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Thank you Buppies and hope things improve for you and your wife.

37F going to a rainy 43F here in Formerly-Great California. Have a dilemma. A contractor has been doing repair work on my CA property for 3 months. He does quality work at a fair price. I like him. Out of the blue-- he left a VM last night saying he "really needs to talk to me." I think he is...

I think they were afraid to mess with you ... :D

Most weigh stations I've seen around here say: "No pickups."

Hope you improve Buppies. Seems you have a lot to handle. 32F going to 40F in snow showers today. Plan to transit Donner Summit today going to CA. Meeting an insurance adjuster on Saturday about the tree that penetrated our roof (and is still there.) A huge risk to even file a claim, will...

Touche! 😀

Unlimited supply in California ... :D

Well, nit-picking, but I would rephrase: A CPA is well worth the cost to increase the chances of keeping the IRS at bay. Many people do not know that the IRS evaluates not only tax payers, but also tax preparers. Why do you care? If you employ a CPA who is aggressive about deductions and...

The local tree company constantly asks me if I want free chips delivered. I'd like them but turn it down. My arborist advised to only use chips from material I process on the property. If the chips come from other places, you don't always know what is riding in with it. Various plant diseases, etc.

I obtained a USDOT number and quickly regretted it. I have tried to surrender and cancel the DOT number several times without success. Now extending over several years. I never put a commercial truck in service as things changed. You have to mail in a MCS form to make such requests. Each time...

Heading to a sunny 58F in Beautiful Northern Nevada. Spring is trying to emerge but the meteorologist says at least two more storms are headed our way. Snowpack exceeds 100% in all measured locations so that is very good for recreation and irrigation this summer. Hope everyone has a great day!!!

Back when the original IBM PC was introduced, "clone" computers were sold that were IBM compatible but for about half the price. Including a long warranty-- 5 years, lifetime, whatever. The components were cheap and substandard; hence, the low price. The local company sold these by the...

I discovered an odd quirk in building codes. At least in my CA county. The permit requirements to add a solar array are significant. But if you construct an ADU (accessory dwelling unit), adding solar is a requirement with no special permitting. Most people figure it would involve a few panels...

Maybe those pushing US consumers into buying EV's should consider the ramifications if that policy ends with the destruction of the US auto industry. Nah, too much to ask. 😀

More evidence why I chose to move away and stop contributing my taxes to a system out of control. I have nothing against transgender. But I oppose public policy to favor a 1 percent minority instead of a 99% majority. But, now that I am away, go for it! 😀...

How about a brand-new electric vehicle for $10,000? BYD is building them now. Even if that is doubled to meet US crash and other standards, at $20k they would gut the US auto industry. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/small-china-made-ev-global-auto-execs-politicians-edge-rcna145052

I agree completely. I have an 8 foot dual rotary cutter to maintain our pastures, and also a 58" front mounted mower on a Ventrac for mowing slopes. Due to the mashed-down stuff not getting cut from the rear cutter, I wind up using the Ventrac on the entire pasture. Over bumpy terrain it can...

32F going to a sunny 55F in Beautiful Northern Nevada. There was a hint of snowfall overnight-- but we did not get any. I am now officially a law-breaking scofflaw. I was recently running a burn pile. Nearby there was debris from house repairs I have done. Including painted wood. Painted wood...

Here is my take after reading the article: 1. The insurance industry, with competition, market forces, and supply and demand, worked before the government got involved. 2. The government got involved to "help." Then repeatedly denied rate increases which drove the industry into a ditch. 3...

Companies go bust all the time. Even big ones. Weekend Warrior RVs/trailers/toy haulers was riding the top of the market in 2006 with about $150m in sales. Bust 2 years later. https://rv-pro.com/news/toy-hauler-pioneer-mark-warmoth-dies-at-64/

A little off topic but I had a small owl come down the chimney once. Was quite an ordeal especially since we had glass doors on the fireplace so it could not get out into the room nor was able to fly back up the chimney. After much research, I closed off all room entrances and waited until...

The entire problem with this is: it is using common sense. The stupidity part is that it would be illegal in California for the insurers to do what you have written. Illegal. The insurers must ask permission from the Department of Insurance to adjust rates, and those requests are frequently...

Part of my forested rural property could benefit from reduction in fuels by removing some trees as well as slash and debris. A very obvious thing to do to lower risk of wildfire. I got an offer from a contractor to do this. With no payment to me, he would do the fire reduction risk work in...

It's the CPA screwup. The CPA likely has errors and omissions insurance. Can you toss it back in the lap of the CPA to resolve, either by paying what is due, or investing their effort to seek and claim a hardship exemption? If you have not yet done so, you can give a limited power of attorney...

Well that is one way of looking at it. But claims made to insurance companies is part of the business, and part of their actuarial calculations. What upended insurance in California was the voters. Proposition 103 required insurance companies to ask for "approval" before being allowed to adjust...

