Sorry Mark Zuckerberg, We’ve Heard This All Before

from The People’s Voice: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

by Patricia Anthone, America Outloud: No, MAGA is not fracturing over H-1B Visas. We recognize that would-be immigrants should be strategically selected if their entry is to advance the interests of American citizens as a FIRST priority. And that is precisely what the H-1B visa program allows our nation to do. Would-be immigrants are chosen […]

by Angus Dalgleish, Daily Sceptic: An article in the Daily Mail online about the campaign for compensation for victims of Covid vaccine injury mentions many case reports of patients who suffered severe reactions and even death after receiving a Covid vaccine. The real tragedy is that such reactions are only compensated if there is 60% disability, which means the loss […]

  Founded almost a hundred years ago, the first official communist party in Vietnam traces its history back to colonialism and a struggle for independence from imperialist control. Through this movement, communism gained momentum and struggled through the decades to gain independence for Vietnam and to represent the rural peasants and working-class population of a country downtrodden by colonialism.   At a time when communism was on the rise, especially amongst the disenfranchised working classes and poverty-stricken people of the world, Vietnam was ripe for a powerful communist movement.   Beginnings Hồ Chí Minh in 1921. Source: Wikimedia Commons   In the 1920s, communism was introduced into the political arena of French Indochina, of which Vietnam was a part. Three movements evolved during this time: the Annamese Communist Party, the Indochinese Communist Party, and the Communist League of Indochina.   Seeing an opportunity to spread communism into the French colony, the Comintern took action and sought to unite the movements into a single party. With this in mind, they sent a young Hồ Chí Minh to coordinate this unification. A native of Indochina, Hồ Chí Minh had all the hallmarks of someone who could succeed in this endeavor. He had helped form the French Communist Party in 1924 before traveling to the Soviet Union, where he garnered considerable respect as a member of the Comintern.   Trần Phú. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Hồ Chí Minh succeeded in his goal, and the three parties were united to become the Communist Party of Vietnam (Đảng Cộng sản Việt Nam) with Trần Phú as its first Secretary General. Despite the former groups claiming to represent all of Indochina, the vast majority of those within the movement came from Vietnam, and the movement swung between representing Indochina as a whole and just Vietnam.   Founded in 1930, the party grew quickly as poor harvests in Indochina led peasant workers to flock to a movement that spoke for the working classes. Rallies and protests led to revolts, and the movement became especially prominent in the northern-central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, collectively known as Nghe Tinh. Wary of losing their grip on power, the French did not sit idly by and let the population be radicalized. Their response was violent.   Map of French Indochina following the Franco-Siamese War of 1911. Source: Santa Clara University Digital Exhibits   In the Autumn of 1931, the French began a series of crackdowns on communists. Hundreds were brutally murdered, and thousands were incarcerated as the French sought to reassert complete control over the political sphere.   Among the victims of these reprisals were Trần Phú and several members of the Central Committee, who were captured and murdered on April 19, 1931. With the massive sweep to wipe out communist leadership, the French declared victory, and the next few years were spent with the French believing that the problem had been solved or at least that the threat was in remission.   Revival, Shifting Fortunes, & World War II Imperial Japanese troops on their way to French Indochina in 1940. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The story of communism in Vietnam could hardly end with the murder of its leadership. Communist sentiment was still powerful, and with the backing of the Comintern, a revival was inevitable. The man to help guide this revival was Lê Hồng Phong (who at the time went by the name of Vương Nhật Dân), who served as the second General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (the Indochinese Communist Party at the time).   In Macau, outside of French control, the Overseas Commission of the Indochinese Communist Party was established and acted to communicate between the reduced Central Committee and the Comintern. Through this setup, communism once again became organized in French Indochina, with training programs, media, and restoration of party bases.   Despite these successes, communism in Vietnam saw little progress overall during the 1930s. Josef Stalin was instrumental in tempering opposition to the French government as the Soviet Union actively worked to shift the French government to the political left.   French colonial troops retreating in March 1945. Source: Wikimedia Commons   World War II shifted the political dynamic immensely. In September 1940, the Japanese launched a quick invasion of Indochina, which was under the control of the Vichy French government. Japan needed control of the area to prevent China from importing arms through French Indochina. The French and Japanese came to terms, and the Japanese were allowed to occupy Tonkin in the north, giving them effective control over potential arms shipments destined for China. The following year, Japan occupied all of Indochina.   The events of 1944 saw the liberation of France, and fearing Indochina would become belligerent against Japan, the Japanese launched a coup in March 1945. They deposed the colonial French government and set up the puppet states of the Empire of Vietnam, the Kingdom of Luang Phrabang, and the Kingdom of Kampuchea.   The situation was difficult to discern from the perspective of the people of Vietnam and the communist elements therein. From one perspective, the overthrow of French colonial forces gave hope that colonial rule may be at an end. The Japanese occupation, however, was harsh, and the Japanese certainly did not want any communist uprisings in territories under their control.   The August Revolution & The First Indochina War Hồ Chí Minh. Source: Public domain via Store Norske Leksikon   On September 2, 1945, Japan signed the official surrender, ending the Second World War. On the same day, Hồ Chí Minh declared independence as the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV), under the control of a national independence coalition called the Việt Minh, which had been created by the Indochinese Communist Party and Hồ Chí Minh in 1941.   Japanese troops in Vietnam surrendered to the Chinese in the north and to the British in the south who had entered Saigon. British occupation troops then deferred to the French government for decision-making. The Chinese recognized Vietnam’s independence, while the French did not. Thus, Vietnam was split politically in the two zones of control. The French overthrew the local DRV government and asserted control over Cochinchina (southern Vietnam) while the north remained beyond their reach of power.   Guerilla operations from DRV supporters began almost immediately. After negotiations failed to produce any results, war broke out across the entire country. By 1949, low-level skirmishes had evolved into a conventional war as the Việt Minh continued their struggle, armed with weapons supplied by the Soviet Union and the newly established communist China.   The struggle continued until the French were decisively defeated at the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ in 1954.   Ngô Đình Diệm. Source: Wikimedia Commons   With Việt Minh victory, the Geneva Conference of 1954 was held to iron out the details and conditions. The French withdrew completely, resulting in independence for Laos and Cambodia as well. In 1949, the French had created the State of Vietnam in the south as an anti-communist rival to the communist government declared in the north.   In 1955, the prime minister in the south, Ngô Đình Diệm, held a referendum, but it was not to assert the power of the Việt Minh. In a highly fraudulent referendum, he became president and declared Vietnam a republic.   With a communist government in the north and the authoritarian regime of Ngô Đình Diệm in the south, war continued. The North (DRV) received arms and support from the Soviet Union and China, while the Republic of Vietnam in the South received support from the United States. Ngô Đình Diệm’s regime, however, was brutal and undermined US efforts to establish legitimate anti-communist rule in South Vietnam. In 1957, a communist insurgency began in the South. By 1959, men and weapons from the North were being transported to the South in a war that escalated with communist victories over the South Vietnamese army.   The United States grew increasingly concerned over Diệm’s inability to deal with the communist threat. His brutality alienated the people of South Vietnam, especially Buddhists, as Diệm favored Catholic control in the country.   With CIA backing, a coup was launched in which Ngô Đình Diệm was deposed and murdered.   Meanwhile, communism in North Vietnam under Hồ Chí Minh was consolidated with agrarian reform and suppression of opposition. These policies echoed the application of communism inherent in Stalinism and Maoism. At the same time, a cult of personality evolved around North Vietnam’s leader, Hồ Chí Minh.   The United States Intervenes A Viet Cong sniper captured by American forces. Source: Wikimedia Commons   During the height of the Cold War, it was difficult for the United States to ignore the events happening in Vietnam. Gripped by a fear of communist expansion, the United States government took a keen interest in defending Vietnam from a complete communist takeover, as they feared the “domino effect,” the idea that communism would spread across the borders and cause communist revolutions in neighboring countries.   Thus, the decision to send troops into Vietnam was made. The north of the country was under communist control, and the Americans feared it would spread to the south. Assistance was ramped up from aid and military advisors to small groups of soldiers, and eventually tens of thousands of troops that would fight a bloody war against their communist adversaries, the Viet Minh from the north and the Viet Cong from the south.   American soldiers in Vietnam, 1968. Source: Wikimedia Commons   A hugely unpopular war in the United States, public opinion saw mass protests and sit-ins across the states as many Americans demanded an end to a war that they viewed as pointless and not the concern of the American government. They grew tired of American casualties.   Although thousands of military advisors had been on the ground in Vietnam since the early 1960s, the first G.I.s intended for general combat operations landed in Vietnam on March 8, 1965. Their main goal was to secure the independence of South Vietnam, a state that was closely tied to the West and its capitalist policies, and therefore a state that could be easily controlled by Western influences.   American military presence would be a feature in Vietnam until its eventual defeat and withdrawal in 1975. On April 29, the Americans evacuated Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam. The following day, North Vietnamese troops entered downtown Saigon, and the South Vietnamese government surrendered.   Thus ended a bloody era defined by war and the attempted assertion of foreign power and political doctrines over Vietnam. Vietnam had finally thrown off the yoke of Western imperialism. Western powers had attempted to assert control over Vietnam and influence its policies by force of arms—an endeavor that resulted in the death of millions. With the final victory over the Americans, the Vietnamese were free to determine their own course. However, many others saw this not as Vietnam taking control of its own nation but as a Soviet victory in a proxy war.   Postwar Changes The flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Source: Wikimedia Commons   April 30 marks the reunification of North and South Vietnam, as it commemorates the day that the North Vietnamese entered the center of Saigon and the South Vietnamese government surrendered to them. Unified in all but name, the actual proclamation of reunification would come over a year later.   On July 2, 1976, North and South Vietnam were officially merged into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Those in the South feared bloody reprisals from the North, but the expected mass executions never occurred. Hundreds of thousands, however, were sent to “reeducation camps,” which were brutal.   Power in the south was consolidated. Farms and factories were nationalized and a program of collectivization was implemented. Many Vietnamese, fearing the changes, fled the country during this time.   Political developments continued to err on the side of conflict. In Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge killed Vietnamese people in border villages. On December 25, 1978, the Vietnamese responded by invading Cambodia. Within two weeks, Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, had fallen, and the Vietnamese had ended the genocidal reign of Pol Pot.   This created a difficult situation for China, which had supported the Khmer Rouge regime. China launched a brief invasion of Vietnam but withdrew after a few weeks. China claimed its punitive mission had been accomplished, but Vietnam suffered little political fallout. The Vietnamese continued to occupy Cambodia.   Life in Saigon (Hồ Chí Minh City) during the 1980s. Source: Flickr user manhhai via saigoneer.com   Throughout the 1980s, communism became difficult to maintain. The United States had imposed an embargo and pressured world bodies such as the International Monetary Fund to deny aid to the country, already afflicted by the destruction wrought by decades of war.   Peasant farmers had little incentive to produce. Their crops were exchanged for ration cards, similar to Soviet policies. Output wasn’t enough, and inflation soared. With the threat of resource shortfalls, Vietnam was forced to start importing rice. It was clear that new economic policies had to be implemented to avoid a complete collapse.   Despite the economic difficulties, communist practices had succeeded in drastically reducing poverty throughout Vietnam, as well as introducing nationwide access to education and a free healthcare system.   Capitalist Policies Introduced Hồ Chí Minh City. Source: Wikimedia Commons   To stave off the economic crisis, the government started introducing carefully monitored capitalist reforms. At first, farmers were allowed to sell surplus produce. This was followed by more reforms, which allowed for free trade. Private businesses were encouraged, and the Vietnamese economy opened itself to the world market, accepting foreign investment. These policies started in 1986 with the accession of Nguyen Van Linh as the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.   While the country still remained officially a communist state, like China and the Soviet Union under Lenin, it relaxed hardline communist economic policies and allowed for more economic freedom. This represented a belief that communism had to be implemented gradually rather than the country shutting itself off from a world where capitalism ruled supreme.   Nevertheless, the move towards a freer market satisfied the US policymakers in Washington, and the US lifted embargoes on Vietnam in 1994. The economy started growing rapidly, and Vietnam was admitted to the World Trade Organisation in 2006.   This new prosperity was not evenly distributed. Large company owners received the bulk of the economic benefits while others remained impoverished. This dynamic continues to the present day. Protection for the working class has become weaker while education and healthcare are no longer free.   Vietnam Today Advertising for the 12th Party Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Source: Wikimedia Commons   GDP growth in Vietnam paints a bright picture. The country represents one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and the fastest in Southeast Asia. Modern brands can be found in bustling cities teeming with commercial activity. Behind this success, however, the country is plagued by unsurprising challenges. Of great concern is the level of corruption that has been a feature for many decades.   Vietnam continues to be a one-party state with the Communist Party of Vietnam in control of the government, which exercises authority over the media, censoring anything that is threatening to communist rule.   On an international level, of significance is the tensions with China over ownership of the South China Sea islands.   National emblem of Vietnam. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Vietnam is a complex country with a complex history. For decades, it fought against colonialism and subsequently became a testbed for communism. The difficulties in promoting this system led to the adoption of capitalist policies. These policies solved certain problems but created more in their place.   From an academic perspective, it is difficult to determine whether Vietnam today represents a failure of communism or the neoliberal practices of capitalism.

