Radnor Lake State Park
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Oak Hill Estates
Tennessee
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USA
radnor lake, lake jan
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Karri Forest
365:30 Toby as Giulio Monteverde's Angel
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365:30 Toby as Giulio Monteverde's Angel
Sunday 30th January 2011
One of my favourite angels now has the face of my favourite angel ...
Another reworking of the photo taken by Adelaide Mental health services about two months before Toby died. With all the angels it inspires, this may become my favourite photo of Toby instead of the one I like the least ... I spent a good part of the day & used several of my textures on this image
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2011
365Again
Angel
Toby
favourite angel, mental health services, monteverde, textures, angels, amp, photo
Doha Talks Are on Brink, Report Warns
BRUSSELS—The Doha round of global trade talks will perish if not completed this year, warns a new report coauthored by Peter Sutherland, the first-ever director of the World Trade Organization.
"Trade negotiators of major powers need to lead from the front, the 64-year-old Mr. Sutherland, now a nonexecutive chairman at Goldman Sachs, said in an interview. "Heads of government have to do more than simply repeat the rhetoric; they have to finger the issues themselves."
In the end, “the U.S. and China need to push it over the line,”he said, adding that by 2012, the U.S. presidential election will once and for all mean the end of the round.
Launched in November 2001, Doha is the only trade deal under discussion that includes all 153 WTO members. Its original premise was a simple bargain, raised in a post-Sept. 11 spirit of cooperation: rich countries cut farm tariffs and subsidies, and, in exchange, emerging and poor economies open markets for industrial goods and services.
However, the round has floundered time and again, partly because leaders have found compromise too politically risky and partly because global trade has thundered on without a deal, thanks to the rise of China, Brazil and India. In 2001, global exports were worth $6.5 trillion. In 2010, they're projected at over $13 trillion.
Still, Doha remains a dream of many economists and trade officials, because, as Mr. Sutherland's report argues, it would theoretically open the doors for hundreds of billions of dollars annually in extra trade.
In November 2010, four pro-Doha countries—Germany, the U.K., Indonesia and Turkey—commissioned a report on Doha and its future. Mr. Sutherland and Columbia University economist Jagdish Bhagwati were tapped to write it.
For maximum impact, they decided to release their findings, 20 pages long, Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Mr. Sutherland's status as director at the time of the WTO's founding in 1995 guarantees it will generate some buzz and have some influence.
Trade ministers from the world's biggest economic powers, and WTO director Pascal Lamy, are holding informal talks there on Friday and Saturday. Their goal isn't to secure a deal, but to see if there is any hope of concluding one by the end of 2011.
His report lays out four key arguments they should consider:
1. It would be an “insurance policy” against a possible trade war in the aftermath of the financial crisis.
2. It would grant a key incentive to the European Union and U.S. to cut their bloated farm subsidies.
3. It would open markets around the world, for agriculture in the EU and U.S., and industrial goods in Brazil, India and China.
4. It would back up the legitimacy of the WTO’s court-like system for resolving trade disputes among members.
Solving the Doha round will require dropping some of its proposals while getting political leaders to compromise, even at the risk of short-term political loss, the report says.
For example, one of the key stumbling blocks in the round is the idea of creating a tariff-free zone for certain industries, an idea known in trade jargon as“sectorals.”It would allow large multinationals to run their supply chains much more cheaply and efficiently.
Emerging markets, such as China, have been hesitant to agree, since this idea would mostly benefit EU and U.S. firms. Here, Mr. Sutherland advocates flexibility, allowing countries to opt out of sectoral agreements for certain industries they want to protect.
All countries have to give more on services, and, for industrial goods, "the onus is on the emerging economies to demonstrate a willingness to make some contribution to a trading system from which they have been key beneficiaries." Brazil, for example, still has roughly the same levels of import tariffs as 15 years ago.
The world’s 49 poorest countries should get duty-free access to the markets of all the members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, a rich-country club. That would increase their trade by 44%, or $7 billion a year, the report says. Also, the U.S. will have to cut cotton subsidies.
So why has Doha been so difficult to achieve?
Mr. Sutherland points out that, under the model under which global trade talks were held between the 1960s and 1990s, Western developed countries simply agreed to tariff cuts among themselves.
Poor countries, the rest of the world, were allowed to take advantage of the tariff cuts without having to offer any of their own. After all, they had no significant industries to threaten Europe, America or Japan.
Average tariffs on nonagricultural goods in rich countries are now under 5%, while tariffs elsewhere are still higher. That means for a Doha deal to work, emerging economies have to cut tariffs, and rich countries have to offer something else, namely cuts in farm tariffs and subsidies, and other incentives such as visa rights for foreign workers.
