tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291967792024-03-12T21:20:33.775-05:00PappillonPappillon: a Blog founded by Joe Papp, an Irish-American with a Hungarian last name and two Czech Grandparents, offers a unique & engaging perspective on professional cycling and sports doping; international affairs, history, current events and whatever topics are of interest to these Times.JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.comBlogger893125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-66531540379891736562023-03-17T20:26:00.001-05:002023-03-17T20:26:20.497-05:00Marie Barbara (Danek) Papp | 1942–2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoac9kqB-7eWepofGskOxwpxlvUCeEHbTdmIgsuNp4G_d9cOAcEUkUwz9zBib_1WDlP79JCZsIN2pqQ7LuRasvivlNoE9Gcw6B9fOJEKVZJXBHmHvUfa35Ce0B8CprReCFeLWmQqTEcPVCx95GtQMtYohlSvpXQYFIdPHuzyl-q-c37oWTg/s4032/IMG_5620_Original.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoac9kqB-7eWepofGskOxwpxlvUCeEHbTdmIgsuNp4G_d9cOAcEUkUwz9zBib_1WDlP79JCZsIN2pqQ7LuRasvivlNoE9Gcw6B9fOJEKVZJXBHmHvUfa35Ce0B8CprReCFeLWmQqTEcPVCx95GtQMtYohlSvpXQYFIdPHuzyl-q-c37oWTg/w149-h200/IMG_5620_Original.HEIC" width="149" /></a></div><br />My lovely, dear, sweet mom, Marie, died yesterday morning. 💔 <div><br /></div><div>Arrangements via Paul Henney in Bethel Park: <a href="">https://www.henneyfuneralhome.com/obituary/Marie-Papp</a>.</div>JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-45315580855462251742020-12-11T18:38:00.005-05:002020-12-11T18:38:39.140-05:00Don’t just deny Texas’ original action. Decimate it. - Tom Goldstein, SCOTUSblogFrom Tom Goldstein, publisher of SCOTUSblog: <div><br /></div><div>"...A simple five-page per curiam opinion genuinely could end up in the pantheon of all-time most significant rulings in American history. Every once in a long while, the court needs to invest some of its accumulated capital in issuing judgments that are not only legally right but also respond to imminent, tangible threats to the nation. That is particularly appropriate when, as here, the court finds itself being used as a tool to actively undermine faith in our democratic institutions — including by the members of the court’s bar on whom the justices depend to act much more responsibly..." <div><br /></div><div>-Tom Goldstein, Editorial: Don’t just deny Texas’ original action. Decimate it., SCOTUSblog (Dec. 11, 2020, 2:06 PM), <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/2020/12/opinion-dont-just-deny-texas-original-action-decimate-it/">https://www.scotusblog.com/2020/12/opinion-dont-just-deny-texas-original-action-decimate-it/</a></div></div>JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-70221430129795804462020-12-07T15:26:00.001-05:002020-12-07T15:26:21.748-05:00Open Letter to PA Rep. Natalie Mihalek re. 2020 General Election<p>December 7, 2020<br /><br /><br /><br />Honorable Natalie Mihalek<br />3515 Washington Rd, Ste 540<br />McMurray, PA 15317</p><p>Dear Representative Mihalek:</p><p>As a long-time Republican and a constituent who voted for you in November, I write to express my profound disappointment in your co-signing a letter with other members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly urging our Congressional delegation to block the awarding of Pennsylvania’s Electoral College votes [Roebuck, Jeremy (4 December 2020). "After Trump team calls them 'cowards' and 'traitors,' state GOP leaders urge Congress to reject Pa. election results". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Elizabeth H. Hughes. Retrieved 7 December 2020.)],[http://www.pahousegopnews.com/AttachedFiles/12.04.20%20Congress%20Election%202020.pdf].</p><p>I am an elections officer in Bethel Park, serving a 4-year term as Judge of Elections in Ward 6,District 3. Your claim that our elections officials conducted themselves in such a manner as to undermine “the lawful certification of Pennsylvania’s delegation to the Electoral College” is personally offensive, and flat-out wrong. Furthermore, encouraging Congress to reject the will of the people and instead pursue a radical and legally murky scheme to - presumably - appoint Trump electors in contravention of the popular vote is deranged. It’s a shameful attack on our democracy. Why are you involved in this?</p><p>Please remove your name and signature from page 7 of the December 4th letter to Pennsylvania’s Congressional Delegation, and publicly affirm that Pennsylvania had a fair and secure election. </p><p>Sincerely yours,<br /><br /><br /><br />Joseph Papp<br />5887 Keystone Drive<br />Bethel Park, PA 15102-3359</p>JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-72989605495534925482018-01-31T12:20:00.000-05:002018-01-31T12:20:46.033-05:00Disappearing Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio)<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BelTup6B9Pu/" data-instgrm-version="8" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BelTup6B9Pu/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Everything was going just fine until the Chickadees and Nuthatches showed up. . . . . . #easternscreechowl #screechowl #scaredycat #whitebreastednuthatch #elite_owls #elite_raptors #pacollective</a></div>
