Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Movie Review: Spartacus - Blood and Sand

The first episode sucked.  The acting was poor, the special effects were horrible, and the script wasn't much better.  It was so bad I was tempted to press stop, package it back up and drop it in the mail (we rented it from Netflix) without even finishing the first episode.  I'm so glad I didn't do that!  I figured I might as well watch the rest of it because we had nothing else to watch that evening.  The episodes got better and better.  While the special effects remained horrible, the script was great, the fight scenes were awesome, and the movie turned into a feast for the eyes...  From bloody bodies being flung around, limbs and organs being sliced off and thrown about, violence, treachory, slaves, betrayal, loyalty, sex, nudity...  It was really awesome.  It's definitely one I'm going to add to the permanent collection.


Thursday, December 9, 2010

Palin hurts hunting

Sarah Palin hurts, not helps hunting

As if we hadn't already heard enough of Sarah Palin...  Honestly, I try hard not to talk about Palin because I think she gets way too much exposure in the media already.  In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit I despise her.  I think she hurts the causes of conservatives, women,  firearms ownership, and now hunting...

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Mongols MC: View from the inside?

Are they genuine brothers, or rats...  I don't know.  But they sure are talking...

Monday, December 6, 2010

Friday, December 3, 2010

"Socialist!" by Roy Zimmerman

I love Roy Zimmerman!  So talented, so witty, and so necessary!!



Thursday, December 2, 2010

Conservative vs. Liberals

A friend of mine posted this little gem of wisdom to her facebook page, and then tagged me in it, probably because she wanted me to respond to it.  Unfortunately, facebook has many limitations, one of them being they limit how many characters you can type in a reply, and it doesn't allow you to easily hyperlink references in your response, so instead I have posted my response below and sent her a link to this post.  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as <sarcasm> I know she will </sarcasm>.


Friday, November 26, 2010

Movie Review: Hell Ride

Dennis Hopper, Michael Madsen, and David Carradine star in this fictional story of a long, bloody feud between the Victors Motorcycle Club and the 666ers Motorycle Club.

Classic Tarantino, it's full of bikes, guns, and naked chicks.  Total biker flick.

The bikes are great!  Several old Indians, lots of beautiful Harley's, even a Triumph thrown in for flavor...  The music was really good, lots of great riding scenes, lots of great special effects, action, fighting, and a little bit of sex...  I really enjoyed this movie and plan to add it to my collection.



Friday, November 19, 2010

The Catholics are still talking about Homosexuals...

Where do they get off talking about anything?  When the Catholic Church stops covering up pedophilia in the church, and stops protecting pedophiles from prosecution, MAYBE we'll begin to give a shit about what they think about the lifestyle choices of consenting adults....   But probably not...

Full Story

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Fat Mexican is going to court

The Fat Mexican has filed a lawsuit against the city of Shawnee, OK after police allegedly violated the law while attempting to enforce it.

Full Story

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Congress of Liars?

Yesterday on Michele Bachman said on the Ed Schultz show "A plumber who owns his own business would have to pay income taxes on gross sales receipts that exceeded $250,000.  Considering she has a masters degree in tax law, she must know no one pays income tax on gross sales receipts.  She made a "material misrepresentation of the facts" in an effort to manipulate people's understanding of Obama's plan with regards to the Bush Tax Rates expiring.  Unfortunately, knowingly spreading incorrect/inaccurate information is something that has become commonplace in Congress.

If a real estate agent makes a material misrepresentation of the facts, it's an ethics violation.  They lose their license and suffer civil liability, but our elected leaders are allowed to like to us with little/no repercussions.  Why don't we force our politicians to adhere to the level ethics we require of a Realtor?  Why do we allow them to lie to us?

Monday, November 15, 2010

Movie Review: Mask

A wonderful movie about a teenager who has learned to to be happy in spite living with a disorder that disfigured his face and eventually kills him.

