Modern Vespa

Mad-Eye Moody, perhaps?

Okay, didn't actually see it, but it's certainly weird. My mother's cousin near her had her furnace go out on the weekend. No biggie, as it's starting to warm nicely.

Furnace guy came out and after exhausting all other options checked her chimney. There was a duck stuck in it (dead). A duck. They don't have ducks in the neighborhood, no nearby ponds.....

A few years ago she had the same problem.

She's in danger of developing anatidaephobia.

While walking along a beach early in the morning yesterday my other half and I found a broken jewelery box.

It looked like it had been stamped on however one mirror remained intact and there was a music box mounted on its back panel which worked by cranking its handle. You know, the Mad Max kind.

Rather than just leave it there to rust in the salt water we removed it and took it home with us.

I think that I've watched too many Horror Films because when this happens in the movies a ghost will often follow you home to haunt your property.

We should have just left it there.....

I got bumped up 15 minutes today at the Dentist because the guy ahead of me had a panic attack.

Poor Fella.

Seven Long Months of Winter.

Both the Vespa GTS300 and Kymco 550 would not start yesterday.
Despite having the Vespa on a battery maintainer, the battery froze
and will not a hold a charge. The battery on the Keyless Fob died
on the Kymco. I am hoping the battery on Kymco is okay - it was
also plugged in all Winter on a battery maintainer.

The pain in the butt, with a froze battery, it will charge up and allow
you to start the scoot. Then it will not hold a charge and not start
when you are out somewhere.

All easy to fix - but again, a pain in the butt.

Bob Copeland
Truly, Frostbite Falls MN
My scooter riding group has not rode in seven months. The
last three Saturdays we were either rained out, or it was to cold.

This.

At the beach the other day.

I have a 2-fer for today:

1) had a hitchhiker on my ride to the Oregon coast

2) once at the coast, the viewpoint from near the Sea Lion Caves, baby grey whale carcass inbound. We've had an uncommon Orca presence of late, curious if that's what happened here. Did not see any bite marks but I've heard sometimes they ram their prey. The whale was bleeding from the mouth. Sad sight but that's nature....

Went for ice-cream today! But I forgot my wallet, I felt shame at the register

That's what phones and Paywave are for. I often don't carry a wallet at all these days if I am out on one of the scooters.
But then I also know New Zealanders are good early adopters on tech like Paywave.

I posted some stickers to California a day ago with a return address on the back of the package and arrived at my house today.

Apparently the Post Office does understand the concept of From and To.

Not me, but my wife witnessed a weird sight today: a chihuahua chasing a fox that was chasing a squirrel. The parade passed by her twice before she lost sight. The squirrel was gaining ground on the other two.

I saw a BMW F650 Scarva towing a BMW GS 1150 off the highway this morning.

Quality product.

self driving car confused at an uncontrolled intersection. hazards on, refusing to move.

While burning millions of dollars of development money in the process.

I love it.

^^ Isn't the driver supposed to turn off the autodrive and takeover

That's the only really safe option. Nobody knows how those things are supposed to work.

no driver in these to take over.

Did you see if there was an exasperated passenger?

No passenger either, it just went for a drive because it felt like it.

it was empty, serving no useful purpose

How does a self driving car take off by itself? Do you program
it for a pick up in another location?

Bob Copeland

I have often be made aware that big business' job is to make money , not to be so concerned with the publics liberties.

Because it felt like it?

We merely exist for their convenience. Kinda like cats.

When it's a taxi that's been hailed - both Cruise and Waymo offer 24/7 driverless taxis in SF.

On the side of the road today there was a guy playing a full drum kit that Chester Thompson would have been proud of.

No one watching either.

But you noticed and told others about it.. roadside percussionist for the win.

It was a full kit with cymbals in a pearl white finish just in case you wondered.

I'm not sure if that gains me points or not.

Looking at it from a Vespa/ptw point of view, did it have a ride/crash cymbal?

No, but it had a High Hat.

Normally I'm a fan of keeping cats indoors, but our latest is so happy to be out and spends most of his time lounging or playing gargoyle on our garage roof, so I let him indulge sometimes.

Let him out this morning, and when I was exiting to go to work he came dashing in with greater than usual enthusiasm. It looked like he had a bunch of vegetation with him, but when he got to the entryway, he dropped it, and a baby rabbit was sitting there looking dazed. The vegetation was a large sprig of mint. Realistically I think the mint got in the way when he attacked, but it looked more like an intended garnish for the bunny, who's now enjoying his second chance at life.

Two days ago he came to the back door meowing like crazy and I imagined him hurt somehow, so I hurried to the door to see what was up. He came running up the steps with a live chipmunk in his mouth, which he dropped when I hurriedly slid the door closed ahead of him. Wife and I were minutes from leaving for the day, so I averted a real shitshow...

Rarely a dull day with this guy.

In the middle of a long ride, looked down into a ditch and saw a robotic mower trying to escape a ditch with nothing but parched grass around.

Either that or an escaped Roomba.

In the last three weeks I've seen 4 different individuals with both lower legs missing but walking normally on prosthetics.

I'm assuming that they wear shorts so the "legs" don't snag ?

It might just be the warm weather.

Ummm.

Oh like midwestern guys don't have a favorite tool? Shenanigans good sir.

Oh, the Places You'll Go....

Normal for the fun, weird for the boring.

Traveling in Oregon, saw a pickup truck with a big-ass flag on the back.


Don't rush to judgement....






It was a Trans flag.