Third Eye viewings at Oxbow Park, part two: The scarred trees

Oxbow Nature Study Park, November 2008

More photos have been added to the Oxbow Nature Study Park photo set that I have established at Flickr as “The Rebirth of Oxbow Park”. 

Here you can see how the fire last April affected many of the trees there.  Also, note the new and expanded trail that they are building there.  Here’s the link to that photo set:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28424275@N06/sets/72157609535220095/

More pictures will be added soon: Beaver Pond, shots along the river and along the main trail.

Third Eye wanderings in the land of Facebook, #1

It seemed that several months before the election, my email inbox exploded with a sudden flood of invites by all sorts of people to be their “friend”.  To be sure, most were actually friends already, largely from toiling in Reno’s political fields, but still…..In any event, I became reacquainted with Facebook after initially signing on in 2006 (where I mostly linked up with people promoting Evan Bayh for President).

Local, regional, state wide, and national politicians are all using Facebook as a networking tool.  And, so are activists and movement promotoers of all stripes.  Creating a group is one way people go in order to link up with those with a similiar outlook or “cause”.

All this activity has not died out after the election.  In fact, it only seems to be picking up steam. 

For now, I’ll just share three things going on right now.  I don’t get a chance to spend too much time delving into Facebook’s many groups, but will over time try to find all the interesting Reno related groups.

A couple of days ago I joined the group “Buy Local” after seeing that one of my friends (Byllie Andrews, candidate for the Assembly) had joined this group.  (All this info about friends’ activities is posted on your home page at Facebook.)  The group was created by John Murphy from Reno News and Review.

(Last night on the local Channel 2 news I saw a report on a Black Friday event involving a chartered bus taking people around to many local shops to get their gift shopping done with local merchants.  Morning starts apparently with champagne.)

Facebook “Buy Local” group:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=53256081512

Assemblyman David Bobzien is the creator of a new group that I recently joined also, called “Nevada2020″.  This group is devoted to examining how we can “overhaul Nevada’s financial structure” so that we are not vulnerable and at the whim to boom or bust cycles in the economy.  (See http://www.nv2020.com)
 
Facebook’s “Nevada2020″ group:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=37473800756

And, local blogger Zeke is expanding his networking operations via Facebook.  I also recently became a “fan” of ZekeSaysSo. 
 
ZekeSaysSo:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ZEKE-SAYS-SO-Blog/51041638488#

Third Eye viewings of a ravaged Oxbow (part one)

Oxbow Nature Study Park, Nov. 2008

Yesterday I took a second trip (this month) to Oxbow Nature Study Park, a wildlife and forested reserve two miles west of downtown Reno.  The south end of the park is bordered by the Truckee River and the north by the railroad tracks running along West 4th Street.  This site is home to many species of birds and small mammals (like beavers, muskrats, and even minks).  Many Cottonwood trees, and various species of bushes, provide a dense cover of vegetation.

That vegetation was largely cleaned out this past April, when 18 of the 22 acres of this park burned.  Twenty large Cottonwood trees were lost right away and twenty more cut down in subsequent weeks due to the hazards they posed.  First sightings of the park (which had to be from across the river then for the park remained closed for some time) revealed a smooth, blackened surface where grasses and heavy brush had been.  Most of the Cottonwood trees appeared to be charred in varying degrees.  But, the grasses and brushes are now flourishing very healthfully.

So, yesterday I finished taking more pictures of the park in its current state.  I already have developed several photos taken during a first visit about a week or so ago: 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28424275@N06/sets/72157609535220095/

I’ll add the more recent photos soon to the above photo set posted at my “eurekamoksha” flickr account.

Care of the park is overseen by the Nevada Department of Wildlife, which has published online a great brochure (with a very clear map included):

http://www.ndow.org/about/pubs/pdf/brochure/oxbow.pdf

The NDOW this past August described restoration plans:
 
http://www.ndow.org/about/news/pr/081408_oxbow.shtm

Reno X-Files: UNR students form “Paranormal Investigation” effort; Detailed Reno UFO reports

I was checking out tonight whether or not Reno had any ghost hunting, or (as is more usually referenced nowadays) “paranormal investigation”, operations.  And, I came across a story right away about three current UNR students who earlier this year founded a group of paranormal investigators (including, it seems, students from TMCC) called Nevada Student Paranormal Investigation.

This news article describes who they are, where they came from, and some of what they’ve done:

http://www.kolotv.com/daybreak/headlines/33495624.html

And, here’s their website:
 
http://www.nspisite.webs.com/

I had already started up a new link category called Reno X-Files after finding that someone came across this site due to a search for a recent UFO sighting in Reno.  Tonight, I found a great page of up to date reports from Nevada, posted at the largest gathering of UFO reports in the United States: The National UFO Reporting Center.  Here’s that page:
 
http://www.nuforc.org/webreports/ndxlNV.html

There you will find some curious reports (along with the vague, ambigious, ho-hum ones) that originate out of Reno.  Here’s such a one:

 

National UFO Reporting Center

Sighting Report
Occurred : 2/28/2008 15:00 (Entered as : 02-28-08 15:00) Reported: 2/29/2008 9:16:43 PM 21:16 Posted: 3/4/2008 Location: Reno, NV Shape: Sphere Duration:3 Minutes
Black Sphere moving silently west against wind currentsBlack Sphere object originated in south traveling due north.The black sphere was traveling about the speed of a turbo prop plane, but silent. Faster than a helicopter, but slower than a jet. It continued on a calm windless day north, then turned 90 deg. to the west and continued west at the same speed until it just disapeared into the distance. It did not move like a balloon, and traveled the wrong direction for a balloon, prevailing upper winds were heading east. It left no contrails like a jet much higher at the same time. I took pictures with a 6M digital camera, and zooming into the picture reveals only a black sphere. I have no idea what it was.

