How Facebook Will Finally Make Money

Almost a year ago now, in May of 2012, Zuckerberg decided to take his baby, Facebook, public. The company offered an IPO of $38 per share. The shares sold like hotcakes purely because of the speculation of how much information Facebook must know about the e-commerce universe. While that speculation is probably true, there has been one major problem Facebook has been having. That is, they don't know how to turn that information into profits. Today, the stock price is at ~$26.87. I am a firm believer that sometime soon they will be able to realize immense profits, and it's going to happen through cruel creativity.

Here is an image from my facebook this morning:

For a long time now Facebook has provided us with handy reminders that our friends are celebrating birthdays. What they're doing differently now is using some of that cruel creativity to remind us that not only are our friends celebrating a birthday, they're reminding us that it would probably be 'nice' to buy them a gift. And on top of that, they do every last bit of thinking for us and let us know exactly what it is that each individual likes, so that we don't have to guess at a gift to give. From this image, I'm literally one click away from spending money.

Facebook will continue to realize the immense 'sway' they have on individuals. They don't remind us to send Ali an iTunes gift card because they're being helpful - they do it for the money, as they should for their shareholders. FB will continue to find ways to trick us into spending money, by doing all the leg work for us. Soon, you won't have to go looking for concert times, locations, and ticket rates. Facebook will bring it to you and provide a 'helpful reminder' that you need to pick up those tickets before they get sold out. Soon, you won't have to use Kayak, Priceline, etc. to book your flights, Facebook will do the work for you. Companies will pay Facebook lavishly in order to gain that direct pipeline to your thoughts. So, here's to the future, a future of mindless spending.

Braking Technique

This article is really great for any rider of any level that just wants to freshen up on braking techniques. My favorite part of the article is that it puts braking in a really interesting  perspective. That is if you're traveling at 55 mph you are traveling at 81 feet per SECOND. So, if you work on drills that improve your reaction time, and you can improve your time by one full second, you will be able to stop your bike 7 to 8 car lengths SOONER than someone else with the exact same bike and reaction times just one second longer. Pretty crazy stuff, and probably why the Moto GP guys are so good.

How to Brake

Subframe Progress

Now that I've got the Ducati project mostly wrapped up I'm making progress on my welding skills and my Virago subframe. Last night I had some time to lay out the two horizontal tubes that will basically be where the rider will sit. I had to cut and grind down a plate to be welded to the front of the tubes. That plate will then share the same bolt as the front of the rear shock... front of the rear, how confusing can the English language get.

Anywho, I doubt they teach you these sweet guestimating and Jerry-rigging skills in welding school. Don't hate, it will be functional.

The next weld that happens will have to be ones that really count. I need them to look halfway decent because they'll be showing at all times. I think I'll be taking the subframe down to Earl's to get him to work some magic. Somehow he has to make up for my guestimating and close this gap between the members, I think he's up for it.

Also, I once read a story about one of the builds the guys at Classified Moto did, I think it was the bike for the Star Trek girl, or whoever she is. Anywho, apparently their exhaust guy is a precision machinist, and when it got time to line up the can they were using, he called them and asked if he should line the can up with the taillight or the rear wheel. Their response was, split the difference. Bikes don't have to be perfectly built, but they can be perfectly built for an individual. These Viragos come with an offset rear wheel, and in addition to that I've discovered that the bolt holes in the backbone that support the subframe aren't completely square with the rear wheel or really anything. So, my whole build will be slightly "off-line," but I don't care, it's gonna rip.

Goldie Special

Just saw this bike on Rocket Garage. Seeing builds like this and the bikes that Burly Brand has been putting out make me want to pick up a Harley for my next project.

Goldie Special

Ducati Dynojet Update Finished

I'm basically finished with the Ducati's Dynojet Kit update. I had the carbs out of the bike four times in less than three days. It was a little annoying at times but now that it's over, it is rewarding. I'm not entirely convinced that I'm done, however, because my setup is kind of fishy. Right now I'm sitting at 170 main jets, 37.5 pilots, new needle jets, and the fishy part - the needles are backed all the way out, to the richest setting. I need to do a mpg test to see where I'm at.

Words of advice if pursuing this:
1.) Take your time. No need to hurry. Reconnect every little thing during testing, to make sure you eliminate as many possible symptoms as possible.
2.) Only change one variable at a time. I made the mistake of changing two at a time and it made diagnosing difficult.
3.) Remember the little things. I forgot to unkink the fuel hose as I set down the gas tank once and it almost led me to ripping the carbs out of the bike all over again.
4.) Do as much research ahead of time as possible.
5.) Check out this link to understanding carburetors, it was a great help in getting me to understand exactly what was going on. Carburation

Good luck!

Benelli XR 600 Street Racer

I feel like this bike hits the genre I'm going for with the Virago. They call it a street racer. Sort of like a blend between cafe racer and street fighter. I like it, I'd own it, and I hope people feel the same when I'm done with the Virago.

Benelli XR 600 Street Racer