Thursday, March 31, 2011

Italian Mammas Put Meals on Wheels for Faraway Offspring

On a recent Sunday in Rome, Daniela Varano and some friends lunched on eggplant parmesan whipped up by the 33-year-old publicist's mother.

Mom, meanwhile, was 500 miles away in Bovalino, a small town in southern Italy. Despite the distance, she does what it takes to spoil her grown daughter with home-cooked fare.

wsj.net/video/20110330/033011mamma2/033011mamma2_512x288.jpg"/>

Lina Varano lives in Bovalino. Her daughter lives 500 miles away in Rome. But that doesn't keep Mrs. Varano from cooking for her. WSJ's Stacy Meichtry reports.

"The umbilical cord was never cut," says Ms. Varano's 61-year-old mother, Lina.

Like thousands of other mammas across the southern Italian region of Calabria, she relies on Domenico Martino, a 39-year-old truck driver who has made a career of ferrying lasagnas, raviolis and other traditional dishes over long distances.

Every Saturday afternoon, Mr. Martino picks up hundreds of meals from kitchens across Calabria, drives them overnight to the bustling capital of Rome, and delivers them to children's doorsteps in time for Sunday lunch.

Whenever she gets a package, Ms. Varano calls up her friends for an impromptu feast. "Everyone postpones their plans just to have the lunch," she says. "Although it seems weird, I'm maintaining an emotional link with my family."

View Full Image

MAMMAjp_SUB

Rocco Rorandelli / TerrraProject for The Wall Street Journal

Michela Natale, with her daughter, unwraps her mother's latest dishes.

MAMMAjp_SUB

MAMMAjp_SUB

Mr. Martino's is one of a dozen such services thriving on Calabrian mothers' steely determination: to cater, literally, to their far-flung adult children. While Mr. Martino only serves Rome, a wave of other trucks depart each week from Calabria to cities across the rest of Italy.

"They don't want their children doing anything. Even getting up and going to the market is overdoing it," says Mr. Martino, hoisting a crate of oranges into his truck on a recent Saturday afternoon. "And that's good for me."

For generations, Calabrian women have poured their maternal love into Sunday lunch. They labor to produce sumptuous meals of fresh pasta, long-stewed meats and homegrown greens to lure their grown children back to the nest every week. It was easy when the children lived nearby or—as was often the case—in upstairs apartments built or bought by their parents. But today, the Sunday lunch tradition has fallen on hard times.

[MAMMA]

Ravioli

Jobs for young Italians are scarce—particularly in Italy's poorer south—forcing people to migrate north to big cities, leaving their mothers behind. In Calabria, on the toe of Italy's boot, 52% of Italians between the ages of 15 to 64 were "inactive," or not working or studying during most of 2010, according to Italy's official statistics agency ISTAT. Authorities say Calabria is also home to the 'ndrangheta mob, a drug trafficking syndicate that maintains a stranglehold on the region's economy, starving the area of jobs.

Mr. Martino's career got rolling in the late 1990s when he delivered chocolate and pasta to supermarkets around the region. He launched his current enterprise a decade ago, after a handful of mammas asked him to help them make a gastronomic connection to their faraway kids. As more family members scattered across Italy, Mr. Martino's business boomed.

Eventually, some 3,000 mothers came calling, each with a set of special requests, Mr. Martino recalls. Many wanted a discount on what traditional couriers charged; others wanted meals to arrive in time for lunch. Some have asked him to linger at the delivery site to gather intelligence on their children's new lives. Others demanded his cellphone number.

"I needed someone who would take it seriously," says Annamaria Careri, a silver-haired 69-year-old, as she welcomed Mr. Martino into her home on a recent Saturday afternoon and handed him 165 pounds of food she had prepared for her three grown children in Rome. Like other customers, she doesn't bristle at the price, which is relatively low compared to other courier services. Mr. Martino charges €15, or about $21, for a 55-pound package.

Timely delivery is crucial, added Lina Varano, as she waited for Mr. Martino to call on her. Mrs. Varano puts days of preparation into her packages, combing her garden for fava beans, citrus fruit and scarlet-colored tomatoes that she presses into tomato sauce for freshly made ravioli.

On this occasion, she had prepared lightly breaded artichokes, pork cutlets and stuffed eggplants one night with the help of her 90-year-old mother-in-law. A tube of salami, from a recently slaughtered pig, was wrapped into tin foil for its journey to Rome.

"I have to give it my all. Everything, everything, everything!" said Mrs. Varano.

Mr. Martino and a small crew of associates spend the whole morning navigating Calabria's streets to collect packages. It's not easy. Many lack signs; others are pocked with potholes or give way to dirt roads that wind through olive groves and cacti. On his way, he fields calls from mothers seeking updates or speedier deliveries.

"There is raw meat in there, and I don't want it to spoil," said one mother, pressing for an early delivery to her child.

"Signora, all the packages are created equal," Mr. Martino replied.

The cargo is then brought to a warehouse in Calabria and packed into a semi-truck that Mr. Martino drives to Rome. Arriving in the capital at midnight, he sleeps in the truck and rises at the crack of dawn on Sunday to make the deliveries before lunch.

Anna Bianchi, 68, says Mr. Martino's marathon goes a long way in easing the stress her daughter faces as an architect working in Rome. "She's absolutely suffocated by work," Mrs. Bianchi said after entrusting a casserole of baked fish and a freshly made meatballs to Mr. Martino.

Antonio Natale, Ms. Careri's 37-year-old son, padded up to the door in sneakers and a blue track suit to collect the latest haul: slabs of vacuum-packed chicken meat, jars of olives, homemade almond-paste cookies, fish stock. "You see, the separation has been traumatic for her," he said.

A high-school teacher, Mr. Natale has been receiving Sunday deliveries for eight years. He deeply misses his mother, he said, but "there is no going back."

Write to Stacy Meichtry at stacy.meichtry@wsj.com

southern italian region, fresh pasta, traditional dishes, emotional link, long distances, southern italy, steely determination, sumptuous meals, varano, adult children, doorsteps, mammas, wsj, old mother, umbilical cord, publicist, saturday afternoon, parmesan, calabria, oranges

Online.wsj.com

Coast 14

photo

Coast 14

Tags

mamiya

c330

fuji

provia

100

light

evening

colours

beach

sea

coast

wales

south

penarth

cardiff
Flickr.com

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Old St Mary Cathedral - San Francisco

photo

Old St Mary Cathedral - San Francisco

The Old Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception
(Old Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church)
oldsaintmarys.org

A Roman Catholic Ministry of the Paulist Fathers
660 California Street San Francisco, California 94108

Tags

Old St. Mary's Cathedral

The Old Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception

Old Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church

oldsaintmarys.org

Saint Mary

Mary

Mary's Cathedral

Immaculate Conception

660 California Street San Francisco

California 94108

660 California Street

Roman Catholic

Paulist Fathers

Catholic

San Francisco

CA

Cathedral

San Francisco CA

San Francisco California

San Fran

California

USA

EUA

United States

Estados Unidos

2011

America
Flickr.com

Monday, March 28, 2011

Let's Went To Mexico!

photo

Let's Went To mexico!

playacar, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Tags

moik

photo

photos

picture

pictures

image

lightroom

adobe

adobe lightroom

mexico

yucatan

cancun

quintana roo

playa del carmen

vacation

2011

hotel las palapas

playacar

playa del carmen, playacar, mexico

Flickr.com

Take The Rubbish Out

photo

Take The Rubbish Out

After getting some 50mm f/1.8 shots of the riots (due to the low light), I quickly stopped and stuck on my wide-angle lens. I thought that some shots with this might bring people into the photograph a bit more. Sadly, when using a 10mm lens, you need to be right up against your subject. I mean right up against them.

