Posts from — July 2011

In its never-ending rush to be the worst ISP on the planet, CenturyLink is down again [system up-grade… awaiting parts… squirrels ate the router…]

I’ll probably be back at some point … or be on the news …

Update: 26 hours!

I haven’t dropped the ball or had a puncture. The Women’s World Cup semi-final games don’t happen until the 13^th, and it’s a rest day on the Tour de France.

The BBC reports on Rupert’s first move after arriving in London: News Corp’s BSkyB bid referred to regulator

The Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has referred News Corporation’s bid for BSkyB to the Competition Commission.

The move follows News Corp’s withdrawal of its proposed undertaking to spin off Sky News as part of its attempt to take over the broadcaster.

The spin-off of Sky News had initially been the key condition if News Corp was to be allowed to take over BSkyB.

But in light of the phone-hacking scandal, Mr Hunt had said he was seeking fresh advice from regulators.

BBC business editor Robert Peston said that by withdrawing its plan to spin off Sky News, News Corp was effectively asking for its bid to be referred to the Competition Commission.

News Corp already owns 39% of BSkyB but wants to take full control of the firm.

The Culture Secretary is buried under negative comments about the merger, so Rupert’s withdrawal of the ‘undertaking’ severing ties between BSkyB and Sky News provided him with the opportunity to pass the problem to the Competition Commission.

Rupert would expect this, and probably feels that the Competition Commission is a good deal ‘friendlier’ than other government organs at the moment. He has to feel pressure from his corporate board to do something to calm shareholders.

In other news:

• ABC: Police linked to royal phone hacking scandal
• BBC: Gordon Brown ‘targeted by Sunday Times’
• CBC: Phone hacking allegedly targeted 9/11 victims

Jeremy Kinsman of the CBC says: Don’t cry for Rupert Murdoch [Canadians don’t usually get shrill about anything but hockey].

The ABC reports:

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has arrived in London on Sunday to tackle a crisis that has spiralled beyond a phone-hacking scandal at one of his papers and threatened to scupper a multi-billion-dollar deal.

Things are spinning out of control, and politicians are seeking pay-back for years of pressure and fear delivered by News Corp and its minions. Rupert may think that he can scare enough people for this to go away, but there is ‘blood in the water’, and the politicians aren’t going to miss this opportunity for pay back.

The ABC News 24 program has a video up of an interview with Paul McMullan, the former News of the World executive who has been ‘helping the Guardian with its inquiries’. McMullan says that Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks knew about the hacking. McMullan is a charming piece of work who is apparently expecting to be arrested shortly, but still thinks that hacking the phones of ‘celebrities’ is OK, but hacking the phones of ‘the little people’ is wrong.

His comments about the costs of these investigations confirms my feeling that reporters don’t have the kind of budget authority necessary to carry off these operations without the approval of executives.

The Democratic National Committee is polling again, and as I am required to have a landline with my DSL, they called me.

They asked a question about the Ryan Budget Proposal that was interesting in its framing – they described it as the Republicans describe it – choice, private vs government, the whole load of BS that Ryan is attempting to sell in a TV ad campaign that I have seen a couple of times.

They are not going to like my answers when they are compiled, especially the ‘none of the above’ for the questions about the 2012 campaign and possible match-ups.

The Agitator got the ball rolling by picking up the story from a Fox affiliate in Detroit : Oak Park Woman Faces 93-Days in Jail For Planting Vegetable Garden

Their front yard was torn up after replacing a sewer line, so instead of replacing the dirt with grass, one Oak Park woman put in a vegetable garden and now the city is seeing green.

The list goes on: fresh basil, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, cumbers and more all filling five large planter boxes that fill the Bass family’s front yard.

Julie Bass says, “We thought we’re minding our own business, doing something not ostentatious and certainly not obnoxious or nothing that is a blight on the neighborhood, so we didn’t think people would care very much.”

But some cared very much and called the city. The city then sent out code enforcement.

Asked for a comment Oak Park City Planner Kevin Rulkowski said:

“If you look at the definition of what suitable is in Webster’s dictionary, it will say common. So, if you look around and you look in any other community, what’s common to a front yard is a nice, grass yard with beautiful trees and bushes and flowers,” he said.

