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Tottori Sand Dunes

Photograph by Hideyuki Katagiri

The Tottori sand dunesthe largest in Japanrise toward the horizon in the countrys south. The coastal dunes were formed by sand and wind over 100,000 years. In the distance, lighted squid-fishing boats bob on the Sea of Japan.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest.

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House of Annapurna

Photograph by Daniel Hoshizaki, National Geographic Your Shot

Taking the less traveled foot trails on Nepals Annapurna Circuit can be immensely rewarding, writes Your Shot member Daniel Hoshizaki. He captured this shot from a trail between Chamje and Tal, now skipped by most in favor of a newand much easierroad. But taking the road means missing some of the most spectacular scenery on the entire circuit, he writes. The unfolding view of the river, canyon, and lush vegetation kept beckoning me to climb higher up the trail in order to capture the magnificence of the ranges landscape.

This photo was submitted to Your Shot. Check out the new and improved website, where you can share photos, take part in assignments, lend your voice to stories, and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

Moonlit Mountaineers

Photograph by Pete McBride

At 16,700 feet and a temperature of minus 20F, Jake Norton (right) and Dave Morton eat a quick dinner under moonlight as they prepare to climb the unclimbed Chaukhamba IV looming behind them. Along with photographer Pete McBride, the climbers spent 45 days trekking every mile of the Ganges River.

McBrides source-to-sea expedition, following the length of the Ganges River, was recently featured on our photography blog, Proof. See more pictures and read McBride's dispatch from the start of his journey high in the Himalaya.

Rains in Africa

Photograph by Keith Willette, National Geographic Your Shot

The clouds initially caught my eye, writes Your Shot member Keith Willette. This rumbling storm was coming in and I was hoping to catch some lightning bolts. Then I noticed the giraffe.

Willette had been photographing giraffes and elephants in Kenyas Masai Mara and was about to return to camp because of the storm. I asked to stay just a little longer because the smell of the storm and the peaceful quietness were something I wanted to enjoy just a bit more, he writes. Luckily, clouds broke through and illuminated the giraffe.

Willettes picture recently appeared in Your Shots Daily Dozen.

This photo was submitted to Your Shot. Check out the new and improved website, where you can share photos, take part in assignments, lend your voice to stories, and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

Stars Over Shivling

Photograph by Pete McBride

At 21,467 feet, Indias Mount Shivling rises toward a clear night sky. Here in the Garhwal Himalaya lies the Gangotri glacierand the headwaters of the Ganges River.

Pete McBrides source-to-sea expedition, following the length of the Ganges River, was recently featured on our photography blog, Proof.

Over the River

Photograph by Garth Lenz

A tar mine edges up to a boreal forest and the MacKay River in northern Alberta, Canada. Photographer Garth Lenz speaks of the insane scale of the industrialization he photographs in the province, which has undergone dramatic changes since oil sands development began. Lenz uses aerial photography to capture the immensity of the altered landscape.

Garth Lenzs aerial photographs of landscapes transformed by energy production were recently featured on our photography blog, Proof.

I don’t know the detail. I don’t know the exact methodology going on. But I know a few bits of circumstantial evidence that would suggest our summer signing of Shad Forsythe isn’t quite working out.

I said at the time of his signing I wondered how the ‘politics’ would work. This thought was reinforced at The Emirates cup when he was introduced under some ridiculous job title and ‘working with Tony Colbert’.

Here’s the point. The old regime, which was Colbert, has been breaking players for years. We know this because we’ve seen the consistent horror show that is the injury league table. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m fully aware that table isn’t accurate but it’s a guide. Anyway, we’ve heard excuses like ‘luck’, hair pills, ‘we will investigate’ and all manner of ‘dodge the truth’ pearlers when the simple common theme is that we’ve an under qualified chancer running the show. Don’t believe me, look at his biog compared to some of the other guys running fitness at the top clubs in Europe. Someone brought in to run with the players in the Gary Lewin days ends up running performance management at one of the biggest clubs in the world, it was never going to work out long term because he’s never evolved his approach.

The club recognised this in the summer, went out and made a move for the German international fitness coach… which was still a risk because he’s not worked under the pressure of club football… but still a massive improvement and a big fat plug for the knowledge gap we’ve suffered.

Problem is, we kept the old regime in. Shad wasn’t a Wenger signing and we’re seeing the fruits of that right now. The old regime knows the club, is pals with a manager who would sacrifice performance over friendship and now we have a situation where it appears very little has changed. Same outcome as last year. Players broken by October in a horrendous pile up of issues. Generally quite flat looking starting line ups. All made worse because we don’t have a big enough squad.

