Friday, February 29, 2008

12 Photos of Lunar Eclipses

Beer - Calories, Carbs and Alcohol

BEER & YOUR HEALTH
Calories, carbs and alcohol

This information about calories, carbohydrates and the alcohol content of the beers listed here comes from many sources.

For purposes of consistency, calories and carbs are based on 12-ounce servings. Alcohol content is listed by volume (a beer that is 4.0% by volume is about 3.2% by weight).

Brewery/BrandBeerAlcohol %CaloriesCarbs
Amstel LightAmstel Light 3.5 95 5
Alaskan BrewingAlaskan Amber 5.0

Alaskan BrewingAlaskan Pale Ale 4.6

Alaskan BrewingAlaskan Stout 5.7

Alaskan BrewingAlaskan ESB 5.0

Alaskan BrewingAlaskan Smoked Porter 6.1

Alaskan BrewingAlaskan Winter Ale 6.2

AnchorAnchor Steam 4.9 152
AnchorLiberty Ale 6.0 188
AnchorAnchor Porter 5.6 205
AnchorOld Foghorn 8-10

AnchorAnchor Small 3.3

Anderson ValleyBoont Amber 5.8

Anderson ValleyHop Ottin' 7.0

Anderson ValleyPoleeko Gold 5.5

Anderson ValleyBelk's ESB 6.8

Anderson ValleyBarney Flats Oatmeal 5.7

Anderson ValleyWinter Solstice 6.9

Anderson ValleyHigh Rollers Wheat 5.3

Anderson ValleyDeep Enders Porter 5.5

BeamishBeamish Stout 3.8 131
Beck'sBeck's 5.0 143
Bell's/KalamazooTwo Hearted Ale 7.0

Bell's/KalamazooAmber Ale 5.5

Bell's/KalamazooPale Ale 5.0

Bell's/KalamazooKalamazoo Stout 6.5

Bell's/KalamazooOberon 6.0

Bell's/KalamazooDouble Cream Stout 7.5

Bell's/KalamazooThird Coast Old Ale 10.2

Bell's/KalamazooExpedition Stout 10.0

Bell's/KalamazooBest Brown Ale 5.8

Bell's/KalamazooCherry Stout 8.0

Blue MoonBlue Moon White 5.4 171 12.9
BreckenridgeAvalanche Amber 5.4

BreckenridgeAutumn Ale 6.7

BreckenridgePale Ale 5.7

BreckenridgeChristmas Ale 7.4

BreckenridgeOatmeal Stout 5.0

BreckenridgePandora's Bock 5.8

BridgePortIPA 5.5

BridgePortPorter 5.5

BridgePortESB 6.1

BridgePortBlack Strap Stout 6.0

BridgePortBlue Heron 4.9

BridgePortPintail Ale 5.2

BridgePortEbenezer Ale 6.4

BridgePortOld Knucklehead 8.9

Budweiser (U.S)Budweiser 5.0 143 10.6
BudweiserBud Light 4.2 95 6.6
BudweiserBud Ice 5.5 148 8.9
BudweiserBud Ice Light 4.1 110 6.5
Budweiser BudvarBudvar 5.0

BuschBusch 4.6 133 10.2
Busch LightBusch Light 4.2 110 6.7
Busch IceBusch Ice 5.9 173 13
ClausthalerClausthaler 0.4 96 5.8
Colt 45Colt 45 Malt Liquor 6.0 172
CoorsCoors Original 5.0 148 11.3
CoorsCoors Light 4.2 102 5.0
CoorsCoors Extra Gold 5.0 147 10.7
CoorsCoors NA <0.5 73 14.2
CoronaCorona Light 4.5 109 5
CoronaCorona Extra 4.6 148
CzechvarCzechvar 5.0

DeschutesCascade Ale 4.5 140
DeschutesMirror Pond Pale 5.3 175
DeschutesBachelor ESB 5.0 180
DeschutesBlack Butte Porter 5.2 185
DeschutesQuail Springs IPA 5.8 200
DeschutesObsidian Stout 6.7 220
DeschutesJubelale 6.7

