The roads are wild today. Unpredictable and nasty. There were so many cars, taxis, trucks and bikes, of all shapes and sizes. Fucking trucks better watch out though, they're driving like they own the road. Going to have to give them *stuff* to think about.
So many bikes on the roads!! It's good, mostly, i mean, morepeople on the roads means that the roads are emptier, which is great considering. But none of these boys have been driving for the last few months, epecially not in traffic, which is it's own bastard. Read about some girl dropped a scooter on Hans Strydom last night in traffic. Fortunately not hurt seriously, but no gear, tracksuit pants basically.
All these guys you see without jackets .... Just imagine them sliding along the tar, at a SLOW 40km/h *shudder*
I'm not trying to be an alarmist, but i've fallen. This is just about being smart, which is the same as not being stupid. That's not hard is it?
Yeesh, i just remembered the one bike i saw .... wow it actually goes. Old green kwaka ... about a 750/900 i thik, smoking, no back lights, back wheel was about 10cm across, no more. Not exactly what i would go into traffic on.
I am discovering new things daily though, like hooting at taxis ... it works!! Because you never really know if they are going to sideswipe you out of absolute apathy. I also drive with brights on, sorry to cagers who are annoyed, but i'l take any chance i get thank you. I also interact with drivers, thank them for pulling over, and swear when they don't, or actually if they don't i go round anyway. If they try kill me i swear at them. But banging the hazards when i guy moves over helps "image" saying thank you etc, and the guys in front will see an orange flick behind them, so dual purpose. Most of the guys are really cool in cars. Same people same time same placve every day, biker dude coming past, i guess makes them react in some way. Just because it's different to sitting there staring at some chick doing makeup.
I need to get busy working.
Oh btw - IT RAINED LAST NIGHT!!!!
Only a little but hey, every drop counts. Garden happy, air clean, me smiling.
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
1000!
1001 in fact :p
Hey, in this crazy world 1000 anything (except rands) goes a long way.
Me pats myself on my back *grin*
PEACE & LOVE & CHICKENWINGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Hey, in this crazy world 1000 anything (except rands) goes a long way.
Me pats myself on my back *grin*
PEACE & LOVE & CHICKENWINGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Bill Hicks
Why I Ride
By: Bill Hicks
Riding along on my two wheel machine
the pavement takes from me the painful reprieve
Thoughts and fears leave my "brain cloudy" mind,
but only those that are worried or unkind
The sky expands my horizons, inner peace and compassion's
my soul rides beside me and intercepts all distractions
Reality is around me, but I have a cleansed mind to confront it
frustration is behind me, the foe that cloaked and compounded it
Please understand that this is my sanction
its not the chrome or image or acceleration
It's not an escape or a good place to hide
it's approaching Zen that makes me ride
If this touches close to why you must ride
you are my brother or sister in kind
And I hope to share a few miles or a friendly high sign
as we pass while I'm out "untanglin my mind"
_________________________________________________________
I don't know for it is the same, but the name Bill Hicks ... can't be too many of them. He was a comedian in America, died of cancer a few years back, still quite young too. Brilliant, but ecause of that he wasn't famous, he pissed too many people off. Very VERY direct, even on stage, and was way ahead of his tme in what he was saying. I'll be looking for more of his stuff soon.
By: Bill Hicks
Riding along on my two wheel machine
the pavement takes from me the painful reprieve
Thoughts and fears leave my "brain cloudy" mind,
but only those that are worried or unkind
The sky expands my horizons, inner peace and compassion's
my soul rides beside me and intercepts all distractions
Reality is around me, but I have a cleansed mind to confront it
frustration is behind me, the foe that cloaked and compounded it
Please understand that this is my sanction
its not the chrome or image or acceleration
It's not an escape or a good place to hide
it's approaching Zen that makes me ride
If this touches close to why you must ride
you are my brother or sister in kind
And I hope to share a few miles or a friendly high sign
as we pass while I'm out "untanglin my mind"
_________________________________________________________
I don't know for it is the same, but the name Bill Hicks ... can't be too many of them. He was a comedian in America, died of cancer a few years back, still quite young too. Brilliant, but ecause of that he wasn't famous, he pissed too many people off. Very VERY direct, even on stage, and was way ahead of his tme in what he was saying. I'll be looking for more of his stuff soon.
Friday, 14 September 2007
Against The Wind
Artist: Stratovarius
Album: Fourth Dimension
Words & Music by Tolkki/Kotipelto
Once again I try to make things work
facing all the power of society
Searching all the answers of the life
Ill never make it on my own
Was I meant to fail everytime
Seems to me thats my destiny
Is this all thats left to me
Confusion and bad memories
But now my time has come
No more running in the dark
I want much more than this
I really want it all
Against the wind we run
to every place under the sun
Weve got so much power inside
We will never give up
Against the wind we go
towards the new shore
together well forget the sorrow
its forever gone
________________________________________________________
Right we had the sex, and the drugs, what's left but some rock n roll?
This band is something else, new, alive, loud and technically brilliant....
I'm going to go find a you-tube clip, just to give an idea ...
Peace Love & Chickenwings!!!!!!!!!!!
Album: Fourth Dimension
Words & Music by Tolkki/Kotipelto
Once again I try to make things work
facing all the power of society
Searching all the answers of the life
Ill never make it on my own
Was I meant to fail everytime
Seems to me thats my destiny
Is this all thats left to me
Confusion and bad memories
But now my time has come
No more running in the dark
I want much more than this
I really want it all
Against the wind we run
to every place under the sun
Weve got so much power inside
We will never give up
Against the wind we go
towards the new shore
together well forget the sorrow
its forever gone
________________________________________________________
Right we had the sex, and the drugs, what's left but some rock n roll?
This band is something else, new, alive, loud and technically brilliant....
I'm going to go find a you-tube clip, just to give an idea ...
Peace Love & Chickenwings!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, 13 September 2007
Types of drugs
Dagga: This is the most common drug in South Africa as it is cheap and readily available.
It is either smoked or ingested and takes only a few minutes to take effect, bringing about feelings of euphoria, hallucinations, increased perceptions (not always accurate), short-term memory loss, giggling, anxiety and paranoia.
Long-term effects include glassy, red eyes, sleepiness at strange times, loss of motivation and interest in activities previously enjoyed, weight gain or loss, memory lapses, concentration difficulty, lung and respiratory problems and difficulty learning new things.
Ecstasy: Usually in tablet form, small and white in colour, but can be yellow/brown.
It is a stimulant and can have a mild hallucinogenic effect.
Effects include euphoria, heightened emotional and sensory experiences, and uninhibited feelings and enhanced energy.
The long-term effects of this drug are not known, but it is known that it can change the structure of the brain and prune the serotonin receptors.
Psychological effects include fits of depression, anxiety attacks and feelings of intense paranoia.
Heroin: pure heroin is a white powder with a bitter taste; illicit heroin can be white/dark brown. It is usually snorted, injected or smoked.
It is two to three times more potent than morphine and cuts through the blood brain barrier 100 times faster than morphine does.
Injecting heroin into a vein can produce an effect in four to eight seconds; injecting it into a muscle or under the skin can produce effects in five to eight minutes.
Heroin depresses the central nervous system. It locks onto the body’s endorphin receptors ad mimics the body’s feel-good hormones.
The symptoms include mood swings, personality changes, dilated pupils, changes in weight and appearance, slurred speech, decreased sex drive and retarded social and emotional development.
Tik: this is otherwise known crystal meth. It is also known as the "stay-awake drug that makes you violent" and is one of the most popular drugs of choice in South Africa, especially amongst the youth.
Recent studies showing children as young as 13 are using it. It has been marketed as a weight-loss product and some of its side effects include psychotic symptoms, hallucinations and violence.
It’s also known as “tuk-tuk”, "tik", "crystal", "straws" and "globes". It is highly addictive and is often manufactured in the home, which means it is readily available on the streets.
Mandrax: This comes in pill form and can be swallowed or injected, but is usually smoked. The tablets are crushed and mixed with dagga.
The effects take place after a few minutes and the user will feel relaxed, calm and peaceful. But after the effect wears off, some users could feel aggressive.
Symptoms of excessive use include nausea, vomiting and stomach pains. Red, glazy and puffy eyes are common.
Cocaine and crack: It’s a white powder and is a local anaesthetic which acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system.
Cocaine is inhaled, injected, smoked or applied directly to the nasal membranes or gums.
Minutes after taking this drug the user will feel a sense of euphoria and excitement, confidence and strength.
Death from cardiac or respiratory arrest is a symptom of excessive use and other symptoms include ulceration of the nasal membrane, weight loss, tremors, insomnia, impotence, constipations and seizures.
Personality changes include deceptiveness, stealing, a superior attitude, short-temper, work-related problems, depression, being accident prone, confusion, anxiety, paranoia, dulled emotional responses and a loss of interest in sex.
Magic mushrooms: It can take from 15 to 60 minutes for effects to be felt and trips can last between three and six hours.
The effects include pupil dilation, distorted vision, hallucinations, ataxia, and feelings of euphoria, mood swings, laughter, anxiety, paranoia and confusion.
Magic mushrooms can act as a trigger for latent psychological disorders, such as schizophrenia.
________________________________________________________________
Very nice precis of the major ones. Found in a news 24 article here.
As interesting as what they say, is what they don't say. Absent is LSD, which despite all the hype, is noticable because it is untraceable, and leaves no physical damage to the system.
Magic mushrooms as a "latent psychological disorders" .... now i read recently an article about a certain strain of afrikaans blood, traced to a lady who came to south africa in the 1700's, where the people have gone overseas, and had a "latent psychological disorder" triggered, purely by the high stress experience of living overseas. So whether or not you use mushrooms is irrelevant to whether you may be a closet schizophrenic.
Now for my favourite drug .... alcohol. What a depressing, unhealthy, unsocial bucket of vomit is the alcohol trade. Broken homes, abused kids and mothers, lost jobs, broken cars, dirty smelly worthless old men with more money than dignity *puke*. Another news24 article today asked about drug tests by the roadside. But alcohol, because it is legal and accepted, seems to be less of a threat (?)
Remember folks, drugs are good for you. Your government makes you take drugs from day 1, and at regular intervals along your life. These drugs make you sick, make your body week, and cause immense pain, and you are told it's good for you!!! BTW .... did anyone know that with baby vaccines, there is a difference between the govt issued stuff, and that which you can buy? The govt issue stuff knocks the baby out (sick) for about a week. Intense pain, misery etc.
SAY NO TO DRUGS. So every time i light a spliff i say NO, then smoke it stukkend.
It is either smoked or ingested and takes only a few minutes to take effect, bringing about feelings of euphoria, hallucinations, increased perceptions (not always accurate), short-term memory loss, giggling, anxiety and paranoia.
Long-term effects include glassy, red eyes, sleepiness at strange times, loss of motivation and interest in activities previously enjoyed, weight gain or loss, memory lapses, concentration difficulty, lung and respiratory problems and difficulty learning new things.
Ecstasy: Usually in tablet form, small and white in colour, but can be yellow/brown.
It is a stimulant and can have a mild hallucinogenic effect.
Effects include euphoria, heightened emotional and sensory experiences, and uninhibited feelings and enhanced energy.
The long-term effects of this drug are not known, but it is known that it can change the structure of the brain and prune the serotonin receptors.
Psychological effects include fits of depression, anxiety attacks and feelings of intense paranoia.
Heroin: pure heroin is a white powder with a bitter taste; illicit heroin can be white/dark brown. It is usually snorted, injected or smoked.
It is two to three times more potent than morphine and cuts through the blood brain barrier 100 times faster than morphine does.
Injecting heroin into a vein can produce an effect in four to eight seconds; injecting it into a muscle or under the skin can produce effects in five to eight minutes.
Heroin depresses the central nervous system. It locks onto the body’s endorphin receptors ad mimics the body’s feel-good hormones.
The symptoms include mood swings, personality changes, dilated pupils, changes in weight and appearance, slurred speech, decreased sex drive and retarded social and emotional development.
Tik: this is otherwise known crystal meth. It is also known as the "stay-awake drug that makes you violent" and is one of the most popular drugs of choice in South Africa, especially amongst the youth.
Recent studies showing children as young as 13 are using it. It has been marketed as a weight-loss product and some of its side effects include psychotic symptoms, hallucinations and violence.
It’s also known as “tuk-tuk”, "tik", "crystal", "straws" and "globes". It is highly addictive and is often manufactured in the home, which means it is readily available on the streets.
Mandrax: This comes in pill form and can be swallowed or injected, but is usually smoked. The tablets are crushed and mixed with dagga.
The effects take place after a few minutes and the user will feel relaxed, calm and peaceful. But after the effect wears off, some users could feel aggressive.
Symptoms of excessive use include nausea, vomiting and stomach pains. Red, glazy and puffy eyes are common.
Cocaine and crack: It’s a white powder and is a local anaesthetic which acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system.
Cocaine is inhaled, injected, smoked or applied directly to the nasal membranes or gums.
Minutes after taking this drug the user will feel a sense of euphoria and excitement, confidence and strength.
Death from cardiac or respiratory arrest is a symptom of excessive use and other symptoms include ulceration of the nasal membrane, weight loss, tremors, insomnia, impotence, constipations and seizures.
Personality changes include deceptiveness, stealing, a superior attitude, short-temper, work-related problems, depression, being accident prone, confusion, anxiety, paranoia, dulled emotional responses and a loss of interest in sex.
Magic mushrooms: It can take from 15 to 60 minutes for effects to be felt and trips can last between three and six hours.
The effects include pupil dilation, distorted vision, hallucinations, ataxia, and feelings of euphoria, mood swings, laughter, anxiety, paranoia and confusion.
Magic mushrooms can act as a trigger for latent psychological disorders, such as schizophrenia.
________________________________________________________________
Very nice precis of the major ones. Found in a news 24 article here.
As interesting as what they say, is what they don't say. Absent is LSD, which despite all the hype, is noticable because it is untraceable, and leaves no physical damage to the system.
Magic mushrooms as a "latent psychological disorders" .... now i read recently an article about a certain strain of afrikaans blood, traced to a lady who came to south africa in the 1700's, where the people have gone overseas, and had a "latent psychological disorder" triggered, purely by the high stress experience of living overseas. So whether or not you use mushrooms is irrelevant to whether you may be a closet schizophrenic.
Now for my favourite drug .... alcohol. What a depressing, unhealthy, unsocial bucket of vomit is the alcohol trade. Broken homes, abused kids and mothers, lost jobs, broken cars, dirty smelly worthless old men with more money than dignity *puke*. Another news24 article today asked about drug tests by the roadside. But alcohol, because it is legal and accepted, seems to be less of a threat (?)
Remember folks, drugs are good for you. Your government makes you take drugs from day 1, and at regular intervals along your life. These drugs make you sick, make your body week, and cause immense pain, and you are told it's good for you!!! BTW .... did anyone know that with baby vaccines, there is a difference between the govt issued stuff, and that which you can buy? The govt issue stuff knocks the baby out (sick) for about a week. Intense pain, misery etc.
SAY NO TO DRUGS. So every time i light a spliff i say NO, then smoke it stukkend.
Wednesday, 12 September 2007
Don't work, have sex
12/09/2007 11:23 - (SA)
Ulyanovsk - The governor of a central Russian province urged couples to skip work on Wednesday and make love instead.
And if a woman gives birth in exactly nine months time - on Russia's national day on June 12 - she will qualify for a prize.
"It's normally something for the home - a fridge or a television set," Yelena Yakovleva at the Ulyanovsk regional administration press office, said.
"It doesn't matter if it's a girl or a boy."
Regional governor Sergei Morozov told employers to contribute to a Kremlin campaign to boost the birth rate by giving couples Wednesday off to have sex.
Russia wants to reverse a trend in which the population is shrinking by about 700 000 people a year as births fail to outpace a high death rate boosted by Aids, alcoholism and suicide.
This is the third year Ulyanovsk region, famous as the birthplace of Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin, has dedicated a day to encouraging couples to produce more babies.
Prizes will extend equally to unwed women who produce children on the right day, though the biggest prizes will go to married couples.
On Russia Day this year, a family won a jeep after their fourth baby was born on the holiday.
This year a record 78 babies were born on June 12 at the main hospital in the regional capital of Ulyanovsk, beating the 2006 total of 26, said chief doctor Andrei Malykh.
