Vintage Indian O.C.C Television Bike Show.


I was pulled to the Discovery Channel to watch the OCC circus last night. It had sounded as if it was going to be a promising show. The fact that a person who used to watch the show before his death and wished to give them two old Indians to restore is what drew me in. The OCC guys picked up the bikes and brought them back to the shop. Turns out though that they had to farm the job out. It was with high hopes that they would actually do this show based on the restoration of at least one of them.
The good news is that they admitted they did not know anything about them and sent them to someone who does. At least Sr. seemed to be taking the whole request of the mans wishes to heart and wanted it done right.
The one doing the restoration has a ton of talant rebuilding old motorcycles. Now his work would make one hell of an interesting show. I can't remember his name off hand and thats shitty of me; but I do believe that he has done several bike restorations for museums too.

Don Knotts has Died


Barney:
"Well, I guess to sum it up, you could say, there's three reasons why there's so little crime in Mayberry. There is Andy, and then there's me and [ patting his holstered gun] baby makes three."

Barneys' reply to one of Andys smart ass comments:
"You're a riot, you know that? Why don't you go some place and have it?"

I guess you could say that Barney was as much a part of our lives than anyone else I can think of. I, like many others, grew up with old Barn. His antics and actions still seem fresh and I never tire of watching them. There just isn't any show on Television that could ever hope to match it.

Barney once expressed his biggest fear: "Swept into the dustbin of history--Exit, Barney Fife."

Nope, old Fast -gun Fife will never be swept into the dustbin of history--And neither will Don Knotts.

Muslim Outrage at a Cartoon.
(This was sent to me and it shows a mis-direction of values and anger)

Muslim outrage huh. OK ... let's do a little historical review.
Just some lowlights:
* Muslims fly commercial airliners into buildings in New York City. No Muslim outrage.
* Muslim officials block the exit where school girls are trying to escape a burning building because their faces were exposed. No Muslim outrage.
* Muslims cut off the heads of three teenaged girls on their way to school in Indonesia. A Christian school. No Muslim outrage.
* Muslims murder teachers trying to teach Muslim children in Iraq. No Muslim outrage.
* Muslims murder over 80 tourists with car bombs outside cafes and hotels in Egypt. No Muslim outrage.
* A Muslim attacks a missionary children's school in India. Kills six. No Muslim outrage.
* Muslims slaughter hundreds of children and teachers in Beslan, Russia. Muslims shoot children in the back. No Muslim outrage.

* Let's go way back.
Muslims kidnap and kill athletes at the Munich Summer Olympics. No Muslim outrage.
* Muslims fire rocket-propelled grenades into schools full of children in Israel. No Muslim outrage.
* Muslims murder more than 50 commuters in attacks on London subways and busses. Over 700 are injured. No Muslim outrage.
* Muslims massacre dozens of innocents at a Passover Seder. No Muslim outrage.
* Muslims murder innocent vacationers in Bali. No Muslim outrage.
* Muslim newspapers publish anti-Semitic cartoons. No Muslim outrage
* Muslims are involved, on one side or the other, in almost every one of the 125+ shooting wars around the world. No Muslim outrage.
* Muslims beat the charred bodies of Western civilians with their shoes, then hang them from a bridge. No Muslim outrage.

* Newspapers in Denmark and Norway publish cartoons depicting Mohammed. Muslims are outraged.
Dead children. Dead tourists. Dead teachers. Dead doctors and nurses. Death, destruction and mayhem around the world at the hands of Muslims . no Muslim outrage ... but publish a cartoon depicting Mohammed with a bomb
in his turban and all hell breaks loose.

Music Anyone?

I listen to all sorts of music except rap. If you like rap that's fine by me, it's just not my thing. Me, I'll switch stations from time to time for different kinds of music. Sometimes I feel like Blues and other times different generations of Rock. Motown sound from days past is good, then maybe a little classical once in awhile. Then there is Country and then there is BLUEGRASS.

Now the whole thing to this post is about an exceptional artist that I'm just not sure where to put him. He can perform any of the above, except rap, but the biggest ear catcher for me are all of his original songs. He can make you laugh, cry, think, get up on your feet or put you and your partner in the cuddle mode. This talented fellow has played all over Nashville and has been invited back on more than one occasion. "Nashville?" Your thinking, is country music but that simply isn't so. All sorts of artists play Nashville in all sorts of clubs.

