BIKERNET NEWS FLASH – BIKERNET UNION UPROAR
We?re here to have a good time, but it is a business of sorts, and recently we?ve had some upheaval at the headquarters. During the last board meeting, Bandit?s World Wide Run Report was voted out of the Bikernet News to be placed in a separate section next to the trashcans behind the garage. The big shots at the headquarters who think they can pull the wool over the eyes of the Bikernet union workers, they?ve got another thing coming.
This type of behavior is commonplace when the big bastard is out of town. Some other punk thinks he can inch his way up the ladder. Well not so fast kimosabee, the union carries a mighty big voice in this here struggle for freedom on the Internet. We better get to the news:
STURGIS 2002–Every year there?s an effort to build something new and exciting to ride to Sturgis. The goal is to put a motorcycle together and test it on the 2,000-mile trek to the Badlands. This year there were two possibilities: A new Victory given Bandit?s touches and launched into South Dakota without smackin? a deer and a CCI bike-in-a-box. The Bikernet crew is leaning toward the bike-in-a-box. We haven’t decided on a model and would be interested in a concept and input from you guys. Let us know what you think and why.
In the meantime, check out the Victory Web site at www.victory-usa.com. It looks like the Victory is scheduled for the 2003 run.
Tattoos ? Yes We Still Want Them!
This was sent to us from Steve C.
Come on! Send us your tats and we?ll send you some Bikernet stickers. Just make sure you include your address on the e-mail.
Military Pay Raise Editorial
I wanted to pass this along to all of you as I can’t imagine having the ability to restrain myself so well and express so clearly the point that is made below. There are so many ignorant people in this world it is amazing. Glenn
Military Pay Raise
Cindy Williams (Shirley from the “Laverne & Shirley” show) wrote a piece for the Washington Times denouncing the pay raise(s)coming to service members this year. She stated that the 13 percent wage gap was bogus. A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to get a bonus for this!
Ms. Williams:
I just had the pleasure of reading your column of Nov. 12, “Our GIs> earn Enough” and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I’m wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account.
Checking my latest leave and earnings statement (LES), I see that I make $1,117.80, before taxes. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through ! Windows’ Calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40 after.
I work in the Air Force Network Control Center (AFNCC), where I am part of the team responsible for the administration of a 5,000-host computer network. I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington, D.C., area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year, nor does it pay less than this. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum. I’m sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.
Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (housing and food allowances, respectively) as being a further boon to an already overcompensated force. Again, I’m curious as to where this money has gone, as ! BAH and BAS were both slashed 5 percent in the Hill AFB area effective in January 2000. Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you have NEVER had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces.
Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military’s lowest pay brackets off AFDC, WIC, and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN, I leave the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you full “deployment experience”.
As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they’ll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone-obviously they’ve been squandering the vast piles of cash the DOD has been giving them. Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites. And when you’re actually over there, sitting in a DFP (Defensive Fire Position, the modern-day foxhole), shivering against the cold desert night, and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren’t enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE (meal-ready-to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything, This gives some ! flavor.
Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won’t nearly be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it.
You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your op-ed piece. But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it.
You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can’t offer the stability and pay of civilian companies. And you, Ms.Williams, have the gall to! say that we make more than we deserve? Rubbish!
A1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB AFNCC
Sending Talibanis To Hell
QUOTES FROM SPORTS COMMENTATORS–
Pat Glenn – Weightlifting Commentator:
?This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria…. I saw her snatch this morning and it was amazing.?
Ted Walsh – Horse Racing Commentator:
?This is really a lovely horse, I once rode her mother.?
Murray Walker – Formula One broadcaster:
?The lead car is absolutely unique, except for the one behind it which is identical.?
Greg Norman:
?I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.?
Alan Minter:
?Sure there have been injuries and deaths in boxing – but none of them serious.?
Terry Venables:
?If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the samething again?
Ron Atkinson:
?He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn?t like it – you can see it all over their faces.?
Harry Carpenter – BBC TV Boat Race 1977:
?Ah, isn?t that nice, the wife of the Cambridge president is kissing the cox of the Oxford crew.?
Metro Radio: ?Julian Dicks is everywhere.
It?s like they?ve got eleven Dicks on the field.?
David Coleman at the Montreal Olympics:
?There goes Juantorena down the back straight, opening his legs and showing his class.?
US TV Commentator:
?One of the reasons Arnie [Arnold Palmer] is playing so well is that, before each tee-shot, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them… Oh my God, what have I just said??
I walked in and found Snake trying to lick the computer screen. Loser. We gotta get him laid.
Bikernet Caribbean Report
Reports of the third ride against cancer were all positive. More than 300motorcycles of all brands participated in the ride through the mountains ofPuerto Rico, raising funds for cancer research and patients. This is oneof the few events that mixes all kinds of clubs, organizations and bikebrands. I’m guessing there are plans to continue this ride, now if theywould call the shop and let us know about it beforehand, all would begreat. Oh well….
This weekend is the Coamo ride, a marathon event. For years thebest way to get there was by motorcycle. It has developed into the mostbikes in one place in the island, thousands of all brand bikes show up inthis southern town. The early morning ride through the Cordillera Central (ourcentral mountain range) it’s an unique experience. The cool, crisp mountainair plus hundreds of bikes on a two-lane switchback road is an adventure.Too bad the “plastic” bikes have taken over the event and messed upthe whole deal…….But still a kick ass ride.
As I said last week, we found an old chopper laying around the island. Here’s a photo. If someone recognizes this bike (used to be yellow) pleaselet us know, we are trying to find out its past. That’s Old Skool all right.We have plans to restore the bike as close as possible, e-mail if you haveseen this bike before.
I’m glad to report that we found our missing friend. He called to tellus that he saw Bikernet and we were rats, but I guessed it works (andproves that I’m not the only one reading this). The only problem is that hesaw a rerun of Jesse’s show and. The lastwords heard were his bitchin’ about being too old for a rigid, well only ifhe would give the fuckin’ bike a rest.
I tried to sneak some topless babes to Bandit. All we could manage was aphoto in the Cantina, but what a photo. Twelve, yes 12, girls inbirthday suits. Oh well, we will keep trying to sneak one by ourcensors……
This weekend, besides the Super Bowl and every other event that’s going on,it’s the Cinci dealers show. This show is all American V-Twin stuff, andseems to be growing. All the industry people we have talked to say the samething, this year will make it or break it. Indy is still the biggest dealershow, but it’s a showdown, only one can stay. Two shows in a month is toomuch. Let’s see what happens.
Next week we are going to have a trivia challenge. We will give you somequestions and you will e-mail the answers to us. The first correct answerwill receive a Chopper Freak T-shirt, brand new andunwashed, any size you like. So hone your bike, chopper, Harley buildersskill cause it’s coming down the road.
Hey we missed Bandit’s report from last week. I for one like to readthem. He?s doing a trip around the world and for most of us it’s prettyinteresting. And our readers should be stoked; he?s spending a heavy coin onthose reports, plus this is as close as some of us will be to those placeshe’s visiting. Check the newest The Horse for another article from ourshores and a few more coming up.
There will be a bunch of new products at these dealers shows, so keep youreyes peeled, since we can show them here first, way before any printedmaterial. I’m outta here. Gotta put some rigids together for that littleevent coming up, think it’s called Daytona or something like that. See ya’next week…..By the way, shithead weasels, go try do some bicycles youcopycat punks !
Jose
Caribbean Bikernet
Continued On Page 2