"The scheme is working. People want the prizes," he said.
A mass wedding and special lessons for children at school on how to deal with having a brother or sister are also planned in Ulyanovsk city, which is about 900km from Moscow.
This week First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a possible successor to President Vladimir Putin, said he wanted to stabilise the population at about 142 million by 2015 and boost it back to 145 million by 2025.
___________________________________________________________________
Gotta luv the ruskies!!!
Ulyanovsk - The governor of a central Russian province urged couples to skip work on Wednesday and make love instead.
And if a woman gives birth in exactly nine months time - on Russia's national day on June 12 - she will qualify for a prize.
"It's normally something for the home - a fridge or a television set," Yelena Yakovleva at the Ulyanovsk regional administration press office, said.
"It doesn't matter if it's a girl or a boy."
Regional governor Sergei Morozov told employers to contribute to a Kremlin campaign to boost the birth rate by giving couples Wednesday off to have sex.
Russia wants to reverse a trend in which the population is shrinking by about 700 000 people a year as births fail to outpace a high death rate boosted by Aids, alcoholism and suicide.
This is the third year Ulyanovsk region, famous as the birthplace of Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin, has dedicated a day to encouraging couples to produce more babies.
Prizes will extend equally to unwed women who produce children on the right day, though the biggest prizes will go to married couples.
On Russia Day this year, a family won a jeep after their fourth baby was born on the holiday.
This year a record 78 babies were born on June 12 at the main hospital in the regional capital of Ulyanovsk, beating the 2006 total of 26, said chief doctor Andrei Malykh.
"The scheme is working. People want the prizes," he said.
A mass wedding and special lessons for children at school on how to deal with having a brother or sister are also planned in Ulyanovsk city, which is about 900km from Moscow.
This week First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a possible successor to President Vladimir Putin, said he wanted to stabilise the population at about 142 million by 2015 and boost it back to 145 million by 2025.
___________________________________________________________________
Gotta luv the ruskies!!!
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
Zille for president
Cops Arrest
__________________________________________________________________
I don't care what other spins people may wish to add to this story, this wman is doing it!!! Standing there with her sign amongst the poor people, demanding basic rights, like SOME protection from police against those who would do us harm.
What happens? They arrest HER for some technicality, which is doubtful in any case. From what i can see, they decided that the leader of the peaceful and legal march had contravened on some minor way, and promptly arrested him. The marchers, among whom the MAYOR OF CAPE TOWN was found, stood outside the police station and demanded his release. Now this lady knows something about the law in this country, and i don't believe she would behave in a flagrantly illegal manner. She disobeyed a police order, according to reports. Now please understand that while police do have the authority to order people, it is at best a tenuous right that they have, and only applicable in extreme situations. They don't realize that, and honestly believe that if they tell you to shut up, and you do not, they have the right to arrest you.
This march was to protest the fact that known drug dealers were left alone by police to sell drugs to schoolkids. I repeat. Drug dealers are selling drugs to schoolkids, and the police are doing nothing. How clear does THIS issue need to be? The proof of this pudding is in the way the policve arrest the protesters, and NOT the drug lords, who must have paid their bribes this month.
This wonderful new south africa, this rainbow nation. Only fucking rainbows around are seen by the drug dealers, their users, and the corrupt PIGS.
Seriously, where in the world do you see a mayor arrested while protesting against the free trade enjoyed by drug dealers. Drug dealers. Drug dealers. Not children. Not mothers. Not hard working fucked over fathers. Drug dealers. They get all the rainbows they want, while the fathers are sent to hell daily, kept nicely out of the way. It's the parents of these kids that were peacefully, legally using their god-given right to freedom of expression that were arrested, presumably while the drug dealers watched. God damn their souls to everlasting hell.
Although, there is a bright side to all this. The people now know where they stand. And the people of the cape flats have had enough. Next up is vigilanteism. They've done it before. The police implored them to follow the rule of law, which they did now, and the result is for all to see. The PEOPLE will come for you drug dealers. They will attack you in your house, burn your house, and your car, and kill you when you try escape. Ahhhhhhhh mob justice, very under-rated lately. They've done it before, and after this slap in the face from the police, you got to bet they're already planning an example to be set.
I wish them luck, and courage in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Monday, 10 September 2007
Happy monday everyone
I need to type something up. Otherwise my brain really will rot. Constant fear of mine *shudder*
The weekend was good to me, mostly, did a lot of gardening, hard work, sore body, burnt skin, and the garden weeds just sneer at me .... as they do. Fixed the pool heating, only to realise the roof was leaking, so saturday and sunday on the bleeding roof. *bleh*
Well it kept me out of mischief and shuld please the family (their royal asses) and hey, nothing beats a warm pool *grin*.
Took the bike for a service this morning frst thing, then i realised why monday mornings are bad for that kinda thing. Please folks, remember this. The guys are all yawning and stretching and blinking their eyes like they woke up only after getting to work (most likely). Not really nice for them to practice on YOUR vehicle.
And they didn't have an air filter ..... *sigh*. If you don't know, an air filter on a bike is a bugger to get to, cos it's under the tank, in a box. Either way they're going tosort that once they get stock, and one hundred and summin rand for 1 spark plug (!) of course i needed 4. But once they do the filter it will be worth it.
Late to work, e-mails galore, check on the news, fuck this country's bullshit. Was watching the traffic while i waited this morn. Either single user cars, or overloaded taxis. Extremes. The VERY rich and the rest. But honestly, they're not rich, they're just getting by. But the cars are all newish. So take some of those lazy fucking white wankers in their airconditioned cars, and get them onto bikes. And help those taxi commuters get bikes too, suddenly they'll all be equal. It IS that simple. Then those arrogant prats can wake up before leaving for work, and those bloody women can do make up before leaving home. I think what bugs me is the arrogance. Completely heedless to the reality in fornt of their noses. *sigh*
I was rearing to go this morn, but this city just wears you out. Ignorance is bliss. Lots of really happy people round this place, just ask them. I started slowly though .... yellow line on the highway, best way when you're not tops. Crikey, that hell run through 2 lanes of cars ...... anybody got a camera i can borrow? It's like a cross between comedy, horror, mystery and plenty of suspense. One month of recording to work and back, i'll gaurentee an hour long documentary on the foolishness of JHB traffic. No really i like this idea.
The weekend was good to me, mostly, did a lot of gardening, hard work, sore body, burnt skin, and the garden weeds just sneer at me .... as they do. Fixed the pool heating, only to realise the roof was leaking, so saturday and sunday on the bleeding roof. *bleh*
Well it kept me out of mischief and shuld please the family (their royal asses) and hey, nothing beats a warm pool *grin*.
Took the bike for a service this morning frst thing, then i realised why monday mornings are bad for that kinda thing. Please folks, remember this. The guys are all yawning and stretching and blinking their eyes like they woke up only after getting to work (most likely). Not really nice for them to practice on YOUR vehicle.
And they didn't have an air filter ..... *sigh*. If you don't know, an air filter on a bike is a bugger to get to, cos it's under the tank, in a box. Either way they're going tosort that once they get stock, and one hundred and summin rand for 1 spark plug (!) of course i needed 4. But once they do the filter it will be worth it.
Late to work, e-mails galore, check on the news, fuck this country's bullshit. Was watching the traffic while i waited this morn. Either single user cars, or overloaded taxis. Extremes. The VERY rich and the rest. But honestly, they're not rich, they're just getting by. But the cars are all newish. So take some of those lazy fucking white wankers in their airconditioned cars, and get them onto bikes. And help those taxi commuters get bikes too, suddenly they'll all be equal. It IS that simple. Then those arrogant prats can wake up before leaving for work, and those bloody women can do make up before leaving home. I think what bugs me is the arrogance. Completely heedless to the reality in fornt of their noses. *sigh*
I was rearing to go this morn, but this city just wears you out. Ignorance is bliss. Lots of really happy people round this place, just ask them. I started slowly though .... yellow line on the highway, best way when you're not tops. Crikey, that hell run through 2 lanes of cars ...... anybody got a camera i can borrow? It's like a cross between comedy, horror, mystery and plenty of suspense. One month of recording to work and back, i'll gaurentee an hour long documentary on the foolishness of JHB traffic. No really i like this idea.
Friday, 7 September 2007
When truth is the same as fiction...
September 06 2007 at 07:45PM
Warsaw - A Polish crime writer has been jailed for 25 years after authorities found he had committed a murder that had been described in one of his thrillers, officials said on Wednesday.
In his 2003 book Amok, Krystian Bala described in detail the brutal murder of a Polish businessman.
Police found that the fictional crime had similarities with a case in 2000 when a body was fished out of the river Oder in the town of Wroclaw, near the German border.
Prosecutors said Bala had humiliated, tortured, starved and later killed his victim, who had a love affair with the writer's wife.
"The court has sentenced Krystian B to 25 years in prison for the murder of his ex-wife's lover," said a spokesperson for the court in Wroclaw.
____________________________________________________________________
Talk about researching your subject (?)
Bully to the cops for being bright enough to see the obvious, our cops i don't think read much of anything. Seems a creepy guy though, certainly thorough. Wonder if the wife is good looking?
Warsaw - A Polish crime writer has been jailed for 25 years after authorities found he had committed a murder that had been described in one of his thrillers, officials said on Wednesday.
In his 2003 book Amok, Krystian Bala described in detail the brutal murder of a Polish businessman.
Police found that the fictional crime had similarities with a case in 2000 when a body was fished out of the river Oder in the town of Wroclaw, near the German border.
Prosecutors said Bala had humiliated, tortured, starved and later killed his victim, who had a love affair with the writer's wife.
"The court has sentenced Krystian B to 25 years in prison for the murder of his ex-wife's lover," said a spokesperson for the court in Wroclaw.
____________________________________________________________________
Talk about researching your subject (?)
Bully to the cops for being bright enough to see the obvious, our cops i don't think read much of anything. Seems a creepy guy though, certainly thorough. Wonder if the wife is good looking?
Wednesday, 5 September 2007
Prisoner digs his way to freedom
Sinisa Josic
September 05 2007 at 03:59AM
Maribor, Slovenia - A Slovenian inmate completed an audacious prison escape attempt on Tuesday by digging through a one-metre-thick wall, jail authorities said on Tuesday.
"By examining the security camera recordings, it was determined that the prisoner escaped through a hole dug through the wall on top of the workroom," a statement from the prison said.
Although the escape from the institution in the northern Slovenian city of Maribor was discovered 10 minutes later, the 24-year-old former detainee remains on the run, it added.
Television reports said that the successful freedom bid by Sinisa Josic was not the prisoner's first escape attempt.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Not that i want prisoners running around outside, they deserve to be there. But this is again where i find the human spirit is an awesome thing.
A 1 metre thick wall???
OMG that's HUGE!!! Ok, he had time, and patience, but sitting and scraping at cement, with most likely a metal spoon is a real achievement. Hi escape was discovered 10 minutes after he left, and he's gone.
Salut to that man wherever he is, i wish his freedom well.
September 05 2007 at 03:59AM
Maribor, Slovenia - A Slovenian inmate completed an audacious prison escape attempt on Tuesday by digging through a one-metre-thick wall, jail authorities said on Tuesday.
"By examining the security camera recordings, it was determined that the prisoner escaped through a hole dug through the wall on top of the workroom," a statement from the prison said.
Although the escape from the institution in the northern Slovenian city of Maribor was discovered 10 minutes later, the 24-year-old former detainee remains on the run, it added.
Television reports said that the successful freedom bid by Sinisa Josic was not the prisoner's first escape attempt.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Not that i want prisoners running around outside, they deserve to be there. But this is again where i find the human spirit is an awesome thing.
A 1 metre thick wall???
OMG that's HUGE!!! Ok, he had time, and patience, but sitting and scraping at cement, with most likely a metal spoon is a real achievement. Hi escape was discovered 10 minutes after he left, and he's gone.
Salut to that man wherever he is, i wish his freedom well.
Airline sacrifices goats to appease sky god
September 05 2007 at 11:00AM
Kathmandu - Officials at Nepal's state-run airline have sacrificed two goats to appease Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god, following technical problems with one of its Boeing 757 aircraft, the carrier said Tuesday.
Nepal Airlines, which has two Boeing aircraft, has had to suspend some services in recent weeks due the problem.
The goats were sacrificed in front of the troublesome aircraft Sunday at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu in accordance with Hindu traditions, an official said.
"The snag in the plane has now been fixed and the aircraft has resumed its flights," said Raju KC, a senior airline official, without explaining what the problem had been.
Local media last week blamed the company's woes on an electrical fault. The carrier runs international flights to five cities in Asia.
Kathmandu - Officials at Nepal's state-run airline have sacrificed two goats to appease Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god, following technical problems with one of its Boeing 757 aircraft, the carrier said Tuesday.
Nepal Airlines, which has two Boeing aircraft, has had to suspend some services in recent weeks due the problem.
The goats were sacrificed in front of the troublesome aircraft Sunday at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu in accordance with Hindu traditions, an official said.
"The snag in the plane has now been fixed and the aircraft has resumed its flights," said Raju KC, a senior airline official, without explaining what the problem had been.
Local media last week blamed the company's woes on an electrical fault. The carrier runs international flights to five cities in Asia.
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Friday, 31 August 2007
Spring has Sprung
Spring has sprung
The grass is riz
I wonder where the birdies is?
The little birds are on the wing
How absurd!!
the little wings is on the bird!
The grass is riz
I wonder where the birdies is?
The little birds are on the wing
How absurd!!
the little wings is on the bird!
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
The need for speed - it's an addiction!
Story here
August 27, 2007
Self-confessed speed freak Andy Sills will face the greatest challenge of his life at the 2007 International Speed Trials to be run on Utah's famed Bonneville salt flats from September 2-6.
He was 56 when he set a World speed record at Bonneville of 279.32km/h for non-turbo, part-streamlined standard motorcycles under 1350cc; this year he'll be trying to break the 412km/h World record in the 1200-1300cc class where almost anything goes in terms of modifications and type of fuel.
Sills discovered motorcycling in his forties with lots of time – and money - to spare after selling his manufacturing business and able to satisfy his need
'It’s not about how long you've been riding, it's about how much you've ridden'
for speed
'It’s not about how long you've been riding, it's about how much you've ridden'
. He says he's ridden more than 650
000km in 10 years.
"It’s not about how long you've been riding, it's about how much you've ridden. I've had all the time in the world to ride and ride and ride," he said.
"I'm only 1.57m and 58kg but I've always been attracted to big bikes. I had a Harley and a Ducati, then bought a BMW K1200 RS, which gave me the opportunity to ride very fast for hours at a time."
He lives in California and soon found the desert was a great place for speed. He travelled to Nevada and Arizona in search of roads with well-maintained tar and good visibility where he could ride fast in safety.
It was around this time that he thought it would be
'Bonneville is a magical place - that was clear on my very first run seven years ago'
good to get involved in chasing land speed records
'Bonneville is a magical place - that was clear on my very first run seven years ago'
.
He read an article in a motorcycle magazine about San Jose BMW in California (which set a speed record on a modified BMW boxer) so he rode there, introduced himself to dealer principal and tuner Chris Hodgson, and told him he was there in answer to his advertisement for a test rider.
"What ad?" asked Hodgson. So Sills came clean and explained he had no day job and spent much of his time riding fast in the desert; surely he was the perfect man for the job?
His belief that he had more experience of high-speed desert riding than anybody else paid off six months later when he got a call from Hodgson, who said he couldn't compete at Bonneville Speed Week because his wife was pregnant.
Andy Sills found himself on the start line, living his dream, at 51.
"Bonneville is a magical place," he said. "That was clear on my first run seven years ago. There I was there on the start line with 30km of salt ahead of me and these mystical floating mountains in the distance – and a guy in a "streamliner" car capable of 700km/h behind me.
"The starter said 'The course is yours' and I opened the throttle carefully – after all, you're not racing anybody but yourself! Once I got to 200km/h I tucked in behind the screen and accelerated; it was a holy experience – one I’ll never forget!"
A really fast motorcycle
Meanwhile, Sills had bought a new K1200 S transverse four in 2004. He soon became a fan of its rocklike straight-line stability and decided it would make an ideal basis for a really fast motorcycle; say, 400km/h?
He explained: "We're building a bike to enter the 1200-1300cc class, which is the fastest bike class out there. You can use any fuel, turbocharger or nitrous oxide system and the record is 412km/h set by John Noonan.
