Le Paul Gauguin - moorea - Polynsie Franaise
Juillet 2002
Tags
Tahiti
PolynesieFranaise
Frenchpolynesia
polynesie
polynesia
french
franaise
boat
boats
ship
ships
water
ocean
pacifique
pacific
polynsie, paul gauguin, moorea
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Paris 37°C = Rio 40°C ...
Paris 37°C = Rio 40°C ...
Paris 37°C hoje ... aqui no tem praia ... imaginem ento o forno que vai estar ...
Boa semana :))
Paris 37°C ... c'est pire que les 40°C de Rio ... Il manque une plage ici ...
Bonne semaine :))
Tags
Paris
Frana
France
Europe
Europa
calor
chaleur
il fait chaud
Louvre
Pyramydes du Louvre
museu
muse
museum
vero
summer
t
21 Guilherme
lgp3
cutout
ento, forno, praia, manque, plage, boa, hoje, rio, paris
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Overground
Overground
Tags
sea of bees
music
hipster
london
dalston
rooftop
terrace
bootsrap
overground
sea
bees
ouverture sur le lac
ouverture sur le lac
Tags
Canon
Lyon
France
europe
french
photography
photo
city
ville
day
light
colour
trees
lake
water
park
green
nature
sun
Rhne-Alpes
shadows
eau
verdure
parc
town
wallpaper
fond d'cran
pictures
francia
wow
frankreich
photographie
shot
soleil
geotagged
europa
exbr
natur
rhne
people
parc de la tte d'or
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Ruelle de Mallonat, Nice, France
Black & White Sunset...
Black & White Sunset...
On my Website: www.taniaphotography.gr
Press L to see Large in Black...
First time i shot a Black & White Sunset. I always believe that sunset has the best colors . But today i like this dark sky. So that's my Sunset for today.
::: Click here to view my latest images.
::: Click here for my most interesting photos.
Camera Model: canon EOS 400D ; Lens’s focal length: Tamron AF XR 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DI II;
Focal length: 18.00 mm; Aperture: 10.0; Exposure time: 1/ 320 s; ISO: 100
All rights reserved - Copyright © Tania Koleska
Tags
winter
whitebackground
whitebackgraound
waterdrop
white
watter
water
taniaphotography
tania
taniakoleska
tamron
tamron18250f35
summer
sky
sailsevenseas
season
sea
romantichour
romantic
reflectioninlake
reflections
raw
photography
photo
photographyart
mountain
mountains
makedonia
land
landscape
landscapes
landscapephotography
lake
ktania
koleska
kastoria
kardpostal
image
flickr
colorsky
clouds
cityview
cityscape
canon
canon400d
camera
blackbackground
black
beauty
beautiful
background
artphotography
art
400d
canon eos 400d, canon eos, grpress, dark sky, length 18, camera model, interesting photos, focal length, rights reserved copyright, exposure time, aperture, website www, amp, sunset, canon, colors, images
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Bachmann Defends Credentials
Rep. Michele Bachmann defended her credentials as a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination on Sunday, ahead of her three-day announcement tour that was set to begin later in the day in Iowa.
In back-to-back appearances on "Fox News Sunday" and CBS's "Face the Nation," the Minnesota congresswoman faced a series of tough questions about apparent inconsistencies and a litany of inflammatory but occasionally untrue remarks.
View Full Image
Associated Press
Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., speaking on CBS's "Face the Nation" in Washington.
Chris Wallace, the host of "Fox News Sunday," put it bluntly when he asked Ms. Bachmann, "Are you a flake?"
"That would be insulting to say something like that," she replied with a smile before ticking off a list of personal and professional accomplishments, from serving as a government tax attorney to raising five children.
Ms. Bachmann begins her announcement tour Sunday night with an event in her birthplace of Waterloo, Iowa. The campaign kickoff coincides with a Des Moines Register poll released Saturday night that showed her neck-and-neck with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as the most popular Republican candidates in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.
