Roger Kipling's Poem; "IF"

Rodger Kimpling's poem: "IF"




"If"

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too:

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;

If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same:.

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings,

And never breathe a word about your loss:

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!

"If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much:

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling

Thanks to Marc Grammes for posting this wonderful poem to FaceBook.

And so it goes...

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Armstrong charged with doping by USADA

Armstrong charged with doping by USADA
By: Cycling NewsPublished: June 13, 21:14,

Seven-time Tour de France winner banned from competitions

Lance Armstrong has been formally charged with doping by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) according to the Washington Post. The seven-time Tour de France winner has been banned from competition effective immediately, including triathlons which he has been racing since he retired from pro road cycling in 2011.

The Washington Post reported on a copy of a 15-page letter sent to Lance Armstrong by USADA on Tuesday. In it, the agency alleged that some of Armstrong's blood samples from 2009 and 2010 were "fully consistent with blood manipulation including EPO use and/or blood transfusions."

Armstrong has never tested positive in any doping tests.

The news comes after the US federal government ended an investigation into doping allegations abruptly in February. The nearly two-year grand jury investigation was closed with no charges brought. The Food and Drug Adminstration's Jeff Novitzky had headed the investigation. Armstrong had welcomed the end of federal investigation earlier this year.

The Washington Post reported that Armstrong's attorney Robert D. Luskin called USADA's latest allegations a product of "malice and spite" on behalf of USADA, which for years has been seeking information on whether Armstrong doped. He pointed to all of Armstrong's passed drug tests and said the letter was a result of a conspiracy against Armstrong since several teams and riders are mentioned, but his client is the only one charged.

USADA has been conducting its own investigation separate from that done by the federal government. USADA has the authority to suspend dopers from competition in Olympic sports and it can take back awards, but it cannot press criminal charges.

The letter accuses not only Armstrong, but also five associates, including three doctors and team manager Johan Bruyneel. It says that they "engaged in a massive doping conspiracy from 1998-2011" and cites the testimony of more than 10 cyclists. Michele Ferrari is one of the named doctors.

In its letter, USADA says Armstrong used EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone, corticosteroids and masking agents as well as distributed them and administered them to others.

Luskin reported that USADA had invited Armstrong to meet last week, but Armstrong chose not to do so.

USADA had previously said it would obtain information from the US Attorney's federal investigation once its case had closed. "Unlike the U.S. Attorney, USADA’s job is to protect clean sport rather than enforce specific criminal laws," Tygart had said in a statement.

Armstrong responds

On his website on Wednesday, Armstrong issued a statement in response to the USADA letter and allegations.

"I have been notified that USADA, an organization largely funded by taxpayer dollars but governed only by self-written rules, intends to again dredge up discredited allegations dating back more than 16 years to prevent me from competing as a triathlete and try and strip me of the seven Tour de France victories I earned. These are the very same charges and the same witnesses that the Justice Department chose not to pursue after a two-year investigation. These charges are baseless, motivated by spite and advanced through testimony bought and paid for by promises of anonymity and immunity. Although USADA alleges a wide-ranging conspiracy extended over more than 16 years, I am the only athlete it has chosen to charge. USADA's malice, its methods, its star-chamber practices, and its decision to punish first and adjudicate later all are at odds with our ideals of fairness and fair play.

"I have never doped, and, unlike many of my accusers, I have competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one. That USADA ignores this fundamental distinction and charges me instead of the admitted dopers says far more about USADA, its lack of fairness and this vendetta than it does about my guilt or innocence."

For additional information or related items, go to:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/armstrong-charged-with-doping-by-usada

And So It Goes!

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Happy Birthday Ali

Hope this Birthday is Special in every imaginal way!


Click the link below:





http://everette-carr.blogspot.com/

Alaric Jeremy Francis Gayfer

Alaric Jeremy Francis Gayfer

August 20, 1956 __ June 8, 2004

A Tribute to Alarice Gayfer on the 8th anniversary of His Passing

British national champion Alaric Gayfer will be sorely missed
BLOCKUS

June 12, 2004By Gary Blockus Of The Morning Call

Losing a friend, a father, a husband, and a child are the darkest moments of our time on Earth, and last week, the Lehigh Valley bicycling community lost such an icon.Alaric Gayfer, a seven-time British national track cycling champion, lost his race against brain cancer.

"Up until sometime this winter, Alaric was still riding the Derby," racer and coach Gil Hatton said prior to last night's racing at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome. The Derby is a 30-mile training ride.

Alaric Gayfer, 1956-2004
By J. Alain Ferry

The cycling community has lost one if its heroes; Alaric Gayfer died June 8. Alaric was diagnosed with a grade IV brain tumor (glioblastoma, the worst kind) in October 2002.

Alaric was a very close friend; I will miss him dearly. He gave us all so many wonderful memories that will keep him close in spirit and thought forever. My sympathies go out to Alaric's wife Colleen and their daughter Brianna.

There will be a memorial service for Alaric at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome on Saturday, June 12 at 5:00pm.

Born in London, England, August 20, 1956, Alaric Gayfer was a seven-time British National Track Cycling Champion. He was head coach of the Air Products Developmental Cycling Program for 10 years at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome and director sportif of Future Champions Cycling Club, Trexlertown. He was also director sportif of East Coast Velo Cycling Club, Trexlertown, since its inception and a master mechanic for Mavic at the 1996 Summer Olympics, Atlanta, Ga.

It has been eight years today (June 8, 2012) since we lost Alaric. The loss is still felt strongly by those in the cycling community and all those that knew him. Alaric, Rest In Peace. You are not forgotten!

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Jimbo2317 Flys in "Yankee Lady"

A young friend of mine, Jimbo2317, from Northampton, Pennsylvania went to the Reading Regional Airport on June 6, 2012, for the adventure of a lifetime.

Jimbo was one of a number of WWII enthusiast that paid big bucks to fly in a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress. The B-17 Flying Fortress was known as the "Yankee Lady". And what an adventure it was! Click on the link below to join Jimbo on his flight of a Lifetime. Oh, by the way, this is not the first time that Jim has flown on a WWII B-17.

Jimbo is an interesting young man with a passion for history. His interest are varied and admirable. His is a railroad buff, a photographer, a video photographer and film Editor. If it has to do with history, Jimbo is knee deep into it. It is rare to find someone of a young age that is so passionate about history and his other varied interest.

Hope you enjoy the flight withe Jimbo!

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