Posts from — July 2011

Lorient – Mur de Bretagne

Distance: 172.5 kilometers.

The stage starts out nice enough with a ride through the countryside, the finish is a 7.5% [a rise of 7.5 units for every 100 units traveled] Category 3 climb. There will be a lot of passing at the end.

Adding to the fun today was rain and a photo finish between Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador. Alberto was attempting to gain time on Thor, but that didn’t happen. Although he moved up in the rankings from 69 to 41, Alberto is still a minute, 42 seconds behind.

Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 ) [Yellow] 13h 58′ 25″
Jose Joaquin Rojas ( Esp – MOV – 088 ) [Green] 82 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: Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 141 )
Combative: Jérémy Roy ( Fra – FDJ – 138 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 585.0 kilometers [363.5 miles] at an average speed of 41.9 kph [26.0 mph] ↓.

OVERALL STANDINGS:

[Read more →]

Another successful day of minimal growth and continuing containment. The fire is being split into thirds from halves to make it easier to manage.

The change in wind direction has helped on the East side of the fire, blowing the fire back into areas already burned over, and allowing for effective back fires.

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: 127,821 acres [200 miles² 517 km²] based on infrared data
• Percent Contained: 27%
• Injuries to Date: 4
• Residences: 410 threatened; 63 destroyed; 3 damaged
• Commercial Property: 45 threatened; 5 destroyed; 3 damaged
• Outbuildings: 110 threatened; 32 destroyed
• Number of Personnel: Approximately 2,196 including 54 hand crews
• Equipment: 10 dozers, 81 engines, 35 watertenders
• Aircraft: 18 helicopters, 5 air tankers available
• Incident Commander: Dan Oltrogge, Area Command Team 1

[Read more →]

Olonne sur Mer – Redon

Distance: 198 kilometers.

A real sprinter’s stage.

Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 ) [Yellow] 9h 46′ 46″
Jose Joaquin Rojas ( Esp – MOV – 088 ) [Green] 64 points
Philippe Gilbert ( Bel – OLO – 032 ) [Polka Dot] 1 points
Geraint Thomas ( GBr – SKY – 117 ) 4 [White]

Team: Garmin-Cervelo ( 051-059 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Tyler Farrar ( USA – GRM – 054 )
Combative: Mickaël Delage ( Fra – FDJ – 133 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 412.5 kilometers [256.3 miles] at an average speed of 42.2 kph [26.2 mph].

OVERALL STANDINGS:

[Read more →]

Another good day with containment almost doubling and minimal fire expansion.

They are also reporting that Investigators Determine Cause of Las Conchas Fire:

Investigators believe the fire started after an aspen tree was blown down onto nearby power lines during a period of strong winds. The contact resulted in the line arcing, which then caused the tree to catch fire. Heat and flame caused the line to snap, which then allowed the burning tree to fall onto the ground where the fire spread into nearby vegetation.

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: 123,563 acres [193 miles² 500 km²] based on infrared data
• Percent Contained: 19%
• Injuries to Date: 4
• Residences: 410 threatened; 63 destroyed; 3 damaged
• Commercial Property: 45 threatened; 5 destroyed; 3 damaged
• Outbuildings: 110 threatened; 32 destroyed
• Number of Personnel: Approximately 2,164 including 56 hand crews
• Equipment: 8 dozers, 81 engines, 30 watertenders
• Aircraft: 18 helicopters, 5 air tankers
• Incident Commander: Dan Oltrogge, Area Command Team 1

[Read more →]

The Declaration of Independence

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security…

[Read more →]

In a report about Australian cyclist Cadel Evans, the ABC notes the problems on the first stage of Le Tour:

Evans’ main rivals for the yellow jersey, Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck, both lost a minute and twenty seconds after being caught-up in a massive crash triggered when a cyclist hit a spectator.

Nine kilometres from the finish line, Kazakh Maxim Iglinskiy rode into a spectator on the roadside and crashed, halting more than half of the main pack.

The spectator was unhurt.
…

The second big crash involved other favourites such as Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck, Briton Bradley Wiggins and Dutchman Robert Gesink, but it took place less than three kilometres from the finish, meaning they were awarded the same time as the first bunch.

When I mentioned that Le Tour is like NASCAR, I should have noted that it would be if they ran races on the two center lanes of the I-405 and allowed spectators to use the other lanes.

There are no grandstands, fences, ropes, or any other barrier or separators between the riders and the spectators. The average speed yesterday was in excess of 25 mph, and it was uphill at the end.

Les Essarts

Distance: 23 kilometers.

This stage is a team time trial in a loop over flat terrain. The time logged is when the fifth member of the nine-member team crosses the finish line.

A number of teams were affected by the two crashes that occurred yesterday, with members riding in pain. The crashes are the primary reason that Alberto Contador is a minute and 42 seconds back.

Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 ) [Yellow] 5h 06′ 25″
Philippe Gilbert ( Bel – OLO – 032 ) [Green] 45 points
Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 141 ) [Polka Dot]
Geraint Thomas ( GBr – SKY – 117 ) 4 [White]
Team: Garmin-Cervelo ( 051-059 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 )
Combative: Not awarded for time trials.

They’ve gone 214.5 kilometers [133.3 miles] at an average speed of 42.0 kph [26.1 mph].

OVERALL STANDINGS:

[Read more →]

Containment doubled to 11% from yesterday, and they are beginning the remediation assessments for the areas burned-over.

There was some rain in the fire area, but the same storm also started a fire with lightning, because the vegetation is so dry.

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: Unknown – under investigation
• Size: 121,248 acres [189 miles² 491 km²] based on infrared data
• Percent Contained: 11%
• Injuries to Date: 0
• Residences: 450 threatened; 63 destroyed; 3 damaged
• Commercial Property: 55 threatened; 5 destroyed; 3 damaged
• Outbuildings: 140 threatened; 32 destroyed; damaged
• Other: destroyed
• Number of Personnel: Approximately 1,995 including hotshot crews and 54 hand crews
• Equipment: 5 dozers, 68 engines, 28 watertenders
• Aircraft: 18 helicopters, air tankers
• Incident Commander: Dan Oltrogge, Area Command Team 1

[Read more →]

From FIFA’s official site: it’s Brazil 3-0 Norway and Australia 3-2 Equatorial Guinea in the second round of play in Group D. It looks like Brazil is through to the next level, but Australia and Norway both have a chance for the second slot.

ESPN has the replay on the ‘Net.

From FIFA’s official site: it’s USA 3-0 Colombia and Korea DPR 0-1 Sweden in the second round of play in Group C. It looks like the US and Sweden are through to the next level.

ESPN has the replay on the ‘Net.

LANL has teamed up with a local New Mexico small business, Transparent Sky LLC, to use a battlefield surveillance system that allows evacuees the ability to check on their property in near real-time.

Dr Masters writes about this fire, and the general situation in the Southwest from a climate perspective.

Progress is being made, but it is going to be a slow process because of terrain and conditions.

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: Unknown – under investigation
• Size: 113,734 acres [178 miles² 460 km²] based on infrared data
• Percent Contained: 6%
• Injuries to Date: 0
• Residences: 450 threatened; 63 destroyed; 3 damaged
• Commercial Property: 55 threatened; 5 destroyed; 3 damaged
• Outbuildings: 140 threatened; 32 destroyed
• Number of Personnel: Approximately 1,632 including 41 hand crews
• Equipment: 4 dozers, 67 engines, 24 watertenders
• Aircraft: 11 helicopters
• Incident Commander: Dan Oltrogge, Area Command Team 1

[Read more →]

Passage du Gois – Mont des Alouettes

Distance: 191.5 kilometers.

The race began with a real stage this year, rather than a prologue/time trial. It started on a causeway on the west coast of France, and ran a flat, sprinter’s route until the end with a climb up the Category 4, Mont des Alouettes.

Philippe Gilbert is actually entitled to all three of the top jerseys, but you can only wear one at a time, so he chose the Yellow.

Philippe Gilbert ( Bel – OLO – 032 ) [Yellow] 4h 41′ 31″
Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 141 ) [Green]
Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 ) [Polka Dot]
Geraint Thomas ( GBr – SKY – 117 ) 6 [White]

Team: OLO Omega Pharma – Lotto ( 031-039 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Philippe Gilbert ( Bel – OLO – 032 )
Combative: Perrig Quemeneur ( Fra – EUC – 187 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 191.5 kilometers [119.0 miles] at an average speed of 40.8 kph [25.4 mph].

OVERALL STANDINGS:

[Read more →]

The Las Conchos Fire is now the largest in New Mexico history, surpassing the 2003 Dry Lakes Fire. Currently activity is away from communities and has entered areas that were burned over in the 2000 Cerro Grande fire.

The city of Albuquerque has issued an Air Quality Alert due to wildfire smoke from the fire.

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: Unknown – under investigation
• Size: 103,842 acres [162 miles² 420 km²] based on infrared data
• Percent Contained: 3%
• Injuries to Date: 0
• Residences: 13 destroyed; 3 damaged
• Commercial Property: 3 damaged
• Outbuildings: 2 destroyed
• Number of Personnel: Approximately 1,201 including 6 hotshot crews and 25 hand crews
• Equipment: 4 dozers, 52 engines
• Aircraft: 9 helicopters
• Incident Commander: Dan Oltrogge, Area Command Team 1

[Read more →]

From FIFA’s official site: it’s Japan 4-0 Mexico and New Zealand 1-2 England in the second round of play in Group B. It looks like Japan is through to the next level, but England and Mexico are still in contention for the second spot.

ESPN has the replay on the ‘Net.