Am I Walking The Wrong Path
In my reading about Henry Thoreau, Ellery Channing, Bronson Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson and others of the like, I can't help but wonder if I am walking the wrong path. For years now I have been trying to get another writing gig however, it has not happened. I've been turned down for one reason or another even when a couple of publications asked for me to write something. One magazine even sent out a photographer for a photo shoot and I was assured my article would be in their spring issue; never happened. This is not the only thing I am in wondering about.
This line from Walter Harding in his book about Henry Thoreau caused me pause, he wrote: "Even those who had cold-shouldered him and denounced him for years as a ne'er -do-well began beating a path to his door with birds' nests or flowers or Indian relics in their hands and questions on their lips." Now my birds' nests and flowers and Indian relics are not the same as Thoreaus were but instead other more modern birds' nests flowers and Indian relics. I do abhor when a third party asks a question on a problem which is put to me and I don't even get the credit. Such is life and you learn to live with it. Sort of like working for someone else earning a meager wage while the employers reap all the rewards. Your working and sweating and making things happen and the owners are buying new cars, homes, planes, boats and going on several vacations each year. You the worker make the industries hum with your back breaking labors hoping to get noticed and move up in the company while the owners green behind the ears kids get it all without earning it. They get it only because they are...well because they are their kids. I left a company just like that after over a decade of service because of something just like that, only the kids friends were put in higher positions right off the street because, as you guessed it, they were friends of the kid.
Bronson Alcott was before his time in the ways of learning and teaching in several schools of his day. He was introducing students to science and music and other subjects that were considered useless at the time. These ideas he had was one of the biggest problems of his being able to hold a job. The powers that be thought these things to be less important. They were more of today's thinking of the "NO child left behind" program in schools today. As long as the students pass the tests nothing else matters. These are false results as these kids today are not really being taught anything other than what is crammed in for test time. You see, Alcotts ideals came of age and now it is being shelved yet again. Not every child is geared to be the owner of a large company, or a boss, lawyer or Doctor and so on. Our school system is teaching that unless you procure a large salary job then you are less, nothing, nobody and loser.
It turns my stomach that most of these kids in college are there for only one thing. That is to party, drink, live large, pretend to be all that and independent all on mothers and fathers dime. It's play time to put off what is heading towards scores of them like a steamroller of reality when mom and dad are not there to pick up the tab any longer. They feel it is beneath them to do any actual laborious job. They all want to be living in the big fat house driving the big fat cars with the big fat paychecks. They don't give a darn that most their parents mortgaged their homes, stole into their savings and did without so the kid could be an uppity man/daughter of the world. These kids expect to go into a job at the top not working their way up with actual work.
This is not anything new as it was the same when Alcott and Thoreau were teaching in the 1800's. Most of what Thoreau himself was being taught at Harvard he found useless to large degree. The reasons above are likened to those days of long ago past teaching criteria that led Thoreau, and others like him to start they're own short lived schools. Thoreau himself could not find employment long in others schools so he struck out on his own. He took kids out into the fields and woods to teach many times real world lessons.
Most people today just put to much into having possessions, bigger, better, newer stuff to put in their bigger better homes. Things that keep them working harder and longer to keep up with others around them. Debt, debt and more debt. Spending has it rewards but not for the card holder. I wonder if they know their trying to keep up with the Jones' who are trying to keep up with the Smiths' to not be outdone and it's all an illusion.
I think I need a walk in the woods.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
The Lonely Man
Once upon a time there existed a man who when he spoke said things that others prefer to not hear. They did not wish to listen to the truth of matters but would rather speak of only menial and trivial things. To learn was not of their essence. The people were content to live with the blinders of a horse upon their noses not daring to look right or left. No they had rather continue on the same heavily trodden paths of others, never to venture , veer from the known path. It was fearful to trek out into the woods and branches of the unknown; Easier to eat the fruits from the orchards never tasting of the berries that had abundance amongst the thorns.
