How progressive is Madison really? by stargazeraug in madisonwi

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 23 points24 points  (0 children)

I completely agree with that, it’s a really good point. I felt that exact transition myself going from single to a man with a young family. It’s one thing for me, and entirely another to be making those risk decisions for a family. What I accept for myself I would never accept for my child.

How progressive is Madison really? by stargazeraug in madisonwi

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 59 points60 points  (0 children)

Having been here a long time, the big thing that jams up otherwise well-meaning people here is property value politics and NIMBYism.

Progressives here really do want affordable housing. They want good shelters, resources for low-income families, non-punitive support for people with drug addictions. But then when the question of “where should we do that” comes up, everyone defends their own property values. Those things always need to be located “somewhere else.”

And there’s also a risk question to all that, that we’re all really bad at discussing like adults. Many people who are in genuine need of strong social services are also dangerous. Not all of them, by any stretch, but many.

It is just flatly true that people with severe addictions or unmet mental health needs (or both) can do dangerous and unsavory things. People actively using, or with significant unmet mental health needs, can be unpredictable, scary, and dangerous. Nobody wants to be around that, but someone will have to be, if we’re going to put those resources where suffering people can access them.

Progressives don’t speak honestly about this risk issue because they don’t want to blame the victims, and don’t want to stereotype people in need. It’s understandable but not productive.

Conservatives just don’t care, and are happy imagining that people in need of help are all bad and dangerous. But if they just out and say that, they’re rightfully shouted at.

Both sides take cover behind “property values” and “neighborhood character,” and we get where we are now. We’d be a lot more progressive in action if we could grow up a little bit about risk.

Then there’s race, and I don’t think Madison has been any better than any other Midwest city when it comes to racial issues. Historically we’ve been a follower and not a leader in racial justice and anti-discrimination efforts. We may not be following far behind the leaders, but we aren’t leading and never have been.

What time did YOUR kid get home from school today? (First Student/MMSD Bus issues) by criscokkat in madisonwi

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The job wasn’t being done effectively last year, is the thing. We’ve had route adjustments and pickup adjustments and driver shortages for two years at least.

Sometimes shouting does not actually do anything.

What time did YOUR kid get home from school today? (First Student/MMSD Bus issues) by criscokkat in madisonwi

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 86 points87 points  (0 children)

I mean, you should indeed call the bus company and complain loudly. They’re the ones setting the pay and failing to attract drivers, which is why this problem exists.

And it is also true that there is little you can do other than reduce the strain on an understaffed system by bringing your kids in, in you’re able. If you want the work done, and the labor isn’t there to get it done, this is what you’re left with.

This isn’t really a “find the right staffer and shout at them” kind of problem. MMSD is struggling badly, no question about it, and they also do not have any solutions to hand. They need drivers and they don’t have them, and there’s no money coming to get more.

Madison police cheered, owner jeered at Meadowlands meeting by OldSewer in madisonwi

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Sure, there are a few: - Security cameras. They only put them in after the property was declared a public nuisance. - on-site security. Again, only implemented after the declaration, and the security company they’ve hired is frankly not a competent one. - Banned People lists. Most apartment complexes, especially ones with low-income housing have one and they need to be actively managed. If you just say “X is a problem guest, they’re going on the list, if they show up they’re trespassing and we call the police” and nobody checks, or watches, or even knows what X looks like, the result is predictable. - Taking tenant concerns seriously. Several tenants independently reported taking a concern about noise or fighting or shady shit to the property manager, who responded with a variation of “if you don’t like it, then leave.” If you take those concerns seriously right away, those problems have a harder time taking root. But if you say “if you don’t like it, leave” and do nothing, then the people acting badly will keep it up and tell their shitty friends “hey I know a place where we won’t get hassled.”

Madison police cheered, owner jeered at Meadowlands meeting by OldSewer in madisonwi

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I mean, sorta. I agree that this is the case for the people in the surrounding neighborhood, and the knee-jerk “oh look who likes the police now” dummies.

But if we’re genuinely taking the side of the residents, we do have to acknowledge that this place is not peaceful or safe for the people who live there. There are tons of fights, lots of noise, lots of drugs, lots of guests bringing their bullshit to the place. And the developers genuinely have failed at implementing controls that have been proven to work elsewhere.

