Shrewsbury England is the place where Christmas is going to be far bleaker for a lot of children. Why? Due to budget cuts the police will not, claim they can not, support the toy run with an escort.
It seems to me that world wide, the police services are becoming more and more heartless.
They won't let civilians block intersections,(insurance risks don't yah know) the closed ranks do not want to allow a professional blocking course for civilians because that would take away from their paycheques and yet they will shut down an event because they can't get their double over time to block traffic.
Sad, disgusting, shocking, mind numbing, what ever negative label you want to put on it would be appropriate me thinks.
The bureaucracy is mind boggling. 25 years the toy run in Shrewsbury has been going on. Hundreds of children helped each year to have a better Christmas than they would have had without the kindness of strangers...
I have had very little respect for the police services as a whole over the last few years. Yes there are some wonderful officers and detachments and yes there are those who wear their uniform and do their job with pride, fairness and decency and then there are the bureaucrats, the ones who run things, and they disgust me as a whole. (we won't get into the way I feel about certain individual members)
In this day of budget cuts and poor economies there has never been a greater need for generosity and kindness, and you would think that there would be one or two officers at the very least, willing to volunteer an hour or two of their time. VOLUNTEER - to GIVE back to the people who pay their paycheques, but no...either their commanding officers won't let them VOLUNTEER and use tax payer paid for police vehicles to block traffic or the police forget who employs them - who pays them...
It makes my heart sick - we almost lost our toy run here in Grande Prairie to a similar narrow minded mentality. Because we have a 1% club in town, the police penalized the rest of the community. If they are present (1%ers) we can not be seen to participate - YOU are no longer allowed to block traffic - it's too great an insurance risk. The city's staff are so stretched with other parades through out the year that doing blockades with barriers is far to costly for them to help yet another parade...so what to do...
A compromise was finally reached where in the police provided an escort for the 20 or so blocks that the parade was allowed to be this year...As small as the parade route was this year, some 20 blocks, it was still better than no parade, by a long shot. Here in Grande Prairie, the toy run committee works all year long holding a variety of fundraisers and awareness events in an attempt to ensure that no matter how many or how few riders show up that the kids in this community and the surrounding region will have a good Christmas and feel special at least one day out of the year. The toy run is the culmination of a whole year's effort and is the final push to ensure that the kid's who need some cheer in life get it.
I see the support other communities like Whitecourt, Edson and Hinton get from their police services and fire departments, with toy runs that wind through town for a half hour and are really treated like a parade, like the special event they really are and it simply boggles my mind that Grande Prairie can only garner enough support from their counterparts here in GP to hold a 20 block parade. And yet, looking back on the alternative...the shutting down of a 33 year old event, well I'll take 20 blocks...yes, we will, and say a huge THANK YOU at the same time because at least there was compromise and dialogue a new beginning.
Let's discuss what the alternative would have meant here in Grande Prairie. If the Toy Run was cancelled here, there would be between $25 and $30,000 less in toys that the Children's ward at the hospital, the Pregnant & Parenting Teens Group, Big Brother's & Big Sisters and the Salvation Army would have to distribute.
Let's do the math...the average price of a toy or article of clothing that is given to these organizations to distribute is $25 thanks to the huge discount Zeller's gives the Toy Run Committee - that's 1,200 toys/clothes, 1,200 children....never mind the donated toys that fill a small trailer!
I don't know the numbers in Shrewsbury England, what the toy run brings in or the costs of toys there, but let's say that the 350 riders the article alludes to supply toys to 500 kids...all for the lack of a few police officers willing to DONATE or VOLUNTEER some of their time 500 children are going to be impacted.
SHAME ON YOU.
Oh and by the way, to the Grande Prairie RCMP, the City of Grande Prairie and the Toys for Tots Committee...thank you for being willing to meet at the round table and find a compromise and I am confident right now that I can say that thanks not just from myself, but from every child and young teen that will have at least one gift under the tree...it may not be ideal, it may not have lasted for very long, but that it happened at all is an absolute blessing to so many, so THANK YOU.