I never found "meet the team" nor did archive.com seem to be the correct site?

I stay with the same insurance company for decades or more and rarely re-shop coverage or cost. But I recently switched and found State Farm to be competitive and the local agent provides good service. The service provided by the local agent is key. I had a very poor agent in Northern Nevada...

With all the smash-and-grab crime, plus shoplifting, maybe they need to change their name to "Dollar Free" :D

Beyond my pay grade but I have a good contractor willing to travel there and do the repair. Waiting for an insurance adjuster to look at it first.

Insurance is a very difficult proposition since the property is in a high fire risk area. I'm insured now for $1,500/yr with a company that already pulled out of the CA market. If they cancel me, more likely since I filed a claim, replacing the insurance will likely be $5,000 per year. The...

I've wanted to purchase a lift for years. Can use it for many things. But the access, and the slope, might be a challenge for a lift. I am checking into it.

Years ago I had an orthotics company take a plaster cast of my foot. They used this to create a custom orthotic insert that slips into my shoes. Unlike over-the-counter orthotic solutions, their orthotic support was custom molded to my foot. Surprisingly, it is not soft like the...

Whether your fuel is red, green, or purple marmalade is not my point. At what point is law enforcement entitled to detain you without any hint of a criminal act? In California, the DUI checkpoints started as only on Christmas and Thanksgiving. Publicized in advance. Voluntary compliance only...

I don't use RED diesel in on-road vehicles. I'm more interested in the chipping away of our rights, in general, against search and seizure without probable cause.

Wow, I can hardly believe it but I did find a statute permitting tank inspections with no other probable cause (Montana). But I did find it interesting that the maximum fine for using RED diesel in a highway vehicle is $500, also the same fine for refusing to allow an inspection. If I had RED...

Ron- great bird pix as usual !!! Been a little busy here in Formerly-Great California. My wife and I own a ski cabin in the Sierra Mountains. Got a call a tree top snapped off and penetrated the roof. Went to visit and confirmed part of a tree trunk is sticking into our living room. Repairing...

Seems the tax authorities have discovered electric vehicles. This article states that a trend is developing to add more taxes to EV owners. I was wondering when the movement would start to collect such fees in order to: - build more charging stations, - recoup the incentive provided to buy the...

My grandfather said things were better when he was young. My father said things were better when he was young. I believe things were better when I was young. So, on one hand, maybe it is a rite of passage. But the difference is-- today we have a $34T debt. My dad and grandfather did not.

Greece is the canary in the coal mine. I have not looked at these circumstances for a while-- so I am likely close on the facts but maybe not perfect. (correct me if you wish.) The politicians there amassed a huge debt, kept spending, and used the age-old tactics of blaming their predecessors...

it's even weirder than many people think. When my wife and I first moved to Nevada, we bought a brand new home in a Del Webb development. Close to the border, our intention was to live there a majority of the time, as actual residents, while we wound things down in CA. We moved and lived there...

I somewhat do not agree that choosing not to play in a rigged game is tantamount to quitting. Some quick math reminded me of the enormous amount of tax dollars I was contributing to a system that spends it in ways I oppose. Like expensive benefits for classes of people who never contributed a...

Test that out by moving to California. :D

For me the clown world started with Prop 187 in California. The voters, in an election, chose to deny government benefits to illegal immigrants. Those in support of such benefits had seen their impending defeat, so they went shopping to find a "friendly" judge. The day after the proposition...

Hello all!! Showers this morning headed to 51F in Northern Nevada. Within 6-8 days we have a chance to hit 70F. Heading over snowy Donner Pass today, but should be a breeze. Might try pulling a trailer as chain controls should be down by afternoon. We now have all the snowpack / water content...

Like when a storm washes it out, and it's time for each party to pony up equal $$ shares for repairs? 😀

This is pretty much a mess. Your blue marking obscured whether part of the 8 foot access is also part of a developed street, but it appears that it is. If so that is a negative. Also, there appears to be another road or driveway that crosses the 8 foot strip. If so, another negative. In...

And ketchup too. I worked at a restaurant where a patron gave the ketchup bottle a mighty shake. Except the prior patrons had left the lid unscrewed. It went into the lady's hair at the next table, which also turned out to be a wig. 😀

Couple of thoughts: A common theme among skeptics of man-made climate change is the "man made" part. This is coupled with suspicion about political motives to stifle fossil fuels, enact regulatory changes, raise taxes, etc. There seems to be plenty of examples of politicians trying to use local...

Things were never the same after Lloyd Lindsay Young left Sacramento. 😀

A significant piece missing from the graphic is failed marriages. Last I knew over 50% of marriages ended in divorce, cutting assets in half. At the time of an IPO, an associate of mine had his company stock options vest into $10M in value. He worked many years earning those. A week later his...

