mardi 31 mai 2011

Pontiac Firebird '68 burn-out

photo

Pontiac Firebird '68 burn-out

Pontiac Firebird doing a "small" burn-out

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Flickr.com

Whoa, Canada, That Was a Heckuva Game

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Do you believe in millionaires? Yes!

Sorry, Al Michaels. Despite a thrilling last-second comeback by a plucky U.S. team, there would be no dramatic repeat of Lake Placid in Vancouver on Sunday—no David high-sticking Goliath. Under the comically stressful pressure of a hockey-mad nation—and the loving gaze of Star Trek superfan William Shatner—Canada's starry and starrily compensated Olympic team topped the U.S. in sudden death overtime, 3-2, in an exhilarating men's hockey gold-medal final.

The loss ended a spectacular Cinderella fortnight for the U.S. team, which had outplayed the expectations of the hockey cognoscenti. Despite fielding a young squad of lesser-known, less-expensive—though not exactly destitute—NHL stars, the U.S. had sailed through the two-week Olympic tournament without a loss—or even falling behind in a game. It had even stunned mighty Canada—a Dream Team that makes a combined $128 million in the NHL—in an early round shocker.

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Follow Jason Gay on Twitter at twitter.com/wsjcouch

But that remarkable run ended Sunday afternoon on a balmy day in British Columbia, when Canada's wavy-haired superphenom Sidney Crosby zipped a puck past U.S. goalie Ryan Miller to give Canada the win. Mr. Crosby has lifted a Stanley Cup and will pocket nine million smackers this season from the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, but it will be a goal he scored for free—for his homeland—that he'll surely remember the most.

video  

Canadians Bid Farewell to Olympics

1:54

The Vancouver Olympics closed on Sunday with a spectacular finale of fireworks and a star-studded celebration. Video courtesy of AFP.

It was a heartbreaker for the U.S. team, especially for Mr. Miller, who'd been so valiant in net. But be happy for Canadians. They wanted this game more than Brett Favre wants to wave a Super Bowl ring at Green Bay. Hockey is a national identity here; and losing may have sent this country in an unfathomable funk. Nobody is supposed to beat Canada in hockey, just like nobody is supposed to beat the U.S. in basketball, or Kardashians.

And it felt like a deserved finale for Vancouver, which had begun these Olympic games on a grim note with the death of a Georgian luger and endured henpecky criticisms about opening-ceremony glitches and its gray, temperate weather. Much of the complaining was absurd. Nobody controls the weather—not even Tom Brokaw.

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Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Sidney Crosby and Scott Niedermayer celebrate after Crosby's winning goal.

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The gripes will be forgotten in the glow of Mr. Crosby's OT goal. The gold-medal final will be one of those games that people will lie about being at for the rest of their lives. However, we have a feeling most of Canada actually was here—along with the sui generis Mr. Shatner, who hails from a galaxy called Montreal.

We weren't among the celebrities or Maple Leaf plutocrats who plunked down as many as 4,000 loonies for a seat inside Canada's Hockey Place. We opted for the cozier—and possibly louder—surroundings of the Saskatchewan House, a fabulous white party tent, put on by that province's tourism ministry, not far from the waterside arena. It may have had wobbly tables and a no-frills green carpet, but inside was everything a discerning hockey fan needed: BBQ bison burgers, Saskatoon berry tarts, pierogies and sour cream, and plastic cups of Molson Canadian. You could also buy white wine, if you didn't mind being incarcerated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

We'd heard lots about how edgy the Great White North had been over the previous two weeks; how they panicked after the early-round loss to the U.S., how they sat on their red mittens when Slovakia narrowed a 3-0 lead to 3-2 in the medal-round semifinals. But the fans inside Saskatchewan House—or Sassy Haus, as we preferred to call it—weren't those skittish fans. They were happy, they were double-fisting Molsons and they were ready for a coronation. Word was they started lining up to enter before daylight; several told us they lustily booed the actor Vince Vaughn when he strutted past in a Team USA jersey. And they hadn't even seen "Couples Retreat."

And that Canada red? It was everywhere; it felt like a sartorial mandate from the prime minister. We wore a bland black windbreaker and got threatened with a 10-minute penalty for a fashion misconduct.

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Getty Images

U.S.'s Ryan Miller sits on the ice as his net is pushed aside.

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Inside Sassy Haus, two widescreens carried the live Canadian feed of the game. This was a cultural adjustment for us, as we are accustomed to watching our Olympic events interspersed with delightful lumberjack features, and to watching our live events on tape sometime around 9 p.m. As the slogan goes, What Happens in Vancouver Happens on NBC Four Hours Later.

But enough of those gripes. The Peacock wisely went live on Sunday, for what proved to be the marquee drama of the Olympics. We'd seen thrills from Bode, Shaun, Lindsey and Julia—and let's not forget those icy-hot Nordic combined fellows—but Vancouver's last puff from the Olympic flame was its best.

Sassy Haus raised its first celebratory toast 12:50 into the first period, when Canada's Jonathan Toews scored. The wobbly tables wobbled, and cups of Molson splashed onto the carpet. Canada's Corey Perry added a score in the second period to make it 2-0. Sassy Haus shook again. Even when the U.S. narrowed the lead to 2-1 on a goal by Ryan Kesler, these fans kept eating bison burgers, unworried. The U.S. was just doing its job—making it lively.