The Minnesota congresswoman went on offense by criticizing Mr. Romney again for failing to sign an antiabortion pledge proffered by the Susan B. Anthony List. Mr. Romney, whose apparent shift on abortion raised eyebrows among social conservatives during his last bid in 2008, won't sign the pledge because it is too sweeping, his campaign said.
"It's disappointing that he didn't," Ms. Bachmann said on "Fox News Sunday."
On CBS, she took a shot at Mr. Romney's decision to sign a state health-care law as Massachusetts governor that requires most residents to be insured.
Ms. Bachmann reserved most of her vitriol for President Barack Obama and his administration. She accused Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and others of engaging in "scare tactics" for warning Congress and the American public that failure to extend the country's borrowing limit would lead to a catastrophic default. Instead, she said the Treasury secretary could divert payments for other government programs to pay the country's creditors.
"I have no intention of voting to raise the debt ceiling," she said.
Ms. Bachmann faces questions about her credibility as she enters the official phase of her presidential campaign. The website PolitiFact issued a report earlier this month reviewing comments Ms. Bachmann has made during her congressional career. Of the 23 comments the website has fact-checked since 2009, nine were deemed "false" and seven earned the "Pants on Fire" distinction, including a recent claim that the Obama administration had only issued one drilling permit since Mr. Obama came into office.
She reiterated one of the disputed contentions Sunday, saying the Congressional Budget Office said the national health-care law would result in the loss of 800,000 jobs. PolitiFact deemed that statistic "barely true."
Ms. Bachmann offered three new pieces of data on Sunday that are bound to elicit some fact-checking. She also said the use of limousines by federal officials has increased by 73% since Mr. Obama became president. And she said the number of Department of Transportation employees earning more than $160,000 has increased from one when the president took office to 1,690.
Ms. Bachmann did retreat from remarks that got her in trouble in 2008, when she said she was "very concerned (Mr. Obama) may have anti-American views."
"I don't question the president's patriotism at all," she said on CBS. "There are a lot of things I wish I'd said differently."
michele bachmann, fox news sunday online, republican presidential nomination, tim geithner, state health care, apparent inconsistencies, campaign kickoff, barack obama, mitt romney, des moines register, massachusetts gov, waterloo iowa, social conservatives, scare tactics, massachusetts governor, health care law, apparent shift, treasury secretary, professional accomplishments, face the nation
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Shoreline
Shoreline
Clouds and sand patterns caught my eye. I tried very hard not to ruin the pristine sands too!
Tags
Shoreline
Coast
Beach
Sea
Tide
Wave
Clouds
Sky
Weather
Summer
Sun
Mono
Black and White
Square Crop
Canon7d
Polariser
Sigma 10-20mm
Wide Angle
Cornwall
Perranathnoe
South West
Empty
Landscape
machu picchu
machu picchu
Machu Picchu, Peru
[South America]
Tags
fernando
stankuns
photo
fotografia
peru
south
america
amrica
do
sul
south america
amrica do sul
sur
inca
machu
picchu
machu picchu
pichu
south america, picchu peru
Friday, June 24, 2011
Montral-en-Vivarais
Montral-en-Vivarais
Tags
Montral-en-vivarais
ardche
rhne-alpes
french
vintage
photography
France
europe
travel
fond d'cran
wallpaper
ville
town
city
cit
architecture
photo
francia
frankreich
light
photographie
shot
geotagged
color
colour
couleur
typical
ancient
lumire
Canon
exbr
mur
wall
heritage
stone
pierre
ombres
shadows
medieval
door
porte
sun
soleil
maison
house
glise
church
mediterranean
mditerranen
stairs
Colors of Koh Lipe | Satun | Thailand
colors of Koh Lipe | Satun | thailand
Koh Lipe is a small island in the Southern part of the Andaman sea. It is located in Satun Province, close to Koh Tarutao and Langkawi. It's white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters make it a perfect destination for a beach holiday. It's sometimes described as the 'Maldives of Thailand'.
