The brotherhood

For all my non-biker friends, let me decode a ritual you may have seen.

Bikes, when they pass each other, wave.

Sometimes it is a big ole wave, fingers spread, palms forward, like a toddler waving to a parent in a crown.

Some guys just lift their fingers off the left handlebar grip.

More recently it seems to be a closed hand, with two fingers extended together, usually pointed down.  (The Jersey single-finger salute is not encouraged, and you could end up with black and blue marks on your body for using it.)

Originally - or at least as early as I can remember - the wave was more of a "Black Power" clenched fist, with the elbow at a right angle.  This is the wave I use - mostly because my current steed has a very upright style, and it is easier to raise my hand up than to drop it below the bars. 

Every biker seems to have their own opinion on who should be waved to  Some bikers only return a wave, never initiate one.  Some only wave to bikers riding the same brand or style bike that they are riding - Harley being the most common example of this snobbery, although sport bikers sometimes only wave to other crotch rockets.

I wave to everyone on two wheels.  And I do mean everyone.  I have waved to scooters, mopeds, and every bike I have passed.  Heck, I have even waved at a full grown man on a mini-bike that had a seat that couldn't have been more than 8 inches off the ground - and he was ecstatic, if his return wave was any indication.

My reasoning is that we - the two-wheeled riders - are a community.  Whether I am riding solo, or riding with my association (http://www.cmausa.org/), or as part of an event, I have a bond with every other biker out there.  I stop for every one I see on the side of the road.  I am much more likely to say "Hello!" at a stop, even if we are just putting gas in the tanks. 

In short, bikers are my brothers and sisters.

There are some that look rougher than others, sure.  But they are still God's creatures, and they deserve my respect, and prayers, and, if they need it, whatever assistance I can render.

No matter what they ride, or what their patch says.

Here, for your enjoyment, is a collection of WHY different bikers don't wave.

Top 10 reasons sportbikers don't wave:

10. They have not been riding long enough to know they're supposed to.
9. They're going too fast to have time enough to register the movement and respond.
8. You weren't wearing bright enough gear.
7. If they stick their arm out going that fast they'll rip it out of the socket.
6. They're too occupied with trying to get rid of their chicken strips.
5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don't want to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank.
4. Their skin tight-kevlar-ballistic-nylon-kangaroo-leather suits
prevent any position other than fetal.
3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank
tops.
2. It's too hard to do one-handed stoppies.
1. They were too busy slipping their flip-flop back on.

Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don't Wave Back

10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm.
8. Refuses to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off.
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley.
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by Honda.
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet.
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms.

Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Don't Wave Back

10. Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture.
9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip.
8. Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm.
7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him.
6. The espresso machine just finished.
5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.
4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories dealer.
3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.
2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height,programmable CD player, seat temperature and satellite navigation system.
1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard.

Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Don't Wave Back

10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm.
9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form."
8. Your bike isn't weird enough looking to justify acknowledgement.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to ipod, XM, or talking on the cell phone.
5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not!.
4. Wires from Gerbings is too short.
3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW.
2. You haven't been properly introduced.
1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture.

Top Ten Reasons Why UJM Riders Don't Wave Back

10. Something's buzzing around the tank.
9. Do you hear than noise the valves are making?
8. Trying to push start.
7. Just felt something shimmy.
6. Trying to isolate source of resonant shudder.
5. Hypnotized by digital gear indicator
4. Needs that hand to affect on-the-fly repairs
3. Previous owner replaced #3 with a 2.5
2.5. Mentally reviewing which parts use SAE and which use metric.
2. Wait, there's a number 2? This bike never had a #2, did it? ****!
1. Can't see your tank badge to determine what brand of bike you're on.

Why scooter riders don't wave back:

10. If you knew what a 10" wheel was like at 50mph, you wouldn't let go of the bars either.
9. And risk droping the PBR 12-pack?
8. Didn't see you - catching a few winks on the way home from an all night clambake.
7. It's a mod vs. rocker thing.
6. They just let the cloud of blue smoke trailing behind the scooter act as their "wave".
5. Hey, if you want 140 mpg, you gotta keep your elbows and knees in and your hands down on the bars.
4. The forty year old original hand grip on their vintage Vespa would fly apart if they let go of it.
3. Yes, I saw you. No Gucci - no gesture.
2. They're being filmed during a commercial shoot for a trendy lifestyle product nobody really needs.
1. Why do motorcyclists keep pointing toward the ground with two fingers when they ride by? What is that? What does it mean?

Race, guns, and George Zimmerman

George Zimmerman was found "Not Guilty" last night.

I really didn't think, logically, there could have been any other decision.

