From the BBC coverage of today’s stage:

With around 100km to go of the 164.5km stage from Carhaix to Cap Frehel there were a string of crashes.

Team Sky rider Bradley Wiggins was one of the first to suffer but was able to continue after a change of bike.

Soon after, [Janez] Brajkovic was involved in a big crash when he slipped on a white line on the roadside.

Brajkovic lay still on the ground before being attended to and although he was able to stand up, he was taken to hospital with his team later saying that he should withdraw from the event.

“It’s a hard day but there’s nothing you can do,” said RadioShack team director Alain Galopin. “It’s the Tour de France, it’s a lottery. Almost everybody crashed. We were hoping to have four leaders in the Pyrenees and there will be only three.”

Defending Tour champion Alberto Contador also took a tumble on the tight roads in Brittany, with the Spaniard also requiring a bike change.

Nicki Sorensen, Contador’s team-mate, was then pulled down when his handlebars became entangled in a photographer’s motorbike, although he was able to continue.

Today’s stage winner, Mark Cavendish from the Isle of Man, dedicated his win to his dog, Amber, who died on Tuesday.

There is apparently no nadir they will not penetrate.

This is finally being reported in a small way in the US, but this criminality has been reported on for years in the British media. It came to light when the News of the World tabloid was busted for hacking the telephones of members of the Royal family.

During the course of that investigation, it was learned that the newspaper had been tapping the phones of other people, seemingly celebrities and politicians. While those cases are working their way through settlement talks and court cases it was discovered that no one was safe from the intrusion of the paper and its investigators.

Jams O’Donnell covered their actions in the case of a missing child, who was later found murdered, and now the families of victims of the London bombings.

It was reported today that Prime Minister Cameron promises News of the World phone hack probe, at the same time the British government seems set to approve News Corp buying a major shore of the SKY-B television network. If that deal goes through, it is likely things will get very warm for Mr Cameron, even within his own party.

Update: The Daily Telegraph is reporting that the families of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq may have been targeted as well.

I don’t want to hear that management didn’t know this was going on – doing this is expensive and someone had to approve the money for it. Don’t ask me to believe that lowly reporters at a Murdoch newspaper have the kind of budget authority that an operation this widespread takes.

This is something everyone can sink their teeth into and enjoy, a perfect example of why research is necessary.

The BBC reports that a Printer produces personalised 3D chocolate

Chocolate lovers may soon be able to print their own 3D creations thanks to work by UK scientists.

A 3D printer that uses chocolate has been developed by University of Exeter researchers – and it prints layers of chocolate instead of ink or plastic.

Think of it, a real, solid chocolate Easter bunny, not a hollow shell. Good chocolate, not the brown paste that corporations force upon us.

Why aren’t US universities doing this kind of research?

From FIFA’s official site:

The Women’s World Cup finished the Group Stage by playing four games today. The best part is that it wasn’t necessary to explain the FIFA tie-breaking procedure.

In Group D it was Australia 2-1 Norway and Equatorial Guinea 0-3 Brazil. The final ranking for the Group is:

1. Brazil
2. Australia
3. Norway
4. Equatorial Guinea

In Group A it was Sweden 2-1 USA and Korea DPR 0-0 Colombia. The final ranking for the Group is:

1. Sweden
2. USA
3. Korea DPR
4. Colombia

The first two teams in each Group move on to the Quarter Finals which start on the 9^th.

ESPN has the replay on the ‘Net.

After a lot of progress aided by favorable weather, things could get dicey today with hot, dry conditions and possible thunderstorms in the area. Shifting, gusty winds in thunderstorms, as well as lightning strikes can well exceed any benefit from the rain they contain.

Information from the current Las Conchas Wildfire InciWeb Page

• Date Started: 6/26/2011
• Location: Jemez Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest; approximately 12 miles southwest of Los Alamos off NM 4 at mile marker 35, New Mexico
• Cause: Falling tree hit power lines
• Size: 130,691 acres [204 miles² 529 km²] based on infrared data
• Percent Contained: 30%
• Injuries to Date: 5
• Residences: 410 threatened; 63 destroyed; 3 damaged
• Commercial Property: 45 threatened; 5 destroyed; 3 damaged
• Outbuildings: 110 threatened; 32 destroyed; damaged
• Other: destroyed
• Number of Personnel: Approximately 2,557 including hotshot crews and 63 hand crews
• Equipment: 14 dozers, 91 engines, 35 watertenders
• Aircraft: 20 helicopters, air tankers
• Incident Commander: Dan Oltrogge, Area Command Team 1

[Read more →]

Carhaix – Cap Frehel

Distance: 164.5 kilometers.

The sprinters will get a workout in this run through Brittany. As yesterday was affected by rain, the wind along the coast could be a factor in today’s race.

The guys at the BBC’s Day-by-Day continued their string of predicting stage winners by selecting Mark Cavendish.

Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 ) [Yellow] 17h 36′ 57″
Philippe Gilbert ( Bel – OLO – 032 ) [Green] 120 points
Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 141 ) [Polka Dot] 2 points
Geraint Thomas ( GBr – SKY – 117 ) 7 [White]

Team: Garmin-Cervelo ( 051-059 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 171 )
Combative: José Ivan Gutierrez ( Esp – MOV – 083 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 749.5 kilometers [465.7 miles] at an average speed of 42.5 kph [26.4 mph] ↑.

OVERALL STANDINGS:
[Read more →]