martes, 31 de mayo de 2011

Plano de Aco da Cooperao Transfronteiria Alentejo, Algarve e Andaluzia IPBeja2317

photo

Plano de Aco da Cooperao Transfronteiria Alentejo, Algarve e Andaluzia IPBeja2317

No dia 24 de Maio de 2011, no Auditrio 1 do IPBeja, realizou-se o Encontro Tcnico do Plano de Aco da Cooperao Transfronteiria Alentejo, Algarve e Andaluzia PACTA3.
Mais reportagens Fotogrficas em:
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Noticias:
www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Beja-Portugal/Pagina-o...
IPBeja TV
www.youtube.com/ipbejatv

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pisapia-15

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lunes, 30 de mayo de 2011

IMG_4590

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Wheldon takes advantage of last-lap crash by Hildebrand to win Indy 500

Dan Wheldon

Dan Wheldon takes the traditional drink of milk in Victory Lane after winning the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. (John Sommers II / Reuters / May 29, 2011)

Reporting from Indianapolis—

Every driver in the Indianapolis 500 gives some nod to the race's famed history and tradition, but perhaps none treats the race and Indianapolis Motor Speedway with more reverence than Dan Wheldon.

Related

Team Penske doesn't fare well in Indianapolis 500 Team Penske doesn't fare well in Indianapolis 500

Pictures: Celebrities at the Indy 500 Photos: Pictures: Celebrities at the Indy 500

Danica Patrick is at a crossroads on the eve of the Indy 500 Danica Patrick is at a crossroads on the eve of the Indy 500

Just why does the Indianapolis 500 winner drink a bottle of milk? And other trivia from the Brickyard Just why does the Indianapolis 500 winner drink a bottle of milk? And other trivia from the Brickyard

The history of the Indianapolis 500 The history of the Indianapolis 500

So it wasn't surprising that moments after the 100th anniversary race reached its chaotic, did-you-see-that climax Sunday, the British driver's voice cracked as he held back tears.

"I just kept pushing," said Wheldon, 32, who doesn't have a full-time ride in the Izod IndyCar Series this year but was hired just to drive in the sport's crown-jewel race.

And as a student of Indy's history, Wheldon knows that anything can happen at the Brickyard, and on this day the unexpected gave Wheldon his second Indianapolis 500 victory and left a 23-year-old Californian crushed with disappointment.

J.R. Hildebrand, a rookie from Sausalito, was leading the race on the final lap at the 2.5-mile track in front a crowd of more than 200,000, a dramatic turn of events in its own right. But Hildebrand drove too hard into the fourth turn and crashed the side of his car into the outside wall.

Hildebrand still was able to move forward toward the finish line, but Wheldon swept past him to reach the checkered flag first, with Hildebrand second.

Graham Rahal, son of 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, finished third; Tony Kanaan was fourth and Scott Dixon was fifth.

Showing remarkable composure in his post-race interview, Hildebrand explained that he had driven into Turn 4 on the high side of the track earlier in the race without issue, and thought he could on the final lap as he approached a slower car.

But the outside lane always is treacherous because there are bits of rubber from the cars' tires, dubbed "marbles," that collect there and can cause trouble when a car drives through them at 200 mph. The danger is exacerbated when the car driving through has worn tires of its own, as Hildrebrand's did.

"There were a bunch of marbles on the outside," he said. "Once I got up there, there wasn't a lot I could do. Is it a move I would do again? No."

Coincidentally, Hildebrand drives for Panther Racing, the team for which Wheldon had driven in 2009 and 2010 when he finished second in the Indy 500 in both years.

Wheldon's first Indy 500 win came in 2005 when he also won the series championship for the old Andretti Green Racing team.

As he followed Hildebrand on the final lap, Wheldon said suddenly "out of the corner of my eye I saw him hit the fence."

"At that point I knew it was mine," Wheldon said, but added that "I was going to drive that thing like I stole it until I saw the checkered flag."

Wheldon announced his Indy 500 deal in April with a team led by veteran driver Bryan Herta with backers that included the legendary Agajanian racing family of Southern California. Wheldon's car number, in fact, was the "98" long used by the Agajanians.

"I think my contract expires at midnight tonight," Wheldon said. "I just knew when I started this race I wanted to do everything in my power to deliver a win."

Asked whether he would drive additional races this season, Wheldon said, "That's one for the owners."

For much of the race it appeared the Target Chip Ganassi Racing duo of Dixon and Dario Franchitti might decide the race.

Dixon, who won the Indy 500 in 2008, led a race-high 73 laps and Franchitti, the reigning 500 winner and series champion, led 51.

But in the closing stages, as various cars had to pit for fuel, other drivers such as Rahal, Kanaan and Danica Patrick came to the fore, as did Bertrand Baguette, a Belgian driver who led 11 laps. But they all eventually had to stop for fuel.

Patrick started 25th but climbed into the top 10 and, as others made pit stops, she led 10 laps, the first time she has led at Indy since 2005, when she nearly won the race in her rookie year. She finished 10th on Sunday.

"You're just hoping for that break" while in front, Patrick said.

Marco Andretti, her teammate at the Andretti Autosport team, finished ninth and can sympathize with Hildebrand.

As a rookie in 2006, Andretti lost the Indy 500 when he was passed in the last 100 yards by Sam Hornish Jr. Andretti and Hildebrand are the only two drivers to lose the lead of the storied race on the final lap.

james.peltz@latimes.com

indianapolis motor speedway, winner bobby rahal, graham rahal, bobby rahal, dan wheldon, indianapolis 500 winner, tony kanaan, danica patrick, 1986 indy 500 winner bobby, scott dixon, 1986 indy 500, indianapolis 500, crown jewel, victory lane, 100th anniversary, time ride, finish line, team penske, final lap, indycar series

Latimes.com

domingo, 29 de mayo de 2011

Fifa in crisis: the accused, the bribery charges and how the governing body will investigate them

Fifa in crisis: the accused, the bribery charges and how the governing body will investigate them

The accused, the charges and how the governing body will investigate them.

Fifa in crisis: the main players in the alleged presidential bribery scandal -Fifa <a href=executive committee member Chuck Blazer"/>

Blazing row: Fifa executive committee member Chuck Blazer compiled a report alleging bribes were given to secure votes for the upcoming presidential election Photo: GETTY IMAGES

11:59PM BST 28 May 2011

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Mohamed bin Hammam

The Qatari, who is standing against Blatter for the Fifa presidency, is alleged to have set up the Trinidad meeting “expressly” to allow him to offer bribes. He is accused of breaching articles 10 and 11 of Fifa&rsquo;s code of ethics, prohibiting the payment of cash as gifts and the payment of bribes.

