Hey,
I need to rock. We are going to ride to Johnny Rockets in Manhattan Beach for lunch. I missed Sugar Bear’s 75th Party yesterday wading in concrete. But I’ll get over to see him when the party dust settles. He’s moving north and I need to make him a cool house warming present.
I need to find a quiet day to work on my last chapter of the second Chance book, but it seems there’s an event, party, or gathering behind every page of the calendar. I need to break the spell.
Let’s hit the news.
WORLD PREMIER! FAST 2015 Calendar Yearbook Digital Edition–Go behind the scenes of the FastDates.com Calendar photo shoots at the SBK World Superbike races, the Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show & Concourse d’ Elegance, and inside the FastDates.com Studio of famed photographer Jim Gianatsis.
Meet the official SBK World Superbike Calendar Kittens who also serve as the official SBK podium and grid girls, the top factory riders of World Superbike, and America’s top custom bike builders. You’ll find detailed editorial photo features on the Calendars’ top Custom and Race bikes, and on the Calendar Kittens.
Did we forget anything? – Oh yes! The new FAST 2015 Calendar Yearbook Digital Edition features in high resolution every page in the new 2015 Fast Dates World Superbike, Iron & Lace Custom Bikes, Garage Girls and Cafe Racers Calendars featuring the world’s top race and custom bikes and the beautiful Calendar Kittens!
And you can also order the new 2015 FastDates.com Wall Calendars. It’s all online at FastDates.com
BIKERNET ADVERTISING REQUEST—
I’m trying to confirm how long some of these ads ran. The Chip ran event ads only one month on Bikernet this year and received: 55,135 impressions or page views and 268 clicks. The previous year I believe they ran for three months and received: 279,630 impressions and 1503 clicks.
Gettysburg Bike Fest ran one banner with us for three months and received: 16,868 impressions and 168 clicks. Las Vegas Bike Week ran with us new ads for just a couple of months and received: 101,894 impressions anne 258 clicks to their site.
Not bad. –Bandit
A guy goes to the Post Office to apply for a job. The interviewer asks him, ‘Are you allergic to anything?’
He says ‘Yes – just caffeine.’ ‘Have you ever been in the service?’
‘Yes,’ he says. ‘I was in Iraq for two years.’
The interviewer says, ‘That will give you 5 extra points toward employment,’ and then asks, ‘Are you disabled in anyway?
‘The guy says, ‘Yes 100% . . .an IED exploded near me and blew my testicles off.’
The interviewer tells the guy, ‘O.K. In that case, I can hire you right now. Normal hours are from 8 AM to 4 PM. You can start tomorrow at 10:00 AM – and plan on starting at 10 AM every day.’
The guy is puzzled and says, ‘If the hours are from 8 AM to 4 PM, why don’t you want me to be here before 10 AM?’
”This is a government job,’ the interviewer says.
‘For the first two hours we just stand around drinking coffee and scratching our balls. No point in you coming in for that.’
–from Jerry and Rogue
FALL CLEARANCE EVENT!
Right now, we’re offering some CDs and all our mugs at the basic membership level of $50. Plus, we have a very limited number of polo shirts and cardigans available at the $88 level.
You can listen to jazz, and blues Free, without commercials everyday on line at KJazz. That’s why I support this effort from Long Beach State College.–Bandit
A QUICK REVIEW OF KATIE’S FREEDOM BOOK—
Way behind in thanking you all for the book from Katie. Smart young lady with traditional values.
Followed some of Bonneville racing. Too bad about wet salt. One good thing there was no mention of things falling off the bike. You guys sent a reply about my suggestions on safety wire procedures and using AN Stainless fittings. Hope it helped out some.
Found enclosed 5-Ball Racing Team sticker and patch in book. The sticker is on my gun safe next a big H-D #1 sticker. Only seen patch on one rider, may be in Vegas? Pretty much rare as chicken lips. Thanks once again for the goods.
Good too see you in American Iron by the way.
Ride safe,
–Bill Stratton
IT’S BIKER MOVIE SUNDAY FROM CHOPPERTOWN— Our special this week is Harbortown Bobber – download the full movie for a special price of only $5.00, or grab the DVD for only $9.99. (deal ends Monday) Thanks as always guys!