The best thing I can do is tell you to go to his sight and see what he's all about. Check out Bryan Smith, owner of SongBear Records in Eden North Carolina at http://www.songbear.com Then click on 'song bear artists' and scroll down to his name. From there, there is a link to his myspace page where you can listen to three of his songs. Then get back to me and let me know what you think.

Later.
WB

I'm 44 Today.

Yep. I'm the land mark age of 44 today and it's been a good day. Who'd a thought in my youth.

I would post more but I have to go listen to Bill Hicks now on a cool CD player my friend Charley gave me today. Seemed everyone in my house had one but me so now I don't have to piss off the wife or son by using theirs. But nah nah nah mine works in my truck as well. :)

Who's Side is Bush On Anyway??

Sometimes the one's to fear the most live under the same roof. They may even try diversionary tactics by pointing fingers at others to make sure your attention is drawn to the other while they are robbing you blind.

To find out more, go visit http://bloggingpoet.com and read more about this port deal and more.

AT THE MILL

Working down at the mill
I tell you its not such a thrill
But , it puts food on the table
Take that away ,we won’t even be able

Sending all our cones and pirns
All to some foreign countries firms
Don’t forget all the foreign aid
Hey! You know that won’t be repaid

How are we supposed to survive
With all these mills taking a dive
Can’t hardly afford a good meal
So tell me , how’s that a deal

They keep sending our jobs away
Three hundred more just today
Sit up there sharpening their axes
Local Government just keeps raising taxes

I don’t mind helping as much as anyone
Just tell me when will it ever be done
How are we supposed to support our own economy
We can’t even pay for the home that fits our key

So why are we the ones that have to pay and pay
All those suits and ties don’t hear our cries
They keep sending all of our jobs away , away
Sure , we can give support by keeping jobs in our port

New Negativism.

"Instead of fighting inflation by widening job opportunities and providing social services to help the poor to become producers and earners, New Negativism wants to cut government spending and increase unemployment.
Since today's inflation is concentrated in food, shelter, energy and health costs, that won't work. Prices for the essentials are rising at double the rate of increase for nonessential goods. Since they form the bulk of poor families' budgets, this kind of inflation hits the poor the hardest. So the New Negativism would have the poor bear a double burden--- loss of job opportunities and higher prices for food and other basics."


?????

One of my Dreams.

Someone asked me what perhaps an unfinished dream of mine might be. While I did give them the answer of Riding out to Montana.... I do have other dreams. I might add that I have pursued a dream in the past that was aimed at helping others but it failed. Many is the time that I have come up with an idea and told it was good. Only thing is though, I seem to get flack whenever I try something so I wind up having to fight for it more than I should. Not to mention that fundage is always a problem so I have to proceed with caution and when it becomes apparant that the funds will never materialize or the project fizzles I move on.

Here is just one such dream that when first concieved had me excited to no end. The more I got into it, the need for more money and problems I found just to set it up would keep me from that goal. All I really wanted to do was help a bunch of kids with it but finding out about legalities and permits and so on and so on proved to large a task. The whole purpose was not to spend a bunch of money on setting things up because every dime spent on that would take away from the kids in need.

If you want to read it, It is below but is perhaps to long for most to read. Here it is anyway, 'Wooleys Dream Ride.' from the Chopper site I was writing for at the time.