DeschutesBroken Top Bock 7.0 233
DeschutesPine Mountain Pils 5.1 154
DeschutesCinder Cone Red 5.8 180
Dos EquisDos Equis XX 4.8 145
Dragon StoutDragon Stout 6.8 220
Edison LightEdison Light 4.0 109 6.5
Foster'sFoster's Lager 5.1 156
Fuller'sFuller's ESB 5.9

Fuller'sFuller's London Pride 4.7 156
Genesee/High FallsGenesee 12 Horse 4.8 152 14
Genesee/High FallsGenny Light 3.6 96 5.5
Genesee/High FallsKipling Light Lager 3.4 99 8.0
GrolschGrolsch 5.0 156
Gordon BierschMärzen 5.7

Gordon BierschBlonde Bock 7.0

Gordon BierschPilsner 5.3

GuinnessGuinness Draught 4.0 125 10
GuinnessForeign Extra Stout 7.5 176 14
Hamm'sHamm's 4.7 144 12.1
Hamm'sHamm's Light 4.1 110 7.3
HeinekenHeineken 5.4 166 9.8
HeinekenHeineken Light 3.5 99 6.8
Henry Weinhard'sWeinhard's Amber Ale 5.3 169 14
Henry Weinhard'sWeinhard's Dark 4.8 150 13.1
Henry Weinhard'sWeinhard's Hefeweizen 4.9 128 9.2
Henry Weinhard'sPrivate Reserve 4.5 128 9.2
HoegaardenHoegaarden 5.0

I.C. LightI.C. Light 4.2 95 2.8
IcehouseIcehouse 5.0 5.0 132 8.7
IcehouseIcehouse 5.5 5.5 149 9.8
J.W. DundeeHoney Brown 4.5 150 13.5
KeystoneKeystone Light 4.2 100 5.0
Kilarney'sKilarney's Red Lager 5.0 197 22.8
Killian'sKillian's 4.9 163 13.8
LabattLabatt Blue 5.0 153
LowenbräuLowenbräu 5.2 160

Marin BrewingMt. Tam Pale Ale 5.0

Marin BrewingBluebeery Ale 5.0

Marin BrewingAlbion Amber 5.0

Marin BrewingMarin Weiss 5.0

Marin BrewingPoint Reyes Porter 6.0

Marin BrewingBreakout Stout 6.0

Marin BrewingOld Dipsea Barleywine 9.0

Marin BrewingIndia Pale Ale 6.0

McMenaminsHammerhead 5.8

McMenaminsTerminator 6.4

McMenaminsRuby 4.1

McMenaminsBlack Rabbit Porter 5.5

McMenaminsDry Irish Stout 4.6

MichelobMichelob 5.0 155 13.3
MichelobMichelob Light 4.3 113 6.7
MichelobMichelob Amber Bock 5.2 166 15.0
MichelobMichelob Hefeweizen 5.0 152 11.8
MichelobMichelob Honey Lager 4.9 175 17.4
MichelobMichelob Black & Tan 5.0 168 15.8
MichelobMichelob Ultra 4.2 95 2.6
Mickey'sMickey's 5.6 157 11.2
Mickey'sMickey's Ice 5.9 165 11.8
MillerMiller Genuine Draft 5 143 13.1
MillerMiller Genuine Draft Lite 4.2 110 7
MillerMiller High Life 5.5 156 11
MillerMiller Lite 4.2 96 3.2
MooseheadMoosehead 5.0 153
Murphy'sMurphy's Irish Red 5.0 171
Murphy'sMurphy's Stout 4.0 150
O'DoulsO'Douls 0.4 70 13.3
O'DoulsO'Douls Amber 0.4 90 18
Odell's90 Shilling 5.3

