Dangerous Demographics

Shadetree Mechanic's R Us

My better half put a set of Lowering Links on my Suzuki V-Strom today. My bike has been just a little too tall to flat foot it at a full stop. With the Lowering Links in place, I can now rest my feet completely on the ground.


In the rear, he replaced the two factory suspension links with two after market suspension links which are about 1/2 inch longer. This raised the rear suspension by about 7/8 inch thus lowering the bike so I can reach the ground easier.


One of the new Lowering Links


I learned something new. I've owned this bike for over 2 years and didn't know the gears were plainly displayed on the front sprocket cover.


Everything went along dreamily until he got to the plastic pop rivets on the fairing. The fairing has to be open to reach the forks.


"These *&^% plastic pop rivets are making me vewy angry!"


"Now open wide and say 'Ahhhhh'"
The bike with the fairing open.


The source of all the cussing ... I mean, fussing.


Then he raised the front forks by 7/8 inch by loosening the pinch bolts on the front yokes. This lowered the front to the same as the rear. It has to be precisely balanced or it can be a disastrous ride!


I played with Maxie for awhile. I'm surprised she braved the torrent of flying insects. This little dog HATES bugs with a purple passion but she will walk over hot coals to play with that tennis ball.

Well, now we go out to eat and try to cool off ...


"This crab is really fresh, isn't it?"
I hope y'all have a great weekend. We're going riding!

National Taxpayer Protest 9.12.2009

From the SSI Tea Party Blog


On Sept 12, 2009, there will be a Taxpayer March on Washington. Several grassroots movements are joining forces to make a huge stand on that day that we have had ENOUGH! So, save the date, and join this historic march if at all possible. You can read more about this event here: http://912dc.org/

Please help spread the word!

Postcard Friendship Friday (05/01)

Looks like Lady Liberty is happy not to be wearing one of those heavy dresses on that women used to have to endure. [lol]


Postcard Friendship Friday is hosted by my wonderful friend Marie at Voila! Vintage Postcards. Pop on over to her site and join in the fun! Everyone is welcome.

And It Came To Pass In The Age Of Insanity

And it came to pass in the Age of Insanity that the people of the land called America, having lost their morals, their initiative, and their will to defend their liberties, chose as their Supreme Leader that person known as The One.

He emerged from the vapors with a message that had no meaning; but He hypnotized the people telling them, “I am sent to save you. My lack of experience, my questionable ethics, my monstrous ego, and my association with evil doers are of no consequence. For I shall save you with Hope and Change. Go, therefore, and proclaim throughout the land that he who preceded me is evil, that he has defiled the nation, and that all he has built must be destroyed.”

And the people rejoiced. For even though they knew not what The One would do, He had promised that it was good; and they believed.

And The One said “We live in the greatest country in the world. Help me change everything about it!”

And the people said, “Hallelujah!! Change is good!”

Then He said, “We are going to tax the rich fat-cats,”—-

And the people said “Sock it to them!”

“—- and redistribute their wealth.”

And the people said, “Show us the money!”

And then He said, “Redistribution of wealth is good for everybody.”

And Joe the plumber asked, “Are you kidding me? You’re going to steal my money and give it to the deadbeats??”

And The One ridiculed and taunted him, and Joe’s personal records were hacked and publicized.

One lone reporter asked, “Isn’t that Marxist policy?”

And she was banished from the kingdom!

Then a citizen asked, “With no foreign relations experience and having zero military experience or knowledge, how will you deal with radical terrorists?”

And The One said, “Simple. I shall sit with them and talk with them and show them how nice we really are; and they will forget that they ever wanted to kill us all!”

And the people said, “Hallelujah!! We are safe at last, and we can beat our weapons into free cars for the people!”

Then The One said, “I shall give 95% of you lower taxes.”

And one, lone voice said, “But 40% of us don’t pay ANY taxes.”

So The One said, “Then I shall give you some of the taxes the fat-cats pay!”

And the people said, “Hallelujah!! Show us the money!”

Then The One said, “I shall tax your Capital Gains when you sell your homes!”

And the people yawned and the slumping housing market collapsed.

And He said, “I shall mandate employer-funded health care for EVERY worker and raise the minimum wage. And I shall give every person unlimited healthcare and medicine
and transportation to the clinics.”

And the people said, “Gim’me some of that!”

Then he said, “I shall penalize employers who ship jobs overseas.”

And the people said, “Where’s my rebate check?”

Then The One said, “I shall bankrupt the coal industry and electricity rates will skyrocket!”

And the people said, “Coal is dirty, coal is evil, no more coal! But we don’t care for that part about higher electric rates.”

So The One said, “Not to worry. If your rebate isn’t enough to cover your expenses, we shall bail you out. Just sign up with ACORN and your troubles are over!”

Then He said, “Illegal immigrants feel scorned and slighted. Let’s grant them amnesty, Social Security, free education, free lunches, free medical care, bi-lingual signs and guaranteed housing . . .”

And the people said, “Hallelujah!!” And they made him King!

And so it came to pass that employers, facing spiraling costs and ever-higher taxes, raised their prices and laid off workers. Others simply gave up and went out of business and the economy sank like unto a rock dropped from a cliff. The banking industry was destroyed and blamed. Manufacturing slowed to a crawl. And more of the people were without a means of support.

Then The One said, “I am the The One - The Messiah - and I’m here to save you! We shall just print more money so everyone will have enough!”

But our foreign trading partners said unto Him, “Wait a minute. Your dollar is not worth a pile of camel dung! You will have to pay more . . . ”

And the people said, “Wait a minute. That is unfair!!”

And the world said, “Neither are these other idiotic programs you have embraced. Lo, you have become a Socialist state and a second-rate power. Now you shall play by our rules!”

And the people cried out, “Alas, alas!! What have we done?”

But yea verily, it was too late. The people set upon The One and spat upon him and stoned him, and his name was dung.

And the once mighty nation was no more; and the once proud people were without sustenance or shelter or hope. And the Change The One had given them was as like unto a poison that had destroyed them and like a whirlwind that consumed all that they had built.

And the people beat their chests in despair and cried out in anguish, “Give us back our nation and our pride and our hope!!”

But it was too late, and their homeland was no more.

Written by: Lee W. Lawrence

My Day In Pictures

So ... I come in from outside and have a cold one ...


... I turn on my beloved Fox Business News ...
and they're freakin' out over a (real or imagined) flu pandemic ...

Trust Me
... that our oh so wise government claims is real ...


... but quite frankly, I don't see what the big deal is about Panda's!? Do you?


Hey, I ain't scared.
I think I can take 'em when he looks the other way ...


(BTW, I turned the news off. I'm watching Arny beat up some bad guy Terrorists in a movie. And not to diminish their suffering but only 3 people got this flu in New York City at last count ... and, let's see, there's 8 million living there now ... right? Nope, not concerned a bit.)

Wordless Wednesday, Counterthink Comic

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