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BIKERNET CANYON CARVER WEEKEND TECH TIP–
It’s still raining pretty hard up here, but I have been having fun in the garage, detailing the Ducati to make up for not riding. I picked up this nifty piece from Harbor Freight and it’s very handy. See photos attached. With a coupon I picked up in a mag, I got it for $20. It’s well worth it when it comes to detailing your wheels or oiling a chain.
BIKERNET DISCOVERS NEW CYCLE/BABE ARTIST AT LONG BEACH SHOW– Bigtoe, AKA Tom Laura was born in LA and makes his home in Southern California. His formative years were spent surfing from Baja south to Ventura in the north, and copying images from Mad Magazine and Ed Roth. After taking 10 years to get a 4 year fine arts degree at Cal State Long Beach, the Toe went into the apparel business, the surf industry to be specific and has Art Directed lines such as Op and Maui and Sons.
After opening his own design firm in 1998, he has also produced artwork for brands such as Quiksilver, O’Neill, Rusty, Redsand, Hobie, Burton and Split. During this time, surfing and surf travel has been Bigtoe?s passion, with local status at the ?Trestles? punctuated by occasional surf trips to most of the Hawaiian Islands, Samoa and Various parts of Baja and mainland Mexico.
After a 15 year “hiatus”, he has started painting again: acrylics are his medium of choice, and driftwood or other found materials are his preferred “canvas”. The Toe also produces a monthly Surftoon which can be viewed at www.surftoon.net.
REBELGIRL OFFERS XMAS ALTERNATIVES– Our black Flex Fit Cap comes adorned with Original Rebel Girl wing logo 4″ embroidered or a4″ Rebel Girl patch of your choice. Sizes are S/M or L/XL
–http://www.rebelgirl.com
LOWBROW CUSTOMS CHECKS IN– THINGS are rolling along here at Lowbrow Customs. Kyle has been working on a new blog for Lowbrow, it will be a mix of some cool articles, new products, etc. You can take a look at lowbrowcustoms.blogspot.com.
Kyle gets his jaw unwired the day before x-mas, so that is good. That means I don’t have to stare at his crusty soup bowl here in the shop anymore. I hope. Check out the new items listed below or the handy New Products section to see everything that has been recently added.
If you don’t know what to get a close friend or loved one for the holidays from Lowbrow Customs, you can always snag one of these gift certificates and let them decide!
HOPE you and your family are doing great coming into this holiday season and the new year. – Regards, Tyler, Larissa, Darly and Kyle
THE SHERIFF RETURNS FROM THE HOME OF THE RISING SUN– Came back to HQ last evening. One week Tokyo/Yokohama is a different world. How about an office where 9 out of 10 smokes all day. Well those were the days.
–CHRIS
The Sheriff
http://youtube.com/user/sheriffmediagroup
SHERIFF MEDIA GROUP
SWEDEN
THE FINAL SUNDAY XMAS WORD FROM THE BIKERNET ENGLISH CLASS– largess lar-ZHES; lar-JES; LAR-jes, noun; also largesse:
1. Generous giving (as of gifts or money), often accompanied by condescension.
2. Gifts, money, or other valuables so given.
3. Generosity; liberality.
Four years after her marriage she exclaimed giddily over her father-in-law’s largess: “He has given Waldorf the Waldorf Astoria Hotel for a birthday present!”
— Stacy Schiff, “Otherwise Engaged”, New York Times, March 19, 2000
No one on the planet treats his staff with more largesse than Bandit. The trouble is finding the evidence of such generosity.
–Bandit’s miserable 3rd wife.
A swelling chorus has arisen recently to complain that the PRI has been up to its old tricks, showering voters with largesse (ranging from washing machines to bicycles and cash).
— “Mexico’s vote”, Economist, June 24, 2000
Largess is from Old French largesse, “largeness, generosity,” from large, from Latin largus, “plentiful, generous.”
BIKERNET WEEKLY SAFETY ALERT, Florida is well known for sending innocent people to prison– There are many more than the 11 noted as wrongly convicted. Fla. panel sought to study wrongful convictions. TALLAHASSEE ? A former Florida State University president wants the state Supreme Court to set up a panel to study wrongful convictions and recommend ways they can be avoided in the future.
