Monthly Archives: April 2011

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This is just gorgeous.

The Mountain by Terje Sorgjerd: time-lapse of the terrain and the sky above Teide Observatory on Spain’s tallest mountain. Sez he:

A large sandstorm hit the Sahara Desert on the 9th April and at approx 3am in the night the sandstorm hit me, making it nearly impossible to see the sky with my own eyes.

Interestingly enough my camera was set for a 5 hour sequence of the milky way during this time and I was sure my whole scene was ruined. To my surprise, my camera had managed to capture the sandstorm which was backlit by Grand Canary Island making it look like golden clouds. The Milky Way was shining through the clouds, making the stars sparkle in an interesting way.

Full effect at full screen with the sound up.

Music: ‘Nuvole bianche’ by Ludovico Einaudi

Previously (and also from Terje Sorgjerd): Aurora Borealis: Kirkenes

via

 

On Friday, the FBI shut down three of the world’s most popular online poker sites, replacing their home pages with the screen above.

The three sites are: Poker Stars (based in the Isle of Man); Absolute Poker (based in Costa Rica) and Full Tilt Poker (founded in Los Angeles but relocated to Dublin after the US Congress attempted to shut down online gambling in 2006).

From Joseph Menn at the Financial Times:

US prosecutors have charged the founders of three of the world’s largest online poker companies with bank fraud and other offences, in the largest crackdown since Congress banned electronic gambling transactions in 2006.

In an indictment unsealed on Friday, the government accused the creators of Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and Absolute Poker of illegal gambling, money laundering and bank fraud.

From Nathaniel Popper and Tiffany Hsu at the LA Times:

Eleven people, including the founders of the three largest poker sites open to U.S. players, were charged by a federal grand jury with bank fraud, money laundering and violating gambling laws. The government also is seeking to recover $3 billion from the companies.

Full Tilt Poker has since responded to the shut-down.

Dublin Ireland (April 15, 2011) – Full Tilt Poker is saddened by today’s charges against its CEO Raymond Bitar and offers its full support to Mr. Bitar and Nelson Burtnick.

Online poker is a game of skill enjoyed by tens of millions of people in the United States and across the world. And, Full Tilt Poker remains as committed as ever to preserving the rights of those players to play the game they love online.

Mr. Bitar and Full Tilt Poker believe online poker is legal – a position also taken by some of the best legal minds in the United States. Full Tilt Poker is, and has always been committed to preserving the integrity of the game and abiding by the law.

“I am surprised and disappointed by the government’s decision to bring these charges. I look forward to Mr. Burtnick’s and my exoneration,” said Mr. Bitar.

Unfortunately, as a result of this action, Full Tilt Poker has decided that it must suspend “real money” play in the United States until this case is resolved. However, Full Tilt Poker will continue to provide peer-to-peer online poker services outside of the United States.

Also: Poker Companies Face Online Fraud Charges (Irish Times)

Via BoingBoing

The attention to detail is remarkable – even the embroidery and drop-front flap are evident on the lederhosen worn by the Bavarian boy doll. The female costumes are variations on the “dirndl” style – common throughout southern Germany and Austria.

The dolls provide rare proof of a little-known commercial enterprise established by the prisoners. Files discovered in the military archives of the Defence Forces at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin have revealed they were produced in an illicit “toy workshop” established by German internees in the Curragh Camp…

Despite the difficulties, the enterprising Germans apparently succeeded. Col McNally, officer commanding, Curragh Command, told the minister for defence that “the German internees had earned £400 in the manufacture of toys which they sold at Christmas” and, intriguingly, “that a refund of £700 approximately had been made to them by the Revenue Commissioners in respect of duty on cigarettes”.

Later, difficulties arose because of their “inclination to utilise the camp furniture and fittings for toymaking”.

Soon, our children will be forced to make dolls for the Germans. And so the cosmic ballet continues.

Dolls Crafted By German War Internees To Be Auctioned (Irish Times)


“I firmly believe the seeds of hope for our country will be found in our power to create and in the infinite ability of our collective imagination. It is in our creativity that we will find the capacity to bring about a new vision for this country”

Mairead McGuinness, announcing her candidacy for the Fine Gael nomination for President.

Who speaks like that?

Apart from Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, of course.

Hang on.

Maireád McGuinness in Áras bid (Irish Times)