“Emerging markets are now big enough to rule out free riding,”write the report's authors. However, that means countries such as China, India and Brazil have to make concessions of their own, complicating the political picture. And farm lobbies in the West are still mighty, rendering that side of the equation difficult, too.
And in the end, the report states, developed countries have to accept that the outcome will be asymmetrical, even vis-à-vis large and competitive exporters like China and Brazil who remain in development. This makes the Doha round a difficult proposition for some domestic constituencies.”
The EU, for example, has had to accept that the price of the Doha round is the complete renovation of its system of agricultural supports and tariffs with no expectation of proportionate action from developing countries.”
The political difficulties have alienated the business world, Mr. Sutherland said in the interview. "The business community has given up because they've been disappointed in the political system." Trade officials say business lobbies were essential to the success of the last global trade round, Uruguay, signed in 1994.
Messrs. Sutherland and Bhagwati conclude that perfect cannot be allowed to be the enemy of unprecedentedly good.”
Their report is a timely reminder of the huge economic benefits that striking a deal will bring to all corners of the globe as well as the importance of reinforcing the role of the WTO in global trade governance,”said European trade commissioner Karel De Gucht. At the same time, it sends a healthy warning of the risks associated with failure.
jagdish bhagwati, global trade talks, davos switzerland, goldman sachs, peter sutherland, trade negotiators, world economic forum, wto members, rise of china, world trade organization, global exports, trade officials, open markets, columbia university, maximum impact, rich countries, presidential election, economists, sept 11, trillion
Saturday, January 29, 2011
European Elegance
Ai Fiori is the perfect spot to impress or be impressed by a client.
Photos: Hotel Dining
View Slideshow
![[SB10001424052748703893104576108490890412966]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NY-AT104_LUNCHB_D_20110127180943.jpg)
Ramsay de Give for The Wall Street Journal
The dining room, which overlooks Fifth Avenue
Chef Michael White's newest venture, which opened in November, is everything you might expect from a five-star restaurant on Fifth: good food, great atmosphere, an all-star team and somewhat fussy service. Because the restaurant is on the second level of the new luxurious Setai, diners can expect a corporate-like ambience and a somewhat conservative menu that hits all points.
Adventurous types can start with the Mediterranean sardines or the Granchio, an appetizer of blue crab, avocado, grapefruit and crispy farinata ($19).
The restaurant is noted for its White Label prime burger, but the pastas, which run $18 to $23, are superb. Entrees include Maine lobster, skate wing and filet of beef, but the lunch crowd would do well with the gnocchi with crab and sea urchin ($23) or the Agnolotti with veal parcels, butternut squash and black truffle sugo ($23), the most popular item at lunch.
With 185 seats and a grand bar, Ai Fiori is a bit roomier and quieter than Mr. White's other spots. Go before others discover it.
Ai Fiori is at 400 Fifth Ave. at 37th Street, in the Setai Fifth Avenue; 212-613-8660. Lunch is served 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
butternut squash, lunch crowd, black truffle, maine lobster, mediterranean sardines, client photos, adventurous types, filet of beef, agnolotti, granchio, blue crab, star restaurant, michael white, sea urchin, gnocchi, white label, star team, pastas, veal, fiori
pinhole 607, contemplations (11)
Friday, January 28, 2011
The storm approaching #1
The storm approaching #1
Nikon D90+ Nikkor 18-105 vr
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nave
barca
mare
sea
tramonto
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Thursday, January 27, 2011
Does going to college make you smarter—or poorer?
With top-tier colleges charging as much as $50,000 per year, the idea that students may spend their first two years learning next-to-nothing is enough to make parents pause. How can you make that investment worthwhile? And does going to college really make you smarter?
It depends on what you study—and whether you study enough.
A "Room for Debate" discussion at the New York Times earlier this week tackled the issue, with several academics weighing in on whether college is worthwhile, and whether schools are dumbing down their curricula to appeal to more people. In their new book, "Academically Adrift," sociologists Richard Arum of New York University and Josipa Roksa of the University of Virginia found that 32 percent of the students they followed did not take "any courses with more than 40 pages of reading per week" in a typical semester, and half of the students didn't take any course in which they had to write more than 20 pages for the class." Using these criteria, they determined that 45 percent of college students make little academic progress during the first two years of a four-year degree.
Their research raises a few red flags. On the one hand: Is it any surprise that a public school system forced to "teach to the test" churns out students who are adverse (or flat-out unable) to think analytically, learn on their own, or write a research paper? On the other: Does the number of pages read + the number of pages written = an accurate assessment of academic progress? A literature or history major, for instance, would have far more reading to do than a math major, but the math workload isn't lighter lifting just because it involves reading fewer pages per week.
