Someone Is Going to Win a Harley at NADA

@utoRevenue invites dealers to 'Come on and Take a Free Ride' in a Harley Motorcycle giveaway contest
LEE, Mass., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- @utoRevenue(TM) (http://www.autorevenue.com/), the leading permission-based marketing company in the automotive industry, along with Dealerskins, Dealer Specialties and XI Group, is giving away a 2007 Harley-Davidson Yellow Pearl Softail Motorcycle as part of the "Come on and Take a Free Ride" promotion at NADA 2007 in Las Vegas.
This will be the first year that the automotive industry's four Dominion Enterprises' companies - @utoRevenue, Dealerskins, Dealer Specialties and XI Group - exhibit together, according to John M. Miller, General Manager of @utoRevenue. "Our Harley giveaway plus our 90 x 50 ft. Dominion Enterprises exhibit (#1645) will draw a great deal of attention and give our four companies an excellent opportunity to showcase our dealership services and the synergies we offer," he said.
"To be eligible to win the Harley Softail, which is valued at $21,500, contest participants must visit three of our companies in the exhibit area and receive a sales presentation," said Miller. "Once they complete the presentations and complete their entry form, they will be entered in the contest to win this amazing new Harley."
The "Come on and Take a Free Ride" giveaway is open to all NADA-registered dealership owners, general managers and fixed ops personnel. The winning entry will be chosen in a random drawing 2 p.m. Monday, February 5 at exhibit, #1645. The winner must be present at the time of the drawing. The Dominion group of companies will continue to select entries until a winner is in attendance at the drawing.
NADA exhibitor registrants, employees and families of employees of any contractor of NADA, and employees and families of employees of Dominion Enterprises and its affiliates are all ineligible to participate in the Harley giveaway. Also ineligible are any incomplete entries received after the drawing or entries where valid dealership employment at the time of the drawing cannot be confirmed.
About Dominion Enterprises
@utoRevenue, Dealerskins, Dealer Specialties and XI Group are Dominion Enterprises companies. Since its founding in 1991 as Trader Publishing Company through its evolution into one of the nation's premier media companies, Dominion Enterprises has been a leader in providing resources, information, and web services in the automotive, real estate, apartment, specialty vehicle, employment, and travel industries. Dominion Enterprises is based in Norfolk, Va.; @utoRevenue is in Lee, Mass.; Dealerskins in Nashville, Tenn.; Dealer Specialties in Monroe, Ohio; and XI Group in Baltimore, Md.
For more information, contact Aleisha Gibbons, agibbons@autorevenue.com, 866.628.6245 or Diane N. Bates, dbates@batescommunications.com, 678.438.3674.
This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.
Source: @utoRevenue(TM)

Playing the market for motorcycle blogs

I recently joined BlogShares and I have been playing with the game. I found it very interesting, really. The concept is a fantasy stock market game that is played with blogs, where shares can be traded for play money. From the site:
BlogShares is a fantasy stock market where weblogs are the companies. Players invest fictional dollars on shares in blogs. Blogs are valued by their incoming links and add value to other blogs by linking to them. Prices can go up or down based on trading and the underlying value of the blog.
Upon first inspection, the game looks pretty complicated but there is of course a help page and forum. When I first signed in, my blog at www.mikeodom.name was worth $1,000.00. I believe this is the starting point for all new blogs in the game until they are indexed and when buying and selling begin. I started the day with $53,ooo.oo went as low a $963.00 and ended out the day with over a million dollars in money.

I found out that the chips you can receive for participating in the game were valued at 10 million +, so I cashed one in to fuel my buying. I am buying stocks mainly in Motorcycle Blogs and trying to learn how to work with artifacts and ideas. This game can be kind of complicated at first, but as you learn, you will have more fun and make more money. The great thing is that while having fun, the game teaches you the value of links. I highly suggest taking a look at BlogShares and joining in the game. Click here to visit BlogShares now.

Emu Oil and Discoid Lupus, healing the skin

My wife, Cindi, has discoid lupus. For those who do not know what discoid lupus is, and many will not:

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic skin condition characterised by reddened and round scaly patches that tend to develop in sun-exposed areas such as the face and hands. Sometimes, extensive lesions can develop across other areas of the body including the neck and upper back. It is unclear whether discoid lupus is a separate disease or a milder version of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which can affect any of the body’s organs or tissues.

Around five per cent of people with discoid lupus progress to develop SLE, and around 20 per cent of people with systemic lupus develop discoid lupus. There is no cure, but the skin lesions can be managed with medication, and by avoiding exposure to sunlight.

The reason I say many will not know is lupus is not a high profile disease. This saddens me, not only because my wife is effected, but because it also effects 1.5 million other US Citizens. Most of which are women.

