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GDPR And Help!
Blog Date - 02 April 2018
General Data Protection Regulation. Oh erm...right....erm....what?
In a nutshell the EU is tightening up the rules that affect what and how information is stored about you here on the internet. There's a whole new bunch of regulations about storing emails and surfing history and blah blah blah blah blah...
I should have stuck with bricklaying...
I am not an expert on the law nor do I have any intentions of becoming one. I have neither the time or the patience or even the inclination to actually read and understand all the blurb. What I have seen is that I need some kind of special permission to just store emails let alone actually send emails outside of the usual business and friends scenario.
Hell I don't understand it all. Nor do I want to.
Some of you may have noticed there's been an option to "Subscribe" at the top of the page and around 40 people have. All I've used the email addresses for was to send links to the latest posts on the page. Because I can't be bothered to learn all the rules and regulations I've decided to remove the subscription system and to clear all the data. That way hopefully I won't be breaking any rules or accused of spamming.
Reet that fixes THAT problem.
I don't believe this will cause much upset but if it does I apologise.
In the meantime I need to go and do something motorcycle related so I can write about it. I'm often at a loss as to what to write about. I don't wish to bombard the site with daily write-ups of my uneventful trips to work or a ride to Sharon's house. Nor do I believe readers wish to know that I adjusted my chain this morning.
I'd like to ask if there's anything you'd like me to cover? Bearing in mind I can't write a review about the GSXR1000RR...rrrrrrrr because I don't think I could get my hands on one let alone actually get close to it's potential abilities. Maybe a knitting pattern for a set of kevlar winter gloves?
I know you're only reading this to see what Sharon is up to.
Reader's Comments
Snod said :-
A guide on how to check the valve clearances on a Z250SL (or even how to get the tank off!?) would be most appreciated.. Or, y'know, just any old story about turning up somewhere frozen and dripping all over the place. Real life.
I honestly don't know how you do it though, I have a few posts in mind for my own blog but I never seem to get around to writing it up even if I have nothing better to do.
02/04/2018 10:33:45 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Cheers Snod. Sharon's bike will be out of warranty soon and the tappets will be due. I estimate that will be in mid to late summer. I shall endeavour to make a good record of our experiences of doing this. Wish me luck.
With regards to writing - I have no wonderful words of wisdom other than - ya just gorra do it.
What's you blog URL?
02/04/2018 11:22:34 UTC
Snod said :-
Ah, looks like I'll beat you to it then with the clearance job - mine is due right now. As soon as bike-parts-kawa send me my £89 manual (sob!) I'll get on it. They'll almost certainly be fine but I've seen precisely zero reports about it from anyone else so I have to check, just for the peace of mind.
My blog is https://justbikethings.blogspot.com/ it's mostly mechanical stuff with a few reviews of bizarre tyres (your review of the Bridgestone TW202 is what brought me here originally, by the way) and some stories of tours. Most posts are far too long to be classed as entertainment in their own right, it's more to help people who have genuine interest in a (very) specific subject.
02/04/2018 12:32:25 UTC
Pocketpete said :-
Put it back on we are leaving the eu....
They wont be able to catch you then....
02/04/2018 13:08:25 UTC
Rod said :-
Hi Pocketpete, That was my first reaction, but I think the government are busy with a copy and paste job to copy EU legislation into UK law?
02/04/2018 13:20:29 UTC
Ian Soady said :-
It's actually a very good thing and I hope we keep it when we crash out of the EU. But given the idiots in "charge" of that process they'll probably ditch it to preserve FB's and the like's profits.
02/04/2018 14:51:25 UTC
Borsuk said :-
Ren: The stuff you do put on is informative, interesting and generally entertaining and I honestly look forward to reading your updates. Reading a daily blog of your breakfast, daily routines or worst of all bodily functions would soon lose you readers. It was one of the main reasons that I got rid of Facebook several years ago.
So keep on doing what your doing and we will just have to check what's new the old fashioned way by clicking on a book mark.
02/04/2018 15:08:24 UTC
Bob said :-
Just keep going, we all love the site!
If it helps I was thinking about writing a little guide on what I've come up with as my luggage and waterproof solution (that actually works) after years and years of trying different kit.
Also a review of the BMW G650X?
02/04/2018 19:22:04 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Thank you folks :-)
Snod - I've added a link to your blog via my links page - that way I won't lose it in the mayhem of the comments. Good stuff.
