I won't bore you with the details, but while cross-training for the Outer Banks Marathon today on my bicycle, I experienced some dramatic equipment failure. The end result is I went flying with no time to react and hit my head hard on the asphalt pavement. As I type this, I have a mild concussion, a sore body and a headache. I'm okay, but my helmet is history. Take a look … click upon the image to view at full size. You'll understand why a helmet is important. The crack goes all the way through the helmet.
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I normally steer away from politics in this blog, but as the USA considers the most massive financial bailout since FDR's New Deal, I invite you to consider what happened in two financial markets yesterday: (see Google Finance)

• The price of oil rose over $25

• The price of a Euro rose from $1.45 to $1.48

In other words, investors know that the only way to pay for the proposed bailout is to run the printing presses at the US Mint. Your savings and purchasing power fell yesterday. As we head towards the November elections, support your favorite candidates, but make them find real ways to "pay" for any new programs. Money does not grow on trees; the United States just prints it (Econ 101).

It's Saturday morning. Over the past month the Northstar Nerd has blogged to you from Silicon Valley to the shores of Lake Superior, and even been interviewed by the New York Times. Now, it's time for something really important! From my northwoods cabin near the Canadian Border in northern Minnesota, it's time for Green Cheese!

That's right, I'll be competing along with many others in the weekly trivia radio show named Green Cheese, and you can join us! This show is a hoot, and recent weeks have found folks from as far away as Germany competing. All you need is a good brain … and "no" computer. In other words, don't use your computer and the net to research answers. Finally, you need a moniker … a good name. If you listen, this will become obvious why. Thus, link on over to KAXE on the net and listen to the live stream. If you miss the live show, you still might enjoy the show archive. KAXE is northern community supported radio … thus no commercials, just great folk! Here are the details:

• KAXE Green Cheese Trivia Show (click upon Live link)
• Saturday nights from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (-5 GMT)

(click upon cabin photo for expanded view)
 

How many of you really pay attention to what you hear when you take a walk. Those of you who wear iPods may miss out on much of life which is happening around you. This morning, while taking my dog for a walk I heard two Northern Goshawks (Wikipedia Link) screeching. We adjusted our walk and arrived in time to find the two youngster's having a food fight over a fresh kill. My photography isn't the best, but my two juvenile hawks did not think it was important to provide me with perfect photos … expand any image for a full sized view.