A Primarily Black & White Day at the Auto Show, Virginia Beach Convention Center, January 10, 2015.

The show was primarily manned and ladyied  by the manufacturers. It was referred to as a no selling show. There were no dealer stickers on the cars.

Yes, I used my new camera, Fuji X100T. Unfortunately, it doesn't help with the composition.

I used + 1 sharpening in the camera. Other than cropping, nothing else was done in processing the snaps. I'm truly pleased with the sharpness.

The software gods were after me today. I couldn't even place the photos where I wanted them...never happened before. They literally jumped all over the place. Not kidding....

The show seemed perfect for people who were interested in comparing cars and gathering information in a relaxed non-selling environment.

Want to thank the young ladies who allowed me to take their picture.... They were good sports.......

Gotta love the Beetles....

Ford ST. Nice peppy car.

Fiat Abarth, almost $30,000......

VIR had a display. Once of the nicest race tracks and facilities in the country. Yes, they even have a motel and condos. Yes, right here in Danville, Virginia.

The manufacturers spared no expense. Nice displays from most.

Lots of us older folks at the show....

The Veterans' Garden......

The Buick lady.......

The Toyota lady.........

Folks taking pictures of cars and I'm trying to take pictures of folks taking pictures of cars..

Ahh, we can dream. Folks like to have their picture took in fancy cars.

Megan, the Volkswagen lady.....

This Mini had to be in color......

Mayra, yes, as the sign proclaims, she's the Chevy Lady.....

The Ford lady......

Fellow resting..overcome with all of the choices.....

Guy starring....were lots of them, today........

Toddler is over it!

Lexus lady......

Guys love those Mustangs....and like starring at the engines....

This was a cool Fiat. It's styled after the 1957 model.

My Just-Bought Bicycle is Kickin' My Butt! Who Would Have Thunk It? Is My Bike Possessed? Are Demonic Spirits at Play?

My Bike Friday in its embryonic stage.

Many years ago, almost in another life, I guess I could say, I raced motorcycles. Primarily raced 1/4 dirt ovals with occasional trips to 1/2 mile tracks. Yes, we'd rocket down the straights and when coming into the corners, we'd toss the bikes (motorcycles) sideways, and using a combination of handlebar movement, steel shoe on the left foot, and throttle...we'd balance, steer, slide, and maneuver the bikes through the corners. 

Yes, I know it's been more than a few years.

What am I leading up to? 

Don't many of us say, It's just like riding a bike? Yeah, you know, you don't forget how. Just get on the bike and it'll all come back to you....

Well, that old bromide did not hold true for me! I got the bike together and adjusted the seat so that my legs would extend fully when pedaling. I knew the bike was going to be a little twitchy because of the design.....angle of the head tube, short handlebars, and small wheels. OK. I got on the seat and wobbled off...yes, just in my court. Made it to the end of the court. Stopped, and turned the bike around and headed back to my house. And, then as I applied the brake, bam, I'm on the ground. Hit on my right side. OK.....

I then decided I would only (attempt to) ride when it was dark. I surely didn't want my neighbors to witness an old guy making a fool of himself and busting his ass.

OK. Next night..... Basically the same result, though fell on my left side. Hey, I ain't got no more sides to fall on. And, hey, I'm at that age when you really don't want to break a hip. 

Consulted with my pal Eddie...... OK, lowered the seat so that I can stand flat-footed while on the seat and will try to shift the gears to a larger chain-wheel.

Need to add: I'm trying out my new camera, Fuji X100T. Theses photos are out of the camera with only slight cropping...no adjustments to contrast or color. To me they seem sharp. Hey, they should.....

Third time out, yes, remained upright. Got a better gear. And, dang, the bike really scooted along. Yes, stopped at the end of the court and turned the bike around. And, didn't fall.

Now, three briefs rides....maybe a total of 1,200 feet. Is there buyer's remorse? Nope, not at this time, though I am a little sore.... 

Yes, testing my camera......

Well, I really should stop here, but...what the heck.

I tried to see if I could figure what was wrong with the bike, if anything...or, what am I doing wrong. I ruled-out the bike being at fault and then went over what I was doing, how I was riding, to see if maybe I was making mistakes.