Agreed. The land subsidence in the CA central valley is shocking.

I have training in meteorology, and I find our local weatherman to be quite knowledgeable and informative. It is an inexact science but his forecasts are pretty reliable. He's not a young babe in a tight dress but you can't have everything. 😀 My only beef is wanting solid information on...

I planted about 30 and over a 3-4 year period of time I have lost 2 or 3. The rest are doing quite well.

I have a very old apple orchard with mature trees dying out. I have planted about 30 apple trees over the years to keep the apples coming. Beware of deer so you need to protect the young trees. I use t-posts and wire fencing around each apple tree. I started the fence area too small, then made...

We are now a little above average on snowpack in the Sierra mountains, and way above average on snowpack water content. A few nights ago, my local meteorologist said that this winter is evidence of climate change. Because although we have a normal snowpack, we were a bit behind on snowpack...

The 6% who think they could beat a grizzly must be friends of Tim Treadwell. 😀 https://allthatsinteresting.com/timothy-treadwell

I'm so sorry to read this. My wife and I can relate to the pain. In late December, we had "one more night" with our loving Golden Retriever before having to put him down. Like your dog, he had terrible GI issues plus more. It's terrible to reach the end of the line and I hope you can find some...

I'm surprised by a $10/hr wage rate in your area. Just goes to show how many differences exist in our same Country. In CA, minimum wage is $16/hr, but few earn that little. $20/hr to $23/hr is more common. Starting in April, $20/hr becomes the new legal minimum wage. I will guess the $$ will go...

Don't want to hijack the thread-- so this is my last post on this subject. Things got weirder after my company quit contracting due to the minority participation requirement. We started getting solicitations that, for payment of a fee, a "minority owned company" would sign a certification they...

My company used to do technology projects for the State of CA. Then a new imposition came along requiring minority owned participation in all contracts. The only way we could complete the contracts we had already been awarded was to go find some minority-owned company, somewhere, and...

36F going to 50F and occasional showers here in Northern CA. Spring cleanup will start soon, and it is usually a lot of effort. Last year I burned 81 large piles of debris, but that was a very unusual winter. I have a 17 year old nephew who finishes school in early June. He wants to get a job...

If you get the chance, take Amtrak between Sacramento and Reno sometime. Preferably in Spring or Fall when snow is on the ground. Beautiful scenery except transiting through downtown Sacramento.

That is such great news and we hope he keeps it up!! :D 39F going to 49F at our ranch here in Formerly-Great California. Yesterday we drove over I-80 Donner Summit through the tail end of the Blizzard. We first tried to get to CA via Carson City and Hwy 50. But got turned around-- Highway...

Great news and we are waiting to hear of the continued improvement!!!

A crisp clear 25F headed to 38F today in NV. The Blizzard found us-- had snow "tornadoes" at the house. But we only got 1-2 feet of snow. Less than forecast. Not far from us got 4 feet. The Sierras got slammed. No totals yet but probably 10+ feet. Closing Interstate 80 for 1 day is a *huge*...

I am very supportive of law enforcement. Have flown aerial missions in support of them donating my plane and paying for the fuel. But I have to agree with your statement. Here was a famous case from our region...

Not disputing this, but I wonder how they do that with seemingly no legal reason to do a traffic stop and detain?

Prayers for them and for you as well. We have a family member with some instability-- it is a very rough patch. 27F this morning. The Blizzard arrived at our house yesterday. Half a foot of snow overnight. Heavy snow forecast for today. More snow tomorrow. Power is out at our CA place so all...

35F going to a blustery 40F today. Snow comes tomorrow. Donner Summit got hammered by blizzard yesterday. The storm came early, which means it will be stronger than forecast. I am surprised, as of now, I-80 is still open. The snow forecast for tomorrow was initially 31 inches, then it updated...

Great story!

That is scary! 2 miles wow.

Know the feeling. I have 4 now but miss the old ones. My '75 Norton 850 Commando was probably the most fun to ride. Here is a another bike I owned ... oldie and goodie and I actually owned two different ones. Suzuki GT750 "Water Buffalo."

He does *not* look happy! Great pix ...

I used to put up with the YT ads. But for some reason, when I switched to Duck Duck Go browser, I've never again seen an ad on YouTube.

Hope everyone has a great day!! 40F now, but temps will decline soon when the huge Blizzard Blast hits. Everyone here has stocked food, filled vehicles with fuel, secured outdoor objects, and prepared for power outages. This is a big storm coming. 10 feet of snow in the next 4 days over...

Stepping back a little, my opinion is you already have the thing of greatest value. You took loving care of your mom, being generous of your time. The other siblings did not. And so my point is-- the value, and memory, of knowing how you took care of your family, over time, is more important...

