European Vacation (Long)
saddlebag
my mistake,
leave a day of two early. Our first flight to DC came off without a
hitch. When
we arrived at DC and went to make our connecting flight to Newark it
was marked
"Cancelled." Paniced, we grabbed the first United Person we could
find who told us
to go to the Customer Service counter. We did, behind 50 other people
and heard a
man holler out that International Flight need to go to the Customer
Service desk on
the other side of the airport. Running through the airport like OJ
from a crime
scene, we arrive at the next desk with 20 people. After waiting our
turn we get to
the desk and after many computer searches are told that there won't be
any flights
available until AFTER our MC trip's departure time. We were totally
dejected when
the customer service lady says "Oh, I see someone booked you on a
direct flight leaving
in 25 minutes." So back we ran to the other side of the airport to
catch it.
Unfortunately for us, our luggage wasn't as lucky. We arrived at the
airport at the
wrong time for our shuttle and had no riding gear for the trip. When
we finally got to
our hotel after trying to communicate with German speaking bus and
taxi drivers for an
hour or so, we met the Edelweiss folks who told me they had some gear
they could sell me.
It was way expensive "Held" stuff, so I passed and walked through town
to the village MC
gear dealer. And yes folks, this quaint little German village has
such a dedicated store
believe it or not:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleBc*8AKnf2Arv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
The airline "Luftansa" called and told me the next flight wouldn't be
in until ~8am and our
group was scheduled to leave at 9 am, so I told them if they could get
it to us by 9am to
bring it to Germany, otherwise ship it to our next destination in
Bolzano Italy. Figuring there
was no way I was going to see it by 9 am, I parted with 400 Euro for
new gear and had resigned
to putting Mama in the luggage van for the first leg. As it turns
out, the luggage was delivered
before our morning briefing was concluded. Mama got to ride afterall.
As an aside, I can't say enough good things about Luftansa airlines.
Everything they did was
first class even for us Economy class bums. Two of the best meals I
had on the trip were aboard that
plane. And most of the stewardesses could have won beauty pagents.
Yowza! Why they are partnered to
a loser outfit like United Airlines is beyond me.
Anyway, day one turned out to be a cold, rainy ride though the
mountains from Germany south to Bolzano
Italy that left no one very excited.
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmElePqiXKiyaz5Iv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
We did stop at Barvarian King Ludwig's summer home for a photo op:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleEFs*fOgiwUnv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleD09KI132oyev4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Our guide was leading a nice pace through the muck, but not everyone
could keep up. After waiting
about 10 minutes he left us roadside to go back and find them. He
did, but riding too fast for the
conditions, he ended up highsiding his bike. Totalled, he sat with
his bike and gave the others directions
to find us. They did and eventually we meandered our way through the
foreign city and found our hotel.
Fortunately, we had been given very thorough instructions as finding
your way through Italian cities is
no mean feat...even if you knew the language.
The one blessing was that as we got into Italy in the evening, the
temperature warmed from 5°C to about
16°C.
We got into town so late that I didn't get many good pics, but it is a
beautiful city. And our hotel
hosted a couple of interesting activities:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleGoRI75dzdfPv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Above the head of Rider magazine writer Clement Salvadori's and his
wife Sue's heads is a sign for
escorts, that didn't turn out so well.
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleCck3Fx*UFh*v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
In addition to beauty, the city was clean and free of vagrants and
thugs and walking around in the middle
of the night was a carefree activity.
The next day was a ride to Stelvio (sp?) Pass. It is one of the more
scenic and well known ones in western
Italy. We went up the non-touristy way from the east. Clement led the
ride since he was familiar with the
route and the guides weren't permitted to take us there due to weather
conditions. Clem leads a spirited pace
and with some of the best twisties on the ride, had everyone grinning
ear to ear when we reached the top.
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmElePmAVJhlKVitv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Next, we continued on to another pass that was home to a ski resort
and WWI Memorial:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleBSNqw9GYuBVv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleOpzTOJWlkkQv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Finally, our last pass was the one that would lead us to Stelvio:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmElePEV84p1fU1nv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleFy-0QvKackTv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
This pass was a complete white knuckler for me a mile or so further
up. It got even thinner, the pavement wet,
full of salt, cracking, and the drop offs were staggering. And these
are two lane roads! At one point we got
stuck behind a car spinning his tires on ice and decided enough was
enough and turned around for our next
desitination. Stelvio will have to wait for another day.
We did have a wonderful family style Italian lunch at the base of the
mountain before we left though.
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleA7TyVetl5Jpv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Our destination for the night was a hotel at the northern end of the
biggest lake in Italy named Garda.
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleBKevWJegNxPv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleCPRL7Z0b78*v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleBHOewS2IsY3v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Notice the difference in vegitation that sea level makes:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleIgSay1d4mb8v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleEthELsJ6j7Yv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Our next mornings journey led us out of the mountains into the fertile
Poe valley, home to the cities of
Modena and Bologna (and Ferrari and Ducati respectively). We followed
along lake Garda for a bit:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleOHdCILqE51Tv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
While our hotels generally had over the top facilities:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleLlthlHWMkHHv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
(The bowl on the left is used to wash your ass if you have the
inclination)
Those on the road were often less elaborate:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleKp0HA0XyGIJv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
We hit some good mountain riding here and even came up on a guy on a
Road King (somewhat unusual for the
area) who was riding the wheels off that beast. We generally pass
everything on the road with great haste,
but I think our guide was enjoying watching him work that monster as
much as the rest of us, so we just tucked
in and enjoyed the show.
The next day we took in Bologna:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleImKKJJ6jLFqv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleDsoXo7YsHibv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleCEp53Xhu3Usv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleI8GTbPhtSKQv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleI5QUVXCC8TAv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleF*tx1bLFw7tv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleGQp0KYq1So2v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Note the leaning tower.
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleJSF275OG27Dv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Towers were built by families to show off their wealth and are all
over Italy. Over the years, they
settle and lean. Appropriate for the Italian's motorcycling culture
dontcha think?
We also visited the Ferrari and Ducati Museums and even got a plant
tour of Ducati. Sorry,
no photos permitted in the Ducati plant.
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleC7*Y5cGU0Y4v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleJ*maRrn57lMv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleHjVu7UhfdF7v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleEOf2WVshqVcv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleBBIW0AvdmVzv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleCV39tp3EImCv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleAImHnnpWpufv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleEcon42bsN4Mv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Before WWII, Ducati made a host of gizmos:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleBfgEnsDxPDNv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleBtNYm*7WAVsv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleDAkzQrzt8Bjv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleFSons3lqjjJv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
The factory was bombed flat during the war, and afterwards
concentrated on producing inexpensive
transportation for its citizens. The Cucciolo was the result:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleKp0HA0XyGIJv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
The following day was back north to the mountains. We stopped for
coffee in the city of Ferrara.
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleKfQgOkbrt5Tv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
A good moat helps to keep the riff raff at bay:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleF2YOfxBYZABv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
From there it was good mountain roads onto Trento where we stayed in
the most modern and American styled
hotel of the tour:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleAoi358Ddw5Bv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
While in a hurry, we did stop at a couple of interesting places along
the way:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleIQKoBnPXDT7v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleOJ2trK8wfWMv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleD7jLuyiAynAv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleCc4v9YAVGMVv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleDboCf2oc0VHv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
The Italians love their saints, and this mountain dwelling is home to
the Patron Saint of Motorcyclists:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleLQ9D*E2pZ*ov4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
The next morning was off to the Dolomites, the crown jewel of our
riding trip and arguably one of the best
motorcycling areas on our planet:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleCy7*cZ29vy7v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleMCuNYn1BY5Ev4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleK9*1FOkH2o9v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleBf7JZaSHnjWv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleGgCII67l*YHv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
No, you are not seeing things, some crazy Italian built a private
residence on one of the Dolomite peaks:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleL8qVFdcYBLFv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
The locals come here for a morning wine and some socializing:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleGHPBUhCi5-dv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Great pasta made here:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleL04R2xhEW6Cv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Like the fountain with the squirting boobs, Italian humor litters the
landscape.
Bar side of the wall:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleMF58gMuo6Xev4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Bathroom side of the wall:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleJhH9oKp9hXKv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
Along the way we stopped at a bike shop for someone who wanted a new
helmet:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleFqWzG*XSog2v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
A rest stop near another of Italy's peaceful lakes was a fitting end
to a perfect days ride:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleAuwYbicWL8av4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmElePibqrcSGJFUv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
This days ride took us into Austria, where we stayed with a couple
other MC touring groups.
