Four days of Benoni North Sports Grounds, walking and pulling and pushing and hanging and throwing and running and talking and listening and sun and flowers and water and bikes. Yeah bikes. Bright shiny painted chromed noisy motorbikes, in the thousands.
The Toyrun party was a good one this year, and all there had a great time. Sadly it wasn't as well attended as we'd hoped, but i think that's true more often than not. No idea on toy counts yet, but as usual the mountain of toys and variety beggars belief. I need to get to some of the handouts, just to complete the year. I hate xmas time but playing santa's little helper really is where i must be. Did you hear about the dyslexic who sold his soul to santa? The bikers were the usual sorts, apparently one guy spent R2000 on tickets for a kids cancer charity. Most were very well behaved, although the temptation of showing off on grass was too much for most, which led to only one off, but many fast beating hearts. I have to mention too, the variety of bikes on display was supreme. Nowhere else in the world could you find such a varied collection of well loved machines.
It was an honour to work with the team. Men and women of all shapes and sizes and dispositions, all pulling together to make it work. The two head marshalls, Andre and Devon deserve special mentions, each having excelled in keeping masses of bikers as safe as possible, under difficult conditions. EMPD made a surprising mass appearance which for safety was perfect. It also looks really good when the ride is preceeded by official police escourt. The other organisers were all outstanding examples of selflessness and charity, and the entire event was powered by hard work by many, many people. But this year was good, it had the right festive atmosphere that infected all who were involved, even the hired workers were a jovial and enthusiastic bunch.
The grass. My most vivid impressions are of the grass fields stretching as far as the legs could carry. Each foot of it teeming with life, bees, flies, miggies, flowers red and yellow and purple, small unidentified other plants sitting quietly amongst the grasses. The constant flow of people all through the day coming to enjoy the space in peace. I felt a strong sense of being a custodian for the fields, of being responsible to them. Each tree was a shelter from the sun, the grass a welcoming seat, the bees amiable company, the constant breeze bringing clouds of all shapes and sizes. The skies a constantly changing panorama of blues and whites and greys and birds of all hues.
My body needs rest, but my mind is at peace.
EDIT:
http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/bikes-quads-karts/toy-run-bikers-party-all-the-way-1.1187910
Monday, 28 November 2011
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Toyrun
If you want any info:
send a blank email to: info@toyrun.org.za.
or phone me :)
Guys, anyone who reads this, pass it on please, and bring toys, as many as you can. More is better, i'd rather have 10 small gifts than 1 large one. Teddy bears look great, but kids over 10 aren't really into them? They'd rather have stationary, so they can work their way out of the hole they're in, or toiletries, so they can have some dignity.
peace and love
PS, apologies for the colour, it was created by a biker, ok?
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Monday, 21 November 2011
Sensible Police Tactics Against Occupiers
www.Moonofalabama.org
"Lt. John Pike of UC Davis defends himself against an ongoing attack by radical left wing students camouflaged with hoods."
Friday, 18 November 2011
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Outlaw
"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is."
- Clint Eastwood, "The Outlaw Josey Wales"
- Clint Eastwood, "The Outlaw Josey Wales"
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Monday, 14 November 2011
Friday, 11 November 2011
11 11 11 11 11 11
Just sayin' ...
Full moon, seems like everyone has gone moggy again, 2 bikers taken out by the blue light assholes, another shot in a semi road rage incident.
As Aquila Ka Hekate pointed out, already the xmas madness has started.
And all i want is for it to rain.
Full moon, seems like everyone has gone moggy again, 2 bikers taken out by the blue light assholes, another shot in a semi road rage incident.
As Aquila Ka Hekate pointed out, already the xmas madness has started.
And all i want is for it to rain.
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Pseudoscience and Heretics
PDF: http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/ridley_rsa_millar_speech_scientific_heresy.pdf
Matt Ridley's speech at the Angus Millar lecture - http://www.thersa.org/events/audio-and-past-events/2011/angus-millar-lecture-2011-scientific-heresy
FROM: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/11/01/thank-you-matt-ridley/#more-50468
So I learnt lesson number 1: the stunning gullibility of the media. Put an “ology” after your pseudoscience and you can get journalists to be your propagandists.
Lesson number 2: debunking is like water off a duck’s back to pseudoscience.
Lesson number 3. We can all be both. Newton was an alchemist.
That’s lesson number 4: the heretic is sometimes right.
Lesson number 5: keep a sharp eye out for confirmation bias in yourself and others.
Lesson 6. Never rely on the consensus of experts about the future. Experts are worth listening to about the past, but not the future. Futurology is pseudoscience.
In conclusion, I’ve spent a lot of time on climate, but it could have been dietary fat, or nature and nurture. My argument is that like religion, science as an institution is and always has been plagued by the temptations of confirmation bias. With alarming ease it morphs into pseudoscience even – perhaps especially – in the hands of elite experts and especially when predicting the future and when there’s lavish funding at stake. It needs heretics.
Matt Ridley's speech at the Angus Millar lecture - http://www.thersa.org/events/audio-and-past-events/2011/angus-millar-lecture-2011-scientific-heresy
FROM: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/11/01/thank-you-matt-ridley/#more-50468
So I learnt lesson number 1: the stunning gullibility of the media. Put an “ology” after your pseudoscience and you can get journalists to be your propagandists.
Lesson number 2: debunking is like water off a duck’s back to pseudoscience.
Lesson number 3. We can all be both. Newton was an alchemist.
That’s lesson number 4: the heretic is sometimes right.
Lesson number 5: keep a sharp eye out for confirmation bias in yourself and others.
Lesson 6. Never rely on the consensus of experts about the future. Experts are worth listening to about the past, but not the future. Futurology is pseudoscience.
In conclusion, I’ve spent a lot of time on climate, but it could have been dietary fat, or nature and nurture. My argument is that like religion, science as an institution is and always has been plagued by the temptations of confirmation bias. With alarming ease it morphs into pseudoscience even – perhaps especially – in the hands of elite experts and especially when predicting the future and when there’s lavish funding at stake. It needs heretics.
Friday, 4 November 2011
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Fog Harvesting
Tshiavha - When plumes of fog gather above the rocky mountains encircling a remote South African village, children look at them with excitement, knowing they will have clean drinking water at school.
Erected in 2007 with the help of a local university, the fog trapped in the nets provides up to 2,500 litres of waters on a good day.
“The water is clean and safe with no chemicals added to it,” said Lutanyani Malumedzha the principal of Tshiavha primary school.
According to Malumedzha, access to clean water had significantly improved school children's health and reduced the outbreak of waterborne diseases.
“Children used to bring their own bottles of water to school during the hot and dry months. The water was collected from muddy wells and not suitable for human consumption,” said Malumedzha.
In some areas, communities share drinking water with cattle.
Although South Africa's water quality is rated among the best in world, rural communities lag behind when it comes to having running water.
“We have learnt to appreciate water and treat it as if it was a precious commodity,” said Malumedza.
“Not a single drop is wasted. Some of it goes there,” said Malumedza pointing to a vegetable garden which provides food for the school feeding scheme.
The four-metre high mesh net which stands outside the school's playground resembles a volleyball net, except for a gutter at the hem where water droplets fall, leading to a water tank a few metres away.
There are no electronics involved and the system requires little maintenance, Malumedza said.
Killers
This is a warning to all bikers out there: the pigs, in this case the provincial piggies, in unmarked cars, are prepared to kill you, either by riding into you, or shooting you.
IOL: http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/he-was-going-to-kill-me-1.1169654
“I didn’t know what was happening. I couldn’t turn around to look who it was because there were potholes all over the road. I couldn’t see any blue flashing lights and there were no sirens. I was panicking. I thought that those inside wanted to hijack me,” he said
It was as Van Zyl turned on to the R514 that the traffic officers collided with him, apparently on purpose, striking his handlebars and front wheel, forcing him to crash.
Van Zyl was thrown across the VW Golf and into a pavement and traffic light, smashing his rib cage and tearing ligaments.
He claimed one of the traffic officers from the car walked up to him and began pistol-whipping him before shoving his gun into his helmet and threatening to execute him.
“I couldn’t move. This traffic officer was screaming that he was going to kill me.
“It was only after another motorist stopped to help me that the officer walked off,” he said.
IOL: http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/he-was-going-to-kill-me-1.1169654
“I didn’t know what was happening. I couldn’t turn around to look who it was because there were potholes all over the road. I couldn’t see any blue flashing lights and there were no sirens. I was panicking. I thought that those inside wanted to hijack me,” he said
It was as Van Zyl turned on to the R514 that the traffic officers collided with him, apparently on purpose, striking his handlebars and front wheel, forcing him to crash.
Van Zyl was thrown across the VW Golf and into a pavement and traffic light, smashing his rib cage and tearing ligaments.
He claimed one of the traffic officers from the car walked up to him and began pistol-whipping him before shoving his gun into his helmet and threatening to execute him.
“I couldn’t move. This traffic officer was screaming that he was going to kill me.
“It was only after another motorist stopped to help me that the officer walked off,” he said.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Changes
Things change, and i'm going through one of those times. I've already slowed on my posting, and probably will further. I'm not abandoning it yet, the thought occurred to me, but honestly i feel too deeply for this blog and the people i share ideas with to walk away, just changing slightly.
peace and love
peace and love
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
One demand
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29436.htm
Occupy Wall Street: My One Demand
By Jinger Dixon
October 18, 2011 "Information Clearing House" -- I was recently asked what I thought the “one demand” should be for the OWS protest. That’s a tough question. I’ve seen many lists of the things people are suggesting. Most seem well intended. However, no one demand alone even begins to scratch the surface of what‘s wrong here. In fact, in a way, it points out how far we really are, from seeing where we really are. To sum it all up in one demand seemed impossible, so I decided to try. After much thought, I constructed the following analogy to describe my take on this whole One Demand issue.
Take a map and draw a circle, then say, everyone outside the circle is to have their labor and resources exploited for the benefit of those inside the circle. If you live outside the circle you say, “this system is completely fucked up.” If you live inside the circle you say, “this is capitalism and it’s the best system on earth you should try it it’s awesome. Sure, people outside are suffering, but who gives a fuck about them?” Now as the circle shrinks, as it is designed to do, concentrating accumulated wealth, people begin finding themselves suddenly outside of the circle. They jump up and down and cry foul, but the ones still in the circle say, “tough shit, you were too slow, shoulda run faster to stay inside the circle“. But then, they soon realize that they too are too slow to keep up with the rapidly shrinking circle, and quickly they find themselves left out, so they cry foul. “The system is broken!!!” they decry! But is it? Isn’t this the way the system has always functioned? Why is it now broken just because they, we, no longer reside within the bounds of its benefits? We stand outside the ever shrinking circle, yelling fixes, throwing band-aids, making demands that the ever shrinking circle expand! at least big enough to include us so that we can go back to not giving a fuck about the people outside, but alas, it will not. The circle does not expand, it does not know how. It only knows how to contract, concentrate, condense, like a dark star collapsing in on itself. There is no “demand” that will drag the borders of the circle back around us. And even if you could, would you? Would you go back to fucking the rest of the world to have your cable TV and your steel belted radials? I hope not. I hope the world is ready to say no more. No more. Therefore, since it is my sincere belief that the circle is/was and always will be fucked up, I say, surround them and demand that they collapse in on themselves and disappear into their own black hole.
That is my One Demand.
And from the comments, most excellent:
They drew a circle that shut me out —
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took them in.
Paraphrased from "Outwitted" by Edwin Markham
For whatever it's worth in the emotional state many find themselves in at this time.
Occupy Wall Street: My One Demand
By Jinger Dixon
October 18, 2011 "Information Clearing House" -- I was recently asked what I thought the “one demand” should be for the OWS protest. That’s a tough question. I’ve seen many lists of the things people are suggesting. Most seem well intended. However, no one demand alone even begins to scratch the surface of what‘s wrong here. In fact, in a way, it points out how far we really are, from seeing where we really are. To sum it all up in one demand seemed impossible, so I decided to try. After much thought, I constructed the following analogy to describe my take on this whole One Demand issue.
Take a map and draw a circle, then say, everyone outside the circle is to have their labor and resources exploited for the benefit of those inside the circle. If you live outside the circle you say, “this system is completely fucked up.” If you live inside the circle you say, “this is capitalism and it’s the best system on earth you should try it it’s awesome. Sure, people outside are suffering, but who gives a fuck about them?” Now as the circle shrinks, as it is designed to do, concentrating accumulated wealth, people begin finding themselves suddenly outside of the circle. They jump up and down and cry foul, but the ones still in the circle say, “tough shit, you were too slow, shoulda run faster to stay inside the circle“. But then, they soon realize that they too are too slow to keep up with the rapidly shrinking circle, and quickly they find themselves left out, so they cry foul. “The system is broken!!!” they decry! But is it? Isn’t this the way the system has always functioned? Why is it now broken just because they, we, no longer reside within the bounds of its benefits? We stand outside the ever shrinking circle, yelling fixes, throwing band-aids, making demands that the ever shrinking circle expand! at least big enough to include us so that we can go back to not giving a fuck about the people outside, but alas, it will not. The circle does not expand, it does not know how. It only knows how to contract, concentrate, condense, like a dark star collapsing in on itself. There is no “demand” that will drag the borders of the circle back around us. And even if you could, would you? Would you go back to fucking the rest of the world to have your cable TV and your steel belted radials? I hope not. I hope the world is ready to say no more. No more. Therefore, since it is my sincere belief that the circle is/was and always will be fucked up, I say, surround them and demand that they collapse in on themselves and disappear into their own black hole.
That is my One Demand.
And from the comments, most excellent:
They drew a circle that shut me out —
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took them in.
Paraphrased from "Outwitted" by Edwin Markham
For whatever it's worth in the emotional state many find themselves in at this time.
