Saturday, December 31, 2011

Sand Dune Arch

photo

Sand Dune Arch

Arches National Park, Utah

Tags

Utah

Travel

USA

National

Southwest

West

Frontier

Arches

Trip

Photo

Vacation

Pic

Pix

Sand Dune

Sand Dune, National Park

Flickr.com

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Rear view with kundu drum

photo

Rear view with kundu drum

Celebrating the Bargam New Testament dedication

Tags

Papua New Guinea

PNG

Madang

Province

Niugini

Bargam

Bible

dedication

Testament

Bargam New Testament dedicationTagsPapua, Rear view

Flickr.com

Loyal

photo

Loyal

Tags

Sydney to Hobart

Derwent River

Hobart

Tasmania

Sailing

yacht

race

maxi

sail
Flickr.com

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

#brisbane #bridge #storybridge 28dec

photo

#brisbane #bridge #storybridge 28dec

Tags

instagram app

square

square format

iphoneography

Toaster
Flickr.com

Puddle reflection

photo

Puddle reflection

It rained all Christmas (plus the week before)!! On our Boxing Day dog walk I stopped to take my own picture in a big puddle. My Christmas outfit was boots & thick jacket with a hood - really glam!

Tags

rain

water

puddle

reflection

December

Puddle, Christmas

Flickr.com

Twin pics

photo

Twin pics

Tags

Aquitaine

Backpacking

Europe

France

Lacs et refuge d'Ayous

Montain

Pic du Midi d'Ossau

Pyrnes-Atlantiques
Flickr.com

Monday, December 26, 2011

Bangsaen Speedboats - Banana boat racing

photo

Bangsaen Speedboats - Banana boat racing

Bangsaen Beach, Chonburi, Thailand, 23rd-24th December 2011

Tags

Bangsaen

Chonburi

Thailand

Bangsaen Beach

beach

sand

sea

water

speedboats

speedboat

powerboat

powerboats

Bangsaen Speedboats

race

racing

banana boat

banana boats

banana boat racing

Chonburi, Thailand, Banana boat racingBangsaen Beach, Bangsaen Speedboats

Flickr.com

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Thursday, December 22, 2011

YARROW RESERVOIR, ANGLEZARKE, LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND.

photo

YARROW RESERVOIR, ANGLEZARKE, LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND.

Winter sun over the yarrow reservoir.

Tags

YARROW RESERVOIR

LANCASHIRE

ENGLAND

ANGLEZARKE

RIVINGTONRESERVOIR

YARROW

WATER

BLUE

D300

NIKON

HDR

SUN

WINTER SUN

YARROW RESERVOIR, LANCASHIRE, ANGLEZARKE

Flickr.com

above contra loma before sunrise

photo

above contra loma before sunrise

Tags

bayarea

winter

antioch

contra loma

california

contracostacounty

eastbay

ebrpd

ebparksok

ebparks

eastbayregionalparkdistrict

hills

hiking

ilikethenight

landscape

marccrumpler

morning

sunrise

dawn

tamron1750

trails

trees

usa

pentax

pentaxk5

k5
Flickr.com

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

[2011-09-25] Marion Lake_0001

photo

[2011-09-25] Marion Lake_0001

Tags

Casperson Park

Marion Lake

Sunrise

Lakeville

Minnesota

United States

USA
Flickr.com

Woodland understory - Poa labillardieri

photo

Woodland understory - Poa labillardieri

This grass grows in the wetter areas of the grassy woodland and is commonly called River Tussock. As shown here, it flowers in the warmer months of the year - in late spring and early summer. A beautiful grass, the tussocks can get quite large.

Tags

Grassy Woodland understory

Poa labillardieri

River Tussock

Poaceae

Canberra

Australia

wetter areas, grass, River Tussock, woodland, Woodland understory

Flickr.com

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

EU Puts Pressure on Ukraine

KIEV, Ukraine—A summit aimed at anchoring Ukraine in Europe fell flat on Monday, as the European Union warned it wouldn't sign a trade and political-association deal with Kiev unless the government took steps to release jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Both sides hailed the conclusion of negotiations on the deal as a stride toward a free-trade agreement and deeper political ties, but the summit in Kiev was overshadowed by the case of the opposition leader, who was convicted in October on abuse-of-office charges.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy told Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych that the signing of the agreement "will depend on political circumstances."