The man was not of a great or prestigious school but rather from life it's own. There was in his ability to see through and reason out truths that were lies. To see into the future by drawing from the past was a gift. Many points made later came to fruition but, when pointed out it was unbelievable unless it came from the mouths and breaths of those who held paper on their walls bespeaking of their great and vast knowledge of learning from manuals of often misinterpreted manuscripts.
Many felt that this man was more to be laughed at and scorned for they were afraid this man might see through them, find a chink in the armour of their small mindedness. Easier to continue on the path of the known and not have open mindedness. Any thoughts of differing opinion should be used as mockery to shame and silence the seer. Pay more attention to his dress or look instead of the kindness and wisdom's that could be found by closing one's mouth and opening the heart and soul. For people such as these, hate and belittlement is the only way to understanding that which they are afraid to admit to themselves. They had also wish to fall in line to the misguided trivial matters that steer them away from the issues of that which are truly important. To yell and holler at top of ones lungs expelling all rage to stifle the opinions of the man who wishes only to enlighten and thus enriching their bodies , minds and souls. To show them that the way to peace is from understanding as well as compassion for their fellow man and beast.
No, this man was not to be listened to for he had little means, changes of clothing were few and tattered, not refined or made from the finest cloths or designers of the world. So he was left to his own accord, living alone wandering the vast edges and depths of the world with the huge universe at his disposal, only no one ever listens...except maybe God for he has no judgement to pass until the soul is made to appear in the heavens above. For it is man and man alone who wages, wins and loses his battles of his own accord.
Then the scorned man on earth who tried in vane to open the eyes of men will be given the opportunity to cast his baskets of stones upon those souls who had viewed him as forlornness, scorned and stifled his existence in his earthly bounded attire. But the Lord knows that this man will not cast any stones for his wish had always been to educate, to show compassion for those who do not believe. They will ask His forgiveness and He will wash their tired feet and welcome them home. The strength of forgiveness holds more power than all the armies of the world.
Once upon a time there existed a man who when he spoke said things that others prefer to not hear. They did not wish to listen to the truth of matters but would rather speak of only menial and trivial things. To learn was not of their essence. The people were content to live with the blinders of a horse upon their noses not daring to look right or left. No they had rather continue on the same heavily trodden paths of others, never to venture , veer from the known path. It was fearful to trek out into the woods and branches of the unknown; Easier to eat the fruits from the orchards never tasting of the berries that had abundance amongst the thorns.
The man was not of a great or prestigious school but rather from life it's own. There was in his ability to see through and reason out truths that were lies. To see into the future by drawing from the past was a gift. Many points made later came to fruition but, when pointed out it was unbelievable unless it came from the mouths and breaths of those who held paper on their walls bespeaking of their great and vast knowledge of learning from manuals of often misinterpreted manuscripts.
Many felt that this man was more to be laughed at and scorned for they were afraid this man might see through them, find a chink in the armour of their small mindedness. Easier to continue on the path of the known and not have open mindedness. Any thoughts of differing opinion should be used as mockery to shame and silence the seer. Pay more attention to his dress or look instead of the kindness and wisdom's that could be found by closing one's mouth and opening the heart and soul. For people such as these, hate and belittlement is the only way to understanding that which they are afraid to admit to themselves. They had also wish to fall in line to the misguided trivial matters that steer them away from the issues of that which are truly important. To yell and holler at top of ones lungs expelling all rage to stifle the opinions of the man who wishes only to enlighten and thus enriching their bodies , minds and souls. To show them that the way to peace is from understanding as well as compassion for their fellow man and beast.
No, this man was not to be listened to for he had little means, changes of clothing were few and tattered, not refined or made from the finest cloths or designers of the world. So he was left to his own accord, living alone wandering the vast edges and depths of the world with the huge universe at his disposal, only no one ever listens...except maybe God for he has no judgement to pass until the soul is made to appear in the heavens above. For it is man and man alone who wages, wins and loses his battles of his own accord.