[medalsvsgdp_pro]

OLYMPIC VITALS: Click on the interactive to see data from Olympic countries -- from average amount of alcohol consumed to the number of McDonald's restaurants they have in their countries.

With two minutes to go in regulation, we wiggled to the front of Sassy Haus, turned the back of our head to the TV screen and pulled out a camera. We wanted to record history; we wanted to catch those ecstatic faces when Canada took hockey gold. What we saw instead was 500 jaws drop: with 25 seconds left, the U.S.'s Zach Parise knocked the puck past Canada goalie Roberto Luongo to knot the game at two and send it into a stomach-churning sudden death.

We watched a Sassy Haus official breeze by and shake his head. "Well that didn't go according to the script," he said.

For weeks, we'd been warned about what might happen if Canada didn't take gold in men's hockey. Would it spoil the country's record gold-medal haul in other Olympic sports? We briefly imagined having to hitchhike home from Vancouver, with Canadian pilots refusing to transport Americans south in a national period of mourning.

But Mr. Crosby put an end to that panic, 7:40 into OT. When the 22-year-old from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia—a Gretzky heir apparent since his age was in single digits—scored his golden goal, the Sassy House roared, just like all of the country. It made a Super Bowl sound like a Masters golf clap.

It didn't go according to the script. For Canada, these Olympics went better.
Online.wsj.com

lundi 30 mai 2011

i365 EMP lobby

photo

i365 EMP lobby

Ceiling in Seattle's EMP

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i365

iPhone

EMP

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Flickr.com

Upper, Middle and Deh-ga-ya-soh Falls

photo

Upper, Middle and Deh-ga-ya-soh Falls

We were at Letchworth State Park yesterday, where Stina ran a trail marathon. I met her at the first few checkpoints, but then went down and walked on the Finger Lakes Trail while I waited for her to finish.

We've had the second wettest spring on record (13" of rain so far) so the water is very brown and muddy. Not to mention high volume! The waterfall on the right is Deh-ga-ya-soh Falls, with the middle and upper falls visible on the main channel.

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Dam good picture

photo

Dam good picture

Gordon Dam in Tasmania, its length is 192 m (630 ft), and a height 140 m (459 ft)

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dimanche 29 mai 2011

20101107 005 Den Haag

photo

20101107 005 Den Haag

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samedi 28 mai 2011

Manchester United v Barcelona: six of their best showdowns

Manchester United v Barcelona: six of their best showdowns

Tonight’s finalists have met 10 times, each winning on three occasions, with four matches drawn. Mark Ogden looks back on some epic clashes

5:52PM BST 27 May 2011

1984 European Cup-Winners’ Cup Quarter-final

Barcelona 2 Manchester United 0

Manchester United 3 Barcelona 0
United win 3-2 on aggregate

Ron Atkinson’s FA Cup winners appeared destined for elimination following a humbling 2-0 defeat in the Nou Camp after a Graeme Hogg own-goal and

Juan Carlos Perez Rojo’s injury-time strike.

Barcelona, managed by chain-smoking Argentine World Cup-winning coach Cesar Luis Menotti, arrived at Old Trafford for the second-leg with Diego Maradona and Bernd Schuster expected to lead the Catalan giants to a routine victory. But United produced arguably their greatest Old Trafford fightback, with Bryan Robson proving the inspiration in a 3-0 win.

A Robson diving header on 22 minutes gave United hope before the England captain levelled the aggregate scores five minutes into the second half as goalkeeper Javier Urruticoechea spilled a Ray Wilkins cross. United sealed victory in the closing stages when Frank Stapleton converted a Norman Whiteside knock-down to secure a semi-final clash against Juventus.

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1991 European Cup-Winners’ Cup final (Rotterdam)

Manchester United 2 Barcelona 1

Manchester United 2 Barcelona 1

After enduring a miserable move to Barcelona from United before returning to Old Trafford in 1988, Mark Hughes buried his Nou Camp nightmare by scoring twice in Rotterdam to secure United’s second European trophy.

United, back in Europe after the lifting of the ban on English clubs following the Heysel disaster of 1985, were underdogs against Johan Cruyff’s Barca. But the absence of injured keeper Andoni Zubizarreta, replaced by the rookie Carlos Busquets, and the selection of the ageing club captain Alexanco left Barca vulnerable.

Hughes opened the scoring by bundling Steve Bruce’s header in before making it 2-0 from an acute angle moments later. Ronald Koeman’s late free-kick sparked a nervous finale for United, but Alex Ferguson’s team held on to end the club’s 23-year wait for European silverware. Lee Sharpe said: “Sparky [Hughes] was a big-game player who came up with the goods when it mattered. In that game, against those opponents, he had no fear whatsoever.”

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1994 Champions League group stage

Manchester United 2 Barcelona 2

Barcelona 4 Manchester United 0
Barcelona win 6-2 on aggregate

Lee Sharpe starred in what was an impressive 2-2 draw at Old Trafford with the Barcelona dream team of ’94. But at the Nou Camp, missing suspended Eric Cantona and with Peter Schmeichel omitted for Gary Walsh to comply with Uefa’s controversial 'foreigners’ rule, United were fatally under-strength.