The sea really is that color with great clarity; no additional saturation.
Visit my website: Southeast Asia Images
Tags
thailand
sunrise beach
emerald
snorkling
colors
long tail boat
boats
sea
andaman
castaway resort
satun
koh lipe
lipe island
ocean
tropical
paradise
travel
RAW
holiday
canon 10-22mm
beach
diving
clouds
gettyimagessoutheastasiaQ2
cliff
view
koh tarutao, koh lipe, sandy beaches, satun, andaman sea, beach holiday, clear waters, southeast asia, saturation, clarity, maldives, colors, thailand
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Calvary
Calvary
This is a grotto at the monk's cemetery at the Richardton Abbey in Richardton, ND.
View Large
Tags
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Adobe Photoshop Elements 7
Alien Skin Bokeh 2
Alien Skin Exposure 3
Canon EOS 50D
EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
Catholic
Exposure Fusion
Jesus
North Dakota
orton effect
Photo
prairie
statue
cemetary
Stark County, ND
skin exposure, photoshop elements, grotto ebook download, 4l, abbey, monk
Quiz: What kind of bird chic are you?
Credit: Helios Loo / Corbis
Ladies, it’s our turn. The early days of ornithology were a veritable boy’s club, and many of the birding guides still are penned by men. Don’t get us wrong; we like our David Sibley and Kenn Kaufman books and have a special place for everything George Harrison has written. But, as women who love watching birds, we wanted to put a female twist on our favorite hobby.
Take this fun quiz to see what type of birder you are!
1. When you’re thinking about weed control in your yard, you:
A. Will do whatever it takes. Those weeds aren’t going to keep your blooming beauties down.
B. Use weed control on a limited basis. You like both your wildlife and your pretty blooms.
C. Never ever use weed killer. It could hurt Mama Robin and her babies!
2. It’s 5:40 on Saturday morning. What are you doing?
A. Sleeping. Duh, it’s a Saturday.
B. Hitting the snooze button. You’ll wake up in a bit to head out to fill your feeders and greet the birds.
C. Grabbing your coffee and heading out the door to catch the best of morning birdsongs.
3. How do you keep track of all the birds you see?
A. It’s all in your head.
B. A birding scrapbook, complete with photos and notes.
C. A daily birding blog or diary that you share with friends.
4. How many pieces of bird-themed clothing or jewelry do you own?
A. None. It’s not your style.
B. Two or more. You’ll buy it if it’s the right thing.
C. Too many to count.
5. If a bird was nesting outside your window, you would:
A. Keep an eye on it from time to time, then forget about it until something exciting happens.
B. Check on it day and night, eager to see any new activity.
C. Watch, photograph and write about it as much as possible, inviting your neighbors and friends over for a peek.
6. How well can you recognize birds in your backyard?
A. You know the common ones, but many are a mystery.
B. You can name just about every bird you see.
C. You can name them faster than you can name your own children.
So, what kind of bird chic are you? We've got the results!
kenn kaufman, david sibley, birds in your backyard, female twist, watching birds, fun quiz, weed killer, snooze button, birder, weed control, george harrison, blooms, weeds, saturday morning, beauties, scrapbook, peek, mama, neighbors, photograph
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Violet London Taxi
1/50 sec | F/8,0 | ISO 640 | 18-55 @ 40 mm
Tags
18-55
Taxi
VR
cinematic
driver
londra
nikon
photo
photography
shoot
street
violet, london
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Rga, 16
Rainy Pass Looking South
Rainy Pass Looking South
We had hoped to go hiking to Rainy Lake and see the waterfall there, but found the area still blanketed by deep snow, so had to content ourselves by eating our lunch out of the back of the car and taking lots of pictures of the outstanding scenery.
