dimanche 31 juillet 2011

Louvre, Paris

photo

Louvre, Paris

Tags

Paris

Parijs

Frankrijk

France

Zwartwit

B&W

Black & White

Louvre

Museum

Fountain

Fontein

Meisje

Vrouw

Girl

Woman

Piramide

louvre, amp

Flickr.com

Cinque Terra

photo

Cinque Terra

Tags

cinque terra

italy

tuscany

europe

coast

ocean

water

mediterranean

corniglia

manarola

sea
Flickr.com

samedi 30 juillet 2011

Cove

photo

Cove

Tags

American

USA

Polish

GIrl

Woman

Teenager

Black & White

july

dark

summer

sun

tan

white

missouri

brunette

bw
Flickr.com

N3765

photo

N3765

Delta Air Lines (Skyteam)
boeing 737-832
BWI

Tags

N3765

Delta

Airlines

Skyteam

Special

Livery

Boeing

737-800

Baltimore

Baltimore/Washington

International

Airport

BWI

KBWI

Maryland

MD

USA

boeing 737 ebook download, air lines, boeing

Flickr.com

vendredi 29 juillet 2011

La Cascada

photo

La Cascada

Tags

La Cascada

Fountain

Sculpture

Art

Parc De Ciutadella

Park

Barcelona

Catalonia

Spain

Europe
Flickr.com

jeudi 28 juillet 2011

la Baume (Ardche)

photo

la Baume (Ardche)

Tags

la baume

paysage

Cvennes

reflets

reflections

europe

europa

Ardche

Sud

France

photography

landscape

photo

nature

sun

wallpaper

fond d'cran

soleil

pictures

photos

beauty

beautiful

beaut

tranquillit

peaceful

travel

quiet

francia

frankreich

photographie

shot

geotagged

color

colour

couleur

holidays

spring

printemps

countryside

french

water

eau

river

rivire

wilderness

exbr

natur

cailloux

stones

Canon
Flickr.com

Monitoring Kids on Facebook

Lion With Office

However, SocialGuard does this in a way that is invisible to the kids' friends, and doesn't require the parent to be on guard all the time, or even to be on Facebook at all. If the service finds a possible problem, it emails the parent, the child, or both. This happens outside of Facebook itself. The service doesn't give the parent the ability to directly read, or leave comments on, the child's Facebook wall.

ZoneAlarm SocialGuard comes from a veteran security firm, Check Point Software Technologies. It costs $2 a month or $20 a year, though there's a free seven-day trial (the company is also randomly testing a free 30-day trial.) It takes the form of a stand-alone computer program connected to a back-end monitoring service, and can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/hgo0C5. A new version coming in August will add several features, including a toolbar that can deliver SocialGuard warnings when you use Internet Explorer or Firefox.

View Full Image

PTECHJp

SocialGuard offers parents multiple settings and views of possibly troublesome situations on Facebook. Above, the Account Settings screen. Right, the Review Friends screen.

PTECHJp

PTECHJp

Before I get into describing how it works, let me note several caveats about SocialGuard.

First of all, the program (and toolbar) only work on Windows PCs. There's no version for Macs, Web browsers, smartphones or tablets—and no definite plans for such versions. However, it can monitor Facebook accounts that are accessed by your kids via Macs or mobile devices, or via different Windows PCs.

In other words, the software you use for monitoring needn't be on the same device the child uses for accessing Facebook.

Secondly, there are some holes in its coverage. While it monitors such things as messages, profiles and wall posts on a Facebook account, it doesn't monitor Facebook chats; places and events; or photos, though it does check on the text accompanying photos and the people who tag the pictures. So, if your daughter is posting pictures you consider inappropriate, SocialGuard can't warn you.

Also, SocialGuard can't protect your child if he or she manages to set up a second, secret Facebook account that you and the service don't know about.

Finally, like all security software, it isn't a silver bullet, even in the areas it does cover. You still need to do active parenting, including discussions with your children. The child is likely to be aware that SocialGuard is monitoring his or her account, because, in order to set it up, you must use her Facebook sign-in credentials. In fact, the company stresses this point, noting that, if you do get an email about, say, language in a post that indicates cyber-bullying, you should discuss it with your kid.

