MNO Blog – Motorcycles, News, Opinions

The past few days have been rewarding for me getting my PC back on track. I had to plot out some type of course on what would list the top priority programs I wanted to get installed after last week’s mishap.

Because I build my own computers, they do not come with all the preinstalled trial software that has a tendency to bog most brand name computers down out of the box. I see a lot of the new computers come with free trial offers of 2 or 3 different Internet providers and 2 anti virus programs both running on start up, batched up with other programs to sell you things you don’t need. Add to all that signing on with America Online and your are pretty much screwed from the moment you start up your new computer.

Fortunately I simply start out with my OS (operating system) and a direct Internet connection tied in to my home/office network. One of the biggest barriers I have ran into so far is getting my dual boot system to back running. I am skipping that error for now, because I still have access to both drives and operating systems. So for now, I am running XP 64 and installing from there.

Ok, so if you have purchased one of these computers, or plan on doing so. The first place for you to head is to your control panel and click on the add remove programs and strip off all of the trial and unwanted software. Sign up with a ISP that gives you a fast reliable  direct internet connection preferably by cable or DSL. In other words you should always be connected to the internet so that you simply bring up your browser and go! If you want to set a home page to get current news and things, you can easily do that yourself. If you are using any type of provider that requires you to sign on through their system and are immediately taken to their home page, you are headed for trouble. If you are new to computers and you think you need this type of connection to lead you around to where they want you to go, think about it real hard. Take the money that you are spending for that connection and take a few hours of basic computer instruction instead. You will be so much better off.

So, now we are starting off with a basic computer with a operating system and direct internet connection. From here you will want to make a list of what it is that you want your computer to do for you. There are some other basic programs that most of you will want and need on any type of PC. Email is an important program, so that you will be able to communicate with others from your computer. However, before we get our email set up we need to think about protection. Email can be a very useful tool if well protected. On the other hand email can become a task of sorting through all of the unwanted messages that seem to came from nowhere as soon as you open your program up, this is commonly known as spam. There are many programs on the market to combat spam that you can run out and purchase. Don’t do that! At least not until you have finished reading on and looking into what these programs can or can not do. Furthermore, how much should you spend on a program to combat spam? My suggestion to you is that you spend nothing, not a penny on a spam prevention program. I use and strongly suggest that you try, for FREE SpamAware. This product integrates with Outlook and Outlook express easily and it will delete those unwanted messages for you. Visit Jam Software and download SpamAware if you are using either of these Microsoft products as your email program. Alternatively, you can use Mozilla products such as FireFox for your browser and Thunderbird for your email, which are also FREE and are highly suggested products if you want to stay away from Microsoft. Personally, I use both browsers and Outlook for email.

Another item for protection that you will need to have installed before you begin using your email is a quality anti virus program. Again, there are a lot of products on the market that you could go out and spend money on. However, I would like to point out that you DO NOT have to rush to the store and purchase a AV program and I strongly suggest that you stay away from the so called bundled software packages. These all have a tendency to slow your system down and cause conflicts beyond belief. There are two really good FREE anti virus programs available for you to download on the web. Because I use dual boot and run both 32 and 64 bit systems I needed a software program that is compatible with both. I used to use AVG Free and it is a good product for anti virus protection which you can read more about and download at Grisoft and though they say that their software is compatible with Windows Vista, they have not made a X64 version yet. I did a little research and I came up with a impressive anti virus software made by ALWIL software called Avast which is also Vista compliant and they have a X64 version. I strongly recommend either of these AV protections, but I am running the Avast without any problems. Avast also integrates with Outlook trouble free.

Now we have a computer that is up and running with an operating system, email program protection against virus and spam. You will want to make sure all of these programs are updated. You have a direct connection to the internet and you are using either the current version of Internet Explorer or FireFox.

The next thing you may want to add is a program to write letters and faxes, use databases and spread sheets for your office or home work. For my last tip on free software in this post, I want to suggest that you check out Open Office free office suite. This program compares with the expensive office products on the market and will serve you well to download.

