2012 Harley Davidson Motorcycles

The last one, a XL1200C, looks almost like my 2008. Of course anyone of the above is a great ride. If Road Kings came with a radio/CD player it would be what I buy next, to replace my 2007 FLHR.

Why do we let China dictate so much

WHAT: US decides not to sell Taiwan F16 C/Ds
WHY: China
WHERE: US and Asia
WHEN: Unofficially Sunday, Officially Wednesday 9/21/2011
A signal of mixed results when the Obama administration decides not to sell the newer jets, built in Texas, to the Taiwan government. Instead of the F16 C/D model, the US offers to upgrade the F16 A/Bs that Taiwan has now. This action does not appeal to the government that has been described as "a democratic bastion and long-standing security partner" in Asia. At the same time the selling of the D/Cs would evoke the ire of the Chinese government. Since China has a substantial amount of US debt, what else could the US government do?
Taiwan is in the worlds view not a separate country from China, which split during the civil war that brought communism to the worlds most populated country. The 23 million citizens of Taiwan live in a democracy supported by the US for nearly 6 decades. The US military holds joint exercises almost annually sometimes in conjunction with Japan. So why do we let China dictate our foreign policy in Asia? The answer is as complex as any foreign relations question but as simple as economics. We being China's largest trading partner is the simple answer. Since the trade balance always favors China, with the Chinese holding so much of our debt, could a turn of the spigot to slow trade cause tensions to increase? Putting tariffs on Chinese goods so they are not so cheap signal that we will not let China dictate what we do and when we do it? Would tariffs do anyone any good? Wal Mart would certainly object to tariffs.
As a citizen that feels the United States and its citizens should always be our number one consideration. Walk softly and carry a big stick will not work but insuring that Americans have jobs and a good standard of living should always be priority #1.

Hispanic Heritage Month & others

Wow, has a year gone by already! Just kidding! I don't follow what goes on when it comes to celebrating this type of event. There is African American Month in February each year. There is GLBT,doesn't look right, but it is the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender, Pride day in July or August, National Women's History Month in March . Then there are the political organizations like the caucuses in congress. The Veterans Administration has "Minority Veterans Programs" that recognize the following: Pacific Islander, Asian American, African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American - to include American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian. The VA minority programs are based on public law, Title 38 Public Law 103-446
In conclusion how many of these are there? It is amazing that as the Anglo-Euro population and heritage diminishes in the US and minority populations increase what will the future look like? Will there be a White American Male Heritage month or something similar in 2050? Or will history relegate the Anglo-Euro population to asterisks in history books. Something to ponder in this (stupid, literally stupid) PC de-nationalization of America.

Sturgis

WHAT: Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
WHY: because it is somewhere to go
WHERE: Sturgis, South Dakota, USA
WHEN: Aug 6 to Aug 12, 2012
Yes 459,568 is a lot of people. That number is based on 2010 atendance. 2011 figures are not available. If you look at the past few years, attendance is dropping from a high in 2003 of 605,140 people (Harley Davidson"s 100th anniversary) and the second biggest year of  604,441 in 2000. Is this because of the aging "baby boomers" not wanting to travel to hot Sturgis in August? Or perhaps it is the rally itself has peaked and the style of the rally and sponsors have changed? I really don't have an answer, though the image of an unshaven long haired biker and an MC going together may have changed the once largest rally in the US if not the world.
I must say it would be nice to attend once in a lifetime, sort of a bucket list event. There are other rallies around the US. Bike Week in Daytona Florida, there is Laconia, Los Angeles (or California), Laughlin, NV & numerous state rally's sponsored by HDs H.O.G. and others. Anyway it is a great place to get out on the road and see some of this country's most beautiful scenery. Stay off of I-90 unless it is the only option, if you don't you will miss a lot of what Sturgis and the surrounding area have to offer.

MLK & Angelou

Society has placed Martin Luther King at the same level as Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam war veterans by having a statue of the civil rights leader on the Mall of the US Capitol. So with so many accolades said about Mr. King why would someone say a condensed quote of a part of a speech engraved on the statue makes him look like a "twit"? Nothing could make Mr. King look like a twit. Maybe her statement . "The quote makes Dr. Martin Luther King look like an arrogant twit," Maya Angelou said. I think her statement makes her look like a twit. Mr. Kings quote is "I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness," is the inscription on the 30-foot-tall statue of Mr. King.
The part of the speech this refers to is "If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice," King said. "Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter."
Mr. King, if there were shallow things in your life maybe the media will start to bring them up, but in the PC world of journalism I doubt it.