Horse shot in drive by harassment of Amish in Lancaster County Pa

Family of 5 was riding along in a horse pulled carriage/buggy, and an unknown shot their horse, which managed to pull them the last mile home before dieing of internal damage from the bullet impact

Full story at http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/26/21631106-horse-pulling-amish-buggy-shot-in-drive-by

Posted in disgust at the POS waste of oxygen that shoots at Amish, shoots at horses, and uses a bullet to be cruel to harmless people and creatures. I'm cool with hunting and fishing to eat, or catch and release fishing, but all the way furious at cruelty to animals

Italian police seize Chinese counterfeits at the Italian EICMA (Exhibition International Motorcycles)

a handful of Chinese scooter exhibitors at last week's 71st International Motorcycle Exhibition (EICMA) had their goods seized by the Italian financial police, according to a Piaggio Group press release, because they had brought imitation Vespa scooters to the show.

The Guardia di Finanza descended upon the show last Thursday, on opening day, and seized 11 Vespa copies from seven different Chinese exhibitors. Italian company Piaggio Group has exclusive rights to the iconic Vespa's shape. Yes, seven companies brought shameless copies of the iconic Italian scooter to an international motorcycle show held in Italy.

Full story at, and photo from http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/12/counterfeit-vespa-scooters-siezed-italy-eicma/?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook

The American Gumball Rally is staging a comeback!

It started off as an annual Woodward Dream Cruise party and has grown into a statewide event that travels over 1000 miles of Michigan every year in August. In his first press interview, Randy Kohler, the founder of the National Gumball Rally said "Anyone can sign up for this fun road-trip especially if you're a fan of Detroit or an automobile enthusiast "​ Randy has also taken this idea of a weekend road-trip and applied it to other states as well. "Instead of driving all the way across the country, let's set up weekend road rally's in each and every state. From the beginning our intentions were to do something different and build this company to a national level of recognition."

The Michigan Gumball Rally was the very first rally started in 2010 when entrepreneur (Randy Kohler) noticed an opportunity. Behind every fun event is a driven force of advertising that many people do not notice. The National Gumball Rally claims they can generate hundreds of millions of impressions per year for advertising sponsors through outdoor vehicle advertising, social media strategy and event planning. In 2009 Randy, 27, first came up with the idea during a road trip and decided to bring the idea to reality after Nelson House, the original founder of The Woodward Dream Cruise died of cancer in 2010. "Someone needed to step up to the plate and lead by example. I set out to organize fun, positive events that anyone can participate in. The Woodward Dream Cruise is the largest one day auto event in the whole world, with an annual attendance of over two million people, and it started as a small fundraiser to earn money for a children's charity."

http://www.americangumballrally.com/

NationalGumballRally@gmail.com​

If you've enjoyed the animation and art from the past couple days, you can still catch some in person at the Long Beach Comic and Horror Con this weekend

ABOUT THE LONG BEACH COMIC & HORROR CON

The Long Beach Horror & Comic Con is being held on November 23 & 24, 2013 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Tickets are available http://www.longbeachcomiccon.com/comic-con-about.php  , or at your local comic book shop. Additional details about the event can be found on the FAQ SECTION of this site or by emailing customerservice@longbeachcomiccon.com .

Exhibit Floor Hours:
Saturday, November 23 - 10:00am - 7:00pm (advance ticket holders enter exhibit floor at 9:30am)
Sunday, November 24 - 10:00am - 5:00pm (advance ticket holders enter exhibit floor at 9:30am)

Some programming activities continue after the exhibit floor closes at 7:00pm.

About Long Beach Comic & Horror Con Long Beach Comic & Horror Con is an annual event held at the Long Beach Convention Center each fall. It's a celebration of comic books and pop culture that showcases the exceptional works of talented writers, artists, illustrators and creators of all types of pop culture.

At Long Beach Comic & Horror Con you'll find exhibitors promoting and selling all types of related products, as well as entertaining and educational programs, guest signings, and meet & greet sessions with celebrities. For more specific information about the show, please use the LBCHC FAQ button on this website. Long Beach Comic & Horror Con is a production of MAD Event Management, LLC.