Talbot ?Sandy? D?Alemberte, who also once served as president of the American Bar Association said he was filing a formal request today with the justices. He?s asking the high court to pass a rule that would create a Florida Actual Innocence Commission patterned after a similar panel in North Carolina, one of several states that have taken similar steps.
D?Alemberte notes that it?s been determined ? largely through DNA testing ? that 11 innocent people were wrongly convicted in Florida in recent years.
Associated Press
–from Rogue
MEMO FROM THE BOSS OF BIG DOG– TO:** Big Dog Motorcycles Suppliers and Service Providers*
*FROM:** Sheldon Coleman*
*DATE:** December 10, 2009*
*RE:** William Blair and Company, L.L.C. engaged by Big Dog Motorcycles*
As an early alert, I want you to have this important information. Tomorrow, we will be issuing press releases that Big Dog Motorcycles will be looking for additional capital for the company. This may take a variety of forms, from investment to sale. This process will result in broad based communications in the hopes of finding the best possible outcome for the company.
I have hired the investment banking firm of William Blair & Company to assist in finding additional capital, ranging from a possible merger, strategic partnership, sale, raising additional equity or other forms of recapitalization.
As you know, Big Dog has been a consuming passion of mine for over fifteen years. With over 25,000 bikes on the road, Big Dog’s employees, dealers and suppliers have succeeded in building a business that started in my garage into the dominant motorcycle manufacturer in the premium, high performance sector of the motorcycle market.
The challenging market conditions have demanded an ever-increasingly larger financial commitment from me. While my passion for the company remains intense, and my belief in the long-term success of Big Dog remains resolute, the current financial realities make it important for me to find additional capital for the company.
At the core of this success is the best supplier and service provider network in the business. My goal is to create a stronger Big Dog through William Blair’s efforts ? providing a continuing partnership with you and your company.
There is a potentially unique opportunity in this process. Our supplier and service provider network is well connected in the investor world, whether through personal resources, existing business relationships, or other close contacts. There will be no better time to bring an investor forward than right now. This search for capital will be active for the next several months. If you, or someone you know would like to contact us regarding this opportunity, you can call 800.539.5729 or email
investment@bdm.com William Blair and Company will be responding to investment inquiries.
During this process, Big Dog will continue to sell and develop our cutting edge motorcycles, as well as service our dealers and consumers needs for warranty, additional parts, accessories and apparel. I am excited to continue leading Big Dog during this transition and, hopefully, will be part of the team taking Big Dog to the next phase of its growth.
Our dominant market share in our niche will propel the company’s success as the economy recovers, and I am looking forward to finding a capital source that will share Big Dog Motorcycle’s vision of a vibrant future. I believe that Big Dog Motorcycles has yet to reach its full potential. Thanks for your confidence and continued support.
–Sheldon Coleman
CEO
EFFORT TO SAVE THE SEALS– As of 8:30am EST we have over 10,300 signatures!
Petition to Adm. Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations:
Dear Adm. Roughead:
In a heroic action on the night of September 3, Navy SEALs captured one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq, Ahmed Hashim Abed. Abed is believed to be the man behind the barbaric attack in Fallujah in 2004 in which four Blackwater security guards were ambushed, their bodies mutilated, and then hung from a bridge.
Now, because Abed complained that someone smacked him in the face after he was captured (he apparently exhibited a bloody lip), three of the SEALs ? Matthew McCabe, Jonathan Keefe and Julio Huertas ? are facing a January court martial for prisoner abuse (or making false statements to conceal it.)
SEALs are characterized by bravery, skill, and honor. They operate under stressful conditions that we cannot even imagine. And in this war ? against a ruthless, implacable and barbaric enemy ? we believe that their conduct must be judged in that context.
You, as Chief of Naval Operations, have the ability to prevent these men from facing disciplinary action that would end their careers and ? we firmly believe ? destroy the morale of all our Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force special operators.
Please take action immediately to dismiss these charges and restore these men to duty with honor.
http://www.indianadan.com/savetheseals
You can go to this web site and place your vote to save the Seals.