Monday, 17 October 2011
The Heavens Proclaim
Mortal soul 4 -- The heavens proclaim
Four centuries ago, Francis Bacon said that what a person would like to be true, he preferentially believes. Is there a way to truth that escapes the constraints of personal preference? Can we know the world as it is and not as we wish it to be? Perhaps not. Certainly there is no such thing as Truth with a capital T, final and absolute. But Bacon was instrumental in inventing a way to reliable truth with a lower case t -- tentative, partial, evolving truth. It is called the scientific way of knowing, and it follows simple rules:
1. Rely on reproducible quantitative observations that can be shared by believer and skeptic alike.
2. Do not assume more when less will do.
3. Do not invoke the supernatural when a natural explanation will suffice.
4. Be willing to say "I don't know."
5. And, especially, be ready to admit "I was wrong."
I can't offer an ironclad proof that the scientific way of knowing is more reliable than tradition, prophets, or holy books. I can only refer you the modern world -- technology, medicine, voyages to other worlds. The proof of the pudding...
The 13.7-billion-year story of creation as we currently understand it leaves me more breathless with awe than any of the anthropomorophic fairy tales I learned as a child. It is the God of this grander creation -- who is not a person, who is not this and is not that, whose name we cannot speak and whose nature we do not know -- that we glimpse in the poetic language of the mystics, such as these words of Teilhard de Chardin: "Radiant Word, blazing Power, you who mold the manifold so as to breath your life into it; I pray you, lay on us your hands -- powerful, considerate, omnipresent, those hands which do not (like our human hands) touch now here, now there, but which plunge into the depths and the totality, present and past, of things so as to reach us simultaneously through all that is most immense and most inward within us and around us." Who will deny the depth and richness of a universe that is most immense and most inward within us and around us?
What do the heavens proclaim? We are an accidental and perhaps commonplace part of a universe that is vast beyond our comprehension, certainly now and perhaps forever. The ancients had it backwards: Our story is part of the universe's story, rather than the other way around. It is a measure of our coming of age as a species that we are able to accept this natural revelation, and gaze courageously into the cosmos of the myriad galaxies rather than remaining fixated on our own navels. Finding ourselves in a universe without a center, we are challenged to make our own center, by loving the place we are in and every creature in it.
Hat tip to Runnin 'Cause I Can't Fly.
Four centuries ago, Francis Bacon said that what a person would like to be true, he preferentially believes. Is there a way to truth that escapes the constraints of personal preference? Can we know the world as it is and not as we wish it to be? Perhaps not. Certainly there is no such thing as Truth with a capital T, final and absolute. But Bacon was instrumental in inventing a way to reliable truth with a lower case t -- tentative, partial, evolving truth. It is called the scientific way of knowing, and it follows simple rules:
1. Rely on reproducible quantitative observations that can be shared by believer and skeptic alike.
2. Do not assume more when less will do.
3. Do not invoke the supernatural when a natural explanation will suffice.
4. Be willing to say "I don't know."
5. And, especially, be ready to admit "I was wrong."
I can't offer an ironclad proof that the scientific way of knowing is more reliable than tradition, prophets, or holy books. I can only refer you the modern world -- technology, medicine, voyages to other worlds. The proof of the pudding...
The 13.7-billion-year story of creation as we currently understand it leaves me more breathless with awe than any of the anthropomorophic fairy tales I learned as a child. It is the God of this grander creation -- who is not a person, who is not this and is not that, whose name we cannot speak and whose nature we do not know -- that we glimpse in the poetic language of the mystics, such as these words of Teilhard de Chardin: "Radiant Word, blazing Power, you who mold the manifold so as to breath your life into it; I pray you, lay on us your hands -- powerful, considerate, omnipresent, those hands which do not (like our human hands) touch now here, now there, but which plunge into the depths and the totality, present and past, of things so as to reach us simultaneously through all that is most immense and most inward within us and around us." Who will deny the depth and richness of a universe that is most immense and most inward within us and around us?
What do the heavens proclaim? We are an accidental and perhaps commonplace part of a universe that is vast beyond our comprehension, certainly now and perhaps forever. The ancients had it backwards: Our story is part of the universe's story, rather than the other way around. It is a measure of our coming of age as a species that we are able to accept this natural revelation, and gaze courageously into the cosmos of the myriad galaxies rather than remaining fixated on our own navels. Finding ourselves in a universe without a center, we are challenged to make our own center, by loving the place we are in and every creature in it.
Hat tip to Runnin 'Cause I Can't Fly.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Monday, 10 October 2011
BLACK SUNDAY (9 October 2011)
This is quoted from TB, by Nunique.
I will never be able to look at this date in any other way
This morning I woke up knowing of possibly 13 riders that had died on our roads yesterday, this morning while following up on 3 of the unconfirmed accidents I was told that the death toll for bikers on our roads yesterday is standing on
16
WTF This is just way to many I mean seriously in the year that I've been doing the Fallen Wall - the worst I have come across has been 9 in a weekend not in one day. These are all as a result of motorcycle accident, I can't tell you who was at fault but gathered from discussions I've had with people that are more clued up than me at least 80% of them are as a result of rider negligence.
GUYS PLEASE THIS IS A PLEAD FROM A WIFE, A MOTHER, A DAUGHTER, AN AUNT, A FRIEND.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE THINK BEFORE GETTING ON YOUR BIKE WE ARE CURRENTLY OUR OWN WORST ENEMY AND IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE IF WE DO NOT START THINKING ABOUT THE HURT WE WILL CAUSE BY BEING SELFISH.
So many people I've spoken to who have lost family and friends as a result of biking accidents say even though they hate to admit but that the riders were speeding or drinking before the accident happened.
THINK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY!!!
STAY ALIVE!!!
______________________________________
Respect again to Nunique Of Fallenbikers.co.za.
I will never be able to look at this date in any other way
This morning I woke up knowing of possibly 13 riders that had died on our roads yesterday, this morning while following up on 3 of the unconfirmed accidents I was told that the death toll for bikers on our roads yesterday is standing on
16
WTF This is just way to many I mean seriously in the year that I've been doing the Fallen Wall - the worst I have come across has been 9 in a weekend not in one day. These are all as a result of motorcycle accident, I can't tell you who was at fault but gathered from discussions I've had with people that are more clued up than me at least 80% of them are as a result of rider negligence.
GUYS PLEASE THIS IS A PLEAD FROM A WIFE, A MOTHER, A DAUGHTER, AN AUNT, A FRIEND.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE THINK BEFORE GETTING ON YOUR BIKE WE ARE CURRENTLY OUR OWN WORST ENEMY AND IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE IF WE DO NOT START THINKING ABOUT THE HURT WE WILL CAUSE BY BEING SELFISH.
So many people I've spoken to who have lost family and friends as a result of biking accidents say even though they hate to admit but that the riders were speeding or drinking before the accident happened.
THINK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY!!!
STAY ALIVE!!!
______________________________________
Respect again to Nunique Of Fallenbikers.co.za.
Friday, 7 October 2011
More backlash
I was right about the previous post, the ANC didn't even see this coming.
Koos Kombuis summed it up perfectly:
"They have treated the question of the Dalai Lama’s visa application as a trifle, something unimportant, a little administrative matter, an irritation that would go away if they ignored it for long enough."
He adds:
" ...the old system of apartheid.
Like the tornados that recently ripped through parts of Gauteng and the Free State, the winds of change have irrevocably destroyed that old system. The same winds will destroy the present system. When those winds have done their job, I wish to stand up and be counted; secondly as an Afrikaner, but first and foremost as a South African. In fact, I would like to live in a country where race and culture is less important than the common principles of loyalty, honesty and hard work."
Mail and Guardian has also been vocal, and now i'd like to remind the reader about how much trouble they used to be in for saying the same thing against the nats.
"There was also the absurd notion that South Africa's own challenges -- of unemployment, poverty, criminal violence, a dysfunctional education system -- somehow precluded its citizens from expressing solidarity with oppressed people around the world. This is disingenuous -- as is the oft trotted out line that only the ANC, as elected by the majority, is in touch with and can represent the will of South Africans. It is a claim used to attack Tutu, the Constitutional Court and any other dissenting voice that threatens the ANC's hegemony. It turns South Africans into democratic appendages whose only role is to mark an X on a piece of paper every five years.
All this would appear to be what the antidemocratic forces within the ruling ANC want to achieve in South Africa, in which case we can truly understand why it has such close ties with China."
And in reading other news, the anc spokeperson is attacking Max du Preez for using a word: "maaifoedies" which was not a very nice word, when it was used by slaves in the 1700's. It's ok for the same spokesperson to sing "kill people" ... but no nasty words which we've never heard before.
The idiocy as well as the insensitivity shown by these "maaifoedies" is alarming, truly frightening. It's psychopathically disconnected from reality, the same mindset of killers towards their prey.
Koos Kombuis summed it up perfectly:
"They have treated the question of the Dalai Lama’s visa application as a trifle, something unimportant, a little administrative matter, an irritation that would go away if they ignored it for long enough."
He adds:
" ...the old system of apartheid.
Like the tornados that recently ripped through parts of Gauteng and the Free State, the winds of change have irrevocably destroyed that old system. The same winds will destroy the present system. When those winds have done their job, I wish to stand up and be counted; secondly as an Afrikaner, but first and foremost as a South African. In fact, I would like to live in a country where race and culture is less important than the common principles of loyalty, honesty and hard work."
Mail and Guardian has also been vocal, and now i'd like to remind the reader about how much trouble they used to be in for saying the same thing against the nats.
"There was also the absurd notion that South Africa's own challenges -- of unemployment, poverty, criminal violence, a dysfunctional education system -- somehow precluded its citizens from expressing solidarity with oppressed people around the world. This is disingenuous -- as is the oft trotted out line that only the ANC, as elected by the majority, is in touch with and can represent the will of South Africans. It is a claim used to attack Tutu, the Constitutional Court and any other dissenting voice that threatens the ANC's hegemony. It turns South Africans into democratic appendages whose only role is to mark an X on a piece of paper every five years.
All this would appear to be what the antidemocratic forces within the ruling ANC want to achieve in South Africa, in which case we can truly understand why it has such close ties with China."
And in reading other news, the anc spokeperson is attacking Max du Preez for using a word: "maaifoedies" which was not a very nice word, when it was used by slaves in the 1700's. It's ok for the same spokesperson to sing "kill people" ... but no nasty words which we've never heard before.
The idiocy as well as the insensitivity shown by these "maaifoedies" is alarming, truly frightening. It's psychopathically disconnected from reality, the same mindset of killers towards their prey.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Decisive moment
For the last 17 years we've seen horror after horror. What was advertised and sold to us, and we bought euphorically with everything we owned, has turned into a lemon. This rainbow nation that is being plundered and raped as we stare helplessly.
I'm ambivalent towards the Dalai Lama, i don't really bother much about what he does. But he is a nobel laureate, the head of a major religion, and a symbol for peace, akin to madiba. Clearly not the sort of person our government would like to associate with. They prefer arms dealers and dictators.
Tutu was a caricature from when i was a kid in cape town, but as i've grown up and watched this man, he i have really developed respect for. Utterly moral, unafraid to speak his mind, both to the nats and the anc, also a religious leader and a nobel laureate. Great men both, of our time.
The anc has been it's usual stupid self, and the glaring discrepancy of they say versus what they do has become blinding. The "official" govt response was limp as wet tissue paper, and lies and distortions all.
I quote:
Mthembu added: “As a result of the ANC reputation, record on human rights, democratic principles and South Africa's progressive Constitution, South Africa is today recognised by international organisations, such as the United Nations and the African Union as a critical role player in international peace and as a protector of human rights.
Comment:
We're at 6 on the human rights watch list, our UN voting has been an insult to victims, our constitution is being trampled on, and the au internationally is also a waste of time.
But my favourite quotes are from the good bishop:
“I sat in the audience and listened to this president paying tribute to all the people who had helped to bring about democracy. This president didn’t thank a single religious leader.”
Tutu said religious leaders had encouraged up to 30 000 people at a time to march against, and bring an end to, apartheid. “Let the ANC know; they cannot airbrush us out.”
Tutu warned the ANC that Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, both toppled from their top jobs, had previously held a large majority.
“Watch out. I am warning you. Watch out. Please watch out.”
“Tibet is being oppressed. Our government, representing me, says it will not support Tibetans who are being oppressed viciously by the Chinese. Hey, Mr Zuma, you and your government don’t represent me. You represent your own interests.
“I am warning you out of love. I am warning you like I warned the Nationalists. I am warning you that one day we will start praying for the defeat of the ANC government.
“You are disgraceful.
“I am warning you. We will pray as we prayed for the downfall of the apartheid government. You have got a huge majority; that’s nothing.
“Watch out ANC government; watch out,” Tutu concluded.
I conclude that this is the turning moment. The major factors in the fall of apartheid were the white lefts, churches, sanctions, and the armed struggle. We were winning militarily, it was the others we were losing. The anc has become worse than the nats, not only because we expected it back then, but because even the nats could be made to listen, these anc people are too stupid to see their coming demise. China won't save them, neither will destroying the constitution. From this moment on, nothing will.
I'll leave you with this image, of a man outraged. It would be almost comical if you did not understand the background to it, but no, you can see the hurt in the man's eye's, and for an 80 something retired priest, well he is usually much more dignified.
EDIT:
Dailymaverick says it better than i could, but we share the same view.
What is the difference between Sharpeville and Tianenmen square? Nothing at all. The new nats are making deals with the other nats, or worse than. They're all as bad as each other.
I'm ambivalent towards the Dalai Lama, i don't really bother much about what he does. But he is a nobel laureate, the head of a major religion, and a symbol for peace, akin to madiba. Clearly not the sort of person our government would like to associate with. They prefer arms dealers and dictators.
Tutu was a caricature from when i was a kid in cape town, but as i've grown up and watched this man, he i have really developed respect for. Utterly moral, unafraid to speak his mind, both to the nats and the anc, also a religious leader and a nobel laureate. Great men both, of our time.
