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Monday, May 26, 2014

The Wit, Wisdom & Wonder of Motherhood: Book Review

Book Review . Wit . Wisdom . Motherhood . Mom's Day . Mother's Day . Mother . Mom . Mommy . Mum . Quotes . Quotes & Sayings . Quotes from Women & Men . Mama . Mere . Maman . Mutter . Madre . Mami . Mom's The Word - The Wit, Wisdom & Wonder of Motherhood

Dedication to mothers everywhere. For all the love they bring to the world. This book covered all aspects from Mom's around the world, but one. I have shared my comments at the end of the review.

Inspiring & Motivating .... Celebrate wise & witty words on motherhood, from role models to movers & shakers to the famous Oprah to funny Erma Erma Bombeck.

You can fool some of the people some of the time, you can't fool mom. ... Anonymous

The mother is the one supreme asset of national life; she is more important by far than the successful statesman, or businessman, or artist, or scientist. ... Theodore Roosevelt

One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters. ... George Herbert

the famous: "Mothers are really the true spiritual leaders." ... Oprah Winfrey

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the funny: "My children refuse to eat anything that hasn't danced on television. ... Erma Bombeck

the rich: "Motherhood is not for the fainthearted." ... Danielle Steel


A Mother - Mum - Mom are known as diaper-changers & life-changers. They hug us & bug us. They take pride in what we do & take umbrage in what we don't do. They take care of us & are often there for us when no one else is. They love us unconditionally.


An ounce of mother is worth a ton of clergy. ... Spanish Saying

Moms are fantastic; even when spelled upside down they're still WOW! ... Anonymous

Mother: The most beautiful word on the lips of mankind. ... Kahil Gibran

A mother is a person who, seeing there are 4 pieces of pie for 5 people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ... Tenneva Jordan

Mothers are the most instinctive philosophers. ... Harriet Beecher Stowe

A man may compass important enterprises, he may become famous .. he may deserve a measure of popular approval, but he is not right at heart, & can never be truly great, if he forgets his mother. ... Grover Cleveland


Some mothers are kissing mothers & some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, & most mothers kiss & scold together. ... Pearl S. Buck

The greatest love is a mother's; then comes as dog's; then a sweetheart's. ... Polish Saying

The best medicine in the world is a mother's kiss. ... Anonymous

The greatest love is a mother's; then comes a dog's; then comes a sweetheart's. ... Polish Saying


No language can express the power, & beauty, & heroism, & majesty of a mother's love. It shrinks not where man cowers, & grows stronger where man faints, & over wastes of worldly fortunes sends the radiance of its quenches fidelity like a star. ... Edwin Hurbell Chapin

If your baby is "beautiful & perfect, never cries or fuses, sleeps on schedule & burps on demand, an angel all the time," you're the grandma. ... Teresa Bloomingdale


A Mother's Love: There are many kinds of love - we may love our pets, our spouse, our country, even love what we do - but none have the same quality, same power, same intense & in-depth connection as there is between a mother & her child.


My mother's love has always been a sustaining force for our family, & one of my greatest joys is seeing her integrity, her compassion, her intelligence reflected in my daughters. ... Michelle Obama (First Lady)


I was not a classic mother, but my kids were never palmed off to boarding school. So, I didn't bake cookies. You can buy cookies, but you can't buy love. ... Raquel Welch

Mother was the greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love & fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love. Stevie Wonder

Why do mothers have big aprons? To cover the faults of their children. ... Jewish Saying


There is no friendship, no love, like that of the mother for the child. ... Henry Ward Beecher

A mother's love is patient & forgiving when all others are forsaking, it never fails or falters, even though the heart is breaking. ... Helen Steiner Rice

Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside of your body. ... Elizabeth Stone



Maternity Clothes: 1st baby - You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy. ... Anonymous A new baby is like the beginning of all things - wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities. ... Eda LeShan

There is no influence so powerful as that of the mother. ... Sarah Josepha Hale

The 3 most beautiful sights: A potato garden in bloom, a ship in sail, a woman after the birth of her child. ... Irish Saying

Baby's Name: 2nd Baby (If not 2nd/most of us have done this at least with one of our child/children) - Someone has to name their kid after your great-aunt. Mavis, right. It might as well be you. ... Anonymous

My mother is a walking miracle. ... Leonardo DiCaprio


My mother always taught me, even my dad, just never let other people's opinions of you shape your opinion of yourself. And I never have & I never will. ... Ruben Studdard

