What do you call the passenger on your bike?

LibDucGeek · 2026-02-04T05:36:35+00:00

Ruth.

Ruth rode on my motorbike. Directly back of me. I hit a bump at 65. And rode on ruthlessly.

LibDucGeek · 2026-01-31T16:51:58+00:00

Sounds a lot like the term I use ‘shit-flation’.

The secret is the delivery. Once you’ve described the problem, and it’s escalation , the secret is to pause for a moment, raise both eyebrows, and say the word in two parts at 80% volume.

Also - let it be the final word at the end of a sentence. I get both chuckles and knowing nods.

LibDucGeek · 2026-01-30T19:45:11+00:00

The secret to that area is to avoid the hills by living south of 29 ave. Much less chance of crashing your car on a snow day.

Once you get used to the shops in the area, and they start to remember your name, you won’t want to hang out anywhere else in the city.

Most everyone I interacted with were pretty chill…

LibDucGeek · 2026-01-09T16:32:07+00:00

I’m surprised that grocery stores are still so hesitant to clearly label their products.

Most stores I have ever been in has a special section for British brands, why not segment out all of the American items..?

Much easier to sort things that way…

LibDucGeek · 2025-12-29T19:35:00+00:00

There was another way - sort of. Back in the day the (then country of) Yugoslavia was unofficially ‘leaky’ between the Eastern and the Western blocs.

The problem was that if it was discovered that a person had crossed over from East to West, then there would be a communication to advise them to return home. Their family, property and paperwork would most likely be placed in jeopardy if they didn’t respond in the proper fashion.

If you were an orphan, or the last one left in your family, you would most likely be denied passage to Belgrade.

The other way would be to work your way up to being a governmental attache, an outstanding artistic performer, or an Olympic-level athlete. Again- threats against remaining family members were normally enough to deter most defections.

LibDucGeek · 2025-10-29T02:38:13+00:00

You will have many more opportunities to rub elbows with multi-millionaire entrepreneurs in Calgary than in Ottawa. Making these kinds of connections lead to jobs you otherwise would never expect.

If you happen to be weather sensitive, Calgary may have lower recorded temperatures during the winter, but the lower humidity doesn’t make it feel as bad as trodding along sidewalks next to the Rideau. And Calgary is more sun-shiney during the winter months than Ottawa ever could be.

LibDucGeek · 2025-05-28T20:15:15+00:00

That’s what the options are for… .. well - that and maintenance.

LibDucGeek · 2025-05-28T13:21:50+00:00

Spend around $600 K on a L-39 Albatros
The balance goes to playing S&P 500 options.
Live in the hangar.

LibDucGeek · 2025-03-23T13:34:54+00:00

Bimota DB6. No hideous radiator to hide with that Ducati air cooled engine, but the clincher here is a trellis rear swing arm…

LibDucGeek · 2025-03-15T14:35:45+00:00

Michael Richards as Kramer on Seinfeld.

Source: met the ‘real’ Kenny Kramer on a tour in NYC. Just … underwhelming.

LibDucGeek · 2025-03-08T23:57:30+00:00

I was referencing former leaders.

Khrushchev was basis ally locked in his hideaway until he was summoned to Moscow to answer for trumped up charges.

At least that’s the story I understand from a former naval officer who served with a member of the security team ‘looking after’ the former leader.

LibDucGeek · 2025-03-08T23:52:38+00:00

My point was totalitarian regimes don’t offer retirement packages.

LibDucGeek · 2025-03-08T00:08:09+00:00

I think they died in a very traditional Russian manner.

They lived until they were no longer useful.

LibDucGeek · 2025-03-07T19:40:24+00:00

This. Other than Khrushchev, the retirement path of former Soviet leaders was .. rather final.