"The bike will look just like a K1200S, but about 75mm lower and 200mm longer; the engine is completely modified although the body panels are virtually standard."
The bike will be tested in stages and the 2007 Speed Week will be its first active test in preparation for a serious attempt on the record in 2008.
Stage one will run at Bonneville over September 2-6, 2007; the bike will be turbocharged, lowered 75mm and re-geared using a modified transmission and standard shaft final drive.
Sills hopes to run stage two at the final land speed event of 2007 at Bonneville over October 3-6 with a new transfer box/chain drive converter that will allow a 200mm longer wheelbase and much taller top-end gearing.
Stage three is scheduled for June 2008 with the turbo and external engine modifications relocated for maximum aerodynamic efficiency together with additional fairing modifications, ready for a serious assault on 400km/h.
Touch the salt
But what's it actually like riding a motorcycle on salt?
"When you put your hand down and touch the salt it feels slippery, almost like fine gravel," says Sills, "but once you get moving it feels just like riding on tar. It doesn't feel slippery as long as you don't accelerate too hard or change gears too quickly."
Sills uses a clear visor on his helmet but wears polarised sunglasses for high contrast and uses foam earplugs; it doesn't matter that he's colour-blind because everything out there is white!
"You want as little wind as possible for your runs," he says. "When you get a gust of wind the best thing to do is to relax and lean into it.
"Once I tuck in I always focus on a point in the distance – which is how I keep the bike in a straight line – and I find it entirely peaceful riding at high speed.
"The course is usually about 8km long with your speed measured between the sixth and eighth kilometres. On the K1200S I'm usually up to speed after 4km so I pick a mountain in the distance to focus on; that way you don't see the salt in front of you.
"Realistically, we've a lot of development work to do. 412km/h is the mark to beat and the only 'bikes' that go faster are the streamliners – purpose- built rocketships that look nothing like motorcycles but are capable of more than 550km/h."
'No white students are allowed to enter'
No whites
August 28 2007 at 07:40AM
By Angelique Serrao
A parent has objected to the "no whites" entry requirement for an accountancy Olympiad.
The parent, Rhett Kahn, whose daughter attends Welkom High School, said he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw a notice for entry to the Olympiad which stated: "No white students are allowed to enter."
Kahn said he was outraged that his daughter could not enter the Olympiad while all her classmates could.
"I'm an ANC member and my daughter is the only white child in a black school. I deliberately kept it that way. How do I explain to her that her friends can write the Olympiad but she can't?" Kahn asked.
But Olympiad organisers said the competition was aimed at changing the demographics of people employed in the profession.
The SA Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) explained that the competition - the Softline Pastel Olympiad - was aimed at transforming racial demographics among chartered accountants, and was targeting black pupils at 40 schools in the Free State.
"Our objectives are to try to change the demographic over-representation by whites and Indians in the sector," said Natalie Zimmelman, project director for transformation at Saica. The winners will be awarded bursaries to study accountancy at university.
"We aim this Olympiad very specifically at black and coloured learners, it's a part of our broader strategy for transformation in the sector."
Zimmelman said of the 27 000 chartered accountants registered with SAICA, 25 497 were white, 2 405 Indian, 857 black and 788 coloured. "In 2006, there were 700 African students who passed maths on higher grade with a C+ or more in the country.
If you look at the average, about two will get to be chartered accountants," Zimmelman said. "We have many projects trying to change this, and the Softline Pastel Olympiad is one."
Zimmelman said the imbalance also ran across gender lines. Of the 25 497 white chartered accountants, only 5 225 were female.
_______________________________________________________
This crap has GOT to end. No seriously. How many more fucked up kids are we creating through our myopic world view. Now if i were actually a racist this would be beautiful ammunition to use .... "yar the stupid blacks coloureds and women".
*spit*
I don't suppose many people know, but zimbabwe has a large number of mathematically inclined people. The results of a huge drive to encourage mathematical skills in schools from a number of years ago. That is how it should be. Educate, encourage, THROW MONEY at the schools .... they are the future. I'm not sure how zim did it years ago, but the results are a generation of people who are more than just "competant", they are good at it. It's not about colour. Never has been never will be. But lets face it, a kid in a township school would not know about the greater applications of maths, and the crap education they're being given wouldn't help either. Shame on Pastel and Softline. Softhead more like it. Instead of giving to all, they want to sit and pick demographics to massage their bloody small egos.
Oh, and anyone who wins a demographically correct compeition OF ANY SORT has been cheated, insulted and screwed over by the organisers.
*For the record, i am not racist and think any racist is a fucking stupid person.
August 28 2007 at 07:40AM
By Angelique Serrao
A parent has objected to the "no whites" entry requirement for an accountancy Olympiad.
The parent, Rhett Kahn, whose daughter attends Welkom High School, said he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw a notice for entry to the Olympiad which stated: "No white students are allowed to enter."
Kahn said he was outraged that his daughter could not enter the Olympiad while all her classmates could.
"I'm an ANC member and my daughter is the only white child in a black school. I deliberately kept it that way. How do I explain to her that her friends can write the Olympiad but she can't?" Kahn asked.
But Olympiad organisers said the competition was aimed at changing the demographics of people employed in the profession.
The SA Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) explained that the competition - the Softline Pastel Olympiad - was aimed at transforming racial demographics among chartered accountants, and was targeting black pupils at 40 schools in the Free State.
"Our objectives are to try to change the demographic over-representation by whites and Indians in the sector," said Natalie Zimmelman, project director for transformation at Saica. The winners will be awarded bursaries to study accountancy at university.
"We aim this Olympiad very specifically at black and coloured learners, it's a part of our broader strategy for transformation in the sector."
Zimmelman said of the 27 000 chartered accountants registered with SAICA, 25 497 were white, 2 405 Indian, 857 black and 788 coloured. "In 2006, there were 700 African students who passed maths on higher grade with a C+ or more in the country.
If you look at the average, about two will get to be chartered accountants," Zimmelman said. "We have many projects trying to change this, and the Softline Pastel Olympiad is one."
Zimmelman said the imbalance also ran across gender lines. Of the 25 497 white chartered accountants, only 5 225 were female.
_______________________________________________________
This crap has GOT to end. No seriously. How many more fucked up kids are we creating through our myopic world view. Now if i were actually a racist this would be beautiful ammunition to use .... "yar the stupid blacks coloureds and women".
*spit*
I don't suppose many people know, but zimbabwe has a large number of mathematically inclined people. The results of a huge drive to encourage mathematical skills in schools from a number of years ago. That is how it should be. Educate, encourage, THROW MONEY at the schools .... they are the future. I'm not sure how zim did it years ago, but the results are a generation of people who are more than just "competant", they are good at it. It's not about colour. Never has been never will be. But lets face it, a kid in a township school would not know about the greater applications of maths, and the crap education they're being given wouldn't help either. Shame on Pastel and Softline. Softhead more like it. Instead of giving to all, they want to sit and pick demographics to massage their bloody small egos.
Oh, and anyone who wins a demographically correct compeition OF ANY SORT has been cheated, insulted and screwed over by the organisers.
*For the record, i am not racist and think any racist is a fucking stupid person.
Monday, 27 August 2007
Ho hum
blog ... write ... blog.... um ..... think ..... idea.... ... ...
The Pizza Delivery
Ok, so these guys figure Scooters can deliver a pizza in 39days .... to London!!!
From sunny SA. ummmmmmmmm AWESOME!!!!!!!
Now that's the kind of thing i'd RATHER be doing ....
The Pizza Delivery
Ok, so these guys figure Scooters can deliver a pizza in 39days .... to London!!!
From sunny SA. ummmmmmmmm AWESOME!!!!!!!
Now that's the kind of thing i'd RATHER be doing ....
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
Life, the multiverse and all the spaces in between
Again i am forcing myself to write. Nothing specific to say, but i need to get something down. I have been offish lately, nothing big or important, just stuff grinding away. Crime etc, see my previous posts, you'll get the idea.
But once more, despite anything that may surround, I AM HUMAN ... bring it on! *cheeky grin*
The human spirit continues to dominate, despite the odds. Some smash and grabbers were caught this morning, people saw them and reacted. Phoned the police, phoned the head of police, before a crime was committed (on this day). They were caught, amongst them mozambique illegal immigrants etc. But it worked ... society overcame a challenge. The same goes for the minister of unhealth, society has had enough, they are marshalling resource and opinion, and as obtuse as the fucking stupid presidancy is, they cannot ignore and bluff their way forever. Granted it has been long enough, but even ANC insiders, that have avoided the political purges of the past are starting to get annoyed.
And while it's not a good thing, Tokyo Sexwales wife Judy and child were hijacked recently, A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE!!!!
This situation cannot continue forever, hope springs eternal from the breast of mankind!!!
WOOOHOOO!!!!
Btw ... spring is here
All the trees and bushes are springing back to life!!! it's WONDERFUL
But once more, despite anything that may surround, I AM HUMAN ... bring it on! *cheeky grin*
The human spirit continues to dominate, despite the odds. Some smash and grabbers were caught this morning, people saw them and reacted. Phoned the police, phoned the head of police, before a crime was committed (on this day). They were caught, amongst them mozambique illegal immigrants etc. But it worked ... society overcame a challenge. The same goes for the minister of unhealth, society has had enough, they are marshalling resource and opinion, and as obtuse as the fucking stupid presidancy is, they cannot ignore and bluff their way forever. Granted it has been long enough, but even ANC insiders, that have avoided the political purges of the past are starting to get annoyed.
And while it's not a good thing, Tokyo Sexwales wife Judy and child were hijacked recently, A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE!!!!
This situation cannot continue forever, hope springs eternal from the breast of mankind!!!
WOOOHOOO!!!!
Btw ... spring is here
All the trees and bushes are springing back to life!!! it's WONDERFUL
Monday, 20 August 2007
Man pays high price for attempted burglary
August 19 2007 at 10:05PM
A suspected burglar suffered burn injuries and died after being hit by a home-owner with a paraffin lamp in Grahamstown, SABC news reported on Sunday.
Police said the 25-year-old man was trying to break into a house at the Joza informal settlement when the owner hit him on the head with the burning lamp.
The man sustained serious burn wounds and died at Settlers hospital.
The 23-year-old home-owner was arrested and would face a murder charge, the SABC reported. - Sapa
Um, yeah what can i say. Somebody fought back, and is now on a murder charge. What a fucking waste of our resources. He was home, asleep and was attacked. Hardly a threat to society, and he's just had his life totalled by the free ANC government.
A suspected burglar suffered burn injuries and died after being hit by a home-owner with a paraffin lamp in Grahamstown, SABC news reported on Sunday.
Police said the 25-year-old man was trying to break into a house at the Joza informal settlement when the owner hit him on the head with the burning lamp.
The man sustained serious burn wounds and died at Settlers hospital.
The 23-year-old home-owner was arrested and would face a murder charge, the SABC reported. - Sapa
Um, yeah what can i say. Somebody fought back, and is now on a murder charge. What a fucking waste of our resources. He was home, asleep and was attacked. Hardly a threat to society, and he's just had his life totalled by the free ANC government.
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Getting angry
This isn't really how i feel at the moment, right now all be well with my little world. However almost every time i read the news or anything like that, i feel this anger biting, and it's not going away.
I am a south african. Moreover i'm a proud one. We have a great and colourful history, and despite many bloody battles between the boere and rooineks, we can be friends now, and respect our respective cultures. I am seeing much the same with blacks and whites, whatever the bigger picture, the "common" people are getting along fine, learning and sharing from each other.
However, we have these retarded sub human MOTHERFUCKERS who have wiggled their slimy fat asses into power, and the results are very apparent, sad, disgusting, revolting and all encompassing.
This country in 1994 was a well working country. Despite the many tensions which flowed, and the emotions that nearly broke down, there was relative peace, security, and everyone had enough to eat. The problems etc were managed, and we came through the most turbulent time of our history with barely a scrape.
Now we look around. Everything is broken, dirty and diseased. People who expose lies and treachery to the citizens of SA get summarily (and illegally) fired, while criminals get pardoned and run roughshod over the law. TERRORISTS who bomb innocent civilians are put into positions of power, like chief of police. They have so complicated our legal system (yes the wonderful fucking constitution) that they can do as they will, because it's that easy to twist OUR human rights.
If a criminal attacks me in my house, and we are both injured, i will be taken to a govt hospital, and subjected to what can ONLY be regarded as a life threatening experience in it's own right, while the CRIMINAL will be taken to a private hospital, paid for by my taxes!!! If i am attacked in my house, and disarm the attacker and shoot him, i will be arrested for murder/attempted, as well as unlawful possesion of a firearm and ammunition!!!! If a criminal hurts himself in my house while plotting to kill me, he can sue me for loss of income!!!!!!
Crap almighty. While grandmothers are fined for speeding, daily people die because of uncaring taxis, driving wherever they feel like it. Because of crime, they offer more police. Those same fucking police take bribes, assist the REAL criminals to evade the system, and bully any law abiding citizen who they get their grubby little paws on. The road laws are enforced willy nilly, with the worst possible offense being an outstanding fine. There is no organised effort to make our roads better or safer. The only brainfarts that have registered have been monumental fuckups. The N1 single driver idea is one: on a 3 lane highway that is standstill traffic daily, close the right hand lane to any motor vehicles with a single occupant. Never mind the fact that here in SA, public transport is not an option. Seriously. My heart bleeds when i see the less fortunate being subjected to the daily horror of mass transport.
Health is an abortion. My friend's grandmother was admitted to JHB gen recently. He visited her to find her in a bed, unwashed, in her own filth. The drugs given her were enough to send a fucking battalion to mars. A hospital keeps killing newborns, and the president claims the statistics are acceptable!!!!
In the midst, we have law after law being passed, telling me not to smoke here, there or fucking anywhere. The leaders of this nation honestly believe in their own status above the rest, getting driven around without thought for speed limits or any other road SAFETY law, pushing vehicles off the road and threatening bystanders with guns. The presidential motorcade was involved in an accident in pta recently, hitting a car that had right of way, purely out of arrogance they believe the laws of physics would step aside for their convoy. I just read the SECOND incident in so many months about a VIP protection officer using his firearm in a personal argument. But i am not allowed a gun. I know that if i go apply through the proper channels my appllication will be torn up after i leave, otherwise it will be lost, then refused on a refuse all basis, Only after querying and re-applying do firearm licenses get issued. And even then only valid for 5 years. IT IS EASIER FOR ME TO GET AN ILLEGAL WEAPON THAN A LEGAL ONE. And a hell of a lot cheaper. Just don't get caught.
I shall say this: myself and my friends, who have not yet left the country, will NOT bow to these cretins. We shall fight. If you come into my house at night, you will die. And i will do it quietly. Your body will never be found, nor mourned. I will not drive around with my number plate showing, for you to harass me at will. I will not stop when you lazily wave your arm in my direction. I will obfuscate and create confusion for the authorities wherever and whenever i can. And lo the day will come when i take up arms against those who wish to destroy my kin.
If you are a big big tree, we are a small axe .... ready to cut you down, cut you down - Bob Marley
I am a south african. Moreover i'm a proud one. We have a great and colourful history, and despite many bloody battles between the boere and rooineks, we can be friends now, and respect our respective cultures. I am seeing much the same with blacks and whites, whatever the bigger picture, the "common" people are getting along fine, learning and sharing from each other.
However, we have these retarded sub human MOTHERFUCKERS who have wiggled their slimy fat asses into power, and the results are very apparent, sad, disgusting, revolting and all encompassing.
This country in 1994 was a well working country. Despite the many tensions which flowed, and the emotions that nearly broke down, there was relative peace, security, and everyone had enough to eat. The problems etc were managed, and we came through the most turbulent time of our history with barely a scrape.
Now we look around. Everything is broken, dirty and diseased. People who expose lies and treachery to the citizens of SA get summarily (and illegally) fired, while criminals get pardoned and run roughshod over the law. TERRORISTS who bomb innocent civilians are put into positions of power, like chief of police. They have so complicated our legal system (yes the wonderful fucking constitution) that they can do as they will, because it's that easy to twist OUR human rights.
