CanuckInUSA

LOL ... what are your plans for your 666th naked skydive? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

"My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you I just signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever. We bombing in five minutes." - Ronald Reagan August 11th 1984. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv13ZnkpWos OMG ... that was a classic. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Good post Dave. Riding is not safe. As I said, there are two types of motorcyclists. Those who have crashed and those who have yet to crash. In the old days of skiing I never wore a helmet, but since working as a ski patroller where I had to deal with my share of head injuries (was lucky never to have a death, but deaths did occur, I was just lucky in my short 4 year patroller career). I wear a helmet now when I ski and twice in my life (once on a motorcycle, once on a mountain bike) I have crashed and hit my head and who knows what would have happened had I not been wearing a helmet. In my motorcycle crash (low sided on a tight mountain road), where I was wearing protection (my head) I was not hurt, where I lacked protection (not wearing leathers) I sustained injuries (some road rash, not too bad and also a cracked bone in my left elbow). But you are 100% correct that many accidents can be prevented with proper and recurrent training. Years ago I took a Motorcycle Safety Foundation training course where they taught me emergency braking, counter steering, taught me where to position myself in traffic how how to drive in traffic (including riding over many obstacles on the road instead of trying to swerve around them). But one thing important they also taught me. They taught me that I needed to practice all the drills they showed me, every season. Just because they taught me about emergency braking and counter steering does not mean I could use them in an emergency situation. They taught me that I needed to practice my emergency braking and counter steering as much as possible (just like airline pilots practice their emergency procedures and why skydivers should practice their emergency procedure). I wonder how many old school motorcyclists have actually been formally trained in emergency braking, counter steering and where to position themselves in traffic for maximum viewing effectiveness for the cars around them. PS: if you live in a jurisdiction where you pay for your own healthcare, then I am okay with people riding without their brain buckets (even though you will never catch me without mine on). But for those of us who do live in the nanny state where the public pays for our healthcare, I am in favor of mandatory helmet laws. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

There are two types of motorcyclists in this world. 1) Those who have crashed. and 2) Those who have yet to crash. I fall into the crashed category and yes I hit my head on the pavement. But I was wearing a helmet. So I survived the crash and live to tell about it. It does not take much of a blow to the head to severely injure if not kill you. Besides, don't the bugs hurt when you take one in the face? (one of many reasons why I always wear a full face). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

In La Belle Province, it was Poutine. Don't be a hoser eh and pass me a Molson. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

That is actually very impressive for a 5 year old. Here is an 8 year old from Finland doing something hard for us in North America to comprehend. But there must be something in the genes of the Finnish people. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUMA27_tHNc Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Huh? If you are referring to counter steering? It's not rocket science. It is in fact pretty instantaneous (within a tenth or so of a second). All motorcyclists should be aware of this potential life saving technique. When you want to turn you don't lean into turn, you simply: 1) Look where you want to go. 2) Push on the handlebars in this direction. Push right to go right. Push left to go left. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

You forgot one (John will not be happy with you). Does this DZO own a gun? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Whenever someone reaches the top, you know there will be others who want to bring them back down to earth. Problem with Obama is that he was marketed as the Messiah who was sent to us to save the world. Those are some pretty big shoes to fill when many think you do indeed part the Red Sea every Tuesday and Thursday with Saturday afternoon matinees. But besides adding even higher record deficits to your nations debt (something both Donkeys and Elephants are responsible for) and helping to start a new war in Libya, Obama has not done anything towards all his "Hope'y & Change'y" agenda. Many of the same people who caused the financial melt down blamed on GWB are still in their jobs and some of them are now even working for Obama. GWB was public enemy #1 and now Obama has taken over that role. Too bad far too many people rely on the empty promises of politicians. Where I sit the main difference I see between GWB and Obama is that Obama is a much better public speaker ... when his teleprompter is working. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Talking about Obama's healthcare bill again? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

There are two different videos. The one of the accident, and the one they next day where they interview the girl who felt prayer was more effective than first aid. In both videos all other vehicle traffic is traveling at roughly the same speed based on how long they take to traverse from point A to point B. The motorcyclist, takes much less time to traverse this same distance. How does that Grade 7 physics formula for speed work again? Speed = Distance divided by Time. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Virtually every vehicle in the two videos segments are traveling the same speed (the same speed one would expect on a somewhat busy city street). I am not saying the motorcyclists is going 100 mph, but he clearly is going faster than everyone else based on the distance he traverses compared to all other vehicles. The white pickup truck going the opposite direction travels only about 30% of the same distance the motorcycle covered in the same amount of time. Once again I am NOT placing 100% of the blame on the motorcyclist. The driver of the SUV made an unsafe left hand turn. If he had only waited (did he even look?), this accident would never have happened. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