Enlarge Image

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UKRAINE

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Yulia Tymoshenko, shown in June

"Our strong concern is primarily related to the risks of politically motivated justice in Ukraine. The Tymoshenko trial is the most striking example," Mr. Van Rompuy said.

Ms. Tymoshenko is appealing her seven-year sentence, which she says is an attempt by Mr. Yanukovych to sideline his main political rival.

U.S. and European officials have pressed the president to find a way to release his longtime foe, whom he narrowly defeated in the 2010 election. He has refused, and authorities have launched several new criminal probes relating to her stint as head of a gas company in the mid-1990s.

After a two-hour meeting with Mr. Yanukovych and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, Mr. Van Rompuy said Ukraine's parliamentary elections next year will be a "litmus test." He urged Kiev to push ahead with judicial reforms and ensure media freedoms and freedom of assembly.

Mr. Yanukovych gave no indication after the meeting that he was prepared to back down and push for Ms. Tymoshenko's release.

The EU's statements underscored the dilemma it faces as it tries to press Mr. Yanukovych to curb alleged pressure on the opposition and media while not pushing him too hard toward neighboring Russia.

Moscow is trying to entice Ukraine into tighter economic and political ties with offers of discounts on natural-gas supplies. Negotiations on a new gas contract, which have been going on for more than 18 months, have stumbled in recent weeks.

Mr. Yanukovych, who will fly to Moscow on Tuesday for a meeting of regional leaders, said talks with Russia on a new gas agreement were tough. "It's difficult at the moment to say how they will finish," he said, in comments carried by Interfax news agency.

He said the conclusion of negotiations with the EU confirmed Ukraine's choice to move toward closer ties with Europe.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Herman Van Rompuy, Van Rompuy, European Union, Ukraine, political ties, political ties, Tymoshenko, Europe, Kiev

Online.wsj.com

Monday, December 19, 2011

Tucson's desert

photo

Tucson's desert

I think that's a good description of Tucson, beautiful cacti and awesome rocks!

Tags

Desert

Cactus

Tucson

Botanical

Gardens

Arizona

USA

Tucson, cacti

Flickr.com

Comin' down the mountain

photo

Comin' down the mountain

Walkers coming down from the summit of Mam Tor on a beautiful winter afternoon. It was very cold up there.

Tags

Mam Tor

Peak District

Derbyshire

walkers

snow

silhouettes

clouds

Mam Tor, winter afternoon

Flickr.com

Sunday, December 18, 2011

The Mudam Caf, Mudam Luxembourg

photo

The Mudam Caf, Mudam Luxembourg

designers: Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec
2006

Tags

museum

Luxembourg
Flickr.com

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Snow on the Brecon Beacons, Taf Fechan - December 2011

photo

Snow on the Brecon Beacons, Taf Fechan - December 2011

Snow on the Brecon Beacons near Taf Fechan.

Tags

brecon beacons

national park

Taf Fechan

snow

wales

UK

Brecon Beacons, Taf Fechan, ebook download

Flickr.com

Friday, December 16, 2011

Weak Euro Gives Hope to Zone's Exporters

FRANKFURT—The struggling euro-zone economy is getting an unintended benefit from the region's escalating debt crisis, as the recent sharp drop in the value of the euro against other major currencies stimulates the region's exporters, limiting the severity of the downturn gripping the 17-member currency bloc.

The likely lift to exporters comes as the euro zone, though likely in the early months of a mild recession, avoids the kind of steep plunge in output that plagued the global economy in 2008 and 2009. That could limit the scope for the European Central Bank to embark on more radical steps, including large-scale asset purchases known as quantitative easing.

ECB President Mario Draghi on Thursday rejected suggestions that the central bank embark on quantitative easing, saying such steps don't lead to "stellar economic performance."

Also Thursday, Italy's government, headed by Prime Minister Mario Monti, called for a confidence vote on the €20 billion ($26 billion) austerity package aimed at shielding the country from the euro-zone debt crisis, as expected.