Seen along Washington's SR 20, part of the Cascade Loop, on a day of incredible scenery of mountains and waterfalls. (11-06-04-0086)
Tags
Nikon D90
Nikkor 18-200 mm Lens
Washington
SR20
Cascade Loop
landscape
mountain
snow
Rainy Pass
cascade loop, rainy pass, southwe, rainy lake, deep snow, waterfalls, waterfall, scenery, mountains, lunch
Monday, June 20, 2011
Huge vs Small ... boats @ port
Huge vs Small ... boats @ port
© All Rights Reserved - No Usage Allowed in Any Form Without the Written Consent of Gail Shotlander (aka shotzy)
Tags
ship
boat
boathouse
port
lane
water
waterway
Lake Ontario
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Tata Steel to Sell Entire Stake in Riversdale Mining
NEW DELHI—India's Tata Steel Ltd. said it will sell its 26.27% stake in Riversdale Mining Ltd. to Rio Tinto for 1.06 billion Australian dollars (US$1.12 billion), giving Rio Tinto complete control of the Africa-focused coal-mining company.
![[riversdale0616]](http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-OI773_rivers_D_20110616091221.jpg)
Riversdale Mining
A drilling operation of the Mozambique Project of Riversdale Mining.
Rio Tinto plans to delist the shares of Australia-based Riversdale. Following the Tata Steel sale, the Anglo-Australian mining company will hold more than 99% in Riversdale, leaving the free float of shares at just 0.3%. Tata said it didn't want to remain an investor without a joint-venture agreement with the majority owner.
After Brazil's Cia. Siderurgica Nacional in April sold its 19.9% stake in Riversdale, Tata was the only remaining major stakeholder beyond Rio Tinto.
Tata said it would continue to hold its 35% stake in a Riversdale unit that owns the Benga mines in Mozambique, where the companies have a long-term for the output of coking coal, which is used in making steel. "Tata Steel would look forward to working with Rio Tinto and discussing in good faith ways to enhance its participation in the Benga joint venture," the Indian company said Thursday.
Indian steelmakers are hurrying to acquire overseas coking-coal mines as the country lacks good-quality deposits and depends almost entirely on imports. India annually imports 30 million tons of coking coal, making it the third-largest importer in the world, after Japan and China.
Overseas mines are also a good hedge against sharp rises in coking-coal prices as demand from Chinese and Indian steel mills have led to prices doubling over the last year.
The Indian steelmaker's decision to sell its stake in Riversdale came a day before Rio Tinto's takeover offer for the Africa-focused coal miner expires.
Write to Prasenjit Bhattacharya at prasenjit.bhattacharya@dowjones.com
coal mining company, joint venture agreement, coal prices, tata steel, coal miner, rio tinto, coal mines, indian steel, drilling operation, riversdale, steel ltd, largest importer, majority owner, steelmaker, siderurgica nacional, bhattacharya, free float, steel mills, good faith, australian dollars
Friday, June 17, 2011
Tata Steel to Sell Entire Stake in Riversdale Mining
NEW DELHI—India's Tata Steel Ltd. said it will sell its 26.27% stake in Riversdale Mining Ltd. to Rio Tinto for 1.06 billion Australian dollars (US$1.12 billion), giving Rio Tinto complete control of the Africa-focused coal-mining company.
Riversdale Mining
A drilling operation of the Mozambique Project of Riversdale Mining.
Rio Tinto plans to delist the shares of Australia-based Riversdale. Following the Tata Steel sale, the Anglo-Australian mining company will hold more than 99% in Riversdale, leaving the free float of shares at just 0.3%. Tata said it didn't want to remain an investor without a joint-venture agreement with the majority owner.
After Brazil's Cia. Siderurgica Nacional in April sold its 19.9% stake in Riversdale, Tata was the only remaining major stakeholder beyond Rio Tinto.
