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Another Article saying we are fair game for cagers.

linky no worky:cry
 
I think he meant this one: http://lakecities.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=1157&SectionID=27&SubSectionID=&S=1

3/16/2006 10:40:00 AM
Airing of grievances
Douglas Simpson
Managing Editor

To quote Seinfeld’s Frank Costanza at Festivus dinner, now is the time for the airing of grievances.

Usually there’s one hot topic to prompt me to write a column, as my fingers angrily dance across the keyboard. But there are a few things that are, well, bugging me that I need to address.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Motorcycles. Why are these things street legal? I challenge anyone out there to remember a time they saw a motorcycle that was driving the speed limit and adhering to all traffic laws.

When I see them, they are usually going about 120 mph down I-35E, weaving in and out of lanes like those white lines are just there for show.

Nothing irks me more than sitting in dense 5 p.m. or Friday traffic, only to see a motorcycle driving between the rows of cars, going about 40 mph. I want so badly to open my car door just before they reach me.

I’ll never forget the time I was driving down the George Bush around 10 p.m., when all of a sudden scorching down the road were not only about five motorcycles driving erratically, but they were all riding on their back tires. Popping a wheelie while doing 80 mph down a public roadway: stupid.

I remember a few years back, I think after Gary Busey had his bad motorcycle wreck, there was a public service announcement asking motorists to “keep an eye open for motorcyclists,” like they are being abused by us car and truck drivers.

I remember telling the TV, “I’ll look out for them as soon as they start obeying traffic laws.” I’m still waiting, so in my eyes, they are fair game.

Our police officers do a good job, I just hope they pay a little extra attention to the wheelie-popping idiots that are making the roadways dangerous for all of us.

2. Carole Keeton Rylander Strayhorn. I think that’s her name. Anyway, she’s the state comptroller who is also one of the candidates for governor.

She’s been comptroller under Rick Perry for a while. Up until last year, there was nary a word spoken about Perry from Strayhorn, much less the daily Perry bashing that’s going on currently.

Why? She was a Republican. Someone convinced her to run for governor, but she knew she would not stand a chance at getting the Republican nomination as long as Perry wanted to stay in office.

So what does she do? She runs as an Independent and daily tells anyone who wants to listen what a bad job Perry is doing, and that we Texans are all doomed because our governor is running the state into the ground.

Well, CKRS, why didn’t we hear about how bad a job Perry was doing before you decided to run?

Strayhorn wants more power, more money, more prestige, so she’s willing to not only abandon the Republicans, but rip the governor on an hourly basis - a governor she seemed to work well with until election time came around.

I’m not the biggest Perry supporter in the state, and I wouldn’t waste a vote on Kinky Friedman. But I’d vote for a jar of mayonnaise before I’d vote for Rylander Keeton Carole Strayhorn.

She is the epitome of doing whatever it takes to get into office. The mud has been slung for months now, and it will continue until Election Day. That’s what’s wrong with politicians. They make big promises, bash their opposition, and if they are lucky enough to win they seldom live up to their self-generated hype.

If she loses? I guess she gets to keep her day job and go back to calling Governor Perry “sir.”

3. American Idol. Let me get this straight. This show, that airs open auditions to determine the best singer in the country, is the most watched show in the nation?

Ratings statistics alone dictate this will not be a popular opinion, but I honestly do not know what the draw of this show is.

I have happened upon it several times while flipping (hard not to see it, since it seems to be on practically every night), and I could not believe how bad these “singers” were. I think there’s more singing talent in church choirs around the country than what’s on stage during the show.

I don’t have much to say about the judges. The British guy is rude, Paula Abdul thinks she’s still relevant, and Mr. Jackson, a former studio musician, should have stayed one. I find it ironic that it is these three that determine what’s good and what isn’t, when their own resumes before the show were mediocre at best.

And then there’s all the stories about how 911 calls can’t get through because there were so many American Idol calls the phone system blew up, or something like that.

There’s no accounting for taste. It just seems a shame that quality shows like Arrested Development get axed while reality shows and their rip-offs rule the television scene.

In my eyes, it is another example of how this country is getting dumber. TV used to be great in any form, but now we don’t want to have to “think” or “follow a story,” we just want to say if a singer, bachelor, survivor, or cow intestine eater is “good” or “bad.”