  Arizona’s history is rich with pivotal moments, from the early settlement of indigenous cultures to its role in the Wild West and its eventual path to statehood in 1912. The state has seen conflicts like the Apache Wars, the rise of silver mining towns, and the growth of vital trade hubs. Historic towns such as Tombstone, Jerome, and Ganado preserve these stories, each offering its own glimpse into Arizona’s rich past. Known as the Grand Canyon State, Arizona is home to countless must-see historic sites that bring its vibrant history to life.   1. Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tucson San Xavier del Bac Mission, Tucson, Arizona. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Mission San Xavier del Bac, founded in 1692 by Jesuit missionary Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, is the oldest European structure in Arizona. Established to convert and serve the local Tohono O’odham people, the mission aimed to spread Christianity and foster peace among Indigenous communities.   Construction of the current church began in 1783 under Franciscan supervision and was completed in 1797.   When you visit this National Historic Landmark, you can admire its exquisite Spanish Colonial architecture, including intricate carvings, frescoes, and statues that adorn the interior. The mission remains an active parish, serving the local community and welcoming approximately 200,000 visitors annually.   Highlights include the ornate altar, detailed artwork, and the serene atmosphere that reflects centuries of history and cultural exchange.   2. Tombstone Historic District, Tombstone The Oriental Saloon building, Tombstone Historic District, Tombstone, Arizona. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Founded in 1879 during Arizona’s silver boom, Tombstone earned its nickname, “The Town Too Tough to Die,” for surviving economic collapse, fires, and time itself.   Walking down Allen Street is like stepping into a time machine. Wooden sidewalks and authentic 19th-century facades set the scene for gunfight reenactments, with the O.K. Corral taking center stage. This is where the legendary shootout between Wyatt Earp, one of the most infamous gunslingers of the Wild West, Doc Holliday, and the Clantons unfolded in 1881, securing its place in Western folklore.   Tombstone’s historic courthouse, now a museum, unveils the law-and-order side of frontier life. Boot Hill Cemetery tells stories of outlaws and settlers alike, while the Bird Cage Theatre whispers tales of miners, gamblers, and dance hall girls.   3. Fort Apache Historic Park, Fort Apache Fort Apache Historic District, Fort Apache, Arizona. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Fort Apache Historic Park, established in 1870, was a U.S. Army post created during the Apache Wars to protect settlers and secure the region. Located on the White Mountain Apache Reservation, the site is a blend of military and Native American history.   The fort once served as a base during significant conflicts, including campaigns against Apache leaders like Geronimo. By 1922, its role shifted to education when it became the site of the Theodore Roosevelt School, a federal boarding school for Apache children.   Today, you can explore preserved military structures, including officers’ quarters, barracks, and the commanding officer’s house. The park also features the Nohwike’ Bágowa Museum, which showcases Apache culture, history, and art.   4. Montezuma Castle National Monument, Camp Verde Montezuma Castle National Monument, Camp Verde, Arizona. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Established as a national monument in 1906, Montezuma Castle is one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in North America. Despite its name, this beautiful archaeological site in the US has no connection to the Aztec emperor Montezuma; early settlers mistakenly attributed the structure to him. Built by the Sinagua people around 1100 AD, the site is a testament to their ingenuity.   The five-story, 20-room structure nestles within a limestone cliff 100 feet above the valley floor. This strategic placement offered protection from both natural elements and potential threats, while the nearby Beaver Creek provided a water source for irrigation and daily needs.   When you visit the site, you’ll have the chance to marvel at the craftsmanship and learn about the Sinagua culture, which thrived in this region for centuries before mysteriously abandoning the area around 1400 AD. The visitor center provides interpretive exhibits detailing the Sinagua’s agricultural practices, trade networks, and daily life.   5. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Coolidge Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Coolidge, Arizona. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Casa Grande Ruins, established as the first federally protected archaeological site in 1892, preserves the remains of a Hohokam Great House dating back to approximately 1350 AD. Located in Coolidge, Arizona, the structure is a fascinating example of ancient Southwestern ingenuity.   The Great House, constructed from caliche, a natural concrete-like material, stands four stories tall and features walls over two feet thick. Its purpose remains a mystery, though theories suggest it was used for astronomical observation, ceremonial gatherings, or administrative purposes. Intriguingly, its design aligns with the sun and moon’s movements, highlighting the Hohokam’s understanding of celestial patterns.   Surrounding the Great House are remnants of irrigation canals and smaller structures that illustrate the Hohokam’s sophisticated farming techniques, which supported a thriving community in the desert.   Today, you can explore the site, view interpretive exhibits at the visitor center, and gain insights into the daily lives of one of the Southwest’s most innovative ancient cultures.   6. Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, Yuma Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, Yuma, Arizona. Source: Flickr   Established in 1876, the Yuma Territorial Prison housed some of Arizona’s most notorious outlaws and became a symbol of frontier justice. Nicknamed the “Hellhole” due to its harsh conditions, the prison’s location on a rocky hill overlooking the Colorado River amplified its isolation and intimidation factor.   During its 33 years of operation, the prison housed over 3,000 inmates, including 29 women, convicted of crimes ranging from cattle rustling to murder. The facility featured tiny cells, strict discipline, and minimal comforts, but it was advanced for its time, offering electricity, a library, and a hospital. Ironically, some prisoners found it more comfortable than their lives on the outside.   Today, the site is preserved as a state historic park where visitors can walk through original cells, explore the “dark cell” used for solitary confinement, and view artifacts and photographs in the museum. The park also highlights stories of infamous inmates and the prison’s role in shaping Arizona’s history.   7. Jerome Historic District, Jerome Downtown Jerome with hotel, Arizona. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Perched on Cleopatra Hill, the Jerome Historic District offers a glimpse into Arizona’s mining past. Established in 1876, the town flourished as a major copper mining center, earning it the title of “The Wickedest Town in the West” due to its saloons, brothels, and notorious reputation. At its peak in the early 20th century, Jerome was home to over 15,000 residents.   Following the decline of the mining industry in the 1950s, Jerome nearly became a ghost town, with a population of just 50 people. However, it was revitalized in the 1970s as an artist and tourist destination, preserving its historic buildings and rugged charm.   Visitors to the district can explore landmarks such as the Douglas Mansion (now a museum), the sliding jail that moved downhill due to unstable ground, and numerous restored saloons and shops.   8. Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, Ganado Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, Ganado, Arizona. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Established in 1878 by John Lorenzo Hubbell, the Hubbell Trading Post is the oldest continuously operating trading post in the United States. Located on the Navajo Nation in Ganado, Arizona, it served as a vital link between the Navajo people and settlers, offering goods in exchange for Navajo rugs, jewelry, and other handmade crafts.   The trading post became a cultural and economic hub, fostering relationships between the Navajo and non-Navajo communities. Hubbell, fluent in Navajo, was instrumental in building trust and promoting Navajo art, particularly weaving, to the outside world.   Today, visitors can step into the original trading post, which retains its 19th-century atmosphere with creaky wooden floors and shelves stocked with traditional goods. The site also includes Hubbell’s family home, a visitor center, and the corrals where livestock trading took place.   9. Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Willcox Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Willcox, Arizona. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Fort Bowie, established in 1862 during the height of the Apache Wars, played a pivotal role in securing control of southern Arizona and protecting settlers traveling through Apache Pass. It was strategically located near a vital water source, Apache Spring, and became the site of numerous clashes between the U.S. Army and the Chiricahua Apache, led by figures like Cochise and Geronimo.   Unlike typical forts, Fort Bowie was less about imposing walls and more about its strategic location and functionality. It served as a base for military campaigns, a supply depot, and a hub for negotiations during one of the most turbulent periods in the American Southwest.   Nowadays, you can hike to the fort ruins, passing landmarks like the Butterfield Overland Mail station and Apache Spring. The visitor center and interpretive trails provide insight into the cultural tensions and resilience of both the Apache people and the settlers who came west.   10. Arizona State Capitol, Phoenix The Arizona Capitol Museum building in Phoenix, Arizona. Source: Flickr   Completed in 1901, the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix stands as a testament to Arizona’s journey from territorial status to statehood in 1912. Designed in a classic revival style, the building was originally intended to house all three branches of the territorial government. Its copper dome, an homage to the state’s mining heritage, is crowned with a statue of Winged Victory, symbolizing progress and prosperity.   While modest compared to capitol buildings in other states, its design prioritized functionality. The structure is made of local materials, including malapai stone and granite, reflecting Arizona’s rugged landscape. Inside, the original chambers, such as the House of Representatives and Supreme Court, remain preserved.   The Capitol functions today as the Arizona Capitol Museum. It offers exhibits on state history, governance, and the path to statehood. Visitors can explore artifacts like the USS Arizona silver service, learn about legislative processes, and view murals capturing Arizona’s cultural diversity.