And that's my 2 bits worth, what say you?
In other news:
In the US a bunch of the Vagos Motorcycle Club members were raided and arrested in California
In Quebec the Hells Angels were also raided and members were arrested.
On TV, Sons of Anarchy episode reviewed...
A rider shakes his head at drivers who pass on the right
There are many other articles of interest in the news feeds today, please check them out at www.beltdrivebetty.com if you want to know what's happening that could affect your day or impact your life...check them out!
I have been fielding some questions about the Charity Calendars and when they will be shipped out...Pre sales run until October 31st. At that time I will do a count of what is needed and I will get that many calendars printed off as I refuse to get stuck with any. The calendars should be ready for distribution the end of the second or during the third week of November...
I sign off today wishing you a happy Friday, a great long weekend and a Happy Thanksgiving
Until Tuesday...Ride safe and be happy
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
Friday, October 07, 2011
Thursday, October 06, 2011
A Motorcycle Toilet....
Clutch & Chrome Magazine in the US has a report today about a motorcycle that runs on human waste.
According to TOTO, Japan's number one toilet manufacturer, this toilet powered trike talks to you...
It plays music (I wonder if the song Beans, Beans the magical fruit, the more you eat the more you toot is the theme song?) And it also features residual light imagery to write messages in the air as it zooms by (Messages can only be seen at night)
This trike is leaving today on a 600 mile journey month-long journey from Kyushu to Tokyo, making stops along the way to show off their new innovation and to educate people on the various green initiatives that TOTO is undertaking.
The starting point is the TOTO Headquarters in Kitakyushu. It will then head to Nakatsu in Oita prefecture to pay homage to an ass-shaped boulder (do you think they might be having some fun with this?).
Today is paper day...many of you will have gotten you provincial newsletter and national newspaper today - hope you enjoy it and decide to get on the sharing bandwagon!
Have a tootin' good day folks and if you are riding today, please ride carefully and try to keep images of a talking toilet trike out of your head...
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
According to TOTO, Japan's number one toilet manufacturer, this toilet powered trike talks to you...It plays music (I wonder if the song Beans, Beans the magical fruit, the more you eat the more you toot is the theme song?) And it also features residual light imagery to write messages in the air as it zooms by (Messages can only be seen at night)
This trike is leaving today on a 600 mile journey month-long journey from Kyushu to Tokyo, making stops along the way to show off their new innovation and to educate people on the various green initiatives that TOTO is undertaking.
The starting point is the TOTO Headquarters in Kitakyushu. It will then head to Nakatsu in Oita prefecture to pay homage to an ass-shaped boulder (do you think they might be having some fun with this?).
From there the motorcycle will hitch a ride on a ferry to Hiroshima, then to Okayama and then to Kobe. After riding around Nara and Kyoto they will hit up Aichi, Shizuoka and then Tokyo.
I know many motorcycle manufactures, dealers and repair shops have said business is in the toilet but this sure takes that statement to a whole different level of understanding!
Now on to other news....
I know many motorcycle manufactures, dealers and repair shops have said business is in the toilet but this sure takes that statement to a whole different level of understanding!
Now on to other news....
In Florida there are plans to open a nudist resort for a nudist motorcycle club, the Bare Buns Bikers...
In Ontario, the Northumberland toy run is set to go
In Ontario, the Northumberland toy run is set to go
In Nova Scotia they are getting ready for a Halloween themed charity ride
In BC, the RCMP are looking for witnesses to a fatal crash in Ft St John
There is a TON of stuff in the news feeds today that just might affect your life, hope you will check them out at www.beltdrivebetty.com
Have a tootin' good day folks and if you are riding today, please ride carefully and try to keep images of a talking toilet trike out of your head...
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Score a big one for Prairie Harley-Davidson & Regina
After a year of fund raising, Prairie Harley-Davidson should be taking a bow...the dealership played a big part in the donation of a new bus to the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre. According to the article in the Leader Post, the Centre had been without a bus since last December when their old one was decommissioned of safety purposes.