In my opinion, not a good idea. You can easily pollute the pool of buyers. You are not selling in a hot market. It is not a pristine property. Interest rates make purchasing expensive. And ... drum roll ... there was a recent inheritance, now three siblings are involved, and they don't agree...

There are two schools of thought: - a parent appoints their most loved and trusted child as Executor; or, - a parent appoints their leave favorite child as executor for revenge. Obviously your Mom loved you deeply and chose the first option. But the second option exists because it is...

Did someone say snow? Here is what starts tomorrow: BLIZZARD WARNING ISSUED: 2:00 AM FEB. 28, 2024 – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO 10 AM PST SUNDAY... * WHAT...Extremely dangerous to impossible travel from blizzard conditions Friday into...

Unusual rainbow-shaped cloud band looking East before sunrise this morning.

Coffee and aspirin: The Breakfast of Champions! I've had that occasionally but not for a long time. Usually after too much partying in my young and stupid days. (Now I am old and stupid ... 😀 )

26F going to 40F today. Tomorrow, the you-know-what hits the weather fan. A blizzard warning was posted for Donner Summit. We are on the back side of the Sierras, and should get 3-4 feet of snow in 2 days with winds up to 65mph. Up to 10 feet of snow at the summit. I-80 will close without...

Have you considered adding a watermark to images before posting? Oops- just caught up on messages and see you are now doing this!

We have found the Costco lasagna to be excellent. It's the only food we buy there.

Good morning all! Starting Thursday, the forecast is for 81 inches of snow over Donner Summit. More than 6 feet of snow with most of it on Thu, Fri, and Sat. That much snow will fully erase our "mild winter" into a normal winter. Unfortunately I'm going to get stuck on the CA side. Probably...

Much to consider. But you already knew that. 😀 Regarding upgrades for a higher selling price, I doubt that the will or trust suggested or required the siblings to launch a three-sibling joint-venture speculative real estate venture based on "Mom's property." Those are risky even with...

btw that was a very smart thing to do, as you want to establish current market value for several reasons, including identification of the stepped up basis amount.

Very sorry to learn this and I've worked with others who traveled down a similar miserable road. How qualified are the siblings with real estate? New to the business, lots of years of experience, salesperson vs broker, etc? Obviously this triggers questions about who fronts the $100k (which...

#1. Ordered pallet forks in May 2021, delivered in July 2021.

I did some further research on the vendor I had problems with. Numerous complaints about "fake" shipping status, plus a lot of complaints about providing used products when new was advertised. It seems if a vendor "prints" a shipping label-- that triggers Amazon to report the product has...

Checked a Ford dealer in Reno NV. They are adding a $5,000 premium above MSRP even for a gas engine. $82,600 and its not even a King Ranch. My how things have changed since I bought a truck ...

My GMC 2500HD had its first brake job at 140,000 miles. Even with my history of towing. Definitely from having an exhaust brake, which was factory on the 2011 model. When I test drove the 2011 GMC I didn't know such a feature was available. But .... there it was! I'm kicking around what was...

A few interesting items from the various pleadings ... Between June and August 2022, TC Corriher requested and received under the Construction Loan the Withheld Funds. TC Corriher withheld this money from its general contractor (Neill Grading) but did not inform Plaintiff, did not otherwise...

Scott, how do you form that center seat section on a band saw?

Our last Golden was definitely a hyper dog. But for my wife and I, it worked out great as everything was amplified-- even all the good stuff. I seriously considered removing the surgical staples myself using snap ring pliers. My wife thought I was crazy. The tool the doc uses is similar to...

Here is a pix of the Pantera at the airport one day. And a pix of my beloved Golden Retriever at a car show some time ago. He was just a little guy back then ... quite the chick magnet.

I did. It has been a few years, so forgive me if I have the exact numbers wrong. I recall that, as an employer, I paid "my" 7.5% into social security, plus paid the "employer" contribution of 7.5% because *I* was the employer. So, 15% of my earning went to social security. Then, I recall...

Before this, I have never had a refund on Amazon. In this case, the vendor very quickly agreed to provide a refund. Then about 12 hours later Amazon sent an email with the "good news" a refund was issued ... lol.

Hopefully my experience might help others purchasing online. Although I try *not* to buy on Amazon, I recently ordered a number of items. All orders were fulfilled except one. I ordered Feb 12, on Feb 16th the status changed to "shipped," and on Feb. 21st status changed to "out for delivery."...

Well, there is certainly much to consider. Thank you for all of the responses. We have smaller "daily driver" vehicles, even though I prefer driving the current diesel pickup. So, I could lower the accumulated miles on the existing truck by restricting it to only tow situations. Maybe avoid the...

Must be a very powerful bank. Around here only courts issue restraining orders. :LOL:

That is such a scary thing to witness. And-- you are helpless to do anything except provide comfort. Our beautiful Golden Retriever we just lost had a first seizure at age 5. Before that, never had a dog that had a seizure. Long story short, after some additional seizures, we put him on a low...

