When Technology Works AGAINST You...

I love my job, just not always the technology that goes with it.
When it works right it's fine, when it doesn't...and when the idiot using the technology makes a mistake look out!

Like yesterday. I finally got the decks cleared so I could get my invoicing done. Now I don't enjoy doing books and I enjoy it even less when every freaking email I sent out - people are emailing me back that they didn't get their invoice or the other documents I sent them. Why - because I was sending a letter to them that was formatted to make it easier to read - I sent it in Rich Text - not realizing my PDF's wouldn't go with them so now I have to resend ALL of my invoices and documents...Man I wished I could cut a break in the office.

Our new president for the Alliance (A.I.M. Can) here in the Peace Country works for a local radio station and he is learning a new traffic program at work and yah, he's having a hell of a time...technology, when it works life is good, when it doesn't or you don't know what you are doing (learning) oh boy...
I have been desperately trying to find an admin assistant as you all know - and I have stepped up the search only to be disappointed time after time. The oil and gas industry here has made it so small business people like me will never be able to afford to hire staff in Grande Prairie.

People here with any kind of computer skill or office organizational skills want $28 to $35 dollars an hour. So either I start charging $100 a year for use of the web site and your newspaper subscriptions OR get 400 advertisers with in the next 6 months OR it will be Octnever before I have any admin help. It's retarded to me that some one with ZERO skill, no knowledge and horrible work ethics and habits wants $15 an hour cash as a contractor and even more ridiculous that those with skills but no knowledge of my industry or business want $35 an hour.

These same people wonder why they have been cut down to two and three days a week at their regular job - even the oil and gas industry can't pay the big wages these people seem to feel they deserve or now need because they are used to getting it. 


Someone I have to sit with, train how to use a computer, train how to use the programs I use wants $15 an hour - I don't have the time to do that and besides - if I have to teach you how to do everything including turning on a damned computer or opening up a minimized screen you should be paying me for the training....what the hell????

Then there's these new grant programs - Stephen Harper - YOU SIR, DO NOT BELONG IN THE PM'S OFFICE....the new guidelines for application came out yesterday and guess what the geniuses in Ottawa did...if you are a green publication you don't qualify. They finally include newspaper but NOTHING GREEN.

The online program they say they are unveiling will be later this year, maybe October - I can't freaking believe it folks.

Anyway's - HELP!!!!

If you know anyone in the Grande Prairie area that has reasonable ability with a computer and wants under a bagillion dollars to work - get them to call me. I have to find a solution to this dilema - a partner with good office management skills would be ideal but...I have no idea where to start trying to find such a person and even less time to try.

If anyone has any brainy ideas I'd be all about hearing them.

In the news today:

Not a lot yet but it is only 3:30 am.

There are some new weight rules in AMA Superbike ...


Motovan's National Amateur Nationals info is out...

With all of the bad drivers there are on the road I am a little shocked that some one would write a book on how to pass your car or motorcycle driver's test first time but they have....

And there is a write up from all About Bikes on the International Female Rider's Day.

5:00 AM Update:

Police in Winnipeg are concerned over Rock Machine/Hell's Angels potential for conflict

In Massachusetts bikers who were being over charged by insurance companies will be getting refunds - we were just discussing insurance the other day - weren't we? Hmmm - the article claims that insurance companies were over valuing bikes...

 
In Tennessee if you buy a lemon for a motorcycle you might actually get some support/help form a new law.

And in Kelowna a couple of off duty RCMP officers are in court soon after a brawl they reportedly picked with some Hells Angels and Throttle Rockers...

If you are one of those guys that I love to hate cause your riding your motorcycle instead of day dreaming about it...Please ride like everyone around you is blind and CAN NOT see you.

Our Show 'n' Shine has some wonderful motorcycles in it for those of you needing to daydream with me..

Have a fabulous day - I intend to!
Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
National VP Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists Canada
www.aim-can.com

A National Ride to Bring Awareness to Many, Many Causes

On August 10th 2010 I will be heading out from Grande Prairie to Canada's Largest Motorcycle Rally - the Wharf Rat Rally in Digby Nova Scotia. My hubby is planning on joining me on the ride along with Mike Cole from the Winter Ride for Diabetes known as Radical Roads.

Along the way we are going to hook up with Daryl Makk and his Planet Tour in Regina on the 12th of August where he will be doing a Stand Up routine...place and time to be announced.

