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MASTER MECHANIC, ROGUE, USES ONLY SPECTRO OILS–I just did the 1,000 mile service on my new 2009 Electra Glide Classic.I changed the engine, transmission and primary oils to SPECTRO because of how well they have worked in my other motorcycles.
Oils used were Spectro Golden Semi-Synthetic 20/50 in the engine. Spectro 6 Speed Full Synthetic in the transmission and Spectro Heavy Duty in the primary
–Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
www.bikerrogue.com
MEMO FROM THE BIKERNET SECURITY OFFICES–The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terroristthreats and have raised their security level from “Miffed” to”Peeved.”
Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to “Irritated”or even “A Bit Cross.”
The English have not been “A Bit Cross” sincethe blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists havebeen re-categorized from “Tiresome” to a “Bloody Nuisance.” The lasttime the British issued a “Bloody Nuisance” warning level was duringthe great fire of 1666.
The Scots raised their threat level from “Pissed Off” to “Let’s getthe Bastards”. They don’t have any other levels. This is the reasonthey have been used on the front line in the British army for thelast 300 years.
The French government announced yesterday that it has raised itsterror alert level from “Run” to “Hide”. The only two higher levelsin France are “Collaborate” and “Surrender.” The rise was thoughtto be precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France’s whiteflag factory, effectively paralyzing the country’s military capability.
However, it’s not only the French who are on a heightened level ofalert. Italy has increased the alert level from “Shout Loudly andExcitedly” to “Elaborate Military Posturing.” Two more levelsremain: “Ineffective Combat Operations” and “Change Sides Now”.
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and theonly threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.
The Spanish are all terribly excited to see their new submarinesready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottomsso the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanishnavy.
–from Sam Burns
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM AUSTRALIA–Hey folks, just sending you some warmth. Hope it thaws you out a little. This is Christmas Aussie style.
–Nicole Brosing
BIKERNET MEDICAL CENTER TEAM LEADER DISCOVERS THE ELIXIR OF LIFE–Four Reasons to Eat (or Drink) Pomegranates.
The pomegranate is an extraordinary fruit, steeped in history: the number of seeds (roughly 613) found in a single fruit were said by ancient scholars to correspond to the 613 commands of the Hebrew Torah. Now, renowned herbalist James Duke, a former ecologist with the USDA, has published (in the April, 2008 issue of Alternative & Complementary Therapies) an exhaustive review of the scientific literature on the pomegranate. His conclusion: it is “one of the most promising of health foods” with “a dozen known anti-inflammatory phytochemicals and some 3 dozen antioxidants.” Duke found studies that suggest pomegranate fruit and/or juice may help prevent or alleviate:
1. Heart disease and atherosclerosis
2. High cholesterol
3. Prostate cancer
4. Alzheimer’s disease
If you have access to inexpensive pomegranates (as many in the southern U.S. do; the trees grow prolifically with little tending) or can afford the delicious but rather expensive juices now on the market, by all means indulge. And if you can’t, remember that deep-colored fruits such as cherries, blueberries and raspberries, and deep-colored vegetables, all offer similar benefits. Enjoy!
–DrWeil.com
BIKERNET CORRESPONDENT IN TEXAS EXPERIENCES TIRE PROBLEM–Noticed my front tire was cupping badly and wearing more on the left side than the right, past the wear bars. No, I don’t take left turn only.
Anyways, I searched the forums and found this to be a common problem with the OE Dunlops. Went to my local H-D yesterday and with my Gold 15% discount, a new Metzeler would cost 180 bucks, a Dunlop $ 174. That’s tire only, no install.
Through the forums, I found a website that offered it for $134.99 plus free shipping! Needless to say I ordered the tire and it will be here in 5-7 days. Pretty sweet deal.
I know it’s not an Avon, but I have heard good things about Metzeler and always had good luck with them in the past. Thought I’d let ya know about it. Happy New Years, biyatch!
Here’s the website I ordered through: http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/
–Johnny Humble
WHAT THE SENATE HEALTH BILL WOULD DO, A REPORT BROUGHT TO YOU BY BIKERNET INSURANCE– A sweeping healthcare reform bill appears headed for passage in the U.S. Senate after surviving a test vote early Monday morning.
Here are some questions and answers about the Senate bill.
Q: What does the Senate bill do?
The bill would significantly change the 2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare system that almost everyone agrees costs too much and leaves too many people without medical coverage. For the first time in U.S. history, citizens and legal residents will be required to purchase a health insurance policy.
Federal subsidies will be available to help them afford coverage. The subsidies will be available for people with incomes up to 400 percent of the poverty level, about $88,200 for a family of four. The poverty levels for 2009 is $22,050 a year for a family of four and $10,830 for an individual. Small businesses will be able to tap into federal tax benefits to help buy medical plans for employees.
Employers are not required to provide health coverage for workers, but they would have to pay a penalty if any employees use federal subsidies to purchase insurance.
Q: Where will people get their medical insurance?
Most people get their coverage through their employer and that will not change under this bill.
Small businesses and people without employer-sponsored insurance have struggled in recent years to obtain affordable health coverage. For those groups, the bill creates new state-based insurance exchanges where they can shop for policies. Federal subsidies will be available to people purchasing medical coverage through the exchanges, which are expected to be up and running by 2014.