Tata said it would continue to hold its 35% stake in a Riversdale unit that owns the Benga mines in Mozambique, where the companies have a long-term for the output of coking coal, which is used in making steel. "Tata Steel would look forward to working with Rio Tinto and discussing in good faith ways to enhance its participation in the Benga joint venture," the Indian company said Thursday.
Indian steelmakers are hurrying to acquire overseas coking-coal mines as the country lacks good-quality deposits and depends almost entirely on imports. India annually imports 30 million tons of coking coal, making it the third-largest importer in the world, after Japan and China.
Overseas mines are also a good hedge against sharp rises in coking-coal prices as demand from Chinese and Indian steel mills have led to prices doubling over the last year.
The Indian steelmaker's decision to sell its stake in Riversdale came a day before Rio Tinto's takeover offer for the Africa-focused coal miner expires.
Write to Prasenjit Bhattacharya at prasenjit.bhattacharya@dowjones.com
coal mining company, joint venture agreement, coal prices, tata steel, coal miner, rio tinto, coal mines, indian steel, drilling operation, riversdale, steel ltd, largest importer, majority owner, steelmaker, siderurgica nacional, bhattacharya, free float, steel mills, good faith, australian dollars
Runaway
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Ensignbus / AEC Regent III / RT8 / FXT 183
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
First lesson
First lesson
Wonderful to see her change from tense to relaxed to sheer joy.
Canon 7D with 100-400L. RAW files.
Had to shoot at ISO 3200.
Noise reduction and compositing in photoshop.
Tags
Animal
Cap
Child
Clothing
Eersel
Enjoy
Europe
Girl
Horse
Mammal
Nature
Netherlands
PCK Eersel
People
Enjoyment
Creature
Daughter
Holland
Fauna
Infant
Joy
Kid
Youthful
Youngster
Youth
Toddler
Young
canon 7d, raw files, sheer joy, compositing, noise reduction, tense, canon
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Upper Geyser Basin
Upper Geyser Basin
Footbridge accross Firehole River at Upper Geyser Basin.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.
Tags
Yellowstone
Wyoming
USA
Landscape
Nature
River
Water
Bridge
Snow
Trees
Footpath
Footbridge
Firehole River
Upper Geyser Basin
YNP
Yellowstone National Park
Nikon
D700
24
Trip
Vacation
Travel
Geotagged
upper geyser basin, yellowstone national park, firehole river, wyoming usa, 70mm
Thiago Barcellos
Thiago Barcellos
Canto do Recreio
Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Tags
surf
surfer
nature
natureza
wave
onda
ocean
oceano
water
gua
maneuver
manobra
prancha
azul
blue
green
Monday, June 13, 2011
Manam Island, New Guinea
Manam Island, New Guinea
Tags
Papua New Guinea
New Guinea
Papua
New
Guinea
Melanesia
Australasia
South
Pacific
PNG
culture
documents
documentary
nature
biodiversity
diversity
research
village
tribal
traditional
anthropology
biology
conservation
protection
landowners
rainforest
rain
forest
Manam
Bismarck
archipelago
Madang
volcano
lava
earthquake
island
caldera
VH-LHV
Sunday, June 12, 2011
HAPPY FAMILIES
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Rotterdam 7
Ruzym K | Photographie. Facebook Fanpage
press L
Photographer : Ruzym K.
Location : Rotterdam, Netherland ( 2011 )
EXIF:
Camera --- canon EOS 7D with Canon EF-S 15-85mm 1:3,5-5,6 IS USM
Focal Length --- 18mm
Aperture --- f/5,6
Exposure --- 2,5
ISO --- 100
Tags
yellow
water
wasser
traum
tree
stadt
sky
skyscraper
skyline
ruzym
rotterdam
rot
red
place
photo
nights
night
niederlande
house
holland
hochhaus
himmel
hill
haus
eos
efs1585mm3556isusm
efs
dutch
dream
city
canon
blue
blau
beautiful
baum
7d
1585mm
canon eos 7d, canon ef, canon eos, camera canon, facebook, rotterdam, photographie, canon
Friday, June 10, 2011
May 2011- Montgomery County Community College Graduation Ceremonies
May 2011- Montgomery county community college Graduation Ceremonies
Darlene gets hers!