See the amazing story of how this bike came to life with the help of legendary builders Earl Kane, Irish Rish, Dennis Goodson, and J-Bird.
REGARDING BILLY’S RELEASE—
Just wanted to read about Billy getting released but got lost in all that is chrome wheels and large breasts of that news feed.
I spoke with Mojo, his bud who said he’s been out, he is living in Daytona in a shop next to the Iron Horse.
And he’s trying to keep it on the down low.
So imagine how I felt the HEADLINES on Bikernet …. like the little match girl!
No worries, I’d be happy with a nod and a wave!
xoxoxox
–Catherine “Katmandu” Palmer
CORRECTION FROM THE THURSDAY NEWS IN CASE YOU MISSED IT–I’d like to correct some bogus info. It appears we can’t reply for some reason. Anyway the true facts will now be revealed!
Saying the S&S rebuild program is double the cost is a bit of a stretch. Not trying to start an argument, but the facts should be heard. For an 80″ Evolution® engine, H-D had an advertised MSRP of $2995.00. The S&S MSRP is $3495. That is only $500.
The Twincam is also only a $500 increase for the A engines and $600 for the B versions. The engines are rebuilt using S&S Viola V-Twin parts, so the quality of the components is there. As far as the workmanship, you yourself attested to the quality of the HD reman engines.
It is not a well known fact, but a fact none the less, that S&S built those reman engines for H-D.
–Bruce Tessmer
Marketing Projects Coordinator
S&S Cycle Inc.
608-627-0283
noun
Quotes
Only the galoot still looks ready to fight, and Henry almost hopes they will fight…
Origin
GUN NUT ALERT–NBC Offers Repellent Advice on Appeasing Home Invaders–Americans have a constitutional right to armed self-defense, but they have other choices as well. The University of Colorado, for example, last year offered the students it sought to disarm with statewide legislation other “crime prevention tactics.”
Options for female students facing rapists included passive resistance,” biting, and self-degradation. According to one proponent of the bill to ban the lawful carrying of firearms on campuses, such threats are “why we have the whistles.”
Along similar lines, NBC’s Today Show recently offered suggestions on how to deal with violent home invaders. Their basic advice: politely defer to the intruder, but if things really get out of hand, reach for the insect repellent.
For the tips, the Today Show interviewed former NYPD detective Wallace Zeins, whose New York City pedigree was evident in his recommendations. First, Zeins instructed viewers to use their vehicles’ key fobs as a makeshift alarm. Following that, the former detective told the audience to keep a can of wasp spray in the bedroom to use as an improvised chemical weapon against a violent intruder.
Further, the report suggested abandoning one’s home to the intruder as soon as possible. If captured by a violent home invader, Zeins’s advice was to comply with the attacker’s every wish, and to never lie to them.
At no time did the report suggest that firearms were a viable option. Also unclear was whether Zeins himself has abandoned the firearms he carried as a police officer in favor of bug spray to protect his own home and family.
The Today Show’s omission of firearms as a legitimate means of self-defense isn’t especially surprising, given NBC’s lengthy history of anti-gun bias. Nevertheless, while the defensive capabilities of firearms for home defense may continue to escape the attention of NBC’s producers, the legitimacy of this option has been recognized by far weightier institutions.
The Supreme Court’s Heller decision noted one of the reasons D.C.’s handgun ban was unconstitutional was that “[t]he prohibition extend[ded] … to the home, where the need for defense of self, family, and property is most acute.”
The Supreme Court’s opinion in McDonald reiterated this point. State legislatures have increasingly passed Castle Doctrine legislation to protect residents who employ armed self-defense from unjust prosecution and civil liability, amplifying a doctrine well-established in Anglo-American case law.
Further, there is strong evidence that gun use is the most effective means to defend oneself from criminal attack. A 1988 study by Florida State Professor of Criminology Gary Kleck titled Crime Control Through the Private Use of Armed Force determined, “Victim resistance with guns is associated with lower rates of both victim injury and crime completion for robberies and assaults than any other victim action, including nonresistance.”
Despite their best efforts, Today and Zein inadvertently gave one sound piece of advice, when the former detective told viewers to treat home invaders “like royalty.” While he apparently meant that a victim should be as obsequious as possible to an assailant, liberty-loving Americans have a strong tradition of treating interloping monarchs to the business end of their rifles.
