© Ann Telnaes - 06/01/2005

Here are a couple of cool links sent to me by a nice sheila in Australia. These are flash shows of the earth and space.

http://www.frontiermultimedia.com/the-good-earth.htm

http://www.frontiermultimedia.com/deepspace.htm

Thanks Brenda

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.

- William Morris

Thanks Eric

** Update **

William Morris - Craftsman and Designer, 1834-1896

What time is it you ask? Well these are a few of the cool clocks I have found on the web:

http://www.designegg.com/insertmonkey/clock.html

http://www.lares.dti.ne.jp/%7Eyugo/storage/monocrafts_ver3/03/index.html

http://patchrapa.com/images/anaclock.swf

© Ann Telnaes - 06/03/2005

© Mike Luckovich - 06/03/2005

© Nick Anderson - 06/03/2005

Changing planet revealed in atlas

The UN issues an atlas of satellite images showing how humans have changed the face of the earth.

For a decade, FBI agents covertly monitored every telephone call and fax sent and received by Florida university professor Sami al-Arian as he communicated with alleged top leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group about its suicide bombings of Israelis, shaky finances and high-level...

The Washington Post

© Bill Watterson - 04/28/1993

Finally made good use of the single speed bike Sunday. I took off the studded tires, slapped some slicks on it and took her for a hour and half cruise. I just went out east Highline trail for about 10 miles. I had never been out that way and it proved to be a nice little pedal. Luckily I came across this painted on the path and thus knew which way to go!

Along the way you go through this neat little retiree community with these cool handpainted signs:

A fun day in the sun after a rainy Saturday.

Hincapie holds lead as Hushovd takes 1st stage at Dauphiné

The peloton's priciest domestique

Photo: Graham Watson

VeloNews

Stage 1 Individual
1. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole, 5:10:55
2. Robert Hunter (RSA), Phonak
3. Juan Antonio Flecha (Sp), Fassa Bortolo
4. Luke Roberts (Aus), CSC
5. Manuel Quinziato (I), Saunier Duval
6. Mickael Delage (F), Francaise des Jeux
7. Heinrich Haussler (G), Gerolsteiner
8. Samuel Dumoulin (F), Ag2r Prevoyance
9. Enrico Gasparotto (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
10. Koldo Fernandez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi

Overall Standings
1. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, 0:00
2. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, 0:01
3. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Credit Agricole, 0:03
4. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, 0:05
5. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, 0:06
6. Oscar Pereiro (Sp), Phonak, 0:07
7. Alberto Contador (Sp), Liberty Seguros, 0:09
8. Ivan Gutierrez (Sp), Illes Balears, 0:13
9. Davide Rebellin (I), Gerolsteiner
10. Francisco Lara Ruiz (Sp), T-Mobile, 0:14

When you are completely clear, there is no subjective distortion; when you are completely pure, there is true perception. But even if you are thus through and through, this is still now the transcendental key. When the wind and waves have died out, the ocean of mind is as is; when you get to the bottom of the ocean of mind, for the first time you see the black pearl.

-Tzu-te

Dumoulin moves into lead after Dauphiné stage win

VeloNews

Stage 2 Results
1. Samuel Dumoulin (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 4:47:06
2. Anthony Charteau (F), Bouygues Telecom
3. Frederic Finot (F), Francaise des Jeux
4. Frederic Bessy (F), Cofidis, all s.t.
5. Robert Hunter (RSA), Phonak, at 3:16
6. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole
7. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Cofidis
8. Juan Antonio Flecha (Sp), Fassa Bortolo
9. Enrico Franzoi (I), Lampre
10. Enrico Gasparotto (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, all s.t.

Overall after Stage 2
1. Samuel Dumoulin (F), Ag2r Prevoyance
2. Frederic Francaise des Jeux, 0:20
3. Anthony Charteau (F), Bouygues Telecom, 0:21
4. Frederic Bessy (F), Cofidis, 0:28
5. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, 3:06
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, 3:07
7. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Credit Agricole, 3:09
8. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, 3:11
9. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, 3:12
10. Oscar Pereiro (Sp), Phonak, 3:13

© Tony Auth - 06/09/2005

Yep, that's our editor-in-chiefs belief.

© Steve Sack - 06/08/2005

That mainstream media just doesn't treat these poor guys very well.

