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Each month the management at Texoma Harley-Davidson tries to schedule a shindig to make one weekend more special than the others. That weekend happened yesterday and today at the Sherman dealership. Since all riders have one thing in common, let's start there. The food was again something to write home about. Ringtail Bar-B-Que of Pottsboro, Texas agreed to take on the task of feeding a bunch of hungry bikers...and they succeeded.
They showed up early with a major league cooker and the great smell was driving everyone crazy by ten o'clock. That's J.B. Morris manning the cooking chores and he said he prefers to do cookouts rather than working at the restaurant. They do a lot of catering for churches, weddings, and special events. (phone # 817-233-2750)
The event was labeled as a chance for everyone to see the 2014 model Harley-Davidson motorcycles, but it was also a chance for everyone to socialize and get out of the heat as the temperature was again around the one hundred degree mark.
Most of the 2014's were on display this weekend and except for the touring bikes, I couldn't tell much difference. A salesman told me most of the changes were in the electronics of the bike. I did notice a lot of 103 and 110 engines among the bikes on the floor...maybe the 88 cubic inch bike is becoming a thing of the past.
One new attraction today that we haven't featured in previous shindigs was the dunking tank. Texoma HD general manager Chris Houston proved to be a good sport as he was the subject of the first round of dunking. As you can see, he went into the tank early and often as riders (and employees) showed off accurate throwing arms. The 3-tosses for ten dollars went to a good cause as ALL the money went to charity. With the hot temperatures, maybe Chris was the smart one all along.
Other vendors also took part in the activities..There were knife sharpeners, palm readers, bike washers, a live band, and of course a good looking woman to sew patches on your jacket or vest (my wife). Above she plays the part of a magician and turns a long-sleeved Harley shirt into a short-sleeved Harley shirt. Some would say she performs this trick with mirrors,...but I have it on good authority that scissors play a key role.
Among the pre-owned bikes for sale,..I have two I would like to showcase for you.. Above is a 2002 Indian Scout that was taken in on trade for a Harley and is now available at Texoma HD. Really a clean bike and you know an Indian is almost as reliable as the setting sun.. The other is a Victory touring bike.
I was just reading today that Victory has recalled some models of their line from 2009 to 2012 years, so this bike would probably fall into that group. I forget the reason for the recall, but it was minute and it would require a visit to a Victory dealer for a no-cost update. The bike pictured above really looked good in its sun-gold paint job and blacked out engine. I fired it up and it sounded top shelf.
The rear end of the Victory was extremely clean and I kinda like the way the saddlebags open. Nice bike!
It was a good day and we had a good turnout until the hot temperatures of the day took their toll and chased everyone in pursuit of air conditioning. Texoma HD has one of these 'special' weekends once a month and you can find out more about the September shindig by going to the dealership website at TexomaHD.com...
Hopefully this is the day that my photographic skills took on a whole new and different aspect. I visited the 'Youtube Website' and checked the videos of people skiing, racing, and air-gliding with a GoPro camera strapped to their bodies for some truly remarkable footage. I fell victim to the propaganda and ordered one for myself.
Currently they market a Hero3 camera, and it comes in three levels,..a white, silver, and black models. I checked the aspects of all three and discovered the last generation of Hero cameras was basically the same as the silver model of the new generation...and it took full size SD cards instead of the mini cards.... BUT getting to the story,...my Hero2 arrived today.
Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and Circuit City were all displaying the Hero3 models and told me they would NOT be receiving any more Hero2 cameras... That left me with Ebay and I found a new one at a camera dealer in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Hero2 comes in three different versions,..the Motorsports, the Outdoors, and the Surfing models. The camera is the same in all three versions, but the accessories are different. I wanted the Motorsports model for the suction mount, but I found one of those on Ebay for less than five dollars (Hong Kong) with free shipping. My camera is the Outdoors model and it also comes with a vast selection of accessories.
There is a headband attachment that I have around the box.. the long strap attachment is for weaving thru a bicycle helmet.. the 3-way mounting attachment is below the strap.. The whitish item is the battery, and it is the same as the first generation Hero camera battery, BUT different from the Hero3 battery. The camera is in its waterproof case atop the clear box it came in from the factory. Below it you can see the USB cord for charging the battery from the computer and four mounting plates (two flat & two curved). The little white thing-a-ma-jig is to fill spaces in the mounting plates for a supremely tight fit. GoPro also includes three stickers promoting their name with the hope that users will display them during their shooting adventures.
I immediately applied one of the curved mounting plates to an old helmet that I seldom use anymore. The adhesive on the plates is made by 3M and is suppose to be almost permanent if held in place for thirty seconds. I still had my doubts, so I also applied some 'super glue' around the mounting plate.
Here is the way the camera will look when I take it out on the motorcycle. I tried using a handlebar mount with my other camera and it came out so shaky that I alerted Japan for a possible tsunami headed their way. In the above configuration I will be able to record everything that I see without taking my hands off the controls of the bike. That should come as a relief to my oldest daughter, who thinks motorcycles should be on the same echelon as cancer and scarlet fever.