Still, in my tests, SocialGuard did what it promised, and I believe it could be a real benefit to parents and children alike, so they are warned about potential problems early.

SocialGuard can cover up to five Facebook accounts simultaneously, and each account can have its own settings as to what is monitored, and whether only the parent, or both the parent and child, should get emails when suspicious events occur. For instance, for an older teen, you might not worry about content classified by the program as "sex education," but for a younger one you might.

For my tests, I entered my own, real, Facebook account; a fake account I created; and several test accounts for imaginary children of different ages that the company had created, complete with some events that triggered emails to me.

When I tried, using my fake account, to friend one of the test children, I was flagged as a "potential stranger" because I wasn't connected to the child or any of her friends, according to the company's algorithms. Another example: I was warned that one of the test kids' friends had a declared age of 14, but also had stated on Facebook he graduated high school in 1972.

In other cases, language or links figured into the warnings that appeared in my email inbox. When one child sent another a Web link to a lock-picking site, I was warned. When an imaginary friend posted on one of my imaginary kids' walls a message that included curse words commonly used by bullies, it was flagged as possible cyber-bullying.

Obviously, not all of these cases may be real causes for concern. True friends sometimes use bad language in situations that aren't bullying. Sometimes websites are passed along that SocialGuard knows are malicious or inappropriate, but the sender doesn't. An older aunt, outside a child's social circle, may wish to friend him. And different families have different levels of tolerance. That's why discussions matter. SocialGuard only warns. It doesn't stop these activities.

I am not so sanguine about the forthcoming toolbar, which I also tested. Managed in part by a separate company, it has various features, like a search box for the Bing search engine and a link to an app store selling Web-based games and other services, that are unrelated to the core mission of SocialGuard, and which I found both annoying and distracting from the purpose of the security service.

But, overall, if you're a parent with limited time who worries about your child's safety on Facebook, yet wants to give her some privacy, SocialGuard is worth trying.

—Find all of Walt Mossberg's columns and videos at All Things Digital, walt.allthingsd.com.

Write to Walter S. Mossberg at walt.mossberg@wsj.com

point software technologies, check point software technologies, check point software, troublesome situations, facebook, settings screen, definite plans, internet explorer, windows pcs, security firm, monitoring service, caveats, zonealarm, computer program, web browsers, account settings, smartphones, mobile devices, ly, lion

Online.wsj.com

TdF 2011

photo

TdF 2011

Tags

Alpe d'Huez

Europe

France

Sport

TdF

Tour de France

cycling

Geraint Thomas
Flickr.com

mercredi 27 juillet 2011

Defraction

photo

Defraction

see also

Tags

AF-S DX VR zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED

Rantz

Darwin

Northern Territory

Australia

D90

PADMMXI

PAD2011

PlurkPAD2011

PsADMMXI

PsAD2011

PlurkPsAD2011

fotiez.com

nikkor, zoom

Flickr.com

paddling

photo

paddling

childish pursuits.

Tags

sea

beach

rocks

paddling

eos400d
Flickr.com

mardi 26 juillet 2011

Bronzed Cowbird (<I>Molothrus aeneus</I>), Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

lt="photo" width="640" height="425">

Bronzed cowbird (<I>Molothrus aeneus</I>), Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

Tags

Bird

Texas

USA

laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge, national wildlife refuge, cowbird, lt

Flickr.com

rear windows

photo

rear windows

Tags

canon

Lyon

France

Rhne

Croix-Rousse

wallpaper

fond d'cran

silhouette

europe

people

mystery

beauty

typical

light

day

jour

pictures

photos

photography

life

vie

travel

town

ville

urbain

city

urban

quiet

peaceful

Rhne-Alpes

francia

frankreich

photo

photographie

shot

geotagged

lumire

europa

color

colour

couleur

exbr

colorful

colourful

color

arbres

trees

architecture

btiments

buildings

vintage

french

block

fentres

windows

facade
Flickr.com

lundi 25 juillet 2011

Spirit in the Sky

photo

Spirit in the Sky

Spirit in the Sky ~

For a moment, the night sky glows like embers in a fire

Texture by Brenda Starr on Flickr

Tags

Sunset

embers

fire

sky

sea

beach

silhouette

solitude

stillness

texture

NSPP

sky glows, brenda starr, night sky, embers, spirit

Flickr.com

samedi 23 juillet 2011

203

photo

203

203/365

Grants Pass, OR

Blue.