Wooley Buggers Dream Ride

I have a far fetched dream for helping some children right in here in the good old USA.
It is only a dream and will probably never happen but, it is my largest dream thus far. This dream involves the whole motorcycling community.
As it is it would help untold numbers of children that right now , this day , this minute are suffering from cancer , loss of limbs , birth defects , severe burns , and the list goes on.
I see it first hand every time that I go to the Shriners Hospital for crippled children in Greenville South Carolina. My wife and I have spoken with many a parent in this dilemma. Families that have been financially strapped even ruined trying to get help for these kids. Families that have to decide every single day if they can afford to pay their bills , buy food and still get their child what he/she needs. These are not lowlife people , these are desperate souls hanging on for dear life.
The Shriners give medical care for these children in these families who for many, otherwise would not be to afford it. It cost nothing , nothing for a child patient to receive medical care.
Parents are strapped for money to get the help for these children that so many desperately are in need of. Health insurance companies (if the family can afford it) deny so much that is needed for the care of these children all across the USA. I know, first hand , so I am not just speaking from here say that I have heard from others. Yes I know well, how the insurance companies will jerk you around and refuse to pay for certain procedures through technicalities and loop holes. How children that are in dire need of help do not get it because the family , just flat out can not afford the outrageous cost of health care in a supposedly rich nation like ours. Families from all walks of life and income levels. It is a travesty in this great country of ours I’m telling you.
SO , here it is , my dream. I dream to have the biggest , largest , longest loudest , most attention getting gathering of motorcycle riders for children’s charity ever , EVER , in the history of the world. I’m talking bikes and riders of all types. Harley’s , Triumph’s , Hondas , Yamaha’s , custom choppers , Suzuki’s , BSA’s everything. The largest coming together of a motoring group for a single cause to ride a week long ride together. To show people just what a major force we are out here and that what we do counts in everyday life all across this great country. We demand , as asking politely and waiting for the government to really truly and honestly do something goes no where . That something be done about this ever increasing problem. So many in office make empty promises that are soon forgotten after election day is over.
We want this problem addressed , and we are tired of waiting for it to fix itself.
I dream of miles of thundering , screaming , motorcycles all riding at once covering a four state ride starting in North Carolina to Virginia and then down the coast of North Carolina through Georgia straight into Florida. Hopefully with a large welcoming volunteer party at the end for the riders. The entry fee for the ride would be a donation of $50 to $60 each person which is not much more than the cost of a good meal for two. Every penny going to charity as this ride would have no frills to come out of my pockets. The only item you could get officially to show you were a participant in the ride (other than memories) would be a jacket patch all proceeds would also go to the charity. Road Rat Roberts is the person I would want to design the patch or maybe take ideas from readers. The idea would be for all the money to go to the cause of several charities , not some expensive shows to entertain the riders. This would be riding and more riding through beautiful country side with stops at certain points of interest. No pansies allowed as this would be more like a pony express hell bent for leather ride. I would welcome bands and such to donate their services for free for the riders at the overnight camping spots. Who knows who else might show up for free to get their name out there.
I can just imagine all the news media catching on to this ride as it happens and doing coverage. Well hell , if my dream came true , it would probably go in the record books , and you could say you were there.
I’m not talking a few hundred bikes people . No ! I’m talking a few thousand motorcycles with more coming into the ride as it goes along. No way to trailer your ride in this one folks. It’s gotta be ridden the whole way. Can you imagine the sound and the ground shaking as thousands of us rolling along all at once , mile after mile of us , would surely get some attention. Just imagine how know way ... we would be able to go un-noticed . It would also make an impact on people finally looking out for motorcycles on the road. The best thing however would being in the knowledge that we helped a ton of kids. And we had a blast doing it. Bonds would be forged forever with new found friends and memories for a life time.
If I had a poll , I’d set it up for feedback on this. The million man march was a reality, why not this. I just couldn’t think of a better way to spend a weeks vacation.
Send me an email twowheeltraveler@gmail.com to let me know what you think. Could it become a reality? Anyone want to join up now for a spring ride???
WooleyB

Killing Dreams, Killing a future.

Are you a dream killer or a dream supporter?
If someone has a dream and you constantly finds ways to undermine it, then you just might be killing the potential of their future.

Let's take little Eddie down the street. He wants to learn to play the guitar and be a rock star. So he goes out and cuts lawns, rakes leaves and anything else he can find to earn a buck. His room is filled with music magazines and books to feed his mind. Finally he has enough money to go to the pawn shop and get that guitar he has had his eye on. It's nothing fantastic or grand, but it like he, has potential. Eddie spends hours learning how to play it in his room. At first his parents think it is neat he is working so hard at it. Then comes the day that THEY decide for him that he needs to pursue something else. Something more to their liking. So now they begin telling him that he is spending way to much time playing the guitar.
Now when ever he picks it up to play, they bang on the wall telling him to turn that racket down.He wants to go to the school for the arts but they tell him he should set his sights on something else. They've already picked out his future for him and guide him that way. The guitar to them is a fantasy,something for personal entertainment only. Whenever his mother sees it she puts it in a closet or hides it behind the couch. It is something that should be hidden away in her thinking. Out of sight out of mind his father says. Eddie tries to talk about music to them but they change the subject to something more towards their liking.
His father tells him that an engineering job has great potential. Why, he himself always wanted to be an engineer but his own father wanted him to learn the plumbing business.
Their dream for him and his life is more important than his own dreams and desires.
So, Eddie goes on to the school of his parents direction and winds up with a job he hates.He has pleased his parents to no end and they brag about his fine house and car.
Eddie is depressed and walks the world a zombie like so many others that have had their paths chosen and guided for them. His own children learn of his guitar playing youth but his parents chime in at how he just gave it up for some unknown reason.

