Sand Dune Arch
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Sand Dune Arch
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Celebrating the Bargam New Testament dedication
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Bargam New Testament dedicationTagsPapua, Rear view
#brisbane #bridge #storybridge 28dec
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Bangsaen Speedboats - Banana boat racing
Bangsaen Beach, Chonburi, Thailand, 23rd-24th December 2011
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Chonburi, Thailand, Banana boat racingBangsaen Beach, Bangsaen Speedboats
above contra loma before sunrise
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[2011-09-25] Marion Lake_0001
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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.
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Poa labillardieri
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wetter areas, grass, River Tussock, woodland, Woodland understory
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."
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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
The Mudam Caf, Mudam Luxembourg
designers: Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec
2006
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museum
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
4390
Sewerby Hall and Gardens, East Yorkshire.
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lee a. tregurtha, american sault locks, michigan
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Untitled
Photograph by Scott Allan Wallick.
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Impressions of America: A Roadtrip. Day 8.
Chicago skyline at sunset. Chicago, IL.
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The Crumpet Tea Room
Scenes from the 2011 Rogers Christmas Parade
Rogers, AR
December 5, 2011
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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.
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Red Tailed Hawk, North America, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-tailed Hawks, Red Tail Hawk ReadyThis, beautiful birds
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!
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Michael John Stokes, beach, Stingray Bay, beach, sandal, Warnambool, mjs@opobs.co.uk
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28.11.2011
Celle
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Christmas marketRiesenradbig, Riesenrad
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.
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Yadi Yasin Photography
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....
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Canon EOS 1000D
Ebro Delta, Mediterranean Sea, Ebro Deltas, footprints, Der Sand war nass, Strand spazieren
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.
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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.
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Cassowary, Cassowaries, subsistence lifestyles, Wanang, Prehistoric
Eileen Ivers - 2011 Lowell Summer Music Series
Eileen Ivers - 2011 Lowell Summer Music Series - August 20, 2011
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Massachusetts
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
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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“center
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great barrier reef, species of turtles, green turtle, turtles, turtle
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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girls soccer, city girls ebook download, span style, soccer season, soccer player of the year, online surveys, noscript, script type, utf 8, text javascript, style font, polldaddy, lt, handful, js, poll, vote
Jaguar XKE
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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
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river
usa
george washington
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mystuart
2007
autumn
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delaware river, wonderful day, walkway, american revolution, excursion, autumn, bridge, pennsylvania