Long Beach Comic and Horror Convention is proud to announce a record number of artists at its Artist Alley this year. The heart of the convention floor and with over 200 artists, Artist Alley is a place where fans have a chance to meet their favorite artist, creators, and writers.

With a guest list too long to name them all, here are a just a few highlighted artists and writers at Artist Alley this year: Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, Len Wein, Gena Ha, Brian Pulido, While Portacio, Mike Kunkel, Jim Mahfood, David Mack, Cat Staggs, Steve Scott, Mark Texeira, Mark Waid, Marv Wolfman, Darick Robertson, and Sara Richard.

“We are thrilled that we topped over 200 artists and writers at Artist Alley this year. We always try to make this the center of the floor, and this is a testament to the draw of creators to the show. We experienced a complete sell-out of our Artist Alley and Exhibitor booths this year –a huge milestone in the show’s history.

Union Pacific has begun restoration process by reaquiring a Big Boy (4-8-8-4), #4014 that has been in Pomona Ca since 1961

Photo by Chris Stark who drove his 1941 Cadillac down to the Pomona fairgrounds (Wally Park Museum/Grand National Roadster Show/LA Roadster show location)  to take this photo of his car with a Big Boy locomotive.... a rare opportunity. Both were made in 1941

They have to move the locomotive about 5,000 feet to join a live Metrolink track, and that will necessitate a few back-and-forth movements to get it aligned with the live track. As of today it has been moved about 1,500 feet. The wheels and bearings have already been inspected, so the first thing UP will do is move it to the Colton yard and put it over a pit to examine everything in detail.

No. 4014 will be restored to operating condition by Union Pacific’s Cheyenne, Wyo.-based Heritage Fleet Operations within the next five years. 4014 will join UP’s two other famous steam locomotives—4-6-6-4 Challenger 3985 and 4-8-4 Northern 844—in excursion service when her restoration is completed. She will become the world’s largest operational steam locomotive.

In July 2013, UP announced that it had reached an agreement with the Southern California Chapter of the Railway &  Locomotive Historical Society in Pomona, Calif., to transfer ownership of 4014 back to UP. The railroad will relocate 4014 to Cheyenne, where the Heritage Fleet Operations team will begin restoration, including a fuel conversion to No. 5 oil

Twenty-five Big Boys were built exclusively for Union Pacific by the American Locomotive Company (Alco) between 1941 and 1944

The Big Boys were 132 feet long and weighed 1.2 million pounds (engine and tender) in working order.
4014’s 14-wheel tender can hold 24,000 gallons of water and 28 tons (56,000 pounds) of coal.

UP donated eight Big Boys for public display to several U.S. cities—Pomona; St. Louis, Mo. (No. 4006, Museum of Transportation); Dallas, Tex. (No. 4018, Museum of the American Railroad); Omaha, Neb. (No. 4023, Kenefick Park); Denver, Colo. (No. 4005, Forney Transportation Museum); Scranton, Pa. (No. 4012, Steamtown National Historic Site); Green Bay, Wis. (No. 4017, National Railroad Museum); and Cheyenne (No. 4004, Holliday Park) http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/mechanical/locomotives/up-a-return-to-steam-for-big-boy-4014.html?channel=

Off road tires? Or just for dry country, as you sure don't want these filling with mud

the big deal is that they are the first airless tires in a long time, about a hundred years, and probably no one alive was around the first time these were invented: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/draper-tire-salemans-dodge-with.html

thanks to Steve who found them on Gizmodo, who found them on Autoblog http://gizmodo.com/the-first-airless-tire-vehicle-you-can-own-is-a-wicked-1466598045/@zacestrada

Rafik Kaissi (RK Concepts) is bringing 5 bikes to the Essen Motor Show (Nov 30-Dec 8th)

above photo from Rafik's Facebook page, celebrating the press release photos

the above photo is announcing the news of RK bikes at Essen on http://automotivelounge.de/2013/11/14/essen-motor-show-2013-sonderausstellung-heis-gemachte-stuhle/

the Post Office is finally going to be delivering on Sunday, for Amazon

In Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, and Pheonix.