Then the scorned man on earth who tried in vane to open the eyes of men will be given the opportunity to cast his baskets of stones upon those souls who had viewed him as forlornness, scorned and stifled his existence in his earthly bounded attire. But the Lord knows that this man will not cast any stones for his wish had always been to educate, to show compassion for those who do not believe. They will ask His forgiveness and He will wash their tired feet and welcome them home. The strength of forgiveness holds more power than all the armies of the world.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
B.A.C.A (Bikers Against Child Abuse)
I must apologise for my rant yesterday about the wheel. Also I'd like to add that it is no excuse for my behavior and this is no justification. I am only saying why I was so upset as it was later when I analyzed why I was.
Yesterday was already frustrating because I had read on the B.A.C.A site the account of a medic who responded to a child abuse call the day before. I went back to the site again yesterday and watched some of the Australian videos. But after reading what happened to this little five year old girl I was first moved to tears, yes I said it, moved to tears. If that makes me less of a man than so be it. Then reading about the abusers actions of being so relaxed and seemingly self satisfied of what he had done to his own little girl, well it festered in my mind is all.
The wheel was not what I was angry at really but was the monster whom this little girl calls Dad. How could a person do that to they're own child?
Sometime back I had checked out the B.A.C.A site and my interest was high on getting involved, only it is more than an hours ride to their location so I don't feel I could make the meetings as required. There is just no way I could be available for court dates and support in a timely fashion to help these kids. As I said, only one chapter is in my state. If only there was a closer chapter where I could do some good. I already have good standing along with contacts at our local Police Department to work with for this cause.
But perhaps I would need to work on my self control when it comes to the child abuser. After all, seeing someone lose control is not in the best interest of the children. The focus would have to be towards the child's needs above everything else in these cases.
I must apologise for my rant yesterday about the wheel. Also I'd like to add that it is no excuse for my behavior and this is no justification. I am only saying why I was so upset as it was later when I analyzed why I was.
Yesterday was already frustrating because I had read on the B.A.C.A site the account of a medic who responded to a child abuse call the day before. I went back to the site again yesterday and watched some of the Australian videos. But after reading what happened to this little five year old girl I was first moved to tears, yes I said it, moved to tears. If that makes me less of a man than so be it. Then reading about the abusers actions of being so relaxed and seemingly self satisfied of what he had done to his own little girl, well it festered in my mind is all.
The wheel was not what I was angry at really but was the monster whom this little girl calls Dad. How could a person do that to they're own child?
Sometime back I had checked out the B.A.C.A site and my interest was high on getting involved, only it is more than an hours ride to their location so I don't feel I could make the meetings as required. There is just no way I could be available for court dates and support in a timely fashion to help these kids. As I said, only one chapter is in my state. If only there was a closer chapter where I could do some good. I already have good standing along with contacts at our local Police Department to work with for this cause.
But perhaps I would need to work on my self control when it comes to the child abuser. After all, seeing someone lose control is not in the best interest of the children. The focus would have to be towards the child's needs above everything else in these cases.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Billy Lane Sentenced to 6 Years
Bike builder Billy Lane was sentenced this week to six years behind bars and three years probation in the vehicular death of Gerald Morelock three years ago. Billy's driving privileges have also been permanently revoked.
Read the whole story here: http://www.mikeodom.name/
Bike builder Billy Lane was sentenced this week to six years behind bars and three years probation in the vehicular death of Gerald Morelock three years ago. Billy's driving privileges have also been permanently revoked.
Read the whole story here: http://www.mikeodom.name/
Now I've sprained my wrist
Great!!!!!!! Now I've sprained my wrist trying to get this stupid tire on the rim. I give up it's going in the trash. Seems like everyone else wanted to borrow and use the thing more than I do anyway.
Can you tell even a little that I am pissed off???????????????????????????????????
Great!!!!!!! Now I've sprained my wrist trying to get this stupid tire on the rim. I give up it's going in the trash. Seems like everyone else wanted to borrow and use the thing more than I do anyway.
