But......don't think this will simply go away now that's it's been STALLED.....not beaten, but only just stalled. The MPAA WILL revamp this travesty, they WILL rework it to appear more palatable to the lemming masses, they WILL try again.
If you haven't made your position known yet, what the hell are you waiting for?
Here's more info for you to absorb, even if all you do is watch the video...watch the fucker. This is serious stuff, more serious than I'd originally thought. Do yourself a favor: http://fightforthefuture.org/pipa/
The folks that don't want you do to anything but shovel up the drek they're spewing forth are also trying to limit what you can see, do or say on the internet and calling it a 'protective measure'.
Fuck that! Read up for yourselves, find out what's REALLY going on and DON'T LET IT HAPPEN!
What more do we need to give up before we're fed up?
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
[in-teg-ri-tee]
noun
1.adherence to moralandethicalprinciples;soundness of moral character; honesty.
2. thestate of being whole, entire, or undiminished:to preserve the integrity of the empire.
3. asound, unimpaired, or perfectcondition:the integrity of a ship'shull.
~Dictionary.com
Integrity is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions. Integrity can be regarded as the opposite of hypocrisy, in that it regards internal consistency as a virtue, and suggests that parties holding apparently conflicting values should account for the discrepancy or alter their beliefs.
The word "integrity" stems from the Latin adjective integer (whole, complete). In this context, integrity is the inner sense of "wholeness" deriving from qualities such as honesty and consistency of character. As such, one may judge that others "have integrity" to the extent that they act according to the values, beliefs and principles they claim to hold.
A value system's abstraction depth and range of applicable interaction may also function as significant factors in identifying integrity due to their congruence or lack of congruence with observation. A value system may evolve over timewhile retaining integrity if those who espouse the values account for and resolve inconsistencies.
~wikipedia
Note: I had a different piece written here but as usual lately it went off on a rant that might have been a wee bit too pointy for these soft and squishy times so I reeled it in a bit.
Ya wanna know what bugs me? (Ok.....one of the things on the list and yes, it's getting to be a long list.)
It bugs the shit out of me when I see the hard work of someone I know capitalized on by another solely for they're own profit. I think that both sucks and blows, neither in the good way. Only after being called on it publicly did this individual admit that his design is a ripoff, but used the excuse that he's "just trying to do business" and as far as I know continuing with it as before.
What really hurts about the whole affair is that someone I respected a lot has decided to support this rampant douche-baggery by purchasing said rip-off AND declaring so publicly, basically crapping on those who make his place of business solvent. This hurts I suppose because we inherently expect more from people 'in high places' whether that be a politician or a cop or just someone schmuck whose banner we all gathered under online. Seems like if people are supporting you financially you should be willing to give a little support back. At best your bike will be derivative.
I'm done with this at this point, I've said my piece on it and made my position known. It bought me hatemail from people I thought were more heads up. If people want to support products that are at best derivative and at worst a complete rip-off, well....I guess that's your business.
Hand made in a gravel floor garage in West Virginia.
I found myself in need of some distraction this weekend and since J and G were heading home, what better way than to hit the town? What a great time, but I most certainly remember once again why it is that I don't get THAT HAMMERED. My buddy Jason (Miss Kitty's brother)and his lady Galilee came to town from Nashville last week and it was only right to send them home with a night of relaxation to reflect upon. The night started at the Montage restaurant in P-town. What a neat joint where I had probably the best Jambalaya ever, the only problem was that it didn't come in a bucket. If you don't mind the wait to get in, good joints in Portland have lines...it's WELL worth it. Good spicy Cajun food and group seating make for a good time.
They dig bikes too
Dunno for chopsticks, but this is the dining room....
One bowl-o-goodness
Afterward add 8-10 other good friends, one perilous dive bar and a total lack of restraint and you have the makings for a fine throw-down.
I carry a 'smart phone'...fucking thing is certainly smarter than I am, and so I thought it would be neat to nerd-out and keep track of consumables for the evening. Now, I kept track of my own and I know that everyone else was putting forth the effort as well, we spent a shit ton on hooch:
-4 Coffee Nudges (before dinner waiting in the lounge)
-1/3 of a Rainier stolen from Miss Kitty during dinner
Still kinda gives me the willies when I look at the list. Keep in mind, I'm a large Viking man, bears, wild boars and Huns fear me. That being said, it sure was a lot of hooch for one liver to absorb. I woke up actually fairly early around 9am on Sunday morning feeling fine, just fine.
Then I moved.
