06-18-2026, 04:55 AM
Beautiful calming photo.
I understand what you mean about choosing the best from a bunch of similar shots. But it beats having nothing but a bunch of poor shots too choose from.
I don't remember posting this one (from March 2018) but if I have, please excuse the duplication...
What follows is about the World Cup currently going on. If that's of no interest to you, feel free to ignore.
Today ended the first round of group play, in which all 4 teams in each of the 12 groups plays the other three teams in the group once. And there have been some surprises, with some highly ranked teams under-performing and some lower ranked teams excelling: 4 of the top 10 ranked teams (based in FIFA world rankings just before the World Cup began were tied by lower ranked (some much lower) teams. I commend these 4 lower ranked teams.
But it's just round 1 and expect most of the top ranked teams to do better in the next round.
So even though it's too early to make predictions, here's what I think (with world rankings for each team):
Group A: Mexico (13), S. Korea (22), Czechia (43), and S. Africa (61)
Mexico should win this group, either S. Korea or Czechia second and third, and S. Africa 4th.
Group B: Switzerland (19), Canada (30), Qatar (56), and Bosnia and Herzogovina (64)
I pick Switzerland as #1, Canada #2, Qatar #3, and Bosnia and Herzogovina #4
Group C: Brazil (6), Morocco (7), Scotland (41), and Haiti (83)
I pick either Brazil or Morocco #1, with the other #2, Scotland #3, and Haiti #4
Group D: USA (17), Türkiye (23), Australia (27) and Paraguay (40)
I pick USA #1 (after a tough game with Australia), Australia #2, Türkiye #3, and Paraguay #4
Group E: Germany (10), Ecuador (24), Ivory Coast (33), and Curacao (82)
I pick Germany #1, Ivory Coast #2, Ecuador #3, and Curacao #4
Group F: Netherlands (8), Japan (18), Sweden (38), and Tunisia
I pick either Netherlands or Japan #1 with the other #2, Sweden #3, and Tunisia # 4
Group G: Belgium (9), Iran (20), Egypt (29), and New Zealand (85)
I pick Belgium #1, Iran #2, Egypt #3, and New Zealand #4
Group H: Spain (2), Uruguay (16), Saudi Arabia (60), and Cape Verde (67)
I pick Spain #1, either Saudi Arabia or Uruguay #2 with the other #3, and Cape Verde
Group I: France (3), Senegal (15), Norway (31), Iraq (57)
I pick France #1, Norway #2, Senegal #3. and Iraq #4
Group J: Argentina (1), Austria (25), Algeria (28), and Jordan (9)
I pick Argentina #1, either Algeria or Austria #2 withe the other #3, and Jordan #4
Group K: Portugal (5), Colombia (14), Congo DR (46), and Uzbekistan (50)
I pick Portugal #1, Colombia #2, Congo DR #3, and Uzbekistan #4
Group L: England (4), Croatia (11), Panama (34), and Ghana (73)
I pick England #1, Croatia #2, Ghana #3, and Panama #4 Argentina (1), Austria (25), Algeria (28), and Jordan (9)
I understand what you mean about choosing the best from a bunch of similar shots. But it beats having nothing but a bunch of poor shots too choose from.
I don't remember posting this one (from March 2018) but if I have, please excuse the duplication...
What follows is about the World Cup currently going on. If that's of no interest to you, feel free to ignore.
Today ended the first round of group play, in which all 4 teams in each of the 12 groups plays the other three teams in the group once. And there have been some surprises, with some highly ranked teams under-performing and some lower ranked teams excelling: 4 of the top 10 ranked teams (based in FIFA world rankings just before the World Cup began were tied by lower ranked (some much lower) teams. I commend these 4 lower ranked teams.
But it's just round 1 and expect most of the top ranked teams to do better in the next round.
So even though it's too early to make predictions, here's what I think (with world rankings for each team):
Group A: Mexico (13), S. Korea (22), Czechia (43), and S. Africa (61)
Mexico should win this group, either S. Korea or Czechia second and third, and S. Africa 4th.
Group B: Switzerland (19), Canada (30), Qatar (56), and Bosnia and Herzogovina (64)
I pick Switzerland as #1, Canada #2, Qatar #3, and Bosnia and Herzogovina #4
Group C: Brazil (6), Morocco (7), Scotland (41), and Haiti (83)
I pick either Brazil or Morocco #1, with the other #2, Scotland #3, and Haiti #4
Group D: USA (17), Türkiye (23), Australia (27) and Paraguay (40)
I pick USA #1 (after a tough game with Australia), Australia #2, Türkiye #3, and Paraguay #4
Group E: Germany (10), Ecuador (24), Ivory Coast (33), and Curacao (82)
I pick Germany #1, Ivory Coast #2, Ecuador #3, and Curacao #4
Group F: Netherlands (8), Japan (18), Sweden (38), and Tunisia
I pick either Netherlands or Japan #1 with the other #2, Sweden #3, and Tunisia # 4
Group G: Belgium (9), Iran (20), Egypt (29), and New Zealand (85)
I pick Belgium #1, Iran #2, Egypt #3, and New Zealand #4
Group H: Spain (2), Uruguay (16), Saudi Arabia (60), and Cape Verde (67)
I pick Spain #1, either Saudi Arabia or Uruguay #2 with the other #3, and Cape Verde
Group I: France (3), Senegal (15), Norway (31), Iraq (57)
I pick France #1, Norway #2, Senegal #3. and Iraq #4
Group J: Argentina (1), Austria (25), Algeria (28), and Jordan (9)
I pick Argentina #1, either Algeria or Austria #2 withe the other #3, and Jordan #4
Group K: Portugal (5), Colombia (14), Congo DR (46), and Uzbekistan (50)
I pick Portugal #1, Colombia #2, Congo DR #3, and Uzbekistan #4
Group L: England (4), Croatia (11), Panama (34), and Ghana (73)
I pick England #1, Croatia #2, Ghana #3, and Panama #4 Argentina (1), Austria (25), Algeria (28), and Jordan (9)
Don't blame me - I didn't vote for him!
Nikon D7500 with Nikkor 18-300 mm; PSE2021, PSCS5
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