On the 13th we will be in Winnipeg where again Daddy Makk will be performing and on the 14th we are going to take a day and go to the beach. Daryl is filming everything he does for a reality TV show called the Planet Tour...

From there we will head to Thunder Bay, Sault St Marie and into Barrie and the GTA. In the GTA - if not sooner, we will be hooking up with Shaun de Jager from Road Awareness.
Then to Petawawa for a Red Friday event and Ottawa, Montreal, Grand Falls perhaps and in to Digby. Along the way the kids from the Bernice MacNaughton High School Bike Klub and their Championship Bobber - Betty, will meet up with us for the last leg into Digby.

We will have a web site and fund raising pages created shortly and those who choose to will be able to donate to one of the multitude of causes that we are raising awareness and funds for:

Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists Canada - donate or get involved by becoming a member or starting a chapter...

The Planet Tour - Injured Rider/Comedian Daryl Makk and his new reality TV Show...

Radical Roads - Diabetes Research & Mike Cole's Winter ride January 2011 - donate to one or both...

Road Awareness - Support Shaun in his goal of creating better drivers and riders through awareness.

The Bernice MacNaughton High School Bike Klub - Help them get to the Donnie Smith Chopper Challenge in 2011...

Give the Kids the World Village - help us to send terminally ill kids and their families to Orlando Florida and the greatest place on earth for kids to heal...

And last but not least - take Belt Drive Betty up on her challenge to come ride the North.
If I can ride to Digby Nova Scotia and all over Canada - some of you need to come visit me here in the North and experience everything we have to offer here!

As we have more to tell you - we will! You can join us on Face Book:
Belt Drive Betty's Awareness Conga to the Wharf Rat Rally
Visit our Major Sponsors:


Go Travel Canada
Mighty Peace Tourism
Become a Sponsor: email me at: bdbetty@gmail.com

Hope you can join us - for an hour, a day, the whole trip! As soon as the itinerary, comedy show schedules and other side events are firmed up, we'll let you know!

In the News Today:

An American Tour Company is humbled

The Canadian Army Veteran's Motorcycle Units are getting geared up for their Motorcycle Show in May.

The H-D Museum in Milwaukee is showcasing some famous motorcycles.

The Donnie Smith High School Chopper Challenge is coming up but the Champions won't be there...

If you are a fortunate dawg who is riding your motorcycle today - PLEASE - ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

For the rest of you - me included, come visit the Beat the PMS Blues on line Show 'n' Shine and vote for your favorite machine in each class!

Have a FABULOUS Tuesday everyone!

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
National VP Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists Canada
www.aim-can.com

Celebration time!

The era of Over the Counter Choppers (OCC) reigning on TV as American Chopper is FINALLY over. HOORAY!

February 11th we get to say good bye to the smug bunch from OCC who think yelling, screaming and generally acting like a$$es was great for the motorcycle community.

I for one will be so grateful to see their back ends. Reality TV has so very little to do with reality and it amazes me how many people seem to eat that crap up. Were they good for the motorcycle industry? Well - on one or two levels yes - perhaps. They did make riding more acceptable on some levels and yet I think they did more than their fair share of damage too - many people think that the way they conducted themselves was the way riders are  - way to create more misconceptions and garbage for our community to have to clean up.

I for one am so glad to see the back side of them and I think most in the real riding community are too. Real riders it appears from everything I am reading were not their customers or their fans - wanna be's - that was their fan base...


If you are riding today -  you lucky human being you - then please, ride your motorcycle like everyone is blind and can not see you.

Have a great day people,

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
National VP A.I.M. Can
www.aim-can.com

Cyber Garbage - Are you a part of the pollution problem????

The Internet needs a garbage man. I can not believe the people who start web site after web site and abandon them.

Cyber garbage is becoming a HUGE problem. In the research for motorcycle riding clubs - just in our Canadian Community alone - the amount of web sites that are dead - have not been updated in two or more years is staggering. If you are closing down a group - why would you not close down your web site?

Businesses - same thing. AME Motorcycle Magazine here in Alberta has not operated in years, neither has Northern Rider & Harley-Davidson Man - although it is rumored that JD Boyd is going to try and resurrect the magazine (In my humble opinion - as much as I think JD is one of the most colorful characters the Canadian Riding Community has - he hurts people like me who try to be consistent and diligent with the delivery of their publication as he takes advertisers money then disappears for a year or two at a time).

I am not sure whether people forget they have a web site or a forum or what the deal is but it is one of the most frustrating things in the world when you are trying to find solid information on things.