The prosecutor was bullied by the media (those with both a liberal and anti-handgun bias) into charging Zimmerman, when the case never merited bringing Second Degree Murder charges in the first place.  If the prosecutor who took Zimmerman to trial is an elected position in Florida, he may find himself out of a job soon.  (And, if his is an elected position, it may explain why he arraigned Zimmerman in the first place, when most legal pundits thought the case was weak.)

Luckily the 6 jurors had more sense than the media, and Zimmerman may have some semblance of his life back.  Zimmerman, however, still has to live with the fact that he killed a 17 year old black man.  He has to live with the fact that he is a minor celebrity.  That he may even be a target for people "looking to get justice for Travon Martin".

That we each have a right to defend ourselves and our families is a basic, God-given right, but that was not what the trial was about.  Did Zimmerman go "looking for trouble"?  Maybe.  Was he injured in a confrontation?  Most assuredly - his basic description of what happened hasn't changed since his initial statement to police.  Was Martin a bad kid, looking to get into mischief?  Probably not, but he did make a bad decision to physically confront Zimmerman.  Did he deserve to die?  Absolutely not, but, to quote Clint Eastwood's character in "Unforgiven", when it comes to death, "deserves got nothing to do with it."

There were a hundred ways this situation could have gone differently, most of them better  Unfortunately, once there was a shot fired, every anti-handgun media outlet jumped on the bandwagon of proclaiming second amendment supporters as "Gun Nuts", with the argument that had Zimmerman been unarmed, the outcome would have been the "correct" one - Martin would have beaten the snot out of Zimmerman.

The anti-racist groups overreached and tried to make this about racial profiling - possibly before realizing Zimmerman was a minority himself.  I have heard reports that this is just "Old South" justice, that the "Black Man gets no justice".  But that is an oversimplification of the case - if the dead man had been white, and the accused black, it would have changed little - a person, who is being physically assaulted, has a right to defend themselves - and if you are in Florida, or any other "Stand your ground" state, you have a right to use deadly force if you believe your own life is in danger.  Period.  The law is colorblind.

What if Martin had been armed?  Then he would have had a right to call the police, confront his follower, and hold him until police arrived.  Had Zimmerman jumped Martin, then Martin could have, legally, defended himself with deadly force.

I am sorry for the family of Trayvon Martin, I truly am.  But just because he died does not make him innocent of his fate.  He made a couple bad choices.  He attacked a man that was, unknown to him, licensed to carry a firearm, and armed.  I hope this serves as a cautionary tale to every other person out there - you do not know who is armed, so it is probably best to assume everyone is.

The media is liberally biased - although my liberal friends will try and argue it isn't.  Like the OJ trial in the 1990's, this is yet another case to pit the minorities against Caucasians - never mind that Zimmerman is a minority.  There will be protest across the country over the next week or two, and probably renewed call to further restrict the right to keep or carry handguns.  Teary eyed reporters will show the Martin family in shock - because the media and the "Black Leaders" lied to them, pretending there was a winnable case against Zimmerman. 

There are no winners in this case, except for maybe the "Black Leaders" and the media pundits on both sides of the isle.  They will continue to make money of of Martin's misery.  Zimmerman will find himself sued in civil court, I am sure.  He may win, but most likely (since the burden of proof is so much lower) he will be forced to pay thousands or millions of dollars for doing something that was perfectly legal.  Everyone loses.

As for me, I will continue to do what I do.  I carry a handgun much of the time.  With God's grace I will never have to use it, but I will protect my life or my family of needed.

After all, as the old adage goes, "It is better to be judged by twelve than carried by six."

The Sequester Shuffle

Ok, I admit to being cynical.  I believe a politician is only good in their eulogy.  I strongly support the old joke about "How can you tell when a politician is lying?"  (Their lips are moving.)  But the sequester spin is rapidly moving from sublime to ludicrous.

"Godwin's Law" states that "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1."  We seem to have hit that probability with the sequester already - although, admittedly, we were close before it ever started.

The problem with this, and possibly a corollary to Godwin's law, is that once such a comparison is made, any productive dialog ceases.

WE HAVE ARRIVED.  I have seen conservative posts suggesting that the military is being ramped up for a possible totalitarian state, with Obama as it's head.  I have seen members of the president's cabinet suggest that Republicans are purposely trying to make the country default, to make the president look bad.

Sorry, but I call "Bullshit!" on them both.

Just because someone views things different than you does not make them the enemy.  I assume we both want what's best for the world, for the US, and for ourselves (possibly not in that order).  We all need to understand that arguments (in the true legal sense) are not a bad thing - quite the contrary, the are a necessity in a free and open society.

In my mind, the bigger concern is not the sequester, or gun rights, or Obamacare, or the National Debt, or bringing our soldiers home, or even the Federal Deficit - it is the seemingly already decided idea that the Federal Government has ANY say inside the states.  Perhaps I missed it, but doesn't the 10th Amendment still apply?  "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."  That means that the Federal government has been overstepping it's authority for a very long time.