Thanks Kyle. I appreciate that. Its bittersweet to search for a puppy after losing your best friend. We found a top quality breeder who introduces puppies to bird retrieval and waterfowl hunting. I'm not (yet) a hunter but maybe it is another dimension to interact with a future "best friend."...

Every time I hear a politician criticizing "greedy business owners" I remember that 90% of those who try fail within the first year. Often wiping out their life savings.

Well that would certainly take the fun out of it .... 😀

I checked that and found a number offered around $75k. I also checked a Chevrolet dealer in Northern NV that has diesel trucks at $90,000+ MSRP. And on top of MSRP, they are adding $2,500 - $5,000. So, close to $100k. Yikes. Seems odd to find more than 20k difference between competing models...

Sorry to learn this. We lost our dog almost 2 months ago and my wife and I are still very upset. You might consider a web search for grief and pet loss. There are some valuable bits of information that does not lessen the pain but at least makes it a bit more understandable. It may be helpful...

I am usually towing something. Either a dump trailer filled with topsoil or gravel, or an equipment trailer with a tractor sometimes or other things. I really like the diesel for torque and engine brake. There are very long downhill stretches coming down Donner Summit, miles and miles in...

Personal use. Considering the interest rates now, I would pay cash.

I would like to have a new 3/4 heavy duty diesel pickup. My 2011 GMC 2500HD has given me excellent service. I have maintained it well, its running fine now, but since it has over 250k miles I am thinking of getting a new one. Now 13 years old, I feel I need to re-start the clock on a new truck...

Seems too many folks are under the weather right now. I wish you all better health and a speedy recovery! 25F going to 48F today in Beautiful Northern Nevada. With recent storms we are close to an average winter. So, plenty of summer water for recreation and agriculture. We miss our dog...

Ted Corriher, who served as general contractor on the home, said he built the mansion with 96 tons of steel Maybe that clears up a few questions ... 😀

Beautiful sky pix Ron, thanks! 35F headed to 50 in Beautiful Northern Nevada. It's still snowing in the Sierras, but very little landing in Nevada. Here's a trail cam pix from last year of some "new arrivals" ...

Glad to learn no one lost any money. 😀

There is so much that is unknown. Much likely only known by the owner. I ran a successful business for decades with a strong balance sheet and long history of profits. Rarely used lending. But each time I did seek or need a loan, I was required to put personal assets up for collateral. Enough...

We lost our dog, unexpectedly, at the end of December. We still grieve his loss. I recall past times where our dog wanted play or attention, but I had work to do. You can't stop life or necessary chores based on a family pet's wishes. But when we get another dog, I'm going to reset my "scales"...

If you have a secret on how to do that, by all means please share!! 😀 32F and pouring buckets of rain in Beautiful Northern Nevada. Headed to 53F. California is getting walloped with an atmospheric river. Most is staying West of the Sierra Nevadas, but even so, its a ton of water here in...

Running a business involves risk. But requiring payment in advance of receiving a product or service transfers much of that risk to the customer. What is regrettable is that it also increases the number of customers hurt when things go south. Here is another memorable company that required...

That is really good to hear. Glad it is working well somewhere!

Sounds miserable. Hope you improve soon. Chicken soup? On that same note, I hope everyone has a wonderful day!! 30F headed to 48F here in Beautiful Northern Nevada. Headed to CA today. Travel on I-80 over Donner Summit should be good. We are scheduled on Friday to see our dog's brother from...

In CA there is a never ending blame game. After receiving years of schooling, Johnny fails math and cannot read. So who is to blame? Parents blame the schools. Teachers blame the parents. There becomes a push for testing student achievement to create some sort of measurement or accountability...

Gosh how could I forget the California Lottery? "The California State Lottery began in October 1985 after voters authorized it in Proposition 37, the California State Lottery Act of 1984....The earnings provide supplementary funding for public education.... The Lottery Act was intended to...

I only know part of the circumstances. But one thing that is universal is to have good documentation of events. That helps in every case if it has to escalate. I think I would begin sending letters to your neighbor as you encounter added work or damage. Remember that such letters are more...

There was a $220M "educational" bond measure in CA a while ago to "buy books for Johnny and ensure he isn't in a classroom with a leaky roof." The anti-tax crusaders (Howard Jarvis) offered to SUPPORT the bond if it was written into the bond that they money could not be hijacked for other...

why did the neighbor do that?

Neighbor problems like this are so difficult. Hope you can resolve it.

I will never walk past our chest freezer again without thinking of you! Hope you are feeling better Buppies ..... 32F headed to 51F in Beautiful Northern Nevada. After the storm passes, we will make a sad trip to CA. A little over a month ago, our beloved Golden Retriever passed. He was only 8...