My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated & more intelligent than college professors. ... Maya Angelou

My mother never gave up on me. I messed up in school so much they were sending me home, but my mother sent me right back. ... Denzel Washington

My mother was determined to make us independent. When I was 4 years old, she stopped the car a few miles from our house & made me find my way home across the fields. I got hopelessly lost. ... Richard Branson

I hope they're still making women like my momma. She always told me to do the right thing. She always told me to have pride in myself; she said a good name is better than money. ... Joe Louis

I think my mother ... made it clear that you have to live life by your own terms & you have to not worry about what other people think & you have to have the courage to do the unexpected. ... Caroline Kennedy

My mother taught me that when you stand in the truth & someone tells a lie about you, don't fight it. ... Whitney Houston

My doctor told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother. ... Wilma Rudolph


I was raised by a single mother who made a way for me. She used to scrub floors as a domestic worker, put a cleaning rag in her pocketbook & ride the subway in Brooklyn so I would have food on the table. But she taught me as I walked her to the subway that life is about not where you start, but where you're going. ... Al Sharpton

My mother always called me an ugly weed, so I never was aware of anything until I was older. Plain girls should have someone telling them they are beautiful. Sometimes this works miracles. ... Hedy Lamarr

My mother always told me, even if a song has been done a 1000 times, you can still bring something of your own to it. I'd like to think I did that. ... Etta James

For all the ways you've helped me to grow, I want to say I love you so. ... Anonymous

A mother never realizes her children are no longer children. ... Holbrook Jackson

A mother always has to think twice, once for herself & once for her child. ... Sophia Loren

If the world never knows your name, that's alright ... your kids do ... it's "mom." ... Linda Poindexter

Madame de Pompadour's Mother: "For heaven's sake, child do something about your hair." ... Bob Phillips

A man's work is from sun to sun, but a mother's work is never done. Anonymous

24/7 - once you sign on to be a mother, that's the only shift they offer


Motherhood: In English Speaking Countries It's Mother, Mum, or Mama. In France, it's Mere or Maman. In Germany it's Mutter. In Spain, it's Madre, Mama or Mami.

Being a mother is one of the most rewarding jobs on earth & also one of the most challenging.



There is a tremendous amount of learning that takes place in the 1st year of your baby's life; the baby learns a lot, too.

Take care of yourself. If Mommy isn't happy, no one else in the family is happy either.

A good mother learns to love her child as he is & adjusts her mothering to suit her child. ... Debra Gilbert Rosenburg

I would much rather be known as the mother of a great son than the author of a great book of the painter of a great masterpiece. ... Rose Kennedy

I was a mother's s boy. ... Don Rickles

Before my mother would give you that dime allowance she'd want you to do a little chore around the house. Like build a porch. ... Ray Romano

When Chelsea Victoria Clinton lay in my arms for the 1st time, I was overwhelmed by the love & responsibility I felt for her. Despite all the books I had read, all the children I had studied & advocated for, nothing had prepared me for the sheer miracle of her being. ... Hillary Rodham Clinton (Former First Lady)

"Mother Knows Best" ... Edna Ferber

Momma exhorted her children at every opportunity to "jump at the sun." We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground. ... Zora Neale Hurston

As a girl my temper often got out of bounds. But one day when I became angry at a friend over some trivial matter, my mother said to me, "Elizabeth, anyone who angers you conquers you." ... Elizabeth Kenney

You cannot shake hands with a clenched first. ... Indira Gandhi

My mother gave lots of good advice & had a lot to say. As you get older, you realize everything she said was true. ... Lenny Kravitz

If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them & half as much money. ... Abigail Van Buren

Never allow you child to call you by your first name. He hasn't known you long enough. Fran Lebowitz


Historical Mom's Famous Last Words:

Gandhi's Mom:
"Eat something, You're skin & bones."

Ben Franklin's Mom:
"Get inside & quit playing with that cocka-mami kite!" ... Jan King


If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. ... Anonymous

Did you ever meet a mother who's complained that her child phoned her too often? Me neither. ... Maureen Lipman


My Aunt Jessie, Who Was Like A Second Mother to me, was divorced, raised 2 kids by herself & was on welfare. In spite of this, what I remember most about my aunt was her joyous spirit & sense of humor.