I will attempt to post a video of my rides soon... but I just wanted to tell you about the arrival of the camera and to also give you some advance warning about what is to come in the future.
I am NOT the most geeky high-tech individual around,.. and another thing I liked about the Hero2 is the functions of the camera are easily displayed in a small window. I can understand that! The camera is very versatile...it will take video or still photos and so much more. A photo burst feature will take ten photos in less than a second so you can pick out the best one. A time-lapse feature will take photos anywhere from a half-second apart to a full minute apart. A self-timer can be set and it allows a full ten seconds before the shutter goes off, allowing the photographer to be a part of the picture. Best of all, the Hero2 has a slow-motion mode AND a super slow-motion mode.
The newest generation cameras from GoPro might be the thing for professionals and serious photo buffs, but I think I have made the correct choice in the Hero2. I look forward to a lot of fun with this model.
Being a World War II baby, I grew up in an era of propeller-driven airplanes, and have never adjusted to the jet age. My father and seven uncles fought in WWII and I was subjected to all of their stories when they came home from the war. While most of my friends were fans of the American P-51 Mustang,..or the British Super Marine Spitefire,.. I have always thought the German Messerschmidt Bf109 was the most awesome fighter of the times, and for good reason.
Designed by Willy Messerschmidt and Robert Lusser in the mid 1930's, the 109 was truly ahead of its time. While most of the world's air forces were still fielding two-wing bi-planes with canvas coverings, Messerschmidt had other ideas..
The Bf109 was the very first modern era fighter plane...altho it was used as a bomber, surveillance, and trainer too. It feature a monoplane design (single wing), was all-metal constructed, had a closed canopy, retractable landing gear, and a liquid-cooled fuel-injected 700 horsepower Junkers Jumo V-12 engine. The 109 also brought a punch almost unequaled by the Allies until late in the war. The Messerschmidt had a 20 millimeter cannon that fired through the center hub of the propeller for easy aiming by the pilots, and also two wing-mounted 7.92 millimeter machine guns.
To say the Bf109 is my favorite plane would be an understatement....I have five of them gracing my office. The photos above are of one of my models and I am really proud of it. You can even see 'ol Adolph in the pilots seat. He came out of the plane so he could be painted independently. If you look close you can see the clear nylon line on the plane. I use it to suspend the plane from the ceiling of my office.
The markings on the plane are fairly accurate, but in these days of political correctness, the model maker has conveniently left out the swastika decal that would have been applied to the top of the tail rudder that is not yellow. This particular model is a Bf109e, meaning it was built in 1942, and thus it also has two wing-mounted 20 millimeter cannons and the 7.92 machine guns have been moved to the cowling in front of the pilot. They are synchronized to fire through the propeller.
The Foch-Wolfe 190 came into production in 1941 and was a heavier and more armed fighter plane than the Bf109, but most of Germany's top aces preferred to stay with the 109 instead of flying the Foch-Wolfe.
The Messerschmidt Bf109 was the most produced airplane in history, not just during the war, but in all of history. From 1936 through April of 1945, thirty-three thousand, nine-hundred and eighty-four Bf109's were built. I am sad to report that less than fifty are still flying today. It was really a great plane and always my favorite.
Fox Terriers originated in England for the purpose of chasing down foxes...duh! The breed comes in two variations..the smooth coated dogs and the rough coat, more commonly referred to as Wire Haired Fox Terriers. The breed really escalated in the 1930's, mainly due to the fact that Queen Victoria had them as her personal pets,..and her heir King Edward VII also was a fancier of Wires.
Wire Haired Fox Terriers are a breed of dog considered by many to be the cream of the crop...just ask my wife. We have had a couple of Wires, but mostly to satisfy her wishes. As previous posts will attest, I am a dyed in the wool Schnauzer fan.
Our first Wire was Tinkerbelle..and she was a joy to be around. Wide awake and ready to play as soon as the sun made its way into the heavens..
That's me and Tink during a snowstorm in 2011. As you can tell, she loved the snow and would run through it until her paws got cold. Then it was inside to warm up before she was ready to go out again. I also have a summertime photo of Tink where she took advantage of a water sprinker on a day of 102 degree temperatures.
My favorite photo of the old girl was this one taken after she had been pampered at the local dog parlor and was all gussied up for this shot.
Tink was a show dog in her early years and lived until she was twelve years of age, dieing overnight in her sleep. We were devastated and did not have a dog for a while, but both my wife and I have always had dogs in our families growing up.
Cosmo, my miniature Schnauzer, came to live with us when he was eight weeks old, and has become a solid member of the household. He is always within reach of me throughout the day, but Momma sold me on a weak theory of him being lonesome and in need of canine companionship. I ask you,..does this look like the face of a lonesome dog??
