Malcolm Smith (1941-2024) died from complications of Parkinson’s disease, which he battled for more than two decades. He was 83. (Photo by Joe Bonnello) If any motorcyclist has reached the status of “legend,” it’s Malcolm Smith. As a humble motorcycle dealership owner and racer, Smith became famous for his role in Bruce Brown’s 1971 motorcycle documentary, On Any Sunday. In that iconic film, which won a 1972 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Smith’s infectious smile, tenacity on the racecourse, and  freewheeling ride on the beach with co-stars Steve McQueen and Mert Lawwill captivated the hearts and aspirations of motorcyclists around the world. Smith’s career in the motorcycle industry spanned many decades, and he served as one of the best ambassadors for the sport. In 2012, Motorcyclist named Malcolm Smith the Motorcyclist of the Century. You can learn more about Malcolm Smith at “The Malcolm Story.” What follows is the official press release issued today by the American Motorcyclist Association. – Ed. Malcolm Smith (1941-2024), who many consider to be America’s most renowned and best loved motorcyclist, has died from complications of Parkinson’s disease, which he battled for more than two decades. He was 83. Smith passed away at home in Riverside, California, on November 26, peacefully and surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife Joyce; daughters Louise and Ashley; sons Joel and Alexander; granddaughters Evie, Adeline, Amelie, Miley, and Claire; and grandsons Ethan, Malcolm, and Conrad. Malcolm Smith (right) co-starred with Steve McQueen (left) and Mert Lawwill (center) in “On Any Sunday,” which many consider the best motorcycle movie ever made. In his final year, he welcomed his newest grandchildren, Malcolm, Conrad, and Claire, and was thrilled to watch his granddaughters learn to ride motorcycles. During his 83 years, Smith did it all: Rider. Racer. ISDT gold medalist. Shop tech. Service manager. Repair shop owner. Aftermarket distributor. Retail store owner. Actor. Sponsor. Philanthropist. Pro-motorcycling advocate. Husband. Father. Grandfather. Friend. And much more. But over and above all that, Malcolm Smith was everyman’s motorcyclist, an enthusiastic, fun-loving, driven, and talented example of what motorcycling could do and be for the everyday enthusiast and how the sport could affect our lives in unimaginable ways. “Malcolm Smith embodied so much of what’s good about motorcycle enthusiasts and the sport of motorcycling,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “Not only did he excel in riding, racing, and business, but Malcolm was also a great example of how to get the most out of motorcycling and give back and support our sport, which he did during much of his life – and always with a grin.” Funeral and memorial services are pending. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to Malcolm’s favorite charity, the Malcolm Smith Motorsports Foundation, which supports the children of Baja, Mexico. More than a decade ago, Malcolm Smith wrote these words for the final chapter of his acclaimed 2015 autobiography: “It all started for me on March 9, 1941, in a small rural hospital in the village of Ganges, on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada… “Where it will end, no one knows. But you can be sure I’m going to enjoy every minute I have left, with a smile on my face, and my family nearby. Can’t ask for more than that.” You can’t, and he didn’t…and the world’s motorcycling fans are better for it. Godspeed, Malcolm. The post Malcolm Smith, Legendary Motorcyclist and ‘On Any Sunday’ Star, Dies at 83 appeared first on Rider Magazine.

According to the Associated Press, the Biden administration is urging Ukraine to lower its conscription age from 25 to 18 to increase the size of its military to bolster its efforts against Russia. A senior Biden administration official told the outlet that the outgoing Democratic administration wants Ukraine to expand the pool of fighting-age men due to being badly outnumbered by Russia. White House pressing Ukraine to draft 18-year-old men to help fill manpower needs to battle Russiahttps://t.co/2hX1va9zvs — Cernovich (@Cernovich) November 27, 2024 From the Associated Press: The official said “the pure math” of Ukraine’s situation now is that it needs more troops in the fight. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in less than months. But with time running out, the Biden White House is also sharpening its viewpoint that Ukraine has the weaponry it needs and now must dramatically increase its troop levels if it’s going to stay in the fight with Russia. The official said the Ukrainians believe they need about 160,000 additional troops, but the U.S. administration believes they probably will need more than that. More than 1 million Ukrainians are now in uniform, including National Guard and other units. White House pressing Ukraine to draft 18-year-olds so they have enough troops to battle Russia https://t.co/vII9HqRLpz — CTV News (@CTVNews) November 27, 2024 Per CTV News: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also been hearing concerns from allies in other Western capitals that Ukraine has a troop level problem and not an arms problem, according to European officials who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic conversations. The European allies have also stressed that the lack of depth means that it may soon become untenable for Ukraine to continue to operate in Russia’s Kursk border region that Ukraine seized this year. The situation in Kursk has become further complicated by the arrival of thousands of North Korean troops(opens in a new tab) who have come to help Moscow try to claw back the land. The stepped-up push on Ukraine to strengthen its fighting ranks also comes as Ukraine braces for President-elect Donald Trump to take office on Jan. 20. The Republican said he would bring about a swift end to the war and has raised uncertainty about whether his administration would continue the vital U.S. military support for Ukraine. The news follows reports of Joe Biden making a last-ditch effort to send $24 billion to Ukraine before he leaves office in January. Biden makes last-ditch ask of Congress for $24 billion to help Ukraine: report https://t.co/5QEHY4ZybK pic.twitter.com/ofIM0oODbM — New York Post (@nypost) November 26, 2024 From the New York Post: On his way out of the White House, President Biden is reportedly making a last-minute plea to Congress for $24 billion in aid for war-torn Ukraine to bolster its military support and replenish US stocks that had dwindled. The White House Office of Management and Budget suggested that Congress could fold the renewed aid into its solution to avert a government shutdown next month, according to a request obtained by Politico Pro. Several lawmakers saw the proposal Monday and it features $8 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to fund US company contracts to arm Kyiv and $16 billion to refill US weaponry stock, per the report. Already, some Republicans cried foul over the reported ask.