Maybe it was her Hungarian fiery heritage. Maybe it was because she was Jewish & steeped in a tradition of laughing through tears. Maybe it was her way of coping with life.

Aunt Jessie found happiness in bringing joy to others through her cooking & crocheting, & bringing laughs to others too.

Probably without knowing it, Aunt Jessie was living her life according to a Jewish saying - "You can't control the wind, but can adjust the sails."

And she did it through ups & downs, as we all can, Jewish or not, with a sense of humor.


Angela's thoughts on Mom's ... This book covered all areas of moms but one. I hope that we will keep moms in prayer that are in abused situations and do not - can not see their way out. I hope we also pray that the daddy(ies) that are abusers will be knocked off their horse like Saul/Shaul before being converted to the apostle Paul.


I received a complimentary copy for review from VIVA Editions.

Allen Klein (Author), is the world's only Jollytologist@, & an award-winning professional speaker & author based in San Francisco. He has inspired & uplifted, including the legendary Jerry Lewis.










God-Centered Prayer: Book Review

This is not a new book review - it is probably seven or more years older.

There are many wonderful things we can learn from the Old Testament saints. Theologian Graham Scroggie put it this way: "The New is in the old contained, and the Old is in the New explained!" Elijah, is commended for the way he prayed (James 5:17-18). We all want to pursue God with the passion of David, a man after God's heart, and with faith like Abraham.

God interrupted Moses and the children of Israel at the Red Sea, where they were trapped by Pharaoh and the world's greatest army. They cried out to God about their circumstances. What was God's response? He essentially said, "Folks, this is no time to pray. Moses, raise the rod and split the sea. And Moses did! (Exodus 14:15-16).

When Jesus arrived, HE did things on the Sabbath that the Pharisees couldn't accept. Then came the day when, with HIS disciples, HE lifted the Communion cup and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood" (Luke 22:20).

God responds to the prayers of those who love and honor HIM. We don't throw out the Old Testament and its prayers.

We approach God's throne of grace "with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

I Corinthians 10:13 -- God carefully measures our trials, and HE promises that we won't face more than we can bear. (But we must also keep in mind that when we choose to walk in darkness, we move out from under God's protection).

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Matthew 5:43-45 -- Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

Jesus was no ordinary teacher. HE was the Prince of Peace. "Mercy triumphs over judgment!" (James 2:13).

The prayers God answers are those prayed in accordance with HIS will. The Holy Spirit "searches all things even the deep things of God," and "knows the thoughts of God."

God has told us to call on HIM and he will show us great and mighty things. (Jeremiah 33:3)

As Moses prayed with his hands raised to heaven, Joshua's army was victorious. Prayer worked! (Exodus 17:8-13)

Sickly King Hezekiah lay on his death bed. He cried out to God in prayer. God gave the king fifteen years. (II Kings 20:5)



The author's daddy, Dr. Robert E. Smith (a pastor) laid at death's door in a Tyler Texas Hospital. The medical team advised the family to make his funeral arrangements. In answer to prayer, God raised him up and gave him four and a half more years.

God has created all things for his pleasure. Everything is about the kingdom.

Jesus Christ is the rightful ruler of a spiritual Kingdom, and on day, all men will bow before HIM (Philippians 2:9-10).

What do we know about any king? He's born into his position. He rules those in his kingdom with absolute authority.

Those who are chosen by the king to serve as his ambassadors do everything to symbolize the kingdom. Scripture calls us "Christ's ambassadors" (II Corinthians 5:20).

The author shares in his book that "New Science Magazine" reported a world values survey that analyzed the levels of happiness in more than sixty-five (65) countries. Of the nations surveyed, the United States ranked sixteen (16) on the list, even though the standard of living in the U.S. far exceeds that of the fifteen (15) happiest nations.

Joshua 6 -- Praise preceded the fall of Jericho walls.

II Chronicles 20:14-21 -- Praise preceded Jehoshaphat's victory.

Mark 6:30-44 -- Praise preceded the feeding of the 5,000

Acts 16:20-34 -- Praise preceded the earthquake and jailbreak in Philippi

"It is said of Leonardo da Vinci, the great artist, that he wold sit practically motionless for days at a time, meditating and getting the inspiration for his masterpieces."

Celebrate the Small Stuff!

We are to celebrate God's smallest responses to our prayers. The psalmist David said, "I will praise God's name in song and glorify HIM with thanksgiving" (Psalm 69:30). Jesus said in John 14:13, "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father."