Here's the view from our room:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleLlUkqlDdzfLv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
The next morning everyone arose to frost on their seats. Good thing
Beemers come with heated butt pads:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleOiXv7qA*C-2v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
The ladies got together for a group photo here while the seats warmed:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleHqgtfQyKGhEv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
First we stopped for coffee in a small Austrian village holding the
annual lamb slaughter celebration:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleOuCXZ-zrv43v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleKctQ-OfpTVgv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
These guys like to start drinking early, I can relate with them.
Next, off we went for the Grossglockner pass to see the largest
glacier in all of Austria:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleB1Rfj1fsPjGv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
As we left that we continued to climb higher and higher as the bikes
gasped for air. Little did we know,
mother nature had a seasonal bitch slappin prepared especially for us:
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleJAN0yPuub*pv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleDm20h58nRa6v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
The last portion was a fast blast back to Germany where our adventure
came to its conclusion. We
stopped by a lake there that was actually used by humans.
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleFWhwpGGEAf1v4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmElePKFapIhwW3Pv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
So our trip back was uneventful and oddly even rather efficient even
getting thru customs.
The BMW (pronounced BMV in by the Europeans) RT1250 we rode was an
excellent motorcycle and never
missed a beat. It was thrashed all day long like a sportbike without
blinking an eye and had
outstanding handling, brakes, fuel mapping and comfort.
Hope this twists the arms of some of you fence sitters to get out and
explore the planet beyond your
own backyards. I think you just might enjoy the experience ; )
Joey Tribiani
"saddlebag" <sadd...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:c71b392f-9370-4737...@d77g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
> While our hotels generally had over the top facilities:
>http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleLlthlHWMkHHv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
>(The bowl on the left is used to wash your ass if you have the
>inclination)
>Those on the road were often less elaborate:
>
>http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleKp0HA0XyGIJv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
i don't know, Saddle, that seems like a pretty elaborate place to take a
piss!... nice shape...
anyway, thanks for the report... I enjoyed it.
Stupendous Man
In 1972 our family flew from L.A. to Munich on "Club International" on a
707. First, early in the morning something was wrong with the plane, so they
hotelled us, the next morning we took off for Bangor, Maine. There, we
waited 9 hours while they fixed the plane's radar. We then flew off to
Shannon, Ireland, where we were only on the ground for 2 hours. We took off
for Munich, but for some reason I never heard, we lost permission to land in
Munich (this was 2 months before the Olympic massacre) and were re-routed to
Prague, Czechoslovakia. This was before the "Wall" came down, and CZ was
still a very communist country and none of us had Visas. We were kept
isolated in a corner of the airport for 7 hours while ground transport was
arranged, watched over by military guards. While waiting we watched an
Aeroflot plane load, then after a while they all got off. Another plane was
brought up an hour later, it boarded, and then the third of 4 piston engines
caught fire on startup. The third plane loaded and started up fine, so off
they went.
They loaded us into two busses and took us to the train station, put us in
two cars behind a coal-fired locomotive, and away we went. We were of course
not allowed into the other cars or allowed off the train at the many stops,
We hit the German border and the cars were rolled across and hooked to a
German train and off we went at twice the speed with 1/4 the bumps. We hit
the station in Munich and escaped before the bus ride to the airport.
Fun! One couple was only going to be ther for two days on business and had
to go home.
We bought a California model VW Camper at the Wesphaliawerk and stayed in
the factory campground. Next day, we headed for Prague, Chzechoslovakia, for
Dad to attend an Engineer's conference for a couple of days. 5 of us spent 3
months and put 15,000 miles on the bus, then sent it home and sold it at a
profit.
Be a Tourist. Hard work, long hours, and no pay!
--
Stupendous Man,
Defender of Freedom, Advocate of Liberty
jubaaal
> While our hotels generally had over the top facilities:
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
> (The bowl on the left is used to wash your ass if you have the
> inclination)
> Those on the road were often less elaborate:
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
First trip abroad? Septics are always so fascinated with civilised
plumbing the first time they visit Europe.
.p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com
wrote:
Ah - like rain water barrels where you collect whatever
birdshit fell on the roof, and those tiled holes in the ground you
call 'commodes' ?
--
Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!
www.theanimalrescuesite.com/
Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
Free demo online at www.pmilligan.net/palm/
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saddlebag
Septics?
BryanUT
<snip excellent report and great pics>
You do realize the economy took a big dive while you were gone?
BrianNZ
Septic tanks = yanks
saddlebag
Is this supposed to be where I look surprised?
These neo-con dumbfucks have ruined our country but good. Buy
commodities now while they're on sale. All these gubament bail outs
are only going to serve to de-value our currency.
.p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com
How the Democrats Created the Financial Crisis
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0
St. John Smythe
> saddlebag wrote:
>> Septics?
>
> Septic tanks = yanks
At the point that the rhyming slang gets shortened so it no longer
rhymes, it does become just the least bit impenetrable...
--
sjs
saddlebag
> On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:14:30 -0700 (PDT), saddlebag
>
> >On Sep 22, 2:59 pm, BryanUT <nestl...@comcast.net> wrote:
> >> On Sep 22, 7:44 am, saddlebag <saddle...@aol.com> wrote:
> >> <snip excellent report and great pics>
>
> >> You do realize the economy took a big dive while you were gone?
>
> >Is this supposed to be where I look surprised?
>
> >These neo-con dumbfucks have ruined our country but good. Buy
> >commodities now while they're on sale. All these gubament bail outs
> >are only going to serve to de-value our currency.
>
> How the Democrats Created the Financial Crisis
>
> http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0
A) Republicans were the overwhelming majority in gov't in 2005.
B) The reference to the Bill in question provided none of its details,
so all we know is that the author of this article "says" it would have
provided "a regulator power to crack down, and would have required the
companies to eliminate their investments in risky assets."
Nevertheless, this does appear to have some legitimacy. Far more
impressive than blaming some Democratically sponsored anti-
discrimination in lending law passed in 1977, I'll give you that.
BryanUT
>Nevertheless, this does appear to have some legitimacy.
You are doing it wrong.
.p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com
How's about dees apples :
John McCain speaking on the bill in 2006. Was the man right or was he
right ?
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-s20060525-16&bill=s109-190
And if you'd like to read the bill
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-190
Have at it.
>impressive than blaming some Democratically sponsored anti-
>discrimination in lending law passed in 1977, I'll give you that.
--
TroytheTroll
>biggest lake in Italy named Garda.
>http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEleBKevWJegNxPv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/large/
I find it hard to believe that your wife is shorter than you are. What
are the odds?
Thanks for the story by the way.
TroytheTroll
>explore the planet beyond your
>own backyards. I think you just might enjoy the experience ; )
Coming from the guy who won't actually RIDE his bike anywhere without
being led around from 5 star restaurant to 5 star restaurant only near
prime riding real estate, thats pretty funny!
Bob Mann
6187fc...@d77g2000hsb.googlegroups.com:
> Yowza! Why they are partnered to
> a loser outfit like United Airlines is beyond me.
>
Same reason I suppose KLM is partnered with Northwest.
Is there a comparable US airline to the top Eurpean ones?
--
Bob Mann
Cap'n, ah need moor pow'r.
The Older Gentleman
> saddlebag <sadd...@aol.com> wrote in news:c71b392f-9370-4737-8cb5-
> 6187fc...@d77g2000hsb.googlegroups.com:
>
> > Yowza! Why they are partnered to
> > a loser outfit like United Airlines is beyond me.
> >
>
> Same reason I suppose KLM is partnered with Northwest.
> Is there a comparable US airline to the top Eurpean ones?
I'd love to know. My guess is that since Pan Am went under, the answer
is no.
European airlines like British Airways are seeking partners in the US
because they desperately want to open up routes inside the US; routes
presently denied them by the FAA.
Again a guess, but I think that were BA to move hard into the US market,
it would wipe the floor with a lot of your airlines. Same goes for
Lufthansa: I agree with Saddlebag's comments. LH is a good airline. So
is Air France.
I'm presently in China. I always fly BA if I can. Frequent flyer's card
is one reason, but the other is that it kicks the crap out of so many
other airlines.
Consider: decent food (really), unlimited free booze, on-demand (ie:
stop and start where you please) video with a choice of about 30 films
plus loads of TV, music, etc, and excellent service from the flight
crew. And that's in economy. Only downer in economy is the seat pitch,
which is a bit cramped.
Biz class has flat beds and more.
There are some terrible national airlines in Europe, mind. Alitalia is
about to go bust. Sabena did, a few years ago, and good riddance. Iberia
is getting better, but still a joke.
Interestingly BA still manages to make a decent profit.
--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Yamaha XT600E Honda CB400F & SH50
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60
The bells, the bells.....