United wore black and their kit matched their performance, Hristo Stoichkov and Romario tearing United apart. Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister were tormented by the pair, who led Barcelona to victory in front of 114,000. Bruce said: “Of all the great things that happened during my career, the thing that sticks out the most is that night because we got our backsides kicked big-style. Stoichkov and Romario are still etched in my memory, especially Romario, who was arguably the best player I ever faced.

“Me and Gary had a nightmare against them two, but I think Pally was even worse than me. We got tortured and that still lives with me.”

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1998 Champions League group stage

Manchester United 3 Barcelona 3

Barcelona 3 Manchester United 3

With United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich together in a Champions League 'group of death,’ any slip would prove costly. But Ferguson’s team emerged unbeaten through the group after sharing 12 goals in two games against Barca, who were eliminated.

At Old Trafford goals from Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and a David Beckham free-kick were cancelled out by a goal from Anderson and second-half penalties by Giovanni and Luis Enrique.

United travelled to the Nou Camp needing to avoid defeat in order to stay on course for the knockout stages, but made a dismal start when falling behind to Anderson’s first-minute goal. Goals from Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole gave United a 2-1 lead in the second half, but a Rivaldo equaliser made it 2-2 before another from Yorke put United in front again.

Rivaldo denied United their first wi at the Nou Camp by equalising again, but Ferguson’s team finally tasted victory in Barcelona by beating Bayern in the final to secure the Treble that season.

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2008 Champions League semi-final

Barcelona 0 Manchester United 0

Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0
United win 1-0 on aggregate

With Chelsea and Liverpool contesting an all-English semi-final in the other half of the draw, United had to overcome Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona to reach Moscow.

In an attempt to negate Barcelona’s free-flowing passing game, Ferguson deployed unusually defensive tactics in the first leg at the Nou Camp, but an early Cristiano Ronaldo penalty award gave United an opportunity to claim a crucial lead and an away goal. Ronaldo missed his spot-kick, however, and United spent the rest of the game attempting to repel Barca before holding on for a 0-0 draw.

Another nervous night ensued at Old Trafford, but Paul Scholes — suspended for the 1999 final against Bayern Munich — put United ahead with a 25-yard strike in the first-half. United could not find a second goal, however, and they were forced to endure a late bombardment with Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry going close in the final five minutes. United went on to beat Chelsea on penalties in the final.

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2009 Champions League final, Rome

Barcelona 2 Manchester United 0

United were attempting to become the first team to retain the European Cup in the Champions League era and almost made a dream start when Ji-Sung Park went close inside the opening 10 minutes.

Park’s miss proved costly, however, with Barcelona responding by scoring the opening goal through Samuel Eto’o moments later. Michael Carrick’s failure to retain possession 25 yards from goal saw Andres Iniesta slip the ball to Eto’o, who rounded Nemanja Vidic to put Barcelona ahead.

Having started so brightly, United now faced a huge task and Barcelona toyed with Ferguson’s team, keeping the ball for lengthy periods while Cristiano Ronaldo attempted in vain to haul United back into the game.

As United tired, Barcelona doubled their lead in the second half when Lionel Messi was allowed to head home at the far post. The defeat continues to rankle at Old Trafford, with Ferguson and senior players still muttering their regret at a failure to 'turn up’ in the Italian capital.

fa cup winners, carlos busquets, johan cruyff, argentine world cup, european cup winners, frank stapleton, camp nightmare, heysel disaster, diego maradona, bernd schuster, european trophy, bryan robson, old trafford, mark ogden, ray wilkins, english clubs, time strike, nou camp ebook download, club captain, mark hughes

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

vendredi 27 mai 2011

tags en bord de mer

photo

tags en bord de mer

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NewGuineaBismark5

photo

NewGuineaBismark5

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jeudi 26 mai 2011

There's a white light coming up, you draw the blinds hoping it'll pass

photo

There's a white light coming up, you draw the blinds hoping it'll pass

I kissed the bottle
I should've been kissing you
You wake up to an empty night
With tears for two

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mercredi 25 mai 2011

Heuszel Wedding 2011 638-236

photo

Heuszel Wedding 2011 638-236

© Brad Trump Photography 2011

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Navajo Bridge

<a href=photo" width="640" height="480">

navajo Bridge

Over Marble Canyon, Coconino County, Arizona.

Photo #3549

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coconino county arizona, marble canyon, navajo, photo, online

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Manchester United top 60 million in Premier League earnings

Manchester United top #60 million in Premier League earnings

Manchester United have become the first club to top the £60million mark in earnings from Premier League prize money and TV cash.

Manchester United top #60 million in Premier League earnings

Top of the pile: Wayne Rooney and Manchester United prepare for Saturday's showdown at Wembley Photo: REUTERS

By Telegraph staff and agencies 3:33PM BST 24 May 2011

Comments

United earned £60.4million as the new record overseas TV deals saw top-flight clubs bring in up to £7million more than last season.

Blackpool were the lowest earners of the Premier League but still saw £39.1million go into their coffers, while Chelsea earned £57.7m, Manchester City £55.5m and Arsenal £56.2m.

