$700Bn Cupcakes

Well we've really hit the snafu now.... At what point do we complain? We should of been outraged when the first government buyout of a private financial institution went down.  Now we lie in our own bed as the government buys out our debts.  We already owe them for the "right" to live here.  And many other "rights" we enjoy.  (Supposedly just for being here, but hey, I don't complain, I pay my share just like everybody else).  But when I have to start writing checks to the government for my home, where do I draw the line?  I mean really didn't my tax dollars pay for the government to buy the loan that I bought my home with?  So in some weird roundabout way, don't I already own my home?  What will the government be buying next?  Auto loans? Credit cards?  Who bails out the government when they realize that people still can't pay back their loans?  (since people seem to not understand the concept of living within your means).  What happens when America owes it's government more than they can cover?  They borrow money from another country?  Yeah, that'll end well... what happens when they call in their favors?  Guess who'll suffer?  All so that a few idiots living outside their means don't have to get punished by losing their house (that they can't afford)

End of Rant, continue your normally scheduled programming.

Late night blast

Blew my Saturday night downtown again.  I tell you, there is nothing like watching drunk huskers fans after a late game.  It sounds more and more like the downtown area around 17th and O will be "revitalized". I think this means tearing everything down and putting up some new tall buildings.  This is supposed to be happening in the next 6 years or so thanks to the 2015 vision project, "for the benefit of current and future citizens".  (side note, they just rolled out this spiffy new site, I haven't checked through it all to see if there is any new info yet)  Anyway bottom line is the riders will likely lose their hangout spot.  It sounds like the new north south arterial will be 19th and 20th streets now. So we'll have to find a place closer to there. 

Anyway, that's another post. 

After a few hours of watching the husker fans go by, followed by the stumbling after-bar crowd at 1:00am, we went on a short clip around the city.  Lincoln is a great town to cruise around late at night when there's little traffic.  It doesn't take much energy or thought to avoid a wreck when you don't have anybody around you.  And, nothing compares to a little 3am Perkins visit with pals!  All in all, a great Saturday, even if I had to sleep through the daylight hours of Sunday to make up for it.

Wanna make some noise? (Part deux)

Not much to say here.  The pinebox is friggin' amazing.  I love the sound it puts out!  Leaves me with a huge grin on my face every time I step on the pegs.  (or off!) I notice if i swivel my head around to try and hear from the rear, it loses the sharp sound I get while facing forward.  Anyone know anything about sound travel dynamics they could give me a 5 second crash course?  It is a little discomforting to think that the people around me might not be hearing the sweet crisp sound of exhaust pressure, like I do when riding.  But such is life.  I guess I'll be the ONLY ONE with a huge grin on his face all the time, and people will all look at me like I'm some big retard. I have gotten plenty of great comments about it though, everyone I've ridden with really seems to love the sound it puts out.  Now the trick will be to not get in trouble with the Lincoln Police by having just a little TOO much fun with it. 

Party poopers!

By now you must know...

Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) has the Republican Vice Presidential candidate slot all wrapped up.  Check out some of her views on the issues. Need a photo? I sure do. Governor Palen goes all the way to Kuwait to eat crappy army food with soldiers her state sent over there.  I like a lot of things about Sarah.  She has a great record in Alaska of 'shaking things up' so to speak.  Things like fixing bloated budgets.  Things like beefing up law enforcement and supporting public safety through strong courts and prisons.  Things like rooting out corrupt government officials, even if they're in her own party.  That alone says something big about her character. Just try this article explaining about what she does.  What's next?  Call up an ethics investigation on yourself to prove you're right?  Hmmmm yep.  I like reading some of the older articles about her.  They instill a real feeling about what she's done in office, rather than the general floaty good-feeling BS you get from reading Republican press releases from the last few days (or Democratic smears. "intrusive personal questions". investigative reporting ).  Putting the heat onto people abusing their power might be an abuse of her power, but for the greater good.  And as long as she continues to make public knowledge of everything she does that could be seen as controversial, she's got my vote.  It has worked out for her so far, she may be hated in the political arena, but 90%+ approval ratings don't grow on trees.  And hell, it sure beats Obamunism.

Rename-it?

So I figured I ought to rename this blog to the "nobody reads it - quarterly" Except then I'd have to update it at least quarterly. I just don't know if I'm up for that. SO since it's been 3 months I thought I'd try again to get back into the blogging swing.

Lately a bit happening. I've been through a couple different wrecks on the bike. Both minor fairing damage... first a kid backed out without looking, right into me. 2500$ which insurance covered. Latest one was a minor altercation a median and I had. Well to save a long story, the median won the argument and I expressed my reluctant agreement with it's position by trying to give it a big asphalt vs leather vs 400lb motorcycle hug. I think the median enjoyed the hug more than I, but we parted ways and I haven't ridden by there since. (I think it will be a personal vendetta of mine to never ever drive near there again)

SO the bike is all up and going. Remember that exhaust I wrote about so long ago? well it got here yesterday!