I really enjoy the movie because it gives an subtle look at family life of a motorcycle club.  While it's not the point of the movie, you really get to see the brother hood and family love that exists inside a club and the families that are affiliated with the club.

In this case, Gar, played by Sam Elliott (one of my favorite actors) re-enters the life of Rocky Dennis played by Eric Stoltz because Gar is dating Rockys mother, Rusty, played by Cher.  Gar is a member of the fictitious motorcycle club called The Turks.

The scenes of the Turks taking care of each other, taking care of Rocky's family, socializing together and riding together are what make this one of my favorite movies.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Terrible Accident; Motorcyclists killed

4 motorcyclists were killed in a terrible accident yesterday in Imperial County, CA when a vehicle crashed into a pack of bikers.  The vehicle at fault for the accident fled and is still at large.

Full Story

Saturday, November 13, 2010

SOA Update

It sounds like Sonny Barger is going to have a cameo role in the last episode of this season.  Full Story

I think that's awesome and I can't wait to see it!

Sonny Barger Filmography

Friday, November 12, 2010

Harrahs settles with bystanders

Harrahs Casino has settled with bistanders who witnessed the fight at Harrahs Casino between the Hells Angels and the Mongols Motorycle Club in 2002.    Full Story

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Chinese farmer motorcycles across world -- for peace

by Xuefei Chen Axelsson   2010-11-07 16:28:19
STOCKHOLM, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese farmer who is taking an around-the-world motorbike tour with his teenage daughter says he is doing it for the sake of promoting peace.
"My main mission is to call for and promote world peace. I am persistently travelling with my motorcycle and I see the whole world is opening a way for me," Chen Liangquan told Xinhua in Stockholm on Saturday before leaving for Norway.
"I feel people around the world including those in Afghanistan love peace. I have motorcycled across seven countries which are in war and conflict. I can feel people in those countries desperately long for peace," Chen said.
"I love to contribute more to world peace with my world travel," he said, adding that he has collected signatures of some 200,000 people along the way using various languages calling for peace.
Chen, who began his world tour in 2003, plans to visit a total of 160 countries before 2013. Sweden is the 57th country he has visited. The tour has already taken him to Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries, as well as the whole African continent.
He was born in 1962 in a small village in Xuancheng of China's eastern province of Anhui. After graduating from high school, he often rode a bicycle travelling from village to village, selling dates, rice and pig feed, which helped hone his riding skills, earning the nickname "the King of the Bike."
But he had been planning something big for a long time. Back in the school days, Chen had always dreamed of travelling around China like legendary ancient Chinese geographer and writer Xu Xiake.
On Aug. 1, 1986, he started his round-China tour on a bicycle on his own. To cover his travel expenses, he performed self-choreographed bicycle stunts all along the way.
In December 1999, Chen had travelled across all the cities in China's mainland.
Based on his travel experience in China, he wrote books, held photo exhibitions and gave lectures. Then he developed a much more ambitious idea -- an around-the-world motorbike tour -- for peace.
"Peace is the most important thing in this world. Without peace, one cannot live a healthy and free life," Chen said.
"My goal is to establish a peace fund and establish peace schools in the future, I really hope the war in Afghanistan could end and Jerusalem become a place without exchange of fires," Chen said.
In August, when Chen set off again, he was no longer lonely and had good company. His daughter Chen Youyou, who completed her studies at the famous Shaolin Gongfu school, joined him on the tour.
"For myself, there was no problem sometimes staving off my hunger with wild fruits in the forests and sleeping rough in the open. It would be enough for me to only sleep one hour during lunchtime. But currently with my daughter, I must take good care of her to have enough to eat and a room to sleep in at least," Chen said.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Hells Angeles settles lawsuit against Alexander McQueen


BY LINDSAY GOLDWERT

Wednesday, November 3rd 2010, 11:56 AM

The French design house Alexander McQueen doesn't have to fear the sound of revving motorcycle engines anymore.