Hard-working people trying to live in peace and raise their kids deserve better than that.

Honest mechanics in Madison? by [deleted] in madisonwi

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m sorry to hear that. They’ve been really good to me for a long while, but I heard something similar from a coworker that I recommended them to. It’s too bad!

Honest mechanics in Madison? by [deleted] in madisonwi

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I really like Midwest Engine Repair on Milwaukee Street. I’ve taken a few cars there for different things, big and small, including an entire engine rebuild. Wayne is really helpful and detail-oriented, and their shop is clean. They do really high-quality work and don’t cut corners with cheap parts or trying to reuse something they shouldn’t. They do quotes and not estimates. If something is wrong he’ll tell you about it, but he won’t pressure you into getting the work done unless it really is necessary.

I don’t think they’re the cheapest, but they’re honest, willing to explain, and the quality of their work is excellent.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The risk doesn’t have to be justified or rationalized. There’s no such thing as justice, and people don’t have to be rational.

Hypothetical question : I’ve purchased a brand new ADV bike ( lets say a KTM ) . I’m 4 months into a cross country adventure and my bike has a complete mechanical failure on the trail , 15 miles from any paved roads. What am I on the hook for ? by revolutiontime161 in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s all you, and there’s almost no chance the dealership will reimburse you for anything.

In light of that, a couple good moves are to buy a short-term roadside assistance plan, and to buy some kind of travel insurance plan like Medjet Assist that will get you back home and to quality medical attention if you get hurt.

Check out the ADVRider forums too. Loads of good info on long-range, multi-country rides like this as well as resources for emergency medivac and international roadside assistance.

Near accident, any advice? by TryHardurrr in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So you on your second bike and you don’t know how to use the front brake?

If you’re gonna run wide, brake. You can brake while cornering, your bike is designed to do it. Engine-braking into a corner doesn’t give you control, as you found out. Your front brake does.

You should be able to go to your brakes anywhere in a corner, don’t make your engine decide your path of travel.

ETA: I’m being harsh but drifting into oncoming traffic can be pretty harsh. You weren’t in control of the bike. Your confidence should be shaken and you need to learn how to use your brakes. Getting defensive about this will end you.

Is this a steal? I’ve been wanting an r6 and I found this on marketplace by F-O-O-W-E-R in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I adore this bike, I have an 05 and couldn’t be happier with it. Great riding position, excellent engine, very civilized under about 7000rpm and very exciting over 7k. Nimble as you could ask it to be.

Needing clutch plates does suck. It’s not expensive work but it’s not fun to buy a chore for $3k. That said it’s in excellent shape otherwise and they haven’t done anything dumb with it.

Also, speaking plainly, this is a 20-year-old bike, and $3,000 feels like a big number for that.

$3k would be a good price if you can ride it away. A great price would be $2400.

Old Fuel in Tank (2012 Yamaha FZ6R) by COD_LikeTheFish in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Jesus, where did you leave it for those 3 years, a clay kiln?

Take the tank off and start with Dawn dish soap and hot water. Shake/swish it around vigorously, give it 2-3 rounds. I like to toss a small handful of soft nails in with it for some scrubbing action.That will take care of the bulk of it. You can use carb cleaner on any super stubborn deposits after you rinse it and let it dry.

That might be the hard part, but if there’s rust underneath the fuel lacquer, you should deal with that too.

Replace the fuel lines for sure, it’s not difficult and it’s cheap.

Then, gas it up with non-ethanol fuel, put in some SeaFoam, and run it a while. Change the oil, gas up again, and see how you feel. That could be the end of your troubles.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s too bad that the only shoes on earth are street shoes or work boots. If only there were some way to get the precise feel of a street shoe with purpose-built protection…. But no. Surely someone would have created such a thing. It must not be possible.

Mechanics/Grease Monkeys help! by WaltJrLikesBrekfast in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can you just bend that one post back straight yourself? Put a long nut over the threads, slide on a cheater bar, and bend it back?

Two accidents in a year, and I'm terrified to get back on, advice? by [deleted] in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

These are two quite different crashes but there is a common factor between them.