If a criminal attacks me in my house, and we are both injured, i will be taken to a govt hospital, and subjected to what can ONLY be regarded as a life threatening experience in it's own right, while the CRIMINAL will be taken to a private hospital, paid for by my taxes!!! If i am attacked in my house, and disarm the attacker and shoot him, i will be arrested for murder/attempted, as well as unlawful possesion of a firearm and ammunition!!!! If a criminal hurts himself in my house while plotting to kill me, he can sue me for loss of income!!!!!!
Crap almighty. While grandmothers are fined for speeding, daily people die because of uncaring taxis, driving wherever they feel like it. Because of crime, they offer more police. Those same fucking police take bribes, assist the REAL criminals to evade the system, and bully any law abiding citizen who they get their grubby little paws on. The road laws are enforced willy nilly, with the worst possible offense being an outstanding fine. There is no organised effort to make our roads better or safer. The only brainfarts that have registered have been monumental fuckups. The N1 single driver idea is one: on a 3 lane highway that is standstill traffic daily, close the right hand lane to any motor vehicles with a single occupant. Never mind the fact that here in SA, public transport is not an option. Seriously. My heart bleeds when i see the less fortunate being subjected to the daily horror of mass transport.
Health is an abortion. My friend's grandmother was admitted to JHB gen recently. He visited her to find her in a bed, unwashed, in her own filth. The drugs given her were enough to send a fucking battalion to mars. A hospital keeps killing newborns, and the president claims the statistics are acceptable!!!!
In the midst, we have law after law being passed, telling me not to smoke here, there or fucking anywhere. The leaders of this nation honestly believe in their own status above the rest, getting driven around without thought for speed limits or any other road SAFETY law, pushing vehicles off the road and threatening bystanders with guns. The presidential motorcade was involved in an accident in pta recently, hitting a car that had right of way, purely out of arrogance they believe the laws of physics would step aside for their convoy. I just read the SECOND incident in so many months about a VIP protection officer using his firearm in a personal argument. But i am not allowed a gun. I know that if i go apply through the proper channels my appllication will be torn up after i leave, otherwise it will be lost, then refused on a refuse all basis, Only after querying and re-applying do firearm licenses get issued. And even then only valid for 5 years. IT IS EASIER FOR ME TO GET AN ILLEGAL WEAPON THAN A LEGAL ONE. And a hell of a lot cheaper. Just don't get caught.
I shall say this: myself and my friends, who have not yet left the country, will NOT bow to these cretins. We shall fight. If you come into my house at night, you will die. And i will do it quietly. Your body will never be found, nor mourned. I will not drive around with my number plate showing, for you to harass me at will. I will not stop when you lazily wave your arm in my direction. I will obfuscate and create confusion for the authorities wherever and whenever i can. And lo the day will come when i take up arms against those who wish to destroy my kin.
If you are a big big tree, we are a small axe .... ready to cut you down, cut you down - Bob Marley
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Echoes Part 1
Overhead, the albatross hangs motionless upon the air
And deep beneath the rolling waves, in labyrinths of coral caves
The echo of a distant time, comes willowing across the sand
And everything is green and summery
And no-one called us to relent, no-one knows the where’s or whys
Something stares and something tries
Stars to climb towards the night
Strangers passing in the street, by chance two separate glances meet
And I am you and what I see is me
And do I take you by the hand, and lead you through the land
And help me understand the best I can
And no-one calls us to revolt, and no-one forces down our eyes
Some-one speaks and no-one tries
No-one flies around the sun
-> Pink Floyd - off the Live at Pompeii album
And deep beneath the rolling waves, in labyrinths of coral caves
The echo of a distant time, comes willowing across the sand
And everything is green and summery
And no-one called us to relent, no-one knows the where’s or whys
Something stares and something tries
Stars to climb towards the night
Strangers passing in the street, by chance two separate glances meet
And I am you and what I see is me
And do I take you by the hand, and lead you through the land
And help me understand the best I can
And no-one calls us to revolt, and no-one forces down our eyes
Some-one speaks and no-one tries
No-one flies around the sun
-> Pink Floyd - off the Live at Pompeii album
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Cut and paste agian
If we got Christmas from the Roman Catholics, and they got it from paganism, where did the pagans get it? Where, when, and what was its real origin?
It is a chief custom of the corrupt system denounced all through Bible prophecies and teachings under the name of Babylon. And it started and originated in the original Babylon of ancient Nimrod! Yes, it stems from roots whose beginning was shortly this side of the Flood!
Nimrod, grandson of Ham, son of Noah, was the real founder of the Babylonish system that has gripped the world ever since—the system of organized competition—of man-ruled governments and empires, based upon the competitive and profit-making economic system. Nimrod built the Tower of Babel, the original Babylon, ancient Nineveh, many other cities. He organized the world's first kingdom. The name Nimrod, in Hebrew, is derived from "Marad," meaning "he rebelled."
From many ancient writings, considerable is learned of this man, who started the great organized worldly apostasy from God that has dominated this world until now. Nimrod was so evil, it is said he married his own mother, whose name was Semiramis. After Nimrod's untimely death, his so-called mother-wife, Semiramis, propagated the evil doctrine of the survival of Nimrod as a spirit being. She claimed a full-grown evergreen tree sprang overnight from a dead tree stump, which symbolized the springing forth unto new life of the dead Nimrod. On each anniversary of his birth, she claimed, Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts upon it. December 25th was the birthday of Nimrod. This is the real origin of the Christmas tree.
Through her scheming and designing, Semiramis became the Babylonian "Queen of Heaven," and Nimrod, under various names, became the "divine son of heaven." Through the generations, in this idolatrous worship, Nimrod became the false Messiah, son of Baal the Sun-god. In this false Babylonish system, the "Mother and Child" (Semiramis and Nimrod reborn), became chief objects of worship. This worship of "Mother and Child" spread over the world. The names varied in different countries and languages. In Egypt, it was Isis and Osiris. In Asia, Cybele and Deoius. In pagan Rome, Fortuna and Jupiterpuer. Even in Greece, China, Japan, Tibet is to be found the counterpart of the Madonna, long before the birth of Christ!
Thus, during the fourth and fifth centuries, when the pagans of the Roman world were "accepting" the new popular "Christianity" by hundreds of thousands, carrying their old pagan customs and beliefs along with them, merely cloaking them with Christian-sounding names, the Madonna and "Mother and Child" idea also became popularized, especially at Christmas time. Every Christmas season you will hear sung and chanted dozens of times the hymn "Silent Night, Holy Night," with its familiar "Mother and Child" theme. We, who have been born in such a Babylonish world, reared and steeped in these things all our lives, have been taught to revere these things as holy and sacred. We never questioned to see where they came from—whether they came from the Bible or from pagan idolatry!
We are shocked to learn the truth—some, unfortunately, take offense at the plain truth! But God commands His faithful ministers, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression" (Isaiah 58:1). Shocking as these facts are, they are the plain facts of history and the Bible!
The real origin of Christmas goes back to the ancient Babylon. It is bound up in the organized apostasy with which Satan has gripped a deceived world these many centuries! In Egypt, it was always believed that the son of Isis (Egyptian name for "Queen of Heaven") was born December 25th. Paganism celebrated this famous birthday over most of the known world for centuries before the birth of Christ.
December 25th is not the birthday of Jesus the true Christ! The apostles and early true Church never celebrated Christ's birthday at any time. There is no command or instruction to celebrate it in the Bible—rather, the celebrating of birthdays is a pagan, not a Christian custom, believe it or not!
Thus the ancient idolatrous "Chaldean Mysteries," founded by this wife of Nimrod, have been handed down through the pagan religions under new Christian-sounding names.
Herbert W. Armstrong (1892-1986)
The Plain Truth About Christmas
Christmas
It is a chief custom of the corrupt system denounced all through Bible prophecies and teachings under the name of Babylon. And it started and originated in the original Babylon of ancient Nimrod! Yes, it stems from roots whose beginning was shortly this side of the Flood!
Nimrod, grandson of Ham, son of Noah, was the real founder of the Babylonish system that has gripped the world ever since—the system of organized competition—of man-ruled governments and empires, based upon the competitive and profit-making economic system. Nimrod built the Tower of Babel, the original Babylon, ancient Nineveh, many other cities. He organized the world's first kingdom. The name Nimrod, in Hebrew, is derived from "Marad," meaning "he rebelled."
From many ancient writings, considerable is learned of this man, who started the great organized worldly apostasy from God that has dominated this world until now. Nimrod was so evil, it is said he married his own mother, whose name was Semiramis. After Nimrod's untimely death, his so-called mother-wife, Semiramis, propagated the evil doctrine of the survival of Nimrod as a spirit being. She claimed a full-grown evergreen tree sprang overnight from a dead tree stump, which symbolized the springing forth unto new life of the dead Nimrod. On each anniversary of his birth, she claimed, Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts upon it. December 25th was the birthday of Nimrod. This is the real origin of the Christmas tree.
Through her scheming and designing, Semiramis became the Babylonian "Queen of Heaven," and Nimrod, under various names, became the "divine son of heaven." Through the generations, in this idolatrous worship, Nimrod became the false Messiah, son of Baal the Sun-god. In this false Babylonish system, the "Mother and Child" (Semiramis and Nimrod reborn), became chief objects of worship. This worship of "Mother and Child" spread over the world. The names varied in different countries and languages. In Egypt, it was Isis and Osiris. In Asia, Cybele and Deoius. In pagan Rome, Fortuna and Jupiterpuer. Even in Greece, China, Japan, Tibet is to be found the counterpart of the Madonna, long before the birth of Christ!
Thus, during the fourth and fifth centuries, when the pagans of the Roman world were "accepting" the new popular "Christianity" by hundreds of thousands, carrying their old pagan customs and beliefs along with them, merely cloaking them with Christian-sounding names, the Madonna and "Mother and Child" idea also became popularized, especially at Christmas time. Every Christmas season you will hear sung and chanted dozens of times the hymn "Silent Night, Holy Night," with its familiar "Mother and Child" theme. We, who have been born in such a Babylonish world, reared and steeped in these things all our lives, have been taught to revere these things as holy and sacred. We never questioned to see where they came from—whether they came from the Bible or from pagan idolatry!
We are shocked to learn the truth—some, unfortunately, take offense at the plain truth! But God commands His faithful ministers, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression" (Isaiah 58:1). Shocking as these facts are, they are the plain facts of history and the Bible!
The real origin of Christmas goes back to the ancient Babylon. It is bound up in the organized apostasy with which Satan has gripped a deceived world these many centuries! In Egypt, it was always believed that the son of Isis (Egyptian name for "Queen of Heaven") was born December 25th. Paganism celebrated this famous birthday over most of the known world for centuries before the birth of Christ.
December 25th is not the birthday of Jesus the true Christ! The apostles and early true Church never celebrated Christ's birthday at any time. There is no command or instruction to celebrate it in the Bible—rather, the celebrating of birthdays is a pagan, not a Christian custom, believe it or not!
Thus the ancient idolatrous "Chaldean Mysteries," founded by this wife of Nimrod, have been handed down through the pagan religions under new Christian-sounding names.
Herbert W. Armstrong (1892-1986)
The Plain Truth About Christmas
Christmas
Monday, 13 August 2007
Central bankers on red alert
Aug 13 2007 09:14 AM
Frankfurt - Central bankers in Europe held talks with bank supervisors and top financial executives over the weekend to assess the dangers from risky US mortgage debt to the financial system, industry sources said.
Central bankers by late Friday had restored an uneasy calm to panicky financial markets by injecting a massive and unprecedented $323bn into money markets that had almost seized up in panic over exposure to complex credit derivatives linked to defaulting US mortgages.
They appear to have succeeded in keeping cash flowing through the arteries of finance for now.
The cost of borrowing money overnight in the US federal funds market, a critical measure of conditions in the financial system, tumbled to 1% by late on Friday, way below the Fed's 5.25% target rate.
This showed that masses of cash were sloshing around the banking system and markets can keep operating. The first major test comes on Monday when Japan's markets open.
Toxic debt
But the fear that overwhelmed markets on Thursday and Friday looks unlikely to fully disappear until investors regain confidence that no major bank or fund is loaded with toxic debt and in danger of collapse - a problem that could turn a temporary crisis of confidence into a full-scale credit crunch and then an economic slump, analysts said fund managers said.
"Uncertainty has turned to panic the last two days and we have come very close to a self-fulfilling liquidity crisis," said Marcus Annunziata, chief economist at Unicredit Markets in a client note.
What is gnawing at investors and traders is not knowing the size of overall credit losses linked to US subprime mortgages that is buried in banks and funds - and not knowing who holds the risk. This has caused money-market traders to hoard cash and investors to dump riskier assets, especially European stocks which erased all their gains for the year by Friday.
Until more information is available on the scale of exposure to complex debt derivatives created in the US subprime market and sold worldwide, analysts said it will be hard to restore a lasting investor calm.
"Volatility is highest when people realise they cannot figure out what investments are worth," said Frank Partnoy, a University of San Diego professor, in a Financial Times column.
German exposure
German banks made moves to provide more information this weekend. Their industry is at the centre of the maelstrom in Europe, after the bailout of small lender IKB sent shockwaves through the financial community.
WestLB, a state lender which was hit hard by rumours its balance sheet also was in trouble, said on Saturday it has €1.25bn in US subprime-related debt, 98% of which is rated A or better, up from the 93% it had cited last week. That is a relatively small amount for a bank with €285bn in total assets.
But the fact its exposure has changed shows the difficulty in valuing the credit derivatives, which slice up and repackage riskier pieces of debt and resell them, making it hard to know the price of the underlying asset or who has a claim on it.
Deutsche Postbank, with €288bn in assets, also said on Saturday it has €600m in exposure to IKB, which was undone by US subprime problems.
This was accompanied by revelations on Sunday that several major European institutions - Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and BNP Paribas - are creditors of bankrupt US mortgage company HomeBanc Corp. The amount was not cited.
Still, Standard and Poor's ratings agency on Friday said the West European bank problems revealed by IKB was an "isolated event", and it did not expect widespread bank ratings pressure.
First test
Japan will be the first major test of investors' nerves when its money markets open on Monday. If US dollar deposit rates, which hit 6.5% or higher last Friday soar again, central banks may be need to resort to another injection of cash to soothe nerves.
A good sign would be interbank money trade nearer the fed funds rate or lower, reversing the trend seen last Thursday and Friday.
Even if Monday goes well, most analysts expect a long shakeout.
"We'll probably remain very volatile at least until some time in September," said Ira Jersey, credit strategist for Credit Suisse in the United States.
"There's too many questions that need to be answered, and we're not going to get the answers to those questions for at least another month," he said.
- Reuters
Comment: This is bad. This is VERY bad. This problem is not going away, and the only way they can deal with it is injecting $323 BILLION?!?!?!?!?!? (that's in cash btw)
The whole subprime problem in the states has been building for a long time.
It's also the second major scare this year, the previous was also quenched by massive cash, and all the info i have read show that the ready cash is nothing more than laundered drug money. Erm ... *sigh* Folks ... witness the fall of free market capitalism.
Frankfurt - Central bankers in Europe held talks with bank supervisors and top financial executives over the weekend to assess the dangers from risky US mortgage debt to the financial system, industry sources said.
Central bankers by late Friday had restored an uneasy calm to panicky financial markets by injecting a massive and unprecedented $323bn into money markets that had almost seized up in panic over exposure to complex credit derivatives linked to defaulting US mortgages.
They appear to have succeeded in keeping cash flowing through the arteries of finance for now.
The cost of borrowing money overnight in the US federal funds market, a critical measure of conditions in the financial system, tumbled to 1% by late on Friday, way below the Fed's 5.25% target rate.
This showed that masses of cash were sloshing around the banking system and markets can keep operating. The first major test comes on Monday when Japan's markets open.
Toxic debt
But the fear that overwhelmed markets on Thursday and Friday looks unlikely to fully disappear until investors regain confidence that no major bank or fund is loaded with toxic debt and in danger of collapse - a problem that could turn a temporary crisis of confidence into a full-scale credit crunch and then an economic slump, analysts said fund managers said.
"Uncertainty has turned to panic the last two days and we have come very close to a self-fulfilling liquidity crisis," said Marcus Annunziata, chief economist at Unicredit Markets in a client note.
What is gnawing at investors and traders is not knowing the size of overall credit losses linked to US subprime mortgages that is buried in banks and funds - and not knowing who holds the risk. This has caused money-market traders to hoard cash and investors to dump riskier assets, especially European stocks which erased all their gains for the year by Friday.