The figures released by the Premier League also show that it has the smallest difference in earnings between the champions and the bottom club in terms of ratio of any major league in Europe.

England's top club earned 1.54 times as much as the bottom in TV money - down from 1.66 last season. In Spain, where TV rights are negotiated on a club-by-club basis, Real Madrid and Barcelona earn 12.5 times more than the smallest clubs in La Liga.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: "We believe that our income distribution mechanism, the most equitable of Europe's major football leagues, rewards sporting success while also guaranteeing a significant amount to each club in order that they can plan from one season to the next.

"Many have commented on the competitive nature of this season's Barclays Premier League.

"The clubs deserve huge credit for putting on a fantastic competition. We believe the way we distribute broadcast income plays a part in allowing each club to compete at the highest level."

The Premier League distributes TV rights money based partly on performance, partly via equal shares of TV income, and partly on the number of times a club's matches are screened live on domestic television.

This season, each club received £13.8million as the equal share of domestic TV rights and £17.9million as the equal share of overseas TV rights.

On top of that, every place in the Premier League table is worth £756,000 - West Ham received that amount and Manchester United £15.1million.

Facility fees of £582,000 are paid to a club every time they play in a live TV match - with a minimum income of £5.82million even if a club has been involved in fewer than 10 live games.

The Premier League also pay out £15million each in parachute payments to previously relegated clubs Hull, Burnley, Portsmouth and Middlesbrough. The three relegated clubs this season will receive the same amount.

barclays premier league, wayne rooney, telegraph staff, city pound, domestic television, domestic tv, liga premier, tv cash, tv money, bottom club, distribution mechanism, scudamore, equal share, tv rights, real madrid, football leagues, prize money, tv deals ebook download, income distribution, earners

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

mardi 24 mai 2011

confessions.

photo

confessions.

phalangess.tumblr.com

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picnic

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Alki

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113473358tMzqUc_ph

photo

113473358tMzqUc_ph

Markets of PNG

global-citizen-01.blogspot.com

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lundi 23 mai 2011

Barack Obama to reinforce special relationship on tour of Europe

Barack Obama to reinforce special relationship on tour of Europe

President Barack Obama arrives in Dublin today on a six-day European trip crafted to stress the importance of the transatlantic alliance and the special relationship between the United States and Britain, following repeated criticism that he has undervalued his country's oldest allies.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama's visit to Ireland will be 'a bright moment' for the country Photo: AP

By Alex Spillius in Dublin 7:00AM BST 23 May 2011

Mr Obama begins his tour in Ireland, where he will visit the president and prime minister and drop in on the village where his great-great-great grandfather was born. Later in the day a tens of thousands of people in central Dublin will hear him affirm the historic links and affection between the two countries.

In London the US president will be treated to the full pomp and circumstance of a state visit, with a banquet at Buckingham Palace and an address to both house of Parliament. He then attends a G8 meeting in Deauville before making his first trip to Poland to cement his administration's links with post-Soviet central and eastern European states.

His meeting with David Cameron is likely to contain some frank exchanges of views behind the scenes on Libya. The British military wants to pursue Col Muammar Gaddafi more aggressively and is keen to make greater use of low-flying US attack aircraft. The Americans have little inclination to expand their role, given their commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq. They would like the British, the French and the rest of Nato to show stronger leadership.

Both Mr Obama and David Cameron will however be sure not to make their frustrations public. And the American leader is likely to be effusive in his praise for the special relationship and US-European ties generally, in contrast to earlier in his presidency when he placed more emphasis on courting the Islamic world, bonding with China and resetting relations with Russia.

In advance of the trip, White House officials were more effusive than ever about ties with Britain.

"The United States and the United Kingdom, of course, enjoy a special relationship," said Ben Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser to the president.

"There's no closer ally for the United States in the world than the United Kingdom. We are in absolute alignment with the British on a range of core national security interests and of course deeply share a set of values that have tied us together for many decades," he said.

Officials placed an unprecedented emphasis on the strength and depth of the bond between the US and Europe.

"This is a very important trip for the President to reaffirm our core alliances in the world, our European allies," said Mr Rhodes. "Just about everything that we're doing in the world we're collaborating closely with our European allies."

Mr Obama will discuss these themes in his speech to parliament, which analysts said was the ideal platform from which to reinforce the transatlantic alliance.

Kurt Volker, a former US ambassador to Nato, said that gradually the White House had come to value Britain's value as an ally.

"In the UK he will reaffirm that we do have a special relationship, and over time the administration has realized that's actually true," he said.

"When it comes down to actually doing things around the world and strategizing, and being clear headed and being realistic, there is a difference when you talk to the UK and when you talk to Germany and others. They have come to realize that."

Early on, he said, the administration was criticized for "making no real intellectual investment in western Europe".

"There was sometimes good rhetoric about it but no real commitment there," he said.