I hope that you have found some good computer tips in this post. I do computer upgrades and tutoring in my spare time now, but I used to have a store. If you have any questions or need help with problems not covered here feel free to contact me. I will be making other posts on computers and the internet in the future and I hope you find them useful.

Technorati Tags: computers, software, email, spam, antivirus

Geoff Thomas says “Cycling across the United States had been an ambition for quite a few years” and he is no stranger to taking a long ride on his bicycle. In 2003 he cycled over 5000 kilometres to cross Australia from coast to coast and rates it as one of his most memorable experiences. Geoff started off on his cycle here in the US from 21st Street in New York City and at this point has been on the road for 15 days and traveled over 1,000 miles on his bicycle towing a single wheel trailer carrying his lap top, camera and electrical adapters.

Geoff is seeking reputable charity organizations to use the lap around the US for a fund raiser or just for awareness to their cause, this is how I first learned of what Geoff Thomas was doing. It seems that Geoff wanted to do this ride and have it benefit an organization for Lupus, a incurable autoimmune disease. I received an email through my Google alerts using the keyword “lupus” that had a link to a newspaper article in the South Bend Tribune about Geoff entitled Cross-country biker seeking charities. Because Cindi is a victim of Discoid Lupus, I found interest in the story and was led to read more about Geoff Thomas at his web site www.bikeusa2007.com.  Geoff’s web site tells more about his cycling adventure and you can keep track of his progress there.

I have sent a email to Geoff Thomas and I hope to bring occasional updates here on his ride. I wish Geoff luck in his ride and look forward to hearing form him soon. I will keep posting on his progress as soon as I learn more.

Be sure to stop by his web site and show support by reading more about his ride around the USA on a bicycle at Bike USA 2007 to learn more about Lupus visit The Lupus Foundation of America.

Technorati Tags: lupus, cross-country cycling, charity, bicycle, news, the lap, bicycling news

Nominated by the public, voted upon by the public, moderated and organized by MBI!

Motorcycle Bloggers International (MBI), announced the winners of the 2007 Riders Choice Awards. The awards, voted by thousands of riders in 88 countries, recognize significant achievements and serious lapses in judgment during 2006 by motorcycle and related product manufacturers, persons and organizations. This years winners are:

MBI Riders Choice – Star Awards

• A rider’s dream — To ride the Silk Route, from Istanbul Turkey to Xian, China
• Best concept motorcycle or scooter — Ducati Desmosidici RR
• Best exhibition of 2006 — Intermot
• Best looking new in 2006 motorcycle — Triumph Daytona 675
• Best manufacturer’s website — BMW Motorrad
• Best motorcycle or scooter blog — Scooter in the Sticks
• Best new in 2006 every day motorcycle — BMW F800S
• Best new in 2006 motor scooter — Piaggio MP3
• Best new in 2006 motorcycle — BMW F800ST
• Object of lust — Ducati Desmosedici RR
• Wish we’d thought of that — Piaggio MP3
• Women riders booster of the year — Ardys Kellerman
• Standing ovation — Ardys Kellerman

MBI Riders Choice – Fallen Star Awards

• Thumbs down — Billy Lane
• What were they thinking — Speed TV Superbikes
• Worst manufacturer’s website — Icon Motorcycle Gear

The Riders Choice Awards are unique in that the nominees and winners are chosen by every day riders around the world. The awards reflect the judgment of the motorcycle buying public, not motorcycle industry insiders. Anyone could vote, there was no restriction on age, gender or country. Even non-riders could vote. No registration, nor email addresses were required. However, a system of storing and analyzing IP addresses was put in place to minimize duplicate voting.

After the success the first Awards had last year, membership in MBI skyrocketed from 12 to 96. Millions of readers worldwide read about the 2006 Awards.

About MBI
MBI (whose motto is “Riding and writing is what we do”) is a group of 96 international motorcycle weblog authors from China to Chile. Membership is open to any motorcycle rider who maintains an active motorcycle-related Internet weblog or news web site with original commentary. With a combined readership over 2 million readers per month, the awards represent a true feeling what lives amongst the biker communities. The awards are not given by professional journalists, commercial publications or companies, but by the public.

