I grudgingly admit my respect for the OWS "protesters" for standing up for a cause, though I'm not sure how many actually BELIEVE in the cause, or how many actually understand the real issue.
Many portray capitalism as the problem. I think that's because the capitalism they know is not true capitalism, but a mutation perverted with government interference.
Big corporations like General Motors and General Electric have the ear of the President and key Congressional leaders. Laws are passed leading to regulations that in some cases directly favor the corporations and in other cases overwhelm small competitors with compliance burdens.
Sound familiar?
I'm not talking about the current administration, although it's strikingly familiar. Actually I was thinking about FDR.
Santayana was right..."Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Pot, meet Kettle.
Maybe it's just me, but listening to Sen. Harry Reid (Stupid Party, NV) whine about "'the rich' not paying their fair share" makes about as much sense as listening to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (Stupid Party, MA) lecture about temperance and marital fidelity.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Not Firing On All Cylinders - Now with MORE Kilt!
It is possible to ride while wearing a kilt. This is me on my old bike, an '81 GL1100 Gold Wing.
The Harley has hot parts in different locations than the Wing, so riding kilted requires a bit more care.
In any case, one tucks the front of the kilt (called the 'apron') under oneself and goes. The additional weight of a sporran helps to control the apron. Expect the rest to billow as the wind catches it. As long as one remains seated for the entire performance modesty should be maintained.
Mounting and dismounting while regimental requires some caution, as the act of throwing one's leg over the seat can give one more exposure than intended.
Vinyl seats left in the sun can lead to embarrassing burns, so consider covering the seat when not riding.
It goes without saying that practicing good hygiene is advised, however riding kilted almost guarantees no one who sees you will want to borrow your bike!
Riding kilted gives new meaning to 'getting your knees in the breeze'!
Don't forget to click the links in my earlier post to find out about (and donate to) Kilted To Kick Cancer!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Kilted To Kick Cancer
I'm behind the curve on this, with the other participants in Kelly "Ambulance Driver" Grayson's "Kilted To Kick Cancer" fund raising challenge having put up their posts on September 1, but that's the way it goes.
KTKC is an campaign to call attention to two male-specific cancers: prostate cancer and testicular cancer. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month so for the month of September I'll be wearing one of my utility kilts whenever practical and using it as a conversation starter to talk about male specific cancers. Considering the burn on my right leg from a hot exhaust pipe I may have to reconsider whether riding the motorcycle while wearing a kilt is practical.
What can you do to help?
Learn about both cancers, your (or your male loved ones') risks, and how to detect each cancer. Resources include the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LiveStrong.
Make an appointment with your doctor (or encourage your male loved ones to make an appointment) to get checked.
Go HERE to make a donation to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, or HERE to make a donation to the LiveStrong Foundation to support Testicular Cancer research.
For the record, nothing is worn under my kilt - it's all in proper working order!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
I Am TJIC
Many others in the blogosphere have written much more eloquently about this matter, so I won't try to say the same things in a new way.Click on the image to read about the injustice being done to an American citizen for the simple act of exercising his First Amendment right to speak without fear of government reprisal.
This isn't about defacing religious icons as art, or what is considered pornography...this is about protecting unpopular political speech.
Friday, October 8, 2010
A Rant
Ya know what burns my ass? An open flame about 2 feet high.
Ya know what else burns my ass? When others make a determined effort to kill your joy.
The best example of what I'm talking about is familiar to most parents - as soon as a woman finds out she's pregnant for the first time, people come out of the woodwork with unsolicited but well-intentioned advice and commentary. There's always one woman (at least) who has to tell the new mother-to-be about how HER pregnancy was the worst in recorded medical history, with labor pains beginning shortly after the moment of conception, 18 years of morning sickness, 21 years of breast-feeding, and now, 35 years later, cutting the umbilical cord.
So now the new mother-to-be is thinking "What the F**k have I gotten myself into?" Moments ago, she was glowing, now she's envisioning "ALIEN"!
With guys, it's usually related to the acquisition of a mechanical device - a car, a firearm, a power tool, or in my case, a motorcycle.
I've almost always ridden Hondas. Until recently I've only owned Honda motorcycles.