Why not any big cities? Why not Chicago, New York, LA, and San Fran? No idea

Learned about it on http://fleetnewsdaily.com/amazon-offers-sunday-deliveries-with-us-postal-service/ but the news is also on http://money.cnn.com/2013/11/15/news/economy/usps-financials-package/

Optima Batteries is growing the Ultimate Street Car Invitational in the coming year

New locations and 2014 dates
 - instead of focusing on any single geographic location as previously outlined:

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Salinas, CA – March 7-9
Texas Motor Speedway Tx  – March 21-23
Daytona International Speedway Fla – May 23-25
Auto Club Speedway Fontana/Riverside Ca – June 13-15
Road America Elkhart Lake, WI – June 20-22
Gateway Motorsports Park Madison Il /St Louis Mo –  July 18-20
Portland International Raceway Or – Aug 1-3
 Michigan International Speedway near Ann Arbor Mi – August 22-24
Sebring International Raceway Fla – September 19-21
Pittsburgh International Raceway Pa –  October 3-5
SEMA Pahrump/ Las Vegas, NV – November 8-9

The Ultimate Street Car Association website was launched today to allow current and future competitors, sponsors, media and fans to communicate and to learn more about upcoming and past events and participants. If you’re thinking about participating, you can use the USCA website http://ultimatestreetcarassociation.com/  to receive more information and to sign up.

or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ultimate-Street-Car-Association/194586587394638

You will also be able to get a complete rule book, and the site will include a discussion forum that will be available after the end of 2013.

The USCA has made a commitment to produce 10 national events in 2014 that will establish a consistently formatted series for enthusiasts of all skill levels. From simple membership, social and vendor interaction activities, to serious competition, the USCA will offer something relevant to all street car and performance enthusiasts, manufacturers, and service providers.

 The USCA is an independent organization outside the control of any specific sponsor or organization. The USCA managing staff is comprised of industry professionals that have years of experience creating and producing competitive on and off-track automotive events throughout the country. Safety, professionalism, education, and fun will be our key initiatives for all enthusiasts and each event will encourage participants of all levels. From great social activities to camaraderie on the road, USCA promises to offer a valuable and memorable experience.


All vehicles entered into the USCA competition will be judged on their construction and modifications that enhance the look, performance, and/or functionality of a stock vehicle while maintaining or enhancing the “Daily Driver” comfort features and accessories.

The competition is for high performance “Street Cars” and must strike a balance to:
reach the highest performance on the track
contain features that allow it to be driven daily
achieve high quality fit and finish
involve the use of innovative and cutting edge ideas and parts

 The end result should be a clean and pleasing overall package. A panel of Judges will use exacting criteria to evaluate each car using a numerical rating.

shaker hoods for the 2014 Challenger, and the return of the Scat Pack, is the news from Mopar

these are for the back windows, just like the original decal stickers, and these go on the outside (new car rear small triangular windows don't roll up and down) and the "3" indicates the 3rd level of the Scat Pack options you purchased on the car

Good news, the FAA has finally pulled their head out of their ass, and will allow dvd players, tablets, e-readers during all phases of flight

The FAA announced Thursday that the agency will be relaxing half-a-century old guidelines on passenger electronic device use during takeoff and landing, allowing the use of tablets, e-readers, dvd players and video game consoles during these critical phases of flight. Phone calls and texting remain banned.

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/faa-allow-tablets-e-readers-during-all-phases-flight-8C11504132?ocid=msnhp&pos=1

3 weeks until the Optima Street Car Challenge road race in Las Vegas! 11 days until the Road America quailfier Event race is on MAV TV!

Participants got their cool cars and trucks (and one motorcycle) on the track to test their vehicles and driving skills through the
BFGoodrich Hot Lap Challenge,
Wilwood Disc Brakes Speed Stop Challenge,
Ridetech Street Challenge Autocross
and the Lingenfelter Performance Engineering Design Challenge.


the premiere air date for OPTIMA's Search for the Ultimate Street Car:
 Faceoff at Road America Qualifier Event
is Oct 31st .... Thursday, at 6 p.m. EDT and 9 p.m. EDT on MAV TV

You can still purchase tickets to the sixth annual OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational at http://optimainvitational.com/   for the race at Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club, a state-of-the-art racing facility in Pahrump, Nevada on Saturday, November 9, 2013.

