Third Monday Random

Thoughts from behind the (handle) bars

By motomynd

Why is that idiot tailgating me? That is what I think about too much of the time while riding a motorcycle. How many cagers [Editor’s note: drivers of four-wheel vehicles] know that the reason motorcyclists are usually in the left lane and accelerating is we all operate on the basic premise that if cagers can’t catch us, they can’t kill us? Almost 100% of my riding is done in areas with strict “no texting while driving” laws. Yet half the vehicles I pass seem to have someone behind the wheel texting while driving.

Third Monday Random

When is enough?

By motomynd

When is the time to stop learning, and instead start sharing the knowledge of a lifetime, no matter if lived well or not? At some point, cramming more information into a fading brain so you can take it to the great beyond, makes as little sense as buying countless diamonds so you can have them sprinkled in your casket and buried with you.

Third Monday Random

Cleverness of the coyote

By motomynd

In Native American legend, and in real life, the coyote is known as a creature of crafty intelligence and humor. I’ve been around them enough in various parts of the country to give them great credit for above average intelligence and awareness, but I’ve dismissed much of their vaunted standing as hype.
    Now I’m not so sure. Case in point: I have no photos to contribute with this post, and I should.

Third Monday Random: Watergate, Lewinsky, NSA

Why do people care the least about what may affect them the most?

By motomynd

In 1974, Richard Nixon became the only U.S. President to resign while in office. As you probably know, this was because he and some of his staff were caught trying to cover up their involvement in a break-in at Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate office complex. The bungled attempt at obtaining information to help Nixon’s re-election was as ridiculous as it was incompetent. Nixon had a sizeable lead in the polls over Democratic contender George McGovern, and he went on to win the election in a landslide.

Third Monday Random

AARP member doing spot of must-reading

Bucket lists: Why?

By motomynd

This is ominous. I’m reading my daily news feed from adventure sports icon “Outside” and I notice a hyperlink down the left side of the screen from AARP. Outside Magazine was my gospel in an era when I wrote about, photographed, and competed in adventure sports for a living, and now its website is a good place for AARP to promote something? Ominous.

Third Monday Random

Fate lies in the secret of the fork seals

By motomynd

In case you have ever wanted a new way to measure the fine line between adventure and death, here it is: If the left front fork seal of a motorcycle bursts, you live; if the right fork seal fails, you die.

Third Monday Random

Mark the day

By motomynd

Next Monday, April 22, is the 43rd Earth Day. Do you remember the first one—how old does that make you feel? More importantly, do you remember the idealism of that first Earth Day, and all the things you resolved to do to help save the planet? So how have you done—does your resume make you an eco warrior, or just another backslider?

Third Monday Random

Reconciling sports and faith

By motomynd

Do you want to know when you learn simultaneously that prayer, mind control, and telekinesis don’t work? And that the power of positive thinking is a scam? When you are 14 years old, the superhuman Wilt Chamberlain comes to the Los Angeles Lakers, he still can’t hit free throws, and the heavily favored and much more talented Lakers still can’t beat the damn Boston Celtics after 10 years of trying—even with you banging your head against the TV and thinking all kinds of positive thoughts about the Celtics starters tripping over themselves and being injured en masse.