Over 23,000 outstanding COVID-era fines will be withdrawn by the New South Wales government in Australia. The fines, worth approximately $5.5 million, will be refunded from the state government’s draconian restrictions during the height of the COVID scamdemic. “Another 23,000 COVID fines are being withdrawn. Those already paid will be refunded, costing the state government five and a half million dollars,” 7NEWS reports. “The penalties were put in place during the pandemic for breaching health orders like public gatherings. Revenue NSW will begin contacting people affected within days,” it added. WATCH: Australia Millions of dollars in fines dished out for breaches of pandemic restrictions in NSW will be refunded, while close to 24,000 penalty notices will be officially torn up. pic.twitter.com/cmKUEHZpnr — Camus (@newstart_2024) November 27, 2024 Per Sky News: The announcement comes after legal advice recommended information contained in penalty notices may not comply with the requirements of the Fines Act. This means they did not contain enough information required under the Act when issued to those allegedly in breach of pandemic rules, with the 23,539 fines now declared null and void. Revenue NSW’s Commissioner of Fines Administration Scott Johnston made the decision in consultation with NSW Police in light of the new advice, The Australian understands. Those who already paid the fines, whether in full or partially, will be refunded with Revenue NSW set to start contacting customers this week. However this won’t impact fines which are now in front of, or have been finalised by the court system, as they have been taken out of the government’s hands. More than 23,000 wild Covid-era fines will be refunded in a major concession from the NSW government after thousands of residents were sprung by cops over everyday activities.https://t.co/r5VCxT2QCW — Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) November 26, 2024 “Over the past four years, countless brave individuals have fought relentlessly—both in and out of the courtroom—to have unjust COVID fines overturned. These fines, which were never lawful, caused untold pain and shattered trust in our Government and its institutions. Thanks to the tireless efforts of lawyers, legal centers, advocates, and community leaders, we’ve achieved a hard-fought victory: the Government has finally seen the light and revoked these fines. This is a powerful moment for justice. We won!” lawyer Tony Nikolic said. “For those who paid these fines, know that you may have avenues to seek redress. Even if you felt alone, people were working tirelessly behind the scenes to fight for what was right. The suffering endured by our community must never be repeated. The truth is, the former Police Minister knew these actions were wrong yet allowed them to continue. This betrayal of the public trust was inexcusable, and we must ensure such failures never happen again. To everyone who stood up, fought, and refused to back down—you’ve shown the power of unity and resilience. Today, justice prevailed!” he added. Victory- Great work by Redfern Legal Centre and all other advocates of social justice Over the past four years, countless brave individuals have fought relentlessly—both in and out of the courtroom—to have unjust COVID fines overturned. These fines, which were never lawful,… pic.twitter.com/5TaI1MRSvS — Tony Nikolic Corinthians 15:58- #Holdtheline (@TonyNikolic10) November 26, 2024 9News reports: The move comes two years after 36,000 of the 62,000 pandemic-era fines were scratched, following a Supreme Court ruling that they were invalid because they were too vague. The state government had not been drawn on calls to withdraw the remaining penalty notices, but today announced that they would, in fact, be scrapped. The decision will see 23,539 fines cancelled, but will have no impact on any that had already been taken to the courts. Revenue NSW will refund a combined $5.5 million to residents who had already partially or fully paid one of those fines.

Bill Gates, already the largest private owner of farmland in the United States, is now setting his sights on Britain, teaming up with BlackRock to acquire vast swathes of UK farmland. BlackRock, the world’s largest [...] The post Bill Gates and BlackRock Launch Massive Land Grab to Gain Control of British Food Supply appeared first on The People's Voice.

Vice President Kamala Harris' first video to her supporters after the election gained a lot of criticism and prompted mockery from social media users.

President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University health researcher and COVID-19 lockdown critic, will serve as the next director of the National Institutes of Health.