And yet, the case for students learning less is a compelling one: A March 2010 report by two University of California found that the amount of time students spend studying has dropped drastically over the past 40 years, from 40 hours a week in 1961 to 27 hours a week in 2003. One possible reason? Colleges are spending less of their budgets on instruction and more of it on recreation and student services, according to a July 2010 report by the Delta Cost Project. Most colleges are businesses after all, and the pressure to attract new students (and more money) is intense.
So, if colleges are focusing on building spa-like rec centers and luxury dorms instead of improving their academics, is a college education even worth the money anymore? Many academics and experts still think it is.
"Yes, college is worth the money—if you choose your classes wisely, take advantage of campus activities that teach you hands-on, transferable skills, and attend a school that gives you the strength and courage to focus on what you enjoy doing," says Steven Roy Goodman, an educational consultant and admissions strategist at Topcolleges.com.
"Going to college brings other important benefits, such as more developed analytical, numerical and communication skills, that will help you perform in the workplace and progress up the career ladder," agrees Danny Byrne, an undergraduate specialist and content manager for TopUniversities.com "College will introduce you to intelligent people from a huge range of backgrounds, and as your career progresses the value of this network of contacts may prove to be immeasurable."
Those types of things are difficult to assess in a survey or on a test, though. Which may be why so many educators and students take issue with the idea that college freshmen and sophomores are slacking off instead of studying.
"Even if a student enters college with no career goals, college is the best place to discover those goals," points out Robert Neuman, former Associate Dean for Academic Development in the College of Arts and Sciences at Milwaukee's Marquette University and the author of "Are You Really Ready for College: A College Dean’s 12 Secrets for Success." "The more education anyone has, the more advantages he or she will have in the job market."
Some point out that the skills you gain matter more than the degree you earn.
"For me, college is about a life experience," says Jim Joseph, president of independent marketing firm Lippe Taylor. "Is it vital to getting ahead? Not sure anymore. With entrepreneurialism at an new high, you just need a good idea and some determination to make a name for yourself. Or if you have a specific skill set, there are many ways to build and exploit that."
University of Florida graduate Candy Keane now runs a business (Three Muses, a clothing store) that has nothing to do with her degree (in magazine journalism). But still, "I could not have done all that I have without what I learned from college," she says. "I learned graphic design, layout, photography, Photoshop, PR, writing, web design—all the things that I was able to use and build on to start my business myself."
So what courses should a college-bound kid take in order to make the most of his or her (or your) time and money? The experts and students we talked to suggested the following:
Public speaking or acting
Sales
Marketing
Public relations
Entrepreneurship
Computer programming, especially HTML
Introduction to psychology
Introduction to economics
Communication/Writing
Internships that offer hands-on experience in a field
"Yes, college is certainly worth the money!" says David Reynaldo, co-founder of College Zoom. "Had I not gone to college, I never would have found the network, inspiration, or know how to make my dream come true."
top tier colleges, richard arum, typical semester, new york university, roksa, red flags, accurate assessment, new york times, going to college, sociologists, public school system, academic progress, time students, research paper, curricula, university of virginia, amount of time, college students, academics, university of california
qtdz
Shine.yahoo.com
"people"
"people"
...shot taken @ The Getty Center... located in Los Angeles, California, a great place to see...! Info:
www.getty.edu
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011
bleu blanc rouge
bleu blanc rouge
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Ali Williams praises Nottingham after All Black's stint in Championship
Ali Williams praises Nottingham after All Black's stint in Championship
All Blacks lock Ali Williams has given the standard of rugby in the Championship a vote of confidence.
Ali Williams played his first full game in two years for Nottingham Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Paul Bolton 12:52PM GMT 26 Jan 2011
Comments
Williams completed a month-long loan spell with Nottingham by playing his first full match in two years in the 37-8 victory over Rotherham at Meadow Lane on Tuesday.
The 29 year-old, who has 61 caps, has had three Achilles tendon operations in two years, and opted for a stint in England's second tier to regain form and fitness ahead of a Super 15 season with Auckland Blues, which Williams hopes will lead to him reclaiming his New Zealand place for the World Cup.
Williams gradually built up his game time from a nervous 20 minutes as a replacement against Moseley to a confident 80 minutes against Rotherham but admitted his four-match spell with Nottingham was tougher than he anticipated.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here but it blew my expectations out of the water," Williams said. "I've discovered that Nottingham people are very accommodating and that they have a great group of guys at this club and that rugby is alive and well in Nottingham.
"The standard of rugby in England is also a lot better than many people think. The ability of some of these kids to play rugby is quite outstanding. English rugby is in a good position right now in terms of world status."
Wiliams's next target is to re-establish himself as a Blues regular having suffered a recurrence of his Achilles problem only three minutes into their first pre-season friendly last year.
