Monthly Archives: April 2011

POKER PLAYERS PANIC AS FBI SEIZE POKER SITES

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Millions of poker players were sent into panic on Friday as the three major US poker sites, Poker Stars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker went offline as they were targeted by FBI

Restraining orders were issued against five internet domain names and 75 bank accounts used by the online poker companies.

The founders of PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker were indicted on charges of bank fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling.

Online poker has been illegal in the US since 2006 following the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and some sites such as party poker closed down their US operations. However the majority of big sites including Poker Stars and Full Tilt continued to operate by getting players to deposit into offshore bank accounts. Poker Stars and Full Tilt have been now been charged with money laundering (amongst other things) accused of cleaning money via transactions with fake businessess (selling golf balls, flowers and jewelery.)

Currently US players are unable to play or withdraw any funds and they are extremely worried as to whether they will be able get their money back. The amounts frozen range from a few dollars to hundreds of thousands.

Famous young poker player Tom Dwann only added to the panic by speculating on his twitter that absolute poker accounts were only worth 40 cents on the dollar and Cake poker accounts were worth 70cents. Although he did later add that he felt Pokerstars and Full Tilt accounts should be safe, he is however a member of the Full Tilt Poker team.

Some players have frantically been trying to sell their accounts. Theoretically PokerStars accounts should be safe since under Isle of Man law (where they are based) players accounts are required to be held in a trust. Whether this will prove to be the case is open to debate.

The Department of Justice is seeking 3 billion dollars in fines from the major sites. The DOJ’s statement also stated that it would seize all assets from the owners of the company, so this includes the companies themselves.

The 3 billion dollar fine has worried poker players as to whether the 3 companies will be able to remain solvent, particularly when combined with a huge spate of withdrawals, similar to that of a run on a bank. All the sites involved state that player’s money is safe.

Poker Stars stated, ‘Please be assured player balances are safe. There is no cause for concern about loss of funds in your PokerStars account. For all customers outside the US it is business as usual.

The PokerStars website has been moved to www.pokerstars.eu, and the PokerStars Support email address is now support@pokerstars.eu. PokerStars apologises to all players for any inconvenience caused by this disruption.’

The situation regarding non-US players is very unclear. Many players are still able to play as well as withdraw funds although some are not.

One panicked forum member said,

I don’t get why people are even asking if it’s only going to affect US players. If you’re outside the US you can still play but you’re basically playing for play chips because tilt and stars don’t have any money to give you if you cash out.

According to @GamblingComp, all the indicted sites, around the world, will be down within 48 hours. So far this has not proven to be the case. Non-US players are currently able to play.

Full Tilt said, ‘We assure all players on Full Tilt Poker that your online playing experience will not change and that you will be able to both deposit and withdraw funds as needed. Your money remains safe, secure, and accessible at all times.’

The Poker Players Alliance stated, “On behalf of the millions of poker players across the country, we are shocked at the action taken by the U.S. Department of Justice today against online poker companies and will continue to fight for Americans’ right to participate in the game they enjoy,” said former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, chairman of the Poker Players Alliance. “Online poker is not a crime and should not be treated as such. We are currently gathering all of the information around today’s announcement and will offer detailed analysis when the full facts become available.”

Some have speculated that the recent crackdown by the US government may be about to pave the way for a government approved site. A D.C. Internet gambling law cleared Congress just a few days ago. The law allows the D.C Lottery to create online poker and other “games of chance”.

Many US States have been calling for the legalisation  of online poker so that it might be used to raise additional tax revenues that might be used to help balance struggling state budgets.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/04/dc-internet-gambling-law-clears-congress

 

WOMEN IN MALE-DOMINATED TRADES: KENT FEMALE ELECTRICIAN

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Electrician Charlotte Riddle.

Currently there are more men working in industries such as building, plumbing like Shower regrouting perth and electrical engineering than women, but this is a changing trend says Checkatrade, which helps people avoid cowboy builders by providing a free transparent and impartial directory of vetted tradespeople and service providers across the UK.

According to a recent survey conducted by the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC), 63% of 16-24 year old women polled said they are more interested in learning a skilled trade rather than a profession, because a trade stays with them for life. When asked which trade they would like to learn, the results were as follows:

1. Electrician (35%)
2. Carpenter (21%)
3. Plumber (20%)
4. Builder (10%)
5. Farrier (6%)

Becoming a bricky was the least popular choice, accounting for just 1% of the votes.

