Direct from the Streets by Bandit Hey, We receive comments from readers daily. Some controversial, some informative and some tech questions, but they’re all good. Since the Bikernet Weekly News tomorrow will be a monster and we have some special letters, I decide to create this special column. The Sturgis Rally just ended and I’m also trying to get my head around a report. Hang On! Visit https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Bikernet_Reader_Comments.aspx * * *   The post Bikernet Reader Comments for August 2024 appeared first on Bikernet Blog - Online Biker Magazine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an announcement regarding a salmonella outbreak that has been linked to cucumbers in 31 different states.

An 11-year-old boy has been arrested along with a 17-year-old boy following a series of violent subway mugging in Queens, New York.

The state of the economy and immigration remain the top concerns for voters as we near the presidential election in November, a new poll has found. The poll from The Economist and YouGov found that the two issues are still the top concerns for Americans, marking the continuation of a trend identified by earlier polls. While 74 percent of those polled said that jobs and the economy are “very important,” another 23 percent said that it is “somewhat important.” Another 56 percent said that immigration was “very important” while an additional 31 percent called it “somewhat important.” When asked directly about which issue was the most important to them, 24 percent pointed to inflation, 13 percent said jobs and the economy, and 12 percent said immigration was the most important issue to them. Respondents were critical of President Joe Biden’s handling of the issues, with 60 percent disapproving of his performance on inflation, 52 percent disapproving of his performance on job and the economy, and 57 percent disapproving of his performance on immigration. Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. It is not clear, however, that these low approval ratings for Biden will affect Vice President and presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris as she prepares to face off against former President Donald Trump in November. The poll found that Harris held a slight two-point lead over Trump, with 46 percent of respondents saying that they will vote for Harris while 44 percent said that they will be voting for Trump. The poll, which was conducted from August 11th through the 13th, reaffirms previous surveys, which have consistently found that the economy and immigration are some of the most important issues for voters heading into the November election. One March poll from Harvard Harris and the Center for American Political Studies found that immigration was the single biggest issue facing the country, with inflation and price increases, the economy and jobs, and crime and drugs coming in as the next leading issues. One poll in April found that only 20 percent of voters believed that the United States has control over its own borders.

The Daily Wire’s first original theatrical release — Matt Walsh’s comedy “Am I Racist? — is less than a month away, and tickets are on sale now. “Am I Racist?” features Walsh going undercover and attending anti-racism seminars and woke dinner parties, and even scoring a sit-down interview with author Robin DiAngelo. The film is set to be in hundreds of theaters across the nation on September 13, and movie-goers can already purchase tickets to a showing near them at amiracist.com. Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. In one clip from the film reported on by The Daily Mail, Walsh is seen attending a “Grieving White Privilege, Anti-racist Allyship Training” and going by the name Steven. The “anti-racist” workshop goers eventually find out that the man in their midst is the Daily Wire host, and they promptly ask him to leave because they felt their “safety” was threatened. The woke group even called the police on Walsh after kicking him out of the session.  The sneak peek will be available for people to watch on the stream of The Daily Wire’s “Backstage Live,” which will air Thursday at 7:00 p.m. ET on DailyWire+.  Daily Wire co-CEO Jeremy Boreing said he hopes the film could put the “final nail in the coffin” of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and that’s why the company decided to release it into theaters across the country. The more tickets that are sold the more theaters the film will be shown in, so order now and help “Am I Racist?” make it to screens in every corner of the U.S. on September 13. “We want the film to reach every corner of America, not just The Daily Wire’s core audience or political conservatives, and I truly believe with a nationwide theatrical release this film has the power to be the final nail in the coffin of the DEI and the so-called ‘antiracism’ movements,” Boreing said. “Am I Racist?” comes on the back of Walsh’s “What is a Woman?” documentary, which exposed the lunacy of the pro-transgender talking points. In “Am I Racist?” viewers will see how those who promote DEI make a joke of their ideology and themselves. “What is a Woman? changed the national conversation on radical gender theory, effectively killing the issue, and DEI is the next pillar of the woke mind virus that’s about to topple,” Boreing added. “DEI culture is one of the most toxic plagues in American life and Matt Walsh and Justin Folk have masterfully and hilariously exposed it in this movie.”