The 13% drop in the euro versus the U.S. dollar from its May peak, to around $1.30, could add more than 0.5 percentage point to euro-zone growth, economists say, assuming the recent slide sticks for several months. "If we get one side benefit from sovereign debt issues, a weakened euro...would be an extremely welcome outcome," said John Whelan, chief executive of the Irish Exporters Association, whose member companies account for 80% of Ireland's exports.

Effects of a lower euro should feed through quickly, particularly with the euro weakening against the U.K. sterling. The U.K. accounts for roughly 50% of the exports of Irish-owned businesses, mostly small and medium-sized, Mr. Whelan said, making the 5% drop in the euro-sterling rate since late October a welcome development for his group.

Others along the region's fragile periphery should see the benefit, too. Ireland and Portugal are the most sensitive of euro-bloc countries to the euro-dollar rate, according to economists at Royal Bank of Scotland. Spain's economy is also closely tied to exchange rates.

The weaker euro "will help Portuguese textiles exports, especially for countries outside the European Union," said Paulo Vaz, who heads Portugal's textile association, known as ATP. Portugal is home to roughly 7,000 textile-related companies, which account for 10% of its exports. The sector has fallen on hard times in part due to the euro's strength in recent years, as lower-cost competitors in Eastern Europe and China, with lower-valued currencies, gobbled up market share inside and outside of Europe.

Another beneficiary: France's Cognac market. In recent years, sales of Cognac, which can bear that label only if made in the region of the same name in western France, have been largely boosted by booming demand in China and the U.S.

For Cognac maker Louis Royer SAS, the effect of a weaker euro has been positive, says Philippe Pichetto, who runs the company's Americas export division. "The strong euro had a big effect on our margins," said Mr. Pichetto. "When clients paid in dollars, we had to absorb most of the extra cost."

Louis Royer, which had 2010 revenues of €36 million ($47 million), does around 30% of its business in U.S. dollars. A weak euro is helping the company partly offset increased production costs which will, eventually, have to be passed on to the customer in the form of higher prices, Mr. Pichetto said.

However, he noted that the euro would have to remain weak for at least six months before it had an important effect on the 150-year-old company's finances.

Larger companies echo the feeling that the dollar would have to remain strong for a sustained period before any real positive effect could be felt. Aerospace giant European Aeronautic Defence & Space NV, which in 2010 made the majority of its €45.8 billion revenue outside the euro zone, has long argued that the euro is too strong.

"If the dollar were to stay in the range of $1.30 for a longer period of time, this would be positive for our business. The more we are moving towards the purchase-power equilibrium, which is at around $1.25, the better it would be for us, if sustained," said an EADS spokesman.

The improved export prospects come as many euro zone members confront a toxic mix of economic stagnation, growth-draining austerity measures and rising borrowing costs.

The euro zone contracted for a fourth straight month in December but at a less pronounced pace than in November, according to a closely watched survey of purchasing executives, raising hopes that any recession will be mild. The Markit PMI index rose to 47.9 from 47 in November. Though still below 50, signaling contraction, the index reached its highest level in three months. December's improvement was driven largely by Germany, whose PMI rose nearly two points to 51.3, signaling modest growth.

"For the next three or four months our order book looks very good; overall I am still not pessimistic," said Kirsten Schoder-Steinmüller, managing director of Schoder GmbH, a 76-person firm outside Frankfurt that makes engraving tools and specialty machine parts.

Write to Brian Blackstone at brian.blackstone@dowjones.com, Max Colchester at max.colchester@wsj.com and David Pearson at david.pearson@dowjones.com

European Central Bank, Philippe Pichetto, Prime Minister Mario Monti, President Mario Draghi, euro zone, debt crisis, currencies

Online.wsj.com

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Rainbow

photo

rainbow

A rainbow over the fortress in Sliema, Malta

Tags

Sliema

Malta

rainbow

arcobaleno

Arc-en-Ciel

sea

water

mediterranean

Sliema Point Battery

Fortizza

Il-Fortizza

Sliema, rainbow ebook download

Flickr.com

4390

photo

4390

Sewerby Hall and Gardens, East Yorkshire.