A sad state of affairs. Which group you may ask? ;)

Leipheimer grabs Dauphiné lead as Botero takes TT - Armstrong third, Landis fourth

VeloNews

Stage 3 Results
1. Santiago Botero (Col), Phonak, 1:00:06.55
2. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, 0:01
3. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, 0:26
4. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, 0:39
5. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile, 01:00
6. Oscar Pereiro (Sp), Phonak, 01:09
7. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, 01:11
8. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Fassa Bortolo, 01:14
9. Ivan Gutierrez (Sp), Illes Balears, 01:16
10. Sebastian Lang (G), Gerolsteiner, 01:19
11. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Credit Agricole, 02:02

Overall Standings
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, 11:11:20
2. Santiago Botero (Col), Phonak, 0:12
3. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, 0:30
4. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, 0:42
5. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, 1:09
6. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile, 1:12
7. Oscar Pereiro (Sp), Phonak, 1:14
8. Ivan Gutierrez (Sp), Illes Balears, 1:27
9. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Fassa Bortolo, 1:36
10. Sebastian Lang (G), Gerolsteiner, 1:43

The NHL and its players' association have agreed on a formula for a salary-cap system based on team-by-team revenue, league and player sources have told The (Toronto) Globe and Mail.

The salary-cap issue was seen as the biggest hurdle in talks for a new collective bargaining agreement.

A salary floor and cap will be based on a percentage of each team's revenue, the sources said, and in the first year, based on revenue projections by both sides, the cap will range from $34 million to $36 million, with the floor from $22 million to $24 million.

Union spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon called the newspaper's report premature.

"The NHLPA and NHL discussions this week continue to cover a range of issues such as controls on team salaries, revenue sharing, Olympic participation, the amateur player draft and player-retention rights," Weatherdon said. "While the parties continue to have discussions to reach a common ground, no agreements have been reached."

The newspaper also reported that the formula calls for a dollar-for-dollar luxury tax to kick in at the halfway mark between the floor and the cap. If the floor of the lowest team is $22 million and the cap on the highest team is $36 million, then the "tax level" will be $29 million.

The dollar amounts are reflected in U.S. currency.

The formula would allow wealthier teams to spend a bit more money but also would bridge the large gaps in spending between higher-payroll teams and lower-payroll teams.

Small-group labor talks between both sides ended late Tuesday and were to resume Wednesday in New York with a larger group meeting.

Both sides have carried over the momentum from last week, when 34 hours of talks were described by both sides as "progressive."

There are several issues to iron out, but sources in both camps told the paper there is a chance a deal could be done before July. Still, both sides also concede there are potential pitfalls that could prevent an agreement from being reached.

The session Wednesday was the 21st meeting between the two sides since mid-February, when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman canceled the 2004-05 season.

Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of the Tampa Bay Lightning winning its first Stanley Cup, with a 2-1 victory in Game 7 against the Calgary Flames.

News Wire / Rocky Mountain News

Leipheimer holds Dauphiné lead as Vino' wins atop Ventoux

Lance Armstrong, meanwhile, came up short in his bid to win atop Mont Ventoux in what will be his last shot at cycling's most famous mountain. The six-time Tour champion struggled on the lower flanks, but rebounded nicely to lead a four-man group up the final approaches.

Leipheimer, meanwhile, found some help in the form of Armstrong, Landis and Kashechkin. The Texan took over in the final kilometers, leading the group up the painful final turns to the finish line, revealing his form is coming along just in time for the Tour.

Armstrong shot away in the final meters, taking some time out of Leipheimer, but it wasn't enough to take away the jersey.

"I found some help with Floyd and Lance, but the last 500 meters were very hard. Lance was setting a hard pace and my legs just buckled," Leipheimer said.

VeloNews

Stage results
1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile
2. Gomez Marchante (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 0:06
3. Wim Van Huffel (B), Davitamon-Lotto, at 0:16
4. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, at 0:37
5. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, at 0:41
6. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Credit Agricole, at 0:43
7. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, at 0:46
8. Inigo Landaluze (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:31
9. Nicolas Fritsch (F), Saunier Duval, at 1:36
10. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, at 1:45

Overall
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner
2. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, 0:21
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile, 0:26
4. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, 0:47
5. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Credit Agricole, 2:00
6. Santiago Botero (Col), Phonak, 2:25
7. Jose Gomez Marchante (Sp), Saunier Duval, 2:53
8. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Fassa Bortolo, 3:07
9. Oscar Pereiro (Sp), Phonak, 3:16
10. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, 3:45

Here are a couple articles passed on to me by an un-named source. (He has conspiracy issues such as the "White Vans Everywhere".)

The first one is by Brent Scowcroft. It was written prior to the current war in Iraq and deals with the false reasons the Bush Administration used to go to war. Mr. Scowcroft, national security adviser under President Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush, is founder and president of the Forum for International Policy. After voicing his views in a published article he was ostracized by the administration and others in Washington.

Don't Attack Saddam: It would undermine our antiterror efforts.

The second article is by Thomas D. Schauf and is about the Federal Reserve Bank. Mr. Schauf, worked up this report, to clear up questions he had received about the Federal Reserve Bank (FED). The resulting, shocking and revealing conclusions make for a very interesting read.