More accurately, my eyes cracked open and I foolishly thought 'Hey...I think I'm gonna be just fine' and attempted to sit up (baby steps) at which point I'm fairly certain it was the room that was doing the moving and not me. In truth I think the room was trying to eject me out the window it was spinning so hard. I tried the old drunks trick of putting one foot on the floor to 'ground' the spinning bed....I think I missed. I know the carpet SHOULD have been there but somehow I couldn't really manage it. Not good.
Needless to say, while I did manage to drag myself out and onto the couch...that is where I stayed short the repeated visits to the head to...umm...purge myself. I did finally manage to keep some food down late in the evening so no worries of wasting away. This morning....well, I guess it's still going on. No hurling or twirlies but my innards are still vibrating all at different frequencies and my eyes feel like dirty ashtrays....but what a fun time just the same.
-Thor kept his pants all night!
-Nick wanted to go home hours before he managed it but couldn't waste a drink that kept appearing in his hand though.
-Brian got a rose from some random girl who may or may not have wanted him to go away. He did get a lot of mileage out of that flower though....
-an angry blonde bartender's ass got grabbed (by hiphop boy) and a minor street conflict occurred as a result. Who knew hiphop splattered?
-2 fingernails were obliterated by the air hockey table
-nobody in our party lost any blood
Nobody went home with this.....bullet dodged
This?....yeah mighta happened.....
If you find yourself around 50th and Division st. in Portland and you dig a good dive, check out the Scorecard. Great service and they survived us, that's saying a lot.
Also, in honor of an unofficial tradition and our pals at Tender Indifference:
Dennis, you will be missed my friend. We're all richer for having the privilege of your participation and presence in all our lives. Bring her head 'round into the weather mate......
In car on the Nurburgring, when racers were men who took danger by the ankles and fucked it into submission. My favorite race course ever with footage narrated by one of my favorite racers ever.
Minimal safety equipment, no giant wing to hold you to the pavement, crap helmets without a Hans, maybe a lap belt and giant polished brass balls. Hell yes!
Next up: A little chat about Integrity, sticking up for those that matter to you and the impetus to back those who support you. It's gonna be a hot one kiddies....bring out yer nomex undies....
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Hullo Miss Kitty, I just noted that you're one of the Horde; beware for here be sea monsters!
Not much progress on personal bikes thus far for 2012 but I did get some needed goodies so that was nice!
A GIANT collection of Weatherpack connectors! If you've had the fun of working on the harness of any bike by any manufacturer over say....15 years old, then you know the joy of crap plastic connectors that crack and fall apart, corroded connections and similar fits of joy and merriment. This should come in handy as I've got 5 bikes to wire....yay.
I've wanted one of these for a while now, just so nice and convenient when all you need to do is clean up a small area. As long as your air is dry and you're media in of a consistent grade you're golden. This little gun works a treat, highly recommended if you need one. Price is right too!
Haha....yeah I know it's upside down in the pic, this was the only one that came out clear enough. I tried inverting it so the text was right but the perspective was wacky and it kinda made me feel a little dizzy so this is what you get. I looked into several fusebox options and this one 'felt' the best to me. I'll be housing this in a weather tight enclosure. LOVE LOVE LOVE the binding post style connection points....and it's got a shiny cover. Everyone knows shiny is better right?
Huzzah for time wasters. Those that know me know I only sleep a couple hours a night, as a lifelong insomniac one finds ways to cope. I read several books a week....mostly brain candy but a few 'important works', I play video games and watch crap 'B' movies. Wha'cha gonna do? Portal was way more fun that in had any right to be, created originally as 'extra' content in the HalfLife2 series but kinda took off on it's own. I dig both 1 and 2 because you have to think and reason tactically to survive the puzzle environment. Hunter/Prey...well...that's probably going to be less mentally stimulating but there are aliens and guns!
One fairly large chunk of aluminum. it's a 6"x3" slice of 7075 that will be the 2pc cush drive bolted to the XS650 front hub used out back on Sakura. Say that five times fast. The plan as it stands now (subject to change, forgetfulness or absentmindedness) is to machine each 'half' such that they interface together just like any other cush. I'll coat the two pieces in paraffin wax and cast my own rubber bit between them. No....really......