Hmmm..... Then, I thought. Dang, is it possible the bike is ahhhh, maybe possessed? Yeah, I know that sounds crazy. And, of course until now I had never considered that possession could even happen. But, what else could it be?



And, if it is possessed, then what?

The photo to the right was just an experiment to see how sepia would look. 

Hmmm, does the bike have an evil look to it? 

Some religions have the blessing of the animals. Yes, the Catholics do this. You know, bring your pups, guinea pigs, hamsters, cats, horses, and such to the church, and a priest all decked-out in a costume of sorts will bless them. Hmm.. 

Yes, maybe the Catholics would get involved in a blessing of bicycles. Dang, that'd be a good marketing ploy for them.

Now, what? Well, folks say prayer works! 

Nah, think I'll look for another way.

BTW, for those of you who didn't read my other post about the bicycle, my intentions were to have a small foldable bike that I could easily put in my car, to take with me to the small towns that I'm supposed to be visiting.  Also, thought it'd be good for an older person to ride a little for exercise. There are several nice paved bike trails within a few miles of where I live.

Amazing.........

Of course, if I keep falling, and I think my bike is possessed I could always seek help from Bob Larson. Do you folks know of Bob Larson? Well, he's the man for exorcisms. And, if I remember correctly, his daughters have joined him. Folks, this dude, his daughters, and the folks who show-up at his exorcism spectacles say a lot about our society. In fact, maybe I need to have a post about old Bob. Yes, he's way up there on the bizarre meter.

Actually, for any of you folks who are having difficulty in finding a job, the exorcism business might be a good gig for you. There's little outlay or possibly no outlay for equipment: just need a Holy Bible, a cross, and maybe  some magic water (hey, tap water will work fine). 

Don't I have to have training to perform these exorcisms? 

Can you shout, In the name of Jesus, come out, while smacking the possessed on the forehead? Hey, you're good-to-go. Of course, you can add a little class to your act by becoming a reverend. Yes, here's a copy of my reverendship, of which I'm mighty proud.

Oh, well. I think I'll pass on the exorcism for now. Hmmm.... And, if I decide that my bike is possessed, maybe I'll just smack myself in the head. Hey, maybe I should do that anyway.

Want one of these butt-kickin' bikes? Take a look, here.

Bill Donohue Is a Shithead!

Do you folks know of Bill Donohue? Here is his response to the slaughter of the cartoonists and police officers in France. 









MUSLIMS ARE RIGHT TO BE ANGRYJanuary 7, 2015 by Bill Filed under Latest News Releases

2015 - January Releases

Bill Donohue comments on the killing of 12 people at the Paris office of the newspaper Charlie Hebdo:

Killing in response to insult, no matter how gross, must be unequivocally condemned. That is why what happened in Paris cannot be tolerated. But neither should we tolerate the kind of intolerance that provoked this violent reaction.

Those who work at this newspaper have a long and disgusting record of going way beyond the mere lampooning of public figures, and this is especially true of their depictions of religious figures. For example, they have shown nuns masturbating and popes wearing condoms. They have also shown Muhammad in pornographic poses.

While some Muslims today object to any depiction of the Prophet, others do not. Moreover, visual representations of him are not proscribed by the Koran. What unites Muslims in their anger againstCharlie Hebdo is the vulgar manner in which Muhammad has been portrayed. What they object to is being intentionally insulted over the course of many years. On this aspect, I am in total agreement with them.

Stephane Charbonnier, the paper’s publisher, was killed today in the slaughter. It is too bad that he didn’t understand the role he played in his tragic death. In 2012, when asked why he insults Muslims, he said, “Muhammad isn’t sacred to me.” Had he not been so narcissistic, he may still be alive. Muhammad isn’t sacred to me, either, but it would never occur to me to deliberately insult Muslims by trashing him.

Anti-Catholic artists in this country have provoked me to hold many demonstrations, but never have I counseled violence. This, however, does not empty the issue. Madison was right when he said, “Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as the abuses of power.”

Here is a link to the Catholic League.

Here's the Wikipedia definition of shithead.

I wonder if Donohue would be pissed-off if cartoonists depicted priests raping little boys! 

Frankly, I can't understand why all Catholics aren't just downright embarrassed about their church and religion: demonic possession and exorcisms, get an annulment after 3o years of marriage and 10 kids-you were never married, join the saint-of-the week club, miracles, miracles, yes, we know your country (Africa) is being ravaged by HIV/AIDS, but you surely can't use condoms (according to the Pope), and on and on.

