National Forests, News, Wildlife

Rim Fire Hazard Trees Project Announced

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Stanislaus Forest Supervisor Susan Skalski today announced that a proposed action for the Rim Fire Hazard Tree (Rim HT) project is available for comment. The project proposes to improve public health and safety by removing standing hazard trees and other trees previously felled during fire suppression across 7,630 acres of National Forest lands within and adjacent to 148 miles of high use roads and other developed facilities.

Forest Supervisor Skalski stated: “I am requesting your specific written comments during this initial 30-day designated opportunity for public participation, from November 15 through December 15, 2013. It is important to the Forest Service and the NEPA process that you submit your comments at this early point to allow us the opportunity to incorporate your thoughts, concerns and issues into the analysis.”

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Dead Tree Books

Free – Expanded Distribution Options for CreateSpace Members!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

From Createspace:

We’re excited to announce Expanded Distribution is now Free. You can make your books available through more channels including: online retailers, bookstores, libraries, and academic institutions within the U.S. at no cost. Enable these distribution channels today so you can reach a wider audience and increase the discoverability of your books. 

Createspace normally lists your book on the Createspace website as well as Amazon.

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Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake, CA – Hot Dogs & Hay Rides for Old Miners Volunteers

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

From KBHR 93.3:

The Old Miners Association (OMA) is holding their Annual Membership Meeting & Volunteer Appreciation Open House on November 18 at 40877 Stone in the Village (corner of Stone Road and Knickerbocker Road).

If you’re a new or renewing member, a sponsor or a volunteer, you’re welcome to attend with a guest.

The Annual Meeting & Election of Officers will run from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m., then from 4:00 – 7:00, volunteers can enjoy gift bags, hot dogs and hayrides courtesy of Stagecoach Lines & Duke Michaels.

You can read the whole article HERE.

To keep up to date on what’s going on in Big Bear, listen to KBHR 93.3 and visit the KBHR website HERE.

eBook, Writer Reference

France Passes New Law With Higher Tax Rate for DRMed eBooks

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Nate Hoffelder is reporting on his Digital Reader blog that France is going to be lowering taxes on DRM-free ebooks:

Hardly anyone likes DRM on their content, and its various opponents respond in various ways, whether by public advocacy or by voting with their pocketbook. And then there is France, which decided to express their displeasure with a new tax law.

France has amended their tax laws with a new lower tax rate for DRM-free ebooks (or a new higher rate for DRMed ebooks, depending on how you look at it). The new law won’t go into effect until 2015, but once it does Amazon, Apple, Kobo, and all the other major ebookstores will all be penalized for selling DRMed ebooks to French customers.

Under France’s new tax laws, DRMed ebooks will be taxed at a higher rate (currently 19.6%), while DRM-free ebooks will be taxed at the lower 5.5% rate.

You can read the whole post HERE.

You should really visit Nate’s blog; it’s chock full o’ useful eBook information!  You can visit it HERE.

 

Interesting Places

It’s a Great Weekend to go to a National Forest to Watch for Meteors

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

From the USDA Blog:

Earlier this year, approximately 80 people oohed and ahhed as meteors streaked across the sky from all directions over Shasta Lake during the Perseid meteor showers. In partnership with the Shasta Astronomy Club, the Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area provided visitors with expert information on celestial objects and events and a guided tour through the night sky.

This weekend, you have an opportunity to do the same when the 2013 Leonid meteor shower peaks on the night of Saturday, Nov. 16 into the early morning hours of Sunday, Nov. 17.  According to NASA, Leonids are bits of debris from Comet Tempel-Tuttle. Every 33 years the comet visits the inner solar system and leaves debris in its wake. Many of these have drifted across the November portion of Earth’s orbit. Whenever our planet hits one, meteors appear to be flying out of the constellation Leo.  Unfortunately for meteor watchers, this year a full moon will likely wash out all but the very brightest Leonids.

Last August, the dark night skies along the shores of California’s Shasta Lake provided the perfect backdrop for the annual Perseid meteors which put on a dazzling display of shooting stars each year. At times, 50 to 100 meteors streaked across the sky in an hour.  Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area staff compiled a list of sightings to contribute to NASA’s ongoing tracking for this meteor shower.

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