The anc has been it's usual stupid self, and the glaring discrepancy of they say versus what they do has become blinding. The "official" govt response was limp as wet tissue paper, and lies and distortions all.
I quote:
Mthembu added: “As a result of the ANC reputation, record on human rights, democratic principles and South Africa's progressive Constitution, South Africa is today recognised by international organisations, such as the United Nations and the African Union as a critical role player in international peace and as a protector of human rights.
Comment:
We're at 6 on the human rights watch list, our UN voting has been an insult to victims, our constitution is being trampled on, and the au internationally is also a waste of time.
But my favourite quotes are from the good bishop:
“I sat in the audience and listened to this president paying tribute to all the people who had helped to bring about democracy. This president didn’t thank a single religious leader.”
Tutu said religious leaders had encouraged up to 30 000 people at a time to march against, and bring an end to, apartheid. “Let the ANC know; they cannot airbrush us out.”
Tutu warned the ANC that Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, both toppled from their top jobs, had previously held a large majority.
“Watch out. I am warning you. Watch out. Please watch out.”
“Tibet is being oppressed. Our government, representing me, says it will not support Tibetans who are being oppressed viciously by the Chinese. Hey, Mr Zuma, you and your government don’t represent me. You represent your own interests.
“I am warning you out of love. I am warning you like I warned the Nationalists. I am warning you that one day we will start praying for the defeat of the ANC government.
“You are disgraceful.
“I am warning you. We will pray as we prayed for the downfall of the apartheid government. You have got a huge majority; that’s nothing.
“Watch out ANC government; watch out,” Tutu concluded.
I conclude that this is the turning moment. The major factors in the fall of apartheid were the white lefts, churches, sanctions, and the armed struggle. We were winning militarily, it was the others we were losing. The anc has become worse than the nats, not only because we expected it back then, but because even the nats could be made to listen, these anc people are too stupid to see their coming demise. China won't save them, neither will destroying the constitution. From this moment on, nothing will.
I'll leave you with this image, of a man outraged. It would be almost comical if you did not understand the background to it, but no, you can see the hurt in the man's eye's, and for an 80 something retired priest, well he is usually much more dignified.
EDIT:
Dailymaverick says it better than i could, but we share the same view.
What is the difference between Sharpeville and Tianenmen square? Nothing at all. The new nats are making deals with the other nats, or worse than. They're all as bad as each other.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Ride-Report-of-an-accident
Skinny's story.
Skinny is one of the coolest people i know. It was a while ago that she had an accident, while on a group ride out Eastern Tranvaal. She tells her story, not only of the crash, but also the year since ... and i have to warn you, it's NOT easy to read.
Personally, i'm more scared of THIS than of dying ... when it takes great courage to just get up in the morning. Funny though, i came within a hair's breadth of getting t-boned last night, and i was travelling less than 30km/h at the time. Coming off the highway, stop at robot, robot green, check right (they always bleed through there) pull off. While i HAD checked that no cars were pulling out, i hadn't checked far enough to see mad bitch come careening around the corner, through a solid red light. I had cars both sides behind me, and if i tried to stop i'd stop directly in her path. I had already committed to the corner, so i went. Straight for the kerb. The first time she saw me was when i was already out her way, like a shot across the bows, directly in front of her moving car. She was looking right into the corner she so desperately wanted to take, when i was coming from her left. She slowed ... gaped in shock, and then clearly decided to run away as quickly as possible. Once i had passed in front of her, just a half turn parallel to the curb and an emergency stop, easy stuff that. I sat in shock and disbelief for a few seconds, but needed to move, traffic doesn't even stop for the dead in jhb, never mind the shellshocked.
I saw her hitting me .. t-boning me from the right ... through sheer ... stupidity. Didn't see the robot, didn't look at me and the cars bearing down on her. She wasn't even on a cell phone. Just braindead. Keep it safe guys, and stay calm, that's the secret. Meanwhile, give Skinny's website a visit, and if you can, please support her.
tankgirls.co.za
Skinny is one of the coolest people i know. It was a while ago that she had an accident, while on a group ride out Eastern Tranvaal. She tells her story, not only of the crash, but also the year since ... and i have to warn you, it's NOT easy to read.
Personally, i'm more scared of THIS than of dying ... when it takes great courage to just get up in the morning. Funny though, i came within a hair's breadth of getting t-boned last night, and i was travelling less than 30km/h at the time. Coming off the highway, stop at robot, robot green, check right (they always bleed through there) pull off. While i HAD checked that no cars were pulling out, i hadn't checked far enough to see mad bitch come careening around the corner, through a solid red light. I had cars both sides behind me, and if i tried to stop i'd stop directly in her path. I had already committed to the corner, so i went. Straight for the kerb. The first time she saw me was when i was already out her way, like a shot across the bows, directly in front of her moving car. She was looking right into the corner she so desperately wanted to take, when i was coming from her left. She slowed ... gaped in shock, and then clearly decided to run away as quickly as possible. Once i had passed in front of her, just a half turn parallel to the curb and an emergency stop, easy stuff that. I sat in shock and disbelief for a few seconds, but needed to move, traffic doesn't even stop for the dead in jhb, never mind the shellshocked.
I saw her hitting me .. t-boning me from the right ... through sheer ... stupidity. Didn't see the robot, didn't look at me and the cars bearing down on her. She wasn't even on a cell phone. Just braindead. Keep it safe guys, and stay calm, that's the secret. Meanwhile, give Skinny's website a visit, and if you can, please support her.
tankgirls.co.za
Monday, 3 October 2011
Motorcycle training
Synchronicity: By Mr Dave Abrams of IOL.
The following Sunday the main group - nearly 60 of them - gathered at Killarney to take their riding to the next level, with high-speed braking and cornering exercises. When chief instructor Tony Sparg had them stop from 80km/h using only the rear brake and then check out the resulting stopping distance there were some raised eyebrows.
100% - brilliant. The oddest thing though, i did "my" training yesterday too. I had a total of 3 bikes, including me, and a biker in a cage (he had his son). A very good session we had, changing the course slightly to make it more challenging. I have the right equipment now, could use more tennis balls, lol, but any parking lot can become marked out within minutes to any number of bizarre shapes.
My good friend G made me look really bad, but with skills like his i'm not too ashamed! But, he practices, all the time, on a bloody great big GS1200, and it shows, his lean angle, confidence and control all worked together to make him a pleasure to watch. I kept up, just, and it took all i had to focus and get it right, and even then i looked sloppy!
We'll do it again though, soon, and then i'll have to have a word with the weather man first!!
Friday, 30 September 2011
Monday, 26 September 2011
Friday, 23 September 2011
Rest in Peace Daphne Tyack
Daphne passed on this morning, after a several month long stay in ICU. She leaves her husband Roger, and adopted son Herman, devastated.
Another casualty of the south african unhealth system, the entire event was because doctors messed up. From start to finish. She was operated on due to misdiagnosis, and she died in hospital through incompetance, in another city from her family, and among people who didn't care about her, either way. But they will want their "rewards" .. financial.
A good woman with a sharp mind, quick wit, and a lot of kindness, private though, and sadly her passing will hardly be noticed. She did not tolerate fools, and had that old fashioned sense of right, and clean, and proper.
We notice, the absence of life, a blank space where something should be. There will be no funeral, no memorial service, only 2 sad men, one old one young, who will carry her in their hearts forever.
R.I.P. Daphne, we'll look after your boys.
EDIT TO ADD:
DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Another casualty of the south african unhealth system, the entire event was because doctors messed up. From start to finish. She was operated on due to misdiagnosis, and she died in hospital through incompetance, in another city from her family, and among people who didn't care about her, either way. But they will want their "rewards" .. financial.
A good woman with a sharp mind, quick wit, and a lot of kindness, private though, and sadly her passing will hardly be noticed. She did not tolerate fools, and had that old fashioned sense of right, and clean, and proper.
We notice, the absence of life, a blank space where something should be. There will be no funeral, no memorial service, only 2 sad men, one old one young, who will carry her in their hearts forever.
R.I.P. Daphne, we'll look after your boys.
EDIT TO ADD:
DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Monday, 19 September 2011
Why i hate think bike.
More than a few people have asked me to define why i am so angry with think bike, because i am, angry that is.
Think Bike was never perfect, there never was a golden period with no problems. But i had a fairly good idea of what it wanted to be, and the many imperfections were put to the back, since there were so many other problems that needed addressing first. So this mix match of unlikely sorts ended up being a community with a shared vision.
The good man Bucc steered this ship with a master's hand, making sure that none of the silly things took over from the basic shared vision and goals, and ensuring a ship that could weather the daily storms. Then Bucc died, and left us with a gaping hole where, he should be. At that point, i don't believe think bike had ever been stronger. It was a single uniting cause that all bikers related to and respected, and the ship sailed on with a new master.
Sadly this didn't work too well, and so began the FIT IN OR FUCK OFF philosophy that think bike is now famous for. Basically, they said WE (leadership) are think bike, you (members) are not, non members even more so. We don't need anyone who doesn't pay us an annual fee, and we don't need anyone to tell us anything we don't want to hear. This, coupled with a complete absence of any real leadership, led to more than a few disappointed people.
A major issue of contention was the forum. Now the good master Bucc was into IT, and saw the advantages of an online forum, whereby people could share experiences and ideas and plan events without leaving their home or office. The forum really is the wood of the good ship tb. The interactions online, which were initially all really positive, from a perspective of motive, slowly began to be dragged down by something. Attitude perhaps, or lack of focus, but it became commonplace for anyone who penned a "complaint" to be shouted out by all and sundry, regardless of the value of any comments made.
The "good" people, family types, left almost immediately. Many others, in the tru tb spirit, believed that they should stay and try create a better organisation. They were wrong. One by one they were insulted, berated, and discredited. The organisation itself meanwhile, began floundering as the leadership make bad decision after bad decision. The typical response was denial, obfuscation, then outright verbal assault on the person making the complaint, or observation. To the point where civil discourse was impossible, and ANY thread was "hijacked", by mindless little midgeons who got off on being "clever". This was actively encouraged by management. Clever comments add nothing, but really insult people nonetheless.
The other angle of course was the alcohol abuse, widespread, flagrant, and utterly unrepentant. Their main "casual chat area" is the PUB, and the most common statement on tb became, "let's go have a beer". Not entirely outside the "biker" mindset, but hardly fit for a road safety campaign. That they would stand outside their think bike gazebo at a biker event drinking beer from sixpacks lying on the grass in front of the "please join us" stand was reprehensible. Again, anyone who even questioned this practice was viciously attacked on the forum. They even collected the name drink bike from others in the biker community.
This is now several years later, and the "leaders" now have such a complete deathgrip on the campaign, that even "official representatives" have no idea what is happening. There is a complete attitude of need to know, and other than the execs, nobody needs to know. There are major problems within the campaign, but more concerning is the complete absence of response, and a seeming lack of will to even address ANY concerns. Secrecy and underhandedness have become the trademarks of this campaign. even calling it a community now is over generous, while they certainly are, they are no more a community than any other bike club in existance.
A top down heirarchical structure of control which brooks no argument, admits nothing, promises everything and does nothing (save covering their own arses).
I have not yet had direct evidence of any of this, only my experience coupled with what people tell me, and while i seldom believe anything people tell me, when 10+ people all sing the same song, well they must have heard it before, somewhere. I could speak for ages on specific incidents of complete maladministration and similar ... but i won't.
I have evidence that think bike employs foul play on the forums. I'm trying to decide whether or not to fully post that information here, but i imagine that it may create problems later. So here's the deal, i have the evidence, and will share it with anyone who asks. Keeping silent is not an option for me. It never was, hopefully never will be. I have tried to voice my opinions in a constructive way, but it's become clear that they will not listen. They have no desire to listen, and frankly their arrogance and stupidity has made them blind to anything but their own agendas. So be it. I share this info now from a sincere desire for the truth to be known, they MAY NOT abuse the ship any more. They MAY NOT ignore their mandate while reaping rewards for the work of other people. They MAY NOT carry on regardless in trampling the real community of bikers that brave these bloody rivers of death.
david.vigilant@gmail.com
If you ask, i'll give you evidence that think bike has grossly exceeded their mandate, and should be removed. Think bike is a failure now. Perhaps they can resurface one day in the future, but before then, their current form to be destroyed completely, and reset to a simpler, more open model.
Think Bike was never perfect, there never was a golden period with no problems. But i had a fairly good idea of what it wanted to be, and the many imperfections were put to the back, since there were so many other problems that needed addressing first. So this mix match of unlikely sorts ended up being a community with a shared vision.
The good man Bucc steered this ship with a master's hand, making sure that none of the silly things took over from the basic shared vision and goals, and ensuring a ship that could weather the daily storms. Then Bucc died, and left us with a gaping hole where, he should be. At that point, i don't believe think bike had ever been stronger. It was a single uniting cause that all bikers related to and respected, and the ship sailed on with a new master.
Sadly this didn't work too well, and so began the FIT IN OR FUCK OFF philosophy that think bike is now famous for. Basically, they said WE (leadership) are think bike, you (members) are not, non members even more so. We don't need anyone who doesn't pay us an annual fee, and we don't need anyone to tell us anything we don't want to hear. This, coupled with a complete absence of any real leadership, led to more than a few disappointed people.
A major issue of contention was the forum. Now the good master Bucc was into IT, and saw the advantages of an online forum, whereby people could share experiences and ideas and plan events without leaving their home or office. The forum really is the wood of the good ship tb. The interactions online, which were initially all really positive, from a perspective of motive, slowly began to be dragged down by something. Attitude perhaps, or lack of focus, but it became commonplace for anyone who penned a "complaint" to be shouted out by all and sundry, regardless of the value of any comments made.
The "good" people, family types, left almost immediately. Many others, in the tru tb spirit, believed that they should stay and try create a better organisation. They were wrong. One by one they were insulted, berated, and discredited. The organisation itself meanwhile, began floundering as the leadership make bad decision after bad decision. The typical response was denial, obfuscation, then outright verbal assault on the person making the complaint, or observation. To the point where civil discourse was impossible, and ANY thread was "hijacked", by mindless little midgeons who got off on being "clever". This was actively encouraged by management. Clever comments add nothing, but really insult people nonetheless.
