Saturday, October 26, 2013

Kanab Creek Wilderness

US Forest Service,Southwestern Region,Kaibab National Forest,Arizona

DSC05823

DSC05823 by Kaibab National Forest
DSC05823, a photo by Kaibab National Forest on Flickr.

Dyan Bone photo.US Forest Service,Southwestern Region,Kaibab National Forest,Arizona

World Series;PGA Tour;Laughing Kookaburra

The World Series had a travel day Friday as it moved to St.Louis from Boston.The best of seven series is tied 1-1.The St.Louis Cardinals downed the Boston Red Sox 4-2 in Game 2 on Thursday,aided by two hits by Carlos Beltran.Game 3 will start at 8:07 pm Eastern on Fox TV.*
The 2013-2014 PGA season is well underway as the third round of the CIMB Classic is being played at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club,Malaysia.Co-leaders as of the time of publication were Americans Ryan Moore and Chris Stroud at -12.Gary Woodland of the USA and Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat,one of the local favourites,were tied for third at -11.Phil Mickelson is still in contention,tied for eleventh place with four others at -7.*
The Laughing kookaburra(Dacelo novaeguineae) is a fairly large,social and common bird of Australia and New Zealand.It may be found in woodland,park and garden settings and is very tolerant of people,even eating from,or snatching food from,people's hands.The amazing laughing call is a territorial claim mostly heard at dawn and from sunset to dusk.It may reach a very loud level as family units defend their territories.They eat all manner of small animals,including mice,birds,large insects,frogs and snakes,as well as large poisonous snakes on occasion.A popular children's song was inspired by this engaging down under character.
Update:In Game 3 of the World Series at Busch Stadium in St.Louis,St.Louis topped Boston 5-4 on an obstruction call.Clearly it was unintentional and a stroke of bad luck for the Red Sox.As Cardinal left fielder Matt Holliday said,that's part of the game.We'll take it.*
At the CIMB Claasic in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia,Ryan Moore(USA),Gary Woodland(USA) and Kiradech Aphibarnrat(THA) are tied for the fourth round lead.*

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Jaded Thunder

Jaded Thunder by 124 Fighter Wing
Jaded Thunder, a photo by 124 Fighter Wing on Flickr.

Airman 1st Class Jessica salutes a Commander prior to his takeoff from Kirtland AFB,New Mexico during the Idaho Air National Guard's Jaded Thunder exercise.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Jaded Thunder

Jaded Thunder by 124 Fighter Wing
Jaded Thunder, a photo by 124 Fighter Wing on Flickr.

An Idaho Air National Guard A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft at Kirtland AFB,New Mexico for the Jaded Thunder exercise.

Air Support Operations Squadron train in Idaho Sawtooth National Forest

Idaho Air National Guardsmen move out to perform small unit tactics,over watch,Close Air Support and other missions during the Mountain Fury II exercises.

Air Support Operations Squadron train in Idaho Sawtooth National Forest

Idaho Air National Guradsmen flying in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during exercise Mountain Fury II.

Cardinals Crush Dodgers;Wacha MVP

The St.Louis Cardinals ended the Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series dream Friday night with a 9-0 win that shocked L.A. ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw,knocking him out of the game in the fifth inning-the first time that has happened this year.For the Cards,rookie pitcher Michael Wacha was superb,throwing seven shutout innings for his second win of the National League Championship Series.He won the NLCS Most Valuable Player award for his efforts.*
The Cardinals now go on to the World Series against either the Detroit Tigers or Boston Red Sox.The World Series starts Wednesday night.*
Right fielder Carlos Beltran,known for his outsatnding post-season play,hit two singles and a double,going 3-4 and batting in two runs for the Cardinals.He made an excellent catch as well.It will be Beltran's first ever appearance in a World Series.We did it as a team,Beltran said.We fought hard,we worked hard all season long,and thank God we're here.*
The Dodgers' rookie outfielder Yasiel Puig,credited with energising the team in the regular season,had a terrible night,going 0-3 at the plate and being charged with two errors.Puig's behaviour was criticised by Major League Baseball in a memo to the Dodgers.In Game 5 of the NLCS,Puig confronted umpire Ted Barrett for his balls and strikes calls-a breach of baseball etiquette that will not be tolerated,MLB said in the memo.Puig's mercurial temperament has been on display all year.*

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran by Keith Allison
Carlos Beltran, a photo by Keith Allison on Flickr.