Tags

365

iPhone

Water

Pool

Ripples

Blue

project 365

Day 203
Flickr.com

Oustau de Baumanire 2, Les Baux-de-Provence

photo

Oustau de Baumanire 2, Les Baux-de-Provence

www.oustaudebaumaniere.com/

Tags

Provence

France

Europe

The most beautiful villages of France

Village

Bouches-du-Rhne

Hotel

Restaurant

Michelin
Flickr.com

vendredi 22 juillet 2011

Failing econ 101

It's not just kids who are bummed about the back-to-school season.

A "shadow of insecurity" hangs over the nation's retailers, according to a major trade group, which predicted that consumer spending during the crucial back-to-school shopping period will be lackluster because of the economy.

The National Retail Federation said yesterday that it expects the average family will spend $603.43 on back-to-school apparel, school supplies and electronics. That's down slightly from last year's average of $606.40.

Total back-to-school spending is estimated at $22.8 billion.

Last year, students resembled Alicia Silverstone from “Clueless” as they splurged on back-to-school items like apparel, electronics, shoes and other must-haves. This year will be different as cashstrapped consumers are expected to cut back.

Paramount

Last year, students resembled Alicia Silverstone from “Clueless” as they splurged on back-to-school items like apparel, electronics, shoes and other must-haves. This year will be different as cashstrapped consumers are expected to cut back.

"Parents want their children to take a good look around at what they already have before deciding what to buy for back-to-school this year," said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.

Among the hardest-hit categories will be electronics. At the college level, just 46 percent of students and parents say they will buy gadgets -- the lowest level since 2005, according to BIGresearch, in a separate survey yesterday focused on college-related spending.

"Many college students are already armed with the latest gadgets," said BIGresearch's Pam Goodfellow. She added that "many popular college items, like laptops, have experienced huge drops in price over the last several years."

Parents and students will also spend less on everything from notebooks to jeans, while delaying their shopping trips into the first weeks of classes this fall.

The main problem is persistent economic uncertainty, stoked lately by the US budget crisis, mixed news about the mortgage markets and $4-a-gallon gas oline, according to Stevan Buxbaum of the Buxbaum Group, a Los Angeles retail consultant.

Not everybody agrees that back-to-school will be a bust. Shoppers' disposable income has risen about 3 percent this year, and consumers meanwhile are loosening their wallets instead of hoarding cash in savings ac counts, notes Craig Johnson of Customer Growth Part ners. That's partly because consumers have managed to pay down personal debt.

"There's still a lot of pent- up demand for apparel," according to Johnson.

Department stores are doing a particularly good job of tempting shoppers with exclusive fashions, he said, noting that Macy's lately has struck clothing deals with Ma donna, Tommy Hilfiger and Karl Lagerfeld.

But while Johnson predicts back-to-school sales will rise 6.2 percent, that's still well off the highs seen four to five years ago, he notes.

"It's like the country song says," Johnson said. "When you're this far down, it still looks like up." james.covert@nypost.com

buxbaum group, national retail federation, latest gadgets, alicia silverstone, economic uncertainty, school apparel, mortgage markets, retail consultant, mixed news, budget crisis, gallon gas, consu, nrf, goodfellow, disposable income, last several years, consumer spending, back to school, school supplies, trade group

Nypost.com

View from Sydney Tower

photo

View from Sydney Tower

Tags

Australia 2010

Canon 7D

Sydney

Sydney Tower
Flickr.com

jeudi 21 juillet 2011

mercredi 20 juillet 2011

Roanoke Civic Center Training Crit

photo

Roanoke Civic Center Training Crit

Roanoke, VA, July 19th, 2011

Check out more on our main website www.teamtraveller.com

Tags

cycling

cycle

bike

bicycle

racing

crit

criterium

summer

race

road

amateur

training

wheels

071911

roanoke

va

virginia

usa

north america

civic center, website www, center training

Flickr.com

Hola - Hello

photo

Hola - Hello

All Rights Reserved
Non-manipulated
What you see is what I captured

Tags

Canon Eos

Light

Luz

Nubes

Clods

sky

cielo

azul

blue

mar

sea

seashore

orilla del mar

arena

sand
Flickr.com

Ask the Mouthy Housewives: Is It Bad to Lie About Faking It?