In Exodus 15, after crossing the Red Sea and escaping the wrath of Pharaoh and his army, the children of Israel threw a praise party to celebrate God for bringing them safely out of Egypt.

Sometimes, after God has done something wonderful that we are celebrating, the enemy throws discouragment in our path.

The author and his wife had finished teaching at the convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, and were headed toward the airport, when they began to witness to the cab driver, who was from Ghana. After a few minutes he prayed to receive Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

When the cab stopped, the driver jumped out, hugged them, and thanked them for sharing Christ's life with him.

At the ticket counter the author's wife was given a boarding pass.

Then the woman looked at the author and told him, "Sir, I'm sorry, but your ticket has been canceled. You don't have a seat on this flight."

He told th woman, "I did't cancel my ticket."

She told him the airline canceled his ticket.

She then told him that he would have to buy another $471 ticket if he planned to fly home on the flight with his wife.

The author was fuming inside as he pulled out his credit card and purchased another $471 ticket. The author said God asked him, "Eddie, why did you sell my praise for $471?" All it took was one setback, one disappointment, to shut down his "praise party" for the salvation of the cab driver. He had allowed the evil one to crash his praise party and rob God of the praise HE was due - for a measly $471.

Let's acknowledge, thank, and celebrate every victory that God sends our way.

The author shares he does not promise to teach you how to get what you want from God. But he do hope that the readers of his book will know how to be heard in heaven.


I believe that Bethany sent me a complimentary copy to review.

Eddie Smith, Author of "How To Be Heard In Heaven. He is also co-founder and president of the U.S. Prayer Center, equips intercessors worldwide through articles, books, and his international teaching ministry.

2004/05 Moments of Peace in the Presence of God: Book Review

Book Review . Peace . Shalom . God . Elohim . Devotional . Talents . Pray . Gifts . Spiritual Gifts, Love, Hope, Happiness . LORD

You know the story, I reviewed this book while being a Baptist Editor/Host for a site around the end of 2004 or 2005.


Through inspiring psalms and meditations this devotional book invites you into the presence of God/Elohim , where the gift of peace/Shalom awaits. In its pages you can discover that God is nearer to you than you are to yourself.

Reflections of Love, Hope, & Happiness.

This is the best gift that you could give to yourself.

NEVER ALONE
At sometime in your life you experience loneliness.
Loneliness is natural and should be appreciated rather than feared. In seasons of loneliness, you discover that you are never truly alone.

A Prayer
God, during those times when I feel the ache of loneliness, help me to remember that you are never more than a whispered prayer away. Amen.


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SECOND CHANCES
Even when your mistakes are so devasting that you cannot return to the life you once knew, God's light can break through the clouds and splash spectacular color across your life.


BEGINNING AGAIN
In many ways, your life is as fragile as that tiny plant. Cold winds may blow over you, leaving you feeling withered and ruined. But then God shines his light on your life and you can blossom once more.




A BRIGHT NEW DAY
Past failures and disappointments can hover over you like leaden clouds, refusing to yield to the promise of sunlight and clear skies. When you find yourself surrounded by gray thoughts and gray feelings, it may seem difficult to dream of happier times. But there is great hope. When you find yourself in such a situation, God is there to help.


THE LORD WANTS TO USE YOUR TALENTS
You should ask for his direction and pray for his guidance so you may use your gifts/Spiritual Gifts fruitfully.

Since this a 2004/2005 Review I did, I believe that that I received a complimentary copy from Bethany Publishing.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Vocation . Career . Leadership . Your Calling? . 5/11/2014 . 2005 . Sunday School Lesson

Vocation . Career . Leadership . Leadership Preparation . Your Calling . Luke 4 . John 10 . Leviticus 25 . Isaiah 61 . Mark 1 . Matthew 12 . Matthew 13 . Sunday School Lesson Scriptures . Sunday School Lesson Scriptures


2005 & 2014 Sunday School Scriptures, I thought you might want to study them together, to gain a greater understanding.