"This is getting balanced out. The theme of the trip will be 'we care about Europe'."

col muammar gaddafi, muammar gaddafi, pomp and circumstance, barack obama, alex spillius, central dublin, david cameron, buckingham palace, visit to ireland, bright moment, special relationship, eastern european states, soviet central, attack aircraft, european trip, american leader, british military, house of parliament, islamic world, great grandfather, ebook download

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

dimanche 22 mai 2011

Heuszel Wedding 2011 1038-405

photo

Heuszel Wedding 2011 1038-405

© Brad Trump photography 2011

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samedi 21 mai 2011

113473634gmSwrq_ph

photo

113473634gmSwrq_ph

Markets of PNG

global-citizen-01.blogspot.com

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Day 9: Arriving Honolulu by sea

photo

Day 9: Arriving Honolulu by sea

The iconic view of Waikiki and Diamond Head as the sun comes up. A clich, I know. Still something I can't pass by without taking a few pictures.

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vendredi 20 mai 2011

Tropical Beach

photo

Tropical Beach

A couple of camels crossing a tropical sandy beach in Mombasa, Kenya

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0076 Port Arthur, Tasmania

photo

0076 Port Arthur, Tasmania

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Window Rock

photo

Window Rock

Window Rock; Navajo Nation; Arizona.

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jeudi 19 mai 2011

Millipede microcosm on a mushroom

photo

Millipede microcosm on a mushroom

servitude has a good, clear image of this species:

www.flickr.com/photos/32977858@N02/5721723536/in/photostream

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spotted snake millipede

Blaniulus guttulatus

Royal Tamanian Botanical Garden

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microcosm, snake, photos

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Children art

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Children art

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mercredi 18 mai 2011

Money Man

photo

money Man

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Koons

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Los Angeles County Museum of Art

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angeles county museum, money online

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mardi 17 mai 2011

Gravity

photo

Gravity

L

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Manchester United win Premier League title: how they achieved their record-breaking 19th league crown

Manchester United win Premier League title: how they achieved their record-breaking 19th league crown

Telegraph Sport looks at the key moments — on and off the pitch — of Manchester United&rsquo;s record-breaking campaign.

How Manchester United achieved their record-breaking 19th league crown

ups and downs: Manchester United had to negotiate a number of obstacles during the season before their fans could celebrate a 19th league title Photo: GETTY IMAGES

10:24PM BST 15 May 2011

Comments

Sept 11
Everton 3 Manchester United 3
United’s away-day problems were summed up at Goodison Park, where two injury-time goals earned Everton a point.

Wayne Rooney, at the height of his prostitute scandal, had been rested by Sir Alex Ferguson due to the “terrible abuse” he gets at Goodison Park.

Ferguson said: “We’ve made that decision because he gets terrible abuse here. We had the chance to bury Everton and we didn’t do it. We have thrown the points away and hopefully we won’t regret it at the end of the ­season.”

Oct 17
Rooney’s desire to leave United emerged, prompting a tumultuous week of statements and counterstatements before the forward decided to sign a five-year contract.

The England player’s wish to move was resisted by Ferguson, who said: “The door is open, we are that kind of club. We want to keep top players, particularly when they are as young as Wayne.

"Sometimes you look in a field and see a cow and think it’s a better cow than the one you have in your own field. It rarely works out that way.”

Nov 13
Aston Villa 2 Man Utd 2
Having fallen 2-0 behind in the final 20 minutes to strikes from Ashley Young and Marc Albrighton, late goals from Federico Macheda and Nemanja Vidic rescued an unlikely point for United and maintained their unbeaten start to the season.

Ferguson said: “We are a club that never says there is no way back. I sent on Macheda and Gabriel Obertan and there was great life and adventure about them. Another five minutes and we’d have won the game. They were gone.”

Jan 1
West Brom 1 Man Utd 2
Rooney scored his first league goal from open play for almost nine months, but West Bromwich Albion missed out on a penalty after Gary Neville fouled Graham Dorrans.

Peter Odemwingie missed a spot-kick before Javier Hernández scored a late winner.

The game proved to be Neville’s last match before he retired at the end of January.

Ferguson said: “Gary was lucky to stay on. It was a penalty. At first I thought he had got a touch but when I saw it again, he was lucky.”

Jan 25
Blackpool 2 Man Utd 3
United were staring at their first league defeat when, trailing 2-0 to Blackpool, the home side failed to win a penalty after Luke Varney was tripped in the box.

Ryan Giggs inspired a fightback and two goals from Dimitar Berbatov and one from Hernández sealed victory.

Ferguson said: “It is a results industry and we got a really big result. It may have a big impact on the league. We have come from two goals down. It shows everyone what can be achieved by producing our best.”

Feb 5
Wolves 2 Man Utd 1 & Newcastle 4 Arsenal 4
On the day United suffered their first league defeat of the campaign, Arsenal let a 4-0 lead at Newcastle slip away as Arsène Wenger’s side failed to capitalise and Newcastle hit back.

Ferguson said: “We were not at the races. Their keeper did not have many saves to make. The pitch was not very good but we didn’t make anything.”

March 1
Chelsea 2 Man Utd 1
Vidic was sent off as United lost at Stamford Bridge having taken the lead through Rooney.

Comments by Ferguson about referee Martin Atkinson led to a five-game touchline ban.

Ferguson said: “You hope you get a really strong referee in games like this. It was a major game for both clubs and you want a fair referee. You want a strong referee anyway and we didn’t get that.

"I don’t know why he’s got the game. I must say when I saw who was refereeing it, I feared the worst.”