Kevin Byrne, Managing Director at Checkatrade, is delighted: “It is great to see more women opting for hands-on careers. It means the number of independent female traders registering with Checkatrade will rise over the coming years, especially with university fees set to increase again. This is positive news for the future growth of our business.”

Qualified electrician Charlotte Riddle registered with Checkatrade after setting up her own business two years ago. She previously worked in credit control before spending some time as a driving instructor. After a spell renovating houses in France, Charlotte moved back to the UK and decided to follow in her electrician father’s footsteps.

“My father is a huge source of inspiration and actively encouraged me to retrain”, explains Charlotte. I found it challenging because there was a lot to learn, plus I was pregnant and had a full-time job to maintain. It was hard work but I obtained City & Guilds qualifications in ‘electrical installations’ and ‘inspecting/testing electrical equipment’, plus a level 3 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ).”

After qualifying as an electrician Charlotte became Part P registered to comply with building regulations and went into partnership with her father. She is now responsible for installing, repairing and maintaining electrical systems in homes and commercial premises. Specific duties include:

· Installing and repairing lighting fixtures and connections
· Checking and replacing consumer units; replacing controls, switches, and other components as necessary
· Installing and repairing wiring systems in houses
· Changing circuit breakers
· Performing electrical safety checks
· Studying electrical blueprints, manuals and files for reference
· Maintaining records and completing paperwork

Charlotte’s business, Connected Domestic Electricians, has a wide client base and is prospering despite economic conditions. Easter is a popular time for home renovations, which makes it a busy time for Charlotte.

Commenting on the electrical trade’s gender balance, Charlotte observes: “I think one of the main reasons we see few female electricians is a lack of awareness. We need to inform young women that careers in electrical engineering are accessible, highly rewarding and not restricted to men so there is no need for apprehension.

She jokes: “Many people booking an electrician think it will be a man coming to call. Indeed, some take me for the receptionist when I answer the office phone and ask what time ‘he’, the electrician, will be arriving. This is not sexism, just natural assumptions people make because the trade is so male-dominated. However, these old-fashioned attitudes need to change.”

Electricians often have to lift floorboards, chase out walls or move heavy furniture to reach electrical components. This means working in the trade can be physically demanding.

“It can be exhausting sometimes,” admits Charlotte. “Luckily I have my father on board to help out. We work as a team to get jobs done on time, within budget. Newly qualified electricians looking to start their own businesses should consider partnership rather than going it alone. They can’t teach you everything at college, much of what you learn is on-the-job. My father’s experience is invaluable to the future success of Connected Domestic Electricians.”

Charlotte is delighted to be a part of Checkatrade. She comments; “Interfering with a domestic, industrial or commercial electrical system is extremely dangerous unless you are properly qualified. Rogue electricians risk lives for financial gain. It’s a disgraceful practice and we want to do whatever we can to minimise its effect on households and businesses.

“My father and I are proud of our company, and strive to achieve only the highest standards of safety and quality. Being part of Checkatrade means people can monitor and review our work – so far the feedback has been extremely positive, so it’s good for business too.”

Kevin Byrne founded Checkatrade in 1998, when a tornado devastated his hometown of Selsey and cowboy builders scrambled to rip off people trying to rebuild their homes.

For more information on Checkatrade visit: www.checkatrade.com

For more information on Connected Domestic Electricians visit: www.connected-electric.co.uk

Just Enough For The Real World Charity Performances

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In Association With

The Helen Bamber Foundation

www.justenoughfortherealworld.com

“Sex trafficking is a hugely important subject, and I believe we need as much art as we can get to help people understand what’s going on. It’s all the little efforts that produce a shift in consciousness. What’s more, to do nothing is unthinkable.”- Emma Thompson

“Sometimes all it takes is one person to make a difference”– Helen Bamber

Music Producers and Writers, Phil Knight and Rob Clydesdale have worked tirelessly with their team of musicians in creating the forthcoming second series of charity performances in association with Emma Thompson’s ‘Helen Bamber Foundation’. Repeated due to popular demand, the three live theatre shows will take place on the 5th, 6th and 7th May following the band’s release of their first single ‘The Sky Is Always Mine’ on 9th May.

‘The Sky Is Always Mine’ features vocalist Desi Valentine whose credits include playing the lead in the West End version of Fame and as backing singer for artists such as Elton John and Liza Minnelli. The single will be released on the 9th of May following the three live theatre shows. The theatre shows incorporate the full selection of songs from the charity album ‘Just Enough For The Real World’, featuring eleven up and coming singers including the daughter of TV Chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, Christina Novelli, to Desi Valentine and even a full marching band.