Tags

East Yorkshire

Yorkshire

East Riding of Yorkshire

East Riding

England

UK

United Kingdom

Bridlington

Holderness Coast

Holderness

Coast

North Sea

North

Sea

Sewerby Hall

Sewerby

Hall

Grade I listed country house

Grade I

listed building

country house

manor

manor house

Grade

listed

country

house

John Greame

John

Greame

Bridlington Corporation

Corporation

Museum of East Yorkshire

Museum
Flickr.com

Monday, December 12, 2011

Substituting for a wide-angle...

photo

Substituting for a wide-angle...

15 image panorama of the drawn down Whipple Dam. Taken on a surprisingly bright December afternoon with a 50mm prime lens and stitched using Autopano.

Tags

State College

Penn State

Whipple Dam

PSU

Fall

Water

Reservoir

Panorama

Pennsylvania

Nikon

D90

Autopano

Whipple Dam, panorama

Flickr.com

house_20110823_D_066518

photo

house_20110823_D_066518

From paddling on Branch Pond, off the Kelly Stand Road, near Arlington, Vermont, USA

Tags

2011

Digital

House

House Light Gallery

Steven House

USA

Vermont

Arlington, Vermont, Branch Pond, Kelly Stand Road

Flickr.com

lee a. tregurtha, american sault locks, michigan

photo

lee a. tregurtha, american sault locks, michigan

Tags

american sault locks

classic laker

evening

laker

lee a. tregurtha

michigan

poe lock

sunset

upbound

usa
Flickr.com

Untitled

photo

Untitled

Photograph by Scott Allan Wallick.

Tags

23mm

Devanshi

FUJINON

FUJINON ASPH. 23mm f/2.0

FinePix

FinePix X100

Fuji

Fuji FinePix X100

Fujifilm

Jackson Heights

Mamta

Mustang Thakali Kitchen

New York

Scott Wallick Photography

Thakali Kitchen

USA

United States

X100

annaprasana

geotagged

pasni

puja

scottwallick

swallick

swttl.com
Flickr.com

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Impressions of America: A Roadtrip. Day 8.

photo

Impressions of America: A Roadtrip. Day 8.

Chicago skyline at sunset. Chicago, IL.

Tags

Chicago

Illinois

USA

United States

blue

calm

dusk

night

panorama

roadtrip

sky

skyline

skyscrapers

sun

sunset

water

yellow
Flickr.com

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The Crumpet Tea Room

photo

The Crumpet Tea Room

Scenes from the 2011 Rogers Christmas Parade
Rogers, AR
December 5, 2011

Tags

Weather

Rogers

District

Crumpet

Street

Greetings

Daisy

Main

Arkansas

Museum

Room

Winter

Historic

Seasons

Tea

Airgun

Parade

Christmas

Holiday

Celebration

Cold

USA
Flickr.com

Sunrise @ Kettering

photo

Sunrise @ Kettering

Sunrise at Davey & Michelle's

Tags

Sunrise

Tasmania

Michelle'sTagsSunriseTasmania, Davey

Flickr.com

Monday, December 5, 2011

Red Tail Hawk Ready

photo

Red Tail Hawk Ready

This is a capture of a large Red Tailed Hawk, i took on Black Friday, who was sitting on the fence next to the Blackstone River Bike Path in Cumberland R.I.

This is the fourth time i saw these beautiful birds along the BRBP this year. While coming back from a walk on a beautiful autumn day i saw this RTH sitting on the ground next to the fence. When he or she spotted me it jumped on the top of the fence and sat there for about fifteen minutes and allowed me with in four feet of him or her. The RTH was looking around continually and i am guessing it was looking for lunch. After this photo opportunity it flew off into the woods to continue the hunt.

Info:

The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "chickenhawk," though it rarely preys on chickens. It breeds throughout most of North America, from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West Indies, and is one of the most common buteos in North America. Red-tailed Hawks can acclimate to all the biomes within its range. There are fourteen recognized subspecies, which vary in appearance and range. It is one of the largest members of the genus Buteo in North America, typically weighing from 690 to 1600 grams (1.5 to 3.5 pounds) and measuring 45–65 cm (18 to 26 in) in length, with a wingspan from 110 to 145 cm (43 to 57 in). The Red-tailed Hawk displays sexual dimorphism in size, with females averaging about 25% heavier than males.