Unfortunately, the wind changed direction as I was taking this shot, and the smoke from the fire right beside me blew into my face while taking a series of shots. I'm not too sure what was burning, but my word, it hurt! For about 10-15 mins afterwards, Lydia told me my eyes were incredibly red and bloodshot. I couldn't stop them watering. Perhaps people thought I was getting emotional about the spending cuts.

Details
Canon EOS 500D / ISO 1600 / f/4.0 / 10-20mm @ 10mm / 1/8 second

Tags

canon

eos

500d

photograph

photo

slr

dslr

digital

processing

europe

uk

united kingdom

london

capital

gb

great britain

england

westminster

trafalgar square

charing cross

national gallery

national portrait gallery

npg

police

riot

riot police

fire

shield

riot shield

helmet

officer

burning

burnt

spending cuts march

spending cuts

march

2011

trade union

cuts

anti-government cuts rally

anti-government

anti-government cuts

rally

demo

demonstration

demonstrators

tuc

no cuts

Brendan Barber

Ed Miliband

march for the alternative

trades union

skirmish

night

nighttime

trade union congress

ukuncut

march26

spending

street

photography

street photography

photojournalism

rubbish

trash

bin

bins

van

police line

wide angle lens, government cuts, 50mm, riots, rubbish, lydia, photograph

Flickr.com

St. Andrews Harbour.

photo

St. Andrews Harbour.

Fife, Scotland.

Tags

water

sea

panasonicdmctz6

harbours

fife

eastneuk

coast

boats

fife scotland, st andrews

Flickr.com

Burgess' layup in OT lifts VCU past Florida State

SAN ANTONIO — Bradford Burgess made a layup off an inbounds pass with 7.1 seconds left and Jamie Skeen blocked a shot at the buzzer, giving Virginia Commonwealth a 72-71 victory over Florida State in overtime in a Southwest Region semifinal Friday night.

In the first NCAA tournament game between teams seeded 10 and 11, the lower seeded Rams blew a nine-point lead by scoring only three points in the final 7:37 of regulation. They never trailed by more than four all night, but found themselves down 71-70 when Burgess scored the kind of basket that will live in NCAA tournament lore.

The Rams (27-11) are among the final eight for the first time.

Since being told they lucked their way into a play-in game for the 11th seed, all VCU has done is knock out high-profile programs from the Pac-10 (Southern Cal), Big East (Georgetown), Big Ten (Purdue) and now the ACC. Those were all blowouts — this one was as tight as they come.

Second-year coach Shaka Smart keeps stoking his team by reminding them that everyone said they don't belong. It shouldn't be a problem finding folks writing them off for their next game. The Rams face top-seeded Kansas on Sunday with a spot in the Final Four on the line. The Jayhawks advanced with a 77-57 rout over Richmond.

For Florida State, Derwin Kitchen scored 23 points and Chris Singleton made a tying 3-pointer with 45 seconds left in regulation and a go-ahead layup across the baseline with 29.2 seconds left in overtime. The Seminoles (23-11) hadn't been this far since 1993.

Burgess led VCU as he's done all tournament, scoring 26 points. He was an amazing 6 of 7 on 3-pointers. His only miss was a blocked shot in overtime.

Brandon Rozzell scored 16 points, including a series of 3-pointers during the second-half surge that put the Rams back in front — seemingly for good, until their collapse. Skeen scored 11 points and had eight rebounds.

ncaa tournament game, jamie skeen, derwin kitchen, chris singleton, virginia commonwealth, southwest region, brandon rozzell, pac 10, mdash, vcu, layup, southern cal, jayhawks, buzzer, rout, blowouts, burgess, final four, collapse, florida state

Nypost.com

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Desperate resident of rebel-held Misrata describe horror inflicted by Gaddafi troops

Desperate resident of rebel-held Misrata describe horror inflicted by Gaddafi troops

A resident of Misrata, the rebel-held enclave under siege by Gaddafi troops for weeks, has painted a terrifying picture of life in the city and urged Nato to arm the rebels.

A resident of Misrata, the rebel-held enclave under siege by Gaddafi troops for weeks, has painted a terrifying picture of life in the city and urged Nato to arm the rebels.

Warplanes bombed the outskirts of Misrata to stop Gaddafi forces shelling the city Photo: REUTERS

By Adam Lusher 7:19PM GMT 26 Mar 2011

Speaking by telephone from the town in western Libya, with artillery fire audible in the background, the 29-year-old housewife who lives half a mile from the city centre, described the situation as "desperate". She feared it was only a matter of time before the civilian population was massacred.

Clearly distressed, the mother of a young child said: "The windows are shaking here. The artillery fire is very heavy now. There are plumes of smoke in the sky. The regime forces are in Tripoli Street, the main street of the city. They have snipers on the high buildings.

"The situation is horrible. There are dead bodies in the streets and no one can recover them because of the heavy fighting.

"The artillery fire is indiscriminate. They are burning down people's houses while they are inside. If you drive around the city you see houses – civilian houses – that have been hit with black smoke coming out of the windows. Eight days ago, my aunt's balcony was hit by what we think was a tank shell. She lives there with her husband and seven children.

"We think they are taking people from the streets. My husband's 22-year-old nephew went missing nine days ago. All we have found of him is his car and his mobile phone."

She added that a relative was working at a health centre in the centre of Misrata. This health centre was being used as the city's hospital because - before the crisis struck - the main hospital itself had been undergoing renovation.

On Thursday, she claimed, the centre was shelled as doctors tried to treat 400 injured people inside. She said that as medics tried to evacuate the wounded, pro-regime snipers shot at the clinic.

"They were trying to shoot at the injured people. Shells were falling 10 to 20 metres from the clinic. As they evacuated the injured through a back door, the snipers were hitting the front of the clinic.

"Fortunately, because tall buildings were in the way, the snipers didn't have a clear shot at the back door.

"The patients are now on the outskirts of Misrata, but no one has been able to go back to pick up medical supplies because the clinic is still under sniper fire. On Friday, shell fire hit the garden of the clinic. These are people who have no mercy, no respect for human life."

