We’re rockin’ with deadlines. Watch as Badlands chapters become part of Bandit’s Cantina. Mike Lichter and I have been working on a book that captures the lives of outlaws all across America for a decade. It’s a tough one, but you’ll witness it coming together in the Cantina under Books. I’m working on a proposal with ABC to follow Mike and I as we ride around the country interviewing veteran club members.
Of course that’s Hollywood and you can’t trust a goddamn thing a producer says until they hand you a check. It’s nuts but part of the game we’ve played before. We’ll see what happens. Let’s hit the news.
–photo from Bob T.
100 LAWMAKERS SUPPORT AMA’S CALL TO END BIKER HEALTH-INSURANCE BIAS
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports that its efforts, along with those of several other organizations, have resulted in more than 100 U.S. House members backing legislation that would ban health-insurance discrimination against motorcyclists, all-terrain vehicle riders and others.
The legislators have expressed their support for HR 1749 — The Health Care Parity for Legal Transportation and Recreational Activities Act of 2003 — which would bar health-care discrimination against those who take part in legal transportation and recreational activities such as motorcycling, ATV riding, snowmobiling, skiing or horseback riding.
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) introduced similar legislation in the Senate: S 423.
The bi-partisan measures are in response to action taken by federal regulators that legalized health-insurance discrimination against riders.
In 1996, Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which prohibits companies from denying access to employer-sponsored health insurance for motorcyclists and those who participate in other recreational activities. However, federal regulators created a loophole that allows the denial of benefits for injuries sustained while recreating.
“If the employer offers it, and riders pay for it, then they should get it,” said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations.
“We got a lot of help on this issue, which goes to show how motorcyclists can get things done when we band together,” Moreland said. “ABATE of Wisconsin and ABATE of Ohio were particularly helpful.”
Participants in the AMA’s “Introduction to Washington” seminar also contributed to the effort, as well as members of the Mid-South MILE from Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Also among those involved in the effort to end health-insurance discrimination are the American Council of Snowmobile Associations, the American Horse Council, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, and the National Ski Areas Association.
Riders and others who want to end this type of insurance discrimination are urged to send letters to their members of Congress asking them to support HR 1749 and S 423. An easy way to do this is to use the AMA Rapid Response Center at www.AMADirectlink.com.
U.S. representatives who support HR 1749 are: Rep Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), Bob Beauprez (R-Colo.), John Boehner (R-Ohio), Mary Bono (R-Calif.), Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa), Michael Burgess R-Texas), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Dave Camp (R-Mich.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Julia Carson (D-Ind.), Donna Christensen (D-Va.), Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.), Peter Deutsch (D-Fla.), Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.), Lane Evans (D-Ill.), Bob Filner (D-Calif.), Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.), Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Martin Frost (D-Texas), Virgil Goode Jr. (R-Va.), Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), Same Graves (R-Mo.) and Mark Green (R-Wis.)
Also, Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), Melissa Hart (R-Pa.), Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), Tim Holden (D-Pa.), Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Sheila Jackson-Lee, Sheila (D-Texas), William Jenkins (R-Tenn.), Timothy Johnson (R-Ill.), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio), Walter Jones Jr. (R-N.C.), Mark Kennedy (R-Minn.), Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), Ron Kind (D-Wis.), Mark Steven Kirk (R-Ill.), Gerald Kleczka (D-Wis.), John Kline (R-Minn.), Ray LaHood (R-Ill.), Tom Latham (R-Iowa), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Ron Lewis (R-Ky.), William Lipinski (D-Ill.), Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.), Michael Michaud (D-Maine), Candice Miller (R-Mich.), Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), James Moran (D-Va.), John Murtha (D-Pa.) and Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.)
Also, Anne Northup (R-Ky.), Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), James Oberstar (D-Minn.), David Obey (D-Wis.), Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), Donald Payne (D-N.J.), Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), Thomas Petri (R-Wis.), Todd Russell Platts (R-Pa.), Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.), Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.), Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Timothy Ryan (D-Ohio), Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.), John Shimkus (R-Ill.), Rob Simmons (R-Conn.), Ted Strickland (D-Ohio), Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), John Sweeney (R-N.Y.), Lee Terry (R-Neb.), Patrick Tiberi (R-Ohio), Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and James Walsh (R-N.Y.)