"Why did you stop playing the guitar anyway?" His mother asks.
His father says "Why yes son. Why did you? You were getting so good at it. Maybe you should get your own son involved in it and give him the push he needs."

Eddie just looks at them with is mouth agape. Then he announces "My son wants to be a skateboard champion pop. He practices all the time and even earned the money to buy it in the first place. You should see him. He's really good at it."

"Oh. But there is no future in that Eddie. That is just a pipe dream. No future at all when he becomes a man. But music, now there is a good future. All sorts of good ways to earn a living in that." His parents tell him.

Eddie and his brother, Alex, get together now and again and talk about their youthful days playing their own music. Music that the world would never hear. After some talking, Eddie decides to look into some musical arts schools for his son.
He begins to find ways to guide his son away from the dead end skateboarding thing. The next day he comes in and sees the skateboard just inside the back door. He slides it behind the golf clubs in the entryway closet.

"Out of site, out of mind he thinks."

Do you know someone with a dream all of their own? Why not help them nuture it along by giving support and help in their own dream and not yours. Don't find upteen million reasons why it won't work out. It's their life and their dream so get behind them. Not in front of them! Whether it is your child, wife or husband or even brother and sister. Give support in their dream. Don't demand or expect that what you wish for is good for them as well.

One day you'll be able to say " I'm so proud of him/her. He/she knew just what they wanted and went for it. I gave them nothing but support, after all, my own dream was derailed and I've always resented that fact to some degree."

The boy playing football. Is that his dream or his fathers?
The girl taking dance lessons or modeling. Is that her dream or her mothers?
Do you tell your daughter that riding a motorcycle is unlady like?
Are you telling your son that his acting is a deadend gig and to hard to get into.

Shame on you then. Shame on all of you.

David Mann 1989 Harley Davidson.

I wonder if anyone knows where this one of a kind, 1989 FXSTS, David Mann detailed bike is. If you don't know who David Mann was then I ain't gonna splain it to you.
Back in 1989, www.EasyRiders.com magazine offered up for free this one and only 1989 Softail that was given away by 'The Mann himself' to the lucky winner. This bike has one-of-a-kind details done up by David for this unique bike. None before it and none after. Just one and only one by the ONE. It was given away at the 1989 EasyRiders motorcycle Rodeo Grand Nationals in California. This was before, of course, the computer age as we know it today.

Please tell me that this bike is still in it's original condition as delivered. This is one H-D that I would hope has not been altered, chopped, wrecked or otherwise destroyed. Anyone know?....anyone?....Bueler?....Bueler?.......

The misadventures of, Slow Asa Hell, Moe lasses, Sir Drag Itout and Honey Drip.

today's adventure sees us with Mrs. Slow Asa Hell and her two step children, Mean Asa Hell and Brat Asa Hell. Their father, Stupid Asa Hell, was not able to be on the trip with them today as he was hanging out with his buddies down on the corner smokin Dat crack I guess.

Now Mrs. Slow Asa Hell is a hard working women trying to keep everything together but she only pays attention to her cell Phone when driving. She's never been in an accident herself but has caused over three hundred by her not paying attention on the road. She says that she loves her children dearly however, she never buckles them in their seats.
Today during rush hour traffic she heads down the on ramp to the expressway with five vehicles on her heals. You see, Mrs. Slow Asa Hell is so oblivious to her surroundings that she creeps her way down the asphalt entry. Traffic on the expressway is moving at a brisk pace of around seventy miles an hour. But she is creeping her way in her Maroon mini van all the way and never looks to see if it is safe to merge into traffic. She does not understand that the on ramp is designed for you to get up to expressway speed to enter.
So with her two kids bouncing around inside while she talks on the phone, Brat Asa Hell keeps getting in her face as he is standing up between the front seats then bounding back to the back. Like a ball he goes back and forth. Mean Asa Hell is smacking his mother on the head with a comic book as she swats at him looking over her right shoulder. But she never allows herself to deter her conversation or hang up the phone to watch the road as she slowly begins to move into traffic. Cars are rushing along and making evasive action as they quickly are forced to dart into the next lane to avoid a crash. This lane fills up so quickly with cars that the Semis, that are only allowed to ride in the two far right hand lanes, have no place to go. They begin to stand on the brakes to avoid hitting the other cars in their lane who are also trapped behind Mrs. Slow Asa Hell.
She is completely oblivious as to all of this and enters the expressway at the measly pace of..... forty miles per hour.