Odell'sEasy Street Wheat 4.7

Odell'sCutthroat Porter 4.5

Odell'sCutthroat Pale Ale 5.1

Odell'sLevity 5.0

Odell'sIsolation 6.0

Odell'sBobby 4.6

Olde English 800Olde English 800 5.9 160 10.5
Olde English 800Olde English 800 Ice 7.9 216 14.3
Old MilwaukeeOld Milwaukee 5.0 156
PabstPabst 5.0 152
PaulanerPaulaner Original Munich 5.5

PaulanerSalvator 7.5 251
PaulanerPaulaner Hefe-Weizen 5.5

Pete's BrewingPete's Wicked Ale 5.3 174 17.7
Pete's BrewingPete's Oktoberfest 5.8 189 16.9
Pete's BrewingPete's Summer Brew 4.7 163 15.6
Pete's BrewingPete's Winter Brew 5.2 170 15.2
Pete's BrewingPete's Helles Lager 5.0 163 14.6
Pete's BrewingPete's Red Rush 5.3 170 14.8
Pete's BrewingPete's Strawberry Blonde 5.0 160 13.6
Pilsner UrquellPilsner Uruqell 4.3 160
Pittsburgh BrewingI.C. Light 4.1 95 2.8
Pittsburgh BrewingIron City Lager 4.5 140 10
PyramidHefeweizen 5.2

PyramidCoastline Pilsner 5.0

PyramidApricot Ale 5.1

PyramidIndia Pale Ale 6.7

PyramidPale Ale 5.1

PyramidCurve Ball Kölsch 4.8

PyramidBroken Rake 6.4

PyramidTilted Kilt 6.3

PyramidSnow Cap Ale 7.0

Red DogRed Dog 5.0 147 14.1
RedhookRedhook ESB 5.8 179 14.2
RedhookRedhook IPA 6.5 188 12.7
RedhookRedhook Blonde Ale 5.4 166 13.1
RedhookRedhook Hefe-weizen 5.2 155 10.9
RedhookRedhook Nut Brown 5.6 181 16
RhinebeckerRhinebecker 5 106 2.5
St. Pauli GirlSt. Pauli Girl 4.9 148
St. Pauli GirlSt. Pauli Girl Dark 4.8 150
St. Pauli GirlSt. Pauli Girl N.A. <0.5 96 23
Sam AdamsSam Adams Light 4.05 124 9.7
Sam AdamsSam Adams Boston Lager 4.8 160
Sam AdamsSam Adams Golden Pilsner 4.6 145
Sam AdamsSam Adams Cream Stout 4.7 195
Sam AdamsSam Adams Boston Ale 4.9 160
Sam AdamsSam Adams Cherry Wheat 5.2 166
Sam AdamsSam Adams Spring Ale 5.2 170
Sam AdamsSam Adams Summer Ale 5.4 175
Sam AdamsSam Adams Pale Ale 5.3 145
Sam AdamsSam Adams Octoberfest 5.7 165
Sam AdamsSam Adams IPA 5.9 175
Sam AdamsSam Adams Winter Lager 5.8 190
Sam AdamsSam Adams Double Bock 8.5 240
Sam AdamsSam Adams Triple Bock 17.5 340
SapporoSapporo Reserve 5.2

ShinerShiner Bock 4.4 143 12.5
ShinerShiner Light 3.9 120 9
Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada Pale Ale 5.7 171 14.1
Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada Porter 5.7 194 18.4
Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada Stout 6.4 225 22.3
Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada Wheat 4.7 153 13.1
Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada Summerfest 4.9 158 13.7
Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada Celebration 6.6 214 19.4
Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada Bigfoot 9.9 330 30.3
Stone BrewingArrogant Bastard Ale 7.2

Stone BrewingStone Pale Ale 5.4

Stone BrewingStone Smoked Porter 5.9

Stone BrewingStone IPA 6.9

Stone BrewingRuination IPA 7.7

Stone BrewingDouble Bastard Ale 10

Stone BrewingStone Old Guardian 9.9

TsingtaoTsingtao 4.7 152
WidmerWidmer Hefeweizen 4.7 159
WidmerWidmer Pale Ale 5.0