In 2008, Phil Knight from Waltham Forest was invited by actress Emma Thompson to view an educational exhibition in Trafalgar Square called ‘Journey’. Journey told the story of an Eastern European girl, Elena, who was trafficked to the UK and subsequently forced to service up to fifty men a day; she was further subjected to physical torture. The Authorities eventually caught up with the trafficking circle, which thankfully led to Elena’s release. The Helen Bamber Foundation, whose chair person is Emma Thompson, provided solace and helped Elena turn her life around so that she may now live the normal life she always dreamed of.

This was to change Phil’s life forever. He felt such anger for Elena’s story that he could no longer simply sit back and ignore such terrible human rights violations. But without having a human rights background he could only act in the arena he knew…………..music.

By 2009, Phil wanted to raise awareness of the Helen Bamber Foundation in order to help an unquantifiable number of women and children who are subjects of trafficking every year. The Drum For Life project involved Phil drumming for four and a half days, non-stop, in Leicester Square, to over 1800 songs and subsequently demonstrating self-torture. Sleep deprivation made him hallucinate; the motive behind the project made him cry, but remembering the story of Elena gave him the encouragement to complete the project and raise over £4,000 for the cause. By November 2009, producer Rob Clydesdale from Hertfordshire and Phil joined forces to discuss the making of an album for the benefit of the Foundation. They called it ‘Just Enough For The Real World’.

“This is great music by great writer-performers who were inspired by great suffering. Weirdly, it is full of humour and hope and breathes life into its listeners, not sadness. Joyful and timely, it reminds us what ARTISTS can do when they’re in the right place at the right time”- Emma Thompson

“Baroness Benjamin: More and more people are being inspired by documentaries, films and newspaper articles to become proactive, such as the young musician whom I heard about just recently, who saw the documentary “The Journey” and recorded a CD to tell the story of young women sold into sex slavery and continually moved across borders. He did so because he felt compelled to do something to raise awareness. I believe that, in order to engage more people like him, we should encourage the media to search out stories that highlight the evil trade in human beings” – Baroness Benjamin

“Absolutely Fantastic” – Jamie Theakston

‘If this CD and all the hard work behind it can help save just one life, it will all have been worth it,’ Phil Knight.

CREATE THE PERFECT ROYAL WEDDING CENTREPIECE

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Celebrate the Royal Wedding in style on April 29th

TOP TIPS FOR THE DINING ROOM

1. Royal Britannia is all about traditional British style. Think royal crowns, British bulldogs and timeless tweed for a look that says country manor chic.

2. For a truly British celebration, think home-grown. UK-manufactured tableware and a traditional, home-grown menu will complete the quintessentially British experience.

3. Think about seating your guests. If you need to bring in extra chairs, a few union jack scatter cushions will hide any mismatched furniture.

4. Vintage influences are a big trend at the moment and work extremely well alongside the Royal Britannia theme – don’t be afraid to experiment. For instance, tiered cake stands look fantastic as a table centrepiece.

TOP TIPS FOR THE STREET PARTY

1. For a magical outdoor setting, go overboard with the fairy lights and homemade decorations. Get the children involved and make your own bunting and paper chains the night before, and string them up at the last minute for the wow-factor.

2. Plastic tableware needn’t be unglamorous. Acrylic glasses look elegant but will not break if dropped outdoors, meaning no risk of shattered glass. Alternatively, plastic champagne flutes are the ideal disposable option for an outdoor celebration.

3. Little touches can make a huge difference – patterned napkins and tablecloths are a cheap and easy way to inject character and interest.

Taylor Lautner to Debut 'Abduction' Trailer During 'MTV First' Interview.

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Twilight’ heartthrob to answer fans’ questions during half-hour MTV.com live stream on April 13, 7:56PM ET

On Wednesday, April 13, Taylor Lautner will exclusively sit down with MTV News’ Josh Horowitz to premiere the first footage ever seen from his upcoming film ABDUCTION during “MTV First: Taylor Lautner.”

Beginning at 7:56pm ET on MTV and MTV.com, Taylor will introduce the never-before-seen trailer. Immediately following the on-air premiere, Taylor will stay on for a 30-minute interview with Josh on MTV.com where he will answer questions about his role in the film and much more. Fans can get in on the action and submit questions beginning today through MTV.com or via Twitter (using @MTVNews / #AskTaylor).

Dating back to the first Twilight movie, MTV News will lead up to the premiere of “MTV First: Taylor Lautner” with a five day countdown of favourite MTV moments with the star. Fans should check in every day to see and comment on the latest clips.