The other angle of course was the alcohol abuse, widespread, flagrant, and utterly unrepentant. Their main "casual chat area" is the PUB, and the most common statement on tb became, "let's go have a beer". Not entirely outside the "biker" mindset, but hardly fit for a road safety campaign. That they would stand outside their think bike gazebo at a biker event drinking beer from sixpacks lying on the grass in front of the "please join us" stand was reprehensible. Again, anyone who even questioned this practice was viciously attacked on the forum. They even collected the name drink bike from others in the biker community.
This is now several years later, and the "leaders" now have such a complete deathgrip on the campaign, that even "official representatives" have no idea what is happening. There is a complete attitude of need to know, and other than the execs, nobody needs to know. There are major problems within the campaign, but more concerning is the complete absence of response, and a seeming lack of will to even address ANY concerns. Secrecy and underhandedness have become the trademarks of this campaign. even calling it a community now is over generous, while they certainly are, they are no more a community than any other bike club in existance.
A top down heirarchical structure of control which brooks no argument, admits nothing, promises everything and does nothing (save covering their own arses).
I have not yet had direct evidence of any of this, only my experience coupled with what people tell me, and while i seldom believe anything people tell me, when 10+ people all sing the same song, well they must have heard it before, somewhere. I could speak for ages on specific incidents of complete maladministration and similar ... but i won't.
I have evidence that think bike employs foul play on the forums. I'm trying to decide whether or not to fully post that information here, but i imagine that it may create problems later. So here's the deal, i have the evidence, and will share it with anyone who asks. Keeping silent is not an option for me. It never was, hopefully never will be. I have tried to voice my opinions in a constructive way, but it's become clear that they will not listen. They have no desire to listen, and frankly their arrogance and stupidity has made them blind to anything but their own agendas. So be it. I share this info now from a sincere desire for the truth to be known, they MAY NOT abuse the ship any more. They MAY NOT ignore their mandate while reaping rewards for the work of other people. They MAY NOT carry on regardless in trampling the real community of bikers that brave these bloody rivers of death.
david.vigilant@gmail.com
If you ask, i'll give you evidence that think bike has grossly exceeded their mandate, and should be removed. Think bike is a failure now. Perhaps they can resurface one day in the future, but before then, their current form to be destroyed completely, and reset to a simpler, more open model.
Rant
I'm spitting mad. ANOTHER "friend" turned around and basically accused me of not living up to their expectations of me.
What the fucking fuck? I ask ...
I am who i am, if you don't like me, goodbye.
I have no responsibility towards anyone other than myself, and i am insulted to realise that other people would think that i would try please them, or use them, as the case may be.
I am living my own dream thanks, complete with occasional nightmares. You're welcome to join in and try find some peace and love in this crazy fucking universe, along with me, but frankly if you're in it for anything other than just the ride i WILL disappoint you.
So be it.
What the fucking fuck? I ask ...
I am who i am, if you don't like me, goodbye.
I have no responsibility towards anyone other than myself, and i am insulted to realise that other people would think that i would try please them, or use them, as the case may be.
I am living my own dream thanks, complete with occasional nightmares. You're welcome to join in and try find some peace and love in this crazy fucking universe, along with me, but frankly if you're in it for anything other than just the ride i WILL disappoint you.
So be it.
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Words of Wisdom
In these times of insanity, and in the general breakdown of everything, and especially when you consider the worthlessness of state, it helps to climb out our south african box, and view the whole issue of government and society from a much broader platform.
Admittedly this was an email send along, but well worth every small pixelated glow.
1. In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress.
-- John Adams
2. If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.
-- Mark Twain
3. Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.
-- Mark Twain
4. I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
-- Winston Churchill
5. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
-- George Bernard Shaw
6. A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.
-- G. Gordon Liddy
7. Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
-- James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)
8. Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
-- Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University
9. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
-- P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian
10. Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
-- Frederic Bastiat, French economist(1801-1850)
11. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
-- Ronald Reagan (1986)
12. I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
-- Will Rogers
13. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free!
-- P.J. O'Rourke
14. In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
-- Voltaire (1764)
15. Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!
-- Pericles (430 B.C.)
16. No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
-- Mark Twain (1866)
17. Talk is cheap...except when Congress does it.
-- Anonymous
18. The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.
-- Ronald Reagan
19. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-- Winston Churchill
20. The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
-- Mark Twain
21. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.
-- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
22. There is no distinctly Native American criminal class...save Congress.
-- Mark Twain
23. What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
-- Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)
24. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
-- Thomas Jefferson
25. We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.
-- Aesop
FIVE BEST SENTENCES
1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.
2. What one person receives without working for...another person must work for without receiving.
3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work, because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation
Admittedly this was an email send along, but well worth every small pixelated glow.
1. In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress.
-- John Adams
2. If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.
-- Mark Twain
3. Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.
-- Mark Twain
4. I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
-- Winston Churchill
5. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
-- George Bernard Shaw
6. A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.
-- G. Gordon Liddy
7. Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
-- James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)
8. Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
-- Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University
9. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
-- P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian
10. Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
-- Frederic Bastiat, French economist(1801-1850)
11. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
-- Ronald Reagan (1986)
12. I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
-- Will Rogers
13. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free!
-- P.J. O'Rourke
14. In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
-- Voltaire (1764)
15. Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!
-- Pericles (430 B.C.)
16. No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
-- Mark Twain (1866)
17. Talk is cheap...except when Congress does it.
-- Anonymous
18. The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.
-- Ronald Reagan
19. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-- Winston Churchill
20. The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
-- Mark Twain
21. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.
-- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
22. There is no distinctly Native American criminal class...save Congress.
-- Mark Twain
23. What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
-- Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)
24. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
-- Thomas Jefferson
25. We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.
-- Aesop
FIVE BEST SENTENCES
1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.
2. What one person receives without working for...another person must work for without receiving.
3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work, because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation
Me again
It's a strange strange world we live in, master Jack ...
What an astonishing few days i've had. On the up side, i've been right about a few things for a few years now, and total confirmation came last night, where i was in a meeting, and i wasn't saying anything, but the men around me were speaking as if from my own thoughts, it was surreal. It's made a lot of fighting worthwhile, it's made a lot of hardship bearable, knowing that however else things may be, i was right, and did right. Doesn't mean it's all fixed up, far from it, but you know when you are convicted about something, and everyone either disagrees or ignores you, and finally you receive more than 100% backing from people who you really respect. Completely unexpected, more than a little humbling, and at the same time so powerful and motivating.
So from a complete high, the same day i found out that a very good friend has been lying to us, for years. I guess i had come to expect it, but been afraid to find out, but the truth outs, it always does, then it's time to pick up the pieces. I'm not angry, at all. Hurt, VERY, sad even more so, but not angry. What we have is a really broken person, sick, in the spiritual sense, who desperately needs to pick up her life, but can't, her own inner demons i suppose. As ever, these things really are more complicated than they sound, and something has to be done, soon. But like any sick creature, you have to be gentle, and wise, and you'll probably get bitten in the process, but it'll be worth it, if you can see the miracle of healing.
Another friend stabbed me in the back too, last week, and continuing. Misinterpreted everything, and frankly fucked everything up, for me, for her, and for more others than i can count. I can't fix that, this time. Accusing me of "having no balls" and similar ... yet last night proved her wrong, on every front. Again, it's just gentle sadness left, stupidity chasing stupidity, forgive them, for they know not how misguided they are.
I think the thing is that you cannot "expect" me to behave in a certain way, ever. And being angry at me for holding my silence is silly, especially when the silence becomes so full of other people's fears and insecurities ... which is what i wanted to see in the first place. Actually no, i wanted all the insecurities and stupidities to just fuck off, but when people believe their own bullshit, sometimes you have to draw them out, and expose them to the world for what they are.
Highs and lows indeed, all so interwoven and so scraggly it's hard to tell sometimes, which is what. I've been completely right, and completely wrong, for years, in a single day. I have my honour though, and i stand proud nonetheless. Where i was wrong, i acted with good faith, and where i was right, i acted with courage, despite the odds. It's not often one's life is laid so bare to oneself, and even less seldom that one can reflect so clearly as i have here. Some problems have been solved, other's have yet to be fully explored, but i have a small amount of faith back, in myself, i guess, but in other people too, despite their weakness.
Peace and love on this sunny highveld morning
What an astonishing few days i've had. On the up side, i've been right about a few things for a few years now, and total confirmation came last night, where i was in a meeting, and i wasn't saying anything, but the men around me were speaking as if from my own thoughts, it was surreal. It's made a lot of fighting worthwhile, it's made a lot of hardship bearable, knowing that however else things may be, i was right, and did right. Doesn't mean it's all fixed up, far from it, but you know when you are convicted about something, and everyone either disagrees or ignores you, and finally you receive more than 100% backing from people who you really respect. Completely unexpected, more than a little humbling, and at the same time so powerful and motivating.
So from a complete high, the same day i found out that a very good friend has been lying to us, for years. I guess i had come to expect it, but been afraid to find out, but the truth outs, it always does, then it's time to pick up the pieces. I'm not angry, at all. Hurt, VERY, sad even more so, but not angry. What we have is a really broken person, sick, in the spiritual sense, who desperately needs to pick up her life, but can't, her own inner demons i suppose. As ever, these things really are more complicated than they sound, and something has to be done, soon. But like any sick creature, you have to be gentle, and wise, and you'll probably get bitten in the process, but it'll be worth it, if you can see the miracle of healing.
Another friend stabbed me in the back too, last week, and continuing. Misinterpreted everything, and frankly fucked everything up, for me, for her, and for more others than i can count. I can't fix that, this time. Accusing me of "having no balls" and similar ... yet last night proved her wrong, on every front. Again, it's just gentle sadness left, stupidity chasing stupidity, forgive them, for they know not how misguided they are.
I think the thing is that you cannot "expect" me to behave in a certain way, ever. And being angry at me for holding my silence is silly, especially when the silence becomes so full of other people's fears and insecurities ... which is what i wanted to see in the first place. Actually no, i wanted all the insecurities and stupidities to just fuck off, but when people believe their own bullshit, sometimes you have to draw them out, and expose them to the world for what they are.
Highs and lows indeed, all so interwoven and so scraggly it's hard to tell sometimes, which is what. I've been completely right, and completely wrong, for years, in a single day. I have my honour though, and i stand proud nonetheless. Where i was wrong, i acted with good faith, and where i was right, i acted with courage, despite the odds. It's not often one's life is laid so bare to oneself, and even less seldom that one can reflect so clearly as i have here. Some problems have been solved, other's have yet to be fully explored, but i have a small amount of faith back, in myself, i guess, but in other people too, despite their weakness.
Peace and love on this sunny highveld morning
Friday, 9 September 2011
Thursday, 8 September 2011
The kindness of the cynic
They know not the kindness of the cynic, not the gentleness of temper of such a lover of life. Love of one's fellowmen should not be a doctrine, an article of faith, a matter of intellectual conviction, or a thesis supported by arguments. The love of mankind which requires reasons is no true love. This love should be perfectly natural, as natural for man as for the birds to flap their wings. It should be a direct feeling, springing naturally from a healthy soul, living in touch with Nature. No man who loves the trees truly can be cruel to animals or to his fellowmen. In a perfectly healthy spirit, gaining a vision of life and of one's fellowmen and a true and deep knowledge of Nature, kindness is the natural thing.
That soul does not require any philosophy or man-made religion to tell him to be kind.
........................................
Taken from: hi.baidu.com
I've still got so far to go.
That soul does not require any philosophy or man-made religion to tell him to be kind.
........................................
Taken from: hi.baidu.com
I've still got so far to go.
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Biker down
N1 North before 7. Pic courtesy twitter.
I saw the plastics in the road ... when a merc swung out into my path to avoid them.
I'm curious though, why he went down, thats a nasty lot of plastic bits, he hit something hard. Whether he was in the yellow, and hit trouble, or if he was in the biker lane, and tried to escape to yellow.
Hope he's ok.
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Monday, 5 September 2011
Friday, 2 September 2011
Setbacks
The last few days have been a miserable blur. Aside from my own ever present issues, i've been dealt a blow that is very hard to take. I'm over the ranting and raving, was enough of that, and the raw seething anger has condensed into cold hard stone.
Thank you think bike, and helivac, for putting politics in front of orphans.
Thank you think bike, and helivac for saying one thing, and then doing another.
Thank you think bike, for pissing on the community, sowing discord and strife, and being nothing more than another pissy little baaiker club, when you have such an important mission, and had so much goodwill that is now lost.
You've forgotten everything that WE consider important: A community based safety organisation focusing on Raising Awareness and Saving Lives. NOT a private members group focusing on commercial success and personal glory.
"i've seen pretty people disappear like smoke,
friends will arrive, friends will disappear."
- Bob Dylan.
Thank you think bike, and helivac, for putting politics in front of orphans.
Thank you think bike, and helivac for saying one thing, and then doing another.
Thank you think bike, for pissing on the community, sowing discord and strife, and being nothing more than another pissy little baaiker club, when you have such an important mission, and had so much goodwill that is now lost.
You've forgotten everything that WE consider important: A community based safety organisation focusing on Raising Awareness and Saving Lives. NOT a private members group focusing on commercial success and personal glory.
"i've seen pretty people disappear like smoke,
friends will arrive, friends will disappear."
- Bob Dylan.
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
My secret ...
So i have a secret. Haven't told anyone about it, and of course the guilt is eating me alive. So here's where i'll tell my computer screen and pretend no one else will ever know.
A few weeks back, in that really really cold spell we had, it was decided that we would have take out for dinner. Friday night month end, freezing cold outside, yes i wondered what they were thinking too. Anyhow, so pizza was agreed on, and tghe wife and i climbed in the lunchbox to get dinner.