Although it was impossible independently to verify the housewife's claims, she insisted: "They are targeting civilians. My relative has told me that yesterday they had a mother, father and their three children killed.

"My relative thinks 130 people have been killed in the last week, and 1,300 people injured.

"The medical services are overwhelmed. Four days ago, my sister-in-law's uncle was shot in his thigh. They still haven't been able to take the bullet out because they have to treat other people are more seriously injured.

"Before it was evacuated, there were people sleeping in the hallway of the clinic, and outside."

She added: "We are talking about a serious humanitarian crisis. Medical supplies are running low. They don't have even basic things like insulin. People with diabetes – I don't know how they are still alive.

"The Government has shelled one of the main medical storage centres in the city. Two days ago, they shelled the major supermarket in the city centre. It burned down with all the food inside it.

"The Government has shut off the water supplies. People who have their own wells are having to take in friends and relatives. You have three families living in one-bedroom apartments, with no water and no medication."

As she spoke yesterday afternoon, the sound of shellfire subsided.

"Do you hear that? There are planes in the air now. Everyone here is so grateful that these air strikes are happening. I don't know anyone who isn't happy Nato is doing this. We don't have anyone else to protect us.

"I would say to anyone in Britain who opposes the air strikes, you are not the ones living here; you are not the ones with no water, with no medication for your children, you are not suffering the fear of being killed in your own homes.

"Even if some innocent people are hit in the air strikes, so be it: because otherwise, Gaddafi will wipe out the whole city."

She added, however, that the pro-regime forces were now resorting to a new tactic – using civilians as human shields.

"As soon as they hear the planes, they take cover in people's houses, trying to use civilians as human shields."

She said this meant that air strikes were not enough – Nato had to arm the rebels.

"It is extremely important you supply the protesters with weaponry. The regime is using brute force, and we are can't match it. There is no comparison.

"You can hear heavy artillery fire from the regime, and just small arms fire in return from the protesters. You should see the rusty guns people are using.

"Unless the protesters have better weaponry it is only a matter of time until the regime kills all the civilians."

artillery fire, old housewife, high buildings, civilian population, s hospital, health centre, half a mile, dead bodies, nine days, medics, plumes, eight days, matter of time, tripoli, outskirts, nephew, balcony, rebels, renovation, libya

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Saturday, March 26, 2011

wings to freedom

photo

wings to freedom

It's been a while since I've uploaded. Here's a seagull in flight at Henley Beach that was taken on a short trip to Adelaide. Happy viewing :)

Tags

seagull

sea

bird

gull

fly

flight

flying

beach

australia

blue

water

sand

adelaide

summer

henley beach, short trip online, seagull, wings

Flickr.com

Thursday, March 24, 2011

8 miles of books

photo

8 miles of books

Usa, NYC: Strand bookstore

Tags

books

bookstore

Business

english

from above

horizontal

Indoor

looking down

neon light

nobody

nyc

shelves

strand

usa
Flickr.com

Cendre

photo

Cendre

| Listen to | Christian Fennesz and |

Tags

Me

Self

NyYankee

Fabio

Pentacon Six TL

Mirror

Sea

beach

sand

sky

clouds

Carl zeiss Biometar 80mm f/2.8

film

Medium format

ilford fp4 125

self developed

christian fennesz, zeiss

Flickr.com

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Beaches

photo

Beaches

Tags

Maui

Hawaii

Beach

sand

ocean

water

waves
Flickr.com

hellscape with rail #2

photo

hellscape with rail #2

Portrait-oriented version of this one.

Tags

urban landscape

hellscape

sunset

warm tones

orange

black

sun

bridge

railing

glare

vanishing point

bolte bridge

citylink

pylons

architecture

engineering

silhouettes

cars

shadows

street lamps

clouds

dof

bokeh

blur

city

urban

latrobe st

docklands

melbourne

victoria

australia

minolta

freedom zoom 160

konica

riva zoom 160

point and shoot

minolta freedom zoom 160

fuji

sensia

sensia 100

slide

chrome

transparency

positive

e6

film

Fuji Sensia II 100 [RA]

scan

epson

v700

hellscape, ra, zoom, freedom

Flickr.com

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

pikshur 68: whiskey tango foxtrot

photo

pikshur 68: whiskey tango foxtrot

very strange statue on top of some building in Blankenberge, belgium...maybe it was a musem?

Tags

Blankenberge

belgium

europe

baby

statue

whiskey tango, musem, blankenberge, belgium

Flickr.com

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Twice as much

photo

Twice as much

Schwafheimer Meer, Moers, Germany.

Tags

Twice at much

Schwafheimer Meer

pond

See

Teich

Niederrhein

Moers

ottosohn

Trynka

Germany

trees

water

reflections

Bume im Wasser

Spiegelungen

nature

spring

Frhling

Feuchtgebiet
Flickr.com

Snow Bunting in flight

photo

Snow Bunting in flight

Tags

Bolungarvk

Snjtittlingur

Snow

Snow Bunting

fugl flugi

fuglar

plectrophenax nivalis

Iceland

Canon

7D

Canon ef 400mm f/5.6L

In flight

bird

nature

globalbirdtrekkers

snow bunting, ef

Flickr.com

Saturday, March 19, 2011

VH-RDR(2)

photo

VH-RDR(2)

Stinsin 108-2 voyager VH-RDR c/n 108-2785 in the sun at Bundaberg on 5Jun09.

Tags

Stinson

Voyager

Taildragger

Bundaberg

Aircraft

bundaberg ebook download, vh, voyager, sun

Flickr.com

The Holy Rosenbergs, National Theatre, review

The Holy Rosenbergs, National Theatre, review

This new play by Ryan Craig is bum-numbingly worthy. Rating: * *

Henry Goodman (David) Susannah Wise (Ruth) in the Holy Rosenbergs at the National Theatre

Bum-numbingly worthy: Henry Goodman (David) Susannah Wise (Ruth) in the Holy Rosenbergs at the National Theatre  Photo: Alastair Muir

By Charles Spencer 6:11PM GMT 17 Mar 2011

Comments

In journalism, worthy is a synonym for dull, as I discovered during my first week in Fleet Street. I handed my boss the debut feature I had written for the paper. He read it carefully, gave me a kindly smile, and said it was very worthy. Briefly, I glowed. “Now go and rewrite it and make it interesting,” he said.

I rather wish someone had offered similar advice to Ryan Craig when he handed in the script of The Holy Rosenbergs. Boy, is it worthy. Conscientiously, laboriously, bum-numbingly worthy.

And, if that weren’t enough, it is up to ears in debt to Arthur Miller, in particular to two of his greatest plays, Death of a Salesman and All My Sons, as well as being burdened with a plot that repeatedly strains the audience’s suspension of disbelief beyond breaking point.

We are in a present-day Jewish home in Edgware. The father, a decent, loving family man, has fallen on hard times after a scandal involving his kosher catering business, though it is typical of the piece that the actual nature of the scandal proves downright bathetic when it is finally revealed.