ABDUCTION is a thriller that focuses on a youth (Lautner) who discovers the parents who raised him aren’t his real parents, a revelation that triggers events and leaves him running for his life.

In addition to Lautner, ABDUCTION stars Lily Collins, Alfred Molina, Jason Issacs, Maria Bello, Denzel Whitaker, Michael Nyqvist and Sigourney Weaver. The film is directed by John Singleton and written by Shawn Christensen. Lionsgate presents, a Gotham Group / Vertigo Entertainment / Quicksix Entertainment production, a Lionsgate Production, in association with Mango Farms.

ABDUCTION will be in UK cinemas September, 2011.

AV: Vote Yes or NO; Reasons For and Against the Alternative Vote

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I’ll be honest this AV debate has me confused and I’m usually pretty certain of where I stand on things. I started off thinking that I was going to vote no but some friends of mine made a strong case to vote yes. So I’m writing this article to help my own thought process and hopefully yours as well.

I’m not going to explain the whole system in detail. With AV instead of having just one vote you have the option but not obligation to also vote for a 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc. preference.

Reasons For and Against

Argument For – More voter choice

The main argument for AV is that it gives voters more choice. Instead of just voting for your first choice you can also indicate you’re second choice and more if you wish. This makes it more likely the candidate will achieve a majority share of the vote.  The argument goes that this will act as a stronger mandate and encourage people to get more involved in the political process.

J’s thoughts

It sounds like a good idea in theory. I imagine many voters would welcome the opportunity to add a second or more preferences to their vote.

J’s concern

Imagine a marginal constituency with the two main competitors Labour and Lib Dem. The Conservatives have no chance of winning.

A strong Labour supporter votes just for the Labour party. He ignore any other preferences because he doesn’t want the Lib Dems to win and he certainly doesn’t want to vote conservative.

A Conservative supporter votes for the Conservatives first and then because he doesn’t want Labour in he puts the Lib Dems as his second choice.

The first and second preferences count for the same and because this is a marginal constituency there is no chance of a majority with the first round of votes. Essentially the Labour supporter’s vote counts once and the Conservative supporter’s vote counts twice. (In the first round he votes conservative, in the second he votes for the lib-dems instead when the conservatives drop out.) Is this fair? AV supporters would argue it is, during any one round everyone is still voting once. I’m not so sure it is fair and this leads me on to the next point against AV.

Argument Against – All preferences have the same Weight

I’m not sure it’s right that someone’s 5th choice has the same weight as someone else’s 1st.  In fact it almost feels undemocratic. Why didn’t they just weight the vote prefences differently! i.e. a first choice counts for more than a second and a second more than a third etc… Increasingly as I write this article I can’t help thinking that the whole system is half baked and badly thought out.

Argument For – Less Tactical Voting

Pro AV supporters argue that the AV system eliminates the need for tactical voting therefore making the system fairer.

J’s thoughts

I do believe that AV will reduce the amount of tactical voting. With the current system many voters vote for parties other than the ones they support because their own parties have no chance of winning. With the AV system you can vote for both your own party (even though it won’t win) and another party as a second choice.

I think we would be kidding ourselves if we thought this would eliminate tactical voting entirely. People will always come up with elaborate ways to support their party. That said I do believe AV would help with the problem of tactical voting.

Argument Against – Time and Cost

There’s no doubt AV will take a lot longer to count (estimates suggest 5 times longer and because of this you will have to pay counters more.) There will also be costs in switching over to the new system. Overall costs have been put at £250million

J’s thoughts

At this time of austerity it does seem stupid to waste money on changing the voting system. That said of the £250 million almost £100million has already been lost on the referendum alone. We might as well spend the other £150 million if AV really is the right system but we better be damn sure.   

Argument For – Fairer and More Engaging

One of the strongest arguments against the current voting system is that people in safe seats feel disempowered. There votes ultimately mean almost nothing since the same party is always bound to win.

J’s thoughts

AV will do very little to solve this problem, safe seats will continue to remain safe. This problem is really more of an argument for proportional representation.

Argument Against – It’s Complicated! Would it Put People Off Voting

Whatever people say about this AV system it’s definitely more complicated than the current system. For me this is the biggest and probably decisive point against AV. The system is complicated.

Do I have to put a second preference? / How many prefences do I or can I put?/When does my 4th preference count? Etc.  !#$%^&*

J’s Thoughts

My biggest concern is that it might discourage people from voting. Am I being patronising? I don’t think so. People are busy and who can be bothered to go through the rules of a voting system? Are you going to vote if you don’t know how the system works. Some will but I fear some will be put off. 1 vote keeps it simple.

My Conclusion

Keep it Simple. I started off writing this article genuinely not sure which way I would vote. I’ve concluded the current system may not be perfect but AV isn’t the right replacement for us. Our democracy is strongest when we keep things simple.

Actor Monty Burgess on The Cyber Security Challenge.

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1) Tell us about the Cyber Security Challenge

The Cyber Security Challenge is a series of online games and competitions that test the cyber security abilities of individuals and teams.

I’d read about the Cyber Security Challenge on the BBC website. I was specifically interested in the forensics challenge, run by the US Department of Defence. Basically I was just curious as to the types of challenges they would set up.

2) How did you get into computing?

I’ve been a computer user since I was quite young. My dad, my brother and I used to write programs in BASIC on our first computer. They weren’t particularly sophisticated, but it was fun, and all very new.

My knowledge of computer security just developed over the years really, through curiosity, wanting to learn how to better defend systems, and to understand the workings of viruses and malware.

3) You are also an actor, how did you get into acting?

That’s a difficult question to answer, as there hasn’t really been a time when I haven’t been working towards being an actor. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do since I was young.

4) What is the main problem with a computer’s security?

Harsh as it sounds, the main problem with a computer’s security is generally it’s user. People aren’t very security minded. We take the rapid development of technology (Ipads, mobile phones, android devices, etc, etc.) very much for granted and our first concern is to have and enjoy, rather than have, secure and enjoy.

You only need to do a quick whip round of your friends on Facebook or Twitter, and you’ll find plenty of personal information online – dates of birth, relatives names, email addresses, locations.

5) Do you plan to do more in computing or is acting calling?

I have no current plans to change careers. As enjoyable as the challenges of forensics are, first and foremost I’m an actor.

6) What’s next for you?

I’ve just finished filming on the comedy ‘Betsy and Leonard’ as well as a commercial for Amnesty International. I will be filming a comedy feature in the next month or so. I appeared in a project called ‘Him’ by Confugium Film a while ago, and they are having an industry screening, so I’m keen to see the result.

Top ‘Road Trip’ tips – How To Have The Perfect Road Trip.

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Top ‘Road Trip’ tips – Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson

In The Open Road, out on DVD 25th April, Carlton (Justin Timberlake) and his friend Lucy go on a road trip across America to find his estranged father and bring him home. Long car journeys with family and friends can be tough going at the best of times, so whether you’ve got a long drive to a festival or a summer adventure coming up, here are some top tips for avoiding the many potential road trip pit falls.

Prepare your car – have your car inspected before you go, change your oil and check fluid levels. Make sure you have all relevant documents – including licence, insurance and registration – and that you know where they are all at all times. Keep a cool bag with drinks and snacks and re-fill this at rest stops. Bring a first aid kit.

Keep small change in several currencies – be prepared for road tolls. Most toll booths will accept coins only, so avoid an embarrassing reversing-out-the-queue moment and make sure you have change to hand.

Bring suncream – you can and you will get sunburn through the car window

Beware roaming charges – check with your mobile provider before you leave to find out what charges you could incur and how best to avoid these

Bring zone-out material – you’ll be in close quarters and ‘alone time’ will be difficult to come by when your fellow road-trippers start getting on your nerves. Stock up your iPod, tablet, laptop etc. with your favourite TV shows and DVDs so you can block everyone else out when needs be.

Miles and Kilometres – Be aware that your speedometer may be in miles, but the speed limit measured in kilometres depending what country you’re in. Know the conversion (1 mile = 1.6 km) or you could end up with a nasty speeding ticket

Be ready for sleep – bring a blanket and pillow to make yourself more comfortable in between driving shifts and, if you’ve booked a hotel, remember that most check-in times are between noon and 2pm, so plan your driving schedules accordingly

Prepare a good and very extensive playlist – you will have difficulty finding a radio station in many locations, so bring your own music. Make sure you playlist is at least a few hours long so you don’t find yourself listening to the same ten songs on repeat

Go to the bathroom at every rest stop – even if you don’t need to because the next one could be very far away. This will avoid any uncomfortable and embarrassing roadside stops.

Bring embassy and government contact numbers with you – in case you lose your passport or any other important documentation, be sure you know where your nearest embassy or consulate is at all times so you can you rectify the situation as soon as possible

Share the driving and do it in shifts – a tired driver is an unsafe driver

“The Open Road is out on DVD 25th April.”