  In most contemporary locales, transport is something that is taken for granted. Resources such as medical supplies are generally easily accessible. However, in Alaska in the early twentieth century, freight was less reliable. Planes were utilized, but winter flying in primitive aircraft was a new concept that was still being ironed out. Ships were useful until harbors began to ice in, then became irrelevant for the season. Residents of Nome, Alaska, were used to this conundrum but were unprepared when a devastating illness affected the town in the winter of 1925. Little did they know, their saviors were four-legged.   Life in Nome An aerial view of Nome in 2007. Source: US Army Corps of Engineers   Nome, founded during the Klondike Gold Rush, once had a population of around 20,000 as gold seekers searched for riches. However, by 1925, gold resources had dwindled, and many had migrated. Around 1,400 remained in Nome, making a life in the isolated port city.   Located on the Seward Peninsula, Nome was bound by ice for seven months of the year, making shipping impossible. The closest railroad was close to 700 miles east in the town of Nenana. Commercial aviation was a few years from implementation in Alaska, and modern snowmobiles would not appear until mid-century. Small “bush planes” were being tested by enterprising pilots but had remained largely unsuccessful with their open cockpits in the brutal Alaskan winters.   The prime mode of transportation in winter in Alaska was a dog sled. The cold temperatures were too harsh on horses’ lungs, but dogs, particularly breeds like the Malamute and Siberian Husky, had been bred especially for this task.   Dogsledding appears to have originated with Indigenous populations in the Yukon, with the oldest archeological evidence pointing to its existence dating back to 1000 CE. Dogsledding, or mushing, was commonplace throughout Alaska by 1925, and formal racing was popular. Nome’s first dog race took place in 1908, and local mushers enjoyed minor celebrity as a result. Dogs were used to transport the mail, work on traplines, and assist hunters in hauling game.   Although it lacked transportation options, Nome was able to stay connected to the world with telegraph lines. Nome was the largest city in a post-gold rush Alaska, and when it wasn’t frozen, it was a busy port that was a hub for other towns to receive supplies.   More Than a Cough An image showing Diphtheria’s trademark pseudomembrane. Source: Wikipedia   In late December 1924, Dr. Curtis Welch, Nome’s only doctor, found himself examining a two-year-old Inupiaq boy who was experiencing labored breathing. Dr. Welch diagnosed the child with tonsillitis, as there were no signs of contagious disease in the boy’s village, nearby Holy Cross, or any symptoms that particularly alarmed the doctor.   Shockingly, the boy died the next day. The boy’s mother refused an autopsy. In the weeks that followed, respiratory illness among the area’s children occurred at a higher rate than normal, and three more children died.   As the number of sick children increased, Dr. Welch began to recognize the symptoms of diphtheria and realized a potential epidemic was on his hands. Diphtheria is a bacterial infection spread through respiratory droplets. It causes illness when the bacteria produce toxins as they multiply throughout the body. Though it is largely absent from the modern world thanks to vaccination programs, diphtheria was a devastating scourge in the early twentieth century.   The bacteria produce toxins in the respiratory system and kill healthy tissue. This dead tissue builds up and creates a thick coating in the throat, known to medical professionals as a “pseudomembrane.” This membrane-like structure impairs breathing and swallowing and can eventually cause suffocation. The disease also has the potential to damage the heart, kidneys, and other organs.   At the time, the treatment for diphtheria was to administer an injectable antitoxin that prevented the production of the compound that caused the symptoms and attacked healthy tissue. Dr. Welch had placed an order for a fresh batch of antitoxin to have on hand the prior year, but it had failed to reach Nome’s port before it was iced over. All he had to treat the cases at hand was expired medication.   A bottle of Diphtheria toxoid used as a vaccine to prevent Diphtheria infections. It would not become widely used until the 1930s. Source: National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC   After another child died, he decided to attempt to use the old antitoxin at a higher rate. Even with this treatment, another child died. Dr. Welch worked with town officials to arrange an emergency town meeting and impose a quarantine. He estimated he would need about one million units of antitoxin to prevent an epidemic in Nome.   Officials determined that units of serum were available in Anchorage, which was 1,000 miles away. The medicine could be transported as far as Nenana, approximately 674 miles away by railroad, but then the train stopped there. Planes were unable to fly in Alaska’s cold winters. The port was iced over. However, one of the townspeople’s most familiar and common forms of transportation could work: dog sleds.   Mark Summers, superintendent of the Territorial Board of Health, proposed using dog sleds to transport the serum. His original plan involved two mushers who met at a halfway point. However, Scott Bone, governor of Alaska, suggested increasing the number of involved mushers. He gave the US Post Office Inspector Edward Wetzler the job of organizing the final teams, as he was familiar with the best from mail transportation.   Some citizens were upset about the plan, fearing it was not the best option. Though planes struggled in the winter cold, some believed planes were much more likely to be successful than dogs. In fact, newspaper editor William Fendtriss Thompson, publisher of the Daily Fairbanks News-Miner, wrote caustic editorials on the topic, criticizing the organizers of the dogsled relay. By this time, about twenty more cases of diphtheria in Nome’s children had been confirmed, with about fifty others considered to be high risk due to their proximity to the infected.   Setting Out Whiteout conditions were common along the route. Source: Jan Kopriva   William “Wild Bill” Shannon drove the first leg of the relay from Nenana. It was thirty degrees below zero Fahrenheit when Shannon lashed the twenty-pound case of antitoxin to his sled and set off for Nome on January 27. A high-pressure system was blowing in from the North, and Alaska suffered its effects.   Shannon’s team was led by his five-year-old dog, Blackie, but the balance of his nine-dog team was relatively inexperienced. As a result, Shannon diverted off the trail somewhat to smoother ice and ran alongside the sled at times to reduce its weight and keep himself warm. He arrived at his pre-determined rest stop in Minto at approximately 3 AM, with temperatures now dropping to colder than sixty below.   Shannon had frostbite on exposed areas of his face, and three of his dogs were struggling. After a brief rest, Shannon resumed his journey, leaving the three ill dogs behind. The musher and his six remaining dogs were in poor condition when they arrived in Tolovana at 11 AM. The serum was turned over to the next musher, Edgar Kalland, who, along with Dan Green and Johnny Folger, would move the package forward over the course of the next day and night.   Tragic Progress Leonhard Seppala. Source: Anchorage Museum Archives   On the 29, the serum moved between six teams and traveled 170 miles. However, two new cases of diphtheria had been reported and the weather continued to trouble the mushers.   On January 30, Charlie Evans set out in an icy fog with his team. Both of his lead dogs would perish on the run. Leonhard Seppala, one of Alaska’s most celebrated mushers, completed the most dangerous leg of the journey. He could not make it to Unalakleet in time to pick up the serum from the previous musher, but a local backup, Henry Ivanoff, was waiting there for this reason. Not far from Unalakleet, Ivanoff’s team ran into a reindeer and became entangled.   Fortunately, Seppala passed by him in the commotion, and the serum was transferred. Seppala’s team, led by twelve-year-old Togo, traveled 84 miles, covering the dangerous Norton Sound. They continued the next day, forced to climb Little McKinley Mountain, a 5,000-foot elevation increase.   At Golovin, the serum went to Charlie Olson, who suffered severe frostbite while blanketing his dogs.   The final musher, Gunnar Kaasen, and his lead dog, Balto, picked the serum up in Bluff. At one point, the sled flipped in the dark as a result of brutal winds. Kaasen suffered frostbite as he tore his gloves off to desperately recover the serum. The package remained intact.   Kaasen did not intend to be the last musher in the relay, but he found his successor, Ed Rohn, asleep and decided to finish the run himself. He assumed he could do it faster than Rohn could, accounting for the time necessary to prepare and harness a new team. Kaasen made it to Nome at 5:30 AM on February 2. The serum was thawed and ready for administration before noon.   Bravery Unmatched The Serum Run brought new recognition to mushing. Source: Gabe Herman   There’s no telling what the damage to Nome’s population would have been in terms of death and suffering if it hadn’t been for the 1925 Serum Run and its brave participants. Fighting temperatures that reached as low as 85 degrees below zero, gale force winds, and blizzard conditions, the antitoxin was delivered to Nome in 127.5 hours, an unimaginable speed under even calm conditions.   To top it off, not a single bottle of medication was damaged or broken during the trip, thanks to the care of conscientious mushers. Thanks to their efforts, Nome never had to experience the horror of a pandemic.