May 8
Man Utd 2 Chelsea 1
The result that all but clinched the title, with United moving six points clear of their closest challengers with two games left to play.

The victory left United needing a point – earned at Blackburn on Saturday — to win the league and Giggs admitted his amazement that the club were now on the brink of going one better than Liverpool’s 18 titles.

“Fifteen or 20 years ago, you’d never have thought it,” Giggs said. “It’s a great achievement by the team and the manager.”

April 2
West Ham 2 Man Utd 4
Trailing 2-0 at half-time, the title looked to be slipping from United’s grasp, but a second-half fightback earned victory that Ferguson now admits was the defining moment of his team’s campaign.

Ferguson said: “Which game changed the season? Probably the West Ham game. We were 2-0 down at half-time and that put the ----- up a lot of them. Me included!"

sir alex ferguson, nemanja vidic, alex ferguson, wayne rooney, gabriel obertan, ups and downs, rsquo, england player, albrighton, federico macheda, time goals, man utd, injury time, manchester united, goodison park, ups, 3united, bst, premier league, getty

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

lundi 16 mai 2011

Saxon Shore

photo

saxon Shore

New polarising filter on 16-35mm f/4 VR.

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Field Day with Lino & Roman 56

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Field Day with lino &amp; Roman 56

Trip to de Young Museum and San Francisco Zoo

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dimanche 15 mai 2011

Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 2: match report

Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 2: match report

Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday May 15 2011.

PREVIEW

LIVE

REPORT

ARSENAL

1 - 2

FT

ASTON VILLA

Sunday, May 15 16:00

Premier League

Emirates Stadium

van Persie (89)

(HT 0-2)

ATT: 60,023

Bent (11, 15)

Darren Bent - Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 2 match report

Double delight: Darren Bent scored two first-half goals as Aston Villa beat Arsenal at the Emirates Photo: ACTION IMAGES

John Ley

By John Ley, Emirates Stadium 6:00PM BST 15 May 2011

Follow John Ley on Twitter

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It was described as a lap of appreciation but it was more like a walk of shame around a near-deserted ­Emirates Stadium as Arsenal finished their home programme with another embarrassing defeat that could leave them having to qualify for the Champions League.

Arsenal conceded two goals in the opening 15 minutes to the rampant Darren Bent and could drop to fourth place on Tuesday night if Manchester City beat Stoke.

“It’s very disappointing,” Arsène Wenger admitted. “We were caught by a very bad start. We dropped three points that could cost us automatic qualification for the Champions League. It will be a big setback [if they have to qualify] but we will adapt our preparation to it.”

Of the 'lap of appreciation’ in front of as few as 15,000 patient fans, the Frenchman insisted: “It was not embarrassing, it was our job to thank the fans and you never have to be embarrassed when you do your job. It was not through glory but no matter what kind of result happened you have to respect your fans.”

Arsenal were missing key players, including captain Cesc Fabregas, who has been ruled out for three to four weeks with a thigh injury, meaning that he misses the final-day trip to Fulham and Spanish international action.

But even the inclusion of Fabregas may not have prevented this poor performance. The home supporters booed their team off at the interval and again at full-time and in between they responded to the controversial 6.5 per cent season-ticket price rise for next season by singing: “Six per cent, you’re having a laugh.”

And Villa were having a chuckle early on, taking an 11th-minute lead through Bent. When Stiliyan Petrov sent the ball high over the Arsenal defence Bent was unmarked. The England striker was played onside by Sébastien Squillaci but still had much to do as he chested the ball before volleying it into the top corner.

Four minutes later, James Collins’ low pass sent Ashley Young forward, and his ball past the returning Thomas Vermaelen handed Bent the chance to claim a second, which he took with a neat finish.

Arsenal responded and could have had a penalty when Aaron Ramsey was brought down by Richard Dunne, while Robin Van Persie hit the post.

At half-time Wenger replaced Squillaci, with Alex Song moving into defence and replacement Marouane Chamakh going into attack. But the change offered little improvement.

Chamakh did have the ball in the net but was harshly penalised for a push on Kyle Walker. A consolation goal arrived in the final minute, ­predictably from Van Persie, claiming his 20th goal in 22 games in 2011. Sadly, his team-mates have failed to maintain such consistency.

cesc fabregas, walk of shame, photo action, automatic qualification, home supporters, aston villa, double delight, action images, thigh injury, matter what kind, league game, poor performance, manchester city, wenger, fulham, day trip, frenchman, setback, premier league, champions league

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Manchester City have deserved FA Cup success which is tangible reward for club's expensive vision

Manchester City have deserved FA Cup success which is tangible reward for club&rsquo;s expensive vision

Amid all the cash-fuelled changes flowing through Manchester City since they struck oil in Abu Dhabi, it can easily be overlooked that the club have always had a heartbeat, a sense of identity kept alive during the dark times by loyal staff, old players and long-suffering supporters. Saturday’s triumph was for those who kept the faith.

FA Cup Final 2011: amid all the cash Manchester City's resilience ends their 35-year wait

Anguish is over: Manchester City celebrate their FA Cup victory over Stoke at Wembley Photo: PA

Henry Winter

By Henry Winter 11:00PM BST 14 May 2011

Follow Henry Winter on Twitter

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City players wore specially-printed T-shirts, proclaiming the figure “O”, a reminder that the 35 years of hurt were over. City supporters had that number ingrained in their psyche, written into their chants. No longer. They can open the trophy-cabinet, release some ancient moths and place the FA Cup on display.

