Incredible,
Life is nuts. I received a report from Australia yesterday. They don’t go for the whole climate change contention. As far as their concerned the human element is less than 10 percent and our situation is just a power grab to control the population and make solar companies and Al Gore rich.
Have you read about Super Massive Black Holes? It basically proves that our galaxy only has a billion years left and we’re all toast. Quick, but a bottle of whiskey.
The shit that bothers me is simple. I don’t like Americans turned against Americans. I don’t like to see the oil, automotive, motorcycle industries frowned on by the growing environmentalist population. So, here’s the scientific question of the day. How many people have died in the last 100 years because they came in contact with oil? Maybe two, and they both drowned.
You’ll love this. Over 100,000 die every year because of the wrong medication. And over the last 25 years 10 folks died because they took the wrong vitamins. Let’s hit the news.
READER ASKED ABOUT DAYROLLS— We reached out to Ron Chase who once manufactured them. He’s been through a divorce, two lawsuits, a BK and the company sold, only to come back again.
We should have an order in on Monday for a new batch of Bandit’s Bedrolls and Dayrolls. Hang on.
–Bandit
Tips for Trike Touring with Dogs
I see the dogs. The tips. No trikes.
–Sam
UNCLE MONKEY ON THE CHANGING SEASONS– You squirm in your hoodie hoping that it will extinguish the cold breeze. You relent. Winter is still on the horizon but the cold tonight in the garage is a little brisker than normal.
You venture outside with a flashlight and a stepladder. A bird’s nest pulled out from the chimney clearing the way to the bottom. A pallet gets kicked apart before you return inside.
The creak of the cast iron door on the old stove. You resist the urge to oil it. A few crumpled pages from an old catalog, a few pieces from the pallet. The fire is small at first as you nurse it to life. The fire soon spreads to substantial pieces of wood. You prod at it a bit with a screwdriver. A shot of Jack from the bottle behind the cylinders on the shelf to kick-start the warmth.
A few more pieces of wood before you swing the door closed. Snapping fire, the smell of dirt and hot iron. You warm your hands briefly. The neighbor’s cat slips in through that sheet of plywood pulling away from the studs. She circles your feet a couple times before sitting in front of the stove lapping at her paw. Satisfied she jumps onto the stack of tires beside and curls up on your old coveralls.
Old Blue noticed her too. A long yawn, a longer stretch he comes over to give her a sniff before curling himself up on the warm concrete. You hold your hand close to the cases feeling the cold coming off. The ball game on the radio is over. Maybe next year.
From a dusty box you rummage through cassettes before popping one in the old tape deck. Vince demands you “Shout at the Devil!” A little air guitar. The neighbor’s cat isn’t impressed and dismisses you with a look. You take a seat; twirl the screwdriver in your fingers before leaning back into the machine. The crackles of a hose clamp squeezing down on the hose. The stove radiates through the machine throwing rays of heat, a little warmth for your heart.
-bad Uncle Monkey
QUICK, OPEN THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– A US Marine enters the Catholic Church confessional booth in Hendersonville, NC . He tells the priest, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. Last night, I beat the ever-living crap out of a flag burning, cop hating, anti-everything loving protester.
“The priest says, “My son, I’m here to forgive your sins, not to discuss your community service.”
A motorcycle police officer stops a driver for shooting through a red light. The driver is a real jerk, steps out of his car and comes striding toward the officer, demanding to know why he is being harassed by the Gestapo!
So the officer calmly tells him of the red light violation. The motorist instantly goes on a tirade, questioning the officer’s ancestry, sexual orientation, etc., in rather explicit of
The tirade goes on without the officer saying anything.
When the officer finishes writing the ticket he puts an “AH” in the lower right corner of the narrative portion of the ticket. He then hands it to The ‘violator’ for his signature. The guy signs the ticket angrily, and when presented with his copy points to the “AH” and demands to know what it stands for.
The officer says, “That’s so when we go to court, I’ll remember that you’re an asshole!”