Soon the TV will just be flashing different colors, and the American public will eat it up. “Red is good.” “Orange is bad.” “Green is good.”

“I like purple. Do you like purple?”
 
How dare he slander the good (and long) name of Carole Keeton Rylander Strayhorn!

:mad
 
"Nothing irks me more than sitting in dense 5 p.m. or Friday traffic, only to see a motorcycle driving between the rows of cars, going about 40 mph. I want so badly to open my car door just before they reach me."

I want so badly for this guy to spend a long time in jail for even trying. with no vasoline.
 
I would be that pissed off too if I had to live in Dallas.
 
What I sent:

Nice column about opening you car door and killing a motorcyclist. I hope you like prison.

Seriously, how does someone sharing lanes and cuttting down congestion hurt your commute? In doesn't slow you down, in fact it speeds things up.

It's not like someone cut in front of you in third grade to get their milk carton first. But I suppose that's your mindset.

Real, real, professional. If it's that hard for you to come up with material, perhaps you should return to writiing 3-inch obits.

Loser.
 
Ok, I will recycle the email I sent to woody and send it over to these guys. But the local motorcyclists over there should take a more active role in protesting this for the protest to be more effective or to even register!
 
I hope he slides underneath a gasoline truck and tastes his own blood. DIE DIE DIE!!!!! I want my records back, I WANT MY FUCKING RECORDS BACK!!!!!!!
 
Heres what I sent

I am very angered at the rant that you call an article written about motorcycles. While you might not like something wich is O.K. it is not O.K. to suggest taking illegal action about it. Just to quote a few lines:


"Nothing irks me more than sitting in dense 5 p.m. or Friday traffic, only to see a motorcycle driving between the rows of cars, going about 40 mph. I want so badly to open my car door just before they reach me." Have you read the vehicle code lately? It is perfectly legal to share lanes with other vehicles. In fact it eases traffic by motorcyclists doing so. I guess you'd rather have a 3000 pound SUV in front of you poluting the enviornment then let us and our 500 pound small engined less poluting motorcycle go by wich is now out of your way? Oh I guess that would hurt your feelings, and make you angry to want to do something illegal? In your own words, "so in my eyes, they are fair game." You need to be fired from your job suggesting murdering another person in a newspaper rant.



I'll tell you what you take a trip to the local prison and talk to a few murderers serving life for there illegal actions and I'll be sure to slow down on the highway.



Pissed off with due cause

FORMER SUBSCRIBER
 
Guess it must suck to ride in Texas, where lane-splitting is still illegal.

However, it's a lot easier to get a CCW in most parts of Texas, I wonder how long before we hear about some cager chasing a biker through traffic and getting popped through the windshield?

Will they consider the cager rager to be committing ADW?

<edit>
inkking said:
Have you read the vehicle code lately? It is perfectly legal to share lanes with other vehicles.

FORMER SUBSCRIBER
Click to expand...
Umm, inkking, this paper is in Texas. You don't really subscribe to it, do you? :laughing
 
Last edited:
I took a different tact. I just suggested that after the wrongful death suit filed against him and the company he works for his career in the newspaper business is pretty much shot, and all that money he's gonna have to pay. I'm gonna find some accident/injury lawyers in his area and send them a link. Nothing gets the attention of rightous asshats like taking their money.
 
The guy that wrote that article is one embittered jackass.

For once, I'm glad I live in California.
 
Douglas Simpson wrote:

"1. Motorcycles. Why are these things street legal? I challenge anyone out there to remember a time they saw a motorcycle that was driving the speed limit and adhering to all traffic laws.

When I see them, they are usually going about 120 mph down I-35E, weaving in and out of lanes like those white lines are just there for show.

Nothing irks me more than sitting in dense 5 p.m. or Friday traffic, only to see a motorcycle driving between the rows of cars, going about 40 mph. I want so badly to open my car door just before they reach me.

I’ll never forget the time I was driving down the George Bush around 10 p.m., when all of a sudden scorching down the road were not only about five motorcycles driving erratically, but they were all riding on their back tires. Popping a wheelie while doing 80 mph down a public roadway: stupid.