He denies the charge.

Jack Warner

The Fifa vice-president, president of Concacaf and the Caribbean Football Union is accused of organising the Trinidad meeting on Bin Hammam’s behalf and facilitating the payment of bribes. Also accused of breaching Fifa regulations concerning bribery and the payment of gifts.

He denies the charges.

Sepp Blatter

The Fifa president is accused by Bin Hammam of having turned a blind eye to the alleged improper payments. Warner is said to have told Caribbean football officials, and Concacaf general secretary Chuck Blazer, that he had told Blatter about the payments and that the president had not objected.

He denies the charge.

The hearing

The Fifa ethics committee hearing at Fifa House Zurich on Sunday will be chaired by its deputy chairman, Namibia’s Petrus Damaseb, who is president of his country’s High Court.

Damaseb will hear submissions from Chuck Blazer, who ordered a Concacaf investigation into the bribery allegations, and the accused, and is likely to open a full investigation led by an independent figure.

One or all of the defendants could be provisionally suspended pending that investigation, which would raise further questions over Wednesday’s election.

According to Fifa statutes the election can be postponed only if 75 per cent of congress agrees.

fifa presidency, caribbean football union, bribery allegations, executive committee member, bribery charges, fifa president, rsquo, football officials, improper payments, code of ethics, president president, concacaf, blatter, bribes, committee hearing, qatari, deputy chairman, blind eye, general secretary, governing body

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

sábado, 28 de mayo de 2011

Tenby

photo

Tenby

Taken on the Bronica ETRS on kodak ektar 100, developed using the Tetenal C41 Kit.

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Just one criminal jailed for every 93 crimes

Just one criminal jailed for every 93 crimes

Just one criminal is jailed for every 93 offences committed, figures showed.

Just one criminal jailed for every 93 crimes

The annual criminal justice statistics revealed that the proportion of serial offenders has risen sharply in the last decade Photo: REX

Tom Whitehead

By Tom Whitehead, Home Affairs Editor 4:43PM BST 26 May 2011

A total of 101,500 offenders who were convicted last year were handed an immediate custodial sentence – representing less than eight per cent of all those sentenced, according to the Ministry of Justice.

But separate figures from the British Crime Survey show a total 9.5 million crimes were committed in England and Wales during the last 12 months.

The annual criminal justice statistics also revealed that the proportion of serial offenders has risen sharply in the last decade.

Offenders with at least 15 previous convictions to their name now make up 29 per cent of those convicted in the crown courts, compared to just 17 per cent in 2000.

Jonathan Djanogly, the justice minister, said: “These statistics show that the number of criminals committing multiple crimes has risen dramatically over the last decade.

“This is further evidence that we need urgent reform to tackle reoffending and so cut crime.

“The justice system must continue to properly punish the guilty and protect communities by locking up serious and dangerous criminals. But it also needs to address reoffending by putting in place demanding programmes of both punishment and reform.

“Prisons must become places of hard work and sentences must be designed to properly tackle the root causes of crime, such as drug and alcohol misuse or mental illness.”

british crime survey, criminal justice statistics, jonathan djanogly, home affairs editor, tom whitehead, drug and alcohol misuse, dangerous criminals, previous convictions, serial offenders, crown courts, custodial sentence, last decade, drug and alcohol, justice minister, ministry of justice, justice system, mental illness, bst, prisons, 5 million

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

viernes, 27 de mayo de 2011

searching for footprints in the snow

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searching for footprints in the snow

Camaldoli, I

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jueves, 26 de mayo de 2011

Kenny Werner Quintet Ramatuelle 08 2010-9

<a href=photo" width="400" height="600">

Kenny Werner quintet Ramatuelle 08 2010-9

Kenny Werner Quintet Jazz Ramatuelle 17 08 2010

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Champions League final 2011: Barcelona flying to London tonight due to ash cloud ahead of Manchester United tie

Champions League final 2011: Barcelona flying to London tonight due to ash cloud ahead of Manchester United tie

The Barcelona team will travel to London this evening due to fears of volcanic ash from Iceland drifting towards England ahead of Saturday's Champions League final.

Champions League final 2011: Barcelona flying to London tonight due to ash cloud ahead of Manchester United clash

Jetting off: Barcelona will fly early to avoid ash cloud delays Photo: GETTY IMAGES

By Telegraph staff and agencies 12:19PM BST 24 May 2011

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The Spanish champions were due to head to England on Thursday for this weekend's Wembley showpiece against Manchester United, but have opted to arrive two days ahead of schedule.

A Barca statement read: "To avoid possible disruption due to ash from the volcano Grimsvotn, the Barca first team will travel to London today at 2200hrs."

Barca spokesman Toni Freixa will appear at a press conference at the Nou Camp at 1700 local time (1600 BST) this afternoon to provide further information to supporters.

The eruption of the grimsvotn volcano has already led to airlines cancelling a number of flights to and from Irish and Scottish airports.

Coach Pep Guardiola yesterday spoke of his concerns over disruption that could be caused to both the team and the fans - many of whom will travel on the day of the match - and promised the Catalan club would take every precaution.

"I hope the volcano sleeps a little bit longer," he said. "The important thing is that they tell us; whatever they say we'll do with the maximum anticipation possible.

"If they tell us we can't risk the trip then we'll travel tomorrow or the day after.

"If not, we'll travel like we planned - we will not take any risks."

Guardiola believes Uefa will go ahead with the final even if the fans are unable to travel.

"The final will be on Saturday," he said. "Uefa won't change the date of the final.

"We will play even if the stadium is half empty, but that would be sad.

"Let's hope that the volcano doesn't disrupt travel plans of all the fans who want to go."

Barca were forced to travel by bus to Milan to face Inter in the semi-final of last year's competition after flights were cancelled due to the ash cloud which covered much of western Europe. Jose Mourinho's Inter won 3-1 at the San Siro and went through 3-2 on aggregate.

pep guardiola, grimsvotn volcano, ash cloud, scottish airports, champions league final, volcanic ash, telegraph staff, spanish champions, nou camp, showpiece, manchester united, wembley, travel plans, disruption, precaution, getty, anticipation, match, local time, fears

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

miércoles, 25 de mayo de 2011

Beach-In 007

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Beach-In 007

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Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is 'pathetic and insecure', says AC Milan's Massimiliano Allegri

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is 'pathetic and insecure', says AC Milan's Massimiliano Allegri

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has labelled Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho "pathetic" and "insecure".