WidmerWidmer Blonde Ale 4.3

WidmerWidmer Widberry 4.6

WidmerWidmer Sommerbrä 4.8

WidmerWidmer Oktoberfest 5.0

WidmerWidmer Winternacht 7.0

WidmerSpring Run IPA 6.0

WidmerDrop Top Amber Ale 4.9

YuenglingPremium 4.4 135-140 12
YuenglingLight 3.8 98 6.6
YuenglingAle 5.0 145-150 10
YuenglingPorter 4.5 150-155 14
YuenglingLager 4.4 135-140 12
YuenglingBlack & Tan 4.5 150-155 14
YuenglingLight Lager 3.6 96 8.5

Curved iMac

Designer: Nuno Teixeira

HDR Photographs

20 Beautiful HDR Pictures

There are some photography techniques that really give me the goose bumps, but the good ones. HDR is one of those techniques... and you'll probably love these as much as I do.

"In computer graphics and photography, high dynamic range imaging (HDRI) is a set of techniques that allows a greater dynamic range of exposures (the range of values between light and dark areas) than normal digital imaging techniques. The intention of HDRI is to accurately represent the wide range of intensity levels found in real scenes ranging from direct sunlight to shadows." - From Wikipedia.

What I've read on some foruns is that a program called Photomatix does the job... Does anybody have already used it? I'm looking forward to it. Well... either way, if I don't get to use it, I'll probably find out how to simulate that effect on Photoshop. All these pictures are from a Flickr HDR Group.

Author: Paulo Antunes | If you want to write an article and have it published here send it via email to abduzeedo[at]abduzeedo.com

Thursday, February 28, 2008

AT&T

Snip from a BLF missive:

The Billboard Liberation Front today announced a major new advertising improvement campaign executed on behalf of clients AT&T and the National Security Agency. Focusing on billboards in the San Francisco area, this improvement action is designed to promote and celebrate the innovative collaboration of these two global communications giants.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

America the beautiful has never been more hideous

Published by Fred Soto• February 26th, 2008

President Bush and his Lawless Administration

No, this article isn't going to delve into the illegal war in Iraq, although the evidence is mounting on that case as well. Today, I'd like to bring your attention to FISA. While the war in Iraq is an issue that will yield debate for decades and maybe centuries to come, FISA "modernization" is a matter that has not sunk in with the general public. We don't have to die by the FISA sword just yet and as long as there are Americans standing in this nation, no one should sit idly by as corporations attempt to slip a fast one past our national interests.

A brewing FISA Controversy

Allow me to quickly explain how privacy is protected for American citizens normally, then I'll get into FISA and the threat to our constitutional rights and American identity. Think about this issue like you do any federal law that aims to protect the privacy of American citizens while giving law enforcement officials the tools necessary to get the job done. Without going into too much detail, the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution has traditionally granted American citizens the right to privacy without explicitly saying so in the language.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The 4th amendment helps serve as a framework that covers your right to be free from government intrusion, especially in your home and private space. If you've ever seen "Law and Order" or some other show where the main character agonizes over invading a suspected criminal's home because of a lacking warrant, then you understand the concept of liberty that every American citizen enjoys. Even the most unscrupulous of characters are guaranteed the benefit of the doubt when it comes to privacy and that isn't a blunder made by our founders or the countless courts that have visited the issue over the years.

Privacy is important to American citizens, liberty and the right to be free of government intrusion is key to the foundation of our United States constitution and those rights have been severely crippled under the Bush Administration. The biggest threats to our rights are realized through two measures that betrayed the American trust over Bush's years in office, "the Patriot Act" and "the Protect America Act". For people paying attention, it's no secret that the Bush Administration and his allies in the rubber-stamping Congress, worked hard to create names that deceive Americans into foregoing their rights so that they may wage "the War on Terror".

