is the car model that I drive.

James Sikes claims his Prius runaway with him in El Cahon, California.  However, if you listen to the 911 call, the dispatcher repeatedly asked the man to put the car in neutral. He completely ignored the dispatcher’s attempt to help him. He later stated that he was afraid the car would go into reverse.

Yesterday, I drove my 2005 Prius on Brunswick Road at 50 miles per hour and very easily put my transmission into neutral without going into reverse.   I think if my car took off, I could care less if the car went into reverse.

I remember my high school days when I was just fooling around and going about 65 plus, I accidentally slammed my car into reverse. There were a lot of skid marks on the pavement, some weaving, but I got the car under control quickly.  Maybe, for James Sikes, it was just a panic situation and who knows what you do when you panic.

The picture above is what the transmission shift knob looks like on a Prius. Notice that you have only four positions. Reverse, Neutral,  Drive and Braking. The B is for engine braking. Living here in the mountains, I use that position constantly.  It has served me well, since I have 108,000 miles on my Prius and still have the original brakes. The driver could have also shifted to the B position which would also have the engine brake help him stop his car. Maybe he should have read the owner’s manual.

So I don’t know how you have enough presence of mind to dial 911 for help, yet ignore completely what they are telling you. You can hear the 911 call at 911 call of driver of Prius in trouble

Here’s a video of what happened.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P1V-DH4djw

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker

Bits & Pieces

While Shaving Bikini Area Driver Lacked Razor-sharp Focus

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Well, at least she wasn't texting.

BY ADAM LINHARDT Citizen Staff
alinhardt@keysnews.com

As authorities nationwide warn motorists of the dangers of driving while texting, Florida Keys law enforcement officers add a new caution: Don’t try to shave your privates, either.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers say a two-vehicle crash Tuesday at Mile Marker 21 on Cudjoe Key was caused by a 37-year-old woman driver who was shaving her bikini area while her ex-husband took the wheel from the passenger seat.

“She said she was meeting her boyfriend in Key West and wanted to be ready for the visit,” Trooper Gary Dunick said. “If I wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have believed it. About 10 years ago I stopped a guy in the exact same spot … who had three or four syringes sticking out of his arm. It was just surreal and I thought, ‘Nothing will ever beat this.’ Well, this takes it.”

If that weren’t enough, Megan Mariah Barnes was not supposed to be driving and her 1995 Ford Thunderbird was not supposed to be on the road.

The day before the wreck, Barnes was convicted in an Upper Keys court of DUI with a prior and driving with a suspended license, said Monroe County Assistant State Attorney Colleen Dunne. Barnes was ordered to impound her car, and her driver’s license was revoked for five years, after which time she must have a Breathalyzer ignition interlock device on any vehicle she drives, Dunne said. Barnes also was sentenced to nine months’ probation.

Barnes and Charles Judy were southbound in her Thunderbird at 11 a.m. when they slammed into the back of a 2006 Chevrolet pickup driven by David Schoff of Palm Bay. His passengers were a man and two women; the latter were treated for minor injuries at Lower Keys Medical Center, FHP spokesman Alex Annunziato said.

Schoff had slowed to about 5 mph to make a turn when the Thunderbird hit him, traveling about 45 mph, which was within the speed limit, Dunick said.

Barnes allegedly drove another half-mile, then switched seats with Judy, who allegedly claimed to be driving, Annunziato said.

“She jumps in the back seat and he moves over,” Dunick said. “It was like the old comedy bit, ‘Who’s on first?’ ”

Burns on Judy’s chest from the passenger-side airbag deploying belied their story, Dunick said. The airbag in the steering wheel did not deploy, he said.

Troopers charged Barnes with driving with a revoked license, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a wreck with injuries and driving with no insurance. Judy was not charged.

Barnes faces a maximum of a year in jail if found guilty of violating her probation due to the wreck, Dunne said.

“My phone has been ringing off the hook all day, and I know there’s a funny side to this, but it’s also deadly serious. This is a scary road and a lot of bad wrecks are caused by dumb stuff like this,” Dunick said. “It is unbelievable. I’m really starting to believe this stuff only happens in the Keys.”