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is 'pathetic and insecure', says AC Milan's Massimiliano Allegri

Chmpions: AC Milan won the Serie A title under Massimiliano Allegri (left) Photo: GETTY IMAGES

By Telegraph staff and agencies 9:28AM BST 25 May 2011

Comments

Allegri, who led Milan in his first season in charge to their first scudetto since 2004, was asked to give his opinion on rival coaches on TV show Le Iene.

When questioned about former Inter Milan boss Mourinho, he said: "Every now and then he (Mourinho) is pathetic.

"He continuously repeats the same things and it becomes banal. I think he is very talented but his arrogance hides insecurity."

In two years at Inter, Mourinho won the Champions League and successive Serie A titles before moving to Madrid.

The Portuguese was recently given a five-match ban by Uefa for implying Barcelona are given special treatment when the Catalan club beat Madrid in the Champions League this season.

Allegri is the latest in a long line of fellow coaches to give Mourinho a less than glowing reference.

Guus Hiddink recently called on him to apologise for his behaviour surrounding the Barca tie, while the Portuguese has had a long-running feud with Rafa Benitez and former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri.

massimiliano allegri, claudio ranieri, jose mourinho, inter milan, ac milan, telegraph staff, rival coaches, real madrid, le iene, scudetto, uefa, insecurity, arrogance, champions league, catalan, getty ebook download, match, portuguese, boss, tv show

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

martes, 24 de mayo de 2011

Stegosaurus

photo

Stegosaurus

Stegosaurus is a genus of stegosaurid armored dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period (Kimmeridgian to early Tithonian) in what is now western North America. In 2006, a specimen of Stegosaurus was announced from Portugal, showing that they were present in Europe as well. Due to its distinctive tail spikes and plates, Stegosaurus is one of the most recognizable dinosaurs, along with Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, and Apatosaurus. The name Stegosaurus means "roof lizard" (sometimes put as "covered lizard", but in the sense that a roof covers a building) and is derived from the Greek st????-, stegos- ("roof") and sa????, -sauros ("lizard"). At least three species have been identified in the upper Morrison Formation and are known from the remains of about 80 individuals. They lived some 155 to 150 million years ago, in an environment and time dominated by the giant sauropods Diplodocus, Camarasaurus, and Apatosaurus.

A large, heavily built, herbivorous quadruped, Stegosaurus had a distinctive and unusual posture, with a heavily rounded back, short forelimbs, head held low to the ground and a stiffened tail held high in the air. Its array of plates and spikes has been the subject of much speculation. The spikes were most likely used for defense, while the plates have also been proposed as a defensive mechanism, as well as having display and thermoregulatory (heat control) functions. Stegosaurus was the largest of all the stegosaurians (bigger than genera such as Kentrosaurus and Huayangosaurus) and, although roughly bus-sized, it nonetheless shared many anatomical features (including the tail spines and plates) with the other stegosaurian genera.

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tail spikes, armored dinosaur, giant sauropods, kentrosaurus, greek st, camarasaurus, defensive mechanism, morrison formation, anatomical features, jurassic period, forelimbs, heat control, coast vacation, control functions, triceratops, stegosaurus, tyrannosaurus, spines, million years, lizard, online

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lunes, 23 de mayo de 2011

Sky view

photo

Sky view

I had to run around on that bridge for some time and be very patient...
Note that the water in venice (the Laguna, and here, the Canale Grande) is not very charming. In some places it's even.... well, let's forget it.

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And they all have the same tee-shirt

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patient note, canale grande, venice, bridge, sky

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Lyon-les-deux-glises

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Lyon-les-deux-glises

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domingo, 22 de mayo de 2011

Sculler

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Sculler

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sábado, 21 de mayo de 2011

The Venetian Gondola

photo

The Venetian gondola

The gondola is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian Lagoon. For centuries gondolas were once the chief means of transportation and most common watercraft within Venice.

The gondola is propelled by a person (the gondolier) who stands facing the bow and rows with a forward stroke, followed by a compensating backward stroke.

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Gold Domes for Sale

photo

Gold domes for Sale

• HDR Photo

One way some monasteries pay their way is making "gold domes" for other churches. Or a reasonable facsimile of such. Rest assured that in these particular domes, there is no gold. One had a tag of approximately 16,000 hriven, which comes out to around $2000. With the price of gold well over $1000 an ounce, this is a case where "all that glimmers isn't gold."

Comments and Faves much appreciated!

Thoughts | Comments | Critiques | Questions ~ Always Welcome

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by Matt Shalvatis - Roads Less Traveled Photography
Personal Sites: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Contributor to: HDR Spotting | HDR Photog | Topaz Masters
Contributors needed! Contribute to Topaz Masters!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~ Top Sets @ Flickr ~~
 

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viernes, 20 de mayo de 2011

Medicine Wheel with Prayer Flags

photo

Medicine Wheel with Prayer Flags

A magical place. Just added some vignetting.

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Man with alpaca in the mall. Asked if I knew I was wearing an outfit in Dutch flag colours

photo

Man with alpaca in the mall. Asked if I knew I was wearing an outfit in Dutch flag colours

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jueves, 19 de mayo de 2011

Detained Journalist Released by Iran

VANCOUVER, British Columbia—Missing journalist Dorothy Parvaz has been released by Iranian authorities and was back at her residence in Doha, Qatar.

The Iranian-born Ms. Parvaz, who also has Canadian and American citizenship, works for the Doha-based news agency Al Jazeera. The Doha-based network confirmed Ms. Parvaz's release in an emailed statement.

Ms. Parvaz's fiance, Todd Barker, said she called him early Wednesday from Qatar as she was clearing customs.

"I looked at my phone, saw it was her number and God, it was as unreal as the moment when I got the call that she hadn't been contacted in 24 hours," Mr. Barker told The Canadian Press.

Ms. Parvaz, 39, went missing after leaving Qatar on April 29 for Damascus to cover the anti-government uprising in Syria for Al Jazeera's English-language news network. Syrian authorities said Ms. Parvaz was sent to Iran shortly after her arrival, but Iranian authorities didn't say anything about her whereabouts.

