Belt Drive Betty's Blog

A rough couple of days ahead

Not sure what happened to me last night, I stood up to go into the house, got dizzy, felt like getting sick and the next thing I knew my husband was trying to get me up off of the floor. I landed hard too. Bruised a couple of ribs and my elbow. After feeling so great from that fabulous massage, this was not the way I expected my day to end. I'm going to be moving a little slowly for a few days. 
 
I know that I am in the "News" business but I sure hate reading the news from the main stream media. It always seems to be filled with so much gloom and doom that I'd really rather not. 
The media (in my mind) has played such a HUGE roll in creating this environment. Do they really realize the power they have? I think not. 
 
What are your thoughts on the world economy and the main stream media's roll in it all? 
Is it affecting you and if so - how is it affecting you? How do you feel about reading/watching the news these days? 
 
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject... 
 
Stay safe and warm. 
 
Belt Drive Betty

A rough couple of days ahead

Not sure what happened to me last night, I stood up to go into the house, got dizzy, felt like getting sick and the next thing I knew my hus...

Another wonderful day

Belt Drive 0 Canadian Riders, Motorcycle Community 5:07 AM

Man am I on a roll! Yesterday was fabulous! 
 
My daughter and I had our Hot Rock massages yesterday - first time for that kind of massage...oh man does that make you melt. If you get a chance to experience it - do it! 
 
Today is paper delivery day, I also have a meeting with the gal who is helping me to re write and update my business plan. With any luck I'll be ready to go to the BDC in the next 2 weeks. I also hope to have the last of the phone books out to show n shine entrants and those who pre-ordered books by tomorrow! 
 
The other thing on my agenda is to finish up year end to get it in to the accountant by Monday. 
When you own a business the paper work never seems to end! 
 
I am stoked as I now have a couple of gents from Ontario who have agreed to become a part of our network and I now have a couple of people in Ontario to train for ad sales! 
 
If we can keep up this head of steam pretty soon the web site and news paper will match my dream exactly - a National Clearinghouse for Canadian Motorcycle information! 
 
I hope you'll join us on this exciting journey. Get involved on the<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/"> web site</a> - review your favorite businesses in our on line phone book - add your favorite business if we don't have them in there. Comment on the news articles and stories, submit your jokes and riding club profile. 
 
Membership to the web site is free! Subscriptions to the weekly newspaper- The Busted Knuckle Chronicles are $15.00 per year. 
 
The<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/Motorcycle_Media/busted-knuckle-news-home/bikers-discount-buying-club"> BDB Club</a> has about 100 member businesses now and that means that the <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/Motorcycle_Media/busted-knuckle-news-home/bikers-discount-buying-club">savings card</a> is becoming a very valuable asset for your wallet! If you are a member you can download and print off your savings card - if you aren't a member yet - sign up and get your card! 
 
Have something you want to sell or trade? Looking for another motorcycle? Check out our <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/Motorcycle_Media/busted-knuckle-news-home/classified-ads">classified ads</a>.... 
 
There will be lots of little changes happening on the web site over the coming weeks, tightened navigation, more articles and stories....we want to be your first stop to find out what's happening in the Canadian Motorcycling sand box! 
 
I hope you all have a wonderful day.... 
 
Stay safe and warm. 
 
Belt Drive Betty

Another wonderful day

Man am I on a roll! Yesterday was fabulous! My daughter and I had our Hot Rock massages yesterday - first time for that kind of massage......

A great day!

Belt Drive 1 AB, Rider Friendly Business Association, riding community 7:01 AM

Well, I had some very fruitful discussions with Travel Alberta yesterday. 
 
I actually got some time with the new Chairman and he really wants to team up with us to promote Alberta and Alberta Rider Friendly Businesses. 
 
That is exciting news because if they start working with us it is only a matter of time before we get more provinces on board! 
 
My dream of having all of our resources be available to all riders for free just might come true sooner that I had hoped! 
 
My next round of meetings with them is February 19th. Cross your fingers, toes and eyes people. 
 
I am going to get settled in to get paper work done, have my daily work out and then, this afternoon my daughter and I are going to use our Christmas presents! We are going for an afternoon at the day spa - hot rock massage, facial and lunch! 
 
I hope your day will be as good as mine promises to be! 
 
Stay safe and warm... 
 