Agreed. Nevada faces the same issue with Las Vegas/Clark County basically controlling the state. But what $$ gets ultimately spent on is at least somewhat less stupid here. 😄

There are some wonderful rural areas of CA that you can live in. I still own property in CA including one "gem" of a rural property that is tremendous. But, if you legally reside and work in CA, you cannot escape that your work and labor is taxed, and then those taxes go to pay for things you...

Good morning all .... 27F headed to 50F in Beautiful Northern Nevada. Donner Summit is expecting 16" of snow tomorrow. Good for the snowpack. If full recovery from surgery is defined as becoming grouchy and agitated wanting to get out and do things-- then I am recovered. Doc not scheduled to...

Maybe one more Nevada vs. California comparison: A few years ago, we built a luxury residence in Nevada, over 5,000 sq ft. Brand new construction-- building permit cost was $3,100. I am currently considering whether or not to build a 1,200 sq ft residence in California. Less than 25% of the...

There are so many reasons and descriptions why I left CA that it would be impossible to fit here. Maybe instead summarize that moving to Northern Nevada was a very good decision we are quite pleased with. Just one example, are others aware you need a government issued "permit" to purchase a...

If anyone can do it, you can! Great pix ron ....

Not 100% sure because the registration number is not visible in the pix. But, based on its distinctive paint, I think it is aircraft VP-BLK based in Guangzhou Baiyun in China. If that is correct, here is a pix of the same plane at its home airport.

Hope that works out. Some things of value are difficult to give away. I gave away a nice acrylic portable spa. It took forever. I finally had to trailer it to someone in order to get rid of it. 26F going to sunny 50F in Beautiful Northern Nevada. Another foot of snow expected at Donner Summit...

Just a difference in climate. At our residence in Nevada, snow that falls is typically gone within a few days. We recently received a foot of snow, and within a week almost all of it was gone. In California, a good snowpack in the Sierra Mountains provides water for irrigation and recreation...

Nice photo of a flower-- thanks! 27F, going to a sunny 50F here in Formerly-Great California. Good news is found no blown down trees following the recent storm and high winds. Have not checked the more remote parts of the property so that will have to wait for Spring. btw we have quite a...

25F and clear, headed to 40F in Beautiful Northern Nevada. Will be off to CA today as soon as it gets light. Hope the storm damage is minimal. Thomas we are in the opposite situation. Need more snow. I learned last night the Sierra snowpack is 2/3 of normal for this time of year. Next major...

Oops. My bad. I read it as priority on arrival. So, I am 99% wrong. The 1% was a mission I flew for a law enforcement agency. After the earthquake in San Francisco, there was high urgency to get something into the city. Using a ground vehicle was very risky as traffic disruptions were extreme...

A lot of factors come into play, but in light traffic situations, the tradition is whoever has the highest fuel burn rate gets priority.

Sounds good Ron. Some improvement must be welcome. Nice deer pix! 27F headed to a sunny 40F in Beautiful Northern Nevada. I did not make it to CA yesterday. Going today instead. Need to see how many trees got blown down in recent wind storm. Travel will be easy. Last week, doc warned about...

Nice electronic flight director. Best I ever had was a traditional flight director. Can't tell for sure-- does it require maybe 1 or 2 degrees nose up to hold altitude at FL450?

Great pix with the blowing flag in the background. It is humbling to be there and consider the sacrifices our veterans have made.

Thank you, doing great and no complaints. I got agitated sitting around so much and am up doing projects now ... good sign.

Good morning all!! 27F going to a mostly sunny 40F in Beautiful Northern Nevada. May head to CA today to investigate damage from recent storms ... neighbors reported trees snapping in high winds last Sunday. Hope everyone has a great day ...

Bumping this up-- was there any consensus about these diesel heaters? I'd like to try one, but don't want to purchase a headache ...

That looks like it will be fantastic when finished! 25F going to 35 in Beautiful Northern Nevada. Still waiting to learn amount of mountain snowpack increase after the deluge.

Ron's pix quality rocks-- no question. 25F and clear in Beautiful Northern Nevada this morning. The High Sierra mountains got 3 feet of snow recently, pushing the week's total to 5 feet. We were "behind" an average winter, and now are pretty close. Hope everyone has a great day today ...

Wow that pix really captured the fury of this recent storm. Close to forecast, we got 10" of snow, not a foot as expected. As of 4am it warmed to 35F with a little rain-- should be a nice mess by later today. Came across another Blue Heron pix at my pond ...

Know the feeling. My Dad built a stick-built house using 100% his own labor except concrete. It burned to the ground years later. CalFire chose not to fight a "puny" 1/4 acre fire in a remote area because it posed no threat. That fire eventually grew and turned into a huge conflagration...

Good morning all!! Hope everyone has a terrific day!! 30F here in Beautiful Northern Nevada. A little snow before daybreak, but storm seems a little behind schedule. Should drop 1ft of snow at the house and 3 feet over Donner Summit today. Don- blown away by the garden! Makes my wifes garden...