And I'd like to see it stop.  Returning to States Rights would solve a lot of problems.  Gun rights, for example.  Massachusetts wants to ban all weapons not propelled by air?  Let them.  You live in Mass and don't like it?  Move.  Texas gives all newborn babies a concealed handgun license, a small revolver, and a case of ammunition?  Great.  Don't like what Texas does?  Move.

California has great beaches, but is too liberal?  Maybe Florida fits the bill.  All American citizens have more say in their State government than in the Federal Government.  So, shouldn't the States have the most responsibility to their own people?

Forget Washington - the politicians who live there are unredeemable.  Focus on your local governemnt, and your county, and your state.  You may, just maybe, have a positive impact.

P. J. O'Rourke observed, in "Parliament of Whores", that giving money and power to government was like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.  And he's right.  I just don't want to be along for the ride.  

Thanksgiving

The celebration we now term as "Thanksgiving" is a bit unique in the world.

As instituted by George Washington (November 26, 1789, "as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God"), it was a day for prayerfully acknowledging God, and thanking Him that we had just won our freedom.

It was not re-instituted as a national holiday until 1863, by Abe Lincoln, when it became an annual event.  (Of course, Congress tampered with it in 1941, making it the fourth Thursday in November, giving an extra week of Christmas shopping on years when the last Thursday is just too darn close for retailers.)

On this day, I'd like to list what I am thankful for.
First, my life in Christ.  Without that, everything else becomes meaningless.  I am unworthy, yet I am still accepted into the family of God.

My precious wife, although you are now 11 time zones away from me, we will be reunited in just a couple weeks, and I can feel your love all the way over here.

My family, who supports me in every way, and even understands me sometimes.

My time in India.  It has been an awakening experience, showing me not only what another culture is like, but also giving me greater insight into my own, US-centric worldview.

My job.  Too many people I know dislike their job, or are trying to find one.  I have a job I normally enjoy, and seems to be stable - or will be, when I return to the US.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.  Take some time to give thanks, "with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God"

Depression depresses me...

According to Wikipedia (the reference for people too lazy to look things up and verify for themselves): 

Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can have a negative effect on a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings, world view and physical well-being.  Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, worried, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, hurt or restless. They may lose interest in activities that once were pleasurable, experience loss of appetite or overeating, have problems concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions and may contemplate or attempt suicide.  Insomnia, Excessive sleeping, fatigue, loss of energy, or aches, pains or digestive problems that are resistant to treatment may also be present.

I believe I an suffering from depression.  Now, before you go calling the suicide hotline on my behalf, lets be blunt - depression is a MOOD.  Many times it is temporary, and in my case I believe this to be the case.  I think that when all my India packing is complete, and my feet are back on American soil, most, if not all, of my symptoms will vanish.  But for now, when combined with my ever-present anxiety and my panic attacks - well, let's just say it isn't much fun.  If it continues past my return home, then I will have myself evaluated by a professional. 

I find myself thinking about death a lot.  This is not necessarily bad - we each will die, and coming to grips with that is probably part of the human condition.  I find myself lethargic, constantly tired, and able to fall asleep at the drop of a hat.  I have begun suffering from indigestion after every meal, whether it is spicy, or bland.  My anxiety and panic attacks kick in, and I swear I am having a heart attack - until I belch, and all the pressure vanishes.  I find myself walking a lot, just to relieve the gas - also, probably a good thing.

I chose to keep my middle child, my 12 year old daughter, in India with me.  I do not regret it, but she figures into my fears now as well - What if she has another allergic reaction?  What if my fears are realized, and I pass out or do suffer a medical emergency?  What if - well, fill in the blank.  There are a lot of scary possibilities when you alone are responsible for a child half a world away from anything familiar.

I am down to my last 3 weeks, give or take a few days.  I intend to do as much as I can, on what I have referred to as my "Fairwell Tour of Bangalore".  Yes, I know it is normally spelled "farewell", but I also know Bangalore can be more Fair or Carnival than anything else, so I'll keep the spelling I like, thank you very much.  I have much work to accomplish, and a lot of "fun" things to do as well.  These last weeks and weekends will be busy, and I want to enjoy them.

I don't want to be worried every minute of every day - yet I seem to be.  Constantly.  I find that my last weeks is what should be a joyful time are marred, and I have nobody to blame but myself.

I just wish I knew how to fix it.

All dressed up, and nowhere to go...

I suffer from panic attacks.

For those who do not know what that means, it means that, periodically, I will have the incredible sense that I am going to die, that the world is collapsing, and that I absolutely MUST get away from - well, from wherever I am.  My heart races, my fingers tingle, my chest tightens, my breathing becomes more erratic, I may feel like I am burning up with fever, or freezing cold - or both in rapid succession, and I feel like I am going to die.  Adrenaline floods my bloodstream.  I am in full "fight or flight" mode, but with nothing whatsoever to fight, and no way to get away from myself.