So what is FISA and how does it affects you?

FISA stands for the "Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act." It is significant because it creates the legal standards for foreign surveillance. This is basically what governs the ability of our government to "gather intelligence" aka spy on people outside of our borders. FISA is supposed to be focused on capturing terrorist organizations and individuals that might do us harm, but what about when the surveillance involves American citizens — directly or indirectly?

Almost immediately after Bush was inaugurated as President, he had a working surveillance program underway that would spy on American citizens. The system was developed through the department of defense or some other secretive government agency from prior administrations and possibly in conjunction with the telecommunications companies. Although the idea predated Bush's days in office, his predecessors hesitated to set this in motion, perhaps because they had the common sense not to or maybe they were waiting for the perfect time to install the system. The important issue to focus on here is that Bush had no qualms about invading our privacy and violating federal law at the time he signed off on mass surveillance. Remember that September 11th didn't occur for well over six months after the system was set in motion. The story that is fed to the public and through the clueless media is that President Bush enacted the spying program as a result of 9/11.

Bush and his surrogates in Congress argue this as a cause and effect issue and insist nothing fishy was going on. Terrorist attacked our homeland on September 11th, they argue, and therefore the President acted in "our best interests" by soliciting the assistance of the telecommunications industry — to install a mass surveillance program that would sweep the internet and phone records for intel. In that same light, the telecommunications companies acted properly because they fulfilled their "patriotic duty" to this nation and did so only at the request of the President.

Illegal Surveillance of American Citizens

The question before Congress is whether the United States should provide immunity to these corporations that were involved in a surveillance program that most likely violated the constitutional rights of millions of Americans. This "alleged" violation of our constitutional framework was done for the sake of amassing a database of all perceived threats to the American interest. The fact that the President and a few Senate Republicans in-the-know are so adamantly opposed to a FISA bill that allows the legal system to determine whether the law was violated is very telling of their motives. They have something to hide and a good handful of Americans in public office know what that something is.

As you consider FISA legislation and "spying on Americans without a warrant", recognize that President Bush, with the assistance of his newly minted Attorney General Mukasey, has intentionally violated the FISA provisions of 1978. Neither President Bush nor his administration can use the excuse that he had no knowledge he was violating the law or that any of the mass intelligence gathering was inadvertently done. On Friday, Attorney General Mukasey released a statement about our national security and the executive's intent to continue violating FISA of 1978 out of fear of "missing intelligence".

You're either with us or against us…

Attorney General Mukasey said that because immunity "is up for grabs," telecommunications companies are "more and more uncertain, more and more hesitant to cooperate." With that, the fear-driven tactics are once again renewed by the executive and like Mukasey's predecessor Alberto Gonzales, he acts as a shield to executive accountability.

"So, my answer to mom and pop is we're trying to keep you safe, but it's getting increasingly difficult," he said.

To complicate matters more, the Attorney General's office is once again politicized, a serious problem that will lead to future legal entanglements for years to come.

"If the vote were held today, it would pass, by our count, because there are a majority of House members who support it," Mukasey said.

Notice that the attorney general views this as an "us vs. them" and he puts himself squarely on the side of the Executive branch and with the handful of republicans that were aware of the illegal surveillance. The FISA currently enacted as law in the United States is as it was from 1978 until August of 2007 when Congress hurriedly passed the "Protect America Act".

At the time, Congress did this so recklessly in large part because the President cited classified evidence of a serious and imminent terrorist threat to the United States and urged Congress to pass it or else. The last time Bush raised the specter of mushroom clouds and an impending attack from Iraq, he also averted legal accountability and hundreds of billions of dollars later there is no end in sight to the executive's violation of the law. What is the difference between our situation in 2001 and the situation in 2008? For starters, we can do something about FISA in a way that we were unable to do with respect to the Iraq War.