"I have got over the mental side of things and proved that I can last 80 minutes," he said. "But I am still at the base of the mountain and it's a long way to the top.
"But the idea of coming here was to get used to playing rugby again at a lower level and to get rid of the mental baggage that went with being injured for so long."
achilles tendon, ali williams, auckland blues, english rugby, vote of confidence, mental baggage, long way to the top, target, full game, game time, rotherham, moseley, stint, recurrence, three minutes, getty, world cup, match, caps, bolton
qtdz
Telegraph.co.uk
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Promise Me You'll Always Be Around When I Fall
Promise Me You'll Always Be Around When I Fall
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California
Dancers in Pink
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Edgar Degas
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Museum
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Norton Simon Museum
Pasadena
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ballerina
ballet
Three quarters of a mile west of Solva
Three quarters of a mile west of Solva
In an unusual scenario three tugs were wrecked Oct. 1981 in the same spot,one towing the others,the towing one tug developed engine trouble,on clearing the problem the towrope fouled the towing tugs propeller,the weather changed and they were all driven ashore.
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ships
sea
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waves
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three quarters, engine trouble, tugs, propeller, tug download, weather
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Flickr.com
Monday, January 24, 2011
Greece - Ionian Islands - Kefalonia
Greece - Ionian Islands - kefalonia
Fiscardo - Kefalonia / / Cphalonie - Ionian Islands - / Greece - Ionio Pelagos / Ionian Sea
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ionian islands greece, pelagos, ionio, kefalonia
qtdz
Flickr.com
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Blue clouds and pink sky
2011-01-22 Bode Miller USA - Didier Cuche SUI - Adrien Theaux FRA 0001
2011-01-22 Bode Miller USA - Didier Cuche SUI - Adrien Theaux frA 0001
2011-01-22 Ski World Cup Kitzbhel - Abfahrt der Herren. Didier Cuche hat vor 40.000 Zuschauern den Abfahrtsklassiker von Kitzbhel berlegen gewonnen. Der 36-jhrige schweizer, der bei seinem tollkhnen Ritt ber die berchtigte Hahnenkamm-Strecke all seine Routine ausspielen musste, setzte sich beachtliche 0,98 Sekunden vor dem US-Amerikaner Bode Miller durch. Dritter wurde der Franzose Adrien Theaux, der Mario Scheiber nur um 0,02 Sekunden vom Podest verdrngt hat. Cuche hat damit seine Siegesbilanz in der Kitzbhel- Abfahrt auf vier Erfolge erhht und mit Franz Klammer gleichgezogen. Fr Cuche war es der insgesamt fnfte Sieg in Kitzbhel, im Vorjahr hatte er auch den Super- G gewonnen. Er avancierte auch zum ltesten Sieger einer Abfahrt und eines Weltcuprennens berhaupt. Ich dachte, das ist es nicht dieses Jahr. Ich hatte einen Fehler vor dem Steilhang, und am Start habe ich den rechten Stock verloren, ihn dann aber wieder gefasst. Das war kein optimaler Start. Auf der restlichen Strecke war ich aber blitzschnell. Ich muss mich bei meinem ganzen Team bedanken. Derzeit passt alles zusammen und ich fhle mich sehr wohl. Hier wieder zu gewinnen, ist unglaublich", sagte der strahlende Sieger zu seiner brenstarken Fahrt, fr die ihm sogar alle seine sterreichischen Kontrahenten Respekt zollten. Ergebnis . 01 Didier Cuche (SUI) 1:57,72 Min. 02. Bode Miller (USA) 1:58,70 +0,98, 03. Adrien Theaux (FRA) 1:58,90 +1,18, 04. Mario Scheiber (AUT) 1:59,08 +1,36, 05. Peter Fill (ITA) 1:59,10 +1,38, 06. Christof Innerhofer (ITA) 1:59,22 +1,50, 07. Werner Heel (ITA) 1:59,36 +1,64, 08. Ambrosi Hoffmann (SUI) 1:59,37 +1,65, 09. Klaus Krll (AUT) 1:59,50 +1,78, 10. Romed Baumann (AUT) 1:59,54 +1,82, 11. Ivica Kostelic (CRO) 1:59,63 +1,91, 11. Georg Streitberger (AUT) 1:59,63 +1,91, 13. Silvan Zurbriggen (SUI) 1:59,89 +2,17, 14. Andrej Sporn (SLO) 2:00,19 +2,47, 15. Yannick Bertrand (FRA) 2:00,23 +2,51, 16. Erik Guay (CAN) 2:00,26 +2,54, 17. Aksel Lund Svindal (NOR) 2:00,28 +2,56, 18. Beat Feuz (SUI) 2:00,35 +2,63, 19. Hannes Reichelt (AUT) 2:00,55 +2,83, 20. Carlo Janka (SUI) 2:00,63 +2,91, Sichtbar werden durch Gradinger, Photografer Potoblitzteam Gabrile Hillert, Gerhard Mhsner
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didier cuche, ski world cup, erik guay, franz klammer, krll, bode miller, zurbriggen, kostelic, andrej, baumann, slo, bertrand, hoffmann, sieg, werner, klaus, schweizer, fr online, mario, stock
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Flickr.com
Friday, January 21, 2011
Steelers star DE Smith won't face Jets
PITTSBURGH -- Aaron Smith might not be identified often as one of the best at his position in the NFL.
