Riding with Bad Drivers (Rant)

Yesterday on the ride home from work, a car pulled over into the lane to their right - colliding with the vehicle that was beside them.  Well, they collided with the trailer the truck was towing - and if they didn't collide (as both just kept on rolling down the interstate) then they came very, very, remarkably close.

Today, on the ride in to work, things have been much more annoying!

First, on a street in Brandon, this car stops in the road with his right turn signal on.  I'm fairly close behind him, but nobody is behind me.  As I come to a complete stop, I realize that they have stopped to 'courteously' allow the person sitting at the stop sign to pull out into non-existent traffic.  This jerk has delayed everyone in order to ignore traffic laws and make themselves feel 'nice.'  What an asshole.

Then, on the same street, a car pulls out in front of me, forcing me to apply my brakes firmly and downshift.  Still nobody behind me.  They proceed to slowly go up one block and turn left.

Both of those drivers got a 'you're number one' signal from me.  Although I'm sure neither one comprehended what they had done to deserve it.

On the interstate, this car pulls into my lane in front of me, going slower that I was.  I get into the left lane (of three lanes) and get up to where my front wheel is aligned with their front door - and they take off.  So, I move back over into the middle lane.  I "catch up" to this vehicle three more times before my exit.

Closer to my exit, I run into the worst event on the interstate - all three lanes at least three vehicles deep, all going almost the exact same speed.  Come on, people!!  If the car to your right is going almost the same speed as you are - SPEED UP!  If the car to your left is going almost the same speed as you are - SLOW DOWN!  When you are past them, if you want to go the speed you were going, get behind or in front of them and THEN match speeds, but DO NOT get beside someone on the interstate and match their speed.  If you are not past them in under 30 seconds, you are blocking traffic.  MOVE.

At my exit - a two lane exit only that merges to one lane into a big curve - there is a sporty blue car with LED turn signals that do a progression in the direction of the turn... six or seven lights that go on one at at time to simulate motion... with the tag JON4FUN driving slow in the right lane.  Half of a car length behind him, but in the left lane, is an SUV from Louisiana driving the SAME SPEED as the blue car, but not moving over,  preventing me from passing either one.  Normally, I shift down to fifth gear to go into the curve and speed up to around fifty five or sixty in the curve.  These jerks are going much slower than the usual slow traffic.  I have to shift down to fourth gear and go around forty miles per hour through the curve.  If the car in the right lane in front of you is going the same speed you are, you are blocking traffic - MOVE OVER into that lane!

In good travel news, the city of Jackson had a crew paint a white line through an intersection with two turn lanes where people in the left hand lane were very often turning into the right hand lane.  I'm sure there were accidents and I know there were lots of close calls.  I've had at least four close calls there myself in the last couple years where people in the left lane just came over into my lane in the turn.  I'm not sure what they were thinking.  There are two lanes to turn, two green arrow turn signals, two lanes going into the tunnel, but somehow they just don't comprehend why they couldn't turn from the left lane and get into the right lane in the turn.  I even have a video where a guy cuts me off in that turn.

UPDATE:  This morning, I thought that I would set up my video camera to document the ride in to work - so I did.  It is not very good quality as I don't think it was ever meant to work on a motorcycle at 70mph.  Still, it takes video.  The ride in this morning was astonishingly easy and trouble free.  No bad drivers at all, just some average drivers and maybe a couple below average.  I even made all the traffic lights - all green or turned as soon as I stopped.  It was amazing!  Boring video, but great trip to work!

Conspiracy in our Government (or, The Promise of the USA)

#PromiseoftheUSA


The Government of the United States of America, The USA - because "America" is a group of two (2) continents and thirty six (36) different nations - is set up as a Constitutional Democratic Republic.  This means that a governing group of representatives (republic) is elected by the people in a democratic process.  Our government is set up to protect individual rights from the majority, from the powerful and from the elected representatives.

To do away with government, or reduce it in size so that it is small enough to drown in the kitchen sink, would be to invite a tyrannical rule of a few, powerful, entities.  This is also known as the Libertarian Utopia - rule by the strongest, usually most violent and oppressive.  Well, they don't see it like that - they imagine that the strongest will just let everyone else go about their business in peace or that individuals will be able to 'fight' for their rights against a more powerful, well armed group.

The Republicans want to eliminate the Democratic process and just appoint whomever they want to the congress and presidency.  They would rule by whatever their corporate masters tell them to do - consequences borne by The People be damned.

