Fiction By Zac King It happened in Medina Ohio, sometime in the not-so-distant Future: It’s 2045 and motorcycles on freeways have been outlawed. Self-driving vehicles are the only forms of transportation allowed on major freeways in the United States. I am on a mission; I’m going to ride across American freeways on a motorcycle. That’s been Illegal for years but damnit, I don’t care. I figure the only way to do this is to ride under cover of darkness from 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. every night… I ride. My friends call me the Snake. I began this midnight run from the Florida Keys and will ride to Canada where riding a gas-powered motorcycle on the freeways is legal. For now, riding through the endless darkness that is Oklahoma is mind-numbing. No moon, no humans, no escape. Just keep moving forward…fast. As the winds increase, ghostly shadows leap across the ashen road dividers while unseen hands pummel and push at me, thrashing my speeding motorcycle across lanes. I ride long sections of highway in isolation, pushing 120 mph in a mind-numbing attempt to get to the next patch of distant lights unseen. Suddenly, all the lights go out on the old Moto Guzzi. The bike, still running but my dash lights, running lights, headlamp, and taillights are gone. I’m now held hostage by the looming demons of darkness as they raise the hairs on my neck. I pull over and hatch a plan, I’m going to draft and there’s a big rig coming and I wait for the enormous wake. A massive big rig blows by and I quickly rip after it. Gaining speed to 70mph, I slither toward its draft within 30 feet, 20 feet and then slowly inch up to 10 feet behind it and the bike almost idles. I’m out of danger, even if a “Toaster” self-driving patrol car passes it won’t get close to a big rig. I relax; safely tucked behind the big rig’s wake, I coast in the darkness to the next patch of distant lights. The big rig pulls over at a TA (Travel Centers of America) truck stop. I break away, roll over into the shadows, and get off the bike for a smoke. The big rig heaves to a stop with the brittle chuff of air brakes. A driver gets out, the cabin door opens and slams while the clack of cowboy boots ricochets against the cold night air. Seeing actual drivers is an unusual sight, they’ve been replaced by truck stop attendants who swap out the massive batteries on the big electric trucks, check the destination logs, and reset the GPS. With a slow gate, he walks to the back of his rig, stops, and eyeballs the rear of his truck. He’s a grizzled monster of a man; even from here, I can tell that. As he turns and looks directly at me with long slow steps, he heads my way. His six-foot-seven frame towers over me in the shadows and all I see is a dark silhouette. “Enjoy the ride?’ he asserts in a slow growl… “My name is Bandit.” I begin stammering my sorry ass story and he breaks in “I know who you are, you’re Snake, that kid who’s trying to dead run the freeways, that’s illegal, can’t believe you’ve made it this far. some of us truckers have been following you on our CBs” Bandit looks at the old Moto Guzzi and the wiring harness is completely fried. “Look kid, you’re done here, I know you want to beat the system and make your mark but it’s not going to happen. The chatter is the toasters know where you are and are going to make an example out of you son. It’s going down hard and going down soon. I can help you out.” Bandit is heading home, to Medina Ohio, and he is on his own mission. He offers to load my bike on the rig and get me to Medina safely. I accept. As he drops the big rig ramp, I stand in astonishment. It’s full of gas-powered Harley-Davidson from the 2020s. We load in the old Guzzi and head to Ohio. I settle into the comfy big rig cabin for a thousand-mile drive. “So, Bandit, what’s up with those old Harleys in the back?” I ask. “You’re not the only biker sick of corporate control and government regulations. Digital currency, voiceprint banking, face recognition grocery shopping, tracking everywhere we go and everything we say except for illegals. I’m on a dead run too son, I’m heading home, packing my bags, and leaving all the bullshit behind,” Bandit seethes. “Where are you going”? “Deadwood, South Dakota, it’s the only state left that allows gas-powered motorcycles on all their roads. I own this rig and everything in it, one of those bikes could be