As all the vehicles slam on brakes and make hasty maneuvers around her, they honk and yell as they pass by. Mrs. Slow Asa Hell just keeps swatting at the children like she is swatting at flies who are relentless in their actions. She still never hangs up the phone or looks out of her window at the passing motorists that she has put into grave danger.

As we leave her now, we glance into our own rearview mirror to see two Semis abruptly switch lanes; nearly missing other vehicles who have to squeeze in dangerously to the next lane to avoid being squashed.

Losing Profits.

Speaking with a friend the other day, he gave me a point to ponder. He said that company X projects that their sales for the year will be say, 5 million dollars up from 17 million the year before. So they expect to earn 22 million which is up from the 17 the previous year. But when they only make 1 million more in profit they claim a loss of 4 million.
"So how is it, he asks, that they can make a claim they lost money when in fact they never earned it in the first place? Don't you have to have something before you can lose it?"

So why can't he decide that he should make an additional 200 thousand this year but when it does not happen, make the claim he lost money too. He planned on making that much on paper so does that mean he lost earnings so he can claim a huge loss on his taxes? If it works for huge corporations then why not him?

It's one of those things that makes me go .... hmmmmmm.

Another thing we were pondering over was American made products. Just how many items in your home alone have 'Made In America' on them. So without leaving this tiny room; I decided to look around and see. Don't you just hate these list things??? ;)

1) my sweatshirt says made in Honduras

2) My pants, Dominican of Republic

3) My slippers, USA

4) Curtis Mathis Television, Korea

5) Computer speakers, China

6) RCA CD Boombox, China

7) Sons sweatshirt, Pakistan

8) Canned air for cleaning computer, USA

9) Pokey and Gumby, China

10) Craftsman screwdriver, USA

11) Stapler, USA

12) Optimus microphone, China

13) Racing Ball cap, Philippines

14) Another Ball cap, Bangladesh

15) SunCom Firefly Phone, China

16) Altoids Wintergreen mints (Very good I might add) Great Britain

17) XBox game controller, China

18) My Dell Computer key board, China

19) Chase authentic shirt, India

and lastly

20) Jack Daniels Whiskey, USA (Priceless)

5 out of twenty made in the good old USA. Oh well, I guess the Jack Daniels helps to take the bite out of things.

Billy's Life On Line.

Folks, you must go and visit my friend Billy. And I have to tell you that if you like to read then you should purchase one of his great books. I have his 'Carrot on a Stick' and my son has Billy's children's book, 'Arnie and Jake,' which is a great story for kids about two ant buddies who join the Army. Matter of fact, I began reading my son's book and read it cover to cover and wanted more. He will even autograph them and each has a different little one or two line little note.
Carrot on a Stick will have you thinking "Dern. That's just how I felt or That's happened to me before."

Billy has begun something new which is putting his life on line for all to see and you can see it here http://bloggingpoet.squarespace.com/a-day-in-the-life/.

You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll ponder life's road with the bloggingpoet. There is absolutely something for everyone at Billy's place.

What are you waiting for? Go visit! Go!

Biker Build-Off Update from the Madrocka.

( Having trouble getting pictures to post. Sorry.)