Been shooting a bit more and have been pondering purchasing an AR15 from a shop down in Cortland, NE. They custom make their own receivers and most parts. Pretty cool stuff and its nice to buy local when I can.

Political arena has been going full steam ahead while I've been "away" so look forward to discussing some of that as well.

Look forward to posts throughout the week on these, and other, exciting topics!

All Aboard!!!!

The three-fifteen to Nutley is now leaving the station.  Please remain seated and have your ticket stubs available for train staff to check them.  Today's express ride will be arriving in Nutley in approximately four hours twenty five minutes, and we will be featuring roast chicken, potatoes, and your choice of greens, in our dining car anytime after four. Drinks are available upon request.  Thanks for choosing us and welcome aboard the McCain Train!

Now that Barack Obama has won the democratic nomination for US president, He and McCain can finally duke it out for real.  Watching CNN last night the "best political team on television" did bring up a lot of points that were worth mentioning.  Specifically highlighting the historical significance throughout this election.  The US has its first African American presidential nominee ever, and his main competition to gain that nomination was a woman, also a first.  Pretty amazing to think about. 

Additionally, the two candidates for president pose something else the American populace hasn't seen in years: two candidates with decidedly different views on many key issues.  Don't believe me? Try here or here or even here. What's your issue? Abortion? Technology? Google it, whatever the issue I'm sure there's plenty out there to read up on.  On many issues, these two candidates are nearly polar opposites.  Which is why this general election race in the coming months will be such a great one to watch. 

As for poor Hillary - well in my opinion she just doesn't know when to say when.  Her moment in the spotlight is over and she SHOULD do the democratic party a favor by helping hand the spotlight (and urging her loyalists) to support Obama.  However, the longer she keeps making a show for the media with her own political ambitions, the more it will help the republicans.  I just don't like her strategy or her apparent self centered-ness.  So hopefully she will dissapear back to the senate or wherever else she chooses to go.  (some have suggested she would make a good Health Human Services Secretary on the Obama cabinet, provided he win the white house.  I agree, she would be the perfect person to force mandatory health care on us all)

For me, the choice becomes easier the more I read up on both these candidates.  It is hard to choose a candidate when both support some issues that you like and some you don't.  But I will gladly take up Mr. McCain on those few issues I disagree with to avoid Obama's ideals for our nation.  The government already has too much power over citizens.  The more power we give federal government, the less right we, as citizens, have to decide our own fate.  The socialist collectivism views expressed by Obama just aren't for me.  If he is elected president, it is going to be a big hit for individual freedoms, to make way for the "greater overall good".

MMmmmm Rubber

So here we are sitting downtown at our usual spot, enjoying probably the first palatable Saturday evening in the open air of 2008.

Here comes this kid with a nice REAL nice BMW Sedan, in black of course (shouldn't all BMWs be black?). Of course staring at us with his windows and his euro-trash metal music blaring. Just looking for trouble (or a race, or a fight, or god knows what). Finally about the 3rd or 4th time through the light, Matt finally yells at him: "Do a burnout!!!" By this time we'd all gotten a look at the car - it's a BMW M5. Now I'm no BMW expert but I know that its a nice ass car. And not cheap, to boot. And the way this kid's been revving the engine and driving a little sketchy-like, I'm guessing its daddy's car. I had casually mentioned (read: scoffed) to my friends under my breath that 'its probably an 80 thousand dollar car'. Well of course this kid is more than happy to oblige and has a huge, bug-eating grin on his face which allows us all to clearly see the sad story of his two front teeth; jagged and broken as a shattered mirror. My teeth hurt today, weeks later, just thinking about it. So of course he locks it up the front wheels and obliges us with about 15 seconds of tire-melting goodness. Easily the best burnout I have seen in Lincoln, NE. His car is sliding slightly forward, the front brakes unable to push back hard enough against the raw power behind the rear wheels. So he lets off and gets a short applause and a couple whoops and hollers from the gawkers before taking off at the light.

Shortly after (you didn't think the story is over did you?), he pulls by in our side of the street slowly, waving. Of course he decides to stop in and say hi and see who he can cajole into a race. He stops in the middle of the street (oddly no traffic, wierd) and chats with us for a moment. Yeah it's an M5 with a *blah**blah*blah*blah* stage two tune from some german company. That cost about 40 grand on top of the car. Dual turbochargers or some BS like that. He continues to chat for a moment, indicating that his "old lady" messed up his teeth the other day. Not sure if that meant his wife or his mom or what... but don't really care. He sees some cars coming up behind him and decides to stop and chat some more. He pulls in quietly down the block and parallel parks nearer the other end of the street.