Can you tell even a little that I am pissed off???????????????????????????????????
Friday, August 14, 2009
Remove Tire from rim of hand truck
It has been said that you can find information about anything on the net. Well just do you know, that is a load of bull. Several things I have tried to find information about is not out there. Always seems that the situation I am in the need of finding a solution for does not exist. Searches jump all around what I need to find.
This hand truck has one tire that always goes flat so we got some tubes to put in them to quit the aggravation of it going flat all the time. I tried and slammed my hand so many times that I was at the point of pitching the damn thing across the shop. I stopped just short of taking a sledge hammer to it and smashing it flat as a pancake.
So I walked away from it before I got to the exploding part to search the net. All the results come back about getting the whole tire off the axle. That is not what I need to know. Or how slime does not work. SLIME, I did not put anything in about using tire slime, I put in getting tire off hand truck rim, not getting wheel off or tire slime or changing a truck tire or buying a new wheel assembly or anything else the search throws back. I need to know how to get the tire off the stinking rim. The tire tools I have, and I have used them many times over thirty some years, won't work. You get one tool in then the other and after that there is just not enough room to get a third one in the work around the wheel. The tire gets to tight on the rim that no room is left. And NO, I don't want to take it to a lawn mower shop because the cost of getting this done to both tires will cost more than the stupid piece of s#$t is worth.
The rim is in danger of bending if I apply to much more force to it and the rim bead is already getting chewed up from the tools.
To tell the truth, I am on edge about other things and the seemingly simple process of doing this tire deal is about to push me over the top.
It has been said that you can find information about anything on the net. Well just do you know, that is a load of bull. Several things I have tried to find information about is not out there. Always seems that the situation I am in the need of finding a solution for does not exist. Searches jump all around what I need to find.
This hand truck has one tire that always goes flat so we got some tubes to put in them to quit the aggravation of it going flat all the time. I tried and slammed my hand so many times that I was at the point of pitching the damn thing across the shop. I stopped just short of taking a sledge hammer to it and smashing it flat as a pancake.
So I walked away from it before I got to the exploding part to search the net. All the results come back about getting the whole tire off the axle. That is not what I need to know. Or how slime does not work. SLIME, I did not put anything in about using tire slime, I put in getting tire off hand truck rim, not getting wheel off or tire slime or changing a truck tire or buying a new wheel assembly or anything else the search throws back. I need to know how to get the tire off the stinking rim. The tire tools I have, and I have used them many times over thirty some years, won't work. You get one tool in then the other and after that there is just not enough room to get a third one in the work around the wheel. The tire gets to tight on the rim that no room is left. And NO, I don't want to take it to a lawn mower shop because the cost of getting this done to both tires will cost more than the stupid piece of s#$t is worth.
The rim is in danger of bending if I apply to much more force to it and the rim bead is already getting chewed up from the tools.
To tell the truth, I am on edge about other things and the seemingly simple process of doing this tire deal is about to push me over the top.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Motorcycle Ranch
Got travel on your mind ? Check out this place that I found in Tennessee called the Motorcycle Ranch. This place is geared towards those on two wheels but well, car campers are welcome too. They have a restaurant for those not ready or to tired to cook after a long days ride. Need to rest your head but want something different? Try out one of the Tipi's on the grounds. Those things are huge inside, much larger than expected.
Click here or in the sidebar, either way you'll get there. http://www.motorcycleranch.com/
Got travel on your mind ? Check out this place that I found in Tennessee called the Motorcycle Ranch. This place is geared towards those on two wheels but well, car campers are welcome too. They have a restaurant for those not ready or to tired to cook after a long days ride. Need to rest your head but want something different? Try out one of the Tipi's on the grounds. Those things are huge inside, much larger than expected.