The Federal Reserve is Privately Owned

© Stuart Carlson -- 06/09/2005

Ah yes, Dubba at work checking on global warming for us. Makes me feel so much better.

Botero wins mountain stage as Landaluze clings to lead in Dauphiné

VeloNews

Stage Results
1. Santiago Botero (Col), Phonak, 4:30:54 :00
2. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, at 0:23
3. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), Illes Balears, at 0:53
4. Christophe Moreau (F), Crédit Agricole, at 0:58
5. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Fassa Bortolo, at 2:27
6. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile, at 2:50
7. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, at 2:52
8. David Arroyo (Sp), Illes Balears, same time
9. Jose Gomez Marchante (Sp), Saunier Duval, s.t.
10. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, s.t.

Overall
1. Inigo Landaluze (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 25:16:26
2. Santiago Botero (Col), Phonak, at 0:59
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, at 1:26
4. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, at 1:47
5. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile, at 1:50
6. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, at 2:42
7. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, at 3:23
8. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Fassa Bortolo, at 3:58
9. Christophe Moreau (F), Crédit Agricole, at 4:01
10. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Crédit Agricole, at 4:17

******

Stage 5 Results
1 MERCKX Axel 151 DVL (BEL) :00
2 LANDALUZE Inigo 183 EUS (ESP) 2:15
3 NOVAL Benjamin 6 DSC (ESP) 5:45
4 MAZZOLENI Eddy 166 LAM (ITA) ST
5 BOSSONI Paolo 122 FAS (ITA) 6:15
6 CHAVANEL Sylvain 111 COF (FRA) ST
7 CASERO Rafael 172 SDV (ESP) ST
8 AERTS Mario 152 DVL (BEL) 6:17
9 MOUREY Francis 47 FDJ (FRA) 6:18
10 HUSHOVD Thor 23 C.A (NOR) 7:32

Overall
1 LANDALUZE Inigo 183 EUS (ESP) 20:41:15 :00
2 MERCKX Axel 151 DVL (BEL) 20:43:47 2:32
3 LEIPHEIMER Levi 71 GST (USA) 20:44:06 2:51
4 ARMSTRONG Lance 1 DSC (USA) 20:44:27 3:12
5 VINOKOUROV Alexandre 11 TMO (KAZ) 20:44:32 3:17
6 LANDIS Floyd 57 PHO (USA) 20:44:53 3:38
7 KASHECHKIN Andrey 25 C.A (KAZ) 20:46:06 4:51
8 BOTERO Santiago 51 PHO (COL) 20:46:31 5:16
9 GOMEZ MARCHANTE Jose 174 SDV (ESP) 20:46:59 5:44
10 BRUSEGHIN Marzio 123 FAS (ITA) 20:47:13 5:58

Spent a lot of time today getting the blog and archives valid with HTML 4.01 Transitional and CSS through W3C. After many an hour I was finally able to and now on the the rest of the web site!

© Tony Auth - 06/12/2005

© Tom Toles - 06.12.2005

George Hincapie put an emphatic exclamation point on what's been a fete americaine during this year's Dauphiné Libéré, winning Sunday's exciting finale after a dramatic two-man breakaway with Discovery Channel teammate and protege Yaroslav Popovych.

Basque bomber Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) hung on during the fast-paced 128km seventh stage to claim the 57th Dauphiné crown by a slender margin of 11 seconds to Santiago Botero (Phonak) while Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) finished third overall at 38 seconds back for his first major podium since his breakthrough at the 2001 Vuelta a Espana.

Six-time Tour king Lance Armstrong was third in the stage to make it a sweep for Discovery Channel, earning them the team classification and a huge boost of morale with less a month to go to the Tour de France.

VeloNews

Stage 7 Results
1. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, 3:07:10
2. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr), Discovery Channel
3. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, 0:22
4. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile
5. Santiago Botero (Col), Phonak
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner
7. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, 0:24
8. Wim Van Huffel (B), Davitamon-Lotto
9. Jose Gomez Marchante (Sp), Saunier Duval, 0:45
10. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), Illes Balears, 0:59

Overall Results
1. Inigo Landaluze (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 28:24:46
2. Santiago Botero (Col), Phonak, 0:11
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, 0:38
4. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, 0:59
5. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile, 1:02
6. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, 1:56
7. Jose Gomez Marchante (Sp), Saunier Duval, 3:54
8. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Fassa Bortolo, 3:58
9. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Credit Agricole, 5:04
10. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), Illes Balears, 6:20

******

In other cycling news, Jan Ullrich wins the second stage, a time trial, in the Tour of Switzerland

© Jeff Danziger - 06/13/2005

If you went back in time and met your teenage parents, you could not split them up and prevent your birth - even if you wanted to, a new quantum model has stated.

