john cage - experiences no.1

Fuck Austerity

What a loathsome word, austerity. Austerity for whom?


It's times like this that motorcycles can take on a kind of rarified air --they take us away from politics and the punitive measures meted out (lowly ruler-slaps from grade-school nuns)  by immoral corporate plutocrats.  Years ago I was a self-appointed (albeit lowly and self-deprecating) "scholar" on what bikes were cool and those that were definitely not; today I see a lad or lass on two wheels and I just think, "Fuck yeah!" without regard to insignia.  I'm just glad they are out rifling around corners on two wheels, terrorizing right and proper residential neighborhoods, their dual silencers refusing to be silenced.  A Fuck You to austerity measures and depression and sordid economic times and all that 'top-down-trickle-down-you-are-an-ass-clown' nonsense. 

This UJM cafe inspired bike is parked a half-block from our (rented) house here in D.C.  Every time I walk by it I want to throw a leg over it and get on with some serious hooliganism.  It's such an anomaly in this political town, full of interns, young trust fund newlyweds, dual baby carriages, and, of course, politicians and $700,000 and up tiny brick homes.  


This machine is kind of a salve to all that.  The young man who owns-loves-rides this pony may not have have a lot of money (he might, it's that's kind of town), but at least he gets about in his own way, and loudly at that.  And let's face it:  the owner of the the Mercedes in the background - although spending much more - has not really garnered equal bang for the buck.