I find all this shit very disturbing, yet cured simply through education. We need to turn this effort in the public’s favor. Maybe this is an opportunity for Motorcycle Rights to expand motorcycle training to work with the NRA.
Our entire society could be empowered by learning about guns, like they learned about motorcycle riding. Take the fear and the bullshit out of the mix and folks would understand and celebrate gun ownership and not feel like a bad guy for owning a gun. It’s just a tool.–Bandit
6060 Wilshire Blvd
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323-930-2277
www.petersen.org
www.carstories.com
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BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–What’s Cool?
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=11893
What? No Steve McQueen????
— Mike
Cherry Log, GA
Good question! –Bandit
AUSTRALIAN GANG INVESTIGATION, Aussie police trumpet new anti-biker purge–Police say they are set to launch the largest multi-agency operation against motorcycle clubs in the nation’s history.
Operation Morpheus will target the increasing number of motorcycle clubs and members posing the highest risk to the community through ‘violent and criminal activities’.
Besides using traditional policing methods to detect criminal offending and disrupt their actions, club members will also be subject to intense scrutiny from other agencies, including the Australian Taxation Office.
Police claim that nationally, there are about 4500 patched club members across 180 chapters.
In South Australia, they say there are 309 full members and nominees across 10 clubs, compared with 278 only 18 months ago.
Operation Morpheus, which involves every Australian police jurisdiction, is modelled on Operation Attero, a national taskforce that has focused on the Rebels motorcycle club.
Police claim it has resulted in about 3000 people being arrested or reported for more than 4200 charges and resulted in the recovery of more than $15 million from club members following tax audits.
Australian Crime Commission chief executive officer Chris Dawson said Operation Morpheus demonstrated “there is an absolute unity at board level for a collaborative, joined approach in dealing with bikies’’.
He said the clubs remained one of the largest organized crime threats in Australia.
“They are certainly one of the more significant criminal fraternities that we have in Australia, but that is also a trend we have seen internationally,’’ he said.
Dawson said he believed all club members should be concerned when they learn of the new operation and “should also seriously consider whether they want to remain prime targets for law enforcement’’.
He also warned that the operation would also target professionals, such as accountants and lawyers, who assisted club members in their activities.
“I am overtly saying to those members and associates, you will be subject to targeting,’’ he said.
“That is a clear part of the effort ahead of us.’’
Operation Morpheus has been established by the Serious and Organized Crime Co-ordination Committee, which comprises assistant commissioners of crime from all Australian policing jurisdictions and senior representatives of the ACC, Australian Federal Police, the ATO and Customs.
The targets of Operation Morpheus will be decided by each jurisdiction, initially by the risk they pose to the community, but there will be coordinated actions against some key targets around the nation.
SA’s Assistant Commissioner (Crime) Paul Dickson, who chairs the committee, said Operation Attero was very successful because of the tactics used against the Rebels members. While many of the initiatives could not be discussed, they were a key weapon against those amassing wealth from illegal activities.
[page break]
BIKERNET EXTREME BAD COP INVESTIGATION–Cop Tasked With Protecting Children From Pedophiles Just Confessed to Being a Pedophile
By John Vibes on September 18, 2014, Free Thought Project.com
38-year-old Gregory Pyle, of Crest Hill, Illinois, was sentenced to 50 years in prison this week after confessing to sexually abusing a child and distributing images of the attack online. Pyle was a 10-year veteran of his police department who actually worked in a child predator task force for a long period of time.
Pyle admitted in court that in December of 2008, he took a young child out of state where he sexually abused the child and either recorded or took pictures of the abuse.
According to prosecutors, the child was under 12-years-old at the time and the evidence shows “sadistic, masochistic, and violent,” behavior on the part of the former officer. It is not clear what Pyle’s relationship was with the child or their parents, or under what pretenses he took the child out of state.
One of the prosecutors said that Pyle used his position as a police officer to obstruct the investigation into his actions, and while he was committing these crimes he was using his knowledge of police tactics to help him cover his own tracks.
This case is just one of many, showing how the lack of accountability that police officers enjoy, attracts a wide range of bullies and predators who are able to use the system to shield themselves from consequences. These recent allegations against Pyle have only surfaced because he put the evidence online, but it is highly likely that this is not the first time that he has committed this type of crime.
