American
Idol -
Frontier of biker's rights ?
From the small office in the back corner,
near the water cooler
March 20th, 2008
So
American Idol’s Queen of rock is gone. Long live the queen.
This
editorial is being written the day after Amanda Overmyer was
asked by the viewing voters to hop on her Sportster and ride
off into the graphically-enhanced, blue back-lit Fox sunset.
Consequently, I have the advantage of literary hindsight
thanks to my pen-pushing media peers and their knowledgeable
observations of last night’s show, its events and what they
would’ve preferred to happen.
Regular
readers will know that Clutch and Chrome endorsed the
motorcycle riding, rocking nurse from Indiana as the
official contestant of our humble website and the one we
wanted to win. Just as with sports teams, television shows
and motorcycles, when you pick a favorite, its disappointing
if others don’t agree with you and hurts if they dare to
insult your choice.
So
when the less than favorable but cleverly written rhetoric
about Amanda Overmyer's demise from the various
entertainment sites and newspapers around the web filled our screen, we
naturally took a slight offense to it.
Indignation however was wiped away by a smile at one point
when we wondered what’s the worse insult; to be dismissed
and pushed to one side as if you don’t matter, or being
mocked or slammed which takes time and effort?
As
much as everyone around the Clutch and Chrome offices
enjoyed Amanda’s lip-curling performances, our reality
barometer knew she would never win the thirteen-year old
demographic. You know the classic saying in politics: You
lose the text vote, you lose the election, at least that’s
what it sounded like to us.
But
we had hoped she would make it into the top ten and enjoy
the perks as well as pay of the American Idol tour. It’s a
biker thing, seeing one of ours get the semi-big break. Up
until last nights result show, it looked like a done deal.
After all, she was standing next to Kristy Lee ‘go
ahead and sleep through my performance after all I am’ Cook (seriously, that’s her real name; the middle
part was dropped because Fox’s hippness-experts didn’t think
it flowed).
How
could someone who cranked up the performance energy to the
levels that Ms. Overmyer did lose to Miss Snooze-along?
Maybe our humor is a little too biting and could come across
as slightly mean, but as with so much of American Idol the
voting boils down to esthetics rather than true talent. And
I know that's common knowledge but on this occasion it
affected a biker, so it hits home more than it normally
would.
Once this frustration starts to creep into
the mind, the question of just how much of her professed
love for motorcycles played into the popular opinion. Were
viewers too busy looking at her wristbands and snake pattern
pants to listen to the unique voice belting out the rock
songs? Was her two-tone hair that much more important than
every electric performance that rocked the American Idol
audience? Does goth make-up and quiet self-confidence that
Amanda wore so proudly disqualify her from being in the top
ten?
More importantly, is what Amanda may have encountered on
an American talent show what bikers face in America, the
country? When we walk into a gas station, convenience store
or small restaurant in an out of the way place in our
helmet-haired, scruffy state are the staff seeing us or the
leather? The skullcap? The boots?
Some of my entertainment magazine counterparts described
Amanda's voice as 'gin-soaked'. I'm not one of those
bleeding heart liberals that reads insults in casual
conversations and one of the first to think that some people
should just get a life.
But to borrow from a well known saying, maybe we have a
walking, quacking example of a duck.
Riders have long downplayed the image of binge-drinking
bikers. Interestingly, one of the quickest growing types of
motorcycle clubs is centered around religious themes as well
as usually being clean and sober.
I'm
the first admit that this season of American Idol was
crowded with either talent or
just-add-water-for-an-instant-teen-idol types, leaving an
incarnation of the great Janis Joplin lucky to even make the
top twelve. Hopefully everyone involved in American Idol
from the producers to the contestants and onto the viewing
public can appreciate the professional seriousness Amanda
exhibited during her time in the contest.
Every person who has ever sat in the saddle should give a
nod to Amanda Overmyer for not only representing the humble
biker on a national stage in such a stand-up way, but also
the female riders who were seen in a fine fashion.
And if the public did notice the grace with which she
took her defeat and left the stage, Amanda's appearance, as
unfairly short as it was may have helped whittle away at the
public's perception of the biker-type.