Apparently a lot of people decided to check out Mr. Rulkowski, because ‘suitable’ was the number one search at the Merriam-Webster site today. Sorry, Kevin, but ‘common’ is nowhere to be found in the definition.

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Issoire – Saint-Flour

Distance: 208.0 kilometers.

An E-Ticket roller coaster for those in pursuit of the Polka Dots. In the first half there are rolling hills then a Category 3, more rolling hills and then the meal break. After lunch it gets vertical – two Catergory 2s, then two Category 3s, another Category 2, a sprint, and finishes with two Catagory 4s. Tomorrow is a rest day, so there should be a lot of attacks.

One of the attacks was car, according to Cycling News:

A race that has been packed with drama so far continued in the same vein. An early crash that resulted in Euskaltel-Euskadi’s Amets Txurruka and Vacansoleil-DCM’s Wout Poels quitting the race was merely the prelude. As the bunch descended the second climb of the day, the Pas de Peyrol, a number of riders went down, both on the road and into the ditch and woods on the right-hand side of it.

The most seriously affected were Omega Pharma-Lotto GC leader Jurgen Van den Broeck and teammate Fredrik Willems, Astana leader Alexandre Vinokourov, and Garmin-Cervelo’s Dave Zabriskie. All were forced to abandon with broken bones.

With 36km to the finish, the lead break was reduced from five riders to three when a French TV car that was overtaking on the grass swerved to avoid a tree and side-swiped Juan Antonio Flecha, sending the Sky rider somersaulting into Johnny Hoogerland, who flew off the road to the right and into a wire fence. Fortunately, both riders were able to continue, Hoogerland receiving some compensation at the finish in the shape of the King of the Mountains jersey.

Thomas Voeckler ( Fra – EUC – 181 ) [Yellow] 38h 35′ 11″
Philippe Gilbert ( Bel – OLO – 032 ) [Green] 217 points
Johnny Hoogerland ( Ned – VCD – 204 ) [Polka Dot] 22 points
Robert Gesink ( Ned – RAB – 041 ) 15 [White]

Team: Eurocar ( 181-189 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Luis-Leon Sanchez ( Esp – RAB – 047 )
Combative: Johnny Hoogerland ( Ned – VCD – 204 ) [Red numbers] [Extra credit for car assault]

They’ve gone 1,591.0 kilometers [988.6 miles] at an average speed of 41.3 kph [25.6 mph] ↓.

OVERALL STANDINGS:
[Read more →]

From FIFA’s official site:

In Game One at the end of regulation it was Sweden 3-1 Australia. Sweden makes it through to play Japan in the Semi-Finals.

In Game Two at the end of regulation it was Brazil 1-1 US. At the end of the overtime it was Brazil 2-2 US. The match was decided by penalty shots: Brazil 3-5 US. US makes it through to play France in the Semi-Finals, but this definitely wasn’t the quality of play one expects from these teams. Own goals and players sent off is not great football.

ESPN has the replay on the ‘Net.

From FIFA’s official site:

In Game One at the end of regulation and an overtime it was England 1-1 France. The match was decided by penalty shots England 3-4 France. France makes it through to the Semi-Finals.

In Game Two at the end of regulation it was Germany 0-0 Japan. At the end of the overtime it was Germany 0-1 Japan. Japan makes it through to the Semi-Finals.

ESPN has the replay on the ‘Net.

Today they explained their strategy, which has been apparent if you are familiar with fighting wildfires, even if only via the ‘Net.

Information from the current Las Conchas Wildfire InciWeb Page:

Overview

Several strategies are being utilized to contain the Las Conchas Fire. In many areas, firefighters have built line directly next to the fire. These lines are then mopped up by extinguishing all heat for about a hundred feet from the edge of the line. Another approach is building indirect line, away from the fire’s edge. Firefighters then burn along these lines to create a wider area free of fuels. It may take several hours or even days for the backing fire from the control line to meet up with the wildfire.

Another strategy is being employed on many parts of this fire. With expected “monsoonal” rains, the fire may be extinguished naturally. In places where the fire is burning in extremely steep and dangerous terrain, containment lines have been established along existing trails and roads. These lines have been prepared for burn-out, but fire managers are hoping the rains will arrive before the fire reaches those lines, making the burn-out of containment lines unnecessary. As the fire moves closer, the decision to burn along these lines is continually re-evaluated.