Ask anyone in the Steelers locker room, though, and they’ll tell you he’s not only the top 3-4 defensive end in the league, but of his generation.
There was no greater acknowledgment of the respect Smith commands as a player and person within the Pittsburgh organization than when the team did not put him on injured reserve after he tore his left triceps in a 23-22 win at Miami on Oct. 24.
The decision ultimately cost the Steelers promising linebacker Thaddeus Gibson, their fourth-round draft pick four months before Smith was hurt.
But there are tough decisions made every day in the NFL. And this was one the Steelers can live with.
“It’s a sign of respect,” safety Ryan Clark said. “You don’t do that for just anybody — you do that for a leader. You do that for a guy who will do anything to be back. He’s earned that. You don’t do that for a young guy because they haven’t earned that right. Aaron Smith has earned the right to be waited upon.”
Considering Smith’s injury was less than three months ago and the standard recovery time for such an ailment is four to six months, keeping Smith available for a theoretical return was indeed quite a compliment to pay the 12-year veteran.
And Smith returned the favor, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. He didn’t pack it in. He returned to the practice field the past two weeks, in fact, but was limited in participation. He is considered extremely unlikely to play Sunday when the Steelers meet the Jets.
Should Pittsburgh win, though, and advance to the Super Bowl, the prospect of Smith taking the field in uniform for that game would make all the waiting — and the loss of Gibson, claimed off waivers by San Francisco — worthwhile.
“If there’s even a slight opportunity or a slim chance for him to play in the Super Bowl if we advance, we’d love to have him out there because he’s a difference maker,” said wide receiver Hines Ward, the only Steeler who’s been around longer than Smith. “I think by not putting him on IR shows what kind of player he is, shows what he means to our team and this organization. Hopefully, we can get past this one, because I would love to see Aaron play in the Super Bowl.”
Such an inspirational return would not be unique to the Steelers.
In 1995, All-Pro cornerback Rod Woodson tore an ACL in the season opener. He was not placed on IR, and became the first NFL player to return to play during the same season he sustained such an injury. Woodson was active for the Super Bowl loss to Dallas.
thaddeus gibson, pittsburgh organization, less than three months, aaron smith, ryan clark, injured reserve, slim chance, recovery time, triceps, ailment, linebacker, steelers, waivers, locker room, four months, acknowledgment, compliment, jets, super bowl, mdash
qtdz
Nypost.com
Kissed by saltiness
Kissed by saltiness
Daniele Pelacani | Personal Site
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Blackpool v Sunderland: match preview
Blackpool v Sunderland: match preview
Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Blackpool and Sunderland at Bloomfield Road on Saturday Jan 22 2011, kick-off 15.00 GMT.
PREVIEW
BLACKPOOL
V
SUNDERLAND
Saturday, January 22 15:00
Premier League
Bloomfield Road
Image 1 of 2
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway Photo: action images
Image 1 of 2
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By John Ley 6:00AM GMT 21 Jan 2011
John's Twitter
Saturday, January 22
Blackpool v Sunderland
Bloomfield Road
Kick-off: 15.00 GMT
TV: BBC Match of the Day.
Blackpool (4-4-2): Kingson; Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey; Taylor-Fletcher, Adam, Vaughan, Varney; Grandin, Campbell.
Sunderland (4-1-4-1): Gordon; Onuoha, Bramble, Ferdinand, Bardsley; Cattermole; Elmohamady, Henderson, Richardson, Malbranque; Gyan.
Referee: Lee Mason. Matches: 11. R3 Y43.
Tale of the game
Blackpool have lost three of their last four Premier League games but when these teams met on December 28, two goals from DJ Campbell secured a 2-0 win.
But on their last visit to Bloomfield Road, in 1987, Sunderland won 2-0 in the old Third Division.
In 27 league visits, Sunderland have won just seven and lost 11.
This season, Sunderland have kept clean sheets in each of their eight victories. And five of those wins have been won 1-0 – the most in the division.
Blackpool gives checks to Malaury Martin (knee), Marlon Harewood (hamstring) and Matthew Gilks (knee) but Chris Basham (broken leg) and Billy Clarke (knee) are missing.