5/11/2014 - Sunday - A Fulfilling Vocation - Luke 4:14-21; Devotional Reading: John 10:1-10; Background Scripture: Leviticus 25:8-55; Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:14-21



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6/5/2005 - Sunday - Preparing for Leadership - Mark 1:4-13; Devotional reading: Matthew 12:17-21; Background Scripture: Mark 1:4-13



8/7/2005 - Sunday - What Is Your/My Calling? - Luke 4:16-24, 28-30; Devotional Reading: Matthew 13:54-58; Background Scripture: Luke 4:14-30

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Honda Enthusiasts Guide 1959-1985: Book Review

Book Review . Honda Motorcycles . Nighthawks . drums . Benly touring . Twinstar . Hawk Hondomatic . Silver wing . Colors . black . scarlet red . white . blue . black wall . white wall . Dream Touring . stripes . graphics . olive . gold . orange . glory blue black metallic . Comstar . red stripes . horsepower . tahitian red . sapphire blue . Motorcycle Media . red pinstripes . turbocharged . gold wing . brown . Milwaukee . motorcycle manufacturer . four-cylinder engine . white pinstripe . Cycle world Magazine . Restorer Interview . Roger Smith . Army . Viet Nam . Vietnam . Japanese NOS parts . restoration . November . April . Winter . Summer . travel . wisdom . word of mouth . ebay . online auction . home office . web . Internet . chassis . honey . Life . twin engine . single carburetor . Japanese cycles . black beauty . old school . lights . swap meet . shopping . drum brake

The purpose of Honda Enthusiasts is to guide anyone interested in restoring a vintage motorcycle.

Doug Mitchel had had many years of personal experience messing around with vintage cycles, much is shared from his own time spent searching for the items required when rebuilding one of his own Honda's.

Days of travel & equal amounts of time spent wandering the aisles between purveyors of vintage tin can be replaced with only a few hours at your computer. Anyone with a speedy connection to the web will find sources that would never be found any other way.

Word of mouth may lead you to some of the same suppliers, the access gained by searching the web is truly dazzling.

A note of wisdom might suggest that speed is not a great motivator when keeping this process while patience is the key.


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On the many online auction sites, Ebay remains the leader in the field & their feed-back system ranks high when trying to determine which sellers are worthy of your money & which should be avoided.

The fact that you can search the entire planet from your home office makes the option of shopping in this arena hard to ignore.

While providing you with a worldwide venue there are some who still prefer finding parts in a more traditional fashion. Attending a well prepared swap meet will allow you to review thousands of parts in a single day.

Begin simple & move to the more complicated projects down the road a little.



Warning: When buying online 'heed - watch' for the reputation of the seller. There are many who seem to enjoy scamming others out of their hard earned cash with no intention of supplying the requested - needed items - products - merchandise.

Make sure the chassis rolls freely. Flat tires will often make this a strenuous chore, but as long as the bike can be rolled you have a better idea that the bearings aren't seized in one or both wheels.

Despite the conditions of the market & your own limits we hope you can locate, restore & enjoy riding the Honda that puts a smile on your face. While the first 90% of the build may flow like honey it's always the last stretch that you can get frustrating as one particular part of the restoration or component eludes your grasp.

Life offers us enough drudgery; restore a classic Honda for the sheer pleasure of doing so.

Honda first arrived on the shores of the USA in 1959 & began selling motorcycles unlike anything previously sold here.

The CA95 Benly Touring made its debut as a 1959 Model & would be the seed from which many future models from Honda would sprout.

On the CA95 Benly Touring & the 1964 model they consist of a square headlight nacelle that carries an integrated speedometer. Four colors were available: black, scarlet red, white & blue were the choices & when selected were applied to the frame, fenders & side covers.

The only changes seen on the CA95 Benly Touring 150 was when they switched from early to late versions.

The tall light was smaller, tires were blackwall & the exhaust mufflers were of a flat-sided design.

The late editions wore white wall tires, mufflers with a rounded shape & a longer rear fender brace.

There were more than 6 different iterations before the CA77 Dream Touring model came to be in 1960. Early editions ran from 1960-1963 when the late editions took over until 1969.

The 305cc wet sump parallel twin engine was fed by a single carburetor, power ran through a 4-speed gearbox. A drum brake was found on both wheels & with a weight of 372 pounds the binders did an adequate job of slowing down the Dream.

You had a choice of four different hues for the CA77 Dream & they were straight forward. White, Black, Blue or Scarlet Red would be applied to every inch of sheet metal on the cycle, & the seat would often be finished in a vinyl that was color keyed to the chosen paint.

For the 1964 model year Honda rolled out the S90, otherwise named the Super 90. The Super 90 was a diminutive choice for smaller or beginning riders & still provided a range of features usually found on larger cycles.