The Democrats want everyone to vote, everyone to have the same opportunities to start off with and everyone to be safe and cared for, whether they like it or not.

There is no doubt that Private Interests have bought into and corrupted our form of government to suit their needs.  The Federal Government has expanded beyond it's intended scope.  We have a standing military, which the Founders never intended.  The Federal Government sets State level policies - usually by withholding funds from States that don't comply by passing laws encouraged by the Federal Government - investigate Seat Belt laws to find out more.  Our police forces are becoming more like occupying armies.  Our government has been hijacked by Insurance Companies, Big Banking, Big Agriculture, Big Pharmaceutical and Military Supply Companies.  Each private interest exploiting and weakening We, The People, for their own benefit.

Insurance Companies get laws passed requiring citizens to buy their protection scams.  They get laws passed that reduce their exposure to liability for paying out on their promised protections.  They work huge loopholes that allow them to not pay out for most frequent damages.  They create complicated paperwork that will allow them to cancel your coverage or refuse payment based on flimsy grounds - but you can't get your money back because of it.

Big Banking - private entities - control the issue of our currency.  They gamble and risk our money and then suffer no consequences when they lose it - or more accurately, they profit from our losses they instigated.  They reward the rich with lower interest rates on borrowing, higher interest rates on savings and investments while punishing the poor with high interest rates on borrowing, lower interest rates on savings and investments.  This is by design to keep the 'worker' class from becoming financially independent, paying off their debts and living free.  This is the new version of a Sharecropper or Indentured Servant.  They create debt for us to be forced to pay off - then make sure we will never pay off that debt.

Big Agriculture takes our tax money as subsidies, poisons our food, exploits workers and turns our food supply into large scale genetic experiments.  Probably seeing if they can breed a more docile worker.

Big Pharmaceutical gets laws passed to make cures illegal, addictive substances legal and make profits off of treatments that make other problems worse.  They don't want cures - because that would end the profit stream. 

Military supply companies lobby for increased military spending, urge covert agencies to create more conflict and start more foreign wars - so they can supply the perpetual war machine with more equipment with a built in end of life.

All Private Interests have one goal in mind - keep the majority of people oppressed and happy with it.  They funnel profits from the most people into the hands of the few.

Our food is poisoned, our water is poisoned, the very air we breathe is poisoned - and we are forced to pay the very people who have poisoned us to treat the most obvious and adverse symptoms.  They will never provide a cure or stop the poison because that would decrease profits.

They keep us distracted with religion, movie stars, game shows, fake wars and false news and political controversies.

Our government is set up to protect us, the citizens, from the corrupting influence of all of those private interests.  It has been infiltrated and corrupted.  I believe the balance tipped in favor of the corruption in the 1950's, when congress destroyed part of the constitutional protections by putting "Under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance (1953) and making "In God We Trust" our official motto (1956).  It is impressive that it took the corrupting influences a full one hundred and seventy something years to tip the balance.

The Promise of America has always been individual freedom and liberty to pursue our own happiness.  Our government is still the best there is to ensure such freedom, but we need to clean the corruption out of it.  We need to get back to having a Federal Government of representatives, freely elected without undue influence from the rich and powerful, beholden only to the will of the people, whose powers are limited to securing individual liberty, providing for the common defense and promoting the general welfare of all Citizens.

Some first steps would be :

1. Dismantling of the entrenched two-party system to allow more fair elections.
2. Federal or State funding of election campaigns, barring or limiting any private or corporate contributions.
3. Get "God" out of Government.  Our laws should be based on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Liberties, not any religion.  If something legal is against your religion, you don't have to do it, but you can not actively prevent others from having the opportunity to do it if they so choose.
4. Do away with the legal fiction that corporations are people.  Corporations are limited legal constructs for the purposes of doing business - not influencing politics.
5. Tie Representative pay to the median income of the state they represent and require a 40 hour work week, each and every week.  No work, No Pay.

Eventually, we need to completely revamp the medical profession.  Profit should be eliminated as a motive for any medical professional, from the researcher and drug manufacturer to doctors and nurses (though they should be paid well for their efforts).  Cures and total recovery from injury or illness should be the only goals in medicine.  Our Drug and Alcohol policies need to be completely revamped to include more liberty and less monopolistic profit goals.  We need to make the safety and health of our environment a higher priority than short term profit.

In the end, we need to make sure that the Promise of the United States of America is secured for our posterity and the future of all.