When we found parking, got to the take out part of the pizza place, it was full. Not jsut full, it was packed, like a japanese train. All the huddled masses waiting for instant food and scared of the cold. No really, scared of it, almost as if it had teeth. Wife dragged be unwillingly through the masses of miserable mankind, and told me cheerily, that they were all waiting for their pizzas, not waiting to place their order. Of course, the hour long wait for food is probably why the room was so full. So i bolted, ran away, fortunately the wife kept up.
So we went to the local mall, because now it was already too late to go home and cook, so it had to be takeout of some sort. A whole row of glass shop fronts awaited us, each misty with the heat of breathe and body that was crammed up against them. Chicken, pizza, burgers, all the shops plugged full of people ... *shudder*.
So anyhow, i spied my salvation, a chinese take out ... almost empty. We walked into the warmth of inside, and got a lovely smile from the lady busily making a sushi platter. The quietness inside was really unexpected, and the small dark tables, neatly laid with chopsticks and condiments. The 2 others waiting for their food were calm, and quiet, and we shared a small smile. Perfect.
So we placed our orders and i included a fortune cookie for the wife, she likes that sort of thing. The lady brought it immediately, although with a shy oriental smile i also got one pressed into my hand. Ah well ...
So we opened our, and i gave wifey the cookie to eat, she likes those too ;-). Her message was nice and simple, and gave her that happy smile they're designed to instill.
Mine said: "your every wish will come true." I choked even though i wasn't eating anything. It had a series of "lottery" numbers on the back, tempted as i was, i wasn't going to give money to the lotto thieves. All i had was a was a genie's promise on paper. Worthless.
The food was great, fresh and tasty, and filled all the holes n our tummies. but that little piece of paper haunts me still. Who the hell would want their wishes to come true? Must be mad. So yeah, that's the guilty secret that has me waking up in a cold sweat at night. Someone somewhere promised to make my wishes come true.
A few weeks back, in that really really cold spell we had, it was decided that we would have take out for dinner. Friday night month end, freezing cold outside, yes i wondered what they were thinking too. Anyhow, so pizza was agreed on, and tghe wife and i climbed in the lunchbox to get dinner.
When we found parking, got to the take out part of the pizza place, it was full. Not jsut full, it was packed, like a japanese train. All the huddled masses waiting for instant food and scared of the cold. No really, scared of it, almost as if it had teeth. Wife dragged be unwillingly through the masses of miserable mankind, and told me cheerily, that they were all waiting for their pizzas, not waiting to place their order. Of course, the hour long wait for food is probably why the room was so full. So i bolted, ran away, fortunately the wife kept up.
So we went to the local mall, because now it was already too late to go home and cook, so it had to be takeout of some sort. A whole row of glass shop fronts awaited us, each misty with the heat of breathe and body that was crammed up against them. Chicken, pizza, burgers, all the shops plugged full of people ... *shudder*.
So anyhow, i spied my salvation, a chinese take out ... almost empty. We walked into the warmth of inside, and got a lovely smile from the lady busily making a sushi platter. The quietness inside was really unexpected, and the small dark tables, neatly laid with chopsticks and condiments. The 2 others waiting for their food were calm, and quiet, and we shared a small smile. Perfect.
So we placed our orders and i included a fortune cookie for the wife, she likes that sort of thing. The lady brought it immediately, although with a shy oriental smile i also got one pressed into my hand. Ah well ...
So we opened our, and i gave wifey the cookie to eat, she likes those too ;-). Her message was nice and simple, and gave her that happy smile they're designed to instill.
Mine said: "your every wish will come true." I choked even though i wasn't eating anything. It had a series of "lottery" numbers on the back, tempted as i was, i wasn't going to give money to the lotto thieves. All i had was a was a genie's promise on paper. Worthless.
The food was great, fresh and tasty, and filled all the holes n our tummies. but that little piece of paper haunts me still. Who the hell would want their wishes to come true? Must be mad. So yeah, that's the guilty secret that has me waking up in a cold sweat at night. Someone somewhere promised to make my wishes come true.
Whirling ...
Spinning round and round and round and around ... then stop. You're still spinning, in your head at least. That's how i feel today, which is why it comes to mind.
So many things bubbling and boiling to get out, i have to bite my tongue to avoid going BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH .... to which your response could only be "huh?" Not really a positive communication strategy, you know?
To be succinct, Toyrun is going full steam ahead with less that 90 days to go, and we've discovered that there is a moratorium on all liquor licenses in gauteng for 6 months, thanks to our mec for trade. Also, people are stupid. The politics on every single level of this venture is ... mind numbing. Stupid people sticking their stupid noses into every stupid place they can find. And that's not including the people that just don't deliver. Plenty to say, nothing to give, ain't that cute? And they still expect to be entertained as having some or other value.
I'm failing though, in my personal presentation of myself. I tried convincing someone i was a lazy bastard, and they didn't believe me, because they've seen me working on toyrun. Whats this world come to when i can't even pass myself off as a lazy bastard? Sad i tell you. Now i want to cry.
LOLOLOL .. and it's such a good day outside, try not be too stupid please?
peace and love ;-)
So many things bubbling and boiling to get out, i have to bite my tongue to avoid going BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH .... to which your response could only be "huh?" Not really a positive communication strategy, you know?
To be succinct, Toyrun is going full steam ahead with less that 90 days to go, and we've discovered that there is a moratorium on all liquor licenses in gauteng for 6 months, thanks to our mec for trade. Also, people are stupid. The politics on every single level of this venture is ... mind numbing. Stupid people sticking their stupid noses into every stupid place they can find. And that's not including the people that just don't deliver. Plenty to say, nothing to give, ain't that cute? And they still expect to be entertained as having some or other value.
I'm failing though, in my personal presentation of myself. I tried convincing someone i was a lazy bastard, and they didn't believe me, because they've seen me working on toyrun. Whats this world come to when i can't even pass myself off as a lazy bastard? Sad i tell you. Now i want to cry.
LOLOLOL .. and it's such a good day outside, try not be too stupid please?
peace and love ;-)
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
ANC vs ANC
I love it, i completely and utterly love the chaos in joburg this morning. That being said i'm not in joburg this morning, if i were i'd probably not be so merry about it.
ANCYL members are burning ANC flags ... i cannot quite convey the exquisite joy that i feel when i watch anc members burning anc flags. It's like watching americans burn their own flag, which of course they'll never do. Would make nice pictures though.
I'm of course hoping for a complete assault by the ancyl on luthuli house, they must go in and burn the place down. Like they did to their schools, which is why they're not at school where the "youth" belongs.
I have an ancyl guy at work trying to convince me it's internal politics. I pointed out that politics is when enemies smile at each other, not when they're throwing stones, nothing political about that. And "internal"? When it's on the streets, nothing internal about it. Then he triees telling me it's "african politics", as if i'm an outsider who has no knowledge of these things. Ergo i should stay out of what i don't understand.
It's laughable, the arrogance, stupidity, self righteousness displayed by these young thugs is breath-taking, and only the idiot ancyl fails to understand what is happening. Old historians like me read this situation like a book, and we can tell you exactly where this is going. Although, to be fair, Hitler's brownshirts never attacked him directly, they were always "his" dogs. Zuma's dogs have gone rabid, but i don't think he has the balls to do anything. I'm just really pleased these stupid youngsters are attacking their own, and not others ... yet.
ANCYL members are burning ANC flags ... i cannot quite convey the exquisite joy that i feel when i watch anc members burning anc flags. It's like watching americans burn their own flag, which of course they'll never do. Would make nice pictures though.
I'm of course hoping for a complete assault by the ancyl on luthuli house, they must go in and burn the place down. Like they did to their schools, which is why they're not at school where the "youth" belongs.
I have an ancyl guy at work trying to convince me it's internal politics. I pointed out that politics is when enemies smile at each other, not when they're throwing stones, nothing political about that. And "internal"? When it's on the streets, nothing internal about it. Then he triees telling me it's "african politics", as if i'm an outsider who has no knowledge of these things. Ergo i should stay out of what i don't understand.
It's laughable, the arrogance, stupidity, self righteousness displayed by these young thugs is breath-taking, and only the idiot ancyl fails to understand what is happening. Old historians like me read this situation like a book, and we can tell you exactly where this is going. Although, to be fair, Hitler's brownshirts never attacked him directly, they were always "his" dogs. Zuma's dogs have gone rabid, but i don't think he has the balls to do anything. I'm just really pleased these stupid youngsters are attacking their own, and not others ... yet.
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Friday, 26 August 2011
On the subject of two wheels
The last post left me feeling CRAP. Totally and utterly crap. No other way to see it. However, a different posting puts a slight silver lining on the dark clouds.
Yes it's cloudy, but we can actually do something about it, starting with acknowledging the problem, even when it's ourselves at fault.
Thank you to Andre Visser, ER24 for this excellent short article, reprinted in full.
25 August 2011
For most teenagers freedom is a necessity whilst completing their last few years in high school and this freedom is found with the ability to use their own set of wheels, so to speak. No more nagging mom and dad for lifts to a social gathering or long walks to school for sport practices, but instead, a set of keys which enables you to find your own way around.
Most school pupils go through the motions of acquiring their driving licence in their last year of high school, but for a few, this little plastic passport to freedom comes a bit earlier in life in the form of a motorcycle learners licence. What few teenagers realise is that with this newly discovered freedom comes a huge responsibility.
ER24 emergency services attend to hundreds of motorcycle accidents annually and have noticed a sudden influx of scooter and motorcycle accidents in Kimberley. The influx of scooter related accidents is in no way isolated to this Northern Cape city as these cases are reported daily across South Africa.
Due to the short time period over which these accidents took place, paramedics in Kimberley felt the need to investigate the anomaly; what they discovered was shocking.
Upon questioning the teenagers involved in the accidents they discovered that most of the young adults received their motorcycle to drive to and from school without ever gaining any experience in driving a vehicle on two wheels. In other words, most of the teenagers had never even been on a bicycle before the day of receiving their scooter.
As adults and parents we serve as examples and mentors to the youth and therefore need to educate the young drivers. The paramedics in Kimberley identified this need to educate the youth in the area on the skills necessary to drive the motorcycles and what to do in the event of an emergency should the situation arise. With the help of local traffic officials and bikers from the surrounding area, the group of educators invited all the kids one Saturday morning and mentored the young commuters on certain safety aspects.
Living in a civilised society comes with its set of rules and morals. This is valid for all licence baring road users as we have a responsibility to go about our daily commute in a safe manner. As the youth of this nation evolves and use the roads whether on a scooter or on four wheels, ask yourself the question: “Am I a role model when it comes to good road etiquette?”
Yes it's cloudy, but we can actually do something about it, starting with acknowledging the problem, even when it's ourselves at fault.
Thank you to Andre Visser, ER24 for this excellent short article, reprinted in full.
25 August 2011
For most teenagers freedom is a necessity whilst completing their last few years in high school and this freedom is found with the ability to use their own set of wheels, so to speak. No more nagging mom and dad for lifts to a social gathering or long walks to school for sport practices, but instead, a set of keys which enables you to find your own way around.
Most school pupils go through the motions of acquiring their driving licence in their last year of high school, but for a few, this little plastic passport to freedom comes a bit earlier in life in the form of a motorcycle learners licence. What few teenagers realise is that with this newly discovered freedom comes a huge responsibility.
ER24 emergency services attend to hundreds of motorcycle accidents annually and have noticed a sudden influx of scooter and motorcycle accidents in Kimberley. The influx of scooter related accidents is in no way isolated to this Northern Cape city as these cases are reported daily across South Africa.
Due to the short time period over which these accidents took place, paramedics in Kimberley felt the need to investigate the anomaly; what they discovered was shocking.
Upon questioning the teenagers involved in the accidents they discovered that most of the young adults received their motorcycle to drive to and from school without ever gaining any experience in driving a vehicle on two wheels. In other words, most of the teenagers had never even been on a bicycle before the day of receiving their scooter.
As adults and parents we serve as examples and mentors to the youth and therefore need to educate the young drivers. The paramedics in Kimberley identified this need to educate the youth in the area on the skills necessary to drive the motorcycles and what to do in the event of an emergency should the situation arise. With the help of local traffic officials and bikers from the surrounding area, the group of educators invited all the kids one Saturday morning and mentored the young commuters on certain safety aspects.
Living in a civilised society comes with its set of rules and morals. This is valid for all licence baring road users as we have a responsibility to go about our daily commute in a safe manner. As the youth of this nation evolves and use the roads whether on a scooter or on four wheels, ask yourself the question: “Am I a role model when it comes to good road etiquette?”
Fallen bikers in 2 months
Day / Date Fatalities
Friday 1 July = 1
Saturday 9 July = 1
Monday 18 July = 2
Saturday 24 July = 3
Sunday 25 July = 2
Thursday 4 Aug = 1
Sunday 7 Aug = 1
Monday 8 Aug (School Holiday) = 1
Tuesday 9 Aug (Pub Holiday) = 3
Wednesday 10 Aug = 1
Friday 12 Aug = 1
Saturday 13 Aug = 3
Thursday 18 Aug = 1
Saturday 20 Aug = 2
Sunday 21 Aug = 3
Monday = 3
Tuesday = 0
Wednesday = 1
Thursday = 2
Friday = 2
Saturday = 9
Sunday = 7
School / Public Holiday = 4
Special thanks to Nunique, who runs the www.fallenbikers.co.za website who collates these numbers. Not an easy job, especially at times like this. Mostly dad's with families ...
I feel sick, not much to add to the numbers, they speak volumes.
For fuck sakes guys ... take it easy out there.