The Older Gentleman
> If any of you should take a scheduled tour
<snip>
I enjoyed that. Some entertaining pix, too.
Vaughn
>
> The airline "Luftansa" called and told me the next flight wouldn't be
> in until ~8am and our
> group was scheduled to leave at 9 am, so I told them if they could get
> it to us by 9am to
> bring it to Germany, otherwise ship it to our next destination in
> Bolzano Italy. Figuring there
> was no way I was going to see it by 9 am, I parted with 400 Euro for
> new gear and had resigned
> to putting Mama in the luggage van for the first leg. As it turns
> out, the luggage was delivered
> before our morning briefing was concluded. Mama got to ride afterall.
>
> As an aside, I can't say enough good things about Luftansa airlines.
> Everything they did was
> first class even for us Economy class bums. Two of the best meals I
> had on the trip were aboard that
> plane. And most of the stewardesses could have won beauty pagents.
> Yowza! Why they are partnered to
> a loser outfit like United Airlines is beyond me.
>
> Anyway, day one turned out to be a cold, rainy ride though the
> mountains from Germany south to Bolzano
> Italy that left no one very excited.
>
>
> We did stop at Barvarian King Ludwig's summer home for a photo op:
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> Our guide was leading a nice pace through the muck, but not everyone
> could keep up. After waiting
> about 10 minutes he left us roadside to go back and find them. He
> did, but riding too fast for the
> conditions, he ended up highsiding his bike. Totalled, he sat with
> his bike and gave the others directions
> to find us. They did and eventually we meandered our way through the
> foreign city and found our hotel.
> Fortunately, we had been given very thorough instructions as finding
> your way through Italian cities is
> no mean feat...even if you knew the language.
>
> The one blessing was that as we got into Italy in the evening, the
> temperature warmed from 5°C to about
> 16°C.
>
> We got into town so late that I didn't get many good pics, but it is a
> beautiful city. And our hotel
> hosted a couple of interesting activities:
>
>
> Above the head of Rider magazine writer Clement Salvadori's and his
> wife Sue's heads is a sign for
> escorts, that didn't turn out so well.
>
>
> In addition to beauty, the city was clean and free of vagrants and
> thugs and walking around in the middle
> of the night was a carefree activity.
>
> The next day was a ride to Stelvio (sp?) Pass. It is one of the more
> scenic and well known ones in western
> Italy. We went up the non-touristy way from the east. Clement led the
> ride since he was familiar with the
> route and the guides weren't permitted to take us there due to weather
> conditions. Clem leads a spirited pace
> and with some of the best twisties on the ride, had everyone grinning
> ear to ear when we reached the top.
>
>
> Next, we continued on to another pass that was home to a ski resort
> and WWI Memorial:
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> Finally, our last pass was the one that would lead us to Stelvio:
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> This pass was a complete white knuckler for me a mile or so further
> up. It got even thinner, the pavement wet,
> full of salt, cracking, and the drop offs were staggering. And these
> are two lane roads! At one point we got
> stuck behind a car spinning his tires on ice and decided enough was
> enough and turned around for our next
> desitination. Stelvio will have to wait for another day.
>
> We did have a wonderful family style Italian lunch at the base of the
> mountain before we left though.
>
>
> Our destination for the night was a hotel at the northern end of the
> biggest lake in Italy named Garda.
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> Notice the difference in vegitation that sea level makes:
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> Our next mornings journey led us out of the mountains into the fertile
> Poe valley, home to the cities of
> Modena and Bologna (and Ferrari and Ducati respectively). We followed
> along lake Garda for a bit:
>
>
> While our hotels generally had over the top facilities:
>
>
> (The bowl on the left is used to wash your ass if you have the
> inclination)
>
> Those on the road were often less elaborate:
>
>
> We hit some good mountain riding here and even came up on a guy on a
> Road King (somewhat unusual for the
> area) who was riding the wheels off that beast. We generally pass
> everything on the road with great haste,
> but I think our guide was enjoying watching him work that monster as
> much as the rest of us, so we just tucked
> in and enjoyed the show.
>
> The next day we took in Bologna:
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> Note the leaning tower.
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> Towers were built by families to show off their wealth and are all
> over Italy. Over the years, they
> settle and lean. Appropriate for the Italian's motorcycling culture
> dontcha think?
>
> We also visited the Ferrari and Ducati Museums and even got a plant
> tour of Ducati. Sorry,
> no photos permitted in the Ducati plant.
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> Before WWII, Ducati made a host of gizmos:
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> The factory was bombed flat during the war, and afterwards
> concentrated on producing inexpensive
> transportation for its citizens. The Cucciolo was the result:
>
>
> The following day was back north to the mountains. We stopped for
> coffee in the city of Ferrara.
>
>
> A good moat helps to keep the riff raff at bay:
>
>
> From there it was good mountain roads onto Trento where we stayed in
> the most modern and American styled
> hotel of the tour:
>
>
> While in a hurry, we did stop at a couple of interesting places along
> the way:
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> The Italians love their saints, and this mountain dwelling is home to
> the Patron Saint of Motorcyclists:
>
>
> The next morning was off to the Dolomites, the crown jewel of our
> riding trip and arguably one of the best
> motorcycling areas on our planet:
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> No, you are not seeing things, some crazy Italian built a private
> residence on one of the Dolomite peaks:
>
>
> The locals come here for a morning wine and some socializing:
>
>
> Great pasta made here:
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> Like the fountain with the squirting boobs, Italian humor litters the
> landscape.
>
> Bar side of the wall:
>
>
> Bathroom side of the wall:
>
>
> Along the way we stopped at a bike shop for someone who wanted a new
> helmet:
>
>
> A rest stop near another of Italy's peaceful lakes was a fitting end
> to a perfect days ride:
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> This days ride took us into Austria, where we stayed with a couple
> other MC touring groups.
>
> Here's the view from our room:
>
>
> The next morning everyone arose to frost on their seats. Good thing
> Beemers come with heated butt pads:
>
>
> The ladies got together for a group photo here while the seats warmed:
>
>
> First we stopped for coffee in a small Austrian village holding the
> annual lamb slaughter celebration:
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> These guys like to start drinking early, I can relate with them.
>
> Next, off we went for the Grossglockner pass to see the largest
> glacier in all of Austria:
>
>
> As we left that we continued to climb higher and higher as the bikes
> gasped for air. Little did we know,
> mother nature had a seasonal bitch slappin prepared especially for us:
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> The last portion was a fast blast back to Germany where our adventure
> came to its conclusion. We
> stopped by a lake there that was actually used by humans.
>
>
> http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/saddlebag/2e90rGnGKJJXD4ZTL5MXkmEle...
>
> So our trip back was uneventful and oddly even rather efficient even
> getting thru customs.
>
> The BMW (pronounced BMV in by the Europeans) RT1250 we rode was an
> excellent motorcycle and never
> missed a beat. It was thrashed all day long like a sportbike without
> blinking an eye and had
> outstanding handling, brakes, fuel mapping and comfort.
>
> Hope this twists the arms of some of you fence sitters to get out and
> explore the planet beyond your
> own backyards. I think you just might enjoy the experience ; )
Thanks for the ride report. Looks like right nice vacation. I've
been back from my Alpen honeymoon for only a few days now, but will
need a bit of time to get the photos and report ready. Since we were
there for so long and did so much it will take a bit to organize a
ride report.
A few observations from your trip report:
-I'm surprised you didn't like the ass sink. It is quite civilized,
really.
-Stelvio Pass / Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstrasse is one of the greats.
Looks like you hit it on a good day, too.
-Bummer about the weather on der Grossglockner! (I got rained out
when I was there, too - razzle frazzle....)
-Did you note the cost of fuel and food in Europe? Sure made me
grateful for the US pricing, even with the recession.
-Did you meet many locals? Any interesting conversations? - or did
the tour group facilitation insulate you from such interactions?
-Did you notice how gracious the euro-cagers were about letting bikes
pass in the mountains? I found them to be very aware, considerate,
and a genuine delight.
-Did you notice the Italian Scooteristas? They all seemed to think
they were Rossi in the SW where I was....!
-Did your wife like the trip? It looks like you had some rough
weather along the way.
Welcome back to Amerikkka. It has pros and cons, as you know and
likely have an increased appreciation.
Lastly, would you do another Edelweiss tour, or just rent/borrow a
bike on your own and venture forth independently next time?
.
Gentleman) wrote:
> I enjoyed that. Some entertaining pix, too.
The bidet pictures made your twat feel all gooey and sweaty, did they?
The Older Gentleman
> On Sep 22, 7:17?pm, totallydeadmail...@yahoo.co.uk (The Older
> Gentleman) wrote:
>
> > I enjoyed that. Some entertaining pix, too.