In Third Eye’s field of vision: Blogs, News, Upcoming

Ryan Jerz revisits the matter of bicycles and the people who ride them in this blog article:

http://www.mrjerz.org/blog/bike-dudes-are-an-angry-bunch

In that article is a link to his first article on this issue (of bike riders’ behavior).  I was recently visiting with friends in Davis, California and as we walked downtown and through the farmers’ market on a recent Saturday, I learned a lot about the New Bike Religion from many  of their missionary friends encountered along our walk.  Let’s just say 5th Street in Davis isn’t too popular.  (Note: Davis has a Bike Church, for real!)

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Zeke is strongly encouraging someone(s) to start up some serious blogging from Elko:

http://zekesaysso.blogspot.com/2008/11/hey-elko-get-blogging-sucker.html

And, he means serious.  (i.e. Politics).   He doesn’t want to hear about the grandkids and the puppies.  Or, presumably about our garden or most favorite recipes.

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On another front (one which Zeke probablys hangs out on, I presume), the Washoe County Democratic Party is going to be hosting a Holiday Party at its next scheduled monthly meeting (and quarterly Central Committee meeting).  It’s a potluck and more (but, only briefly an actual “business” meeting).  There will be information presented regarding the upcoming 2010 races and about forms of ongoing participation (like with an affiliate group).

So, if you are a Democrat, living and registered in Washoe County, here’s the information you need to party that night, Tuesday, December 2, 2008.  It starts at 6:30 pm and will be on the fourth floor of the Joe Crowley UNR Student Union building in Ballroom A.

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At Sven’s My Silver State community blog of progressive Democrats, there is a promoted article written by a member of the volunteer service group called Democrats Work.  Information about an effort, and how people can help in their own areas with helping supply their local Food Banks, is given here:

http://mysilverstate.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=8E617BAADDCFC871BE7A13F163A90518?diaryId=882

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The news of Democrats Work’s efforts to aid Nevada Food Banks brings to mind this note I got from Barack and Michelle Obama yesterday.  I’m reading it now, having taken it with me to do so while I dogsit up on the western slopes of Peavine Mountain.  I’m just here for the day, mainly because of a major doubleheader down at UNR today (where the dog’s owner will be till late tonight). 

The undated, but just received note gives a heads up, yet again, on what’s hoped for from all of us: Michael, this is your victory.  But even as we celebrate, we know the challenges are the greatest of our lifetime–two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.  The road ahead will be long.  Our climb will be steep.  And we will be asking you to join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years–block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.  What began 21 months ago in the depth of winter must not end on a night in autumn.  This victory alone is not the change we seek–it is only the chance for us to make that change.

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The steel skeletal structure of the new Triple A baseball stadium of the Reno Aces is now complete, over on W. 2nd and Evans Ave.  Construction is reportedly ahead of schedule.  The Aces are set to have their first game there a little less than a half of a year now!

All that is like a bit of a silver lining in the news, where today it’s reported that the unemployment rate in Nevada during the month of October was at 7.6%, 1.1% higher than the national rate.

On Channel 2 news last night, someone was saying that tickets would be a an accessible level of pricing: $7 for general admission.  This is something to look forward to, especially now.

Lively and fun Join the Impact rally in Reno promotes gay marriage and rights.

Pirate docks ship in Reno to support

 Over 300 people gathered at the City Plaza in downtown Reno early on the evening of Saturday, November 15th to protest the recent vote in California to undo a California Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage in that state.  The rally included Kitty Jung, County Commissioner, who told the cheering crowd that she supported extending domestic partner benefits to county employees. 

The crowd included a significant number of same sex couples, who progressively and graphically displayed that fact when a speaker prompted attendees to kneel to demonstrate the different lengths of relationships.  “All couples together three months or less, kneel…….”  Some folks had been together over forty years!

After rallying on the corner of 1st and Virginia (in the “shadow” of City Hall), people took their colorful hand made signs and marched up a few blocks to the Reno arch and there shared their message with motorists and passerbys on the streets.

To see more photos, go to Photo Galleries on right side of page and click on Join the Impact rally in Reno photo set.

James shares message with passing motorists

Puma Tracks and Poop Discovered in Downtown Reno

I was doing my duty a week or so after the election by going around downtown where I had put up Obama GOTV posters and taking them down.  And, here on S. Virginia and Mill (by the downtown Post Office), I discovered the tracks and signs of Pumas roaming around downtown!!!!

