You have a little Near Death Experience on a Motorcycle and all the sudden you get all these people telling you that “That they told you so.” “Motorcycling is Dangerous.” And I need to get off that “Donor Cycle and into a Safe Car.” Most of these comments come from Good Friends and Loved Ones and people that I know who really care for me… and some people who just what to be jackasses about it.
This all just makes me scratch my head. Do you guys even know me? Look, I appreciate the concern and I see where you are coming from… I feel that from you and I thank you for it. I’d give you a big hug. But everything I do is considered to be dangerous. My Career has been in “Doing Dangerous Things” other than doing the Tech stuff I did for awhile it’s all been rather risky.
All day long, I am in a cage. Doing what is expected of me. Constrained and unable to do or say what I want to do or so. I have to keep so many opinions to myself, and so many responses to myself, that some days I just feel like I’m going to explode. I have so many demands and stresses on me. Bills and Dues that have to be paid. Kids growing up into adults and their needs. A wife that has to be cared for. Family and my Extended Family. Promises that I’ve made to them and to friends. I’m not going to abandon them… it’s not that. It’s the Decompression I get when I swing my leg over my bike. The whole “Stop to Smell The Roses” thing… On a bike, I don’t have to stop. I can be Mt. Vesuvius level pissed off and by the time I get home I’m down to Mt. Fuji level. I’m happier after a ride because for that brief moment in time – I am Free. Sometimes I just want to keep riding – just keep going.
I love riding… I can’t explain it so that you will understand… Because you don’t ride. I can’t tell you what Chocolate tastes like either. Those that do ride, they understand. My wife understands. Some of my friends understand. Imagine taking an Eagle and clipping its wings so it couldn’t fly again… THAT is what you are telling me when you say I should be in a car. Maybe you are right. Maybe I should be. It’s supposedly safer. I’ll give you that. But that’s not what it’s about. Being Safe… Safety is an illusion.
Yes, it’s dangerous. It’s also freedom. Freedom is always dangerous.
You are fucking obnoxious. All I need you for is to read PDF’s. Yet you are constantly updating and being a fucking attention-whore about it when you are doing it. I can’t put you into the background or minimize you while you’re do your shit… you have to be on top of everything, in my way. If I slide you over to the side, you pop back up into the center. I’m trying to write a book over here, or look at funny cat videos – and you are always getting in my face. Judas Priest, man! You are like those Mexican Porn Flier People in Vegas. Can’t walk down the Strip without those clowns snapping their little fliers in your face… Adobe – you are just like that. And then you ask me to Reboot. Really? I’m in the middle of doing something and you are interrupting me, getting in my way, and then you want me to stop what I am doing. Are you serious? This isn’t Windows 95 anymore. I am getting really tired of you, Adobe.
Knock it off or I’m uninstalling your shit.
Could have been a lot worse… Motorcycling is dangerous. It’s also one of the most wonderful things Mankind could ever do. Good riding gear makes all the difference. I had a little incident. Speed was not involved and I wasn’t squidding.
Scrapes, Bruises, Twisted knee, bruised ribs, and maybe a broken wrist… But I’m fine. I’ll ride again ASAP. When you ride – always wear your gear. Even if you are just going around the block… wear your gear.
At first glance, they look identical save for the Beretta’s little medallion in the grips. There is a good reason for that. Both are made by Uberti in Italy… Both are Spaghetti Westerns here. However, the Beretta is imported by Beretta and the Uberti is imported by Stoeger for some reason. What’s interesting is that the Beretta marked gun is less money. What makes that so interesting? The Beretta is the better gun by far. Let me show you why.
Here you can see the grips if the Beretta very nicely. The way they should fit.The wood grips on the Uberti have a bit of overlap that you can see and feel. Less comfortable in the hand too.The Beretta uses a pretty standard, but well executed, Transfer Bar Safety, allowing you to easily load and carry in all six chambers.The Uberti's firing pin on the hammer set up means you pack it with the hammer down on the empty chamber. Which is a good theory on safety, but leaves you will one less shot to fire.You can see the seams between the panels. Not bad at all. That's a good fit and finish here. And that little medallion looks sharp.Huh... Not so good.
What you can’t see in the photos is the FEEL. The Beretta feels like it’s a much nicer gun. It feels that way, because it really is. I’d buy a Beretta easily over the Uberti, every day, every time. The Uberti’s… not so much. I like the clicks in the action as you pull the hammer back.
There is a fairly new line of optics out. If by fairly new you mean 80 years in the industry and people have still never heard of them.