Therefore, the fire continues to grow, put up smoke, and develop columns as both interior runs and perimeter growth occurs.

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Aigurande – Super-Besse Sancy

Distance: 189.0 kilometers.

It’s time for the lower gears, and the climbing begins. There are two Category 4 climbs in the middle, and a Category 2 followed by a Category 3 at the end. Focus is changing from the Green to the Polka Dot jersey.

It was cold, wet, and misty on the course. Contador has moved up to 20^th by not taking any chances – he is still a minute, 42 seconds behind Thor. Cavendish wins stages and loses ground in the standings.

Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 ) [Yellow] 36h 06′ 28″
Philippe Gilbert ( Bel – OLO – 032 ) [Green] 187 points
Tejay Van Garderen ( USA – THR – 178 ) [Polka Dot] 6 points
Robert Gesink ( Ned – RAB – 041 ) 17 [White]

Team: Garmin-Cervelo ( 051-059 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa ( Por – MOV – 083 )
Combative: Tejay Van Garderen ( USA – THR – 178 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 1,383.0 kilometers [859.4 miles] at an average speed of 41.8 kph [26.0 mph] ↓.

OVERALL STANDINGS:
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The Las Conchas Fire grew slightly to 139,592 acres [218 miles² 565 km²], generally because of backfires and internal burning. Containment is still at 40% because they are strengthening the lines around inhabited areas in anticipation of thunderstorms in the area.

Invest 96 is in the Gulf of Mexico West of Tampa, but there is no indication that it will do anything interesting before coming ashore in Florida’s ‘armpit’. There will be some much appreciated rain from the system.

In the Eastern Pacific they have their third named storm of the season, Hurricane Calvin, but it is heading West off the coast of Mexico, and is only a threat to shipping.

For Americans: There are some terms that you have to understand to know what the reporting is all about.

First off, Sky or BSkyB is British Sky Broadcasting, which similar to a combination of the US Dish Network, and a media company, like NBC. They provide TV via satellite to homes in Britain and Ireland, and have their own channels, like Sky News.

Next, Ofcom, [Office of Communications] covers most of the same areas of responsibility as the US FCC [Federal Communications Commission].

Finally, in British and European English, ‘undertaking’ normally has nothing to do with funerals. In business reporting it may refer to a ‘company’ or to a ‘promise or guaranty’.

OK, the news that the Sky Tour de France team lost its lead rider, Bradley Wiggins, and the White jersey is not the disaster it might have been, only because so many other things have gone wrong for the company this week, that have caused its stock to lose 8% of its value today.

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Le Mans – Chateauroux

Distance: 218.0 kilometers.

The last of the sprinter stages for a while and the climbers start to dominate. This a pure road race with no climbs worth a gear shift.

The good news is that Mark Cavendish is now tied for ninth overall with this, his 17^th stage win.

OTOH:

At the 180km mark, just as the pace had increased to around 60km/h thanks to a tailwind, there was a crash near the middle of the peloton. Involved were a range of riders including the rider in sixth overall Bradley Wiggins (SKY). He was forced to abandon because of injuries sustained. Others caught in the crash were Horner (RSH), Pauriol (FDJ) who also had to abandon because of his injuries, Boasson Hagen (SKY), Farrar (GRM)… only about 60 men made the front group. With 20km to go, the escapees were 30” ahead of the yellow jersey’s peloton that was led by Leopard-Trek and BMC. There was 1’33” between the front peloton and the second one. The escape was over with 12km to go. Liquigas, HTC and Leopard-Trek led the peloton at that point.

Both Wiggins and Pauriol have broken collarbones. at a minimum.

Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 ) [Yellow] 28h 29′ 27″
Jose Joaquin Rojas ( Esp – MOV – 088 ) [Green] 167 points
Johnny Hoogerland ( Ned – VCD – 204 ) [Polka Dot] 4 points
Robert Gesink ( Ned – RAB – 041 ) 10 [White]

Team: Garmin-Cervelo ( 051-059 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 171 )
Combative: Yannick Talabardon ( Fra – SAU – 219 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 1,194.0 kilometers [741.9 miles] at an average speed of 41.9 kph [26.0 mph] ↓.

OVERALL STANDINGS:
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