>
> The bidet pictures made your twat feel all gooey and sweaty, did they?
<Baffled>
Have you *any* idea how stupid you make yourself look, with postings
like this?
Stupendous Man
>
> Have you *any* idea how stupid you make yourself look, with postings
> like this?
He just doesn't get it. Stupid is as stupid does?
What are you up to in China, TOG?
The Older Gentleman
> > <Baffled>
> >
> > Have you *any* idea how stupid you make yourself look, with postings
> > like this?
>
> He just doesn't get it. Stupid is as stupid does?
> What are you up to in China, TOG?
Speaking at a conference.
It has to be said, the food's good here, but then if you can't get
decent Chinese in China....
(I'm not touching the milk,mind you)
BrianNZ
It's been common slang here for a while. It also works like this.
Septic tanks = Full of shit. :)
The Older Gentleman
> At the point that the rhyming slang gets shortened so it no longer
> rhymes, it does become just the least bit impenetrable...
That's how it all works and that was the original point of it: to
confuse the rozzers.
Twibil
Gentleman) wrote:
> > What are you up to in China, TOG?
>
> Speaking at a conference.
>
> It has to be said, the food's good here, but then if you can't get
> decent Chinese in China....
>
> (I'm not touching the milk,mind you)
It's when it gets up on it's own and comes over to touch *you* that
you've really got to worry.
saddlebag
> >Our destination for the night was a hotel at the northern end of the
> >biggest lake in Italy named Garda.
>
> I find it hard to believe that your wife is shorter than you are. What
> are the odds?
You missed the slope of the land.
saddlebag
So, find a nice 5 star restaurant outside your backyard and ride.
FWIW, most of those people just have extreme pride in their
belongings. It wasn't like we were going anywhere special for coffee
or lunch, everyplace along the road is just generally emaculate.
However, I was told that our accomodations were better than normal,
due to it being done for Rider magazine, which will write a story on
the trip.
saddlebag
> saddlebag <saddle...@aol.com> wrote in news:c71b392f-9370-4737-8cb5-
> 6187fc7e9...@d77g2000hsb.googlegroups.com:
>
> > Yowza! Why they are partnered to
> > a loser outfit like United Airlines is beyond me.
>
> Same reason I suppose KLM is partnered with Northwest.
> Is there a comparable US airline to the top Eurpean ones?
If there is, I ain't flown them.
saddlebag
I think he was referring to the latest batch found with Melamine.
saddlebag
It's not that I didn't like it, just that it was unusual to see
everywhere you went. I'd prefer washclothes if given the choice.
> -Stelvio Pass / Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstrasse is one of the greats.
> Looks like you hit it on a good day, too.
I'm not a fan of the ultra skinny roads. I prefer two lanes so that I
can focus on my lines and not the oncoming traffic.
> -Bummer about the weather on der Grossglockner! (I got rained out
> when I was there, too - razzle frazzle....)
Not fun, but makes for a good tale.
> -Did you note the cost of fuel and food in Europe? Sure made me
> grateful for the US pricing, even with the recession.
It varied greatly. In Bologna for instance, the wife and I got a
monster pastry and two cappacinos for 4 Euros. At the airport, one
cappacino was 5 euro, similar to Starbucks pricing.
> -Did you meet many locals? Any interesting conversations? - or did
> the tour group facilitation insulate you from such interactions?
In some cases, where there were larger groups for lunch, they took the
liberty of ordering for the sake of expediency, but there were several
opportunities to converse with the locals. Italians weren't too bad
since I speak a little Spanish and their language is amazing similar.
German OTOH, is the goofiest language on the planet. I think they try
and fit 43 letters into every word. They even use Greek letters to
cram more in. And they're sound include everything from thoat
clearing to snorting. Even using their phone is esoteric. Here is an
example +0-44-4564 (0) 443-2231. After many tries of not getting it I
finally approached the desk and was told + means dial 001. Letters in
parenthesis should not be dialed.
> -Did you notice how gracious the euro-cagers were about letting bikes
> pass in the mountains? I found them to be very aware, considerate,
> and a genuine delight.
This is a subject I was hoping to get around to. Any Americans who
think they are free need to visit Italy. The country should hang a
placard that says "Italy - live at your own risk." There are few cops
and one that we passed at double the speed limit just waved. The
traffic appears chaotic as bikes and scooters are lane splitting
everything and everyone is driving fast everywhere. But amazingly, I
never saw an accident. Then again, I never saw anyone yacking on a
cell phone as they drove either. I did see lots of them in the coffee
bars having a wine or a beer at all hours of the day though.
Out on the open road, in general we did find that cars weren't cock
blocking like they do here. We were told that Italian drivers expect
bikes to be up and past in the blink of an eye. They get worried if
you actually ride along with traffic, figuring there must be something
wrong.
One of the more interesting experiences was out on a great wide
mountain road. I had just past a dark Volkswagon and was hauling ass
to try and catch the leader who had beeen enjoying open road for a
minute or so until I could get around. Then I noticed in my rearview
a dark car. I thought maybe the guy I just past was offended and
wanted push me along. Okay, I pushed even harder and looked back and
he was right on my six. I did everything short of hanging off (which
is cumbersome with wifey on the back) to try and shake him. Finally,
almost caught up to the leader I pulled over and let him go. It was a
guy driving a BMW station wagon. He was spinning tires and drifting
that thing through the turns like Michael Schumaker on crack. This
character could drive the shit out of a car. Even drifting in the
small lanes he ALWAYS kept the car on his side of the road. Fucking
spectacular!
> -Did you notice the Italian Scooteristas? They all seemed to think
> they were Rossi in the SW where I was....!
I saw one guy split two oncoming busses and several split the middle
passing cops like they were Roman statues. I love it!
> -Did your wife like the trip? It looks like you had some rough
> weather along the way.
We've been doing this stuff for about 17 years now. A little rain and
cold is not gonna dampen our fun. Especially on a bike with heated
seats and grip warmers.
> Welcome back to Amerikkka. It has pros and cons, as you know and
> likely have an increased appreciation.
I do like the fact I don't have to walk all over town to find a diet
pepsi.
> Lastly, would you do another Edelweiss tour, or just rent/borrow a
> bike on your own and venture forth independently next time?
If we do Italy again we'd likely rent our own next time now that we
are aware of traffic idiosyncasies, local customs etc. It is a ton
cheaper to do on your own for sure, but the commaradrie of sharing it
with others is a nice bonus. I think we'd probably have to do it with
a least one other bike though as you could be in a world of hurt if
you got stuck out on one of those lonely alpine roads alone.
OTOH, we were eyeballing their Spanish/French Pyrennes tour in their
catalog with lust in our souls...
.
> FWIW, most of those people just have extreme pride in their
> belongings. �It wasn't like we were going anywhere special for coffee
> or lunch, everyplace along the road is just generally emaculate.
That's what *White* countries are like, dude. *White* people (who know
who their upper class ancestors were for 30 or 40 generations) take
great pride in their country and they manage their property and
finances very well.
I was talking to an older tourist who described how his Italian
immigrant father returned to the town of his birth after many years
and was looking at the places he played as a child when the wealthy
owner of a local vineyard
noticed him and invited him to go back to his estate for coffee and
conversation.
But the old immigrant was full of American delusions about the
supposed "equality" of all men and he started asking the wealthy
Italian questions about the social class structure of Italy, and why
the rich were so rich and the poor were so poor, and the Italian
nobleman withdrew his invitation and showed him the door.
.
wrote:
> It has to be said, the food's good here, but then if you can't get
> decent Chinese in China....
Then you can always get hepatitis.
>
> (I'm not touching the milk,mind you)
The milk in Beijing tasted like coal dust.
BTW, why did you have to hijack Saddle's glory, couldn't you have
started your own thread?
TroytheTroll
>> without
>> being led around from 5 star restaurant to 5 star restaurant only
>> near
>> prime riding real estate, thats pretty funny!
>So, find a nice 5 star restaurant outside your backyard and ride.
My trip this year was from here to Phoenix....I don't know if Bobs
favorite restaurant was 5-star, but it wasn't bad food! And I got see
EVERYTHING from HERE to THERE...in TWO directions!
>FWIW, most of those people just have extreme pride in their
>belongings. It wasn't like we were going anywhere special for coffee
>or lunch, everyplace along the road is just generally emaculate.
>However, I was told that our accomodations were better than normal,
>due to it being done for Rider magazine, which will write a story on
>the trip.
Some of those scenery pictures were pretty premo. I don't have any
real desire to do Europe myself, lately I've been longing for what my
mom has, infinite time and still functioning body parts. I can see
taking any bike I've got and puttering down every back road in the
country, 45 mph, from Key West to Prudhoe.