But a bigger crisis presently engulfs the Rosenbergs. Their older son, Danny, has just been killed flying gunships over Gaza with the Israel Defense Forces, and the funeral is to take place the following day. His sister, meanwhile, is a lawyer who has been working on a UN report into war crimes in Gaza. The local Jewish community is up in arms about what they see as her betrayal of Israel and is threatening a demonstration at the funeral if she turns up.

That you might think would be enough for any play, but Craig can’t resist thickening the mix by making the family hold a crucial dinner on the evening before the funeral for a wealthy doctor who might be able to save their tottering catering business.

If you can believe this, or that the decent doctor, who has only bad news to bring to the feast, would attend on such a night, then you will believe anything.

Laurie Sansom’s production, staged on a vertiginous, in-the-round configuration of the NT’s Cottesloe auditorium, struggles heroically to make the play seem persuasive, but he cannot disguise either its improbabilities or its schematic nature.

At least some excellent acting averts total ennui. Henry Goodman is superb as the father, trying to hold the family together in the face of grief, bad luck and, it transpires, in a Miller-like twist, guilt. His dogged determination and desperate brightness are powerfully caught, his moments of despair extremely moving. One longs to see him in a great Miller play rather than this ersatz derivative.

There is strong support from Tilly Tremayne, as his anxious, stoical wife, and Alex Waldmann as their mixed-up younger son. But Susannah Wise struggles to make sense of the contradictions of the conflicted human rights lawyer, and the dramatist brings little fresh insight to the vexed subject of Israeli/Palestinian relations.

Worthy? Yes. And worth avoiding, too, I’d say.

loving family man, israel defense forces, henry goodman, ryan craig, susannah wise, suspension of disbelief, charles spencer, flying gunships, debut feature, fleet street, rosenbergs, war crimes, arthur miller, son danny, catering business, death of a salesman, breaking point, alastair, jewish community, betrayal

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Friday, March 18, 2011

Civil War re-enactment in Vista, CA

photo

Civil War re-enactment in Vista, CA

Tenth Annual Spring Civil War Re-Enactment at The Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista.
Featuring hundreds of uniformed combatants from the North and South clashing in raging battle scenes. Additionally, a full-scale camp of historians, entertainers, food vendors and merchants will converge at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, recreating the era of the American Civil War.

Tags

north

america

continent

usa

california

san

diego

county

vista

civil

war

reenactment

antique

gas

steam

engine

museum

steam engine museum, antique gas, american civil war, food vendors online, enactment, combatants, entertainers, historians, amp, merchants

Flickr.com

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Didier Drogba insists he is happy at Chelsea and says squad rotation is good for the team

Didier Drogba insists he is happy at Chelsea and says squad rotation is good for the team

Didier Drogba has admitted that he held talks with Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, about the arrival of rival striker Fernando Torres but says he is “really happy” with his role at the club.

Didier Drogba insists he is happy at Chelsea and says squad rotation is good for the team

Bluesman: Chelsea's Didier Drogba tries to find a way through the FC Copenhagen defence  Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Jeremy Wilson

By Jeremy Wilson 11:00PM GMT 17 Mar 2011

Jeremy's Twitter

Comments

The £50 million signing of Torres has meant only a place on the bench for Drogba in key recent matches against Manchester United and Copenhagen (away), yet he stressed the wider benefits to Chelsea of Roman Abramovich’s January spending spree.

“It wasn’t easy the first week but that is normal,” said Drogba. “Of course [I spoke to the manager]. Communication is important. Communication is what makes a player feel comfortable in every situation.

“Today I know we are doing this for the group, for the best for the team. The team is more competitive. It’s normal that the club wants to buy another striker because we are ambitious.

“Everybody talks a lot about my future but I’m still here, I’m enjoying it and I’m happy to be here. I think, from my attitude, people see that I’m involved and I’m into the team 200 per cent. I’m really happy.”

Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou are the only Chelsea forwards to have scored since the arrival of Torres but Drogba believes that the added competition will ensure a strong finish in both the Premier and Champions Leagues.

“The squad is really competitive,” he said. “The confidence of the squad is improving. We don’t have David Luiz in the Champions League but Alex is coming back from injury and is starting to train.

"The squad is getting bigger and the competition is good between us. That is what will take us through as far as possible.

“It’s a new formation – there are a lot of strikers. I can’t complain. I’m not the only one doing the rotation. Kalou is not playing, Florent Malouda is not playing, sometimes Anelka, sometimes me.

"On Wednesday [against Copenhagen] it was Fernando [on the bench]. I think it is good for the team. A team like Chelsea must have a lot of players if they want to achieve a lot.”

Given the poor recent form of both Manchester United and Arsenal, there is also a sense that Chelsea, who are fourth, could still mount a realistic challenge for the Premier League title.

“The season is not finished yet,” said Drogba.

Chelsea are also in Friday’s Champions League quarter-final draw, with Drogba eyeing a second final in four years.

“We need to learn from the past,” he said. “The Champions League is all about details and also you need a bit of luck to win it.

"We didn’t have it in the last final but you have to provoke the luck, you have to do everything for the luck to be on your side.

“For a team like Chelsea we have to be minimum in the semi-final. Last year we lost against the winner [Inter Milan]. It makes things a bit better.

“The way they read the game was amazing — they understood the way we were playing. They counter-attacked with a lot of intensity and high tempo so that’s why we were out.

"It was a difficult moment but, after that, we had a good reaction by winning the league and the FA Cup.”

salomon kalou, didier drogba, carlo ancelotti, nicolas anelka, getty images, roman abramovich, fc copenhagen, champions leagues, spending spree, rsquo, jeremy wilson, fernando torres, david luiz, bluesman, manchester united, striker, 50 million, chelsea, forwards, champions league

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Henry Winter: however abrasive Sir Alex Ferguson can be, football needs Manchester United manager's qualities

Henry Winter: however abrasive Sir Alex Ferguson can be, football needs Manchester United manager's qualities

In the great brawl that is modern football, Sir Alex Ferguson is often the last man standing and no PhD is required to understand why.

Henry Winter: However painful Sir Alex Ferguson can be, football needs the Manchester United manager's fighting qualities

Confrontational: Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to be reprimanded for his comments about Martin Atkinson Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Henry Winter

By Henry Winter, Football Correspondent 6:45AM GMT 15 Mar 2011

Henry's Twitter

Comments

Ferguson’s a fighter. Such men have their rough edges, their pointed elbows and ludicrous outbursts, but they also have their principles and prizes.

So as the camera focuses on him tonight as he glares from the technical area, willing his team to victory over Marseille, the viewer must consider certain truths about Ferguson often missed amid the cordite smoke.

Ferguson is a winner, a flawed genius and a national monument who deserves occasional protection from those intent on desecrating his reputation. The Manchester United manager’s actions can bring shame on the game and himself but Ferguson’s phenomenal achievements as a builder of teams, motivator of millionaires and relentless pursuer of trophies should always stir respect.

Sadly, if inevitably, one of the most fashionable pastimes is to pillory Ferguson. Admittedly, he makes it easy. His railing against referees is tiresome and causes problems down the ladder into the grass-roots. His rancour with the media is unnecessary and unfortunate because the multifaceted Scot is probably the best interview in town.

Ferguson is one of the most interesting men to be encountered in life, let alone football, even for those not fascinated by fine wines and thoroughbred horses.

So here’s an unfashionable view. The game will miss Ferguson when he retires. Shorn of Ferguson, the landscape of English football would resemble the Himalayas without Everest. He will leave such a hole that even the Special One, Jose Mourinho, might take time to fill it.

Why? Simple. Few possess Ferguson’s hunger, his willingness to rise early every day to organise players, plot opponents’ downfall and travel around scouting teams and potential recruits. He’s a real football man and, like the sport itself, imbued with many positive qualities as well as negative.

Ferguson has soon to visit the FA to explain his recent inelegant comments about Martin Atkinson. He’ll probably receive a chunky ban, confined to the stands for four or more games, and he’ll deserve it.

Referees’ jobs are stressful and difficult enough without Ferguson chipping in. He needs to think about the ramifications of sulphurous remarks, to the game that rewards him so handsomely, to his club and to the referee.

After the FA beaks have handed down their punishment, let us hope they ask Ferguson if he has anything to say. He could point out that the FA lacks the sort of strong leadership he embodies. In times of adversity, as we’ve seen recently, Ferguson’s a far, far better manager than Arsène Wenger.

He could suggest that some gratitude is due from the FA for nurturing England players such as David Beckham and Paul Scholes, accelerating the development of Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Chris Smalling. His United academy has not produced many gems of late but Ferguson could have a little jewel in Ravel Morrison (if the attacking midfielder learns the demands and disciplines of being a pro).

Ferguson could advise the FA on how to build up an impressive stadium while enjoying success on the field. However painful he can be at times, English football needs the fighting spirit of Ferguson.

sir alex ferguson ebook download, last man standing, alex ferguson, getty images, jose mourinho, thoroughbred horses, grass roots, henry winter, fine wines, rsquo, rancour, martin atkinson, pursuer, rough edges, himalayas, national monument, english football, pastimes, railing, manchester united

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

I want to live there....

photo

I want to live there....

Tags

Bondi Beach

Sydney

Australia
Flickr.com

crosswalk

photo

crosswalk

Tags

crosswalk

faixa de pedestre

pedestre

mulher

woman

NY

NYC

EUA

USA

Estados Unidos

America

United States

Nova York

New York

Iorque

moda

fashion

2011

5D Mark II

rua

street
Flickr.com

DSC00157

photo

DSC00157

Tags

cameraphone

Moorabbin Airport

pc3194

Melbourne

Victoria

Australia

aus pc tagged

museum

air museum

Australian National Aviation Museum

Moorabbin Air Museum
Flickr.com

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Penticton at Twilight

photo

Penticton at Twilight

Penticton, BC

Tags

night

evening

twilight

lights

city

view

moutains

snow

sky

clouds

tree

pine

trees

night shot

city lights

Penticton

Okanagan

Okanagan Valley

BC

British Columbia

Canada

Tania Simpson

photographer

photography

photograph

photo

image

copyright image

NIkon

Nikon D90
Flickr.com

IMG_3855

photo

IMG_3855

Tags

zear

huang

hiram

jin

z0mb.ie

dd0s

portland

oregon

united states

us

usa

northwest

northwestern

pacific northwest

west coast

pacific

cascadia

republic of cascadia

republic

pdx

zear huang

hiram jin

weili jin

weili

genderqueer

queer

vegan

vegans

veganism

veganarchy

veganarchist

veganarchists

vegansexual

straight edge

sxe

xxx

xvx

iphone

iphone 3g

twitter

facebook

ustream

ustreamtv

youtube

flickr
Flickr.com

Monday, March 14, 2011

Parenting Guru: That Mom, everyone knows at least one

I know "That mom", like I actually know her. 

I first met her back when she was just a newlywed, seemingly the kind of girl without That Mom tendencies.  Today, and one child later, she's evolved into That Mom.  You know, the mom who knows better than everyone.  Nevermind the fact that every child is different, nevermind the fact that I've been a mother longer, nevermind, nevermind, nevermind; she simply knows better. 

It came as no surprise when she told me her 3 year old son eats only organic.  It came as no surprise when she told me she's raising him sugar-free.  It came as no surprise when she gave him an unusual name and spelled it with lots of silent letters.  Her son is smart and sweet but I fear for his normalcy in the wake of That Mom.  

That Mom doesn't know much about my children, probably because she never asks.  Maybe it's better that way since she's already told me my choices to circumcise and immunize were "unfortunate".

It's hard to like That Mom.

Now That Mom is pregnant again with the worst morning sickness, worst migraines and most severe exhaustion ever experienced in the history of pregnancy.  Aside from her obvious martyrdom, she has the most amazing husband who has ever husbanded, has the best OB who ever OB'd and will give birth at the highest-ranked hospital this side of the Mississippi. 

She suffers more, knows more and mothers better than you do, I do, or anybody do.

But what do you even do with a mom like this?  Sure, I try to limit my exposure to That Mom but there are times when planning my escape is an impossibility.  I suspect she’s unaware that she's That Mom because she told me recently making friends with fellow moms was difficult.  I simply couldn't bring myself to tell her why that might be.    

Do you know That Mom?

Mommyfriend goes by Lori Garcia in real life and is a Shine Parenting Guru. She writes at www.mommyfriend.com where she’s busy finding perfection in imperfection daily. When she’s not folding laundry she’s a Featured Parenting Contributor for Associated Content for Yahoo!

planning my escape, silent letters, circumcise, immunize, kind of girl, newlywed, morning sickness, normalcy, martyrdom, impossibility, exhaustion, tendencies, mom, moms, pregnancy, nbsp, choices, mississippi, surprise

Shine.yahoo.com

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Northern lights

photo

Northern lights

Best seen in large!
All comments are appreciated!

Tags

aurora

borealis

aurora borealis

northern lights

norway

nature

landscape

winter

photo

snow

white

green

blue

stars

purple

photographer

color

sky

night

cold

forrest

mountain

skyscape

flare

solar

glare

clouds

capture

nikon

d80

norge

field

fields

nordlys

north

polar

circle

bod

bodoe

light

phenomen

colums

peak

peaks

awesome

flickr

shot

camera
Flickr.com

Bread

photo

Bread

Tags

strowbery

cream

ice

wheel

snow

sun

winter

summer

alone

bread

cake

kake

food

nya

nyam

mmm

baking

bake

hot

EOS

500

D

PTZ

Girls

Boys

Nice
Flickr.com

Saturday, March 12, 2011

San Diego Zoo 6304

photo

San Diego Zoo 6304

Tags

bear

CA

nature

polar

Polar Bear

reflection

San Diego

San Diego Zoo

water

zoo
Flickr.com

Friday, March 11, 2011

'Angry Birds' singing

Silicon Valley is betting that the wildly popular "Angry Birds" can soar even higher.

Rovio, the company behind the addictive mobile game, raised $42 million yesterday in a fundraising round led by venture capital firm Accel Partners.

Accel's Jim Breyer credited his partner, Rich Wong, whom he called a "superstar" investor in the mobile sector, for working out the deal.

Wong persuaded Finland-based Rovio to take on investors, even though the company was far from cash-strapped.

Wong said while the company didn't need the money, the expertise and contacts of the investors would help to plot a high-growth course. The fundraising round also included Atomico Ventures and Felicis Ventures.

Angry Birds already has 40 million monthly active users and appeals to everyone from children to grandmothers, considered "casual gamers."

"It's a consumer phenomenon, and this has the opportunity to become one of those unique consumer brands that spans across more than one specific game on the iPhone," he said.

The brand has spawned multiple versions of the original game and a line of stuffed toys. It is also being developed into a potential cartoon and movie.

"While the brand is hot, monetize it while you can," said tech analyst Michael Gartenberg.

Rovio was valued in the high hundreds of millions of dollars, according to reported estimates. But the company did not release a figure.

Gartenberg said he was skeptical that Rovio could continue to churn out hits that would make an investment of $42 million worthwhile.

The company developed about 50 games that went nowhere before striking gold with "Angry Birds."

"It is a steep investment and the future is very uncertain," Gartenberg said. "Can these people continue to crank out more hit titles? Are you investing in a one-hit wonder or is there a long-term franchise here?"

jim breyer, superstar investor, venture capital firm, striking gold, mobile sector, consumer brands, silicon valley, iphone, felicis ventures, stuffed toys, grandmothers, spans, phenomenon, franchise, birds, rovio, estimates, cartoon, finland, investors

Nypost.com

Court Suspends Santander CEO

MADRID—Spain's Supreme Court Thursday sentenced Banco Santander SA Chief Executive Officer Alfredo Sáenz to three months of imprisonment and barred him from banking for the same period for making false criminal accusations in a case dating back to 1994.

But Mr. Sáenz, one of Spain's most powerful executives, is unlikely to serve the sentence because he has no prior criminal record, a court official said. Mr. Sáenz plans to appeal the ruling and remain at the helm of the euro zone's largest bank.

View Full Image

SANTANDER_2

Bloomberg News

Alfredo Sáenz plans to appeal the ruling and stay at Santander

SANTANDER_2

SANTANDER_2

Santander said in a filing with Spain's stock-market supervisor that its board "reiterated its confidence" in the CEO. Mr. Sáenz is credited with the expansion strategy that positioned Santander as a global retail-banking powerhouse and the euro zone's biggest bank by market value.

A bank spokesman said that Mr. Sáenz would appeal the Supreme Court's ruling with the country's Constitutional Court, in a legal process that could extend from two to four years. The sentence would be suspended while the case continues. Mr. Sáenz also plans to appeal to Spain's Justice Ministry and file a request to commute the sentence.

The Supreme Court's three-month sentence reflects a more lenient stance than a lower tribunal that in 2009 sentenced the CEO to six months in prison for making false criminal accusations when he was head of Banco Español de Credito SA, or Banesto.

Mr. Sáenz made a name for himself by turning Banesto around after Santander bought it in 1994. He became Santander CEO in 2002 and played a key role in many of its cross-border acquisitions over the last decade, including landmark deals such as the 2004 takeover of the U.K.'s Abbey National PLC and the 2007 acquisition of Brazil's Banco Real.

Mr. Sáenz couldn't be reached directly, but his lawyers have denied he was involved in any wrongdoing.

The case against Mr. Sáenz is related to efforts made by Banesto in 1994 to recover a €3.8 million ($5.3 million) loan and involved four of the bank's clients.

Banesto filed a criminal complaint against the four clients in an attempt to force them to pay back debts, court documents from an earlier trial show. That complaint was later dismissed; the clients filed countercharges against Banesto and Mr. Sáenz, accusing them of lodging a false criminal complaint.

Mr. Sáenz disputed this claim, but a lower court ruled against him, sentencing Mr. Sáenz to six months in prison in late 2009. The case then reached the Supreme Court, following an appeal from Mr. Sáenz.

Write to Jonathan House at jonathan.house@dowjones.com and Santiago Perez at santiago.perez@dowjones.com
Online.wsj.com

Happy Birthday Estonia!

photo

Happy Birthday Estonia!

Tags

Eesti

Estonia

Estland

Tallinn

Toompea

Iseseisvuspev

Independence

Day

Planar T* 1,4/50

Canon Eos 7D

ZE

Carl

Zeiss

Landscape

Sky

Snow

Taevas

Lumi

Old

Town
Flickr.com

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Alchemy XCII - Alchimie _DDC3324

photo

alchemy XCII - Alchimie _DDC3324

Secrets revealed of the Abode of Chaos (112 pages, adult only) >>>

"999" English version with English subtitles is available >>>
HD movie - scenario thierry Ehrmann - filmed by Etienne Perrone

----------

voir les secrets de la Demeure du Chaos avec 112 pages trs tranges (adult only)

999 : visite initiatique au coeur de la Demeure du Chaos insuffle par l'Esprit de la Salamandre
Film HD d'Etienne PERRONE selon un scnario original de thierry Ehrmann.

courtesy of Organ Museum
©2011 www.AbodeofChaos.org

Tags

Alchemist

alchemy

alchimia

al-kimia

khemeia

Philosopher stone

Alchemical

Magnum opus

Great Work

Nigredo Albedo

Citrinitas

Rubedo

Corpus Jabirianum

Summa perfectionis

Nicolas Flamel

alchimie spculative

Oswald Wirth

le mystre des cathdrales

Les Demeures philosophales

Fulcanelli

Eugne Canseliet

La Tourbe des Philosophes

spagyrie

Andr Breton

Grand oeuvre

Don de Dieu

Materia prima

voie sche

voie humide

Liber Paragranum

Albert le Grand

Basile Valentin

Rosarius philosophorum

Jung

Graal

L'oeuvre au noir

Paulo Coelho

Alchemical symbol

Gnosticism

History of alchemy

Nuclear transmutation

Abode of Chaos

l'Esprit de la Salamandre

Salamander Spirit

Demeure du Chaos

thierry Ehrmann

DDC

999

organ museum

facteur cheval

palais ideal

sanctuaire

sanctuary

Artprice

portrait

painting

France

Museum

art royal

sculpture

secret

symbol

Franc-maconnerie

Free-Massonery

contemporary art

Apocalypse

Apocalyps

vanitas

ruins

prophecy

prophtie

mystery

Donum Dei

Finis

organ museum, english subtitles, thierry ehrmann, perrone online, abode, trs, etienne, alchemy, chaos, hd, adult

Flickr.com

_IMG2241

photo

_IMG2241

Tags

victoria

australia

australie

south

west

sud

ouest

cape

bridgewater
Flickr.com

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

My Therapist

photo

My Therapist

Tags

bicycle

mountain

bike

diamond

valley

lake

abstract

water

sky

cloud

canon

EOS Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

EOS

Rebel

T1i

500D

Kiss X3

photo

photograph

photography

geotagged
Flickr.com

Tottenham Hotspur v AC Milan: former Arsenal man Mathieu Flamini can expect barracking at White Hart Lane

Tottenham Hotspur v AC Milan: former Arsenal man Mathieu Flamini can expect barracking at White Hart Lane

Harry Redknapp has warned Mathieu Flamini, the former Arsenal midfielder, that he can expect an especially hostile reception at White Hart Lane on Wednesday during the Champions League second leg between Tottenham and AC Milan.

Mathieu Flamini - Tottenham v AC Milan: former Arsenal man told to prepare for a barracking at White Hart Lane

In the firing line: Mathieu Flamini was heavily criticised for his foul on Tottenham's Vedran Corluka Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Jeremy Wilson

By Jeremy Wilson 10:45PM GMT 07 Mar 2011

Jeremy's Twitter

Comments

Flamini spent four years at Tottenham's fiercest rivals from 2004 until 2008, but has most antagonised Spurs fans with his dangerous tackle on Vedran Corluka at the San Siro that Redknapp described as “horrendous”.

Corluka suffered a badly sprained ankle and has not played since. Flamini did apologise but said on Monday that Redknapp had been “very clever to make a big story” of the incident and denied being a dirty player.

With Gennaro Gattuso suspended after the badly tempered first leg that Tottenham won 1-0, Redknapp knows that Flamini is likely to be the target for the home fans.

“He probably will [get a bad reception],” said Redknapp. “It will be a great atmosphere at White Hart Lane anyway. When you are in the position we have got ourselves into, European nights at White Hart Lane are fantastic.

“We have not had Champions League nights there and this year they have all been fantastic – Inter Milan was amazing and this will be even bigger.”

Redknapp also said that his assistant, Joe Jordan, had “moved on” after being butted by Gattuso. “He’s the quietest man in the world away from football — you couldn’t meet a nicer guy,” said Redknapp.

Jermain Defoe is relishing the prospect of an electric atmosphere and, with the final at Wembley, admitted that he gets emotional even thinking about the possibility of playing such an important match in his home city.

“I’d probably start crying,” said Defoe. “Just playing in any final really is special but to play in the Champions League final in London at Wembley, being a Londoner, [would be] fantastic. The Inter game, and winning at AC Milan, was fantastic. It’s just been magical to be honest. It’s a great time to be at the club.

“At the beginning of last season people didn’t really speak about us finishing in the top four, so to actually finish there and have that consistency which we showed towards the end of the season was great. To do it again this season is even better.”

Defoe believes that Tottenham must take the game to Milan despite holding the advantage but is also wary of the Serie A leaders on the counter-attack.

“We’ve got to go out and from the first whistle just try and score,” he said. “The stadium is going to be rocking, so we’ve just got to work hard and play like we have been.

“I think they will come and sit back and try and frustrate us and make it difficult. If you switch off at any stage, especially in the Champions League, you can get punished, especially with the players that they’ve got going forward.”

Despite his two goals against Wolves on Sunday, Defoe is unlikely to start on Wednesday night.

The expectation is that Rafael van der Vaart will again play in a free role behind Peter Crouch, who missed Sunday’s 3-3 draw against Wolves, with Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale providing pace and width down the two flanks.

AC Milan, meanwhile, have confirmed that former Tottenham midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng will miss the match after suffering a sprained ankle during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Juventus.

white hart lane, tottenham hotspur, vedran corluka, jermain defoe, getty images, san siro, electric atmosphere, joe jordan, inter milan, ac milan, jeremy wilson, hostile reception, bad reception, redknapp, home fans, target, firing line, champions league, spurs, rivals

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Paris-Nice 2011: Australian sprinter Matt Goss takes overall lead following dramatic stage three win

Paris-Nice 2011: Australian sprinter Matt Goss takes overall lead following dramatic stage three win

Matt Goss, the Australian sprinter, has taken the overall lead in Paris-Nice after the HTC-Highroad rider won stage three in Nuits-Saint-Georges, France.

Matt Goss - Paris-Nice 2011 Australian sprinter Matt Goss takes overall lead following dramatic stage three win

 

Image 1 of 2

Drop the boy: Matt Goss took the overall lead of Paris-Nice after the Australian sprinter outsprinted Heinrich Haussler to the finishing line in Nuits-Saint-Georges Photo: AP

Peter Sagan - Paris-Nice 2011 Australian sprinter Matt Goss takes overall lead following dramatic stage three win

 

Image 1 of 2

Rollover: Peter Sagan (centre, green shorts) hit the deck after his tubular tyre appeared to roll Photo: REUTERS

By John MacLeary 6:54PM GMT 08 Mar 2011

Goss, 24, outsprinted Heinrich Haussler, his German-born compatriot, to the finishing line in Nuits-Saint-Georges at the end of what had been a relatively straightforward day on the 202-kilometre third stage from Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire.

However, after a two-man breakaway featuring Thomas Voeckler and Biel Kadri had been reined in the peloton gathered pace as riders jockeyed for position ahead of the final surge for the line.

As the riders did a final left-hand turn Peter Sagan, the young Slovak, lost control of his bike after his tubular tyre appeared to roll off his rear wheel. The Liquigas-Cannondale rider took with him a number of riders just behind the head of the bunch.

Geraint Thomas, the British national road race champion, lead the bunch before Haussler and Goss overhauled the Team Sky rider who failed to pull team-mate Greg Henderson through with him.

It was Goss, though, who took line honours ahead of the Garmin-Cervelo rider while Denis Galimzyanov of Russia finished third.

Goss's first ever stage win in the 'race to the sun' propelled him into the leader's yellow jersey as he leapfrogged Thomas de Gendt of Belgium by two seconds in the general classification.

"This is my first win in Europe this season so it is an important one," said Goss afterwards.

"My sprint was disrupted by Sagan's fall. I was two places behind him, and I saw him fall and I had to avoid him. I just put my head down and focussed on the finish line."

Paris-Nice continues on Wednesday with the 191km fourth stage from Crêches-sur-Saône to Belleville.

Paris-Nice details

Stage three, Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire - Nuits-Saint-Georges; 202km: 1. Matt Goss (Aus - HTC-Highroad) 5 hours 16 minutes 48 seconds, 2. Heinrich Haussler (Aus - Garmin-Cervelo) at same time, 3. Denis Galimzyanov (Rus - Katusha) s.t., 4. José Joaquín Rojas (Spa - Movistar) s.t., 5. Geraint Thomas (GB - Team Sky) s.t., 6. Greg Henderson (NZ - Team Sky) s.t., 7. Anthony Ravard (Fra - AG2R-La Mondiale) s.t., 8. Francesco Gavazzi (Ita - Lampre-ISD) s.t., 9. Romain Feillu (Fra - Vacansoleil-DCM) s.t., 10. Valerio Agnoli (Ita - Liquigas-Cannondale) s.t.

Selected others: 50. Dan Lloyd (GB - Garmin-Cervelo) s.t., 75. Bradley Wiggins (GB - Team Sky) s.t., 167. Jeremy Hunt (GB - Team Sky) s.t.

Overall general classification: 1. Matt Goss (Aus - HTC-Highroad) 14hrs 22mins 34secs, 2. Thomas De Gendt (Bel - Vacansoleil-DCM) 2secs, 3. Heinrich Haussler (Aus - Garmin-Cervelo) 6secs, 4. Greg Henderson (NZ - Team Sky) s.t., 5. Denis Galimzyanov (Rus - Katusha) 8secs, 6. Jérémy Roy (Fra - FDJ) 9secs, 7. Tony Gallopin (Fra - Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne) 10secs, 8. Cyril Gautier (Fra - Europcar) 11secs, 9. Cedric Pineau (Fra - FDJ) s.t., 10. Jens Voigt (Ger - Leopard-Trek) 14secs.

Selected others: 20. Geraint Thomas (GB - Team Sky) 16secs, 60. Dan Lloyd (GB - Garmin-Cervelo) s.t., 77. Bradley Wiggins (GB - Team Sky) s.t., 154. Jeremy Hunt (GB - Team Sky) 6mins 44secs.

Follow all the latest cycling news with TeleCycling on Twitter.

thomas voeckler, matt goss, cosne cours sur loire, sky rider, geraint thomas, australian sprinter, dramatic stage, paris nice, greg henderson, haussler, nuits saint georges, team mate, highroad, overall lead, liquigas, kadri, compatriot, third stage, sagan, cannondale

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

"If I am really a part of your dream, you'll come back one day." — Paulo Coelho

photo

"If I am really a part of your dream, you'll come back one day." — Paulo Coelho

texture by lisabee73

Tags

image

photo

photography

nationalgeographic

nickkenrick

ocean

paradise

pacific

sea

vacation

travel

tourism

zedzap

victoriabc

vancouverisland

landscape

harmonious

canadian

canada

bc

bay

postcard

boat

yacht

harbor
Flickr.com

Monday, March 7, 2011

Jonathan Liew: Whatever happened to all the weird and wonderful sports we used to get on mainstream TV?

Jonathan Liew: Whatever happened to all the weird and wonderful sports we used to get on mainstream TV?

In a week that saw some of the greatest sporting shocks of recent times (in increasing order of magnitude: the Wayne Rooney elbow, the ability of the British media to spend an entire week talking about Wayne Rooney’s elbow, Ireland beating England at cricket, the revelation that Ireland played cricket), it may seem a little perverse to slosh in the still pool of yesteryear.

Davis Cup: James Ward holds his nerve to give Great Britain victory over Tunisia

In olden times: Saturday television always used to feature unintelligible interviews with Paul Gascoigne  

By Jonathan Liew 7:30AM GMT 07 Mar 2011

Jonathan's Twitter

Comments

But let me explain what brought it on. It happened on Saturday morning, while searching for some sport to watch. Attempting to choose between the ubiquitous, dull-as-wallpaper Saturday Kitchen and an old Friends episode called, I believe, ‘The One Where Ross Makes Yet More Jokes About His Failed Marriages’, I was stabbed by a sudden and acute pang of nostalgia. When I was young, you see, Saturday mornings were a bewitching, bewildering sporting tumult of which I was a helpless devotee.

It would begin at 8am with a strange little programme called Trans World Sport. Purporting to be a weekly, one-hour global sporting round-up, TWS was in fact a patchwork quilt of preposterous oddments. Every week, the programme would feature little-known sports – sepak takraw, barrel racing, gorodki – from the furthest-flung outposts of the world.

I swear some of these were made up by the producers. Even when mainstream sports were covered, they would be crazy variants of the real thing, such as Batak mud football or Incan sock tennis. Insane. But spellbinding.

Trans World Sport would be followed by Kabaddi. Kabaddi resembles the old playground game of tag, with the inspired twist that while attempting to tag a member of the opposition team, you must chant “Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi”, and are not allowed to take a breath. Who could fail to love a game so absurd it penalises its participants for breathing? Or a channel so absurd it would put that game on television?

After Kabaddi came the equally idiosyncratic Gazzetta Football Italia. A programme commissioned more or less specifically to follow Paul Gascoigne, it consisted exclusively of fabulous football (a counterpoint to the dreary Premier League at the time), unintelligible interviews with Gazza and long newspaper reviews in which presenter James Richardson would sit at an outdoor café with a bowl of gelato in front of him.

Like pretty much everything Channel 4 did in the mid-1990s, it was all faintly silly. But where is its like today? Trans World Sport still exists, unloved and unwatched on Sky. Italian football is covered, senza Gazza and senza gelato, by ESPN.

In fact, if you look at the schedules of the main channels, sport hardly features at all, save for the ever-dwindling portfolio of live action. Terrestrial sport faces the same issues as terrestrial television – a splintering of its market as fans find their particular needs better met elsewhere. The idea that sport could be presented in a quirky, whimsical style, or even the idea of introducing a new sport to the nation’s screens, appears to be alien these days.

A programme such as Gazzetta or Kabaddi – or even Bullseye, come to that – would never make it onto mainstream TV in 2011. The gradual but tectonic emigration of sport onto specialist channels, as well as the internet and mobile phones, has hived it off into ghettos of convenience – easier for sports fans to find, but more importantly, easier for non-sports fans to ignore.

It may sound strange with the London Olympics on the horizon, but sport has never been less intrinsic to our culture. Those who like it know where to find it; those who do not need scarcely be bothered by it again.

But there is a whole, undecided middle ground, and it consists of people like the nine-year-old me. Fifteen years ago, we would watch breathless Indian men try to tag each other, and learn that sport could be fun and silly and important all at the same time.

Now, I fear, that message is being lost, and never is its absence more keenly felt than in weeks when there is nothing to write about except Wayne Rooney’s elbow.

trans world sport, jonathan liew, paul gascoigne online, mud football, old playground, wayne rooney, opposition team, mainstream sports, order of magnitude, saturday kitchen, mainstream tv, friends episode, rsquo, olden times, patchwork quilt, saturday mornings, devotee, outposts, kabaddi, tumult

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Avere a tiro l'onda.

photo

Avere a tiro l'onda.

Tags

sea

mare

waves

onde

foam

schiuma

water

acqua

ea

rocks

scogli

velvet

velluto

corsica

bonifacio

falaises

capo testa

gallura

sardinia

sardegna

contax

139 quartz

50mm

(quasi cit.)

onda, tiro

Flickr.com