Tags
May
2011
Montogomery County Community College
Graduation
Commencement
Darlene
King Of Prussia
Pennsylvania
United States
USA
montgomery county community college online, college graduation, montgomery county community, county community college
Thursday, June 9, 2011
A Splash of Color
photo" width="640" height="377">
A Splash of Color
I took this on my birthday last year in the Clothiers shop on Main Street. Since then it has become one of my most favorite photos ever and I don't even know why. With my birthday coming up soon I thought I'd try to process it as best as I could.
I don't know how often disney changes their store displays but I would love to see this again in a few weeks. Hope you like it too!
For a better view, please press the “L” key or click on the photo to view the image large and on black.
Comments, critiques, faves, and views are always appreciated. Have a magical day!
© Andrea Lopez 2011
Facebook | PhotoBlog
Tags
disney
disneyland
california adventure
anaheim
california
main street
USA
stores
clothiers
architecture
display
spool
thread
color
vintage
rope
cotton
girls
sewing
andrea lopez, magical day, l key, store displays, faves, disney, photos, photo, shop on main street
la Thines (Ardche)
la Thines (Ardche)
Tags
paysage
reflets
reflections
europe
europa
Thines
Ardche
Sud
France
photography
landscape
photo
nature
sun
wallpaper
fond d'cran
soleil
pictures
photos
beauty
beautiful
beaut
tranquillit
peaceful
travel
wow
quiet
francia
frankreich
photographie
shot
geotagged
color
colour
couleur
holidays
Canon
ciel
sky
spring
printemps
Cvennes
countryside
french
water
eau
river
rivire
wilderness
trees
arbres
exbr
Sports shorts
MLB: Clemens seeks steroid memos
A federal judge is considering whether to let the authors of the Mitchell Report that examined steroid use in baseball withhold some of their internal memos from Roger Clemens and his criminal defense team. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton held a private hearing with the lawyers who helped write the 2007 report to discuss their interviews with Clemens accusers Kirk Radomski and Brian McNamee. Clemens is scheduled to be tried next month.
* Former big-leaguer Jose Pagan, who drove in the winning run for Pittsburgh in Game 7 of the 1971 World Series, has died. He was 76.
* Former Detroit outfielder Jim Northrup, who hit a decisive two-run triple in Game 7 of the 1968 World Series, has died. He was 71.
NFL: Britt pleads guilty
Tennessee receiver Kenny Britt pleaded guilty to careless driving charges and was fined $478, according to espn.com. The former Rutgers star was arrested in his hometown of Bayonne after police said he drove his Porsche at 71 mph in a 55-mph zone and then led police on a chase.
NHL: Winnipeg hires GM
Longtime hockey executive Kevin Cheveldayoff has been hired as the general manager of the NHL club relocating to Winnipeg, the franchise formerly known as the Atlanta Thrashers.
steroid use in baseball, jim northrup, big leaguer, kirk radomski, atlanta thrashers, internal memos, nhl club, roger clemens, brian mcnamee, mitchell report, kevin cheveldayoff, game 7, espn, outfielder, district judge, judge reggie walton, federal judge, britt, bayonne, winnipeg
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
mangroves: HDR
mangroves: HDR
Tags
water
trees
thebestofhdr
tagalacion
seascape
rivers
pinoy
photoshop
paradise
photomatix
outdoor
nikond7000
nikon
nature
istoryadotnet
gold
hdr
francisdumadag
brunei
d7000
bandarserbegawan
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
0009 Sunset From Dave & Lyn's House In Oxenford - August 2005
Speak Easy
Speak Easy
My write up on photographing the new Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas here
On the weekend of November 20-21, 2010, I was invited to photograph the new Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas prior to their opening December 15, 2010 in Las Vegas NV.
