DAC

Sweet!

Is that new as in 2011? Or a silver/black '09? Or a black '08?

Congrats! New toys - even practical ones - are always fun!

Hmm. Here's to hoping this is an isolated incident. At least cooler heads eventually prevailed and no permanent damage was done. Law Enforcement is important and difficult work and the good outcomes don't get much press. We usually get to see only those examples where "Protect and Defend" gets interpreted as "Intimidate and Oppress." Those bad examples make for much more interesting YouTube viewing. (Or listening.) I'm not a carrier of either open or concealed persuasion and own no guns. Guns in general - and handguns in particular - present a permanent solution to what are often temporary problems. And yet, paradoxically, I'm a big supporter of 2nd Amendment rights. The Framers got it right because they had some first hand experience. Supposedly they saw unfortunate situations where the rules had to be followed by everyone -- except those that enforce the rules. Maybe someday, when I'm old and/or no longer a dog owner, I'll pick myself up a shotgun - IP seems to recommend the Mossberg with the 18.5" barrel - to protect my little realm. Then I'll have to go somewhere and figure out how to use it. But I doubt I'll carry it around town with a voice recorder. Until then, a mutt named Bonnie and a big MagLite will do.

Good to hear. I'll just have to watch this space for places to stay away from. Every now and then I get word on road that's just been freshly paved and it's fun to check 'em out. Last year, I was watching the ODOT web site for road repavings (gotta love that stimulus money) and found that SR356 was just freshly paved. But like I said, if there was a single map that could show stuff like that, it'd help route planning and stuff.

ATGATT here too except when commuting. Then, I'll wear the khakis instead of the riding jeans. The commute is short with the main risk being the cell phone talking cage people.

Welcome!

It'd be great if there was some kind of mapping application that could label the roads according to condition. Other riding sites color code roads according to technical difficulty.

I blame Perry Como.

This thread made me check the weather! Right now I mostly look to see if it's going to snow. I'd love to see some warm temps, but seeing lots of rain and no more salt going onto the roads is nice.

Most definitely would have picked up the 3s if I expected to do any significant riding in rain. I'm still in the mode of single day rides and commuting so I can pick the weather I ride in more. When I get "caught" riding on wet roads, the 2s will hopefully take care of me.

I just bought some 2's knowing full well the 3's were coming out. Got the 2's for about $40 less. Hey - I'm a cheapass.

How do you get power to that?

... and money deprivation as well. Although you're into motorcycles and run this website. So, you're already used to that. Congrats!

... of people to have work on your bike. Hoblick put new Pilot Road 2s on the VFR yesterday and Attackpainter did an awesome job on my slightly rashed panels last year. Thanks Ryan and Paul.

Once you have found the tires you want, PM Hoblick and he can do the install very reasonably. I had him put Pilot Road 2s on my VFR yesterday. Excellent to work with.

One very nice bike and a hell of a deal. Congrats!

Whatever. Take care and keep the shiny side up! Peace.

Wow. Pegging the rancor meter there Fuse-on. FTR: - I got family in public-sector unions, active and retired, that are raking it in or will soon. - My 401(k) is fine - thanks for your, uh, concern. - I have a pension at work, too. So this isn't a bitch about my situation or my family's. Private sector folks can easily get pensions? That's great - once they get a JOB first. Then they count themselves lucky and don't go asking for more stuff from boss man.

This comment would make sense if the system had stayed the same. Not sure that's true. In reality, or at least perception, is that government jobs once provided pay and benefits less than the private sector in exchange for almost airtight job security. There might have been grumbling about this security in bad times (say the 70's) but there was general recognition that a person could make more money in the private sector. Now, average pay of government workers is at or above average pay of the taxpayers. Benefits of government workers is WAY above average. This is the general sense from various published media. I can't quote exact figures and I'm sure there'll be tons of studies/research to support either side. So, people are pissed. Most of the private folks have no pension or defined benefit plans. They've watched their 401(k) take a massive hit (though now recovering). On top of that, states have to balance budgets that have also shrunk. Staffing in the public sector must be rational and pay should be market based. If, for example, pay and benefits for teaching is cut below a market level, no one will enter or stay in that profession. They'll paint houses instead. If the state or school districts can't attract worthwhile candidates for the pay offered, it'll have to go up. But we're nowhere near that point. The biggest risk in all of this is the municipal bond market - believe it or not. Serious people are talking about allowing states to go bankrupt. If that happens, stuff like this bill will become instantly irrelevant since, in bankruptcy, union contracts and pension obligations effectively go up in smoke. The states, and possibly the US government would no longer be able to access financial markets and that's very, very bad. Over the years, the pendulum has swung too far one way. It's gaining a lot of momentum going the other way now. It'd be nice if it settled in the middle soon, but I don't think it's gonna work out that way.

Commuted in to work and on the way home tonight saw several bikes out on Riverside Drive a bit after 6pm. Fun. Kind of teaser since weather is supposed to turn for the worse.

I'm just still pissed these guys bought, then killed, Zantigo all those years ago.

I'm thinkin' it's potholes and gravelly corners.

Still is probably. I would be too if I lived in a garbage can and the NCAA was pimpin me.