NEW China - NEW China

Check out the room in this 5 Star Hotel in Ningbo - Coolest shower I have been in!!!

China Old - China New

OK - You guessed it. This is Old China - what I am pointing to is a raw chicken hung in a factory garage to dry - because - they like dried chicken, that's cool. I say if you like dry chicken - go through the drive through window of the KFC after midnight, it's a whole lot easier.

OK - So what is new China??? you ask ............. see for yourself in the picture below of a Starbucks sign with a typical Chinese architecture as a back drop.

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Treat it Like it's Your Money - Cause it is!!!

WARNING!!! Government spending is at your expense. I have been paying a little more attention to politics & politicians lately, as if you could help not. - like everyone we are bombarded with coverage due to the race for the White House.

I hear folks saying that they have less disposable income and the government should be helping. Of course the politicians are all for helping - promising to get you jobs, and pay for your health care, and provide education and, and, and - If government could do this, why have they not done it by now. Fact is all government can do is take money from some and give to others. That is it!

I am all for paying to help those less fortunate ...... but we are quickly becoming a society of "less fortunate's" and why not? Government is promising to take care of everyone NOW (they will not be able to take of me when I retire w/ Social Security, why would I think they could do it now?.)

So my political rant for the week is over- have a nice day. I am going to have a government cheese omelet.

Doobie Brothers - China Grove 1973

Ok, so this song China Grove refers to a town in TX, but anyway, it's late and I just returned from a 20 hour trip from Shanghai and I cant think of anything else to post. GOOD NIGHT!!! PS Doobie Brothers still perform at bike events during the year.

Chinese anyone? anyone?

Whaay Nee-how. Here I sit 12 hours ahead of you and I have a little free time to blog from the hotel computer. Traveling with just a blackberry ROCKS!! But blogging is a little difficult with the tiny keyboard. Having fun so far - but ready to come home. Have a few pics of China that I will post @ a later date. Have to go shoppin' and drinkin' tonight cause I fly out in the morning and it will force me to sleep on the plane. Large picture is Shanghai - The Bund at night. Small picture is Ningbo - 3 Rivers. Also went to Yantai by the sea!

More Cowbell 2.0!

Christopher Walkin hosted SNL a few weeks ago and his performance reminded me of this Classic Scetch. "I like what I am hearin, but the track needs a little more Cow Bell" Fellas we are wasting tracks here. I'm tell'n yah!

Live to be 80?

Will I live to be 80?
I recently turned 65 and had to choose a new primary care physician for my Medicare program.
After two visits and exhaustive lab tests, he said I was doing 'fairly well' for my age.
A little concerned about that comment, I couldn't resist asking him, 'Do you think I will live to be 80?'
He asked: Do you smoke tobacco or drink alcoholic beverages?'
'Oh no,' I replied. 'I don't do drugs, either.'
'Do you have many friends and entertain frequently?'
'I said, 'No, I usually stay home and keep to myself'.
'Do you eat rib-eye steaks and barbecued ribs?'
I said, 'No, my other doctor said that all red meat is unhealthy!'
'Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, like playing golf, sailing, hiking, or MOTORCYCLING?'
'No, I don't,' I said.
'Do you gamble, drive fast cars, bikes or have a lot of sex?'
'No,' I said. 'I don't do any of those things.'He looked at me and said,
'Then why do you give a shit?'

Beautiful Cod ??

Maybe my Blog should be renamed "Harley Chronicles of a truck loving, car wanting, fish eating guy who is moving from the South to the North". By the way the moving from the South to the North is kind of "Bass-Ackwards". I was cooking myself another healthy meal of Fish & Sauteed Veggies, when I got to thinking that I trashed the Sea Bass in all it's ugliness a few blogs ago. So I thought ..... tonight is Cod, a nice flaky white fish that I thought was a decent looking fish from our bountiful seas. WOW - Was I wrong check out this prehistoric freekin monster. Looks like it belongs on Doom or Halo 3, as a top level monster to be defeated to win the game, or at least jump a few levels. Wow, how much ammo and how many lives do I have left to beat this hideous beast? COD Mode