Or: more to the point...should we ever fake it?

The Mouthy housewives, BettyConfidential.com

Joining us here at BettyConfidential … The Mouthy Housewives! These lovely, models of decorum (Kelcey, Wendi, Marinka, Kristine and Tonya) want our lives to be as fabulous as theirs, thus they're happy to ignore their families to give us smart, cheeky advice. So pop open a box of ros, put on your favorite Barry Manilow CD and let the Housewives Swiffer away your troubles … Every week they’ll be answering burning questions from readers.

Dear Mouthy Housewives,

My husband asked me if I’ve ever faked an orgasm with him. I said “Of course not!” and he said “I thought everyone did.” It was no big deal to him, but now I’m wondering what’s wrong with me that I can’t admit to faking it every once in a while.

Signed,

I Faked It and Then I Lied

Dear I Faked It,

Sometimes it truly is OK to fake it. For example, if you and your husband are running 45 minutes late for dinner with friends and he suddenly turns to you as you’re half way out the door and says, “Do I look alright?” – turn to him with a big smile and say “Honey, you look great.” And then maybe the next time you go out, suggest that pairing a jean jacket with jeans might be a touch heavy on the denim.

To facilitate a smooth, happy marriage it’s necessary to sugarcoat things by sprinkling a white lie here and there. But the bedroom is not one of those times.

Unless you have divine superwoman powers (and if you do, market them immediately so you can bask in your glorious riches), you likely will not have an orgasm every time you are intimate with your husband. And that’s OK. On those occasions, don’t make your husband work endlessly in his futile attempt to get you to the promise land. Just let your spouse know that for some reason (that has nothing to do with him), it’s just not happening for you on this particular evening and he should relinquish all thoughts of baseball and bring it home for the both of you.

There is just no benefit to misleading your spouse into thinking you’re having an orgasm when you’re not. Because maybe you two can work together over time to make your orgasms more frequent. Or maybe you just have to imagine George Clooney all naked and sweaty and in your bedroom. Whatever works.

And save your “faking it” for when your husband makes you a lasagna dinner from his mother’s homemade recipe that tastes like shredded rubber tires. Just turn to him and say, “I love it and I love you for making it.”

Good luck to you,

Kelcey, The Mouthy Housewives

The Mouthy Housewives spend our days solving the world's problems and our nights playing classical piano and reading fine literature. Or maybe just yelling at reality TV shows. Need our help? Send your question to ask@mouthyhousewives.com. (All questions are confidential.) And you can find more smart, cheeky advice at The Mouthy Housewives.

More from BettyConfidential.com:

Zac Efron + Mark Wahlberg's Secret!

Super Cute Urban Decay Palette

Why Men + Women Bond Differently

barry manilow cd, lovely models, barry manilow, glorious riches, happy marriage, promise land, dinner with friends, white lie, futile attempt, decorum, burning questions, housewives, orgasm, denim, jeans, occasions, smile, marriage, baseball

Shine.yahoo.com

mardi 19 juillet 2011

Assut del mol

photo

Assut del mol

Azud del molino
Water mill's pool

Tags

mill

molino

mol

embalse

bassa

assut

azud

pool

pond

aigua

cascada

sedas

silk effect

silky

water

agua

Sella

El Salt

hora blava

hora azul

blue hour

long exposure

larga exposicin
Flickr.com

Body sport in Copacabana Beach , Brasil

photo

Body sport in copacabana beach , Brasil

Body sport in Copacabana Beach , Brasil

Tags

Boys

Boy

sun

sea

enjoy

playa

mar

water

alegria

fun

Copacabana

Rio

de

Janeiro

Brasil

Brazil

action

garoto

garotos

chicos

praia

cute

beach

arena

sand

candid

brazilian

outdoors

colors

colores

having

divertido

agua

body

sport

Canon

Rebel

T1i

EOS

body sport, copacabana beach

Flickr.com

dimanche 17 juillet 2011

nyc (17)

photo

nyc (17)