#PromiseoftheUSA

The Founders, Guns, Rights and Me

Gun violence, mass shootings and other senseless tragedies are occurring on an increasing basis in the United States of America.  I do not agree with the 'do nothing' approach.

I worked through my thoughts and research in a previous post.  Here, I am going to solidify my (current) views on the subject - re-using some of the previous post.

The much talked about Second Amendment states :
"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

The NRA and others kind of ignore the first part or try to dismiss it as not meaning what it says.  They focus only on the second part - the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.  But, lets agree that we don't need any new laws about who can own what kind of gun and where they can carry that gun.  We may need to take a few of the existing ones off the books, just to simplify things.

Now, lets go look at the first part of the Second Amendment - A Well Regulated militia.  So, what does "well regulated" mean?  I'm fairly sure it doesn't mean highly controlled by legislation and restrictions.  Some have suggested that it meant "well supplied or equipped," but that doesn't seem to hold up.

"Hamilton indicates a well-regulated militia is a state of preparedness obtained after rigorous and persistent training."

It seems fair and accurate to me to state that "well regulated" in the 2nd Amendment means "Well Trained and Disciplined."

The Founders and others have left us some quotes on how they saw the matter:

"The right of the people to keep and bear...arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country..." (James Madison, I Annals of Congress 434 [June 8, 1789])

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms, and be taught alike especially when young, how to use them." (Richard Henry Lee, 1788, Initiator of the Declaration of Independence, and member of the first Senate, which passed the Bill of Rights, Walter Bennett, ed., Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican, at 21,22,124 (Univ. of Alabama Press,1975)..)

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States" (Noah Webster in 'An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution', 1787

"...but if circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude, that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people, while there is a large body of citizens, little if at all inferior to them in discipline and use of arms, who stand ready to defend their rights..." (Alexander Hamilton speaking of standing armies in Federalist 29.)

It is clear, from reading many more quotes and letters than those I have linked to, that the Founders did, in fact, intend for all able bodied men to be armed and prepared to go to war.  Those last two quotes above, among others, make it very clear that the founders never considered the might and power of current military and military weapons. It is also clear that the Founders did not intend for the United States to have a standing, active military.  Citizens were to be trained and well armed and called into service in an army only in times of need.  So if your measure of what should be done is what is in the constitution and what the Founders intended, then we have to disband all branches of the military.

The times, technology and environment has changed drastically from what the Founders knew and envisioned.  Solutions must be allowed to consider the whole environment of the problem.

My current proposal to actually do something constructive to help prevent mass shootings and suicide by cop killing sprees is as follows:

1. The Federal and State governments should enact a high tax on the sale of firearms and ammunition. (Please breathe and continue reading)

2. The State governments should formulate and offer an extensive training course that covers all aspects of owning and using a firearm.  They should provide this course free of charge to anyone over the age of Twelve years.

3. Having passed the course, you receive a card (photo ID, valid for voting) or an endorsement on your drivers license that greatly reduces the Federal and State taxes on firearms.  This reduction may or may not be tied to the score achieved in the course.

4. The State governments should have several gun ranges set up so that people can test their marksmanship.  If people achieve a certain score indicating that they can hit a target more times than not, then they get a "Gun Control" card, which greatly reduces or eliminates the Federal and State taxes on ammunition.  Again, this reduction may or may not be tied to the score achieved in the test.

The taxes collected would be used to fund the courses and to provide for law enforcement to arrest and prosecute those who commit crimes with firearms.

I think the course should be done in segments.  Maybe a week for each segment?  Three days?  The details will have to be worked out, naturally.

I believe the first part of the course should be some kind of psychological preparedness class.  Something like :

• Gun Responsibility
• Guns are used to Kill
• Regional and Local laws regarding Firearm Possession, Open Carry, Concealed Carry and the use of deadly force
• When to use a gun and when not to
• Living with Taking a Life
• The Social responsibility of Owning and Carrying a Firearm
• Using a gun to commit a crime
• Your gun used by someone else to commit a crime

The next class would focus on the basics of gun ownership.  Like :

• Gun Ownership
• Storage and Security
• Cleaning and Maintenance
• Transporting
• Gun Handling ( At the Shooting Range training )
• Safe Carry
• Aiming - sights, scopes and accuracy
• Before you Squeeze the Trigger
• Shooting - Squeeze the Trigger
• After you Squeeze the Trigger
• Cleaning and Maintenance (yes, again)

The final class would focus on the physical aspects and combat readiness.  Like :

•  Keeping your head in a Stressful Situation
• Gun use in self defense
• Gun use in combat
• Avoiding gunfire
• Triage for Gunshot wounds
• You've been Shot!
• Paintball Field Exercises!!