–Rogue
NMA E-Newsletter V2V—Technology Marches Forward—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a vision for vehicle-to-vehicle communications and the role the technology will play in highway safety. In addition to issuing a lengthy report on the topic last month (DOT HS 812 014, Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications: Readiness of V2V Technology for Application), the federal agency is currently soliciting public comments about its proposal to create a national standard that would require V2V communications capability on all passenger cars and light trucks in the near future. The goal is to use V2V technology as the basis for a new platform of vehicle-based safety applications such as intersection movement assist and left turn assist that could significantly reduce the number of crashes.
At the heart of V2V technology is a dedicated short-range communications capability, one that would send a basic safety message between vehicles to warn drivers of an impending collision or even take automated action such as applying the brakes if the driver doesn’t respond quickly enough. The message would include information such as vehicle speed, GPS position, vehicle heading and a verifying message ID. NHTSA estimates that V2V hardware will cost approximately $350 per vehicle in 2020.
We will be reviewing NHTSA’s request for comments about development of a federal motor vehicle safety standard for V2V communications and urge those of you interested in this technology to do the same. The deadline for feedback to NHTSA through the advance notice of proposed rulemaking process is October 20, 2014.
The agency will also issue a Privacy Impact Assessment in the coming months with more detail on potential privacy risks. That assessment will come with its own request for public comments, an area we surely will be weighing in on as discussions about the implementation of V2V advance.
Stay tuned to the NMA e-newsletter and blog for more information as it develops. Improvements in vehicular safety designs and applications are welcomed as long as drivers’ rights aren’t encroached upon or put at further risk.
Was $15,995
Exterior: Yellow
VIN: 5J11NBJB47W000074
Mileage: 5,259 miles
MORE FROM THE BIKERNET BAD COP INVESTIGATORS POOL–License plate scanner networks capture movements.
Michael Robertson, a libertarian Internet entrepreneur best known for creating MP3.com, stands for a portrait Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, in San Diego. Robertson sued the San Diego Association of Governments last year for records collected on his vehicle by a license plate-reader network that runs on information supplied by the San Diego Police Department, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and eight other police departments.
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A rapidly expanding digital network that uses cameras mounted to traffic signals and police cruisers captures the movements of millions of vehicles across the U.S., regardless of whether the drivers are being investigated by law enforcement.
The license plate scanning systems have multiplied across the U.S. over the last decade, funded largely by Homeland Security grants, and judges recently have upheld authorities’ rights to keep details from hundreds of millions of scans a secret from the public.
This is an AP report, so I’ll let you google it for more info. Again, more Homeland Security fear tactics spreading more government into our lives. I Attended a Harbor Commission meeting the other night. The acting Chief of the new Harbor Police department gave a gleeful report on how wonderful it was to be apart of the Harbor Team to his budgetary joy, until the leader of the commission asked how he was going to get along with all the other police agencies in Los Angeles. Good god!
THIS JUST IN FROM CHON BURI THAILAND—We sent our own international terrorism and illegal activities investigator to Thailand. His assignment is to spend as much time as possible in night clubs, while pretending to find Isis cells, and the best pot buds on the planet.
Here is his first report from Thailand: Here are a few shots walking around today.
Last pic of wiring amok.
–Art Hall
Supreme Commander Bikernet International Investigations and Marijuana Cultivation and Gun Control
TRAILBLAZERS NEWS–
LAST REMINDER (MAYBE): CALISTOGA IS NEXT WEEKEND
Don’t miss the AMA Pro Half Mile on Saturday 27th in the beautiful Napa Valley. Just one more race, after this one, and the season is over. You will kick yourself if you don’t go. www.calistogahalfmile.com
RIDE THE POMONA TRACK AT THE FLAT TRACK FINALS
Tickets at 1-844-383-4625 www.flattrackfinals.com
NEW 3/8 MILE TRACK OPENING NOVEMBER 1ST
1000 MILES ON AN ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE IN 24 HOURS–
Craig Vetter
Designer
THIS COULD BE OLD BUT INSPIRING–Have you heard about the trucker who has painted his cab and trailer with the names of all those who lost their lives on 9/11?
The trucker’s name is John Holmgren from Shafer , Minn. He has been ‘pulled over’ numerous times just so the troopers can get their picture taken with the truck.