Stupendous Man
>> At the point that the rhyming slang gets shortened so it no longer
>> rhymes, it does become just the least bit impenetrable...
Like, uh, here at the beach in Cali, Dude, it was slang for "skeptic" in the
70s.
We use to have fun referring to the Hari Krishnas as "Skinheads" til' the
nazis fucked that word up.
Thanks to the Homos, now you cant say "gay", or wear a Spongebob T-shirt
given as a a gift by a 5 year old nephew. Back in the 70s rainbow stickers
were very common on cars, now it's a Homo ID.
Bob Myers
"The Older Gentleman" <totallyde...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1inpcky.10g2kmku7kgekN%totallyde...@yahoo.co.uk...
>. <yefel...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> The bidet pictures made your twat feel all gooey and sweaty, did they?
>
> <Baffled>
>
> Have you *any* idea how stupid you make yourself look, with postings
> like this?
"Look"?
Bob M.
Radbert Grimmig
>our hotel after trying to communicate with German speaking bus and
>taxi drivers for an
>hour or so,
They just pretend because they are uneasy. Barely anybody passes the
German school system without a basic competence in English
What your pronunciation does to our place names, streets etc is quite
another matter... although German pronunciation is actually very easy
compared to English because everything is more or less pronounced
exactly the way it's written, no funny
bough/plough/borough/dough/rough business here, so as soon as you've
figured out the pronunciation of the individual letters and a few
special combinations, you're done.
The vowels go more or less like this:
a - like in car
e - like in celery
i - like in internet
o - like gthe first one in Otto
u - like in unbelievable
vowels with an 'h' behind them (and ie) are long (Very rarely, other
letters than i also get an elongation e, like the town of Soest.
Otherwise, adding an e behind an a, o or u is just another way of
turning it into an Umlaut, only without the funny little dots above
them).
Evil German Umlauts: ä like a in bank, ö like i in girl, ü like oo in
Scottish English ('boot') (that one's typically by far the most
difficult for other English variants' native speakers, an 'ee' will do
in a pinch.)
Diphthongs are eu or äu (oi), au (like in outch), ei (like in I).
Ch is sometimes close to the French j in jour (but with the tongue
farther back against the palate) and sometimes rolled verrry
Scottishly and there is no way to tell when which is which except
knowing it by heart. sch is always sh.
>gear dealer. And yes folks, this quaint little German village has
>such a dedicated store believe it or not:
The next chain franchise is usually not far away either, at least not
by American distance standards, seeing that all of Germany is only
about as "large" as Ohio, Pennsylvania and upstate NY combined. There
are basically three decent chains:
http://www.louis.de/
http://www.polo-motorrad.de/
http://www.hein-gericke.de/
>Anyway, day one turned out to be a cold, rainy ride though the
>mountains from Germany south to Bolzano
>Italy that left no one very excited.
What do you expect. In the Alps, you may even get snow in Mai.
There *is* some decent weather to be had in Germany - and there are
other very interesting areas beside Berlin and Neuschwanstein,
especially for motorcyclists - but the weather may turn on you at any
time, even in August, sadly.
Fortunately, there rarely is very much of it, again compared to some
US conditions of late.
>Fortunately, we had been given very thorough instructions as finding
>your way through Italian cities is
>no mean feat...even if you knew the language.
Get a satnav. It's a life saver.
And come back some time.
--
Gruß
Radbert
The Older Gentleman
> The milk in Beijing tasted like coal dust.
Someone hasn't been reading the news, evidently.
>
> BTW, why did you have to hijack Saddle's glory, couldn't you have
> started your own thread?
I'm sorry? Hijacked his thread? Even by your odd standards, that's
difficult to believe....
The Older Gentleman
> *White* people (who know
> who their upper class ancestors were for 30 or 40 generations) take
> great pride in their country and they manage their property and
> finances very well.
"Sub prime mortgages"
Twibil
Uh, yes, I know...
Twibil
> Thanks to the Homos, now you cant say "gay", or wear a Spongebob T-shirt
> given as a a gift by a 5 year old nephew. Back in the 70s rainbow stickers
> were very common on cars, now it's a Homo ID.
Just as the use of "Homo" as an insult now IDs you as a homophobe.
We live and learn.
.
Gentleman) wrote:
> . <yefelnag...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > *White* people (who know
> > who their upper class ancestors were for 30 or 40 generations) take
> > great pride in their country and they manage their property and
> > finances very well.
>
> "Sub prime mortgages"
Pay attention, Gasbag. White people with *old* money loan it to the
banks, a few million here, a few million there.
It doesn't matter that the Third World Monkey People default on their
sub prime mortages, the rich White people with old money continue to
live in their Gilded Age mansions, and when the banks go under, our
dear Uncle Sam pays us what the failed banks owe us.
.
> Just as the use of "Homo" as an insult now IDs you as a homophobe.
You're an adult, you're old enough not to be insulted at being
described as a Homo sapiens...
Road Glidin' Don
> On Sep 23, 10:30 am, totallydeadmail...@yahoo.co.uk (The Older
>
> Gentleman) wrote:
> > . <yefelnag...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > *White* people (who know
> > > who their upper class ancestors were for 30 or 40 generations) take
> > > great pride in their country and they manage their property and
> > > finances very well.
>
> > "Sub prime mortgages"
>
> Pay attention, Gasbag. White people with *old* money loan it to the
> banks, a few million here, a few million there.
Trouble is, no one is accepting those Civil War notes anymore.
BrianNZ
A bit touchy there?? :)
I don't see the insult? Was it because he didn't use the word
'Homosexual' in full?
What would you prefer as a PC non-offensive tag? tailgunner,fudge
packer,poo pusher......if you are a homo and are offended by being
called a homo, maybe deep down you offended by yourself?
Twibil
Your Alzheimer's is acting up again. Nobody called anyone a "Homo
Sapiens", least of all *you*.
Twibil
> A bit touchy there?? :)
Nope. I just don't much care for racists or bigots of any stripe. As
you have reason to know.
> I don't see the insult? Was it because he didn't use the word
> 'Homosexual' in full?
"Homo" used as it was is *always* intended as an insult, just as white
man calling a black man a nigger is always an insult. The only white
guys who call black guys niggers are overt racists, and the only
straight guys who call homosexuals "homos" are homophobes.
> What would you prefer as a PC non-offensive tag? tailgunner,fudge
> packer,poo pusher......if you are a homo and are offended by being
> called a homo, maybe deep down you offended by yourself?
And maybe you're looking for excuses to troll, except it ain't
"maybe".
BrianNZ
Since homo is common slang for homosexual, where is the insult?
"Back in the 70s rainbow stickers
were very common on cars, now it's a Homo ID."
"Back in the 70s rainbow stickers
were very common on cars, now it's a Homosexual ID."
I don't see it changing the meaning at all. If homosexuals are
identifying themselves by putting rainbow stickers on their cars, then
why think it's an insult to call it they way they are advertising it?
You seem to think it's OK for them to say "I'm a homosexual", yet if
someone says "He's a homo" it's an insult, rather than an observation of
his rainbow sticker.
Think of it this way....'nig' is short for 'nigger', 'homo' is short for
'homosexual'. Are nigger and homosexual the same type of words? No way!
One word describes someones sexuality and the other is a racial
slur.....Calling people homophobes implies an irrational fear of
homosexuals, rather than a need/want to insult homo's?
Vaughn
Yeah, I can hear the old age and functioning body parts vision.
But after you've been from the Keyes to the Arctic, it is kind of fun
to try something different and mix in some old world culture and
mountains of an older ilk. I'd love to ride in Europe again soon, but
it was so f'ing expensive I'll have to consider my honeymoon ride a
special treat.
And don't for get to add Mexico to your list. That KLR would be
splendid down in Sierra Tarahumara.
Vaughn
>
> >Anyway, day one turned out to be a cold, rainy ride though the
> >mountains from Germany south to Bolzano
> >Italy that left no one very excited.
>
> What do you expect. In the Alps, you may even get snow in Mai.
>
> There *is* some decent weather to be had in Germany - and there are
> other very interesting areas beside Berlin and Neuschwanstein,
> especially for motorcyclists - but the weather may turn on you at any
> time, even in August, sadly.
>
> Fortunately, there rarely is very much of it, again compared to some
> US conditions of late.
>
> >Fortunately, we had been given very thorough instructions as finding
> >your way through Italian cities is
> >no mean feat...even if you knew the language.
>
> Get a satnav. It's a life saver.
>
> And come back some time.