PUMA initially meant “Party Unity, My Ass” and now means “People United, Means Action” (as the fine print on the bumper sticker now notes).  PUMA was formed by supporters of Hillary Clinton following Obama securing the nomination.

Followup note from Zeke on local campaigns and Ross writes about Byllie Andrews

Zeke expands on this article

 http://renothirdeye.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/a-national-campaigns-impact-on-local-races/

with these comments:

“The Problem that I saw was that the out-of-towners were not sold on promoting local candidates. The Derby campaign may have given out Lit, but there wasn’t much of it and there was no “talk up” done to explain who she was: it was left up to the skill of the Canvas Launch volunteers with a variety of skill levels. If a launch was done by an out of state Obama staffer or volunteer, local candidates were often not mentioned at all.

Also, with so many new people running for office, the candidates themselves took very little advantage of the massive army of canvassers that could have spread their word. Some candidates used the resources, like Bobzien, Townsend and Schumacher, while most candidates “go-ed alone” to their peril.

I think in the next presidential election cycle, the local party and candidates should definitely insist and be involved in instructing the out of Stater’s about the local election.

Consider this: no local candidate won a race in this county because of canvassing. There were no surprises. Think of what could’ve happened if there had been an actual coordinated effort between the campaigns?”

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A Washoe County Democratic Party activist (and currently a law student in Oregon), Ross Armstrong recently shared with readers of his blog his support for Byllie Andrews (who now plans to make a run for the Assembly seat currently held by Sheila Leslie):

http://rossarmstrong.blogspot.com/2008/10/vision-coming-alive-byllie-andrews-for.html

Note on upcoming articles: My time online will be significantly reduced as I prepare future stories and reports.  Right now, there will soon be an article (with Photos) of the recent Join The Impact rally in Reno and another article on the Resurrection of Oxbow Park (with photos).

Third Eye’s FIRST endorsement: Byllie Andrews For Assembly (District 27)

Byllie Andrews offers up her house for Nevada

[Byllie offers up her house for Nevada's Campaign For Change for weeks]

The Assembly seat currently represented by Sheila Leslie will be completely open  and up for grabs in 2010 when term limits force the Assembly’s Majority Whip to seek other pastures.  Third Eye on Reno is aware of a field of potential candidates who are thinking about a run for that seat.  Among this group of people is Byllie Andrews, who firmly plans to seek that position.  Here’s the website Byllie had up during this past campaign:

http://www.byllieandrews.com/

I am supporting her in her plans to seek this seat and will publicize her efforts here.  I’ve known her since early 2006, when I became a precinct captain and part of the volunteer structure which she led and organized for Assembly District 27 Democratic Party activists.

Byllie’s background includes 36 years of working as a teacher and administrator in Washoe County schools.  She retired in 2007 after serving as a founding administrator of Rainshadow Community Charter High School.  She also has a business background, being the owner and manager of Andrews Properties.  Her background includes many  other things (like training grassroot lobbyists), but I have two years to go into all that.

I am creating a new category for postings related to this campaign!

A national campaign’s impact on local races?

I spent a few hours Sunday poring over the precinct by precinct numbers in the School Board Trustee District D race, where Byllie Andrews lost a fairly close race to Ken Greine.  Specifically, I’ve been focused on eight precincts in my section (#2) of Assembly District 27 and the thing that stands out most is that while 2548 people cast a vote for President in my section, only 1838 chose to cast one for either Andrews or Greine.  This is called an “undervote” (d’uh). 

I think it may be fair (and accurate) to presume that 710 people in these eight precincts simply did NOT know enough abought these two candidates.  And (or),(a) didn’t care at all, (b) didn’t have enough time or energy to examine the two candidates, and etc., etc.

The Reno News And Review editor, D. Brian Burghart has in recent weeks been writing his observations and complaints regarding “all the out-of-state activists who were encouraging local voters to vote early” as “having a negative impact on local democracy”.  (November 13, 2008 RNR, pg 3)

Burghart (who voted for Obama, his paper endorsing him) wrote in his October 30 edition of an unfortunate encounter with some of these out of state volunteers after seeing Barack Obama speak in his final Reno rally on October 25th.  “But it was not until we were within a stone’s throw of our car that I realized the trap of fanaticism, when I was approached by one more group of out of state volunteers who wanted to know whether I’d voted early, and when I said I hadn’t, began haranguing me about my own personal choice.”

Burghart went on to observe that he believed that “out-of-state volunteers who encourage early voting without working toward informing those same voters on local issues undermine democracy”.

Here, Mr. Burghart seems to be unaware of SOME of the things these, for the most part, Californians did DO to share information on local candidates.  The Nevada Campaign For Change not only canvassed on behalf of Barack Obama but also did distribute literature on Derby’s behalf and Field Organziers assigned to different Assembly Districts included lit for the Assembly candidates on many of the walks.  And, in my area,  lit for Byllie Andrews was also included in a small number of walks.

But, I think Burghart’s point is pretty much  on the mark in essence.  Judging by the sharp undervote in the School Board Trustee District D race, we (the voters of Washoe County) probably ended up not giving our local races the attention, time, and energy they deserved.