The Biker’s Code
by Author Unknown

It used to be that all bikers shared a common bond, an unspoken code of ethics and behavior that transcended words and was built on actions. There was never a bible written on this Biker’s Code and there was no need for such. But the times are a-changin’ and there seems to be a lot of new riders out there.

These days the riders you see blastin’ down the road are just as likely to be clad in shorts and sneakers as jeans and engineer boots. And the roughest, toughest-looking biker you pull up next to could be your doctor or lawyer and may be wearin’ a Rolex watch under his leathers. There’s nothing wrong with that, so long as these new riders learn the Code just as we old-timers did. Being a biker used to be about using your creativity to take a basket case old hawg and using only grit and ingenuity, turning it into a one-of-a-kind eye dazzler, then risking your life on the asphalt on a bike you made yourself out of pride. Bikers wore leather and grease because they knew cagers would just as soon run them down as look at them, so they had to be intimidating.

We were a breed unto ourselves with no union, no support group, and in many cases, no family (they threw us out). We had to make it in the world of our own, against all rules, against mainstream society, and against all odds.

We survived and prospered because of the Biker Code and we never took shit from anybody. As an old scooter bro once said, “It’s every tramp’s job to school the young. How else are they gonna know a Panhead from a bed pan?” With that in mind, we bring you a primer on the basic two-wheeled Code. Take heed, brothers and sisters, for our Code is a hallowed one filled with honor and loyalty, the likes of which have not been since the days of knighthood:

Don’t take any shit. Be kind to women, children and animals, but don’t take any bullshit. This is an essential part of being a biker. It has to do with respect and honor. Anyone can be a quick-tempered fool. Be cool, stand tall and backup what you say with action.

Never lie, cheat or steal. Another way of saying this is to always tell the truth. Bikers are always the greasy bad guys in the movies, but every real biker knows that his word is his bond. Your word is all you have in life that is truly yours. Guard it carefully and be something noble, for you are a true knight of the road.

Don’t snitch. If you see a wrong, fight it yourself, if you are about anything. You’ll take care of problems yourself and never feel the need to snitch someone off. Snitches are the lowest life forms on earth, right up there with biker thieves.

Don’t Whine. Absolutely no one likes or respects a whiner. Another way to say this is hold your mud. Still another way to think of it is, “Don’t sweat the small stuff” Most of life’s little inconveniences work themselves out whether you whine or not. Keep your chin up, dammit! You’re a biker, not some lowly snail..

Never say die and never give up. Whether it’s in a fight, a debate, or a business deal, no matter how bad it gets, a biker never gives up.

Help others. When a brother or sister is broken down by the side of the road, always stop and help them. Even moral support, if that is all you can give, is better than riding on by. Remember life is about the journey, the ride, not getting there. You already are there. And don’t just help bikers, show the world that we are better than our image portrays us. Courtesy costs you nothing and gives you everything.

Stick to your guns. Do what you say you’ll do, be there when you say you will. This is called integrity. This also goes back to standing for something. Like the song says, “You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.”

Life is not a drill. Yeah, this ain’t no dress rehearsal. This is life — go out and take big bites of it. You’ve got no time to lose and bikers don’t stand around waiting for the party to come to them. You only go around once. Tomorrow you could be road kill, thanks to a chain smoker asleep at the wheel of his Caddy. Live life now, make the most of each moment.

All right, now let’s review.

• You are a biker, a modern-day knight of the road.
• Protect the weak, walk tall and stand proud.
• Your word is your bond.
• Stick to your guns.
• Don’t take any shit.
• Life is not a drill.

Now go forth and ride. When in doubt, ride. That’s what we do…ride. If you want to ride around in a Day-Glo Hawaiian shirt and sandals, go for it, but if you intend to look like a idiot, at least don’t act like an idiot.

These commandments are just a few of the broad strokes, there is a lot more to being a biker than buying a bike. If you just buy a bike, you are a motorcyclist. Being a biker is a way of life, a proud way of life we hold in high regard with a burning passion for the open highway.

What say you?

Download the file I received of the code here: The Biker’s Code

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Well Christmas in July is upon us once again! ABATE need’s donations (money, toys, coloring books, small hand held electronic games, etc for ages newborn to 19). If you want to help out, let either Laura Goggins or Jan Plummer know.

The ages of the children will be unavailable until closer to the run, so any kind of donation is welcome and appreciated.

Also, ABATE will need door prizes – so if anyone has anything they want to donate, again contact either Laura & Jan.

Also, we’re having a cook out after the run, so if anyone is willing to provide a dish as well that would also be appreciated.

We’ll probably be sorting toys again the night before the run (23rd) and getting the sleigh built, so I’m sure there would be plenty of opportunities for someone to come and volunteer. Again, just let Laura & Jan know & they’ll fill you in on the details.

Thanks & we look forward to seeing you on the run!