How can they be slowing down because of the accident when the accident has not even happened yet. Plus watch the traffic speed from the interview from the next day. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Look at the other vehicles. They clearly are going a lot slower than the motorcycle. From the moment the motorcycle comes into view, the other traffic only covers about 30% maybe 40% of the distance the motorcycle covers before impact. We do not know know when the motorcyclist saw the SUV, the smoke from the tires locking up only appears in the last 20-30 yards but the motorcyclist could have been on the brakes sooner. Please I am not placing 100% of the blame on the motorcyclist (I myself have many miles logged under two wheels). The SUV driver made an unsafe left hand turn and one has to ask why they left the scene of the accident (DUI?). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hard to say if "counter steering" would have saved his bacon (did the motorcyclist even know about such a basic life saving maneuver that is taught in all motorcycle safety classes). Braking clearly did not save his bacon since he was locked up. 1) Motorcyclist was speeding. 2) SUV driver made an unsafe left turn. 3) SUV driver was a dumb ass for leaving the accident scene. 4) Was the SUV driver under the influence? Sad that the motorcyclist and SUV both made decisions that destroyed both of their lives. But these sorts of bad decision happen all the time. Oh and the girl they interviewed should learn some first aid. First aid is much more productive than prayer. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Nothing like being run over with a buzz saw. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Of course slow motion footage bundled with dramatic music is the recipe for an epic video. There is tons of hardcore driving from the Group B class in this video linked below, but one only needs to watch what the spectator had to do to save his bacon at the 4:30 mark to know this is extreme. I still don't understand how those crazy fans can stand only feet away from the action. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFRhxsLfj-I Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Are you that obtuse? or are you a simple partisan who still thinks Obama walks on water and parts the Red Sea every Tuesday and Thursday? 1) Ronald Reagan allowed the financial sector to begin deregulation. 2) Bill Clinton allowed this deregulation to expand with derivatives. 3) Under GWB, things got worse with sub primes and the shit hit the fan. 4) Obama has done nothing, absolutely nothing to change why the shit hit the fan. The Donkeys and the Elephants are both to blame here. Every night before going to bed, Obama thinks to himself "Suckers, I sure fool all those nanny state dependent lemmings who believed in all of my Yes We Can nonsense". None of the other Nobel Peace Prize winners (combined) have ordered the firing of as many cruise missiles and ordered as many air strikes as the messiah and savior of the world Barak Obama. How is all that "Hopey and Changey" stuff working for ya? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Yes TT motorcycle racing has to be pretty extreme as well. Just like Rally, but on two wheels instead of four with no navigator. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I think skydiving is awesome and freefall is something all able bodied whuffos should experience. But I got to the point a few years ago where swooping was my primary passion in this sport and that is all I ever wanted to do. Unfortunately I now live in the part of the world where staying current as a swooper is impossible and (hangs head in shame) it appears that I have retired from the swooping ranks as it is just too dangerous to do unless you are current. So I have turned to motorsports as my adrenaline rush replacement. I wish I could say I was a real world race car driver, but you need to be rich to do that. I only pretend to be a race car driver in online simulation races. But I do drive my real world '97 Porsche 911 at my local race track during open lapping sessions and that is a blast. There is no way you can drive these cars on the public roads the way they can be driven on a race track. Lately I have watched a lot of different forms of motorsport racing (F1, Indy, LMS and ALMS endurance races, Grand Am, Moto GP, some Motocross and yes I have even tried to do NASCAR, but I can't. NASCAR drives me nuts). But is there a more extreme form a motorsports than Rally racing? Those guys drive at the limit on courses throughout the country side day and night rain or shine. But Rally isn't as extreme for the drivers as it is for the spectators. It still blows my mind how close some of the spectators stand to the courses and I doubt very much any other form of motorsports has taken the lives of spectators as Rally has. Here are a few good rally YouTube videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozntieZs8Bg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyXWa3SygOY please post more if you have other favorites you know of. Oh and the "Repost" cops need to turn a blind eye here now. Gymkhana is NOT rally driving, but it is similar and this Ken Block video (seen by many already) is one of the best displays of car control you will ever see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TshFWSsrn8 Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

+1 Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Capitalism at work. If enough gays are willing to pay for their own campground where they can prance around naked in front of each other, then so be it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Maybe if Barack Obama the Nobel Peace Prize winner, the Messiah, the savior of the world was NOT helping to wage war in Libya, there would be more oil being produced. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

"Don't get attached to physical possessions" and "Try not to worry about the things you have no control over". Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

LOL Try not to worry about the things you have no control over