12 posts tagged “weckerley”
This blog post does not have a clear beginning or a foreseeable clear end. It does, however, have a clear now.
For those readers who do not know that story, on May 14th 2007 I was horribly injured in a freak motorcycle accident on a desert road on the Arizona/New Mexico border. I was miraculously rescued and, in fairness, have to thank the doctors who saved my life and put me back together.
However, since that time, doctors with their over-medication, career and life-damaging reports which they refuse to take responsibility for, and mercenary financial tactics have brought me to a desperate place.
That desperate place is right, here, right now.
There is a specialist at UCLA who several months ago wrote a report, based on hearsay, that prevented me from returning to work and is about to make me lose my drivers license. In this report she brought into question my my cognitive functioning. Since that time I have been to another specialist at great expense to myself personally to have my cognitive functioning tested. (Oh, by the way, no thanks to my psychiatrist, who has consistently over-medicated me and then refused to take any kind of responsibility for the implications of that.)
The cognitive testing shows me all normal.
IN SHORT, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME THAT WOULD PREVENT ME FROM DRIVING OR PERFORMING ANY OTHER TASK AND I CAN PROVE IT. HOWEVER, NEITHER THE SPECIALIST AT UCLA OR THE PSYCHIATRIST WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THIS!!!!!!!!
Worse still, their foot-dragging and buck-passing cost me a months work and a months disability which cost me my truck. We are now down to just motorcycles and on March the 2nd I lose my drivers license unless a doctor will sign off on my medical
MY PSYCHIATRIST REFUSES TO SEE ME AND THE SPECIALIST SPECIALIST AT UCLA WILL NOT RETURN MY URGENT PHONE CALLS. HOWEVER, IN THE BACKGROUND, THEY CONTINUE TO PASS THE BUCK AND DESTROY MY LAST OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A LIVING AND DIG MYSELF OUT OF THE HOLE THAT HAS BEEN CREATED.
So, here is my desperate gamble-when I finish writing this and posting all over the internet, I am going to get on a motorcycle which needs a new clutch and new rear-end bearings and driving to UCLA. This is a distance of about 120 miles over some difficult and dangerous mountain terrain. I am going to do whatever it takes to confront this doctor and/or one of her superiors and get them to take action.
At this point I am not naming names and I am keeping this report in the domain of blogs and private e-mails. If I survive the day and do not get some satisfaction I will start naming names and start using my position as a member of the press to spread the story far and wide.
I have nothing more to lose at this point.
Wish me luck.
J. Cameron Weckerley Aka BMWeerman ....out
The alternator covers on BMW "R" motorcycles are very odd creatures. One loose bolt and they will be more than happy to part company with you of their own accord, Leaving the hall timing sensors and other important engine bits exposed to whatever.
On the other hand try to install one, and it is almost impossible to get it in position. Threading a foot long piece of plastic through the maze of exhaust pipes underneath an 800 pound bike is not my favorite thing.
Particularly at 3AM, I swear my nieghbors must think I am on crack.
Why am I doing this you ask.
Oh I forgot to mention our car got repossessed during my last layoff.
So we are all motorcycles, all the time here now. Unfortunately the big Beemer that we depend on needs a lot of expensive parts which we can't afford right now. So, instead of sleeping I spend many wee hours rubber banding and duct tap[ing that contraption back together.
For lack of a better transition here I am often amazed at the paradigm shifts I have regarding my students. There was an incident in my classroom yesterday which I do not have time to relate now....but it involved my boots and it just got me to wondering what is it that DRIVES these kids so fiercly to be loyal to their gang and to be constantly on the highest state of alert for the smallest sign of disrespect.
It is no secret that pod casting is changing the face of the independent and established media alike. Originally embraced by the tech-savvy few who were interested in what each other had to say and had the knowledge to configure their feed aggregators, the technology is now mainstream.
Just take a look at the splash page for iTunes pod cast directory. What was recently devoted to high-quality independent content now sports names like BBC, NPR,C/Net, and the list goes on. On the surface this looks like bad news to independent content providers, but there are actually two pieces of good news here.
First, unlike the bad old days when the FCC chopped up the electromagnetic spectrum and handed out frequencies and licenses to their cronies and a few other lucky folks, the Internet is not bound by the same set of scientific limitations. There is as much room for content as there is bandwidth.
A corollary to the above example is the cost of involvement. Just the equipment alone to start a new radio station is enough to bankrupt a small country. However, to pod cast all you need is a mike, a computer and an internet connection.
Good news number two. There are still a lot of the large publishing companies out there who recognize the need to get aboard this this technological bandwagon. But, many of them simply do not know how. That, my friend, is where you come in.