This set of images represents my efforts that weekend to showcase this newest resort property opening up on the Las Vegas Strip. Thanks to David Scherer from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for showing me around, to Miiko Mentz at Katalyst Films for helping to arrange the shoot, and to my wife for modeling for me.
To learn more about The Cosmpolitan of Las Vegas, check out their website here or their Facebook page here.
Tags
Clark County
Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan Hotel
Las Vegas
Nevada
The Cosmopolitan
The Cosmopolitan Hotel
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
USA
United States
United States of America
Vegas
architecture
swimming pool
david scherer, katalyst films, cosmpolitan, mentz online, vegas strip, cosmopolitan, vegas nv, las vegas, showcase, pool, images
Monday, June 6, 2011
Australasian Pipit
Australasian Pipit
Tags
Australasian Pipit
Anthus novaeseelandiae
Kilcowera
Thargomindah
Queensland
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
England v Switzerland: Fabio Capello's side serve up evidence of why minds remained squarely on the beach
England v Switzerland: Fabio Capello's side serve up evidence of why minds remained squarely on the beach
For Wembley’s faithful hordes, the feeling of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ could hardly have been more palpable.
Toothless: Darren Bent provided littel threat for England as the season's football ended with a whimper Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Oliver Brown
6:45PM BST 04 Jun 2011
Comments
Seven days had passed since Barcelona bedazzled on this stage with as stirring an exhibition of pace, movement and guile as had ever graced a Champions League final.
It had appeared the perfect culmination to the season, the tonic with which to send football-weary players and fans across Europe into a rare tournament-free summer.
But no, we were not finished. There was, alas, still the ordeal of England versus Switzerland to endure: not so much an encore, perhaps, as a needless epilogue.
England, at least, stayed true to type, seizing upon this balmy June evening to demonstrate why their minds remained squarely on the beach rather than the pitch.
John Terry, he of the mile-a-minute platitudes, had claimed the England players would perform all the better for having “a bit of sun on their backs”. Not on this evidence, as the captain’s charges conducted this engagement with all the febrile intensity of a seaside donkey.
This cannot have been what he meant, then, by his impassioned order of one last push. The Swiss, for all England’s dissembling, were not tricky opponents. Had Fabio Capello succeeded in making his men play to anything approaching the sum of their parts, this should have been both an emphatic and restorative win.
Instead, there is still a victory to gain against Montenegro to gain in the small matter of three months’ time. All aboard for Podgorica. A nation holds its breath.
Or rather, it just sighs in weary resignation after another chaotic performance, in which two free-kicks by the wonderfully-named Tranquillo Barnetta caught England’s back line in their own familiar moments of tranquillity.
Rio Ferdinand was positively inert as the first flew over his head, while goalkeeper Joe Hart was scarcely the picture of dynamism as he attempted to keep out the second.
It fell, as it so often does, to Frank Lampard to restore some sanity with a characteristically clinical penalty. But for how much longer?
Lampard has a stronger work ethic than many of his team-mates put together, yet at 33, he does not exactly seem the fulcrum around whom to construct a team for the future.
This is scant reason for Fabio Capello to care. After all, he is leaving once next year’s finals in Poland and Ukraine are over, ready to augment that vast art collection of his. The Italian is motivated solely by building a side to win the European Championships, not one that can endure until the 2014 World Cup.
Capello, in mitigation, had the sense to hook Lampard at half-time, after the midfielder had just fired a wretched free-kick aimed more at the corner flag than the top corner. Into the void strode Ashley Young, one of England’s few assured performers on a day of farcical theatre, to fashion an elegant equaliser.
Would that we could say the same about Young’s side-kick, Darren Bent. The rangy striker underlined the toothlessness of England’s attack when he picked up a loose ball and contrived to miss an open goal by yards. What was that Harry Redknapp said about Bent squandering chances his wife could score?