Then again, maybe not. After all, its just a television
show.
Be safe out there.
The Editor
Past
Editorials
July 18th
The only thing missing is an
engine The day
this editorial is being written, aside from the
motorcycle deaths and endless riders who insist on
trying to outrun law enforcement at triple digit speed,
no notable news stories have crossed the desks of Clutch
and Chrome. Although both types of stories are tragic in
their own particular way, we have long decided to run
neither for a variety of reasons.
June 23rd
Fixing political mistakes with
good old fashion biker sense
It
was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Charles Dickens opened his novel ‘A Tale of Two Cities’
with that seemingly contrary sentence. Even though the
famous British author wrote his contemporary stories
during England’s Victorian Era, the sentiments could be
about bikers in Anytown USA, here and now.
April 10th
Welcome to our new home
Sure it may look like we've knocked out a few walls
or something as extreme as adding a whole
new wing, but its amazing what a little bit of
paint, some well-placed plants and a new set of
curtains can do.
March 20th
American Idol, frontier of biker's
rights? So American Idol’s Queen
of rock is gone. Long live the queen. This editorial is
being written the day after Amanda Overmyer was asked by the
viewing voters to hop on her Sportster and ride off into the
graphically-enhanced, blue back-lit Fox sunset.
March 5th, 2008
Thankfully, life isn't a
bumper sticker
The bumper sticker, whose quick phrase put a smile on
drivers faces or could solve any of life’s problems, seemed
to infect every car on the road with its humor, wit and
thought provoking slogans has become a rare sight in recent
years.
February 11th, 2008
Passion or Possession? How can a person
not love motorcycles? Understanding that this editorial is
appearing the pages of Clutch and Chrome, the absolutely
free online resource for riders, I’m pretty much preaching
to the choir. Regardless, don’t you catch yourself asking
the same question?
January 11th, 2008
Throwing names into the Dunce
Cap
With Clutch and Chrome’s
Best
and Worst of 2007 just recently published, the morning
meetings which ran into afternoons and occasionally finished over
drinks are still fresh in everyone’s minds around the office. It’s not surprising then to read every
news story that finds it’s way onto the pages of Clutch and Chrome
with an eye to what will be nominated, and possibly win next years
awards. But who would’ve thought that just ten days into the
new year we’d not only be reading, but for some possibly living, a
shoo in for Dumbest motorcycle moment of 2008?
January 2nd, 2008
Riding one big bottle-rocket
into 2008 Like trying on a
new pair of jeans in one of those trendy boutique clothing
stores with too many younger shoppers looking on, we find
ourselves awkwardly in a brand new year wishing it would fit
better and the whole episode just didn’t feel so weird.
December 20th, 2007
Like looking in a mirror
One of the biggest ironies must be
that of the holiday season and the biker.
In many ways, your average rider has so many similarities to the big
man and his magical visit that children the world over look forward
too.
November 29th, 2007
Santa Claus and Cynics Who needs any
reindeer or the silly red suit? Okay, maybe the suit isn’t
so silly and surely enough bikers will tell you that well
insulated Santa attire is just what the bike-doctor ordered
for your upcoming local and possibly cold Toy Run. It
even looks good when you make the local paper and for some,
it’s the rare occasion a color other than black can be worn
while riding.
November 2nd, 2007
Facing down destiny with a Podcast
The road ahead is lit by sunlight
streaming through dark, looming storm clouds. It’s not just the
turning of the season bringing a chill to the heavy lying air.
Bikers are riding across the Great Plains of life straight towards a
menacing storm front, stretching for as far as the eye can see.
September 25th, 2007
Trying to ignore the sound of crashing celebrities
So it had been weeks in the making, between the first few
thoughts, organizing them into some kind of order and then
typing it all out. Everything was looking
great.
It was a deep introspective into our riding world, what
bikers are facing, possible consequences and most
importantly how we as a group will face them.
The new darling of advertisers everywhere There is no doubt the humble
motorcycle is experiencing a wave of popularity and
acceptance across all sections of society. Our riding
brothers of yesteryear who were at best judged and at worst
actively discriminated against could only watch in amazement
at how beloved bikers and their machines have become.
