Friday, July 10, 2009

Tour de France 2009-Stage 6

Thor Hushovd

Stage 6 winner

(born January 18, 1978 in Grimstad) is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer, riding for Cervélo TestTeam. Hushovd is known for sprinting and time trialing. He is a former Norwegian time trial champion. He is the first Norwegian to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France.

Before turning professional in 1998, Hushovd won the under-23 time trial world championship and the under-23 versions of Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Tours.

Hushovd was Norwegian time trial champion in 2004 and 2005 and road race champion in 2004. In 2006, Hushovd won seven UCI ProTour races and two stages of the Tour de France. Hushovd won the prologue in Strasbourg and wore the maillot jaune after the first day despite a cut arm. He continued with stitches and regained the maillot jaune after stage 2 with a third place finish. As the Tour started with Hushovd, it ended with his winning the last stage, beating Robbie McEwen in a sprint. In the 2006 Vuelta a España he won stage 6, wore the golden jersey for three stages and won the points classification.

At the 2008 Tour de France, Hushovd won stage two in a bunched sprint finish.

In 2009, Hushovd rides for the Cervélo TestTeam. He took one of the team's first victories of the season by winning Stage 3 of the Tour of California.

2009 Tour de France General Classification After Stage 6: 1. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank in 19:29:22
2. Lance Armstrong Astana in 19:29:22
3. Alberto Contador Astana in 19:29:41 at 00:19
4. Andréas KlÖden Astana in 19:29:45 at 00:23
5. Levi Leipheimer Astana in 19:29:53 at 00:31
6. Bradley Wiggins Garmin – Slipstream in 19:30:00 at 00:38
7. Tony Martin Team Columbia – Htc in 19:30:14 at 00:52
8. Christian Vande Velde Garmin – Slipstream in 19:30:38 at 01:16
9. Gustav Larsson Team Saxo Bank in 19:30:44 at 01:22
10. Maxime Monfort Team Columbia – Htc in 19:30:51 at 01:29

Johny Castle Provocative Reflection

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Tour de France 2009-Stage 5

Thomas Voeckler

Stage 5 winner

(born June 22, 1979 in Schiltigheim, France) has been a professional road bicycle racer since 2001. He rides for Bbox Bouygues Telecom, formerly known as Bouygues Télécom Brioches la Boulangère and Bonjour. He comes from the Alsace region but later moved to Martinique, where he was nicknamed "petit blanc" due to his small stature and pale complexion. He is considered by many to be France's sweetheart (le chouchou) because of his young looks and his habit of sticking out his tongue in races.

In 2003, Voeckler captured two stages and the overall title in the Tour de Luxembourg.

In 2004 suddenly came to international prominence in the world of cycling. After seizing the French championship, the lightly regarded Voeckler entered the 2004 Tour de France. After escaping with five other riders during the fifth stage, Voeckler gained significant time against the peloton, and earned the maillot jaune. Remarkably, he defended his jersey for ten days, even on stages not well suited to his strengths. With the maillot jaune on his shoulders, and intense media attention all around him, Voeckler only rode stronger. He survived the dreaded Pyreneean climbs, seconds ahead of the eventual winner, Lance Armstrong. Voeckler finally surrendered the jersey to Armstrong on stage 15 in the French Alps. Voeckler then also lost the white jersey (le maillot blanc, held by the best rider under 25) to Vladimir Karpets. But by then Voeckler was already a national hero.

The 2005 season was busy as Voeckler rode many races, including some not considered a fit for his style of riding. His only win 05 came in stage 3 of the Four Days of Dunkirk.

In 2006 he won a fifth stage in Vuelta al País Vasco. At the Dauphiné Libéré, Voeckler finished second on Stage 1. He also won the 2006 Paris-Bourges. In 2007 garnered a stunning win at the Grand-Prix de Plouay Ouest-France, in which he beat the favorites with a late breakaway. For 2008, Voeckler's early season was highlighted with an overall win at the Circuit de la Sarthe. In 2009, he gained his first stage win in a Tour de France. Voeckler went for victory with about 5km to go, having been part of a breakaway group for most of the race.

Stage 5 Overall Standings
Rank Dossard Name Country Team Time Gap
1 033 Fabian CANCELLARA SUI SAX 15h07'49'' 00''
2 022 Lance ARMSTRONG USA AST 15h07'49'' 00''
3 021 Alberto CONTADOR ESP AST 15h08'08'' 19''
4 023 Andréas KLÖDEN GER AST 15h08'12'' 23''
5 024 Levi LEIPHEIMER USA AST 15h08'20'' 31''

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Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Lance Armstrong is back in action!

Here are the Tour de France standing after Stage 4, which took place on July 7:

Rank No. Name Nation Team Time Time Behind Leader

1 033 CANCELLARA, Fabian SUI SAX 10:38:07 00:00:00

2 022 ARMSTRONG, Lance USA AST 10:38:07 00:00:00
3 021 CONTADOR, Alberto ESP AST 10:38:26 00:00:19
4 023 KLÖDEN, Andréas GER AST 10:38:30 00:00:23
5 024 LEIPHEIMER, Levi USA AST 10:38:38 00:00:31

What celebrities are pitchers and which ones are catchers?

pwfm Stud & Strength

People Who Have Lost Weight May Still Experience "Phantom Fat"

Reaching your goal weight makes most people feel great, but according to MSNBC, some people have a hard time shedding their “fat” self-image. Take Kelly Lynn Hicks. She’s gone from a size 24 to a tiny size 4 - but she still worries she won’t fit into chairs. When she goes shopping, she’s afraid she’s so wide that she’ll bump into a shelf and break something. That happened a few years ago when she was overweight. She accidentally knocked over and broke a figurine and had to pay $60 for it. Every morning when she looks in the mirror, she sees her former, heavier self. According to Hicks, her brain says, “Yep, still fat.”