Tags

Canon

EOS

USA

NYC

New York

New York University

Wrestling

College Wrestling

wrestle

wrestler

Scranton University

Bobcats

Violets

Royals
Flickr.com

Hire a bicycle

photo

Hire a bicycle

Tags

instagram app

square

square format

iphoneography

Lomo-fi
Flickr.com

samedi 16 juillet 2011

Llandudno Great Orme

photo

Llandudno Great Orme

Tags

Llandudno

Great

Orme

wales

uk

britain

aerial

view

town

sea

hills

countryside

cloud

beauty

beautiful

hill
Flickr.com

Kasteel Bouvigne, Breda - Dutch Castle Bouwvigne, Breda

photo

Kasteel Bouvigne, Breda - Dutch Castle Bouwvigne, Breda

Higly recommended: View large on black

Kasteel Bouvigne ligt even buiten de wijk het Ginneken en vlak bij het Mastbos ten zuiden van Breda.

Het is eigendom sinds 1972 van Waterschap Brabantse Delta. Na restauratie tussen 1975 en 1977 werd het heropend in 1977 door Zijne Koninklijke Hoogheid Prins Claus.

Het is onbekend hoe oud het kasteel precies is en of het er vroeger hetzelfde uit zag als nu. Vanaf 1494 was er sprake van een omwaterd stenen huis. In 1554 dook het voor het eerst op in een officile akte: het testament van de vroegere eigenaar Jacob van Brecht. In dit testament werd het kasteel omschreven als een statig stenen huis omgeven met grachten. Het kasteel is in de loop der tijd uitgebreid. Het begon met het stenen huis, waarop later de eerste verdieping van de toren is gebouwd (tussen 1554 en 1611). In de drie jaar daarna zijn er nog enkele andere verbouwingen gedaan en is de toren verhoogd met een tweede verdieping. De naam Bouvigne werd genoemd in 1802 in een koopakte. Vanaf 1930 kwam het kasteel in handen van de overheid en werd het onder andere lange tijd verhuurd aan de Catechisten van de Eucharistische Kruistocht (Pius X-stichting).

De tuinen zijn te bezoeken. Het kasteel alleen op speciale dagen bijvoorbeeld de Brabantse Kastelendag. Sinds 1 oktober 2010 is kasteel Bouvigne n van de officile trouwlocaties binnen de gemeente Breda.

The castle Bouvigne is situated south of the Dutch city of Breda and near the Mastbos (lit. tribes forest).

Since 1972 it is owned by 'Waterschap Brabantse Delta'. After restoration between 1975 and 1977 it was reopened in 1977 by His Royal Highness Prince Claus.

It is unknown how old the castle exactly is and whether it earlier used the same saw as now. From 1494 there was a stone house with water around it. In 1554 it first appeared in an official document: the testament of the former owner Jacob Brecht. This described the castle as a stately stone house surrounded by canals. The castle was gradually expanded. It began with the stone house, the tower was built between 1554 and 1611. In the three years thereafter, there are some other renovations done and the tower is increased. The name 'Bouvigne' was first mentioned in 1802 in a deed. From 1930 the castle came into the hands of the government and was the long time include leased to the catechists of the Eucharistic Crusade (Pius X Foundation).

You can visit the gardens, but the castle only on special days. Since October 1, 2010 Bouvigne castle is one of the official wedding locations within the city of Breda.

Tags

kasteel

Bouvigne

Breda

Ginneken

Mastbos

Markdal

1494

15e

eeuw

Jacob van Brecht

gracht

water

slotgracht

kasteelgracht

tuinen

reflectie

weerspiegeld

spiegeling

spiegelglad

bomen

toren

trouwlocatie

gemeente

officile

Nederland

Noord-Brabant

Brabant

south

Waterschap

Brabantse

Delta

Claus

15th

century

renovations

official

wedding

location

city

municipal

monument

ancient

antique

architectural

architecture

blue

brick

bridge

building

canal

dutch

europe

historic

history

holland

landmark

netherlands

north-brabant

old

place

pond

reflection

romantic

scene

site

sky

stone

surface

tourist

tower

traditional

royal highness prince, kasteel bouvigne, de tuinen, prins claus, de toren, van breda, stately stone, prince claus, jacob van, dutch city, waterschap, dook, stenen, pius x, official document, brecht, koninklijke, begon, canals, akte

Flickr.com

vendredi 15 juillet 2011

113473413dkEcmz_ph

photo

113473413dkEcmz_ph

Markets of PNG

global-citizen-01.blogspot.com

Tags

markets

png

papua

new

guinea

travel

highlands

melanesia

fruit

vegetable

chimbu

simbu
Flickr.com

What If You're "Ready" ... and He's NOT?