Not only is Donohue a shithead, he's a disingenuous shithead. He says we can't condone violence but in the next breath blames the victims for their being slaughtered. 

If Catholics, for whatever reason, feel the need for religion, surely they can find one that's less insulting and absurd. Hey, even if you have to wear magic underwear.

Is this post mean-spirited and angry? I don't consider it mean-spirited, but I am pissed-off. And, no, if my mom were still alive I surely wouldn't be using the word shithead.

Hey, Bill....remember, blasphemy is a victimless crime. 

My Echo Arrived Yesterday. My Life is Now Complete! Honest, Well, Almost, Sort of.....

OK, folks, this is pretty darn cool. Well, better than just cool. So, what the heck is this Echo? Actually, I'm not exactly sure...but, I'll take a stab at explaining it.

A few weeks ago I received an e-mail from Amazon saying I could signup to possibly receive an invitation to buy an Echo. As I'm a Prime member, the price would be $99. After this initial period the cost would go to $199.

Hey, Jeff....what's up with this? Some type of marketing ploy? Oh, well.....                          

Yes, this is the Echo.

Anyway, yes, I signed-up and recently got a note saying I could buy an Echo.

So, what the heck does it do? As I type this I'm listening to my local station, WNIS, 790AM. Yep, you can listen to the radio and to music. The music I believe is from the Prime music library. Also, Alexa uses iHeartRadio.

You can also use a shopping list and a to-do list. Alexa, add milk to my shopping list. Alexa, add pay the phone bill to the to-do list. BTW, forgot to mention....you talk to or speak to Alexa. Yep, and, there's also a remote unit if you aren't near the Echo.

Now, another cool thing. You can download a free application to your Kindle Fire and see your lists and your back and forth with Alexa.

There's also an alarm system. Kind of neat if you have something on the stove, want to leave the kitchen, and then be reminded to check the food.

So, how does it work, exactly? Dang, I'm not sure. You wake-up, or get the attention of, the Echo by saying, Alexa. You then tell her? what you want her to do. 

Yes, she can do math and look-up stuff. I think she uses Wikipedia. I'm a lousy speller. Alexa isn't. 

I'm sure there's a bunch-more stuff Alexa can do. However, just listening to music, news, the lists and alarm, as far as I'm concerned, would be worth the $99. And, of course, Amazon will be adding to the functions. BTW, yes, I have an-old-persons' hearing and Alexa sounds pretty-darn good even from eight or ten feet.

Edit: Here's a link to Echo on Wikipedia. 

Ahhhh, Good on You Mississippi! 2015 and Continuing to go Backwards.

Yes, Mississippi, that bastion of bigotry, racism, ignorance, misogyny, intolerance, poverty, Bibles, Confederate flags, Bronze-Age thinking, and bottom-of-the-heap in education, strikes again. 

The Heritage Initiative will be known as Initiative Measure Number 46. Here is the full text.

Here's the best (or worst, depending on whether you are a supporter) part of the initiative:

(I.)  The State of Mississippi hereby acknowledges the fact of her identity as a principally Christian and quintessentially Southern state, in terms of the majority of her population, character, culture, history, and heritage, from 1817 to the present;  accordingly, the Holy Bible is acknowledged as a foremost source of her founding principles, inspiration, and virtues;  and, accordingly, prayer is acknowledged as a respected, meaningful, and valuable custom of her citizens.  The acknowledgments hereby secured shall not be construed to transgress either the national or the state Constitution’s Bill of Rights.

Well, isn't that special? I won't waste more of my time on this. If interested you can do a search to see what other folks are saying. Here are a couple of links.

KFC...Yes, Tonight's the Last Time.......

A few months ago I received, yes, in my mail box, coupons for deals at KFC. And, I used them. I thought the food pretty good. Hey, I eat out a lot...yes, a lot; sit-down places and drive-throughs.  I truly do not like making my own meals.

The last couple of weeks I've been going to Bojangles. Thought the food was at least OK (actually, better than OK...though the folks who work there are, well.....I'll let it go at that). 

