Tour Today

View of Tour de France
TODAY!
From Argenton-Chateau, France.

And to my friends in France -
"I am so jealous!"
M

The 95th Tour de France

Created by L’Auto magazine, Le Tour de France has from the outset been partly linked with the development of the print media. An epic sport “par excellence”, cycling inspired journalists to wax lyrical and enthuse their readers. The full gamut of journalistic exercises were lavished upon Le Tour, from writers’ chronicles and editorials to caricatures, full-page photos, magazines, and portraits…

So Le Tour has grown up with the press, but there is no doubt that the press has also grown up with Le Tour. In 1930, radio was exploring live broadcasting. In 1948, French television attempted a first external live broadcast from the finish at Paris, after which it continually made use of la Grande Boucle to set itself new technological challenges. In today’s 21^st century, with the event now broadcast in 185 countries around the planet, the dawn of the digital age is unveiling new issues, both in the new media (web, mobiles, etc.) and in television. In 2007, the race was broadcast for the first time in hi-definition.

• 650 medias, 3,800 accredited
• 2,000 journalists, photographers, cameramen and consultants
• 1,800 technicians, pilots and drivers

On bike, in choppers or on platforms at the finish areas, 260 cameramen, including 30 from France, capture images from the race and its sidelines, on behalf of 92 different TV channels.

240 of photographers cover la Grande Boucle, shooting the riders for their paper or one of the 40 photo agencies which market their product worldwide.

90 radio stations, 50 of them local, are represented on Le Tour.

Nearly 450 places are provided each day for journalists from the print media, working for 350 publications or accredited agencies.

(From: http://www.letour.fr)

Le Tour

On 9th July 2008,
The 5th Stage of
the Tour De France
will pass through a
sleepy little village in France;
Argenton-Chateau.
(The town's name was changed to
Argenton les Valees,
but I refuse to
change what I have come to know...)
It is located at the first "5" on the route map.
Instructors and students
at Studio Escalier
will be sure to enjoy
spectacular views that morning.

The Tour de France Stages

The Tour de France is broken down into "stages." There is one race held each day but not always one stage. Think of a stage as a sort of distinct race distance. Riders win or lose, rank high or low, depending on their cumulative times from start to finish. Sometimes riders are rewarded time bonuses as well as prizes for finishing first.

The stages can cover all kinds of terrain. Those stages that go through mountains have led to a special distinction, the "King of the Mountain." The physical difficulty of mountain climbs is established in a complex formula that rates a mountain by its steepness, its length, and its position on the course. The easiest climbs are graded 4, most of the hardest as 1 and the exceptional (such as the Tourmalet) as unclassified, or "hors-catégorie". The most famous hors-catégorie peaks include the Col du Tourmalet and Mont Ventoux. Winners of mountain stages often determine the winner of the Tour.

The Tour now has a short beginning stage called the prologue. Riders start the Tour in reverse order– the weakest, slowest riders start first. The prologue decides who will wear the famous yellow jersey on the first day. The race now ends on the Champs-Élysées.

Riders who finish in the same group get the same time. You have finished in the same group as a competitor if you finish the stage with less than a bike length separating each rider. If a rider crashes in the last three kilometers, he is given the same finishing time as the group he would have finished in. It’s actually possible to win the Tour without ever having won a stages. Greg LeMond did this in 1990.

For most stages, all riders begin at the same time, jostling themselves into position. The "real start or départ réel is down the road a few kilometers. There are rules around this jostling. Riders can touch but not push or shove.

(From: http://www.letour.fr)

(I wonder how my little French bike is...?)

M

Papas de la Marty (Marty's Potatoes)

Preheat oven to 400 F. (200 C.)
Spray 9"x12"(23 x 56 cm) glass pan with cooking spray
Line bottom of pan with:
-2# bag of "Inland Valley Tater Babies"
(or any variety of spiced potato wedges),
-Add 1# bag frozen peas.
-Spread 3-5 tablespoons of
chopped garlic in oil over peas.
-Drain a 14 oz. can of
Hunt's Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes,
and spread over the top.
-Salt, pepper, other spices to taste.
Bake on middle oven rack 30 minutes.

Cool 5-10 minutes prior to serving.
Yum!
Tuesday night dinner...
M

Off The High Dive

(Image from: www.dailyiowan.com)

Biggest dare you have ever agreed to? Did it go well?
Craziest dream you ever followed? Successful?
Weirdest food you have been willing to try? Good or bad?
Shortest job you ever worked? Why?
Biggest crowd you have "performed" to? Speech, song, theater, dance?
I will share a few of my "high dive" stunts if you do!

Biggest dare:
Streaking around a girlfriend's house
age 12 or so,
midnight,
within view of a cemetery.
Thank goodness for thick landscape bushes...

What was YOUR biggest dare?
I dare you to share.



And the "Off The High Dive"?
I never had to be dared:
I love heights,
and water!
M


(Image from: www.gccommunitycenter.com)
- This is the pool where I work...

Porch Visitor

Eastern Fence Lizard
but not on our fence...
on our porch.
M

Build to Suit

Grand Prix de Santa Fe

Lisa - for your upcoming birthday... Horsies!
... And Abby - because you love all things "horse".
-M

I'm Alright

I'm alright
Nobody worry 'bout me
Why you got to gimme a fight?
Can't you just let it be?

I'm alright
Don't nobody worry 'bout me
You got to gimme a fight
Why don't you just let me be

Do what you like,
Doing it naturally
But if it's too easy
They're gonna disagree

It's your life
And isn't it a mystery
If it's nobody's business
It's everybody's game

Gotta catch you later
No, no, cannonball it right away

Some Cinderella kid

Get it up and get you a job
(Dip dip dip dip dip dip dip dip)

I'm alright
Nobody worry 'bout me
Why you got to gimme a fight?
Can't you just let it be?

I'm alright
Don't nobody worry 'bout me
You got to gimme a fight
Why don't you just let me be

Who do you want?
Who you gonna be today?
And who is it really
Makin' up your mind?

You wanna listen to the man?
Pay attention to the magistrate
And while I got you in the mood
Listen to your

Own heart beatin'
Own heart beatin'
Own heart beatin'
Own heart beatin'

Don't it get you movin'

mmmmm-man

It make me feel good

(Wow, Cinderella kid)

Then give it up and give it the job

(dip dip dip dip dip dip dip dip)
(Boom, boom, boom, boom)

I'm alright
Nobody worry 'bout me
Why you got to gimme a fight?
Can't you just let it be?

I'm alright
Don't nobody worry 'bout me
You got to gimme a fight
Why don't you just let me be

I'm alright
Nobody worry 'bout me
Why you got to gimme a fight?
Can't you just let it be?

I'm alright
I'm alright
Just let me be

"I'm Alright", by -K. Loggins

Sugar Water

4:1
water to sugar
stirred
dissolved
suspended
and decorated
with 20 long red slender ribbons
blowing in the wind
signaling.

Today:

The first
hummingbird
at my feeder.

Sweet.

Old Las Vegas Highway

Memorial...

Name-filled park:
Photos and biographies
of those who served
from New Mexico
recently lost.

Santa Fe Plaza.
Memorial Day weekend, 2008.

L's Last Day To Play In Santa Fe

Shady & Gringo's Howling Dog Bunkhouse
vacant again;
hoping to rustle up some more visitors...
M