Prairie H-D got involved with this project because one of the owners had been a resident at the centre for two years. In all Prairie H-D donated close to $40K towards the purchase of the bus by holding various fundraisers like a motorcycle raffle and tee shirt sales. The bus cost $80K and will help 120 residents to gain some freedom!
Way to go people!
Wow - I can't believe how nice it is to report on something in the mainstream news feeds that is so great instead of the usual political gloom and doom of being a rider in this country. When I read this story in the feeds this morning my heart just soared!
It is so seldom that the really great things that our community does and participates in outside of Toy Runs is ever reported in the main stream news feeds!
I would love to have more riders sharing the feel good stories of their communities, I feel it is high time that we get the recognition for the good we do instead of only hearing about the negative things like loud pipes.
So, the question of the day is - what great things have riders in your community done to help out?
Enquiring minds want to know.
In BC, three riders were charged for racing on Vancouver Island, the trio were given a ride to the ferry after their bikes were impounded...
In New Brunswick, Toys for Big Boys is hosting a Fall Foliage Run
Also in New Brunswick, a family member of Trevor Nason speaks out on the loud pipes debate
In Sports - Szoke is looking for a manufacturer to ride for in the Canadian SuperBike Championships as Kawasaki announces a cut back in its participation
There are other stories in the news feeds this morning that may be of importance to your day and life, please check them out at www.beltdrivebetty.com where we sift through the news so you don't have to.
If you are a lucky dawn who is riding today, PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and have a fabulous hump day!
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
Prairie H-D got involved with this project because one of the owners had been a resident at the centre for two years. In all Prairie H-D donated close to $40K towards the purchase of the bus by holding various fundraisers like a motorcycle raffle and tee shirt sales. The bus cost $80K and will help 120 residents to gain some freedom!
Way to go people!
Wow - I can't believe how nice it is to report on something in the mainstream news feeds that is so great instead of the usual political gloom and doom of being a rider in this country. When I read this story in the feeds this morning my heart just soared!
It is so seldom that the really great things that our community does and participates in outside of Toy Runs is ever reported in the main stream news feeds!
I would love to have more riders sharing the feel good stories of their communities, I feel it is high time that we get the recognition for the good we do instead of only hearing about the negative things like loud pipes.
So, the question of the day is - what great things have riders in your community done to help out?
Enquiring minds want to know.
In BC, three riders were charged for racing on Vancouver Island, the trio were given a ride to the ferry after their bikes were impounded...
In New Brunswick, Toys for Big Boys is hosting a Fall Foliage Run
Also in New Brunswick, a family member of Trevor Nason speaks out on the loud pipes debate
In Sports - Szoke is looking for a manufacturer to ride for in the Canadian SuperBike Championships as Kawasaki announces a cut back in its participation
There are other stories in the news feeds this morning that may be of importance to your day and life, please check them out at www.beltdrivebetty.com where we sift through the news so you don't have to.
If you are a lucky dawn who is riding today, PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and have a fabulous hump day!
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Video taping police officers, the road to regaining our freedoms...
The Canada Free Press has a very interesting article regarding the use of video cameras and cell phone cameras in filming the conduct of police officers and public officials in the US, and while the story is American based, there have been many reports of similar situations in Canada.
The Robert Dziekański taser incident would be one of them. I am quite sure that the video that contradicted the testimony of those police officers involved is one the RCMP wished had never seen the light of day.
In a country where the police are becoming all powerful, using profiling and their powers/authority in inappropriate and abusive ways, I feel this article is very timely and appropriate for the Canadian reader to consider.
The writer, Tim Dunkin has done a lot of research. His article exposes the attitude of the police and other elected officials and cites numerous cases of police brutality, where in the police have done everything in their power including beating and arresting people over video taping incidents.