Anyway, tonight I went back to KFC where I hadn't been in a couple of months or so. Actually, I went to the post office and KFC was closer. I had actually thought about going to Bojangles. Oh, well.

Ordered what I usually do. Yes, a three piece white dinner with two orders of mashed potatoes. The dinner includes two breasts and a wing, two sides  (dang, I don't like that word, sides), and a biscuit.

I placed the order through the drive through. The pleasant young lady said it'd be two minutes (evidently they'd have to cook it...yes, it was about 9PM and there were few customers). 

I pulled to the window and paid and she told me to park out front of the restaurant and they'd bring it to me.

I said, I'll wait here. If someone comes up behind me I'll pull forward.
Oh, you can't do that. There's a timer here and you can't be here more than 60 seconds.

Hmmmm..... Not sure about you, but that is downright weird.

OK. So I pulled forward. After about ten minutes I headed to the restaurant and a young fellow was coming out with my meal.

OK. Yes, I'm home. Wow, this is going to be great!

Hmmm...... Opened the box. Well, yes there was one breast and a thigh and a wing. OK, hey, mistakes are made I tell myself.

Dang, I  had ordered extra crispy  and it looked really good. OK, put a breast on my plate, mashed potatoes, and the biscuit. Wasn't quite salivating like Pavlov's dog, but was close.  Dang, this was going to be a treat!!!!!


Well, it sucked, period. The chicken tasted like grease or something. Hmmm.... The potatoes, not sure how to describe them. Even the darn biscuit was, well.....

Anyway, yes, I tossed it all in the trash. Yes, the last time for old KFC.

Sorry, Colonel......

Thank Goodness (and, the Pope) My Pup's Going to Be OK!

On my last post I mentioned that I was going to layoff religion, for at least a while. However,

this is a positive post. Yes, religion is doing something good. Here's a link to what Pope Francis has said about pups going to heaven. Wow, I feel so much better.

Hmmm. But, I wonder. Will they know that my pup can only eat prescription dog food? Yes, she has colitis. Hmmm. Maybe when you're in heaven, ahh, do all of your physical problems go away? If not, are they able to get her records from her vet? Will they consult with Dr. Andrew about her well-being? It's heaven, they'll surely take care of her, won't they? Also, since she was little she's had the same peanut flavored treats in the shape of a small dog bone. Will they have them? Just remembered, what about grooming? Wow, I now have some real concerns. 

Maybe I shouldn't pose this question, I mean after all, I do truly appreciate what the Pope is doing--but, should I maybe look around at other heavens? You know, maybe there's one out there that has been taking dogs for a long time. Maybe they'd be more setup to take care of my pup. Dang, now I'm starting to really worry. Surely I can count on the Pope to take care of her, can't I?

Pay it Forward and Christmas is Almost Here.....

So, can an atheist get excited about Christmas? Well, surely not in the sense of praying, going to church, thinking the earth is only a few thousand years old, and that there was a virgin birth.

But, I have noticed that some people, believers or not, seem to be a little kinder and understanding, if you will, during the holiday season. And, of course that is good. People who are usually gruff and abrupt may even, with a smile no less, wish you a Merry Christmas or a Happy Holiday and at least at the time they're saying it, mean it.

I think that if we can all take a few minutes and think about what we have...yes, our material things as well as our friendships and relationships; that we can pause and appreciate that we have a job and can support ourselves and those who rely on us, whether we think our job is the greatest or not.

Anyone who happens by here and is reading this surely is most likely doing at least OK in the grand scheme of things. Yes, we may want our marriages and relationships to be better. We may want our job environment to be better. We may want a new car or a fancier place to live, but when the marks are tallied, we most likely have it pretty good.

Click on the ABC link below to learn who owns this car....

None of us are going to bed hungry. And, I'm sure we all have shelter and clothes to wear.

So, I guess what would be great, is for those of us who have this other feeling around the holidays, could maintain it throughout the year. Yeah, be nice to folks because it's good to be nice to folks. And, not just do it because you feel by tradition that you should......

So, George, did you fall and bonk your head? What's up? I know that you may find it hard to believe but just because a person is an atheist doesn't that that they aren't the same as a

believer, except for that one small difference. Yes, we don't believe in god(s).