By GalTimer Michelle Strickland

After a couple of years of dating, I thought for sure that next Christmas was IT, the day he would propose. We had already moved in together, we even discussed marriage, so what was left? Well, the ring! Christmas came, we had all finished opening up our presents and then he said to me, &quot;Oh wait! There is one more gift&nbsp;hiding". Could it be? Nope!

Related: 5 Signs He Doesn't Love You

Don't get me wrong; it was a beautiful necklace, however, not the piece of jewelry that would bring us to the next level of our relationship. So, I was a bit disappointed, but thought of it as no big deal... we still loved each other and that's all that mattered. Right? Or am I just settling?

What was so special about him that I felt that getting a ring was really no big deal? (no big deal....to him or to me?) Every girl dreams about their wedding day, so why can't I have it? No, I really do love him. He is worth the wait....I think.

So, a few years later, I received an unexpected surprise. Nope, STILL not a ring. A positive pregnancy test. I told my husband (boyfriend at the time) that I didn't want to get married just because I was pregnant. Plus, I didn't want to have a basketball belly walking down the aisle. So, we continued the dating life. 

A little over a year later, he did it....he proposed! He involved our son and everything. It was really cute. It felt like forever for our wedding day to come (6 1/2yrs!). I'll admit that, at times throughout the years, I felt like maybe it was not going to go anywhere so I should just move on and find somebody who was 'ready' like me. But that only seemed unfair to him. Maybe he would want to get married at some point but just wasn't ready. Was that a reason to bail just because I had a timeline?

Related: Popping "The Question": How Long Is Too Long to Wait?

Now on the other hand, my sister has been dating her boyfriend actually even LONGER than my husband and I did (almost 7 years). I can tell she is getting impatient and disappointed every year when a special occasion arrives or she has a "feeling" only to be let down. I feel for her because she is at the point where she pretty much has her whole wedding planned out; she just needs her groom!

I think she is in the same position as I was... she DOES love him but feels she is more ready than he is. He is not showing much interest or any signs of an upcoming engagement, unless he has something up his sleeve and is doing a good job throwing her off track. She doesn't know what to do.

She does admit sometimes she would be scared to go back into the dating world. Is that a way for her to admit she is settling? I'm sure they will end up married and happy sooner or later, I just hope for her sake it's not later.

Is getting married really overrated? Is it all that everybody makes it out to be? So far, in my experience, yes. I am happy where I am today and definitely glad we finally took the "plunge".  Is marriage for everyone? How long is too long to be in a relationship without a sign of a proposal? When is the time to say enough is enough and kick 'em to the curb?

More from GalTime.com

  3 Biggest Mistakes Women Make in Bed

The #1 Must-Have Fashion Item This Summer

The Sun Smart Girl's Guide to Summer Bronzer

7  Burning Questions Guys Wanna Know

 5 Myths Women (Still) Believe About Men

Follow Us:
GalTime on Facebook

michelle strickland, walking down the aisle, girl dreams, unexpected surprise, pregnancy test, worth the wait, wedding day, quot, next level, timeline, nbsp, marriage, basketball, signs, jewelry, christmas, relationship, love

Shine.yahoo.com

Japan's Yen Tone Grows Sharper

TOKYO—Japan's finance minister on Thursday escalated his rhetoric about the yen's rising value, while a senior ministry official said the government could intervene to fight the advance at any time.

Having described the yen's move as "a little one-sided" on Wednesday, Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda told reporters on Thursday morning that it's "far out of line with real fundamentals and is one-sided."

"It would be troubling if this trend takes hold so we will continue to watch the markets carefully," he added.