Quote: " Do the police have such a bugaboo about “civilians” recording them because they know that they may often have something to hide? After all, the police tell people whose vehicles and homes they want to search without a warrant that “if you don’t have anything to hide, then you don’t have anything to worry about.” Why go to such lengths to keep people from recording you in public, unless you think you might be doing something you don’t want people to find out about? End Quote.
In the US, many jurisdictions are attempting to use wire tapping laws as their defence however, they are finding out the hard way that manipulating the law in their own favour does not always work.
He expresses that many recent court rulings involving people who video taped officers and public officials are being held up in favour of the person doing the video tapping.
Quote: "As such, there does seem to be a good deal of broad-based precedent being built for affirming the constitutionality of videotaping or otherwise recording police as they perform their official duties. This has led at least one state (Connecticut) to consider a bill before its state legislature that would make it illegal for police officers to hinder or harass citizens who videotape them, provided the citizen isn’t directly obstructing the officer’s performance of his or her duties." End Quote
He ends his column saying:
Quote: "While lovers of liberty have a lot of work to do across the board as far as fighting to regain lost freedom and to keep what little we still have, codifying the right of citizens to “keep tabs” on public officials, including (or perhaps especially) police officers, is a lynchpin in gaining and keeping liberty. With greater authority and the ability to exercise the raw power of state-sanctioned violence necessarily come the need for greater oversight and control by the group who really form the basis of all legitimacy for government—the people themselves. If government agencies and their officers cannot bring themselves to accept citizen oversight and accountability, then those agencies and officers lose their claims to delegated legitimacy, and should rightly be removed. It’s time for lovers of liberty to make this point explicitly clear. End Quote.
I encourage you to read his full article, read the linked stories...
To me, the lesson here is if you have a video camera or cell phone camera, use it. Since we, the people pay their wages, the RCMP and other police forces along with politicians would do well to remember that as their employers it is not unreasonable for us to video tape them doing their jobs. We the people are constantly surveilled to catch our bad and or inappropriate behaviours...
Filming police officers doing their jobs is one way to keep our rights and freedoms alive...what say you?
I look forward to the dialogue this topic will generate and hope you will join in the discussion on Facebook, in our forums on www.beltdrivebetty.com or right here in this blog post.
In other news:
In Chatham ON, Full Throttle Ministries became a reality for pastor Brent Elgie and his wife.
The Robert Dziekański taser incident would be one of them. I am quite sure that the video that contradicted the testimony of those police officers involved is one the RCMP wished had never seen the light of day.
Then there is the kicking in the face incident in Kelowna, another video I am sure that police would rather not have surfaced. (Trust me, there are many, many more such videos available from right here in Canada)
In a country where the police are becoming all powerful, using profiling and their powers/authority in inappropriate and abusive ways, I feel this article is very timely and appropriate for the Canadian reader to consider.
The writer, Tim Dunkin has done a lot of research. His article exposes the attitude of the police and other elected officials and cites numerous cases of police brutality, where in the police have done everything in their power including beating and arresting people over video taping incidents.
Quote: " Do the police have such a bugaboo about “civilians” recording them because they know that they may often have something to hide? After all, the police tell people whose vehicles and homes they want to search without a warrant that “if you don’t have anything to hide, then you don’t have anything to worry about.” Why go to such lengths to keep people from recording you in public, unless you think you might be doing something you don’t want people to find out about? End Quote.
In the US, many jurisdictions are attempting to use wire tapping laws as their defence however, they are finding out the hard way that manipulating the law in their own favour does not always work.
He expresses that many recent court rulings involving people who video taped officers and public officials are being held up in favour of the person doing the video tapping.