So, what brought all of this on? Good question and I'm not exactly sure. I've been thinking about writing something like this for a while. I guess, what nudged me a little was an article on the ABC website. And, yes, I realized that constantly ranting  and raving about the evils of religion is doing nothing other than keeping me riled-up.

Sometimes we just need to sit and be unemotional and objective about our situation, and at other times maybe looking around us and seeing how others have it will cause us to better appreciate our station in life. Try to imagine trading places with those who don't have what we have. Sometimes a little introspection can better make us appreciate what we do have.

So folks, be nice... yes, during the holidays as well as the rest of the year. And, if you see someone who needs help and you're able to assist, that would be great.

Religion Again, Yes, Still the World's Greatest Evil.......

Good people do good things
Evil people do evil things
But, it takes religion to make good people do evil things...

This, I believe, is a philosopher, whose name I can't remember.......

There are so many evils and horrible events that are perpetuated on a daily basis in the name of religion. And, yes, that's OK...as it's religion and we surely don't want to not allow religious people to act as they want. Yes, they are special.

Here in the States there are all kinds of religious exemptions or whatever you want to call them.

Yes, the Jews circumcise and then suck the blood from the infant's penis. Hey, a few will die and some will have brain damage and some will have herpes, but, what the heck...hey, it's our religion.

Child gets sick, don't take them to a doctor, we're going to pray over them. Hey, that's fine.

Don't want to vaccinate your kid, hey, that's fine as long as your religious views forbid it.

Want to offer up a sacrifice to a god or goddess, hey, that's fine as long as your religion says you should. Oh, you're going to torture animals....heck, go ahead, dang, you're offering up a sacrifice to your gods or goddesses.... We surely don't want to stop you.

Please note, this link to a CNN article I found quite disturbing. But, hey it's religion. Not sure if you should see it. Yes, there are photos. And, again, I found it quite disturbing.

Yes, I need to get on the road and travel a little. Sadly, I doubt if we will ever rid ourselves of religion. It will just go on and on.

Yes, I do need to get on the road.............

Do You Folks Read Labels? On Bottles of Booze? Strange Monkey Gin, is Now at Your Favorite ABC Store!

Courtesy Silverback Distillary

Well, I confess, yes, I'm a label reader. I read them all. When I go in a grocery store,  I read the labels. And, when I go in the ABC store (In Virginia, all booze is sold by the state in Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) stores.) I read the labels.

Actually, I often pick out a new booze if I like the label. Hey, it might have a little humor or comedy to it. And, that's what happened today.

For several years when I buy gin I buy Broker's. Yes, I started buying that brand because of the label and a little tag they hang on the bottle. Today when I went in the ABC store it was going to be a gin day and I went to find the Broker's.  It was on sale, I think two bucks off, and I was going to buy three bottles. For some reason, I glanced to the left of the Broker's and there it was....Strange Monkey Gin. Well, I couldn't resist.

I picked-up a bottle and turned it around and read the label. 

Here's the label......

Charles Darwin said, "No other member in the whole class of mammals is coloured in so extraordinary a manner as the adult male mandrills." We like to think that If Darwin drank our hand crafted gin his quote would be "no other spirit in the whole class of libations tastes as extraordinary as STRANGE MONKEY GIN." There is no better hand crafted gin than STRANGE MONKEY. EVERYONE NEEDS A LITTLE STRANGE...now and then.

Hmmm. The needing a little strange seems a little crude...but, so be it.

Yes, I bought one bottle. Dang, can't remember how much it was but it was far-more expensive than Broker's. I guess what helped cinch the deal is that it's made in the Silverback Distillery in Virginia. Now, why should being made in Virginia matter? Well, that's a question for another time. I guess another thing is that these folks just opened this year. You know, give them a little support. I'm hoping it's a bunch of pals who got together, maxed out their credit cards, second/third mortgages on their houses, and said, Hey, we're going to make some darn good booze. Frankly, if I find that a huge multinational corporation owns them, I'll be less enthused.

They have more products coming.

So, how is the Strange Monkey Gin?

Courtesy Silverback Distillary

Do I have any special training in evaluating or testing spirits? Nope. I do drink them from time to time, though. OK, I'll give it a try.

It's not harsh. It's at least as smooth as other gins I've had.  I think the only thing unique is a taste that I can't describe other than to say it's interesting. Spicy? Hmmm... I'm getting way out of my area here.