Your choice of four colors were found on the order sheet: white, black, scarlet red (for the early models), candy red (for later editions & candy blue also after March of 1968).

Nestled amongst the related models from Honda, the CB160 Sport had intentions of offering more performance with less luxury.

With a red-line of 10,000 RPM the little single cylinder Honda was a lively performer for the day. Black wall tires were used in place of the white wall versions on the Touring editions.

The CB160 Sport could be had in one of four colors during its five year production run & each hue was constrasted with silver fenders & side covers. Black, white, scarlet red & blue were listed as your choices. When selecting the blue body panel option you also get a saddle covered in matching vinyl while the other three hues had black seats.

Making its debut as a 1969 model the CB150 instantly set the stage & raised the bar for what a motorcycle could be & did so at a decent price.

The big Honda's saddle could easily handle two people on long stretches of open road. The handle-bars rose up to meet the rider's hands with no complication & were graced with user-friendly controls for lights, brake & clutch.

This technique was rather old school & labor intensive.

1969 & early 1970 models found a 4-into-1 throttle installed & a headlight bucket that matched the selected body color.

1975 saw the readouts done in 10s & the faces of the gauges were dark green. 1976 saw the instruments finished with a light green hue. The side cover markings were altered for 1977 with the "750 Four K' seen in gold.

A range of colors were offered each year along with contrasting stripes to offset the hues. An insert of black was seen on the 1973-1976 paint schemes to further accent the chosen color & striping. Certain colors remain more distinctive as in the candy blue green on the 1969s, & Flake Sunrise Orange, 1972-1974. Every other year offered unique hues used only on that year with several variants of brown offered.

The CB350 Four came in between the CB500 of 1971 & CB400 SS of 1975 & was deemed a fairly competent machine by period magazine reviews.

First arriving for the 1972 model year the latest inline-four was a nice addition for those who sought a slightly smaller machine that could still perform.

An MSRP of about $1100 was a nice entry point for a smaller machine that delivered such terrific numbers.

Produced for three years, the only alterations during that run were in the available colors along with stripes & graphics found on the side covers.

The palettes of early 1970s were getting a bit unusual for all manufacturers of cycles & cars & the candy bacchus olive used on the '72 perfect example. Not as bland as the Gold used on appliances, the yellow & white stripes offset the medium olive hue to a T.

The first two years of production for t5he CB350 Four listed candy bacchus olive & flake matador red as your options for paint. Accepting your choice of base color were stripes of yellow & white consisted of "350 Four" finished in red & white for 1972 & 73. The final year of the CB350 Four listed only glory blue black metallic with tank stripes of gold. Badges on the side covers were dressed in orange & white.

Joining the standard K model in 1975 were the F, or Super Sport editions in the SOHC CB750. They were built in far fewer numbers so finding a clean example for your restoration will be a bit more daunting as will replacement parts.

Doug having owned & restored a 1977 F model had fun doing the work but barely broke even upon the sale of his black beauty.

For the 1977 & 1978 models several cosmetic changes were seen. The engine cases & lower fork less were finished in black with polished covers on the motor. The earlier spoked wheels were supplanted by Honda's new Comstar, five-spoke alley rims & a second disc brake was found at the front.

For the 1979 model year the debut of the massive CBX which set new standards for complexity & performance. In contrast to that newborn bike, the CM185 Twinstar remained in the books.

Not every rider was capable or interested in riding a machine of the CBXs dimensions, leaving room for smaller models. Many buyers were first-timers or simply seeking a method of making short trips around their hones, not travelling across the country.

Slowed by a pair of drum brakes meant you'd be sure to stop eventually but panic stops took years off of your life in most cases.

With only two years of production to its name the CM185 Twinstar didn't offer any vast changes from one year to the next. The CM185 was offered in the same two color choices for both years. Candy antares red or candy sword blue were your options. Stripes found on the fuel tank & side covers of the 1978 editions were white, gold & black with a "Twinstar" decal in white on the side covers. 1979 models used gold pin-stripes to accent the wider red stripe. The "Twinstar" label was now applied in gold to compliment the stripes. No mechanical alterations were made.

If one can be found that remains in original trim you'll be pleased with the great fuel economy & the entertainment provided when riding.

The 1978 CB400 Hawk Hondomatic appeared to be the only version of that combination although similar designs would follow shortly.