The Red-tailed Hawk occupies a wide range of habitats and altitudes, including deserts, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forests, tropical rainforests, agricultural fields and urban areas. It lives throughout the North American continent, except in areas of unbroken forest or the high arctic. It is legally protected in Canada, Mexico and the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Because they are so common and easily trained as capable hunters, the majority of hawks captured for falconry in the United States are Red-tails. Falconers are permitted to take only passage hawks (which have left the nest, are on their own, but are less than a year old) so as to not affect the breeding population. Adults, which may be breeding or rearing chicks, may not be taken for falconry purposes and it is illegal to do so. Passage red-tailed hawks are also preferred by falconers because these younger birds have not yet developed adult behaviors, which can make training substantially more challenging.

The Red-tailed Hawk also has significance in Native American culture. Its feathers are considered sacred by some tribes, and are used in religious ceremonies.

Tags

flickr

foto

photo

image

capture

picture

photography

canon

powershot

bird

hawk

chickenhawk

nature

outdoors

ri

red tailed hawk

bird of prey

blackstone river

blackstone canal

blackstone valley

blackstone river bikeway

cumberland ri

the ocean state

rhode island

new england

Red Tailed Hawk, North America, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-tailed Hawks, Red Tail Hawk ReadyThis, beautiful birds

Flickr.com

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Abandoned sandal!

photo

Abandoned sandal!

I wonder why anyone would want to abandon this perfectly good child's sandal, there looked nothing wrong with it, it was in perfect health. Perhaps the child to whom it belonged had just had his leg eaten by a shark so he felt it was a bit pointless taking it home!

Although the beach was well trampled, there were only four people on this beach the afternoon we visited, and my brother and I were half of them! I guess it would have been different once school was out and then more would probably have been down there.

The location is Stingray Bay at Warnambool which is at the western end of the Great Ocean Road. The whole area was unrecognisable from my previous visit in 2007 as new housing and roads in the immediate vicinity confused us!

This image is copyrighted to Michael John Stokes; Any users, found to replicate, reproduce, circulate, distribute, download, manipulate or otherwise use my images without my written consent will be in breach of copyright laws. Please contact me at mjs@opobs.co.uk for express permission to use any of my photographs. Sorry, but this photograph can only be viewed large if you are one of my contacts!

Tags

Stingray Bay

Great Ocean Road

Warnambool

Victoria

Australia

sun

sea

sand

water

waves

beach

November

2011

Canon 5D

Michael J Stokes AWPF

opobs

Michael John Stokes, beach, Stingray Bay, beach, sandal, Warnambool, mjs@opobs.co.uk

Flickr.com

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

Riesenrad / big wheel (6)

photo

Riesenrad / big wheel (6)

Tags

28.11.2011

Celle

Celle-Weihnachtsmarkt

Celler Weihnachtsmarkt

Christmas market

Celler Christmas market

Riesenrad

big wheel

evenings

Ferris wheel

abend

abends

evening

in the evenings

Atmosphre

atmosphere

ambiance

ambience

clime

Mond

moon

lunar

Mondsichel

crescent

Gondel

enclosure

invlosure

gondola

housing

nacelle

Illuminierung

illumination

Beleuchtung

Ausleuchtung

Farbe

color

colour

Licht

light

inspiration

imagination

faszination

magic

magical

Perspektive

perspective

outlook

vista

Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TZ7

Ellenore56

Moment

Augenblick

Foto

Photo

Emotion

Christmas marketRiesenradbig, Riesenrad

Flickr.com

Sunday, November 27, 2011

A view of Golden Gate Bridge

photo

A view of Golden Gate Bridge

A view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Marshal beach.

_______________________________________________
Photo by Yadi Yasin © 2011 All Rights Reserved.
yadiyasin.fotografer.net / yadiyasin[at]yahoo.com
All my images are under © All Rights Reserved and should not be use in any other way.

Tags

USA

San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge

bridge

sea

Yadi Yasin Photography

yadiyasin.fotografer.net
Flickr.com

Land's End

photo

Land's End

where the Ebro Delta meets the open Mediterranean Sea, I went there for a walk along the beach after the recent rains- there were few footprints- the sand was very wet and soft....
-------------------
Das offene Meer am Ende des Ebro Deltas. ich ging am Strand spazieren nach den Regentagen- es hatte nur wenige Fusspuren. Der Sand war nass und weich....

