Motorcycles are safe!!!

One thing that I enjoy is the deep tissue massage that is created by the wind whipping bugs (large and small) against the cheeks while enjoy the open road. Everyone likes to tell me how dangerous these vehicles are that only have two wheels, but I see things a little differently. The danger is not the two wheeled vehicle, but all the other drivers in their urban assault vehicles. Of course if my Mother read my blog, I might be forced to take a slightly different perspective.

The nice thing about motorcycles is while the rider is not protected by a steel cage, they are also more aware of their surroundings because of their lack of protection. There are no distractions caused by: the kids yelling the video player needs to be fed a new video, there are no GPS navigation devices telling you it is time to turn, you are not carrying on a phone conversation while navigating your way through rush hour, or even removing an article of clothing while operating a motor vehicle; there is just the universal fear that every driver is trying to kill you to keep you focused on the chore at hand, DRIVING! Of course there are some less than blessed with brains individuals out there who will prove me wrong by taking off their coat, answering their cell phone or in general doing something stupid that will cost them their mobility all while trying to operate a motorcycle.

I have not been avidly riding motorcycles long, but in my short time I have had at least three circumstances a year in which I, as the motorcycle rider, was forced to take evasive action to avoid being hit because of another driver's actions. Motorcycles are hard to see, easy to misjudge their closing speed and distance and very easy to hide in traffic and thus other drivers need to be more alert and aware in their climate controlled vehicle compartments, with their music blasting and all the distractions that are found in the new cars of today. If you don't think your distractions are reducing you perceptions, I challenge you to a week of driving with all the windows down, the radio turned off, no cell phone, no GPS device; I know you will realize just how much you are missing.

Spring like weather is here and so are the motorcyclists, so do everyone a favor and be careful out there. With the rise in gas prices more and more people are taking to the road on motorcycles. I know people don't mean to be disrespectful to them, we all just need to be a little more diligent in looking for the small motor vehicle that blends in oh so well. And remember some of them might be knuckle headed and split a lane at 40 mph, putting them and everyone else on the road in danger, but those idiots are the exceptions just like the distracted urban assault vehicle operators are, I am sure...

I dream of a day when all the vehicles on the road are sub-compact electric or hybrid cars and motorcycles, at least than we will be on equal in terms of kinetic energy.

Sigh!

First it was cows, and now this...Oh my!



What I think she means to say is that the majority of the people are the majority contributors to global warming!

* * * * Additional Commentary Added * * * *

I am not even sure where I should start, what an obnoxious viewpoint. One thing that is quite obvious is that skinny vegetarians are not very articulate, nor can they string a train of thought together. How do I know, well just listen to her...She can't be the exception to the rule can she?

There are some very valid points that can be made parallel to her argument without blaming it on obese people. Over consumption does aggravate global warming, as energy would be wasted in making products (food or otherwise) that would be used without benefit. I don't think anyone would argue that American couldn't use a little modification of their resource usage and we all could find ways to be more efficient with our use of resources. But wouldn't the consumption of calories just to sweat them off on a treadmill be classified as wasteful, especially considering most treadmills also take electricity? Would this ultimately end up with an anorexic
'green' society?

It appalls me that educated people can be so clueless as to what cost they are forgetting when it comes down to global climate reform. How many years do we need to use a solar panel before we recover the energy that it took to create the panel? Is the assumption that the earth is an infinite heat source/sink valid? If we all switched over to vegetarianism (complete genocide of the cow) would that ultimately stop this climate change? What if we turned off all our air conditions (which reject heat from our space to the environment) would that slow down the climate change? Do we even have a clue what we are trying to accomplish, or are we a blundering along like a blind man looking for the power switch in a wood shop full of running power tools without safety guards?

Some More Pictures...

A collection of pictures from various photographers...Thought some of you might enjoy seeing them...

And the Ink is not EVEN DRY!!!

Just some late breaking news in my life...

I have finished my degree in Fire Protection Engineering! I can't wait until the paper arrives that makes it all seem real...

Now on to the next challenge in my life! Hum, I wonder what that will be? Can you think of anything that I might challenge myself with now?

My highlights on May 23

Well, as all of you know I was snapping pictures like crazy, but until I get my hands on some pictures from other people's cameras...here are MY highlights from the busy day!

A Taste of the Future!

As several of you already know, there is considerable amounts of chili that gets made in my house. I have been working on a Chili recipe using venison and I think I have just about perfected that recipe, so here it is for others to give it a try.