Friday 1 July = 1
Saturday 9 July = 1
Monday 18 July = 2
Saturday 24 July = 3
Sunday 25 July = 2
Thursday 4 Aug = 1
Sunday 7 Aug = 1
Monday 8 Aug (School Holiday) = 1
Tuesday 9 Aug (Pub Holiday) = 3
Wednesday 10 Aug = 1
Friday 12 Aug = 1
Saturday 13 Aug = 3
Thursday 18 Aug = 1
Saturday 20 Aug = 2
Sunday 21 Aug = 3
Monday = 3
Tuesday = 0
Wednesday = 1
Thursday = 2
Friday = 2
Saturday = 9
Sunday = 7
School / Public Holiday = 4
Special thanks to Nunique, who runs the www.fallenbikers.co.za website who collates these numbers. Not an easy job, especially at times like this. Mostly dad's with families ...
I feel sick, not much to add to the numbers, they speak volumes.
For fuck sakes guys ... take it easy out there.
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Sunset and birds
http://onestonedcrow.blogspot.com/
Gives you just the right feeling hey, i love it!
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Patience
Shed a tear 'cause I'm missing you
I'm still alright to smile
Girl, I think about you every day now
Was a time when I wasn't sure
But you set my mind at ease
There is no doubt you're in my heart now
Said woman take it slow
It'll work itself out fine
All we need is just a little patience
Said sugar make it slow
And we'll come together fine
All we need is just a little patience
(inhale) Patience...
Ooh, oh, yeah
Sit here on the stairs
'Cause I'd rather be alone
If I can't have you right now, I'll wait dear
Sometimes, I get so tense
But I can't speed up the time
But you know, love, there's one more thing to consider
Said woman take it slow
Things will be just fine
You and I'll just use a little patience
Said sugar take the time
'Cause the lights are shining bright
You and I've got what it takes to make it
We won't fake it, Oh never break it
'Cause I can't take it
...little patience, mm yeah, ooh yeah,
Need a little patience, yeah
Just a little patience, yeah
Some more pati... (ence, yeah)
I've been walking these streets at night
Just trying to get it right (Need some patience, yeah)
It's hard to see with so many around
You know I don't like being stuck in a crowd (Could use some patience, yeah)
And the streets don't change but maybe the name
I ain't got time for the game
'Cause I need you (Patience, yeah)
Yeah, yeah well I need you
Oh, I need you (Take some patience)
Whoa, I need you (Just a little patience is all we need)
Ooh, this ti- me....
Thanks to Guns & Roses.
Little ditty been playing itself for me ... nice song.
I'm still alright to smile
Girl, I think about you every day now
Was a time when I wasn't sure
But you set my mind at ease
There is no doubt you're in my heart now
Said woman take it slow
It'll work itself out fine
All we need is just a little patience
Said sugar make it slow
And we'll come together fine
All we need is just a little patience
(inhale) Patience...
Ooh, oh, yeah
Sit here on the stairs
'Cause I'd rather be alone
If I can't have you right now, I'll wait dear
Sometimes, I get so tense
But I can't speed up the time
But you know, love, there's one more thing to consider
Said woman take it slow
Things will be just fine
You and I'll just use a little patience
Said sugar take the time
'Cause the lights are shining bright
You and I've got what it takes to make it
We won't fake it, Oh never break it
'Cause I can't take it
...little patience, mm yeah, ooh yeah,
Need a little patience, yeah
Just a little patience, yeah
Some more pati... (ence, yeah)
I've been walking these streets at night
Just trying to get it right (Need some patience, yeah)
It's hard to see with so many around
You know I don't like being stuck in a crowd (Could use some patience, yeah)
And the streets don't change but maybe the name
I ain't got time for the game
'Cause I need you (Patience, yeah)
Yeah, yeah well I need you
Oh, I need you (Take some patience)
Whoa, I need you (Just a little patience is all we need)
Ooh, this ti- me....
Thanks to Guns & Roses.
Little ditty been playing itself for me ... nice song.
Monday, 22 August 2011
BIKER THINK
From a lady who is a paramedic, apparently posted on facebook, i found it on drink bike.
***
People I think it is time to say a few very harsh words to all the riders out there. Firstly, I have no idea what you guys are thinking but the accident and death rate is way to high for the brotherhood. Now I have the pics of most of the accidents as well as other information pertaining to each and every rider that has gone down. This, if I may say so is alot of bullshit!!!. We adult enough to own and ride bikes, so why can the decision not be made on the adult basis of when and when not to ride? I am not going to mention names of the riders but these are the points that are involved in majority of the accidents:
Speed
Alcohol
Reckless Driving
10% of the accidents are caused by cage drivers that think they own the roads, the 90% left is caused through our own negligence. We all enjoy a good rally and day jols, we are bikers after all and that is our lifestyle. But there is a time to stop the partying and think rationally. If you believe that super bikes were brought out so that you can ride the shit out of it, think again! Yes they fast and awesome, but you as an adult should at least know the dangers of such a bike. That same super bike, if you dont respect her, will put you hard down on you ass. Let me ask you this, how many of you that have gone down and managed to tell your stories of your bike accident, ever thought of how your family reacts when they hear the news that you were involved in an accident? Have you ever thought of the agony your family goes through when you laying in a hospital badly injured? Or thought of something in the line of "What will my wife and children do if I die?" If you have children, do you not teach your children discipline, respect and right from wrong? Let me tell you this much, I have attended to bike accidents, seen the rider begging for me to save him and I have witnessed the grief of the families. I have watched riders pass away because there was NOTHING we could do to save him. I have called a wife to a scene where we know the rider is about to blow out his last breath, just so that she can say her goodbyes and tell him she loves him. Then the harsh reality kicks in when the rider dies and we have to watch his wife fall apart. Do you think this is fair?
Riders that ride for clubs, just because you have a patch on your back does not make you invincible. Your fellow members, Presidents, Vices and even council members should know whats right and the right thing to do is TAKE YOUR KEYS AWAY if you intoxicated!!!! We always ***** about the cage riders, STOP right there and ask yourself these questions:
Did I keep a safe distance to avoid an accident?
Was I speeding?
Was I thinking wow super bike Awesome time to burn some rubber and show the entire road that I am untouchable?
Was I under the influence?
I can tell you this much, from the latest accidents and reports I got in from SAP and the morgues, these are the answers pertaining to most of the accidents:
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
There is but a handful of the accidents that was not the fault of the riders. Unfortunately some of these riders passed away, the others that are not part of the handful, I have one message to send to you..................STOP ACTING AS IF YOU OWN THE STUFFING ROADS, AND STOP THINKING YOU FLASH GORDON OUT THERE. YOU ARE CAUSING AGONY AND GRIEF NOT ONLY TO YOUR FAMILIES BUT ALSO TO YOUR BIKING BROTHERHOOD.
I will put up pics of accident scenes, because I feel if you adult enough to act like a total ass out there when you on your bike, then you should be adult enough to accept the reality of what we as medics go through at a scene when we have to pick you up and save your life. Did you also know that when you go down and you too intoxicated, no medical person may give you pain medicine and no ops can be done until your alcohol level has dropped....think about it.
I am sorry if some of you think this is a bit harsh, but it is time you were brought down to reality. Don't teach your children right from wrong, or discipline or respect if you dont adhere to your own advice. The following rules should apply to every single biker out there, so PLEASE before you get on your bike to hit the open road, stop and think.
Respect the road
Respect other road users
Dont drink and drive
Keep a safe distance so that you can avoid an accident
Stick to the speed limits
RESPECT YOUR BIKE AND ITS POWER (because no matter how untouchable you think you are, your bikes power is more untouchable than you, and I can promise you this YOU WILL COME OFF SECOND BEST)
Ensure you have some form of identification on you
Clubs....ensure you remove your riders keys if he or she is too intoxicated, been the President or Vice is not just a name given to you, those are names you get because you need to take control of your club and its members.
The sticker saying THINK BIKE is good but now we should have one that says BIKER THINK.
I am sorry if this is harsh to some, but we have to be cruel to be kind, and I care for my biker family that is why I preach the way I do. If you as a rider cannot adhere to basic rules, then please sell your bike you dont belong on the roads on 2 wheels.
****
***
People I think it is time to say a few very harsh words to all the riders out there. Firstly, I have no idea what you guys are thinking but the accident and death rate is way to high for the brotherhood. Now I have the pics of most of the accidents as well as other information pertaining to each and every rider that has gone down. This, if I may say so is alot of bullshit!!!. We adult enough to own and ride bikes, so why can the decision not be made on the adult basis of when and when not to ride? I am not going to mention names of the riders but these are the points that are involved in majority of the accidents:
Speed
Alcohol
Reckless Driving
10% of the accidents are caused by cage drivers that think they own the roads, the 90% left is caused through our own negligence. We all enjoy a good rally and day jols, we are bikers after all and that is our lifestyle. But there is a time to stop the partying and think rationally. If you believe that super bikes were brought out so that you can ride the shit out of it, think again! Yes they fast and awesome, but you as an adult should at least know the dangers of such a bike. That same super bike, if you dont respect her, will put you hard down on you ass. Let me ask you this, how many of you that have gone down and managed to tell your stories of your bike accident, ever thought of how your family reacts when they hear the news that you were involved in an accident? Have you ever thought of the agony your family goes through when you laying in a hospital badly injured? Or thought of something in the line of "What will my wife and children do if I die?" If you have children, do you not teach your children discipline, respect and right from wrong? Let me tell you this much, I have attended to bike accidents, seen the rider begging for me to save him and I have witnessed the grief of the families. I have watched riders pass away because there was NOTHING we could do to save him. I have called a wife to a scene where we know the rider is about to blow out his last breath, just so that she can say her goodbyes and tell him she loves him. Then the harsh reality kicks in when the rider dies and we have to watch his wife fall apart. Do you think this is fair?
Riders that ride for clubs, just because you have a patch on your back does not make you invincible. Your fellow members, Presidents, Vices and even council members should know whats right and the right thing to do is TAKE YOUR KEYS AWAY if you intoxicated!!!! We always ***** about the cage riders, STOP right there and ask yourself these questions:
Did I keep a safe distance to avoid an accident?
Was I speeding?
Was I thinking wow super bike Awesome time to burn some rubber and show the entire road that I am untouchable?
Was I under the influence?
I can tell you this much, from the latest accidents and reports I got in from SAP and the morgues, these are the answers pertaining to most of the accidents:
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
There is but a handful of the accidents that was not the fault of the riders. Unfortunately some of these riders passed away, the others that are not part of the handful, I have one message to send to you..................STOP ACTING AS IF YOU OWN THE STUFFING ROADS, AND STOP THINKING YOU FLASH GORDON OUT THERE. YOU ARE CAUSING AGONY AND GRIEF NOT ONLY TO YOUR FAMILIES BUT ALSO TO YOUR BIKING BROTHERHOOD.
I will put up pics of accident scenes, because I feel if you adult enough to act like a total ass out there when you on your bike, then you should be adult enough to accept the reality of what we as medics go through at a scene when we have to pick you up and save your life. Did you also know that when you go down and you too intoxicated, no medical person may give you pain medicine and no ops can be done until your alcohol level has dropped....think about it.
I am sorry if some of you think this is a bit harsh, but it is time you were brought down to reality. Don't teach your children right from wrong, or discipline or respect if you dont adhere to your own advice. The following rules should apply to every single biker out there, so PLEASE before you get on your bike to hit the open road, stop and think.
Respect the road
Respect other road users
Dont drink and drive
Keep a safe distance so that you can avoid an accident
Stick to the speed limits
RESPECT YOUR BIKE AND ITS POWER (because no matter how untouchable you think you are, your bikes power is more untouchable than you, and I can promise you this YOU WILL COME OFF SECOND BEST)
Ensure you have some form of identification on you
Clubs....ensure you remove your riders keys if he or she is too intoxicated, been the President or Vice is not just a name given to you, those are names you get because you need to take control of your club and its members.
The sticker saying THINK BIKE is good but now we should have one that says BIKER THINK.
I am sorry if this is harsh to some, but we have to be cruel to be kind, and I care for my biker family that is why I preach the way I do. If you as a rider cannot adhere to basic rules, then please sell your bike you dont belong on the roads on 2 wheels.
****
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Happy Thursday
It's a great day, for me so far!
Had not a single person pull out in front of me this morning!! Of course i don't trust it to last, but wow that must be a record!!
Eye-wateringly cold out there, but fresh and crisp clean air ... nature is waking up to spring already!! Sunlight is bright and warm too ... Jody and i were running from sunlight to sunlight beam on the way to school ... that's how it should be!!
Peace and love and happy day to everyone :)
PS, this is how i feel today :D
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Life etc
Just a catch up post here, no actual topic, i think. It's great having the blog, i'm talking to "you" but i'm just laying out my thoughts on paper, so to speak. It's really cathartic sometimes. Every morning i have a hundred thoughts about what exciting things to say, and they never usually make it past getting to work. There's a lot going on lately, in my little life, and if i look at it one thread at a time it seems a bit messy, and disordered. Only when stepping back and taking a fresh look can i see thicker strands and patterns emerging.
I am involved with mankind, we all are, and it's mankind's problems that consume my mind. I guess mankind is a grand word, but it's really just the people i know. My life, sorta, the extended version, but i look around and just see so much pain, so much stupid, so much lost. Whether it's the friend with a marriage that isn't working, the friend who has been raped in every way except physical, the friend who is obsessive compulsive and constantly fretting over the stupid stuff, completely unable to stop and enjoy what she has. I guess i have my own failings too, i'm just better at hiding them, because i know it's all just illusion anyway. Or is it?
I can't answer the questions people ask, never an answerable one, really, it's just a wish wrapped up in a different wrapper. So the best i can do is help unwrap the wish, show them what it is, show them where they are, sometimes.
Like a great big soul mirror, i give people an insight into themselves that i HOPE is a little more honest than they give themselves. What else? I can't give them much, can't usually say much to help, just be there, and listen, and hopefully show them what i see in THEM, that's all. Is it enough?
Had the most astonishing conversation last night, with some new friends. And we spoke of how we are ALL connected, and all dependant on each other, and how one person's decisions affect another, and how the one thing we were all certain of, was the importance of kindness. How all the latest "quantum" discoveries show that it all does boil down to INTENT. In capitals. It's that important. And how the intent shapes the outcome, and how we are NOT single, but moving as a semi solid mass toward the future ... and co-creating that future as we go.