At this point I already knew he wasn't a character I really wanted to associate with. I notice the guy slightly tweaking every few seconds, either high on something, stoned on something, drunk on something, or a combination of the above. (not that I really had any doubt anyway) He chatted with the guys some more (I purposely did not join in the conversation or move anywhere near where they were talking). Well I hear him ask who wants to race. Hah! A bit of an akward moment and Matt, being his smooth self, says none of us are really racers, they are hanging out down at BK on 25th! The guy, resolute in his quest to cause trouble, decides to go find someone, quick, fast, and in a hurry. Jumps in his car and again, (no traffic, how weird) squeels his tires backing up, then pounds the accelerator, flipping the car in a U while burning off some more rubber, out of the parking space. I think he meant to flip a 180 out of the space, and then head east, but he was a little too liberal with the throttle, and ended up doing about a 270, facing his car directly into the curb. Stopped, logic I guess betrayed this poor kid, that or his nuts grew in size threefold and he decided to continue his rubber-melting-frenzy. Cranking the wheel and pounding the accelerator once more, leaving us all in a thick white cloud of smoke. He must have spinned around 4-5 times continuously before he finally decided to head east and find a racer. Closer inspection revealed giant black circles, spanning 4 lanes of traffic and a turn lane. How he didn't hit one of the parked cars (lined on both sides of the street) or any traffic (where the hell was all the cars???!!!) I'll never know. However it was possibly the sweetest thing I have ever seen anyone do on four wheels, and certainly the coolest thing done on a public, open, road. The only thing that would of topped it would be a cop to show up and arrest the kid (rightfully) for reckless endangerment or whatever it is cops are making up now. People that do stupid things like that make all us law-abiding folk look bad.

If I tried to squeak my wheels even a little I'd have every cop in a three-county radius lighting me up and dragging me out of my car by my collar. This kid nearly gets away with murder and not a 5-oh in sight? Chalk it up to my being unlucky, I guess.

Oh and I looked up the kids car on BMW-USA it's about a $100,000 car not counting any modifications he made. Holy crap dude. I guess it must be nice to have money and not care what happens to it.

Nebraska Firearms Association

Or some variation of the name.

This may or may not happen. I listened in on an organizational meeting this Saturday concerning the formation of an association here. It may or may not get running depending on the desire of the people to get active. A great point came up in that an association is fine but 20 people really has no pull on votes in the unicameral or any other political body. The association must pull in firearms owners from all walks of life and type of ownership in order to become successful and help move firearms works through our government.

Some discussion was given to forming a group that could work under some IRS code 501(c)4 or some junk that would allow the group to have public political agendas. All fine and good but one step at a time. Seems like we need to have members before we go too crazy, right?

Anyway it may be around in the future and of course I'd fully support any such venture. I'll keep an ear to the ground and let you know what I hear...

Way to go Lou!

See Lou Dobbs on CNN lately? He's had some excellent coverage on there the last couple days of some high-profile firearms cases currently out there. Here's the CNN video explaining a case, where the guy lent his 20 year old rifle to a buddy, the rifle malfunctions, and now the gun owner is facing 6 years in prison, and up to $250,000 in fines!

Here's David Codrea on praising the media for their coverage, and why we need to let the networks know we like to hear about these firearms injustices. It sounds from Lou like he is as upset as many US gun owners likely are too! The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives is a bit out of control! I can't believe they got this case all the way through trial and got him convicted, with a whole jury full of people finding the poor guy guilty!? (He's yet to be sentenced, and has filed for Acquittal I believe)

Wanna make some noise?

The more I ride, the more I wish I was louder. Both for safety and for fun. (OK so it's about 10% safety 90% fun, so sue me)

So I talked to Dave from PineboxOnline about exhaust with a mount for stock brake light and plate. Basically there is a huge bracket that mounts your light, signals, and license plate on the back of the bike. Well most folks remove all that crap and come up with some nice looking custom taillight/plate mount. Its a fender elimination or fender 'elim'. Well I did take the bulk of my fender off, but whats left I feel is a good compromise between looking clean and sleek, and not getting harassed by the cops. I do have after-market exhaust but it is barely any louder than the stock system. Though MUCH lighter, and deeper sounding, it certainly does not turn that many heads. And this exhaust system came with holes and an adapter to mount up to the stock fender bracket.


Well anyway back to Dave. He posted some photos back in January about a PineBox Screamer exhaust system that would include welded in brackets for mounting up the stock fender piece. SO needless to say I was keeping a close eye on the site to see if he would release this version of the exhaust on the unsuspecting public. Well he didn't so I finally got impatient and e-mailed him the other day inquiring about this new addition or if he could possibly do a custom job of it. Well he CAN. Go figure, he updated the site the very same day I mailed him about it, and I think he's gonna make me one! I reserved my spot in line and he'll be fabricating it late May/June and I should receive it sometime in July.



So finally, I'll be able to make some noise.

From the customer testimonials page:

"It has a sound that I really can't associate with anything that I heard so far....From 7-10K RPM it sounds like the Armageddon is right around the corner...."

All I can think of to say about that is, :-D

To be or to blog

Test first posting blah blah blah

linky to something else goes here