Archive for March, 2010

• 2010 Kawasaki Concours 14

  Date: 2010.03.28 | Category: Toys, Travel | Response: 1

  I went down to Team Powersports in Smithfield on Saturday morning. Justin let me test ride the 09 demo model they had there. First, everyone in the shop seemed very cool. Second, this bike is big and heavy, but once you get on it that all disappears. It handled like a featherweight at slow city traffic speeds. U turns and figure 8s are no problem. At highway speed it would lay over left and right with just a little flick.

  In 4th gear when pulling out to pass someone at about 60 mph you can do about 100 by the time you’re at the front of the car you’re trying to pass. It doesn’t have a buzzy high revving 600cc sportbike power. It’s a sneaky, large 1.4L displacement power that just rockets you up to speed without much noise.

  The adjustable windshield was pretty awesome. I’m really excited about putting on some serious miles now that I have a machine made for it.

  Knee Slider Review

  Cycle World Review

  After the test ride I wound up buying the 2010 ABS model. They’re putting it together from the warehouse and it should be ready sometime this week.

  The rest of my time and energy will be spent on hooking up my Zumo 550 and maybe even the XM radio feature, and planning routes. Anybody want to ride up to Indianapolis for MotoGP in August with Pete Slow and myself?

• Voracious Reading

  Date: 2010.03.23 | Category: Books | Response: 0

  I’ve been destroying books lately. They are great for plane rides, and great for taking your mind off of things. However, I always find myself more depressed than when I started. Something about holing yourself up for days at a time in a fantasy land that isn’t particularly helpful.

  I need to remember to throw in more non-fiction every now and again.

  I started two new fantasy series at the same time.

  George RR Martin’s – A Game of Thrones (A Song of Fire and Ice)

  and

  Patrick Rothfuss – Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles)

  I like them both. I like almost all books though.

  I also just recently polished off 20,00 Leagues Under the Sea. Jules Verne is a grand chronicler / cataloger. That means there  are whole pages you can just skip. Oh, he’s still listing types of fish in the Indian Ocean three pages later? Next, Next, Next, oh the story starts again. Overall though – great book worth reading.  You can see the influence his work in the late 1800s has on modern science fiction. To me that’s fascinating.

  Read 20,000 leagues under the sea and then pick up a copy of Michael Chrichton’s Sphere. Makes me want to re-read sphere. I’ve been through that book something like 4 times by now. Great read.

• Shooter’s Log – Day 4

  Date: 2010.03.23 | Category: Guns | Response: 0

  A while back Shapess and I trekked down to PDHSC again. I fired 100 rounds of Federal 9MM through the P07. I also fired one magazine of 15 hollow points.

  My accuracy was pretty great the first 50 rounds. The second set definitely suffered. I was stuffing an almost full 15 rounds per magazine when I normally shoot 10. Either I got tired of shooting, or just plain tired. 15 rounds is a bit to fire off.

  My rapid fire accuracy is bullshit. I don’t know if it’s a skill worth improving at $0.20 per round. It’s always fun to go in an empty a full magazine like you mean it. The people next to you just shake their heads in dismay.

• Thomas Paine

  Date: 2010.03.04 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

  I have resolved to take a US History class and become the foremost expert on Thomas Paine.

  I will write many books and essays.

  I will refer to him as T. Paine in all literary works.

  I will laugh hysterically.

  That is all.

• Strange Musical Coincidence

  Date: 2010.03.03 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

  Lately I’ve had a stunning series of strange musical coincidences. I’ll be singing a song in the shower, and then again while I’m making my lunch for the day. Then I’ll walk into the car and fire up the CD player or the satellite radio, and BAM the song bursts into the same verse I’m singing.

  This happened with the Gay Blades CD and I just tossed it up to me turning off the Jeep the night before on the same some “Dog Day Afternoon”

  Then the very next day I’m listening to The Strokes – 12:51 and humming it along while in the shower. We can go and get 40s. Fuck going to that party.

  I hop into the Z, hit start, and lo and behold what do I hear coming from AltNation:

  It’s been ridiculous. What song will tomorrow bring? Will I have a three day streak? We’ll find out.