Until more information is available on the scale of exposure to complex debt derivatives created in the US subprime market and sold worldwide, analysts said it will be hard to restore a lasting investor calm.
"Volatility is highest when people realise they cannot figure out what investments are worth," said Frank Partnoy, a University of San Diego professor, in a Financial Times column.
German exposure
German banks made moves to provide more information this weekend. Their industry is at the centre of the maelstrom in Europe, after the bailout of small lender IKB sent shockwaves through the financial community.
WestLB, a state lender which was hit hard by rumours its balance sheet also was in trouble, said on Saturday it has €1.25bn in US subprime-related debt, 98% of which is rated A or better, up from the 93% it had cited last week. That is a relatively small amount for a bank with €285bn in total assets.
But the fact its exposure has changed shows the difficulty in valuing the credit derivatives, which slice up and repackage riskier pieces of debt and resell them, making it hard to know the price of the underlying asset or who has a claim on it.
Deutsche Postbank, with €288bn in assets, also said on Saturday it has €600m in exposure to IKB, which was undone by US subprime problems.
This was accompanied by revelations on Sunday that several major European institutions - Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and BNP Paribas - are creditors of bankrupt US mortgage company HomeBanc Corp. The amount was not cited.
Still, Standard and Poor's ratings agency on Friday said the West European bank problems revealed by IKB was an "isolated event", and it did not expect widespread bank ratings pressure.
First test
Japan will be the first major test of investors' nerves when its money markets open on Monday. If US dollar deposit rates, which hit 6.5% or higher last Friday soar again, central banks may be need to resort to another injection of cash to soothe nerves.
A good sign would be interbank money trade nearer the fed funds rate or lower, reversing the trend seen last Thursday and Friday.
Even if Monday goes well, most analysts expect a long shakeout.
"We'll probably remain very volatile at least until some time in September," said Ira Jersey, credit strategist for Credit Suisse in the United States.
"There's too many questions that need to be answered, and we're not going to get the answers to those questions for at least another month," he said.
- Reuters
Comment: This is bad. This is VERY bad. This problem is not going away, and the only way they can deal with it is injecting $323 BILLION?!?!?!?!?!? (that's in cash btw)
The whole subprime problem in the states has been building for a long time.
It's also the second major scare this year, the previous was also quenched by massive cash, and all the info i have read show that the ready cash is nothing more than laundered drug money. Erm ... *sigh* Folks ... witness the fall of free market capitalism.
I love laptops
Sitting here on a sunday morn with my feet in the sun,baby running around doing stuff, lots of it. Kids have got no conception of time. They want to do everything NOW. *grin* It's hard work even watching them. Now the church bells are going, what a calm yet strong sound! Pink Flowd put it as: "the tolling of the iron bell, calls the faithful to it's knees, to hear the softly spoken magic spells."
I couldn't resist getting something down on paper, so to speak, this morning. Such a wonderful feeling of contentment, peace on earth and all that. It's not really, but sometimes if it FEELS it for a while that's enough.
I'm not going to make the bike run today, something i am a little miffe about, but ce la vie, lets the days fall as they may. I will certainly take a ride today, just a question of when.
Coffee and a cigarette, my opiates, and sitting here in the sunday sun they are good to me, and aid this feeling well.
Babies are such wonderful creatures. Their minds so big they can learn to talk, yet so simple that anything can serve for hours of entertainment. Yet it's not all fun, watching them learn and grasp the basic concepts like gravity, and cause and effect, and balance, you come face to face with what it is to be HUMAN. Sad and broken humanity, when will we be proud to be human? The things to make us complete flood our world, yet we neither see nor appreciate them for what they are. But fun is something babies do naturally, the exhuberance with which they apply themselves is amazing, and the onlything they are NOT interested in is the word NO. Everything else is fair game.
Birds are something else that fill my world right now. Cooing and chirping and squawking and twttering deluxe fill the world with sound. Shadows flit past, shapes dance in the trees and everywhere life rejoices in the morning sun. I think one of the most enduring reams of man has been to fly. Since even in the garden of eden was man earthbound, mad to stare with longing at the birds flying free, and the stars high above. Almost like the fish, but free, faster and lighter, singing their songs to all who can hear. The bird has hollow bones for a lighter weight, which help to recieve sound, their whole body an echo chamber. Scientists have theorised that a bird's feathers act as aerials, sending and receiving signals to others. They believe that when birds fly in formation, high speed cameras have shown that those at the back of the typically v-formation, turn in synch with the leaders faster than it would seeem to be, if they were reacting to vision alone. Birds are clever too, with many species capable of astounding acts of intelligence, from mimicing and talking, to using berries to paint their nests.
The world is so full of wonder and fascination, that we as adults are programmed to ignore. I love going out of the city on the bike, finding a quiet spot, switching off the bike and enjoying that busy quiet of the open lands. It can't be called quiet, because it's not. But it is peaceful, and calming. Curious smells and gentle faraway sounds, buzzing humming and rustling to its own rythms, infusing one's mind with a real connection to the earth, and its inhabitants. I sometimes feel guilt at going out to those places with a noisy dirty motorbike, but that too is beyond my control. All i can do is have a relaively quiet bike, that burns its hydrocarbons cleanly, something that is a priviledge. I yearn for a long walk, months and days of wandering quietly in the african bush. But that can not be, the necessity of work and so on forbid, hence taking the second choice, the bike. But getting away from the city is something that must be done. It is too dulling, to mindnumbing and stupifying to accept as normal.
Nature surrounds us, all we must do is recognise it, and embrace it and accept it for the beauty and wonder that it is.
Peace and love to everyone who reads this, and even those who didn't.
I couldn't resist getting something down on paper, so to speak, this morning. Such a wonderful feeling of contentment, peace on earth and all that. It's not really, but sometimes if it FEELS it for a while that's enough.
I'm not going to make the bike run today, something i am a little miffe about, but ce la vie, lets the days fall as they may. I will certainly take a ride today, just a question of when.
Coffee and a cigarette, my opiates, and sitting here in the sunday sun they are good to me, and aid this feeling well.
Babies are such wonderful creatures. Their minds so big they can learn to talk, yet so simple that anything can serve for hours of entertainment. Yet it's not all fun, watching them learn and grasp the basic concepts like gravity, and cause and effect, and balance, you come face to face with what it is to be HUMAN. Sad and broken humanity, when will we be proud to be human? The things to make us complete flood our world, yet we neither see nor appreciate them for what they are. But fun is something babies do naturally, the exhuberance with which they apply themselves is amazing, and the onlything they are NOT interested in is the word NO. Everything else is fair game.
Birds are something else that fill my world right now. Cooing and chirping and squawking and twttering deluxe fill the world with sound. Shadows flit past, shapes dance in the trees and everywhere life rejoices in the morning sun. I think one of the most enduring reams of man has been to fly. Since even in the garden of eden was man earthbound, mad to stare with longing at the birds flying free, and the stars high above. Almost like the fish, but free, faster and lighter, singing their songs to all who can hear. The bird has hollow bones for a lighter weight, which help to recieve sound, their whole body an echo chamber. Scientists have theorised that a bird's feathers act as aerials, sending and receiving signals to others. They believe that when birds fly in formation, high speed cameras have shown that those at the back of the typically v-formation, turn in synch with the leaders faster than it would seeem to be, if they were reacting to vision alone. Birds are clever too, with many species capable of astounding acts of intelligence, from mimicing and talking, to using berries to paint their nests.
The world is so full of wonder and fascination, that we as adults are programmed to ignore. I love going out of the city on the bike, finding a quiet spot, switching off the bike and enjoying that busy quiet of the open lands. It can't be called quiet, because it's not. But it is peaceful, and calming. Curious smells and gentle faraway sounds, buzzing humming and rustling to its own rythms, infusing one's mind with a real connection to the earth, and its inhabitants. I sometimes feel guilt at going out to those places with a noisy dirty motorbike, but that too is beyond my control. All i can do is have a relaively quiet bike, that burns its hydrocarbons cleanly, something that is a priviledge. I yearn for a long walk, months and days of wandering quietly in the african bush. But that can not be, the necessity of work and so on forbid, hence taking the second choice, the bike. But getting away from the city is something that must be done. It is too dulling, to mindnumbing and stupifying to accept as normal.
Nature surrounds us, all we must do is recognise it, and embrace it and accept it for the beauty and wonder that it is.
Peace and love to everyone who reads this, and even those who didn't.
Friday, 10 August 2007
Ok, i'm here .... can i go home now?
Happy fridayeveryone, even if it's a bugger ...... *grin*
Me is at work, although VERY little is happening, anywhere.
I am doing well mostly .... all sunny side up ... which is useful on a bike :)
WOW
I just found another blog, deathofjohannesburg.
People ... that's it ... i'll testify that that shit is real ..... even i'm surprised when i look at the pics, but i've seen it. Strange how you close your mind to it. And that fucking smell *puke*
either way ... good that someone has documented this ... for posterity.
Damn this country has broken, completely and utterly :(
Me is at work, although VERY little is happening, anywhere.
I am doing well mostly .... all sunny side up ... which is useful on a bike :)
WOW
I just found another blog, deathofjohannesburg.
People ... that's it ... i'll testify that that shit is real ..... even i'm surprised when i look at the pics, but i've seen it. Strange how you close your mind to it. And that fucking smell *puke*
either way ... good that someone has documented this ... for posterity.
Damn this country has broken, completely and utterly :(
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
You Think English is Easy?
Can you read these right the first time?
01. The bandage was wound around the wound.
02. The farm was used to produce produce.
03. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
04. We must polish the Polish furniture.
05. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
06. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
07. Since there is no time like the present , he thought it was time to present the present
08. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
09. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10. I did not object to the object.
11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row .
13. They were too close to the door to close it.
14. The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18. Upon seeing the tear in the painting, I shed a tear.
19. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England nor French fries in France
Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.
We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indixes? If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?
Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital, ship by truck and send cargo by ship, have noses that run and feet that smell?
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill-in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.
PS. - Why doesn't Buick rhyme with quick?
You lovers of the English language might enjoy this .
There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is UP
It's easy to understand UP , meaning toward the sky or toward the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP ? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP ? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report ?
We call UP our friends. We use something to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers, and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special
And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.
We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.
When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP
When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP We could go on, but I'll wrap it UP , for now my time is UP , so: Time to shut UP ! Oh... one more thing:
What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night? U-P
01. The bandage was wound around the wound.
02. The farm was used to produce produce.
03. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
04. We must polish the Polish furniture.
05. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
06. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
07. Since there is no time like the present , he thought it was time to present the present
08. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
09. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10. I did not object to the object.
11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row .
13. They were too close to the door to close it.
14. The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18. Upon seeing the tear in the painting, I shed a tear.
19. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England nor French fries in France
Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.
We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indixes? If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?
Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital, ship by truck and send cargo by ship, have noses that run and feet that smell?
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill-in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.
PS. - Why doesn't Buick rhyme with quick?
You lovers of the English language might enjoy this .
There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is UP
It's easy to understand UP , meaning toward the sky or toward the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP ? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP ? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report ?
We call UP our friends. We use something to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers, and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special
And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.
We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.
When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP
When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP We could go on, but I'll wrap it UP , for now my time is UP , so: Time to shut UP ! Oh... one more thing:
What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night? U-P
Thank you
I have the visit counter running ... curiosity is a bastard *wink* but i do see that people are reading my stuff. Whoever you may be ... thank you ... it's kinda cool just knowing that people come and get whatever it may be from te site. I don't get many comment, so i only know a few people, but thanks either way :)
If you have any suggestions let me know, would be interesting to get any feedback at all.
Peace love & chickenwings
If you have any suggestions let me know, would be interesting to get any feedback at all.
Peace love & chickenwings
Monday, 6 August 2007
Heavy fuel
Good morning world ...
Its a short week is week, with either 4 or even 3 days YAY!!!!
Was a lekker weekend my side, i accomplished VERY little. Went to Boys Town, close to Magalies as part of a Think-Bike / Christian Motorcycling group to introduce the boys to bikers. "have a good look boys, this is what will happen if you don't straighten up!!".
Yes. Was fun though, and certainly educating all round ... big thumbs up !!!
I gained a moment or 2 of fame as the guys noticed my camera avoidance system (CAS) on the bike. Honestly, and i know i'm biased, but sheet it works beautifully!!!
It proved it's worth this morning again, as pulled into the garage to buy smokes, and lo and behold there were about 6 metro pigs cars, with the guys and gals stocking up on coffee and nibbles. Well i ride without plates, something which would have attracted their attention for sure. No problem, quick flick and hey presto, a n number plate!!! So being thus legal, i pulled right in beteen the suckers and even smiled at them *grin* ... not that they could see ... helmet an all ... *chuckle*.
Someimes life is too precious.
Speaking of precious ... it seems the petrol woes are not yet over, in fact it seems like it's an even bigger problem than last week, which WAS just a scare.
The biggest refinery in south africa has just shut down. Govt is NOT getting involved in "employer/employee relations. Go Govt, we need more quiet diplomacy.
It WILL become a problem for us, because we've got the added problem of getting here, once they've imported it, which is sure going to cost THEM (the corporates .. BP and Shell were mentioned) a packet. Again i ask with tears in my eyes, wtf is SASOL not doing all it was supposed to, all that it was promised to us (the sa public) many years ago?
Either way, fill up, and keep it filled up. Also, be careful when you do, because when the fuel tanks are low and you fill up, you very kindly help the garage owner recycle all the crap and sediment that accumulates in his tank over time. And YOU get that crap in YOUR tank. So ask if they've been filled recently, like in the last few days, otherwise you'll be buying yourself a tank full of engine damage.
Ho Hum time for me to pretend to work......
Its a short week is week, with either 4 or even 3 days YAY!!!!
Was a lekker weekend my side, i accomplished VERY little. Went to Boys Town, close to Magalies as part of a Think-Bike / Christian Motorcycling group to introduce the boys to bikers. "have a good look boys, this is what will happen if you don't straighten up!!".
Yes. Was fun though, and certainly educating all round ... big thumbs up !!!
I gained a moment or 2 of fame as the guys noticed my camera avoidance system (CAS) on the bike. Honestly, and i know i'm biased, but sheet it works beautifully!!!
It proved it's worth this morning again, as pulled into the garage to buy smokes, and lo and behold there were about 6 metro pigs cars, with the guys and gals stocking up on coffee and nibbles. Well i ride without plates, something which would have attracted their attention for sure. No problem, quick flick and hey presto, a n number plate!!! So being thus legal, i pulled right in beteen the suckers and even smiled at them *grin* ... not that they could see ... helmet an all ... *chuckle*.
Someimes life is too precious.
Speaking of precious ... it seems the petrol woes are not yet over, in fact it seems like it's an even bigger problem than last week, which WAS just a scare.
The biggest refinery in south africa has just shut down. Govt is NOT getting involved in "employer/employee relations. Go Govt, we need more quiet diplomacy.
It WILL become a problem for us, because we've got the added problem of getting here, once they've imported it, which is sure going to cost THEM (the corporates .. BP and Shell were mentioned) a packet. Again i ask with tears in my eyes, wtf is SASOL not doing all it was supposed to, all that it was promised to us (the sa public) many years ago?
Either way, fill up, and keep it filled up. Also, be careful when you do, because when the fuel tanks are low and you fill up, you very kindly help the garage owner recycle all the crap and sediment that accumulates in his tank over time. And YOU get that crap in YOUR tank. So ask if they've been filled recently, like in the last few days, otherwise you'll be buying yourself a tank full of engine damage.
Ho Hum time for me to pretend to work......
Friday, 3 August 2007
Happy friday
Its another day .... and almost weekend. I guess the nicest thing about friday is that everyone else is in a good mood.
That goes a long way to making everything work a little better.
I been really quiet lately, just posting lyrics reflecting a thought for the day, sometimes they say it better thani could. And loving music, there's something written for every mood, every state of mind.
Right now i'm in a metallica state of no-mind .... just passion, energy, frenzy driving me hard into the next riff.
hmmmmm ... i got stuff to do ....
peace love & chickenwings
PS
That goes a long way to making everything work a little better.
I been really quiet lately, just posting lyrics reflecting a thought for the day, sometimes they say it better thani could. And loving music, there's something written for every mood, every state of mind.
