Why some bikers don't wave back...

on Friday, May 6, 2011

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. Refuse 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 10 Reasons Sport bikers 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 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 acknowledgment.
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.

Universal Motorcycle Signals

Universal Motorcycle Hand Signals

Motorcycle hand signals are important. Here are some Universal Hand Signals that we use to relay signals to other road users.

Youch!- Shouldn't have had that chili at the rest stop!

Hey Asshole! - it's my light, you fucker, get your ass through the intersection!
Hey There! - glad to see a fellow Brother of the Order of Two Wheels You Wanker! - learn how to drive, why don't you?!
Fuck You! - and stay the hell off your cell phone! Spank your kids! - or leave them at home if they can't behave in the back seat!
Back off! - I've got two spark plugs -- you only have one windshield Hey, Baby! - Wanna play some grab-ass?
See This? - It's at least twice as big as yours. Get back in your own lane - or I'll kick the shit out of your door!
Slow Down - Cops Ahead! You wanna go? - I'll take on the whole cage load of you mother fuckers

That's it - Watch for flying spark plugs! Get off the road! - Where did you get your license, a box of fucking cracker jacks?

The cough heard round the world...

on Thursday, May 5, 2011

Oh brother... So there is a picture circulating the web of a group of people with Obama supposedly looking at images of Osama's death. Hillary Clinton has her month covered and everybody seems to have a need to read more into that than necessary. CNN has a whole write up about how this picture reveals so much about America and politics and race and blah blah blah... Hillary herself says she was just suppressing a cough!! It is amazing how much work people will go through to read more into a photo than actually exists. They could be watching the opening sequence to Star Wars for all we know. The photo tells nothing. BAH!! It just irritates me...

Fake Quote

on Tuesday, May 3, 2011

I found this online and thought it was very true.


Shortly after I posted my piece on feeling curiously un-thrilled about Bin Laden's death, the following quote came across my twitter feed:

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy." - Martin Luther King, Jr
I admire the sentiment. But something about it just strikes me as off, like that great Marx quote about the housing bubble that didn't appear anywhere in Das Kapital.
Owners of capital will stimulate the working class to buy more and more of expensive goods, houses and technology, pushing them to take more and more expensive credits, until their debt becomes unbearable. The unpaid debt will lead to bankruptcy of banks, which will have to be nationalised, and the State will have to take the road which will eventually lead to communism. Karl Marx, Das Kapital, 1867
Like the Marx quote, it's a bit too a propos. What "thousands" would King have been talking about? In which enemy's death was he supposed to be rejoicing?


A quick Google search turns up lots of tweets, all of them from today. Searching Martin Luther King Jr. quote pages for the word "enemy" does not turn up this quote, only things that probably wouldn't go over nearly so well, like "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy to a friend." I'm pretty sure that this quote, too, is fake.

What's fascinating is the speed of it. Someone made up a quote, attributed it to MLK, Jr., and disseminated it widely, all within 24 hours. Why? What do you get out of saying something pithy, and getting no credit for it?

Perhaps they only wanted to say this thing, and knew that no one would pay attention unless it came from someone else. Or, perhaps they are getting a gargantuan kick out of seeing people repeat their lie ad infinitum. Either way, it seems strange to me.

Essential Android Apps for Rooted Phones

on Tuesday, April 26, 2011

From: http://webscopia.com/2011/04/essential-android-apps-to-install-after-rooting/

There are a number of Android Apps which you have to install after you root your Android Phone. These apps work really well with rooted devices and have features you would have not thought were possible under normal circumstances.

Root Explorer

Root Explorer is one of the best Android apps to use after the system has been rooted. This is a great file manager which lets the user gain access over the Android file system. It is user friendly enough to let you tweak your phone and get rid of system apps which you don’t need. The user can easily archive zip files from the phone and can also access the data folder. The only catch is that you have to pay 2.50 pounds for the application. Get Root Explorer

Android Terminal Emulator

This is a great app but is only recommended for advanced users who can understand a bit of programming. It allows the users to execute commands by accessing the UNIX terminal. It is also a useful tool for removing all those useless apps installed on the phone by the carrier. These useless apps are usually bloatware and end up slowing the phone down. It’s a great way of exploring the internals of the phone. Get Android Terminal Emulator

SQLite Editor

This is an editor which will let the user view and edit data in the SQLite database on the android phone. Under normal circumstances the database engine only lets the user app view and store data. With a rooted phone and SQLite a user can easily check out all the data in the tables on the app. This is a useful tool for all those who want to peek under the bonnet. Get SQLite Editor

AdFree Android

This app will only work with Rooted Android phones and is pretty self explanatory. This app is nifty enough to remove all the ads on the phone while browsing as well as blocking most of the ads on the downloaded apps on the downloaded apps in the browser. This is a great app for all those who can’t stand ads and want to free up resources on the phone. Get AdFree Android

Wireless Tether for Root Users

This is a great app which allows the user to wirelessly tether another device to your phone’s internet. It can be done easily via Bluetooth or to turn it into a Wi-Fi Router. The best thing about it is that it is extremely secure and is reliable. It is a lot better than the iPhone which only allows for tethering if you pay extra for it. The app also shows how much of the bandwidth has been used. The best thing is that this app is available for free. Get Wireless Tether for Root Users

ShootMe

ShootMe is an app which lets you take screenshots of your device. It works by simply shaking it or shouting so that it takes a screenshot. It also always users to record video clips as well (only available on higher end phones) . Get ShootMe

CacheMate for Root Users

CacheMate is a nifty app which allows the user to clean the cache out of all or any apps. It is available in a Free Lite version as well as a paid full version. It also displays the memory used and memory available on the device. Get CacheMate for Root Users