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are in a dead heat in the 2024 presidential race, according to a new national poll of likely general election voters. The poll, conducted by Cygnal from August 6-8 of 1,500 expected general election voters, shows Trump and Harris in a statistical tie. In a head-to-head match up, Harris has 47.6% of the vote to Trump’s 47% — with 5.5% of voters saying they were undecided. In a full ballot that includes candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West, Trump got 44.4% and Harris earned 44.2%. “After one of the wildest six weeks of American politics, we find ourselves back at more of a stasis,” said Cygnal pollster Chris Lane. “The idea that Kamala Harris came into this race and Independents and moderates stumbled over each other to support her is simply not the case.” Lane said that the tightening up of the race was primarily due to President Joe Biden dropping out. “The truth is traditional Democrat voters simply started to indicate they are going to vote for the Democratic Presidential candidate, a not so shocking revelation,” he said. “Biden had such a low floor that it was hard to believe that could last.” The poll also found that more voters trust Trump on issues of illegal immigration, inflation and cost of living, and economy and jobs. Among independents, Trump was favored by 18 points on immigration, seven points on inflation, and six points on the economy. Overall, the top issues for voters were inflation and the economy, illegal immigration, and “threats to democracy.” Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. The poll found that Harris also appeared to be having trouble solidifying support among people who voted for Biden in 2020. “At the same time, Harris faces challenges solidifying her support with 13 percent of 2020 Biden voters saying they do not consider themselves part of her base and a whopping 71 percent of likely voters perceiving Harris as ‘liberal’ versus only 15 percent who view her as ‘moderate,’” he said. “That label will push away Independent voters while Trump maintains the edge on the issues voters care about most – the economy, cost of living, and illegal immigration.” Both Harris and Trump have improved their favorability, with the Republican nominee’s favorability now sitting at 46% with 52% unfavorable and Harris jumping up 20 points since early July to a 47% favorability rating and 50% unfavorable rating. The election is expected to come down to several battleground states where Trump held solid leads against Biden though Harris has narrowed the gap.

Katy Perry’s record label Capitol Records hit back at claims that the singer had filmed a music video on protected dunes on a Spanish Island, saying they were given approval prior to shooting. Following an investigation by Spain authorities into the 39-year-old singer allegedly filming her video “Lifetimes” at the dunes of S’Espalmador without permission, her label said it had been told verbally it was fine a day before the shoot, NBC reported. A rep for the record label said that the music video production company, WeOwnTheCity, “assured us that all necessary permits for the video were secured.” “We have since learned that one permit was in process, although we were given verbal authority to go ahead,” the spokesperson said. “Our local crew on July 22 applied for a permit for this specific location with the Directorate-General For Coasts And Coastline.” “Our crew received verbal approval on July 26 to proceed with the filming on July 27,” the label rep added. “We adhered to all regulations associated with filming in this area and have the utmost respect for this location and the officials tasked with protecting it.” In the video, Perry can be seen dancing on the islands of Ibiza and Formentera and in nightclubs. Her video shoot was partially filmed on the island, which contains sand dunes that the Spanish government says have “great ecological value,” according to the BBC. Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. On Tuesday, local government officials issued a press release saying the celebrity did not seek permission to film in that location. However, the crime would not be classified as “environmental infringement” because parties can be granted access to the area with prior authorization, as previously reported. Katy Perry’s team responded to claims that the music video for “Lifetimes” was filmed on “ecologically sensitive sand dunes without permission.”https://t.co/N0PsaPwvs0 — iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) August 15, 2024 A statement from Spanish officials said that they were reportedly investigating possible damage to the dunes. A translation of the complaint said in part, “The filming of photographic reports, cinematographic, videographic or of any other kind that involve the taking of images in any medium and format with an advertising or commercial exhibition purpose, requires the express authorization of the competent ministry for the environment, without prejudice to other authorizations that can be granted by the corresponding authorities and bodies, including those pertaining to property rights.” WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ‘AM I RACIST?’ — A MATT WALSH COMEDY ON DEI This latest development comes just after fans and critics slammed Perry for her single “Woman’s World.” According to Time, the lyrics “appeared to be feminist on the surface,” but were “combined with a video that many believe catered to the male gaze.” The backlash prompted Perry to respond on social media, posting, “YOU CAN DO ANYTHING! EVEN SATIRE!” Amanda Harding contributed to this piece. Related: Katy Perry Under Investigation In Spain For Possibly Damaging Sand Dunes While Filming Music Video