The first ride on a motorcycle I can recall is behind my Dad on an old 305 Honda, later rides were on the back of the '71 750 and the '75 750. Eventually I rode the '75 myself, both without a license and later with. Then Dad's '80 GL1100I, my '81 GL1100I, and Maria's GL1100.
As far back as I can remember I've wanted a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. I don't know what first attracted me to the brand, although my Grandfather probably played a role in it - he never rode as far as I know, and rarely said anything complementary about motorcycles in general, but had a strong affinity for American brands. Who knows - maybe since he and the Motor Company were about the same age maybe he figured that any brand that went thru two world wars, the Depression and the Nixon administration deserved his respect. I don't know, but he was the one who let me stop at a Harley dealer while on a road trip one time.
Anyway...fast forward to 2003 and a trip to the Bay Area for a friend's wedding. Kids are back home, just me and Maria, and an ad for Harley rentals at Bob Dron HD in Oakland. We rented a 2003 Electra Glide Classic, and the die was cast. I knew that some day I'd own some sort of Harley, probably an Electra Glide.
Life happened while I was making this plan. I had my '81 Gold Wing, it was paid off, it was dependable, it was mostly comfortable. With four kids and a mortgage it never seemed like the responsible thing to do to finance a motorcycle.
Early in September this year a friend offered to sell me his '90 Ultra Classic. I knew what he paid for it, so the price he offered it to me wasn't out of line. Things fell into place - financing was secured, my Gold Wing was sold, and the Ultra was mine. Long time dream realized and all that.
The bike is not without flaws, and I know that, even expect that. I've been a mechanic of some sort for all of my adult(?) life and recognize that even with the best care and maintenance machines age. Besides, part of the fun of owning a motorcycle (for me, at least) is learning how it works, how it breaks, how to fix it, and how to make it better.
So, getting back to Mr. Killjoy.
Everyone I've talked to since buying the Ultra, even the brand-loyal Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki guys, has, at least to my face, been complimentary, acknowledging my history with the Wing, wishing me good fortune with the Ultra, offering unsolicited but helpful tips and advice.
Except for one guy.
He had a Harley at one time. Rode it a lot, worked on it (apparently) a lot more. Did this and that to the engine trying for more power. One thing after another went wrong with it. Spent lots of money on it and (apparently) was never happy with it. Ultimately ended up selling it, no doubt losing money in the deal.
Of course, I heard this tale of woe AFTER purchasing the Ultra, and without ever asking for his experiences or opinion. So now the seeds of negativity are planted, sown in the field of doubt and indecision that I thought I'd effectively fenced off, isolated and inoculated. So now, like that new mother-to-be, I catch myself wondering what I've done, second-guessing my decision, listening to every clank, rattle, clunk, whistle and whine, wondering if this is when it lays down and dies.
I know I shouldn't let one person get me down. I know that just because HE had a bad experience with the brand it doesn't mean that I will have a bad experience too. I know all this.
And yet, there it is.
One guy and his comments takes part of my fun away.
And that burns my ass just like a two foot high open flame.
Thanks, dude.
Ya know what else burns my ass? When others make a determined effort to kill your joy.
The best example of what I'm talking about is familiar to most parents - as soon as a woman finds out she's pregnant for the first time, people come out of the woodwork with unsolicited but well-intentioned advice and commentary. There's always one woman (at least) who has to tell the new mother-to-be about how HER pregnancy was the worst in recorded medical history, with labor pains beginning shortly after the moment of conception, 18 years of morning sickness, 21 years of breast-feeding, and now, 35 years later, cutting the umbilical cord.
So now the new mother-to-be is thinking "What the F**k have I gotten myself into?" Moments ago, she was glowing, now she's envisioning "ALIEN"!
With guys, it's usually related to the acquisition of a mechanical device - a car, a firearm, a power tool, or in my case, a motorcycle.
I've almost always ridden Hondas. Until recently I've only owned Honda motorcycles.
The first ride on a motorcycle I can recall is behind my Dad on an old 305 Honda, later rides were on the back of the '71 750 and the '75 750. Eventually I rode the '75 myself, both without a license and later with. Then Dad's '80 GL1100I, my '81 GL1100I, and Maria's GL1100.