Well, yes, just tried a couple more sips. Yep, this is stuff is pretty good, whatever that means.

Will I being buying more Strange Monkey Gin? As of this moment, yes. In fact, looking forward to them having their other products available.

You folks out there who drink, Hey, try Strange Monkey. You shouldn't be disappointed.

Edit: November 29, 2014

I asked the Strange Monkey folks permission to use these two images that are theirs. I got an immediate and pleasant response saying it would be OK. 

And, no it ain't no multinational corporation who own the distillery.

The gentleman included the following in his letter to me.

Here are the ingredients we distill with in our Strange Monkey:

Juniper Berries

Coriander

Anise

Lemon Peel

Sweet Orange Peel

Mandarin Bitter Orange Peel

Almond

He invited us all to visit his distillery, which is in one of our State's most beautiful areas.

 Silverback distillery at 9374 Rockfish Valley HWY, Afton, VA 22920

He, Denver Riggleman, also mentioned that their BERINGEI Vodka is now on the shelves at your favorite ABC store. Also, available at their distillery is their Blackback White Grain Spirit (Bourbon Mash Moonshine) and they will have a bourbon and rye whisky. 

I had forgotten to mention that their distillery is green, I believe that is the term used, as they are looking out for our environment.

Here's an article from the News Advance about the distillery.

Another article from Blue Ridge Life magazine.

OK, Folks....What Car is More Likely to Get a Ticket...Hmmm.....Actually, Drivers Who Are More Likely to Get a Ticket? What Car Are They Driving?

Folks, if you're driving a Subaru WRX you're more likely to get a ticket than if you're driving any other car. Yes, for better or worse, the Subaru WRX ranks first in the ticket getting contest. I guess the kids out there who are driving this model, now have a smile on their faces. Hey, I'm an old guy, and no I don't speed. Well, there are only two places, but never on the highway; I drive the speed limit or at the most five over and I'm getting to the point I rarely use the five over. I will admit this car can get you in trouble if you don't watch yourself.

You really need to watch this. Yes, Breakfast in your control. Dang, I was shocked to learn that someone else gets their bread like this; I thought I was the only one. It's amazing that a car company would have an ad like this. Hey, go get your Subaru. Not sure about whether the young lady will join you for breakfast? Subaru doesn't show her as an option.

Photo: Courtesy Subaru



Not for the faint of heart.  A lap around the Isle of Man in a Subaru.

Mark Higgins, again. Trying to break his lap record. A different view.

Yes, you might call this a public service announcement, of sorts.

Edit: May 16, 2015
Subaru, ties with two other car models as the most in-demand car in the US.
Here's the link with other models.

The Latest From the Religious Front...Sort Of.....Maybe I've Solved Your Christmas Card Problem???

Well folks, Christmas will be here soon. And, soon many of us are going to start a bizarre dance if you will, and head out shopping. Many of our gifts  will not be appreciated or wanted. And, we seem to do it every year. In fact, many families go in debt to buy these gifts that no one wants. However, I have found the perfect Christmas card. Well, perfect for me. Take a look.....   

Most Christmas cards have Baby Jesus, Rudolph, wreaths, Santa Claus, snow men/women, and so on. However, few can give you a laugh. This is the postcard version of the Christmas card. The Christmas card inside, has the punch line, if you will, For the first time ever, Mary was glad she was engaged to an idiot, along with Merry Christmas. Hey, get the greeting out along with a laugh.

Here's where you can buy the Christmas Card version.

And, here is a cool website where the card originated. I tried to find how I could contact the lady who owns the website to get permission to use the card; however, couldn't find an address. I hope she doesn't mind my using it. Hey, I'm a good customer.




Can't think of a gift to give to one of your Christian buddies. How about this one. Was Jesus really married with kids?

Wish you all a good holiday season. Try not to get in a panic over buying Christmas presents. And, if you have a few drinks don't drive! Nothing will spoil your holiday season more than a DUI or worse, an accident caused by booze.

Ahhh, Another Go-No-Where Project? Or, Will This One Somehow Work Out?

Well, I'm not sure exactly how this got started. Let's see, it was two/three days ago. I'm not even sure what the catalyst was. Anyway, I started looking at bikes. Yes, fold-up bikes. In particular, the Brompton that is a well-known British bike.