Classic cod shape, (Head, Body, Tail, & some killer Fangs) with three rounded dorsal and two anal fins (Anal fins? I think I had that once when I ate Tacos) . The pelvic fins are small with the first ray extended, and are set under the gill cover in front of the pectorals. The upper jaw extends over the lower jaw (and can swallow a green suited fisherman whole), which has a well developed chin barbel. Medium sized eyes, approximately the same as the length of the chin barbel. It has a distinct white lateral line running from the gill slit above the pectoral fin, to the base of the caudal or tail fin. (come to find out there are many many species of fish that are sold as Cod, probably due to the Cod eating most other species) The back tends to be a greenish to sandy brown, and showing extensive mottling especially towards the lighter sides and white belly. Dark brown colouration of the back and sides is not uncommon especially for individuals (Individuals? Is a fish an Individual? When did they pass that Law. I'm pissed, I would have voted NO on Proposition 12 to give Cod - Individual Status - next thing you know they will want ot marry) who have resided in rocky inshore regions.

Once again, it is amazing to me that such a Butt-Ugly fish can look so good on a plate!!! Thank goodness for supermarket foam tray packaging and clear saran wrap.

TRIUMPH ROCKET III - Meets Monty Python

Funny video from the Brits. I was able to test a Rocket III in Daytona during Bike Week with a buddy of mine. Did not do the wheelies or stoppies, but the video is pretty funny. Check it out.

Out of Body - Autoscopy - doppelganger

A few years back I was having a conversation with my friends and family about that feeling I am sure everyone has when "floating above oneself" sort of as an observer. To my astonishment everyone DOES NOT have those episodes.

After being laughed at and called weird, I decided not to speak of it again. It happened just the other day as I was driving from work on I-90 westbound.

The first time I remember it happening vividly was when I was about 13-14-15-16???? I was to play a song on the piano for a Church Recital. My older brother (13 months - to protect identities in this public forum .... lets just call him Michael R. White) was screwing with me trying to mess up the tune in my head that I had practiced for this prestigious even in front of maybe 12 people.

Mike succeeded and as I walked to the piano - the song I was about to play left my brain completely. I sat on the bench ... placed my hands on the keys ...... and thought about crying and running out the back choir door.

Then as I seemed to elevate over myself and look down from about 6 feet or so - someones hands started playing the rehearsed song.

This autoscopy, out of body, doppelganger, visuo-spatial, egocentric, extrcorporeal, evil-twin phenom ..... is not at all evil cold or bad, just a feeling that happens once every few months. I bring it up because it has also happened on the motorcycle a time or two - before I snap it back to reality since alertness of surroundings is of critical importance on two wheels.

Autoscopy is defined as an experience in which a person while believing to be awake sees her/his body and the world from a location outside her/his physical body. More precisely, autoscopy experiences are characterized by the presence of the following three phenomena:
disembodiment (apparent location of the self outside one's body);
impression of seeing the world from an elevated and distanced visuo-spatial perspective (extracorporeal, but egocentric visuo-spatial perspective); and impression of seeing one's own body (autoscopy) from this perspective.

A doppelgänger (pronunciation (help·info)) or fetch is the ghostly double of a living person, a sinister form of bilocation.
In the vernacular, "Doppelgänger" has come to refer (as in German) to any double or look-alike of a person—most commonly an "evil twin". The literal translation of the German word is "doublewalker", meaning someone who is acting (e.g. walking) the same way as another person. The word is also used to describe the sensation of having glimpsed oneself in peripheral vision, in a position where there is no chance that it could have been a reflection. They are generally regarded as harbingers of bad luck. In some traditions, a doppelgänger seen by a person's friends or relatives portends illness or danger, while seeing one's own doppelgänger is an omen of death.

Average US Wage

This started out as a blog for my Daughters, but it is now for general reading .................... I read that the average annual wage for all occupations in the United States is $37,800. The average wage for a manufacturing production worker is $33,000. So that means that there are some above these levels, and some below these levels, which is how the average is established. So ....... if you are above the average consider yourself fortunate. I also heard on the radio, I think CNBC that our inner city kids are not graduating from High School at an alarming rate. Detroit & Cleveland city schools are graduating about 25% of the students. (that is 75% of students don't have a basic HIGH SCHOOL diploma)
Suburbs are turning out about 75% student graduation. Colon Powell who was involved in the study, if I recall correctly, says this is not a epidemic but a catastrophe! What are we to do??