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A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tladner/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" target="_blank"> Todd Ladner</a> (@tladner) on <time datetime="2018-01-30T18:02:49+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 30, 2018 at 10:02am PST</time></div>
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<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-83852076571087200622018-01-05T15:02:00.000-05:002018-01-05T15:02:56.028-05:00National Bird Day - Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdlJDQohn9P/" data-instgrm-version="8" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdlJDQohn9P/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">It's #NationalBirdDay, and I'm utterly captivated by this Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) - a truly regal #bird. It's the largest of North American #hawks — with a unique gray head, rich, rusty (ferruginous) shoulders and legs, and gleaming white underparts 💛💛💛 #raptors #birdsofprey #birdsofinstagram #wildlifephotography #NatureIsBeautiful #nature #wildlife @parks4all #FEHA #GGRO @nationalparkservice @goldengatenps</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joepabike/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Joe Papp</a> (@joepabike) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2018-01-05T19:57:40+00:00">Jan 5, 2018 at 11:57am PST</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-19795482690150773132017-06-06T14:17:00.000-05:002017-06-06T14:30:39.412-05:00Freedom of Speech in the Digital Age<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Knight Institute demands that President Trump unblock critics on Twitter. <a href="https://t.co/AyftwQBzJF">https://t.co/AyftwQBzJF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump">@realDonaldTrump</a> <a href="https://t.co/Gqas7i2DfN">pic.twitter.com/Gqas7i2DfN</a></p>— Knight 1st Amendment (@knightcolumbia) <a href="https://twitter.com/knightcolumbia/status/872158684079632387">June 6, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Knight Institute’s letter to President Trump is <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3859469-White-House-Twitter-Letter-FINAL.html">here</a>.
JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-68187456526380719502017-06-06T14:10:00.000-05:002017-06-06T14:27:19.539-05:00POTUS<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
a <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS">@POTUS</a> so mentally weak & intolerant of dissent he blocks US citizens critical of his policies from even reading his latest pronouncements <a href="https://t.co/MjLuMUPqBD">pic.twitter.com/MjLuMUPqBD</a></div>
— Joe Papp (@joepabike) <a href="https://twitter.com/joepabike/status/871401352043393024">June 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-9267604757525253892017-05-01T22:51:00.000-05:002017-05-01T22:51:21.919-05:00#PaidProtesterChallenge @realDonaldTrump<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/TruthOnly37">@TruthOnly37</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jbat413">@jbat413</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/joepabike">@joepabike</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump">@realDonaldTrump</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GOP">@GOP</a> Check out the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PaidProtesterChallenge?src=hash">#PaidProtesterChallenge</a>. I posted it weeks ago and nobody has claimed the reward $$ yet (it's my pinned tweet)</p>— (((Amanda Pompili))) (@amanda_pompili) <a href="https://twitter.com/amanda_pompili/status/858707177317519360">April 30, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-46345170872233101982016-04-30T22:18:00.003-05:002016-04-30T22:18:53.058-05:00Epic Day of Birding in SoWePa, 61+ species and rarities, plus two 4-leaf clovers, plus new friends...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2uukx91xtJI/VyV0YMmiROI/AAAAAAAAM1k/SWRyu-NqZI4cLfVNgEFvrsVQQJQJl0cXwCLcB/s1600/indigo-bunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2uukx91xtJI/VyV0YMmiROI/AAAAAAAAM1k/SWRyu-NqZI4cLfVNgEFvrsVQQJQJl0cXwCLcB/s200/indigo-bunting.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I birded today at the Wingfield Pines Conservation Area in the company of Matthew Juskowich and James Hausman III - more experienced local birders and guides. We got a crackin' start to the day, and I'll write some more about it later perhaps, but suffice it to say it was Properly Epic. We saw more than 60 species of birds throughout the wetlands and spent hours there making observations and sharing the info and encouragement with other birders who'd followed news of our successes. It was pretty cool.<br />
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Definitely want to write some more about this, and will leave you a pic of the Indigo Bunting, one of the magical birds we saw...JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-52829929801422862922015-05-23T17:38:00.000-05:002015-05-23T17:39:55.359-05:00U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is OK<b>W</b>hile the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency isn't immune from constructive criticism, they've been doing things right (Big & Small) for the athletes whose commitment to clean sport they're charged with verifying.