Mr. Barker said Ms. Parvaz told him that she was "treated very well, she was interrogated, but she's fine."

He said Ms. Parvaz would be returning to Canada at some point, but couldn't say when that might be.

"She can't get to Vancouver fast enough, in my opinion," he said.

Al Jazeera said she landed in the Qatari capital on Wednesday on a flight from Iran. It said she wasn't allowed any contact with the outside world while she was detained.

"She has been in contact with her family, and we are with her now to find out more about her ordeal over the last 18 days," an Al Jazeera spokesman said.

The Associated Press couldn't immediately reach officials at Canada's embassy in Kuwait, which handles consular matters for Qatar.

After Ms. Parvaz went missing in Syria, a Facebook page entitled "Free Dorothy Parvaz" was created and attracted about 16,400 followers. Her brother, Dan Parvaz, announced her release in a post on the page early Wednesday.

"While I'm grateful to the Iranian government for her treatment and release, I'm more grateful to all of you." he wrote. "You kept the faith, made phone calls, wrote letters, rallied, watched the media ... and never lost hope."

Mr. Barker said he had no prior indication that Ms. Parvaz would be released and described her phone call as "out of the blue."

"When you don't hear from somebody you love for 19 days ... you don't know if they're dead, don't know if they're alive, you don't know if they're being tortured."

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, told reporters Tuesday that Ms. Parvaz had committed "violations" by trying to enter Syria with an expired Iranian passport and "planned to work without a press permit and had several passports on her." He offered no details on what had happened to her in Iran.

In Syria, the government of President Bashar Assad has banned most outside journalists and placed strict controls on the few media outlets remaining in the country.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said about 20 local and international journalists have been assaulted or detained in Syria or expelled from the country since the protests against Assad broke out in March.

Ms. Parvaz previously worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and obtained a master's degree from the University of Arizona.

vancouver british columbia, doha qatar, parvaz, iranian authorities, syrian authorities, american citizenship, consular matters, mr barker, returning to canada, al jazeera, iranian government, language news, damascus, fiance, ordeal, april 29, news agency, uprising, followers, news network

Online.wsj.com

Adornando la naturaleza.

photo

Adornando la naturaleza.

Exposicin: 0,025 sec (1/40)
Apertura: f/4.0
Lente: 55 mm
Velocidad ISO: 100

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miércoles, 18 de mayo de 2011

Happy Bench Monday!

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Happy bench Monday!

a bird's eye view of bids' over a bench :-)

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Armed Forces face billions of pounds of further cuts in additional MoD cost review

Armed Forces face billions of pounds of further cuts in additional MoD cost review

The Armed Forces face another wave of cuts in the next financial year as the Ministry of Defence seeks to make billions of pounds in further savings.

HMS Ark Royal's last remaining sailors march to a decommissioning ceremony for the axed airc<a href=raft carrier at Portsmouth Naval Base: Armed Forces face further cuts in additional MoD cost review"/>

 

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HMS Ark Royal's last remaining sailors march to a decommissioning ceremony for the axed aircraft carrier at Portsmouth Naval Base Photo: PA

Harrier GR9: Armed Forces face further cuts in additional MoD cost review

 

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The Harrier fleet has been scrapped Photo: EPA

7:51AM BST 16 May 2011

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A three-month study, reporting in July, will consider how more personnel and equipment programmes could be axed.

It follows October's controversial Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) which outlined measures to slash thousands of personnel, scrap the Harrier fleet and Nimrod spy planes and retire the HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier.

Potential targets reportedly include HMS Illustrious, Britain's last surviving aircraft carrier, which is due back from a refit next year.

A £2billion plan for a new fleet of armoured vehicles could also be singled out for the axe as well as a £16billion plan to buy a new generation of jets.

The Ministry of Defence insisted it was not reopening the SDSR but said it was looking at balancing "defence priorities and the budget over the long-term".

"The three-month study is part of that work to ensure we match our assumptions with our spending settlement," a spokesman said.

"We have made it clear that while the SDSR had made substantial inroads into the £38billionn funding deficit, there is still more to be done."

Armed Forces heads have warned that resources are already stretched with conflicts being fought in Afghanistan and Libya. The Army is likely to bear the brunt of further cuts after the Navy and RAF saw the largest squeeze in the initial SDSR. The war in Libya has demanded the use of naval and and air assets while the death of Osama bin Laden has left the Armed Forces looking exposed.

A defence industry source told The Times: “[The cuts are] going to be a bloodbath. The black hole is still there and billions more need to be cut. The Army has got to be where it comes from but that is political dynamite.”

The deep cuts unveiled last year set out the future shape and size of Britain's armed forces.

Under the proposals, the defence budget is to fall by 8 per cent over the next four years. The MoD is to cut its civilian personnel by 25,000 by 2015; Army numbers will be reduced by 7,000 to 95,500; Navy manpower will be cut by 5,000 to 30,000; RAF forces will be reduced by 5,000 to 33,000 and tanks and heavy artillery numbers will be reduced by 40 per cent.

However, the MoD now wants to make further savings for the financial year ending in March 2012.

The review comes as Defence Secretary Liam Fox prepares to unveil the new military covenant which promises extra help for the armed forces and will enshrine their rights in law.

Dr Fox is expected to set out a number of enhanced services for the military, such as doubling the rate of council tax relief to 50 per cent for those serving overseas, a £3 million boost for schools with high numbers of children from forces family and making it easier for seriously injured service personnel and veterans to access cut-price public transport.

Despite current planned cuts, in addition to efficiency savings and planned reforms the MoD is facing a shortfall of more than £3billion over the next three years. The figure is expected to be considerably higher in the nine years to 2020. The government must decide whether to increase defence spending in 2014 or continue to push through budget cuts.

hms ark royal, spy planes, air assets, royal aircraft, armoured vehicles, defence industry, industry source, security review, harrier, aircraft carrier, ministry of defence, nimrod, inroads, hms, brunt, sdsr, raf, bst online, sailors, billions

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

martes, 17 de mayo de 2011

lac de Villefort - Lozre

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lac de Villefort - Lozre

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Chris Huhne: claims Energy Secretary persuaded wife to take speeding points on his behalf 'simply incorrect'

Chris Huhne: claims Energy Secretary persuaded wife to take speeding points on his behalf 'simply incorrect'

Chris Huhne, the Energy Secretary, has welcomed a police investigation into "simply incorrect" allegations that he persuaded his wife to take speeding penalty points on his behalf.