Sunderland test Lee Cattermole (back) and John Mensah (ankle) but are still without Danny Welbeck (hamstring), David Meyler (knee), Michael Turner (knee), Matt Kilgallon (back) and Fraizer Campbell (knee).
David Carney is still on international duty with Australia.
This season: Sunderland 0 Blackpool 2.
Last season: N/A.
Stat of the game: Sunderland have also kept 11 clean sheets this season, the best in the Premier League equalled only by Manchester City.
Betting tip: Bent is no more; go for a Blackpool win at 13-8.
premier league games, getty images, dj campbell, lee mason, john mensah, david carney, adam vaughan, match of the day, bloomfield road, onuoha, cattermole, fraizer campbell, photo action, gilks, action images, clean sheets, bardsley, gyan, michael turner, league game
qtdz
Telegraph.co.uk
Carmelo Anthony drama reminds Lakers' Kobe Bryant about his trade demand in 2007
Perennial All-Stars Kobe Bryant of the Lakers and Carmelo Anthony of the Nuggets during the Western Conference playoffs. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / April 28, 2008)
Reporting from Denver —
Kobe Bryant sat on a chair with his black letterman's-looking jacket on, a smile crossing his face when he saw a few reporters who cover the Denver Nuggets approach him before the Lakers began practice Thursday.
Bryant looked at the group and joked that they had "lots to write about" regarding the on-again, off-again trade saga with forward Carmelo Anthony.
As Bryant talked about how he supported and advised Anthony during the time the Nuggets were engaged in discussions with the New Jersey Nets that were called off Wednesday, he reflected on his drama in 2007.
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It was May of that year when Bryant went on Los Angeles radio stations and called newspaper reporters, insisting that he be traded because he felt the Lakers weren't trying to build a winner right away.
Bryant's situation dragged into the start of the regular season. He wanted to play for the Chicago Bulls.
As Bryant reminisced about that, a day before the Lakers were scheduled to play the Nuggets on Friday night, he said he and Anthony have a common goal.
"I know for me, it was all about winning," Bryant said. "In my situation, we weren't spending the money to get players [to the Lakers]. They had me playing around with Smush Parker. So until they decided that they wanted to make the necessary sacrifice financially and give me a team that was going to be competitive, then I didn't want to be here. It was as simple as that."
The Lakers acquired Pau Gasol in February of 2008, went to the NBA Finals that season and won the last two championships.
Bryant was asked what the Lakers would have done if he hadn't spoken out.
"They probably would have just coasted," Bryant said. "But, I wasn't going for that."
When Lakers Coach Phil Jackson was asked what he recalled from that period, he joked that he had "amnesia."
"Didn't [Lakers owner Jerry Buss] fly to Barcelona to meet him?" Jackson said, recalling certain events. "Yes, I remember it now. That's going in the book."
Jackson laughed, indicating that the story of Bryant's trade request will be in his book when this season is over and the coach is presumably retired.
"Yeah, it was pretty intense," Jackson said. "It was an intense time for our team. I think the most amazing thing is he stepped up out of not playing for like a week or something like that and started the season off right with a bang."
As for Anthony, Bryant said he didn't feel bad for his friend and that Anthony was not turning his back on Denver.
"It has nothing to do with a bigger market," Bryant said. "It's about winning. If you want to keep a player here, make the right decisions. Make the right choices, first of all. Get a team around a guy that can help you win and there won't be no problem."
broderick.turner@latimes.com
twitter.com/BA_Turner
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qtdz
Latimes.com
Thursday, January 20, 2011
It's cold / Hace fro
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Tre ufo nell'acqua
Velocissime ed argentee sparivano appena toccata la superficie esterna dell'acqua....;-)
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Manchester City strike force is better than Barcelona's, says striker Mario Balotelli
Manchester City strike force is better than Barcelona's, says striker Mario Balotelli
Mario Balotelli has dismissed Wayne Rooney as “not even the best in Manchester” after claiming that he is part of the world’s most potent strikeforce at Manchester City.
Talks a good game: Mario Balotelli (right) likes to big himself up Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES
By Mark Ogden 5:12PM GMT 18 Jan 2011
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The Italian, who is at least three weeks away from returning to training as a result of a knee injury, also revealed in a interview with Gazzetta dello Sport supplement Extra Time that he will remain at Eastlands only “for this year and one more”.
Balotelli banished concerns about his unhappiness at City by insisting life is benissimo, and said he was relishing the prospect of playing alongside Carlos Tevez and £27 million new signing Edin Dzeko.
“Our attack of Balotelli-Tevez-Dzeko is the best in the world,” he said. “We are the strongest. Can you see anything better than this now in the world? Me neither, not even at Barcelona or Real.