Click here or in the sidebar, either way you'll get there. http://www.motorcycleranch.com/
Saturday, August 08, 2009
SaddleBag and Seat Update
The saddlebag is coming along but it got stalled off for a few weeks. The paint job on it came out well except for just two small imperfections I was able to wet sand out. I hated to sand on it because the paint was all nice and glossy smooth. Wish I had a camera to show a shot of it. The best part is my pleasure in seeing all of my filling and fiberglass work coming out as hoped. Places that had holes and damage are not visible at all. Happy is not the best word to describe how pleased I am with the outcome, this bag looks brand spanking new.
The saddlebags took a backseat because of my new solo seat given to me. It only had a few miles on it before the owner took it off his bike back in 1990 something. He had this and some other new takeoff parts from his bike just collecting dust. He gave them to a fellow I work with who new I was at a standstill on my new fiberglass seat project. (Having a hard time finding seat fabric locally) So anyway, I have this brand new condition solo seat for my bike and needed to make a front attachment bracket for it. The old IronHead sporties have a different seat mount system up front. I kept going over ideas in my head and have been working from the extreme complications end down to the simplest I could think of. So far all the bits and pieces are from what I could scrounge up around the garage and small shop. The hope is to not spend any money on the setup so it is truly a FREE seat.
I took a piece of bracket from a shield I had laying around for years from an old dump truck. Then a little of conduit from an animal catch pole I'd made maybe ten years ago and the part of the bracket I'd already made for my own fiberglass seat pan. Oh yes, and I used some of my block shock rubber (Used for mounting engines and/or equipment to reduce vibrations) for the front bracket to mount to the seat with. Part of the bracket is aluminum and part is steel, so I am bonding the parts together with JB weld. At first thinking about how to do it was sketchy but once I found my first part for the bracket it seems that all the other bits and pieces just jumped from hiding places saying: "I'll work for that."
My mind just went to work on it's own and my body just kinda followed along for the ride. This just does not happen for me often, I usually over think and complicate things like this.
It's like when I invented the folding step ladders for semi-trailers and my friend took the concept and simplified it. We put them on two trailers and the driver gave us his views after using them for a couple of weeks and we modified them. Thing is, my friend and I did not think about marketing them and now we see them all over the place all these years later. We just did it to help out our own drivers at the time. You lose when ya snooze.
But back to the seat, I'm at the six hour cure time for the JB weld and will check it in the morning. I love the old JB weld and have fixed untold things with it. The first thing I tried it on was probably an small twelve horse engine which had thrown a rod. I made a patch using the broken bits which I had to carefully coax back into close shape, then used the JB weld to make a patch from both the inside and outside. When I was done you could not tell where the patch was. It held up for a long time. I saw the mower in action some five years later still going strong after my complete overhaul and case patching.
The saddlebag is coming along but it got stalled off for a few weeks. The paint job on it came out well except for just two small imperfections I was able to wet sand out. I hated to sand on it because the paint was all nice and glossy smooth. Wish I had a camera to show a shot of it. The best part is my pleasure in seeing all of my filling and fiberglass work coming out as hoped. Places that had holes and damage are not visible at all. Happy is not the best word to describe how pleased I am with the outcome, this bag looks brand spanking new.
The saddlebags took a backseat because of my new solo seat given to me. It only had a few miles on it before the owner took it off his bike back in 1990 something. He had this and some other new takeoff parts from his bike just collecting dust. He gave them to a fellow I work with who new I was at a standstill on my new fiberglass seat project. (Having a hard time finding seat fabric locally) So anyway, I have this brand new condition solo seat for my bike and needed to make a front attachment bracket for it. The old IronHead sporties have a different seat mount system up front. I kept going over ideas in my head and have been working from the extreme complications end down to the simplest I could think of. So far all the bits and pieces are from what I could scrounge up around the garage and small shop. The hope is to not spend any money on the setup so it is truly a FREE seat.
I took a piece of bracket from a shield I had laying around for years from an old dump truck. Then a little of conduit from an animal catch pole I'd made maybe ten years ago and the part of the bracket I'd already made for my own fiberglass seat pan. Oh yes, and I used some of my block shock rubber (Used for mounting engines and/or equipment to reduce vibrations) for the front bracket to mount to the seat with. Part of the bracket is aluminum and part is steel, so I am bonding the parts together with JB weld. At first thinking about how to do it was sketchy but once I found my first part for the bracket it seems that all the other bits and pieces just jumped from hiding places saying: "I'll work for that."