More information about MBI, its members and the complete list of nominees will be found at the MBI web site http://www.mbiweb.org/ .

MBI Website: Http://www.mbiweb.org/
MBI Awards 2007: http://www.mbiweb.org/2007/

Interview Contact: Mike Werner
Telephone: +33-2-35297230

Technorati Tags: motorcycle news, motorcycle blogs, motorcycles, news, press release, announcements

I just learned of a critical situation that will be going on in Washington DC on March 17th. So critical that I have heard the call to be present in DC on that day. The call of  a group called Gathering of Eagles has brought to attention that there are anti-war protesters that wish to use the Vietnam Veterans Memorial also known as The Wall as prop in their political protest march to the Pentagon.

 I can not….. NO! I will not sit in Florida and wonder if there are enough volunteers that will show up to help protect The Wall. I will be standing with the eagles to send a message, a message that will be heard around the world.

Most important, a message that will be shown to our troops that are currently on tour and fighting with their lives on the line every day. The troops need to see that America cares about them then and now. They need to know they they are not forgotten, just as those who have already given the ultimate sacrifice are not forgotten. While the anti-war protesters from answer, code pink and other so called peace movement organizations claim they march for peace, we have seen the destruction and defacing that they have committed during past protests.

These anti-war protesters have the right to protest, but they are so very wrong if they think they will be able to approach The Wall as part of their demonstration. Leave The Wall out of it!

Gathering of Eagles, an impromptu coalition of veterans’ groups, pro-military organizations and Internet activists, wants to right the wrong. “We are a non-violent, non-confrontational group. We look to defend, not attack. Our focus is guarding our memorials and their grounds,” they explain. “We believe in and would give our lives for the precious freedoms found in our Constitution. We believe that our freedom of speech is one of the greatest things our country espouses, and we absolutely hold that any American citizen has the right to express his or her approval or disapproval with any policy, law or action of our nation and her government in a peaceful manner as afforded by the laws of our land.”

What the Eagles will not stand for, however, are “violence, vandalism, physical or verbal assaults on our veterans, and the destruction or desecration of our memorials. By defending and honoring these sacred places, we defend and honor those whose blood gave all of us the right to speak as freely as our minds think.”

Watch this video below by clicking the play button

Never Forget what they did for us.

 Don’t forget those who are fighting now.

The message needs to be clear that the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC is sacred ground and there is no tolerance for political debate or abuse toward it and the honorable Americans that it represents. This can only be accomplished in numbers, strong numbers of Veterans, Friends, Family and Volunteers standing shoulder to shoulder in protection of our memorial.

What will I do? I am going to be there to help and document a very important day in American history. What can you do? Join us on March 17th in Washington DC to show we care. We care about and support the men and women that have fought in the past and we care and support those who are fighting now. If you can not make it for any reason, you can help me to make the trip. This month is a very expensive month for me as it is and finances would dictate that I not go, but I will not allow that to stop me. If you wish to help me with the added expense of travel to DC, click on the donation button to the right. Any amount is appreciated. If you are going to be in Daytona for Bike Week, hire me to do photo work of you and your motorcycle. If you can not afford to donate, help by spreading the word to your friends. Thanks for any effort you may be willing to give.

More information at www.gatheringofeagles.org

Source:

http://www.gatheringofeagles.org

http://www.smalltownveteran.net/bills_bites/2007/03/a_gathering_of_.html

http://www.desertdispatch.com

http://www.michellemalkin.com

Technorati Tags: anti-war, iraq, protest, veterans, vietnam, vietnam memorial, washington dc

The Daytona Bike Week 2007 Annual Rider Info Meet and Greet Party set for Saturday, March 10, at Art’s Place in De Leon Springs will feature The Bad Apple Band.

The annual Rider Info member appreciation party takes place the second Saturday of Daytona Bike Week beginning at approximately 12 noon with The Bad Apple Band performing at 1 PM. Admission is free.

All are welcome to attend the party and participate in a Best Bike Contest with five categories; Best Bike, Rat Bike, Farthest Trailered, Farthest Ridden, and a You Won prize to be given for reasons we have not made up yet.