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<br />
The redesign of the Athlete Express website has made it fantastically easy and convenient to update Whereabouts now from multiple platforms. My last plan change took about 17sec to complete. This is pretty Big, since inclusion in an out-of-competition testing pool means accepting unpredictable intrusions into what "normal" people might consider to be pretty sacred private space. So being able to efficiently manage your role in the process makes it easier and less dramatic for all involved.
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And apart from the actual monitoring & testing regimes...just last week I got an out-of-the-blue call from a USADA investigator - not looking for intel or assistance, but just to say hi and ask how I was. And then Chester (Bob) found this gem in the post today. It's a nice reminder that USADA is staffed by actual human beings like Athlete Services Coordinator Kirk W., who'll take the time to send you a hand-signed birthday greeting. Little things like these encourage one to see the relationship as collaborative, and not adversarial or unpleasant.
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I know this isn't every athlete's experience with their NADO, but it's been consistently mine and I appreciate it enough to want to let you know.JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-10043005432646630252015-02-25T16:54:00.000-05:002015-02-25T16:54:10.205-05:00Greg LeMond swoops into Paris ahead of peloton on Avenue des Champs-ÉlyséesRare moment of pro cycling chivalry, back in the day...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jehDDnodFFI/VO5EZlSTm4I/AAAAAAAAJ4g/55Q8Va1DEEw/s1600/lemond%2B1991%2BTour%2Bfinal%2Bstage%2BParis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jehDDnodFFI/VO5EZlSTm4I/AAAAAAAAJ4g/55Q8Va1DEEw/s1600/lemond%2B1991%2BTour%2Bfinal%2Bstage%2BParis.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></a></div>
<br />JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-57981427984081478822013-12-21T04:52:00.000-05:002013-12-21T04:52:03.258-05:00Scuba cat<b>scu·ba cat</b> <i>(skoo-buh kat)</i><br />
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<b>n.</b>
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1. A cat that enjoys being in water.
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2. A sopping-wet pussy.
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3. Term of endearment.<br />
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<b>interj.</b>
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1. Cry of warning to persons in a swimming pool who are in danger of being struck by airborne cat.
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Origin(s): late-2000s, a scuba-diving calico featured on <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/zoology/mammals/scuba-cat.htm">an episode of</a> Discovery Channel's "How Stuff Works" show, with <a href="http://shows.howstuffworks.com/7605-howstuffworks-scuba-cat-commercial-video.htm">its own commercial</a>.
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<b>Examples:</b>
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<ul>
<li><i>"Chester hates getting wet! ... Yeah, he's no scuba cat."</i></li>
<li><i>"Miss u Scuba Cat! Sending u lotsa luv & kitty kisses! home by 8PM! xoxo"</i> (via text)</li>
<li><i>"Heads-up! ... Scuba cat!!" </i>(throws cat into pool)</li>
</ul>
JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-15489497368560452752012-07-23T17:57:00.000-05:002012-07-25T22:05:24.766-05:00LOST CAT<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">LOST CAT </span></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ac0yA3jjW2g/UA3W2vHKwII/AAAAAAAAIso/UOwA9FdQbzk/s1600/Cookie%2BLost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ac0yA3jjW2g/UA3W2vHKwII/AAAAAAAAIso/UOwA9FdQbzk/s400/Cookie%2BLost.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dark <span style="color: #783f04;">BROWN</span> Tabby </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mystical Y<span style="color: #f1c232;">E</span>L<span style="color: #f1c232;">L</span>O<span style="color: #f1c232;">W</span> Eyes</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">On </span><b style="background-color: white;">Friday July 20th</b><span style="background-color: white;"> our kitty “Cookie” – a medium-sized female indoor cat – escaped from our house at 5887 Keystone Drive and disappeared. Please help us find her! </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">She is approximately 1-year old with a soft, medium-to-long fur coat that is very dark brown (with light brown stomach and neck and some tiger-striping). She has striking yellow eyes and tufts of extra-long fur in her ears and her on paws. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Cookie is extremely timid and has both front and rear sets of claws. Her tail is bushy. </span><span style="background-color: white;">If you think you’ve seen our cat, please contact us at any time. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Use the contact form:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.josephpapp.com/index.php/contact">http://www.josephpapp.com/index.php/contact</a> or </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://goo.gl/0c9tR">http://goo.gl/0c9tR</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(short-URL)</span></span></div>JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-36347506467864777632012-07-21T16:28:00.000-05:002012-07-21T16:31:12.876-05:002012 Tour de France stage 18 Dog Daze(d)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SLx4eKpHY-k/UAse4x5p8qI/AAAAAAAAIr4/sj3G7Qn1Sgc/s1600/Gilbert%2BDog%2BProblem%2Bquotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SLx4eKpHY-k/UAse4x5p8qI/AAAAAAAAIr4/sj3G7Qn1Sgc/s400/Gilbert%2BDog%2BProblem%2Bquotes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-24530896205116178012012-07-09T14:50:00.004-05:002012-07-09T14:50:48.014-05:00"Runners" and Dangerous Spectators during the Tour de France<b><span style="font-size: large;">I</span></b>'m still rabidly anti-runner, especially when they're running alongside the riders on climbs that have crowd barriers on at least one of the two sides, and the majority of the fans remain respectfully and demurely behind the barrier(s), save for the moronical runner(s) who decide that the mountains of the Tour are really their stage - and not the riders' - for them to display their impressive skillz.
Good though to see some riders fighting back at least, whacking the fools or (I imagine) in the case of the Italians at least, shouting "Vaffanculo!" And respect to Bauke Mollema, whose suave yet declarative response to a non-boorish female runner on stage 7 was ideal for the situation. While she definitely targeted the Rabobank rider, I'd classify her as a non-boor runner, as she was enthusiastic and seemingly positive, But, rider's rules, and as soon as she began to trot alongside #153, he gave her "The Hand" and she stopped dead in her tracks. Should be the model for future rider-runner interactions that don't require the closed-fist. Diagram below.
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--eMM5a3ES1I/T_s0z_jVvFI/AAAAAAAAIrU/jrxIhlXyU7c/s1600/BaukeM%2Bthe%2Bhand%2Brunner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--eMM5a3ES1I/T_s0z_jVvFI/AAAAAAAAIrU/jrxIhlXyU7c/s400/BaukeM%2Bthe%2Bhand%2Brunner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
(original image here: <a href="http://twitpic.com/a5h9dp">http://twitpic.com/a5h9dp</a>)
<br />
<br />
The scenario begins evolving around 9:50, here:
<a href="http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/t...illes/1457547/">http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/t...illes/1457547/</a><br />
<br />
I hold to my original contention, that it's better to drive motorcycles into/over all the obnoxious runners rather than permit these few (possibly) drunk, boorish fans to ruin the reputation of those who would run elegantly and respectfully alongside their heroes (or villains), w/o invading their personal space or screaming unintelligibly into the riders' ears.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-daw0mnlQF2I/T_s05twOo0I/AAAAAAAAIrg/I_YtzK_bTI4/s1600/runners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-daw0mnlQF2I/T_s05twOo0I/AAAAAAAAIrg/I_YtzK_bTI4/s400/runners.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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(original image here: <a href="http://twitpic.com/a5gis3/full">http://twitpic.com/a5gis3/full</a>)<br />
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Here's an example of how to properly spectate in the mountains:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://www.grassyknolltv.com/2012/tour-de-france/photos/stage-08/250-RTR34QLM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.grassyknolltv.com/2012/tour-de-france/photos/stage-08/250-RTR34QLM.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">(No comment on the stationary (??) and senile old man on the left side of the road today who allegedly had a hand - or foot - in bringing down Sammy Sanchez and ruining his Tour and his Olympic title defense...)</span><br />
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<a href="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/br5sIoku4DOtoOsk4JoqjA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MzYwO2NyPTE7Y3c9NjQwO2R4PTA7ZHk9MDtmaT11bGNyb3A7aD0zNTU7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_GB/Sports/Eurosport/860849-14565754-640-360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/br5sIoku4DOtoOsk4JoqjA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MzYwO2NyPTE7Y3c9NjQwO2R4PTA7ZHk9MDtmaT11bGNyb3A7aD0zNTU7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_GB/Sports/Eurosport/860849-14565754-640-360.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
<br />
See old guy in chair w/ a Basque upon him: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a575kuPAIHU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a575kuPAIHU</a><br />
<br />
Quoting Cyclingnews:
"The crash took place in the 60th kilometre of racing on stage eight on a short uphill section, and initial reports say it was apparently caused by a elderly male spectator sitting at a table too far out in the road. Team-mate Jorge Azanza - who was mainly responsible for protecting Sánchez in the pack - tried to avoid the spectator, who was moving out of the way at speed, but instead ended up colliding with him, with Valverde slamming into Azanza and Sánchez crashing into the two Spaniards, and somersaulting into the tarmac. Valverde was able to continue, but Sánchez injuries were too serious for the 34-year-old to follow suit, and he abandoned in tears."JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-55107517715041228432011-09-10T12:59:00.000-05:002011-09-10T12:59:15.503-05:00Website Update!<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">O</span></b>nce again using the old blog to update you on the new website - which disappeared from the Internet this week. Apparently the registrar decided unilaterally to delete or deactivate the domain. Hopefully it's sorted by the time you read this, and we can update you on France via the new site!<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, we're still trying to convince the Poles to transfer www.joepapp.com back to our control, or at least stop holding the URL - and all joepapp.com email - hostage. Unbelievable that this has been going on for a year!<br />
<br />
As for Joe, he's hanging in there and is trying to make the best of a tough situation.JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-21064905243828993062011-07-21T23:55:00.000-05:002011-07-21T22:55:50.587-05:00"The Leaf on the Water"<span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span>he wind tears a leaf from the willow tree;<br />
it falls lightly upon the water,<br />
and the waves carry it away.<br />
<br />
Time has gradually effaced a memory from my heart,<br />
and I watch the willow leaf drifting away on the waves;<br />
since I have forgotten her<br />
whom I loved,<br />
I dream the day through in sadness,<br />
lying at the water's edge.<br />
<br />
But the willow leaf floated back<br />
under the tree,<br />
and it seemed to me<br />
that the memory could never be effaced<br />
from my heart.<br />
<br />
-Ouan-TsiUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-20962396898819772622011-07-04T13:13:00.002-05:002011-07-04T13:25:21.807-05:00Ale-Jet Leads out Gilbert in stage 3 of 2011 Tour de France<object width="420" height="245" id="msnbc7b1b6c" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0"><param name="movie" value="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/33399756" /><param name="FlashVars" value="launch=43631832^22502^37817&width=420&height=245" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed name="msnbc7b1b6c" src="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/33399756" width="420" height="245" FlashVars="launch=43631832^22502^37817&width=420&height=245" allowscriptaccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 420px;"><a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24471749" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">Breaking sports news video</a>. <a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/3032825" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">MLB</a>, <a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/3032875" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">NFL</a>, <a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/3032847" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">NBA</a>, <a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/3032803" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">NHL highlights</a> and <a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24471749" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">more</a>.</p>JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-78081154862038600072011-06-30T10:26:00.000-05:002011-06-30T10:26:41.647-05:00Popcorn<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">N</span></b>ever tasted so good!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hUOcTkP3sqg/TgyVWZ7CPYI/AAAAAAAAISg/un01AjmZk9c/s1600/SavedPicture%2B%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hUOcTkP3sqg/TgyVWZ7CPYI/AAAAAAAAISg/un01AjmZk9c/s400/SavedPicture%2B%252813%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-18473373068040450292011-02-10T18:32:00.000-05:002011-02-10T18:32:02.343-05:00New Pappillon Website with Integrated Blog is Live<span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span>o repeat a post from Decemeber, while we have enjoyed our time with Blogger, this version of Pappillon <strike>seems to be going the way of our WordPress site, and</strike> <strike>will be</strike> has been wistfully integrated into a completely new <strike>www.joepapp.com</strike> <a href="http://wwww.josephpapp.com/">wwww.josephpapp.com</a>. <strike>The bugs are still being worked out of</strike> The new site's content, <strike>which is incomplete at present,</strike> is more complete, and we will <a href="http://www.josephpapp.com/index.php/blog">continue blogging there</a> - so <strike>but</strike> check <i>there</i> for new blog posts before you click back <i>here</i>. Time will tell to what degree the integrated-blog serves the needs of you, the readers. Stay tuned - but not here!JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-83019183385296848972010-12-05T18:33:00.000-05:002010-12-05T18:33:08.559-05:00New Website ONLINE NOW<span style="font-size: large;"><b>W</b></span>hile we have enjoyed our time with Blogger, this version of Pappillon