redkow97

funny that you typed this while I was typing my reply referencing voting for the Libertarian candidate. this "it's a 2-party system" attitude is what KEEPS it a 2-party system. vote libertarian

I think there's room for debate as to whether a 'cut' that takes us back to a more normalized and equal tax rate for everyone is really a cut. If X raises taxes, and Y brings them back to the same level they were prior to X's tax hike, is that still a true 'cut?' I don't want to debate the question, but I think it's worth asking. I'll ask another as well - did the tax rebate do anything to stimulate the economy? I spent mine on trackdays. seriously :-p I think that's a point very much worth reinforcing. Americans are too happy to remain ignorant on politics until something affects them in a tangibly negative way. We get what we ask for... as key as Ohio is for gaining electoral votes, I have questioned whether I should have cast my vote for Bob Barr, or essentially voted 'against Obama' by adding one more tally to McCain's ticket... Hopefully Americans learn quickly. "it takes a Carter to elect a Reagan."

the example is full of holes, but I still enjoy the basic message. calling it "Obama's socialism" doesn't show any bias at all! and "Obama's plan" is clearly defined. Yes, THAT plan. ...I still disagree with the basic principles of 'pump-priming' economics, and 'redistribution of wealth.'

"Can't someone else do it?"

most leases aren't worth the paper they're written on. how many small-time landlords are actually consulting a lawyer? virtually none, and you have undeniably good reason to break the lease anyway. I have to question how pleasant the next 12 months of your life will be if you make your landlord's life miserable over this, so moving may be the best option. you'd certainly win any legal proceedings, but that will cost you a bit up front, unless you can find a lawyer who will work on contingency, and take a percentage of your 'damages' off the top. But you're not really LOSING anything tangible right now. It's just annoying (until you ACTUALLY get a hotel). Judge Joe Brown really may not be a bad move. As I understand those shows, they have a $5,000 "pot" up for grabs. you both agree that whatever judge joe decides is a reasonable and legally binding settlement, so you can't sue her for the same thing again, and tehn you basically argue over who gets the $5k. if you claim $3k in damages, adn are awarded $3k, both parties split the remaining $2k evenly. win/win in that regard. I don't know who you're staying with now, but start writing them weekly rent checks. the canceled checks show you're being 'damaged' financially. your friend can just give you teh money back in cash, and then get a cut of judge joe's settlement. it's a shitty situation over all, but i think being confrontational with the landlord will do you more harm than good...

my brother is a current OSU student. texting him now...

some roofing contractor is going to make a nice buck off that display. Cool stuff - but he probably damaged the surface more than anyone anticipated.

i'd guess financing. Personally, i can't stand the idea of financing a bike, but some people insist that the factory warranty and knowledge that no one else 'abused' the bike is worth it.

i believe they resolved the 2nd/3rd gear gremlins that plagued SOME of the prior year Kawi 600s. valve check is due at 12 or 13k.

SOLD SOLD SOLD This is my friend JB's bike that pulls street/track duty, but really hasn't been ridden much at all. It's by far the nicest SV i've ever seen. 2006 Suzuki SV650S located near Cleveland, OH (east side) - under 1800 miles. - Red, black frame and black wheels Original owner, bike has never been crashed or touched the ground, always stored inside and properly prepped during the winters. Comes with 2 sets of body work. -OEM Street SVS bodywork in excellent condition (has fewer than 1,000 miles on the bike) -Catalyst Composite track body with matching gas tank (with stomp grip) and front fender. All OEM and track body work is color matched to the OEM red color so you can mix and match. (NEVER crashed or even tipped over in the trailer) -Comes with the OEM clipon bars and also includes conventional handlebars / triple trees for a more comfortable ride on the street. You can change them for whatever suits your riding style. parts list: - M4 carbon hi pipe (few boot marks on mid pipe) - Power Commander 3 - Michelin Pilot Power tires (less than 1000 miles on them) - Vortex rearsets - black, fully adjustable (so you can lower them for street and raise them for track if you want) - Vortex gas cap - silver ring and black center cap - Ohlins rear shock - Race Tech Gold Valve cartridge emulators (installed and set up by MPH Ohio) - Race Tech .90 springs + fresh fluid this year - Pazzo adjustable levers - black - Moto frame Sliders - Rear spools - Spieger stainless steel front brake lines + fresh fluid this year - KTM Domino grips - Clear Alternatives LED tail light with integrated turn signals - Solo race tail section T-rex front triple tree stand included $5500 for all the parts and goodies (including full street AND track bodywork) $4700 for everything minus track body work and Ohlins shock. (still includes the race tail and OEM tail section) my pic of JB's bike from a TD at Mid-Ohio last September. he mounted a new rear tire that day, and has less than 200 STREET miles on it since. JB's pics of the bike, taken Sunday 9/13/09 the stock clip-on bars come with the bike. JB put these on for more comfortable street riding less than a month ago. PM me if interested, and I can put you in touch with JB via email.

definitely. there was a solid 20 minutes where people were freaking out quite a bit. the rumors that spread through a college campus via IM...