yours. There are a lot of us headed that way right now. Most of my road is behind me but you should take a hard look at where your life is headed.” I sat for a long time quietly thinking about what Bandit said. He knew exactly how I felt, I was escaping a world I didn’t fit in. By now the word was out, The Feds had put out an APB and the highway toasters scoured the roads for Snake. The internet was buzzing about the kid who eluded the entire Federal Government on an old Moto Guzzi motorcycle. Bandit’s sister owned a coffee shop in Old Town Medina. We left the old Guzzi on display in the coffee shop window. We made manikin and stuffed it with Bandit’s old race suit. People wondered what happened to the Medina Snake. No, I didn’t become an internet influencer or famous bad boy blogger but over time, I became a legend. I took that ride, risked my freedom, and walked out the other side, free. I became the dude who beat the system, The Medina Snake. Click on the link below to see the photos https://www.kozmoto.com/app/uploads/2024/06/MergedPDF-4.pdf CHECK OUT THE KOZMOTO TRAVEL KIT Everything you wish you had in one small 4 x 6 pouch https://www.ebay.com/itm/226247498916  www.KOZMOTO.com FOR MORE TRAVEL STORIES AND FREE STUFF Hey, don’t forget to Join the Cantina and support Bikernet content! The post THE LEGEND OF THE MEDINA SNAKE appeared first on Bikernet Blog - Online Biker Magazine.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that approximately 167,000 pounds of ground beef products have been recalled due to potential E. coli contamination. “Wolverine Packing Co., a Detroit, Mich. establishment, is recalling approximately 167,277 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7,” FSIS announced. 15 illnesses have been identified in Minnesota. RECALL ALERT: More than 165,000 pounds of ground beef has been recalled nationwide due to possible E. coli contamination. At least 15 illnesses have been reported. https://t.co/mVLDUZdNk9 pic.twitter.com/eFqKZLDO0w — ABC News (@ABC) November 22, 2024 Per FSIS: The fresh products have a “use by” date of 11/14/2024 and the frozen products are labeled with production date 10 22 24. The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 2574B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to restaurant locations nationwide. The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture of a group of ill persons who had reported that they consumed ground beef prior to their illness. FSIS was notified of illnesses on November 13, 2024, and working in conjunction with Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Health, FSIS determined that there was a link between the ground beef products from Wolverine Packing Co. and this illness cluster. On November 20, 2024, a ground beef sample collected by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as part of an outbreak investigation tested positive for E. coli O157. To date, 15 case-patients have been identified in one state with illness onset dates ranging from November 2, 2024, to November 10, 2024. FSIS continues to work with the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Health on this investigation. WATCH: With millions hitting supermarkets ahead of Thanksgiving, Americans are tracking a growing list of food recalls. It comes as an infant in California died from a new Listeria outbreak caused by recalled meat products, according to the CDC. @PerezReports. https://t.co/eeBr0sy6SE pic.twitter.com/PYhiffP61O — World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) November 23, 2024 “The products were distributed to restaurants nationwide,” USA TODAY noted. More than 167,000 pounds of ground beef recalled for E. coli concerns. What to know. https://t.co/K1vjDpT5hh — USA TODAY (@USATODAY) November 22, 2024 USA TODAY reports: The recall covers over 100 raw fresh and frozen ground beef products. Products are sold under other brand names in addition to Wolverine Packing Co., including 1855 Beef, Davis Creek Meals, Farmer’s Choice, Heritage Restaurant Brands, and Cheney Brothers, Inc., according to a list of labels released by the USDA. Fresh products have a “use by” date of 11/14/2024 and the frozen products are labeled with a production date of 10/22/24. All impacted products have the establishment number “EST. 2574B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Review the full list of products HERE.