>
> --
>
> Gruß
> Radbert
Nice reply. I haven't had much education in German language, but
during my time there with my wife (who is mostly fluent and loved
teaching me how to correctly pronounce everything through the
autocomm) I was able to understand a lot of German after just 10 days
there. Immersion is the schnitzle. <grin>
+1 on the Satnav/GPS
And indeed, Bavaria is splendid riding. I rode the entire
Alpenstrasse from Saltzberg to Lake Constance, with some side trips
off of it, and it was really pleasant.
The roads south of Baden-Baden, and the baths themselves, were also
extraordinary!
buzz
What do you mean "us," Krusty? You're just a poor old geezer with a
deeply seated superiority complex and a shitload of imaginary
upper-class ancestors.
But let's assume for a second that you're related to all those feudal
lords, statesmen, and explorers you keep hiding behind. What have YOU
done that's of any value to anybody? What's your claim to a place in
history books? Who's going to remember your name?
I thought so.
-buzz
Stupendous Man
Ha ha.
I am not a phobe! I still use the words "Negro" and "Mexican" as well.
If I meant to be insulting there would be no doubt about it.
Stupendous Man
"Twibil" <jose....@gmail.com> wrote"Homo" used as it was is *always*
man calling a black man a nigger is always an insult. The only white
guys who call black guys niggers are overt racists, and the only
straight guys who call homosexuals "homos" are homophobes.
You sir, are a retard. Grow the fuck up.
TroytheTroll
>splendid down in Sierra Tarahumara.
I made a rule a long time ago to never go to Mexico. I've been
swimming in the Rio Grande and thrown stones into Mexico, but I'm
leery of countries where the drug dealers run the joint, the regular
people are stupid enough to rely on their rapidly declining oil
production as a primary means to support the government budget and
refuse to recognize the importance of capital investment, and then
bitch at us when we get cranky with their people coming in illegally
as though its OUR fault that their system is so crappy.
I'll pass on Mexico thanks.
But every backroad between Key West and Deadhorse? I'll do all
those...sure.
Twibil
> I am not a phobe! I still use the words "Negro" and "Mexican" as well.
The words Negro and Mexican aren't overt insults. Homo *is*. Just like
nigger.
> If I meant to be insulting there would be no doubt about it.
There wasn't.
And if you're seriously saying that you don't think calling someone a
homo is an insult, it's time you learned otherwise.
Twibil
> You sir, are a retard.
IQ 168 last time anyone checked.
> Grow the fuck up.
I turn 65 on November 6th. Care to try again?
And now it's my turn: How can you -or anyone- issue what you know
perfectly well is an unprovoked public insult of an entire group -a
group that already has enough problems in life, and then act hurt when
somebody points out that you did it?
Did you really think it was going to be a secret?
BrianNZ
> On Sep 23, 6:53 pm, "Stupendous Man" <s...@trap.com> wrote:
>
>> I am not a phobe! I still use the words "Negro" and "Mexican" as well.
>
> The words Negro and Mexican aren't overt insults. Homo *is*. Just like
> nigger.
Look, there's a Negro.
Look, there's a Mexican.
Look, there's a Homo.
Look, there's a Nigger
Only one of the above is an insult.......
>
>> If I meant to be insulting there would be no doubt about it.
>
> There wasn't.
>
> And if you're seriously saying that you don't think calling someone a
> homo is an insult, it's time you learned otherwise.
Maybe calling someone who isn't a homo, a homo, could be seen as an
insult, but to call a homo a homo is just calling a spade a spade?
There are plenty of insulting names for homosexuals out there if someone
want to insult them.
.p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com
>Twibil wrote:
>> On Sep 23, 6:53 pm, "Stupendous Man" <s...@trap.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I am not a phobe! I still use the words "Negro" and "Mexican" as well.
>>
>> The words Negro and Mexican aren't overt insults. Homo *is*. Just like
>> nigger.
>
>
>Look, there's a Negro.
>Look, there's a Mexican.
>Look, there's a Homo.
>Look, there's a Nigger
>
>
>Only one of the above is an insult.......
>
>
>
>
>>
>>> If I meant to be insulting there would be no doubt about it.
>>
>> There wasn't.
>>
>> And if you're seriously saying that you don't think calling someone a
>> homo is an insult, it's time you learned otherwise.
>
>
>Maybe calling someone who isn't a homo, a homo, could be seen as an
>insult, but to call a homo a homo is just calling a spade a spade?
Here you go with the black jokes again ....
>
>There are plenty of insulting names for homosexuals out there if someone
>want to insult them.
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BrianNZ
> On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:49:37 +1200, BrianNZ <br...@itnz.co.nz> wrote:
>
>> Twibil wrote:
>>> On Sep 23, 6:53 pm, "Stupendous Man" <s...@trap.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I am not a phobe! I still use the words "Negro" and "Mexican" as well.
>>> The words Negro and Mexican aren't overt insults. Homo *is*. Just like
>>> nigger.
>>
>> Look, there's a Negro.
>> Look, there's a Mexican.
>> Look, there's a Homo.
>> Look, there's a Nigger
>>
>>
>> Only one of the above is an insult.......
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>> If I meant to be insulting there would be no doubt about it.
>>> There wasn't.
>>>
>>> And if you're seriously saying that you don't think calling someone a
>>> homo is an insult, it's time you learned otherwise.
>>
>> Maybe calling someone who isn't a homo, a homo, could be seen as an
>> insult, but to call a homo a homo is just calling a spade a spade?
>
> Here you go with the black jokes again ....
I can see how easy it is to offend in the PC US. :)
Outback Jon
> Maybe calling someone who isn't a homo, a homo, could be seen as an
> insult, but to call a homo a homo is just calling a spade a spade?
>
> There are plenty of insulting names for homosexuals out there if someone
> want to insult them.
I've met plenty of homos (homoes? homi?) who refer to themselves as
homos.
(OK, they refer to themselves in the singular, but it didn't sound right
to end the sentence with "homo".)
--
"Outback" Jon - KC2BNE
outba...@ver.no.sp.am.izon.net
AMD Opteron 165 (@2.5) and 6.1 GHz of other AMD power...
http://folding.stanford.edu - got folding? Team 53560
2006 ZG1000A Concours "Blueline" COG# 7385 CDA# 0157
.p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com
<tea...@ver.no.sp.am.izon.net> wrote:
>BrianNZ wrote:
>> Maybe calling someone who isn't a homo, a homo, could be seen as an
>> insult, but to call a homo a homo is just calling a spade a spade?
>>
>> There are plenty of insulting names for homosexuals out there if someone
>> want to insult them.
>
>I've met plenty of homos (homoes? homi?) who refer to themselves as
>homos.
I thought 'homi's' were black ?
>(OK, they refer to themselves in the singular, but it didn't sound right
>to end the sentence with "homo".)
--
Road Glidin' Don
>Twibil wrote:
>> On Sep 23, 6:53 pm, "Stupendous Man" <s...@trap.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I am not a phobe! I still use the words "Negro" and "Mexican" as well.
>>
>> The words Negro and Mexican aren't overt insults. Homo *is*. Just like
>> nigger.
>
>
>Look, there's a Negro.
>Look, there's a Mexican.
>Look, there's a Homo.
>Look, there's a Nigger
>
>
>Only one of the above is an insult.......
And only one is supposed to be proof positive of having a phobia.
BrianNZ
'supposed to be' would depend on who's doing the supposing? :)
I have no irrational fear of any of the above.....but a rational fear of
getting my head stomped on if I called a large Negro chap (wether he's
gay or not) a nigger!
Iv'e heard some Americans take it as an insult if you ask them if they
are Canadian.........
Outback Jon
> On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:04:54 GMT, Outback Jon
> <tea...@ver.no.sp.am.izon.net> wrote:
>
>> BrianNZ wrote:
>>> Maybe calling someone who isn't a homo, a homo, could be seen as an
>>> insult, but to call a homo a homo is just calling a spade a spade?
>>>
>>> There are plenty of insulting names for homosexuals out there if someone
>>> want to insult them.
>> I've met plenty of homos (homoes? homi?) who refer to themselves as
>> homos.
>
> I thought 'homi's' were black ?
No, that's either "homie" or "homey". I've seen it spelled both ways.
The Older Gentleman
> the rich White people with old money continue to
> live in their Gilded Age mansions
Ah, like all those Lehman people suddenly out of work. Ri-ight.
--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Yamaha XT600E Honda CB400F & SH50
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60
The bells, the bells.....
Chuck Rhode
> Again a guess, but I think that were BA to move hard into the US
> market, it would wipe the floor with a lot of your airlines.
Well, you'd have to carry a lot of parents with kids who can't really
afford any amenities at all. Families travel, and the US is so spread
out that ground transportation is prohibitively slow and expensive --
particularly with children.
