(239) 940-3397. 24 (Sat) Naples, “3^rd Annual Motorcycle Expo,” Golden Gate Chamber of Commerce. Golden Gate Community Center, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. More info call Keith Larson at (239) 455-2343.

31 (Sat) S. Ft. Myers, “2^nd Annual Armchair Quarterback Run,” ABATE, Estero River Chapter. Enjoy a great afternoon of football and riding, where you can be the hero of your own game!!! Game time & kickoff details coming soon. Two, Three & Four Wheels Welcome! More info call Tammy at (239) 289-2647 or Red at

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
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February 26-March 7, 2004                      Plant City, FL
http://www.flstrawberryfestival.com/            

The Strawberry festival offers some of nations finest entertainment in a fun filled family atmosphere. Last year's Florida Strawberry Festival was an outstanding success with thousands of visitors enjoying the midway, livestock, kids days, concerts, arts & crafts, senior days, shows, parades, exhibitions, contests, petting zoos, and horticulture.

 FIRST ANNUAL Chrome Divas Port Charlotte Chapter POKER RUN to Benefit CARE (Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies) of Charlotte County.  Sunday, March 21, 2004.  Leaving from Snook Haven, 5000 E Venice Ave, Venice, FL; Ending at Lady Luck in Englewood, FL.  First bike out at 11 am, last bike out by 1 pm.  $10 per hand.  Food, drinks and band at Lady Luck.  Live performance by Cosmic Rancher.  50/50, Door Prizes and more...  Donate your old cell phones, too.  For more information call Lady K at 941-286-9861 or email ridinatlast@yahoo.com.  Or contact Sue at 941-625-3598 or email smay655@earthlink.net

Freedom Rights Rally & State Meeting April 9 - April 12 State Meeting: Sunday April 11 @ 12 Noon Monticello - American Legion Hall

click on picture

While many Japanese customs are disappearing, the practice of sending New Years cards and seasonal gifts called O-chugen and O-seibo is as strong as ever. The Japanese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications delivered nearly 4.5 billion New Years cards in 1999, or about 32 cards for every man, woman and child in Japan.

JOHN O'GROATS, Scotland (AP) - A man walking the length of Britain naked to promote public nudity finally reached his destination Thursday - barely.

Stephen Gough, 44, spent most of his seven-month odyssey behind bars - arrested 16 times - following complaints from the public. The former Royal Marine made several court appearances and served two jail sentences - spending about five months behind bars - during the 1,363-kilometre trek from Land's End in southwestern England.

Dubbed "the naked rambler," Gough reached John O'Groats in far northern Scotland just before night fell, cheered on by a group of local residents,

Gough began the walk in the British summer of June 2003, wearing just his socks, boots, hat and rucksack.

He persisted, despite the delays caused by his repeated arrests, and refused to don warmer clothes as he reached northern England and the highlands of Scotland in freezing winter temperatures.

He also declined to dress for the occasion when appearing before judges across the breadth of the country, usually sitting in the dock wrapped in a prison blanket.

Gough said he was planning to stay the night in John O'Groats and enjoy a big meal before putting his clothes back on and heading back south to his home in Eastleigh, southern England.

There is no law in Britain against public nudity. However, there are laws against indecent exposure - which requires proof of intent to insult a woman - or any behaviour likely to cause "harassment, alarm or distress."

Gough said it would take time to reverse public "paranoia" about the human body but he hoped his campaign had been successful.

"My body is part of me and it's not shameful, it's who I am," he said after taking a celebratory sip of champagne.

A walrus has about 400 to 700 vibrissae, or whiskers, in 13 to 15 rows on its snout. Vibrissae are attached to muscles and are supplied with blood and nerves. A walrus moves its snout through bottom sediment to find food. Abrasion patterns created by their tusks show that they are dragged through the sediment, but are not used to dig up prey.

Janklow flouted the speed limit for years, practically bragging about his lead foot. He knew well that speeding – particularly traveling at speeds of 90 mph and greater – is dangerous, yet he continued to do it. In a particularly hypocritical stance, Janklow used to advocate stiff sentences for breaking the law, including the laws of the road. It is an injustice that he is getting off so lightly.

The hundred days in jail, of course, really aren’t 100 days. Janklow will serve only 30 days, after which he will be released during the day to do community service. Drug users are put behind bars for years, yet when a prominent politician’s ongoing reckless behavior kills a man, he is sentenced by a judge to what amounts to just a month behind bars. That is not justice or punishment.