  The history of science is full of amazing individuals who changed the world with their ingenious ideas. Determining the best is no easy task, and people will always have different opinions when it comes to the most influential scientific mind of all time.   Yet there’s one man who will always be part of this conversation: Albert Einstein. At twenty-six years of age, this brilliant individual cemented himself in the history books with several outstanding scientific papers. This was just the start of his career, and he continued to amaze the scientific community throughout his life.   Albert Einstein’s Early Years   Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 in the German city of Ulm beside the Danube River. His parents were secular Jews who were part of the middle class. Just one year after the birth of little Albert, the family moved to Munich, where Einstein’s father Hermann set up an electrical engineering business with his brother Jakob.   Photograph of Albert Einstein and Maja Einstein by an unknown photographer, 1885. Source: ETH Zurich Library   Einstein was a timid child who struggled with verbal communication. While most children learn to talk after approximately eighteen months, Einstein couldn’t string sentences together until he was three years old. By this time, another member of the family had arrived: Maja.   Yet Einstein was ahead of his peers in other areas, such as mathematics and problem-solving. At home, he would construct models and play with building blocks, while at school, he developed a reputation for independent learning, preferring to solve problems his own way.   Einstein had already discovered a love for algebra and philosophy by the time he became a teenager. Some of his earliest influences were the mathematician Theodor Spieker and the philosopher Immanuel Kant, both of whom were German. Einstein also developed an interest in music. Encouraged to pick up an instrument by his mother (who was a pianist), he started playing the violin when he was six, though he didn’t start to practice seriously until he was thirteen.   Einstein’s education was inconsistent during the latter half of his adolescence. Opposed to the requirement that seventeen-year-olds do a year of military service, he left the Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich and went to live with his family in Pavia, Italy. He then went to Zurich, Switzerland, and tried to get into the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School.   Though he scored highly in math and physics, he struggled with the language, zoology, and botany tests. He studied at the Swiss Cantonal School in Aarau for a year before retaking the entrance exams for the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School. This time, Einstein passed.   Scientific Breakthrough Photograph of Albert Einstein and Mileva Marić by Jan F. Langhans, 1912. Source: ETH Zurich Library   Contrary to what one might expect, Einstein wasn’t an ideal student. He typically attended the lectures he was interested in but neglected the others, preferring to sit and discuss physics. Einstein also fell in love with a student on his course: Mileva Marić. (Like Einstein, Mileva didn’t take her studies very seriously.)   With disappointing examination results and a reputation for disobedience, Einstein failed to secure a job at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School after graduating. Instead, he started working at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern in Summer 1902 and married Marić the following January. Outside of his job at the patent office, Einstein worked on scientific papers.   In 1905, the year Einstein turned twenty-six, he published four remarkable papers. The first one discussed the photoelectric effect and proposed the wave-particle theory, arguing light is released in packets of energy. Before this, many scientists wrongly believed light traveled exclusively in waves.   The third paper introduced the Special Theory of Relativity, while the fourth paper featured the most famous equation in history: E = mc². For those who don’t know, the equation says that the energy of a body at rest equals its mass times the speed of light squared.   Einstein’s argument that time moves slower for objects traveling at a faster speed was revolutionary at the time.   Academia & Personal Struggles In September 1908, when Einstein was still in his twenties, he started his career in academia, delivering lectures at the University of Bern. Initially, his lectures weren’t very popular, but a fellow scientist, Hermann Minkowski, helped Einstein grow his reputation.   Photograph of Albert Einstein by Jan F. Langhans, 1912. Source: ETH Zurich Library   Minkowski delivered lectures on the theory of relativity, helping people understand the ideas and explaining how Einstein had discovered a fourth dimension: space-time. The two great minds even worked together briefly until Minkowski’s death in January 1909.   With time, Einstein’s work became more appreciated in the world of academia. He received offers from many institutions and accepted a position at the University of Berlin. The family, which now included two children, moved to the German capital, and Einstein started his new job in April 1914.   However, the marriage wasn’t in a good place. The young scientist had a heavy work schedule and put his career above everything else. Moreover, Mileva didn’t like Berlin and moved back to Switzerland with the children. Einstein was looked after by his cousin Elsa, who had her own children and lived nearby.   Soon after, Europe was enveloped in one of the greatest conflicts of the twentieth century: the First World War. As a pacifist, Einstein opposed the conflict, but his stance on war wasn’t popular in the German academic community. A document known as the Manifesto of the Ninety-Three, signed by 93 German professors, helped galvanize support for the war. Einstein signed a counter-manifesto, but his signature was just one of four.   The scientist’s poor health didn’t help matters. In 1917, his work on the theory of relativity was put on hold owing to a stomach ulcer and jaundice, which causes the skin and eyes to turn yellow. He also lost weight during this time.   Elsa was still able to take care of him, and over time, the cousins became closer, with the two of them developing romantic feelings for each other. After officially divorcing Mileva in February 1919, Einstein married Elsa several months later.   The Eddington Experiment Photograph of Arthur Eddington by Walter Benington, c. 1926. Source: National Portrait Gallery, London   Though Einstein had already established himself in the scientific community, some still doubted his theory. But this all changed on May 29, 1919, thanks to the Eddington Experiment.   Conducted by British astronomers Frank Watson Dyson and Arthur Stanley Eddington, the Eddington Experiment set out to prove Einstein’s theory of relativity by utilizing a total solar eclipse. With the moon temporarily blocking out the sun, the background stars were more easily visible, allowing the scientists to measure the gravitational deflection of the light coming from the background stars.   They did this by comparing photographs taken during the eclipse with photographs taken six months earlier when the Sun was shining down on the other side of the world. The two batches of photographs were compared, revealing the stars photographed during the eclipse appeared to have moved slightly.   The experiment proved Einstein was right about the relationship between mass, gravity, and speed. After the results were shown to the Royal Society and the Royal Astronomical Society, academic and public interest in Einstein reached new heights.   The University of Princeton presented him with an honorary degree, while the Royal Swedish Academy of Science presented the scientist with the Nobel Prize for Physics.   The Rise of Fascism & The Manhattan Project Photograph of J. Robert Oppenheimer by an unknown photographer, c. 1944. Source: The National Archives US   Having returned to Berlin, Einstein continued working both independently and alongside others. A notable collaborator was the Indian scientist Satyendra Nath Bose. Together, they developed the Bose-Einstein condensate and Bose-Einstein statistics.   But his peaceful lifestyle was under threat from a dangerous ideology: fascism. Einstein was singled out and referred to as a “Communist Jew” by the German press and accused of cultural internationalism and international treason. The Nazis also froze his bank account and burned copies of his books.   Luckily, the Einsteins were in California when the Nazis came to power in January 1933, as Einstein was a visiting professor at the California Institute of Technology. While it was much safer for Einstein on the other side of the Atlantic, he encountered hostilities in the US too, with some taking issue with his left-leaning, pacifist views.   Photograph of Albert Einstein by Yousuf Karsh, 1948. Source: The Yousuf Karsh Archive   Einstein also had to deal with the mounting threat of nuclear war. Horrified that the Nazis would try to develop a nuclear bomb, he signed a letter written by the Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard. The letter was sent to Franklin D. Roosevelt, warning the president about the potential nuclear threat from Germany.   This letter prompted Roosevelt into action, for he was determined to develop nuclear weapons before the Nazis did. The Manhattan Project, headed by American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, led to the creation of the world’s first nuclear bomb. It was a colossal project, employing approximately 130,000 people. But Einstein wasn’t one of them. Due to his political views, he was seen as a potential security risk and barred from working on the Manhattan Project.   Einstein regretted signing the Szilard letter and campaigned against nuclear weapons in the post-war years. Shortly before his death, he signed what was known as the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, calling for global peace.   Albert Einstein’s Death & Legacy Photograph of Albert Einstein by Philippe Halsman, c. 1947. Source: Philadelphia Museum of Art   Einstein died at the age of 76 on April 18, 1955. The cause of death was a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.   He left behind a phenomenal legacy, with many regarding him as an era-defining genius. His theory of relativity and his ideas regarding space-time were revolutionary. Popular ideas like the Big Bang Theory simply wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for Einstein’s work.   No one denies his impact on the field of science, but there will always be those who object to Einstein’s political views, particularly his pacifist attitudes. Some have also taken issue with his support of Zionism. Yet it’s important to note Einstein had a balanced approach to this issue, arguing Zionists harmed their cause by asking for too much and expecting political rule over Palestine.   Politics aside, finding anyone in today’s scientific community who disputed his achievements would be a struggle. Though it took some time for his contemporaries to fully appreciate him, Einstein is now regarded as the greatest scientist of the twentieth century.

