Zsolt Szigetvary/EPA
A rider competes in the Red Bull Thermal Dual wakeboard race, the only summer race in winter that is held at an unusual location, in the 100 degrees fahrenheit thermal water of Szechenyi Baths in Budapest, Hungary on February 27, 2010.
Now here's a sport I wouldn't mind attending...
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
Palestinian youths riot during clashes with Israeli soldiers on February 25, 2010 in the West Bank town of Hebron. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sparked Palestinian anger this week with a plan to include the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron and Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem in a plan to restore national heritage sites. Some 100 Palestinians clashed with Israeli troops, for a fourth consecutive day, over the plans.
Uriel Sinai is really good photographer. This is a strong frame from the sort of scene we see thousands and thousands of times, and it's good to have a fairly detailed caption for context, though I'm sure some would take issue with the word "riot." That said, I'm posting it here mostly so we can compare it to the next picture. A before and after juxtaposition, but I'm also wondering which picture is going to be published more.
Bernat Armangue/AP
A Palestinian man tries to extinguish burning tires after clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers in the West Bank city of Hebron, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010.
Because this picture contains less action and excitement than the previous one, I bet you it's not published as much. But I like it: It communicates a different feeling about Hebron's reality, more about what it's like to live day-to-day in a town so riven with conflict and anger that kids burn tires to protest plans over disputed ancient holy sites.
/AFP - Getty Images, AP, Getty Images
The fashions at the Olympics are getting sillier by the minute, especially the ice dancing costumes. What do you think?
Oliver Morin/AFP - Getty Images
Italy's Massimiliano Blardone clears a gate during the 2010 Olympics Men's Giant slalom event at Whistler, Canada on Feb. 23, 2010.
Olympic-level skiing is so out there. I cant think of another sport in which the difference between winning and crashing is so narrow.
Bain News Service/Library of Congress
Sail Wagon, Brooklyn, photographed between 1910 and 1915. Printed from a glass negative 5 x 7 in. or smaller.
I love the Library of Congress online archive. Over the weekend I spent some time looking for pictures from my home borough of Brooklyn to use for screen savers on my laptop. This is my favorite find.
Bernat Armangue/AP
A Palestinian walks past a section of Israel's separation barrier running between the biblical Tomb of Rachel, not seen, and the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010.
This picture forces me to break my own rule against silhouettes. Again.
China Daily/Reuters
A worker is seen at the Seed Cathedral, the centerpiece of the UK Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo site in Shanghai February 21, 2010. The 20-meter-high cube-like Seed Cathedral will be covered by 60,000 slim, transparent acrylic rods, which will quiver in the breeze, according to the official website of Shanghai Expo.
So much of the architecture coming out of China seems to be really creative and cool.
Mike Nelson/EPA
An apprentice girl places rice paper sheets that have been soaked in a bathtub full of black dye onto a wall for drying at the El Nafeza Women's Cooperative in Cairo, Egypt, on Feb. 20. The El Nafeza cooperative trains women and girls in the art of rice paper production, painting and design. It is the only enterprise in Egypt that recycles rice chaff which is usually illegally burned contributing to Cairo's critically high levels of air pollution.
Apparently not all green jobs have to be high-tech.
Rodrigo Arangua/AFP - Getty Images
A couple look from inside of Colombia's National Congress, which is covered with sculptures of large ants - a work by Colombian artist Rafael Gomezbarros - in Bogota on February 16, 2010. Gomezbarrios said the ants symbolize the people displaced by armed conflict in Colombia.
I don't usually like pictures of people interacting with unusual art; it's way too easy to get an interesting picture. I'll make an exception for this one. It reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock's film "The Birds".
Joe Skipper/Reuters
Golfer Tiger Woods hugs his mother Kultida Woods during his first public statement to a small gathering of reporters and friends at the headquarters of the U.S. PGA Tour in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, February 19, 2010.
Did you watch Tiger's apology today? Did you think it was from the heart, or just another carefully controlled message? I was taken by the strength his mother shows in this image.
Samir Hussein/Getty Images Contributor
A model walks the catwalk during the Charlie Le Mindu Autumn/Winter London Fashion Week catwalk show at On|Off on Friday, Feb. 19.