Honda's 395cc engine was found in the frame of the Hondamatic with twenty-seven horsepower on tap, & chain drive to the rear wheel.

Being built for only one year there were obviously no changes.

The 1978 CB400A Hawk was offered in two colors for the year, tahitian red or candy sapphire blue being listed. Regardless of the color chosen accent stripes were applied in black & orange & found on the tank & side covers.

Besting the debut of the CB900F by one model year, the CB900C first appeared as a 1980 model.

The engine produced 95 horsepower, which for the day was nearing the upper end of what was being sold else-where.

Comstar wheels were found at both ends & two-tone paint schemes were applied on the 1981 & '82 iterations.

Wearing a price tag of $3498 was not the most expensive bike on the market but was miles from being the least expensive.

For the price of admission the CB900C offered a high amount of comfort & features all dressed in an elegant set of sheet metal.

Sold for three years, the CB900C may not have dazzled the motorcycle media of the day, but Doug owning one himself can attest to the overall ease of use & rapid acceleration when the right grip was twisted.

For the 1980 & '81 models the engine was finished in its natural state with the typical use of chrome covers for the clutch & electrics.

The 1980 variants were sold in two colors but each was a monotone design. Candy Muse Red or Candy Poseidon Blue being listed & either came with gold & red pinstripes.

The 1981 CB900C was sold in your choice of two different two-tone schemes. Candy Muse Red was teamed with Brown Metallic or Cosmo Black Metallic was mated to blue Metallic.

The two-tone effect was applied on the fuel tank & side covers.

1982 found the CB900C fitted with an engine finished in mostly black with valve covers & case covers of silver.

The front rotors were now slotted with dual-piston calipers for improved braking power.

Colors for the '82s were Candy Muse Red & Candy Antares Red or Candy Empire blue to offset the base color.

The turbocharged CX500TC was sold for 1982 only.

The success of their GL100 Gold Wing prompted Honda to build a smaller version of the 'Wing-One that would first appear as a 1981 model.

The new GL500 Silver Wing & Silver Wing Interstate used the same V-twin motor found in the CX500 series, but added a long comfort.

The better dressed GL500 silver Wing Interstate came with a second rotor & caliper on the front.

For 1981 Candy Muse Red or Cosmo Black Metallic were offered while the same red hue was seen alongside the sterling silver metallic in 1982. The same color choices were seen for the Interstate editions as were offered on the base Silver Wing.

When searching for either the base GL500 or the added comfort of the Interstate edition take care to make sure every section of the modular seating is still on hand as locating OEM replacements will prove to be a real challenge.

The larger displacement models of 1983 are a one-year only model making these unique parts tougher items to find.

Early in the 1980s a certain motorcycle manufacturer in Milwaukee started to complain that they couldn't compete with Japanese cycles of more than 700 cc.

In an effort to expand their offerings in the new class Honda produced the CB700SC Nighthawk S.

Powered by an inline four-cyclinder engine that displaced 696 cc, the Nighthawk was also fitted with some features that would set it apart from others in the new 700 cc family.

The "s" in the name referred to the sporty nature of the new model & reviews at the time spoke highly of the approach even though the shaft drive flew in the face of sport bike convention.

Having six speeds on taps also allowed the rider to stay within the hot zone of the ORPM range with ease.

The engine was nearly a total black out for the first two years & all hints of silver were missing on the 1986 editions.

The CB700SC was a great performer, when new & remains so today.

For 1984 & '85 the color choices were black & blue or black & red. 1984 saw the colored panels outlined with stripes of the same hue while the 1985 version had a white pinstripe to separate the color from the black.

The engines of the 1984 & '85 models featured silver accents on the cooling fins, valve covers & side covers on the clutch & electronics side.

For 1986 the colors on the sheet metal were trumped up to black with your choice candy alamoana red or candy aleutian blue. Those units finished with red panels had accent stripes or orange while the blue versions had a red stripe. The 1986 editions also had red stripes & all related components finished in pure black. The wheels also were finished in an all black motif which added a hint of sinister to the bike.

the factory exhaust was a four-into-two affair & finished in black chrome & as with most cycles, replacements are a rare find.

Sharing a few words from the Book Interview with Restorer Roger Smith .....

The criteria that Mr. Smith uses when selecting a cycle to restore, consist of bikes that he wanted from the past or those he owned but had to sell when entering the Army during Viet Nam (Vietnam).

