I admit it, I’m an Amazon junkie. I get a lot of what I need off the web, and Amazon is one of the best ecommerce sites out there. I was skeptical when I heard about Amazon Prime and their free trial. Two day shipping free- one day shipping for $3.99. Nope, that’s not a typo, for four bucks you can ship millions of eligible items (items Amazon stocks, as opposed to it’s partners) to your house. Free for a whole month. After that they bill you an ANNUAL fee of $79.
Here’s what Amazon has to say:

Amazon Prime members enjoy the following benefits:
Fast Delivery
• Unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items
• Upgrades to One-Day (Overnight) Shipping for just $3.99 per item

Simple Shopping
• No minimum purchase required
• Members-only 1-Click buttons on product pages
• No need to think about shipping charges

Convenient Sharing
• Members can share benefits with up to four family members living in the same household

Free Trial
• Amazon Prime new subscribers are invited to try Amazon Prime free, for one month.
After the Free Trial period, customers will be automatically charged the $79 annual fee unless they choose not to upgrade to regular annual memberships at or before the end of the trial period.

So I signed up for the free month, figured I’d order a few things and then cancel. Well the membership paid for itself when I ordered a big piece of exercise equipment. I paid an additional $4 for next day service, figuring I’d get an email explaining I couldn’t do that. Nope, next day it showed up on my doorstep. Suddenly I was able to expect 2 day delivery for free. I find myself upgrading to next day service quite a bit, it’s just nice to have what I need exactly when I want it. A month goes by, I did some math and my shipping last year was already over what a prime membership costs- so I took the plunge. I’ve been happily ordering for months- if you regularly order from Amazon it’s worth your time to take a close look at Amazon Prime.

“I like smoke and lightening….heavy metal thunder! Racing with the wind…and the feeling that I’m under” sang the 1970’s rock group Steppenwolf in “Born to be Wild.” This was one of the first rock songs to glorify the freedom and power of motorcycles. Followed by movies like “The Wild Ones” starring Marlon Brando and later the fabulous “Easy Rider,” motorcycles have become a symbol of freedom on the open road. Each year the small town of Sturgis, South Dakota, holds the largest motorcycle rally in the world. Thousands of cruising bikes, dirt bikes, and choppers descend upon this otherwise quiet town in the Black Hills were motorcycle devotees of all ages can party, attend rock concerts and simply enjoy talking about their favorite subject with other motorcycle riders. They come from all walks of life; doctors, lawyers, blue-collar working folks and an increasing number of women motorcycle riders. Decades ago motorcycle riders were considered as outlaws, mostly criminals. But today, all has changed and riders are viewed as true fans of the vehicles who are completely lawful, with only one two exceptions.

Indian. Suzuki. Yamaha. Honda. Harley-Davidson. These are the finest motorcycles in the world, reviewers say. For example, the Honda Gold Wing is a prized motorcycle because of its fully-equipped components such as an automatic starter, a back “sissy bar” (also known as a “bitch bar”) for women passengers, a CB radio in its helmets and outstanding safety features and gas mileage. Additional accessories and parts for the Gold Wing and other bikes are readily available at dealerships and on-line at very reasonable prices. Keep in mind that some states require that helmets be worn by all motorcycle riders and passengers; your helmet, and “leathers” could save your life in an accident.

For many riders, there is only one King of the Road – the Harley-Davidson. The world-wide Harley-Davidson Group club not only vehemently defends the engineering genius of this motorcycle, but also encourages its members to hold rallies for charitable causes like Bikers Against Child Abuse. Off-road dirt bikes made by HD, Yamaha and Suzuki are very popular in racing. Whether cruising or competing, the joy of the open road (or track) continues to hold an allure for motorcycle enthusiasts.

Recently a bike called “Lethal Injection” has captured the attention of cyclists around the world. This is a “chopper” motorcycle made by Scooter Shooterz that has set new standards for the world’s bikers. A 107 cubic inch V-twin, 4-valve heads, fuel-injected bike, the LI is rapidly gaining in popularity for those who want staggering power in their motorcycle. This bike’s full description is easily found on the Internet.

Back when I got my first motorcycle, I took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course. It was mandatory for military members, and it also made me eligible for a discount on my insurance. In some states, if you take the course, they wave the on motorcycle portion of the test. In short it was a good idea for me, and it is a good idea for any new rider. I was surprised at what I learned that I still use today, even while driving. The most memorable thing for me was a simple acronym. SIPDE. It stands for:

• Scan - Scan 12 to 15 seconds ahead of where you’re riding
• Identify - Identify potential hazards- like that guy on the cell phone who doesn’t see you.
• Predict - Predict what could happen- will he lane change into you?
• Decide - Decide on your course of action- maybe a little brake a little until he finishes that lane change without a signal
• Execute - Put the plan into action

Over the years lessons like these have helped keep me rubber side down on the bike, I highly recommend everyone take the course. If you’re more experienced, they also have refresher courses. It’s cheap life insurance.