'BIKER BUILD-OFF' ROARS BACK FOR FIFTH SEASON; ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS' SERIESTO AIR IN FALL '06 Production Begins February 6-- Los Angeles, Calif. -February 6, 2006 - "Biker Build-Off," the consistently popular series fromOriginal Productions that made custom bike-building a mass culturephenomenon, is back for its fifth season on Discovery, launching in theFall of 2006.Production begins today on the latest series of contests in which 26fabricators will square off in 13 head-to-head competitions. By the timethe final detail is applied to the last bikes, these trend-setting builderswill have once again set the standard for what makes choppers cool."In the six years since we started spotlighting chopper culture, we've seenhow these bike legends as well as hot-shot newcomers connect with a huge,diverse audience," says "Biker Build-Off" creator Thom Beers, CEO andExecutive of Original Productions, and the man who first saw the televisionappeal of biker competitions. "With each series, we boost the excitementand celebrate the phenomenon even more. Season five will continue thattradition."Hugh King - known throughout the gearhead community as "The Chopper King,"thanks to his hands-on involvement as co-executive producer of the "BikerBuild-Off" series and director-producer of its predecessor, "MotorcycleMania" - has again assembled the cream of custom bike builders to competein "Biker Build-Off."given two weeks to create a custom motorcycle, from the ground up. Althoughaesthetics are crucial to all the builds, the contest also requires thebikes to work; the builders must ride them as far as 1,000 miles to majorbike events, where attendees vote for their favorite.The stakes, and tension, are raised with the fifth season, however. Eachbuilder/designer will be allowed only one packet of tools to use on theroad to the competition, and there will be no back-up truck packed withextra equipment. If a bike breaks down and the rider can't fix it with whathe's carrying, he's out of the competition.In three of the Build-Offs the trophy will go to the fastest bike ratherthan to, as in the past, the most popular. The contestants in thosematch-ups will build track and motocross bikes, then go head to head forthe top prize.Also "Biker Build-Off" season 5 will feature a woman builder for the firsttime and the most multi-cultural, multi-national lineup of artisans ever.But, then, the motorcycle subculture is growing at a ferocious pace."Biker Build-Off" has made many custom builders, who once worked inobscurity and were only known to just a handful of dedicated riders, intonational celebrities. Their shops are destinations for the millions ofbiker faithful, and their work is in great demand. A-list Hollywoodcelebrities, white-collar executives and professionals are among thegrowing audience for high end, one-of-a-kind bikes.That mass appeal doesn't surprise The Chopper King. In his years producingmotorcycle competitions - first for Original Prods.' "Motorcycle Mania"series" and then for "Biker Build-Off" - King has seen how these craftsmanconnect powerfully with viewers.The match-ups this season include:* Mike Metzger vs. Larry Linkogle: Both men build Motocross bikes, and willsubject their creations to awesome long-distance flips and jumps for thegold* Ivy Tosclair vs. Kevin Alsop: A small shop owner and prize winner fromNew Orleans goes up against a major manufacturer and legend from Big Bear,Calif.* Scott Long vs. Trevelene: Two of the toughest guys in the business faceoff in a contest to build the ultimate old-school chopper.Jesse Rooke* Roland Sands vs. Jesse Rooke: Both builders are young, both are based inSouthern California, and both are convinced they can build the fastestbike.* Paul Yaffee vs. Dave Perewitz: A pair of world famous, veteran builders -one from the Southwest, one from the Northeast - goes bike-to-bike.* Ell Pitts vs. Harold Pontarelli: Both are big names in the chopper worldand neither is comfortable with finishing in second place.* Matt Hotch vs. Roger Goldammer: The reigning "Biker Build-Off" championsquares off with the reigning world champion.Billy Lane* Billy Lane vs. Russell Mitchell: One's all-American, the other's British(although he's gone native in North Hollywood), both are looking to becrowned the undisputed stud muffin of bikerdom.* Craig Whitford vs. Mike Long: You think trikes are kids' stuff? Don'ttell these guys, two of the baddest three wheel builders around.* Kim Suter vs. Gypsy Charros: An up-and-coming female bike builder fromTexas goes against an established and famous male builder from Kansas.* Jason Hart vs. Brian Klock: They're young, extremely inventive, heavilyrewarded builders, both from the heart of the Midwest, and now they'regoing mano-a-mano.* Detroit Brothers vs. Jason Kangas: Two rough neck young brothers go upagainst one of the newest kids on the chopper block. But neither doesanything that can be mistaken for child's play.* Marcus Walz vs. Michael Prugh: A pair of the leading designers in theworld -- One's from Germany (though he works out of Florida), the other isfrom Rapid City, SD - seek global domination.

Special thanks to Robin MadRocka Fox http://www.myspace.com/jaxcosmicmoonpieMadRocka@bellsouth.net

Blogspot Problems.