–from Gerry Celia
Seems common in Florida.—Rogue
Ex-House candidate prison term trimmed
Judge reduces sentence from 7 months to 30 days
By Curt Anderson
Associated Press
MIAMI — Citing his extensive and ongoing cooperation with investigators, a federal judge on Friday sharply reduced the prison sentence for a former U.S. House candidate embroiled in a campaign finance probe linked to ex-Rep. David Rivera.
U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga cut Justin Sternad’s prison term from seven months to 30 days, followed by three months of house arrest. Sternad’s attorney, Rick Yabor, had requested no prison time. But the judge said it was necessary to deter others. “It does warrant some time served, some time for additional reflection,” Altonaga said. Sternad and co-defendant Ana Alliegro admitted scheming to provide more than $80,000 in secret financing to Sternad’s candidacy in the 2012 Democratic House 26th District primary in an attempt to weaken eventual winner Joe Garcia. They say Rivera, a Republican, was ultimately behind the plan, but he has not been charged and denies wrongdoing.
Altonaga noted a disparity because Alliegro last week received a six-month sentence despite having a greater role in the conspiracy than Sternad, a previously unknown candidate who Yabor said initially got into House race for legitimate reasons. Before her arrest, Alliegro was a political consultant with close ties to Rivera.
“She’s the one who controlled everything, getting him involved in this dirty deal,” the judge said.
Despite Sternad’s candidacy, Garcia defeated Rivera in the 2012 general election and is now seeking re-election against Republican Carlos Curbelo. Rivera, a former state representative and close friend of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, finished a distant fourth in August in the Republican primary.
The big question now is whether Rivera will also be charged. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Mulvihill said Alliegro has met at least twice with the FBI and Sternad repeated Friday that he is ready to testify against the former congressman.
–from Rogue
THE 5-BALL STREAMLINED TRIKE WILL BE USING PROGRESSIVE SHOCKS—
412 Series Shocks front and rear.
The 412 Series shocks are simply the best value shock on the market today. The 412s simple, durable design means they will be an improvement to your motorcycle’s suspension performance for as long as you are riding it.
The doublewall steel body construction with nitrogen charged, multi-staged velocity sensitive valving gives you smooth, consistent damping. A five-position cam style preload adjuster lets you dial in your ride whether you’re a light rider or heavy hitter.
With multiple options like full show chrome or black covers, chrome or black springs in progressive rate, Standard or Heavy-Duty for most applications, there is sure to be a 412 that’s right for you and your bike.
We are very close to moving on our frame at Kent Weeks’ Lucky Devil Metal Works in Houston. This is going to be an amazing project.
BIKERNET OLD BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS STILL OPEN–Below are a couple of daily diary entries from a married couple.
HER DIARY:
Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a bar to have a drink. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it.
Conversation wasn’t flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn’t say much. I asked him what was wrong; he said, ‘Nothing.’ I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn’t upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can’t explain his behavior. I don’t know why he didn’t say, ‘I love you, too.’
When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed.
About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. To my surprise, he responded to my caress, and we made love. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep, I cried. I don’t know what to do. I’m almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster…
HIS DIARY:
My Harley wouldn’t start today, but at least I got laid.
–from Rogue and Jerry
LET’S PEEL OUT—As always, let me know if my political or freedom thoughts are full-of-shit. I just don’t see any of these growing programs doing us any good at all. But I do see Freedom and education as the ultimate solution. It’s so damn obvious.
You won’t work on your toaster unless you have some training or a manual, right? So, you won’t mess with guns and would be intimated by them unless you have some training right? The same concept applies to motorcycle training.
I find it so humorous that the Australians are breathing so hard on Bikers, sort of like we breathe all over the notion of terrorists. It’s ridiculous. If they breathed as hard on their own cops or politicians they would make way more arrests. So power begets corruption. So, they start agencies to address a particular problem and the solution becomes more of a problem than the original proposed issue.
Take Homeland Security and the TSA. We now spend billions annually, torture our citizens for over a decade, eliminate freedoms, and build monster multi-government agencies, over something that happened over a decade ago. I don’t get it? Wait, I do get it, if you want a government job, you dial in the fear tactic and you’re golden for a life of security and ever- growing budgets.
Hang On!
Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit
