View allAll Photos Tagged Lay-Off
Chevy's History
The chain was founded in 1981 by Warren Simmon his son Scooter Simmon, when they opened their first restaurant in Alameda, California. It grew to 37 restaurants across California by August 1993, when it was acquired by PepsiCo subsidiary Taco Bell. When PepsiCo decided to exit the restaurant business in 1997, Chevy's was sold to the investment group J.W. Childs Associates.[4] In 1999, Chevy's purchased Rio Bravo Cantina, a poorly-performing chain of Tex-Mex restaurants with 66 locations across the United States, from Applebee's International for $59 million.
However, business was poor at the Rio Bravo locations, and in 2003 Chevy's' executives filed for Chapter Eleven bankruptcy protection. For the next year and a half, Chevy's operated as debtor in possession under Chapter Eleven. In January 2005, Chevy's and Fuzio Universal Pasta were acquired by Real Mex Restaurants, Inc., the Long Beach, California-based parent company of El Torito Restaurants and Acapulco Mexican Restaurants. Because of that, Real Mex Restaurants became the largest operator of full-service Mexican restaurants in the United States.
Bankruptcy
On October 3, 2011, Real Mex Restaurants filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced that it was putting itself up for sale, citing the poor economy as a reason. As part of the bankruptcy filing, no plans were announced to shut down restaurants or lay off staff. Despite this, in December 2011, a number of Chevys were closed, including the following locations: Anaheim Hills, California; Livermore, California; Pleasanton, California; Redwood City, California; San Diego, California; San Francisco-Van Ness Avenue, California; San Jose-Coleman Avenue, San Jose-Curtner Avenue, California; San Jose-S. Winchester Boulevard, California; Tracy, California; Champaign, Illinois; Brick, New Jersey; and Lawrenceville, New Jersey,
On February 19, 2012, the Dixon, California; Pleasant Hill, California; San Leandro, California; and Gaithersburg, Maryland, locations closed. On February 21, 2012, the Arlington, Virginia location at Ballston Common Mall closed. In September 2012, the San Francisco-Stonestown Galleria (19th Avenue), California location closed due to lease problems. In November 2012, the Del Mar, California location let its lease expire and closed.
Real Mex was acquired by a group of its noteholders in a bankruptcy auction in 2012.
Wikipedia Quote
Our reliable, 8-day Franz Hermle mantle clock. We bought this as an extravagance 15 years ago on a trip to Leeds. Note the small pads on the feed. The chimes are so loud, especially when amplified through the shelf, they were keeping us and our neighbours awake.
Cats used to feature strongly in our life, but not for about 6 years now. The one on the left is a genuine Wemyss Ware cat, made by Griselda Hill pottery in Ceres, in Fife. Last month we discovered the company was having financial difficulties and they were laying off staff. Such a shame. I hope they survive.
A textile company in Turkey continues to work with its employees without lay-offs but increasing measures to wear masks. June 2020, Izmir, Turkey. Photo : Kivanc Ozvardar / ILO
Shut Down the Strip for Education
This was the Shut Down the Strip for Education protest/march that was held Sunday March 6th in Las Vegas. Our governor, Brian Sandoval, a typical politician who does more for himself and big business than the people, is proposing a massive budget cut for education in the state of Nevada. Nevada is sadly ranked 48th in the nation for education.
I was there taking pictures, exercising civil disobedience, and rejoicing in our right to free speech. I am posting this collage as a type of contrary form of reporting, since it has always been the case that the corporate media uses the tactic of under-estimating the numbers that turn out for such events. The media whether it was print or television, whether it was left or right, or whether it was big or small had the same soundbites and small under-reported story about the event. The same goes true for the protesters in Wisconsin right now and the same goes for all popular movements of the people throughout history.
When you hear the president of the United States or any local politician use the term "spending freeze" it is another word or euphemism for "tax." Spending freezes are a hidden tax and budget cuts are always at the expense of the many. These education budget cuts for Nevada will mean a reduction in programs, the laying off of teachers and faculty, the closure of facilities, and a drastic increase in costs for tuition. The aim of cutting the budgets to higher education is to force students to fund their way through school with private loans so they can go into debt before they enter a career. It is keep them so busy and burdened with debt that they don't have time to be activists, so they don't have time to think for themselves, so they can support the status quo, and so they have no other choice but to maintain the agendas of big business.
The educational system of America was modeled after the school system of Prussia, and their agenda with public education was to produce an individual who was just smart enough and disciplined enough to create labor power and not pose as a threat to the owning class. When I hear people talk about how poor the education system is and how it needs to be changed or improved I realize that they don't know it is doing exactly what it was meant to do. Public education in this country was designed to suck. It was meant to leave the student without a firm understanding of economics, finance, government, history, and ability to write. If a person schooled in these things from a public school truly had a grasp on the working of these subjects they would be on a more level playing field with the owning class. You see, one always hear about competition in this country but the truth is that people and companies at the top hate competition. The system is rigged. As technology improves, creating more advanced machines and operations that replace humans, and as more and more labor and services are outsourced there is less of a need for you and so that means social programs like education will continue to be cut and eliminated. The Pareto Principle or 80/20 rule can be applied. If 80 percent of productivity, profits, or whatever come from 20 percent of the employees, customers, or whatever that leaves room to eliminate. The education situation in Nevada and the issues that are sweeping the nation involve more than just budgets. There are deeper concerns. I could be wrong about all of this and that is why I encourage you to find out for yourself. Save education; start by educating yourself.
Alcatraz. San Francisco, California. April/2018
The Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary or United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island (often just referred to as Alcatraz or the Rock) was a maximum high-security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, California, which operated from August 11, 1934, until March 21, 1963.
The main prison building was built in 1910–1912 during its time as a United States Army military prison; Alcatraz had been the site of a citadel since the 1860s. The United States Disciplinary Barracks, Pacific Branch on Alcatraz was acquired by the United States Department of Justice on October 12, 1933, and the island became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 1934 after the buildings were modernized to meet the requirements of a top-notch security prison. Given this high security and the location of Alcatraz in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, the prison operators believed Alcatraz to be escape-proof and America's strongest prison.
Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. One of the world's most notorious and best known prisons over the years, Alcatraz housed some 1,576 of America's most ruthless criminals including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud(the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. "Doc" Barker, Whitey Bulger, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate). It also provided housing for the Bureau of Prisons' staff and their families. A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts during the 29 years of the prison's existence, the most notable of which were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in June 1962 in one of the most intricate escapes ever devised. Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963.
The three-story cellhouse included the main four blocks of the jail, A-block, B-block, C-block, and D-block, the warden's office, visitation room, the library, and the barber shop. The prison cells typically measured 9 feet (2.7 m) by 5 feet (1.5 m) and 7 feet (2.1 m) high. The cells were primitive and lacked privacy, with a bed, a desk and a washbasin and toilet on the back wall, with few furnishings except a blanket. African-Americans were segregated from the rest in cell designation due to racial abuse being prevalent. D-Block housed the worst inmates and five cells at the end of it were designated as "The Hole", where badly behaving prisoners would be sent for periods of punishment, often brutally so. The dining hall and kitchen lay off the main building in an extended part where both prisoners and staff would eat three meals a day together. The Alcatraz Hospital was above the dining hall.
Corridors of the prison were named after major American streets such as Broadway and Michigan Avenue. Working at the prison was considered a privilege for inmates and many of the better inmates were employed in the Model Industries Building and New Industries Building during the day, actively involved in providing for the military in jobs such as sewing and woodwork and performing various maintenance and laundry chores.
Today the penitentiary is a public museum and one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions, attracting some 1.5 million visitors annually. The former prison is now operated by the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the badly eroded buildings of the former prison have been subject to restoration works in recent times and maintained
Source: Wikipedia
Alcatraz é uma ilha localizada no meio da Baía de São Francisco na Califórnia, Estados Unidos. Inicialmente foi utilizada como base militar, e somente mais tarde foi convertida em uma prisão de segurança máxima. Atualmente, é um ponto turístico operado pelo National Park Service junto com a Área de Recreação Golden Gate.
Alcatraz foi uma base militar de 1850 a 1930. Posteriormente, foi adquirida pelo Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos, em 12 de outubro de 1933, quando sofreu a conversão. Em 1 de janeiro de 1934, foi re-inaugurada como uma Prisão Federal. Durante seus 29 anos de existência, a prisão alojou alguns dos maiores criminosos norte-americanos. A prisão foi fechada em 21 de março de 1963, menos de um ano após a primeira fuga realizada na prisão. O governo alegou que o complexo foi fechado devido ao seu alto custo de manutenção, e ao fato de que não garantia uma total segurança, em relação às prisões mais modernas. Era mais fácil e mais barato construir uma prisão nova do que melhorar as condições de Alcatraz.
Em 1969, um grupo de nativos norte-americanos criou um movimento que ocupou a ilha, baseando-se num tratado federal de 1868, que permitia que os nativos utilizassem todo o território que o governo não usava ativamente . Após quase dois anos de ocupação, o governo os retirou da ilha.
Durante 29 anos, a prisão de Alcatraz nunca registrou oficialmente fugas bem sucedidas de prisioneiros. Em todas as tentativas, os fugitivos foram mortos ou afogavam-se nas águas da baia de São Francisco. Três fugitivos, Frank Morris, e os irmãos John e Clarence Anglin, desapareceram das sua celas em 11 de Junho de 1962. Somente algumas provas foram encontradas, e elas levam a crer que os prisioneiros morreram, mas, oficialmente, ainda estão listados como desaparecidos e provavelmente afogados. Em 1979 foi feito um filme sobre essa fuga com Clint Eastwood chamado Escape from Alcatraz. A história chegou a ser testada no programa "Mythbusters-Os Caçadores de Mitos" no episódio Fuga de Alcatraz.
Em outubro de 2015 documentário do canal "History" foi divulgado, onde foram apresentadas novas evidências que indicam que os irmãos Anglin não somente sobreviveram, como mantiveram contato com sua família e teriam fugido para o Brasil.
Fonte: Wikipedia
Alcatraz. San Francisco, California. April/2018
The Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary or United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island (often just referred to as Alcatraz or the Rock) was a maximum high-security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, California, which operated from August 11, 1934, until March 21, 1963.
The main prison building was built in 1910–1912 during its time as a United States Army military prison; Alcatraz had been the site of a citadel since the 1860s. The United States Disciplinary Barracks, Pacific Branch on Alcatraz was acquired by the United States Department of Justice on October 12, 1933, and the island became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 1934 after the buildings were modernized to meet the requirements of a top-notch security prison. Given this high security and the location of Alcatraz in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, the prison operators believed Alcatraz to be escape-proof and America's strongest prison.
Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. One of the world's most notorious and best known prisons over the years, Alcatraz housed some 1,576 of America's most ruthless criminals including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud(the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. "Doc" Barker, Whitey Bulger, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate). It also provided housing for the Bureau of Prisons' staff and their families. A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts during the 29 years of the prison's existence, the most notable of which were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in June 1962 in one of the most intricate escapes ever devised. Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963.
The three-story cellhouse included the main four blocks of the jail, A-block, B-block, C-block, and D-block, the warden's office, visitation room, the library, and the barber shop. The prison cells typically measured 9 feet (2.7 m) by 5 feet (1.5 m) and 7 feet (2.1 m) high. The cells were primitive and lacked privacy, with a bed, a desk and a washbasin and toilet on the back wall, with few furnishings except a blanket. African-Americans were segregated from the rest in cell designation due to racial abuse being prevalent. D-Block housed the worst inmates and five cells at the end of it were designated as "The Hole", where badly behaving prisoners would be sent for periods of punishment, often brutally so. The dining hall and kitchen lay off the main building in an extended part where both prisoners and staff would eat three meals a day together. The Alcatraz Hospital was above the dining hall.
Corridors of the prison were named after major American streets such as Broadway and Michigan Avenue. Working at the prison was considered a privilege for inmates and many of the better inmates were employed in the Model Industries Building and New Industries Building during the day, actively involved in providing for the military in jobs such as sewing and woodwork and performing various maintenance and laundry chores.
Today the penitentiary is a public museum and one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions, attracting some 1.5 million visitors annually. The former prison is now operated by the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the badly eroded buildings of the former prison have been subject to restoration works in recent times and maintained
Source: Wikipedia
Alcatraz é uma ilha localizada no meio da Baía de São Francisco na Califórnia, Estados Unidos. Inicialmente foi utilizada como base militar, e somente mais tarde foi convertida em uma prisão de segurança máxima. Atualmente, é um ponto turístico operado pelo National Park Service junto com a Área de Recreação Golden Gate.
Alcatraz foi uma base militar de 1850 a 1930. Posteriormente, foi adquirida pelo Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos, em 12 de outubro de 1933, quando sofreu a conversão. Em 1 de janeiro de 1934, foi re-inaugurada como uma Prisão Federal. Durante seus 29 anos de existência, a prisão alojou alguns dos maiores criminosos norte-americanos. A prisão foi fechada em 21 de março de 1963, menos de um ano após a primeira fuga realizada na prisão. O governo alegou que o complexo foi fechado devido ao seu alto custo de manutenção, e ao fato de que não garantia uma total segurança, em relação às prisões mais modernas. Era mais fácil e mais barato construir uma prisão nova do que melhorar as condições de Alcatraz.
Em 1969, um grupo de nativos norte-americanos criou um movimento que ocupou a ilha, baseando-se num tratado federal de 1868, que permitia que os nativos utilizassem todo o território que o governo não usava ativamente . Após quase dois anos de ocupação, o governo os retirou da ilha.
Durante 29 anos, a prisão de Alcatraz nunca registrou oficialmente fugas bem sucedidas de prisioneiros. Em todas as tentativas, os fugitivos foram mortos ou afogavam-se nas águas da baia de São Francisco. Três fugitivos, Frank Morris, e os irmãos John e Clarence Anglin, desapareceram das sua celas em 11 de Junho de 1962. Somente algumas provas foram encontradas, e elas levam a crer que os prisioneiros morreram, mas, oficialmente, ainda estão listados como desaparecidos e provavelmente afogados. Em 1979 foi feito um filme sobre essa fuga com Clint Eastwood chamado Escape from Alcatraz. A história chegou a ser testada no programa "Mythbusters-Os Caçadores de Mitos" no episódio Fuga de Alcatraz.
Em outubro de 2015 documentário do canal "History" foi divulgado, onde foram apresentadas novas evidências que indicam que os irmãos Anglin não somente sobreviveram, como mantiveram contato com sua família e teriam fugido para o Brasil.
Fonte: Wikipedia
The hull of the shipwrecked Francisco Morizon lays off the shore of South Manitou Island. The young nesting cormorants were defending their territory by spewing regurgitated food at me.
Distance to circumnavigate South Manitou Island: 13.6 miles.
Alcatraz. San Francisco, California. April/2018
The Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary or United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island (often just referred to as Alcatraz or the Rock) was a maximum high-security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, California, which operated from August 11, 1934, until March 21, 1963.
The main prison building was built in 1910–1912 during its time as a United States Army military prison; Alcatraz had been the site of a citadel since the 1860s. The United States Disciplinary Barracks, Pacific Branch on Alcatraz was acquired by the United States Department of Justice on October 12, 1933, and the island became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 1934 after the buildings were modernized to meet the requirements of a top-notch security prison. Given this high security and the location of Alcatraz in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, the prison operators believed Alcatraz to be escape-proof and America's strongest prison.
Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. One of the world's most notorious and best known prisons over the years, Alcatraz housed some 1,576 of America's most ruthless criminals including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud(the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. "Doc" Barker, Whitey Bulger, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate). It also provided housing for the Bureau of Prisons' staff and their families. A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts during the 29 years of the prison's existence, the most notable of which were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in June 1962 in one of the most intricate escapes ever devised. Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963.
The three-story cellhouse included the main four blocks of the jail, A-block, B-block, C-block, and D-block, the warden's office, visitation room, the library, and the barber shop. The prison cells typically measured 9 feet (2.7 m) by 5 feet (1.5 m) and 7 feet (2.1 m) high. The cells were primitive and lacked privacy, with a bed, a desk and a washbasin and toilet on the back wall, with few furnishings except a blanket. African-Americans were segregated from the rest in cell designation due to racial abuse being prevalent. D-Block housed the worst inmates and five cells at the end of it were designated as "The Hole", where badly behaving prisoners would be sent for periods of punishment, often brutally so. The dining hall and kitchen lay off the main building in an extended part where both prisoners and staff would eat three meals a day together. The Alcatraz Hospital was above the dining hall.
Corridors of the prison were named after major American streets such as Broadway and Michigan Avenue. Working at the prison was considered a privilege for inmates and many of the better inmates were employed in the Model Industries Building and New Industries Building during the day, actively involved in providing for the military in jobs such as sewing and woodwork and performing various maintenance and laundry chores.
Today the penitentiary is a public museum and one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions, attracting some 1.5 million visitors annually. The former prison is now operated by the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the badly eroded buildings of the former prison have been subject to restoration works in recent times and maintained
Source: Wikipedia
Alcatraz é uma ilha localizada no meio da Baía de São Francisco na Califórnia, Estados Unidos. Inicialmente foi utilizada como base militar, e somente mais tarde foi convertida em uma prisão de segurança máxima. Atualmente, é um ponto turístico operado pelo National Park Service junto com a Área de Recreação Golden Gate.
Alcatraz foi uma base militar de 1850 a 1930. Posteriormente, foi adquirida pelo Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos, em 12 de outubro de 1933, quando sofreu a conversão. Em 1 de janeiro de 1934, foi re-inaugurada como uma Prisão Federal. Durante seus 29 anos de existência, a prisão alojou alguns dos maiores criminosos norte-americanos. A prisão foi fechada em 21 de março de 1963, menos de um ano após a primeira fuga realizada na prisão. O governo alegou que o complexo foi fechado devido ao seu alto custo de manutenção, e ao fato de que não garantia uma total segurança, em relação às prisões mais modernas. Era mais fácil e mais barato construir uma prisão nova do que melhorar as condições de Alcatraz.
Em 1969, um grupo de nativos norte-americanos criou um movimento que ocupou a ilha, baseando-se num tratado federal de 1868, que permitia que os nativos utilizassem todo o território que o governo não usava ativamente . Após quase dois anos de ocupação, o governo os retirou da ilha.
Durante 29 anos, a prisão de Alcatraz nunca registrou oficialmente fugas bem sucedidas de prisioneiros. Em todas as tentativas, os fugitivos foram mortos ou afogavam-se nas águas da baia de São Francisco. Três fugitivos, Frank Morris, e os irmãos John e Clarence Anglin, desapareceram das sua celas em 11 de Junho de 1962. Somente algumas provas foram encontradas, e elas levam a crer que os prisioneiros morreram, mas, oficialmente, ainda estão listados como desaparecidos e provavelmente afogados. Em 1979 foi feito um filme sobre essa fuga com Clint Eastwood chamado Escape from Alcatraz. A história chegou a ser testada no programa "Mythbusters-Os Caçadores de Mitos" no episódio Fuga de Alcatraz.
Em outubro de 2015 documentário do canal "History" foi divulgado, onde foram apresentadas novas evidências que indicam que os irmãos Anglin não somente sobreviveram, como mantiveram contato com sua família e teriam fugido para o Brasil.
Fonte: Wikipedia
Maria Sharapova of Russia serves the ball against Jelena Jankovic of Serbia during the women's finals in the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on October 3, 2009. Sharapova captured her first title since her injury lay-off by beating Jelena Jankovic to win the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament. AFP PHOTO/Kazuhiro NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images)
Hello Flickrverse :-)
As a new years resolution I promised myself I would find more time to spend on here - rekindling my love of photography, sharing with my friends and wandering around learning from them too. I am sorry I have been absent and I will try to be a better Flickr chum ... I have been nosing around (lurking) but found very little time to get properly involved. Well, here goes - there will be a large dump or two (!) as I get back up to date and I am starting with our Maldives holiday LAST year. Everything stopped as my work-life went mad with company mergers/takeovers - redundancies (laying off) - assessment days and competency based interviews. I kept my job but with a new team, territory, manager and region :-O
Things have calmed down a bit now and I can relax and process the many photos from last year that didn't make it here - then I can start immersing myself in taking photos for fun! ! !
This little fella is a Spotted Unicornfish (wonder why he is called that!) and was very inquisitive ... they always make us giggle with those beady eyes, tiny mouths, big "nose" and comical expression.
To see a little film of our underwater adventures with fish, sharks, turtles, eels and rays go to my YouTube page.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV is preparing for the premature end of the Sergio Marchionne era.
The 66-year-old native of Chieti, Italy, out on medical leave for the past several weeks, won’t return to his CEO roles at the Italian-American automaker or at race car manufacturer Ferrari NV, according to people familiar with the matter. The boards of both companies are preparing to name replacements for him on Saturday, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing confidential matters.
Marchionne’s health condition, which the company hasn’t discussed in detail, speeds up the timeline for a succession decision by early next year that was already seen as a crossroads for the company. Marchionne turned around an ailing Fiat when he took over a more than a decade ago, and he’s been closely tied to the company’s success. Who to run the company is just the first of a number of pivotal choices -- like whether to remain independent -- facing Chairman John Elkann.
Elkann, heir of the founding Agnelli family, has said an internal candidate will replace Marchionne at Fiat Chrysler. Chief Financial Officer Richard Palmer, Europe chief Alfredo Altavilla and the head of the Jeep and Ram brands Mike Manley are the top candidates, according to people familiar with the matter. Meetings took place in Turin on Friday to choose his successor, the people said.
Steady Driver
Automotive business taken over by Marchionne in 2004 has gained 10-fold
Marchionne, known for his rumpled sweaters and nonstop work habits, is one of the longest serving CEOs in the auto industry. He was appointed in 2004 as the fifth Fiat chief in a two-year period. He managed to return the carmaker, which had lost more than 6 billion euros in 2003, to profit in 2005 by cutting costs and laying off workers, and then looked for a partner.
With the acquisition of Chrysler in 2014, completing a five-year process, he gave Fiat the global scale needed to survive. Still, as the world’s seventh-largest automaker, the company may lack the size it needs to compete in an industry being reinvented by the emergence of autonomous driving and electrification.
Richard PalmerPhotographer: Jeff Kowalsky/Bloomberg
New Lineup
Fiat Chrysler has been facing questions about Marchionne’s health for almost a month -- his last public appearance was June 26, when he spoke at an event in Rome. The company said on July 5 that the CEO underwent an operation on his right shoulder and was expected to require “a short period of convalescence.”
The three groups controlled by the Agnelli family are set to name internal successors for Marchionne’s jobs. Louis Camilleri, a former Philip Morris International Inc. chairman and a member of Ferrari’s board, will be named CEO, with Elkann taking the chairman role, the people said. Truck and tractor maker CNH Industrial NV is set to name one of its existing board members as chairman, they said.
Click here for a timeline on Marchionne’s transformative tenure
At Fiat Chrysler, Elkann will likely split Marchionne’s duties between his closest aides, with one taking the CEO role, the people said. Marchionne was also head of Fiat Chrysler’s North American unit.
Filling his shoes won’t be easy. The executive is seen as one of the industry’s most skilled turnaround artists, not only saving Fiat from potential collapse, but later engineering its acquisition of Chrysler, which likely wouldn’t have received U.S. government backing for its 2009 bankruptcy without the involvement of its Italian partner.
Alfredo Altavilla and Sergio Marchionne.Photographer: Matthew Lloyd/Bloomberg
Overnight Flights
Marchionne is known for seldom taking a break, often sleeping on the couch of his private jet while traveling overnight between Turin, Detroit and London, the three homes of the automotive group. Weekend meetings were an ordinary routine for the executive, who favored black
sweaters to elegant suits so he didn’t have to waste time in the morning deciding what to wear. He drank volumes of espressos daily and was a chain smoker before quitting both about a year ago.
In recent months, he was preparing to slow down but wanted first to complete the five year plan to rid the carmaker of industrial debt, making it financially stronger and able to survive the next downturn. "I am a fixer. Until something is definitively fixed, I can’t stop," he has said.
Shaking Things Up
Marchionne has continued to shake up the industry with controversial moves that haven’t always endeared him to his counterparts. Chrysler stopped making most passenger cars 2016 to focus on SUVs, a decision that has since been followed by Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. In Europe, Marchionne has moved away from mass-car production, transforming the Turin plant that churned out some 500,000 cars a year in the 1960s to what will now be a niche producer of Alfa Romeo and Maserati SUVs.
As recently as March, at the Geneva car show, Marchionne was among the executives who refused to go along with a proposal by German rivals to issue a statement reiterating the industry’s commitment to diesel technology. “They didn’t get support from the others and were left by themselves,” he said then.
He’s also focused on brand building, spinning off Ferrari into a separate trading company, a move that’s built enormous value for the Agnelli family and other shareholders. Jeep, which produced about 300,000 cars in 2009, is now a global brand that will sell about 2 million vehicles this year after expanding in Europe, China, India and South America.
Ferrari, CNH
Fiat Chrysler and Ferrari share a controlling shareholder in Exor NV, the holding company run by Elkann. Exor also controls CNH Industrial NV, the truck and tractor maker where Marchionne is chairman.
CNH Industrial’s board is also expected to meet Saturday to name a replacement for Marchionne, the people said. Representatives for Fiat Chrysler and Ferrari declined to comment, while a representative for CNH Industrial wasn’t immediately available.
Ferrari will name Louis Camilleri, a board member and former chairman of Philip Morris International Inc., its CEO, Automotive News reported on Friday, citing a source familiar with the decision.
Fiat Chrysler earlier Friday denied a report by the website Lettera43.it that Elkann would convene top managers in Turin on Saturday to discuss how to temporarily redistribute his powers. The company’s Milan-listed shares finished down 2.3 percent.
Earnings Loom
The Italian-American automaker is scheduled to report second-quarter earnings on July 25. Palmer -- seen by some investors as the top contender for the CEO job -- probably will lead the conference call, people familiar with the matter said earlier.
Marchionne has been vocal for years on the industry’s need for more consolidation. His plan to create with General Motors the world biggest carmaker was rebuffed in 2015. Since then, He and Elkann decided to concentrate on the more lucrative SUVs and higher-margin brands.
“This business, if you really want to do it well, is all-consuming,” the CEO said in an interview with Bloomberg News in Detroit in January. “I am tired. I want to do something else.”
‘No Script’
On June 1, Marchionne presented his last plan for the carmaker. His closing remarks were directed to his successor.
“The origins of FCA are a group of people from Fiat and Chrysler who faced the most difficult situations in the last 10 to 15 years. They confronted the threat of losing their dignity by losing their work," Marchionne said. "Can Marchionne leave a script or instruction? The answer is that there is no script or instruction. FCA is a culture of leaders and employees that were born out of adversity and who operate without sheet music,
that is the only way we know.”
Ladies football Gold medal match Wembley
London 2012: USA avenge World Cup defeat by Japan to win Olympic gold
• USA 2-1 Japan
• Lloyd 8 54; Ogimi 63
USA gained the desired revenge for losing to Japan in last year's World Cup final on penalties. There was personal redemption, too, for Carli Lloyd, who answered her missed kick in that 3-1 shootout loss by scoring a goal in each half to seal the Olympic crown for her nation.
Japan were dubbed the Barcelona of the women's game for their flurry of neat passing and slick movement and their average height of 5ft 4in compared to the US's 5ft 7in. The Americans were the big tournament specialists. This was the fifth women's Olympic final and USA were continuing their record of being in all of them, losing only to Norway at Sydney 2000, 3-2.
For Japan, their coach Norio Sasaki framed the attempted conquest of gold as part of the country's healing process, following the trauma of last year's earthquake which killed nearly 20,000 people.
Ahead of this final he said: "All the Japanese people are still trying to come back from the earthquake disaster.
"Winning the World Cup was very emotional last year and gave energy to the nation after what had happened and the same can happen again."
After eight minutes a noisy, though not completely filled Wembley, witnessed the opening strike. Tobin Heath galloped into space down the left before Alex Morgan's twist and cross was met by Carli Lloyd, just ahead of the 143-goal Abby Wambach.
Far from being unsettled, Japan went in search of an instant reply. A shot from Nahomi Kawasumi was blocked by the USA captain, Christie Rampone, with Hope Solo, the keeper, stranded. Yuki Ogimi followed up but could not convert.
Ogimi went closer moments later. A hanging jump was followed by the forward's header being superbly palmed onto the bar b y Solo.
The goal-frame proved an extra defender for both sides. Amy LePeilbet's cross was met with a glancing header by Rampone that hit Yuki Fukomoto's right post. At the opposite end, Aya Miyama's pile-driver smashed back off the bar.
Ogimi was instrumental in every Japan attack. Her lay-off nine minutes from half-time was hit with a menacing curl by Shinobu Ohno but the ball was marginally wide of the post.
The open, entertaining nature of this contest continued after the break. Japan spread the ball across midfield only for their attacks to founder due to a belief deficit. When given sight of goal – as Miyama, the captain, on 52 minutes – the opportunity was snatched at.
When America flooded forward there was menace. After Megan Rapinoe laid the ball into Lloyd, she surged from near half-way then unloaded a 20-yard humdinger that gave the 5ft 4in keeper Fukumoto no chance, and that was 2-0 to Pia Sunhage's team.
In the 63nd minute Japan's Ogimi raised the excitement scale to fevered after her strike, though this proved a consolation as the neat triangles that were ending in cul-de-sacs continued to frustrate the Japanese.
The world champions still had their chances but when Miyama had two free-kicks to deliver in quick succession, her side failed to profit.
My personal trainer Pete, told me to lay off the carbonated soft drinks. He hasn't been wrong yet so here I go.This was the last can. Day 126:Project 365
Ladies football Gold medal match Wembley
London 2012: USA avenge World Cup defeat by Japan to win Olympic gold
• USA 2-1 Japan
• Lloyd 8 54; Ogimi 63
USA gained the desired revenge for losing to Japan in last year's World Cup final on penalties. There was personal redemption, too, for Carli Lloyd, who answered her missed kick in that 3-1 shootout loss by scoring a goal in each half to seal the Olympic crown for her nation.
Japan were dubbed the Barcelona of the women's game for their flurry of neat passing and slick movement and their average height of 5ft 4in compared to the US's 5ft 7in. The Americans were the big tournament specialists. This was the fifth women's Olympic final and USA were continuing their record of being in all of them, losing only to Norway at Sydney 2000, 3-2.
For Japan, their coach Norio Sasaki framed the attempted conquest of gold as part of the country's healing process, following the trauma of last year's earthquake which killed nearly 20,000 people.
Ahead of this final he said: "All the Japanese people are still trying to come back from the earthquake disaster.
"Winning the World Cup was very emotional last year and gave energy to the nation after what had happened and the same can happen again."
After eight minutes a noisy, though not completely filled Wembley, witnessed the opening strike. Tobin Heath galloped into space down the left before Alex Morgan's twist and cross was met by Carli Lloyd, just ahead of the 143-goal Abby Wambach.
Far from being unsettled, Japan went in search of an instant reply. A shot from Nahomi Kawasumi was blocked by the USA captain, Christie Rampone, with Hope Solo, the keeper, stranded. Yuki Ogimi followed up but could not convert.
Ogimi went closer moments later. A hanging jump was followed by the forward's header being superbly palmed onto the bar b y Solo.
The goal-frame proved an extra defender for both sides. Amy LePeilbet's cross was met with a glancing header by Rampone that hit Yuki Fukomoto's right post. At the opposite end, Aya Miyama's pile-driver smashed back off the bar.
Ogimi was instrumental in every Japan attack. Her lay-off nine minutes from half-time was hit with a menacing curl by Shinobu Ohno but the ball was marginally wide of the post.
The open, entertaining nature of this contest continued after the break. Japan spread the ball across midfield only for their attacks to founder due to a belief deficit. When given sight of goal – as Miyama, the captain, on 52 minutes – the opportunity was snatched at.
When America flooded forward there was menace. After Megan Rapinoe laid the ball into Lloyd, she surged from near half-way then unloaded a 20-yard humdinger that gave the 5ft 4in keeper Fukumoto no chance, and that was 2-0 to Pia Sunhage's team.
In the 63nd minute Japan's Ogimi raised the excitement scale to fevered after her strike, though this proved a consolation as the neat triangles that were ending in cul-de-sacs continued to frustrate the Japanese.
The world champions still had their chances but when Miyama had two free-kicks to deliver in quick succession, her side failed to profit.
Alcatraz. San Francisco, California. April/2018
The Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary or United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island (often just referred to as Alcatraz or the Rock) was a maximum high-security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, California, which operated from August 11, 1934, until March 21, 1963.
The main prison building was built in 1910–1912 during its time as a United States Army military prison; Alcatraz had been the site of a citadel since the 1860s. The United States Disciplinary Barracks, Pacific Branch on Alcatraz was acquired by the United States Department of Justice on October 12, 1933, and the island became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 1934 after the buildings were modernized to meet the requirements of a top-notch security prison. Given this high security and the location of Alcatraz in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, the prison operators believed Alcatraz to be escape-proof and America's strongest prison.
Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. One of the world's most notorious and best known prisons over the years, Alcatraz housed some 1,576 of America's most ruthless criminals including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud(the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. "Doc" Barker, Whitey Bulger, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate). It also provided housing for the Bureau of Prisons' staff and their families. A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts during the 29 years of the prison's existence, the most notable of which were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in June 1962 in one of the most intricate escapes ever devised. Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963.
The three-story cellhouse included the main four blocks of the jail, A-block, B-block, C-block, and D-block, the warden's office, visitation room, the library, and the barber shop. The prison cells typically measured 9 feet (2.7 m) by 5 feet (1.5 m) and 7 feet (2.1 m) high. The cells were primitive and lacked privacy, with a bed, a desk and a washbasin and toilet on the back wall, with few furnishings except a blanket. African-Americans were segregated from the rest in cell designation due to racial abuse being prevalent. D-Block housed the worst inmates and five cells at the end of it were designated as "The Hole", where badly behaving prisoners would be sent for periods of punishment, often brutally so. The dining hall and kitchen lay off the main building in an extended part where both prisoners and staff would eat three meals a day together. The Alcatraz Hospital was above the dining hall.
Corridors of the prison were named after major American streets such as Broadway and Michigan Avenue. Working at the prison was considered a privilege for inmates and many of the better inmates were employed in the Model Industries Building and New Industries Building during the day, actively involved in providing for the military in jobs such as sewing and woodwork and performing various maintenance and laundry chores.
Today the penitentiary is a public museum and one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions, attracting some 1.5 million visitors annually. The former prison is now operated by the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the badly eroded buildings of the former prison have been subject to restoration works in recent times and maintained
Source: Wikipedia
Alcatraz é uma ilha localizada no meio da Baía de São Francisco na Califórnia, Estados Unidos. Inicialmente foi utilizada como base militar, e somente mais tarde foi convertida em uma prisão de segurança máxima. Atualmente, é um ponto turístico operado pelo National Park Service junto com a Área de Recreação Golden Gate.
Alcatraz foi uma base militar de 1850 a 1930. Posteriormente, foi adquirida pelo Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos, em 12 de outubro de 1933, quando sofreu a conversão. Em 1 de janeiro de 1934, foi re-inaugurada como uma Prisão Federal. Durante seus 29 anos de existência, a prisão alojou alguns dos maiores criminosos norte-americanos. A prisão foi fechada em 21 de março de 1963, menos de um ano após a primeira fuga realizada na prisão. O governo alegou que o complexo foi fechado devido ao seu alto custo de manutenção, e ao fato de que não garantia uma total segurança, em relação às prisões mais modernas. Era mais fácil e mais barato construir uma prisão nova do que melhorar as condições de Alcatraz.
Em 1969, um grupo de nativos norte-americanos criou um movimento que ocupou a ilha, baseando-se num tratado federal de 1868, que permitia que os nativos utilizassem todo o território que o governo não usava ativamente . Após quase dois anos de ocupação, o governo os retirou da ilha.
Durante 29 anos, a prisão de Alcatraz nunca registrou oficialmente fugas bem sucedidas de prisioneiros. Em todas as tentativas, os fugitivos foram mortos ou afogavam-se nas águas da baia de São Francisco. Três fugitivos, Frank Morris, e os irmãos John e Clarence Anglin, desapareceram das sua celas em 11 de Junho de 1962. Somente algumas provas foram encontradas, e elas levam a crer que os prisioneiros morreram, mas, oficialmente, ainda estão listados como desaparecidos e provavelmente afogados. Em 1979 foi feito um filme sobre essa fuga com Clint Eastwood chamado Escape from Alcatraz. A história chegou a ser testada no programa "Mythbusters-Os Caçadores de Mitos" no episódio Fuga de Alcatraz.
Em outubro de 2015 documentário do canal "History" foi divulgado, onde foram apresentadas novas evidências que indicam que os irmãos Anglin não somente sobreviveram, como mantiveram contato com sua família e teriam fugido para o Brasil.
Fonte: Wikipedia
Alcatraz. San Francisco, California. April/2018
The Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary or United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island (often just referred to as Alcatraz or the Rock) was a maximum high-security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, California, which operated from August 11, 1934, until March 21, 1963.
The main prison building was built in 1910–1912 during its time as a United States Army military prison; Alcatraz had been the site of a citadel since the 1860s. The United States Disciplinary Barracks, Pacific Branch on Alcatraz was acquired by the United States Department of Justice on October 12, 1933, and the island became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 1934 after the buildings were modernized to meet the requirements of a top-notch security prison. Given this high security and the location of Alcatraz in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, the prison operators believed Alcatraz to be escape-proof and America's strongest prison.
Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. One of the world's most notorious and best known prisons over the years, Alcatraz housed some 1,576 of America's most ruthless criminals including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud(the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. "Doc" Barker, Whitey Bulger, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate). It also provided housing for the Bureau of Prisons' staff and their families. A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts during the 29 years of the prison's existence, the most notable of which were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in June 1962 in one of the most intricate escapes ever devised. Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963.
The three-story cellhouse included the main four blocks of the jail, A-block, B-block, C-block, and D-block, the warden's office, visitation room, the library, and the barber shop. The prison cells typically measured 9 feet (2.7 m) by 5 feet (1.5 m) and 7 feet (2.1 m) high. The cells were primitive and lacked privacy, with a bed, a desk and a washbasin and toilet on the back wall, with few furnishings except a blanket. African-Americans were segregated from the rest in cell designation due to racial abuse being prevalent. D-Block housed the worst inmates and five cells at the end of it were designated as "The Hole", where badly behaving prisoners would be sent for periods of punishment, often brutally so. The dining hall and kitchen lay off the main building in an extended part where both prisoners and staff would eat three meals a day together. The Alcatraz Hospital was above the dining hall.
Corridors of the prison were named after major American streets such as Broadway and Michigan Avenue. Working at the prison was considered a privilege for inmates and many of the better inmates were employed in the Model Industries Building and New Industries Building during the day, actively involved in providing for the military in jobs such as sewing and woodwork and performing various maintenance and laundry chores.
Today the penitentiary is a public museum and one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions, attracting some 1.5 million visitors annually. The former prison is now operated by the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the badly eroded buildings of the former prison have been subject to restoration works in recent times and maintained
Source: Wikipedia
Alcatraz é uma ilha localizada no meio da Baía de São Francisco na Califórnia, Estados Unidos. Inicialmente foi utilizada como base militar, e somente mais tarde foi convertida em uma prisão de segurança máxima. Atualmente, é um ponto turístico operado pelo National Park Service junto com a Área de Recreação Golden Gate.
Alcatraz foi uma base militar de 1850 a 1930. Posteriormente, foi adquirida pelo Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos, em 12 de outubro de 1933, quando sofreu a conversão. Em 1 de janeiro de 1934, foi re-inaugurada como uma Prisão Federal. Durante seus 29 anos de existência, a prisão alojou alguns dos maiores criminosos norte-americanos. A prisão foi fechada em 21 de março de 1963, menos de um ano após a primeira fuga realizada na prisão. O governo alegou que o complexo foi fechado devido ao seu alto custo de manutenção, e ao fato de que não garantia uma total segurança, em relação às prisões mais modernas. Era mais fácil e mais barato construir uma prisão nova do que melhorar as condições de Alcatraz.
Em 1969, um grupo de nativos norte-americanos criou um movimento que ocupou a ilha, baseando-se num tratado federal de 1868, que permitia que os nativos utilizassem todo o território que o governo não usava ativamente . Após quase dois anos de ocupação, o governo os retirou da ilha.
Durante 29 anos, a prisão de Alcatraz nunca registrou oficialmente fugas bem sucedidas de prisioneiros. Em todas as tentativas, os fugitivos foram mortos ou afogavam-se nas águas da baia de São Francisco. Três fugitivos, Frank Morris, e os irmãos John e Clarence Anglin, desapareceram das sua celas em 11 de Junho de 1962. Somente algumas provas foram encontradas, e elas levam a crer que os prisioneiros morreram, mas, oficialmente, ainda estão listados como desaparecidos e provavelmente afogados. Em 1979 foi feito um filme sobre essa fuga com Clint Eastwood chamado Escape from Alcatraz. A história chegou a ser testada no programa "Mythbusters-Os Caçadores de Mitos" no episódio Fuga de Alcatraz.
Em outubro de 2015 documentário do canal "History" foi divulgado, onde foram apresentadas novas evidências que indicam que os irmãos Anglin não somente sobreviveram, como mantiveram contato com sua família e teriam fugido para o Brasil.
Fonte: Wikipedia
Alcatraz. San Francisco, California. April/2018
The Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary or United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island (often just referred to as Alcatraz or the Rock) was a maximum high-security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, California, which operated from August 11, 1934, until March 21, 1963.
The main prison building was built in 1910–1912 during its time as a United States Army military prison; Alcatraz had been the site of a citadel since the 1860s. The United States Disciplinary Barracks, Pacific Branch on Alcatraz was acquired by the United States Department of Justice on October 12, 1933, and the island became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 1934 after the buildings were modernized to meet the requirements of a top-notch security prison. Given this high security and the location of Alcatraz in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, the prison operators believed Alcatraz to be escape-proof and America's strongest prison.
Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. One of the world's most notorious and best known prisons over the years, Alcatraz housed some 1,576 of America's most ruthless criminals including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud(the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. "Doc" Barker, Whitey Bulger, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate). It also provided housing for the Bureau of Prisons' staff and their families. A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts during the 29 years of the prison's existence, the most notable of which were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in June 1962 in one of the most intricate escapes ever devised. Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963.
The three-story cellhouse included the main four blocks of the jail, A-block, B-block, C-block, and D-block, the warden's office, visitation room, the library, and the barber shop. The prison cells typically measured 9 feet (2.7 m) by 5 feet (1.5 m) and 7 feet (2.1 m) high. The cells were primitive and lacked privacy, with a bed, a desk and a washbasin and toilet on the back wall, with few furnishings except a blanket. African-Americans were segregated from the rest in cell designation due to racial abuse being prevalent. D-Block housed the worst inmates and five cells at the end of it were designated as "The Hole", where badly behaving prisoners would be sent for periods of punishment, often brutally so. The dining hall and kitchen lay off the main building in an extended part where both prisoners and staff would eat three meals a day together. The Alcatraz Hospital was above the dining hall.
Corridors of the prison were named after major American streets such as Broadway and Michigan Avenue. Working at the prison was considered a privilege for inmates and many of the better inmates were employed in the Model Industries Building and New Industries Building during the day, actively involved in providing for the military in jobs such as sewing and woodwork and performing various maintenance and laundry chores.
Today the penitentiary is a public museum and one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions, attracting some 1.5 million visitors annually. The former prison is now operated by the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the badly eroded buildings of the former prison have been subject to restoration works in recent times and maintained
Source: Wikipedia
Alcatraz é uma ilha localizada no meio da Baía de São Francisco na Califórnia, Estados Unidos. Inicialmente foi utilizada como base militar, e somente mais tarde foi convertida em uma prisão de segurança máxima. Atualmente, é um ponto turístico operado pelo National Park Service junto com a Área de Recreação Golden Gate.
Alcatraz foi uma base militar de 1850 a 1930. Posteriormente, foi adquirida pelo Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos, em 12 de outubro de 1933, quando sofreu a conversão. Em 1 de janeiro de 1934, foi re-inaugurada como uma Prisão Federal. Durante seus 29 anos de existência, a prisão alojou alguns dos maiores criminosos norte-americanos. A prisão foi fechada em 21 de março de 1963, menos de um ano após a primeira fuga realizada na prisão. O governo alegou que o complexo foi fechado devido ao seu alto custo de manutenção, e ao fato de que não garantia uma total segurança, em relação às prisões mais modernas. Era mais fácil e mais barato construir uma prisão nova do que melhorar as condições de Alcatraz.
Em 1969, um grupo de nativos norte-americanos criou um movimento que ocupou a ilha, baseando-se num tratado federal de 1868, que permitia que os nativos utilizassem todo o território que o governo não usava ativamente . Após quase dois anos de ocupação, o governo os retirou da ilha.
Durante 29 anos, a prisão de Alcatraz nunca registrou oficialmente fugas bem sucedidas de prisioneiros. Em todas as tentativas, os fugitivos foram mortos ou afogavam-se nas águas da baia de São Francisco. Três fugitivos, Frank Morris, e os irmãos John e Clarence Anglin, desapareceram das sua celas em 11 de Junho de 1962. Somente algumas provas foram encontradas, e elas levam a crer que os prisioneiros morreram, mas, oficialmente, ainda estão listados como desaparecidos e provavelmente afogados. Em 1979 foi feito um filme sobre essa fuga com Clint Eastwood chamado Escape from Alcatraz. A história chegou a ser testada no programa "Mythbusters-Os Caçadores de Mitos" no episódio Fuga de Alcatraz.
Em outubro de 2015 documentário do canal "History" foi divulgado, onde foram apresentadas novas evidências que indicam que os irmãos Anglin não somente sobreviveram, como mantiveram contato com sua família e teriam fugido para o Brasil.
Fonte: Wikipedia
I shot off several frames of this petite and charming tour guide as she had been a total contrast to a loud and obnoxious one I had just encountered, who was using a mic and speaker to bark orders to her group. After seeing her group safely to her other colleagues for further processing, a male colleague from the pier pulls the leg of this little lady. She is laughing and reacting in a very feminine way. I do not think this lady was aware that I have been taking pictures of her, but having shot off quite a frames, I decided to lay off a bit and not push my luck too far, and amble over to the gift shop instead. (Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, Nov. 2016)
Day 0 of my Master Cleanse. (the lemonade diet)
Not doing it for weight loss, but because my diet sucks. Flush the crap out literally.
Start weight 145lbs.
Who's that waddlin' down the street
It's just me 'cause I love to eat
Fudge and Twinkies and deviled ham
Who's real flabby? Yes, I am!
Every picture of me's
Gotta be an aerial view
Now my doctor tells me
There's just one thing left to do
Grapefruit Diet (Diet!)
Throw out the pizza and beer
Grapefruit Diet (Diet!)
Oh, get those jelly donuts out of here
Grapefruit Diet (Diet!)
Might seem a little severe
Grapefruit Diet (Diet!)
I'm gettin' tired of my big fat rear
Blow, fatty!
Well, I used to live on chocolate sauce
Made sumo wrestlers look like Kate Moss
Walked down an alley and I got stuck
I got more rolls than a pastry truck
When I'm all done eating
I eat a little more
When I leave a room
First I gotta grease the door
Grapefruit Diet (Diet!)
Can't have another eclair
Grapefruit Diet (Diet!)
I gotta decrease my derriere
I'm on a Grapefruit Diet
I'm on a Grapefruit Diet
I'm on a Grapefruit Diet
No more pie now
No more creme brulee
Lay off the gravy
And souffle
No french fri-yi-yies now
No ice cream parfait
Mr. Cheese Nacho
Stay away
Oh I think I'd sell my soul
For a triple patty melt
But I need a boomerang
When I put on my belt
Grapefruit Diet (Diet!)
Lay off the 3 Musketeers
Grapefruit Diet (Diet!)
Until my big booty disappears
Grapefruit Diet (Diet!)
Eat 'em till they're comin' out of my ears
Grapefruit Diet (Diet!)
'Cause I haven't seen my feet in years
I'm on a Grapefruit Diet
I'm on a Grapefruit Diet
I'm on a Grapefruit Diet
I think I'm about ready for a Quarter Pounder with extra cheese
I need a side order of onion rings
And oh yah, don't forget to Super-Size that
Grapefruit Diet - Weird Al Yankovic
Ladies football Gold medal match Wembley
London 2012: USA avenge World Cup defeat by Japan to win Olympic gold
• USA 2-1 Japan
• Lloyd 8 54; Ogimi 63
USA gained the desired revenge for losing to Japan in last year's World Cup final on penalties. There was personal redemption, too, for Carli Lloyd, who answered her missed kick in that 3-1 shootout loss by scoring a goal in each half to seal the Olympic crown for her nation.
Japan were dubbed the Barcelona of the women's game for their flurry of neat passing and slick movement and their average height of 5ft 4in compared to the US's 5ft 7in. The Americans were the big tournament specialists. This was the fifth women's Olympic final and USA were continuing their record of being in all of them, losing only to Norway at Sydney 2000, 3-2.
For Japan, their coach Norio Sasaki framed the attempted conquest of gold as part of the country's healing process, following the trauma of last year's earthquake which killed nearly 20,000 people.
Ahead of this final he said: "All the Japanese people are still trying to come back from the earthquake disaster.
"Winning the World Cup was very emotional last year and gave energy to the nation after what had happened and the same can happen again."
After eight minutes a noisy, though not completely filled Wembley, witnessed the opening strike. Tobin Heath galloped into space down the left before Alex Morgan's twist and cross was met by Carli Lloyd, just ahead of the 143-goal Abby Wambach.
Far from being unsettled, Japan went in search of an instant reply. A shot from Nahomi Kawasumi was blocked by the USA captain, Christie Rampone, with Hope Solo, the keeper, stranded. Yuki Ogimi followed up but could not convert.
Ogimi went closer moments later. A hanging jump was followed by the forward's header being superbly palmed onto the bar b y Solo.
The goal-frame proved an extra defender for both sides. Amy LePeilbet's cross was met with a glancing header by Rampone that hit Yuki Fukomoto's right post. At the opposite end, Aya Miyama's pile-driver smashed back off the bar.
Ogimi was instrumental in every Japan attack. Her lay-off nine minutes from half-time was hit with a menacing curl by Shinobu Ohno but the ball was marginally wide of the post.
The open, entertaining nature of this contest continued after the break. Japan spread the ball across midfield only for their attacks to founder due to a belief deficit. When given sight of goal – as Miyama, the captain, on 52 minutes – the opportunity was snatched at.
When America flooded forward there was menace. After Megan Rapinoe laid the ball into Lloyd, she surged from near half-way then unloaded a 20-yard humdinger that gave the 5ft 4in keeper Fukumoto no chance, and that was 2-0 to Pia Sunhage's team.
In the 63nd minute Japan's Ogimi raised the excitement scale to fevered after her strike, though this proved a consolation as the neat triangles that were ending in cul-de-sacs continued to frustrate the Japanese.
The world champions still had their chances but when Miyama had two free-kicks to deliver in quick succession, her side failed to profit.
Alcatraz. San Francisco, California. April/2018
The Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary or United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island (often just referred to as Alcatraz or the Rock) was a maximum high-security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, California, which operated from August 11, 1934, until March 21, 1963.
The main prison building was built in 1910–1912 during its time as a United States Army military prison; Alcatraz had been the site of a citadel since the 1860s. The United States Disciplinary Barracks, Pacific Branch on Alcatraz was acquired by the United States Department of Justice on October 12, 1933, and the island became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 1934 after the buildings were modernized to meet the requirements of a top-notch security prison. Given this high security and the location of Alcatraz in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, the prison operators believed Alcatraz to be escape-proof and America's strongest prison.
Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. One of the world's most notorious and best known prisons over the years, Alcatraz housed some 1,576 of America's most ruthless criminals including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud(the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. "Doc" Barker, Whitey Bulger, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate). It also provided housing for the Bureau of Prisons' staff and their families. A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts during the 29 years of the prison's existence, the most notable of which were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in June 1962 in one of the most intricate escapes ever devised. Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963.
The three-story cellhouse included the main four blocks of the jail, A-block, B-block, C-block, and D-block, the warden's office, visitation room, the library, and the barber shop. The prison cells typically measured 9 feet (2.7 m) by 5 feet (1.5 m) and 7 feet (2.1 m) high. The cells were primitive and lacked privacy, with a bed, a desk and a washbasin and toilet on the back wall, with few furnishings except a blanket. African-Americans were segregated from the rest in cell designation due to racial abuse being prevalent. D-Block housed the worst inmates and five cells at the end of it were designated as "The Hole", where badly behaving prisoners would be sent for periods of punishment, often brutally so. The dining hall and kitchen lay off the main building in an extended part where both prisoners and staff would eat three meals a day together. The Alcatraz Hospital was above the dining hall.
Corridors of the prison were named after major American streets such as Broadway and Michigan Avenue. Working at the prison was considered a privilege for inmates and many of the better inmates were employed in the Model Industries Building and New Industries Building during the day, actively involved in providing for the military in jobs such as sewing and woodwork and performing various maintenance and laundry chores.
Today the penitentiary is a public museum and one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions, attracting some 1.5 million visitors annually. The former prison is now operated by the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the badly eroded buildings of the former prison have been subject to restoration works in recent times and maintained
Source: Wikipedia
Alcatraz é uma ilha localizada no meio da Baía de São Francisco na Califórnia, Estados Unidos. Inicialmente foi utilizada como base militar, e somente mais tarde foi convertida em uma prisão de segurança máxima. Atualmente, é um ponto turístico operado pelo National Park Service junto com a Área de Recreação Golden Gate.
Alcatraz foi uma base militar de 1850 a 1930. Posteriormente, foi adquirida pelo Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos, em 12 de outubro de 1933, quando sofreu a conversão. Em 1 de janeiro de 1934, foi re-inaugurada como uma Prisão Federal. Durante seus 29 anos de existência, a prisão alojou alguns dos maiores criminosos norte-americanos. A prisão foi fechada em 21 de março de 1963, menos de um ano após a primeira fuga realizada na prisão. O governo alegou que o complexo foi fechado devido ao seu alto custo de manutenção, e ao fato de que não garantia uma total segurança, em relação às prisões mais modernas. Era mais fácil e mais barato construir uma prisão nova do que melhorar as condições de Alcatraz.
Em 1969, um grupo de nativos norte-americanos criou um movimento que ocupou a ilha, baseando-se num tratado federal de 1868, que permitia que os nativos utilizassem todo o território que o governo não usava ativamente . Após quase dois anos de ocupação, o governo os retirou da ilha.
Durante 29 anos, a prisão de Alcatraz nunca registrou oficialmente fugas bem sucedidas de prisioneiros. Em todas as tentativas, os fugitivos foram mortos ou afogavam-se nas águas da baia de São Francisco. Três fugitivos, Frank Morris, e os irmãos John e Clarence Anglin, desapareceram das sua celas em 11 de Junho de 1962. Somente algumas provas foram encontradas, e elas levam a crer que os prisioneiros morreram, mas, oficialmente, ainda estão listados como desaparecidos e provavelmente afogados. Em 1979 foi feito um filme sobre essa fuga com Clint Eastwood chamado Escape from Alcatraz. A história chegou a ser testada no programa "Mythbusters-Os Caçadores de Mitos" no episódio Fuga de Alcatraz.
Em outubro de 2015 documentário do canal "History" foi divulgado, onde foram apresentadas novas evidências que indicam que os irmãos Anglin não somente sobreviveram, como mantiveram contato com sua família e teriam fugido para o Brasil.
Fonte: Wikipedia
Alcatraz. San Francisco, California. April/2018
The Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary or United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island (often just referred to as Alcatraz or the Rock) was a maximum high-security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, California, which operated from August 11, 1934, until March 21, 1963.
The main prison building was built in 1910–1912 during its time as a United States Army military prison; Alcatraz had been the site of a citadel since the 1860s. The United States Disciplinary Barracks, Pacific Branch on Alcatraz was acquired by the United States Department of Justice on October 12, 1933, and the island became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 1934 after the buildings were modernized to meet the requirements of a top-notch security prison. Given this high security and the location of Alcatraz in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, the prison operators believed Alcatraz to be escape-proof and America's strongest prison.
Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. One of the world's most notorious and best known prisons over the years, Alcatraz housed some 1,576 of America's most ruthless criminals including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud(the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. "Doc" Barker, Whitey Bulger, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate). It also provided housing for the Bureau of Prisons' staff and their families. A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts during the 29 years of the prison's existence, the most notable of which were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in June 1962 in one of the most intricate escapes ever devised. Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963.
The three-story cellhouse included the main four blocks of the jail, A-block, B-block, C-block, and D-block, the warden's office, visitation room, the library, and the barber shop. The prison cells typically measured 9 feet (2.7 m) by 5 feet (1.5 m) and 7 feet (2.1 m) high. The cells were primitive and lacked privacy, with a bed, a desk and a washbasin and toilet on the back wall, with few furnishings except a blanket. African-Americans were segregated from the rest in cell designation due to racial abuse being prevalent. D-Block housed the worst inmates and five cells at the end of it were designated as "The Hole", where badly behaving prisoners would be sent for periods of punishment, often brutally so. The dining hall and kitchen lay off the main building in an extended part where both prisoners and staff would eat three meals a day together. The Alcatraz Hospital was above the dining hall.
Corridors of the prison were named after major American streets such as Broadway and Michigan Avenue. Working at the prison was considered a privilege for inmates and many of the better inmates were employed in the Model Industries Building and New Industries Building during the day, actively involved in providing for the military in jobs such as sewing and woodwork and performing various maintenance and laundry chores.
Today the penitentiary is a public museum and one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions, attracting some 1.5 million visitors annually. The former prison is now operated by the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the badly eroded buildings of the former prison have been subject to restoration works in recent times and maintained
Source: Wikipedia
Alcatraz é uma ilha localizada no meio da Baía de São Francisco na Califórnia, Estados Unidos. Inicialmente foi utilizada como base militar, e somente mais tarde foi convertida em uma prisão de segurança máxima. Atualmente, é um ponto turístico operado pelo National Park Service junto com a Área de Recreação Golden Gate.
Alcatraz foi uma base militar de 1850 a 1930. Posteriormente, foi adquirida pelo Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos, em 12 de outubro de 1933, quando sofreu a conversão. Em 1 de janeiro de 1934, foi re-inaugurada como uma Prisão Federal. Durante seus 29 anos de existência, a prisão alojou alguns dos maiores criminosos norte-americanos. A prisão foi fechada em 21 de março de 1963, menos de um ano após a primeira fuga realizada na prisão. O governo alegou que o complexo foi fechado devido ao seu alto custo de manutenção, e ao fato de que não garantia uma total segurança, em relação às prisões mais modernas. Era mais fácil e mais barato construir uma prisão nova do que melhorar as condições de Alcatraz.
Em 1969, um grupo de nativos norte-americanos criou um movimento que ocupou a ilha, baseando-se num tratado federal de 1868, que permitia que os nativos utilizassem todo o território que o governo não usava ativamente . Após quase dois anos de ocupação, o governo os retirou da ilha.
Durante 29 anos, a prisão de Alcatraz nunca registrou oficialmente fugas bem sucedidas de prisioneiros. Em todas as tentativas, os fugitivos foram mortos ou afogavam-se nas águas da baia de São Francisco. Três fugitivos, Frank Morris, e os irmãos John e Clarence Anglin, desapareceram das sua celas em 11 de Junho de 1962. Somente algumas provas foram encontradas, e elas levam a crer que os prisioneiros morreram, mas, oficialmente, ainda estão listados como desaparecidos e provavelmente afogados. Em 1979 foi feito um filme sobre essa fuga com Clint Eastwood chamado Escape from Alcatraz. A história chegou a ser testada no programa "Mythbusters-Os Caçadores de Mitos" no episódio Fuga de Alcatraz.
Em outubro de 2015 documentário do canal "History" foi divulgado, onde foram apresentadas novas evidências que indicam que os irmãos Anglin não somente sobreviveram, como mantiveram contato com sua família e teriam fugido para o Brasil.
Fonte: Wikipedia
So... Mini Me Mark III met an unfortunate end in an act of self-iconoclasm - her proportions displeased me. Mini Me Mark 4 accidentally had her head toasted very dark brown in the oven (argh!), but her body was still pretty okay, so she had her head cut off, and replaced by Mini Me Mark 4.5. There are still some things that I find annoying, but I'm going to try and lay off 1:12 scale self portraits for a bit, as I have things to do in real life, sadly. Maaaybe I'll replace the arms when I have a minute... :p
The Labour Party Leader [Ed Milliband is fuming at The Daily Mail](www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2439593/Why-father-lov...) and its editor Paul Dacre. The Mail has claimed Ed's public intellectual and '[Marxist father hated Britain](www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2439714/Ed-Miliband-ev...)'. It has been a pretty controversial claim. Even numerous Conservative politicians seem to think the Mail should lay off the Labour leader's long dead father. On the other hand Ed Milliband has on numerous occasions listed his father as a political hero that actually guided and moulded him ........ so it seems legitimate to investigate Ralph Milliband's life and politics in that context.
I myself think it is legitimate for newspapers to look at Ralph Milliband ......... Ed has mentioned him ........ he has made him part of the debate.
Anyway, I unlike Ralph Milliband do favor an independent free press, not a government controlled media. I generally favor newspapers being free to investigate and report and editorialize as they please.
It seems fair enough to claim that a life long Marxist is not going to be a British patriot ........ lets face it the ideology of Marxism does tend towards dumping nationalism and patriotism in favor of internationalism 'workers of the world unite' and all that ..........
But in other places in their article it seems does not exactly follow logic ...... it seems to me a non sequitur to claim because someone is an atheist that they must necessarily hate Britain............... ???
Anyway in Ralph Milliband's generation the Daily Mail was owned by the first Viscount Rothermere who was basically pro Nazi in the lead up to the war. So maybe the Mail should recognize that thing about living in a glass house when it comes to how our political roots formed us.
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXX
Okay, so I know it's another sunset, but it's rare we get so many nice days in a row! And today, I was over the tennis courts so I didn't have much time to get the camera out.. But I took this, and a few others just before I left. And my hands were so cold, I'm surprised it's not blurry..
I'll try and lay off the sunsets for a *little* while.. ;)
~
~
Press L to view on black
Press F to make my day
~
~
Follow my Twitter for latest upload news!
This old close and courtyard lay off North Berwick High Street. It had the reputation of being the oldest building in the burgh until it was demolished to make way for a new police station. Until that time it was a choice subject of local photographers and artists.
This is a watercolour on paper showing a courtyard amidst houses and workshops with red pantile roofs. A passageway passes underneath the central building, which is equipped with a forestair to the upper storey.
Ian Greig was from a North Berwick family. His father owned a painting and decorating business and several of the family trained at Edinburgh College of Art. Greig became a commercial artist in the advertising industry but continued to document his home town in a series of oils and watercolours.
Accession number - 2001.33
So... Mini Me Mark III met an unfortunate end in an act of self-iconoclasm - her proportions displeased me. Mini Me Mark 4 accidentally had her head toasted very dark brown in the oven (argh!), but her body was still pretty okay, so she had her head cut off, and was replaced by Mini Me Mark 4.5. There are still some things that I find annoying, but I'm going to try and lay off 1:12 scale self portraits for a bit, as I have things to do in real life, sadly. Maaaybe I'll replace the arms when I have a minute... :p The brother pointed out I look rather greasy here, but it's the spray starch I use to get the clothes to fit to the body. She's had a face wash since, and looks better, I swear!
Ladies football Gold medal match Wembley
London 2012: USA avenge World Cup defeat by Japan to win Olympic gold
• USA 2-1 Japan
• Lloyd 8 54; Ogimi 63
USA gained the desired revenge for losing to Japan in last year's World Cup final on penalties. There was personal redemption, too, for Carli Lloyd, who answered her missed kick in that 3-1 shootout loss by scoring a goal in each half to seal the Olympic crown for her nation.
Japan were dubbed the Barcelona of the women's game for their flurry of neat passing and slick movement and their average height of 5ft 4in compared to the US's 5ft 7in. The Americans were the big tournament specialists. This was the fifth women's Olympic final and USA were continuing their record of being in all of them, losing only to Norway at Sydney 2000, 3-2.
For Japan, their coach Norio Sasaki framed the attempted conquest of gold as part of the country's healing process, following the trauma of last year's earthquake which killed nearly 20,000 people.
Ahead of this final he said: "All the Japanese people are still trying to come back from the earthquake disaster.
"Winning the World Cup was very emotional last year and gave energy to the nation after what had happened and the same can happen again."
After eight minutes a noisy, though not completely filled Wembley, witnessed the opening strike. Tobin Heath galloped into space down the left before Alex Morgan's twist and cross was met by Carli Lloyd, just ahead of the 143-goal Abby Wambach.
Far from being unsettled, Japan went in search of an instant reply. A shot from Nahomi Kawasumi was blocked by the USA captain, Christie Rampone, with Hope Solo, the keeper, stranded. Yuki Ogimi followed up but could not convert.
Ogimi went closer moments later. A hanging jump was followed by the forward's header being superbly palmed onto the bar b y Solo.
The goal-frame proved an extra defender for both sides. Amy LePeilbet's cross was met with a glancing header by Rampone that hit Yuki Fukomoto's right post. At the opposite end, Aya Miyama's pile-driver smashed back off the bar.
Ogimi was instrumental in every Japan attack. Her lay-off nine minutes from half-time was hit with a menacing curl by Shinobu Ohno but the ball was marginally wide of the post.
The open, entertaining nature of this contest continued after the break. Japan spread the ball across midfield only for their attacks to founder due to a belief deficit. When given sight of goal – as Miyama, the captain, on 52 minutes – the opportunity was snatched at.
When America flooded forward there was menace. After Megan Rapinoe laid the ball into Lloyd, she surged from near half-way then unloaded a 20-yard humdinger that gave the 5ft 4in keeper Fukumoto no chance, and that was 2-0 to Pia Sunhage's team.
In the 63nd minute Japan's Ogimi raised the excitement scale to fevered after her strike, though this proved a consolation as the neat triangles that were ending in cul-de-sacs continued to frustrate the Japanese.
The world champions still had their chances but when Miyama had two free-kicks to deliver in quick succession, her side failed to profit.
This is what I look at most days now. Today marks day 2 of week 37 of pregnancy. Doc says that I don't have toxemia, swelling is normal for the 3rd trimester, and it's only a concern if there is protein in my urine (which there isn't) and if my blood pressure is high (which it isn't). So, if you're pregnant, just expect this kind of thing (I'm up 2 shoe sizes and had to buy socks because the others won't fit), and lay off of the salt.
Ladies football Gold medal match Wembley
London 2012: USA avenge World Cup defeat by Japan to win Olympic gold
• USA 2-1 Japan
• Lloyd 8 54; Ogimi 63
USA gained the desired revenge for losing to Japan in last year's World Cup final on penalties. There was personal redemption, too, for Carli Lloyd, who answered her missed kick in that 3-1 shootout loss by scoring a goal in each half to seal the Olympic crown for her nation.
Japan were dubbed the Barcelona of the women's game for their flurry of neat passing and slick movement and their average height of 5ft 4in compared to the US's 5ft 7in. The Americans were the big tournament specialists. This was the fifth women's Olympic final and USA were continuing their record of being in all of them, losing only to Norway at Sydney 2000, 3-2.
For Japan, their coach Norio Sasaki framed the attempted conquest of gold as part of the country's healing process, following the trauma of last year's earthquake which killed nearly 20,000 people.
Ahead of this final he said: "All the Japanese people are still trying to come back from the earthquake disaster.
"Winning the World Cup was very emotional last year and gave energy to the nation after what had happened and the same can happen again."
After eight minutes a noisy, though not completely filled Wembley, witnessed the opening strike. Tobin Heath galloped into space down the left before Alex Morgan's twist and cross was met by Carli Lloyd, just ahead of the 143-goal Abby Wambach.
Far from being unsettled, Japan went in search of an instant reply. A shot from Nahomi Kawasumi was blocked by the USA captain, Christie Rampone, with Hope Solo, the keeper, stranded. Yuki Ogimi followed up but could not convert.
Ogimi went closer moments later. A hanging jump was followed by the forward's header being superbly palmed onto the bar b y Solo.
The goal-frame proved an extra defender for both sides. Amy LePeilbet's cross was met with a glancing header by Rampone that hit Yuki Fukomoto's right post. At the opposite end, Aya Miyama's pile-driver smashed back off the bar.
Ogimi was instrumental in every Japan attack. Her lay-off nine minutes from half-time was hit with a menacing curl by Shinobu Ohno but the ball was marginally wide of the post.
The open, entertaining nature of this contest continued after the break. Japan spread the ball across midfield only for their attacks to founder due to a belief deficit. When given sight of goal – as Miyama, the captain, on 52 minutes – the opportunity was snatched at.
When America flooded forward there was menace. After Megan Rapinoe laid the ball into Lloyd, she surged from near half-way then unloaded a 20-yard humdinger that gave the 5ft 4in keeper Fukumoto no chance, and that was 2-0 to Pia Sunhage's team.
In the 63nd minute Japan's Ogimi raised the excitement scale to fevered after her strike, though this proved a consolation as the neat triangles that were ending in cul-de-sacs continued to frustrate the Japanese.
The world champions still had their chances but when Miyama had two free-kicks to deliver in quick succession, her side failed to profit.
I thought the goal of washing your hands was to prevent you from getting sick.
This was at the Masonic Lodge; our school district had a hearing to decide if I (and 240 colleagues) could keep our teaching jobs next year. There were so many people they may be laying off, they had to rent out the Masonic Lodge. I didn't mind the super gross sink, because I thought it might be a clue that Benjamin Gates left for me.
More than 15,000 Greek teachers, students and supporters took to the streets of the northern port city of Thessaloniki today in protest against further cuts in jobs and funding for the country's beleagured educational system.
With thousands facing lay off or enforced transfer to other districts, teachers and other public sector employees are now striking for a second days running.
Tensions ran high when riot police units blocked roads so preventing marchers from approaching the local offices of the neonazi Golden Dawn party.
After last night's fatal stabbing of left wing singer and activist Pavlos Fyssas by Golden Dawn member political passions are running high and tonight's nationwide series of anti-fascist demonstrations are likely to see clashes between protesters and the police.
1965 GMC Pick up truck & topper
On April Fools Day of 1970 I was laid off from my job as an Inspection Supervisor at a defense contractor (ECI), in St. Petersburg FL. This did not come as a surprise because I had expected it for six months or so. And I had thought about what I should do when it did happen. I was 33 years old, single and had saved enough money to allow me to travel and see the country until I was tired of it, so that was the plan. In 1970 gas was about 25 to 35 cents per gallon, over night parking was free at a filling station, to $3.00 per night at a KOA. By the end of the first week of lay off, I had bought the truck and started rebuilding the engine. My Brother wanted me to replace it with a 400 cu. in. Pontiac V8 like the one in my GTO. If I had realized I would be driving it for the to next 32 years I would have. After the engine was finished, I built the topper, and we took a trip to the Smokey Mountains on Memorial Day weekend to try it out. After the trip I finished the inside with cabinets and storage, and painted the truck. During this time I went on a ten day boating trip to the Keys, and an eleven day trip to the Rockies. I am about to start a no destination trip out west, after Labor Day!
Alcatraz. San Francisco, California. April/2018
The Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary or United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island (often just referred to as Alcatraz or the Rock) was a maximum high-security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, California, which operated from August 11, 1934, until March 21, 1963.
The main prison building was built in 1910–1912 during its time as a United States Army military prison; Alcatraz had been the site of a citadel since the 1860s. The United States Disciplinary Barracks, Pacific Branch on Alcatraz was acquired by the United States Department of Justice on October 12, 1933, and the island became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 1934 after the buildings were modernized to meet the requirements of a top-notch security prison. Given this high security and the location of Alcatraz in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, the prison operators believed Alcatraz to be escape-proof and America's strongest prison.
Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. One of the world's most notorious and best known prisons over the years, Alcatraz housed some 1,576 of America's most ruthless criminals including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud(the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. "Doc" Barker, Whitey Bulger, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate). It also provided housing for the Bureau of Prisons' staff and their families. A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts during the 29 years of the prison's existence, the most notable of which were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in June 1962 in one of the most intricate escapes ever devised. Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963.
The three-story cellhouse included the main four blocks of the jail, A-block, B-block, C-block, and D-block, the warden's office, visitation room, the library, and the barber shop. The prison cells typically measured 9 feet (2.7 m) by 5 feet (1.5 m) and 7 feet (2.1 m) high. The cells were primitive and lacked privacy, with a bed, a desk and a washbasin and toilet on the back wall, with few furnishings except a blanket. African-Americans were segregated from the rest in cell designation due to racial abuse being prevalent. D-Block housed the worst inmates and five cells at the end of it were designated as "The Hole", where badly behaving prisoners would be sent for periods of punishment, often brutally so. The dining hall and kitchen lay off the main building in an extended part where both prisoners and staff would eat three meals a day together. The Alcatraz Hospital was above the dining hall.
Corridors of the prison were named after major American streets such as Broadway and Michigan Avenue. Working at the prison was considered a privilege for inmates and many of the better inmates were employed in the Model Industries Building and New Industries Building during the day, actively involved in providing for the military in jobs such as sewing and woodwork and performing various maintenance and laundry chores.
Today the penitentiary is a public museum and one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions, attracting some 1.5 million visitors annually. The former prison is now operated by the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the badly eroded buildings of the former prison have been subject to restoration works in recent times and maintained
Source: Wikipedia
Alcatraz é uma ilha localizada no meio da Baía de São Francisco na Califórnia, Estados Unidos. Inicialmente foi utilizada como base militar, e somente mais tarde foi convertida em uma prisão de segurança máxima. Atualmente, é um ponto turístico operado pelo National Park Service junto com a Área de Recreação Golden Gate.
Alcatraz foi uma base militar de 1850 a 1930. Posteriormente, foi adquirida pelo Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos, em 12 de outubro de 1933, quando sofreu a conversão. Em 1 de janeiro de 1934, foi re-inaugurada como uma Prisão Federal. Durante seus 29 anos de existência, a prisão alojou alguns dos maiores criminosos norte-americanos. A prisão foi fechada em 21 de março de 1963, menos de um ano após a primeira fuga realizada na prisão. O governo alegou que o complexo foi fechado devido ao seu alto custo de manutenção, e ao fato de que não garantia uma total segurança, em relação às prisões mais modernas. Era mais fácil e mais barato construir uma prisão nova do que melhorar as condições de Alcatraz.
Em 1969, um grupo de nativos norte-americanos criou um movimento que ocupou a ilha, baseando-se num tratado federal de 1868, que permitia que os nativos utilizassem todo o território que o governo não usava ativamente . Após quase dois anos de ocupação, o governo os retirou da ilha.
Durante 29 anos, a prisão de Alcatraz nunca registrou oficialmente fugas bem sucedidas de prisioneiros. Em todas as tentativas, os fugitivos foram mortos ou afogavam-se nas águas da baia de São Francisco. Três fugitivos, Frank Morris, e os irmãos John e Clarence Anglin, desapareceram das sua celas em 11 de Junho de 1962. Somente algumas provas foram encontradas, e elas levam a crer que os prisioneiros morreram, mas, oficialmente, ainda estão listados como desaparecidos e provavelmente afogados. Em 1979 foi feito um filme sobre essa fuga com Clint Eastwood chamado Escape from Alcatraz. A história chegou a ser testada no programa "Mythbusters-Os Caçadores de Mitos" no episódio Fuga de Alcatraz.
Em outubro de 2015 documentário do canal "History" foi divulgado, onde foram apresentadas novas evidências que indicam que os irmãos Anglin não somente sobreviveram, como mantiveram contato com sua família e teriam fugido para o Brasil.
Fonte: Wikipedia
Alcatraz. San Francisco, California. April/2018
The Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary or United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island (often just referred to as Alcatraz or the Rock) was a maximum high-security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, California, which operated from August 11, 1934, until March 21, 1963.
The main prison building was built in 1910–1912 during its time as a United States Army military prison; Alcatraz had been the site of a citadel since the 1860s. The United States Disciplinary Barracks, Pacific Branch on Alcatraz was acquired by the United States Department of Justice on October 12, 1933, and the island became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 1934 after the buildings were modernized to meet the requirements of a top-notch security prison. Given this high security and the location of Alcatraz in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, the prison operators believed Alcatraz to be escape-proof and America's strongest prison.
Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. One of the world's most notorious and best known prisons over the years, Alcatraz housed some 1,576 of America's most ruthless criminals including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud(the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. "Doc" Barker, Whitey Bulger, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate). It also provided housing for the Bureau of Prisons' staff and their families. A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts during the 29 years of the prison's existence, the most notable of which were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in June 1962 in one of the most intricate escapes ever devised. Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963.
The three-story cellhouse included the main four blocks of the jail, A-block, B-block, C-block, and D-block, the warden's office, visitation room, the library, and the barber shop. The prison cells typically measured 9 feet (2.7 m) by 5 feet (1.5 m) and 7 feet (2.1 m) high. The cells were primitive and lacked privacy, with a bed, a desk and a washbasin and toilet on the back wall, with few furnishings except a blanket. African-Americans were segregated from the rest in cell designation due to racial abuse being prevalent. D-Block housed the worst inmates and five cells at the end of it were designated as "The Hole", where badly behaving prisoners would be sent for periods of punishment, often brutally so. The dining hall and kitchen lay off the main building in an extended part where both prisoners and staff would eat three meals a day together. The Alcatraz Hospital was above the dining hall.
Corridors of the prison were named after major American streets such as Broadway and Michigan Avenue. Working at the prison was considered a privilege for inmates and many of the better inmates were employed in the Model Industries Building and New Industries Building during the day, actively involved in providing for the military in jobs such as sewing and woodwork and performing various maintenance and laundry chores.
Today the penitentiary is a public museum and one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions, attracting some 1.5 million visitors annually. The former prison is now operated by the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the badly eroded buildings of the former prison have been subject to restoration works in recent times and maintained
Source: Wikipedia
Alcatraz é uma ilha localizada no meio da Baía de São Francisco na Califórnia, Estados Unidos. Inicialmente foi utilizada como base militar, e somente mais tarde foi convertida em uma prisão de segurança máxima. Atualmente, é um ponto turístico operado pelo National Park Service junto com a Área de Recreação Golden Gate.
Alcatraz foi uma base militar de 1850 a 1930. Posteriormente, foi adquirida pelo Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos, em 12 de outubro de 1933, quando sofreu a conversão. Em 1 de janeiro de 1934, foi re-inaugurada como uma Prisão Federal. Durante seus 29 anos de existência, a prisão alojou alguns dos maiores criminosos norte-americanos. A prisão foi fechada em 21 de março de 1963, menos de um ano após a primeira fuga realizada na prisão. O governo alegou que o complexo foi fechado devido ao seu alto custo de manutenção, e ao fato de que não garantia uma total segurança, em relação às prisões mais modernas. Era mais fácil e mais barato construir uma prisão nova do que melhorar as condições de Alcatraz.
Em 1969, um grupo de nativos norte-americanos criou um movimento que ocupou a ilha, baseando-se num tratado federal de 1868, que permitia que os nativos utilizassem todo o território que o governo não usava ativamente . Após quase dois anos de ocupação, o governo os retirou da ilha.
Durante 29 anos, a prisão de Alcatraz nunca registrou oficialmente fugas bem sucedidas de prisioneiros. Em todas as tentativas, os fugitivos foram mortos ou afogavam-se nas águas da baia de São Francisco. Três fugitivos, Frank Morris, e os irmãos John e Clarence Anglin, desapareceram das sua celas em 11 de Junho de 1962. Somente algumas provas foram encontradas, e elas levam a crer que os prisioneiros morreram, mas, oficialmente, ainda estão listados como desaparecidos e provavelmente afogados. Em 1979 foi feito um filme sobre essa fuga com Clint Eastwood chamado Escape from Alcatraz. A história chegou a ser testada no programa "Mythbusters-Os Caçadores de Mitos" no episódio Fuga de Alcatraz.
Em outubro de 2015 documentário do canal "History" foi divulgado, onde foram apresentadas novas evidências que indicam que os irmãos Anglin não somente sobreviveram, como mantiveram contato com sua família e teriam fugido para o Brasil.
Fonte: Wikipedia
i keep telling myself that i need to diversify a bit and lay off the flowers photos. :) but then i'll see a sweet, new daylily bloom and i am totally smitten.
Ladies football Gold medal match Wembley
London 2012: USA avenge World Cup defeat by Japan to win Olympic gold
• USA 2-1 Japan
• Lloyd 8 54; Ogimi 63
USA gained the desired revenge for losing to Japan in last year's World Cup final on penalties. There was personal redemption, too, for Carli Lloyd, who answered her missed kick in that 3-1 shootout loss by scoring a goal in each half to seal the Olympic crown for her nation.
Japan were dubbed the Barcelona of the women's game for their flurry of neat passing and slick movement and their average height of 5ft 4in compared to the US's 5ft 7in. The Americans were the big tournament specialists. This was the fifth women's Olympic final and USA were continuing their record of being in all of them, losing only to Norway at Sydney 2000, 3-2.
For Japan, their coach Norio Sasaki framed the attempted conquest of gold as part of the country's healing process, following the trauma of last year's earthquake which killed nearly 20,000 people.
Ahead of this final he said: "All the Japanese people are still trying to come back from the earthquake disaster.
"Winning the World Cup was very emotional last year and gave energy to the nation after what had happened and the same can happen again."
After eight minutes a noisy, though not completely filled Wembley, witnessed the opening strike. Tobin Heath galloped into space down the left before Alex Morgan's twist and cross was met by Carli Lloyd, just ahead of the 143-goal Abby Wambach.
Far from being unsettled, Japan went in search of an instant reply. A shot from Nahomi Kawasumi was blocked by the USA captain, Christie Rampone, with Hope Solo, the keeper, stranded. Yuki Ogimi followed up but could not convert.
Ogimi went closer moments later. A hanging jump was followed by the forward's header being superbly palmed onto the bar b y Solo.
The goal-frame proved an extra defender for both sides. Amy LePeilbet's cross was met with a glancing header by Rampone that hit Yuki Fukomoto's right post. At the opposite end, Aya Miyama's pile-driver smashed back off the bar.
Ogimi was instrumental in every Japan attack. Her lay-off nine minutes from half-time was hit with a menacing curl by Shinobu Ohno but the ball was marginally wide of the post.
The open, entertaining nature of this contest continued after the break. Japan spread the ball across midfield only for their attacks to founder due to a belief deficit. When given sight of goal – as Miyama, the captain, on 52 minutes – the opportunity was snatched at.
When America flooded forward there was menace. After Megan Rapinoe laid the ball into Lloyd, she surged from near half-way then unloaded a 20-yard humdinger that gave the 5ft 4in keeper Fukumoto no chance, and that was 2-0 to Pia Sunhage's team.
In the 63nd minute Japan's Ogimi raised the excitement scale to fevered after her strike, though this proved a consolation as the neat triangles that were ending in cul-de-sacs continued to frustrate the Japanese.
The world champions still had their chances but when Miyama had two free-kicks to deliver in quick succession, her side failed to profit.
Alcatraz. San Francisco, California. April/2018
The Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary or United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island (often just referred to as Alcatraz or the Rock) was a maximum high-security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, California, which operated from August 11, 1934, until March 21, 1963.
The main prison building was built in 1910–1912 during its time as a United States Army military prison; Alcatraz had been the site of a citadel since the 1860s. The United States Disciplinary Barracks, Pacific Branch on Alcatraz was acquired by the United States Department of Justice on October 12, 1933, and the island became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 1934 after the buildings were modernized to meet the requirements of a top-notch security prison. Given this high security and the location of Alcatraz in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, the prison operators believed Alcatraz to be escape-proof and America's strongest prison.
Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. One of the world's most notorious and best known prisons over the years, Alcatraz housed some 1,576 of America's most ruthless criminals including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud(the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. "Doc" Barker, Whitey Bulger, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate). It also provided housing for the Bureau of Prisons' staff and their families. A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts during the 29 years of the prison's existence, the most notable of which were the violent escape attempt of May 1946 known as the "Battle of Alcatraz", and the arguably successful "Escape from Alcatraz" by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in June 1962 in one of the most intricate escapes ever devised. Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963.
The three-story cellhouse included the main four blocks of the jail, A-block, B-block, C-block, and D-block, the warden's office, visitation room, the library, and the barber shop. The prison cells typically measured 9 feet (2.7 m) by 5 feet (1.5 m) and 7 feet (2.1 m) high. The cells were primitive and lacked privacy, with a bed, a desk and a washbasin and toilet on the back wall, with few furnishings except a blanket. African-Americans were segregated from the rest in cell designation due to racial abuse being prevalent. D-Block housed the worst inmates and five cells at the end of it were designated as "The Hole", where badly behaving prisoners would be sent for periods of punishment, often brutally so. The dining hall and kitchen lay off the main building in an extended part where both prisoners and staff would eat three meals a day together. The Alcatraz Hospital was above the dining hall.