A lot of the other Cyber Garbage is caused by people who think they need a web site for everything they do instead of just adding a page in their existing site or blog for their new adventure or venture and buying a domain name to direct people to that new page.

This disposable society of ours just abandons things they create and leave the mess for others to wade through and that's a dilemma not just here on the internet but everywhere.

I wonder - does anyone know if the internet has a garbage can or a garbage man? If not HOW could we set one up???? I have done some searching but have found nothing that would enable a person to assist in the clean up of the internet...One day - soon I hope.

In the news today:

It appears that there is a rather nasty fight going on in BC. over the POPKUM MOTORCYCLE RANCH (PMR).

Johnny Pag Motorcycles is coming out with a liquid cooled V-Twin bike for 2010.

In Ontario a former motorcycle racer is being sentenced next week in a really bizarre incident.

In New Brunswick a driver who is being tried for killing a motorcyclist while reportedly making an illegal U turn has pleaded not guilty.

There's lots in sports today too so if you have a few minutes and motorcycle sports is your bag, check it out on the What's Hot Page...

Now that we appear to have ironed out the little kinks in the voting for our Beat the PMS Blues on line Show 'n' Shine, things seem to be perking right along. I am so curious as to who will win in the 16 categories we are handing prizes out in.

March 5th the winners will be announced...get your votes in! You can vote in all 16 categories for the bikes of your choice - ONCE EVERY 24 HRS.

Our Hotel and Motel Survey and our Campground Survey need your input - if you haven't taken one...why not? They are each 10 short questions  that will help us to improve customer service for motorcyclists!

Our Best and Worst Customer Service Contest kind of got left behind a bit - I want to hear your worst customer service experience and or your BEST customer service story. We are giving away a BDB shirt. You can join our Face Book Group: Biker/Rider Friendly Businesses in Canada to help us out and maybe win a Tee Shirt!


If you are amongst the lucky and can ride that motorcycle of yours today PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you!

Have a FABULOUS day and I will talk to you all on Monday.

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
National VP - Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists Canada
www.aim-can.com

Insurance, companies, brokers and YOUR BIKE...

It's that time of year when insuring your ride is on your mind. We here in the great white north have been suffering from PMS - Parked Motorcycle Syndrome, we have indulged in SOS - Shiny Object Syndrome to try and assuage our needs through the various motorcycle shows but NOTHING replaces our ride...

Having said that there have been a number of emails circulating where in people are "Bit#hing, grousing and grumbling" about insurance. It's cost, it's coverages and the companies and brokers who sell it.

A number of provinces have government insurance and unfortunately if you choose to live there and you want to ride you are going to pay through the nose - literally - I am referring to Quebec predominantly.

Hubby and I had toyed with perhaps moving back to Chomedey QC or back to Mara Lake BC and both got vetoed once we discovered the insurance costs and costs of owning a home there. Just not in our financial futures...

Insurance is an important purchase and I want to have some honest discussion - I do not want company bashing - I want discussion on the kinds of insurance you have, the cost, the coverage.

We need insurance reform in Canada - we ALL know that. How do we do it is the biggest question. Each province has its own set of rules and laws...But perhaps if we start some thoughtful and honest discussion, solutions and ideas will present themselves that will help you, me and every rider out there get a better bang for our buck and ensure that when an accident happens we have the help and funds we need to look after ourselves.

Richard Spinz started some major discussion with Bruno from Ryder's Roost and has agreed to have his thoughts printed here - he is from Ontario -

BIKE INSURANCE

I have been looking around for years for a company that will give me 2nd bike insurance at lower than the full price premium...no success. Every company I have queried has asked for FULL PREMIUM for a 2nd bike even though I argue that I am the only rider and can only ride one bike at a time. Though I am in my 60`s with an excellent driving-riding record and NO CLAIMS, no matter. Full fare is demanded by every company. It makes me believe there is collusion and price fixing in the insurance industry. How to prove that, who knows. What to do about it, who knows. I know the prov. govt. is not going to do a damn thing about it. One never bites that hand that feeds you...and insurance companies, undoubtedly financially support political parties in power during every election campaign. Chris Hedges, an American Pulitzer Prize winning author writes a superb book, The Empire of Illusions, about the conspiracies behind every scene in the United States...TV, media, govt, oil, welfare support, health financing, and he would likely agree, in the insurance industry.