The Hells Angels have settled their lawsuit against the brand as well as Saks Fifth Avenue department store and online retailer Zappos.com.  The defendants will pull all merchandise featuring the motorcycle gangs trademark "death's head" insignia, reports New York magazine.

The companies will attempt to recall all merchandise, including rings, dresses and purses featuring the trademarked design and have the pricy items destroyed destroyed. 

The Angels insignia is trademarked and for 'members only' said the gang's attorney Fritz Clapp.

In 2006, the Hells Angels filed a lawsuit against Disney for using the Hells Angels name and membership images in its script for the film "Wild Hogs."

The gang withdrew the complaint after receiving assurances that its marks would not appear in the film, according Clapp, reported the Financial Times.

In 1999, the Giuliani administration paid  $450,000 to seven members of the Hells Angels and two of the bikers' girlfriends to settle a lawsuit over a police raid on the group's headquarters in the East Village, the New York Times reported. 

"The reason for them doing it is, I guess, because we're the Hells Angels," one Angel told the Times. "They have this strange idea that we're all illegal criminals or something.''

Original Story

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

On the Issues : My 2010 Election Ballot

I  My Political Ideology:

No matter how you vote this year, all that really matters is that you do vote!  I have filled out my absentee ballot and I'll be dropping it off at my local polling place on Tuesday.  My election this year occurs in the City of San Jose, County of Santa Clara, State of California.

I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat.  As far as I'm concerned, they are both almost the exact same party (at least in a fiscal sense).  Both parties want to over tax us and over spend, the only difference is what they want to spend our money on.  The Republicans want to redistribute the wealth of middle class Americans through subsidies and tax breaks to large, multi-national corporations.  The Democrats want to redistribute the wealth of middle class Americans to poor people and poor communities all over the US and abroad.  I'm not a fan of either.

I do consider myself a conservative.  I believe the political beliefs I have are (or should be) conservative positions, and I believe the GOP has hijacked and perverted the conservative platform.  I was raised to believe civil liberties and fiscal responsibility were conservative values.  Today, neither of those are important to Republican politicians.  The GOP makes alot of noise about fiscal responsibility, but don't let them fool you, they like wealth redistribution just as much as the dems...  They just want the money to flow in the opposite direction.

Although I consider myself a conservative, most people who also call themselves conservatives consider me a liberal....  Interestingly enough, those who call themselves liberal consider me a conservative...  I am probably one of those hated "moderates"...

II  The Candidates:

Generally speaking, I usually vote against all of the major party candidates by voting for a third party candidate.  If I don't know much about any of the third party candidates, I generally mark the box for the Libertarian, knowing they aren't going to win anyway, it's more of a statement of disdain for the major parties than anything else.

Governor:  Dale Ogden, Libertarian

I can't stand Meg Whitman or Jerry Brown, and I don't care which becomes governor (although I'd probably prefer Brown) because both of them would make a terrible governor.  Jerry Brown is a terrible Governor (he was our Governor before and did a terrible job then), a terrible mayor, and a "less than good" Attorney General.  A career California politican that's always done a shitty job...  So why vote for him now.

I just generally don't like Meg.  On top of that, she's a Republican...  Right off the bat that's bad enough to disqualify her as far as I'm concerned.  Also, she's not a Californian.  She moved here to take her job at Ebay.  To add insult to injury, she's a filthy rich Republican, totally out of touch with middle class California.  Just not a good candidate.

Lt. Governor:  Gavin Newsom, Democrat

I was really disappointed he didn't run for Governor.  He would have had my vote for sure.  Great mayor of SF, would have made a great Governor.  Maybe he'll run when Brown terms out.

Secretary of State:  Christina Tobin, Libertarian

Controller:  Andrew Favor, Libertarian

Treasurer:  Edward Teyssier, Libertarian

Attorney General:  Timothy Hannan, Libertarian

Republican Steve Cooley?  Are you joking?  The last thing we need is a radical religious wacko enforcing his extreme brand of christianity as California law. Democrat  Kamala Harris was a terrible city attorney in San Francisco, and would make a crappy Attorney General.  Why would I vote for her?