Solving the FISA Crisis and above-the-law Executive Power

First, we must put a stop to all illegal maneuvering by our government and telecommunications companies by drawing the line on immunity as they have done.

President Bush now insists that he will not sign any bills that fail to include immunity for past "alleged" illegal activity. Despite the rhetoric and propaganda that he is making in statements to the press, with some organizations funding television ads against the House leadership, this isn't a lack of the House of Representatives' interest in securing our nation. The reason the house refuses to bring the measure to the floor for a vote is because it is finally standing up for the American people. The House leadership, for once, is showing the courage that our Senate Democrats have not. In fact, it isn't an unwillingness to cooperate with the FISA modernization as they gladly offer the terms of the Senate or House bills for vote. They've become wise to the President's political agenda, however. The only area where the House refuses to compromise is telecommunications immunity. What they refuse to offer is a free pass for any and all illegal acts undertaken by our government or corporations against our citizens. What they are doing right now, until they prove otherwise, is standing up for the people that make this government and nation worthy of praise and admiration.

If you're a frequent reader of this blog, you know that last week I wrote an emotional piece that garnered a lot of attention, especially over this statement: "I've never been more ashamed to be an American." That was how I felt after the Senate stabbed all Americans in the back on the telecommunications immunity issue. As far as I'm concerned, the House of Representatives is the only hope that people like me and maybe you have for justice in this new era of super patriots, fear mongers and war profiteering.

America is watching and people of the world are at the edge of their seats because they, like I, see a glimmer of hope in America and this time it has nothing to do with Barack Obama. Perhaps America isn't the brutal monster that some corporatist goons in Washington have converted this nation into. Yes, it's true… "America the beautiful" has never been more hideous, but maybe this ugly duckling can turn into a swan if our leaders can show the courage necessary to fight this evil that has tainted our government.

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ONION: Bush Vows to Makie it Up to Country, Somehow

Bush Vows To Make It Up To Country Somehow

February 27, 2008 | Issue 44•09

WASHINGTON—Amid allegations that his thoughtless and insensitive decisions have damaged his relationship with the nation, President George W. Bush vowed Monday that he would, starting now, "make everything better."

"This time I'm serious," Bush said. "I am ready to make a fresh start if we can just put the past behind us. I promise."

Bush

Bush swears that this time he's really going to pay attention to all 280 million U.S. citizens, and try to do right by them for once.

An estimated 35 million citizens listened to the president's televised remarks while silently crying behind locked bathroom doors.

Though Bush told all Americans they owed it to him to give him one more chance, he admitted that there was no excuse for his mishandling of national affairs.

"Things have just been so crazy at work lately," he said.

During the 14-minute address Bush acknowledged that he and the country had drifted apart. He accepted some of the blame, but stressed that it was partly the American people's fault, and went on to chide them for not giving him an opportunity to explain, not standing behind him, and failing to understand his "very real" need for unchecked executive authority.

"My job is stressful," Bush said. "Trust me, things will calm down in a few months once I don't have to deal with it anymore."

George W. Bush

The president, whose approval ratings have dropped steadily in recent years, said he had no idea how bad things had gotten until he found out that an overwhelming percentage of Americans didn't even bother responding to an opinion poll this month about his recent $3.1 trillion budget proposal.

Bush has since taken steps towards reconciliation with the American people, including promoting a promise to help alleviate the fiscal woes the U.S. has faced in recent months. Bush said he knew that the $300 he intended to give to every citizen "couldn't possibly make up for how [he has] governed," but nevertheless asked the nation to have faith in him.

"I know it's not much, but it's a start, right?" Bush said. "And it hasn't always been bad. Doesn't this remind you of that other $300 rebate I gave you in 2003? You always forget all the times I'm a really great president. We have really had some wonderful moments."

"Cut me some slack here, for Christ's sake," Bush continued. "I'm trying. I really am."

In addition to providing economic relief, Bush said he has taken other measures to strengthen his bond with the nation. According to the president, his newly proposed warrantless-wiretapping bill will greatly broaden the reach of his personal attention to the American people's needs and put him in a position to be more directly involved in their lives.