Two months later they’re in court. The ‘violator’ has a bad driving record with a high number of points and is in danger of losing his license, so he hired a lawyer to represent him.
On the stand the officer testifies to seeing the man run through the red light. Under cross examination the defense attorney asks; “Officer is this a reasonable facsimile of the ticket that you issued to my client?”
Officer responds, “Yes, sir, that is the defendant’s copy, his signature and mine, same number at the top.
“Lawyer: “Officer, is there any particular marking or notation on this ticket you don’t normally make ?”
“Yes, sir, in the lower right corner of the narrative there is an “AH,” underlined.”
“What does the “AH” stand for, officer?”
“Aggressive and hostile, Sir.”
“Aggressive and hostile ?”
“Yes, Sir.
“Officer, are you sure it doesn’t stand for asshole ?”
“Well, sir, you know your client better than I do.”
–from Sidehack Jerry and Rogue
The esteemed Editor of Bikernet Baggers
NEW VINTAGE FEATURES IN AMERICAN IRON— Classics shot by the esteemed certified Bikernet feature photographer, Markus Cuff.
Markus also shoots for Easyriders, the HORSE, Cycle Source and others.
DEAL OF THE WEEK FROM EASTMAN— Eastman makes very high quality products, but if you’re in a pinch try Northern Tool. I’ve had good luck, price-wise there.
–Wrench
BIKERNET TRAVEL ALERT– Here’s what a quick witted Aussie Flight Attendant had to say:
A businessman in the first class cabin decided to chat up the drop dead, gorgeous flight attendant: “What is your name?”
Flight Attendant: “Angela Benz, sir”
Businessman: “Lovely name …any relation to Mercedes Benz?”
Flight Attendant: “Yes sir, very close”
Businessman: “How close?”
Flight Attendant: “Same price”.
–Ray Russell
Australia
DON’T MISS THE DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR– Our first major film production is titled Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret and was premiered in late 2014. This documentary uncovers the most destructive industry facing the planet today and investigates why the world’s leading environmental organizations are too afraid to talk about it. You can learn more about the film at www.cowspiracy.com
Cowspiracy may be the most important film made to inspire saving the planet.
— Louie Psihoyos, Oscar-Winning Director of “The Cove”
COWSPIRACY FACTS–
– GREENHOUSE GASES –
Animal agriculture is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the combined exhaust from all transportation.
Fao.org. Spotlight: Livestock impacts on the environment.
Transportation exhaust is responsible for 13% of all greenhouse gas emissions. [.i]
Greenhouse gas emissions from this sector primarily involve fossil fuels burned for road, rail, air, and marine transportation.
Fao.org. Spotlight: Livestock impacts on the environment.
Environmental Protection Agency. “Global Emissions.”
Livestock and their byproducts account for at least 32,000 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, or 51% of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.
Goodland, R Anhang, J. “Livestock and Climate Change: What if the key actors in climate change were pigs, chickens and cows?”
WorldWatch, November/December 2009. Worldwatch Institute, Washington, DC, USA. Pp. 10–19.
Animal Feed Science and Technology “comment to editor” Goodland, Anhang.
The Independent, article Nov. 2009.
Methane is 25-100 times more destructive than CO2 on a 20-year time frame.
“Improved Attribution of Climate Forcing to Emissions.” Science Magazine.
Methane has a global warming potential 86 times that of CO2 on a 20-year time frame.
“Improved Attribution of Climate Forcing to Emissions.” Science Magazine.
Livestock is responsible for 65% of all human-related emissions of nitrous oxide – a greenhouse gas with 296 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide, and which stays in the atmosphere for 150 years.
“Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options.” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2006.
Emissions for agriculture projected to increase 80% by 2050.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v515/n7528/full/nature13959.html
Energy related emissions expected to increase 20% by 2040.
Energy Global Hydrocarbon Engineering
IEA, World Energy Outlook 2014
US Methane emissions from livestock and natural gas are nearly equal.
EPA. “Overview of Greenhouse Gases.”