Earlier this year we got a call from a good friend, telling us about a Wire Haired Fox Terrier that was in need of a home. She had been born in Bonham, but sold to a couple up North. Cutting to the chase, the dog was abused and kept in a small kennel all day. The original breeder had the dog returned to Bonham and needed a home for her... and that is how Lillie came to live with us.
Originally we were just going over to take a look at the dog, but the attraction was instant and mutual so we ended up coming home with her. Wires are most distinctive by their basic white color, with brown around their face and ears, and also a patch (sometimes called a saddle) of black around their mid-sections. Lillie looks like she posed for that description.
Lillie's father was the Westminister National Champion four years ago and he lives in Pearland, Texas. Wires have won more 'Best In Show' titles (13) than any other breed of dog. We had a bit of concern on how Lillie and Cosmo were going to react when they met as Terriers can be very temperamental sometimes.
They gave each other the sniff test for about thirty seconds and then the party was on. They have been rough-housing together ever since. Lillie was not housebroken when we got her, but she learned quickly from Cosmo and now is pretty reliable. Cosmo is as regular as the sunrise. He likes to go to bed at ten o'clock and wakes me up at six-thirty ready to go outside to do his business.
Best of all,..Momma is a happy camper once again. When Tink died my wife was in the hospital and I kept the bad news from her until she was ready to come home. I don't know what hurt the most,...her operation...or the loss of her dog. But now thanks to Lillie she is back on cloud nine again.. and all it took was the love of a little twelve pound dog.. Thanks Lillie..and welcome home!
Editor's Note:
Congratulations are in order for 'Sky'...A Wire-Haired Fox Terrier, who won the Westminster Kennel Club's 'Best In Show' title on February 11th, 2014 in New York City.. An update to the above story means there have now been 14 'Best In Show' winners for the Wire-Haired Fox Terrier breed. This is Sky just moments after winning it all in the biggest dog show in the world..
Right off the bat let me say that I am NOT a fan of Texas A&M and I am not related to Johnny Manziel. The internet and sports channels are rampant with news about the Aggie's quarterback in trouble for signing autographs and receiving thousands of dollars in exchange for that service.
Before I delve into that financial squabble, let's refresh some memories from last season.
After winning the Southeastern Conference Championship over Alabama and then a bowl win, Johnny Manziel became the first freshman in history to: (1) pass for three thousand yards in a single season, (2) run the football for over one thousand yards in a single season, and (3) to win the Heisman Trophy, emblematic of the best college football player in the land....and if you watched the Bama game you had no doubt about this.
Johnny Football (his nickname has been patented by Texas A&M) is no flash in the pan. He had crowds standing and cheering when he took over the quarterback position in his sophomore year at Kerrville Tivy High School. Now experts are down on him for some mistakes he has made since winning the Heisman. He is a twenty-year old college kid,..come on! He got caught drinking beer and then another time got into a fight. Everyone reading this that has been involved in one of those incidents raise your hand. See,..I rest my case.
Now,..ESPN says they have been notified that Manziel signed hundreds of jerseys and helmets in exchange for ten-thousand dollars from a guy in Florida. The Floridian told Manziel he plans to sell the items on Ebay. Here is the fly in the ointment for the NCAA, who is investigating the incident. Manziel admits to signing the items (there are photos of him signing them) but does not admit to taking any money. Johnny's father is a successful businessman and the family is described as 'affluent.' If so, why would Johnny take a paltry ten-thousand when millions are awaiting him when he finishes his A&M playing days? His Dad did voice concern lately over some of the decisions his son has made involving the attention he has received.
Since winning the Heisman, Manziel has been hassled by the media and fans alike. Everyone is demanding some time with the talented young man. Texas A&M is ready to start drills in preparation for the 2013 season and now this latest scandal is hanging over the entire team......BUT the NCAA rule reads: An athlete can not receive money or any merchandise, now or in the future, in exchange for their autograph. The NCAA has photos of Manziel signing autographs, but none of him accepting any money, and as of the writing of this blog, their informant is back-tracking on his story of Manziel taking money.
The NCAA needs to join the 21st Century and follow the example of the Olympic Committee in allowing athletes to control their own names. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) could not control amateur athletes from third-world countries so they eliminated their rule in the 1980's, but the NCAA continues their strangle hold on college athletes. College football and basketball players bring in millions of dollars for the NCAA and they want to control who gets those funds. It is time to allow the individual athlete to be able to control his own name. If someone wants to pay him to sign a cap or tee-shirt, I say let them do it. Scholarship athletes have their books, rooms, meals, and schooling paid for, but they still must exist from month to month. Some athletes are forced to sell jerseys, shoes, and school rings just to have some 'walking around' money.
Since they have NO evidence on Johnny Manziel, this case might be just the thing to bring the NCAA into the light of justice, and then maybe a rule change might be happening.
UPDATE: As of today (Friday, August 9, 2013) the NCAA admitted they are NOT 'actively investigating' the case of Johnny Manziel. The NCAA also said the organization will NO LONGER sell individual football jersey numbers on it's national website. The NCAA spokesman admitted to a hypocrisy in its sales department and rules against individual players.
