Robbie Maddison at it again!

Happy Independence Day!

photo courtesy: stonemountainpark.com. Be sure to see the laser show.

Happy Independence Day!

"On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress presented & debated a second draft of the list of grievances, and John Hancock, the president of the Second Continental Congress, was the first to sign. The document, called the Declaration of Independence, was treasonous against the crown and the fifty-six men who signed it were in danger of being executed.

Independence Day is celebrated on July 4 because that is the day when the Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. From July 8, 1776, until the next month, the document was read publicly and people celebrated whenever they heard it. The next year, in Philadelphia, bells rang and ships fired guns, candles and firecrackers were lighted. But the War of Independence dragged on until 1783, and in that year, Independence Day was made an official holiday. 1941 Congress declared 4th of July a federal holiday." - homeschooling.about.com (read the rest of the article).

To everyone serving in the United States Armed Services (all branches): Thank you for protecting the freedoms that the citizens of the United States (and a lot of others) take for granted. We appreciate your service and dedication and hope you are home with your families in short order.

I hope that everyone has the opportunity to hang out with their family over this weekend.

God Bless the United States of America.

The Jesus Creed

"‘Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

Things That Make you go HMMM

Somewhere in Pennsylvania. I wonder, What are they trying to hide from?

Blue Ball

My work carried me to Pennsylvania this week. Much to my suprise beyond the horse and buggies and the grain silos, this is motorcycle country. Obviously the state of Pennsylvania does not have a helmet law as many of the bikers I encountered were lidless. I am guessing the state does not have muffler law either as the Harleys and the sports bikes were all loud and proud.

While performing my work in Pennsylvania, I discovered quite by happenstance that a small community existed in Lancaster County, named Blue Ball. At first I thought someone was making a bit of jest, but low and behold folks, it truly exist. Blue Ball is in the middle of Amish countryside.



Blue Ball is home to Blue Ball Fire Company which was established in 1909. They have an impressive array of apparatus and served by an all volunteer force. My hat is off to the volunteers of this company. You should visit their website: http://www.blueballfire.com/ and support them by buying a shirt: http://www.blueballfire.com/Store2008/store2008-tshirts.html You can sleep well at night knowing these brave folks are keeping Blue Ball safe.

Someone evidently has a sense of humor in the area, a few miles away also in Lancaster county another community exists, Intercourse, Pennsylvania. Draw your own conclusions.

Dust in the Wind

It's hot in Georgia, we saw 95 degrees F today. I'm riding home in afternoon GA 400 commuter traffic in an open-face helmet, when suddenly I feel like my mouth and ears are being sandblasted. I begin scanning the horizon for the source of the sand or grit that is peppering me. For a couple of miles, I cannot locate the source. I use my gloved left hand to cover my face below the protective glasses that are keeping the abrasive out of my eyes and steer with my throttle hand.

A few miles later, I begin to make out what looks like a fertilzer spread truck way up ahead in the right hand lane. Can't be, Public Safety regulations require them to tarp a load. I ride on and the sand blasting intensifies. As I get closer I can see a mound of fertilizer above the sides of the hopper body on the spread truck and a cloud of brown dust above it.

A BMW is right on his tail. The front bumper, hood and windshield of someone's fine German engineered automobile is receiving the most effective method of removing paint, sand blasting. I manage to get along side the spread truck and out of the "jet wash" of the fertilizer cloud that is pelting all of the northbound lanes. As I get along side the cab, I notice the driver's window is down, so I yell, "Tarp that load." The driver appears to laugh as he continues driving along in the right hand lane with his left turn signal on just as it has been since I got close enough to see the truck.

Thanks Southern States and the driver headed north on GA 400 Thursday at 5:15pm for sandblasting all the cars headed home from work. Y'all might want to be aware that the Georgia Department of Public Safety requires drivers to secure all loads so they do not escape. Reference Georgia Codes: 40-6-248 and 40-6-254. Feel free to look them up at: http://www.lexis-nexis.com/hottopics/gacode/default.asp

Maybe it's Just me, but....

pretty sure that is gonna scratch a window.

A Motorcycle Ride...

A Little 10-year-old girl was walking home, alone, from school one day, when a big man on a black motorcycle pulls up beside her. After following along for a while, turns to her and asks, "Hey there little girl, do you want to go for a ride?"

"NO!" says the little girl as she keeps on walking.

The motorcyclist again pulls up beside her and asks, "Hey little girl, I will give you $10 if you hop on the back."

"NO!" says the little girl as she hurries down the street.

The motorcyclist pulls up beside the little girl again and says, "Okay kid, my last offer! I'll give you 20 Bucks "and" a Big Bag of Candy if you will just hop on the back of my bike and we will go for a ride."

Finally, the little girl stops and turns towards him and Screams Out...


"Look Dad, You're the one who bought the Honda instead of the Harley...



YOU RIDE IT!"

OOPS II

Microsoft will find an answer to my Probler. I feel better!

OOPS

Wolf Camera closed their Windward Plaza location and posted this sign. Guessing they had some customers from Finland.