I remember a few years back, I think after Gary Busey had his bad motorcycle wreck, there was a public service announcement asking motorists to “keep an eye open for motorcyclists,” like they are being abused by us car and truck drivers.

I remember telling the TV, “I’ll look out for them as soon as they start obeying traffic laws.” I’m still waiting, so in my eyes, they are fair game.

Our police officers do a good job, I just hope they pay a little extra attention to the wheelie-popping idiots that are making the roadways dangerous for all of us."



Sir, can you honestly remember a time when you adhered to the traffic laws? When was the last time you made a lane change without signaling because your hands were full, cell phone in one hand, latte in the other? Do you always drive 55 MPH or less when the sign reads 55 MPH, or do you go the flow of traffic like everyone else at 65+ MPH? When was the last time you dashed across more then one lane to catch the exit you almost missed?

Yes, there are a lot or motorcyclists that ride dangerously, "on the edge", and blatantly ignore laws that are there to protect their own safety and the safety of others around them. But to try and argue that you are perfect, everyone on a motorcycle is a felon isn't going to win you much support. I won't bore you with hard facts, you can research those on your own. But are you going to tell the 45 year old rider on his brand new Harley Davidson Road King that he is a menace? Probably not, even though statistically, he is more dangerous then most other motorcyclists.

Now I understand that you live in a difference state from me, I am born and raised in California. I have lived elsewhere, but this is where the Coast Guard has me assigned. So for me the idea of not liking lane sharing seems outrages, but then I have to remember that this is the only state wise enough to keep it legal. Did I just say wise? Yes I did. The idea of removing one more vehicle from that dense 5 PM Friday traffic that would only make it more dense sure does seem like a good idea. Of course, keeping another vehicle and a more smooth continuous speed also helps reduce fuel wastes and improves emissions.

Doing 80 MPH down public roadways doing a wheelie, stupid, I can't disagree. But grouping every motorcyclist in with those riders is also just plain silly. Every person on a Harley Davidson is a member of the Hell's Angeles, and everyone who ever bought a Mustang since 1964 is a street racer.

The only motorcycle wrecks I have been in were self inflicted. Both times I was being stupid, and I paid the price. Of course, these wrecks were away from the public, I was going about 30 MPH each time, wearing full safety gear, and I am highly critical of my own riding (most people blame something besides themselves). However, if I tried to count the number of times a day someone's careless driving (anywhere from someone doing their make-up, to cell phone talkers, or just plain poor driving skills) I would need to mount an abacus to my fuel tank. The level of awareness typical car driver has of his/her surroundings is mind boggling. Of course, with attitudes like yours, I am sure the trouble making riders will believe that your mirror or front fender is fair game to their riding shoes. I hate it when I hear of another rider doing such acts, since it only reflects on me. But when you have to deal with road rage on the level you are considering, vehicular manslaughter, I can't help not blaming them for their anger and counter reaction.

The police officers do a good job of keeping a watchful eye for those stupid riders that you hate. For them they are not really saving you any trouble, it is rare for a driver to be effected by a stupid rider. They are saving themselves the trouble, as it is one less body they have to clean off the road later that night. Might be of interest to know that the riders you have the most trouble with are typically young, think they are invincible, riding their first motorcycle, and quit riding after their first wreck (if they survive). Not exactly the best ambassador's for all motorcyclists, but that is what I have to live with.

So I ask you to please reconsider your position. Maybe try and look at it from a different perspective. I won't put you in harms way, so I recommend taking a little time out of your busy schedule to take part in a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Riders Course. It is a safe place to learn the basics of how a motorcycle operates, and a good foundation for those who wish to truly enter the world of motorcycling. For you, it will give you the perspective from behind the handle bars of what it is like to operate a motorcycle in a safe location by trained experts who love riding. If you are not willing to at least do this, that I know that you have no interest in learning the truth of matters, and only in spewing nonsense.

Remember, that next rider that you think is fair game just may be my wife on her way to work to save a life.

Joshua Tootell
2004 Honda CBR 1000RR
1995 KTM RXC

Jo Tootell
2005 Yamaha R6
2004 Honda Shadow Aero
2000 Buell Blast
 
What a fucking asshole this guy is. +1 to the poster who hopes this guy goes to jail without the courtesy of vaseline.
 
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