Who takes the can for this? Who is accountable? I mean, it’s just school boy planning. The basics of business is there needs to be hierarchical certainty otherwise driving change becomes a force of personality issue. Send in a young guy to shake up an old boys club, how are you going to achieve anything? I’m pretty sure the club don’t have this issue on the corporate side. There aren’t to Head of Marketing people, there aren’t two CEOs… sorry, I lie, Arsene and Ivan.

… and that’s what it comes down to. Ivan doesn’t have the power he needs to bring some sanity to the playing side. Southampton have an infrastructure that’s owned by the club. So do Barca. So do most top clubs. That way, like any normal business, you can function if one person leaves because ‘process IP’ is with the club, not one man and 64 of his acolytes.

My personal opinion is the club need to make a decision, that decision is go all in with Shad and give him the chance to prove his worth. That means a parting of the ways with Tony Colbert. He’s had 10 years to sort himself out and he’s chosen not to. The playing side of this club is too entrenched in nepotism and it’s self destructive.

Although I think the new man Joncker went way over the top with his quotes in the Daily Mail about how shite the set up is, he nailed one point when he said our approach to scouting needs a total rethink.

‘The scouting must be restructured all over again. It needs to be brought to a level so that we can bring in the absolute best talents from abroad and from England at an age that Wenger can immediately work with them.

Another massive failing of the club over the years because again, Steve Rowley is clearly way past it. He’s only just discovered Germany. Which is great, but come on, why aren’t we tapping new markets? Where is our presence is the gold mine that is Eastern Europe? Why do we always sign duffers from South America (well, bar Gilberto, who was a Dick Law play I believe)?

There’s so little dynamism on the playing side. That’s the CEOs fault for not being stronger, but I guess he’s playing the waiting game. Wait until the King is dead then make your move, because if you make your play too early, you’ll be the one with your head on the chopping block.

Royalty has never been my cup of tea…

Anyway, the offshoot of all of this is we have another player who is broken. Ozil isn’t the strongest of players in the first place, he’d barely seen 90minutes in the years preceding Arsenal now it’s a standard affair. He’s out for up to three months (at a cost of £1.5m) which is bad news because he’s a dream player, but ultimately he’s been garbage. This injury forces Chambo into the set up which for me, is where that front three needs to be. He’s one of my favourite players. He has so many Premiership attributes, body builder power, explosive pace, a great attitude and pretty sound tekkers.

A big few months for him… but how long before he’s broken?

Right, that’s it for today. Have a good one, say hi to your two line managers.

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Clear Blue Hawaii, a Seattle, Washington-based design company, make these completely transparent kayaks out of glass. Held together by a carbon Kevlar frame system, the kayaks are military-grade with minimum weight and are even foldable so you can easily travel with them. There are two silhouettes: The Napali single seater and the Molokini two seater that are both constructed with bulletproof glass intended for fighter jets. Learn more about them here. Happy paddling.

See Clear Blue Hawaii’s Transparent Bulletproof Glass Kayaks is a post by Staff on Selectism.

Ducati has decided to re-enter the world of hipster-moto with the launch of the 2015 Ducati Scrambler. They have been teasing us for months, and finally officially launched the new model on the first day of INTERMOT.

The Scrambler retains the stylistic lines of the discontinued Ducati of yore, while incorporating technology developed from Ducati’s established quiver of sport bikes. Although it is implied that the bike is meant to be heavily customized, it is available out of the box in four different trims offering variations of saddle, fender and wheel styling.

Each trim is powered by an 803cc air-cooled engine built in Ducati’s signature L-twin Desmodromic configuration. For stopping power, a four-piston Monobloc Brembo (albeit single rotor) ABS-equipped assembly is employed on the front wheel. The “full-throttle” trim also comes with a Termignoni exhaust canister. In our opinion, the Termignoni slip on is a “must” for any Ducati, enabling the growl of the L-twin to be appreciated in full effect.

Ducati purists will no doubt cry foul at the brand’s decision to bring back the Scrambler, the same way that they did with the launch of the Diavel. But we are digging it.

Ducati Bring Back the Scrambler Motorbike – Not for Purists is a post by Jacob Breinholt on Selectism.

The Dreaming Tree

Photograph by Christian Spencer

In the Strzelecki Desert of Australia, a flock of galahs replenishes with the small amount of water available at the base of a lonely tree. It was a rare opportunity to get such a clear and symmetrical shot of these beautiful birds in flight in the middle of the desert, writes photographer Christian Spencer.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest.

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