Tags

Ebro Delta

Delta de l'Ebre

Platja del Trabucador

Strand

Wasser

Sand

Fusspuren

Catalunya

Spain

Marlies

Baix-Ebre

Els Muntells

beach

water

Beauty of Water

Canon EOS 1000D

Ebro Delta, Mediterranean Sea, Ebro Deltas, footprints, Der Sand war nass, Strand spazieren

Flickr.com

360 of Spokane Fair at Twilight

photo

360 of Spokane Fair at Twilight

This 360-degree polar panorama shows some of the carnival amusements at twilight during the 2011 Spokane County Interstate Fair (in Washington State). The time-lapse images were captured with a tripod supporting a homemade panoramic nodal bracket holding the DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera with vertical grip vertically set at ISO 100 and f/22 (to star the brighter lights) using a wide-angle zoom lens (12 to 24).

GPS: Approximate location, latitude 47° 39' 47.21" N, longitude 117° 20' 34.06" W.

Keywords: Structures, Digital Darkroom, Polar Panorama, Panorama, Landscape, and USA.

Tags

Structures

Digital Darkroom

Polar Panorama

Panorama

Landscape

USA
Flickr.com

Saturday, November 26, 2011

111126

photo

111126

Tags

canon

500d

longexposure

nightphotography

water

sky

shadow

sea

rocks

riviera

reflection

photography

photo

night

notarim

mediterranean

lighting

light

house

geotagged

france

francia

frenchriviera

europe

creativecommons

cotedazur

coast

black

beach

autumn

palmtree

pinetree

belleepoque

plagedecabbe

roquebrunecapmartin

luxury
Flickr.com

Thursday, November 24, 2011

24/11/11

photo

24/11/11

Curled up in bed with my latest knitting mag!

Tags

dailyimage2011

jane austen knits
Flickr.com

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Watching Over a Prehistoric Chicken

photo

Watching Over a Prehistoric Chicken

Walking through the outer-realms of the village, on our way into the forest, we came across this family, steadily guarding their Cassowary chicks.

Members of the Wanang community live fairly subsistence lifestyles. Cassowaries are a favourite form of protein - they are raised like chickens until they get to a size where their claws become too fearsome - they can easily disembowel a child or dog.

Tags

Cassowary

papua

new

guinea

rainforest

conservation

Madang

Cassowary, Cassowaries, subsistence lifestyles, Wanang, Prehistoric

Flickr.com

Monday, November 21, 2011

Urban reflections

photo

Urban reflections

Flickr Newcastle Sundance dawn shoot.
Nobbys (Newcastle), NSW, Australia.
Whilst waiting for the cafe to open for breakfast.
20111105-IMG_8311

Tags

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Nobbys

© Richard Taylor

Australia

Newcastle

20111105-IMG_8311

reflection

street

urban

Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW

Flickr.com

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Eileen Ivers - 2011 Lowell Summer Music Series

photo

Eileen Ivers - 2011 Lowell Summer Music Series

Eileen Ivers - 2011 Lowell Summer Music Series - August 20, 2011

Tags

eileen ivers

live music

lowell

lowell summer music series

ma

Massachusetts

USA
Flickr.com

Great Blue Heron

photo

Great Blue Heron

landing

Tags

water

greatblueheron

heron

gilbertriparianpreserve

bird

arizona
Flickr.com

Friday, November 18, 2011

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Canadian Finance Minister Urges Europe to Act

TOKYO—The failure of euro-zone countries to deal decisively with the debt crisis is threatening the world economy, Canada's finance minister said Wednesday.

"There is frustration among a number of the ministers about the continued failure of decisive action in Europe," Jim Flaherty told reporters after speaking to business leaders in Tokyo, referring to the Group of 20 industrial and developing economies.

He said that the solution to the problem rests within the euro zone, where a number of members have been hit by debt problems, with Italy the latest area of concern.

"Our view is that the euro-zone countries themselves have adequate tools and adequate resources to address the crisis," he said, adding that the role of bodies such as the International Monetary Fund should be limited to helping other nations, not euro-zone members.

