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As stated above, the final stage is a celebratory jaunt into the edge of Paris, and then becomes a positioning scrum in the multiple laps that go around the Arc de Triumph to get the sprinters’ teams in their spots, then the sprinters go for it in the final straightaway. If someone has a mechanical problem in that last lap, they are screwed.

Damn, Tadej! Two mountain stages in a row. He’s going to win three jerseys in Paris for the second year in a row, too. Dan Martin’s last minute sprint was also impressive. I remember several years ago when he went from the far-lagging peleton to the front group while in the middle of a two-peak ascent, and this reminded me a bit of that move.

Speaking of American stage winners, I was surprised to see Armstrong’s name in the list. I am guessing that when they stripped him of his titles, they didn’t also strip the stage wins? I am happy that they’ve not brought him in for Zoom commentary so far this race. I was not pleased to see him on my tv last year. The podcast American Scandal had several episodes on him last month, and he is even more of an entitled asshole than I thought!

Congrats to Cav! It looked like it took a lot out of him—I hope he makes the cut tomorrow. That first crash into the deep ditch was scary. Sad to see Simon Yates have to end his race. Even with the broken record and everything, I think my favorite part of the broadcast was the short feature on Lachlan Morton of Education EDF riding an Alt Tour on his own for charity.

Those two crashes were nasty, but I loved seeing Alaphilippe just take off, leaving everyone in his dust. It is so great to see Le Tour return in its usual June/July time slot! I am looking forward to seeing the fields of sunflowers and lavender. I’ve been working on my family genealogy this past year, and I just found one branch last night that started in France! My 10th great-grandfather was a French Huguenot from outside of Lille who boarded the ship the Gilded Otter in Amsterdam in 1660 (for a four month journey!) and ended up in the Catskills near Woodstock, NY. (Weird thing is

Paul Ritter, who played Dyatlov, just died at age 54 from a brain tumor.

I recently subscribed to American Scandal, another Wondery production. They just finished their latest scandal, Bernie Madoff, and announced the next will be McCarthy. I like the range of topics, from the Unabomber to the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. They even have a single episode on the Comiskey Park Disco Demolition fiasco, which as a Chicagoan of a certain age, I really loved listening to! They usually cover the topic over five to eight episodes, with the final one being an in-depth interview with an expert on the topic.

Sherwin-Williams had a report on the dangers of lead in paint in 1904, so it was definitely known in the industry. In the book The Poisoner’s Handbook (highly recommended!), there’s a chapter on the origins of leaded gasoline and the controversy since it was introduced to reduce engine knock. In the early 1920s, the creator of leaded gasoline did a demonstration for the press over how very safe it was, even dipping his hands in the gas. He ended up on extended medical leave from the gas company to recover from the exposure, but they still managed to get its use okayed for decades. The New

I just looked up the show at PBS Access, and they have all seven episodes available! The question is, “To binge or not to binge?”

Even Tristan showed veterinary competence when he was the one who figured out the lead poisoning as soon as he saw the board, but left James to take credit for the diagnosis.

This was my favorite episode so far! Feckless Tristan, wonderfully supportive Mrs. Hall, little touches of Helen/James, Hugh sticking up for Siegfried until he hears about his own horse, competent James who suffers over the darker aspects of his profession, and Seigfried with that backstory anecdote about WWI and then fully backing James after the autopsy. I teared up with James both after he put down the horse and then after he was validated. Oh, and Sexy Siegfried’s sexiness doubled once he put on that bowler! I normally don’t find those attractive (they usually bring to mind Monty Pyt

Excellent second episode! Even though I’m listening to the audiobook, I still thought that they had done a rewrite and had Tristan pass his exams, he was so believable. I really like his bonding with James over their issues with Seigfried. “What the Devil happened to my car?! Tristan!! HERRIOT!!!” Heh. Also liked how Tristan knew that James had passed his exams first time around—yes, he might make mistakes, but James is a smart guy. In the book, he does go into how transitional veterinary medicine was in the 1930s. James’s mum mentions in the first episode that the motor vehicle has gotte

I just downloaded the audiobook for the first Herriot book and started listening tonight. Seigfried is definitely different in the book, but he is a ladies man, so Sexy Seigfried works for me. The book begins with the calf’s delivery, but is complicated by the addition of a doubting Yorkshire uncle of the cow’s owner adding dire predictions since James isn’t as experienced as the Yorkshireman’s hometown vet. I haven’t reread the books in nearly 40 years, so this should be a treat.

According to this, UK vets couldn’t use “Doctor” until 2015. https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/news/uk-veterinary-surgeons-to-use-courtesy-doctor-title/

Just finished watching, and it was everything I was hoping it would be! I loved the books when I read them as a kid in the ‘70s, and I have fond memories of that original adaptation. When I saw the trailer for this version, I thought it looked charming, and it really was. The performances overall were very good indeed, especially James and Mrs. Hall. Both the scenery and the animals look wonderful.