–Mark Jesberger
BIKERNET MEDICAL CENTER STUDIES T’ai Chi for Balance– Each Saturday in December, Dr. Weil will cover novel fitness options that are beneficial for weight management and overall health. Try them on for size in the New Year!
If you’ve been searching for an exercise that is great for your overall health and provides mental and physical stimulation, try T’ai chi. Considered by many to be a gentle martial art, the term “T’ai chi” refers to a harmonious balance between the yin and the yang – the two forces of the universe. Those who practice T’ai chi work to perfect a series of physical motions that flow into one another very smoothly and gracefully, while the body is held straight and upright. The movements are gentle, continuous, and circular, exercising every part of the body.
T’ai chi is especially beneficial for those with osteoarthritis. It can help you strengthen your leg muscles, improve your posture, and promote balance, flexibility, and mobility. It also can teach you to relax and focus, even while executing the moves, and is a way to synchronize the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. In addition, it helps many to develop concentration and coordination, and can reduce the risk of falls, a common concern of older people.
Making stretching exercises part of your everyday fitness routine can be simple if you have the right tools. The Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging online resource has videos, fitness tips and exercise guides to help you get started and stick with a well-rounded fitness plan. Sign up for your two-week free trial today and save 30%!
–DrWeil.com
NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT– Bloomberg’s Billions Buy Opinions– This week, anti-gun New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s anti-gun group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, released the findings of a poll conducted by a political consulting firm called “The Word Doctors,” whose slogan is “It’s not what you say, it’s what people hear.” Word Doctors’ president is a pollster who has been reprimanded by the American Association for Public Opinion Research and censured by the National Council on Public Polls, and who says that the key to polling is “to ask a question in the way that you get the right answer.”
At some other time in our nation’s history, an organization like this would not have been commissioned to conduct a poll, and perhaps it would not even have existed. At a minimum, its poll would have been considered biased and rejected by every newspaper in the country.
But today, as the distinction between editorials and news has become blurred, information is treated so superficially that a catchy word or two is enough to get someone elected to public office, and some in positions of authority cannot conceive of the concept of shame.
U.S. House Approves Transporting Firearms In Checked Luggage On Amtrak:
On December 10, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an NRA-backed amendment, introduced by U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), to allow Amtrak travelers to transport firearms in checked baggage where checked baggage service is available. The Wicker amendment was included along with several government agencies’ appropriations bills in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010.
Anti-Gun Lunacy Abounds On Colorado College Campuses:
The carrying of firearms on college campuses remains hotly debated these days. Recently, that debate has centered on two prominent Colorado universities.
Hunting Threatened In Mojave National Preserve: The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), in concert with the Sierra Club and other anti-hunting organizations, has filed a petition with the California Fish and Game Commission to ban most hunting in the Mojave National Preserve, including rabbit and varmit hunting.
What hunting remains (resident game birds, deer, and bighorn sheep) would be restricted. The “Petition for Rulemaking Regarding Hunting in the Mojave National Preserve” blames hunters for the declining population of the desert tortoise, a threatened species under the state’s Endangered Species Act. CBD filed a similar petition in 2003, but the Commission did not act on it.
The Commission will likely consider the CBD’s petition next week and could schedule a hearing on it early next year.
HEY ITS ALGIE AT KILLING MACHINE CHOPPERS– CHECK OUT WANT I AM DOING ON TANKS AN STUFF,,,
SCOTT JACOBS SIGNS BOOKS FOR XMAS ORDERS– The clock is ticking but there is still time to receive a Scott Jacobs book (signed with a personal message from SJ) in time for the Holidays. A book order form is attached here for your convenience; after filling out please fax to 858-756-6752 or email ssoa@hughes.net ?OMG ? OMG ? what an awesome book!!!! It just arrived, and I?m finding it impossible to put down so that I can work!! I just love it. This book could not have been put together more fabulously! Everything about it ? from the ?new book smell? to the heartfelt acknowledgments to the pictures of Scott?s family to the fantastic artwork is much more than I expected. What a spectacular way to share this artist? phenomenal talents! Thank you, thank you for a great Christmas gift to myself!? IMPORTANT: All existing orders have been processed; if you do not see the charge on your card please contact me ASAP for order confirmation. If it is for Christmas, order will only be accepted while supplies last. If you do not need for Christmas, the next supply will arrive sometime in January. Also there are only five days left (Dec. 15) to take advantage of the huge savings in the ?What?s my Discount?? promo. Call or email me if you have any questions. Happy Holidays! 