Joshua Hrabosky is a psychologist at Rhode Island Hospital who counsels obese people undergoing bariatric surgery. He refers to this phenomenon as “phantom fat.” It’s like the concept of a phantom limb, in which people who’ve lost an arm or leg feel like it’s still there - even causing them pain or itching. People who were formerly overweight often carry an internal “fat” image with them after they lose weight. They literally feel as if they’re still in a large body. There are several reasons some people experience “phantom fat.”

For some, their brain hasn’t “caught up” with the new, leaner body. This is usually the case for people who were obese for many years and then experienced rapid weight loss. Another contributing factor - especially for yo-yo dieters - is the fear of regaining the weight. Some people don’t allow themselves to get used to their new, slimmer size, because they worry it won’t last. Hrabosky says people who undergo major weight loss are more preoccupied with appearance than someone who was never overweight. Some people adjust naturally and quickly to the weight loss, but for others – it takes time. So if you’ve recently lost weight and you still feel fat, don’t be surprised - it’s normal. However, if you experience significant distress, sadness or depression – that’s when it’s time to call your doctor and get help.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

pwfm Men & Cars

what to do when your battery dies

The most common way to deal with a dead battery is by jump-starting it. All you need to jump-start a car is a set of jumper cables and another car (the "rescue" car) with a functional battery. Keep in mind that you should never try to jump-start a car if its battery is cracked and is visibly leaking acid. Jump-starting a car involves a number of steps: Step 1: Park the "rescue" car and the car with the dead battery nose-to-nose, or side-by-side facing the same direction. Connect one end of the positive cables to the positive terminal on the "rescue" car's battery, and the other end to the positive terminal on the dead battery. (Note that the positive cable is usually red; the negative cable is black.) Step 2: Connect one end of the negative cable to the negative terminal on the "rescue" car's battery, and the other end to a non-moving, grounded part of the dead car's engine bay -- we recommend the engine manifold, as it is generally unpainted and a good location for the clamp. Step 3: Start the "rescue" car and allow it to run for a few minutes (5 minutes or so); doing so will allow its battery to recharge the dead battery. Step 4: With the rescue car running, attempt to start the car with the dead battery; if the car doesn't start, repeat step 3. If the car with the dead battery starts, allow its engine to run for at least five full minutes so that the alternator can recharge the battery. Disconnect the jumper cables from both cars in the reverse order in which you connected them. Make sure that you don't let any of the cables' extremities touch, as it may create a spark. Massively important safety note: Never connect both negative and positive cables at the same time while you are holding them. Unless you'd like the entire voltage of the car coursing through your body, don't do it. Also, refrain from touching the negative and positive knobs with your hands/fingers/extremities. We know it's tempting, but you don't want to be an auto kebab.

Provocative Tough Guy

Monday, July 06, 2009

pwfm Men & Money

The Need to Save Money Is Motivating More People to Haggle

We’ve talked before about how the economic downturn has revived our “inner haggler.” Basically, the need to save money these days has motivated more people to try negotiating a lower price - everywhere they go. According to Consumer Reports, new evidence shows that all this haggling is actually working! In fact, a new survey found that 90% of people who’ve tried to get a better deal in recent months actually got one. We’re not just talking about people buying big-ticket items – like cars, furniture or high-end electronics. More people are discovering they can haggle for less obvious things – like appliances, medical bills, or even their cable bill. In fact, experts say it’s a good idea for everyone to re-evaluate their basic monthly services – including credit cards, utilities, cable and cell phone plans. There’s a pretty good chance you can find a new service, or a more competitive rate, that wasn’t available when you first signed up. So call each company and say something like this: “I’m a good customer, and I see that you’re offering a better cell phone plan than I have. What can you do for me?” In most cases, operators are now authorized to offer you a lower rate, or free incentives, to help keep you as a customer.

Unfortunately, many people feel uncomfortable or self-conscious about trying to negotiate a better deal. They convince themselves that they’re somehow not good enough to haggle – or they don’t deserve a price break. These days most businesses expect you to haggle, and those who do try it often save hundreds of dollars. The key is to do a little research before you buy. Check prices online, so you’ll recognize a good deal when you see it. That’ll give you something to start bargaining with. If a salesperson won’t budge on the price, try haggling for other things – like free installation, or a longer warranty.

Still, the bottom line to haggling is simple: If you don’t at least ask, then you’re never going to get a bargain.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Tour de France 2009

Tour de France Stage 2 Winner

Mark Cavendish

(born in Douglas, Isle of Man, 21 May 1985 ) is a Manx and British racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam Team Columbia-HTC. Originally a track cyclist in the madison, points race, and scratch race, he has also competed on the road since 2006. He is a double Madison World Champion and Commonwealth Games gold medalist on the track. As a road cyclist, he has risen to prominence as a sprinter. He achieved eleven wins in his first professional season, equalling the record held by Alessandro Petacchi. In the 2008 Tour de France he won four stages, an unprecedented achievement for a British cyclist and he has since been described as the fastest sprinter in the world. He continued his wins in 2009 by taking the Spring classic, Milan-Sanremo. Cavendish started racing informally at 12, as a mountain-bike rider. He lives in Manchester and Tuscany, Italy.

General Classification standings after Stage 2:

1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Team Saxo Bank, 4:49:34

2. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana, 4:49:52

3. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Garmin-Slipstream, 4:49:53

4. Andreas Kloden (GER) Astana, 4:49:56

5. Cadel Evans (AUS) Silence-Lotto, 4:49:57

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