thoughts and prayers for all who lost their lives, their livelihood, or someone they loved 8 years ago, today. for my own part, I was fortunate enough to be personally affected only as an American. 9/11/01 will always stick out in my mind as the day I really learned what it meant to be a citizen of the UNITED States of America. I was a college freshman at the University of Dayton (right near Wright Patterson Air Force base...), and I wouldn't have normally even been AWAKE when the towers were struck, but I had gotten up early to meet with my adviser and drop a class. On my way back to the dorm, someone told me "a plane just hit the world trade center. terrorists, man." Even after being told exactly what had happened, it didn't register with me. I was picturing a small prop plane; some crop-dusting pilot who tried to buzz the towers and accidentally hit one. Then i saw the news coverage, including the 2nd tower strike on LIVE tv, and eventually crumbling. every door in the hall of my dorm was open, all watching the same thing on TV. 40+ of us stood in the hall, some in just boxer shorts or a towel, if they'd just woken up, and just stared, silently at the news. It was FROM the news that I learned Wright Patterson is the among the largest Military bases in the country... about 20 minutes after they said that, 2 jets broke the sound barrier over Dayton. the news later reported that they were catching up to Air Force One, as all other air traffic had been grounded. I don't know how many of you have experienced a sonic boom (or two), but 'boom' is an understatement. The noise isn't really what surprises you as much as the vibration in your chest. in a 60 yr old dorm building, on the 6th of seven stories, the floor feels as though it sways for a moment. I was one of the few who went to my 10:30 class. Many people who had attended 9 AM classes were still unaware that anything had happened. in one lecture hall, the professor closed his laptop at the end of class, and the projector defaulted to the only active signal: TV. that's how they learned of the tragic events. I think most of them thought it was a movie for the first minute or so... By noon, all remaining classes had been canceled, and most of the campus was crammed into the chapel, and surrounding courtyard. in a strange way, I'm grateful to have experienced that day as a reminder of how much we take for granted, and to witness first-hand people setting aside ALL their differences and treating each other with the respect we each deserve as people, and Americans. those who died that day will certainly not be forgotten, and will always have my condolences and highest respect.

^ you can make your own if you get a crashed FZ6. that might actually be a good rout for you. the alternative is the GSX-F from suzuki (katana replacement). Basically tehy threw a fairing on a bandit 600 and bored it out a little. So that said, what about an old bandit? off-the-shelf, and in the US market, it sounds like you really want a Gladius, and just need to find a decent touring wind-screen that you can put on for longer trips without too much drama... But if you're buying used, I would really say F4i is about as good as it gets. That was the last really 'comfortable' 600 'supersport' IMO. if i could only own 1 bike for the rest of my life, the F4i would be a definite contender - but then, so would the SV650n/Gladius.

The problem with parenting is that it's the most important job in the world, but there's really no interview process... My parents (not my teachers, not my boss, not my 'village') taught me to "respect the position, and make my own decisions on the message." I'm the furthest thing from 'Catholic' anymore, but I'd still listen to what the Pope has to say, and be thrilled to meet the man if the opportunity arose. Listening does not equal blind agreement. I've read speeches by Hitler, and speeches by MLK. I listen to Rush Limbaugh, and Art McKoy - i've never agreed with either of the 100% in any hour... if these 'concerned' parents spent half as much time talking to their kids as they are protesting about it, there wouldn't be an issue.

so if Spies were to race BeaveRun... would he picture himself riding dick?

no tow vehicle? 6.5 hours is pretty close to a track for some people... Bucky, unless I'm mistaken, that's the same weekend as the WERA round at Nelson Ledges. you might run into some competition there. If i wasn't going to be in DC that weekend, I'd certainly be all-in for the raffle.

this very moment? "no sugar tonight" by The Guess Who. next up is "Wild Internationale" by One Day as a Lion (www.myspace.com/onedayasalion - "Bulls on Parade" inspired my choice.)

Unless i'm wrong, the rider who was hit is named Justin (bike #45). I don't know the guy personally, but it would surprise me if he 'checked-up' for no reason. Again, I don't know him, and haven't ridden with him (he's in "A." I'm not), but I get the impression he's pretty fast and predictable. He had taken 3rd in the solo 20 earlier that morning, so (despite the orange shirt), he's not usually a back marker... if i read his account of the incident, I'll try to relay that here. That sucks about the bike... I didn't stop over and really introduce myself, but I was in the race school with Spencer. Is the guy with the dreads on OR as well?

the whole ourbikesdontleak.com thing seems rather pointless, but I wouldn't be too quick to judge ALL the 'members' based on QuickZX9R's douche-baggery. if he'd gone around telling everyone he was a member of ORDN, I wouldn't expect people to assume I'm an asshole just because we are (were) members of the same forum.

good meeting you, Ian - I wish i'd been able to hang out more. I didn't think the race school would take so much time OFF track. You got back up to speed really well considering your get-off. I know you ended up taking turn 5 way faster at the end of the day then you were going when you laid the bike down. Do you have stock fork springs in your bike? between stock springs, rolling off, and the fact that the track goes UP hill there (which the video doesn't really show well), you could easily have over-loaded the front tire and tucked it. live and learn, i guess. Any video of me? ;-) - Chris

I know the rumor is that BeaveRun is in financial trouble, but how sick would it be if the South Track ever became a reality???? the full course would be world-class.

are you getting there tonight, or coming early tomorrow morning? I am planning on getting there tonight. setting up the tent if i remember a flashlight, sleeping in the truck if i don't. i forget if you're familiar with the beaveRun paddock, but I'll plan on pitting right by the entrance to the 'north' paddock, kind of across from the photo trailer. Puts me close to the showers, and on the correct side of the paddock to set the tent up on grass. Sort of on the curved part of the paddock, in the map below.

weeknights kind of suck for me, because i have class until 7:15, but I could meet people up there after that. I'm always up for buying a soldier a beer. I live off Ridge, near Pearl. in the neighborhood back behind the Dairy Queen, if that helps. - Chris

awesome. I'll be getting there late tonight, and the race school ought to be small enough that I can remember everyone's name. I'm really hoping i can stay for the mock race on Saturday. everyone keeps telling me "just go slow and finish," but that doesn't sound like much fun... hopefully some like-minded individuals want to make it interesting see everyone out there. - Chris (orange/brown 600RR #80. Green ford Ranger tow vehicle)