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By Mark Hughes 1:40PM BST 16 May 2011

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Mr Huhne said he hoped the investigation by Essex police would "draw a line under the matter".

It came after David Cameron, the Prime Minister, said he has "full confidence" in Mr Huhne.

The Liberal Democrat Cabinet minister said: "All I want to say is that these allegations are simply incorrect. They've been made before and they've been shown to be untrue, and I very much welcome the referral to the police as it will draw a line under the matter. I don't want to say anything more than that, I think the police can get to the bottom of this."

Essex Police are reviewing a complaint against Mr Huhne are considering launching a formal investigation into the allegations, made by his estranged wife vicky Pryce.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said that Mr Huhne had denied the allegations and that Mr Cameron retained confidence in him.

Asked about the allegations against Mr Huhne personally, Mr Cameron, speaking in central London, said: “Chris Huhne has denied that.”

The suggestion that the former Liberal Democrat leadership contender persuaded someone else to accept his speeding points, so he could avoid a driving ban, was first raised publicly by Miss Pryce last week.

The Daily Telegraph has learnt that the person alleged to have taken the points is Miss Pryce herself.

Labour MPs have urged Mr Huhne to stand down from the Cabinet while the allegations are investigated. His resignation would be a significant political blow to the Coalition, which has already had to cope with the loss of the Lib Dem Treasury Secretary David Laws over an expenses scandal.

Mr Huhne left Miss Pryce, his wife of 26 years, in June last year after beginning an affair with Carina Trimingham, a bisexual public relations officer.

The conversation included Mr Huhne telling her: "There is no evidence for this story unless you give it some legs by saying something."

He adds: "The story they are trying to stand up is 'Cabinet Minister persuaded XXX to take points'. The only way they can stand that up is by getting you to talk to them.

"There is simply no other person who could tell them whether it is true or not."

The other person in the conversation refuses to lie for Mr Huhne, saying: "It's one of the things that worried me when you made me take the points."

Detective Superintendent Tim Wills, of Essex police, has been appointed to consider a formal complaint from Labour MP Simon Danczuk over the allegations.

Det Supt Wills said an investigation will not be formally launched "until our inquiries show that an offence has been committed".

"This is the work that my team and I will be carrying out this week," he added.

The Daily Telegraph asked Miss Pryce whether she was the person who took Mr Huhne's speeding points and whether she was the other person in the recorded phone call. She refused to comment, saying only: "I am not talking to anyone."

The Energy Secretary is known to have confided in Mr Clegg about his ex-wife's claims, explaining that she was "out for revenge" as a result of the bitter end to their marriage.

Mr Danczuk, the Labour MP for Rochdale, said last night: "I thought the allegations were of such a serious nature that they warranted further attention.

"The sooner they clear it up either way the better.

"I think it right that if the police launch an investigation then Chris Huhne stands aside as a minister until that investigation has taken place."

Labour sources pointed out that Peter Hain, the former work and pensions secretary, voluntarily stood down after the last Labour deputy leadership contest, while police investigated claims that he had improperly accepted a donation from a third party. He was later cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.

Until this weekend, police had been unable to act on the claims, which date back to March 12, 2003, because their electronic records do not go further back than 2006.

The alleged speeding offence is reported to have happened in Chelmsford, Essex, when Mr Huhne, then an MEP, was returning from the European Parliament.

It would have attracted a three point penalty and a driving ban for Mr Huhne. It is understood that Miss Pryce, whose divorce from Mr Huhne is to be finalised this week, told a reporter some time ago she agreed to accept the points on behalf of her husband.

When she repeated the claims in two newspapers last weekend, she only said she was “aware that he pressurised people to take his driving licence penalty points”.

To avoid incriminating herself, it is understood the newspapers agreed to imply that the points had been taken by an aide for her husband.

However, the allegations were given fresh impetus yesterday with the emergence of the tape recording and the complaint by Mr Danczuk.

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Telegraph.feedsportal.com

lunes, 16 de mayo de 2011

Art of nature

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Art of nature

It is amazing how nature can make art. When the tide go up and down it make this ice sculpture.

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domingo, 15 de mayo de 2011

Avram Grant sacked as West Ham United face player exodus following relegation to the Championship

Avram Grant sacked as West Ham United face player exodus following relegation to the Championship

Avram Grant was sacked as manager of West Ham United within minutes of the club being relegated from the Premier League on Sunday.

Avram Grant sacked as West Ham face player exodus in the Championship

Lights out: West Ham have called time on Avram Grant's underwhelming time at Upton Park Photo: AFP

Jason Burt

By Jason Burt 11:00PM BST 15 May 2011

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He was informed by chairman David Sullivan, who waited for Grant in the tunnel as he left the pitch amid chaotic scenes at the DW Stadium after West Ham&rsquo;s dramatic 3-2 defeat to Wigan Athletic.

Grant was then led to a spare room inside the stadium where he was summarily sacked by Sullivan, co-owner David Gold and the club’s vice-chairman, Karren Brady.

Neil Warnock, whose future at Queen’s park rangers is in doubt, despite the remarkable job he has done there, features prominently on the list of possible replacements although on Sunday night a senior club source claimed there was only a “10 per cent chance” he would take over. The former Sheffield United manager’s history with West Ham over the Carlos Tévez affair is a problem while the club may seek a younger manager.

Despite the expectation that Grant was going to go, the suddenness was a shock, not least to the 56-year-old Israeli who was telling friends last week that he still hoped to stay despite losing the faith of the board.

West Ham United have already drawn up a short-list and are desperate to find a manager who has experience of gaining promotion from the Championship. As well as seeing whether Warnock holds on to his job at QPR - talks on his future are expected this week with strong suggestions that Claudio Ranieri could still replace him - there also remains firm interest in Paul Lambert although he is expected to remain at Norwich City for the time being now they are promoted.

There is also interest in Cardiff City’s Dave Jones and Blackpool’s Ian Holloway while West Ham did discuss, previously, the merits of Sam Allardyce, although he is unlikely to want to drop down from the top flight, and Chris Hughton. It may well that West Ham wait and see how the relegation and promotion contests play out before they make their move for a new manager who will have to undertake an extensive rebuilding of a squad that will be decimated by the drop.