Tickets are $30 per person and include a free event t-shirt.

Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962, Florida coast

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, U.S. Army anti-aircraft rockets sit, mounted on launchers and pointed out over the Florida Straits in Key West, Florida, on October 27, 1962. (AP photo)

found on http://pixtale.net/2012/05/50-years-ago-the-world-in-1962/

did you hear about the class action suit against Porsche for the intermediate shaft bearing failures?

a total intermediate shaft-bearing failure within the engine, a hand-grenade effect that transformed the uber-wundercars into functioning doorstops. So prevalent were the malfunctions that owners banded together to sue Porsche.

Porsche wants nothing to do with him and will not—cannot, they say—fix his car gratis. His problem,  lies outside the criteria of the class-action suit, and to fix it would violate the agreement. Schoelzel's car was registered to him and in service for 10 years and 98 days, so he's S.O.L.

 If he wants the company to behave as it should and treat him as a loyal customer, he is going to have to sue them on his own.

 From 2001 to 2005, Porsche sold 39,633 Boxsters and a whopping 51,375 Porsche 911 models (including rarer and unattached-to-this-suit GT2s, GT3s and Turbos).

 The heart of the matter is the heart of what matters: If you can't trust Porsche to build bullet-proof engines and stand by their products, what can you do?

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130918/CARNEWS/130919830 

reading between the lines, the red light cameras were all about the money to the cities, not safety concerns

from the San Diego newspaper, the Union Tribune

As any revolutionary or history of overthrowing an oppressor will relate, you will see changes and improvements when things become too expensive (ever read the MYTH series by Asprin? http://www.mythadventures.net/index.html )

bikers vs Range Rover, New York..... Latest update 11 Oct, 730pm

Latest Update, 10 October,  430pm

the undercover cop busted in the back window on the Range Rover and has been arrested
http://news.yahoo.com/undercover-nypd-suv-biker-attack-193030746.html

The veteran detective originally told police he didn't arrive on the scene until after the attack on Alexian Lien took place. However, video viewed by the NYPD told a different story, according to NBC New York and the Daily News.

In the video, the undercover officer can be seen smashing the rear window of the Range Rover, unnamed police sources told the affiliate. According to the reports, the new footage contradicts what the officer initially told investigators: that the attack was breaking up when he reached the scene.

"It shows him punching the back window," another unnamed source told the Daily News of the new footage reviewed by investigators on Monday

 update 8 Oct, 1pm  http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Undercover-NYPD-Cop-Window-Smash-Video-SUV-Biker-Brawl-226892961.html

the undercover cop is seen on new video punching the SUV, shattering its rear window, a law enforcement official confirms to NBC 4 New York.

The officer, who was not on duty, came forward last Wednesday, several days after the Sept. 29 chase that ended in a fight, to say he was present, according to a source, and did not call 911 when the assault was taking place.

The video that just recently surfaced shows the undercover smashing the window, but not participating in the assault. He rides off when the driver is pulled from the SUV, according to a person familiar with the investigation. The video has not been made public.

Sources say the undercover was not truthful with investigators about his role. A law enforcement official said Tuesday that investigators are considering criminal charges against him.

Anderson Cooper of CNN interviewed the lawyer of the guy with the Go Pro camera http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/11/biker-video-fallout/?iref=allsearch

According to Assistant District Attorney Samantha Turino, motorcyclists heading north on Manhattan's West Side Highway "were driving recklessly, ... obstructing vehicle traffic, running red lights, swerving between lanes" when one of them, later identified as Christopher Cruz, quickly slowed down in front of SUV driver Alexian Lien. Lien's vehicle bumped Cruz's rear tire, slightly injuring him

But on the other side of the Range Rover, a biker broke open the passenger side window, and started dragging the wife and baby out of the suv... http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/10/us/bikers-attack-video/index.html 

Range Rover in Manhatten vs 30+ bikers = melee, and only one side of the story so far

helmet smashing the drivers window, just prior to him getting pulled out, slashed, both eyes punched on, and he ended up lucky he wasn't killed

if you've seen the video on Facebook, from Bikerspost.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201193274928183 or on Youtube (which has realized the advertising potential of this video and now disabled the embed code so you have to watch the commercial crap) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ukdkgLYYbw&feature=player_embedded

or seen the NBC News story that interviewed a bikers mom, as he is in the hospital on a respirator http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/01/20772232-1-biker-charged-another-critical-in-nyc-range-rover-chase?lite

in a nutshell, A guy named Cruz slowed down to block the Range Rover so the bikers could take over the highway in all lanes, without the Range Rover in the pack... I guess the bikers had a pace, and it wasn't faster than the Range Rover's... just fast enough to create the problem, instead of getting way out in front and staying there.

