Patriot Guard Riders and Kentucky Law
28/08/08 08:33 Filed in: USA | Industry News
I was researching the ACLU website today and ran across an article on a 2006 Kentucky law that was passed to limit speech at funerals. The ACLU took the case and won citing the 2nd amendment for Freedom of Speech. The part that struck me was that the law was written so broadly that, according to the ACLU article, it could have prevented the Patriot Guard Riders from "being close enough to support the families of soldiers who have died in Iraq during military funeral protests."
While I do not always support the fights which the ACLU enters, I will always defend the rights of Americans to Freedom of Speech - even if I do not agree with the method they choose to exercise that freedom. What makes America great is the Rights and Protections we have under our Constitution. No other country has these rights.
In my humble opinion, anyone who would protest a military funeral is an idiot. The rights that protester is exercising was fought for and defended by soldiers - many of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect that right.
I am a member of the Patriot Guard Riders and recommend to all bikers that they look into supporting this organization. You can find them at Patriotguard.org
God Bless America!
While I do not always support the fights which the ACLU enters, I will always defend the rights of Americans to Freedom of Speech - even if I do not agree with the method they choose to exercise that freedom. What makes America great is the Rights and Protections we have under our Constitution. No other country has these rights.
In my humble opinion, anyone who would protest a military funeral is an idiot. The rights that protester is exercising was fought for and defended by soldiers - many of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect that right.
I am a member of the Patriot Guard Riders and recommend to all bikers that they look into supporting this organization. You can find them at Patriotguard.org
God Bless America!
New Riders
27/08/08 20:21 Filed in: Industry News | What I Think
Well after a few months of high gas prices, it is finally occurring. More people are buying motorcycles. While I applaud their decision, I have a few concerns. Now don't get me wrong here, I would always recommend that people ride motorcycles. There is no greater feeling of freedom than riding down the highway.
My concern is that they need some intensive training. Riding a motorcycle is NOT like riding a car, or a bicycle, or even a dirt bike. Riding a motorcycle on the roads today can be considerably dangerous. All riders can tell you horror stories about their "close encounters" of the 4th kind. That is the kind that disregards you on the road and cuts you off, merges into your lane without looking, is reading while they are driving, on the phone and not paying attention to what they are doing. All this with a 3000 pound killing machine aka an automobile.
Here is my advice to you new riders.
1. Take your time. Get comfortable with your bike. Ride it around the neighborhood. Go find an empty parking lot. Stay off the freeways for the first few months.
2. Take a class. There are riding classes put on in most states. In California, this was a great class and a short-cut to getting a MC class license.
3. Find a group to ride with. We are safer in numbers. Cagers (that is the correct term for someone riding in a car!) may miss seeing one bike, but rarely do they miss 3 or more. There are all sorts of groups depending on your interest and/or the type of bike you ride. There are purely riding clubs, Christian riding and ministry clubs, clubs just for RoadStar owners, clubs for GoldWing owners, and the HOG club for Harley owners.
4. Ride within your comfort zone and experience. I cannot stress this enough. Do not ride side-by-side unless you are capable of doing it and KNOW the person you are riding with. Otherwise, always stagger in a group and keep a safe distance. I love riding side-by-side if I know the person I am riding with. If not, I prefer to be behind them.
5. Learn to ride defensively. Yeah, the person in the car daydreaming means well, but they could still run you off the road.
6. If you are a new rider and ride in a state that does not have a helmet law, wear one anyways. You are more apt to have an accident than someone who has been riding for 40,000 miles or more. Don't take it personal. Besides guys, girls love helmet hair!
My concern is that they need some intensive training. Riding a motorcycle is NOT like riding a car, or a bicycle, or even a dirt bike. Riding a motorcycle on the roads today can be considerably dangerous. All riders can tell you horror stories about their "close encounters" of the 4th kind. That is the kind that disregards you on the road and cuts you off, merges into your lane without looking, is reading while they are driving, on the phone and not paying attention to what they are doing. All this with a 3000 pound killing machine aka an automobile.
Here is my advice to you new riders.
1. Take your time. Get comfortable with your bike. Ride it around the neighborhood. Go find an empty parking lot. Stay off the freeways for the first few months.
2. Take a class. There are riding classes put on in most states. In California, this was a great class and a short-cut to getting a MC class license.
3. Find a group to ride with. We are safer in numbers. Cagers (that is the correct term for someone riding in a car!) may miss seeing one bike, but rarely do they miss 3 or more. There are all sorts of groups depending on your interest and/or the type of bike you ride. There are purely riding clubs, Christian riding and ministry clubs, clubs just for RoadStar owners, clubs for GoldWing owners, and the HOG club for Harley owners.
4. Ride within your comfort zone and experience. I cannot stress this enough. Do not ride side-by-side unless you are capable of doing it and KNOW the person you are riding with. Otherwise, always stagger in a group and keep a safe distance. I love riding side-by-side if I know the person I am riding with. If not, I prefer to be behind them.
5. Learn to ride defensively. Yeah, the person in the car daydreaming means well, but they could still run you off the road.
6. If you are a new rider and ride in a state that does not have a helmet law, wear one anyways. You are more apt to have an accident than someone who has been riding for 40,000 miles or more. Don't take it personal. Besides guys, girls love helmet hair!
This Blog
23/08/08 17:21 Filed in: My Ramblings
I always seem to have something to say, so I thought I would include a blog inside the Air Shammy website. Some of you who have purchased an Air Shammy dryer from us for your motorcycle know that we stand behind our product and enjoy talking with you on the phone or in email. We thank you for your business and the business referrals from your friends and family. If you don't know it by now, that blue hog in the ads is mine. I feel like that guy in the Hair Club for Men commercial - "I'm not just the owner, I am a client too"! Yeah, I detail my bike with my own product because it works. Now if I could only get it to grow hair!