SoCal Biker Gang Kicks Ass For Christ

According to the mission statement at SetFreeSoldiers.com:

“We are a group of men who Love Jesus and Love to RIde Hard. We are not your normal motorcycle club. Some say we are too Good for the Bad guys, and too Bad for the Good guys. We don’t argue that. All we Soldiers know is that we take care of our own and help plenty of others along the way. We try to live Right in this Wrong world and let our light shine wherever we may go. SFFS”

Unfortunately, the Wrong world might be catching up. Last Thursday, Set Free Soldiers founder Phillip Aguilar and four other members of his outreach program, Set Free Soldiers, appeared in court to plead not guilty to a series of weapons and gang related charges. The charges stem from an incident that occurred at a bar between the Set Free Soldiers and a group of Hells Angels, which essentially boiled down to a turf war. According to the report, the Set Free Soldiers were lunching in the bar after watching a member’s son participate in a surfing contest when a Hells Angels leader approached Aguilar and notified him that he was not authorized to be “taking Hell’s Angels business.” The exchange quickly escalated, and now Set Free Soldiers minister Glenn Shoemann is facing an attempted murder rap after police found a bloody knife in his car. In addition, search warrants authorizing the raid of homes located on the Set Free compound reportedly uncovered “gang paraphernalia”, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and countless weapons, leading to the arrest of Aguilar and three other Set Free Soldiers.

Attorney’s for the Set Free Soldiers are incredulous of the charges, saying the Set Free Soldiers were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Augilar, who has been faithfully ministering to both Hells Angels and Mongols alike through Set Free Soldiers for 25 years, and runs several rehab facilities in the Southern California area. Through the course of counseling countless strung-out bikers and gang members, Phillip Aguiler has been largely credited with dampening the escalating gang violence while still earning widespread respect within the biker community. The charges that have been levied against him and his members threaten to unravel the reputation and respect he has worked tirelessly to earn, and Shoemann admits that he is terrified of how the Hells Angels will react now that blood has been drawn.

According to the AP reports, Augilera has been released on bail, and he, Shoemann, and the three other Set Free Soldiers are scheduled to appear before the court again on December 4.

I say: You don’t bring communion wafers to a biker gang fight. While your average Southern Baptist might not need to keep a Ruger KP94 next to his tri-color Bible highlighter, I can see justification for the Set Free Soldiers being heavily armed. To summarize, Matthew 10:34: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”

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Mechatronics: BMW Has Amazing Balls

Check out this mechatronic installation set up in BMW’s museum in Munich, Germany. It’s made up of 714 metal balls suspended on wire and hooked up to servos and rotors at the top so they appear to float around and undulate magically. The little orbs cycle through a whole series of abstractions and various BMW vehicle forms. Kinetic sculptures are awesome. It looks like I’m going to have to take a trip to Munich.

It’s definitely better to see it in action, so check out the video:

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Motorcycle Buying Guide: The Five Types of Bike

So you’ve wanted a motorcycle for years, and you’ve finally decided to get one. First you need to go to riding school, learn how to do it to it, then you can get your license. You’ll need that. They won’t let you off the lot without it.

Once you’re all set with your license, it’s time to figure out what kind of bike you want.

What Type of Bike?

First things first, you have to figure out what you’ll be doing with the bike and what you really want it for. Is it just for commuting? Do you want to go on long cross country rides? Do you want freaky high speed or an easy cruiser? And most importantly, which bike do you think looks the best. There are five main types of two-wheeled jauns to choose from.
Which one is you?

A typical ’standard’ motorcycle - The Honda CB500 4 Cylinder

Standard/Traditional/Naked
This is essentially the archetype for all bikes, it’s what all motorcycles used to look like. The engine is exposed and there are no fairings covering up parts of the bike. Your feet rest in a natural position right below your waist, and the handlebars are designed to allow a nice upright seating position. They’re comfortable, they’re inexpensive, and they cover a wide range of riding situations.
You can get an engine in a standard bike anywhere from 50 to 1300+ cc’s. You can get a commuter style standard bike, which is really just a step up from a scooter, or a high end, high speed road demon. These are my favorite.

A typical ‘cruiser’ motorcycle - Harley Davidson V-Rod

Cruiser/Chopper
Cruisers are heavier, so they’re more solid and stable on the road, especially at low speeds. Your feet sit on pegs that are set further forward, so you’re legs are extended, which can be comfortable, or worse than uncomfortable if the bike is too long and you’re sitting on your tailbone. Mostly the design is for looks, with tons of chrome and custom bits. The handlebars are set high and wide so your arms are stretched out in front of you. These bikes are harder to learn on, especially the more extreme ones, since your arms and legs are in an awkward position. You can get some of the largest motorcycle engines in a cruiser, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the fastest, since cruisers can weigh more than twice as much as some sport bikes.

A typical ’sport’ motorcycle - The Suzuki Hayabusa

Sport Bike
aka crotch rockets. These bikes are designed to be fast and agile. All of the plastic fairings and the position of the driver are all part of the aerodynamics of these bikes. These bikes are tough to get used to when you first get on them. Your feet are set way back so your legs are bent in a really aggressive posture, and there’s a lot of pressure on your wrists from the handlebars. Sport bikes aren’t really great for cruising long trips or for commuting back and forth. But if you want speed, they’re it. Sport bikes are usually the lightest type of motorcycle and you can get engine sizes ranging from 50cc starter bikes all the way up to 1300+cc.

A typical ‘touring’ motorcycle - Harley Davidson FLHTC

Touring
Touring bikes are comfort bikes, they’re like the recreational vehicles of motorcycles. If you’re into distance riding and comfort, this is it. These bikes have the same upright seating position as the standard bikes, in fact, they’re basically standard bikes with a bunch of extras. Saddlebags, a larger gas tank, windscreens, sometimes they even have GPS, cruise control, cup holders, etc. They do it up with these touring bikes. This is hardly ever a first bike, but if you want to get on a bike and take it cross country, this is the type to do it with.

A typical scooter - The Suzuki Burgman 400

Scooter
If you’re just looking for something low of gas consumption to zip you around the city, you’re probably looking for a scooter. Don’t feel tempted to get a bigger motorcycle if all you need is a scooter, because although they have tiny little wheels and no clutch, they’re super low on fuel, ultra-practical, and cheap.

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2010 Lotus Evora

2010 Lotus Evora

Details are in on the new offering by Lotus called the Evora.  In an effort to attract a wider pool of potential consumers, the Evora will have a level of luxury not available in the Elise or Exige; mainly more room and more weight.  The result is a car that is, according to Lotus, suitable as an everyday toy and not just a weekend racer.

The basic layout, however, is the same.  A mid-engine and relatively lightweight car (only 2976 pounds).  The Evora will be offered either as a true two-seater or with a 2+2 seating arrangement, though very few 2+2 cars actually can carry anyone over 2.  Hey maybe that’s what the disignation means!  Like the Elise and Exige, the engine is from Toyota.  In this case, a3.5-liter V-6 with variable valve timing, tuned to produce 276 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque.  Estimates are for the car reach 60 mph in less than five seconds and a top speed around 160 mph.

Lotus Evora

According to Lotus engineers, the Evora should have handling that is comparable to the Elise, though perhaps with all of the extra comforts a little more subdued.  That said, the Evora rides on Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs, so performance should still be superb.  Lotus rounds out the features list with anti-lock brakes and traction and stability control.

Some of the interior luxuries include air conditioning, leather seating, a tire-pressure monitoring system, a backup camera, LED lighting, remote garage door opener and a navigation system.

Lotus Evora Interior

As a further concession to practicality (gasp), the Evora even has a rear-mounted trunk that’s supposed to fit a set of golf clubs.  Because it’s mounted behind the engine, the trunk is cooled to stop engine heat from melting cargo.

Lotus says it will be another six months before the Evora is available for test drives. The Evora will go on sale in spring 2009, starting in Europe, with only 2000 to be built per year unless demand warrants adding a second shift at the Hethel, England, plant. The expectation is that the U.S. will receive the Evoralater next year as a 2010 models.

The car is the first of three new models Lotus promises as part of a five-model business plan to expand sales. It is the first all-new addition to the lineup since 1995.

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1970 Dodge Challenger R/T for sale on eBay: Kowalski’s Car

There’s a fantastic 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T on eBay just begging to be painted alpine white and driven from Denver to San Francisco at an insane rate of speed while evading police and getting into adventures. If you don’t understand what I’m talking about, then you need to get on your Netflix queue and put the 1971 classic Vanishing Point on top.

Vanishing Point is, by far, the greatest road movie of all time. It’s the story of a man named Kowalski driving a brand new alpine white 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T across the western United States, and I’ll just leave it at that. The movie has to been seen to be appreciated. It’s a masterpiece, just like the ‘70 Challenger R/T.

With a 440 cubic inch V8, and the ability to hit the quarter mile in under 14 seconds, it is just a badass machine. Plus it was the Last American Hero’s car. The eBay version is a bit different than the Vanishing Point version though, Kowalski had a 4-speed trans with a 4-barrel carburetor, whereas the eBay version has an automatic trans and the rare Six-Pack engine (three 2-barrel carburetors). Either way, amazing car.

If I may quote from the movie:

“And there goes the Challenger, being chased by the blue blue meanies on wheels. The vicious traffic squad cars are after our lone driver, the last American hero, the electric sitar, the demigod, the super driver of the golden west.

But, it is written, if the evil spirit arms the tiger with claws, Brahman provideth wings for the dove. Thus spake the super guru.”

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The UK’s Public Ban on Smoking May Reach into your Car Next

 

This past Sunday, July 1st, the ban on smoking in all public spaces went into effect in London. The ban not only effects mass transit, hotels and restaurants, but also sidewalks, taxi’s, parks and plaza’s. However it seems a 70% majority of those in London are prepared to take that ban on step forward to include private cars as well.
As a non-smoker there is a certain pleasure I enjoy in smoke-free restaurants and mass transits. As an American non-smoker any smoking bans that take place in other parts of the world do not effect me. Any person who attempts to argue that smoking around children, animals and other non-smokers is not rude and dangerous to anyone’s health will be picking up a debate that might prove difficult to win. But stepping into someone’s home or home away from home (their car) and telling them that smoking while riding alone or with other smokers is now prohibited seems to be an egregious attack on personal freedoms.

What do you think of a potential ban on smoking in private cars?

But while we are on the topic of smoking and transportation there is one other item I would like to touch upon. Like I said above I do not feel it is my right to deny someone else the freedom to smoke alone in their car, or with other smokers. However, there seems to be a common side-effect of smoking in a car and that is the collection of (cigarette) Butts along the intersections of our public roadways.
At one point in the late 1970’s there was a large campaign to have all canned drinks equipped with stay-on tabs to eliminate the litter that resulted from the pull-tab. Where is that same campaign to attack those Butt-heads tossing their used-up fags (British term for cigarette) on our public roads, curbs and sidewalks? Why do we not hold the cigarette manufacturers accountable? Better yet let’s stop being so soft on smokers and outlaw the filtered cigarette.
No Filters - No Litter.

Source[Jalopnik]

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Taiwan Leading the LED Traffic Light Conversion

The Minister of Economic Affairs for the Taiwan Government has announced its commitment to convert all of their traffic lights over to energy efficient LED lights over the next three years. Up to this point they have already converted nearly 350,000 of their 800,000 traffic lights to LED, and now have budgeted what would be $7 million in US Dollars to complete the conversion. Once in place they have estimated that the LED traffic lights will require 85% less energy to power. After replacing all of their traffic lights they plan to schedule the conversion of all street lamps over the LEDs as well.
You have got to credit Taiwan for some forward thinking there.

Source[TaiwanMarket]

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