Motorcycle Cannonball Run Readies for U.S. Coast-to-Coast Romp and Endurance Ride, September 10-25, 2010 — Sturgis, South Dakota, Dec. 9, 2009 ? Conjuring up the spirit of famed motorcycle daredevils and cross-country endurance riders of the previous century like Erwin ?Cannonball? Baker and George Wyman, the Motorcycle Cannonball Run is gathering momentum to launch a pack of riders on vintage motorcycles for an historic ride across America in September 2010.
The brainchild of Lonnie Isam, Jr., promoter and owner of Jurassic Racing in Sturgis, South Dakota, and the Motorcycle Cannonball Run of 2010, said the event requires that participants ride classic pre-1916 motorcycles such Pope, Sears, Flying Merkel, Excelsior, Henderson, Indian, Triumph, and the Harley-Davidson?s Silent Grey Fellows.
The 3,320-mile transcontinental ride is currently scheduled to start September 10 on the east coast in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. To the greatest extent possible, the ride will utilize non-Interstate roadways and will conclude on the west coast two weeks later in Santa Monica, CA. ?We expect this to be a grueling coast-to-coast pursuit as riders navigate the back roads and byways of our great nation on bikes that are over 90 years old? said Isam, ?and it?s likely that some may not complete the ride. There should be plenty of drama along the way.? Motorcycle Cannonball Course Master John Classen reports that a painstakingly mapped out route was chosen in order to avoid having the riders enter a single interstate whenever possible.
?We?ll have 12 hours of daylight each day,? Classen said, ?and the goal is to have every rider check in daily at the ending point one hour before sunset to avoid wildlife and other after-dark safety issues.?
To date, the Motorcycle Cannonball Run 2010 has drawn entries from around the world and all walks of life, including motorcycle museum owners, authors, bike collectors and restorers. Entrants thus far come from the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and the United States. Complete information about the Motorcycle Cannonball Run, including entry requirements, is available at www.motorcyclecannonball.com.
A service of RiverRock Communication, RiverRockCommunication@gmail.com, 916.777.6263
HO, HO, HOLY SHIT–Life is nuts. The guys pushing for the Healthcare package act like it’s the least we can do for all Americans, but they don’t explain how we’re going to pay for it. Then they added something about Cancer treatments being regulated, and the press went nuts. A local guy in Wilmington, California, who writes for a local newspaper wrote me the other day about his article notion. He wanted to write about how we may face an economic war with China. I wrote him back and told him to pound sand. We’ve got enough on our plates, without fighting with the largest economic powerhouse on the planet. Good god.
Then I received a notice in my e-mails today. It said Obama is planning for Civil War. WTF, can’t we just celebrate the holidays, ride, chase girls, drink whiskey, eat wonderful food, celebrate life, and plan for our bike builds and 2010 runs?
Here at Bikernet we try to do our utmost, to keep the faith. Just check this article action for next week. We will deliver on the Lone Star Rally action and the girls of Texas. We will show you all the cool bikes and classics the brothers are keeping alive in Japan from the Sheriff’s MoonEyes coverage. Rebel just sent me a tech on a 127-inch Shovelhead build. We are working with Zippers on a new performance package tech. In addition, we have techs coming from Bassini Exhaust, Baker, Paughco and S&S.
Shit, I forgot. We will also launch two new Bikernet Radio Interviews. Commander Edge, the boss of the SmokeOut parties and the Long Road Cross country Run, was subpoenaed to testify at a Bikernet Senate Subcommittee hearing. We jammed him about use of stimulus funds to produce a bigger party next year. Then we spoke to the new owner of Aeromach, who loaded up the Aeromach inventory in a big rig and drove back east. Over the next couple of months you’ll see Aeromach techs on Bikernet, featuring new products. The Aeromach team can help you make any product in bulk. There’s never a dull moment at the Bikernet headquarters.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