The only ``out`` for me with the insurance would be to take ``strictly liability`` coverage and even then the premium of $1200 a year drops by a mere $100...great deal !!! Ask me if I am discouraged. Ask me if I am upset. Almost makes me want to consider whether riding is worth all the cost. At the moment, I can still afford this luxury...for how long.

It is sad that the little man really has no recourse to the Bull Shit behind the insurance industry. I guess if they really jacked up premiums for those who make claims or push for big time health compensation, the companies wouldn't make enough profit to satisfy their shareholders. So instead, lets just bash everyone with little bumps to premiums. There is nothing those poor slobs can do about it except pay. That`s me baby !!!

Richard Szpin

So let's talk about insurance, your needs, your coverage and the costs...hopefully I will be able to get some brokers from the various provinces to weigh in on this discussion!

If you wiegh in on the discussion I want to know:
Where you live - province..
What you ride...
What you are covered for...
What kind of driving/riding record you have - don't need details just...speeding tickets, clean record etc...
How much you pay... and then your thoughts on this touchy and volatile subject!

In the news today:

The Second Gear Club has changed the venue for this weekend's ice race...

The Canadian Stunt Riding Championship's Calendar is out and up for sale - help these guys out and buy a calendar!

Deeley Harley-Davidson is at the Quebec Motorcycle Show this weekend...

And if you like comedy and live in Grande Prairie AB and area...Mike the Party HOG is performing here from the 15-20th of February...

If like me you can not ride - the Beat the PMS Blues on Line Show 'n' Shine is a good place to go and day dream - vote on some bikes and  help someone win some prizes. We did have a couple of kinks with the voting - you can only vote once per picture in a 24 hour period...

If you feel you got cheated out of some votes on the 3rd because of the little hiccups we experienced when we kicked off the voting, have your friends email our web mistress to tell her which picture and class and she will add the vote from the admin screen - we can't have anyone upset - this is supposed to be fun! (ali4evr@gmail.com)

If you are fortunate enough to be riding today - I don't want to hear about it but I do want you to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Have an incredible day...

Belt Drive Betty

www.beltdrivebetty.com

National VP - Alliance of Injured Motorcyclists Canada

www.aim-can.com

Emotional rollercoasters are all part of a day in business...

Well folks, it appears that good old Belt Drive Betty and a band of roving gypsies will be heading to Digby Nova Scotia and the Wharf Rat Rally. There are a ton of details yet to be worked out - the riding schedule, the stops, the press conferences and small side shows but holy cow gang - this is going to be HUGE! Go Travel Canada dot Com is the major sponsor of Belt Drive Betty's Wharf Rat Rally Awareness Conga.

The ride will start out with Mike Cole from the winter ride for Diabetes joining me and hubby in Grande Prairie, from there the itinerary is basically, to Edmonton, Lloydminster, Saskatoon and Regina. Into Winnipeg to hook up with Daryl Makk and the Planet Tour. From there the schedule needs to be worked out, which dealerships, what towns and cities and what days...I know that Shaun de Jager from Road Awareness dot ca will be joining us if not for the rest of the trip - for a leg of it at least. Somewhere during this ride we will be crossing paths with the National Ride for Dad and hope to hook up with them for a bit. Plan on doing Petawawa and a Red Friday's event.

We'd love to have as many riders join us along the way be it for an hour, a day or the whole trip. Our sponsor is offering up terrific room rates and the awareness we intend to create for our causes will hopefully be as stellar as we envision.

Mike of course will be promoting Diabetes Awareness, and Daryl Makk will be promoting his Planet Tour and the cause of injured riders (A.I.M. Can) and I will be promoting the cause of injured riders (A.I.M. Can) and riding in northern Alberta - Shaun de Jager will be promoting the cause of driver/rider awareness and injured riders (A.I.M.Can).  Any funds raised by the ride will be supporting "Give the Kids the World" - sending terminally ill children to the Kid's Village in Orlando Florida to go to Disney World.

I will have a whole ton more that I can tell you next week but folks - this is a really big deal for this girl. When we get in to Digby to celebrate being a rider in Canada it will be at Canada's largest motorcycle rally - the Wharft Rat Rally - 6 days 23,000+ bikes and all kinds of fabulous guests and entertainment. I hope some of you will consider joining us along the way or for the whole trip....as soon as I can share more, I will.

In the news today: Our server is having maintenance done and will not be able to send the Busted Knuckle Chronicles out until a bit later today - first time I think we have ever been late with the paper...