Multiply the below by 40 years and see what kind of diff it makes
Average Annual Earnings
Professional Degree $109,600
Doctoral Degree $89,400
Master's Degree $62,300
Bachelor's Degree $52,200
Associate's Degree $38,200
Some College $36,800
High School Graduate $30,400
Some High School $23,400
Average Annual Earnings—Different Levels of Education.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Surveys, March 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Making a Lifetime of Difference.

2008 Election Button

Well - here is the first I have received of many I am sure. Some I will not post here due to taste - But I like this one. Busy week so I am sorry my blog will not get a lot of attention.

Lonesome Highway

Heading out this morning bringing one of my bikes to Ohio now that the snow is gone. Looks like a nice ride with little chance of rain. About 9 hours straight up I-77. If I see you on the road, I will wave. I'll be the one dressed in black. Ride safe ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Well later that same day................ rain from Pinehurst to Friggen West Virginia .................. cold and drizzly ......................... then the sun broke as I was entering OHIO and it was wonderful. All in all, a great ride. Safe & Sound. Later

Matt Foley - Motivational Speaker

Tony Robbins, Ken Blanchard, Jack Canfield????? NO!! Matt Foley remains the best motivational speaker of all time. In a Van Down by the River

Fast Cars & Beautiful Women

OK - I was not able to go to the Detroit Autorama, I have to admit on many occasions at the Detroit Auto Show or Detroit Autorama I have felt like this kid in the picture below - staring at the 57 Chevy. Although the car was new when I was a kid, and I had three (3) brothers hanging around the displays with me. In the early days it is tough to say whether we went to the shows for the Fast cars or the Beautiful Women. Does not matter, fact is Fast Cars & Beautiful Women is what makes America great. Back in the early days there was more focus on Sex Appeal of Automobiles rather than Safety and Fuel Efficiency. It appears that some of that Sex Appeal is coming back!! Enjoy!!!!
1970's Style Auto Show Modeling1960's (I am sure not DURING the Show) FAST CAR:

One young show attendee seems to have a connection with the 1957 Bel Air in the GM booth.
Beautiful Women:

FAST CAR:

This one is for my friend V-rod!!! Check out Rat Fink! Gary "Boogie Man" Zaborowski displays a 1937 Chevy and a kiddie car with matching paint job.

BEAUTIFUL WOMEN: FAST CAR:

This '32 Ford "3 Window Duce Coupe" has a 392 Hemi with a 671 supercharger on top.

BEAUTIFUL WOMEN:

FAST TRACTOR:

This one is for my nephew Alex! Ed Eno used his 1951 Ford Tractor to plow a driveway, then loaded it on the trailer to display at Autorama. It won best Motorized Special Interest.

FAST CAR:

Gene and Earlene Elpers' 1946 Chevy truck won a spot in the Great Eight.

BEAUTIFUL WOMEN: FAST TRUCK?

And finally ............. to all my Detroit Friends ...... and those guests that were coerced into drinking and sniffing the bubbly goodness of REAL Ginger Ale - Vernors. ........ 1947 Chevrolet one-ton truck was restored and labeled as a Vernors delivery truck.

Kilt Wear - Is it true?

I loved the Movie Braveheart!! A classic scene was the moon scene depicted above. This along with an email that a friend sent a while back sort of begged the question of what is proper to wear with a kilt or more precisely - under a kilt. With a little bit of investigation I present the following findings.
Depending on the occasion, the kilt is normally worn with accessories such as:
belt
jacket
sporran (a type of pouch)
sgian dubh (a small sheathed knife worn in the top of the sock)(In Gaelic "Black Knife")
Ghillie Brogues .......... No mention of Tighty Whiteys, Boxers, Briefs, gautchies, knickers, etc.
Long live the Queen! Priceless!