Sullivan has said a number of the big names and high-earners will go - like Scott Parker and Robert Green - while others - Matthew Upson, Luis Boa Morte, Danny Gabbidon and Jonathan Spector - are out of contract. Robbie Keane and Wayne Bridge, who earn £155,0000 a week between them, will return to their parent clubs.

Sullivan has estimated the cost of relegation at £40 million and there is also likely to be a round of redundancies on top of the player exodus - which will also include Thomas Hitzlsperger and Demba Ba.

The key will be whether the board and the new manager can hold on to some of the younger players such as James Tomkins, Jack Collison and Mark Noble - West Ham have already had offers - but that may well depend on who takes over and what kind of assurances can be given.

Grant has struggled at West Ham from the outset. He was sacked just 11 months into a four-year deal after joining last summer despite leading Portsmouth to relegation from the Premier League. However he came close to losing his job in December when West Ham approached Martin O’Neill and believed they had secured the former Aston Villa manager only for the deal to collapse.

The board have put assistant coach Kevin Keen in charge for the final league game of the season, at home to Sunderland, in a move that would also appear to be an attempt to defuse some of the anger around them.

However there will undoubtedly be a hostile atmosphere at Upton Park for Sullivan and Gold who only took over in January 2010, promising to restore the club’s fortunes.

The West Ham players have struggled with Grant’s training regime and tactics this season and there is understood to be deep regret within the boardroom that he was not sacked earlier in a campaign which appeared doom to failure with him in charge.

Grant replaced Gianfranco Zola who only just staved off relegation last May and was regarded as too weak by the new owners, despite the financial meltdown at the club that he faced and dealt with.

Instead of sacking Grant, West Ham invested in loan players in January. There was a rally in form, which saw them out of the bottom three, but then they collapsed again, with relegation yesterday despite a 2-0 lead at Wigan Athletic.

As tensions rose, a fan is understood to have remonstrated with Brady as she sat in the directors’ box, while there were chants for Grant to go and Parker was confronted on the pitch by home fans celebrating the win which gives Wigan survival hope.

Grant, who returned to London with the rest of the squad, did his usual post-match press conference even though he knew he was sacked.

He said: “I don’t know my future, I don’t think about myself now, it’s too tough for me that we’re relegated. First we have to face this situation. Yes, I take responsibility. I’m not a guy who gives responsibility to other people, it is my responsibility to pick the team and every game and the tactics so it’s my responsibility about the result.”

He is understood to have an open invitation to return to Chelsea, possibly as director of football, and still enjoys a good relationship with Roman Abramovich despite being sacked in 2008. He has told friends, however, that he wants to remain a manager.

karren brady, claudio ranieri, avram grant, neil warnock, west ham united, jason burt, cardiff city, sheffield united, norwich city, david gold, park rangers, rsquo, paul lambert, remarkable job, david sullivan, sullivan co, upton park, spare room, chairman david, s park

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Snail Kite

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snail Kite

Taken friday morning on Lake Tohopekaliga ...

Camera Canon EOS 7D+400 5.6L
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/1250)
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sábado, 14 de mayo de 2011

Sea Fan: Lauderdale by the Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Florida.

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Sea Fan: lauderdale by the sea, Atlantic Ocean, Florida.

A huge Sea Fan on the hard bottom, Lauderdale by the Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Florida.

sealife DC 1200 with Wide Angle Lens

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viernes, 13 de mayo de 2011

Iraq inquiry: Alastair Campbell 'misrepresented' purpose of WMD dossier, former military intelligence chief says

Iraq inquiry: Alastair Campbell 'misrepresented' purpose of WMD dossier, former military intelligence chief says

Alastair Campbell has been accused by a former military intelligence chief of "misrepresenting" the purpose of the socalled dodgy dossier to the Iraq Inquiry.

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Gordon Rayner

By Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter 7:02PM BST 12 May 2011

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In his evidence, the former Downing Street communications director rejected suggestions that he had been asked to "beef up" the dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and said its purpose had not been "to make a case for war".

But Major General Michael Laurie, who was the Ministry of Defence’s director general, intelligence collection, from 2002 to 2003, told the inquiry that making a case for war was “exactly its purpose”.

Maj Gen Laurie added that he and his colleagues were told that a previous intelligence dossier “did not make a strong enough case” and for months he was “under pressure to find intelligence that could reinforce the case” for war.

His evidence, which is the first time such a senior intelligence officer has directly contradicted the Blair government’s official line on the dossier, will restart the row over whether Downing Street “sexed up” the September 2002 document to persuade the public and MPs that the 2003 invasion of Iraq was necessary.

Maj Gen Laurie’s comments were made in private last year and have only now been published by the inquiry chairman, Sir John Chilcot, along with newly-declassified government memos and other evidence heard behind closed doors.

Sir John also disclosed that the Inquiry, which had originally intended to publish its final report at the end of 2010, will not now give its findings to Parliament before this year’s summer recess, meaning the report is likely to be almost a year late by the time it is delivered.

Maj Gen Laurie emailed the Inquiry in January 2010, two weeks after Mr Campbell had told the panel that the September 2002 dossier “was not the case for war, it was the case why the prime minister had become more concerned”.

The former intelligence chief told the inquiry: “He stated that the purpose of the dossier was not to make a case for war; I and those involved in its production saw it exactly as that, and that was the direction we were given.”

He said his boss, Air Marshal Sir Joe French, the Chief of Defence Intelligence, often asked “whether we were missing something; he was under pressure.

“We could find no evidence of planes, missiles or equipment that related to WMD…during the drafting of the final dossier, every fact was managed to make it as strong as possible…it was clear to me that there was direction and pressure being applied on the Joint Intelligence Committee and its drafters.

“In summary, we knew at the time that the purpose of the dossier was precisely to make a case for war, rather than setting out the available intelligence, and that to make the best out of sparse and inconclusive intelligence the wording was developed with care.”

In his live evidence to the Inquiry in June last year, Maj Gen Laurie was asked by Sir John: “You thought that Alastair Campbell's evidence misrepresented things?”

He replied: “I think behind my concern is the line (from Mr Campbell) that ‘we read the intelligence and made a decision on that and then the intelligence turned out to be wrong’ and I don't think that is fair.”

He added: “We were reporting on what we could find and we were being asked the whole time, ‘Can you not find more? Why can't you find more?’”

