Category Archives: Bits & Pieces

Bits & Pieces

“FBI” Informs Me I won the Lotto In Nigeria!

According to an e-mail from the “FBI” and the Anti-Terrorist and Monitory Crimes Division I have won $10,000,000 in Nigeria.   The Central Bank is holding this money for me.  The e-mail goes on to say that the FBI and the Anti-Terrorist and Monitory Crimes Division fully checked into my winnings and all I have to do is send someone in Nigeria $550 and I’ll get my money.

But, wait a minute, if they know that I’m really the winner, how come they don’t know my name, address and my telephone contact number?

Oh, I’m also advised by the “FBI” that I should be careful and not fall into a scam!  Wow, the crook is telling me to watch out for the crook!   The sad part is that these people make millions of dollars every year from Americans.  So remember if it’s to good to be true, it’s not true.   Anyhow here is the le-mail, it’s funny indeed.

“Anti-Terrorist and Monitory Crimes Division.

Edward John(FBI SPECIAL AGENT)
Chief Information Officer:Zalmai Azmi
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI.WASHINGTON DC.

Email: (Deleted)

FBI SEEKING TO WIRETAP INTERNET

READ CAREFULLY,

We the Federal bureau of investigation (FBI) Washington, DC in conjunction with some other relevant security Agencies here in the United states of America have recently been informed through our Global intelligence monitoring network that you presently have a transaction going on with the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), as regards to your lotto winning payment award which was fully endorsed in your favor accordingly by the government of Nigeria.It might interest you to know that we have taken our time in screening through this lotto winning payment notification as stipulated on our protocol of operation,and have finally confirmed that your lotto award payment is 100% genuine and legal with due process of law, and it is as well free from all illegal activities,which you have the lawful right to claim your fund without any further delay.Having said all this, we will further advise, that you should go ahead in dealing with the Central Bank payment officials as FBI will be monitoring all their services accordingly

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Bits & Pieces

Bits & Pieces in Nevada County

Walgreen's December 5, 2009
Walgreen's December 5, 2009

December 5, 2009

They continued work on the new Walgreen’s that’s coming in at the corner of Brunswick Road and Sutton Way. They paved the parking lot yesterday, just in time. Snow and rain is suppose to be here this coming week, at least that’s the latest forecast, which changes according to how the weatherman feels. If he’s depressed, a storm is coming in, if he’s happy, it’ll be sunshine.

How much money is in drugs anyway? We seem to have eight or ten pharmacies right now. With CVS, Rite Rite Aide and now Walgreens, I think there is a lot of money in drugs. Legal ones that is. Why is it that in any other industrial country, you can get the same prescription you buy in the United States so much cheaper?   The argument is the drug companies spend so much money in research that we have to pay for their research. How come the rest of the world doesn’t? It seems the only business that is growing right now are drug companies and drug stores. Anyhow, that’s my rant of the day.

Enjoy the holidays.

John O’Dell

Bits & Pieces

Bits & Pieces Nevada and Sierra County

Bridge to Court House and the gallows
Bridge to Court House and the gallows

November 28, 2009

I was in Downieville last weekend.  Seems like the place is shutting down, at least the restaurants are. In Sierra City the Red Moose closed during the summer and we were there for the last meal at the Buckhorn. Seems like the Buckhorn is closing for the winter.  In Downieville, the Wooden Trout went bankrupt and is closed.  So if you want a meal at night you are out of luck. All that’s open is a pizza place called the Gallows and a little restaurant in the local  grocery store. By the way, the restaurant makes great sandwiches.  Oh, there is only one grocery store, so you don’t have to worry about which one has the place to eat.

Not much happened this week, first the grocery stores were so busy you had a long line at the cash register with everyone buying food for Thanksgiving and then with black Friday there were long lines at the department stores. Wal-Mart stayed open 24 hours, JC Penny’s opened at 4 or 5 in the morning and I slept until nine.  The heck with going to the store at 5 am, I can spend my money at a decent hour.

Scotts Flat Lake continues to drop, waiting for the upper lakes that feed it to fill up. With the way the winter is going so far, it doesn’t look too good. You can argue if we have global warming or not, but you can’t argue with the fact that we’ve had some mighty dry years lately. The last thing we need is another dry winter. Interesting that people don’t want any more dams to store water and create hydro-electric power, but they want drinking water and clean energy, doesn’t compute, does it?

Single lane bridge on Hwy 49, newly painted
Single lane bridge on Hwy 49, newly painted

Oh, here’s a picture of the newly painted bridge in Downieville. I understand it took six weeks to paint the bridge. They had to completely enclosed the bridge so when they sandblasted the old paint none of the debris would fall into the river. The natives are happy that the bridge is open again. The detour was a real pain going through the narrow winding streets of Downieville.   By the way, did you know that Downieville missed being the state capitol of California by 10 votes? Hopefully this adds your trivia facts in case you ever get into a trivia contest.

Have a great holiday season.

John O’Dell

Bits & Pieces

Bits & Pieces in Nevada County

Gold Dredge
Gold Dredge

November 21, 2009 

I don’t know what happened this week. We were suppose to get some large storms starting Wednesday, but it faded to a small storm this Friday, with little rain and some minor snow fall.

Speaking of fall, it’s really here now in Nevada County, the weather has gotten colder and the trees have turned into the beautiful autumn colors.  We are in Downieville today, were the weather is somewhat milder because they are at the confluent of the Downie River and the Yuba River.  The rivers keep the weather cool in the summer time and the town from getting too cold in the winter.

It’s my understanding that the bears are still wandering around the town of Downieville because it’s not cold enough for them to hibernate. The mountain lions have been spotted around the hills and the deer go through town in groups of three or four.

The economy has been hurt here in Downieville because of the moratorium on dredging for gold in the river. I don’t understand what harm a little dredging can do to the river. I was here when the Downie and Yuba River flooded the town, swept away part of one bridge, and went into one of the local hotels and out the other side. I can tell you the boulders the size of small cars were being transported by the river and that did quite a lot more damage to the river than any gold dredging will do in a hundred years. 

My understanding is that the Fish and Game, along with the Forest Service has a bill in Congress to outlaw future flooding of the river by Mother Nature, with a potential fine to Mother Nature in the millions of dollars. 

The Keene family owners of Keene Engineering have been coming to Downieville for 60 years. They are makers of dredging equipment which is shipped throughout the world. Their equipment emoves mercury from the river and enhances the food supply for the fish and wildlife of the river.  Because of the dredging moratorium in California (a bill signed this year by governor Schwarzenegger), this was their last trip up here.  Of course this has hurt the local economy and tax base of Sierra County.