Insurance Commissioner:  Richard Bronstein, Libertarian

State Board of Equalization District 1:  Kennita Watson, Libertarian

United States Senator:  Barbara Boxer, Democrat

I've voted in every election in California since 1992, and this is the first time I've ever voted for Boxer, and to be honest, I hated doing it this time, but I did it this year because I decided a vote for anyone else would be a vote for Fiorina, and I feel like Fiorina is the ONLY reason to vote for Boxer.

US Representative:  Mike Honda, Democrat

State Assembly, District 22:  T.J. Campbell, Libertarian

Judicial:  No vote

Superintendent of Public Instruction:  no vote

Board of Education:  no vote

Freemont Union High school district board member: no vote

III  Measures Submitted to the Voters:

Prop 19, Legalize marijuana:  Yes.  Hell yes!

I really hope prop 19 passes.  Prohibition against marijuana hasn't worked any better than the 1930's prohibition against alcohol.  It has caused the same problems as alcohol prohibition, and truly, there is not a single reason for it to be illegal, aside from imposing one persons morality and lifestyle choices onto everyone else, which I'm against in any situation.

Prop 20, Redistricting: Yes

We must take redistricting authority away from the politcians to end gerrymandering.

Prop 21,  Annual DMV Fee for state parks:  Yes

I really hope this passes.  Our state parks are in terrible shape, they are worth investing in, and this will provide them the funds they need while doing away with park entry fees so that every Californian who can get to a state park can enjoy it without having to pay an entry fee.  Great program!

Prop 22, Prohibits state from stealing money from transportation funds to pay for other shit:  Yes

Prop 23, Suspends air pollution law:  No

I felt the oil companies were pushing this to make it harder to encourage green industries.  I'm no fan of big oil.  I believe in a sustainable way of life.

Prop 24, repeals recent change in business tax law:  No.

If there were ever a case that supports a representative democracy vs a direct democracy, this propisition is it.  I really struggled with deciding how to vote on this one, and I'm still not sure I voted the right way on it.

Prop 25, changes vote requirement for budgets to simple majority (except for raising taxes): Yes

Prop 26, requires taxes and fees required a 2/3 vote:  Yes

Prop 27, eliminates state commission on redistricting:  No

A yes vote on this one cancels out Prop 20.  We must take redistricting authority away from the politcians to end gerrymandering.

Measure A, Childrens Health Protection:  No.

All children in California are already covered under Medi-Cal.  The last thing we need in this recession is more taxes, more spending, and more social welfare programs....  Even if that program is called "milk for babies and kittens act".

Measure B, Tax to repair county roads:  No.

Use the money we're already paying in taxes more effeciently.  I'm not going to vote to give the county more money to waste.

Measure C, term limits for water board members:  yes

Term limits for any office are good!

Measure E, annual parcel tax to benefit Foothill and Deanza College:  Yes

Our colleges are struggling and we need to support them.

Measure U, Marijuana Business Tax:  yes

Legalize it and tax it!

Measure V, limit powers of outside arbitrators:  No

Are you kidding me?  this sounds like an attempted power grab if I've ever seen one...

Measure W, City Pension Reform:  Yes

Pensions for public employees are very important, but we have to be able to pay for them.  We can't allow them to bankrupt us.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Hells Angels sue Alexander McQueen for use of the Death Head


BY LINDSAY GOLDWERT

Thursday, October 28th 2010, 12:35 PM


The Hells Angels are suing Alexander McQueen for using their death's head insignia in their designs.
The Hells Angels want their death's head back.

The infamous motorcycle gang is accusing designers at Alexander McQueen of illegally using the Angels' trademark symbol, the Financial Times reports. 

