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Man dies after motorcycle crashes during helmet protest ride
9wsyr.com ^ | July 2, 2011 | WSYR-TV

Posted on 07/03/2011 8:33:56 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

LAFAYETTE, NY (WSYR-TV) – New York State Troopers say one man is dead after a motorcycle crash near McClary Road and Route 11 in LaFayette on Saturday.

New York State Police say 55-year-old Philip Contos of Parish was part of a protest against motorcycle helmets.

Police say several motorists from the group ABATE (American Bikers Aimed for Education) of Onondaga County had come together to make a point that they didn't need their helmets.

The group was driving south on Route 11 in Lafayette around 1:30 p.m., headed toward Lake Como, just south of the Finger Lakes.

Police say Contos suddenly hit the brakes and lost control of the motorcycle.

According to troopers, Contos was thrown over his handlebars and hit the pavement as his 1993 Harley Davidson motorcycle skidded toward the guardrail.

Contos was still alive when crews arrived at the scene and was transported to Upstate University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to police, Contos was not wearing his helmet, as required by law. Witnesses say this decision was part of the protest.

Police say that based on evidence at the scene and from doctors, Contos would have survived if he had been wearing a DOT-Approved helmet.

(Excerpt) Read more at 9wsyr.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: New York
KEYWORDS: irony; whoops
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To: Salamander

Yes, but do you actually *use* your front brakes?

Many Harley/cruiser riders do not. They’re stuck in the 1970s. If you do, you can disregard the rest of this.

Though the current Administration seems to think it is, this isn’t the 1970s any more. Front brakes now work properly, helmets don’t automatically snap your neck, laying the bike down isn’t the fastest way to stop, rear brake only isn’t a valid emergency stop technique now, fuel injection isn’t something that only comes on exotic foreign cars, gear doesn’t just serve as a convenient body part containment system for the coroner, and you have a good chance that can walk away from even serious accidents with only minor injury if you wear full modern gear. None of that was true in 1970, but it hasn’t been 1970 for a very long time now. People need to realize this is 2011, not 1971 and bike tech has moved on like most anything else.


241 posted on 07/03/2011 9:50:34 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Melas
Stilettos

/drool

242 posted on 07/03/2011 9:51:35 PM PDT by Salamander (I wear my sunglasses at night.)
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To: Spktyr

The history you quoted forgot the importance of spices.


243 posted on 07/03/2011 9:51:51 PM PDT by Lazamataz (Until Obama, has there ever been, in history, a Traitorous Ruler?)
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To: Salamander

Heh, been there. Done that...:)

I understand.


244 posted on 07/03/2011 9:52:11 PM PDT by rlmorel ("Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions." Gilbert K. Chesterton)
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To: rlmorel; Spktyr

Oh, thank God.

There’s somebody *iPhone imperfect* on here, unlike that Spktyr character!

;D


245 posted on 07/03/2011 9:55:14 PM PDT by Salamander (I wear my sunglasses at night.)
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To: Lazamataz

In the scenario I posted, the effects of the spice and silk trade with Asia without the Roman Empire and its Christian successor states (including the Byzantine and HRE) to protect the traders would only have accelerated the persecution of Christians and Jews. The Islamics always wanted more control over trade.

However, pretty sure the Islamics would have pissed off my Mongol ancestors regardless. They’re just that sort of people.


246 posted on 07/03/2011 10:00:59 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Spktyr

I wish the Mongols took over the world.


247 posted on 07/03/2011 10:02:12 PM PDT by Lazamataz (Until Obama, has there ever been, in history, a Traitorous Ruler?)
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To: Lazamataz

Hey, at it’s height, a naked woman bearing bags of gold could walk the length of the empire without fear of being molested. Tolerance and diversity were more widespread than the fake versions we have now, and official corruption was correctly and swiftly rewarded. Democracy was also practiced.

The world could have done worse, and did.


248 posted on 07/03/2011 10:05:00 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Lazamataz

The race or the motorcycle club?

;]


249 posted on 07/03/2011 10:44:45 PM PDT by Salamander (I wear my sunglasses at night.)
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To: Eaker
I am all ears.

Well, heck, I see the problem, right there.

250 posted on 07/03/2011 10:58:53 PM PDT by going hot (Happiness is a momma deuce)
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To: baltodog
That being said, he thinks that if you choose NOT to wear a helmet, you sign a waiver, releasing the state from responsibilty of care when you get squished....if the state needs to foreclose on your mom and dad’s house to take care of you, so be it...