At the end of an average game but majestic occasion, the eye was drawn briefly to the magnificent Stoke fans, who sportingly stayed on to applaud the victors, but the attention was swiftly drawn to the swaying light-blue masses. City fans did the Poznan, they sang Blue Moon and held up their cameras and phones as Carlos Tévez climbed the steps to collect the Cup.

City fans revelled in this moment. They have waited so long, endured so much pain. They hardly needed reminding that Saturday was the 30th anniversary of their Cup final defeat to Ricky Villa’s Spurs, although most days probably herald a chastening landmark for City.

The past two decades have been particularly riddled with anguish. City’s fans have spent so much time in the shadow of United yet they kept the faith.

This season they have kept chanting “35 years and we’re still here”, signalling a devotion that has bordered on masochism at times.

As if their summer was not full of enough joys after this, City fans also have a feisty-looking fixture with United here in the Community Shield. That should start the season with a bang.

The hysteria can wait. History clung to this final like ivy to a stately home. Great names from yesteryear looked on benignly as City’s present finally matched some of the deeds of the past. Mike Summerbee, Franny Lee and Tony Book smiled away as their club became reacquainted with excellence.

City officials even urged their life president, Bernard Halford, a hugely popular figure at the club, to follow Roberto Mancini up the stairs to receive a winner’s medal. Lovely touch. It showed that the world’s wealthiest club has not lost touch with its roots. Halford, who has been involved with City for half a century, flew up the steps. It meant everything.

City invited many members of their footballing family to this date with destiny. Bert Trautmann received a letter from their chief executive officer, Garry Cook, but sadly did not realise it was an invitation. The widow of the late, great Joe Mercer was present. So was the widow of Neil Young, the scorer of their Cup final winner in 1969. When Young passed away from cancer in February, Book urged the City players to go and win the Cup as a fitting tribute to the former player. Mancini’s chosen ones delivered on that promise.

For the likes of Cook, Brian Marwood and Khaldoon al Mubarak, Saturday’s big day out, following on from qualification for the Champions League, vindicated their vision. Huge sums have been invested but there is tangible reward.

For Mancini, the Cup was a personal triumph for his assertive tactics, his decision to start Mario Balotelli and a second-half tweak that allowed Yaya Toure the opportunity to make unmarked runs as the one that brought his 74th-minute winner.

So this is why Coronation Street is in Manchester. United’s record-breaking title success had heaped pressure on City. Vincent Kompany and company emerged into the Wembley sunshine with news filtering through from Ewood.

City knew that the intense crowing from the new champions would be unbearable if they slipped up.

City had certainly started confidently enough, unleashing their threats. Mancini is often accused of cautious tactics but the front four he selected at Wembley brimmed with movement and menace.

The spearhead of Mancini’s 4-2-3-1 system, Tévez, buzzed around like a hornet on overtime, bringing a magnificent save from Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

David Silva darted around promisingly but missed badly after 34 minutes, shooting down into the ground and up over the crossbar when well placed.

Balotelli was often involved, withstanding Robert Huth’s elbow but then being frustrated by Sorensen’s right hand. Toure, operating in the hole behind Tévez, shot wide but took his second-half chance brilliantly.

If City’s attackers impressed, it was still a surprise that Balotelli was named man of the match. Nigel de Jong was comfortably the best player on view, demonstrating his qualities in a final. Just as the City fans relished this, so De Jong must have felt deep, deep satisfaction.

The Dutchman had returned from the World Cup final with a kitbag full of controversy, following that studs-up challenge on Xabi Alonso. Mischievous souls in the City dressing-room pinned a photograph of the incident on the wall of the training ground at Carrington. De Jong took it well, knuckling down and enjoying a good season, culminating here, particularly with one sliding dispossession of Jermaine Pennant.

City fans adored a commitment to the cause that echoed theirs.

blue masses online, trophy cabinet, cup victory, henry winter, city supporters, loyal staff, city fans, tangible reward, rsquo, cup success, 30th anniversary, blue moon, manchester city, victors, masochism, moths, anguish, long suffering, chants, poznan

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

san antonio museum of art

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san antonio museum of art

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san antonio museum of art

san antonio

texas

museum

greek

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BAM_3111.jpg

photo

BAM_3111.jpg

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D300S

Featherdale

Tamron 90mm f2.8

animals

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bam, f2, 90mm

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samedi 14 mai 2011

Eingang zu ...

photo

Eingang zu ...

Ruhr Museum - Schacht XII, A14 Kohlenwsche (Shaft 12, A14 Coal-washing), Zollverein : Essen, Germany - 29 December 2010.

450D + 50/1.4: Left-panel: 1/60s, f/2.8, ISO400, right-panel: 1/40s, f/1.4, ISO400.

Along with Pcs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey), the city of Essen in Germany was designated as one of three European Capital Cities of Culture for 2010. Various projects, sites, and monuments throughout the Ruhr region were on display for most of the year. One of the big highlights in Essen was the Zollverein coal mine Industrial Complex which has been listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site since 2001.