Liberal Democrats wanted a new government-run insurance plan to be one of the options offered on the exchange to compete with private insurers and help keep a lid on insurance premiums. Republicans and a few moderate Democrats opposed the idea and it is being dropped from the Senate bill in order to win the votes necessary to pass it.
The government option remains in the bill passed by the House in November.
The Senate bill now will ask the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which oversees health plans for 8 million federal workers and their families, to contract with private insurance companies to offer plans on the exchanges.
Millions of people, with income up to 133 percent of poverty, will be newly eligible for Medicaid, the health program for the poor. Currently many states set eligibility requirements well below that level of poverty.
Q: Are there protections for consumers?
Yes. Insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage to anyone because of a pre-existing condition. They also will not be able to charge higher premiums because of gender, health history or occupation. Insurers also will be prohibited from dropping people when they get sick.
There will be no more lifetime limits on coverage and annual limits will be restricted. Insurers also will be required to cover preventive healthcare services. Co-payments and other out of pocket expenses for beneficiaries also will be limited.
Q: What do insurance companies and hospitals get?
Insurance companies will get 31 million more customers, many of them subsidized by the federal government. However, in addition to new coverage regulations, insurers will be required to spend a minimum of 85 cents of every premium dollar on medical care for large group plans and 80 cents on every premium dollar for individual and small group plans.
By requiring everyone to obtain insurance, hospitals will have fewer cases of uncompensated care. Many people without insurance seek care at hospital emergency centers because they do not turn away patients. When patients are unable to pay, hospitals make up those losses by charging more to those with insurance. Democrats say that pushes premiums higher by about $1,100 a year.
Q: How does the bill reduce costs?
The bill seeks to save money by streamlining paperwork and providing more information to consumers to help them make decisions about their healthcare.
Other cost savings will be driven through Medicare, the government healthcare program for the elderly and Medicaid. Lawmakers hope that payment reforms that reward quality rather than quantity of services and treatments will help drive down costs. The bill aims to encourage coordinated care for patients particularly those with chronic conditions.
Studies have shown that better coordinated care can save significant amounts of money and improve the quality. The bill will provide for pilot programs to explore some of those cost saving methods for Medicare and Medicaid.
It also will encourage creation of Medical Homes and Accountable Care Organization where doctors, hospitals and other health providers can better coordinate care.
— By Donna Smith
(Editing by Sandra Maler)
SNOWMOBILE OF THE YEAR–Now THIS is a snowmobile
–Bob Clark
GOOD NEWS, States Get Tough on Distracted Drivers in 2010– Illinois, Kansas, New Hampshire and Oregon will bring in the new year with new state laws aimed at cracking down on distracted driving, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).
Of the four states with stronger laws regarding cell phone use and texting that take effect Jan. 1, 2010, Oregon goes the farthest by banning the use of hand held devices and texting for all drivers. The new law in Oregon also prohibits people under age 18 from using any type of cell phone while driving.
Illinois is placing new restrictions on hand held devices and bans their use in construction and school zones.
Kansas is implementing a ban on all cell phone use and texting for young drivers who have learner’s permits and intermediate licenses.
New Hampshire is banning texting for all drivers.
?These four states are joining a growing number states and localities that are implementing or strengthening restrictions on cell phone use and texting,? said Robert Passmore, senior director of personal lines for PCI. “In 2009, 17 states implemented or strengthened cell phone and texting laws.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured. Research also shows that the worst offenders are the youngest and least experienced drivers: men and women under 20 years of age.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there are statewide bans on driving while talking on a hand-held cell phone in seven states (California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) and the District of Columbia.
The use of all cell phones by novice drivers is restricted in 21 states and the District of Columbia.
Text messaging is banned for all drivers in 19 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, novice drivers are banned from texting in nine states (Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, and West Virginia)
Source: PCI
LET’S PARTY–There’s a Red Bull Rally Car Jump in Long Beach this evening. Here’s what Kurt Helin wrote:
What are you doing for New Year?s Eve? Tom Pastrana has you beat. He is going to try to jump his little Red Bull rally car more than 200 feet off the end of a pier in Long Beach to a floating barge, all with the Queen Mary in the background. All so he can set a new world record, that or go for a New Year?s swim.
My son wants to ride down to the action on the pier.
It’s been a helluva year, and everyday it tested our resolve. I wish something made sense, but it doesn’t. I’m sure the majority of the citizenry have resolved themselves to except whatever the government dishes out. I’m not sure how long that will work or if it is working.
I know one thing, we are very fortunate to have a network of motorcycle rights organizations fighting to keep riding and freedom a priority in their respective states. If you don’t like to get involved, at least join your local motorcycle rights association, the MRF, NCOM, and or SEMA. I’m still working on creating a Motorcycle Council under the umbrella of SEMA. I believe bikers and hot rod enthusiasts will need all the clout we can get in the future.
Enough, break out the bubbly, the whiskey, the redheads and the candles. Let’s get down. We’re going to be damn busy in 2010.
Happy New Year, goddamnit,
–Bandit