Titanium Backup – Root

Titanium Backup is an app which allows for full scale backup for users. It is a great app for easily backing up and restoring all apps, system settings, text messages and download. It is available in both free versions and a pro version. The pro version allows for multiple backups, faster backup and scheduling. Get Titanium Backup – Root

adbWireless

The adbWireless app is an app which eliminates the need to connect an Android device to the computer. This allows for files to be transferred from phone to computer wirelessly. The only catch is that the user needs to install the Android SDK on the computer so that this process can take place. Get adbWireless

SetCPU

SetCPU is a useful app for overclocking or underclocking an Android device. It is available for $1.99 and allows for extension of battery life by underclocking. The app is easy to use and is suitable for both beginners and advanced users. This is one of the best Rooted Android Apps available on the Android Marketplace. Get SetCPU

I don't care what anybody says... Facebook is not something I need

on Monday, April 18, 2011

I'm not going to say it is stupid. I'm sure it is very smart. I'm sure people enjoy stalking others on it and that a lot of people have found old friends they hadn't heard from in years. HOWEVER, the fact remains that I DON'T NEED IT! I don't need it and I don't want it. Trust me, I have everything I need. I even have most of what I want, so if I ever did find a use for Facebook that didn't include all of the inherently SHITTY things about it, then I might sign up.

A recent post on Gizmodo has stirred these emotions in me. They wrote an article that I just disagree with on SOOOOOOOO many levels... here is an excerpt:

I will grant you this: Facebook, much like Twitter, has a lot that sucks about it. A tremendous amount. You're exposed to inane human behavior on a scope and volume unprecedented in the history of mankind. And yes, there are privacy eyebrow-raises that are warranted—it's a little weird that people I barely know anymore see where I work, where I live, and who I'm talking to. And there's plenty of crap. Pokes from creepy people. Photos of idiots. Moronic comments. Racism. All the worst parts about our species, sandwiched between poorly-targeted banner ads.

And yet, Facebook is a spectacular tool.


So what is the problem with this picture??? It is a spectacular tool, but it opens you to privacy concerns like no other tool I know. The bottom line is that if I'm not already communicating with you through email or phone, THEN I PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO BE COMMUNICATING WITH YOU AT ALL. Yes, that goes for you psycho ex-girlfriends and "friends" I had 20 years ago in high school. Let's be honest... We aren't speaking with each other for good reason. We have NOTHING in common. Why would I want to know anything about your life now? And why would I want you knowing anything about mine?

Social networks are the most anti-social things I've ever seen. In what world is logging onto a website and silently scrolling through the daily goings on for a thousand "friends" without ever having to interact with them considered "SOCIAL"??? Isn't that the epitome of ANTIsocial?? If I can find out what my brother had for breakfast 3000 miles away without having to speak to him or have him know that I know, then what is social about that??

I suppose if I had a business where I wanted my customers to be able to get to know each other then something like Facebook would be sweet. Or if I was a celebrity and wanted my fans to feel like they were special because they know what I'm doing RIGHT NOW, then Twitter would be cool. But the fact is that I don't and I'm not, so as a tool I'd say Facebook is about as handy as a 20lb hammer to a guy with no arms.

So my retort to Gizmodo is that I'm sick of people telling me how great it is. Just because everybody uses it doesn't mean it isn't still incredibly stupid. How many lives has Facebook destroyed? How many jobs have been lost because someone just had to check it during work hours and their boss saw? How many marriages have been ruined because someone hooked up with an old flame on Facebook and decided the grass was greener? Wanna know how many problems facebook has caused me? ZERO.

I'm not wasting any more time ranting about it. Besides, I've got just about the same number of regular readers of this blog as I have Facebook friends. Oh, wait... that would be none!

FICO scoring

on Friday, April 15, 2011

This is really incredible. FICO doesn't normally share any information about how they calculate credit scores. This is the kind of information that would take me a hundred credit reports and probably a year to determine through the process I was using when I worked for a law firm specializing in it. It actually confirms what I had already reported to the firm, so I feel pretty good right now. :) Check this out...

Research looks at how mortgage delinquencies affect scores

How much impact does a short sale have on FICO® Scores? How about a foreclosure? Since I frequently hear these questions from clients and others, I thought I’d share new FICO research that sheds light on this very subject.

The FICO study simulated various types of mortgage delinquencies on three representative credit bureau profiles of consumers scoring 680, 720 and 780, respectively. I say “representative profiles” because we focused on consumers whose credit characteristics (e.g., utilization, delinquency history, age of file) were typical of the three score points considered. All consumers had an active currently-paid-as-agreed mortgage on file.

Results are shown below. The first chart shows the impact on the score for each stage of delinquency, and the second shows how long it takes the score to fully “recover” after the fact.

Mortgage Research chart-1
Mortgage Research chart-2

All in all, we saw:

  • The magnitude of FICO® Score impact is highly dependent on the starting score.
  • There's no significant difference in score impact between short sale/deed-in-lieu/settlement and foreclosure.
  • While a score may begin to improve sooner, it could take up to 7-10 years to fully recover, assuming all other obligations are paid as agreed.
  • In general, the higher starting score, the longer it takes for the score to fully recover.
  • Even if there’s minimal difference in score impact between moderate and severe delinquencies, there may be significant difference in time required for the score to fully recover.
This study provides good benchmarks of score impact from mortgage delinquencies. However, it is important to note that research was done only on select consumer credit profiles. Given the wide range of credit profiles that exist, results may vary beyond what's in the charts above.