Yay teeny tiny digital dashboard! For those not in the know, this is a TrailTech Vapor. It displays speed, RPM(bar graph and numeric), outside and cylinder head temp, max speed, odometer, stop watch, distance (different than odometer?), ride time and accumulated ride time, 12/24hr clock and when the cookies are done baking. I'd forgotten just how compact this unit is, but don't let that worry you if you're thinking about one...the display is very readable with key info in large font, day or night with a nice soft blue back-light. It looks nifty.....and weighs less than the air it displaces.
In other news, I'm changing a personal policy. I tend to keep customer stuff on the down-low, don't want anyone's wife pissed off at unannounced expenditures and all. However I've been receiving loads of inquiries about pics of customer projects, enough so that I've decided to ask for permission to post stuff up more often. I'll put out the word to current customers and those in the recent past. If they're good with it I'll put up more pics. Names and dates will be changed to protect the guilty!
Our good pal Mike D. opted for the little S90 piston tail light and I wanted to make some quickie brackets for him to start with. Mike, when you have your positioning settled you can send back the sheet brackets if you want and we'll chip out something more substantial and artsy.
Remember this one?
Finally got around to making the simple brackets. Mike, this is finally ready for you, just drill the bases to suit. You can bend the tabs to suit as well. I kept the resistors fairly conservative so the LEDs should last longer than you, but if you want it to be more blinding we can do that too but try it out first.
It's raining like a cow and a flat rock here, it's cold and I'm grouchy. When it's nasty like this thoughts turn to my other love...Hotrods, Street Hunters, Trail 4x4s etc. Yeah, yeah....I admit it...I like a cage sometimes but it has to be 'the right cage'.
Beast indeed!
Early streamlining....so sexy!
Paint woulda been too heavy. LOVE! IT!
These first nine are from a fancy show at Pebble Beach. Some fairly historically significant and iconic rides to be sure but the Perrier and Caviar crowd would wear thin quickly.
WANT!!!!! How cool to have something like this for a shop truck!? I'd beat up a nun for an old Divco. Well....I'd speak sternly anyway.
WANT!!!!! I like this generation of the RX7 the best and the camo is fun too.
I'm not all that hot over a Crosley, but.....
......but apparently you can make a motorcycle from one. Weird, but interesting for sure.
I'll bet those pipes bark!
I don't even mind the rust...there's just something about this one that speaks to me. I think it's saying "Meh, don't bother washing....let's go!"
Why build one if you're not gonna use it?!
Now this car is cool. Looks to be an 'A' body with a one off nose, I really dig it. Were it mine I'd tone the paint down just a week bit and put a real interior in. Maybe some nice distressed Oxblood and tan leather.
Anyone have a clue what that dash is out of? One off maybe?
Two words: Wack and Job.
This one looks like it eats babies for fuel.....or Honda Civics. 'bout the same.....
Dunno what to think about this one but I want it. I imagine it sticks to the corners pretty well huh?
Being the enlightened and worldly gent that I am, I often find myself open to music I wouldn't normally be interested in. That goes for people too. I hang out with scruffy biker looking kats, a couple 50's throwbacks, a ballet dancer, several dozen techheads, a few dickheads, a small herd of potheads, various and sundry mechanics and designers, engineers (Dad B is Sr.MuckityMuck in charge of Makin' Shit for Daimler/Freightliner's truck division, I'm pretty sure his biz card says that too). I know several massage professionals and a couple MASSAGE pros too. Accountants, strippers, gun smiths, construction masters and stage techs to the gods, models, grouchy old men and sweet little old ladies who bake me cookies. Crazy 12yr old motocross assassins, cowboys and horse trainers, Masons, Elks, Eagles, VFW members, etc etc et al.
Golden, every one of them.
They and their respective attachments keep my brain functional and make me laugh, yell, mad, think, laugh some more, sometimes sad but always happy to know them. When they aren't doing these things they may well be helping me kill a few thousand braincells.
One such kat is my buddy Graham, who I don't chat with enough mainly because I suck at keeping in contact. Just ask my extended family...
I did scoot thru G's facebook page the other day and saw the above video.
By the time new years eve rolls around I've had juuuust about enough of the holidays for one year. Normally I spend the evening with friends NOT in a bar, we celebrate a bit, laugh our asses off and go home. I'm good with that, no hangover the next day, no surprise injuries, no arrests, just mellow. This year I played a bit of portal and fell asleep around 12:15am....a good night.
There will be some bike content coming soon, just waiting on parts for one gig and permission from the customer to show pics of work on another. Till then.....
Watch this lovely young woman here enjoy playing with her wii......with scenery like this, I could really see spending some energy being a game geek. Just try to keep your eyes on the game, I dare ya...
