Today’s blogging is dedicated to Richard Starkey, M.B.E., who turns 70 today. Yesterday I read an interview with Ringo in the New York Times, where he expressed his birthday wish that we should all

put your fingers up and say, “Peace and love.”

at noon today. The one thing I’m not clear about is whether he meant noon local time or noon in New York, where Ringo is. Just to be on the safe side I’m planning on doing both, which means 9:00 and noon, Oakland time. And maybe every three hours thereafter; it couldn’t hurt, could it?

One note: If you choose to participate, be sure to say “love” in the Liverpudlian style, where it sounds more like “loov.”

Meanwhile, in my haste yesterday I left out all the important details about Stage 3. Thor Hushovd was the winner of this stage, 213 km from Wanze in Belgium to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut in France, and Fabian Cancellara did indeed reclaim the yellow jersey by virtue of being the highest-placed rider in the first group to finish. The seven stretches of cobblestones did indeed split the peloton into many pieces, costing Lance Armstrong almost a minute against Alberto Contador and taking Frank Schleck out of the Tour altogether. The big winners were Cadel Evans and Andy Schleck, who moved up to 3rd and 6th, respectively.

And…hey, it’s time!