A thousand times the amount of money spent on the care of victims of motorcycle accidents is spent on cardiac care every year in this country. I suppose one should also have to sign a waiver releasing the state from responsibility of care for any future heart problems every time they buy a Big Mac, too. Right?

251 posted on 07/03/2011 10:59:55 PM PDT by PalmettoMason (Blacks are not inferior, but it is racist to hold them to the same standards as everyone else.)
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To: Salamander

I’m glad that you have taken the proper responsibility for your personal situation. That is the way it should be.

When I’m changing lanes, I make absolutely sure that I can do so in a safe manner and that there is nobody in the lane when I do the change.

Unfortunately most people demand their rights, but they take as little personal responsibility for their situation as possible.


252 posted on 07/04/2011 2:48:05 AM PDT by Jonty30
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To: Spktyr
It is considered poor manners to drag up a dispute/disagreement from an old thread, but since you have done so, and done so rather nastily btw, I will respond.

The wild speculation/scenario you paint shows a person completely without faith or knowledge of Christ and utterly devoid of the humility to acknowledge that the God of the universe is bigger and more powerful than 10,000 roman armies combined or any army for that matter. ‘Christianity’ would have spread no matter the circumstance at the time of its introduction.

Further, my objection at the time of that thread, actually it was more revulsion than anything, was in reaction to people, such as yourself, taking delight in the fact that gladiator courses are being taught for sport. Now, I may not have read every textbook on the subject, but I'm fairly certain, from what I've read through the years, that the gladiators were a fairly brutal lot having to kill to stay alive. Forced into it by a government and a people, so bloodthirsty and barbaric, that nothing less than killing would satisfy their lust for fun/entertainment (take a look around, our country is on this very path); the bloodier, the better. So it was rather disgusting to me that people (such as yourself) thought the whole idea of resurrecting the gladiator training was simply delightful.

It doesn't take a history major to see the evil behind the idea; however, in your overeducated mind, you seem to have completely missed the point. p>

253 posted on 07/04/2011 4:02:54 AM PDT by Outlaw Woman
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To: Melas

Medieval History ~


254 posted on 07/04/2011 5:10:37 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Salamander

Only if you could prove it ~ otherwise you don’t know, and neither does anyone else. One of the reasons to reorganize public property into quanta of individually owned property is so we can assign true responsibility.


255 posted on 07/04/2011 5:12:15 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Jonty30

Ultimately, I am responsible for everything *I* do, that my dogs do and anything I may unduly influence hubby or friends to do, should it result in their injury.

Normally, I’m a joker who’s not that serious about anything but where safety is concerned, I have absolutely no sense of humor at all.


256 posted on 07/04/2011 7:46:17 AM PDT by Salamander (I don't want trouble, I don't need no fuss. But I'm wounded, old and treacherous.)
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To: muawiyah

I called the state gov.

I know where each and every one of “my” personal centimeters of highway are.

[I also own several square yards in 3 neighboring states since I spend money in them, regularly]


257 posted on 07/04/2011 7:48:52 AM PDT by Salamander (I don't want trouble, I don't need no fuss. But I'm wounded, old and treacherous.)
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To: Salamander

Good for you. I’m sure I own several miles ~ probably most of it around the White House. Can you imagine the tolls I’ll be able to collect!


258 posted on 07/04/2011 8:31:08 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah

Well in that case it should be noted that the sword was not the preferred weapon on horseback. That honor belonged to the lance, and you lance across the body so it’s the horse on the left that has to worry, not the horse on the right.

Actually, it was the same on foot. The sword arm was furthest from the opponent, not the closest. The shield was closest to the opponent, not the sword.

So I’m guessing that you just made this up.


259 posted on 07/04/2011 1:28:51 PM PDT by Melas (Sent via Galaxy Tab)
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To: Melas
Folks out just to ride down the road weren't carrying lances ~ they had daggers and swords.

We aren't speaking of the battlefield anyway, but just an ordinary road running between villages, or towns, or castles.

The English ride on the left, and the French ride on the right.

It all depended on how much risk there was on the roads.

So, how much risk was there?

You could bother looking up "Why do we drive on the right" and you would find gazillions of references. One of them is the Wiki piece ~ which can serve as a guide for you.

No, I didn't make any of this up ~ it's just your imagination that I could have and that's a tribute to my writing ability.

260 posted on 07/04/2011 5:21:32 PM PDT by muawiyah
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