There will be door prizes of RiderInfo.com tee shirts and food. Stop by and enter to win.

Arts Place
5115 US 17 (near Berlin St.)
De Leon Springs, Florida 32130
- 6.6 miles south of SR 40 on US 17 – 5.8 miles north of US 92 on US 17 –
Maps to Arts Place and local information.

Bring a friend and be prepared to have a good time. We look forward to meeting you.

Download and print the Daytona Bike Week 2007 Rider Info Meet and Greet Flyer.

More discussion on the Daytona Bike Week 2007 Rider Info Meet and Greet.

Technorati Tags: bike week, motorcycle blog, events, biker forum

If you want to see what is going on downtown Daytona Beach during bike week, you can watch it live!

Wise Guys Watering Hole has had one of the best web cams to catch the Main Street action for years. 3 of the cams are pointed to see what is going on inside the bar, but the top floor cam catches a birds eye view of main street Daytona Beach.

If you are not going to Daytona for bike week, you can check in on what is going on 27/7. You can also wave to your friends at home from these cams and get them to take a screen capture for you like the one above. These web cams are a great way to check the weather and crowd conditions as well.

Check them out, I think you will find them useful and fun.

Technorati Tags: bike week, daytona beach, florida, motorcycle news, web cams

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Lupus Foundation of America will hold its annual Advocacy Day to elevate lupus on the nation’s healthcare agenda on Thursday, March 1. Lupus affects 1.5 to 2 million Americans, mostly women, with the highest prevalence among women of color.
Why:
It has been more than 40 years since the FDA last approved a new treatment for lupus. Current therapies include the off-label use of high doses of steroids, anti-malarials, and chemotherapy drugs which can cause other health problems that may be worse than the primary disease. People with lupus want safer and more effective treatments.
Participants:
350 individuals with lupus, family members, clinicians and medical researchers from throughout the U.S.
When & Where:
Wednesday, February 28 — Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel, 801 North
Glebe Road, Arlington, VA
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Speakers:
Francis Ashe-Goins, R.N., M.P.H., Deputy Director and Director of the Division of Policy and Program Development, Office on Women’s Health, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services — “Update on OWH’s Lupus Awareness Projects” Gary Gilkeson, M.D., Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Chair, LFA Medical-Scientific Advisory Council — “Research Priorities for Lupus — Why Funding is Needed Now” Sam Lim, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Principal Investigator, National Lupus Patient Registry (NLPR) — “Update on Data Collection for the NLPR — What We Have Learned to Date” Michelle Petri, M.D., M.P.H., Professor, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions; Co-Director, Hopkins Lupus Pregnancy Center — “Overview of Lupus Research Funded by NIH”
5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Speakers:
Congressman James Clyburn (SC-6); House Majority Whip
Congressman Jim Moran (VA-8)
Vivian Pinn, M.D., Associate Director for Research on Women’s Health;
Director, Office of Research on Women’s Health, National Institutes of
Health — “Update on Women’s Health Research at NIH”
Thursday, March 1, 2007 — Room G 50, Dirksen Senate Office Building
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 pm
Speakers:
Richard Burt, M.D., Associate Professor and Chief, Division of
Immunotherapy for Autoimmune Diseases, Northwestern University, Chicago,
Illinois — “Update on Stem Cell Transplantation as a Therapy for Severe Lupus”
Congressman Patrick Kennedy (RI)

Other members of Congress expected to deliver brief remarks
CONTACT: Duane Peters of the Lupus Foundation of America,
+1-202-349-1145, peters@lupus.org.
SOURCE Lupus Foundation of America

Technorati Tags: health news, lupus, health, medicine, blog, information

This is part II of my article about Steve Coe and Daytona Vintage Racing. After meeting Steve during bike week, I was invited out to see more of Coe’s toys at his home. Remember from the first article, that these motorcycles used to be kept in the Daytona Beach Klassix Museum.

After the museum closed, Coe built this mobile museum out of a tractor trailer rig. But this trailer could only house a select few of the collection that Steve Coe has.