Corridors of the prison were named after major American streets such as Broadway and Michigan Avenue. Working at the prison was considered a privilege for inmates and many of the better inmates were employed in the Model Industries Building and New Industries Building during the day, actively involved in providing for the military in jobs such as sewing and woodwork and performing various maintenance and laundry chores.
Today the penitentiary is a public museum and one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions, attracting some 1.5 million visitors annually. The former prison is now operated by the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the badly eroded buildings of the former prison have been subject to restoration works in recent times and maintained
Source: Wikipedia
Alcatraz é uma ilha localizada no meio da Baía de São Francisco na Califórnia, Estados Unidos. Inicialmente foi utilizada como base militar, e somente mais tarde foi convertida em uma prisão de segurança máxima. Atualmente, é um ponto turístico operado pelo National Park Service junto com a Área de Recreação Golden Gate.
Alcatraz foi uma base militar de 1850 a 1930. Posteriormente, foi adquirida pelo Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos, em 12 de outubro de 1933, quando sofreu a conversão. Em 1 de janeiro de 1934, foi re-inaugurada como uma Prisão Federal. Durante seus 29 anos de existência, a prisão alojou alguns dos maiores criminosos norte-americanos. A prisão foi fechada em 21 de março de 1963, menos de um ano após a primeira fuga realizada na prisão. O governo alegou que o complexo foi fechado devido ao seu alto custo de manutenção, e ao fato de que não garantia uma total segurança, em relação às prisões mais modernas. Era mais fácil e mais barato construir uma prisão nova do que melhorar as condições de Alcatraz.
Em 1969, um grupo de nativos norte-americanos criou um movimento que ocupou a ilha, baseando-se num tratado federal de 1868, que permitia que os nativos utilizassem todo o território que o governo não usava ativamente . Após quase dois anos de ocupação, o governo os retirou da ilha.
Durante 29 anos, a prisão de Alcatraz nunca registrou oficialmente fugas bem sucedidas de prisioneiros. Em todas as tentativas, os fugitivos foram mortos ou afogavam-se nas águas da baia de São Francisco. Três fugitivos, Frank Morris, e os irmãos John e Clarence Anglin, desapareceram das sua celas em 11 de Junho de 1962. Somente algumas provas foram encontradas, e elas levam a crer que os prisioneiros morreram, mas, oficialmente, ainda estão listados como desaparecidos e provavelmente afogados. Em 1979 foi feito um filme sobre essa fuga com Clint Eastwood chamado Escape from Alcatraz. A história chegou a ser testada no programa "Mythbusters-Os Caçadores de Mitos" no episódio Fuga de Alcatraz.
Em outubro de 2015 documentário do canal "History" foi divulgado, onde foram apresentadas novas evidências que indicam que os irmãos Anglin não somente sobreviveram, como mantiveram contato com sua família e teriam fugido para o Brasil.
Fonte: Wikipedia
Ladies football Gold medal match Wembley
London 2012: USA avenge World Cup defeat by Japan to win Olympic gold
• USA 2-1 Japan
• Lloyd 8 54; Ogimi 63
USA gained the desired revenge for losing to Japan in last year's World Cup final on penalties. There was personal redemption, too, for Carli Lloyd, who answered her missed kick in that 3-1 shootout loss by scoring a goal in each half to seal the Olympic crown for her nation.
Japan were dubbed the Barcelona of the women's game for their flurry of neat passing and slick movement and their average height of 5ft 4in compared to the US's 5ft 7in. The Americans were the big tournament specialists. This was the fifth women's Olympic final and USA were continuing their record of being in all of them, losing only to Norway at Sydney 2000, 3-2.
For Japan, their coach Norio Sasaki framed the attempted conquest of gold as part of the country's healing process, following the trauma of last year's earthquake which killed nearly 20,000 people.
Ahead of this final he said: "All the Japanese people are still trying to come back from the earthquake disaster.
"Winning the World Cup was very emotional last year and gave energy to the nation after what had happened and the same can happen again."
After eight minutes a noisy, though not completely filled Wembley, witnessed the opening strike. Tobin Heath galloped into space down the left before Alex Morgan's twist and cross was met by Carli Lloyd, just ahead of the 143-goal Abby Wambach.
Far from being unsettled, Japan went in search of an instant reply. A shot from Nahomi Kawasumi was blocked by the USA captain, Christie Rampone, with Hope Solo, the keeper, stranded. Yuki Ogimi followed up but could not convert.
Ogimi went closer moments later. A hanging jump was followed by the forward's header being superbly palmed onto the bar b y Solo.
The goal-frame proved an extra defender for both sides. Amy LePeilbet's cross was met with a glancing header by Rampone that hit Yuki Fukomoto's right post. At the opposite end, Aya Miyama's pile-driver smashed back off the bar.
Ogimi was instrumental in every Japan attack. Her lay-off nine minutes from half-time was hit with a menacing curl by Shinobu Ohno but the ball was marginally wide of the post.
The open, entertaining nature of this contest continued after the break. Japan spread the ball across midfield only for their attacks to founder due to a belief deficit. When given sight of goal – as Miyama, the captain, on 52 minutes – the opportunity was snatched at.
When America flooded forward there was menace. After Megan Rapinoe laid the ball into Lloyd, she surged from near half-way then unloaded a 20-yard humdinger that gave the 5ft 4in keeper Fukumoto no chance, and that was 2-0 to Pia Sunhage's team.
In the 63nd minute Japan's Ogimi raised the excitement scale to fevered after her strike, though this proved a consolation as the neat triangles that were ending in cul-de-sacs continued to frustrate the Japanese.
The world champions still had their chances but when Miyama had two free-kicks to deliver in quick succession, her side failed to profit.
Ladies football Gold medal match Wembley
London 2012: USA avenge World Cup defeat by Japan to win Olympic gold
• USA 2-1 Japan
• Lloyd 8 54; Ogimi 63
USA gained the desired revenge for losing to Japan in last year's World Cup final on penalties. There was personal redemption, too, for Carli Lloyd, who answered her missed kick in that 3-1 shootout loss by scoring a goal in each half to seal the Olympic crown for her nation.
Japan were dubbed the Barcelona of the women's game for their flurry of neat passing and slick movement and their average height of 5ft 4in compared to the US's 5ft 7in. The Americans were the big tournament specialists. This was the fifth women's Olympic final and USA were continuing their record of being in all of them, losing only to Norway at Sydney 2000, 3-2.
For Japan, their coach Norio Sasaki framed the attempted conquest of gold as part of the country's healing process, following the trauma of last year's earthquake which killed nearly 20,000 people.
Ahead of this final he said: "All the Japanese people are still trying to come back from the earthquake disaster.
"Winning the World Cup was very emotional last year and gave energy to the nation after what had happened and the same can happen again."
After eight minutes a noisy, though not completely filled Wembley, witnessed the opening strike. Tobin Heath galloped into space down the left before Alex Morgan's twist and cross was met by Carli Lloyd, just ahead of the 143-goal Abby Wambach.
Far from being unsettled, Japan went in search of an instant reply. A shot from Nahomi Kawasumi was blocked by the USA captain, Christie Rampone, with Hope Solo, the keeper, stranded. Yuki Ogimi followed up but could not convert.
Ogimi went closer moments later. A hanging jump was followed by the forward's header being superbly palmed onto the bar b y Solo.
The goal-frame proved an extra defender for both sides. Amy LePeilbet's cross was met with a glancing header by Rampone that hit Yuki Fukomoto's right post. At the opposite end, Aya Miyama's pile-driver smashed back off the bar.
Ogimi was instrumental in every Japan attack. Her lay-off nine minutes from half-time was hit with a menacing curl by Shinobu Ohno but the ball was marginally wide of the post.
The open, entertaining nature of this contest continued after the break. Japan spread the ball across midfield only for their attacks to founder due to a belief deficit. When given sight of goal – as Miyama, the captain, on 52 minutes – the opportunity was snatched at.
When America flooded forward there was menace. After Megan Rapinoe laid the ball into Lloyd, she surged from near half-way then unloaded a 20-yard humdinger that gave the 5ft 4in keeper Fukumoto no chance, and that was 2-0 to Pia Sunhage's team.
In the 63nd minute Japan's Ogimi raised the excitement scale to fevered after her strike, though this proved a consolation as the neat triangles that were ending in cul-de-sacs continued to frustrate the Japanese.
The world champions still had their chances but when Miyama had two free-kicks to deliver in quick succession, her side failed to profit.
Since the Fish Emperor had been forbidden by many rulers to sell his fish and other sea creature because of the biohazard it constituted on the general population who consumed his rotting sea delicatessies, he often had to sell his fermented products strange weird locations, like this ruined part of a palace anex, bombed out by a Barbarian barrage of propelled rocks and boulders…
- (F. E.) Hey costumels come hele to black malket and buy secret fiisch and even jaw-fiisch and Crusted-crawl-fiish…!
A group of Easterlings enter the overgrown glenn ruin…
- ( Hikobashi Fukushijamo ) Hey old ugly man, you are such a stereotypical “yellow-face” you make us all look band in the face of our round-eyed pale-skinned Allies… please try a bit more to make rolling Rrrrrrrr’s
- (F. E.) Oh solly sil! I have not caught any Stereotype Yellow-faced fiisch lately, I think it is because the leefs the live in among colal is deglading because of wal elemental pollution of dust make the block of sunlight go dalk!!?
- (H. F.) Old ugly man, are you a village fool? If you are that I might euthanasianate you with a swift cut with my no-dachi for your own peace of mind???
- (Yokio Morihiro) Hey Bashi lay off him he is obviously demented, he must have gotten too much sun on his travel on the Silk road on his travel to this hinterland, but some of his stinking fish and we will return later to meet the secret messenger?
- (F. E.) I came not by silk load, I tlavel here by boat by the Satin lun, much faster than foot-leg tlavel… do you want to buy halibutt, clown-fiisch, deep-flied sea anglel-fiisch with puny palasite male??? What seclet message you speak off???
- (H. F.) Yokio don’t tell him anything?
- (Y. M.) What would it matter comander, he is loopy as a willow-aspen trea!!!
- (F. E.) yes me nutty like a stone from a stone-flui, I know nothing, my mind is like and ancient labylinth full of blank spaces… My lady woman may I suggest you buy a gulpel eel???
- (Y. M.) Ok, one gulpel eel, here is one groat and a ducat… wooah! That fish is even uglier than you old man, eh no offence! Wait what is this in its ugly mouth, a letter…
- (F. E.) Yes Madam! a secret message from your master with secret instructions on your palace mission…
- (Y. M.) Wait, you talk normal??? Are you the secret master spy? Who would have thought…
- (F. E.) Oh my Lady! Would you expect someone more fit and handsome? This silly lingo I keep up only to fool those silly stupid round-eyes, ah and for comic relief… I am old, wrinkled and smelly, but hey admit that my disguised fooled even you superior thinking Easterlings! Now go do your mission, it is written by the emperor himself! May the balanced forces guid your steps…
- (Y. M.) I am Bewildered! This ugly stinker a secret master, who would know perhaps that green dwarf living in the swamp at home was also a “drunken master”???
- (F. E.) Now Estellings, go do youl seclet mission, I fiish have to sell, come hele, people, buy seclet fiiish, I have many lotting fiissch, I have cod-piece fiiisch, I have sun and moon fiisch, no eight-almed sloppy fissch!!! Come buy from dilty old man!!!
So... Mini Me Mark III met an unfortunate end in an act of self-iconoclasm - her proportions displeased me. Mini Me Mark 4 accidentally had her head toasted very dark brown in the oven (argh!), but her body was still pretty okay, so she had her head cut off, and was replaced by Mini Me Mark 4.5. There are still some things that I find annoying, but I'm going to try and lay off 1:12 scale self portraits for a bit, as I have things to do in real life, sadly. Maaaybe I'll replace the arms when I have a minute... :p
More than 15,000 Greek teachers, students and supporters took to the streets of the northern port city of Thessaloniki today in protest against further cuts in jobs and funding for the country's beleagured educational system.
With thousands facing lay off or enforced transfer to other districts, teachers and other public sector employees are now striking for a second days running.
Tensions ran high when riot police units blocked roads so preventing marchers from approaching the local offices of the neonazi Golden Dawn party.
After last night's fatal stabbing of left wing singer and activist Pavlos Fyssas by Golden Dawn member political passions are running high and tonight's nationwide series of anti-fascist demonstrations are likely to see clashes between protesters and the police.