Hey, Has this week been insane or what. The French leader resigned, the Canadian dictator quit, and our Californian Leaders let Los Angeles burn. Our current President is sending more funds to the Ukraine while California burns. You do understand the reasoning behind the mismanagement of California water reserves and the first responder cut-backs in Los Angeles. Our leaders in California are anti-human. Hang on as countries and governments all over the world wake up to a few facts. It’s completely amazing. The Freedom bell still rings. Let’s hit the news. Bikernet is going through a transformation to a WordPress platform. If you want to get a glimpse of the new design, check out https://Blog.Bikernet.com The News was provided by the Bikernet Team including: Wayfarer, the Redhead, Bob T. Sam Burns, Laura, Barry Green, El Waggs, J.J. Solari, Amy White, Jenn and the rest of the crew. The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. 2025 HARLEY-DAVIDSON HOMECOMING FESTIVAL TO FEATURE HEADLINING ACTS CHRIS STAPLETON AND HANK WILLIAMS JR.–Advanced Ticket Sales Begin January 17, 2025 The annual Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival will be headlined by musical acts Chris Stapleton and Hank Williams Jr., each performing at Veterans Park on the Milwaukee lakefront July 11 and 12, 2025. Ticket sales for this yearly celebration of music, moto-culture, and the H-D hometown of Milwaukee will kick off January 17, 2025 with a presale at 9am CT, followed by a general on-sale at 10am CT. Ticket holders can experience the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival at Veterans Park with 2-Day and 1-Day General Admission (GA), GA+, or VIP ticket options to enjoy all the music, entertainment, local food, beverages, and more. Ticket sales for the July 10-13 celebration of music, moto-culture, and the H-D hometown of Milwaukee start on January 17 at HDHomecoming.com. Sign up for SMS alerts to gain presale early access to purchase tickets at the lowest possible price. Presale begins at 9am CT and a general on sale will follow if tickets remain. On Saturday, July 12, 2025, Chris Stapleton will headline the festival. The 10-time Grammy, 19-time CMA and 19-time ACM Award-winner is one of the country’s most respected and beloved musicians. These accomplishments celebrate Stapleton’s new album, Higher, which was released this past fall to overwhelming critical acclaim. Known for his electric live performances, Stapleton recently returned to NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” as musical guest for the third time. In addition to teaming up with Dua Lipa, Stapleton has new collaborations with Slash (“Oh Well”) and George Strait (“Honky Tonk Hall of Fame”) and recorded a version of “I Should Have Known It” for a Tom Petty tribute album. Hank Williams Jr. will headline H-D Homecoming on Friday, July 11, at Veterans Park. The legendary American singer, songwriter, and musician is widely known for his blend of country, rock, and Southern rock music. Son of the iconic Hank Williams Sr. and one of country music’s most influential figures, Hank Jr.’s career spans over 60 years and has made him one of the most enduring and distinctive voices in country music. Hank Williams Jr.’s extremely impressive resume has spawned 70 million albums sold worldwide and earned him accolades which includes ACM Entertainer of the Year, CMA Entertainer of the Year and BMI Icon, in addition to a GRAMMY win and coveted inductions into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame. Music, Moto, and Much More Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival events will be held at both free and ticketed venues across the Milwaukee area, including Veterans Park, the Harley-Davidson Museum, H-D Headquarters on Juneau Ave., Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations in Menomonee Falls, and at local Harley-Davidson dealerships. Admission to Veterans Park for live music performances and other activities requires a ticket. In addition to headliners Chris Stapleton (July 12), and Hank Williams Jr. (July 11) several additional top acts will perform. The complete slate of artists and full performance schedule will be announced at a later date. Check HDHomecoming.com, where visitors can sign up for H-D Homecoming updates. Follow the new @hdhomecoming festival social media handle and @harleydavidson for updates. BANDIT’S EMPORIUM PRODUCT OF THE WEEK— A brother of Bandit surface recently after 20 year and asked Bandit if he would help him clear out a Sturgis Storage locker packed full of Firemen memorabilia including several trumpets and a broken clarinet. Bandit made a lamp out of the clarinet which sold immediately. Now a Trumpet must go. Check it out. The base is part of a steel fire extinguisher. We can ship it anywhere. –Bandit DIRECT FROM THE MOTORCYCLE TRANS AM HOME– This week, our team got together to dream big and set the vision for what we want 2025 to look like—and let me tell you, we’re excited! At the heart of it all are the things that matter most: our incredible riders, our hardworking crew, and amazing supporters like you. A few quick updates to share:Our webstore has some great items available now, with even more exciting things coming later this month—stay tuned! We’ve booked our starting line banquet for September 3rd at Jennette’s Pier in the Outer Banks. It’s the same spot as our starting line the next day, and it’s absolutely stunning. I can’t wait for you all to experience it. We still have some spots left, so if you’ve been on the fence about joining us, now’s the time! It’s going to be tough, no doubt about that, but it’ll also be an unforgettable adventure. Looking forward to seeing you all out there—it’s going to be one for the books! -Kelsey Jackson WRAPPING UP 2024– I hope you and your family had a joyous Christmas and a wonderful holiday season. This time of year offers a special opportunity to share precious moments with loved ones and reflect on a year that is soon coming to a close. Plenty has happened in Washington in 2024, and I’d like to share a few thoughts and highlights with you before we kick off 2025. New Year, New ResponsibilitiesThis month, I was honored to be chosen by my colleagues to hold two leadership positions for the 119th Congress beginning in 2025. First, I was selected to serve as Chairman of the House Energy Action Team (HEAT)—a coalition of House Republicans committed to championing and promoting commonsense, America First energy policies. These include initiatives to unleash affordable, reliable American energy, strengthen national security, and lower costs for consumers. HEAT is the leading voice for Republican energy policy on Capitol Hill, and I look forward to working with President Trump to restore American energy dominance. I am also proud to share with you that I have been named Vice Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. This subcommittee is primarily responsible for overseeing agencies, departments, and programs within the jurisdiction of the full committee, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), just to name a couple. Over the past four years, the weaponization of government and the politicization of public policy have caused the bureaucracy in Washington to alienate and antagonize American families and businesses. As Vice Chairman, I will work with my colleagues to hold the federal government accountable and ensure it truly serves the interests of the American people. Championing Rural HealthMaking health care more affordable and accessible for Ohioans is a top priority—especially for those in underserved rural areas. As a new member the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, I’ve advocated for common sense policies that expand innovative health care options for Ohioans, regardless of their zip code or proximity to urban centers. With advancements in telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and artificial intelligence, the future of health care is digital. That’s why I began the year by launching the brand-new Congressional Digital Health Caucus. The group’s purpose is to inform policymakers about digital health innovations, highlight their impact on patients and the health care system, and foster collaboration among the government and private sector. There is momentum building in Congress to find long-term policy solutions on AI and telehealth, and I expect the Digital Health Caucus to have an important role in these ongoing discussions. Strengthening American Energy SecurityOne of our nation’s greatest assets is our abundant energy supply. When policies in Washington are done right, no one can match the United States’ energy strength and leadership. But when Washington gets it wrong, good-paying jobs, energy reliability, and national security are all put at risk. To find the right solutions, we need to listen to the men and women on the ground who work every day to keep the lights on. This summer, I held an energy roundtable at the Guernsey Power Station to hear directly from Ohio energy leaders about their biggest challenges. One of the top concerns was the Biden Administration’s Clean Power Plan 2.0, finalized in April, which aims to shut down critical power plants that utilize American coal and natural gas. This spring, I led the effort in Congress to reverse this disastrous plan. Solar and wind energy, while valuable, are weather-dependent and cannot be dispatched on demand to meet daily and hourly energy needs. As energy demand continues to grow at a historic pace, Ohio and the nation will require dispatchable, baseload power—currently provided by coal, natural gas, and nuclear—to prevent rolling blackouts and power shortages. To streamline the approval process for new, reliable power generation projects, I introduced the GRID Power Act this fall. This legislation eliminates unnecessary delays for critical energy projects, earning support from grid operators and power producers in Ohio. If we want to power Ohio’s future, we need to take action today. I look forward to re-introducing this legislation in 2025 and building support on Capitol Hill for meaningful improvements to our nation’s power grid. “Thank You!” Representing Ohio’s 12th District in Congress is the honor of a lifetime, but there is no way I could do this job without the help and input from so many others. Let’s Stay Connected As always, let me know if I can ever be of assistance to you or your loved ones by calling my office at (614) 523-2555 or sending me an email. –Congressman Troy BaldersonOhio Be sure to update your contact preferences, so I can keep you informed about the latest from Washington, D.C. and across the region. –MRF KTM BANKRUPTS NEWLY PURCHASED FOUNDRY– Austrian metal foundry called Vöck­la­bru­cker Metall­gie­ßerei GmbH been around for a long time—since 1955. It was due to celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2025. KTM Components took over Vöck­la­bru­cker very recently, on September 1, 2024, according to numerous local Austrian news outlets. About 50 percent of the foundry’s orders came from KTM Components, while the remainder came from outside customers. On December 13, 2024, the Austrian foundry officially filed for insolvency with local Austrian courts. Vöck­la­bru­cker Metall­gie­ßerei GmbH was a wholly-owned subsidiary of KTM Components, which in turn is one of the three KTM subsidiaries that declared insolvency a short time before the foundry did, according to KSV1870 (an Austrian credit protection association). Two major issues contributed to Vöck­la­bru­cker’s insolvency declaration: 1. KTM Components and KTM AG’s planned production stop, which was intended to start on December 15, 2024 and run through March 3, 2025, and the associated massive sales reduction 2. Vöck­la­bru­cker’s liquidity was already tapped out, and verbal promises it says it received from KTM AG to provide advance payments were no longer possible due to KTM AG’s own insolvency proceedings Vöck­la­bru­cker has recorded debts of around 3.5 million Euros, along with an unclear tally of assets that KSV1870 representative Alexander Meinschad believes will be utilized “in the best way possible” after the company is officially closed in bankruptcy court. A full examination and creditor’s meeting for Vöck­la­bru­cker is planned to take place in Austria, at the Regional Court of Wels, on March 13, 2025. Over 100 employees were left without jobs just two days before they expected to get their next paycheck. –WayfarerInternational InvestigatorBikernet.com BANNING THE BANS IN OHIO– As you recall the State of Ohio led the way to protecting ICE by banning the bans on ICE vehicles and leaving it up to consumer choice, brilliant idea. FOUR states have done that now. –Kirk WillardPresidenMotorcycle Riders Foundation STURGIS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM NEWS– MOVING THE ER STREAMLINER TO THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM In a surprise action-packed weekend we encountered quick progress. After months of calls, requests and conversations, nothing seemed to move. We were trying to have the famous Easyriders Streamliner moved with its trailer inside a 50-foot rig. The trailer 30-foot long and 7.5 feet wide presented issues. Many of the shippers would not call us back. According to Dave Campos the original World Land Speed Record holding pilot at 321 mph, the trailer had seen better days and needed to be serviced with new wheel bearings on the three axle trailer and perhaps tires. At one point out only option seemed to be Bandit to the rescue with his high-top van and a couple of volunteers, on Hamster from the coast and Micah McCloskey a member of the Uglies and the pilot of the Salt Torperdo at Bonneville this year. We couldn’t take action until the Spring. In a conversation with Heidi the museum Executive Director she mentioned a Hamster brother Scott Peterson and I gave him a call. “We run from Arizona through Albuquerque all the time,” said Scott. We made arrangements for Scott’s guy, who was on his way, to hook up with Dave Campos and inspect the trailer. Apparently all went well and I received notice—the Streamliner was on the move. It’s now in a protected location in the Key City region waiting sir Fozz, the chairman of the curation committee inspection and detailing as we build a display stand and prepare for insertion into the Museum.   –Bandit BIKERNET CELEBRATES WOMEN RIDERS– In 1929, Vivian Bales rode her 1929 Harley-Davidson for 78 days and 5,000 miles across the country. She told the papers her motorcycle was a, “key to the whole United States.” Vivian Bales was the first motorcycle cover girl and was known for several long-distance motorcycle rides around the US, (before most of the roads were paved) in the 1920s and 1930s. –Fred CubaHistoric ContributorBikernet.com BAGGER RACING EUROPEAN CUP– An imitation or competitor to BRL of USA? The races dedicated to BAGGER motorcycles (Harley Davidson, Indian, etc) have always been viewed with curiosity by the European motorcycling world. Curiosity that will be satisfied from 2025, when the Bagger Racing European Cup will be at the starting line, born from the will of one of the icons of motorcycling of the 2000s: Ruben Xaus. Ruben has inflamed the crowds of the unpredictable and volcanic SBK World Championship on the track as he is today off it. In 2024 he returned to the saddle in the States in this category, winning the Bagger Racing League title at the first attempt. His entrepreneurial instinct led him to sign an agreement to obtain the rights for Europe, which he will organize supported by the Andorran Federation, in the person of President Natalia Gallego, under the aegis of FIM Europe. The Cup will be open to all brands that offer motorcycles that can be equipped with bags on the market, thus allowing manufacturers and customizers to compete on a terrain that has never before been the subject of competition in Europe. Here is the list of bikes admitted to the Cup: Harley Davidson Street Glide Harley Davidson Road Glide Harley Davidson Road King Harley Davidson Ultra BMW R18 Honda Goldwing Kawasaki VN Voyager Suzuki Intruder Yamaha Star Cruiser Moto Guzzi MGX 21 Moto Guzzi California Triumph Rocket Ducati Diavel V2 WYCHE Motorcycle Great satisfaction for Ruben Xaus who has dedicated much of the last year to this project: “I found fertile ground for this project in FIM Europe, which immediately embraced it with enthusiasm. I am convinced that this championship can be an added value for the events in which it will be hosted, raising the level of entertainment and interest of the same. We are in the process of defining the calendar, which will be made official within a few days, but will include the main European countries. The regulation will also be simple and open to all. We want the riders registered for the championship to have fun and have fun”. Alessandro Sambuco, FIM Europe Secretary General“I am always very satisfied when we manage to add a new title to our sporting offering. Adding a new title is an indicator of health for our world and also indicates that there is confidence in what FIM Europe can offer. And what we offer is what differentiates us from the rest of the sporting world, the one that lives outside the international sporting system: we offer sporting rules, safety in sporting practice, insurance coverage and organizations that are up to every situation. The Baggers will offer a wide range of riders, from young to older, the opportunity to compete in a safe and dynamic environment that, thanks to the new Promoter, will also offer attractive entertainment to accompany the race”. The cup includes two races for each round, divided between Saturday and Sunday, preceded by free practice and official sessions that will define the starting grid. The coordination on the track, the organizational secretariat and marketing will be handled by the Italian company Sh Service which will support Gestions A L Instant sl in the organization. Registrations will open in conjunction with the MBE in Verona, an event that links the world of custom and track motorcycling. LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK– 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster® Forty-Eight® for Sale Ember Red Sunglo • Used Motorcycles Street ready, track ready, there’s nothing this Sportster can’t do! Stock# 14217 2013 Harley Davidson XL1200X Sportster Forty Eight with only 11,302 miles! This isn’t just some ordinary Sportster, this Sportster was built by Junior himself here at Lifestyle Cycles and we want to see you ride it home today! * Black Bassani Road Rage 2 into 1 Exhaust* Mid Controls* Black Fork Boots* Shinko Knobby Tires* 1250 Hooligan Ki* 19-Inch Front and Rear Red Wheels* Relocated Speedometer Gauge* Mustang Solo Seat* Raw Finish on the tank and the rear fender!* Roland Sands Gas Cap* Racing Bros Rear Suspension with Reservoir Tanks* Biltwell Black Grips* Black Moto Style Handlebars This bike is only $10,995.00 Plus license, $85.00 documentation fee, and local sales tax. NO HIDDEN FEES like some dealers. And we have no reconditioning or prep fees. This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 92-point safety/mechanical/structural inspection.This motorcycle has not been refurbished and does not come with any warranty expressed or implied! EXTENDED WARRANTIES are available! Fill out an online application today. We have EZ FINANCING Lifestyle Cycles is located at 1510 State College Blvd,Anaheim,CA,92806. Open 7 days a week. NOT LOCAL? WE HAVE SHIPPING AVAILABLE! Call today (714) 490-0155. My Journey with ADHD: Transforming Challenges into Gifts “Within every adversity lies the seed of equal or greater benefit.” – Napoleon Hill For much of my life, I grappled with a persistent challenge: focusing on things that didn’t ignite my interest. As a child, this struggle was misunderstood and mismanaged, leaving lasting marks on my personal and professional journey. When I was in elementary school, teachers labeled me as a problem student. My inability to sit still and listen to lessons led them to believe I was, in their words, “retarded”—a term they used back then. After undergoing tests, they discovered that I had a high IQ, but instead of moving me to a school better suited to my needs, they opted to medicate me. Starting in third grade, I was given Valium—first 5 milligrams, then 10 when the lower dose didn’t seem to “work.” The medication didn’t resolve the frustration I felt. I vividly remember experiencing painful cramps in my legs, a physical manifestation of the emotional and mental strain of being confined in an environment where I didn’t belong. The irony was that when I discovered something I was passionate about, such as mechanics and motorcycles, I could devote my full attention to it without any effort. Most adults with ADHD face a similar paradox: they struggle to connect the threads of their thoughts, which often seem disjointed, while yearning to express their untapped potential. This mismatch creates challenges but also hints at immense possibilities. By the time I reached ninth grade, I made a life-altering decision. I left school to work, earn money, and pursue my passions—motorcycles and cars. I thrived when working on things that inspired me but found it nearly impossible to engage with anything that didn’t. This pattern continued into my adult life, where I often jumped from one project to another, especially in business ventures. My inability to sustain focus on uninspiring tasks left me feeling restless and, at times, unfulfilled. Four years ago, my spiritual mentor, Pat Campbell, posed a pivotal question: “Have you ever been tested for ADHD?” My response was honest: “No, but I’m certain I have it.” She encouraged me to take some online assessments. For the first time, I had confirmation: I passed all three tests with flying colors. This realization marked the beginning of my deep dive into understanding ADHD. My research led me to Dr. Ned Hallowell, a leading expert on ADHD. He reframes ADHD as VAST—Variable Attention Stimulus Trait—and describes it not as a disorder but as a gift. According to Dr. Hallowell, “A person with ADHD has the power of a Ferrari engine but with bicycle-strength brakes. It’s the mismatch of engine power to braking capability that causes the problems. Strengthening one’s brakes is the name of the game.” This perspective shifted my understanding. Dr. Hallowell emphasizes that individuals with VAST excel when they focus on what inspires them, often achieving remarkable success. He even claims that over 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs have VAST and have learned to channel it effectively. I tried implementing Dr. Hallowell’s strategies to manage my VAST, but I still found myself struggling. Pat eventually suggested medication, framing it as an experiment: “If it doesn’t work, you can stop.” Reluctantly, I gave it a try. The results were transformative. For the first time, I wasn’t tormented by my inability to focus. Tasks that once felt impossible became manageable, and I began to harness my gift in ways I never thought possible. Reflecting on my life, I realized that I had always used this gift when it came to my passions—my motorcycles, my friends, my Faith in My Higher Power, and my family. Those areas of my life never felt like an effort; they were a natural extension of who I am. The medication simply bridged the gap for everything else. Today, I no longer view ADHD as a disorder. It is a gift, one that requires understanding and the right tools to unlock its full potential. If you’re struggling with ADHD or VAST, I urge you to seek help. Explore strategies, try what resonates, and don’t hesitate to use resources like medication if needed. You may discover gifts you never knew you had, waiting to manifest in extraordinary ways. I now embrace this part of myself, confident that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. If my story resonates with you, please feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to share more about my journey. And So It Is Namaste’ –Yale “Having ADD makes life paradoxical. You can superfocus sometimes, but also space out when you least mean to. You can radiate confidence and also feel as insecure as a cat in a kennel. You can perform at the highest level, feeling incompetent as you do so. You can be loved by many, but feel as if no one really likes you. You can absolutely, totally, intend to do something, then forget to do it. You can have the greatest ideas in the world, but feel as if you can’t accomplish a thing.” –Ned Hallowell HUGH KING RAFFLE BIKE BUILDERS— Here are the builders from the 10th anniversary Biker Build-Off show. We may have a big surprise coming with this bike and art by Danial James. It’s currently in the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Hank young, Eddie Trotta Kendall Johnson Russell Mitchell Mitch Bergeron Cory Ness Arlen Ness Matt Hotch Joe Martin Chica –Bandit JASMINE CAIN “HITS BACK”– with release of new Slap Shot inspired video, VICTORY!!! In 1977 the well-known US comical Hockey movie ‘Slap Shot’ was released capturing the hearts of fans the world over with the infamous Hanson brothers. Nashville based hard rocker Jasmine Cain has taken inspiration from this movie to create her recent video ‘Victory’ ahead of the US sports season! The track has come from her new album ‘Attitude is Everything’ aka AI, released mid 2024. AI was Jasmines eighth independent release since her 2004 debut ‘The Inside’. The lead out single “Victory” has become a sports arena anthem with teams like the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Steelers, and all Ohio State University sports picking it up immediately for their “fight song” for home games. It has all the elements of a fight song with foot stomping, hand clapping and fist pumping all the way through.  “I have always said when we walk out onstage that it’s time to make rock n roll history, and that’s what this song is all about”, Cain exclaims.  “We wanted to recreate parts of “Slap Shot” for several reasons”, says Cain. “We were all big fans of the movie and we all love hockey, but more importantly, the people of Johnstown, PA have always treated us like royalty (jokingly calling me the Mayor of Johnstown), and we wanted to give everyone a chance to be part of this video as well and celebrate in the history of the making of “Slap Shot”. The music video features the original car from the movie driven by Paul Newman, was filmed in the original location and features the local hockey team, Johnstown Tomahawks. The track is a perfectly tuned road to victory for not just sports fans, but for anyone looking for a bit of motivation and some good old fashioned kick-ass rock! About Jasmine Cain:Jasmine Cain, a multi-award-winning artist hailing from Sturgis, SD, made her mark in Nashville in 2003, pioneering female-fronted rock in the motorcycle events industry. Her versatility spans across Classic and Modern Rock to Pop and Metal, captivating audiences with her electrifying performances. BUFFALO MOTORAMA COMING–MARCH 28-30, 2025 The Largest Indoor Custom Car and Motorcycle Show this side of New York March 28-30, 2025 – Buffalo Convention Center New Bikernet Reader Comment! ’60s SATAN SLAVES https://www.bikernet.com/pages/60s_SATAN_SLAVES.aspx I believe that’s David Mann in the background and Tiny, who was a Satan’s Slave for a long time. My late uncle was apart of the original slaves and was wondering if anybody has any photos or information, his name was chuck hamlin but I?m not sure if he had any nicknames or anything, and would like to know more about his younger days. He would always have stories but I was too young. Thank you –Mitchell hamlinHemet, CA MORE WILD NEWS– Facebook and Instagram to get rid of fact checkers….Mark Zuckerberg announces Thursday is the big news day. Did you see Zuckerburger video saying he is ending censorship on Facebook? No more bots. Only user reported content will be checked and these too will only have fact check comments instead of removal. They will now follow X (twitter) rules on censorship. “As we prepare for a new Trump era…” he says. LOLz. He also talked about other governments in Europe, Latin America and China censoring online social media—how it affects free speech that he dearly loves—-and how he will work with American Constitution over there—LOLz yup—why not annexe China and bring it under American Constitution. See this video on YouTube… His values change as per his convenience and discomfort… –WayfarerRamblin’ Rabble Rouser FROM BBC NEWS: Meta is abandoning the use of independent fact checkers on Facebook and Instagram, replacing them with X-style “community notes” where commenting on the accuracy of posts is left to users. Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said third-party moderators were “too politically biased” and it was “time to get back to our roots around free expression”. Zuckerberg and other tech executives are seeking to improve relations with US President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office later this month. SEE THE FULL STATEMENT BY ZUCKERBERG WHILE IT IS STILL AVAILABLE Wyoming Senate Bill Advances CO2 Coalition Message The Wyoming State Senate has introduced a bill to prevent carbon dioxide (CO2) from being treated as a pollutant and to stop “measures that support the reduction or elimination” of the gas. Calling the bill “Make Carbon Dioxide Great Again,” legislative sponsor Sen. Cheri Steinmetz drew on the CO2 Coalition’s scientific support, incorporating much of the organization’s information about the benefits of carbon dioxide. Among the points that the senate bill makes are: CO2 “is a foundational nutrient necessary for all life on Earth. … The more carbon dioxide available for this, the better life can flourish.” Agriculture is “breaking production records primarily due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide.” NASA “has confirmed that global vegetation is increasing from the near-polar regions to the equator. The largest contributor to this greening of the Earth is increasing carbon dioxide.” Standing at 420 parts per million (ppm), the current concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide is at a historically low level and only one-sixth the average level of 2,600 ppm over geologic time. Most plant life requires a level of at least 150 ppm. The bill’s prohibition of attempts to lower CO2 levels runs counter to Gov. Mark Gordon’s efforts to “decarbonize the West” through so-called carbon sequestration. To become law, the bill needs passage by the Wyoming Senate and House and the governor’s approval or a legislative override of a gubernatorial veto. Sen. Steinmetz said, “The bill is about applying science, thoroughly reevaluating the ‘climate change’ scientific assumptions and advocating for policies grounded in practicality, reality, and achievability – common sense.” To our knowledge this is the second time in a matter of months that political leaders have advanced the science of the CO2 Coalition in formal resolutions. A previous one came in a declaration of Alberta, Canada’s Unified Conservative Party, which presented the salutary effects of CO2 to support rejection of the national government’s net zero policy. We are winning. If you have not read our report Wyoming and Climate Change: CO2 Should Be Celebrated Not Captured, you make do so here. This is amazing. Maybe, finally, someone will have the balls to put Climate Doom to the test. I will share this with my readers. Congratulations! FLYING FLEA First things first, we want to wish you a Happy New Year and best wishes for 2025! Flying Flea offers the essence of Royal Enfield to those who want to live lightly and feel free. Flying Flea allows riders to break free to and from the city with a truly moving and visceral riding experience. Taking inspiration from the original 1940s Royal Enfield Flying Flea, a true landmark in automotive engineering and design. The FF.C6 delivers a city+ offering, for those who think forever forward, who desire something truly connected, heightened experiences and altogether fun to ride. As a showcase of these experiences, we are attending CES, the world’s biggest technology convention in Las Vegas. At CES, we will be showcasing the cutting-edge technology that we’ve built for FF.C6 and the amazing partnerships we’ve forged with Qualcomm and NXP to ensure that features are delivered seamlessly to provide the best ride experience. Live Lightly, Feel Free. BIKERNET STEPS UP– We’ve invested a ton on the Bikernet infrastructure and growth in 2024. Check out the new site on Blog.bikernet.com. Soon it will be migrated to Bikernet.com with ads getting a ton more saturation on the new website. Ads will be shown in more creative ways and in more locations. We’re also mixing up the delivery so everyone gets more time at the top of the homepage. CELEBRATE WOMEN RIDERS– Meet Anne-France Dautheville, a trailblazing French journalist and writer who rides. Don’t miss Lone Rider. Best book by Elsbeth Beard, who rode a BMW around the world in the ’80s. –Fred Cuba THE MIC REPORT– Battling BLM Overreach: Staff from the MIC Government Relations Office were in several meetings with public lands managers and amplified concerns regarding overreach within the new Bureau of Land Management Public Lands Rule. The GRO argued that the BLM should follow the lead of the Federal Highway Administration and find ways to utilize recreation infrastructure to meet conservation goals instead of redefining conservation as a ‘use,’ and that the Federal Land Policy and Management Act provides clear direction that the BLM should manage its lands for multiple uses. – Fighting for Forest Service Land Access: Duane Taylor, MIC Director of Safe and Responsible Use Programs, testified in May before the Subcommittee on Federal Lands – part of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee – calling for continued and improved OHV access for recreation on Forest Service lands. Speaking on behalf of our powersports associations, Taylor said that the Forest Service could use recreation infrastructure and volunteers to help manage the effects of climate change and respond to wildfires. – Expanding Government Relations: As the new Western States Representative, OHV icon Don Amador connects with land managers, clubs, and officials in a newly created position with the MIC, the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America. Amador will continue to develop and enhance working relationships with key decision-makers and program leads across a variety of agencies in the West, including: the USDA Forest Service – Region 5, the Bureau of Land Management, federally recognized tribes, state OHV commissions, state highway patrols, and the California Air Resources Board. – EXPLORE Act Gets Green Lights: Both chambers of Congress passed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act, which will increase public land access, address barriers for veterans and people with disabilities, streamline small-business permitting, and more. The bill, H.R. 6492, was introduced late last year by Representative Bruce Westerman, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. The MIC supported the EXPLORE Act and wrote to the committee last year, stating: “Passage of the EXPLORE Act will help ensure that our nearly $50 billion powersports industry, and the recreation economy generally, continues to grow and serve our ever-expanding constituencies.” President Biden signed the act into law last week. – Public Lands Access Reports: The MIC Government Relations Office began providing periodic updates to MIC members regarding its ongoing work to protect and grow public lands access. “We hope these reports inform member companies about how the GRO is protecting that access and provides an opportunity for members to provide input on those efforts,” said Duane Taylor, MIC Director of Safe and Responsible Use Programs. “Access to public lands is vital to our industry.” Off-Highway Competition Bikes Stay Legal: Competition-model off-highway motorcycles will have a new way to be legally operated on California public lands beginning in 2026. Senate Bill 708, introduced by State Senator Brian W. Jones, a longtime motorcycle advocate and rider himself, became a new law. It directs the State Department of Parks and Recreation to issue permits to California residents to operate off-road motorcycles at sanctioned events. The MIC had called on all powersports companies to add their names, on their letterhead, to letters in support of legislation to allow continued use of competition-model motorcycles on public lands in California. – Keeping Motorcycles Out of Lemon Laws: The MIC Government Relations Office successfully excluded motorcycles from Colorado’s lemon law, following a virtual meeting with the state’s attorney general office where the MIC argued that such legislation should remain focused on the automotive industry. – A Grilling for the Safety Commission: The CPSC faced a question-packed Congressional hearing in July. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis led the hearing, titled “The Fiscal Year 2025 Consumer Product Safety Commission Budget.” Six members of the subcommittee expressed support for the powersports industry and voiced concerns about CPSC overreach. The CPSC continues to consider implementing its own standards for side-by-sides. In advance of the hearing, the MIC Government Relations Office team worked with Congressional staff to ensure Representatives were fully apprised and educated on the issues, which helped them ask informed and pointed questions. – Congressional Recognition for Safety Awareness Month: U.S. Senators and Motorcycle Caucus Chairs Joni Ernst of Iowa and Gary Peters of Michigan – key and longtime connections for the MIC Government Relations Office – introduced a bipartisan resolution, passed by unanimous consent, designating May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. At local, state, and federal levels, officials have introduced resolutions and proclamations to help motorists and policymakers be more aware of motorcycle safety. U.S. Senate Resolution 695 and House Resolution 1179 were among several acknowledgments the MIC Government Relations team secured last year. –MIC Maynard Lee Rude was born May 9, 1936 in Marvin SD to Helmer and Edith Rude.  Youngest of 9 brothers and sisters.   He lived in Marvin till spring of 1946 when his parents sold the farm and moved to Rapid City SD. From then on Maynard was on his own working for various ranchers breaking horses and doing anything else to stay alive.  It was during this time that he found his love of motorcycles and his first motorcycle was a 125cc James.  In February of 1957 he joined the U.S. Army and as he always said that he joined because he was tired of starving and living in cars. After 3 years he was discharged from the army and returned back to Rapid City.  in 1961 he married Sarah Gustafson and from that union was James Lee and Sandra Ellen.  Maynard and Sarah were married until April Jan of 1966.   During these years, Maynard had owned a service station on north Rapid and worked as a crane operator for Brazina construction. On October 1 1966 Maynard married Alyce Ann Veitl.  From this union came Clarence Lee.  From 1966 to 1974 Maynard worked as a logger either hauling logs, cutting or skidding and also worked as a mechanic and heavy equipment operator. In 1974 Maynard decided to do what he always wanted and that was to open his own mechanic business and emphasizing on his love for the motorcycles.  He started on Edmunds Street in Sturgis, SD working in the yard and building motorcycles in the basement.   