Source: Courtesy and with permission Key West Citizen Newspaper

Written by Adam Linhardt
Police/Courts/Military Reporter for Key West Citizen Newspaper

Bits & Pieces, Local Writers & Contributors

Walking vs. running—which is better?

Photo Central Valley Activities Club

by Lisa J. Lehr

Looking for the ideal exercise? Whether you’re still trying to make good on a New Year’s resolution, thinking about the upcoming swimsuit season, or looking for a way to add variety to your workout routine, walking and running rise to the top of the list of possible choices.

For overall fitness, nothing beats walking and running. You need no expensive equipment; you don’t have to join a club or travel to a special place; you can do it at pretty much any time of day or year.

But which is better? Well, it depends. Here are the pluses and minuses of both.

Running:

·         burns more calories than walking in the same amount of time—because you travel farther running than walking. Mile for mile, however, the calories burned are the same. That’s because carrying your weight over a given distance burns the same number of calories regardless of speed.

·         raises your heart rate more than walking.

·         strengthens your bones more than walking because of the strain it creates.

·         strengthens your muscles more than walking—but only if you’re actually running, not jogging. In that sense, power walking (walking as fast as you can without breaking into a jog) is actually more effective than slow running.

·         is more likely to cause injury. When running, you impact (hit the ground) with three times your body weight on each step. Especially for people who are overweight, out of shape, or pregnant, the strain on the knees, hips, and ankles can be a problem. If you’re going to begin a running program, start slowly and gradually increase your distance and/or frequency.

Walking:

·         may be better for fat burning. According to Dr. Dean Ornish, a clinical professor of medicine at UC San Francisco: “When you run a mile, you’re burning mostly sugar, or carbohydrates, which is how your body gives you fast energy in bursts. When you walk a mile, it gives your metabolism time to switch from burning carbohydrates to burning fat.”

·         is easier on your joints. Walking causes an impact of only 1.5 times your body weight, yet is still a weight-bearing exercise that will prevent bone loss.

·         is easier to fit into many people’s schedules. You can do it on your lunch hour at work; you may need to change only your shoes and probably won’t need to shower afterward.

·         has a benefit if you live in the city and have to stop at traffic signals: the sudden stop from a running pace can be dangerous for your heart. It’s much safer to stop from a walk. If you have to stop at a light while running, try jogging in place.

·         allows you to enjoy the scenery more than running, which in turn may keep you from burning out as soon.

I’m going to add a reminder to vary your terrain to avoid one-sided leg pain, and try to disconnect from your iPod. We live in a friendly community full of natural beauty. Say hello to the neighbors you pass; listen to the frogs croak and the birds chirp; be alert to approaching cars.

So…walking or running? It’s really a matter of what works best for you. Walk, run, or do something else. Just do it.

Lisa J. Lehr is a writer, copywriter, and fitness enthusiast living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.

See related post by Lisa Walk For Health, But Stay Healthy And Pain Free
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Lisa J. Lehr
I write words that make you money–just ask me how.
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Bits & Pieces

America Wins Two Gold and Two Bronze Metals for Being Lazy!

Comparing us to 24 other countries, it seems that we have won two gold medals and two bronze. According to the Daily Beast:

“For the Couch Potato Olympics, we stuck with 24 countries in the developed world, as determined by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development-member countries that had extensive data available. The large majority of this list is Western—a byproduct of only ranking countries with accurate, reliable, and consistent data. (There was no Russian judge in this competition.)”

So here is the summation of our metals:

Calories per Day: 1st out of 24 (Gold)
Television Viewing: 1st out of 24 (Gold)
Sports Aversion: 3rd out of 24 (Bronze)
Internet Usage: 3rd out of 24 (Bronze)

To further expand our knowledge of how we are doing, here’s a video put together by some high school students.  There are four versions of this video, this is version one.

Did You Know; Shift Happens – Globalization; Information Age

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q

Did You Know? originally started out as a PowerPoint presentation for a faculty meeting in August 2006 at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado, United States. The presentation “went viral” on the Web in February 2007 and, as of June 2007, had been seen by at least 5 million online viewers. Today the old and new versions of the online presentation have been seen by at least 20 million people, not including the countless others who have seen it at conferences, workshops, training institutes, and other venues.

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
Because I care
Call 530-263-1091