Craig Sawyers

We, the Brits with the USA, did precisely that to Dresden in February 1945. 1000 bombers in 5 waves. Lancasters and Flying Fortresses. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/apocalypse-dresden-february-1945 The total dead is only an estimate because so many civilians were burnt to ash in the resulting firestorms. We achieved that carnage in a mere 2 days. History does not speak kindly to this, and similar raids on civilian centres in WWII.

Hammond nearly killed himself twice. First time in a jet propelled dragster at 320mph when a tyre blew in 2006. Suffered brain damage from which he has mainly recovered. And much more recently Freddie Flintoff as part of the new Top Gear team, flipped the trike he was driving as part of the show at around 130mph in December 2022 and suffered life changing facial injuries. Still has flashbacks and nightmares. Top Gear production has been suspended, and may never be rebooted. https://www.lancs.live/news/celebs-tv/paddy-mcguinness-six-word-response-29780242 https://www.lancs.live/news/celebs-tv/freddie-flintoff-shares-harrowing-images-29734993?int_source=nba

In the UK we have stringent laws regarding firearms, the only non-controlled firearms are those obtained illegally. The number of firearms covered by a government certificate is currently 615,627, and the number of shotguns 1,340,452. These have to be in a controlled, locked and regularly audited cabinet of defined construction. Although nothing prevents someone with a firearm certificate going nuts and going on a rampage. Fortunately very rare. Legislation was tightened after the Dunblane massacre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunblane_massacre . The only other two were the Hungerford Massacre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungerford_massacre , and the Cumbria Shootings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumbria_shootings . Mercifully that is the sum total of nutters with guns going on a shooting rampage. But there are no restrictions regarding knives. Even a kitchen knife is a lethal weapon. And knives are the weapon of choice in gang warfare, and many teenagers, usually from deprived areas go tooled up with knives when they go out at night (or even to school).

RIP the three young children knifed to death in Southport UK. Many others injured. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy68z9dw9e7o A 17 year old is in custody.

Happy birthday Antonio!

When I was your age I trained for a long distance hill run called the Bob Graham Round in the English Lake district. 63 miles with the height of Everest in it. 42 peaks, a lot on bouldery broken ground. You have to complete it in less than 24 hours. If I was not climbing at 160bpm plus on an ascent I wasn't working hard enough. Now if I get to 160bpm in the gym, at 68, I think I'm going to die. Age is not your friend as you pile on the years. Mind you at 61 I did the Yorkshire 3 peaks. Biggest hills in Yorkshire - a marathon distance but with 6,500 feet of ascent. I trained hard for that, and did 7h15m.

That, Nate, is impressive. Average speed of nearly 18mph on a hilly course with power a hair under 200W - even when I was a few decades younger and regularly weekend cycling I couldn't have got close to that.

That must be the worst 1m50s I've had the misfortune to see. Who watches this junk?

Then there is the subculture of extreme ironing

Yes - Pogacar's amazing bike handling avoiding the barrier at 30mph alas had the knock on effect that one rider braked as Pogacar suddenly appeared in front of him - and a bunch of riders ended up on the floor. And that bunny hop was astonishing. They guy unclipped one foot in the extreme avoidance, somehow kept upright, and clipped back in.

Anybody notice that Mark Cavendish yesterday won his 35th stage win in the Tour de France? Aged 39, he has finally won more stages than the legendary Eddy Merckx? Actually Merckx won his 34 stages in a combination of wins - mountain top, breakaway etc. Cav has done his 35 stage wins all in a bunch sprint. He actually threw his chain as he crossed the line, having gone from 1700W into the bike to freewheeling kind of instantly. When one stage win is a defining moment for a pro cyclist for most riders in the Tour, 35 stage wins is heroic. Everyone who he outsprinted slapped him on his back as they crossed the line in his wake - and all riders, including Tadej Pogačar in yellow almost queued up to hug him - a popular win by the whole peleton. The "Manx Missile" finally has the 35 wins monkey finally off his back.

Looks to be. Associated Press.

Years ago, my daughter sent me a birthday card with that image on it. She reckoned it was a typical stupid dad play on words joke. You are on fire with this series of posts!

In wonderful irony, the awful Anita Bryant's granddaughter in 2021 "...Sarah Green, came out publicly on an episode of Slate's One Year podcast series by announcing her pending marriage to a woman, although she was having difficulty deciding whether she should invite her grandmother to the ceremony."