Once all three segments of the course are completed to satisfaction, the Course Certificate is issued.  There should be some kind of continuing education to keep the certification up to date.  One class per year or the whole course every five years or some such timing to keep things fresh.

Also, owning a combat style rifle and passing the course would make you eligible to be called up to defend our nation in times of need.  A true Militia.

What do you think?

TV Show Roundup!

Oh, the agony of waiting for MY shows to come back on is awful.

Doctor Who isn't coming back until a November special, then the Christmas Special and no telling how long until the regular series.

Supernatural doesn't come back until October 8th.

Sherlock doesn't come back for it's brief season until --- WHEN?

Castle is coming back September 23rd.  But I'd still love to see Firefly come back!

Lost Girl is coming back, eventually, in 2014.  But it is a SyFy show, so no guarantees.  They murdered Sanctuary for no reason at all and that show was great!

Speaking of SyFy - Haven (returning September 13th) and Defiance (returning June 2014!!) are awesome.  I hope that me admitting that doesn't get them canceled.

I hate that Warehouse 13 is going to be a Final Season.

I still miss Eureka, but Primeval : New World has given me some solace - and it is pretty good too, but no word on when it is coming back for season two.  I loved the original Primeval from the BBC and happy that there has been some continuity.

I've got to catch up on Being Human and it's UK Inspiration too.


Bones is coming back September 16th.

NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles are both coming back September 24th.  So is Person of Interest.

Teen Wolf (guilty) is coming back in January.

Arrow is coming back October 9th.

The Glades, Covert Affairs and Suits are all currently running, so that is good.  So is Perception and Rizzoli and Isles.

No word on King and Maxwell yet, but I want more!

I try to keep up with Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and True Blood, but it is hard to get a chance to watch those.  The Wife, Willice, watches Major Crimes without me most of the time.

We are investigating watching Longmire and The Bridge, but no decisions as of yet.  We also keep trying to watch Falling Skies, but it is not a regular, kind of like Unforgettable.

We tried to get into The Following and Touch, but just can't stay with them.  Under the Dome was not that entertaining either.

Guns, Rights and the Balance between them

I've tried, on Facebook, to ask for some sensible solutions to help curb some of the senseless violence using guns.  Within moments the replies like "stop stomping on constitutional rights!" came pouring in.  Even though I started the post out with "banning military style guns and high capacity clips is not right."

So, new gun laws, banning any gun or magazine being off the table - NO NEW ANTI GUN LAWS.  Keeping the second half of the second amendment completely sacred, what are some workable solutions to the obvious problem of violence using guns?

It seems that people can't supply any real solutions beyond "second amendment!" or "personal responsibility!"  Well, there are those out there that have no sense of personal responsibility and suffer from an extreme lack of good judgement.  Some people do NOT need to have a gun.  The innocent victims' right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness FAR outweigh any shooter's right to own a gun.

I have proposed a Swiss style approach - everyone gets training.  Now, the Swiss require military service from every male for 12 years.  I don't think that is exactly a great idea, although I would like to see mandatory gun training for everyone starting at age eighteen and going on through until they are deemed unfit to possess a firearm.  Perhaps just everyone who wants to own a gun has to go through the training every 5 years or so.

Let me make my proposition clear.  I propose that at an early age - whenever we can agree kids might start using guns, maybe 12 - the government provide training in the use, care, cleaning and responsibility of owing and using firearms. (see new post with more info)

The content of the training is important too.  I went through National Hunter Safety Training before I could get my first hunting license.  I don't think that course covered enough for all-purpose gun safety.  The National Gun Training course that I've suggested would have to consist of a lot more than just hunting.  Perhaps something like :

1. Gun Ownership
1. Storage and Security
2. Cleaning and Maintenance
3. Transporting
2. Gun Handling ( At the Shooting Range training )
1.  Safe Carry
2. Aiming - sights, scopes and accuracy
3. Before you Squeeze the Trigger
1. Spent cartridge ejection
4. Shooting - Squeeze the Trigger
5. After you Squeeze the Trigger
6. Cleaning and Maintenance
3. Gun Responsibility
1. Guns Kill
1. Guns are not toys
2. Guns are used to kill for a reason
3. Living with Taking a Life
4. Regional and Local laws regarding use of deadly force
5. When to use a gun and when not to
2. Using a gun to commit a crime
3. Your gun used by someone else to commit a crime 
4. The Social responsibility of Owning and Carrying a Firearm
4. Keep your Head in a Stressful situation
1. Gun use in self defense
2. Gun use in combat
3. Avoiding gunfire
4. You've been Shot!
5. Triage for Gunshot wounds
6. Paintball Field Exercises!!