Belt Drive Betty

A great day!

Well, I had some very fruitful discussions with Travel Alberta yesterday. I actually got some time with the new Chairman and he really wan...

Private versus Public - a word to the wise

Belt Drive 1 Canadian Riders, Motorcycle Community 6:26 AM

I have a quiz for you. 
 
In a private forum, one that is locked from public view, the discussions had by members are supposed to be the same as discussions that take place in your living room. Private. You should be adult enough to debate contentious topics and still respect the other person by agreeing to disagree when common ground can not be achieved. Debate is healthy, it helps you to grow, helps you to look at things from different perspectives. 
 
When you are a member on a public forum like Facebook you have no expectation of privacy. 
 
If you were a member of a private forum - one where only members can see what is said in the threads - how would you feel if someone took your "private" discussion and printed it off to take to an outsider - someone who is not part of your group? 
 
Well, I had that happen to me. The discussion involved a question that was asked and I answered it based on my personal knowledge, experience and feelings on the subject. 
I was not kind or charitable in my response - I was blunt and truthful. I was insulted by the conduct I witnessed and experienced and said so. 
Someone decided to take that conversation to a public level, they did not state their position in the discussion, they did not get involved in the discussion - nope - they took it public. 
 
In this case it backfired on the person who did this to me. I did not say anything in the private forum that I had not already told the person I had the experience with to their face. 
In fact I called that person and told them yet again how I perceived their conduct - I did not apologize for my stand on the subject. My principles are MY principles - every one has them and is entitled to them. My feelings are just that - my feelings, my experience - how I perceived the subject. 
 
The forum to which I refer is supposed to be a place where riders can inform each other about shops that have treated them well or not, where they get good food or not - what places you can wear your rider clothing in or not and generally shoot the breeze about any rider related topic. 
 
When you are a member of a private - locked forum should you believe that your discussions about your thoughts, experiences, opinions or feelings on a subject are just that - private? 
 
The answer would be NO. 
 
If your private forum has lists of shops to stay away from or lists of businesses that do not appear to want riders to patronize them - beware - There is no such thing as what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas - people are people and if they do not agree with you or can not understand what you experienced, they can and will try to use your comments against you. 
The biker code of conduct does not appear to apply to private "biker" forums. 
 
If you have an opinion on how you are treated by someone - keep it to yourself - it's sadly the new rider way of doing things. Privacy of a discussion is a myth - the only way to have a private discussion is when you are on your motorcycle so that the only one who hears you is the wind. 
 
You can not warn or inform your "friends" about shoddy behavior or treatment by a business in a private forum - that could be perceived as slander or someone could try to turn it into that...so those lists that appear on so many rider forums - you know the ones: 
 
Shops to stay away from...Rider Unfriendly Businesses - yah, you might want to rethink having them on your forum and DO NOT under any circumstance give your "friends" the heads up or tell them what you know or believe on any topic, because you never know who is listening or reading. They hide behind a nickname, go behind your back - do you really know who they are? Some people who sign up as members on these forums do so not to bring value to their fellow rider but to eavesdrop and see whose lives they can meddle with - they are gossips. They do not know how to handle disagreement or difference of experience or opinion in house, person to person, biker to biker for they are not bikers. Not in my eyes. 
 
A "Biker", to me, is a solid individual. They ride a Yamaha and I ride a Harley. I dislike his choice of bike and he dislikes mine - do we hate each other? No, we respect the fact that not everyone is going to love the Yamaha or the Harley. We may tease each other and we may try to educate or win the other person over. That's what being stand up is. Agreeing to disagree, being respectful of choice. 
 
The term "Biker" to me means friend. Someone who knows you and likes you anyway. They accept you for who and what you are because they too want to be respected for who and what they are. I don't always have to agree with you to admire or like you. 
 
If more people adopted the "Biker" way of thinking, I believe we'd have less religious wars, less politics, less laws and a more loving and accepting society. It starts with RESPECT of opinion, it ends with respectfully agreeing to disagree when the need arises. That's what being a "Biker" means to me. 
 
Stay safe and warm...and be forewarned that what you say can't be used against you if the only one who hears you is your best friend - the wind. 
 
Belt Drive Betty

Private versus Public - a word to the wise

I have a quiz for you. In a private forum, one that is locked from public view, the discussions had by members are supposed to be the same...