“He [Rooney] is a very good player but not the best in Manchester. United fans stop me in the street and say, ‘Mario, come to us’. But I dream of beating them because I know how much the City fans care. They are wonderful with me. It gave me goosebumps when they sang my name after I scored a hat-trick against Aston Villa recently.”
Despite claiming to be more settled in Manchester, Balotelli admitted being “a bit envious” of Antonio Cassano’s recent move from Sampdoria to AC Milan, but said he was not ready to return to Italy.
He said: “It’s still early. For this year and one more I’ll stay at City, where I feel benissimo, extremely well. I live right in the centre of Manchester, in a modern building, with a splendid view.
“And there is Charlie, an Indian from Kashmir, who takes me around and helps me. Then there’s Curtis, another driver, who knows everybody. I’ve found a lot of kind people.”
Balotelli, whose prospects of being fit to face United on Feb 12 are no better than 50-50, believes Roberto Mancini is on course to be the best manager in the world. “He’s the most important coach I’ve ever had.” Balotelli said. “He’ll soon become No 1 in the world. But now, in terms of human qualities, he is two kilometres ahead of Mourinho, wait, make that 10 kilometres.
“He repeats to me: ‘When I joined Sampdoria from Bologna, I already felt I was the best of all. Then I realised how hard I had to work to improve’. I’ve got the message.”qtdz
Telegraph.co.uk
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
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Liverpool v Everton: Leighton Baines needs no assistance to overcome Fabio Capello's World Cup snub
Liverpool v Everton: Leighton Baines needs no assistance to overcome Fabio Capello's World Cup snub
His company in the league table of assists says it all about how Leighton Baines has graduated from League One football with Wigan to admiring glances from a Bavarian superpower.
City slicker: Leighton Baines (2nd R) celebrates with Tim Cahill (R) and team mates after scoring the second goal for Everton against Manchester City Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Graham Chase 11:59PM GMT 15 Jan 2011
The Everton left-back has already set up seven Premier League goals this season, the same number as Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas, four more than the nearest defender, Ashley Cole, and five more than Patrice Evra, ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby.
Playing behind the soon-to-be-departed Steven Pienaar, who cuts in from the left flank, Baines, 26, has thrived on the responsibility of providing Everton’s width and his crossing and set pieces are said to have earned interest from Bayern Munich.
His two league goals — as accurate a free-kick as you will ever see in a 1-1 draw at Tottenham and a curling right-footed shot in a 2-1 victory at Manchester City - only serve to underline his growing reputation.
More Kaka than Kirkby then, but it was not enough to secure him a place in Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad after being called into the initial 30-man party.
A suggestion that he missed out on South Africa due to homesickness, which he puts down to a comment about wanting to see his family after 3-1 friendly win over Mexico before returning to England’s training camp, has been one theory put forward for Capello choosing Stephen Warnock over him although he remains sure that the Italian based the decision on form.
“I spoke to one guy after the game and towards the end of the interview, I said I wanted to shoot off and see my family who were there, because I was going back to camp the next day," Baines said.
“So he asked me about that, and all I said was I wanted to spend a bit of time with them and the hardest part of being a player is spending time away from them. I’d say it again.
“It’s no different for me than any other player. It’s natural people miss their family but it’s what you accept as part and parcel of what you do, not a problem.
“It was jumped on and thrown out of proportion and taken out of context. I never ever said anything about being homesick.
“I was in the car with the missus and kids (when the call came from the Football Association). It was a 10 second phone-call and it takes a while to get over it. On the day there were whispers I wouldn’t be in it so it’s not that big a surprise.
“It wasn’t like I was a shock omission. I wasn’t expecting to be in. I took the call while driving to Toys R Us to buy a trampoline. I pulled up five minutes later and took stock.”
Rebounding has not proved a problem for the Liverpool-born defender but Sunday afternoon’s Merseyside derby takes place in unusual circumstances, with Everton and Liverpool closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League spots.
Too young to remember Kenny Dalglish’s first stint in charge of Liverpool — he was six when the Scot left Anfield in 1991 — Baines is sure that the power-shift from Merseyside to Manchester will not be a permanent one.
“The onus is definitely going to be more on Liverpool to come and get a result, given the fact they haven’t been able to get results recently,” he said. “It is a massive game for both clubs who have both underachieved so far this season. They are both looking to turn around.
“Liverpool and Everton both want to be up there like the Manchester sides but the reality is we’re not. The league table doesn’t lie, the onus is on the players and staff to turn it round. We have to look at ourselves and start climbing the table.”qtdz
Telegraph.co.uk
No Golfing
Monday, January 17, 2011
_Fuji 100 Roll 2 Nikon EM0002
_Fuji 100 Roll 2 Nikon EM0002
The Ashes, Day 4 2011
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Flickr.com
Sunday, January 16, 2011
presse
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Saturday, January 15, 2011
Great blue heron 3
Great blue heron 3
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias), Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, FL (Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department)
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Tall, Like a Tall Tree.
