Monthly Archives: December 2014

Holiday Horse Parade, Then Tiling

This entry was posted in Just Life on by .

I’m nearly becoming more of a tiler than a cyclist.  At least it seems that way.  I sort of like tiling, but not enough to want to do it constantly, like for a job.  I like it because it takes a bit of intellect and there is always a small quirkie problem that needs to be addressed.  Plus, you can see your progress easily.

I don’t like it because of the time you end up spending on your knees.  Even with really great knee pads, my knees are mad at me.  I am going to to today off.  12 hours yesterday was enough.

Before tiling, there was a Holiday Horse Parade in downtown Lawrence.  I think this was the 22nd year for it.  That is a pretty long run.  Anyway, it is a really great time.

It wasn’t a great day for a parade, kind of cold and damp, but that didn’t seem to keep people away.  Mass St. was jammed.  I’m not sure how many different horses and wagons they had, but it was just enough.  It lasted about 45 minutes and everyone had a great time.

It is still damp, but it is supposed to be in the mid 40’s, so I’m going to try to do the “winter rule” and get in a little over 2 hours.

These little horses seemed too small to be pulling this big man and wagon. It is a really nice wagon.

These little horses seemed too small to be pulling this big man and wagon. It is a really nice wagon.

I liked these guys a lot.

I liked these guys a lot.

 

Miss Rodeo Queen.

Miss Rodeo Queen.

Little horse with a bigger girl.

Little horse with a bigger girl.

Final carriage had Santa on it.

Final carriage had Santa on it.

 

Bromont wasn't all that interested in the horses. He is more into birds and little small critters.

Bromont wasn’t all that interested in the horses. He is more into birds and little small critters.

 

Start of the shower.

Start of the shower.

I finished nearly all of it last night.

I finished nearly all of it last night.

Let’s Just be Done with Astana

This entry was posted in Comments about Cycling on by .

The Gazetta dello Sport, an Italian sporting newspaper, reported today that Dr. Michele Ferrari was present at Astana’s first training camp for the 2014 season.  They cited information for the Padova inquiry that there are pictures of Michele and Astana riders outside their team hotel.  Remember, Dr. Ferrari is banned from all cycling, on a global basis, so hanging out with the Astana riders is a serious no-no.

Astana has declined to comment on the Gazzetta article.   Oh, really.

Let’s just get rid of these guys.  It is such a joke that they are still riding around.  Alexandre Vinokourov used Dr. Ferrari when he was busted for blood doping when he was a rider.  5 of their guys have tested positive this season.  It all seems like such a farce.

Anyone with a brain should be able to realize that if cycling is serious at all about trying to rid itself from drug use, it can’t just keep turning a blind eye to consistent and non-remorseful dopers.  And that is what Astana is all about.

Vinokorov has already said he won’t testify at the UCI commission for doping.  Even Lance has talked to them, and he doesn’t run a Pro Tour team, like Vino.

The only guy that I’ve seen that publicly supports Astana is Katusha’s team manager Viatcheslav Ekimov.   He doesn’t think it is right to suspend the license of Astana for a few riders doping on their own.  I don’t really give a shit what Eki thinks.   Eki’s team, Katusha, was denied a UCI license by the UCI for doping positives in 2012, but that was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

You remember Ekimov, the guy that rode in support of Lance forever, has the gold medal from the Athen’s Olympics, since Tyler gave it back.  I bet he feels pretty great about winning those Olympics.   I wonder if Eki and Vino get together, over a glass of vodka, and congratulate each other on their Olympic  victories?

On Wednesday, supposedly, the UCI is going to announce whether Astana gets a license to race this year.  Hopefully they have brains, then their decision will easy.   But, money talks and the whole system is polluted, so don’t hold your breath on them making the right, and easy, decision.

 

I've never been a fan of Vino. Who goes and gets a jersey made with their own head sublimated on it? Nice comeback statement.

I’ve never been a fan of Vino. Who goes and gets a jersey made with their own head sublimated on it? Nice comeback statement.