The president concluded by imploring the nation to help him rectify the situation, stressing that he always has America's best interests at heart but cannot be expected to improve things all by himself.

"You have to realize that everything I do, I do for you," Bush said. "Do you think I like denying health care to underprivileged children, or plunging the country deeper and deeper into debt? Well, I don't, and I hope someday you'll understand that. In the meantime, I'm asking the American people to try to meet me halfway on this."

Despite Bush's seemingly conciliatory stance, public response to Bush's promises has been frosty at best. Cato Institute policy scholar Brian Whitaker echoed the sentiments of many Americans, calling Bush's recent overtures "too little, too late."

"We want to believe that he's finally going to be the president we always wanted, but we've given him so many chances," Whitaker said. "I don't think we can handle another disappointment. Maybe it's time to realize that President Bush will never be the head of state we need him to be."

"Then again, maybe our expectations are unfair," Whitaker added. "He seemed so sincere this time. He wouldn't abuse his executive powers if he didn't care about us, right?"

Whitaker predicted that the nation will likely move forward and try to forget Bush, though it may be difficult for Americans to ever trust a president again. He said the current crop of presidential contenders offers little in the way of an alternative to Bush, but maintained that "at least Barack Obama listens to us."

Flags From the World


United States


China


Colombia


Burkina Faso


Brazil


European Union


Somalia

Friday, February 22, 2008

Hacker holds onto ill-gotten gains thanks to US courts

Oleksandr Dorozhko made almost $300,000 in stock-option trading by using insider information that was obtained after someone hacked into a financial network and stole confidential information concerning a company called IMS Health. Now, the Ukrainian resident is exploiting a loophole that may allow him to keep the ill-gotten gains for good.

That's because US securities laws, unlike those in Europe and elsewhere, define insiders as those with a fiduciary role with a company - say, a corporate executive, investment banker or attorney. As a mere hacker, or as an associate to a mere hacker, Dorozhko had no such function, so the laws cannot be used to seize the assets, a federal judge has ruled.

The strange tale, which was reported here by The New York Times, reads like a chapter out of Catch 22. According to evidence presented by the Securities and Exchange Commission, minutes after someone broke into a network of Thomson Financial and stole a gloomy IMS Health earnings report scheduled to go public a few hours later, Dorozhko invested a little more than $41,000 in put options that bet the company's share price would plunge.

And plunge it did. Dorozhko ended up pocketing more than $296,000 in the transaction. Not bad for a few hours work.

Just about everyone agrees he committed fraud and just about everyone agrees it was for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage in trading shares of IMS Health. And yet, because the information was illegally obtained, US insider laws have no bearing, according to US District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald, who ordered the SEC to turn over the money. Ironically, had the insider information been obtained legally, the SEC would most likely have been permitted to seize the funds.

Jeremiah Grossman, the CTO of WhiteHat Security, says here that the loophole, if left unclosed, could also aid hacks that technically don't require the bypassing of password requirements or other security measures. He notes that so-called predictable resource location hacks, in which a person guesses the location of a web document before it goes public, have already been used by Estonian stock traders.

Prosecutors with the Justice Department are probably free to file criminal charges against Dorozhko for computer hacking. But given his status as a Ukrainian, it's doubtful they'd succeed. And even if they did, it's even less likely they'd recover the proceeds.

So thanks to the arcana of US securities laws, illegal hacking does pay.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Coffee Art

Coffee Art

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A little milk and any cup of coffee, chocolate, cappuccino can make your day more beautiful. You can draw, write, give form by pouring milk in your favorite drink. I was impressed to see how easy this can be done. I'll try this myself and add it to the others. If you have any interesting coffee creation, you can leave them in your comments.

latte art

coffee art

How to make everything you imagine with only milk or cream and coffee?

And also a video: coffee art

Sources: tonx,

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