Then in 1975 the opportunity to have a shop and house came knocking when Ray Murray sold him the place on Blanche St. in Sturgis and so started Lee’s Tune Up.    From than it was full bore he worked on everything and anything to make a living but, always put the motorcycles first.   Maynard did all the mechanic work and fabrication on motorcycles and Alyce did the paint and upholstery. Through the years Lee’s Tune Up had sponsored little league, bowling league, Cub Scouts and many other organizations.  In approximately 1982 Maynard wanted to have some horses again, he grew up with horse and always loved them, so he first bought 20 acres north of Sturgis and then bought a bigger place in Nisland.  From there he started raising cattle and eventually moved to buffalo and loved driving horses, through years and clear up until just a couple of months before his death he was still driving his horses. Maynard always said that Lee’s Tune Up and the motorcycles paid for everything that he had and wanted.  If i wanted something all i had to do was sell a collection of motorcycles and through the years he had several auctions selling his collections as the years went by.  He kept buying and selling right up to his death and upon his death he still has two shops full of motorcycles and parts.  Lee’s Tune Up is still alive and active through his son Lee and granddaughter Miranda. His ability and knowledge of everything he did in life will be greatly missed. He is survived by his son Jim (Maraday), son Lee, daughter Sandy and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was proceeded in death by his wife Alyce, his parents and all his siblings. Condolences for the family may be sent to www.kinkadefunerals.com. Indian Motorcycle Recalls All Model Year 2025 Scout and Scout Sixty Motorcycles Wayfarer Notes: Indian Motorcycles has announced a safety recall for all 2025 Scout line motorcycles, including the Scout Sixty, due to an issue with the gear position indicator on the instrument panel. However, official website uses the word “some” instead of admitting all of them were recalled. This defect exists in 100% of Scout and Scout Sixty motorcycles produced before December 23, 2024. It is estimated that approximately 4,926 units in the United States is likely impacted by this issue. Indian Motorcycle has documented receipt of four complaints related to this malfunction, one of which resulted in injury. Refer also: https://motorsportsnewswire.com/2025/01/06/indian-motorcycle-recall-certain-2025-scout-and-scout-sixty-motorcycles/ Display May Show False Gear Selection/FMVSS 123. The motorcycle may move unexpectedly when the transmission is actually in gear, increasing the risk of a crash. NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V970000 Manufacturer: Indian Motorcycle Company Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Potential Number of Units Affected: 4,926 MAKEMODELMODEL YEAR(S)INDIANSCOUT2025INDIANSCOUT SIXTY2025 Summary: Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2025 Scout and Scout Sixty motorcycles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of affected trims. The gear position display may falsely show that the motorcycle is in neutral. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 123, “Motorcycle Controls and Displays.” Remedy: Dealers will update the Engine Control Module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 30, 2025. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian’s number for this recall is I-24-11. Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.nhtsa.gov. BELOW PRESS RELEASE FROM https://www.polaris.com/ Indian Motorcycle has determined that the rider display on some Model Year 2025 Scout and Scout Sixty motorcycles may falsely indicate an incorrect gear. Incorrect indication of NEUTRAL can cause unintended movement, increasing the risk of a crash or serious injury. Indian Motorcycle is developing new Engine Control Module (ECM) software to address this issue. Once the updated software is available at dealers, Indian Motorcycle will contact affected registered owners. In the meantime, do not attempt any repairs yourself. Repairs must be done only by an authorized Indian Motorcycle dealer. Indian Motorcycle has reported this matter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (Recall No. 24V-970). To search on-road recalls by model or vehicle identification number (VIN) and see if your vehicle is affected by any recalls visit the On-Road Safety Recalls page or call Polaris at 877-204-3697. —-WayfarerAssociate EditorBikernet.com SUSPENSION TECHNOLOGIES ON THE RUN– Come see us at Gibtown Bike Fest and get FREE INSTALLATION on our Rear Shocks and Front Fork Cartridges at the show. Stop by and see the team or call to schedule a time to drop your bike off, go enjoy the festivities, come back and get ready to enjoy the best ride your Harley has ever given you!! Call 727-233-3610 to schedule your Free Install Appointment. INTERMOT celebrates successful first winter edition INTERMOT 2024, hosted in Cologne from 5 to 8 December, marked the start of a new direction for the trade fair, which will now take place annually. With the 125cc special event on the Boulevard, the CREATOR LOUNGE as a central gathering for the young motorcycle scene, and numerous German premieres by manufacturers, this year’s edition of the trade fair marked a new era in the motorcycle experience. It was the first time that the motorcycle and scooter event opened its doors in December. Visitors made extensive use of the opportunity to experience the latest models and trends for the coming season first-hand in Cologne. Spanning around 50,000 square metres, INTERMOT transformed the trade fair grounds in Cologne into the biggest showcase for the motorcycle industry in Germany. With BMW Motorrad, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Sym, Triumph, Yamaha, Zero Motorcycles and other manufacturers appearing at the event, INTERMOT covered more than 70 per cent of the German market at its debut winter edition. Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH, was delighted with the results: “The immense response from visitors this year shows the enormous potential that INTERMOT has. With the Cologne trade fair grounds, we have one of the largest trade fair venues on an international scale and a unique catchment area, which extends beyond Germany. The industry has chosen INTERMOT as the platform to unveil its new launches to the German audience for the first time. For us, this is a clear signal that underscores the trade fair’s importance against the benchmark of other events.” “As the most important motorcycle market in Europe, Germany needs a strong leading sector event like INTERMOT. With this new concept, we’ve proved that we’ve set the right course for the future,” says Reiner Brendicke, General Executive Manager of the German Motorcycle Industry Association (IVM), which acts as INTERMOT’s conceptual sponsor. CREATOR LOUNGE serves as the scene’s hotspot The young generation of motorcycle fans was crucial in giving INTERMOT new dynamism this year. By expanding their creator and influencer marketing, the organisers succeeded in appealing to a digital-savvy young community. Throughout the four days of the event, 85 creators with an impressive number of followers totalling 20 million on Instagram alone reported on the action on their channels. They were greeted with tremendous enthusiasm in Cologne. In addition, fans were able to meet their favourite creators in person at the CREATOR LOUNGE powered by bigFM in Hall 8, where they could take selfies and chat about their shared passion with social media stars. One of the special highlights was the Creator Day on the third day of the trade fair. It attracted many famous names from the young motorcycle scene, including @kuhlewu, @davidbostunt, @ollistuntbuddy, @sophiacalate and @seaky. KICK STARTER: showcasing the world of 125cc The special KICK STARTER 125cc event powered by fritz-kola also drew a lively crowd. Located in a central position on the boulevard between the exhibition halls, it proved particularly popular with novice bikers. From e-scooters and naked bikes to 125cc enduro models, around 50 of the latest 125cc models from various manufacturers were on display, firing up enthusiasm among newcomers looking to enter the world of motorcycling. As well as having the chance to sit on their dream bike, visitors were also able to get expert advice about licences. A fresh take on the passion for motorbikes In addition to activities for the younger generation of bikers, such as the CREATOR LOUNGE and KICK STARTER 125cc, INTERMOT also had a special focus on motorsport thanks to strong support from the manufacturers. Meet-and-greets with mechanics and racing stars turned part of the trade fair into the only paddock show outside of the racing season. On top of all this, the INTERMOT LIVE powered by Bering stage was the ideal venue for live discussions covering everything from horsepower and petrol to fashion and adventure. Looking to the future, INTERMOT will continue to pursue its goal of giving all motorbike fans the opportunity to experience the fascination of motorcycling in person. “This year’s edition has laid a foundation on which we will build. Of course, there’s still potential for further development – whether through the addition of more themed areas or with a stronger presence in the accessories segment. We must make it our goal to expand into at least one more exhibition hall by 2025. We want to work with our partners to realise this objective and make the show even more successful for all market participants,” stated Frese. Key figures for INTERMOT 2024 — Some 300 brands took part in INTERMOT 2024. A total of around 90,000 visitors came to Cologne. HISTORY LESSON FROM LOWBROW– “The Flying Cloud” was the world’s fastest clipper ship built in 1851, traveling by sea from New York to San Francisco in just 89 days and 8 hours That record stood for over 130 years, until 1989 when it was broken. 80 years after the “The Flying Cloud” clipper ship was built, a brand new motorcycle launched from The Harley-Davidson Motor Company and deemed as the holy grail to most motorcycle enthusiasts, the Knucklehead… Read the whole story at www.lowbrowcustoms.com AND THEN THERE WERE NONE!– JPMorgan becomes last of the Big-6 U.S. banks to quit Net-Zero Banking Alliance –Marc MoranoClimate Depot Last of the Big-6 U.S. banks to leave the group JPMorgan (JPM.N), said on Tuesday it was leaving the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, the latest U.S. lender to quit the sector’s biggest climate coalition amid rising U.S. political pressure. The move means the six biggest banks in the world’s largest economy – Goldman Sachs (GS.N), Wells Fargo (WFC.N), Citi (C.N), Bank of America (BAC.N), Morgan Stanley (MS.N), and now JPMorgan – have all left the group in the space of a month. JPMorgan gave no clear reason for leaving the initiative, yet it comes after months of pressure from some Republican politicians who said membership of such coalitions could breach anti-trust rules. “We will continue to work independently to advance the interests of our firm, our shareholders and our clients and remain focused on pragmatic solutions to help further low-carbon technologies while advancing energy security,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “We will also continue to support the banking and investment needs of our clients who are engaged in energy transition and in decarbonizing different sectors of the economy. –By Simon Jessop THIS DAY WAS NUTS– I made coffee, shoveled snow, spoke to Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Board Members, I spoke to Matt Walksler about the Wheels Through Time Museum. That’s just the start, I had a discussion regarding racing in Sturgis. Then there was the legal aspects of the running our upcoming raffle, moving the Easyriders Streamliner, paying commissions for fund raising efforts. I spoke to our bookkeeper, scrambled with above news, pondered working on the VLXAFL Knucklehead this weekend and more. I’m digging in the Mecum Auction in Vegas for a 1913 Harley twin engine for my board track racer. I’m also talking to Retro Rob about rebuilding mine. At the same time he asked me about missing parts, so I’m scrambling to find any missing elements. I need a mainshaft and a pinion shaft.. I finally received the Sturgis edition of Easyriders Magazine. I noticed Berry Wardlaw on the masthead. I also notice a lack of advertising. I wondered what was happening. I caught a break last night with the AMCA bros at the Sturgis Pizza Ranch. Seniors’ night and just ten clams for all the chicken, buffet and pizza you can eat. Incredible. Charlie brought his own topping for the soft ice cream swirl. I held my mud and didn’t have any. Shucks. Tomorrow at 1:00 we have our Museum Fund Raising Meeting. Never a dull moment. A brother said he wished more of the bros from the industry cared as much as I do. I said some are beat down, but I see potential for the future. You know the drill. Even a grubby biker can make a difference or die trying… –Bandit The post THE UNRAVELING BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for January 9, 2025 appeared first on Bikernet Blog - Online Biker Magazine.