seems to be going the way of our <a href="http://joepappillon.wordpress.com/">WordPress site</a>, and will be integrated into a completely new <a href="http://www.joepapp.com/">www.joepapp.com</a>. The bugs are still being worked out of the new site's content, which is incomplete at present, but check <a href="http://www.josephpapp.com/index.php/blog">there for new blog posts</a> before you click back here. Time will tell to what degree the integrated-blog serves the needs of you, the readers. Stay tuned - but not here.JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-73065929009306769282010-11-21T23:33:00.000-05:002010-11-21T23:33:47.751-05:00UPDATE: Pappillon<span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span>he lack of new postings as of late stems from complications in the process of integrating this blog into a redesigned www.joepapp.com website. The new site itself is more or less complete (needing only the final content in some areas), but currently we are unable to associate the correct URL with it. Negotiations are underway to resolve this issue at the earliest possible moment, but until then, we don't expect to invest further resources in updating this version of the Pappillon blog.<br />
<br />
Thanks, though, for all of your interest and support. Cycling remains the most beautiful sport in the world. Ride on!JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-84931651347098616042010-10-26T18:06:00.002-05:002010-10-26T18:07:18.489-05:00The Tea Party movement: deluded and inspired by billionaires<span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span>he Tea Party movement is remarkable in two respects. It is one of the biggest exercises in false consciousness the world has seen – and the biggest Astroturf operation in history. These accomplishments are closely related.<br />
<br />
An Astroturf campaign is a fake grassroots movement: it purports to be a spontaneous uprising of concerned citizens, but in reality it is founded and funded by elite interests. Some Astroturf campaigns have no grassroots component at all. Others catalyse and direct real mobilisations. The Tea Party belongs in the second category. It is mostly composed of passionate, well-meaning people who think they are fighting elite power, unaware that they have been organised by the very interests they believe they are confronting. We now have powerful evidence that the movement was established and has been guided with the help of money from billionaires and big business.<br />
<br />
Much of this money, as well as much of the strategy and staffing, were provided by two brothers who run what they call <a href="http://www.portfolio.com/executives/features/2008/10/15/Profile-of-Billionaire-David-Koch/index3.html" title="">"the biggest company you've never heard of"</a>.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><b>Read <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/oct/25/tea-party-koch-brothers">More...</a></b></div>JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-74428735931215373902010-10-26T11:27:00.001-05:002010-10-26T11:34:52.343-05:00Wikileaks<span style="font-size: large;"><b>R</b></span>egarding Wikileaks - I find it curiously-revealing that one side of the debate is focused on denouncing the distasteful actions (or lack thereof, in the case of protecting detainees from torture at the hands of their Iraqi jailers) chronicled in the reports, whereas the "other side" is desperately denouncing the act of releasing the information itself.<br />
<br />
I learned from the Armenian Shark that you can't 'unring' the bell - so might it not be more effective in a democratic and free-thinking society to ensure to the best of our abilities that, in the future, either the kind of damaging information revealed by Wikileaks isn't recorded so it can't be leaked in the first place (ignorance is bliss), or, more realistically, that our policy makers institute directives that compel the best possible behavior from our government representatives abroad, and that we actually hold ourselves accountable for following those directives and conducting ourselves according to the highest standards of enlightened liberalism? I mean, it's downright embarrassing to see former State Dept. advisers whining that Julian Assange should be declared an "enemy combatant." Apparently it's lost on them that this kind of extra-judicial, imperial hubris is what got us into this mess in the first place. Just compare:<br />
<br />
<i>"The government views the allegations very seriously,"</i> - Danish Prime Minister <a href="http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1594219.php/Denmark-to-probe-role-in-handover-of-prisoners-to-Iraq">Lars Lokke Rasmussen</a><br />
<br />
vs. <br />
<br />
<i>"Here are some of the things the U.S. could do: Explore opportunities for the president to designate WikiLeaks and its officers as enemy combatants, paving the way for non-judicial actions against them."</i> - <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/10/25/christian-whiton-wiki-leaks-ignore-threat-obama-democrats-congress-iraq-war/">Christian Whiton</a><br />
<br />
Seriously?<br />
<br />