NOTE: For those unfamiliar with the Christmas in July event  is – it’s a “toy run” that ABATE & all the biker community do in July to bring toys to children in local area hospitals. While we ride our bikes (including Santa), we welcome automobiles for this community event. The runs goes  to the 3 major hospitals in Anchorage & the Salvation Army home near Mulcahey Stadium to see kids that are either sick or that are having a hard time and Santa gives them presents (UNWRAPPED)!  After we’re done we have a cookout, courtesy of the VietNam Vets M/C.

Here are my pictures from the event: http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlleray/sets/72157621828890725/

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It’s summer….I’m riding.

This morning I look at the site & notice that the site is basically…well…GONE! It’s setup on the WordPress defaults. I’m thinking ‘this is not so good‘

First thing I do is check the database & config files on the server as wordpress is a database driven blog it’s most likely the first point of failure. I immediately make a backup of the database (in my day as a DBA we would make an immediate backup to be able to import current data if we had to restore from backup as well as have a snapshot of the mangled database to autopsy after the emergency).

Everything looks OK, all the data is even there! The correct files are on the server, so I am scratching my head.

Time to call GoDaddy support to see if there is an issue with, say, the database server or something went wrong in the last day or so.

Now before I go any further, I have been very pleased w/GoDaddy. Service offerings, price, etc. has been good…so much so that I setup my company Apex Logic to be GoDaddy resellers.

Where was I? Oh yes…

So I call GoDaddy support. Now I understand that the person answering the phone is Tier 1. So I tell the gentleman (we’ll leave his name out for now), that there is an issue with my database.

CSR: “What kind of issue?

“I have a wordpress site & the database is showing incorrect information”

CSR: “Have you changed or updated the database?”

“No…haven’t been on in a about a week actually”

CSR: “How long have you had the site up?”

“Five years, sorry, three with you but five years so three with WordPress”

CSR: “So you are unable to connect to the database?”

“No…it connects fine, it’s showing no posts or pages. The site is down & this is a problem as I have lots of people viewing it. I’m checking to see if there is an issue with the database server as I can find nothing wrong.”

CSR: “Sir there’s no need to be argumentative with me.”

“I’m not being argumentative, I am a bit take aback that the site is down & I need this checked out.”

CSR: “Let me put you on hold”

Shitty GoDaddy Ska music (which by the way they should ask if you want the hold music like they do when you first call in)

CSR: “Sir?”

“Yes.”

CSR: “Everything looks fine. We can access the database, it looks like the connection string is correct. It could be an issue with your wp-config file as there’s unusual items in it.”

“OK…let me look at the wp-config again, can you hang on a minute?”

I’m thinking…HOLY BATSHIT! Was I hacked somehow? I look at the wp-config I downloaded earlier (again I had pulled the site & reviewed the files on the server), looks good to Karl so….

“I’m seeing nothing unusual in the wp-config I downloaded from the server,  can you elaborate?”

CSR: “No. I was told there’s unusual items in the file.”

OK…I give them the benefit of the doubt that they’re unfamiliar with the new “Thelonius” wp-config changes….after they’re not developers…

“Are you referring to the new changes with WordPress 3.0? They’ve changed how the config file is done an-”

CSR: “Sir! WordPress is a free application that we did not create so we don’t support it.”

“I understand that, however the issue is with the database which you DO support.”

CSR: “Yes sir, do you have a backup of the database?”

“Yes”

CSR: “Then you’ll need to restore the database as something has happened, maybe something was written to somehow.”

OK…now I’m REALLY UPSET. Something was written to it SOMEHOW?

I decide to just go in and do a CHECK TABLE for all tables on the server, followed immediately by REPAIR TABLE & voila! Everything is back!

So now I actually feel stupid that I hadn’t tried that earlier, so…

“OK…everything is up. Can I have someone look at the database server? It seems that the indexes were messed up & I’d like to have the database server looked at.”

CSR: “Sir, these things happen which is why we ask customers to back up their data regularly”

At this point I’m flummoxed. These things happen?!? That’s an incorrect answer.

“Fella, I’m a WordPress developer & prior to that a DBA for SQL Server, db2 & Oracle. Corrupted indexes don’t just happen. All I’m asking is to have the server looked at as it’s a shared database server & this may be something significant not just to myself”

CSR: “Sir, again this is just part of working with a database.”

I’m thinking of my career as a DBA & how if I had ever said that to my CFO when looking at what happened to the SAP accounting system or the Siebel database with the customer data, I’d have been living in a van down by the river!

“So you’re not going to send this forward?”

CSR: “As I stated sir, these things happen. It sounds like you’ve been lucky all this time.”

“OK..thanks & have a good 4th of July weeke-”

The CSR hangs up!

I’m still deciding if I should call customer service, as this was a horrendous support call. My site is up & running & at this point I know I will stay with GoDaddy. However I will be sure to ask for a different person if I get this guy again or just request tier 2 immediately.

Time to go riding for a bit….

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