Perhaps this was the answer. Perhaps Capello should have set out to befuddle Switzerland by sending out an England WAGS XI, with Coleen Rooney leading the line and Christine Bleakley playing the anchor role. They could have created a greater threat up front than Bent and Theo Walcott managed all match.
These truly were the dog days of the English summer. After such a compelling climax to the domestic calendar, and after so satisfying a feast had been served up by Barca and Manchester United, one felt just briefly that Capello and his cohorts had been mercifully forgotten.
If only. The fascination exerted by our national team is rather like a virus: grim, and difficult to suppress. Not one year ago fans draped in the St George’s flag had fulminated at the cameras in South Africa, raging about the dross they had been forced to watch throughout an abject World Cup campaign.
And yet here they were, back again, all 84,000 of them. The same folk who had demanded a refund in Bloemfontein were giving beery renditions of ‘Ing-ur-land’ as if their lives depended on it.
Were you listening, Fabio? Not likely, as he flounced irritably away at the final whistle, unable to stomach a lamentable late miss by Stewart Downing. He should worry: he has two months of luxuriating, before the tantalising prospect of a home friendly against Holland, to purge the frustration.
It is at like moments like this when you begin to understand Guus Hiddink’s exasperation with international coaching. You stoke the anticipation, your players fail to deliver, and then you spend eight weeks working out how to avert the next disappointment.
Surely, there have to be more fulfilling ways to earn to living. Not, we might dare venture, if you happen to be pulling in £6 million a year for it.
fabio capello, rsquo, photo action, england players, action images, true to type, barnetta, free kicks, lord mayor, john terry, platitudes, whimper, epilogue, guile, hordes, culmination, ordeal, tonic, donkey, champions league
Friday, June 3, 2011
Triple jumper Nathan Douglas to miss rest of season after freak training accident
triple jumper Nathan Douglas to miss rest of season after freak training accident
Nathan Douglas, the 2006 European triple jump silver medallist, has been ruled out of competitive action for the entire season after suffering a freak injury during a UK Athletics warm-weather training camp in Italy.
Bitter blow: Triple jumper Nathan Douglas ruptured ankle ligaments at a training camp in Italy Photo: EPA
By Simon Hart
6:54PM BST 02 Jun 2011
Comments
The Oxford-born athlete was hopping onto a plyometric box, a common training exercise for jumpers, when his foot right went straight through it, rupturing his ankle ligaments.
The accident is a bitter blow for the 28 year-old, who will now have to wait until next year for a chance to jump the qualifying standard for the London Olympics.
“I will be doing everything within my power to get fit and healthy as quickly as possible while aiming to compete in the 2012 indoor season,” he said.
The accident happened on the final day of the training camp in Formia, where Douglas had been working well and looking back to his best after being troubled with various injuries since 2006.
The UK Athletics head coach, Charles van Commenee, said: “After four years of having to deal with various injury problems it was looking like this season Nathan was going to be better than ever before.
“It’s a real blow that in literally his last session on his last day of warm-weather training he has once again suffered misfortune, and there was nothing he or his coach could have done to have prevented it.
“The injury will cost him his 2011 season, but I have been impressed by what I saw of Nathan prior to this setback and I am confident he can still achieve something special in 2012.”
Meanwhile, American drug cheat Justin Gatlin will compete in his first Diamond League meeting after being given a lane in the 100 metres in Saturday's Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.
His invitation raises further questions about the treatment of Dwain Chambers, who continues to be shunned by the big athletics meetings after his own drug violation.
ankle ligaments, prefontaine classic, justin gatlin, triple jumper, silver medallist, freak injury online, weather training, bitter blow, warm weather, london olympics, formia, entire season, last session, head coach, eugene oregon, triple jump, jumpers, misfortune, setback, bst
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)