Even the NFL would restrict FREE SPEECH??? How far back have we gone???

(Singer Joan Baez at the demonstration before the Regent's meeting to consider the Free Speech issues on campus. 1964-65)

It's bad enough that you have to say in this day of invasive government and "Political Correctness". But when the National Football League wants to restrict your speech, well, I guess I am just at a loss. Consider this from Tech Crunch Where you can see the video referenced, 3rd story down) :

"Listen very carefully to the copyright statement in this clip. Thinking about discussing last weekend’s game with family and friends? The NFL clearly states that viewers cannot talk about the game to anyone without permission

Insane statements like this, and others, are the target of a FTC complaint by the Computer & Communications Industry Association, a group backed by Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, Oracle and a range of other leading tech firms (full list here). The complaint argues that statements made by groups such as the NFL are illegal and deceptive, as ultimately viewers have rights under the US Constitution by way of Fair Use.

The CCIA isn’t stopping at a FTC complaint alone: they want your support in backing consumer rights to fair use. A new site, Defend Fair Use, has been launched and comes complete with copyright abuse examples and a petition that can be signed in support on the CCIA’s case before the FTC.

For those not familiar with the term, Fair Use is a doctrine in United States copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders*, or in laymen’s terms it allows anyone to use a clip, extract, or part thereof of copyrighted material in our own works, for example quoting a book in a blog post, displaying a snippet of a presidential debate in a video etc. The concept of Fair Use is based on free speech rights provided by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Commonwealth equivalent of Fair Use is Fair Dealing."

The NFL, NBC/Universe, Major League Baseball and many other are making threats and claims re: copyright infringement that are not true and may not be legal. Legal or not, their threats and false claims as to what the law states leads to confusion as to what YOU can or can not do. Furthermore even if you are in the "right" these "fat cats" got the money to "sue" your rights away.

I say if the big guns (google, microsoft, yahoo, etc.) with the cash want to go after them (even though we know it is probably not apurely idealistic motive), then we need to add our voice. It is you and I that will benefit. Go here and add your voice. RIDE FREE (just be careful how you talk about it).Add to Technorati Favorites

From The AMA

From American Motorcycle Associations news and notes.

FATALITIES:
Traffic deaths in the United States dropped to a record low last year, according to figures released by the Department of Transportation (DOT). In 2006, 42,642 people were killed in traffic accidents, a drop of 868, or roughly 2 percent, from 2005. That amounts to 1.42 people per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, the lowest rate ever recorded, according to the DOT. Those figures include 30,251 fatalities in passenger vehicles - a category that includes cars, trucks, SUVs, vans and pickups - which is the lowest annual total since 1993, according to the DOT. Compared to 2005, injuries in passenger vehicle crashes declined 6.2 percent.
Alcohol-related deaths rose slightly compared to 2005, however, going from 15,102 to 15,121.
Unfortunately, motorcycle fatalities increased by 5.1 percent, marking the ninth consecutive increase for motorcycle deaths which corresponds with an increase in sales every year for the last decade.

CHP SEIZING MOTORCYCLES:
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) continued its crackdown on riders attending local motorcycle gatherings this summer, seizing a dozen bikes and issuing 40 citations. Most of the motorcycles were impounded because the riders did not have a motorcycle license.
CHP officers targeted participants at bike nights at Zorba's Restaurant in Highgrove, an unincorporated Riverside County community north of Riverside, and Backwoods BBQ in Corona. The crackdown started after sport-bike riders jammed Inland freeways while performing stunts in traffic on July 16. Those incidents remain under investigation, the CHP said. The CHP has also received numerous complaints from the public about the weekly bike nights.

Links to other notes they felt newsworthy:
www.azstateparks.com.
BikeSafeNC@ncshp.org.
www.AMADirectLink.com.
www.AMADirectLink.com.
www.AMADirectLink.com.
www.AMADirectLInk.com.
www.tfhrc.gov/its/traffic analysis.htm.
http://www.publiclandsday.org/
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/motorcycles/2007registration

DISCLOSURE: This writer 's observation has been that as MRO's (Motorcycle Rights Organizations) become increasingly "politicized", and as a result of such appear to operate in a more "politically correct" manner their representation of the "common biker" decreases. As such I have allowed my memberships in these organizations to expire. This is not to say that I do not support the good work they do. I just can not support the work they are not doing.Add to Technorati Favorites

More From NHTSA

Click for statistics in PDF form

From NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration):
(although we have major problems with the way they gather "facts" we do need to know what
they are saying. Sometimes it is half way true)

Year Fatalaties(total) Motorcycle Rider Fatalities as % of total Fatlaties
2002 43,005 3,270 7.6
2003 42,884 3,714 8.7
2004 42,836 4,028 9.4
2005 43,510 4,576 10.5
2006 42,642 4,810 11.3

Florida MC Rider Fatalities change %change % of total fatalities
2005 2006 2005 2006
468 506 +94 20.1 13.3 16.7

Only three states had a percentage increase higher than Florida. Connecticut 17.6%, Hawaii 16.8% increase, Rhode Island 19.8, Note New Hanpshire 16.5%, Florida and Hawaii are extremely close. (I can understand Hawaii and Florida, year round riding, tourists states but we need to ask why the northern mentioned are so close. We also need to ask why these states had significant increases in comparison to the rest of the country)?

Although we know NHTSA is going to jump all over Helmets, increasing visibility and more motorcyclists training as the most expedient way to address the issue. I would like to see a breakdown as to the % of motorcyclist killed high siding into an SUV or the % involvement of SUV's and Trucks in a break down of causes as there use has incresed substantially over the past few years.

Police reporting as to cause of accidents needs to be improved to accurately reflect cause of accident. Note this report gives no data as to “Fault”. Check out Wendy Moons, Moon Riders Motorcycle World for the role of "Vehicle Design in motorcycle deaths.Add to Technorati Favorites

More NOISE about NOISE

More Noise About Noise: On Aug. 1, Bismarck, N.D., patrol officers were instructed to put special emphasis on enforcing ordinances and laws dealing with loud muffler and exhaust noises. (full Article here)

By city ordinance, vehicles weighing less than 10,000 pounds must have a noise level while moving of 80 decibels or less when measured at 25 feet away, and vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds must be 88 decibels or less

As of July 1, riders in New York City are subject to a minimum $440 fine for having a muffler or exhaust system that can be heard within 200 feet.

In Lancaster, Pa., starting this month riders - and all motor vehicle drivers - could be ticketed for drawing attention to themselves, whether by creating too much noise by revving their engines or doing hard accelerations. Tickets start at $150.

As of July 1, motorcyclists in Denver could be ticketed $500 for putting mufflers on their bikes made by someone other than the original manufacturer, if the bike is 25 years old or less. These so-called after-market products can be louder than their manufacturer-made.

Now call me crazy but aren't these fines higher than most cage drivers get for "killing" a "biker"??? Where is the Justice??? I repeat, where is the justice??? HOw can they get away with??? BECAUSE WE LET THEM!!!!!Add to Technorati Favorites

Armadillo's

Or as my ol Lady refers to them “Armadildo's” (yeah I know, but ya got to meet my ol lady). Anyway, it's seems that word has gotten out in the Armadillo population that apparently we are providing free rent to Armadillos. Ya see, we got a herd of them living under the house. Armadillo's don't see so good so every once in awhile while laying in bed we will hear a “thump” to which my ol lady will ask fearfully, “what was that”? My response “a clumsy armadillo”.

Now the situation is getting a bit out of hand. To the extent that we have considered having an “Armadillo” Rodeo. Charge an entrance fee and see if we can get them babies rounded up. Except it's extremely difficult to catch them suckers (or trap em). Never mind trying to put a saddle on em (and though I've never tried, I suspect branding those hard shells wouldn't be a piece of cake. They got some heavy duty claws.)

But something obviously has to be done because the house is starting to lean in various and sundry directions. I called “varmint” control folk (at my lady's insistence despite my telling her, “good luck”) whose typical response was, you got it, “good luck.” Now one did offer (for a fee) to come over at night and shoot em. Well hell, I live in St. Marks. If I want anything shot all I got to do is throw a sign out by the road saying, “we will give you a dead turkey if you will shoot our armadillo's”, charge $5.00 a pop and I can afford to wall off the underneath of the house (except I'd be afraid of what might get trapped under there and dying stuff stinks. It's happened, o.k.).

Besides, despite the fact that I have yet to meet anybody that can tell me what an Armadillo is good for (other than that some folk eat em), I have found I'm starting to get attached to the critters. I get a kick out if sitting outside at night and watching a male chase a female (this is assumption on my part because I have no idea how to tell the difference) around a palmetto bush trying to mate. They make almost as much noise as my second ol lady did screaming, “not tonight I got a damn headache.”

Sometimes I will be sitting outside on the porch at night (see that's the only time they generally like to play) and one will come out from underneath the house and kind of look me like saying, “good evening rc and how you this fine night”. O.k. I readily admit to having done to much drugs in the past. However, I find I have come to look forward to their little visits and have no desire to “fire” on them.

My lady on the other hand, well thats a different story. She be jumping up and down hollering, “you got to do something about those Armadillo's before the house falls in.” To which I have to remind her, “Don't jump up and down so hard or you will go through the floor.” To which she's like “go out there and shoot those things or I will.”

Now this brings to mind two thoughts: My lady is the Queen of animal lovers. As long as it's a dog, cat or bird. Anything else is toast. She will financially break us to clear up a dog's “sinus condition.”

So why does she want to “kill” off what I have come to consider “my armadillos” ? The other thought is, Oh my God you do not want to be anywhere around my lady with a gun in her hand. They have a tendency to go off in the wrong direction at inopportune times (I just have to figure out how come that wrong direction is usually in my direction. And you think I'm kidding?). But I do figure, at least the Armadillos will be safe.

Now why did I write this. Well hell I don't know. Ain't doin much good as a Motorcycle Rights Freedom fighter. Maybe I can save the Armadildo's. Scoot FREE little fellers. rcAdd to Technorati Favorites