Thanks-- had little choice to transit Donner Summit (7,000+ feet) ahead of the big storm. Forecast actually worsened-- now 26 inches of snow just tomorrow alone:

Thanks! I have heard rumors that river otters also attract the pointy thingy!! 😀

Everyone have a good day!!! 28F headed to 41F here in Beautiful Northern Nevada. Doc opened me up yesterday, patched things up, went perfect. Wife drove me home to Nevada through snow, ice, heavy traffic, spinouts, chain controls, and complete shutdowns of I-80 several times. Took almost 10...

Probably can't post tomorrow-- Dr. is going to work me over and I will be laid up for a while. :( So, I found a pix for Ron that I could post tonight-- a Blue Heron that hangs out near our pond.

There is much more to this story, but I cannot reveal it just yet. A hint is that although laws regarding privacy and secretly recording others are quite explicit, and quite strict in many states, some exemptions exist for certain agencies/orgs to legally circumvent those laws. Then if the...

Another great picture Ron, thanks! Our big storm has arrived. It poured all night long here in formerly-great CA. 40F going to a rainy 48F today. Transited Donner Pass yesterday with no chain controls. Getting back will be different. Heavy snow, and the summit is over 7,000 ft. Here is the...

I just had an interesting discussion about utility companies using drones. My CA property cannot be seen from the street, so we have a high expectation of privacy. What if the util co flies its drone over with camera on looking at us? btw State Farm just sent an insurance renewal notice...

39F going to a v-e-r-y windy 58F in Beautiful Northern Nevada. Big storm coming. 5 feet of snow over Donner Summit in the next 5 days. I have no choice but to drive through the jaws of the storm twice. To CA, then back to NV, through the snow, ice, mess, and chain controls. I drive carefully...

There is one sentence with some very ambiguous language in their petition. I believe their true intention is to be relieved of having to provide service, but also escape limits on rates if they continue to provide service. Since it would make sense to maximize an asset already in place. Our...

I still don't understand why you want the land. If you need the land to make money in order to justify its cost, and there is no viable way that can happen, your decision is already made. But if you want to lock it up because it is an adjacent parcel, for perceived value or to prevent...

We have a landline in Northern CA. Keep it mostly to receive info on any fire emergency in the area. Just received a notice that AT&T has petitioned the CA Public Utilities Commission to be relieved from the obligation to provide land line service in our area. So it looks like that service is...

If you have not done so, you might consider formalizing that to become an option to purchase, or first right of refusal, that is recorded against the deed at the County. It would be customary to pay the parcel owner some agreed amount to add that encumbrance to the title. But it is done all the...

No one has suggested just waiting it out. Before long, global warming will dry up the river. Then back up to the pile with your pickup and a chain saw to make firewood. Might have to season it a bit longer though. :LOL:

44F going to a sunny 62-- in formerly-great CA. Hope everyone has a great day!! Last winter was so extreme that I still haven't been able to get to remote parts of my property. But I did some hiking yesterday, retrieved pictures from a trail camera back there, and found this plus more:

Our ranch farmhouse was built in 1886, way past its prime, drafty, etc. To say the least. So, although an ADU is usually added to house "another" family, it is my wife and I who would use and enjoy it. And maybe a guest or two. We learned yesterday you are also allowed to have an RV pad/hookup...

Hope you feel better Ken. Really sucks to not feel well and hope it improves soon!

200 and 1/2 mile-- precision approach?

Pop, Scott, and Ron ... great pix thanks for sharing! Back in formerly-great California, its 41F headed to 56F and a clear day today. Visited the County Building Dept yesterday. Am considering building a 2nd residence "ADU" (accessory dwelling unit) somewhere on our land. New CA laws reduced...

Me either. Seems like a different job almost if only 3 feet of water. 😀

Maybe a first impression would be to excavate down and set a very strong, shore based concrete anchor in the ground. Then use that along with a gear reduction device or block and tackle etc. to enhance pull strength. As a log is winched to shore and runs aground, pick it up with your excavator...

Prayers for you and your family. A terrible tragedy like this can never be made better or overcome. The pain from loss only lessens a bit over time. Strength to you to get through these future days ...

Questions: - is your customer seeking a fixed price bid or are they open to (open ended) time and materials? - is the scope of work only logs visible or does it also include a submerged pile down to the river bottom? - is it possible to bid the job and receive a carve out that you are not...

Very helpful, thank you!

I ran into this issue with Hulu. We are in Northern Nevada but the Starlink "ground station" frequently reports Los Angeles, CA. Several times Hulu wanted a lot of information to prove we were really in Nevada. That has completely gone away now, although once in a while I am asked to allow Hulu...

Ron, found a photo for you of a woodpecker on our property ...