And since almost every person on this planet is broken, what does it bode for our future together? There is a solution, a small yet vital piece of the puzzle that many seem to think irrelevant ... INTENT. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" ... i hear that and it's another of those things that makes you angry without knowing why. INTENT IS EVERYTHING. It's also intangible, completely immeasurable by our feeble sciences. And yet we run roughshod over the good intentions of others every day, blindly smashing their love covered gifts.
Strange though, that even a child recognises it, they understand ill or good intent, and responds instantly. Only we "a-dolts" will sit and argue about intentions having value, or even existing.
Meanwhile, the only really sane thing to do is go outside, enjoy the crisp clean air, and wish a dragonfly a happy day.
peace and love and good intentions
I am involved with mankind, we all are, and it's mankind's problems that consume my mind. I guess mankind is a grand word, but it's really just the people i know. My life, sorta, the extended version, but i look around and just see so much pain, so much stupid, so much lost. Whether it's the friend with a marriage that isn't working, the friend who has been raped in every way except physical, the friend who is obsessive compulsive and constantly fretting over the stupid stuff, completely unable to stop and enjoy what she has. I guess i have my own failings too, i'm just better at hiding them, because i know it's all just illusion anyway. Or is it?
I can't answer the questions people ask, never an answerable one, really, it's just a wish wrapped up in a different wrapper. So the best i can do is help unwrap the wish, show them what it is, show them where they are, sometimes.
Like a great big soul mirror, i give people an insight into themselves that i HOPE is a little more honest than they give themselves. What else? I can't give them much, can't usually say much to help, just be there, and listen, and hopefully show them what i see in THEM, that's all. Is it enough?
Had the most astonishing conversation last night, with some new friends. And we spoke of how we are ALL connected, and all dependant on each other, and how one person's decisions affect another, and how the one thing we were all certain of, was the importance of kindness. How all the latest "quantum" discoveries show that it all does boil down to INTENT. In capitals. It's that important. And how the intent shapes the outcome, and how we are NOT single, but moving as a semi solid mass toward the future ... and co-creating that future as we go.
And since almost every person on this planet is broken, what does it bode for our future together? There is a solution, a small yet vital piece of the puzzle that many seem to think irrelevant ... INTENT. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" ... i hear that and it's another of those things that makes you angry without knowing why. INTENT IS EVERYTHING. It's also intangible, completely immeasurable by our feeble sciences. And yet we run roughshod over the good intentions of others every day, blindly smashing their love covered gifts.
Strange though, that even a child recognises it, they understand ill or good intent, and responds instantly. Only we "a-dolts" will sit and argue about intentions having value, or even existing.
Meanwhile, the only really sane thing to do is go outside, enjoy the crisp clean air, and wish a dragonfly a happy day.
peace and love and good intentions
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Friday, 12 August 2011
zombiedriveby
For a long time we've increasingly given over our thoughts and our lives to whoever had the ability to shout into our souls the loudest.
From somewhere we got the image of a spotless and perfect hero, and it's driven us to be terrified of failure. So we've avoided confrontation with what we felt was wrong, because it was convenient and everyone was doing it. We've had twisted and ruined versions of our own ideas and our own lives sold back to us, which we gave up in good faith to the wrong people when it wasn't simply taken away, and we've been weakened to the point where the darkness could take us over if we decided we wanted to be part of it.
zombiedriveby
http://zombiedriveby.com/2011/06/13/some-kinda-way-out-of-here/
I couldn't help but marvel at the prose, well written and clear. The ideas resonating in my mind like being on the inside of a great big bell. And a sub harmony from Terri came through in her latest post:
Subject all humans to the machinations of a marketing and media organism which has as its one objective hypnotising people into believing that owning material goods equals power and worth, while at the same time making sure that the poor do not ever have enough nutritious food to eat - substitute junk food made from real junk, and watch those minds fail to grow and thrive.
http://aquilakahecate.blogspot.com/2011/08/never-mind-reasons.html
Peace and love and clarity to you all
From somewhere we got the image of a spotless and perfect hero, and it's driven us to be terrified of failure. So we've avoided confrontation with what we felt was wrong, because it was convenient and everyone was doing it. We've had twisted and ruined versions of our own ideas and our own lives sold back to us, which we gave up in good faith to the wrong people when it wasn't simply taken away, and we've been weakened to the point where the darkness could take us over if we decided we wanted to be part of it.
zombiedriveby
http://zombiedriveby.com/2011/06/13/some-kinda-way-out-of-here/
I couldn't help but marvel at the prose, well written and clear. The ideas resonating in my mind like being on the inside of a great big bell. And a sub harmony from Terri came through in her latest post:
Subject all humans to the machinations of a marketing and media organism which has as its one objective hypnotising people into believing that owning material goods equals power and worth, while at the same time making sure that the poor do not ever have enough nutritious food to eat - substitute junk food made from real junk, and watch those minds fail to grow and thrive.
http://aquilakahecate.blogspot.com/2011/08/never-mind-reasons.html
Peace and love and clarity to you all
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Appeal for information
Looking for family/friends of lady +-24, medium length black hair, riding black quadbike in Waverley Pretoria. Involved in Quad MVA. has engagement/wedding ring on ring finger & small eyebrow ring. Still unconscious, understand brain scan is being done. No one in vicinity of acc. knows her."
If anyone knows, please help. Just mail me.
UPDATE:
Ok - we have found them - thanks everyone.
Looks like it is a happy ending.
She will be discharged soon.
Thanks to RichardVZ for making this information available.
If anyone knows, please help. Just mail me.
UPDATE:
Ok - we have found them - thanks everyone.
Looks like it is a happy ending.
She will be discharged soon.
Thanks to RichardVZ for making this information available.
Monday, 8 August 2011
Cling On For Life
clingonforlife.blogspot
A guy with the nick "CB 750 Freak!" runs the blog, he's busy rebuilding a CB750. Doing magnificent work, and runs a very neat blog. I'll add it to the right soonest.
Plenty of great pics and stories, all CB750 stuff.
Now of course, the CB750K is the first bike i rode, and the first bike i crashed. eautiful machine all over, i'd love to own one, preferably one of the cafe racers i've seen. The cop pic below is from there, i couldn't resist :) but there's a red CB i want to post.
I keep saying CB, and my 400 is WAY overdue for a rebuild.
A guy with the nick "CB 750 Freak!" runs the blog, he's busy rebuilding a CB750. Doing magnificent work, and runs a very neat blog. I'll add it to the right soonest.
Plenty of great pics and stories, all CB750 stuff.
Now of course, the CB750K is the first bike i rode, and the first bike i crashed. eautiful machine all over, i'd love to own one, preferably one of the cafe racers i've seen. The cop pic below is from there, i couldn't resist :) but there's a red CB i want to post.
I keep saying CB, and my 400 is WAY overdue for a rebuild.
Friday, 5 August 2011
The Ratanang Family Trust
How Julius Malema pulls tender strings
FIONA FORDE, CRAIG MCKUNE & LIONEL FAULL JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Aug 05 2011 00:00
The Ratanang Family Trust, founded by Malema, the ANC Youth League leader, holds shares in On-Point Engineering, which administers a large part of the multibillion-rand budget of Limpopo's roads and transport department.
This means that Malema has at least indirect influence over who is awarded tenders from a three-year budget allocation of reportedly R4.6-billion -- although he, On-Point and the department deny it.
Just read it, all of it, every single excruciating detail. Billions, literally, pissed away by these cunts. And they just deny, deny, deny. No morals, no conscience, no regret. Only a bloody minded purposefulness to fucking rape everything they find.
And the same super-capitalist cunt is screaming louder for nationalisation, lying, and lying, and deceiving and inciting. Excuse my language, but there aren't other words. In fact, a very specific word comes to mind ... the word that will get me locked up longer than if a kill someone. But when use use that word about these animals, they're right. That's even worse i think.
*deep breath*
ANGER ... pure blind rage, sadness too. What a stupid bloody waste. And when will these fuckers be put down???
FIONA FORDE, CRAIG MCKUNE & LIONEL FAULL JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Aug 05 2011 00:00
The Ratanang Family Trust, founded by Malema, the ANC Youth League leader, holds shares in On-Point Engineering, which administers a large part of the multibillion-rand budget of Limpopo's roads and transport department.
This means that Malema has at least indirect influence over who is awarded tenders from a three-year budget allocation of reportedly R4.6-billion -- although he, On-Point and the department deny it.
Just read it, all of it, every single excruciating detail. Billions, literally, pissed away by these cunts. And they just deny, deny, deny. No morals, no conscience, no regret. Only a bloody minded purposefulness to fucking rape everything they find.
And the same super-capitalist cunt is screaming louder for nationalisation, lying, and lying, and deceiving and inciting. Excuse my language, but there aren't other words. In fact, a very specific word comes to mind ... the word that will get me locked up longer than if a kill someone. But when use use that word about these animals, they're right. That's even worse i think.
*deep breath*
ANGER ... pure blind rage, sadness too. What a stupid bloody waste. And when will these fuckers be put down???
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Vilnius Mayor A.Zuokas
I've found a new favourite person ... Vilnius Mayor A.Zuokas. Ok, Vilnius, Lithuania, if you didn't know :p
So why would i vote for this guy? Because he means what he says. He is an avid cyclist we are told, admirable. And his town in Lithuania is a very pretty town, with an old school feel and bicycle lanes ...
But like everywhere, you et the assholes. Rich people in fancy cars who do whatever they like, like parking in the bicycle lanes. So alon comes a bicycle ridin mayor, and decides that the best way to solve the problem is of course, a tank. I agree entirely.
So after ensuring that news crews have the cameras rolling, he selects a merc that's parked in the bicycle lane, across a pedestrian crossing, and drives a tank over it. Really ... look.
You'd vote for him too right?
So why would i vote for this guy? Because he means what he says. He is an avid cyclist we are told, admirable. And his town in Lithuania is a very pretty town, with an old school feel and bicycle lanes ...
But like everywhere, you et the assholes. Rich people in fancy cars who do whatever they like, like parking in the bicycle lanes. So alon comes a bicycle ridin mayor, and decides that the best way to solve the problem is of course, a tank. I agree entirely.
So after ensuring that news crews have the cameras rolling, he selects a merc that's parked in the bicycle lane, across a pedestrian crossing, and drives a tank over it. Really ... look.
You'd vote for him too right?
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
TOYRUN!!!
So following on the previous post, i am getting SO excited about the Toyrun. It's happening !!!
So we're doing the Oosrand this year, brand new venue, a blank sheet. Last year was great, but too many little problems made it into a less than perfect venue. So this year we're starting off with some new start venues, a new end venue, and a whole bunch of highways and roads to transverse.
Following on think bike's shame, they have completely abandoned our cause. Double shame. Thankfully, not all bikers are as bad, and we already have a huge team of guys from a number of places, some TB, some helivac, some private, and we're getting more guys from elsewhere too. I believe that the TOYRUN is a biker event, by bikers for bikers and most importantly for the kids who receive the toys.
It's ALL about TOYS ---> KIDS ... it cannot be simpler than that. And despite the many stupids who really are trying to damage us, it's not working. Toyrun is strong because Toyrun is for good. No politics, no BS, toys or bust.
Start thinking about how many ways you could turn R100 into as many happy kids as possible. R100 could be tens sets of colouring books and crayons, R100 could be 10 personal hygiene packs, R100 could be a BAG full of sports equipment. These are kids who have NOTHING, and while the teddy bear is the symbol, i hope that people are smarter than to think a teddy bear is what all kids want or need. Any and all ideas are gratefully received, and we would love fresh ideas on how to make this event bigger ... and the pile of toys bigger too.
So we're doing the Oosrand this year, brand new venue, a blank sheet. Last year was great, but too many little problems made it into a less than perfect venue. So this year we're starting off with some new start venues, a new end venue, and a whole bunch of highways and roads to transverse.
Following on think bike's shame, they have completely abandoned our cause. Double shame. Thankfully, not all bikers are as bad, and we already have a huge team of guys from a number of places, some TB, some helivac, some private, and we're getting more guys from elsewhere too. I believe that the TOYRUN is a biker event, by bikers for bikers and most importantly for the kids who receive the toys.
It's ALL about TOYS ---> KIDS ... it cannot be simpler than that. And despite the many stupids who really are trying to damage us, it's not working. Toyrun is strong because Toyrun is for good. No politics, no BS, toys or bust.
Start thinking about how many ways you could turn R100 into as many happy kids as possible. R100 could be tens sets of colouring books and crayons, R100 could be 10 personal hygiene packs, R100 could be a BAG full of sports equipment. These are kids who have NOTHING, and while the teddy bear is the symbol, i hope that people are smarter than to think a teddy bear is what all kids want or need. Any and all ideas are gratefully received, and we would love fresh ideas on how to make this event bigger ... and the pile of toys bigger too.
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Friday, 29 July 2011
Do i understand?
Ok, something someone sent by email, usually i don't notice too much, but this one is just too true.
LET ME SEE IF I UNDERSTAND ALL THIS...
If you cross the North Korean Border illegally you get 12 years hard labor.
If you cross the Iranian Border illegally you are detained indefinitely.
If you cross the Afghan Border illegally, you get shot.
If you cross the Saudi Arabian Border illegally you will be jailed.
If you cross the Chinese Border illegally you may never be heard from again.
If you cross the Venezuelan Border illegally you will be branded a spy and your fate will be sealed.
If you cross the Cuban Border illegally you will be thrown into political prison to rot.
HOWEVER
If you cross the South African Border illegally you get
* a job,
* a drivers license,
* a pension card,
* welfare,
* credit cards,
* subsidized rent or a loan to buy a house,
* a free education and
* free health care.
Perks include
* weapons of your choice.