Also, Curt Weldon (D-Pa.), Jerry Weller (R-Ill.), Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Frank Wolf (R-Va.) and Don Young (R-Alaska).
Weapons Of Mass Destruction
Go to Google. type in “weapons of mass destruction” but don’t hit Enter.
Click the “I’m feeling lucky” button…
–from A. Friedman
Mike Lichter Sturgis Book Release
Also, if you mention it, you can say it is available at many Barnes and Noble, Borders, Waldenbooks and Books a Million stores as well as at my website, www.lichterphoto.com (where riders can request an inscription.)
–Michael
A Friend’s Prayer
May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the crotch of the person who screws up your day and may their arms be too short to scratch…. Amen
–from Chris T.
Weasels USA Exposed
There is a article on the Weasels USA in the July 03 issue of Thunder Press, North Edition. (I am in NY right now). It is by Kim Barlag and on page 4.
I think you should get a copy and let others know about it as well. She did state it is a club she would join.
–from Rogue
Bandit catchin’ his last wave.
Hawaiian Bike Shop ConnectionIf you are on Oahu and want to see the hottest bikes on the island check with Roger at KustomFab: E-Mail address for Shop: Kustomfab1@aol.com (Roger): Ph – 808-523-1112
Koala Bear and a Hooker
A koala bear and a hooker go back to her place and they get undressed. The koala bear goes down on the hooker for three hours straight.
She has multiple orgasms!
After three hours he stops, gets up and puts on his little koala clothes.
The woman is hanging back huffing and puffing from exhaustion.
“Oh God, that was great! Now I need my money.”
The koala bear just looks at her and shrugs.
Then the hooker says, “No, I need my money.” “I’m a hooker and this is how I make a living”.
The koala bear just looks at her and continues to put on his clothes.
Then the hooker gets up and runs to the bookshelf, grabs a dictionary and thumbs through it to “hooker.”She hands it to the koala bear and it reads: “HOOKER: Person who has sex for money.”
Then the koala bear turns the page to “koala bear” and walks out the door.
“KOALA BEAR: Eats bushes and leaves.”
–from Chris T.
Mystery Event Coverage
Well the Harley was the centre piece of the Harley display, it then took part in the cavalcade when the Harley’s just kept coming and coming and coming. Paul Lewis doing his usual party piece by wheeling a Road King with 2 up.
I stumbled across the 2 Vincents up against the old abbey walls the owners no where in sight. Over the 2 day over 300,000 people attended the show.
The show covered every facet of biking from the Mino Moto’s to the Superbike Rice Burners.
The Mighty Harley’s to Vintage bikes by AJS,Ariel, BSA,Brough,Norton, Triumph etc etc.
We had Giacamo Agostini signing autograph along with some of today stars.
There were trade stands and food outlets to keep everyone happy.
All in all a great day out.
–The Ferryman
The Preacher A man is stumbling through the woods, totally drunk, when he comes upon a preacher baptizing people in the river. He proceeds to walk into the water and subsequently bumps into the preacher. The preacher turns around and is almost overcome by the smell of booze. Where upon he asks the drunk, “Are you ready to find Jesus?”
The drunk answers, “Yes, I am.” So the preacher grabs him and dunks him in the water. He pulls him up and asks the drunk, “Brother have you found Jesus?”
The drunk replies, “No, I haven’t found Jesus.”
The preacher, shocked at the answer, dunks him into the water again but for a little longer this time.
He again pulls him out of the water and asks again, “Have you found Jesus, my brother?”
The drunk again answers, “No, I haven’t found Jesus.”
By this time, the preacher is at his wits end so he dunks the drunk in the water again — but this time he holds him down for about 30 seconds.
When the drunk begins kicking his arms and legs, the preacher pulls him up. The preacher asked the drunk again, “For the love of God, have you found Jesus?”
The drunk wipes his eyes and catches his breath and says to the preacher, “Are you sure this is where he fell in?
–from Rev CarlR Upcoming Events Great American Motorcycle Experience, September 17-21 in Las Vegas. check www.great-motorcycle-exp.com or call *866) 202–8832.
Speaking Of Trust With ABC Check This
Below is the ABC News air bag text. Note that the electronics controlling it are mounted on the bike and the signal to touch the bastard off is sent to the vest by radio waves. Just think of the fun some ass hole could have sitting beside the freeway with a transmitter.