Recently I read that event the National Institutes of Health seems to neglect this disease as well. The NIH only allocated $88 million dollars to research for lupus. This may sound like it is a lot, but it is not enough. For instance the number of people diagnosed with the HIV/AIDS virus is 1 million. One half a million less then those with lupus, yet the NIH allocated $2,981 BILLION! to the research of those diagnosed with the HIV/AIDS virus. Doesn't seem fair.

OK, off of my soap box.

Now for the better news.

Back late September, I found some interesting articles about the healing effects of emu oil on the skin. The emu is a bird indigenous to Australia and kind of like the Turkey here in the US. The oil of this bird penetrates 100% into the skin and has remarkable healing abilities.

One of the main findings in my research on emu oil is that it is very important to get the product that is made from the Australian bird. There are many emu products and some come from the US or Canada. It is not recommended that these products be used for the quality will differ from that of the 100% Australian emu oil.

What is there a difference in emu oils?
First, notice that I am not attempting to sell anything here. I am telling this in hope to help those that need help. The Australian emu oil has helped Cindi skin heal after severe discoid lupus flares.
The difference is oils is relatively easy to explain. Remember that I said the bird is indigenous to Australia. One thing of course is the climate that the bird is in along with many other factors of just being raised in the home environment of the animal.
Add to that, when the same bird is raised here in the states, the requirements of anti-biotic injections, chemicals and additives in the food, etc. It is just not the same. Not to mention the price is not a value when produced here.

That brings me to the "how to" on purchase. Forget local health stores. They have it, if you want to pay upwards to $19.00 for 2.oz! Plus it is rather difficult to find the 100% pure and in the Australian line. So I did a little more research on where to buy the emu oil product at a reasonable price. I found a forum on acne and learned how and where to buy the oil at the right price. Turns out the emu oil is very popular to help those with acne as well.

Reading the discussion of these acne inflicted teens, I found the best place to purchase emu oil is on eBay. On eBay you can find 100% Australian emu oil in a 2 .oz bottle for around $7.50. Big difference over the local health stores. You will want to buy a small portion of the oil at first. Like every other medicine or product, your outcome may differ. I hope that when you try it, that it will help you as it did my wife. Once you know that it works for you, it is cheaper to buy it in larger quantities.

Cindi and I hope that this will help others that have discoid lupus. If it does, please write and let us know.

You may want to read my other posts on lupus:

Brevard County Lupus Support Group

Herbal Medicine: Cindi’s Lupus Tea

Looking for shuttle launch tonight

We hope to see the space shuttle Discovery take off from launch pad 39B this evening at 8:47. However, a lingering cold front has the winds here in Melbourne, Florida kicking up a bit. The temperature outside has warmed up quite a bit, but it is the wind that may play a factor in yet another delay in the launch.

Thursday, the thick low cloud ceiling caused a delay in the Discovery launch. We will have to see if this wind dies down and hope for a night launch tonight.

Veterans Every Day

Thanks to Rolling Thunder Central Florida Chapter VI for this video from the Veteran's Day event in Lakeland Florida 11/11/06 and to Tom and Dee Twigg from Bringing Home the Wall.

North Carolina Court says Billy Lane was not to be drinking and driving

As part of the provisions of the $1,000.00 bond that Billy Lane had been released on from the June DUI arrest in North Carolina, Billy Lane was not to drink and drive. This became a major issue today as Choppers Inc. Owner, Billy Lane appeared at the Rowan County Courthouse at 2 p.m. today.

A clean shaved Billy Lane appeared before the Judge today in a designer suit that covered all of his tattoos. With his dreads tucked under the suit, Billy Lane pleaded in his case for refusal to submit to a sobriety test after being pulled over by the North Carolina Highway Patrol. The arresting officer had pulled Mr. Lane over originally for driving on the wrong side of the road and not wearing a helmet. No further report of the courts action today have been reported.

A story told of a tragedy in the making

The death of motorcyclist Gerald Morelock on September 4th in Melbourne Beach, Florida has been in the eye of the motorcyclist community for the past few weeks. Many have even criticized the amount of discussion on the subject siting that it was due to the celebrity involvement. I have to agree with to a certain extent when it is pointed out that most of the articles mentioned more about the celebrity involved not Gerald Morelock, the victim and his family that lost a loved one.

In all of the articles that I have read, very few had the victim, Gerald Morelock as the subject matter. Most of the media and articles called more attention to the fact that famous chopper builder Billy Lane was involved in a fatal accident. Some article headlines even led one to believe that it was Billy that was killed. While the family of Morelock and most speaking was that of Byron Morelock, Gerry's Brother made very little mention to the cause of death in relation to Billy Lane.