Now that would help create the Well Regulated Militia the second amendment talks about first.

So, what does "well regulated" mean?  I'm fairly sure it doesn't mean highly controlled by legislation and restrictions.  Does it mean "well supplied"?  Probably not.

"Hamilton indicates a well-regulated militia is a state of preparedness obtained after rigorous and persistent training."

It seems fair and accurate to me to state that "well regulated" in the 2nd Amendment means "Well Trained and Disciplined."  The claim that the 2nd Amendment requires more gun regulations may not be completely full of holes.

"no person’s sport is worth another person's man’s life. There is no logical reason that anyone should have to fire dozens of shots without reloading – unless intending to deprive that many people of life and limb. The US government must make the distinction between a weapon of war, and one that could be legitimately used for sport or self-defense."

Now for some quotes from the founders on what THEY thought they had set up :

"The right of the people to keep and bear...arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country..." (James Madison, I Annals of Congress 434 [June 8, 1789])

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms, and be taught alike especially when young, how to use them." (Richard Henry Lee, 1788, Initiator of the Declaration of Independence, and member of the first Senate, which passed the Bill of Rights, Walter Bennett, ed., Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican, at 21,22,124 (Univ. of Alabama Press,1975)..)

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States" (Noah Webster in 'An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution', 1787

"...but if circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude, that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people, while there is a large body of citizens, little if at all inferior to them in discipline and use of arms, who stand ready to defend their rights..." (Alexander Hamilton speaking of standing armies in Federalist 29.)

Those last two quotes make it very clear that the founders never considered the might and power of current military and military weapons.  There is no way that any citizen militia could stand up to the U.S. Army.  Even with all other branches standing on the sidelines.

The link also has many quotes which make it clear that we were never meant to have a standing army in a time of peace.  The Founders intended no standing Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines.  Citizens were to be trained and well armed and called into service in an army only in times of need.  So, do we disband the military?  ... If we ever end the state of constant warfare that our government has created that is.  What do you think that would do to the unemployment numbers?

Of course, there is also the argument that the only thing the second amendment does is limit the Federal Government from disarming citizens, allowing the states final control.

The times, technology and environment has changed drastically from what the Founders knew and envisioned.  Solutions must be allowed to consider the whole environment of the problem.

What I have proposed is no limitation on gun ownership.  In fact, I have proposed that the government provide substantial training to those who want to own guns.  I think the training required for owning guns which I propose would also help reduce the use of guns in violent crimes.

Maybe requiring the free training for owning a gun might irritate some people, so perhaps it should not be required to own a gun.  Perhaps it should supply a higher legal standing to those who go to the training regularly.  A deep discount on the price of each firearm? Lower cost hunting licenses?  Put a higher tax on firearm sales and eliminate or greatly reduce the tax for those who have gone through the course?

The course would go a long way to helping prove legal use of a firearm in court - "Mr. Defendant has high marks in all aspects of the National Gun Training courses and has attended the course regularly over the last twenty years.  He is a responsible, well trained and conscientious gun owner."

Maybe the NRA could do an ad campaign.  "Guns are not the Answer"

Woman Shoots at Family vehicle turning around

Another option would be to have a high tax on guns and ammunition and offer a "Gun Control" card for those who come in and demonstrate shooting skill.  Gun Control is hitting what you aim at, so the majority of the skills demonstration would be hitting targets.  If you score high enough, you get the Gun Control card, with your score printed on it.  Presenting this card reduces your tax rate on guns and ammunition.  That way, the people who refuse the training - or can't pass it - contribute to cleaning up their messes and prosecuting them if necessary.

(see new post with more info)

Thunder Ridge Motorcycle Rally - With Video!

Thunder Ridge Motorcycle Rally
Directions and Survival Guide, Episode Two!

Map to the Real Thunder Ridge Motorcycle Rally location
 

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2014 dates: "Come join us at Thunder Ridge for our 2nd Annual Rockin The RIdge Bike Rally May 16-18 2014 and August 8-10 2014 for our 3rd Annual Bike Rally!!! Call Melody @ 601-416-9175 for camping and vendor spots!!! Can't wait to see everyone there!!!!" - Facebook

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Well, I got to stop by the rally for a few hours again.  I got there as the Benefit Ride was all lined up.  I didn't know where they were going - or what was going on until they were taking off - so I didn't ride.  I'll know better next time.  You've got to check the Facebook Event Planning page!!