33F headed to 49F here in Beautiful Northern Nevada. Our winter is slightly lower than normal. Supposed to be another 5 inches of snow over Donner Pass tomorrow and we hope it keeps coming. Got to build that snowpack to have water for the summer!

For years, manipulating or copying photos, including batch copy, was very easy using Windows explorer. Then I ran into Apple or Google's photo storage. Those systems have barriers to make it slow and difficult to get your pictures out. I think they hope you get so frustrated you just give up. Of...

What type of aircraft do you fly?

Apologies for inaccurate information. Yes I recall DirecTV was just starting to offer streaming when we made the switch. We were paying upward of $150 per month and Hulu Live TV was $60/mo when we signed up. Not the same packages of course, but we get all we want with Hulu. It has since...

I think Starlink residential is sort of welded to a specific location. I have one Starlink residential in NV, one in CA, and a 3rd Starlink "RV" for traveling/motor home. One quirk about streaming through Hulu is their definition of a "main TV." Somehow they know if you use a big screen TV vs...

ps I added Peacock network for $6/mo so we could watch the KC Chiefs football game. After the 30 days is up I'll probably cancel it as Hulu provides what we need ....

I had DirecTV for many, many years. Ranged from very good experiences to poor at times. A few years ago we ditched it and went all streaming. Many of our TV's can run streaming apps natively, such as the streaming app Hulu. We pay about $70/mo for Hulu Live TV plus, so we get live broadcasts...

Phil, you do awesome woodworking. I mentioned before how similar the grain pattern in one of your pieces is to a box I made from a sugar pine tree. I experimented with the japanese "shou sugi ban" method of wood burning for a finish. Used a torch on it, then light sanding. It looks OK for a...

That is so correct. I saw Glen Campbell at one of his last concerts on the "farewell tour." He would remember lyrics and words, forget them mid-song, and need prompting to catch up. But his guitar playing was absolutely perfect and unchanged. So sad. 36F going to cloudy 53F here in Beautiful...

I built a retaining wall recently. My little 24hp Massey tractor dug a good sized trench through extremely hard, rocky, miserable ground with embedded large boulders. The ground was so hard the 12" bucket just bounced off the hardpan. I downsized to a 6" bucket. I rented a Multiquip plate...

I was also unable to read it. My father was a plumber. Even more than 50 years ago, he would plumb houses to automatically circulate water without using a pump. (very low flow of course.) Just the heat from the water heater along with a rise in the copper pipe. I don't know exactly how he did...

Had to look it up-- learn something new all the time! It's again the ... "Perfect 36" ... this morning in Beautiful Northern Nevada. Headed to a cloudy 53F today. Here is a before-sunrise pix not long ago ...

If you embed your safe combination inside a secret code, you could post the combination on the door of your safe and only your family would know how to get it. Say your birthday is 01-02-50. And the safe combination is 22-33-44. Write a number down of 012202335044. If you family knows to...

Ooohhh that sounds good Scootr. I can taste it from here. It's the ... "Perfect 36" ... degrees in Beautiful Northern Nevada now. Headed to a cloudy 52F today. Winter Storm Watch is active for the Sierra Nevada mountains. Should get 2 feet of snow up there soon. Our winter started out a bit...

This is incredibly helpful. Thanks for posting. I will purchase it today for a PC that needs it.

What kind of wood is that? Last year my neighbor gave me his huge dead sugarpine that had recently fallen. I milled lumber out of it and it looks about identical to the top one. (Sugarpine is a little rare around here.)

Wow what a catapult back in time. Forgot all about Visicalc. It revolutionized the PC.

33F going to a 54F, clear day here in Formerly-Great CA. Got a rare nature show yesterday. Wife said: "look!" Just off our outdoor deck, two bald eagles were circling. One then landed while the other circled above. It was on the ground for 3-4 seconds, then they flew away together. Maybe a...

I did not mention this as we had the advantage of doing new construction. But I will chime in if this is of any additional help. We built a residence with garage on one side and two master suites and bedrooms on the other. I wanted one tankless at the bedrooms, one tankless near the garage...

We went tankless in our new residence and like it. We never run out of hot water which is very nice. Our plumber strongly suggested they do an annual service to flush sediments/deposits out of it. Which reminds me, its time to do that again. For the longevity of the unit.

There is a political element and an economic element. I won't delve into the political element, obviously. Regarding the economic element ... whoops ... that ties back to the political element. :LOL: btw my budget to build a 1,000ft residence, here in CA, is $500k. It will be very close to...

ooohhh that makes great firewood ...

Costs are so variable by location. Not far away, we built a 5,000+ sq ft residence in Northern Nevada for a permit fee of $3,000. The bigger issue in CA was the County demanded a $155,000 road improvement or they would not issue a permit. So, nearly $200k in admin fees *before* you start...

Maybe you could instead fall in love with the "mini" version.... :D