And in South Africa you can
* murder,
* use drugs,
* drink and drive,
* steal,
* rape
BUT PLEASE South Africans DON'T SMOKE in a public place - it is illegal.
LET ME SEE IF I UNDERSTAND ALL THIS...
If you cross the North Korean Border illegally you get 12 years hard labor.
If you cross the Iranian Border illegally you are detained indefinitely.
If you cross the Afghan Border illegally, you get shot.
If you cross the Saudi Arabian Border illegally you will be jailed.
If you cross the Chinese Border illegally you may never be heard from again.
If you cross the Venezuelan Border illegally you will be branded a spy and your fate will be sealed.
If you cross the Cuban Border illegally you will be thrown into political prison to rot.
HOWEVER
If you cross the South African Border illegally you get
* a job,
* a drivers license,
* a pension card,
* welfare,
* credit cards,
* subsidized rent or a loan to buy a house,
* a free education and
* free health care.
Perks include
* weapons of your choice.
And in South Africa you can
* murder,
* use drugs,
* drink and drive,
* steal,
* rape
BUT PLEASE South Africans DON'T SMOKE in a public place - it is illegal.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Otoya
I've held off saying anything, nothing to say really, except may the dead and survivors both find peace.
Then i saw this article, from IOL, and it seems to some up everything very well.
Rider Henrik Bauer Larsen said at Lake Tyrifjorden, looking out towards Utoeya island: “We've got Hell's Angels, Coffin Cheaters and Outlaws riding side-by-side out here tonight - the first time these gangs have ever ridden together.
“These groups are not friends - normally, they fight tough - but we agreed there would be no politics here, that everybody would stand together.
“In each of these clubs, somebody knew people who died on the island - we just wanted to pay our respects to the victims and their families.”
“The truce won't last,” he admitted, “but even the police bikers wanted to join in when they saw the Tommy’s Facebook invitation on Sunday.”
Then i saw this article, from IOL, and it seems to some up everything very well.
Rider Henrik Bauer Larsen said at Lake Tyrifjorden, looking out towards Utoeya island: “We've got Hell's Angels, Coffin Cheaters and Outlaws riding side-by-side out here tonight - the first time these gangs have ever ridden together.
“These groups are not friends - normally, they fight tough - but we agreed there would be no politics here, that everybody would stand together.
“In each of these clubs, somebody knew people who died on the island - we just wanted to pay our respects to the victims and their families.”
“The truce won't last,” he admitted, “but even the police bikers wanted to join in when they saw the Tommy’s Facebook invitation on Sunday.”
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
NSRI Request
As these things go, my dearly beloved name was abused, again.
I received a call from the NSRI, National Sea Rescue Institute. They're raising money as ever, to cover what must be a very expensive operation, and like everywhere else in SA, do not receive their due share of the taxes we pay. Also, thanks to the lottery abortion, they are severely restricted in the way they raise funds.
I sadly cannot donate anything, that's the way it is. Truthfully, i'd rather be out there working with them. But these things go round, and i'm reposting here to hopefully inspire someone a bit more financially endowed than i to give a little bit.
They offer a R25pm "contribution", tied to a lucky draw.
Either way, if you're moved to do so, give Geran a call on 021 430 4715 and help him hit target. You could also go visit the NSRI website and see what they do, as well as donate directly.
Here in jozi the sea is a distant dream. Damn i miss the ocean.
peace
I received a call from the NSRI, National Sea Rescue Institute. They're raising money as ever, to cover what must be a very expensive operation, and like everywhere else in SA, do not receive their due share of the taxes we pay. Also, thanks to the lottery abortion, they are severely restricted in the way they raise funds.
I sadly cannot donate anything, that's the way it is. Truthfully, i'd rather be out there working with them. But these things go round, and i'm reposting here to hopefully inspire someone a bit more financially endowed than i to give a little bit.
They offer a R25pm "contribution", tied to a lucky draw.
Either way, if you're moved to do so, give Geran a call on 021 430 4715 and help him hit target. You could also go visit the NSRI website and see what they do, as well as donate directly.
Here in jozi the sea is a distant dream. Damn i miss the ocean.
peace
Monday, 25 July 2011
Velomobiel
Velomobiel
Here you can read a story about building a streamline to fit my Honda Innova 125i.
But first I present you a list of mpg and some background information with it.
A project to decrease the fuel consumption of a 125 scooter. Aside from the astonishingly well made result, his work and analyses are painstakingly accurate and meticulous. From conception to completion, he displays the most rigorous criteria for achieving his goals.
Quite a large webpage, but worth the time to follow his journey.
Enjoy!!!
Here you can read a story about building a streamline to fit my Honda Innova 125i.
But first I present you a list of mpg and some background information with it.
A project to decrease the fuel consumption of a 125 scooter. Aside from the astonishingly well made result, his work and analyses are painstakingly accurate and meticulous. From conception to completion, he displays the most rigorous criteria for achieving his goals.
Quite a large webpage, but worth the time to follow his journey.
Enjoy!!!
Back to work
*blink*
*yawn*
*blink again*
I'm at my desk in my office. After being off for a week, Monday morning traffic came as a hammer blow to the senses. But i'm feeling way better already, i'm not some energiser bunny with flat batteries, which is kinda accurate for the last few months.
I found a few items of interest which i'll post soonish, a lot happened in the last week, some good some bad. I hope this week brings only the good stuff!
peace
*yawn*
*blink again*
I'm at my desk in my office. After being off for a week, Monday morning traffic came as a hammer blow to the senses. But i'm feeling way better already, i'm not some energiser bunny with flat batteries, which is kinda accurate for the last few months.
I found a few items of interest which i'll post soonish, a lot happened in the last week, some good some bad. I hope this week brings only the good stuff!
peace
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
No petrol
Following on the last post, nothing is indeed better than not needing petrol at all, or if you will, a lot less. I'm stuck at home this week.
Not voluntarily, and thankfully it's not the bike that's bust. It's me. Broked. By order of the doctor, i am sent to bed with 3 meals a day and pills for pudding. And one of them fancy inhaler thingys. I also got read the riot act about smoking, the doc looked quite smug with his admonishings, i almost expected a finger wagging too. funny thing though, as soon as i pointed out the real problem, which is bad airconditioning for 8 hours a day, he dropped the smoking ....
He also pointed out that there was no scientific basis for believing that vitamins aid the body in recuperating. The only reason to take vitamins for him, was a vitamin deficiency. So on his recommendation that a vitamin b12 (i think it is) is only useful for it's placebo effect (*snigger*) i'm going to get one, as soon as i can get there.
So home, doing some work (*gasp*) listening to Janis ... dreams of summertime in this cold ;-) Now if i can only convince myself that i'm allowed to sleep in the daytime, if only for this week, then i'll really heal well :D
Peace and love, don't work too hard!
Not voluntarily, and thankfully it's not the bike that's bust. It's me. Broked. By order of the doctor, i am sent to bed with 3 meals a day and pills for pudding. And one of them fancy inhaler thingys. I also got read the riot act about smoking, the doc looked quite smug with his admonishings, i almost expected a finger wagging too. funny thing though, as soon as i pointed out the real problem, which is bad airconditioning for 8 hours a day, he dropped the smoking ....
He also pointed out that there was no scientific basis for believing that vitamins aid the body in recuperating. The only reason to take vitamins for him, was a vitamin deficiency. So on his recommendation that a vitamin b12 (i think it is) is only useful for it's placebo effect (*snigger*) i'm going to get one, as soon as i can get there.
So home, doing some work (*gasp*) listening to Janis ... dreams of summertime in this cold ;-) Now if i can only convince myself that i'm allowed to sleep in the daytime, if only for this week, then i'll really heal well :D
Peace and love, don't work too hard!
Saturday, 16 July 2011
#gotpetrol
Go there, when you, you know, need petrol, and can't find. Twitter btw.
Mobs swamping garages at the sight of tankers, petrol attendants being extra careful to get your cash without you leaving first ... it took a week?
And the cars just keep rolling, highways full. You can't stop, not really. I don't go out much, but this weekend, was Centurion today and going to be Benoni tomorrow ... i'm going to need fuel again. Accident on the highway, http://twitpic.com/5r02fz cars backed up for about 5km? The truck had crossed all the lanes, and i think dropped cargo, i saw wire frames and hay. 5 lanes and none moving, except for the bikes, whizzing precariously past.
When i filled up, a bakkie driver marveled at my bike, at the 20km/l i get. His old nissen 1 toner would be a thirsty drive ... but the funniest are the comments about not being able to afford to drive anyway. It's getting there. Wife and i both get 20km/l, she drives a 1.0 spark, 3cyl thing. Horrid, but functional. But the highways are so full anyway, this country just requires you to cross land. I can think of 2 friends that i could visit and walk to, every other friend or family requires a drive of half an hour to an hour. Maybe it's just me ... but i don't see how you can stop using both petrol and roads and the wear and tear, even if you use public transport, you're still paying all that. Public transport is a massive cash rape scheme in south africa, and now with the toll roads they've taken it to the ultimate, we will toll you to get to work in the morning.
I'm kinda hoping this all goes down soon, i'm sick of the constant build up. Let's release some pent up energy.
Mobs swamping garages at the sight of tankers, petrol attendants being extra careful to get your cash without you leaving first ... it took a week?
And the cars just keep rolling, highways full. You can't stop, not really. I don't go out much, but this weekend, was Centurion today and going to be Benoni tomorrow ... i'm going to need fuel again. Accident on the highway, http://twitpic.com/5r02fz cars backed up for about 5km? The truck had crossed all the lanes, and i think dropped cargo, i saw wire frames and hay. 5 lanes and none moving, except for the bikes, whizzing precariously past.
When i filled up, a bakkie driver marveled at my bike, at the 20km/l i get. His old nissen 1 toner would be a thirsty drive ... but the funniest are the comments about not being able to afford to drive anyway. It's getting there. Wife and i both get 20km/l, she drives a 1.0 spark, 3cyl thing. Horrid, but functional. But the highways are so full anyway, this country just requires you to cross land. I can think of 2 friends that i could visit and walk to, every other friend or family requires a drive of half an hour to an hour. Maybe it's just me ... but i don't see how you can stop using both petrol and roads and the wear and tear, even if you use public transport, you're still paying all that. Public transport is a massive cash rape scheme in south africa, and now with the toll roads they've taken it to the ultimate, we will toll you to get to work in the morning.
I'm kinda hoping this all goes down soon, i'm sick of the constant build up. Let's release some pent up energy.
Friday, 15 July 2011
SHAME ON THINK BIKE
I have to say something, although what i've yet to actually formulate.
Here's an basic outline of yesterday's events:
Think banned blanket banned people believed to be involved in the Helivac Marshalling team.
Now Helivac marshalls were formed because the Think Bike "team" had become too unpleasant to remain in, for MANY marshalls, and they wanted an alternate way of keeping cyclists safe.
Think Bike however, has decided that Helivac are a threat to the commercial interests of Think Bike, and so henceforth banned, no arguments. The list of banned includes both people who were not Helivac marshalls, and fully paid up Think Bike members.
Now apart from being a cunt, TB has also completely disrespected both it's paid up members, and the community at large, which it is bound to "foster". It has also clearly shown that TB is no longer a community of safety orientated bikers, but a narrow minded small group who wish to exercise their rights to free trade (and profit i imagine), while using a section 21 company to do it.
I don't think i'd be too concerned if they were open about it, but while this all is going on, there's a whole SHHHH don't say anything or you'll be banned attitude on TB, and don't talk about the YOU KNOW WHAT, otherwise you'll be threatening TB's public image and fiscal well being, or something. So a public NPO that advertises itself as a community based organisation, is now actively destroying the small community that exists, of bikers who are PASSIONATE about safety of ALL road users.
I'm way pissed off about this, and they don't even have the guts to debate these issues publicly, relying on hiding, deleting, obfuscating, ignoring and other bits of silliness.
There are enough anal bike gangs, i mean clubs around, and they're all a dismal failure in terms of reaching a WIDE audience. Think Bike is different, was different, is SUPPOSED to be different ... but i guess not.
TB is not a charity, it's a group motivated by commercial interests, that will not hesitate to enforce whatever might it has. Nuff said.
Apparently there is a discussion in members only places, i'll read that later once everybody has had their say and i'll let you know if there's anything juicy.
Here's an basic outline of yesterday's events:
Think banned blanket banned people believed to be involved in the Helivac Marshalling team.
Now Helivac marshalls were formed because the Think Bike "team" had become too unpleasant to remain in, for MANY marshalls, and they wanted an alternate way of keeping cyclists safe.
Think Bike however, has decided that Helivac are a threat to the commercial interests of Think Bike, and so henceforth banned, no arguments. The list of banned includes both people who were not Helivac marshalls, and fully paid up Think Bike members.
Now apart from being a cunt, TB has also completely disrespected both it's paid up members, and the community at large, which it is bound to "foster". It has also clearly shown that TB is no longer a community of safety orientated bikers, but a narrow minded small group who wish to exercise their rights to free trade (and profit i imagine), while using a section 21 company to do it.
I don't think i'd be too concerned if they were open about it, but while this all is going on, there's a whole SHHHH don't say anything or you'll be banned attitude on TB, and don't talk about the YOU KNOW WHAT, otherwise you'll be threatening TB's public image and fiscal well being, or something. So a public NPO that advertises itself as a community based organisation, is now actively destroying the small community that exists, of bikers who are PASSIONATE about safety of ALL road users.
I'm way pissed off about this, and they don't even have the guts to debate these issues publicly, relying on hiding, deleting, obfuscating, ignoring and other bits of silliness.
There are enough anal bike gangs, i mean clubs around, and they're all a dismal failure in terms of reaching a WIDE audience. Think Bike is different, was different, is SUPPOSED to be different ... but i guess not.
TB is not a charity, it's a group motivated by commercial interests, that will not hesitate to enforce whatever might it has. Nuff said.
Apparently there is a discussion in members only places, i'll read that later once everybody has had their say and i'll let you know if there's anything juicy.
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