It is even more galling that the judge ordered Janklow’s felony record to be expunged. How insulting and hurtful to the family of the man who was killed. While the court may try to pretend the death never occurred, the man’s family will never forget

FLFLHTC: Under normal circumstances Joan Claybrook and I are diametrically opposed. I am glad to see that she shares my opinion in the case of Jerklaw .  I refuse to call this murdering sack of dog excrement by his real name.

With military precision, more than 100 local law enforcement officers and federal agents searching for "illegal contraband" stormed a Hells Angels compound Friday morning using explosives and automatic weapons, but came up empty-handed.

The raid took place in the Sineath Estates mobile home park on Wisteria Street, just off U.S. Highway 78 about one mile from the fairgrounds.

Officials were tight-lipped about exactly what officers were looking for at the Hells Angels compound so they wouldn't be accused of conducting an illegal search.

The compund consists mainly of a large, windowless cinderblock clubhouse painted white with the Hells Angels logo prominently displayed and a combination garage/apartment building that houses a collection of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. A chain-link fence topped by barbed wire surrounds the property and a flagpole with a Confederate battle flag stands by the entrance.

In addition to sheriff's deputies from Charleston and Berkeley counties, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, also took part in the raid. Goose Creek's police department sent its SWAT team.

"We're looking for any illegal contraband," Berkeley County Sheriff Wayne DeWitt said Friday afternoon. DeWitt said nothing illegal was found, and so far no arrests have been made. "The investigation may broaden."

DeWitt said he wasn't sure how many members call the compound home, and the overwhelming show of force was meant to protect officers participating in the raid.

DeWitt said the raid on the local Hells Angels chapter stemmed from an arrest made earlier this week by Goose Creek police. Officers made a traffic stop and allegedly found methamphetamine and marijuana in the car. The man driving the car gave his address as the Hells Angels compound on Wisteria Street. DeWitt said that was all officers needed to obtain a search warrant from a circuit judge.

With the warrant in hand, the officers and agents, most of them dressed military-style with helmets and body armor, descended on the compound located in a residential area and surrounded by houses and mobile homes, at about 9 a.m. An armored-personnel carrier was on site while a helicopter circled overhead. Officers sealed off the neighborhood in preparation for the raid.

DeWitt said deputies tried calling the clubhouse, but no one answered the telephone. The lock to the compound's gate was cut, and the officers poured through. Once at the clubhouse, the assault force met a steel door, which was breached by explosives.

"There was no one inside, and we secured the residence," Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon said.

No members of the Hells Angels were on the property when the raid was conducted. Officers were still searching the compound, which also includes several small trailers, late Friday afternoon. Attempts to reach local and national Hells Angels representatives for comment about the raid were unsuccessful.

Tony Walters, whose house is across the street from the compound and has lived in the neighborhood for nine years, said having Hells Angels members for neighbors isn't as bad as it sounds.

"I know it sounds ironic, but it really keeps down the number of people running through the neighborhood, Walters said. People know the Hells Angels are here so they behave when they're around."

Walters said Hells Angels members, sometimes as many as 40 or 50, will frequently hold barbeques at the compound, and every New Year's Eve they have a fireworks display. He said there is seldom a problem stemming from his notorious neighbors.

"They're usually very nice and courteous and respectful of the people who live here," Walters said.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced.
Make : BMW Model : K SERIES Year : 2001-2004
Make : BMW Model : R SERIES Year : 2000-2004
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 04V028000 Recall Date : JAN 15, 2004
Summary:
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING CONTAINED WITHIN THE FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A SMALL FUEL LEAK.

Consequence:
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST ALL CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS. ALSO ALL FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLINGS WILL BE INSPECTED. IF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE QUICK-DISCONNECT O-RING WILL BE REPLACED. IF DAMAGED, THE COUPLING WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
FLFLHTC: Remember you heard it first right here.

It's called "work zone automated speed enforcement" but it may be one of the most aggressive U.S. traffic fine enforcement programs ever. Buried on page 220 in the $100 billion New York State budget is a program to use hidden automatic spy cameras along reduced-speed highway "work zones" on the state's major highways, the New York Post reports. It's estimated 300,000 tickets -- at $100 each -- would be issued each year with violators getting tickets in the mail. It could generate about $33 million a year in fines.