Actually any number of sources could set it off. Being forced to wear this kind of crap is not only scary, it is un-American.
I loved this quote “in case the rider is sent bouncing down the road.” Great choice of words! Bouncing like a big rubber ball.
Ya know, age has made me pretty mellow but, these self-righteous safety mongers piss me off to no end!
–Stroker
By Paul Eng, ABC News, Dec. 6
A Life Vest for Easy Riders? Smart Vest to Provide Air Bag Protection for Motorcyclists Even the roughest Hell’s Angels biker has a hard time escaping serious life-threatening injuries that typically result from high-speed traffic accidents. And for years, the motorcycle industry has been trying to ramp up better protective gear for bikers ? including developing car-like air bags.
Honda, for example, tested a concept version of its Gold Wing touring cycle that had a built-in airbag to protect riders from head-on collisions. But the air bag couldn’t protect riders from other types of road accidents such as slides caused by slick roads.
Rather than mount the air bag on the cycle, some have taken to developing systems that put the protection on the rider themselves. And the latest attempt comes from Dainese, a protective sports clothing maker in Vicenza, Italy.
The company’s D-Air system seems like a simple concept: a vest that contains three “bladders” that inflate during a collision. But how the vest actually works is fairly complex.
Street Smarts
At the heart of the system is a tiny electronic computer called the STM (Sensing, Triggering, and Memory) that is mounted on the motorcycle and powered by a rechargeable battery.
The STM, developed by an Israeli technology firm called Merhav APP, contains sensors that monitor the bike’s physical motion and a display that keeps the rider informed of what is happening and when to recharge the battery.
The STM also features a radio transmitter that wirelessly links the box to a receiver built-into the D-Air vest. The two electronic components are in constant communication, sharing data up to 3,000 times per second over a digitally-encoded frequency.
The sensors onboard the STM will watch for telltale signs ? such as a sudden deceleration force of about ten times that of gravity ? that precede a collision. Once the computer determines an impending accident, the STM blasts the data to receiver in the vest to start the inflation process.
Going the Extra Mile for Protection
Like car air bag systems, cans of compressed carbon-dioxide gas fill each of the three bladders in as little as 30 milliseconds. The vest’s air bags are specifically designed to support the rider’s chest, back and neck.
Also, each D-Air bladder is designed to maintain pressure for 20 seconds after inflation to prolong protection in case the rider is sent bouncing down the road and into another vehicle.
Angelo Dainese, the chief executive officer of the U.S. arm of the family-run Dainese firm, says that the company has spent “millions of dollars” over the past three years in developing the D-Air vest.
“We spent over $500,000 just to create a crash test dummy to test [D-Air],” says Dainese. And based on the company’s research and investigation by independent European labs, “We think it can help you receive [fewer] injuries in a crash,” says the company exec.
Others Aren’t Convinced
Tom Lindsey, a spokesperson for the American Motorcycle Association, says that Dainese’s solution is not much different from other previous attempts and might not be much better.
“As designed right now, [all] motorcycle air bags have imperfections,” says Lindsey. For example, since D-Air only protects the upper torso, he doubts such a system would help in sliding accidents or other incidents where the rider isn’t thrown from the bike.
“People need to be aware that no one safety device will be a panacea,” says Lindsey. “The best way to keep from being injured in an accident is to avoid the accident in the first place.”
Copyright ? 2003 ABC NEWS
That’s the News–We’ve been pooring over our CCI Goliath bike for the Beach Ride and Exceptional Children’s Foundation ever since we returned from Hawaii. This weekend we made the garage off-limits and I hammered on my Horse Deadline. The first Chance book is rapidly coming to a nasty close. Layla worked on the Hawaiian report. And Life and Times will blow your mind.
I have a tech coming that will honor Shovelhead riders. It explains how to make your Shovelhead as reliable as an EVO by explaining the differences. Deacon from Pro Street on Oahu ran it down and let us take some shots of his findings. I can’t wait to try it out.
Frank Kaisler is covering the Ventura Antique Meet and will also send coverage of Sturgis and Milwaukee. Next week is the LA Calendar Show at the Queen Mary, don’t miss it. Now, have a margarita and relax, goddamnit.
–Bandit
