Archive for September, 2008

What’s It Like to Ride

Posted on: September 10th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston 2 Comments

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There’s something deeply primitive and physically fulfilling about riding a motorcycle. Whether its the shots of adrenaline racing up your spine as you corner, the shudder the bike makes — shaking through your thighs as you open the throttle — followed by the exhilarating thrill as she leaps forward screaming down the road, or the firm pressure of the wind on your chest and shoulders as you race down the road at 70 mph, it just gets me.

There’s an excitement, a freedom, a thrill to life that I can only get on a motorcycle. I’ve won tense games, have had incredible moments of intimacy, felt the tired physical exhaustion from a thorough methodical work-out. Nothing delivers every time like a great motorcycle on the open road.

After a three year absence, it feels like I got my mojo back. But this time, it’s a little different. Why? Well I opted for a Ducati (full photo set here), the Italian motorcycle company, known for its racing bikes. While my GT1000 is not a true road bike, instead more of a retro standard, it’s all Ducati.

Here’s a description of what it’s like to ride (yeah, I really am wearing my motorcycle glasses):

Compared to my prior motorcycles – Honda Shadow, Harley Road King, and Yamaha V-Star Classic – the Ducati is just a superior machine. It’s a muscle bike, yet precision tuned, so that when you shift your hips to hit a steep curve, the bike just naturally swings, dropping you 30 degrees. There’s no fear. The machine clearly acts as it was designed to.

At the same time the gutural roar the engine makes is just sick. You really do feel it shutter, and leap forward, and the roar is amazing. Just a totally exhilarating experience.

The GT1000 is not unattractive either. Quite frankly, I get more head turns on this bike than even the Harley. The Ducati’s muscular, she’s fast, she’s nimble, and yeah, she’s red hot Italian. I highly recommend it, not for the new rider, but for someone who can appreciate a truly great motorcycle.

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Popularity: 11% [?]

Gerry Connolly Should Not Hold Office

Posted on: September 9th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston 2 Comments

Fairfax County Chairman Gerald Connolly should not be elected to Congress. He is the Democratic Candidate for VA- District 11. That’s coming from a fellow Democrat.

His handling of the Huntington Flood situation disgusts me. My once-gentrifying neighborhood has suffered because government bodies moved Cameron Run and never maintained it. After the cataclysmic flood of 2006, the neighborhood has never been the same. Now we are plagued with wave after wave of evacuations and possible floods with every major storm.

Government’s answer? It’s not my fault. I don’t pretend to know the legal aspects of this case, and who or why some organization is to blame. That’s why we the residents have a legal team behind us.

And thank God we do. Because it’s obvious that Fairfax County Chairman Connolly won’t act on our behalf, instead trying to weasel blame on other parties. Regardless of who is actually to blame legally, Connolly needs to act like a real leader and stand up for this district. Instead he backs down like an atypical political scum bag.

This is not Congressional material. And it’s not the first time Connolly’s shady character has come to the fore. He has a questionable job at SAIC, which makes his current political position seem like a conflict of interest to me.

No thank you. I am voting for Keith Fimian.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Email from Barack Obama about RNC Attacks

Posted on: September 4th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston 2 Comments

This is why I endorsed Barack Obama. I am sick of Rovian attacks, an the RNC has just absolutely repelled me from even considering them. And yes, I have voted Republican before, name George W. Bush in 2000.

Geoff –

Why would the Republicans spend a whole night of their convention attacking ordinary people?

With the nation watching, the Republicans mocked, dismissed, and actually laughed out loud at Americans who engage in community service and organizing.

Our convention was different. We gave the stage to everyday Americans who hunger for change and stepped up to make phone calls, knock on doors, and raise money in small amounts in their communities.

You may have missed it, but we also showed the country a video with the faces and voices of those organizers, volunteers, and donors from every corner of the country….

https://donate.barackobama.com/changevideo

What you didn’t hear from the Republicans at their convention is a single new idea about how to make the healthcare system work, get our economy moving for the middle class, or improve education.

Just attacks — on me, and on you.

But what the McCain attack squad doesn’t understand is that people like you — who devote part of their busy lives to organizing and building their communities — have the power to change this country.

With your help, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

Thank you,

Barack

Popularity: 7% [?]