As far back as I can remember I've wanted a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. I don't know what first attracted me to the brand, although my Grandfather probably played a role in it - he never rode as far as I know, and rarely said anything complementary about motorcycles in general, but had a strong affinity for American brands. Who knows - maybe since he and the Motor Company were about the same age maybe he figured that any brand that went thru two world wars, the Depression and the Nixon administration deserved his respect. I don't know, but he was the one who let me stop at a Harley dealer while on a road trip one time.
Anyway...fast forward to 2003 and a trip to the Bay Area for a friend's wedding. Kids are back home, just me and Maria, and an ad for Harley rentals at Bob Dron HD in Oakland. We rented a 2003 Electra Glide Classic, and the die was cast. I knew that some day I'd own some sort of Harley, probably an Electra Glide.
Life happened while I was making this plan. I had my '81 Gold Wing, it was paid off, it was dependable, it was mostly comfortable. With four kids and a mortgage it never seemed like the responsible thing to do to finance a motorcycle.
Early in September this year a friend offered to sell me his '90 Ultra Classic. I knew what he paid for it, so the price he offered it to me wasn't out of line. Things fell into place - financing was secured, my Gold Wing was sold, and the Ultra was mine. Long time dream realized and all that.
The bike is not without flaws, and I know that, even expect that. I've been a mechanic of some sort for all of my adult(?) life and recognize that even with the best care and maintenance machines age. Besides, part of the fun of owning a motorcycle (for me, at least) is learning how it works, how it breaks, how to fix it, and how to make it better.
So, getting back to Mr. Killjoy.
Everyone I've talked to since buying the Ultra, even the brand-loyal Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki guys, has, at least to my face, been complimentary, acknowledging my history with the Wing, wishing me good fortune with the Ultra, offering unsolicited but helpful tips and advice.
Except for one guy.
He had a Harley at one time. Rode it a lot, worked on it (apparently) a lot more. Did this and that to the engine trying for more power. One thing after another went wrong with it. Spent lots of money on it and (apparently) was never happy with it. Ultimately ended up selling it, no doubt losing money in the deal.
Of course, I heard this tale of woe AFTER purchasing the Ultra, and without ever asking for his experiences or opinion. So now the seeds of negativity are planted, sown in the field of doubt and indecision that I thought I'd effectively fenced off, isolated and inoculated. So now, like that new mother-to-be, I catch myself wondering what I've done, second-guessing my decision, listening to every clank, rattle, clunk, whistle and whine, wondering if this is when it lays down and dies.
I know I shouldn't let one person get me down. I know that just because HE had a bad experience with the brand it doesn't mean that I will have a bad experience too. I know all this.
And yet, there it is.
One guy and his comments takes part of my fun away.
And that burns my ass just like a two foot high open flame.
Thanks, dude.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Labor Day Weekend 2010
Yeah, I'm still around...more fun to read others' blog posts than write my own, though.
As I write this it's Sunday of the 2010 Labor Day weekend. The weather has moderated a bit so the house is open and the AC is off...for now.
I'm using vacation instead of going to work tonight.
I spent yesterday afternoon working on the yard - between the rain and the heat the last couple of weeks I haven't been able (or wanted) to mow - tough when you work nights...neighbors aren't happy with mowing at 6 AM at the same time they're unhappy about the height of the grass in our yard. Can't win.
Sitting here thinking of things I should be doing, things I need to do, and things I'd like to do, and trying to find something that overlaps all 3 categories. Might have to settle for 2 out of 3.
Time to post this and get on with the day.
Be safe...come back and see me again.
As I write this it's Sunday of the 2010 Labor Day weekend. The weather has moderated a bit so the house is open and the AC is off...for now.
I'm using vacation instead of going to work tonight.
I spent yesterday afternoon working on the yard - between the rain and the heat the last couple of weeks I haven't been able (or wanted) to mow - tough when you work nights...neighbors aren't happy with mowing at 6 AM at the same time they're unhappy about the height of the grass in our yard. Can't win.
Sitting here thinking of things I should be doing, things I need to do, and things I'd like to do, and trying to find something that overlaps all 3 categories. Might have to settle for 2 out of 3.
Time to post this and get on with the day.
Be safe...come back and see me again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