Quote: "As such, there does seem to be a good deal of broad-based precedent being built for affirming the constitutionality of videotaping or otherwise recording police as they perform their official duties. This has led at least one state (Connecticut) to consider a bill before its state legislature that would make it illegal for police officers to hinder or harass citizens who videotape them, provided the citizen isn’t directly obstructing the officer’s performance of his or her duties." End Quote
He ends his column saying:
Quote: "While lovers of liberty have a lot of work to do across the board as far as fighting to regain lost freedom and to keep what little we still have, codifying the right of citizens to “keep tabs” on public officials, including (or perhaps especially) police officers, is a lynchpin in gaining and keeping liberty. With greater authority and the ability to exercise the raw power of state-sanctioned violence necessarily come the need for greater oversight and control by the group who really form the basis of all legitimacy for government—the people themselves. If government agencies and their officers cannot bring themselves to accept citizen oversight and accountability, then those agencies and officers lose their claims to delegated legitimacy, and should rightly be removed. It’s time for lovers of liberty to make this point explicitly clear. End Quote.
I encourage you to read his full article, read the linked stories...
To me, the lesson here is if you have a video camera or cell phone camera, use it. Since we, the people pay their wages, the RCMP and other police forces along with politicians would do well to remember that as their employers it is not unreasonable for us to video tape them doing their jobs. We the people are constantly surveilled to catch our bad and or inappropriate behaviours...
Filming police officers doing their jobs is one way to keep our rights and freedoms alive...what say you?
I look forward to the dialogue this topic will generate and hope you will join in the discussion on Facebook, in our forums on www.beltdrivebetty.com or right here in this blog post.
In other news:
In Chatham ON, Full Throttle Ministries became a reality for pastor Brent Elgie and his wife.
In the US Harley-Davidson CEO Keith Wandell expresses that his company is going after the new rider in an aggressive way but will not forget the leather clad core...
Also in the US, Massachusetts bikers are going to be getting refunds as part of a settlement with 15 insurance companies. Close to $40 Million dollars will be going back into their hands.
In Great Britain a driver was caught using a laptop, drinking and writing all at the same time...
In Australia, bikies are suspected of have put a bounty on the head of a person who shot and 11 year old child of a bikie in his own home.
There is a ton of news in the feeds today and I hope you will take a few moments to swing by www.beltdrivebetty.com to see what is happening that could affect your day or life.
I wish you a fabulous Tuesday and hope that if you are riding today you will ride with extreme care and caution, remember, you are far more important than you might believe.
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
Also in the US, Massachusetts bikers are going to be getting refunds as part of a settlement with 15 insurance companies. Close to $40 Million dollars will be going back into their hands.
In Great Britain a driver was caught using a laptop, drinking and writing all at the same time...
In Australia, bikies are suspected of have put a bounty on the head of a person who shot and 11 year old child of a bikie in his own home.
There is a ton of news in the feeds today and I hope you will take a few moments to swing by www.beltdrivebetty.com to see what is happening that could affect your day or life.
I wish you a fabulous Tuesday and hope that if you are riding today you will ride with extreme care and caution, remember, you are far more important than you might believe.
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
Monday, October 03, 2011
Bikers for Christ ordered to leave a fair
At the Pumpkin Fair in Manteca California this past weekend the Bikers for Christ Motorcycle Ministry had 2 of it's members asked to leave the fair. Why? The Manteca Police said it was because of the shooting in Sparks Nevada. One of the elders of the ministry wrote a letter to the editor where in he asked the same question I have been asking here in Canada, "Isn't profiling illegal?
I find it discouraging how few riders actually get involved in protecting our rights. Here in Canada it appears that we are a community of defeatists. Why is that? Why are we not more vocal and indignant when a Military Motorcycle Club has it's event shut down because the hosts wear a three piece patch?
Why are we not more upset when a Legion is forced to ask riders wearing club patches to leave a motorcycle show 'n' shine?
Why are we not more supportive of the people who fight for our rights?
Are we really that complacent? Are our regular lives really so busy that we can't take a moment to write a letter of support or frustration?
I listen to riders who whine, snivel and complain, but ask them to do anything meaningful that will actually prevent these types of things from happening in our community and the answer you get is "I am too busy" or "I will" and they never do.
