NorthStarNerd.Org

The Next Generation of Engineers - VEXplorer

My son who will start Rose-Hulman next Fall was one of the 25 selected finalist for the VEXplorer Contest. The contest requirements were to build an interesting robot using the VEXplorer system and post a video on YouTube demonstrating the end result.  The top prize is a $5k college scholarship.

In Erik's case, he used SolidWorks for the initial design, and a black tabby cat named Cyrus for the testing phase! His accompanying music includes "White and Nerdy". Like father (aka the Northstar Nerd)... like son!

• VEXplorer System | Contest Announcement
  and
• Erik's YouTube Video: Lift-O-Bot

You should also be able to view other entries via the related videos link!

Life's Turns

I wasn't certain if I had this post in me. My two prior posts about Google Sites were a welcome, and needed diversion.

Last week I posted about my own 25th Wedding Anniversary. Given this is a technical blog, I felt it was time to refocus on hard content. God had other plans for me. Wednesday night, my Mom died. Perhaps I can pass along some learnings.

I have discovered that hospice care is truly a phenomenal service. My Mom and Dad, whose love dates back to 1950, made a promise to each other years ago that they would not let each other die in a hospital. Hospice care and Rosie allowed Dad to keep that promise. By the grace of God I had planned to be in Florida on Wednesday, and was present at my parent's Winter home when Mom died Wednesday night at 11:00 p.m. The hospice care nurse (thanks Sara) was with us within 30 minutes, and took care of everything. By 2:00 a.m. the funeral folks had come and gone. Early the next morning, both Pastor Mike and Nurse Gayle from the hospice group called to make certain we were okay (thanks to both of you during this difficult time). Pastor Mike also visited us later that day.

The service we used was Hospice of the Comforter. Their name rings true.

Finally, I give my thanks to God who allowed me to insure my Dad was not alone Wednesday night. We watched old home movies early Wednesday evening. These films dated back to the 1930's and showed my Mom as a young girl growing up in Sudbury, Ontario. Mom was still with us as we watched. (click upon any thumbnail image for an expanded view)

 

Wedding 25.0 (A Knowledge Collaboration!)

This will be my only post this week ... no engineering stuff ... no Web 2.0 information, because Molly and I have achieved Wedding 25.0 ! This new love sharing application will be released to the general public on Wednesday, May 21st (our 25th Wedding Anniversary)!

How does one define Wedding 25.0? Here is my answer ...

In 25 years of marriage I have only worn one piece of jewelry, my wedding ring. In those 25 years I've only taken off my ring three times. Once on my wedding night, to read the inscriptions with my bride ... once on my 15th wedding anniversary when Molly and I renewed our vows and wanted to show our children the inscriptions ... and once with my wife at a jewelry store to have the ring shined up. The final occasion was a mistake ... as this banged up ring has never ceased to glow.  It did not need buffing!

Our celebration starts this evening when our children take us out to dinner, and tomorrow Molly and I are escaping to our beloved North Shore of Lake Superior.

I invite you to watch this short four minute video which I created for my bride, Molly. It takes the Hoeg family quickly through 25 years of life! If you are so inclined, please leave Molly and me a comment. Molly will not be aware of this blog post till after I preview the video for her and the kids at dinner!

• Rich and Molly - 25 Years of Love - 4 minute video
  (may take a moment to load ... please be patient)

An addendum ... the kids fooled us! The restaurant was full of friends reaching back to grade school!

(click upon the photo for an expanded view)

     

Dandelion Love - Why a Weed?!

It's Saturday, and with it ... heavy thoughts for the human mind. While doing a 19 mile training run in preparation for Grandma's Marathon, I came across this field of dandelions (see my photo). When your brain is in never, never land ... during extreme exercise ... I thought ... why is a dandelion considered a weed, while a poppy is known as a flower? I thought the blanket of yellow leading down to Medicine Lake was gorgeous! Via Google Images, I found a red carpet of poppy's for comparison. You decide! Click either thumbnail for an expanded view.
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Sichuan, China Earthquake Relief: Rebuilding Schools - Helping Children

As many of you know, I have am involved with building schools in rural China. Last month, I was even a keynote speaker at the China Tomorrow Education Foundation (CTEF) annual benefit dinner. If you've seen news reports on the devastation in the Sichuan region ... including collapsed schools, you will understand that the need for help is huge.  Thankfully, as far as we know, none of our schools collapsed. My foundation (registered 501c charity in the USA) is trying to help out.  Here is a quote from our president's message:

"CTEF has been helping school children and renovating school buildings in rural China since 2001. Even before the earthquake, CTEF had been working with enthusiastic local volunteers on school renovation projects in Sichuan's Beichuan and Yilong counties. We are committed to using 100% of the Earthquake Relief Fund to rebuild schools and communities and help school children who have suffered from this tragedy. "

Learn more, and consider donating. My plans include a trip to China later this Fall. I will report back on our efforts via this blog.

You may also wish to visit National Public Radio's Chengdu Diary. NPR actually has a team of reporters in Chengdu. They were preparing for a special week of China coverage that had been planned for next week.