Even if the EU wasn't chasing me I wouldn't resurrect the subscribe thingy as it's hardly been a rip-roaring success. I'm also applying the same reason I don't do a proper log-in for the comments. As a one-man-DIY-website creator I cannot guarantee the security of passwords, emails or other personal information. If I ain't got your personal details I cannot be accused of giving it to hackers.
Bob - I'd love to put something up about your kit and your Beemer. I am so grateful for contributions because while you all appear to appreciate my efforts I think different perspectives and fresh writing keeps things interesting. I don't want this to be simply me and Sharon's platform, there's a whole world of opinions and useful perspectives out there.
02/04/2018 20:20:52 UTC
Sam said :-
Ren,please keep writing,it's so refreshing to read items written by someone who lives in the real world.
02/04/2018 22:01:55 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Thanks Sam. The only thing is I don't want to live in the real world. I want to be stinkingly rich and live a life of luxurious comfort. In the meantime I'll do my best to write about my motorcycling as a poor common person.
03/04/2018 08:59:23 UTC
Christopher said :-
Ren.....Your doing sterling work with this site....Hence it's a case of 'Keep on Keeping on' so to speak!! Carry on as you are, its fine. The 'Subscribe' link you can do without. Sod the 'Big Brother,Nanny,E.U Communist Super State (to be diplomatic!).
No need or reason to aspire to be 'stinkingly rich, with luxurious comfort' either!,('tongue in cheek' though i am sure!!) That, or indeed, the other side of the coin you mentioned, 'A poor common person,' both are merely illusions......As is the concept of the 'Real World'....Each one of us create our own unique version of 'reality' via our belief systems,created through thought's and words. These can be either in a positive, or negative sense, or (as often the case) are conveyed/created via the 'Doom & Gloom' (television predominately)media. Best wishes, Keep Smiling and positive, Keep the interesting articles coming.
04/04/2018 17:09:41 UTC
Bob said :-
A few years ago I ran the website for the bike club I was in.
On that site I ran a "Bob's Blog" which I updated with my mechanical ramblings and ride reports. I used to worry that I was showing off somehow, being big-headed, but many said that was the best bit of the site.
We're all grateful that you keep finding the time to run this site - I'm far to lazy to contemplate doing it these days.
04/04/2018 18:21:16 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Stop being nice to me people, it's embarrassing!
05/04/2018 11:54:48 UTC
Ian Soady said :-
You will note that I have not joined in the otherwise universal adulation as embarrassing you is the last thing I would want.
However, I do find this group interesting and even useful on occasion, without creating the rage which is so often fostered by others......
05/04/2018 12:10:26 UTC
Henrik said :-
Adulation, well, then maybe I did learn a new word today :-)
Relatively laid back place here, where people put them self on a pink scooter, rather than on a pedestal where no one belongs,.... (as far as I can tell)
But maybe I just got it all wrong, the new word included :-)
05/04/2018 14:29:47 UTC
Graeme said :-
Hi Ren, I enjoy the "kitchen sink" dramas that you often write about - you know the one's where you and Sharon are soaked through, standing in a puddle and your tent has blown away. They are fun - especially for us readers. Your series documenting your Welsh travels was very enjoyable. More of that please. Keep up the good work, Shsron too :)
17/04/2018 16:13:39 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
KITCHEN SINK DRAMAS!!! I'll have you know these are real bona-fide wild adventures not some random bikers getting soaked so you don't have to! It's not easy being this inept, disorganised, random and useless you know, it takes a lot of work being a right pair of plonkers.
Seriously though - writing up the travel stories can feel like a waste of time. They rank very poorly on Google searches because no-one googles "stories of motorcyclists camping" do they. Also the stories don't get very many comments - I do understand why, the content isn't asking questions, proposing answers or stirring up opinions.
As such I'm glad to see that people do read them and hopefully enjoy them. I daresay I'd still write them even if no-one read them because I find they're a great way for me to refresh some very good memories.
17/04/2018 20:28:56 UTC
Graeme said :-
Lol, the kitchen sink comment was meant as a compliment :) Your adventures are "real" - thats why I like them. Funnily enough, I do google "motorcycle camping stories" and there's a Facebook group called Motorbike Camping. None of this however can match the quality of your site.
19/04/2018 19:27:10 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
I've gone all shy now.
Cheers Graeme. I follow quite a few facebook site about motorcycle adventures and camping atc, including motorcycle camping. Oddly although I write and hope people read my missives I'm not much of a reader of other people's stuff.
In some ways that might be a good thing because it means I may have my own style, on the other side I could be missing some tricks. I've never been much of a reader. Sharon on the other hand reads EVERYTHING! She works in a library...
19/04/2018 20:55:21 UTC
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