--
.. Be Seeing You,
.. Chuck Rhode, Sheboygan, WI, USA
.. Weather: http://LacusVeris.com/WX
.. [an error occurred while processing this directive]
.
> Iv'e heard some Americans take it as an insult if you ask them if they
> are Canadian.........
I have about 15 souvenir T-shirts with Canadian logos. When I wore
them around Hollyweird, only Canadian tourists were dumb enough to ask
what part of Canada I was from...
.
Gentleman) wrote:
> . <yefelnag...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > �the rich White people with old money continue to
> > live in their Gilded Age mansions
>
> Ah, like all those Lehman people suddenly out of work. Ri-ight.
Rich White people with old money don't get sacked, they re-arrange
their capital and restart their core business which their ancestors
did for centuries.
My ancestors were into textiles, wool felting and weaving in Flanders
and took the industry to Cornwall, where they taught the local
peasants to weave, then they took the business to New England where it
was central to the economy until the American Civil War cut off the
supply of cotton and the economic confusion during Reconstruction cut
off credit.
Buying money from foreignors to keep an economy running was a bad idea
then, and it's a bad idea now.
Ian Singer
> I have about 15 souvenir T-shirts with Canadian logos. When I wore
> them around Hollyweird, only Canadian tourists were dumb enough to ask
> what part of Canada I was from...
>
You have it wrong. Only the Canadians were smart enough to be able to
read and UNDERSTAND what it said on the T-Shirt
Ian Singer
84 V45S in Canada
--
=========================================================================
See my homepage at http://www.iansinger.com
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All genealogy is stored in TMG from http://www.whollygenes.com
Charts and searching using TNG from http://www.tngsitebuilding.com
I am near Toronto Canada, can I tell where you are from your reply?
=========================================================================
The Older Gentleman
> Well, you'd have to carry a lot of parents with kids who can't really
> afford any amenities at all.
This I can understand.
>Families travel, and the US is so spread
> out that ground transportation is prohibitively slow and expensive --
> particularly with children.
This I can't. Travel by car is going to cost the same whether there's
one person inside of four, surely? Unless you mean rail?
The Older Gentleman
Twibil
(snip)
Oh good; a lecture on lexicography from a clown who grew up half a
world away from the US, knows no more about US slang and it's meanings
than we know about New Zealand slang, and is an admitted anti-semite
in the bargain.
I don't know about *you*, but that's the sort of person I *always*
look for when I want to find out what my next-door neighbor really
meant.
BrianNZ
> On Sep 23, 8:49 pm, BrianNZ <br...@itnz.co.nz> wrote:
>
> (snip)
>
> Oh good; a lecture on lexicography from a clown who grew up half a
> world away from the US, knows no more about US slang and it's meanings
> than we know about New Zealand slang, and is an admitted anti-semite
> in the bargain.
Seven lines = a lecture!? I hope it didn't take too long for you to read.
Live and learn?
You stuffed up with saying homo is an insult so now you throw the
anti-semite thing out there......pathetic. I suppose thats because I
called a Jew a Jew?
So you claim 'Homo' as American slang and I don't understand it.....what
does it stand for? Did I get it wrong when I said it's short for
Homosexual? Please enlighten me to it's mysterious US slang meaning if
thats not it.
>
> I don't know about *you*, but that's the sort of person I *always*
> look for when I want to find out what my next-door neighbor really
> meant.
It was only you looking for another meaning right from the
start.....everyone else read it and understood it. It was you that said
Homo was *always* an insult.....and you were wrong.
I don't care if you are a homo.
.
> I don't know about *you*, but that's the sort of person I *always*
> look for when I want to find out what my next-door neighbor really
> meant.
If I had a choice between BrianNZ for a neighbor, and *you*, I'd pick
BrianNZ.
.
> The words Negro and Mexican aren't overt insults. Homo *is*. Just likenigger.
Let's start calling Negros and Mexicans "roses" and see if they smell
any different...
BrianNZ
LOL....bwuuhahahaha.....divide and conquer........toady,
rec.motorcycles, tomorrow ,the world!! :)
I'm too scared to look up the family tree in case we are related!!
Robert Bolton
I don't believe Americans have anything against Canadians, but I
wouldn't call a Southern or a Yankee. I was in a bar in Myrtle Beach,
North or South Carolina (forget) one night. I asked the bartender
where he was from and he said Texas. I asked him where he'd come from
before that and he very quietly whispered, "Pittsburgh".
Robert
Chuck Rhode
> This I can't. Travel by car is going to cost the same whether there's
> one person inside of four, surely? Unless you mean rail?
Well, there are mutliple meals and overnight stays involved.
--
.. Be Seeing You,
.. Chuck Rhode, Sheboygan, WI, USA
.. Weather: http://LacusVeris.com/WX
.. 52° — Wind Calm
The Older Gentleman
> On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:42:19 +0100, The Older Gentleman wrote:
>
> > This I can't. Travel by car is going to cost the same whether there's
> > one person inside of four, surely? Unless you mean rail?
>
> Well, there are mutliple meals and overnight stays involved.
Hmmmyeah, if you're doing serious long distances.
--
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GHPOTHUF#1 chateaudotmurrayatidnetdotcom
Nothing is more dangerous than an ignoramus with a workshop
manual, a 'can-do' attitude and a cheap set of tools
Robert Bolton
>Twibil wrote:
>> On Sep 23, 6:53 pm, "Stupendous Man" <s...@trap.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I am not a phobe! I still use the words "Negro" and "Mexican" as well.
>>
>> The words Negro and Mexican aren't overt insults. Homo *is*. Just like
>> nigger.
>
>
>Look, there's a Negro.
>Look, there's a Mexican.
>Look, there's a Homo.
>Look, there's a Nigger
>
>
>Only one of the above is an insult.......
>
Select definition #2 -
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homo
Most people in the US know it's often meant to be disparaging, so they
look at someone who uses the term and wonder why the speaker chose to
use it. Is the person unaware it can offend, is the person aware but
just refuses to adjust to accommodate new social customs, or is the
person anti-Gay and wants the world to know it? Or any variable
combination of the above.
That's just the way it is,
Robert
Chuck Rhode
> Chuck Rhode <CRh...@LacusVeris.com> wrote:
>> On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:42:19 +0100, The Older Gentleman wrote:
>> > This I can't. Travel by car is going to cost the same whether there's
>> > one person inside of four, surely? Unless you mean rail?
>> Well, there are mutliple meals and overnight stays involved.
> Hmmmyeah, if you're doing serious long distances.
Air fare is probably cheaper, particularly for families with more than
a couple of kids.
BTW, I recall from many years ago a train ride (30 hours one way) from
Milwaukee, WI, to Belton, MT, on Amtrak's Empire Builder for a week of
hiking in Glacier National Park. I rode coach and was able to squeeze
in 40 winks, reclining in my seat, now and again on the way out. On
the way back, I kicked off my boots and let my blisters scab over.
Train travel is the best way to arrange sightseeing on foot IMHO.
Even back then, there were loads of kids on the train, traveling
mostly I guess with indulgent grandparents. Rather than schedule a
seat in the dining car, though, they would mob the snack bar in the
club car. The staff put on a family-oriented video tape back there at
sunset, and, when it was over at about 20:30 local, they shut off the
heat and turned out the lights. Amtrak in those days was no _Silver
Streak_.
--
.. Be Seeing You,
.. Chuck Rhode, Sheboygan, WI, USA
.. Weather: http://LacusVeris.com/WX
.. 60° — Wind NNW 3 mph
Henry
> On Sep 24, 10:58�am, Twitbull spewed:
>> I don't know about *you*, but that's the sort of person I *always*
>> look for when I want to find out what my next-door neighbor really
>> meant.
> If I had a choice between BrianNZ for a neighbor, and *you*, I'd pick
> BrianNZ.
If I had a choice between Petie, (a twit who spews a lot of
bullshit) Roehling for a neighbor, and a sane person, it'd
be a tough call. Petie's behavior, although clearly quite
pitiful, can still be amusing - especially the way he goes
tits up when you challenge him to think. Plus, he has a cute,
timid way of making the rest of us feel damn fortunate. ;-)
--
They must find it difficult - those who have taken authority as the
Truth, rather than Truth as the authority. - G. Massey
http://911research.wtc7.net
http://stj911.org
http://stopthelie.com/1-hour_guide_to_911.html
http://www.911truth.org
Here's what happens to steel framed buildings exposed
to raging infernos for hours on end.
http://davesweb.cnchost.com/nwsltr69c.html
On 9-11-01, WTC7, a 47 story steel framed building, which
had only small, random fires, dropped in perfect symmetry
at near free fall speed as in a perfectly executed controlled
demolition.
http://911research.wtc7.net/talks/wtc/videos.html
http://911research.wtc7.net
http://stj911.org
http://stopthelie.com/1-hour_guide_to_911.html
http://www.911truth.org
Ever wonder who benefits from the 700 MILLION
U.S. taxpayer dollars spent each DAY in Iraq?