In a message on Twitter, Mr Campbell said he had "nothing to add" to his evidence to the inquiry.

He wrote: "Dossier not case for war. Set out why govt more concerned re Iraq WMD. Never met Gen Laurie."

The former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said the "direct and unequivocal conflict of evidence" was key to the Inquiry's findings, as: "The controversy surrounding the dossier of September 2002 lies right at the very heart of the criticisms made of the Blair government."

The Inquiry also released a letter from Sir Hilary Synnott, the Coalition’s regional co-ordinator for southern Iraq from 2003-04, who criticised Tony Blair’s handling of post-war Iraq, saying the prime minister was “non-committal” in his response to suggestions that the Coalition’s rebuilding programme in the area should be maintained after the handover to US and Iraqi authorities.

The international team was disbanded and “the vast majority of the projects which were being pursued by the (Coalition) failed, as I had feared”.

Sir John disclosed that declassified transcripts of evidence from three Directors of the Special Forces will also be released in the coming months.
Telegraph.feedsportal.com

miércoles, 11 de mayo de 2011

Bode Miller Is a Rare Olympic Bird

Vancouver, British Columbia

On Saturday, in what could be his last run at the Winter Olympics, Bode Miller will try to win his first medal in an Olympic men's slalom event.

No matter what happens, this Olympics has already cemented Mr. Miller's place as the most successful skier in U.S. history. If he can pull off a win in the slalom, he'll rival French legend Jean-Claude Killy as one of the greatest and most versatile Olympic skiers of all time.

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Bode Miller races in the men's downhill on Feb. 15.

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Saturday may be a last chance for a glimpse at a skier rarer than most people realize. Heading into Saturday's slalom, Mr. Miller, 32 years old, has five Olympic medals, including one gold, spread among four of skiing's five disciplines.

Mr. Miller broke onto the scene as a slalom specialist in the mid-1990s, wearing the first generation of curved skis to help him power through turns in a way no one had before. His two silver medals at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002 came in combined and giant slalom.

As he shifted his focus to speed events, coaches worried his reckless style would lead to a career-ending injury.

That didn't happen, and now, far beyond the age when most skiers win slaloms, Mr. Miller still judges himself by how quickly he can dance through the gates.

"It's always been my dream to win in slalom," Mr. Miller said after taking his first gold medal in the combined in Vancouver. "I've always said, when you're skiing well, there's nothing better than slalom."

Mr. Miller hasn't said he'll retire after the Olympics, and now that he's winning again, he has suggested he may well return to the World Cup circuit.

Professional skiing is a grind, both mentally and physically, and especially for Americans—who often spend up to seven months far away from home each year. Mr. Miller has noted how his desire to spend time with his 2-year-old daughter often outweighs his desire to ski faster than anyone else. So it seems unlikely that Mr. Miller will still be on the slopes in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.

He has won five world-championship medals and 32 World Cup races, but he also has 68 World Cup podiums and two overall World Cup titles. That's a résumé that rivals that of France's Mr. Killy—who is still considered the gold standard of skiing. Mr. Killy famously swept the alpine competitions at the 1968 Olympics.

"You're just not going to see a skier like Bode come around ever again," said Tom Kelly, the longtime spokesman for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. "A guy who's won World Cup races, overall titles and Olympic medals. That just doesn't happen."

By now, Mr. Miller's return to the U.S. team last year is part of skiing lore. He'd quit two years earlier to form his own, self-financed team because he didn't like the way Team USA was being run.

This came a year after Mr. Miller had boasted of his late-night carousing during the Turin Olympics, where he won no medals, despite hype that made him a favorite in all five competitions before the Games.

Mr. Miller said this week his behavior in Turin was his way of taking back his identity after seeing it hijacked by the media.

More

Mavericks Win Medals

Bode Miller Wins Gold in Super Combined

Even Bad Boys Turn Good in Vancouver

Last spring, Sasha Rearick, the men's alpine coach for the U.S. team, called Mr. Miller and asked if he wanted to return. Mr. Miller told him no thanks and spent the summer playing golf and fooling around on the beach with his daughter.

"After everything I'd done, I thought I deserved some time not trying to kill myself every day," Mr. Miller said.

But by September, Mr. Miller was considering a comeback and flew to Utah to discuss it with Mr. Rearick. "I saw the problems he'd had in the past that forced him to leave the team as opportunities," said Mr. Rearick.

He welcomed Mr. Miller back even though a World Cup season was just six weeks away and Mr. Miller was completely out of sync physically with his teammates. "I was pretty much on my own," Mr. Miller said.

He'll be on his own on the hill Saturday, trying to win that elusive slalom medal.

Write to Matthew Futterman at matthew.futterman@wsj.com

salt lake city games, jean claude killy, olympic skiers, slalom event, image getty, giant slalom, olympic medals, silver medals, winter olympics, mr miller, mid 1990s, olympic men, slaloms, bode miller, time view, salt lake city, slalom online, gold medal, skier, seven months

Online.wsj.com

Rare theft at Beijing's Forbidden City:

Rare theft at Beijing's Forbidden City:

Police in Beijing are hunting for a 27-year-old man suspected of stealing several items from the Forbidden City, in a rare theft at China's ancient imperial palace.

Rare theft at Beijing's Forbidden City

The Forbidden City, Beijing Photo: ALAMY

7:00AM BST 11 May 2011

Officials at the Forbidden City told police that seven items belonging to an exhibit on loan from a private Hong Kong museum and valued at up to 10 million yuan (£1m) were stolen on Sunday, the Beijing News said.

After viewing video surveillance tapes, police are seeking the man as the chief suspect in the theft, the paper said.

Telephone calls to the Forbidden City went unanswered on Wednesday, but a posting on the Palace Museum's microblog confirmed that the theft took place.

The missing items, which date from the early 20th century, include jewellery boxes and women's make-up cases, the report said.

The items were taken from the Zhai Gong exhibit hall in the northeastern part of the sprawling palace, where the display was to continue until June 27, it added. The section was closed to tourists following the incident.

The exhibit was on loan from the Liangyicang museum, which is owned by a Hong Kong collector identified as Feng Yaohui, the paper said.

In the most recent theft attempt at the heavily guarded Forbidden City, police in 1987 captured a man identified as Xiang Dexiang, who was unsuccessful but was still sentenced to life in prison, the Global Times reported.