A Keith Allison photo taken when Beltran was a New York Met,on June 16,2009.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Beltran Continues Post-Season Magic,Cards Win

Arguably the greatest post-season position player of all time,the St.Louis Cardinals' right fielder Carlos Beltran added flash to an otherwise dull contest that dragged into extra innings,spriting the redbirds to a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series Friday night.The steady pitching of the Cardinals' Joe Kelly and the Dodgers' Zach Greinke and good relievers kept the bats at bay for most of the game.*
In the top of the tenth inning,the Dodgers threatened to take the lead when Mark Ellis tripled and Michael Young hit a fly ball,but Carlos Beltran caught it and threw a laser to home plate,nailing Ellis when he slid home.The Puerto Rican,a veteran of 35 postseason games coming into tonight,chewed his gum as he faced reliever Kenley Jansen in the bottom of the 13th,then lined a walkoff double to the right field corner,delighting the Busch Stadium sellout crowd,most of whom stayed till the 12:30 am conclusion of the series opener.*
Beltran's regular season record is very good,but not great,with a batting average of .283,along with 358 home runs and 300 stolen bases.In the post-season,however,he has batted .357 with 15 homers in 129 at bats,tying Babe Ruth's postseason home run record.That's a home run per every 8.6 at bats.On the strength of his post-season sparkle,Beltran,36,may well qualify for the Hall of Fame.*
I think God gave me the calm I needed to play this game,Beltran said.I just stayed in myself and tried to play the game the high way.I got to give the glory and the honor to God.We're fortunate to be here.Today was a good game,and that's what it's all about.They didn't want to lose,and we didn't want to lose.*
Update:The St.Louis Cardinals also won Game 2 of the National League Championship Series,edging the Los Angeles Dodgers by a score of 1-0.Now the next three games will be played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles starting on Monday evening.

Pitbull - International Love ft. Chris Brown

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Yoenis Cespedes

Yoenis Cespedes by rocor
Yoenis Cespedes, a photo by rocor on Flickr.

Oakland A's star takes a swing on April 24,2012.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Tigers Muffle A's;SoCal Fire Threat Soars

Strong pitching by the Detroit Tigers muffled the Oakland Athletics' bats as the Tigers took game one of the American League Division Series 3-2 Friday night at Oakland Coliseum.Max Sherzer manhandled the A's with his fastball,striking out 11 in his 7 innings of work,and reliever Joaquin Benoit finished the job,getting the save.*
The only real excitement for the boisterous,towel-waving A's fans came in the seventh inning,when strongman Yoenis Cespedes clubbed a two-run homer,but it was too little too late for the Bay Area squad as they dropped the opener of the best 3 out of 5 ALDS.
One A's fan was so anxious,he bit his yellow towel as he watched the Tigers pitching shut his team down.*
In Southern California,the anxiety this weekend is about a severe wildfire threat as the annual ritual of the Santa Ana winds kicks into gear.These winds form when high pressure builds in the desert,pushing cool,dry air over the mountains and down toward the coast.As the air descends the slopes,it heats up rapidly and,striking the tinder dry vegetation,has a strong potential of igniting wildland fire.
Red flag fire warnings are posted for much of Los Angeles;Orange;San Bernardino;and Riverside Counties;plus other areas as far south as Campo on the Mexico border.Critical fire conditions will persist till Sunday evening,the National Weather Service said.
Los Angeles County is preparing by staffing nearly 500 extra firefighters on equipment across the county.Together with US Forest Service firefighters and a few dozen aircraft,they will handle the danger posed by near record low fuel moisture levels combined with the Santa Anas.Gusts of up to 85 mph are possible this weekend,with humidity in the single digits.Explosive fire growth is a distinct possibility,given the horrendous conditions in the region.
Update:In game 2 of the ALDS,Oakland evened the series to one game apiece by edging Detroit 1-0.The series now moves to Detroit for the third game on Monday.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

DSC_0034

DSC_0034 by Kaibab National Forest
DSC_0034, a photo by Kaibab National Forest on Flickr.

Dyan Bone photo,US Forest Service,Southwestern Region,Kaibab National Forest,Arizona.

aspens on 212-2a

Kaibab National Forest,Arizona

IMG_2726-1a

IMG_2726-1a by Kaibab National Forest
IMG_2726-1a, a photo by Kaibab National Forest on Flickr.

Aspen in Kaibab National Forest,Arizona.

aspens in the outlet fire-1a

Kaibab National Forest,Arizona

Aspens in Demotte Park-1a

Kaibab National Forest,Arizona