This is a set of Meopta 10×42 HD Binos sitting next to a set of Swarovski SLC 10×42’s. The Meoptas are retailing for $999.99 and the Swarovski’s for 1500 bucks MORE money. Looking through both sets, I really can’t see any difference. Maybe the SLC’s are just oh so very slightly better. But really I can’t see any difference at all. Certainly not any difference I’d pay 1500 bucks more. The Meoptas are a No Brainer Buy. The best comparo would be to the Zeiss Conquest 10×42 which also retails for 999.99. The Meopta is pretty much a dead ringer but I like the Meopta better in that it required less movement of the focus knob to get something far away and something farther beyond that to get into focus. Almost no movement at all to get from Far to Further, if you know what I mean. Considering that Meopta makes the Zeiss Conquest rifle scopes – I found this to be no surprise. I don’t know if they are making the Binos for Zeiss or not, but they do build the scopes. So if you’ve never heard of Meopta, you’ve probably looked through some before if not own some. Meopta also makes a lot of other optical products for other countries. Even other industries. The Periscopes for Subs, Prisms for other optics companies the periscope prisms for the M1A Battle Tank, the windows in the Space Shuttle that have to take High Temp and sudden deep cooling… So they are a very technically advanced optics company. They make everything in house, unlike some optics companies which sub-contract and dont actually manufacture anything. (Vortex)
Looking through a Meopta Rifle Scope is like looking through any comparable Zeiss Conquest, but generally for about 200 bucks less.
I also like the fact that they throw in an iPhone Adapter for Digiscoping… taking pictures through your spotting scope. It’s easy and it works. Put the phone in the adapter, then putt out the scope’s Eye Cup and put the Adapter/Phone to the Spotting Scope. Crystal Clear.
Remember how I have said that if I am going to spend my own money on Optics its going to be on Nikon or Zeiss… Throw a 3rd option in there for me. I’m really digging the Meopta HD Binos and their rifle scopes.
M taking a Grinder to my old chain. I was skeered to do it. No going back from this. You hit your chain with a grinder – you put on a new chain before you throw a leg over it. But M’s as good at Bike Work… and we got the new chain on just fine.
Well, the new chain for my motorcycle arrived. Holy cow…. The Gold Chain is a hell of a lot of BLING for me. What was I thinking? Oh well. We’ll put it on and see how it looks after 10,000 miles.
The new brake lever I ordered was silver. The one that arrived though… Black. I was going to send it back… but I went ahead and put it on. Looks sharp. I think I’ll order a black clutch lever too.
I find it interesting that the term used for flip flopping positions is “evolution”. Especially in the Gay Marriage issue. Evolution being an argument over Creationism pitting Science against Religion… And the whole Nature vs Nurture argument about homosexuality.
So essentially what the POTUS did was to make a solid stand on side of the fence over the other on an issue that is very divisive. States are voting against Gay Marriage… California did twice, as did North Caroline recently… Yet the POTUS is coming down hard for it. This isn’t surprising because of two reasons… He’s far to the Left and the Left loves this stuff and there is the rumors that the POTUS himself has homosexual tendencies. Evidence – the bike he peddles. But really the big “No Shocker” here is that this is a Big Government move. This is a path to take another decision out of the States. Carving anything out of States Rights is going to be – of course – the way Big Government is going to go. This isn’t about Gay Marriage… this is about States Rights. According to the Constitution, this issue is a State issue, not a Fed issue. And the POTUS just made it Federal. Expect to see the wedding announcements in your local papers next year.
What is my position on the issue? I’m very Libertarian on this. A. I don’t care. B. It’s not my business. C. Who the hell am I to say who someone can or can’t love? This isn’t advocating or accepting… it’s tolerating. Now, this position of National Acceptance of “What Consenting Adults want to do” opens the door. Polygamy is an issue that comes after Gay Marriage… and this is an entertaining one at that considering that this topic will come up and it will be asked of Mitt Romney – A Practicing Mormon. Mormons of course are Famous for the early church history of practicing polygamy which was later abolished. But that’s a whole other topic. Expect Mitt to fidget on that issue probably soon.
Let’s see… shopping list.
New chain. Current chain is past the “OMG you need to freaking replace this NOW!” point. I really don’t want to experience a 4th chain breakage. Those instances have a habit of putting me on the ground. So I got me a nice 530 O-Ring Chain that has some solid reviews for strength and longevity. I’ll need a hand putting it on. (Hint to M)
Oil filter. Past time to change it. I’ve never gone this long before without a change and its making me feel itchy. I am almost to the Recommended Miles for an Oil Change. *shudder* The oil is still pretty clean and same color as new oil, so I’m not worried… but I want to change it soon. I’ll sleep better.
New brake lever. When I dumped it shortly after my second concussion, it bent my brake lever to hell. It’s harder to reach and because of the angle, when I pull it in, it does so with no feel and too much “grab”. This makes braking… not so smooth.
And I finally ordered some luggage for the Superhawk. A tank bag. After spending a couple hours reviewing tank bags and taking everything into consideration for size, style, and how I’m going to use it… I selected the Joe Rocket Manta XL which seems to be just about right for my needs for an Over-Nighter in SLC or a couple days worth of Road Tripping with the additional use of a Backpack. And the price was right.
Once I get this stuff in and the chain and lever on… I’ll be ready to go the distance.
Oh, and I welcomed a few new additions to the “ATTACK MODE” Play List.
Rob Zombie’s “WHAT”, “SUPERBEAST”, and “DEMONOID PHENOMENOM” and Prodigy’s “OMEN”.