Cows produce 150 billion gallons of methane per day. [xi]
Ross, Philip. “Cow farts have ‘larger greenhouse gas impact’ than previously thought; methane pushes climate change.” International Business Times. 2013.
250-500 liters per cow per day, x 1.5 billion cows globally is 99 – 198.1 billion gallons. Rough average of 150 billion gallons CH4 globally per day.
Converting to wind and solar power will take 20+ years and roughly 43 trillion dollars.
The Cost Of Going Green Globally
Even without fossil fuels, we will exceed our 565 gigatonnes CO2e limit by 2030, all from raising animals.
Oppenlander, Richard A. Food Choice and Sustainability: Why Buying Local, Eating Less Meat, and Taking Baby Steps Won’t Work. . Minneapolis, MN : Langdon Street, 2013. Print.
Source: calculation is based on http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6294 analyses that 51% of GHG are attributed to animal ag.
Reducing methane emissions would create tangible benefits almost immediately.
U.N. Press Release, Climate Summit 2014.
Lots more to come.–Bandit
[page break]
NOW FOR THE REAL IMPORTANT details of an argument. Tan line is from the bike rides this summer. Have been catching major flack about tanning it out from the lady customers????? I’m rolling my eyes here.
Whatever do you n the boys Vote? Thought you might have some fun with this. You know me…I am staying out of the barbie burner.
-Wyoming Deb
Bikernet Nature Photographer
MORE ON CLIMATE CHANGE–
I love seeing the leaves change colors in Los Angeles in the fall.
–Harvey Tow
THE LONE STAR RALLY IS COMING–
Check out the amazing line up of more than 40 FREE concerts on 2 stages featuring:
Lone Star Rally
Best Way to See the Bands… Lone Star Rally VIP! 2- Levels; 2 Great Prices; Get exclusive balcony access and more.
–Lone Star Rally
THE AUSTRALIAN REPORT–You are too close to believing the global warming crap based on a couple of recent comments on Bikernet.
Hope this helps.
–Doc
Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun
October 15, 2016 10:14am
It is incredible – so telling – that politicians and journalists still peddle the lie that global warming is drowning the low-lying atoll islands.
As I’ve pointed out, the evidence shows 40 per cent are actually growing in size and 40 per cent are stable. Now Bjorn Lomborg presents more data exposing this hoax.
Using historic aerial photographs and high-resolution satellite imagery, Auckland University scientists Murray Ford and Paul Kench recently analyzed shoreline changes on six atolls and two mid-ocean reef islands in the Marshall Islands. Their peer-reviewed study, published in the September 2015 issue of Anthropocene, revealed that since the middle of the 20th century the total land area of the islands has actually grown.
Remember all those “climate refugees” Al Gore falsely claimed in An Inconvenient Truth were fleeing their drowning islands?
That’s why the citizens of these Pacific nations have all had to evacuate to New Zealand.
Completely false, of course, even if many journalists swallowed it. From July last year:
Kiribati man Ioane Teitiota has just lost his appeal to the New Zealand Supreme Court, to be recognized as the world’s first climate refugee.
Lomborg explains the real reason some islanders would want to leave, even if it takes posing as “climate refugees”:
Some 52.7% of the Marshall Islands population lives below the poverty line, according to the Asian Development Bank. Only 39.3% of the population age 15 years and above is employed. In its 2015 human-rights report on the island nation, the U.S. State Department said that significant problems include “chronic government corruption, and chronic domestic violence,” along with “child abuse, sex trafficking, and lack of legal provisions protecting worker’s rights.”
And then there’s the mad global warming policies meant to fix all this. Lomberg on the Paris climate treaty: My peer-reviewed research, published last November in the journal Global Policy, shows that even if every nation were to fulfill all their carbon-cutting promises by 2030 and stick to them all the way through the century—at a cost of more than $100 trillion in lost GDP—global temperature rise would be reduced by a tiny 0.3°F (0.17°C)”
Or not, of course.
