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Monthly Archives: June 2013

Narrowly Enough.

30 Jun

Click to watch video of this incident

Why on earth does this continue to happen?  It’s happened before, causing disaster.  Fortunately THIS time disaster was averted, narrowly enough, as stage 2 of the 100th Tour de France rolled to an exciting and non-injurious finish on the Island of Corsica today.  Still, this unforgivable moment had to be suffered, one that makes me more angry than anything else at those responsible for easily preventing such an occurrence.

Meanwhile, here on this last day of the first half of 2013– in my own modest fraction of road cycling– I’ve hit my easy mark.  With the help of Strava, I’m right on course to hit 5,000 miles this year, narrowly enough.

My first half of 2013 in the saddle

 
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Posted by on June 30, 2013 in 2013 Tour de France, Cycling

 

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As Usual… But Most UN-usual.

29 Jun

The stage one finish line, just minutes before riders crossed it.

So THIS is how the 100th Tour de France gets underway?  Really?  Well, yes.  Really.  I mean, a big crash of riders less than two miles from the finish– as happened today involving Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish– is one thing, unfortunate yet par for the course.  However, a team bus stuck under the finish line’s timing banner, with leading riders just minutes away, is quite something else.  As this downright ridiculous situation unfolded on live television early this morning, I couldn’t help but brace for imminent disaster.

Fortunately the unlucky coach was dislodged and removed in just the nick of time, rendering the intended finish line open for business.  All the last-minute chaos and temporary moving of stage one’s ending spot surely caused confusion among at least some of the riders however.  And this seems to have led to that crash that ultimately produced a different stage 1 winner than presumably would have been.

As usual, I suppose we must again say, “C’est Le Tour.”  However, today’s crazy circumstances proved most UN-usual.  So begins Le Tour de France for 2013.  Let’s hope tomorrow ends a little more smoothly.

 
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Posted by on June 29, 2013 in 2013 Tour de France, Cycling

 

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For the 100th — and First — Time

28 Jun

My post of last October 24 of course deserves a “reblog” here today. It’s that great time of year again!

Ryan R. Sanderson

Beginning on the island of Corsica, ending at nighttime, and remaining– for the first time in a decade– entirely within the country for which the event is named, are just a few distinguishing new features of next year’s exciting journey.  The route for the 100th Tour de France has hereby been unveiled!

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Posted by on June 28, 2013 in Daily Activities

 

Here They Come!

25 Jun

 
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Posted by on June 25, 2013 in 2013 Tour de France

 

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Cut To Black

20 Jun

He departed suddenly, perhaps in an instantaneous cut to black akin to the presumed demise of his famous character.  The actor who delivered us television’s most likable mobster has been taken in a flash.  Six years after the last of Tony Soprano, we now say goodbye to James Gandolfini, gone all too quickly.

 
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Posted by on June 20, 2013 in Famous People, Media, News

 

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From 3 to 4.

15 Jun

Yet another new model?  Are there not enough already?  Hasn’t every possible market segment been covered?  And what distinguishes this one from the others, aside from the number?  So went my initial thoughts.

Upon further investigation I quickly learned it’s a replacement, which seems to make more sense.  Three now becomes four, as BMW’s incoming 4 Series takes the place of the outgoing 3 Series Coupe.  “Attractive though not unusual” is my take on this newest Bavarian, and as for the answer to my last question above:

“Park a 2014 4 Series next to a 2013 3 Series two-door and you’ll probably notice how much wider it appears. The 4 Series is 1.7 inches wider, with the rear track stretched 3.1 inches. The car’s wheelbase is two inches longer than before, but its height is 0.6 inches lower.”

So it is, from 3 to 4.  We’ll just have to wait and see how quickly our heads turn out on the road!

 
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Posted by on June 15, 2013 in And That's My Opinion, BMW, Cars, Transportation

 

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Much to Say, Naturally.

08 Jun

The fashionably fabulous reigning queen of one-liners turns 80 years old today, propelled no doubt by the effective combination of her razor-sharp tongue and the proven talents of her cosmetic surgeon(s).  The wonderfully one-and-only Joan Rivers hereby joins the octogenarian club, armed with her successfully manufactured appearance and a never-failing mouth that should carry her to at least 100.  She sees this day in equally (if not more, dare I say) attractive company, as another famous and relatively flawless Joan marked the same milestone only 16 days ago!  Apparently there’s plenty of 80-year-old glamour to go around, and naturally this Joan will have much to say about it for months to come!  Next up:  Senator Dianne Feinstein.

 
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Posted by on June 8, 2013 in Famous People, Humor, News

 

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Saying Goodbye to the “Dingbat”

02 Jun

Actress Jean Stapleton reached her 90th birthday this past January, a fact of which I was aware well before her death last Friday.  Check out this helpful source to see if any of your classic favorites are still with us!

 
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Posted by on June 2, 2013 in Famous People, Media, Television, Videos

 

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