Many of you have been having problems this month with your blog pages. I to have had problems getting in or even finding the whole site to be down at times. But I must say that the Blogspot folks are doing a good job trying to get things fixed. I am also appreciative that they make the effort to let us know what is going on with updates. At least they try to keep us informed of things.

I hope Pete, Eric and the rest of the Blogspot team are able to get some rest now after working hard to get things reloaded and sorted out. Great job folks....thanks.

Our Military Did WHAT!

How appalling. Have you heard this? A former soldier, First Lt. William Redbrook, 25, had to leave the Army with a shrapnel injury to his arm after being wounded in Iraq. But before they would give him a discharge last week the Army told him he had to pay for the body armor vest he was wearing when injured. He had to get money from his friends to pay $632 for the body armor and other gear left behind by the medics. The supply officer had failed to document that the blood soaked items were a biohazard and had to be destroyed.
The Military has now decided to give him a refund of the money he had to pay. Thing is though to me that these men and women are over there fighting and putting their lives on the line twenty four seven. It is appalling that the Military would even try to make these wounded soldiers pay for gear that is lost like that in a battle zone. What's next? Make them pay for ammo used too and charge them for meals and transportation.

The last thing a wounded soldier should have to worry about is how to pay for lost or damaged gear before he/she can be allowed to go home. Is that the way we thank our men and women of the armed forces? What was the young female soldiers name who was captured and had a movie made about her? She was found in an enemy hospital dressed in hospital clothes when rescued. I wonder...... Did the military charge her for all of her lost gear and being out of uniform before letting her go home?? Maybe they took it out of her earnings from the Movie...Probably with interest tacked on.

Charlie my friend.

I feel so bad for my friend from work, Charlie, who just found out yesterday that his father died all alone at his home on Friday evening last. His father was living in Minnesota and was not found until Tuesday. Charlie is an only child and not yet twenty one. His birthday is the 14th of February and he and I had planned on getting together to celebrate.
I must say that Charlie is unlike most young men his age in that he is more like an old soul. He is much more responsible than I ever was even in my late twenties. When I speak with Charlie it's like I am talking with someone who is much older than his twenty years.

Though I've only known him now for three weeks, it's like we made a connection some how. He is a good teacher and has been teaching me about CNC machining. He feels that he can tell me anything and after only knowing him a short time, I have more respect for him than I do a lot of adults I've known for years.

The phone call about his father came at work early in the day. Even though his own father-in-law works with us; I was the first one he approached about it. I could tell by his eyes that something was dreadfully wrong. While he was telling me, all I could do was just let him get it out while I kept patting him on the back and staying with him. He was in such a shock that he began to just go back to work running machinery but I was fearful that he would not be able to do so safely. My suggestion to him was to just go home and find a place to grieve and be with his young wife. He did not know how to get ahold of the Police Department where his father lived so I told him to call the local Police Department and they could get him the number. He was still just so much in shock and he didn't know which way to turn. His father didn't have much and Charlie does not know if he can afford to bring his own father back to North Carolina for burial. The whole situation sits completely on this young mans shoulders.

Finally I went to his father-in-law and he was able to convince Charlie to go home. The father-in-law told him to not worry about it because if he needs the money, to bring him home and pay for the funeral, that he will give him the money. Here is a young man who only has fourteen month's left on paying off his small home and has both of his vehicles paid for at such an early age. He works 55 to 60 hours a week to do this and that is unheard of these days. This young man is more responsible, as I said, than any adult I've ever known.

I feel very bad for him and don't know what I can do other than to let him know I'm here for him, what ever that is worth.

The work day just feels like a big void without him there. Everyone relies on this young man so much at work that his absence can be felt in a huge way.

You Might Be An Asshole If:

These hit me this week and I just had to do it. So here Goes.


You Might Be an Asshole if:

1) You drive a huge gas hog but never use the turn signals.

2) rather than use your cell phone to talk on while driving, you use the text messaging feature instead.

3) you are retired and decide that the best time of day to go out is, morning rush hour, afternoon rush hour and at lunch time.

4) you drive your car with the seat laid all the way reclined and turn up your stereo so that the booming drowns out the other persons peace and quiet.

5) you roar up behind another vehicle then switch lanes only to dart in front and stop to turn.

6) you borrow something and either bring it back broken or not at all.

7) at the theatre you keep talking during the movie annoying those around you.

8) in the theatre, you talk on the cell phone.

9) in the check out lane at the store you want the cashier to HOLD on while your friend runs back to get something you forgot.

10) you go to the express lane at the grocery store with two carts of groceries.

11) you call someone at dinner time and after they say "I'm eating dinner. Could I call you back?" You keep talking.

12) your driveway is long enough to hold eight cars side by side and you have two. But you rather park in the street directly behind the neighbors driveway.

13) at the drive through burger doodle window you keep changing your order and nobody in the car knows what they want.

14) at the same drive through your repeating your friends orders via the cell phone.

15) you pull out into traffic like a bat out of hell only to drive ten miles under the speed limit.

16) someone let's you pull out in front of them in traffic and you don't even give a thank you wave.

17) what the other person has to say is NEVER as important as what you have to say.

18) you buy the biggest most powerful vehicle you can find only to drive it as slow as you can and--- you can barely see over the steering wheel.

19) you allow your children to have free rein at the store crying and hollering and do nothing.

20) while walking your dog, you let him/her take a dump in the neighbors yard so he/she won't dump in your own.

21) you wear your ball cap sideways to keep the sun......out of your ear?

22) you pay $60 for pants that hang down to your knees when you could have a pair of grandpa's that look the same for free.

23) you drive your New SUV to the welfare office to pick up your welfare check.

24) you live off of the government and have better things then the working stiff down the road.

25) you think of an animal as a disposable item.

26) you have a handicap parking permit for a family member but you use it whether they are with you or not.

27) you don't have a handicap parking permit and you use the handicap parking space because it's closer.

28) your roommate and you work at the same place but you won't chip in for gas and you tell them "Your are going that way anyway."

29) you think that a motorcycle can stop faster because it is smaller.

30) you think an eighteen wheeler can stop faster because it has eighteen wheels.

31) you think everyone else should think like you.

32) you throw trash out the window of your vehicle.

33) you use the car in the parking spot next to yours to put your packages on while you fumble for your keys ; then drag the packages across their hood leaving scratch marks.

34) you park cross ways in a spot taking up two spaces.

35) you voice your opinions on child rearing when you have no children of your own.

36) you think everyone else's business is your business.

37) when the power goes out in an ice storm you ask a relative to use one of their grills. But not the charcoal grill because it's to much work.

38) you think the world owes you everything for free so you won't get a job.

39) you always say to people "Just be yourself" but only if it meets your approval.

40) your views on life are more important than anyone else's.

41) stop signs do not apply to you.

42) you never return a favor.

43) someone is trying to read that it means they have nothing to do so you try to find something for them to do.

44) your co-worker is on the phone with a customer and you keep trying to tell them what to say even though you can't hear the whole conversation.
These are just a few. What are yours?

Motorcycle Women

So you think motorcycle women only adorn the life style by riding on the back. Or perhaps when you think about motorcycles and women, the first thing that pops in your head are photos of a half naked woman. Well then, you should take another look at women and motorcycling today. So many of them are taking the reins of their own rides and the numbers continue to grow. Not only can they bring home the bacon, they can handle a whole hog. Does not bother me one iota. In fact, I'm glad to see more of them out there and don't laugh, because one of them just may be the person who fixs your bike on the side of the road.
Check out these two women to see what I mean, Kt Did is in the side bar and you can check out another who builds motorcycles at www.wickedwomenchoppers.com.

AOL where are you?

I'm paying good money for my service and find it annoying that for some reason, I can't visit any web sites through them this week. What gives on that I wonder. Can't put in the complete site and get anything or do a search. All I get is "Site can not be found." Then I hit reload and the same thing happens.

What's the deal. I may have to switch to another host maybe. AOL has been the service I have used for several years now but I don't want a service that is going to deny me.

XTREME MOTORCYCLE


A couple of weeks back, I think it was but would have to check my msg file, I sent Xtreme a note that I'd like to do an article on them and their bikes. They did send me a message that they would be getting something to me and we would go from there. Well, nothing has come my way as of yet. Maybe I'll give them a bit more time to get it together before I post a rant about them.
I had even asked about where in North Carolina that they may have some of the motorcycles for me to see, live, up close and in person. That was un answered as well. Perhaps there again that will be in the information they send me.

We will just have to wait and see---- after all---- don't want to be hasty in my opinion regarding service and availability in my magazine.