CX500 rAt Attack stage 1 completed

Okay, never mind the current and well justified "Art Rage" re: Uncle Bill's highly questionable, inappropriate, and universal betrayal of adult to child responsibilities (not to mention clearly being at odds with any "permit for working with a child" police clearances) going on in Oz at the moment, here are some more happy snaps of my current "rAt Rage" instead.

The CX500 that I'm applying my own forms of artistic freedoms of expression to is of 1981 vintage, which in bike years (that at least match human years) makes her 27 years old - more than old enough to have her photos taken in such compromising states of being ... and she certainly didn't consent NOT to have such happy snaps taken. :)

Until the new seat along with a modest Harley sissybar and backrest arrives, I've resorted to camoflaging the current seat with some classic beaten up leather saddlebags virtually donated to the cause by an old friend who probably doesn't share my distaste for shiny, polished, and clean machinery. Cheers again CW ... perhaps you'll have time to take it for a spin next time ... oh and you were right about the bad earth probably causing the indicator to play up! Actually, I reckon the bags lend themselves well to The Look I'm aiming for, so I hope they are still high enough when the new seat goes on.

Like the red light installed on the centre stand ? It's wired into the park lights (and on a separate switch) and puts out a nice glow to remind night drivers there is something on the road in front of them. Which is also the reason for the gratuituous use of those ugly looking reflectors.

The narrow 55watt drive lights have been relayed into the high beam ... decided I didn't care about doing the split thing of putting one on the main beam and the other on the high beam. Yes, I realise that the charge system might not keep up with the drain, but I doubt that the drive lights are actually going to get all that much use anyway. Like the light-up toggle switch ratted onto the fusebox next to the ignition ?

Yes, that IS plastic spiral wrap that has been used on the pillion grip, crashbars, and handlebar tie-bar. Yes, I've deliberately introduced MORE plastic to a motorcyle. Who says my idea of "rAt" has to be the same as your, hmmmm ? Heh.

Aside from the seat/sissy bar arrangement on order, some pods for the carbies are coming so I can get rid of the stock airbox and move the battery and electrics into the middle under the seat and get rid of the side-covers. I'm still on the search for some shorter reach shocks so I can lower the rear a few inches. I've also got a different kind of guard on its way. That one is going to be mounted off the swing arm so that it hugs the tyre.

I'm also on the lookout for an old B250 Tractor seat to interchange with the main seat as whim takes me. Why a B250 seat ? Coz ten years or so ago I spent many hundreds of hours sitting on one as I used the tractor it belonged to as my beast of burden to get artistic and creative with the 5 country acres I had.

See pic of one gorgeous piece of quality 3D functional Art. Oozes talent, eh ? Oozed a bit of hydrolic oil too.

Remember folks, chrome won't get you home.

Oh, and IL BL, you're a IL DL. Both of you even. Heh.

As for more on the Art Rage as opposed to Rat Rage going on at the moment, see: http://www.behindthebox.com.au/showthread.php?t=31467

regarDS

Downtime ... deep Downtime.

Just a quicky to continue on the the previous entry but "downtime" from a different point of view. "Downtime" as in "dive, dive, dive ..."

Busselton Jetty is a Great Place to do a bit of scuba diving, but rather than me bang on about it, just visit: http://www.busseltonjetty.com.au/ for more info on the kind of view you can get of the bottom of the Indian Ocean from about 2km offshore WITHOUT getting your feet wet.

If you want, you can even do it now, for they've got a web-cam set up there too.

LSCP and I did it from both sides of the underwater observatory glass, and we cheated having to carry all our scuba gear out for a 2km walk by using our 4 metre "tinny" dinghy instead and using "The Dive Shed" mooring (with permission). Much better way of doing it.

The Dive Shed is the local dive shop and they were extremely helpful regarding weather conditions, any equipment hire, and they also do charters to not only the jetty (saving you the lugging of gear) but also to the HMAS Swan wreck and some local reef.

As for us, well the Vis wasn't good that day but it was still a fantastic and peaceful dive ... and wouldn't you know it, I just happened to have a certain sign handy and LSCP was in the mood to take some photos. :)

Yes, even when partaking in "downtime" when on extended "downtime", I was still thinking of all the wonderful foruming folk in the "Behind Big Brother" forums.

LSCP even managed to capture on film a forum moderator swimming by at the time !

regarDS

It's nearly that time of year again ...

Yup, "Big Brother Australia" is nearly upon us again. What do you mean you "can't abide THAT show" and you "can't believe you watch or support in any way shape or form that dross" ? :)

Well, I do and have done so since the first season was inflicted upon Oz viewer all those years ago ... can you believe we are now up to season EIGHT ?

Sadly, it would appear that Gretel isn't going to mother us through this season so there is some cause for concern if not despair.

Anyway, not only am I a long time proud viewer of "Big Brother Australia", but also I am a long time proud participant of forums and websites dedicated to the topic. Actually, I'm probably moreso a fan of such sites than I am a dedicated watcher of the show, for it is much more satisfying to be actively involved in something than a mere observer, yes ?

Once upon a time I used to content myself with the official BB Oz site but soon found that to be far too restrictive, manipulated, and the forums over-flowing with young'uns spouting endless pointless SMS speak. Yuck, eh ?

Then in 2005 I discovered the excellent "Behind Big Brother Australia" site and that soon proved to me to be a far better place to both observe and participate in the Big Brother phenomena ... you can still find "derspatz" posting there to this day.

And now, just in time for the new Big Brother Oz season, there is a new web site and foruming area that has recently been made available to one and all and thus far it promises to have a far more progressive, useful, and pleasantly welcoming approach to those who love "foruming" than anything provided by the Official Big Brother Oz site, or the official site's long time nemesis "Behind Big Brother Australia".

The recently launched New Improved approach to things is called "Behind Big Brother .NET" and it can be found at http://www.behindbigbrother.net/ and the most immediate difference between "the other" Behind Big Brother site and it is the fact that it IS a ".NET" as opposed to ".COM"

IE. None Commercial. Not For Profit. Get the idea ?

It also has a novel approach to Moderation and forum policing that I hope both works well and catches on for other online discussion places. Sure, it will be nothing new to those used to the old days of FIDOnet or USEnet, but it has been a long time coming for standard Web.

Anyway, nothing like a bit of healthy competition and I for one wish BOTH the mentioned "Behind Big Brother" sites all the best for BB08 ... I can imagine it is a massive and largely thankless job to maintain such web locations during such a popular show, and it is fantastic to have such sites available for the fans to gather at to communally discuss and enjoy their favorite show and a lot more besides.

Here is to BBo8, and here is to those who continue to give of themselves in order to make it even better for everyone, and here is also to the bright and shiny new boat in the docks: http://www.behindbigbrother.net/ and all who choose to sail in her, too.

Remember BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU !

So get Behind Big Brother Australia and join in with all the forum fun here at Behind Big Brother Australia ... NET :)

regarDS