Vintage Japanese parts are still available but in limited supply. Do your best to find them now & it will make it much easier than waiting a few years just to find the shelf is bare.

They typically decide on a restoration project in late summer. That gives them several months to find a bike before the winter in this part of the U.S. take over. Then from November through April they can bring the bike back to life taking around six months to roll out the latest project just as winter is ending.

In 2008 Cycle World Magazine chose their Yamaha Big Bear Scrambler as their restoration award winner at the AMA Invitation Concourse in Ohio. There's lots of time for restoration when it's five below zero in January!

Mr. Smith's son-in-law, Matt Tate helps whenever he can. There is nothing like having two sets of hands when you are installing an engine forks or a stubborn set of swing arm bearings on a 1969 Suzuki Titan. It's also nice to have someone who has skills you do not have, like wiring, or meticulous polishing.

Too many folks have began a restoration not realizing how complicated a multi-cylinder four stroke engine is.

Begin simple & move to the more complicated projects down the road a little.

I received a complimentary copy of Honda Enthusiasts from Car Tech to review.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

07 Review Excerpts: Be Informed! Possible Disasters

Sharing from a book I reviewed in 2007.

If you or your child/children need professional counseling - do not be ashamed to seek help.

Be Informed! The first step is finding out what could happen. Once you have determined possible events, & their potential community, it is important that you discuss them with your family. Then a plan should follow for disasters.

Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen. Explain what to do in each case. Just in case you do not seek - seek what to do.

Pick two places to meet: (1) right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, (2) outside your neighborhood in case you can not return home. Everyone must know the address & phone number.

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Ask an out-of-state friend to be your "family contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long-distance. Other family members should call this person & tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact's phone number.

Discuss what to do in and evacuation. Plan how to take care of your pets.

Write down all of these contact numbers & information on the family emergency contact card.


I received a complimentary copy of 'What's In The Bible for Women' (this book) for review from Bethany Publishing.

The author & general editor are Georgia Curtis Lang & Dr. Larry Richards.

Georgia is a best-selling author. She graduated from Kentucky Christian University with a major in Bible in 1979. She & her husband, have one son & live in a log cabin in Kentucky.

Dr. Richards was converted in the Navy in the 1950's. He has written Sunday School Curriculum for every age group. He has published more than two hundred books, & his books have been translated into some twenty-six languages. His wife, Sue, is also an author. He is a native of Michigan & now lives in North Carolina.

Recommended Basic Emergency Supply: Review Excerpt 07

Sharing from a book I reviewed in 2007.

If you need professional counseling or your child/children - do not be ashamed to seek them.

What You Can Do:

Recommended items to include in a basic emergency supply include:

Water, 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days, for drinking & sanitation

Food, at least a 3-day supply of nonperishable food

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Battery-powered or hand-crank radio & an NOAA weather radio with tone alert & extra batteries for both

Flashlight & extra batteries

First-aid kit

Whistle to signal for help

Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air, & plastic sheeting & duct tape to shelter-in-place

Moist towelettes, garbage bags, & plastic ties for personal sanitation

Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

Can opener for food

Local maps




Additional items to consider adding to an emergency supply kit includes:

Prescription medications & glasses

Infant formula & diapers

Pet food & extra water for your pet

Important family documents, identification, & bank account records in a waterproof, portable container

Cash or travelers check & change

Emergency reference material such as a first-aid book

Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person

Complete change of clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, pants, & sturdy shoes

Household chlorine beach & medicine dropper (when diluted 9 parts waters to 1 part bleach, the mixture can be used as a disinfectant, or, in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops if regular household bleach per gallon of water)

Fire extinguisher

Matches in a waterproof container

Feminine supplies & personal hygiene items

Mess kits, paper cups & plates, plastic utensils, paper towels

Paper & pencils

Books, games, puzzles, or other activities for children


I was sent a complimentary copy of 'What's in the Bible for Women' for review from Bethany Publishing.

Georgia Curtis Lange & Dr. Larry Richards are the author & general editor of this book.

Georgia is a bestselling author. she graduated from Kentucky Christian University with a major in Bible in 1979. She and her husband, Phil, have one son & live in a log cabin in Kentucky.

Dr. Richards was converted in the Navy in the 1950's. He has taught and written Sunday School Curriculum for every age group. He has publised more than two hundred books, & his books have been translated into some twenty-six languages.