Right now i'm in a metallica state of no-mind .... just passion, energy, frenzy driving me hard into the next riff.
hmmmmm ... i got stuff to do ....
peace love & chickenwings
PS
Thursday, 2 August 2007
AWAKE
Shake dreams from your hair
My pretty child, my sweet one.
Choose the day and choose the sign of your day
The day's divinity
First thing you see.
A vast radiant beach in a cool jeweled moon
Couples naked race down by it's quiet side
And we laugh like soft, mad children
Smug in the wooly cotton brains of infancy
The music and voices are all around us.
Choose they croon the Ancient Ones
The time has come again
Choose now, they croon
Beneath the moon
Beside an ancient lake
Enter again the sweet forest
Enter the hot dream
Come with us
Everything is broken up and dances.
Jim Morrison & The Doors
My pretty child, my sweet one.
Choose the day and choose the sign of your day
The day's divinity
First thing you see.
A vast radiant beach in a cool jeweled moon
Couples naked race down by it's quiet side
And we laugh like soft, mad children
Smug in the wooly cotton brains of infancy
The music and voices are all around us.
Choose they croon the Ancient Ones
The time has come again
Choose now, they croon
Beneath the moon
Beside an ancient lake
Enter again the sweet forest
Enter the hot dream
Come with us
Everything is broken up and dances.
Jim Morrison & The Doors
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
Metallica - Of Wolf And Man Lyrics
Off through the new day's mist I run
Out from the new day's mist I have come
I hunt
Therefore I am
Harvest the land
Taking of the fallen lamb
Off through the new day's mist I run
Out from the new day's mist I have come
We shift
Pulsing with the earth
Company we keep
Roaming the land while you sleep
Shape shift, nose to the wind
Shape shift, feeling I've been
Move swift, all senses clean
Earth's gift, back to the meaning of life
Bright is the moon, high in starlight
Chill in the air, cold as steel tonight
We shift
Call of the wild
Fear in your eyes
It's later than you realized
Shape shift, nose to the wind
Shape shift, feeling I've been
Move swift, all senses clean
Earth's gift, back to the meaning of life
I feel a change
Back to a better day
Hair stands on the back of my neck
In wildness is the preservation of the world
So seek the wolf in thyself
Shape shift, nose to the wind
Shape shift, feeling I have been
Move swift, all senses clean
Earth's gift
Back to the meaning of wolf and man
Out from the new day's mist I have come
I hunt
Therefore I am
Harvest the land
Taking of the fallen lamb
Off through the new day's mist I run
Out from the new day's mist I have come
We shift
Pulsing with the earth
Company we keep
Roaming the land while you sleep
Shape shift, nose to the wind
Shape shift, feeling I've been
Move swift, all senses clean
Earth's gift, back to the meaning of life
Bright is the moon, high in starlight
Chill in the air, cold as steel tonight
We shift
Call of the wild
Fear in your eyes
It's later than you realized
Shape shift, nose to the wind
Shape shift, feeling I've been
Move swift, all senses clean
Earth's gift, back to the meaning of life
I feel a change
Back to a better day
Hair stands on the back of my neck
In wildness is the preservation of the world
So seek the wolf in thyself
Shape shift, nose to the wind
Shape shift, feeling I have been
Move swift, all senses clean
Earth's gift
Back to the meaning of wolf and man
GRRRRRRRRRR
Just a low pitch growl from the back of the throat. Animal. Predator. Teeth showing. Lips snarling. Stance poised. Ready. Slight lean forward. Tense. Ready to strike.
The animal is alive. Life boiling over into madness. Insane action. Blood. Instinct.
Mankind is only a heartbeat away. We have our ancestral anima just under our polished exterior. Waiting. This veneer of civilisation is nothing more than our own lie to ourselves. The kill or be killed instincts guide us daily. The veneer only serving to constrain, restrain and numb the agony of anger.
Of wolf and man. Steppenwolf. Phaedrus. Half man half beast. Wild hunter with table manners. Roaring snarling growling into the night. Death but a whisper away.
Cold eyes razor mind frozen heart ... no compassion. Fight or flight. To the death or just a temporary break. Another sunrise.
The animal is alive. Life boiling over into madness. Insane action. Blood. Instinct.
Mankind is only a heartbeat away. We have our ancestral anima just under our polished exterior. Waiting. This veneer of civilisation is nothing more than our own lie to ourselves. The kill or be killed instincts guide us daily. The veneer only serving to constrain, restrain and numb the agony of anger.
Of wolf and man. Steppenwolf. Phaedrus. Half man half beast. Wild hunter with table manners. Roaring snarling growling into the night. Death but a whisper away.
Cold eyes razor mind frozen heart ... no compassion. Fight or flight. To the death or just a temporary break. Another sunrise.
Monday, 30 July 2007
Immigrant song
Welcome to South Africa we hope you survive your stay.
Yeah, it's THAT bad. But we welcome dollars *grin* bring em in ... please?
We have a new person in our midst, one of those Nordic types ... WELKOMEN!!!!
I've always loved this track, and it is particularly apt for Johnny ... he'd know the tune ....
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods
Will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying:
Valhalla, I am coming!
On we sweep with threshing oar,
Our only goal will be the western shore.
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
How soft your fields so green,
Can whisper tales of gore,
Of how we calmed the tides of war.
We are your overlords.
On we sweep with threshing oar,
Our only goal will be the western shore.
So now you'd better stop and rebuild all your ruins,
For peace and trust can win the day
Despite of all your losing.
Viva le Led Zeppelin
Yeah, it's THAT bad. But we welcome dollars *grin* bring em in ... please?
We have a new person in our midst, one of those Nordic types ... WELKOMEN!!!!
I've always loved this track, and it is particularly apt for Johnny ... he'd know the tune ....
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods
Will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying:
Valhalla, I am coming!
On we sweep with threshing oar,
Our only goal will be the western shore.
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
How soft your fields so green,
Can whisper tales of gore,
Of how we calmed the tides of war.
We are your overlords.
On we sweep with threshing oar,
Our only goal will be the western shore.
So now you'd better stop and rebuild all your ruins,
For peace and trust can win the day
Despite of all your losing.
Viva le Led Zeppelin
Friday, 27 July 2007
tap tap tap tap
I feel like a blind man this morning, tapping around to try find the right direction. The flu got me, and while i'm a little better, my head is spinning.
Work is going ... as work does. Always a deadline and new rules ... *sigh*
I really don't have much to say ... makes a pleasant change :)
I must say though, that 2 things are going really well for me lately, the blog and the bike.
The blog is helping to just get my head clear, say my say and be done with it. The bike is such a pleasure daily, and as an aside, it's doing my sex drive wonders. Something about it just makes me feel happy, content. Maybe it's a ccontrol thing. I'm not a control freak, i'm happy to watch things happen and step in only when whatever process needs a bump in the right direction. But on a bike, control is EVERYTHING. But control is a funny thing. Control too much, and you break it, not enough and it breaks you. Like a kite, one thin piece of string and the kite flies like a bird. Breka the string it'll crash, pull too much on the string it'llcrash too.
Bike riding is kinda like that. Time and again i literally need to remind myself to breath, you inhale, tense up, and have to concentrate on relaxing. At 100+ in traffic, relaxing does not happen easily.
But both of these are mental exercises. You think, and keep thinking. Decisions. What to write, where to ride. Same thing really. We don't think enough, any of us. I think instead of "information age", we should call it the "convenience age". It's not convenient to think, about anything. But forcing yourself helps, like this blog today. I am forcing myself to express myself in a coherent fashion. Maybe what i'm saying is dribble (i suspect that strongly) but the manner of saying is soothing, calming, and very good for me.
Ok, after not having anything to say, i think i've said enough.
Peace & love & chickenwings everybody!!!!
Work is going ... as work does. Always a deadline and new rules ... *sigh*
I really don't have much to say ... makes a pleasant change :)
I must say though, that 2 things are going really well for me lately, the blog and the bike.
The blog is helping to just get my head clear, say my say and be done with it. The bike is such a pleasure daily, and as an aside, it's doing my sex drive wonders. Something about it just makes me feel happy, content. Maybe it's a ccontrol thing. I'm not a control freak, i'm happy to watch things happen and step in only when whatever process needs a bump in the right direction. But on a bike, control is EVERYTHING. But control is a funny thing. Control too much, and you break it, not enough and it breaks you. Like a kite, one thin piece of string and the kite flies like a bird. Breka the string it'll crash, pull too much on the string it'llcrash too.
Bike riding is kinda like that. Time and again i literally need to remind myself to breath, you inhale, tense up, and have to concentrate on relaxing. At 100+ in traffic, relaxing does not happen easily.
But both of these are mental exercises. You think, and keep thinking. Decisions. What to write, where to ride. Same thing really. We don't think enough, any of us. I think instead of "information age", we should call it the "convenience age". It's not convenient to think, about anything. But forcing yourself helps, like this blog today. I am forcing myself to express myself in a coherent fashion. Maybe what i'm saying is dribble (i suspect that strongly) but the manner of saying is soothing, calming, and very good for me.
Ok, after not having anything to say, i think i've said enough.
Peace & love & chickenwings everybody!!!!
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
The World's Fastest Indian
*grunt*
Yeah that's how i feel today. Went to the bloody dentist yesterday, took another tooth out. FFS, this is the 21st century, and all every dentist has ever said is take it out. Now while i'll be the first to say standards have improved over 500 years ago, WTF!!!!????
*sigh*
Ok, moving swiftly in the other direction. Bikes. Yeah you know i like them :D
Something i've been doing for a while now is looking for people who really deserve my respect. Burt Munro is one of them.
In 1920 he bought an Indian Scout for $120. Then he started tuning it, racing it, tuning it, racing it more. The he started rebuilding parts. He hand carved conrods, used a two-gallon-can furnace to make his own pistons (!) and clutchplates and even redesigned the head, from a sidedraft to overhead draft design. Apparently the last was done at the sea, using sea sand (!!)
When he bought the bike, it was rated to go 55 mph, which in those days was fast for a bike. Once he was done, he set what stands as the fastest ever speed for an Indian 190.07 MPH. That's 304.11 KPH.
From the Indian website:
Burt began modifying his bike in 1926. His methods, to say the least, were unorthodox. He used an old spoke for a micrometer and cast parts in old tins although one American report has him casting pistons in holes in the sand at the local beach! He built his own four-cam design to replace the standard two-cam system and converted to overhead valves.
He made his own barrels, flywheels, pistons, cams and followers and lubrication system. In their final form he in effect hand-carved his con-rods from a Caterpillar tractor axle, and hardened and tempered them to 143 tons tensile strength. He built a seventeen plate, thousand pound pressure clutch and used a triple chain drive. He experimented with streamlining and, in its final form, the bike was completely enclosed in a streamlined shell.The leaf-sprung fork was dispensed with and what appears to be a girder fork from a 1925 - 1928 Prince substituted.
Now passion is one thing, but this is stupendous. His world speed record was basically set by a 63 year old man, on a home tuned 47 year old motorbike. His only safety measures were a leather football cap, and tucking his trousers into his socks. He spent 16 hours a day working, until his doctor told him to slow down, so thereafter he only spent 10 hours a day in his workshop.
We could ALL use a page from this man's book. From his passion and dedication, to his common sense approach to solving technically difficult problems, with ingenius, yet simple solutions. He apparently took a number of serious falls, some upwards of 200mph, yet after recovery he was always back on the saddle, doing what he loved.
Yeah that's how i feel today. Went to the bloody dentist yesterday, took another tooth out. FFS, this is the 21st century, and all every dentist has ever said is take it out. Now while i'll be the first to say standards have improved over 500 years ago, WTF!!!!????
*sigh*
Ok, moving swiftly in the other direction. Bikes. Yeah you know i like them :D
Something i've been doing for a while now is looking for people who really deserve my respect. Burt Munro is one of them.
In 1920 he bought an Indian Scout for $120. Then he started tuning it, racing it, tuning it, racing it more. The he started rebuilding parts. He hand carved conrods, used a two-gallon-can furnace to make his own pistons (!) and clutchplates and even redesigned the head, from a sidedraft to overhead draft design. Apparently the last was done at the sea, using sea sand (!!)
When he bought the bike, it was rated to go 55 mph, which in those days was fast for a bike. Once he was done, he set what stands as the fastest ever speed for an Indian 190.07 MPH. That's 304.11 KPH.
From the Indian website:
Burt began modifying his bike in 1926. His methods, to say the least, were unorthodox. He used an old spoke for a micrometer and cast parts in old tins although one American report has him casting pistons in holes in the sand at the local beach! He built his own four-cam design to replace the standard two-cam system and converted to overhead valves.
He made his own barrels, flywheels, pistons, cams and followers and lubrication system. In their final form he in effect hand-carved his con-rods from a Caterpillar tractor axle, and hardened and tempered them to 143 tons tensile strength. He built a seventeen plate, thousand pound pressure clutch and used a triple chain drive. He experimented with streamlining and, in its final form, the bike was completely enclosed in a streamlined shell.The leaf-sprung fork was dispensed with and what appears to be a girder fork from a 1925 - 1928 Prince substituted.
Now passion is one thing, but this is stupendous. His world speed record was basically set by a 63 year old man, on a home tuned 47 year old motorbike. His only safety measures were a leather football cap, and tucking his trousers into his socks. He spent 16 hours a day working, until his doctor told him to slow down, so thereafter he only spent 10 hours a day in his workshop.
We could ALL use a page from this man's book. From his passion and dedication, to his common sense approach to solving technically difficult problems, with ingenius, yet simple solutions. He apparently took a number of serious falls, some upwards of 200mph, yet after recovery he was always back on the saddle, doing what he loved.
Monday, 23 July 2007
i'm here
I had a groovy weekend, highlight was a breakfast run to Magalies ... awesome place.
I'm zoning ... far away, got stuff on my mind, from the office ...
Either way, nothing to actually say, i'll make up soon for the lack of post.
Peace love & chickenwings
I'm zoning ... far away, got stuff on my mind, from the office ...
Either way, nothing to actually say, i'll make up soon for the lack of post.
Peace love & chickenwings
Friday, 20 July 2007
Hey hey it's friday!!!!!!
Today is a good day. I affirm it.
Started the day at Kopdood. Now i can imagine the "huh?" expression already. Apparently a long time ago there were some bikers. they had coffee every friday morning at about 7. A tannie approached them shivering in jo'burgs cold and asked if they are kopdood (head-dead). To which they replied ... yes.
Anyway every friday morning a bunch of guys get together for coffee and kuier. The Think Bike guys have the bright yellow vests on ... no you really can't miss them if your eyes are open. Bikers. REAL bikers. In the sense that they ride day night winter summer and on weekends for fun.
And in a very realy way, bike riding is a world view. To get on a bike daily, you have to re-assess you entire way of doing things. While it has a lot of advantages, it is not convenient, as such. Most guys are like me, steady family men, who hold good positions in companies etc. But all without exception have one major difference ... attitude.
I was told once i have an attitude problem .... nononono ... i have an attitude ... no problem :)
Attitude is good, and i'm not talking arrogant. Arrogance stinks, arrogance=stupidity. Attitude is something else entirely, something along the lines of: BRING IT ON.
I'm a grown man, to everyones surprise. But the role of MEN and issues of MANHOOD are sorely overlooked in modern society. Hence all the fucked up men women are always meeting (they are not men, they are little boys with big muscles).
I am talking Primal here, in the true hunter sense. A man has to feel it, it's still in his blood. As it was in the stone days ... it's me vs world, that hasn't changed even a little.
Real men know this instinctively, having kids and wifey helps to understand this. And once they acknowledge this, human spirit takes over.
I love the human spirit, so battered of late. Those men in ships sailing towards the worlds end, wanderers and adventurers SALUT!!!!!
It is this spirit that pervades biking, you FEEL it in your blood.
I have a passion. I have a motorbike.
Started the day at Kopdood. Now i can imagine the "huh?" expression already. Apparently a long time ago there were some bikers. they had coffee every friday morning at about 7. A tannie approached them shivering in jo'burgs cold and asked if they are kopdood (head-dead). To which they replied ... yes.
Anyway every friday morning a bunch of guys get together for coffee and kuier. The Think Bike guys have the bright yellow vests on ... no you really can't miss them if your eyes are open. Bikers. REAL bikers. In the sense that they ride day night winter summer and on weekends for fun.