Hmmm. Wow, they were sort of pricey but all the reviews were positive and folks seem to love them. In fact, a young couple sold everything they had, bought two, and yes, hit the road and are traveling around the US.

At first glance the folding bikes look somewhat toyish. But, they seemingly aren't and there seems to be few disadvantages to them. Of course one of the main selling points is their foldability. If you want to take it somewhere to ride, you don't have to put on a bike rack or take off wheels to try to jam it in your car. Just fold it up and put it in your trunk or back seat. It weighs about 25 pounds.

Anyway, I started looking at other manufacturers and after spending the better part of a day reading reviews and such, ended-up at  Bike Friday.  And, yes, I'm buying a Bike Friday bike that should be shipped about December 19th.

And, after talking to my pal Eddie who knows just about everything about bikes and with the patient and knowledgeable help of Robbie Dow at Bike Friday, man oh man, I'm going to have a terrific bike. No folks, they ain't all the same.

Another cool thing, if you will, is this baby is going to be custom made. Yep, you send them measurements, inseam, height, and so on...yeah, riding style (Since I don't have a riding style, I guess I'll have to pass on that one.). And, they make the bike for you.


It's going to have disc brakes and a Gates belt-drive; no chain to oil or mess with. Also, it's going to have a cool Shimano 11-speed gear gizmo that's sealed and requires no maintenance. You are able to specify just about any parts that you want. Yes, it's truly made for the buyer just the way he or she wants it.

Well, enough for now. When it arrives I'll take some snaps and be back.

If any of you folks have the sudden urge to buy one of these cool bikes, give Robbie a call at 1-800-777-0258. If you want it by Christmas time, you'd better call soon.

Do You Folks Hunt? I Don't, But My Neighbor Does......

I've never had the urge or desire to go hunting. 

I just always figured I couldn't shoot a deer; or a squirrel, or any animal for that matter. 

Of course, I let other people kill chickens, pigs, and hogs so I can go to the grocery store and buy what I want. I feel sure that many of us would stop buying meat if we went to a slaughter house and actually saw how these animals were killed. I doubt any of us can imagine the terror that the animals must feel.

That said, I've talked to my neighbor a little about hunting, trying to understand the allure or whatever you want to call it, to get up early in the morning, drive several hours, and then tromp around in the woods, often times with rain and cold.

While I surely don't know if my neighbor is representative of all hunters, he often times goes hunting and comes home empty handed. He usually says he didn't see anything big enough to shoot.

While I haven't quizzed him about how many shots does it take and so on, I would imagine he is a skilled marksman and the animal doesn't suffer. At least, I hope, the animal doesn't suffer.

He seems to follow all of the rules whether he is hunting or fishing. And, yes, he does both as often as possible. When asked, how often do you go hunting, he says, As often as she (yes, Mrs. Hunter) lets me.

I think most hunters would say that if they weren't out hunting that the deer population would get so large that there would be an increase in the number of deer who starve.

Mrs. Hunter and Sadie watching.........

Of course, I know nothing about that.

I'm not even sure why I'm posting this. I walked my dog and there my neighbor was cutting up his deer. Maybe it was just a photo op. I guess I would say, that after talking to my neighbor, I most likely look at hunting a little differently. It would seem that those who oppose hunting on the grounds that it is cruel to animals should be able to realize that it would seem no more cruel than how we slaughter the animals that end-up in our grocery stores. 

To give the deer a sporting chance, it would seem that you'd need to provide them with the sames weapons the hunter has or that the hunter would put aside his/her weapons and go into the woods with nothing more than what the deer has. Hmmmm.... I doubt that's going to happen.

Edit: OK, I can't resist. What's up with hanging animal heads all over your  house? Does this go back to the time of the caveman, when he'd come into his lair and make a mark on the wall to let everyone know he'd just bagged another mastodon? Or, maybe a gunfighter from the old west carving a notch on their gun. Or, maybe a pilot painting another mark on their plane for a kill. 

Seriously, you go out in the woods with a giant gun, kill a deer, whack off its head, have it mounted, and hang it on the wall of your den????? We normally only bring attention to things that we are proud of or that make a statement. 

Well, I guess a person could be proud of shooting a deer. 

But why, I might ask? 

No, this is not the same as asking should you go hunting and shoot a deer.