Tall, Like a Tall Tree.
An old(ish) photograph I had taken, thought I'd share it!
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Storks at the corner of Rosenthal Studio-Haus, Dienerstrae 17, Mnchen (munich), Bavaria, Germany.
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Ravens-Steelers showdown sure to be slugfest
George Willis
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PITTSBURGH --The Ravens and Steelers don't have to stand in front of microphones and notebooks and talk about how much they hate each other or how "personal" their impending game is. Terrell Suggs' T-shirt said it all.
On Wednesday, the Ravens linebacker wore a T-shirt that featured an illustration of a large Raven giving the Steelers the finger, er, the claw. Enough said.
Want to see what a real rivalry looks like, feels like and sounds like? The Steelers and Ravens are sure to provide an example today when they meet in a divisional playoff game at Heinz Field.
Hines Ward and Ray Lewis
"There's nothing really to talk about," Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said. "Both sides know that when the whistle blows you're going to get what we got and we're going to get what they got. So, once again -- I love to use this -- here we go again."
This will be the eighth matchup in the past three seasons between the AFC North rivals. The past four games all have been decided by three points and the margin of victory in the past eight games has been a touchdown or less.
The two teams split their regular-season games this season. The Ravens won in Pittsburgh, 17-14, in Week 4 when Ben Roethlisberger was serving his NFL suspension. The Steelers got revenge last month, winning 13-10 in Baltimore.
"They know what type of team we are," Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said. "We know what type of team they are. It's going to come down to whatever team executes the best. That's how it has been over the years."
Buckle up.
LET'S GET PHYSICAL
This will be a grown man's game. Bones will be jarred, teeth will be rattled and more than a few players will feel like they've been in a car wreck.
"There is going to be a lot of hard hitting going on," Ward said. "They know it, we know it."
The fans know it, too, which is why this slugfest could be the most brutal of the weekend.
"When we play the Ravens, it is whoever can be the most physical team that wins," defensive lineman Chris Hoke said.
Keep your West Coast offense and your Wildcat. This will be all about smash mouth.
RESTED vs TESTED
The Steelers earned a first-round bye in the playoffs, sitting home while the Ravens advanced out of the wild-card round with a 30-7 victory over the Chiefs on Sunday. Which team benefited the most is in the eye of the beholder.
"It was a week that catered toward the needs of the group individually and collectively," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "Those that needed work got work. Those that needed rehabilitation and rest got that."
But while Pittsburgh was resting, the Ravens steamrolled the Chiefs, dominating on both sides of the ball and creating the kind of momentum that could carry over into today's game.
OLD SPICE vs HEAD & SHOULDERS
They've taken plenty of grief for their respective commercials, but Lewis and Steelers defensive back Troy Polamalu are two of the most respected players in the NFL.
Polamalu, who is battling an ankle injury, made the key play in the Steelers' win at Baltimore when he forced a fumble with a sack of Joe Flacco and the Steelers converted the turnover into a 9-yard touchdown pass with 2:51 left. Polamalu also clinched the Steelers' 23-14 win over the Ravens in the 2008 AFC Championship game by returning an interception for a touchdown.
Lewis has never beaten the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the postseason.
"I'm always going to be [ticked] anytime we walk off that field and we're not a winner," Lewis said. "Hopefully, we can change that this time."
DEFENSE NEVER RESTS
The Steelers had the third-best rush defense in NFL history and best since the 16-game season was instituted. Only one player has had a 100-yard game against them in the past 50 games -- and that was the Ravens' Ray Rice, who ran for 141 yards in a Week 16 loss in 2009.
Only two teams rushed for more than 100 yards against Steelers this season, the Jets and Patriots. The Ravens defense has forced 14 turnovers in its past three games, including five in the wild-card triumph at Kansas City.
BIG BEN vs JOE COOL
There are tons of key matchups in this game, but the outcome will depend on quarterback play. Flacco threw three interceptions in the 2008 AFC Championship game won by the Steelers, and the Ravens have never beaten the Steelers when Roethlisberger was the quarterback. After missing the teams' first meeting this year, Roethlisberger had his nose broken at Baltimore in December but still won the game.
WILLIS' WINNER
Heads the Ravens win, tails the Steelers win. That might be the best way to figure out who advances to the AFC Championship game. Flacco is not the rookie he was in 2008, and the Ravens are riding the emotion of playing for Ed Reed. Polamalu might not be at full strength. Ravens 21, Steelers 20
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Nypost.com
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