According to police records, only four thefts have been recorded at the Forbidden City between 1949 and 1987, the paper said.

Located in central Beijing, the Forbidden City was first built in the early decades of the 15th century and served as the imperial palace of China's Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was transformed into the Palace Museum in 1925 after the fall of the Qing.

qing dynasties, central beijing, theft attempt, surveillance tapes, global times, jewellery boxes, forbidden city, video surveillance, police records, imperial palace, exhibit hall, city police, life in prison, 15th century, bst, yuan, telephone calls, 10 million, 1m, june 27, ebook download

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

martes, 10 de mayo de 2011

the ugliest diesel

photo

the ugliest diesel

BNSF 8814 sports a bizzare combination of orange with a reddish primer coat accent. Yuck. I so wish it was the other diesel leading this train....oh well. From what I understand, 8814 was in an accident, and they just patched it up, and put it back to work as fast as they could.

By the way, this is not an HDR or other fancy pants type photo...I've just been playing around with different techniques for briging out the cloud detail on a cloudy, overcast day.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

BNSF Railway
Berwyn Metra Station
Berwyn, Illinois

CI-E600-04162011-018

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Ventura Sheriff Side

photo

Ventura Sheriff Side

A Venture county sheriffs deputy in the memorial parade.

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Police Car

Ford Crown Victoria

California

USA

Sacramento County

West Sacramento

California Highway Patrol Academy

California Police Officers Memorial Ride

Ventura County Sheriff Department

VCSD
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lunes, 9 de mayo de 2011

Manchester United v Chelsea: player ratings

Manchester United v Chelsea: player ratings

Rory Smith assesses the teams at Old Trafford.

Manchester United v Chelsea: player ratings -Fernando Torres feels the force of <a href=rio ferdinand's sliding tackle"/>

Low impact: subsitute Fernando Torres feels the force of Rio Ferdinand's sliding tackle Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Rory Smith

By Rory Smith 6:20PM BST 08 May 2011

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Manchester United

Edwin van der Sar 7/10
His first involvement in the game – after 20 minutes or so – was to flap at a cross, but other than that the Dutchman, as ever, was flawless.

Fabio 6
Raids forward incessantly but his impact is fleeting, particularly on the side of the field more familiar – and better suited – to his brother.

Rio Ferdinand 7
Calm and composed at the back. The former England captain is ageing rather better than Drogba, who can rarely have troubled him so little.

Nemanja Vidic 7
It was his tenacity which earned United&rsquo;s second goal, but that contribution was balanced out by playing Lampard onside for his strike.

John O’Shea 6
Employed in a comparatively unfamiliar role to cover for the injured Patrice Evra, the Irishman was steady if unspectacular before being replaced by Jonny Evans at the interval.

Antonio Valencia 8
Tormented Ashley Cole all afternoon, twisting past the England international with consummate ease and stifling his opponent’s usual attacking instincts.

Michael Carrick 7
It is easy to miss Carrick’s contribution, which is rarely the most spectacular, but he holds his position well, allowing United’s attacks to flow around him.

Ryan Giggs 9
Whether this is the Welshman’s best campaign misses the point: it is certainly his most remarkable. Played a role in both goals and dominated the midfield from first to last.

Park Ji-Sung 9
The Korean created Hernandez’s goal and was a key figure throughout, troubling Chelsea’s backline and supporting his own. Few question his inclusion on the biggest occasions now.

Wayne Rooney 8
The England international is thriving in a withdrawn role and in tandem with Hernandez. Denied once by Cech and once, brilliantly, by Alex.

Javier Hernandez 8
Showed incredible calm to score after just 36 seconds, and though it seems to churlish to criticise, the Mexican probably should have scored another two.

Substitutes: Jonny Evans was solid after his half-time introduction for John O’Shea, while Chris Smalling played the last two minutes in place of Fabio.

---------------------------------------------------

Chelsea

Petr Cech 7
Little the Czech goalkeeper could do about either of United’s goals, while he produced a handful of saves to keep Chelsea in touch with their hosts.

Branislav Ivanovic 4
The Serb was booked for a lunge on Rooney and beaten by his countryman, Nemanja Vidic, for United’s second goal. An afternoon to forget.

David Luiz 5
He may have insisted United’s opening goal was not his fault, but Carlo Ancelotti clearly disagreed: he threatened to substitute him immediately, and eventually did so at half-time.

John Terry 6
The only member of Chelsea’s defence who did not crumble in the face of United’s early onslaught, but simply could not hold the rest of his team together.

Ashley Cole 5
Wilted in the face of Antonio Valencia’s electric display. The full-back’s left leg will still be swinging wildly at thin air when he wakes tomorrow.

Frank Lampard 5
His goal might almost have been first touch, so anonymous had been his performance, but it is typical of the 32-year-old that he still scored.

John Obi Mikel 4
Careless in possession and powerless to stop United swarming forward, Ancelotti decided he did not require a shield which offered no protection at the interval, introducing Ramires.

Michael Essien 4
The Ghanaian was once an elemental force, an entire midfield, but he has faded visibly this season. Where he used to control games, but here he was tamed.

Salomon Kalou 6
Offered an energetic and enthusiastic display on his first ever start at Old Trafford, but struggled to make a telling impact wide on the right.

Didier Drogba 6
Chelsea’s most dangerous player, particularly in the first half, but much of his menace came from a distance. Missed one clear headed chance.

Florent Malouda 6
It would be harsh to assert that the Frenchman played poorly, so starved was he of the ball, but a year ago he would have imposed himself on the game.

Substitutes: Alex and Ramires replaced David Luiz and John Obi Mikel at half-time and improved Chelsea considerably; Fernando Torres’s introduction for Kalou on 61 minutes did not have the same effect.

patrice evra, park ji sung, michael carrick, getty images, wayne rooney, ashley cole, rio ferdinand, rsquo, unfamiliar role, england international, england captain, ji sung, fernando torres, van der sar, welshman, drogba, onside, backline, irishman, low impact

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

domingo, 8 de mayo de 2011

Cluster

photo

Cluster

A large shrub that grew into a small tree has medium-sized bunches of small flowers during a short time period of about a week or so in mid-spring. If you weren't paying too close attention, you'd miss these blooms, but what a shame it would be to miss them.

Best when viewed in LIGHTBOX.

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DSC_6716

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DSC_6716

Taken at the Art Institute of Chicago.

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