The USA does not need an Official Secrets Act. Our government just needs to do the best it can, at home and abroad, to implement policies that are in the long-term national interest, which don't jeopardize our international standing and the legitimacy we supposedly enjoy as a bastion of democracy, unique in the world thanks to our American exceptionalism.<br />
<br />
As <a href="http://walt.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/10/25/is_wikileaks_a_good_thing_or_not">Stephen M. Walt</a> writes in the respected journal <i>Foreign Affairs</i>: "Realist that I am, I believe that human beings are more likely to misbehave if they think they can shield what they are doing from public view. For that reason, I also believe that democratic societies are more likely to adopt better policies when information is plentiful and when government officials cannot determine which facts are available to the public and which are not. <b>Because its primary function is to make more information available on issues that concern us all, I therefore conclude that what Wikileaks is doing is on balance a good thing.</b>"JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196779.post-22629273370452683012010-10-26T10:32:00.000-05:002010-10-26T10:32:55.543-05:00To Mr. Tomaso Zirbel<span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span>omaso, I believe you know more or less how I've come to feel about your case, but, after reading <a href="http://tomzirbel.blogspot.com/2010/10/justice.html">your recent commentary</a>, one thing I want to emphasize for <i>our </i>readers - who might not have as sophisticated an understanding as you do of the two cases you cite - it's really CONI that appears to be capable of dubious action (in the <a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/10/news/danilo-di-luca-cleared-to-return-to-competition-in-2011_146391">case of Di Luca</a>) whereas USADA continues to toe a consistently-hard line (and it sounds like <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/brian_cazeneuve/10/20/olympic.notebook/">Merritt won't be able to defend</a> his Olympic titles - though I don't agree that the IOC holds any <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=5716127">"moral high ground"</a> - they're as corrupt as they come). And I doubt that USADA, had it been party to Di Luca's case, would ever have consented to such a radical reduction in his suspension - when the rider himself goes to great lengths to point out that his cooperation was completely devoid of any significant assistance in identifying other riders using doping products to unfairly earn hundreds of thousands of euros per year.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">“I gave <u>no names</u>,” said Di Luca. “I did it for (the good of) cycling, not to point the finger at any cyclists."</span> <br />
<br />
No doubt that your cycling career was destroyed at its zenith by a case of inadvertent ingestion of DHEA, and you are paying the price in the form of a full two year ban (how many tens of thousands of dollars would it have cost you to post-up the experts and legal guidance necessary to prove your innocence and obtain a reduction in your ban? $150,000? A quarter of a million dollars? That works out to more per month in legal and scientific expert fees than most guys earn in two years in the US domestic peloton).<br />
<br />
But I don't think that USADA is the villain here - they seem to be reasonably consistent in applying what seems more and more to be unfair penalties against those who've accidentally ingested "banned" products like DHEA. (It also bears mentioning that DHEA doesn't work, as you well know, and there IS a radical difference b/w what one can infer about an athlete's motivation when he's been "caught" w/ DHEA vs. EPO - apples and oranges...)<br />
<br />
It seems to be the Italian anti-doping system that which is, at least on the surface, unreasonably lenient in allowing an admitted doper like Di Luca to escape the full sanction despite not providing truly significant assistance in the form of fingering his colleagues in the peloton (spitting in the proverbial soup, he'd call it).<br />
<br />
Were he holder of a US license, I suspect Di Luca would be sitting out more than two years, whereas if you were Italian, perhaps a case would never have been brought against Tomaso Zirbel.<br />
<br />
No one is perfect, and certainly no agency is above reproach in the fight against doping in sport. But for the most part, USADA seems to me to try to apply consistent sanctions to ensure that there is some measure of fairness - even if that fairness takes the form of still-significant sanctions for all athletes (or most athletes) convicted of inadvertent doping violations...<br />
<br />
Keep your chin up and keep trying to stay productive during your sanction, invest that $$$ that you saved by declining to arbitrate your case and come back for a few more years once you're cleared. There's no reason to think you'll have lost the class that took you almost as far as a medal in the elite World ITT. I know it en vogue to be jaded and cynical once you've been banned, but it's crazy to think that even two years away from the sport will succeed in erasing a love of cycling from your DNA.<br />
<br />
Good luck!JMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346798683078093966noreply@blogger.com3