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0223-08.htm
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?list=type&type=21
"They are waging a campaign of murder and destruction. And
there is no limit to the innocent lives they are willing to
take... men with blind hatred and armed with lethal weapons
who are capable of any atrocity... they respect no laws of
warfare or morality."
-bu$h describing his own illegal invasion of Iraq.
http://www.robert-fisk.com/iraqwarvictims_mar2003.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/
http://thirdworldtraveler.com/
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things
that matter." -- Martin Luther King Jr.
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is
not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."
-- Theodore Roosevelt (1918)
Don't let bu$h do to the United States what his very close
friend and top campaign contributor, Ken Lay, did to Enron...
"The new America, born in sin and arrogance, delusional
in Manifest Destiny, bred in overabundant gluttony,
consumerist and materialist, fathered by George W. Bush,
Dick Cheney and the Cabal of Criminality, a country flocked
by sheeple, ignorant and conditioned, indifferent to a world
growing up around it, living delusions of empire and of
omnipotence, building hatred against it and its policies
throughout the planet, slowly dumbing down its citizens,
losing its edge in the sciences and arts, producing a nation
of acquiescent automatons brainwashed to never question
authority and always faithfully follow the crimes of governance."
- Manuel Valenzuela
Henry
> On Sep 23, 6:54 pm, "Stupendous Man" <s...@trap.com> wrote:
>
>> You sir, are a retard.
>
> IQ 168 last time anyone checked.
And of course, you're "not psychotic at all", either. The
other test "proved" that. <chuckle>
--
They must find it difficult - those who have taken authority as the
Truth, rather than Truth as the authority. - G. Massey
http://911research.wtc7.net
http://stj911.org
http://stopthelie.com/1-hour_guide_to_911.html
http://www.911truth.org
Twibil
Gee, what a surprise! One bigot picking another one for his buddy
instead of selecting someone who simply judges people as
individuals...
I mean, who would have ever *guessed*?
BrianNZ
LOL.....bigot....."a person who is intolerant of opinions, lifestyles,
or identities differing from his or her own".....You would really have
to twist what I say to get that!
.
> LOL.....bigot....."a person who is intolerant of opinions, lifestyles,
> or identities differing from his or her own".....You would really have
> to twist what I say to get that!
A better definition of "bigot" would be "a person who is
*unreasonably* intolerant of opinions, lifestyles, or identities
differing from his or her own".
You are a product of your nation and its belief system, and you will
not easily be changed. There is nothing inherently *wrong* with
resisting *reasonable* change.
But the definition of "bigot" has already been severely twisted from
what it originally meant.
"Bigot" comes from the Old Norse oath "bi gott" (by God!)
A "bigot" was a person of strong belief and loyalties who swore an
oath to
continue such beliefs and loyalties to leaders or to traditions.
Such conservative-minded people didn't want to go along with every new
idea that would "rock their world".
In one example of the origin of the word "bigot", a Norse prince was
ordered to get down and prove his new found allegience by kissing the
velvet slipper of the king of France, to which he replied, "By God! I
will not!"
.
> Gee, what a surprise! �One bigot picking another one for his buddy
> instead of selecting someone who simply judges people as
> individuals...
Hey, don't you hippy liberals eschew *labelling* other people in order
to demonstrate your "tolerance" of diversity?
Isn't there any place left in your Pollyanna world for polite
disagreement and alternative opinion?
Do you have to throw patriots under the bus, in order to achieve
"change you can believe in"?
The Older Gentleman
> A better definition of "bigot" would be "a person who is
> *unreasonably* intolerant of opinions, lifestyles, or identities
> differing from his or her own".
Coo, fancy that.
Bob Myers
"." <yefel...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:71175698-332d-4b0f...@q26g2000prq.googlegroups.com...
> "Bigot" comes from the Old Norse oath "bi gott" (by God!)
No, it comes into English from French, where it was originally
used as a derogatory term for the Normans. The Norman use
of "by God" came from Old English, not Norse. A speaker of
Old Norse would not have used "gott" for "God" in any case.
The Old Norse for "god" was "áss," with the proper name of the
Father God being, of course, "Odin." "Gott" in Old Norse
translates to English best as "benefit" or "good."
Bob M.
.
> No, it comes into English from French, where it was originally
> used as a derogatory term for the Normans. �The Norman use
> of "by God" came from Old English, not Norse. �A speaker of
> Old Norse would not have used "gott" for "God" in any case.
> The Old Norse for "god" was "�ss," with the proper name of the
> Father God being, of course, "Odin." �"Gott" in Old Norse
> translates to English best as "benefit" or "good."
Are you trying to pull a J. Clarke here, or what?
S'mee
No just being more factual than you. Not that it is hard to do...you
have to use wiki to get your answers.
--
Keith
Twibil
Yup. That's the bleat of every bigot in the world: "*I'm* not
intolerant! It's you people who point it out when I openly insult the
Jews or Gays who are being intolerant!"
What's amazing is that you seem to picture yourself as being very
tolerant towards most groups while at the same time you revel in name-
calling that would shame a 7th grader whenever you feel the urge. And
you see no inconsistancy in this.
Krusty, at least, is now being honest -both with himself and the rest
of the world. He's an unapologetic racist/homophobe who's decided that
he's willing to stand up publicly for what he believes in. (It's utter
garbage, of course, and he's more likely to do his cause harm than
good, but nobody can accuse him of hypocrisy any longer.)
Twibil
> Hey, don't you hippy liberals eschew *labelling* other people in order
> to demonstrate your "tolerance" of diversity?
I was never a "hippy", nor am I a "liberal". The difference between
our posts -other than your racist views- is simply that I don't have
to lie about what you are to insult you, while you *do* have to lie
about me. Too bad.
> Isn't there any place left in your Pollyanna world for polite
> disagreement and alternative opinion?
Ah, so your basic Nazi/White Supremacy philosophy is now going under
the Q-ship label of "polite disagreement and alternative opinion"?
Aren't there laws about truth in packaging?
> Do you have to throw patriots under the bus, in order to achieve
> "change you can believe in"?
You aren't a "patriot", there *is* no bus, and I'm not an Obama
enthusiast.
Life would be *so* much easier for you if only you'd stop shooting
yourself in the foot by pretending that everyone who isn't a racist/
homophobe must therefore be a hippy, liberal, Pollyanna; and that only
racists are capable of polite disagreement, alternative opinions, and
patriotism.
Bob Myers
"Twibil" <jose....@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ec7b6214-c7aa-4a2d...@w1g2000prk.googlegroups.com...
On Sep 26, 8:04 am, "." <yefelnag...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Ah, so your basic Nazi/White Supremacy philosophy is now going under
> the Q-ship label of "polite disagreement and alternative opinion"?
Precisely as Nazi Germany engaged in "polite disagreement"
and offered "alterative opinions" with/to Czechoslovakia and
Poland, 1938-39.
Bob M.
Twibil
> "Twibil" <jose.now...@gmail.com> wrote in message
Bah! Wake up America!
That history stuff is all in the past, and it's unfair to bring it up
now!
BrianNZ
LOL....if calling a spade a spade hurts the sensitivities of some, thats
their problem, not mine. I take people at face value, by their attitude,
not race or religion.
I'm a name caller!! (shock ,horror!!) You racist, homophobe
namecaller,you.....no name calling from you, no sireee bob.
If my blunt honesty offends you, well thats your personal problem. I'm
not about to start pussyfooting around and not say it how I see it, on
the off chance of upsetting someone who's just sitting by their
computer, looking for something to be offended about.
I really don't care if you are a thin skinned, black, homosexual Jew.
Those words are just descriptive labels, not insults.
Radbert Grimmig
>autocomm) I was able to understand a lot of German after just 10 days
>there. Immersion is the schnitzle. <grin>
Soy en bolivia ahora <g>
>+1 on the Satnav/GPS
>The roads south of Baden-Baden, and the baths themselves, were also
>extraordinary!
It's called the Schwarzwald (Black Forrest, the one with the highly
fattening cake) and it's one of the definitive top 3 motorcycling
areas of Germany.
Then there is the Eifel, the area around the Nürburgring, although
many backroads are by far not as well maintained there, because in
contrast to Baden-Württemberg, it is in one of the poorest regions of
Germany.
--
Gruß
Radbert