So the biker slows down and the Range Rover bumps the back tire of Cruz's bike, probably knocking it over and injuring Cruz a bit. This doesn't show up well on the helmet cam video. The guy with the GoPro camcorder had his head swiveling because he was still moving.

The bikers lose their minds because the Range Rover did a slow speed bump and hit Cruz's bike, and proceed to slash the tires on the Range Rover, and take off helmets and beat the shit out of the SUV

So, the Range Rover driver, Lien  is his last name, who realizes he's pissed off 30 some angry bikers who have knives, and are using them to permanently disable his SUV which he has his wife and kid in for a afternoon drive... just drives over everything infront of him, bikes and bikers alike, and try to get away

that is a passenger side tire in the center of the above photo

they get only so far before an intersection forces the Range Rover to stop... and

and here you have about the end of the video, helmet smashing through the window

http://bikerspost.com/forums/topic/883/biker-arrested-for-starting-nyc

but that isn't all

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/04/20820832-undercover-cop-was-on-scene-when-bikers-beat-range-rover-driver-officials?lite
 An undercover New York police officer was on the scene when a pack of angry motorcycle riders chased down and beat a Range Rover driver in front of his wife and toddler, two law enforcement officials said Friday. The unidentified cop came forward four days after the harrowing incident — which was captured on camera and became a viral video that has gotten millions of hits — and Internal Affairs is investigating. This information was first reported by the New York Post. There is no evidence the officer took part in the assault on driver Alexian Lien, but he also did not assist the victim or call 911, one source said. Another biker, Robert Sims, surrendered to police Friday. He is believed to have yanked the vehicle's door and also participated in the assault.

and from the wife in the Range Rover: Ng called 911 four times amid the dramatic standoff, first at 1:52 p.m., police sources told NBC News. She told the operator: “We’re surrounded by a group of bikers.”  from a NBC article http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/03/20800978-family-involved-in-suv-biker-clash-was-in-fear-for-our-lives?lite

in a related story... the guy (last name Mieses) who was run over by the Range Rover? Already a client of Gloria Allred, publicity ***** who will represent anyone in the headlines. ***** means what you think it does I'm not looking to get sued. http://abcnews.go.com/US/injured-bikers-wife-gloria-allred-innocent-victim/story?id=20467895

Meises hasn't had a drivers license since his recent arrest, no motorcycle endorsement on a drivers license ever

and the local state senator? Jumped all over this publicity opportunity to try to outlaw motorcycles riding in packs. What a joke

Jalopnik has a GIF of what morons the bikers were before tangling with the Range Rover http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/the-footage-that-the-nyc-bikers-didnt-want-you-to-see-1435594427/1436603736/@orlove

Normally I only give motorcycle riders good publicity... but it's like something I heard recently:
the gentlemen were denounced by a bystander who said "there were no gentlemen here"

Latest update 7 Oct,  1445ish http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/lawyer-nypd-officer-didnt-see-driver-attacked

Latest update 8 Oct, 1300  http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Undercover-NYPD-Cop-Window-Smash-Video-SUV-Biker-Brawl-226892961.html

the undercover cop is seen on new video punching the SUV, shattering its rear window, a law enforcement official confirms to NBC 4 New York.

The officer, who was not on duty, came forward last Wednesday, several days after the Sept. 29 chase that ended in a fight, to say he was present, according to a source, and did not call 911 when the assault was taking place.

The video that just recently surfaced shows the undercover smashing the window, but not participating in the assault. He rides off when the driver is pulled from the SUV, according to a person familiar with the investigation. The video has not been made public.

Sources say the undercover was not truthful with investigators about his role. A law enforcement official said Tuesday that investigators are considering criminal charges against him.