Creations presented at various fashion week shows never cease to amaze and, in this instance, bewilder me.
Pete Souza/The White House
President Barack Obama meets with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House, Feb. 18, 2010.
It seems pretty clear that Barack Obama was making a statement to the Chinese by hosting the Dalai Lama at the White House. Do you think there is any point to antagonizing the Chinese government?
Clive Mason/Getty Images
Noelle Barahona of Chile slides beneath the barrier at the finish line during the Alpine Skiing Ladies Downhill on day 6 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Talk about getting swallowed by the competition.
Justin Lane/EPA
Handler Carissa Demilta Shimpeno shows off a doberman pinscher during the judging of the working group of dogs at the Westminster Kennel Club's 134th Annual All Breed Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, in New York, February 16.
What makes a good dog handler? How do you become qualified to do a show like Westminster? This one looks like she really knows her stuff. To see more photos from the show, click the link below.
Silvia Izquierdo/AP
Members of Grande Rio samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010.
Carnival seems like an excuse for adults to dress up and relive their childhood. I love all the costumes and pageantry. See the link below for more photos from celebrations around the world.
Ricardo Mazalan/AP
A luger speeds past during the second run of the women's singles luge competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia, Monday, Feb. 15.
I've never seen this event photographed like this. I like it.
Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Padraig Harrington of Ireland plays his chip shot on the seventh hole during the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Golf Links on February 14, 2010 in Pebble Beach, California.
I wonder if that chip shot rolled in. Apparently Mother Nature doesn't realize golf is a game of concentration.
/Reuters
Worshippers light incense near Dafo Temple in Chongqing Municipality on the first day of the Chinese New Year February 14, 2010. The Chinese New Year began on Sunday and according to the Lunar calendar, it is the Year of the Tiger.
Imagining the intense smell of all of that incense makes me want to gag a little bit.
David McNew/Getty Images
Hikers pass the iconic 450-foot-long Hollywood sign after activists covered it with banners in an effort to prevent the building of houses there on February 13, 2010 in Los Angeles, Calif. The Trust for Public Land draped the sign in cooperation with city council member Tom LaBonge as it campaigns to raise enough funds to buy Cahuenga Peak and stop developers from purchasing the 138-acre parcel to build mansions around the Hollywood sign.
I hope the Trust for Public Land is successful in its quest for funds, as I don't think the Hollywood sign would have the same charm if it had tacky new mansions surrounding it.
NASA/Reuters
The space shuttle Endeavour is silhouetted against the backdrop of Earth's horizon prior to docking with the International Space Station in this picture taken by an Expedition 22 crew member on February 9, 2010 and released by NASA February 12, 2010.
At first I thought this was a picture shot in the desert with an annoying tilted horizon. However, upon closer review, it was shot in space, so it became much more cool in my opinion.
Carlo Allegri/Reuters
A model has water misted in her face backstage before the Adam Fall 2010 collection during New York Fashion Week February 13, 2010.
Well, I guess this explains how all of those models have skin that looks fresh and dewy when they walk down the runway.
Peter Parks/AFP - Getty Images
Georgian luge hopeful Nodar Muaritashvili crashes during a practice run at the Whistler Sliding Centre on Feb. 12. Muaritasvili died from his injuries.
It's easy to forget how dangerous many of the winter Olympic events are.
Robert Gauthier / Ho/EPA
This picture by photographer Robert Gauthier, USA, Los Angeles Times Magazine, won 1st prize Sports Features Singles in the World Press Photo of the Year 2009 contest. It shows Yankee fans trying to distract Angels left fielder Juan Rivera in Yankee Stadium.
This really unusual sports picture is just one example of the best news photos of the year from the World Press Photo competition. Click on the link below to see a slideshow of the winners.
Pietro Masturzo /EPA
This picture by Italian photographer Pietro Masturzo won Photo of the Year in the World Press Photo of the Year 2009 contest, it was announced by the organisers on 12 February 2010 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It shows women in Tehran, Iran, shouting from a rooftop in protest against the regime on 24 June 2009.
Winning World Press Photo of the Year is arguably the pinnacle of prestige in photojournalism. In a bit I'll post links to WPP's site below, and later today we'll have a slideshow of winning pictures from across news, sports, and features categories.
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