Inside the old barn Steve has converted to store his collection you can see the motorcycles are still packed in for space. Displayed there is a wide variety of motor bikes, race and street motorcycles and trikes.

Some of the collection are even set up high along the wall like this 1938 90 cc Simplex surrounded by trophies that Steve Coe has won or been awarded throughout the years.

Yet another shot of the opposite corner of the building. For you car and hot rod buffs, take a note of the bright red Chevy Nomad in the background of this photograph.

Shovelhead, panhead and knuckleheads even a collection of engines on the shelves in the den. This room had a huge motor in it. When I asked Coe what it was, he said “oh yea, well that is a engine from a Indy car”. He has race bikes, dirt bikes, street bikes and choppers! The list just goes on and on. Coe sets up his mobile vintage motorcycle museum during Daytona motorcycle events, so be sure to look for him and say hi.

I’ll end this post with a picture of Steve and Vanessa on the Hemi Trike. Fast! What do you think?

Technorati Tags: antique, biker blog, classic, motorcycle news, motorcycles, racing, vintage harley, daytona beach, custom motorcycles

Imagine leaving the house with your Motorcycle in “Standard” mode. As you leave the side streets and enter the open highway, you shape-shift into a Cruiser and take the highway out of town. The ride gets long and so for comfort you switch to Touring mode. After many miles, you take an exit onto rural two-lane twisty roads and see a dirt and gravel road on your left, so you shape-shift into an Enduro and take the turn ….

A complete re-think of motorcycle design.
New Robotic ShapeShifting Harley
based Motorcycle.
…. any ride, anytime …. shapeshifts
on-the-fly.

Now, a much safer and more
connected Motorcycle riding experience
that actively adapts to both the
rider and the road.

1. Regular, Hemi or Diesel

2. Multi-link suspension ON BOTH ENDS !

3. No chain tensioner needed.

4. Six speeds and a reverse.

5. No rusting materials anywhere …. inside or out.

6. Extremely over-engineered to last as long as possible.

7. Center of mass maintained while shape-shifting by shifting the engine.

8. Precisely shapeshifts to exactly mimic each bike style, from Chopper, Cruiser, Tourer, Standard Town bike, Enduro, even Deep Woods.

This motorcycle is still a concept, but production is expected to take place March 2008! You can find out more about these bikes at the R-Bike Web Page.

About the designer: Erik Brinkman is a world renowned industrial designer and innovator. The Smithsonian Institution has asked to do an exhibit of his work.
His work has been featured on the cover of the most prestigious mechanical magazine in the world (American Machinist). He is also featured in McGraw-Hill college textbooks.

Technorati Tags: motorcycle news, motorcycles, shapeshifting

Readers and fellow bloggers, hopefully you have noticed some of the buttons that I display on the sidebars of this blog. You may have clicked on one or two just out of curiosity? There is a new button that I want to call your attention to
This is the BlogShares button. BlogShares is a game of stock market fantasy where weblogs or blogs are used for stock. Friends let me tell you this game rocks! I am finding it very relaxing for my break time, which I seem to take more of now, while the game can get tense at times, the outcome is pretty much in your control. The game and playing area may look a bit complicated at first. It is not meant to be an easy game, but you can learn and as you do the game makes more sense and becomes even more fun.

Certainly, BlogShares is a game of wit and strategy. You can either become very rich or end up trying to recover your losses. It is a fantasy game and is played with play currency called B$. You can play the game whether you own a blog or not, but if you have a blog, be sure to claim it. You will receive extra B$ and chips for doing so. You can also receive chips, karma and sigma by voting the industry that a blog belongs in. Chips can be used for fun on a game called chance or they can be sold for B$ to recover or get more money to buy with.

For you bloggers, this game also teaches you a lot about traffic and linking. You begin to realise where the real traffic is at and where it goes. Where else can you play a game that you can gain fantasy bucks, learn and have fun doing so? I suggest that you click here and check BlogShares out.

See you there!

Mike

Technorati Tags: blog, blogshares, fantasy stock market, online games, blogs, blogger