The entire refurbished complex now houses space for art, design, and cultural exhibitions, and is also home to the Ruhr Museum, which provides detailed historical accounts of the economic importance of coal mining and consequent decline, and descriptions of existing and future economic redevelopment plans for the Ruhr region.

Press 'L' to view this larger in Lightbox.   |   See where this picture was taken. [?]

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european capital cities, unesco heritage, istanbul turkey, coal mining, coal mine, ef 50mm, economic redevelopment, essen germany, year one, redevelopment plans, economic importance, a14, industrial complex, schacht, ruhr region, rhine ebook download, 40s, art design, unesco, monuments

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Sundance Resort near Provo, Utah

photo

Sundance Resort near Provo, Utah

Spring photos from robert redford's Sundance Resort near Provo, Utah.

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50D

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Utah

May 2011

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Provo

sundance resort, provo utah, robert redford, photos

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jeudi 12 mai 2011

Mosque

photo

Mosque

Cordoba 2016
Mezquita de Crdoba
Cordoba 2016, capital cultural europea
Ser en 2016 cuando una ciudad espaola asumir nuevamente la Capitalidad Cultural de Europa. Crdoba, la ciudad que fue –y sigue siendo- ejemplo de tolerancia y convivencia, lugar de encuentro de pueblos y sabiduras y cruce de culturas, presenta su candidatura en el convencimiento de que la adornan los mritos suficientes para llevar con toda dignidad y merecimiento tan alta distincin. As lo han entendido desde el Prncipe de Asturias, o el Presidente de la Junta de Andaluca, a numerosos artistas e intelectuales o foros nacionales e internacionales, que nos han dado su apoyo y alentado el esfuerzo que la ciudad est ya desarrollando para hacer realidad lo que ahora es una hermosa aspiracin.

Queremos pedirte que te unas a quienes estn apostando por hacer de Crdoba la Capital Europea de la Cultura en 2016.

Seguimos recibiendo numerosas adhesiones y han sido validadas 137078 en apoyo a la candidatura de Crdoba 2016 Ciudad Europea de la Cultura.

Adhirete ahora >>

www.candidatecities.com/

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mardi 10 mai 2011

Double Security

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Double Security

Ellen Street, Fremantle, Western Australia.

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freo

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australia

window

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security screen

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ellen street
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Luge-Track Probe Reaches Impasse

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Vancouver's Olympic organizing committee and the International Luge Federation appear to have reached a stalemate in determining where the final responsibility lies for the construction of the luge track that witnessed the death of a Georgian athlete last week.

View Full Image

whistlersliding

Associated Press

The Whistler Sliding Centre

whistlersliding

whistlersliding

Tim Gayda, the organizing committee's vice president of sport, said Saturday that Vanoc, his organization, followed the FIL's orders in construction of the Whistler Sliding Centre. Nodar Kumaritashvili died there Feb. 12 during a practice run.

Pressed repeatedly on when Vanoc first heard concerns that the track might be too fast, Mr. Gayda gave no specifics, saying only that athlete feedback goes to the federation first: "We hear about it, but they really act on it," he said.

"We hear positive comments, but we hear other comments as well," he said of athlete feedback that may have warned Vanoc of dangerous conditions. "The comments that we really listen to are the ones from the international federation that say … this is the track that we wanted, and if there is a safety issue on a particular area, largely we will make the adjustments on their recommendation. We don't necessarily listen to chatter that's out there."

Meanwhile, FIL spokesman Wolfgang Harder said the organization does not carry the final responsibility for ensuring safety as Whistler Sliding Centre. "The owner has final responsibility," Mr. Harder said.

Mr. Gayda also fielded questions about concerns surrounding cross-country, Alpine and freestyle skiing venues.

Slovenian cross country skier Petra Majdic broke four ribs Wednesday when she slipped off a corner of the course and into a creekbed during a practice at Whistler Olympic Park. Before knowing the extent of her injury she remained in that day's event, winning a bronze medal before going to the hospital.

Slovenian Olympic officials filed a protest over the course to the International Olympic Committee, Vanoc and International Ski Federation (FIS). IOC executive director Gilbert Felli said Saturday that the protest has been rejected.

Mr. Gayda said of Ms. Majdic's injury, "No one felt there could possibly be a crash on that site. It's something that we have looked at. We've made adjustments to that corner to try to protect it. The protest was rejected by the jury and they still believe it is a safe and fair track to compete on."

Cypress Mountain, home to the freestyle skiing events, has had to refund over 20,000 tickets over safety concerns for the slushy slope in North Vancouver. Mr. Gayda said Vanoc has directed venue officials to mix snow brought in from nearby areas with older snow and water to try to create a harder surface for remaining athletes to compete on.

"It sounds like a baking exercise," he said.

—David Crawford contributed to this report.

Write to Adam Thompson at adam.thompson@wsj.com

cross country skier, international luge federation, international olympic committee, olympic organizing committee, luge track, freestyle skiing, vancouver british columbia, olympic officials, olympic park, majdic, creekbed, nodar, gayda, dangerous conditions, vanoc, bronze medal, safety issue, international federation, stalemate, ribs

Online.wsj.com