And in a very realy way, bike riding is a world view. To get on a bike daily, you have to re-assess you entire way of doing things. While it has a lot of advantages, it is not convenient, as such. Most guys are like me, steady family men, who hold good positions in companies etc. But all without exception have one major difference ... attitude.
I was told once i have an attitude problem .... nononono ... i have an attitude ... no problem :)
Attitude is good, and i'm not talking arrogant. Arrogance stinks, arrogance=stupidity. Attitude is something else entirely, something along the lines of: BRING IT ON.
I'm a grown man, to everyones surprise. But the role of MEN and issues of MANHOOD are sorely overlooked in modern society. Hence all the fucked up men women are always meeting (they are not men, they are little boys with big muscles).
I am talking Primal here, in the true hunter sense. A man has to feel it, it's still in his blood. As it was in the stone days ... it's me vs world, that hasn't changed even a little.
Real men know this instinctively, having kids and wifey helps to understand this. And once they acknowledge this, human spirit takes over.
I love the human spirit, so battered of late. Those men in ships sailing towards the worlds end, wanderers and adventurers SALUT!!!!!
It is this spirit that pervades biking, you FEEL it in your blood.
I have a passion. I have a motorbike.
Thursday, 19 July 2007
Nanny world
Morning world
Just another day, getting warmer here, which is greatfully appreciated. Although first thing in the morning is still chilly, by about 10 it's pleasant.
The topic was arb, just dropped it in because of an incident. Without to much detail, why is it always that these people just decide that they're going to protect you. Micro manage the crap out of you, until you don't even want to live anymore, it's that dull.
Just those small irritants, you just want to say to the person sit down, shut up and mind your own bloody business.
This world is too safe, but conversely not safe enough. People die in gruesome ways daily, i noticed a more common accident lately is trucks losing cont5rol, hitting some small car and killing or maiming everyone inside. Now as horrid as it is, any solution requires a comprehensive look at the problem. Knee jerk reactions don't help, the confuse the issue.
An excellent example occurred on the Bronkhorstspruit to Bapsfontein road. Some poor kid got knocked over, no fences or anything next to the road. Rural community, no real education, and people are all over that road all the time. It was inevitable. The community got very upset about it (understandably) and decided to do something. So they cut up the road. Bunch of the ladies arrived with pick axes and made a great big hole in the road, figured that they would stop people using the road entirely.
After it became an issue, the govt put speed bumps down. Now understand please, this is a major road (despite appearances) and is busy all day every day. There are massive signboards (i have to get a pic for here) saying "Cultural Heartland" and "crime hotspot, do not stop your vehicle", both signs on the same post. So the govt puts up these speed bumps, in the middle of nowhere, where crime and hijackings are a known problem.
Knee jerk reaction.
It took several months, but the heavy traffic trampled those speed bumps to nothing. The situation has not changed, and all the trauma may as well never have been.
Addre4ssing the abominable state of the vehicles travelling that route won't help either, as the norm is a 30 year old rust bucket that is used for dirt raods, and the occassional major route (?).
Ok, maybe a little off topic, but the tragedy of a kid dying has so many reasons and implications, anywhere, anytime, you can never control it. I have 3 kids. If one was to die i know it will eat me up inside. And yes, sometimes i can try fix something that is broken. But what happens is people get emotional, and demand action now.
I know there is a lot broken in our society. It really doesn't work as well as we pretend to believe, and grudgingly accept. But any changes HAVE to start ground up, no "cosmetic" changes will ever fix anything.
We need to start from the basics of how we approach the world, with all the things we don't like, but instead of changing, we need to redirect. Education is probably the biggest single factor, but even that is a multi faceted approach, starting with parents, then community, then school, and church, and any miriad of groups (eg scouts, etc).
The only thing that you or i can do today, that is concrete, and viable, is to be nice to people. Small, basic, trivial even. But that alone starts the community, shares our common humanity, gives us a central pillar to our communal tent. Whether we like it or not, we're all in this life thing together, and while we need certain rules, for obvious reasons, the rules we're adding to our collection on a daily basis aren't working. They're just providing more base fustration, encouraging that drink, that anger, that next tragedy.
Go on ... be nice to someone today.
Just another day, getting warmer here, which is greatfully appreciated. Although first thing in the morning is still chilly, by about 10 it's pleasant.
The topic was arb, just dropped it in because of an incident. Without to much detail, why is it always that these people just decide that they're going to protect you. Micro manage the crap out of you, until you don't even want to live anymore, it's that dull.
Just those small irritants, you just want to say to the person sit down, shut up and mind your own bloody business.
This world is too safe, but conversely not safe enough. People die in gruesome ways daily, i noticed a more common accident lately is trucks losing cont5rol, hitting some small car and killing or maiming everyone inside. Now as horrid as it is, any solution requires a comprehensive look at the problem. Knee jerk reactions don't help, the confuse the issue.
An excellent example occurred on the Bronkhorstspruit to Bapsfontein road. Some poor kid got knocked over, no fences or anything next to the road. Rural community, no real education, and people are all over that road all the time. It was inevitable. The community got very upset about it (understandably) and decided to do something. So they cut up the road. Bunch of the ladies arrived with pick axes and made a great big hole in the road, figured that they would stop people using the road entirely.
After it became an issue, the govt put speed bumps down. Now understand please, this is a major road (despite appearances) and is busy all day every day. There are massive signboards (i have to get a pic for here) saying "Cultural Heartland" and "crime hotspot, do not stop your vehicle", both signs on the same post. So the govt puts up these speed bumps, in the middle of nowhere, where crime and hijackings are a known problem.
Knee jerk reaction.
It took several months, but the heavy traffic trampled those speed bumps to nothing. The situation has not changed, and all the trauma may as well never have been.
Addre4ssing the abominable state of the vehicles travelling that route won't help either, as the norm is a 30 year old rust bucket that is used for dirt raods, and the occassional major route (?).
Ok, maybe a little off topic, but the tragedy of a kid dying has so many reasons and implications, anywhere, anytime, you can never control it. I have 3 kids. If one was to die i know it will eat me up inside. And yes, sometimes i can try fix something that is broken. But what happens is people get emotional, and demand action now.
I know there is a lot broken in our society. It really doesn't work as well as we pretend to believe, and grudgingly accept. But any changes HAVE to start ground up, no "cosmetic" changes will ever fix anything.
We need to start from the basics of how we approach the world, with all the things we don't like, but instead of changing, we need to redirect. Education is probably the biggest single factor, but even that is a multi faceted approach, starting with parents, then community, then school, and church, and any miriad of groups (eg scouts, etc).
The only thing that you or i can do today, that is concrete, and viable, is to be nice to people. Small, basic, trivial even. But that alone starts the community, shares our common humanity, gives us a central pillar to our communal tent. Whether we like it or not, we're all in this life thing together, and while we need certain rules, for obvious reasons, the rules we're adding to our collection on a daily basis aren't working. They're just providing more base fustration, encouraging that drink, that anger, that next tragedy.
Go on ... be nice to someone today.
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
Driving
I guess i do need to say soething about the previous post. Radebe saying thatit's because people don't prepare sounds vaguely wrong. I don't hesitate to add that i'm pleased they aren't letting any Tom Dick or Harry just pass, but somehow i don't think we're talking about safety.
Even in parliment it's assumed bribery plays a part, so if you bribe you pass, if you try get it legally, you fail on some insignificant technicality.
I passed my drivers about 10 years ago. Arrived in Loveday street early on a Monday morning, wrote the test, went outside and found a school. Asked if they could help me get the license the same week (i did know how to drive already, only needed to polish). We arranged 3 lessons throughout the week, including driving the most likely course that i'd be taken on (there was one spot where the road bends right, and the guy showed me where NOT to cut the white line), and hey presto, friday morning i passed my license. No mess no fuss.
Trying to get another learners for the bike, and suddenly it doesn't work. Eish no appointment, phone back tomorrow. Now, do this daily for about 3 months and all you'll have is a phone bill and high blood pressure. You cannot book at the test centres, and the call centre can't help, in any way. I must add that before they even speak to you they want to know who you are, name id number address phone number e-mail address work address etc.
If you have a learners and need a license BEFORE it expires .... good luck. Not going to happen. And if you miraculously get an appointment, you'd better pass, otherwise it will take months before another appointment.
Now this is all well and good if they were selling doughnuts. You could either go to the inevitable competition, or decide to diet. This is essential government business. You HAVE to have it. No options at all. The inhumanity with which this ANC govt. treats it's tax paying citizens is appalling.
The problem remains, some people are getting, and others aren't. It is impossible to ascertain whether indeed those that are failing deserve to fail or not, but so many average people are failing i wonder ... and take a drive from anywhere to anywhere and you'll quickly learn that the licenses that have been issued are worthless.
I don't really have a solution, a quickfix, but that's not my job. I pay tax, the tax money goes to people who are employed full time to solve these problems. They are failing miserably, even worse than the license testees.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ........ the only viable options involve making a loud noise.
PS I found an excellent article in the "Road Safety" blog on the right
http://roadsafety.wordpress.com/
Even in parliment it's assumed bribery plays a part, so if you bribe you pass, if you try get it legally, you fail on some insignificant technicality.
I passed my drivers about 10 years ago. Arrived in Loveday street early on a Monday morning, wrote the test, went outside and found a school. Asked if they could help me get the license the same week (i did know how to drive already, only needed to polish). We arranged 3 lessons throughout the week, including driving the most likely course that i'd be taken on (there was one spot where the road bends right, and the guy showed me where NOT to cut the white line), and hey presto, friday morning i passed my license. No mess no fuss.
Trying to get another learners for the bike, and suddenly it doesn't work. Eish no appointment, phone back tomorrow. Now, do this daily for about 3 months and all you'll have is a phone bill and high blood pressure. You cannot book at the test centres, and the call centre can't help, in any way. I must add that before they even speak to you they want to know who you are, name id number address phone number e-mail address work address etc.
If you have a learners and need a license BEFORE it expires .... good luck. Not going to happen. And if you miraculously get an appointment, you'd better pass, otherwise it will take months before another appointment.
Now this is all well and good if they were selling doughnuts. You could either go to the inevitable competition, or decide to diet. This is essential government business. You HAVE to have it. No options at all. The inhumanity with which this ANC govt. treats it's tax paying citizens is appalling.
The problem remains, some people are getting, and others aren't. It is impossible to ascertain whether indeed those that are failing deserve to fail or not, but so many average people are failing i wonder ... and take a drive from anywhere to anywhere and you'll quickly learn that the licenses that have been issued are worthless.
I don't really have a solution, a quickfix, but that's not my job. I pay tax, the tax money goes to people who are employed full time to solve these problems. They are failing miserably, even worse than the license testees.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ........ the only viable options involve making a loud noise.
PS I found an excellent article in the "Road Safety" blog on the right
http://roadsafety.wordpress.com/
Driver's license problem
60% fail driver's licence test
17/07/2007 23:25 - (SA)
Rajaa Azzakani, Die Burger
Cape Town - More than 60% of all South Africans who applied for driver's licences in the past two years failed the test.
That's the gist of a written reply from Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe to a question by Democratic Alliance MP Stuart Farrow.
Farrow wanted to know if Radebe was aware of the unacceptably high driver's licence failure rate in the land and what his department was doing to tackle the problem.
Radebe said that from July 2005 to last month, 1.5 million applications for driver's licences had been received and only 591 624 had been issued.
That meant a national pass rate of 39.9%.
It appears from his reply that the Free State fared the worst with 31.23%, followed by the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape with just more than 33% each.
The pass rate in the Western Cape, North West and KwaZulu-Natal was just above 35%. Gauteng fared best with 46.58%.
Radebe said the high failure rate could be attributed to people not preparing adequately for the tests.
"Applicants are not compelled to use driving schools, and in some instances driving schools don't prepare candidates properly for the tests," he said.
Radebe assured the public that the department took the inspection of testing centres seriously.
'We're talking about bribery'
Gary Ronald of the Automobile Association said the AA was swamped by complaints from members who were at their wit's end because their children repeatedly failed the driver's licence tests.
Ronald said corruption could play a major role.
"The chances are good that applicants won't pass the test unless money passes under the table. We're talking about bribery."
Ronald said someone who'd failed his first driver's licence test should be accommodated.
"If someone has failed once, he should be put on a priority bookings list so that he can repeat the test as soon as possible.
"Systems should be designed to eliminate corruption even if it means installing cameras in the cars (used for tests)."
17/07/2007 23:25 - (SA)
Rajaa Azzakani, Die Burger
Cape Town - More than 60% of all South Africans who applied for driver's licences in the past two years failed the test.
That's the gist of a written reply from Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe to a question by Democratic Alliance MP Stuart Farrow.
Farrow wanted to know if Radebe was aware of the unacceptably high driver's licence failure rate in the land and what his department was doing to tackle the problem.
Radebe said that from July 2005 to last month, 1.5 million applications for driver's licences had been received and only 591 624 had been issued.
That meant a national pass rate of 39.9%.
It appears from his reply that the Free State fared the worst with 31.23%, followed by the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape with just more than 33% each.
The pass rate in the Western Cape, North West and KwaZulu-Natal was just above 35%. Gauteng fared best with 46.58%.
Radebe said the high failure rate could be attributed to people not preparing adequately for the tests.
"Applicants are not compelled to use driving schools, and in some instances driving schools don't prepare candidates properly for the tests," he said.
Radebe assured the public that the department took the inspection of testing centres seriously.
'We're talking about bribery'
Gary Ronald of the Automobile Association said the AA was swamped by complaints from members who were at their wit's end because their children repeatedly failed the driver's licence tests.
Ronald said corruption could play a major role.
"The chances are good that applicants won't pass the test unless money passes under the table. We're talking about bribery."
Ronald said someone who'd failed his first driver's licence test should be accommodated.
"If someone has failed once, he should be put on a priority bookings list so that he can repeat the test as soon as possible.
"Systems should be designed to eliminate corruption even if it means installing cameras in the cars (used for tests)."
Tuesday, 17 July 2007
n e w p o s t
Tuesday, i'm supposed to be putting something up, so here am i.
um ...
yes ...
absolutely ...
huh?
What i'm actually doing is getting more la linea downloads, and reading Think Bike.
www.thinkbike.co.za
um ...
yes ...
absolutely ...
huh?
What i'm actually doing is getting more la linea downloads, and reading Think Bike.
www.thinkbike.co.za
Monday, 16 July 2007
I don't like Mondays ...
No-one does. If they do they're lying. If they're not lying they're insane.
Kill it before it multiplies. Simple.
However, the universe is on our side. From the creative genius of mankind, via the everlastingness of the internet, i present, La Linea!!!!!
Hmmm ... youwhat? Neverheard? ohdear. Well ..... i can't really say anything to do justice to this astounding art.
La Linea
Oh, and before i forget, something to not try at home.
http://www.donotattemptthis.com/
Kill it before it multiplies. Simple.
However, the universe is on our side. From the creative genius of mankind, via the everlastingness of the internet, i present, La Linea!!!!!
Hmmm ... youwhat? Neverheard? ohdear. Well ..... i can't really say anything to do justice to this astounding art.
La Linea
Oh, and before i forget, something to not try at home.
http://www.donotattemptthis.com/
Friday, 13 July 2007
Thursday, 12 July 2007
BE AWARE
it's working. I get to work in the morning with a supersized grin on my cheeky face. Staying alive is fun ;-)
I'm so nervous on the bike, haven't riden in a few months now (since the CB went in) and the Jonway lost it's back wheel. The FZ6 is nce, really nice. But it's bigger, and heavier, and much more than i know how to handle right now.
I guess the only answer is slowly .... but even then it's dangerous ....
I have to add at this point, that the Think Bike campaign is running again. It was started quite a while ago, and then ran out of steam. But some guys grabbed the idea, and have been very busy lately.
Coming from an angle of education, for both bikers and "cagers", informative and friendly, the guys try help each other learn and be better at this riding thing.
I am so happy to be a biker again. I have been learning all sorts, about bikes, bikers, cagers, traffic, and even the perceptions of people, of bikers.
Stopped at a shopping centre the other day, and walking through with my helmet and leathers everyone turned to stare. Guys, gals, kids the lot. Just worth mentioning i guess, although i must add that guys, gals turn their heads for 3 things: HUGE muscles (not me), a baby in your arms (me), or leathers and a helmet (me).