Billy Lane was found injured along with the passenger of the Dodge pickup that he was driving the night of the accident that left a motorcyclist dead at the scene. Witnesses to the accident claim that they saw the custom black Dodge pickup cross a double yellow line on south Hwy A1A while trying to pass two vehicles. It was Mr. Lanes negligence by using the no passing zone that caused the death of Morelock who was riding a 1983 Yamaha Motor Scooter. Billy Lane and Passenger were released from the hospital after being treated for injuries, while the sad news of Gerry Morelock's death was being reported to the members of his family.

As the news quickly spread of the chopper builder being involved in an fatal accident that he was at fault, so did the news that Billy Lane was reportedly impaired by alcohol. Questions were raised as to the reason that he was not immediately arrested, along with allegations of him receiving special treatment. However, the Florida Highway Patrol made it perfectly clear that there were procedures that had to be followed in order to process the correct charges against Mr. lane. There was little doubt that Billy Lane had made a irrational decision to attempt the pass in the area that was clearly marked. But the question still remained, had he been drinking.

The forums and blogs of the motorcycle community were alive with speculation as to what happened and what the causes were. There is no longer a speculation as to whether Billy Lane was intoxicated after yesterdays arrest and charges filed of DUI, Driving While license Suspended and Manslaughter. Billy reportedly turned himself in to the Florida Highway Patrol escorted by his attorneys. He was released on $15,000.00 bail less than two hours later. The wait was over. Gerald's brother Byron Morelock was quoted as saying that a lot of tension had been relieved after the news of Billy Lanes arrest.

Many members of the motorcycle community, including myself, where dismayed at the fact that Billy remained silent about what happened. Then, following the arrest and charges being filed, Choppers Inc. the Melbourne Florida based motorcycle shop that Billy Lane owns released a statement. A statement that many hoped would say more. Instead the statement released by Choppers Inc. on Billy's behalf was only three lines long stating that we extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Gerald Morelock. That Billy was injured in the accident as well and that he would cooperate fully in the pending investigation as he recovers.

Following today's arrest more news broke and the story unfolded of how Billy Lane had allegedly been drinking all day and had visited two local drinking establishments while he and the passenger of the accident rode around on one of his motorcycles. Later in the evening the two returned to the shop to drop off the motorcycle and started off to the home of Billy Lane in Melbourne Beach in one of his custom Dodge pickups. It was on the way home and not much more than a mile from his home that the deadly tragedy happened. To add to problems, the FHP has stated that Billy refused to give in to a blood test at the scene and again later at the hospital. In fact it is alleged that troopers had to hold him down while nurses drew blood for the test. It was only after yesterday's arrest that these facts came to light. It was only after the arrest that any statement was made from Billy.

Billy was on a streak of bad luck and wrong doing in the past couple of months that started when the motorcycle he had built for this year's Discovery Channel Biker Build-Off caught fire only a few miles from the final destination of Laconia Bike Week. The gas tank had been leaking for miles and finally caught fire causing the custom chopper with his special hubless wheel not to make it.

It was not long after that North Carolina Police pulled Billy Lane over for driving on the wrong side of the road and without a helmet. It is illegal to ride without a helmet in North Carolina. The arresting officer sites that he detected the smell of alcohol after making the traffic stop and Mr. Lane refused to take a breathalyser. It was for this reason that Mr. lanes drivers license was suspended.

Now in early September, a mans life was ended early, taken from the family and friends that knew and loved him. Gerald Morelock, 56, of Melbourne Beach used to visit the Sebastian Inlet park as a kid with his family. He loved to play the guitar and dreamed of one day moving from his hometown in Ohio to live in Sebastian. Gerry Morelock got his wish and even worked at the Sebastian Inlet Park where he spent many of his off hours fishing at the inlet. His family and friends gathered on September 17th at the inlet park to pay their respects and tell stories about Gerry's life and love of the area. A sad and tragical ending to this article. The motorcycle community has suffered the loss of two members by this happening. My prayers and sympathy for the family and friends of Gerald Morelock, may he rest in peace. I can only hope that from this point on, Billy Lane will do the right thing and I pray for his forgiveness and healing. The fact remains that what happened was created by not thinking and not doing the right thing. Since the results of the blood tests have returned with over double that allowed by the state of Florida it shows that Mr. lanes judgement was wrong from the moment he got behind the wheel.

Sources:

Motorcycle designer Lane charged with DUI in fatality
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060926/NEWS01/60926008/1075

A sad day and a loss to the motorcycle community

Motorcycle shop owner charged with manslaughter in biker's death

Large crowd eulogizes lost friend
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060918/NEWS01/609180315

Related:

Auto Negligence claim filed against Billy Lane and Dodge

When heroes become bad guys

Billy Lane faces DUI manslaughter charges

Hearing date set for Billy Lane in Florida DUI/Manslauter case