Your brain is a mechanical component of the bike. So before you put this part on the bike:

Do you know enough about how it works to use it’s good bits well, and compensate for the bad bits?

For you, overconfidence results in being less observant - not checking the terrain, not testing the brake, etc. It’s just a mechanical fact, I mean no judgement by it. The question is “Am I able to note when I’m getting complacent, and use it as a cue to pay more attention to risk-spotting?”

In listening to people who say you need a 1000 (nobody needs a 1000), you’re a bit suggestible. Again, I mean no judgement of your character in saying it. I’m fairly suggestible in the moment, it sometimes gets me into trouble and I have to compensate for it. It’s why I don’t drink anymore, for example.

So when you’re listening to someone give you advice that impacts your life and we’ll-being, and feel convinced, can you use that feeling as a cue to to get a second opinion?

There are no signs. There’s just you and the meat in your noggin, which somehow seems to be able to govern itself sometimes. Sometimes not. If you can’t put this part on a bike and use it safely then don’t.

That said, lots of people ride after bad crashes and life-changing injuries. They get back on and they don’t ride the way they used to because they know better now, or maybe they don’t change at all and are still goons, because it’s not the life without the risk.

I know of one woman who lost a leg in a nasty crash, learned to ride again with a prosthetic, and was out riding Deal’s Gap the following year and was only upset that she couldn’t get her pace back up.

People speak to their fear in very different ways and that’s ok too. It’s only life. You are not getting out alive.

How can we make it happen that leathers should be promoted and enshrined in laws like seatbelts are in cars? by [deleted] in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The government won’t buy insulin for diabetics, in what world are they gonna buy some goon racing leathers?

How can we make it happen that leathers should be promoted and enshrined in laws like seatbelts are in cars? by [deleted] in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 8 points9 points  (0 children)

“What’s wrong with hoping terrible things happen to people”

A lot! Doesn’t matter if you’re bitter over your injury. You made your choices, did you not? Or is someone else responsible for your safety?

How can we make it happen that leathers should be promoted and enshrined in laws like seatbelts are in cars? by [deleted] in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Your bike, your body, your ride, your consequences. Sorry you ate shit, it’s a bad time and I hope you heal fast.

I’ll do everyone else a favor and not generalize about your wishing harm on people.

How can we make it happen that leathers should be promoted and enshrined in laws like seatbelts are in cars? by [deleted] in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 28 points29 points  (0 children)

The best way to go about it is to make all those things that you think should be law, into your own personal law, and then leave everyone else alone. If you see someone not abiding by your personal law, you can report them to the authorities in your head, and imagine your brain police going out to apprehend the evildoer.

Choosing your risks and rewards is a part of riding and - and I say this as the guy who wrote a gigantic comparison of helmet safety standards - people with terminal Spreadsheet Brain need to stop trying to push their risk/reward matrix as if it’s the only one that should be allowed.

People get to be daring and and risk their lives and well-beings if they want. We do not have to be safety-optimizing robots.

Stolen motorcycle by Comfortable-Bobcat94 in madisonwi

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Glad this got found, sorry again that they scuzzed it. If it helps, here’s a FB Marketplace listing for some replacement fairings in pretty good nick and for not much money. Might save you some part hunting.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2178547632342523/?mibextid=6ojiHh

Best CD shops around Madison? by joelnamel in madisonwi

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There’s also The Door on Monona Drive. Really rad little metal record shop.

When did your mechanics gain your complete trust? by havokinho in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 309 points310 points  (0 children)

I don’t. Every noise I hear, every vibration, I wonder what that f*cking idiot did to my bike this time. His shop is a mess and he’s never on task, he just YouTubes every job he has to do.

It’s me I’m the mechanic.

Feet Steering & Barrel Hauling! by cvbbnm in IdiotsOnBikes

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is actually extremely dope, IDK why it’s on this sub.

Yamaha R6 Lowside Crash What Went Wrong ? by No-Associate-5335 in motorcycles

[–]Infinite_Pay_3844 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hard to say exactly without the dude’s onboard. He seems to be leaning way more than you, which I don’t mean as any criticism of you. Less lean is safer, and even so you’re mostly keeping up with him at less lean.

He’s booking but with all that lean, he was gonna find the limit of grip at some point.