"This is a situation in Europe that has global consequences and already some of the poorer countries in the world have been feeling the effects of the crisis," he said.

Asked if Canada and other nations were building contingency plans to deal with a possible restructuring of the euro zone, he said that G-20 ministers had discussed "Plan B" in case a country decides to leave the common currency, but said that in the end, this was a matter for euro-zone countries.

Mr. Flaherty also expressed somewhat tentative understanding for Japan's intervention in the foreign-exchange market that is designed to bring down the high value of the yen. He said Canada believes market intervention is not supportive for an orderly market, adding, however, that "there are times, from time to time, where in extremis there is a disorderly situation and it's understandable then, and rarely, when a government would intervene."

Japan has said that its action was justified under G-7 policies regarding excess volatility in the markets, but European and U.S. officials have stressed that markets should guide foreign-exchange levels and have been putting pressure on China to stop controlling its foreign-exchange rate.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde offered implicit support Saturday for Japan's intervention, which included estimated yen selling of ¥7.5 trillion ($97.4 billion) on Oct. 31. She said that the intervention "was in line with the spirit of the G-7 and G-20."

Japanese officials have walked a delicate tightrope in recent months as they've spent trillions of yen to keep the yen from surging, but tried to do so without angering allies, who worry that Japan's actions could, among other things, make it harder to pressure China to strengthen its currency. Japan's actions have drawn some veiled criticism from other policy makers.

Earlier Wednesday, Mr. Flaherty met with Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi. A finance-ministry official briefing reporters quoted Mr. Azumi as saying that if Europe firmly tackles its debt crisis, Japan will consider further cooperation via the International Monetary Fund.

—Takashi Nakamichi contributed to this article.

Write to William Sposato at william.sposato@dowjones.com

foreign exchange market, excess volatility, global consequences, international monetary fund, jim flaherty, orderly market, market intervention, adequate tools, zone members, euro zone, world economy online, debt crisis, developing economies, decisive action, adequate resources, finance minister, exch, debt problems, plan b, business leaders

Online.wsj.com

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Snorkeling with a Green Turtle

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Snorkeling with a Green turtle

Did you know? There are 6 species of turtles in the Great Barrier Reef. This student is swimming with a Green Turtle. This animal, like many others in the Reef are endangered.

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Australia

Bond University

Bond

Gold Coast

Australian Experience

Outback

Great Barrier Reef

Biology

Marine Biology

Study Abroad

CIS

CISabroad

Center for International Studies

“center

studies”

“cis

study

abroad”

intern

travel

“study

“intern

photos

pictures

great barrier reef, species of turtles, green turtle, turtles, turtle

Flickr.com

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

NYPost.com Poll: Who should be The Post's All-City girls soccer Player of the Year?

The girls soccer season has come to close and in a few weeks here at The Post we’ll be selecting our all-city and all-borough squads.

A handful of players stood out from the pack. Some led their teams to titles and others were invaluable to their squad’s success. Who do you should be this year’s Post All-City girls soccer Player of the Year? Vote for your choice below early and often until the poll ends Monday at 11:59 p.m.

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<a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/5670977/">Who should be The Post's All-City girls soccer Player of the Year?</a><span style="font-size:9px;"><a href="http://polldaddy.com/features-surveys/">online surveys</a></span>
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Nypost.com

Jaguar XKE

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Jaguar XKE

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1965

jaguar

xke

lime rock

historic

festival

connecticut

track

paddock

vintage

old

classic

retro

cars

race

racing

motorsports

wet

water

rain
Flickr.com

Monday, November 14, 2011

Delaware River at Washington Crossing

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Delaware River at Washington Crossing

Separating New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Shot from the middle of the walkway on the bridge that connects the two historic parks (associated with the American Revolution). The spot provides a wonderful day's excursion, especially in spring or autumn.

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Delaware River

pa

nj

boundary

waterway

river

usa

george washington

bridge

view

mystuart

2007

autumn

trees

delaware river, wonderful day, walkway, american revolution, excursion, autumn, bridge, pennsylvania

Flickr.com

Fiona, Miriam & Paula

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Fiona, miriam &amp; Paula

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druin

middels

restaurant

fiona online, miriam, amp

Flickr.com