Panic attacks, to put it bluntly, suck.

I am not alone.  Some estimates are that as many as 40% of the population will have at least one panic attack.  Some of us will have many, many more - and worrying about them can induce them.  Caffeine - which means my beloved percolated coffee - can also trigger them.  And, like most of my emotional, physical, and mental problems, they are hereditary - So, Thanks for nothing, Dad.

My question is how do I handle them.  Rushing to the ER every time I have a panic attack will make my insurance a bit annoyed, drain my bank account, and put me on a first-name basis with my ER staff.  Doing nothing - my normal means of dealing with them - works in all but the most severe panic attacks.  The more severe ones - well, they really suck.

I have tried - truly, wholeheartedly, tried.  I prayed that God would remove the spirit of fear.  Unfortunately, it doesn't help.  Now before my Christian friends point out that perhaps my faith was lacking, let me remind you that Christ himself criticized his disciples for having faith less than that of a mustard seed.  I am sure my faith is lacking.  But I don't think that that is the reason for my panic attacks.

I have also tried take Alprazolam, also known as Xanax.  It works, mostly.  My doctor is afraid of dependence, so I am not supposed to use it until I am actually experiencing a panic attack - when I may or not have it with me.  Luckily, from what I can tell, no one has ever died from Panic Attacks - you just feel like you will.

So, if you suffer from Panic Attacks, or Panic Disorder, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder, tell me - what works for you?  How do you fight yourself through a fear, when you KNOW it is a baseless, unrealistic fear, but your body goes on reacting as if it is petrified anyway?

Thanks...

My political ramblings

As I get older, I find my political views are changing.  This is not necessarily a positive for either of the presumed presidential candidates, though. 

Living in India, I have found people (or at least those represented by the newspaper's views) to be childish.  Actually, that is probably too strong a word - Childlike is probably better.

They expect the government to protect them from - well, pretty much everything.  Famine, war pestilence?  Check.  Adult themes on television, as evidenced by banning "The Dirty Picture", a critically acclaimed movie, which was denied a showing even after ALL the edits suggested by the sensors?  Check. 

I wonder what is next.  Do Indians (or anyone) have the right not to be offended?  I certainly hope not - Part of Freedom is the ability to offend people. Yes, it is tempered - I don't have the right to scream "Fire" in a crowded movie theater.  But don't I have rights to express myself?  Why should anyone have the right to oppress my expression?

In the US, there are a few things that would define me as "liberal".  (Very few things.)  Gay marriage, for example.  It's not that I support it, or oppose it.  I just don't care.  If two people want to get married, and spend money for a wedding, why should I care whether they are both male, or female, or white, black, Asian, Hispanic, or, to be honest, human?  There are some people who will argue that soon people will be marrying dogs and cats.  Again - who cares?  No tax breaks for marrying a non-human, and everything seems fine to me.  Of course, since the animal can't sign divorce papers, good luck changing your mind later...

Drug laws - they aren't working.  I don't know what they should be, but looking at what we have, there is a pretty good example of "What not to do".  I am for the decriminalization of certain drugs, and believe that they should be treated like cigarettes and alcohol - regulate and tax the snot out of them.  Another Liberal check for my political viewpoint.



I am strongly in favor of Capitol Punishment.  Murderers can escape (like the Texas bunch did), and they can kill again.  Capital Punishment guarantees that they don't murder again.  A check for the Conservative column.  And I am against Abortion.  Check two in the Conservative column.  (BTW, I find it a little hard to understand any person who thinks killing murderers is bad, but killing unborn babies is ok.) 

Where I am very conservative is finances.  While my personal finances don't always reflect appropriate decisions, I expect my government to be frugal and cautious with MY money, and everybody elses money, also.  I don't expect Government to take care of everything.  I believe Ford (not Jefferson, as is often mis-attributed) was right - "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."

What I want MOST from my government is to be left alone.  The less involved with my life the government is, the happier I am.  Jefferson did say "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground."  (Thomas Jefferson knew small government was best.  He also hated debt and banks, so two more pluses for TJ.)  Big government - Like our current president embraces - scares the bejesus out of me.

I find more and more I view myself as "Libertarian".  I want the government to stay out of my hair (so to speak) and out of my love life/financial life/childrearing decisions/everything else.  I am also enough of a realist to recognise that a Libertarian candidate will NEVER succeed at the national level.  (OK, Never may be too strong - how about "not in the next few years".)  So - I vote with the candidate that most agrees with me between the big two. 

You can find out who most agrees with you.  Check out http://www.selectsmart.com/president/.