Passengers on an American Airlines flight from Milwaukee to Dallas had to restrain an unruly passenger who allegedly charged a flight attendant and attempted to open a plane door in mid-air. The individual, reportedly a Canadian national, was restrained with duct tape. A group of passengers duct-taped the wrists and ankles of the out-of-control passenger. According to reports, the passenger allegedly asked to open the cabin door while in-flight and became agitated when he was denied. The passenger allegedly attempted to rush towards the door and struck the flight attendant who was blocking it. American Airlines travelers duct-tape unruly passenger who charged flight attendant, tried to open plane door mid-air https://t.co/Sis4i1iZrm pic.twitter.com/zfDWLciP3d — New York Post (@nypost) November 21, 2024 Per WFAA: A flight attendant told police a man got up during the flight and told the flight attendant that he needed to get off the plane, according to the police report. The man grew louder and more agitated before rushing the flight attendant in an attempt to access the cabin door, according to the report. Three passengers approached the galley area to help the flight attendant by pinning the man down and duct-taping the man’s wrists and ankles together to restrain him, the report stated. The DFW Airport Department of Public Safety and FBI agents boarded the plane after it landed at DFW Airport, according to the report. The report said another passenger was still kneeling on the man after law enforcement boarded the plane. A group of passengers sprung into action and stopped a man who allegedly tried to open the cabin door mid-flight during an American Airlines flight to Dallas Tuesday morning by restraining him with duct tape, officials said. https://t.co/zvyDELJ4hJ pic.twitter.com/4hRlu0m3sC — ABC News (@ABC) November 21, 2024 American Airlines passengers duct tape man who allegedly tried to open cabin door mid-flight: reports https://t.co/DKFGrspxmb — FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) November 21, 2024 ABC News reports: They were able to tape up his wrists and ankles and lay him on his stomach for the remainder of the flight, the report said. “He was going for the door. So I just grabbed this guy from behind and kept him from pulling the thing on the door,” Doug McCright, one of the passengers who subdued the man, told ABC News. Airport police and the FBI detained the man, put him in a wheelchair and took him off the flight for a medical evaluation, according to the report and the FBI. No arrests have been made as of Wednesday evening and the investigation is ongoing, officials said. The flight attendant who was confronted by the passenger was taken to the hospital for treatment after she said her wrist and neck were injured during the altercation, according to the report.

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CNN fears Pam Bondi because she’s “competent” and, as such, is “dangerous.” Usually, competent is a good thing, but maybe not for CNN. It would explain a lot about the network. “We should all fear her because she’s competent,” said CNN analyst Jason Johnson. “Pam Bondi is exactly what I was saying in the last […] The post CNN “Fears” Pam Bondi Because She’s “Competent” appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Jay Leno is doing well after suffering a serious fall that left him with a bruised face and broken wrist. The Last Man Standing star was in good spirits as he hosted the amfAR Las Vegas charity event on November 22. Ahead of the show, he spoke with red-carpet reporters and gave a positive update. “I’m feeling good,” he said, per People. “I’ve got a broken wrist. But I’m all right.” On November 19, Jay Leno told Inside Edition that he fell 60 feet down a hill while trying to walk to a restaurant from his hotel. The former Tonight Show host was staying in Pittsburg, PA, and he was hoping to grab a quick dinner before a comedy show. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Inside Edition (@insideedition) Jay spoke to TMZ and admitted that he wanted to take a shortcut to the restaurant. So, instead of taking a walking path, he trekked a steep hill. Despite the accident, he performed at the Yaamava Casino in Southern California before visiting a hospital because thousands of people were expecting to see him. “I hit a bunch of rocks,” he told Inside Edition. “It was 60 feet… I’m all black and blue from 60 feet of hitting rocks.” At the time, he was wearing an eye patch and wrist wrap. “A rock hit me in the eye, and then I was fine,” he joked. “What else are you supposed to do?” For the recent charity event, Jay Leno was no longer wearing the eye patch, and while he appeared to be wearing make-up to cover his bruises, he was visibly on the mend. This story’s featured image is by MEGA/GC Images via Getty. The post Jay Leno Shares Positive Update Following Recent Serious Fall appeared first on InspireMore.