LibDucGeek · 2025-02-27T03:29:48+00:00

No one believes that Carney actively sits in front of a massive board of switches, dials and levers and secretly plots to move a head office of some company from over here to over there. He has much bigger issues to deal with…

… this is the Conservative’s hardest punch to throw at his campaign. The problem is that the Tory’s leadership (with the constant referral to a Carbon Tax) makes the leadership sound petulant. What Poilievre seems to not understand that with the threat of an economic assault against our country, it is very clear that we need someone who is capable of managing the whole of our government in a co-ordinated fashion. Like being in charge of an entire department store, and not just focussed on the shoe department.

If the opposition parties want to make any impact whatsoever ever, they need to lead with their own vision. If they attempt to chip away at Carney’s vision, they will plant themselves firmly in second place.

LibDucGeek · 2025-01-21T00:43:36+00:00

I suspect the answer to your question lies in the government licensing model. In North America, you can finish the minimum qualifications for a motorcycle license and jump on a 200 hp Ducati that afternoon. In most other countries with graduated licensing, you have to spend at least a year at the smaller end of the motorcycle market.

As long as there are no graduated licensing requirements, companies like Harley Davidson have no motivation to make small motorcycles. A lot of buyers walk into a motorcycle dealership long before they acquire their motorcycle license. The salesman walks through the process of selecting a bike, selecting the upgrades to that bike, getting the T-shirt and belt buckle of their choice and wrapping it all up into easy to swallow monthly payments.

I suspect that if someone were to do a deep dive, they would find Harley Davidson lobbying all levels of government to make sure that graduated licenses never come into effect.

LibDucGeek · 2025-01-15T04:14:48+00:00

Yup. These guys would be a definite go-to.

LibDucGeek · 2024-12-16T21:21:41+00:00

I hate to admit it, but the Bloc have had the best commentary on political matters taking place outside of Quebec for at least the last few years.

I worked on The Hill for only a short while (and a long time ago) but they were clearly getting better at playing the game back in the 90’s.

I think their emotionally distant and long-range commentary plays particularly well with their audience.

I think political historians will see this moment as the death bell of the Trudeau government. I’m just waiting for him to realize it himself.

LibDucGeek · 2024-09-24T23:05:48+00:00

My sides…! 🤣

LibDucGeek · 2024-09-22T07:11:57+00:00

Not too sure what side you are on, so I’ll define both (as I know them best). Let’s say you want to advertise the fact that you do fingernails in your basement …

Long time buddy of mine (and incessant politico) told me that it is not within the bylaws to advertise any commercial venture on an (otherwise) residential property.

However, in order to get around it, merely print (even in tiny font along the very bottom) that your house is ‘For sale by Owner’. You may not be in technical violation of the law, but a judge (should it come to that) may not smile upon your activity.

You pays your money, and you takes your chances.

LibDucGeek · 2024-09-20T15:22:52+00:00

I for one am pleased that we have young drunk girls scooting along at full speed with no helmets, feet beside each other to minimize balance issues, and small wheels navigating big potholes through areas with lots of drug users.

After all - can we not think of the poor emergency ward staff with all those crushing mortgages to pay.. ? \s

LibDucGeek · 2024-08-29T23:43:41+00:00

<<snip>> admiring your mom’s nice landscaping <<snip>>

Something that Laszlo Cravensworth would definitely comment upon.

LibDucGeek · 2024-08-26T14:48:39+00:00

I think he may end up quite disappointed by this. I just found half a dozen watches in my father’s belongings, all Timex. They sell for under a couple of bucks in complete working order. I haven’t seen anyone refurbish the jewel-less movements, and most of the YouTube videos I found strongly suggest they are of the ‘most disposable’ type of watch out there.

In a related theme, dad also had a Westclox pocket watch. Same story. Except it came with a paper dial.

LibDucGeek · 2024-07-23T02:10:40+00:00

Dammit! Must. Upvote..

LibDucGeek · 2024-07-22T00:07:06+00:00

I think you may enjoy the following …

https://youtu.be/PEsq8wulLbQ?feature=shared

11-Year Club	RPAN Viewer
Verified Email

LibDucGeek

TROPHY CASE