Belt Drive Betty's Blog

Switching sides... things that make you go HMMM

<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/news/law-a-politics/361-contacts/21012-ex-hydra-cop-joins-hells-angels-defence" target="_blank">There is an article out of Australia regarding a police officer who has quit the force and has taken a position with a law firm that assists "Bikies"</a>. Apparently, there are many Australian police officers who have done the same. 
 
This officer, Nick Crawford, was one of the officers involved in the first application to the government of Australia to see the Gold Coast Finks be charged as a criminal organization. 
 
I wonder what it is that makes a co take such a drastic turn in his career? According to the article, Mr. Crawford is not the first police officer to do this in Australia. 
 
I find this rather curious - is it just about money? Or is there some moral conviction that sees this officer switch teams? 
 
Here in Canada, we are finally going to see some reform of the RCMP. No, don't laugh, according to the article from<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/news/law-a-politics/1920-bad-cop-no-donut/20964-editorial-fixing-the-rcmp" target="_blank"> RCMP Watch - Who is holding them Accountable Blog</a>, we are going to see major reforms to the RCMP's culture.  The article likens the conduct of the RCMP and their moving "bad apple" cops around to different detachments to be similar to that of the Roman Catholic Church and their habit of sending "misbehaving priests" to other diocese.  Hmmm, well I for one hope that this turns out to be a step in the right direction and not just more political rhetoric! 
 
Speaking of "rotten apple cops"  have you had a bad experience with the police in your area of Canada?  If so, we are collecting information on police harassment, profiling and abuse. 
 
Our goal is to collect enough evidence of what really happens to bikers to challenge the Charter and see riders become recognized as a visible minority...<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/report-police-discrimination" target="_blank">check out the form and keep it in your memory banks should you ever need it.</a> 
 
The news feeds are full today and sadly much of the news is not good - <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/home/rider-down" target="_blank">more deaths and injuries of Canadian riders being reported.</a>.. 
 
Check out the feeds at <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a> where our work is keeping YOU informed. 
 
I will probably not make the Horse Thief Hide Out event this weekend - it's been a rough few days around here and I have to get the book keeping done before I can leave...so, if I get done in time - I'll be there - if not - have fun! 
 
I leave you with some funnies shared with me by friends on Facebook and through emails... 
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Have a fabulous hump day! 
Belt Drive Betty 
Editor & Rider

Switching sides... things that make you go HMMM

There is an article out of Australia regarding a police officer who has quit the force and has taken a position with a law firm that assists...

The Canada Day Holiday weekend has been hard on the motorcycle community

There have been at <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/home/rider-down" target="_blank">least 7 fatalities in our community here in Canada this past weekend</a>. 
 
My heart always gets heavy when I hear the news of a rider dying because I think of their family.  So to the families of the 7 riders we know about, my heart goes out to you and I am lifting prayers that you have the strength you need to get through this painful time. 
 
Canada Day was reasonably quiet here, I have been attempting to get caught up from being on the road so much and so my blog posts have been non existent for the last week. 
 
I plan to be leaving Grande Prairie again on either Friday or Saturday for Invermere and <a href="http://www.horsethiefhideout.ca/horsethief-memorial-rally.html" target="_blank">Horse Thief Hideout</a> - I have 2 months of books and invoicing to do thanks to having to fire the new book keeper...I also have a newspaper to get out and phone books to ship out before I can leave!  The good news is - the reward for working like a dog is that I get to ride! 
 
Our <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/busted-knuckle-chronicles/dirty-girl-contest" target="_blank">Dirty Girl Contest </a>is well under way with 11 bikes vying to win their riders the tickets to the Eric Church Concert at the Buffalo Chip in Sturgis - these VIP tickets are sponsored by Russ Brown!  You do not need to be a member of our site to vote and you can vote once per HOUR! 
 
I have started a new photo gallery on<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/" target="_blank"> www.beltdrivebetty.com</a> for all of the crazy, wonderful photo jokes that get shared with me. A few months ago I started keeping them in folders and recently decided that I needed to share that medicine with you all! 
I hope you enjoy my new <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/home/photos/belt-drive-bettys-mental-health-corner" target="_blank">Mental Health Corner</a>! 
 
Our <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/home/classifieds" target="_blank">new classifieds component </a>has been installed and I am excited to see people start using it! Classified ads are free to post on our site, you need to be a member - but membership is also free!  If you have something to sell or trade - check it out and put our network of some 70,000 people to work for you today! 
 
Yes - slowly but surely the transformation of our web site is getting there! I am grateful to see it happening! 
 
Our new <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/busted-knuckle-chronicles" target="_blank">Busted Knuckle Chronicles</a> section is almost completed - this is where you will find the majority of the Canadian Motorcycle Community Stories! 
 
I have a ton of video yet to complete from my trip to Yellowknife - the HHR and the rider training class I took in Edmonton last week - the work never ends but I am grateful to have it to do!!!!
 
 
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I am keeping this update short and sweet as I have a meeting shortly with the City of Grande Prairie works department as we get ready to start making and installing High Collision Intersection Signs for Motorcycles and bicycles - it's a project I have been working on for over a year that looks like it might finally come to fruition! Once we get the new signs approved by the DOT in Alberta, we should start seeing them go up!</div>
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There is a TON of news in the feeds today - lots of news that may affect your life as a rider!</div>
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Check it all out at <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/" target="_blank">www.beltdrivebetty.com </a>where our work is keeping YOU informed!</div>
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Have a happy Tuesday everyone!</div>
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Belt Drive Betty</div>
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Editor & Rider</div>

The Canada Day Holiday weekend has been hard on the motorcycle community

There have been at least 7 fatalities in our community here in Canada this past weekend . My heart always gets heavy when I hear the news ...