The Hells Angels Corporation alleges that the "Hell's Knuckle Duster ring" and other apparel and accessories utilize the gang's icon without permission. 

PPR, the luxury parent company of Alexander McQueen, is named in the suit filed in California Federal court, as are Saks Fifth Avenue and Zappos for selling the goods. 

It's not just for economic reasons.  The bikers are concerned for the safety of the wearers of the death's head since "anyone wearing them would be considered an imposter by club members," says the gang's longtime attorney Fritz Clapp

The Angels have successfully sued before.

In 2006, the Hells Angels filed a lawsuit against Disney for using the Hells Angels name and membership images in its script for the film "Wild Hogs."

The gang withdrew the complaint after receiving assurances that its marks would not appear in the film, according Clapp, reports FT
.

Original Story

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Rules to live by...

Of course, like anyone I sometimes struggle to keep all of them, (especially number 1), but I strive to live according to the following 11 rules.  I think the world would be a much better place if we all did...  These are my "10 Commandments" if you will.


1. Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked.
2. Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them.
3. When in another’s lair, show him respect or else do not go there.
4. If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him cruelly and without mercy.
5. Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal.
6. Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he cries out to be relieved.
7.  -- Deleted because it's not relevant--
8. Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.
9. Do not harm little children.
10. Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food.
11. When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Internet Forum Profile

I'm here to discuss and share information with open minded people who don't mind having their ideas challenged.  If you don't like what I have to say, just don't read it, but don't try to shut me up, it wont work!


When reading my words, I hope you'll accept my comments and criticisms in the spirit they are intended. That is of understanding and tolerance. In instances when I seem harshly critical, please remember I am criticising your words and your ideas, not you as a person. If I have criticisms of you as a person, and I feel it's necessary to share them with you (that will probably never happen), I'll do my best to do that in a private forum, like private messages, not in public.

If you believe I am ignoring your comments, it's because I am. I wont be lured into petty arguments, I wont debate straw men, I wont engage in arguments of semantics, and I wont continue with a discussion if I don't believe there's any chance of it leading to understanding or tolerance.


Also please keep in mind that my comments are reflective of my opinions and my beliefs alone.  I only represent my own views, values, and opinions.  It's only mine, and no one elses. I make no claims to represent the beliefs, positions, practices, or interests of anyone else.


If I seem to have disappeared, I've just gotten busy. I like to read and to post here, but sometimes work doesn't allow me the time.... I get on here and post when I can so if it seems like I'm posting to an old dead topic, it's because the topic is still current for me as I've been away again. If you have replied to something and think I've missed it then email me and let me know, I probably did miss it. If I ignore your email then I'm probably ignoring you :)


I work alot, when I'm not working I’m usually riding my motorcycle or shooting over my dog. I am lucky enough to be married to the most beautiful, most wonderful woman in the world, but not yet lucky enough to be independently wealthy (still working on that one).

I'm a biker, a free spirited Hippie, and a hunter and gardner, all rolled up into one. I'm hoping to someday be a real estate tycoon and to travel the world with my family.

I'm easy going yet opinionated, mostly tolerant, and a good listener. I'm not a republicrat, not vegatarian, and I carry a gun.


Hobbies:  Riding my motorcycle, dog training, gardening, hunting, and skinny dipping


I look up to: Anton LaVey, Donal Trump, Robert Kiyosaki, Jim Cramer, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry



Likes: Gardening, Nature, Sustainable living, Naturism, Motorcycles, Dogs, Dog Training, Concerts, Theater, Hiking, soaking in hottubs/hotsprings, Reading good books, Hunting


Dislikes:  Ignorance, intolerance, internet bullies, sheeple

http://goo.gl/3E9sT

Sunday, June 6, 2010

The Outlaw Biker...



For most, the term "Outlaw Biker" conjures up scary images of a meth addicted long haired heathen who never showers and yearns to kill small children.  A bad man riding around town intentionally breaking the law and intentionally trying to injure members of "polite society."  While the "long haired", "heathen", and "lack of shower" portions of that description might be quite true for some of us (if not many of us), the rest of that stereotype is complete garbage...  That's not to say that there aren't bikers who do meth and commit crimes, of course there are.  And while they may be outlaw bikers too, that is not what the outlaw biker is...

"A new breed of rebel" is how life.com described the Hells Angels in 1965.  Actually, there's nothing new about this breed;  Rebellion is probably the only thing more American than baseball.  The outlaw biker is the descendant of, and the closest living relative of the "Old West Cowboy" who lived on the trail, drifting Westward from town to town on his horse.  Today, the outlaw biker, on his iron horse, travels the roads and highways of the United States, as his ancestor did 100 years earlier, pursuing a life of freedom, and in some cases, hedonism.

The term "Outlaw" as it pertains to bikers actually comes from the 1940's and 50's when racing was a big part of the motorcycle culture.  At the time, motorcycle clubs were mostly racing teams.  The American Motorcycle Association sanctioned/regulated most of these events, and some bikers/clubs decided they didn't want to have to follow the AMA rules.  They started organizing events that were not sanctioned by the AMA and called them "Outlaw Races".  Their outlaw races didn't obey or include the rules/by laws of the AMA races.  These were the original "Outlaw Bikers."  Outlaws because they didn't obey the laws of the American Motorcycle Association.  After the Hollister Incident, the AMA quoted in a magazine article, described this variety of motorcycle enthusiast as "1% of the motorcycle riding population" saying that the other 99% were hard working law abiding citizens.  The 1 percenter was born...

From that beginning, Outlaw Bikers and Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs have evolved into a culture of people who prefer to choose their own lifestyle, instead of conforming to everyone else's idea of the American Dream.  Tending to be fast riding, hard drinking, and stubborn, they have an independent streak that makes them feel separate from society at large, like an outsider looking in.  Affectionately called a "1 percenter" or "1%er", the outlaw biker prefers to exist outside of the herd, choosing a lifestyle that is aesthetically pleasing to himself, instead of trying to fit in with Ward and June Cleaver (the '50's version of todays cubical jockies).

That being the case, like their gunslinging cousins of yesterday drifting along the dusty trails of the old American West, the outlaw biker sometimes runs afoul of the law as he travels Americas highways.  It's true that over the years many bikers have been involved in drug sales, illegal gun sales, illegal shootings, etc...  But the same statement can be made about police officers.  Where most people get it wrong is assuming that outlaw bikers and motorcycle clubs exist to break the law.

The outlaw biker is a fiercely independent outsider who has chosen to live life outside the herd.  He's a guy who can take care of himself when the shit hits the fan.  He's a guy who doesn't need, or necessarily want your approval...  Or anyone else's.  He lives life his way, on his terms.  And he's chosen to do that with the wind in his hair.

Motorcycle clubs exist as a family of bikers.  Like your extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins, the MC serves as an extended family of brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles to the outlaw biker and his wife and kids.  Unlike the family he was born with, this family that he has chosen embraces his individuality and stubbornness, and supports him with a level of loyalty and affection few people these days are familiar with.

To the outlaw biker, the motorcycle club is his family....  The club is his religion...  It's his way of life.  To the outlaw biker, you are either a friend, an enemy, or you're just in his way (like a mosquito).


"These things are good: ice cream and cake, a ride on a harley, seeing monkeys in the trees, the rain on my tongue, and the sun shining on my face. These things are a drag: dust in my hair, holes in my shoes, no money in my pocket, and the sun shining on my face." - Rocky Dennis, Mask

"When we do right, nobody remembers, when we do wrong, nobody forgets."  - Hells Angels Motorcycle Club 

"If you can't be well liked, be well hated" - Bandidos Motorcycle Club 

For more information:
Clutch and Chrome 
Motorcycle Club Information
Outlaw Biker Information
Outlaw Clubs 101