But the more i learn about the road, the more i see that the only factor that matters, is being aware. If you're a nooby (like me) .. be aware of it. If you're driving a car, be aware of what's around you. If you are at least aware, you can react in a manner (any manner for that), but the biggest problem is that people aren't even aware of the fact that they're blissfully braindead.
If you have a near miss on the roads, almost guarenteed the schmuck was on the phone, screaming at kids, doing make-up, talking to passenger, in fact any damn thing except watching the traffic. Come on ... you're driving at an even modest 80km/h, surely the only rational thing to do is make very sure that nothig happens, even at that speed the damage can be phenomenal, the impact velocities are frankly too large to comprehend. Being on a bike puts you in the leading edge, but exactly the same princioples apply to any aspect of the road.
I have discovered that biking is in my blood. My dear grandad rode to work on a scooter over Ou Kaapse Weg daily, i been riding pillion with my old man since i was 3. That was in Cape Town too, known for it's windy and wet conditions. The other regret i have is the years i had no bike. Those years i walked. People still don't believe me sometimes, but when i was 16/17, daddy didn't buy me a bike, or anything. So, i walked. Miles and miles and miles and miles. I guess i was hitch-hiking, but in-between rides i never stood still, there is another turnon ahead, more cars, maybe one of them will stop. Then i got my license, and instead of code 8, needed a code 10, which let me drive a great big bloody blue truck around. The other end of the scale. Big, slow, hardly functional, a deathtrap. Since then a couple of cars, couple of bikes, worked as a delivery boy for years in the car (for charity) in and around jhb, 8-10 hours a day in this blasted traffic. The rules don't change, not even for pedestrians, or trucks, just the perspective of however is behind the wheel.
I think part of the problem is basically human(ness). I am on a bike, i see the world from THIS perspective. Or, i am in a car, i see the world ONLY as car drivers similar to me. Taxi's fall under some other listing. Never driven one, travelled them enough, i actually believe it's safer to be outside the damn things, hard as it may be to consider. They however perceive the world as theirs. Anything else merely does not matter in the slightest, and their contampt for you and i and their passengers is truly frightening.
BE AWARE ... of yourself, your own car, your place in the traffic, your speed, etc.
BE AWARE ... of the people around you, at any point, know which car is where WITHOUT looking first.
BE AWARE ... of the road 100m and more in front of you ... just in case
BE AWARE ... of the road behind you, be it a car or a bike ... there WILL be someone trying to get past you.
And for god's sake ... if you are going to talk on your phone (we ALL do) please understand that it is SECOND to driving. If you drop the phone, it's inconvenient, if you drop your car, it's literally a smash. Keep your focus on the road, if you can't watch the road and talk, either pull over (applying due caution) or call them back. It really is easy.
I'm so nervous on the bike, haven't riden in a few months now (since the CB went in) and the Jonway lost it's back wheel. The FZ6 is nce, really nice. But it's bigger, and heavier, and much more than i know how to handle right now.
I guess the only answer is slowly .... but even then it's dangerous ....
I have to add at this point, that the Think Bike campaign is running again. It was started quite a while ago, and then ran out of steam. But some guys grabbed the idea, and have been very busy lately.
Coming from an angle of education, for both bikers and "cagers", informative and friendly, the guys try help each other learn and be better at this riding thing.
I am so happy to be a biker again. I have been learning all sorts, about bikes, bikers, cagers, traffic, and even the perceptions of people, of bikers.
Stopped at a shopping centre the other day, and walking through with my helmet and leathers everyone turned to stare. Guys, gals, kids the lot. Just worth mentioning i guess, although i must add that guys, gals turn their heads for 3 things: HUGE muscles (not me), a baby in your arms (me), or leathers and a helmet (me).
But the more i learn about the road, the more i see that the only factor that matters, is being aware. If you're a nooby (like me) .. be aware of it. If you're driving a car, be aware of what's around you. If you are at least aware, you can react in a manner (any manner for that), but the biggest problem is that people aren't even aware of the fact that they're blissfully braindead.
If you have a near miss on the roads, almost guarenteed the schmuck was on the phone, screaming at kids, doing make-up, talking to passenger, in fact any damn thing except watching the traffic. Come on ... you're driving at an even modest 80km/h, surely the only rational thing to do is make very sure that nothig happens, even at that speed the damage can be phenomenal, the impact velocities are frankly too large to comprehend. Being on a bike puts you in the leading edge, but exactly the same princioples apply to any aspect of the road.
I have discovered that biking is in my blood. My dear grandad rode to work on a scooter over Ou Kaapse Weg daily, i been riding pillion with my old man since i was 3. That was in Cape Town too, known for it's windy and wet conditions. The other regret i have is the years i had no bike. Those years i walked. People still don't believe me sometimes, but when i was 16/17, daddy didn't buy me a bike, or anything. So, i walked. Miles and miles and miles and miles. I guess i was hitch-hiking, but in-between rides i never stood still, there is another turnon ahead, more cars, maybe one of them will stop. Then i got my license, and instead of code 8, needed a code 10, which let me drive a great big bloody blue truck around. The other end of the scale. Big, slow, hardly functional, a deathtrap. Since then a couple of cars, couple of bikes, worked as a delivery boy for years in the car (for charity) in and around jhb, 8-10 hours a day in this blasted traffic. The rules don't change, not even for pedestrians, or trucks, just the perspective of however is behind the wheel.
I think part of the problem is basically human(ness). I am on a bike, i see the world from THIS perspective. Or, i am in a car, i see the world ONLY as car drivers similar to me. Taxi's fall under some other listing. Never driven one, travelled them enough, i actually believe it's safer to be outside the damn things, hard as it may be to consider. They however perceive the world as theirs. Anything else merely does not matter in the slightest, and their contampt for you and i and their passengers is truly frightening.
BE AWARE ... of yourself, your own car, your place in the traffic, your speed, etc.
BE AWARE ... of the people around you, at any point, know which car is where WITHOUT looking first.
BE AWARE ... of the road 100m and more in front of you ... just in case
BE AWARE ... of the road behind you, be it a car or a bike ... there WILL be someone trying to get past you.
And for god's sake ... if you are going to talk on your phone (we ALL do) please understand that it is SECOND to driving. If you drop the phone, it's inconvenient, if you drop your car, it's literally a smash. Keep your focus on the road, if you can't watch the road and talk, either pull over (applying due caution) or call them back. It really is easy.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Places to see
http://www.sportrider.com/ride/RSS/
Very well written articles for the bikers among us. How to ride a motorcycle. Kinda like life, even though you know how it's done, if you don't keep reminding yourself of the rules, you're going to get hurt.
http://www.demakersvan.com/
Art meets tech, a few nice ideas to get round the harshness of technology.
I don't have much to say today, feeling quiet. Trying to figure the odds of a long lunch break and a run out the city. Just get to a hilltop somewhere, have a smoke ... and come back. Damn i miss the ocean.
A running chicken is poultry in motion (or a moving target)
Very well written articles for the bikers among us. How to ride a motorcycle. Kinda like life, even though you know how it's done, if you don't keep reminding yourself of the rules, you're going to get hurt.
http://www.demakersvan.com/
Art meets tech, a few nice ideas to get round the harshness of technology.
I don't have much to say today, feeling quiet. Trying to figure the odds of a long lunch break and a run out the city. Just get to a hilltop somewhere, have a smoke ... and come back. Damn i miss the ocean.
A running chicken is poultry in motion (or a moving target)
Tuesday, 10 July 2007
Eureka!!!
Yes, i had a bath moment. You can never have too many steaming hot baths ...
It's also really interesting that that is when your mind has it's best moments.
The upshot goes like this: We are an emotive society, not an intellectual one.
Now this is a big statement, one of those things that define how you perceive the world, and how to understand it more effectively. What makes it worse (i think) is that we believe, from our school days, that we are a scientific society. We have houses and cars and computers and cell phones and complex tools to assist in our daily lives. We have tradesmen, artisans, specialists, engineers, and that helpdesk helper. All these little helpers make the 21st century the age of technology.
But the over specialisation has a price. People know what they do at work, usually some minutae within a massive organisation, but even if their work impacts our domestic sphere of life, their specialisation means very little in the day to day running of our lives.
What chrystalised this train of thought was a blog post of a friend (Koo) who commented on a friend of hers talking about feelings, and how feelings were a luxury not afforded to even our parents. They took what they could out of life and were grateful for it.
Now looking at the youth of today (don't say it) but they are very emotive beings. They operate on emotion; I don't feel like doing it, it doesn't feel right, my FEELINGS, etc. Even choosing a car, most make a passionate choice, as opposed to a balanced, informed choice. It's not the make with reliability and service support that makes your insides bubble. It's the fast, sleek, sexy car that will break that in the showroom wins your heart. The subsequent trauma of having a sub standard car is merely the laws of cause and effect in action.
Hmmmm ... i'm not making my thoughts clear enough i think ......
Well, as an aside, this is exactly what i want the blog for .. just sharpening my thoughts. If they have the sharpness of a tyre, then i need to think again.
Be back a little later i hope ... got to try clarify.
It's also really interesting that that is when your mind has it's best moments.
The upshot goes like this: We are an emotive society, not an intellectual one.
Now this is a big statement, one of those things that define how you perceive the world, and how to understand it more effectively. What makes it worse (i think) is that we believe, from our school days, that we are a scientific society. We have houses and cars and computers and cell phones and complex tools to assist in our daily lives. We have tradesmen, artisans, specialists, engineers, and that helpdesk helper. All these little helpers make the 21st century the age of technology.
But the over specialisation has a price. People know what they do at work, usually some minutae within a massive organisation, but even if their work impacts our domestic sphere of life, their specialisation means very little in the day to day running of our lives.
What chrystalised this train of thought was a blog post of a friend (Koo) who commented on a friend of hers talking about feelings, and how feelings were a luxury not afforded to even our parents. They took what they could out of life and were grateful for it.
Now looking at the youth of today (don't say it) but they are very emotive beings. They operate on emotion; I don't feel like doing it, it doesn't feel right, my FEELINGS, etc. Even choosing a car, most make a passionate choice, as opposed to a balanced, informed choice. It's not the make with reliability and service support that makes your insides bubble. It's the fast, sleek, sexy car that will break that in the showroom wins your heart. The subsequent trauma of having a sub standard car is merely the laws of cause and effect in action.
Hmmmm ... i'm not making my thoughts clear enough i think ......
Well, as an aside, this is exactly what i want the blog for .. just sharpening my thoughts. If they have the sharpness of a tyre, then i need to think again.
Be back a little later i hope ... got to try clarify.
Stratovarius - Against the Wind
Against The Wind
[Words & Music by Tolkki/Kotipelto]
Once again I try to make things work
facing all the power of society
Searching all the answers of the life
I'll never make it on my own
Was I meant to fail everytime
Seems to me thats my destiny
Is this all that's left to me
Confusion and bad memories
But now my time has come
No more running in the dark
I want much more than this
I really want it all
Against the wind we run
to every place under the sun
We've got so much power inside
We will never give up
Against the wind we go
towards the new shore
together we'll forget the sorrow
it's forever gone
[Words & Music by Tolkki/Kotipelto]
Once again I try to make things work
facing all the power of society
Searching all the answers of the life
I'll never make it on my own
Was I meant to fail everytime
Seems to me thats my destiny
Is this all that's left to me
Confusion and bad memories
But now my time has come
No more running in the dark
I want much more than this
I really want it all
Against the wind we run
to every place under the sun
We've got so much power inside
We will never give up
Against the wind we go
towards the new shore
together we'll forget the sorrow
it's forever gone
Monday, 9 July 2007
If at first you do succeed, try not to look astonished.
Greetings!!!!!!
It was a very good week off, with lots getting accomplished. Lots to talk about all round ... Although truth be told, i haven't touched the internet at all, neither newspapers nor any other news source. Ignorance is bliss.
I got my learners license for a motorbike, which i only needed to get finance. That being said ..... LOOKEEEEEEEE
Yamaha FZ6 '05
I am as happy as .... um .... a pig in shit. *grin*
It's big, it's fast. it's comfortable, IT'S FAST, it's quiet, IT'S FAST, and best of all, it's mine. All mine. Ok, please picture me with a stupidly large cheshire cat type grin ... yes, the goofy look.
I have so much to add here, i see i've been tagged by Green Tea and Tan Lines, got some lyrics i want to throw in (Scorpion) and shew ... all sorts.
Nice to be back though ... a little ... leave was lovely but as ever, too short.
Got some mojo back though, which always goes a long way, and my biggest problem (ie getting to work and back) has been resolved. *deep breath*
BRING IT ON
It was a very good week off, with lots getting accomplished. Lots to talk about all round ... Although truth be told, i haven't touched the internet at all, neither newspapers nor any other news source. Ignorance is bliss.
I got my learners license for a motorbike, which i only needed to get finance. That being said ..... LOOKEEEEEEEE
Yamaha FZ6 '05
I am as happy as .... um .... a pig in shit. *grin*
It's big, it's fast. it's comfortable, IT'S FAST, it's quiet, IT'S FAST, and best of all, it's mine. All mine. Ok, please picture me with a stupidly large cheshire cat type grin ... yes, the goofy look.
I have so much to add here, i see i've been tagged by Green Tea and Tan Lines, got some lyrics i want to throw in (Scorpion) and shew ... all sorts.
Nice to be back though ... a little ... leave was lovely but as ever, too short.
Got some mojo back though, which always goes a long way, and my biggest problem (ie getting to work and back) has been resolved. *deep breath*
BRING IT ON
Moment of Glory
A moment of glory called evolution
Could I see the world with the eyes of a child
A new beginning, a moment of freedom
Like angels are singing a song full of joy
This Side Of Heaven
Belongs To The Children
I will be there, when the future arrives
A moment of glory called evolution
Could I fly away like a bird in the Sky
No limitation, a new inspiration
A World that is free just as free as my mind
Communication
A new destination
The planet of visions is calling tonight
Another thousand years seem so long
I´m just a passenger
And the ride ride has just begun
Moment of glory
A moment of glory called evolution
Could I see the world with the eyes of a child
A new beginning, a moment of freedom
Like angels are singing a song full of joy
This Side Of Heaven
Belongs To The Children
I will be there, when the future arrives
Moment of glory
Could I see the world with the eyes of a child
A new beginning, a moment of freedom
Like angels are singing a song full of joy
This Side Of Heaven
Belongs To The Children
I will be there, when the future arrives
A moment of glory called evolution
Could I fly away like a bird in the Sky
No limitation, a new inspiration
A World that is free just as free as my mind
Communication
A new destination
The planet of visions is calling tonight
Another thousand years seem so long
I´m just a passenger
And the ride ride has just begun
Moment of glory
A moment of glory called evolution
Could I see the world with the eyes of a child
A new beginning, a moment of freedom
Like angels are singing a song full of joy
This Side Of Heaven
Belongs To The Children
I will be there, when the future arrives
Moment of glory
Tag time
I was tagged by Blistering Barnacles of Green Tea and Tan Lines.
HERE’S THE RULES…
- We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
- Players start with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
- People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
- At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people who get tagged and list their names
- Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them their tagged.
my 8 random facts:
1. I am a schoolkid in my own head ... this being an adult sucks (except for motorbikes)
2. I have a family of: 1 wife, 3 kids, 2 dogs, several fish, and a live in maid
3. I have met a female superior from the office at a strip club (by acident.
4. I don't have TV
5. I own a motor bike, and love the "biker" lifestyle
6. Hanepoort is my "house blend" at home
7. I do not like commercialism ... or branding ... or stickers
8. I have travelled everywhere in SA ... and love it!!!!!
i tag…
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6.
7.
8.
HERE’S THE RULES…
- We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
- Players start with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
- People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
- At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people who get tagged and list their names
- Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them their tagged.
my 8 random facts:
1. I am a schoolkid in my own head ... this being an adult sucks (except for motorbikes)
2. I have a family of: 1 wife, 3 kids, 2 dogs, several fish, and a live in maid
3. I have met a female superior from the office at a strip club (by acident.
4. I don't have TV
5. I own a motor bike, and love the "biker" lifestyle
6. Hanepoort is my "house blend" at home
7. I do not like commercialism ... or branding ... or stickers
8. I have travelled everywhere in SA ... and love it!!!!!
i tag…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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