Wild Game Chili

2 pounds lean ground venison
(any lean meat could be used: elk, deer, buffalo, etc)
1 large chopped sweet onion
1 Serrano Pepper (Thinly Sliced)
1 T chopped Garlic
2 C Cabernet Sauvignon
1 1/2 C Water
2 T Chipotle Chile Pepper
1 T Ground Cumin
2 t Cayenne Pepper
1 T Dried Oregano
2-4 T Dark Brown Sugar
2 can (Large Can)diced Tomatoes, undrained
1 can tomato Paste
1 box Less-sodium beef broth
1 can (15 OZ) Light Kidney Beans
1 can (15 0z) Black Beans
1 can (15 Oz) Pinto Beans
1/4-1/2 C Slow Cook Barley

Saute onion, fresh peppers and garlic in Olive Oil in a large skillet. In same pan, brown meat and add to previously sauted ingredients. Add spices and wine to the mixture and bring to a boil, let simmer for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse all the beans, add beans, tomatoes and the remaining liquids to a large crockpot or slow cooker. Add meat and spice mixture to crock pot, let cook on low heat setting for four hours. Stir contents of slow cooker, add brown sugar and barley; judge amount of barley based on amount of liquids that need to be absorbed. Let cook for for an addition three-four hours.

Warning: While I classify this chili as mild, it does possess a bite. This recipe is not made for those looking for a quick chili recipe, not recommended for impatient cooks.


Garnish with sharp Cheddar Cheese, sour cream and green onions. Serve with cornbread.

Feeds 12-16 people

What a Day!

Can a day really be all that bad when it ends like this?

GO Britt!!!

Click here for Britt's Special Olympic Pictures

Slide show will be updated as new pictures become available...

More pictures added to the slide show...

Wait, How much do they make a day?

OPEC Stands Silent While Oil Prices Spark Food Riots In Neighboring Egypt

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Despite being surrounded by petroleum-rich neighbors, Egypt is suffering the effects of record-high oil prices that have touched off deadly riots over the simplest of commodities: bread.

Since the beginning of April, at least 10 people have been stabbed to death while waiting in Cairo bread lines — others have died from exhaustion.

The crisis comes as the U.N.’s World Food Program appeals to member nations to contribute $750 million for aid to affected countries.

But as FOX News reported last week, internal documents from the WFP show a failure by OPEC nations to help out their Arab neighbor. Saudi Arabia, for instance, has committed to give zero dollars for 2008, while the United Arab Emirates has pledged just $50,000 — an amount several times less than impoverished nations like Bangladesh.

The United States leads all donors at more than a $1 billion.

Egypt, the world's largest importer of wheat, heavily subsidizes the sale of flour. Government flour sells for about $3 per 100 pounds. On the black market, however, that same bag can fetch $45

Unlike other Arab nations awash in petrodollars, almost half of Egypt’s population gets by on less than $2 a day — and for an estimated 30 million people, bread means everything.

For now, the Army has been called out — to bake and distribute the bread.

FOX News' Steve Harrigan filed this report from Cairo.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, so putting my years of schooling to work...The US gives $1 Billion, divide that by 365 yields $2,739,726 per day that is given in aid. So at the going rate of $2 per day, that would be 1,369,863 people that the US is sponsoring. Hum, I can't help but think that money could be used to subsidize 278,000,000 gallons of gas at current free market values. That would be enough to fill 6,172,839 Urban Assault vehicles or 8,641,976 cars. Just think how much money the US could spend on subsidizing life in this country if we pulled out all our little pockets of influence and spent that money on us...

Now considering that they survive on less than $1,000 a YEAR, why does it take twice that a month to survive in the United States? Hum, I can't but think that Capitalism is Killing our Economy...

What exactly does the tax payer get for their investment into these international programs? Travel and vacation opportunities?

Blogger Sabbitical!

For all you daily readers, I have been really busy and have taken a sabbatical from the blog posts so that I can keep focused on all the little things that are vying for my attention right now. Hopefully it wont be a complete sabbatical, but just a bit of a slow down or a market correction as the marketing analysts would say.

This week is the Special Olympics here so I know I will be there a couple times so I will try to post Britt's results for everyone to keep track of how she does in her events. I will post again, don't worry...

Artifical Everything

I love my Government, they are so nice and thoughtful. Every year my health insurance company sends me their yearly required literature, one of which is to remind me that I can be provided with benefits for Mastectomy-related services. Now I am not sure what exactly the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 states, but does it REALLY require that male plan holders get this yearly notice? I am glad to know that I might have some rights to reconstructive surgery so that my Man-cleavage would be symmetrical.

Side note to all the women out there, I am not trying to suggest that WHCRA is a joke or that women should not be entitled to such services under health insurance plans. I support healthy mammories as much as the next guy and totally support the cause (Yes I am man enough to wear pink).

I find all this, in your face, style of information very annoying. Yes, it is good that plan holders are made aware of 'governement' required benefits, that is all good; BUT should such information be required to be sent to plan holders that have no female members? If the Act really is for women only (known medical cases where men have developed breast cancer exist), than why send it to me. Everyone knows that I am perpetually pathetically single! Ok, so maybe not everybody but most people do know this fact about me; for those who didn't already know that or thought it to be a rumor it is in fact true.

Brings back memories of a shopping trip to the grocery store. While I was picking out some pink topped yogurt containers an advertisement came over the PA system for women's health. I think they called it the women's health corner. As I continued to shop I was made aware of the proper self check procedures, should I of course been female, and other information about female health. I don't classify myself as a sheltered individual by any means, EMT training has a way of ruining one's ability to be sheltered to gender based health issues, but I was a bit amazed with the health advice. Yes I do, and did, realize it was women's health month so such tidbits were not that out of place. I would like to know when we are going to get men's health month, complete with self check advice at the grocery store. It would only seem fair that we get equal time, when it comes to awkward medical advice in public places.

I wonder how many women out there known what Neuticles (or here) are and the medical controversy created by them?

Medical Controvery:
After Jim Webb's left testicle was removed he discovered that no reconstructive surgery was available...except for animals. So, Webb contacted Neuticles, makers of artificial testicles for pet owners, who offered him the large, collie-sized Neuticle. Then the FDA got wind.... 03/06/00

Most news syndicates have pulled their stories on the subject, so I am not sure how the FDA and Mr Webb solved their differences...

Wow, such Stupidity!

I have been following a news story that has absolutely irked me. Maybe even to the point of making a weekly rant, but for now I will just vent a little. Obviously, 'someone' has not earned the right to teach a firearm safety course when they are negligent in handing a firearm themselves. I can't believe a Police Chief would show this much disrespect for his own firearm and the students in the class to not triple check to make sure the firearm was properly unloaded before waving it around. Shame on YOU!!!!

Riverdale Police Chief Accidentally Shoots himself in Ankle

Students Claim Police Chief who Shot himself was Careless.

Residents challenge chief on shooting / Claim Hansen was pointing gun at class before it fired

A little lunch hour snippet...

What are you really good at?
Learning new things

What's the quality you least like in others?
Arrogance

What is your favorite motto?
That which is easily obtained is not worth having!

What's the one thing you'll never understand?
Why my tax dollars are wasted policing policy in other countries that do not want our help

Someone should invent...
A pill for happy...oh wait, they have that already don't they

My life would be simpler if...
I didn't want so much and settle for so little.

What are you most proud of?
Getting where I am mostly on my own

Simplest pleasure?
Nestled in behind the stock, peering through the mirage and seeing the crater appear in the gong!

What surprises you most about your adult life?
Nothing is what it seems and there is no such thing as being right

What's something that no one knows?
The exact moment of their demise

What's something that makes you laugh?
Stupidity of educated peoples

Something I've been struggling with lately is...
338 Edge, 325 WSM, 7mm WSM or 338-378...Difficult decision

If you could change places with anyone, living or dead, for one day, who would it be?
Myself (maybe I could take back my selfish action that changed my life)

Would you rather be a little smarter or a little sexier?
Hum, either one would bring me fame, fortune and friends...Would trade them both for respect

The best decision I ever made was...
Going to college

If you suddenly came into $1,000 in spare cash, what would you do with it?
Stimulate the bank account...Nah, probably would be spent on a pair of Steiners.

What's the one thing you refuse to eat?
Cold Raw Meat!

If I knew then what I know now...
I would make other mistakes

Guiltiest pleasure?
Basking in the recognition of a job well done

What would your ideal "I'd rather be... " bumper sticker say?
...poisoning pigeons in the park! (Yes, my sense of humor is a bit whacked.)

What's your favorite possession?
Probably...um...all my camera equipment

Do you wear your seatbelt?

Watch this video....VERY emotional and I can tell you for a fact that I have seen wrecks where it WAS the seat belt that allowed someone to go back home to their families and loved ones...

Burning it at both ends...

Printed off the final exam last night, only one page long; shouldn't be that difficult right? Half way through reading the exam there were tears in my eyes and they were not tears of joy. Ugh...

For those who were keeping track there was a pre-programmed correction of the countdown time, much like NASA does on shuttle launches. Actually, I realized I had the final date set incorrectly for the commencement exercises. Never the less, it will be AWESOME and I can't wait for June to get here. Completely different chapter in my life and more time for blogging I hope. ;)

But it is Monday and I can't think about the final exam, big deadlines at work this week...

And the results are...

Hahaha, just kidding not tabulating the survey results just yet. Thanks to everyone who has taken the ten minutes and filled it out. Survey is open till the end of May and I speculate starting in June there might be some interesting changes to my blog... ;)

The weekend is dragging on and I am getting so burned out. I have a major case of senioritis and working on homework assignments is the last thing that I want to be doing this weekend. The weather is nice and I find myself hiding inside away from the political helpers and the motorcycle. I really should be putting that back together and tuning it up this weekend. Sigh...

For those who are interested, Check out the 'Official' countdown timer...

Germans are funny