Author Topic: A note on Nils Norling (Read 3540 times)

Randy Powell · « **on:** September 26, 2008, 11:34:31 AM »

For those that don't know, on September 11th, Nils was hit on his newly restored Wide Glide by some teenaged twit too busy talking on her cell phone to pay attention to where she was going. He got T-boned and nearly lost his foot. He's had several surgeries and may still loose part of his foot.

Nils reports that due to the injury and the need to keep it elevated, he can't get to the back room where his computer is. He's currently setting up a lap top and router so he can get online from the living room. He wanted folks to know that he's still kicking (figuratively speaking) and will answer emails as he can.

The court case should be interesting, anyway. Keep Nils in your thoughts as he goes through a difficult time.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #1 on:** September 26, 2008, 11:58:56 AM »

Rancy.
thanks for the heads up on this, I had not heard anything about it. What a horrible thing to happen to a great guy,,
best wishes and thoughts to Nils.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #2 on:** September 26, 2008, 08:09:33 PM »

Thanks for the info, Randy. I'll be seeing Nils on the way to Salem. Hopefully, I'll have some good news to report.

You guys that ride mo'sickles on the street...be careful. There's way too many nitwits at the helm of cars and trucks these days.

Steve

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #3 on:** September 27, 2008, 05:51:50 PM »

Got a note from Nils...his good foot was the one that got munched. He lost the #2 toe on that foot, due to circulatory damage, after it got infected. The infection is now cured, the toe gone, and his spirits are back up.
The laptop is apparently working, too. He is also confident that he has a good doctor and a high powered team of lawyers on his side. And a very poor opinion of the dippy chick that ran into him.

Steve

Larry Cunningham · « **Reply #4 on:** September 27, 2008, 06:07:02 PM »

Good Lord! Terrible situation..

My best wishes to Nils for a speedy recovery.

L.

Mike Keville · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2008, 06:21:26 PM »

Here's hoping the airhead chick was insured....with a deep pockets insurer.

mk

Peter Ferguson · « **Reply #6 on:** September 27, 2008, 11:38:33 PM »

Sorry to hear of his loss. I took my bike out today for the first time since June 07, when I was rear ended by a young lady talking on her cellphone. I noticed today that I was surrounded by drivers on cellphones where ever I went and i wasn't seeing things. Its like an epidemic. I would like to see emergency flashers come on automatically when you are on the cellphone and driving.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #7 on:** September 28, 2008, 12:07:26 AM »

Yea, I suspect that Nils will be, uh, unpleasant to the kid's parents in court. There is supposed to be a law in Washington about using those Borg things in your ear when you talk on the cell phone while in the car. Doesn't see to help. I still see twits talking away, holding the cell glued to their ears. Morons!

Larry Cunningham · « **Reply #8 on:** September 28, 2008, 08:39:31 AM »

It often seems to me that the most obnoxious, spoiled brat drivers have a
damn cell phone stuck on their head.. I need one of those bumper stickers
from Tom and Ray Magliozzi, "Hang up and DRIVE!"

They are indeed a modern plague. In my little black heart, I find myself
chuckling at the notion that the cell phone addicts are all going to contract
brain cancer. (See how nasty a man I've become? Randy, look at me and
do the diametrical opposite! There's still time to save yourself.)

Tell Nils I am missing all the toes on my right foot, but I believe I could
still ride a motorcycle, since I know how to use the front brake and actually
use it.

L.

"Harlez-vous francais?" (Can you drive a French motorcycle?)

SteveMoon · « **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2008, 10:21:19 AM »

When will our do-nothing lawmakers finally see the light and do something
important: Ban cell phone use during driving! This makes me so crazy!!
Driving is a privilege, and it should be treated as such.

At this year's Nats I honked at a guy next to me on McGalliard who was
driving along and texting. We weren't at a traffic light, we were driving.
Fortunately, he had his window down so that when I yelled at him but good
he heard me! Believe it or not, he actually put his stupid-maker machine
away and went on driving.

Sorry to hear about Nils, Steve

Larry Cunningham · « **Reply #10 on:** September 28, 2008, 11:21:14 AM »

I dunno. Plenty of people fear we are developing into a nanny state, and point
to such laws. Personally, I've always thought existing "driving in a dangerous manner"
clause was justification enough to ticket such drivers.