WALTHER NEWS FOR THE HOLIDAYS– New hats are here just in time for the holidays. The perfect gift for any Walther enthusiast. Shop the latest styles today at shop.waltherarms.com.
Industry-Funded Publication Makes Claims About Effects of Helmet Law in Michigan; Fails to Connect the Data to the Claim
WASHINGTON, DC – In the recently issued publication, “Status Report,” a concerning article appeared citing a rise in head injuries in Michigan and attributed this to the State’s 2012 repeal of its helmet law. Notably, the article is part of a publication created by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) which, according to their website, is wholly funded by insurance companies.
The article pointed out that trauma centers in the state have experienced an increase in head injuries and partnered with the University of Michigan Injury Center to analyze motorcycle crash deaths and head-injury data since the repeal. Its findings suggested a 14% increase in hospitalized trauma patients with a head injury.
However, it was unclear in the article that the increase in head injuries was directly related to motorcycle crashes. And moreover, that those crashes included drivers who were not wearing helmets. This data would have been critical to prove the article’s legitimacy.
Surprisingly, given the article’s clear and matter of fact headline, “Head Injuries Rise as Riders Ditch Helmets in Michigan,” the author fails to notate anywhere in the piece that the increase in head injuries in hospitals is directly attributed to motorcycle crashes and those that were not wearing helmets.
For many, the article’s concluding claim could be considered irresponsible journalism given that they fail to attribute the data to the exact subject they discuss in the article.
Furthermore, halfway through the article, it states, “there was no significant increase in the motorcycle fatality rate state-wide.” This sentence alone debunks what the research set out to do which was prove that deaths attributed to motorcycle crashes increased due to the helmet law repeal. Clearly, the research did not support the author’s hypothesis.
Biased pieces like the one in the September issue of Status Report frustrate motorcycle experts in the state who spend their personal time and livelihoods promoting motorcycle safety and awareness programs. Often, these individuals try to direct the focus to motorcycle crash prevention rather than the concept that IIHS touts; safer crashing. According to a recently issued press release from ABATE of Michigan, the real concern for riders’ safety is unendorsed motorcyclists and cars violating motorcyclists’ right of way.
Jim Rhodes, Legislative Coordinator for ABATE of Michigan agrees, stating that his objective, “has and always will be to promote motorcycle safety and car driver awareness programs in Michigan.” In fact, according to Rhodes, the motorcycle rights’ organization in Michigan has helped to pass four separate bills in recent years aimed at addressing the issue of uninsured riders as well as motorcycle safety and awareness. Further, the organization has partnered with public and private schools to reach more than 80,000 new drivers about motorcycle awareness.
Many motorcycle enthusiasts will argue that it’s the activities like the ones being executed by ABATE of Michigan that make the real difference in motorcycle safety and a more accurate reason as to why motorcycle deaths in the state have not increased despite the repeal of the helmet law.
About Motorcycle Riders Foundation
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.
Ride With The Leaders by joining the MRF at http://motorcycleridersfoundation.wildapricot.org/page-1654836 or call (202) 546-0983
KEEP THE BIKENET BAD JOKE LIBRARY OPEN FOREVER–Jokes are like sex. Neither are any good if you don’t get it.
I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my order first. “I’ll have the rump steak, rare, please.”
He said, “Aren’t you worried about the mad cow?”
“Nah, she can order for herself.”
And that’s when the fight ….
–from Sidehack Jerry and Rogue
IT’S FACINATING— Most Bikers understand Freedom. We’ve fought Helmet Laws for four decades. We know Freedom works and laws generally go the wrong way.
Sometimes I feel like a nut case who wants to stop the EPA from destroying small industries over false claims. I can’t stop trying for our industry.
I spoke to a longtime member of the MIC recently. He has been playing into the hands of the regulators for years, but knows better. He thanked me for my efforts. We seem to have more opportunitied to make a difference that ever before. We just need to step up.
Lot’s coming to Bikernet this coming week. Hang on.
And Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit
