BlahBlahBlog
My personal soapbox, bully pulpit, and journal
Another batch of home made sauce is on its way
Picked the roma tomato plants clean of there ripe fruit yesterday and started processing them this afternoon.
Washing the Roma Tomatoes from the Garden
Whole tomatoes in the top of the mill, juice out the front, skin, seeds, and cores out the side.
Raw roma tomato juice ready to cook down to start the next batch of home made sauce
Hot Bikes & Cool Winter Nights Bike Show
Mark your calendars now for November 13th, 2010
for the
Hot Bikes & Cool Winter Nights Bike Show
WTF Holiday Inn?
Okay, explain this to me: I’m in a Holiday Inn in Tulsa Oklahoma and there is not a single freakin’ bar of soap to be found.
The front desk offered to go to each vacant room to see if they could find any. Really?
How the hell does this happen? Shampoo is not designed to be a whole body wash….
Untitled
If any of you grew up in SoCal before 1969 you probably remember these trucks cruising through the neighborhood selling fresh baked goods. Seeing this yesterday brought back fond memories of my youth in the San Gabriel Valley.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helms_Bakery
Fallen Heroes by OCC
Yesterday we went out to the Red, White, and Cruise event at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. On public display for the first time was a new bike by Orange County Choppers that was donated by Stater Brothers Charities to honor our fallen heroes. The bike will be raffled off at next years Red, White, and Cruise event (2011).
Here are some shots of it.
AgentZ
On Display
This morning I received conformation that four of my images were selected for display in the corporate gallery at L.Kellenberger Co, AG in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
The images chosen were:
Pomona Towing Co.-Abandonded Flatbed found in Claremont, Ca.
Downtown Los Angeles Sunset – Taken from Griffith Park Observatory
Moonrise over the Wasatch Mountains – shot through the window of a Brew Pub at Salt Lake City Airport
Old Barn & Horse – Shot along the Sauk River in Washington I am pleased and honored that my images were selected for display. More shots from my collection:
Oppose SB 435- Stop Smog Checks for California Motorcycles
This is a bad idea on many levels. The way this is currently written any bike built since 2000 could potentially have to be returned to “stock” condition to pass smog tests. If you can’t pass, you can’t re-register. The state will offer up to $500 to scrap a bike that cannot pass. This applies to all bikes 280cc and larger. If my 2006 Heritage Softail with Vance Hines pipes and modified intake does not pass where do I go for the “stock” parts the dealer took off to modify it.Older bikes will have an even more difficult time.
Only two other counties to ever smog test motorcycle are Pima and Maricopa in Arizona. They have already shown that testing leads to no significant reduction in measured emission levels. Pima has already dropped their testing program and Maricopa is awaiting the EPA’s approval to do the same.
Other important points to consider include:
Motorcycles, because of their relatively low yearly mileage totals when compared to other classes of vehicles, already have the lowest emissions of any motor vehicle category in California.
This bill has no specific information regarding the test method to be used, emissions levels to be enforced or the test’s potential costs to either the state or the individual owners.
The deadline proposed for creating a testing procedure is slated for July 1, 2011 in the bill, and this is simply too close to the proposed test implementation date of January 1, 2012.
California’s motorcycle engine emission standards are already the strictest in the nation, and were just reduced again for model year 2008 and newer motorcycles.
If a smog check program is implemented, motorcycles constructed prior to the implementation date should be exempted from the testing.
This is not a done deal! On April 14 2010 the bill passed the Senate Transportation and Housing committee 7-3. It is now awaiting a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On February 26, 2009, state Senator Fran Pavley (D?Santa Monica) introduced SB 435 that authorizes the inclusion of model year 2000 and newer motorcycles in California’s smog check program starting in 2012. This is the most infamous and wide-reaching assault on California motorcyclists since the Helmet Law in 1992. No other state, or municipality in the country, save one county in Arizona has such a draconian requirement for checking the engine emissions from motorcycles. This bill, as introduced, contains
NO details about the program, only the authorization for it to begin in 2012. Those details will be left to the regulators at the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Bureau of Auto Repair (BAR).
Motorcycle owners will undoubtedly have to replace any non-stock emissions parts that were installed to improve performance and fuel economy, such as carburetors, fuel injection, charcoal canisters, air cleaners, and non-catalytic converters or converter exhaust systems if catalysts came as original equipment when purchased new.
This program will probably work just as the Smog Check Program works for all other motor vehicles. To re – register your motorcycle after 2011, you will need to provide proof of passing a smog check, or you won’t be able to re – register it.
What Can Be Done to Stop SB 435?
Write, Fax, Call & E-mail the Chairman and Members of the
Senate Transportation Committee,
T o d a y , Telling Them to
Vote NO on SB 435
Using the Contact Numbers and
Talking Points Below!
Calling and Faxing remain the most effective way of telling legislators what you want.
Motorcycles do not contribute enough pollution
to warrant being included in a smog check
program.
? Motorcycles constitute less than 3% of the total
number of motor vehicles in California and travel
less than 25%, on average, compared to cars and
trucks.
? Motorcycles, because of their low mileage usage
and much higher gas mileage than cars and trucks,
represent only 1.5% of the total for all mobile
source emissions.
? Motorcycle smog checks are an unnecessary
intrusion into motorcycle riders’ lives.
? California motorcycle engine emission standards
were lowered drastically in 2008 making California
motorcycles already the cleanest in the nation.
? There is no evidence that motorcycles that have
been modified for performance or gas economy
reasons emit any more emissions than stock ones.
? The cost to implement and conduct a motorcycle
smog check program will cost California more than
the value of the emissions it’s estimated to save.
? A smog check program for motorcycles will
discourage new motorcycle purchases and
encourage owners, who use their motorcycles
infrequently, to stop using them.
? Motorcycle smog checks were eliminated in
one Arizona county after it was proven that the
program did not reduce emissions enough to
continue the program.
? If motorcycles have to be returned to stock
condition, finding original parts for older bikes
will be impossible because historically, not enough
spare parts were made when they were built.
The simplest way to Address your letters to the Committee Members is like this:
Honorable ____________________,
State Senate, State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Call & Fax Your Letter to Each of the Other Senate Transportation & Housing
Committee Members & Tell Them To
Vote NO on SB 435:
Committee Member Fax Number Capitol Phone E-mail
Senator Robert Huff (R?Glendora)
(Vice Chair) (916) 324-0922 (916) 651-4029 senator.huff@sen.ca.gov
Senator Roy Ashburn (R?Bakersfield) (916) 322-3304 (916) 651-4018
Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D?Walnut Creek) (916) 445-2527 (916) 651-4007
Senator Tom Harman (R?Costa Mesa) (916) 445-9263 (916) 651-4035
Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Temecula) (916) 447-9008 (916) 651-4036
senator.hollingsworth@sen.ca.gov
Senator Christine Kehoe (D?San Diego) (916) 327-2188 (916) 651-4039
Senator Jenny Oropeza (D?Redondo Beach) (916) 323-6056 (916) 651-4028
S e n a t o r Fran Pavley (D?S. Monica)
(Author SB 435) (916) 324-4823 (916) 651-4023 senator.pavley@sen.ca.gov
Senator Joe Simitian (D?Palo Alto) (916) 323-4529 (916) 651-4011
Senator Lois Wolk (D?Vacaville) (916) 323-2304 (916) 651-4005
Reach the Transportation Committee Chairman at:
Senate Transportation & Housing Committee
Chairman Alan Lowenthal
2032 Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 445-2209
Chair’s Office Telephone: (916) 651-4027 Chair’s e-mail:
ABATEPAC, the Political Action Arm of ABATE of California, 10240 7th Ave., Hesperia, CA 92345 (760) 956-1669
Facebook | Your Photos – 2006 Heritage Softail
Check out this website I found at facebook.com
Pics of my new 2006 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail
California Motorcyclist Safety Program
via facebook.com
A couple of weeks back I took delivery on what had been a lifelong dream; a 2006 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail. It is a beautiful machine, a real head turner, literally. Lots of chrome, ape hanger bars, Vance Hines pipes, back leather saddle bags and a Harley Air Ride seat for the little lady.
The problem is I haven’t ridden since I got married. It was an agreement we reached that I had other priorities and the bike (used to commute) was an unnecessary risk. Well, the priorities are grown up and on their own for the most part. Hence, a new bike in my life.
28 years is a long time to go between rides. The first time I mounted her and went for a ride I thought, “Oh yeah, this is what its all about!”. I felt all the time between rides slipping away, it was all coming back. Unfortunately, it was all coming back, bad habits and all.
My nephew had told me about the CMSP. He had gone through it. And, as a bonus, the DMV waives the skills test for your license. I thought it was a real deal.
Well it turns out, while that is a plus, its secondary to what else I took away from the class.
The company whose program I went with is a local organization called Ride Rite.
We met at a cafe in Norco for the classroom portion of the class. There were videos, classroom discussion and a written test. Don’t pass the test, don’t move onto the riding portion of the class. I passed.
The second half of the day and the next day were hands on bikes at a local church parking lot in Corona.
It worked like this:
Explain what the exercise was.
Explain the exercise objective
Shown us a diagram of the exercise
An instructor executes the exercise as an example
Questions
Mount up – Practice, Practice, Practice
Theory put into action. Things I thought I knew, I didn’t. Stuff I took for granted, put into a new light. Learned things I never knew.
Now I’m an expert! Hah! I do realize how little I did know and I definitely know which skills (all of them except starting the bike) I need to practice.
I ride (and drive) now with a new awareness. I can see retaking this class (or the next level) down the road.
The instructors for this class, Vaughn and Kristy, were simply outstanding with the patience of saints.
Anybody that decides to ride should seriously consider taking one of these classes.
Until next time,
AgentZ out…
Latest excursions…
The last three weeks have been pretty busy.
I had an opportunity to travel to San Antonio, Texas. Had never been there and it gave me a chance to check out the San Antonio Riverwalk.
The Famous Mission Trail
And The Alamo
More pics from the trip can be seen in my San Antonio Collection
Over the weekend we went out to Malibu Creek State park and trekked around for the better part of the day. The old MASH site is located there
as is lovely Century Lake. 
More images from that trip can be seen in Malibu Creek set on Flickr.
After a quick trip to Phoenix Thanksgiving week I was off the following week to Salt Lake City, Seattle and Portland. While in Salt lake City I had a chance to head out to Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. Got some lovely shots there plus this magnificent moonrise over the Wasatch mountains while at the airport waiting on my flight to Seattle.
In Seattle I got an fantastic tour of the Boeing assembly facility in Everett (no pics allowed) and then had a great meal with my buddy Max from Switzerland at the McMennamin’s in Troutdale where we both enjoyed their excellent beers (the Kris Kringle Ale is delightful).
Until next time,
AgentZ
Thanksgiving Dinner
Shared Thanksgiving dinner with my Mother, Sally’s brother, his wife and daughter, and a friend of mine, Max, all the way from Teufen, Switzerland. Dinner was topped off by a both a Banana Cream and Pumpkin pie Josh made from scratch. Unfortunately the pies did not survive long enough to have their pictures taken… Washed it down with a nice Cardinal Zin by Bonney Doon.
Organic Brined Turkey from Trader Joes
Green Bean Casserole, Spiral Cut ham with brown sugar and pineapple glaze
My fave, the green bean casserole
Malibu Creek State Park
Had a blast yesterday trekking around MCSP yesterday with my son Josh and my friend Max from Switzerland. We spend about 6 hours exploring as much as we could.
If you go definitely chck out Century Lake and if you’re a fan of M.A.S.H. to old set but steer clear of the Mott adobes, not worth the time hiking to them.
Its going to be a busy couple of weeks traveling for work so it may take some time until I can post my shots. But, hopefully, I may have more when I return from my travels…
AgentZ
Pray for Obama
Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8
Salton Sea – Revisited
Josh and I had the opportunity to revisit the Salton Sea area this past Saturday.
My Shotz
Josh Shotz
Huntington Libraries Chinese Gardens
Had the opportunity to scope out the “new” Chinese Gardens at the HUntington yesterday afternoon. Here’s some shots from that excursion.
AgentZ
An Anecdotal Story About Why our “Hope” for Change is Crushed
Laws of Physics
From a senior level Chrysler person: Monday morning Iattended a breakfast meeting where the speaker/guest was
David E. Cole, Chairman of the Center for Automotive
Research (CAR), an Engineer with 40+ years automotive
experience, full Professor at the Univ. of Michigan. You have all likely heard CAR quoted, or referred to in
the auto industry news lately. Mr. Cole told many stories of
the difficulty of working with the folks that the Obama
administration has sent to save the auto industry. There have been many meetings where this very experienced
automotive expert has had to listen to a newcomer to the
industry; someone with zero manufacturing experience, zero
auto industry experience, zero business experience, zero
finance experience, zero engineering experience, and
apparently zero brains tell them how to run their business. Mr. Cole’s favorite story is as follows: There was a team
of Obama people speaking to Mr. Cole. They were explaining
to Mr. Cole that the auto companies needed to make a car
that was electric and liquid natural gas (LNG) with enough
combined fuel to go 500 miles, so we wouldn’t “need” so many
gas stations (A whole other topic). They were quoting BTU’s
of LNG and battery life they had looked up on some web site. Mr. Cole explained that to do this you would need a trunk
FULL of batteries, and a LNG tank as big as a car to make
that happen. And that there were problems related to the
laws of physics that prevented them from… The Obama person interrupted and said (and I am quoting
here), “These laws of physics? Whose rules are those? We need to
change that (while others wrote down the name of the law so
they could look it up). We have the Congress, and the
administration. We can repeal that law, amend it, or use an
executive order to get rid of that problem. That’s why we
are here, to fix these sort of issues.” My friends … we are screwed.
Is Arnold really growing ‘nads?
So, is Arnold really growing ‘nads? Here is his rejection letter for bill AB1176. He has become increasingly frustrated by the legislatures failing to take on the serious issues confronting the state. Note the first letter in each line of the two paragraphs that constitute the body of the letter. Coincidence? I think not. I left the URL to the Cal Gov site where this release appeared.
You decide!
Facebook | My Photos – MISCELLANEOUS
via facebook.com
Added this to my online Photo Gallery in Gallery #4 @ Digital Images by JPL
http://www.agentz.com/digitalimagesbyjpl/Gallery1.shtml
Prints now available as well as Standoffs and Gallery Wraps
Facebook | My Photos – MISCELLANEOUS
via facebook.com
Added this to my online Photo Gallery in Gallery #4 @ Digital Images by JPL
http://www.agentz.com/digitalimagesbyjpl/Gallery1.shtml
Prints now available as well as Standoffs and Gallery Wraps
Great Article on “10 Way to Improve your Photogrphy without Buying New Gear”!
An article by Scott Bourne that’s well worth the 5 minute read.
Facebook | My Photos – Where theres smoke…
via facebook.com
Did something I’ve been wanted to try for a while today. Set up a black background, lit a stick of incense (patchouli I think although it has no bearing on the images) and set up an old Vivitar 283 off to the side triggered by my on camera 580EXII. Only processing was done with NIK Define 2.0 (noise reduction) and several were processed with Nik Silvver Effects Pro. Color in #6 is from a gel filter on the flash.
New Print Arrived
I ordered a 16×24 standoff print over the weekend of dusk at the Salton Sea. The standoff print is mounted on 1.5″ gatorboard and the edge is wrapped in black. I was torn between this and a gallery wrap. Maybe the next one will be the gallery wrap. Here it is on the wall in the living room.
Angels vs Rangers
via facebook.com
AgentZ undercover last night at Angels Stadium watching the Angels trounce the Texas rangers and becoming the 2009 AL West Division Champions.
NSM (National Socialist Movement) Rally in Riverside CA
My son and I went to the NSM rally today to photograph the event as it unfolded. They were countered by numerous organizations that ran the gamut from M.E.C.H.A. and the Brown Berets to supporters of Israel, anarchists, and gay activists.
More images here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agentz92505/sets/72157622336155659/show/
and here (Josh’s):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshpl/sets/72157622459824228/show/
Regards,
Jean-Pierre “PETE” LeClair
President, AgentZ
www.AgentZ.com
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Mat 6:34 (NIV)
2nd Breath II
Detail of the sculpture called “Second Breath” from the Skokie Sculpture park in Skokie Illinois.
View the slide show at:
Here
My Review of Bracketron Nav-Mat Portable GPS Dash Mount
Bracketron Nav-Mat Portable GPS Dash Mount – UFM100BL/ Weighted Anti-Skid Base/ Conforms To Your Dash/ Holds Up To Several Pounds/ Easily View Your GPS While Drivaing/ Uses The Stock GPS Windshield Mount
Sticky Issue
AgentZ Riverside, CA 7/23/2009
Pros: Easy To Use
Cons: Poor Interface With GPS
Best Uses: Auto, Boating
Describe Yourself: Power User
California recently enacted a law that severely limits where you can windshield mount a GPS unit. I thought this was the perfect answer to keep it in the middle of the dash where I like it.
I cannot keep the suction cup stuck to the base of this unit ( I bought 2 and both are the same way with 2 different units). This is the only negative. It is heavy and stable but if I can’t keep the GPS mounted to it it loses functionality.
Opus X
A very dear friend of mine sent me a very nice gift today!
A genuine Fuente Opus X cigar.
Now I just have to decide when and where to enjoy it…
AgentZ
New Images are Up
I’m keeping busy with lots of projects. Going out shooting (pictures) when I can and learning Photoshop.
I’ve added new images to my Photo Prints website in Gallery 3. Added are:
- Abandoned Bus
- Albuquerque Window
- Fuscia
- Pomona Towing
- Autumn Frost
See them at:
AgentZ
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