Still, when the dollar and euro both suddenly jumped against the Japanese currency Thursday afternoon—gains that turned out to be short-lived—few market participants viewed it as a sign the government had stepped in. Investors concluded instead that large-scale buying by a U.S. bank on behalf of a U.S. fund was responsible.

Most market participants see the chance of intervention at this point as low, given the tone of the language from officials, the risk it won't work and the lack of stock-market reaction to the strong yen. Even as the currency has risen, the the Nikkei Stock Average has held quite steady, just below the important 10,000 mark.

The surprise mid-afternoon jump in the dollar and euro took to ¥79.60 and ¥112.93, respectively, from ¥78.65 and ¥111.73 at 0530GMT.

"I don't think it's due to Japanese intervention, but I can't say with 100% certainty," said a dealer with good knowledge of market flows. The dollar and the euro gave up the gains soon afterward, falling to ¥78.84 and ¥111.86.

The senior ministry official and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano both refused to say whether the government had stepped in.

The official, however, suggested that market participants were reading too much into the tone of the government language. "It is wrong to think we will not intervene unless we say we will take 'decisive steps,'" he said—a signal that intervention is possible anytime.

In the absence of confirmation from the governnment on Thursday's market action, the wait is on for intervention data, to be released on the last day of the month. For now there's only a string of rumors, including one that the Bank of Japan had conducted rate checks, a step often taken ahead of intervention to demonstrate that officials are watching market moves closely. But several senior Tokyo dealers said they were not aware of any such BOJ calls.

"There are lots of rumors flying around the market after the sharp fall in the yen earlier, and even without any clear signs of intervention, investors are certainly more on edge now that Tokyo could step in at some point," said Satoshi Okagawa, a senior dealer at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.

As of 0800 GMT, the dollar was at ¥79.04 and the euro was at ¥112.24.

Write to Takashi Nakamichi at takashi.nakamichi@dowjones.com and Takashi Mochizuki at takashi.mochizuki@dowjones.com

nikkei stock average, chief cabinet secretary, japanese currency, edano, market participants, government language, decisive steps, finance minister, u s bank, noda, ministry official, mid afternoon, yukio, thursday afternoon, thursday morning, stock market, yen, rhetoric, large scale, confirmation

Online.wsj.com

jeudi 14 juillet 2011

IMG_5822

<img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5935913636_467653f366_z.jpg" alt="photo" width="640" height="443">

IMG_5822

Baja California - La Bufadora

Tags

Aussicht

view

vista

Mexico

Мексика

Mxico

Mexique

Messico

see

hav

mar

dagat

bahari

sea

море

www.visitmexico.com

La Bufadora

Baja California

Ensenada

visitmexico, img

Flickr.com

mercredi 13 juillet 2011

Sunset Cleanse

photo

sunset Cleanse

© by Laura Matesky. Please do not use this or any of my images without my permission.

Tags

photography

photos

canon

colors

dress

water

ocean

soul

sea

there is nothing

like deciding

at the last

second that

you don't

care that

you are dressed

your going in

wonderful

spiritualy

cleansing

dance

hands

sound

lady of

the sea

lastsecond, sunset, images

Flickr.com

mardi 12 juillet 2011

2011 07 - Amsterdam (Anne's Birthday) - 134

photo

2011 07 - Amsterdam (Anne's Birthday) - 134

Tags

amsterdam

overtoom

dutch

netherlands

canals

europe

ike

city

trams

architecture
Flickr.com

lundi 11 juillet 2011

gold-fused glass bowl 1

photo

gold-fused glass bowl 1

A close-up shot showing off all the detailed work that went into decorating this bowl.

Tags

2011

Smithsonian

museum

Freer Gallery

Islamic

art

glass bowl, 1a, gold

Flickr.com

Flying Legends 2011 - CASA HA-1112-M1L Buchon C.4K-169

photo

Flying Legends 2011 - CASA HA-1112-M1L Buchon C.4K-169

Tags

casa

hispano

buchon

air

fighter

academy

air fighter academy

meir

motors

flying

legends

airshow

2011

iwm

imperial

war

museum

raf

duxford

flying legends

the fighter collection

collection

warbirds
Flickr.com

dimanche 10 juillet 2011

samedi 9 juillet 2011

Hovs Hallar

photo

Hovs Hallar

Hov (Bstad), Skne, sweden.