My mind just went to work on it's own and my body just kinda followed along for the ride. This just does not happen for me often, I usually over think and complicate things like this.
It's like when I invented the folding step ladders for semi-trailers and my friend took the concept and simplified it. We put them on two trailers and the driver gave us his views after using them for a couple of weeks and we modified them. Thing is, my friend and I did not think about marketing them and now we see them all over the place all these years later. We just did it to help out our own drivers at the time. You lose when ya snooze.
But back to the seat, I'm at the six hour cure time for the JB weld and will check it in the morning. I love the old JB weld and have fixed untold things with it. The first thing I tried it on was probably an small twelve horse engine which had thrown a rod. I made a patch using the broken bits which I had to carefully coax back into close shape, then used the JB weld to make a patch from both the inside and outside. When I was done you could not tell where the patch was. It held up for a long time. I saw the mower in action some five years later still going strong after my complete overhaul and case patching.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Wooley Fest
Ahhh, it's just something I'm tossing around in my head. There are so many, and I mean so many, great musicians out there who only get heard in the local areas. Radio these days is a laugh. No live disc jockeys, very closed formatting with the same ole stuff played to death. I mean, you can turn on the radio and it's all just a dang loop. Same music from past hits just played over and over again like, well like a broken record. Big record companies have cut off their noses to spite their own faces.
I wonder, would people come out to hear them play... these Indie artists. Fresh new artists with great music that is seldom heard in the way it is deserved.
("he wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and to see if he could not learn what it had to teach, so that when he came to die, he would not discover that he had not lived") Henry Thoreau - 1845
Ahhh, it's just something I'm tossing around in my head. There are so many, and I mean so many, great musicians out there who only get heard in the local areas. Radio these days is a laugh. No live disc jockeys, very closed formatting with the same ole stuff played to death. I mean, you can turn on the radio and it's all just a dang loop. Same music from past hits just played over and over again like, well like a broken record. Big record companies have cut off their noses to spite their own faces.
I wonder, would people come out to hear them play... these Indie artists. Fresh new artists with great music that is seldom heard in the way it is deserved.
("he wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and to see if he could not learn what it had to teach, so that when he came to die, he would not discover that he had not lived") Henry Thoreau - 1845
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Antique Motorcycles and Horses
Just a quick thought.
My brother in Seattle and I were on the phone for hours the other day yaking about motorcycles. He mentioned a 1939 Brough Superior SS80 so he guided me a site to see one. www.vintagebike.co.uk . Never heard of them before but it made me think of the Rikuo Japanese made Harley from the 1930's. Then of course I went on the net to look at them again. There are few of the machines in museums here in the States. As I was looking around the thought began of looking at other motorcycles sitting around in museums and the thought hit me as a bit sad. You know, these bikes were built to ride and not sit in museums. If I had the fundage I'd get me one of those old vintage bikes and ride that baby around. That is what they were for ... right. You wouldn't but a thoroughbred horse then lock him up in a stall for the rest of his life would ya.
Just a quick thought.
My brother in Seattle and I were on the phone for hours the other day yaking about motorcycles. He mentioned a 1939 Brough Superior SS80 so he guided me a site to see one. www.vintagebike.co.uk . Never heard of them before but it made me think of the Rikuo Japanese made Harley from the 1930's. Then of course I went on the net to look at them again. There are few of the machines in museums here in the States. As I was looking around the thought began of looking at other motorcycles sitting around in museums and the thought hit me as a bit sad. You know, these bikes were built to ride and not sit in museums. If I had the fundage I'd get me one of those old vintage bikes and ride that baby around. That is what they were for ... right. You wouldn't but a thoroughbred horse then lock him up in a stall for the rest of his life would ya.
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