Owen

25,500 + so far this year... and it ain't over yet!

My wife asks me, Why don't we see the red poppies around Veterans Day like we used to? Well??? I was a little embarrassed I did not know. Although I'm sure they are usually around on Memorial Day rather than Verterans Day. Here is what we found out. Thanks Margaret for asking! In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly. Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. This was the poem written by World War I Colonel John McCrae, a surgeon with Canada's First Brigade Artillery. It expressed McCrae's grief over the "row on row" of graves of soldiers who had died on Flanders' battlefields, located in a region of western Belgium and northern France. The poem presented a striking image of the bright red flowers blooming among the rows of white crosses and became a rallying cry to all who fought in the First World War. The first printed version of it reportedly was in December 1915, in the British magazine Punch. McCrae's poem had a huge impact on two women, Anna E. Guerin of France and Georgia native Moina Michael. Both worked hard to initiate the sale of artificial poppies to help orphans and others left destitute by the war. By 1920, when Guerin, with the help of the American Legion, established the first poppy sale in the U.S., the flower was well known in the allied countries — America, Britain, France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — as the "Flower of Remembrance." Proceeds from that first sale went to the American and French Children's League. Guerin had troubles with the distribution of the poppies in early 1922 and sought out Michael for help. Michael had started a smaller-scaled Poppy Day during a YMCA conference she was attending in New York and wanted to use the poppies as a symbol of remembrance of the war. Guerin, called the "Poppy Lady of France" in her homeland, and Michael, later dubbed "The Poppy Princess" by the Georgia legislature, went to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for help. The poppy was adopted as the official memorial flower of the VFW at its national convention in Seattle, Wash., in August 1922, following the first nationwide distribution of poppies ever conducted by any veterans organization. In 1923, faced by a shortage of poppies from French manufacturers, the VFW relied on New York florists to make up the difference. This was a huge setback, however, and led to the idea by VFW officials to use unemployed and disabled veterans to produce the artificial flower. This concept was approved in late 1923 and the first poppy factory was built in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1924. This provided a practical means of assistance to veterans and also ensured a steady, reliable source of poppies. Veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities and veterans homes help assemble the poppies, and each year the VFW distributes roughly 14 million worldwide. It was around the same time the first poppy factory was built that the VFW registered the name "Buddy Poppy" with the U.S. Patent Office. The term "Buddy" was coined by the poppy makers as a tribute to their comrades who did not come home from the war or who were scarred and crippled for life. The VFW celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Buddy Poppy as its official flower in 1997. While profits from its sales have helped countless veterans and their widows, widowers and orphans over the years, the poppy itself survives as a perpetual tribute to those who have given their lives for the nation's freedom.

Can't be a venture... There's no cassette!

Nice job! Thanks for the pins. Owen

Message me date, time and address.... I'll be there!

Skydoc, Very informative, thanks for sharing!

I don't know the specifics but, the last updates to the vmax, including some suspension items and possibly drive train, were in 1993. You might do some research on the rear drives.

What tire did you buy? I make a good go-fer, I can help. You could also call the local bike shops. I know the dealer I use has not been busy at all.

I checked that link. It's description says ten inch height, that looks like the correct length. The one I picked up fits an HD and it was 12". Thus the Fred-N-Barny fix...

Here is one...

I see them on ebay for $30 or less. At the rally they were $26 I think and no shipping.

I went to the Texas Loan Star Rally this saturday. What a sideshow! I loved it! One of the things I saw where these HD saddle bag guard pouches and bottle holders. http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0465.jpg I have no room for a cup holder on the handlebars and I have been looking for an answer... http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0488.jpg I knew they would be too long to fit the RSV but the price was right and there was no sign of 'HD' on it anywhere. I decided to us my degree in Fred-N-Barny engineering to make it fit. I picked up some snaps from the local hardware and using my Fred-N-Barny tools, I managed to come up with a nice addition to the bike. http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0470.jpg http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0473.jpg The top portion of the bag snapped right in place and fit fine. Note that these bags come in 'left or right side' versions. This is a 'right' side bag. http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0471.jpg http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0474.jpg I simply folded the lower tab over so it fit snugly and using a hollow punch I made the holes for the snaps. http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0476.jpg After affixing the snaps I trimmed the tab for a better appearance. http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0477.jpg Here you can also see where I removed 2 original snaps. http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0478.jpg I am pleased with the results. http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0480.jpg http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0481.jpg http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0483.jpg http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0486.jpg http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_0487.jpg Now to find a 'left' with only one large pouch.

The ones here near Houston are no fuss no muss. Easy on, park with kickstand down and in gear, easy off.

:happy34: I will be there 8:15 or so... Thanks

Nothing from James. So where is the hooters located? I45s exit nasa 1 and stay on feeder?

bump James?

Wow... I have 26k plus on mine. Am I overdue or is this a hit and miss thing?

Looks to be cool in the morning, maybe upper 40's. Now where are the winter woolies?

Thanks for sharing the report. I have been considering an alarm for the RSV. I will check them out.

Ok... you guys talked me into it. I'm up for an early run to the coast. I will clear the island by about noon. James, where and when do you want to meet? I am at Fallbrook and BW8 near the race track.

That would work really well during commutes in this Houston traffic!

Maybe I'm reading the Yamaha production thingy wrong, but I read the chart as saying the production level is 60.8% of last year... if 100% of last year is even, then they are down 39.2% ? Still not good but 2nd only to Honda. Or I got it wrong.

I am on my second set of venoms. I noticed the same thing as you on my first set. When its chilly outside they are a little slippery for the first few miles. It has not been cool enough here to see if this second set will act the same. I checked the pressure at 36 front and 40 rear when cold. I just take it a little easier on those cool mornings for a little bit.

Wow! That was fast! USPS must have moved to 2nd Gens!!! Glad you got them and thanks for the donation to the site

Now that was just uncalled for...