If you have a spare $100K dollars you can join the Edelweiss Tours Around the World in 248 days and experience the extremes that our planet have to offer...(30 countries on five continents, taking riders from modern cities to remote villages, across five-lane interstates and narrow dirt tracks, from arid deserts to tropical rain forests, in some of the world’s richest and poorest countries.)

A former Hell's Angel who ratted out the club and helped police arrest 150 members got 3 million dollars for his efforts. Not only that but he won't face jail time for any of his misdeeds like murder...

You fortunate human beings who are riding your motorcycle today - can you perhaps coax mother nature into listening to the ground hog and bring us here in the frozen north an early spring - please....
Ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you!

For everyone else, you can join us and spend some time voting on bikes and day dreaming like I do...the Beat the PMS Blues on line Show 'n' Shine is now in the voting stage - 30 days to see which bike wins in each category!

Have a marvellous day - I plan to.

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
National VP Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists Canada
www.aim-can.com

Inconsideration - how do YOU deal with it?

I am so frustrated I could spit nails and build a house in no time flat.
I get criticized for being too honest and sometimes too negative - well this is one of those honesty/negative times folks so if you don't want to hear it - I suggest you close your browser now and go elsewhere this morning cause I am laying it out with both barrels. If I don't, I feel like I will explode and since all I ever do these days is work - I have no social life outside of my work - my support network is you guys - so, you guys get to hear my sad, pathetic little tale of woe...

I am a person of my word. If I say I am going to do something. I do it.
If I can't, I tell you I can't. It is one of the things I was taught as one of the fundamentals of the "Biker" way.

So, why can't others offer the same consideration? I get it that things change for people, lives get busy and crap happens - but is there any reason that you can't have the decency, the courtesy to drop a line and say so? When you step up or commit to doing a job, why can't you either do it or at least be considerate enough to say you can't???

I guess I must expect too much from others.

I want our events calendars to be different from those of Motorcycle Monster and Let's Ride where they just put them out there and you can submit to them if you want to and if there are no events listed in a state or province - who cares, the people who own the sites don't seem to. (Or maybe they are just going with human nature instead of fighting it the way I always seem to)

I want our motorcycle event calendars to be filled with accurate information, I want them to be a valuable tool for our community.  I care that what we do here at Belt Drive Betty adds some value to this community because I am a part of this community. The people who have said they would help and haven't don't realize that they are not just hurting me and my reputation but that they are actually hurting the whole community.

Compliments and thanks are always nice and appreciated - but right now, since some of the people I have been relying on to help haven't - what I need is HELP from the event/ride/run coordinators both for profit and non profit.


For the most part event/ride/run coordinators never think to up date their stuff - they'll add it once and forget it. (Or they want me/us to do it for them - People - please, there are over 900 of you and one of me.) In most cases the people we deal with are volunteers and are usually over worked or they leave a group or step down from a position and don't tell the new person what they have done or where.

So if we want good event calendars it means going to every web site, every event coordinator old or new and asking if they want their stuff posted/updated. I can not afford to pay people to do that job and since I am so busy with the myriad of other things that I have had to take on to pay the bills and keep the lights on - if your riding club, if your group wants the publicity, if your event wants the publicity - then people - I need you to step up and help. Adding events to our new calendars is easy and Ali has some pointers she shares with you that if you follow them, it's really easy!

If you know of an event, PLEASE add it to the calendars. Help all of us to have a good riding season, help your community - your charity or your riding club to grow and flourish - SHARE THE INFORMATION - take two minutes and add that event - PLEASE!

How do you - in your riding club, business or life in general deal with inconsideration and those who commit to doing something and then don't - what do you do to prevent the frustration from driving you insane?  I am always looking for suggestions, ideas and better ways of coping.... your feedback and assistance is ALWAYS appreciated.

In the news today:

BMW is gaining ground in motorcycle sales, a 54% increase in January here in Canada.

A man points out that the protests at the Surrey Courthouse over the treatment of Cpl Monty Robinson is about JUSTICE and not motorcycles.

Another reader from the Province points out the obvious to a former RCMP officer...

Thane Silliker reminds us that the London Motorcycle Expo is coming soon and your help is sought in the disappearance of a young gal from Ontario.


If you are a lucky bugger and are riding today - ride that motorcycle like everyone around you is blind and can not see you. Oh and if you have a few moments - drop in to our on line show 'n' shine and vote for your favourite machine in each category. The picture with the most votes in each category will win!

Have a great day...
Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
National VP - A.I.M.Can
www.aim-can.com