I made a video showing the turns off of Highway 25 onto Hwy 19 East... South?  The video also has some random scenes from my time there and when I was rolling out to head home.

But first, the Roll Out for the Thunder Ridge Bike Rally Benefit Ride :

And now :
  The young lady playing and singing is Ashley Tutor - you should check her out.

Don't forget Camp Chairs and a Shade Canopy - and Sunscreen!!

 

Some pics:

I didn't even notice the Spyder when I was there...

My motorcycle is the closest, with my camp chair on the back

Motorcycle Opossum Polo

The Game of Opossum Polo

A Game with a Long Tradition

It is played in two distinct stages.  The first stage is the Opossum Hunt.  The two teams of five people, each with a referee (who also carries the cooler) and up to three dogs, go into the woods to find an Opossum and capture the nocturnal marsupial.

Stage one is complete when one team captures a live, uninjured Opossum.  Since this is usually accomplished at night, the game is put on hold while the Opossum is calmed down, the dogs are fed, the injuries are treated and the players sober up.

Stage two is the next morning when everyone is awoken at a bright and early 9:30 AM.  Then it is on to the field!  It is set up like a normal Motorcycle Polo field - 300 yards long by 160 yards wide.  Instead of a Goal at each end, there is a Team Goalie.

How the game is played :

The Opossum is placed into a burlap sack and secured. The Burlap Sack was added in 1964 to add safety for both the Opossum and players.

"Its kind of like holding on to a burlap covered, locked on high speed, chainsaw, while riding a motorcycle in a demolition derby.  Its fun." - Jimbo "Clutch" Watkins ( Famous Motorcycle Opossum Polo player and parachute-free cliff jumper )

The four Team Riders mount their Motorcycles (Usually Dirt or Dual Sport motorcycles, but can be anything). 

The Team Goalie stands at one end of the field. 

There are five referees - three on foot; one at each goalie, one roaming the field near the center - two on motorcycles following the action.

To begin, the teams face off on the center line and a coin toss determines who gets the Opossum first.  The referee then tosses the Opossum sack to the first team's captain and the game begins.

The goal is to safely transport the Opossum to the end of the field and get him into the hands of your goalie. You are not to let the Opossum get hurt!!

Please note, the Opossum is not usually very keen on being in a burlap sack, being manhandled nor riding motorcycles - the combination of all three make for a very disgruntled marsupial.

A "Down" happens and play is stopped when the Opossum Sack touches the ground.  The players have to line up around the drop location and the Referee hands the sack to the team opposing the individual who last touched the sack before it hit the ground.  You are not to let the Opossum get hurt!!

When a goal is scored, the teams line up on the nearest 10 yard line and the Opossum sack is handed to the team that did not just score.

Every 15 minutes there is an official break, ending each Round, that lasts for 'as long as it takes to drink one beer'.  This is also used to check the Opossum.  If the Opossum is injured, the game may be called.  Long Island Iced Tea or shots of Rum or Tequila are provided for those who don't like to drink beer.

Scoring:

Getting the Opossum Sack into the hands of your goalie, without him dropping it on the ground is 5 points and considered a Goal.

Grabbing the Opossum Sack from an opposing team member is 2 points and called an involuntary turnover.

Tossing the Opossum Sack into the hands of an opposing team member gives them 1 point and is called a voluntary turnover.

Voluntary turnovers account for most of the scoring in most games.

Game Over:

The game can continue as long as there are at least two riders and two motorcycles on each team.

The game is officially over at the end of either 1 hour or the first team to score 100 points.

Many games end well before the official game time due to nobody wanting to get near the Opossum Sack any more.

Variations:

There was a proposal for "Paired Opossum Polo" but the officials could not find enough women willing to do "something so stupid" and there were not enough players willing to have "another dude riding ....." uhm, behind them.

Raccoon Polo was attempted, but in addition to lacking phonetic alliteration, the first Raccoon tore through the burlap in the second round, jumped across three riders and a referee, causing all four to wreck, knocked over the beer cooler, stole a pack of turkey jerky and stomped off the field in a huff.

"Because who can resist an activity that combines single-cylinder engines, opossums and beer?" - Danny 'he bit my finger' Burnes ( Infamous Motorcycle Opossum Polo Whinebacker )