But when someone like Nils gets maimed by such terrible driving, it is no longer a
matter of etiquette, and those people should have the book thrown at them in court.

Since virtually all cell phones have a GPS capability built in (to locate transponders,
but potentially easily misused), perhaps they could be made to shut off and not be
able to turn back on for a few minutes when it detects motion. Or, have the phone
be a cop, and automatically bill the user for the appropriate fine? Or, punish them
directly, with a brief taser burst (portioned to fine) to the earlobe? (I like THAT one..) ;->

Big brother or nanny state? Take your pick.

Again, I blame the cell phone problem primarily on poor parenting. Simple
good manners would keep cell phones in their holster.

L.

"I got my mind right, Boss.." -Lucas Jackson, from "Cool Hand Luke"

Scott B. Riese · « **Reply #11 on:** September 28, 2008, 11:30:20 AM »

NILES is a good friend...I'll be thinking of him offten.

rustler · « **Reply #12 on:** September 28, 2008, 04:30:28 PM »

In England it is now a crime to talk on a mobile (cellphone) while driving. Is it legal in U.S.A.?

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #13 on:** September 28, 2008, 08:26:26 PM »

1) There's a law agin using a hand-held cell phone in Washington State, but it's as popular as ever, from my observations. It is legal to talk with an ear-piece deal, like Blue Teeth, but that doesn't cut it, IMO. Oregon is talking about it, or has already enacted it, but maybe it hasn't taken effect yet. It's up to each State, anyway.

2) Too many Parents are using them while they drive. Lots of Soccer Moms. I see guys talking on the cell at 5am, when they're on the way to work. Why? Who are they talking to? I wouldn't answer the phone at 5am, especially if I was awake...that's just wrong!

3) It's Nils, not Niles. Comes from the Norweigan word for "Oregon State Pistol Champion 2007"

Steve

Geoff Goodworth · « **Reply #14 on:** September 29, 2008, 04:58:15 AM »

Guys

The issue is the same in Oz.

I always use a hands free and I refuse to talk when the traffic is messy/complicated.

I do not phone out while in the car so I am doing the caller a favour by talking to him/her and they can wait until I consider it safe to talk again.

If they do not like those rules, I invite them to go forth and multiply! Sadly, the kids of today do not share those basic principles.

Cars aren't lethal. It's the nuts behind the wheel.

Cheers, Geoff

Mike Spiess · « **Reply #15 on:** September 29, 2008, 03:34:06 PM »

I watched a MythBusters program one time and they proved that driving and talking on a cell phone was more dangerous than being intoxicated.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #16 on:** September 29, 2008, 09:01:23 PM »

The family makes me carry a cell phone. They say I can call for help if I need it. I figure if I get to where I need it, it's too late. I don't answer it when it starts ringing. I pull off somewhere and call them back. Kansas tried to make it illegal to use cell phone while driving, but, too many politicians are using them while on the road. DOC Holliday

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #17 on:** September 30, 2008, 09:02:40 PM »

You're a Prince of the Highway, Doc. Everybody should do that. A few do, but not many...certainly not enough.
The roads in our area are too full of vehicles to allow sloppy driving. I'm constantly amazed that there aren't a lot more accidents than there are, because of the lack of skill and attentiveness I see on the road every day. The "pro" drivers (truck and taxi drivers) aren't nearly as good as they usta be, either.

Steve

Leo Mehl · « **Reply #18 on:** October 01, 2008, 10:27:37 AM »

Seeing I am still a bicycle rider it the city of Potland Or I have observed that most of the cellphone abusers are women.You even see them walking down the street with a pkone stuck out thier ear. Its not quite as bad as it was since the price of gas has gone out the roof there are a lot of bored housewifes that have to stay at home now,

Bill Adair · « **Reply #19 on:** October 01, 2008, 10:04:55 PM »

Leo,

I remember smoking while driving, and if that wasn't distracting enough, lighting up a cigarette at night with a Zippo lighter definitely was!

How many times have we dropped an ash in our lap while driving, or worse yet a lit cigarette?

It's a different time now, with faster cars, bumper to bumper traffic six lanes wide, and no room for errors.

Commuting to work one morning in Seattle, I looked over at a car wandering dangerously close to my lane, and saw a lady looking in her visor mirror, while touching up her eye lashes with a mascara brush! Whoa! My wife won't even attempt that with me driving!

Bill