BBC

Reporters Without Borders said it was disgusted to find that Microsoft was censoring the Chinese version of its blog tool, MSN spaces, the system automatically rejecting words including "democracy" and "Dalai Lama".

"Following Yahoo !, here is a second American Internet giant giving way to the Chinese authorities and agreeing to self-censorship", the worldwide press freedom organisation said.

"The lack of ethics on the part of these companies is extremely worrying. Their management frequently justifies collaboration with Chinese censorship by saying that all they are doing is obeying local legislation.

"Does that mean that if the authorities asked Microsoft to provide information about Chinese cyberdissidents using its services that it would agree to do so, on the basis that it is "legal" ? Reporters Without Borders wondered.

Reporters Without Borders

A competition for the blogs defending freedom of expression

Freedom Blog Awards

At Exxon Mobil Corp.'s laboratories here, there isn't a solar panel or windmill in sight. About the closest Exxon's scientists get to "renewable" energy is perfecting an oil that Exxon could sell to companies operating wind turbines.

Oil giants such as BP PLC and Royal Dutch/Shell Group are trumpeting a better-safe-than-sorry approach to global warming. They accept a growing scientific consensus that fossil fuels are a main contributor to the problem and endorse the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which caps emissions from developed nations that have ratified it. BP and Shell also have begun to invest in alternatives to fossil fuels.

Not Exxon. Openly and unapologetically, the world's No. 1 oil company disputes the notion that fossil fuels are the main cause of global warming. Along with the Bush administration, Exxon opposes the Kyoto accord and the very idea of capping global-warming emissions. Congress is debating an energy bill that may be amended to include a cap, but the administration and Exxon say the costs would be huge and the benefits uncertain. Exxon also contributes money to think tanks and other groups that agree with its stance.

More

**********

© Mike Luckovich - 06/17/2005

© Ann Telnaes - 06/17/2005

Former Bush Aide Who Edited Reports Is Hired by Exxon

© Jack Higgins - 06/17/2005

Cable and DSL providers battle cities that want to offer access to residents.

When tiny north Kansas City, Missouri, announced that it planned to offer affordable high-speed Internet access much the way it does other public services, local attorney Brian Hall was ecstatic. Though Hall could get DSL service from SBC Communications, he says that he found the service unreliable, supplying lower speeds than he expected. But then goliath Time Warner Cable asked a Missouri federal court to block the city's efforts.

Time Warner's initial case was dismissed, but the company appealed the ruling and vows to stop North Kansas City from offering services it plans to provide residential customers later this year.

PC World

© Tom Toles - 06/20/2005

Why do those who stand to gain the least from virtually every policy of George W. Bush, support him the most?

© Tom Tomorrow - 06/15/2005

Discovery Pro Cycling Team has announced the team that will support Lance Armstrong for his final Tour de France.

Supporting Lance are:
George Hincapie, America - has ridden with Lance on all six of his tour victories
Jose Luis Rubiera, Spain - four tours with Lance
Manuel Beltran, Spain - two tours with Lance
Benjamin Noval, Spain - one tour with Lance
Pavel Padrnos,Czech Republic - three tours with Lance
Jose Azevedo, Portugal - one tour with Lance
Paolo Savoldelli, Italy - Giro d'Italia champion
Yaroslav Popovych, Ukraine - Tour of Catalunya champion

Lance:
"I think we have fielded our strongest team ever with this formation."
"It has many consistent elements from years past, like the Spanish armada for the climbs, strong guys like George, Pavel and Benjamin, the Giro winner in Savoldelli plus a guy like Popo (Popovych) with a very bright future."
"I look forward to leading this team and attempting to give the great folks at Discovery a yellow jersey. I'm more motivated than ever."
"I will miss Eki dearly this time around, but I plan on riding the race with all the toughness he has shown over the years,"

Johan Bruyneel, Team Manager and with Lance on all six tour victories:
"I wanted an experienced team for Lance's last Tour and that was the determining factor."
"I want him to be surrounded by guys who have always been around him. It's a team with just two new riders with the rest returning from last year. All are ready or are getting ready."
"It wasn't difficult to choose. The group that rode at the Dauphine Libere (Azevedo, Beltran, Hincapie, Noval, Popovych and Rubiera) showed me they are at a good level while Paolo and Pavel did a great job in the Giro. Paolo was never in doubt [to ride the Tour], especially when he won the Giro, and [he] is such a great rider. Pavel did a very good job in the Giro riding for Paolo and is very strong. For me, it was an easy selection."
"On paper, it's a super team. But of course, we are missing [Viatcheslav] Ekimov. He would definitely be on the team if he was healthy."

© Glenn McCoy - 06/24/2005

© Tom Toles - 06/26/2005

© Ben Sargent - 06/24/2005

© Tony Auth - 06/27/2005

© Ben Sargent - 06/29/2005