June 11th, 2007
Riding gear,
new look and life lessons I know, I know,
certainly a lot of road to cover in one trip, but it has
been two months since the last editorial so it’s
understandable having a lot to write about.
April 3rd, 2007
Our big
screen
biker brothers..... After
nearly a year of the first inklings the demonic motorcycle
daredevil would burst onto the big screen, and a shorter six
months of build-up for the all-star comedic biker-buddy
movie, both Ghost Rider and Wild Hogs are quickly fading
into movie history.
March12th, 2007
Perfection over passion Although
this editorial may at first feel the furthest from
motorcycles and the people who love to ride them, I’d ask
for indulgence and patience while we go around the houses
eventually getting to the point.
February 2nd, 2007
The
fresh smell of fines in the air The first
month of the New Year is still fresh in our minds and
already the world of riding is greeted with gainsaying.
December 26th, 2006
Why Bikers are dogs Admittedly
it’s a loaded and possibly inflammatory headline, open to a
range of interpretations. But before all the female readers
have their heads fall off from nodding in agreement with much
enthusiasm, don’t jump ahead of me.
November 12th, 2006
Politics on
Two Wheels
Just when you thought there
would be a sanctuary from the endless stream of political
reporting, electoral Monday morning quarterbacks and analysis
of the analysis which picked apart the original analysis,
here’s an editorial which should be about motorcycles but
instead references the mid-term elections.
October 23rd, 2006
Riding with a
bullseye on the back
There are
always signs. This editorial isn't about the ones that stand on the
side of the road which help various vehicles navigate the
endless roads of this great country.
September 20th, 2006
Changes
and perspectives
It's always a hard making a decision
for change, with the degree's of difficulty usually corresponding
with how much it impacts your life.
August 19th, 2006
Two
sides Of the
Worlds Coin
A quick informal survey around the
cyber-office has all the staff of Clutch and Chrome admitting the
same thing. Everyone is crazy about motorcycles. Sure some may lean,
if you'll excuse the pun to one kind or even one brand of bike, but
all in all if it's moves, is motorized and has two wheels, we're
interested.
July 26th, 2006
Life is like A sharp blind curve
I always find the
best friendships are those built on complete understanding
and upfront honesty. Certain buddies are quite happy with
riding once a month while others look forward to weekly
mini-excursions. Being the easy-going biker types and not
pushing anyone for more than they're willing to give has our
circle of friends happily wearing smiles and enjoying life.
June 16th, 2006
Limited run only!!! Tragic news and
moral outrage
The last week just goes to
show that any type of momentum, regardless of how strong it
may appear is stoppable and maybe even reversible. But
before we get to the conclusion, lets baby-step our way
through the connecting dots.
May 1st 2006
Looking back, glancing forward
It’s been just over three weeks since
Clutch and Chrome has been
‘live’ on the internet. That is, according to the official
launch date and schedule the Clutch and Chrome staff was
working with.......
April 1st 2006
A note from the Editor I’m honored to be the first to welcome you to
Clutch and Chrome, a
website devoted to news, information, facts and figures
about motorcycles for those who love to ride them.......
American
Idol -
Frontier of biker's rights ?
Regular
readers will know that Clutch and Chrome endorsed the
motorcycle riding, rocking nurse from Indiana as the
official contestant of our humble website and the one we
wanted to win. Just as with sports teams, television shows
and motorcycles, when you pick a favorite, its disappointing
if others don’t agree with you and hurts if they dare to
insult your choice.
But
we had hoped she would make it into the top ten and enjoy
the perks as well as pay of the American Idol tour. It’s a
biker thing, seeing one of ours get the semi-big break. Up
until last nights result show, it looked like a done deal.
After all, she was standing next to Kristy Lee ‘go
ahead and sleep through my performance after all I am’
Cook (seriously, that’s her real name; the middle
part was dropped because Fox’s hippness-experts didn’t think
it flowed).
Riders have long downplayed the image of binge-drinking
bikers. Interestingly, one of the quickest growing types of
motorcycle clubs is centered around religious themes as well
as usually being clean and sober.