Miscellaneous, distracted, various, and inimitable

[Conan71]

HD, 1942, WLA

Nope, try again.

[Townsend]

Nope, try again.

HD, 1943, WLC

[Conan71]

I'm impressed, but that's strike 2.

WLA



WLC

[Townsend]

I've exhausted my military channel knowledge.

[Conan71]

Hint: There used to be one at the 45th Infantry Museum in OKC and I've owned three of them in the past.  They are somewhat rare.

[RecycleMichael]

I believe that is one of them scooters.

Do I win?

[dbacks fan]

Not sure of the model, but isn't that an Indian?

[heironymouspasparagus]

Don't laugh when you see a Bianchi carbon framed bicycle carrying a gun rack.  Just chuckle and say: "CONAN!!!"  I promise, I wave before I shoot.

I carry the .45 in the front handlebar bag.

[Conan71]

Not sure of the model, but isn't that an Indian?

Nope.  But Indian had a similar model as a result of a competition for a government contract to develop a motorcycle which would tolerate desert warfare.  The prize was to be an initial order of 25,000 units to the successful design.  The Harley WLA and Indian Scout both had real limitations for that sort of environment with the traditional v-twin layout of one cylinder in front of the other and primary and secondary chain drives which would be chewed to pieces by desert sand.

This is a 1942 Harley-Davidson XA shaft drive. 

It copied the boxer motor of the BMW R-71 which put the cylinders out in to the air stream on both sides of the bike.  The Indian variant was the Indian 841 and it took a configuration similar to Moto Guzzi with an opposed "V" layout rather than a "flat" or "boxer" layout.  Harley produced about 1000 as did Indian.  Reputedly, they never made it to active duty as a contract was awarded for the Jeep in the meantime.  It was obviously a much more stable platform for desert war and could transport more men and equipment.

I guess I get to buy myself a Marshall's

[heironymouspasparagus]

Vespa.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Interesting article about factory jobs.  Keeping in mind this is a snapshot of today's situation.  If there is a large movement to vo-tech, the pay will go down, but there is some good stuff happening NOW.

Caveats;
The Baltimore machine shop owner says his TOP guy makes $30 per hour.  That is about $60k for full time work.  To get to 100k, 'ya gotta do a whole lot of overtime.  The 'top guy' equivalent here would be about $22.50 for similar standard of living (using CNN Money cost of living calculator).  Anyone except the 'top guy' would probably be about $10 to $17 per hour here (based on the plants that I have direct experience with).

Not horrible.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/100-000-factory-job-whats-145600750.html

[TheArtist]

  That "newer stuff" they made in the 40s is ok and all.  But I am more partial to certain items from an earlier time period... especially when they happen to be Art Deco.      And for all those tough guys that say they wouldn't be interested in an Art Deco Museum... oh really?

















And just for fun.

[DolfanBob]

Those are freaking awesome pictures.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Wow!  Those are amazing.  I would buy one of those like the black or the red one...



And now for something different.  One of the best renditions of "Over the Rainbow" I have ever heard.  Funeral at end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=V1bFr2SWP1I

[heironymouspasparagus]

Found a little place just a little bit north of town.  Well, maybe slightly more than a little bit... Milwaukee.  Ironic, ain't it - go to Milwaukee, birth place of American beer - to drink Irish beer.

Mo's Irish Pub.  Had an amazing Shephard's pie.  Brought to the table in it's own little cast iron kettle.  Just like great, great, great, great, great grandma used to make...

Had a sampler of the Trinity of Irish beer.  Guinness, Harp, Smithwick's.  Wonderful.  I am now inspired to go try Marshall's...
Tomorrow there is live music, so may have to go back.  (See video at end of their page.)  There was a shuttle to a game last night - couldn't even guess who was playing.

http://www.mosirishpub.com/milwaukee/index.html