If we don't care enough about the things that happen unjustly to our community then it won't be very long before we in this country are not going to be allowed to ride in urban centres. Some 200 cities in China have banned motorcycles, there are cities in California that have banned motorcycles, so don't tell me it won't happen here. It can and it will.
In Florida, the government there is claiming that the $250K dollars that is given to ABATE is being spent inappropriately. Bryan Nelson, one of the Florida state representatives, in spite of a recent audit of ABATE and it's affairs that said the organization is complying with it's contract with the state. The state representative feels the money should not be spent on bumper stickers, key chains, fridge magnets, radio ads or bus billboards and other information but instead on seminars.
It appears to me that every where you look, motorcyclists are being squeezed and yet, there is very little indignation. And now, because of the profiling that is happening out there we have outlaw clubs that are beginning to sport one piece patches...that is not only unwise, but dangerous to our community. Why? Well, now there will be no way to tell who is who beyond the diamond patch of the 1% clubs or perhaps the support patches that some sport.
It is a sad state of affairs if you ask me. We are far too complacent in this country and I fear that every soldier who laid their lives on the line to protect our rights has done so in vain. We don't appear to care - we appear to think "It can't happen here" but it is, in a very subtle way and it will only escalate.
That is unless we get our proverbial poop in a group.
Like every day, I welcome your thoughts and feed back...join us on Facebook, our forums on www.beltdrivebetty.com or right here in my blog.
In other news:
I find it discouraging how few riders actually get involved in protecting our rights. Here in Canada it appears that we are a community of defeatists. Why is that? Why are we not more vocal and indignant when a Military Motorcycle Club has it's event shut down because the hosts wear a three piece patch?
Why are we not more upset when a Legion is forced to ask riders wearing club patches to leave a motorcycle show 'n' shine?
Why are we not more supportive of the people who fight for our rights?
Are we really that complacent? Are our regular lives really so busy that we can't take a moment to write a letter of support or frustration?
I listen to riders who whine, snivel and complain, but ask them to do anything meaningful that will actually prevent these types of things from happening in our community and the answer you get is "I am too busy" or "I will" and they never do.
If we don't care enough about the things that happen unjustly to our community then it won't be very long before we in this country are not going to be allowed to ride in urban centres. Some 200 cities in China have banned motorcycles, there are cities in California that have banned motorcycles, so don't tell me it won't happen here. It can and it will.
In Florida, the government there is claiming that the $250K dollars that is given to ABATE is being spent inappropriately. Bryan Nelson, one of the Florida state representatives, in spite of a recent audit of ABATE and it's affairs that said the organization is complying with it's contract with the state. The state representative feels the money should not be spent on bumper stickers, key chains, fridge magnets, radio ads or bus billboards and other information but instead on seminars.
It appears to me that every where you look, motorcyclists are being squeezed and yet, there is very little indignation. And now, because of the profiling that is happening out there we have outlaw clubs that are beginning to sport one piece patches...that is not only unwise, but dangerous to our community. Why? Well, now there will be no way to tell who is who beyond the diamond patch of the 1% clubs or perhaps the support patches that some sport.
It is a sad state of affairs if you ask me. We are far too complacent in this country and I fear that every soldier who laid their lives on the line to protect our rights has done so in vain. We don't appear to care - we appear to think "It can't happen here" but it is, in a very subtle way and it will only escalate.
That is unless we get our proverbial poop in a group.
Like every day, I welcome your thoughts and feed back...join us on Facebook, our forums on www.beltdrivebetty.com or right here in my blog.
In other news:
In Germany this past week...the Hells Angels have been banned from Frankfurt.
In the US - Jackyl frontman Jesse James Dupree is recovering after a motorcycle crash. The Jackyl frontman and co-star of Full Throttle Saloon on Tru-TV is expected to make a full recovery.
There are many other articles of interest over at www.beltdrivebetty.com, where we sift through the news so you don't have to...hope to see you over there.
If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, please ride carefully and enjoy your Monday!
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider