Category: Commentary

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So when is leather not leather?

When it’s plastic that’s when.

OK so it starts like this:

I buy and sell things on ebay from time to time. Yes, it’s true, you can get decent deals on some things on ebay. But you have to know what you’re looking for and be patient. There is a lot of ‘crap’ on ebay.

I do some pretty routine searches for things like, FJR1300 for things for my motorcycle. Occasionally I’ll look for other motorcycle gear too. I ended up getting a great deal on a used Joe Rocket Jacket. A $250 jacket for $65 bucks plus shipping was $80 and it was like new.

So once in a while I’ll search for something like “Yamaha Leather” or “Yamaha Leathers” or what not.

Well, one day this turned up:

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Now, I need another jacket like I need a hole in the head. But this is a Valentino Rossi replica GO!!!!!!!!!! ‘Leather’ jacket with CE armor (good stuff) and I could use it on a track day with appropriate pants. Two piece zip-together.

It was advertised as:
Go ! Team Yamaha Moto GP leather Jacket in Size L & XL
and it was cheap, $115.00 US buy it now.

What in the world? So now if something is too good to be true it usually is. I have bought a couple XL things from over seas and their XL people are not the same size as our XL people. So I was a little concerned about that. But no, the fine print says an XL should fit me.

Hrm…

I kept looking. Now if this was a single item from an individual I wouldn’t be so skeptical but it isn’t, there are a few of these things.

Then I find it. In the fine print:

Features: AAA synthetic leather.

Just what is Triple-A synthetic leather anyway? Sounds like plastic to me.

So I asked the seller: Hum, You say leather in the title, but synthetic in the fine print, that’s a little miss leading don’t you think?

The response? “There are lots of different type of leathers. The one we are selling is synthetic PU leather which provides better breatheability and advantages over other leathers such as : Easy to clean with a sponge and water. Impervious to absorption (sweat won’t cause rotting). Highly flexible in cold weather.”

Yeah, that’s plastic. While that’s fine, it’s not good to crash in, which is what this jacket is supposed to be for, to keep you from getting road rash. It’s made from PVC and is very dangerous stuff for motorcycling. This stuff will more than likely melt to your skin in the event of a crash. No good.

Leather is animal hide, like from a cow or better yet a kangaroo if you’re going to drag across the asphalt.

Thanks but no thanks.

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Taladega Nights : The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

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I took Michael to see this movie today and it was a riot. Two thumbs up. Definitely one of Will Farrels better movies!

Not only poking a little fun at NASCAR, though not quite as much as I had imagined.

You don’t go and see these types of movies for the story line. You just go and laugh, and laugh we did. As compared to say, Larry the Cable Guy Health Inspector, this was better.

The jokes were better, the writing was better, it was just flat funny.

Well worth matinee prices.

Go see it.

Ricky Bobby Website

Movie Website

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Supplemental Insurance, Aflac, The Duck, what ever.

OK, so when you have a family of 4+ kids, someone is always getting hurt right?

They are involved in sports, gymnastics, soccer, and what not. They ride bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, dirt bikes, horses, play paint ball, you name it.

Well that used to be the case with us. Seemed like we couldn’t turn around and we were putting a band aid, or a brace or a cast on someone (usually Michael). That boy has broken more bones than the rest of us put together.

Fortunately we have very good heath insurance. A couple years ago however I signed us up for the supplemental insurance at work. That ‘pays you cash’ when something bad happens insurance. I figured they way our kids are, it would fund our vacation.

You get $150 for a hospital visit, $100 for each broken bone. Some broken bones actually pay better than others. A concussion pays another bonus $100. If you arrive via helicopter, that too pays another $250. If they give you crutches they get paid for plus some spending cash. This was a no brainer for us based on past experience.

The cost was minimal, $25 a month or something like that for the whole family.

I had it all figured out too, if one of the kids went down, we’d just consult the chart and maximize the opportunity. I mean if they are laying there riving in pain from a broken bone, a concussion isn’t going to bother them is it? (Cha-Ching)

But wouldn’t you know it? Since we got that dang insurance, nobody got hurt. That’s just the way it works out.

But finally, Claudine went and twisted up her foot or ankle or something and went to the hospital. They couldn’t figure out what it was but they sent her home on crutches. We recouped some of our investment. She ended up getting it all worked out through massage therapy.

It’s all good. The insurance is well worth it. It think it’s kind of like paying the mafia for protection. If you have it your chances of getting hurt go way, way down. At least that’s been our experience.

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AK Steel Workers, Someone please explain this to me.

Now I realize you guys are contractually obligated to protest, or picket or hang out at the entrance of AK Steel and show your dissatisfaction with the whole contract thing since you are in the union and are locked out.

But if you want people to take you seriously you could show a little professionalism.

I mean, it’s not supposed to be a big party on the corner there. I realize you need some comforts. A barrel or two to build a fire for the chilly nights, an awning to keep the sun off you, after all it has been hotter than hell and there have been some heat warnings.

Yesterday I rode by and saw guys playing corn hole, and one guy standing out there in shorty shorts. Nothing but shorty shorts. Tan as tan can be, like he just returned from a Caribbean vacation. He looked like he was having a pretty good time too.

This thing is dragging on and nobody likes it. Your corner hang outs are starting to look like homeless shanties, but the folks hanging out there look like they are ready for a NASCAR race. You don’t look all that dissatisfied to be there. I haven’t seen anyone carrying a sign, or banner in months.

I’m not going to get into who’s right or who’s wrong or whose taking advantage of whom in this whole mess. But the least you folks could do is look and act respectable while you’re protesting the lock out. I would be more inclined to have sympathy for your cause if you did.

If you have absolutely nothing better to do but hang out and catch a tan at the picket line, then there is something seriously wrong with your outlook. You will look good with that tan though, when you’re interviewing for your next job if and when AK breaks the union because it doesn’t appear that they take you guys seriously either.

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