Offer your services, offer your studio, it has been known to turn into a full-time job for some.
What a deal for the the big stake-holders too. They can launch themselves into what will soon be a very lucrative media stream, increase their subscriber base, and join the 21st century for the cost of one employee. They do not even have to train you. To me that just seems like a deal made in heaven for everybody.
The only thing I can see that we are doing wrong right now as pod casters is presenting ourself in the wrong light. If we want to get into business, let's act like we are in business. Get a business license, trade in that t-shirt for a polo (no pink please), and for god's sake buy some new shoes!
Let's go get 'em
Ok, that is the nasty stuff. Once we got onto the pier the staff was extremely accommodating and friendly. The boats were clean and in good working order and the maps and instructions provided were excellent. It is truly an experience not to be missed if you can just get past the entrance.
Once out on the water it is a true feast for the senses. Since the speed limit is five knots for all vessels the only turbulence is that created by the wind. And there are some amazing vessels on the water. Actually make that a plethera of amazing vessels in the harbor.
Many restaurants line the channel and have access from the water. It is not unusual to see large yachts maneuvering their way to "park" at one of the dining establishments there
Another couple of interesting attractions in the harbor is the world famous wedge for surfing and the giant Catalina Flyer which carries 500 passengers a day between the harbor and Catalina island.
There are not many day a year in that neck of the woods when one would run into bad weather either. And even if one does encounter bad weather most of the units are convertibles, or in Duffy Speak, Surrey tops
The cool thing is that Duffy's go so slow and are so easy to operate that anyone can get the hang of it wih five minutes instruction and five minutes practice Although 5 knots seems awfully slow it really is abou the right speed to see the harbor.
Of course Newport Beach Harbor is famous for its week-long lighted boat parade during the Christmas holidays. The parade originated in 1908 when Venetian gondolier, John Scarpa illuminated eight canoes and his gondola, the humble beginnings of what is now an intense competition, costing thousands of dollars. It was officially sanctioned in 1919. If you can make it down there on that week it is well worth the trip.
It is a trip well worth the time and money for a special occasion and I would highly recomend it.
For the latest information visit
This is really cool. It is just like iTunes...you can listen to a 30 second sample for free and then if you decide to buy you just click on the button. Neat.
I think I have said this before, but this music is the companion to the illustrated travel story Lines in the Sand.
The first 18 pages are available free at www.highslab.com
Just go to the site then navigate to Lines in the Sand.
BTW...I would very much appreciate any feedback you might have....Thanks
BMWeerman
Greetings friends..
Sorry once again for my lengthy absence.
As I sat here typing just now I was tempted to pontificated on the meaning of art, life the universe and everything, reason however has prevailed and I will merely say that, finally, my new album is done.
As most of you know it is a musical journey through my summer motorcycle trip, horrific accident and subsequent recovery. I have attached a clip that covers all eight tunes on the album.
After much consideration I have decided to do the manufacturing in-house because all of the proceeds will be donated to Christmas charities and the overhead will be so much less. The downside is the packaging will be of slightly lesser quality but the music will not suffer in any way.
The album is called Lines in the Sand and is for sale on my website.
www.highslab.com/our_music.html
If you have any problems comments or questions please feel free to contact me.
Thanks
BMWeerman
Location: Griffith Park, CA
Yesterday, on something of a whim, we jumped in the truck and headed south to check out the Griffith Park Sidecar Show. We knew where Griffith Park was, but had only a vague idea of the whereabouts of the show. Fate was kind t because as we neared the exit for the park a motorcycle with attached sidecar appeared in front of us.
Not a hard guess where they were going. Sure enough the old game of "follow that sidecar" soon led us to the Crystal Springs Picnic Area and a sea of classic, unusual, and just downright bizarre sidecar rigs.
The show was started almost by accident by Doug Bingham 36 years ago. Bingham is owner of Side Strider, Inc. and the first event was held just on the suggestion that he and his customers get together for a picnic. When over 40 rigs showed up Bingham knew he was on to something.
Since then the show has grown to include 300-400 entries and thousands of visitors each year.
Richard Williams poses with his Vintage BMW sidecar rig which has original paint and stripes.
Some entries were wilder than others..."calling Buck Rogers."
Please see the photo gallery for many more pix of the event
I have been working on this project for a long time and, unfortunately, it is still not complete. However, I have decided to publish the first section. This is a pictorial story in comic book form with accompanying music.
Click on the link below to view the comic book and on the red speaker icons to the left to hear the music.
Lines in the Sand, Part 1