Tags

Hovs Hallar

Hov

Bstad

Skne

Scania

Sweden

rock

rocks

sea

water

nature

hovs, sweden, ebook download

Flickr.com

Kids on holiday

photo

Kids on holiday

Chloe and aiden on holiday at Great Yarmouth....

Tags

Picnik

Beach

Kids

Sea

Sand

Sky

great yarmouth, aiden

Flickr.com

mercredi 6 juillet 2011

Day 187: 6 July 2011

photo

Day 187: 6 July 2011

Shot on iPhone 4. I went into town today, hoping to catch some sort of atmospheric shot in preparation for the final State of Origin (rugby league) game of the year. But instead of seeing people getting their faces painted, like I saw before Game One, I just saw lots of people. So, I quickly took a shot of a fountain and went back to work - so I could do the patriotically Queensland thing of leaving work early and going home to watch the game. Queensland won, by the way. I believe the support I offered as we watched the game with my in-laws (they have a bigger TV than us) was key to our team winning.

Tags

Day 187/365

Day 187

6/7/11

365: the 2011 edition

365:2011

i365

iPhone

Queen Street Mall

fountain

water

Go the Maroons

iphone 4 online, state of origin rugby league, state of origin rugby, league game, state of origin, game one, iphone, game of the year, maroons, going home, queensland, faces

Flickr.com

Circular Quay

photo

Circular Quay

Just as the sun sets.

Uploaded with Darkslide.

Tags

Circular Quay

Skyscrapers

ferries

Sydney

quay

Australia
Flickr.com

mardi 5 juillet 2011

Straw and Water

photo

Straw and Water

Tags

Straw

Blue

Water

Green

Canon

lesund

Aalesund

Norge

Norway

Mre og Romsdal

Sunnmre

Canon EF 135mm f/2L

Canon EOS 5D mrk II

eos 5d, mrk, ef

Flickr.com

Old Cottonwood Bridge

photo

Old Cottonwood Bridge

Tags

fall

bridge

canada

bc

british

columbia

quesnel

cottonwood

river

yellow

leaves

trees

tree

water

wood

wooden

old

reflection

snap

shot
Flickr.com

samedi 2 juillet 2011

The Old Fisherman

photo

The Old Fisherman

Tags

beach

summer

happiness

joy

Grand Haven

Pentwater

Michigan

Water

Pearls

Pink

Blue

Red

orange

lady

kids

love

old
Flickr.com

vendredi 1 juillet 2011

Horsetail Falls-1

photo

Horsetail Falls-1

This is another of the amazing waterfalls along US-30, along the Historic Columbia River Scenic Area.
This fall can be seen literally from the side of the road. No hike needed. Even though I got there early, part of the falls were already starting to get some sunlight, so I had to get creative. Here are 3 views of the falls.

Stream: Horsetail Creek
Height: 192 ft.
Elevation: 50 ft.
---------

Camera Canon EOS 5D Mark II + 17-40L + Polarizer
Exposure 0.8
Aperture f/20.0
Focal Length 19 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias -1/3 EV

Press &quot;L" to view large on black.

Tags

Columbia River Gorge

Horsetail Falls

Landscape Photographer

Michael A. Pancier

Oregon

Pacific Northwest

Portland

US-30

commercial photography

fine art photographer

nature photographer

waterfalls

www.michaelpancierphotography.com

USA

Oregon Waterfalls

Pacific Northwest Waterfalls

Michael Pancier Photography

canon eos 5d, historic columbia river, ft elevation, canon eos, camera canon, columbia river, waterfalls ebook download, quot, bias, sunlight, 192, northwest, canon, photography

Flickr.com

The Beach

photo

The Beach

Tags

BORGO BONSIGNORE

AGRIGENTO

SICILY

ITALY

SICILIA

ITALIA

MEDITERRENEAN

MEDITERRENEAN SEA

SHORELINE

COAST

COSTA

BEACH

OCEAN

WATER

PEOPLE

FAMILY AT BEACH

SUMMER HOLIDAY

COASTLINE

SPIAGGIA

BOAT

SUNBATHERS

WAVES
Flickr.com