Kuriositas

18 September 2022

Love Valley – Seeing is Believing

Love Valley in Cappadocia, Turkey certainly has a claim to fame – a very large one. Rather euphemistically named, the valley is home to rock structures that bear a passing resemblance to… well - make your own mind up. Seeing, as they say, is believing.

Image Credit Flickr User Cachalan

Cappadocia (Kapadokya in Turkish) is a region of exceptional natural wonders, none more so than the giant monuments left by Mother Nature in Love Valley. Situated in the very heart of modern day Turkey this natural wonder sits on a high plateau over a thousand meters in altitude. Rainfall is sparse in this area and the place has hot dry summers and bitterly cold snowy winters. There is little rainfall and so the region is generally arid. In this environment these huge phallic natural structures seems like some sort of ancient homage to male fertility. However, they are far from man-made despite the possible resemblance to manhood.

Moving Athens

Moving Athens is the latest in the series of Moving Cities filmed pieces created by Jevan Chowdhury where the inhabitants of cities around the world engage with their urban environment through the medium of dance. It serves as a reminded that despite its troubles, Greece still has so much to offer the world. And if still aren’t convinced take a look at our feature What have the Greeks ever done for us?

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Three Guesses What This Might Be...

So, what do you think this is? It's called a bee hotel and more and more people are making or buying them in order to encourage solitary bees to use them to hibernate or as a place in which to lay an egg. The reason is fairly simple- with bee numbers in decline in many places it is important to encourage the species that do not have hives ready made for them to continue to breed. Why? Solitary bees are often fifty times better pollinators than their honey producing hive living counterparts, so it's vital that their species persevere. For lots more great examples of bee hotels, buzz over to Ark in Space.

Image Credit Flickr User szczel

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Watch an Amazing Botanical Mural as it Takes Shape

I always find art time-lapses fascinating not least because if you gave me a hundred years I would not be able to do anything close to the end product. Here Lucila Dominuez creates a fantastic botanical mural over the space of five days in Buenos Ares. It’s amazing to watch the process from start to finish and really makes me want to dash out and but some paint and brushes. However, knowing what my end result would be like, I will defer that: I’m not in the mood to repent at leisure.

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Frat

In a world in which the inhabitants are inexorably turning to stone one young boy has the ability to cure – but by sacrificing his own blood. Yet the inhabitants of this world are as hard and unforgiving as the stone in to which they are turning. Created by a group of students at ESMA in 2008 (Sebastien Durand , Aurélien Peis, Julien Limon and Cédric Trezeguet.) Frat remains an intriguing piece and has hardly aged despite the advances in animation technology.

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One for the Road

If the world was going to end I think I might well head for the pub and have one for the road. In this short film written and directed by Ben Chavda, one man decides to do just that. It’s a great atmospheric piece and leaves you to fill in a lot of the detail yourself (which is perfect). One slight criticism, however: if you head to the bar on your last day on the planet, the least you can do is drink!

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11 September 2022

Incredible Crepuscular Rays - Sunbeams Caught on Camera

Sunbeams are everywhere – yet when they are caught on camera they are often unwanted additions to a photograph. They cut swathes through the picture, chopping off heads and obscuring detail in a burst of light. However, when they are deliberately captured the results can be nothing short of magical.

Image Credit Flickr User Apheric Lens

Image Credit Flickr User G_Cowan

The Man Who Survived Two Atomic Bombs

Tsutomu Yamaguchi was, depending on your point of view either the luckiest man on Planet Earth or exactly the opposite. Either way, what happened to him in the August of 1945 is nothing short of amazing – and his survival miraculous.

Yamaguchi was a resident of Nagasaki but on the fateful day of 6 August 1945 he was in Hiroshima, on business for his employer, Mitsubishi. He was badly wounded when the bomb carried by Enola Gay exploded above Hiroshima but survived and returned to Nagasaki the next day.

Amazingly, he returned to work on August 9 – most of us in this day and age will take a day off work if we have a nosebleed, let alone get blown up by an atomic bomb. He was explaining the first bomb to his supervisor when Bocks Car flew over Nagasaki. The Fat Man atomic bomb was dropped on to the city and Tamaguchi became the victim of a second atomic blast. He was three kilometers away from Ground Zero but was not able to get treatment for the injuries he had received in Hiroshima – for obvious reasons.

He was recognised as a hibakashu (one of those affected by the explosions) but only of the Nagasaki bomb – he kept his remarkable story to himself for many years. The Japanese government finally recognised his presence in both cities in 2009. He died of stomach cancer in January 2010.

We may not have heard the last of Tsutomu Yamaguchi. Several months before his death he met the film director James Cameron (of Titanic and Avatar fame). It seems that the director is keen to shoot Yamaguchi’s story – and it certainly does deserve more exposure. Let’s just hope that Celine Dion doesn’t sing the theme music.

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Dreams of the Last Butterflies

This almost defies definition but Dreams of the Last Butterflies is certainly this – something very special. Combining poetry, song, dance, and flame throwing among other things, this performance-film had me spellbound from start to finish. It is a dark ‘faerie tale’ written and directed by Zina Brown and is told by the last of the butterfly queens (wonderfully –quite ravishingly - performed here by the actor-dancers).

The last of the queens tells the story of her many species, how one by one they are disappearing from the world because of human intervention. Yet she is herself ultimately captured and the future of butterflies looks bleak…

Dreams of the Last Butterflies has wowed people at festivals across the world and has already won over ten awards. It was created in partnership with Saving Species.

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Abaddon

If you enjoy our occasional forays in to dance here at Kuriositas then you are in for something of a treat. This dark and atmospheric dance performance is Abaddon, a place of suffering, purification and sensuality.

It was written and directed by Rogerio Silva, choreographed and performed by Harriet Waghorn and Troy Savic with music by Alaskan Tapes.

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Space Rocks

There are lots of names associated with all the rocks floating around in space so what is the difference, for example, between a meteor and a meteorite? Fortunately we have the folks over at the Royal Observatory Greenwich (and if anyone knows, it should be them!) to simply and clearly explain which is which and what’s what in outer space (and occasionally, of course, down here on our own pale blue dot).

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Retrofit

Retrofit is set in the near future when death is simply a new beginning; for those who can afford it. Dylan, driven by his need for reconciliation, brings his father back from the dead, and houses him in a shabby utility robot 'acquired’ from the black market. Having proceeded without his father's consent, the two must come to terms with their situations. The film was produced with the collaboration of various visual effects artists primarily focused in the UK.

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The Scottish Fold – The Owl Cat

The Scottish Fold is something of a special breed of cat. Seeing one for the first time you are drawn to its round facial features and, in the back of your mind, a thought nags you that something seems to be missing. Then you realize – it’s all about the ears. Our sibling site, the Ark in Space, has the story of this owl cat extraordinaire with, as you might expect, lots of fantastic photos.

Image Credit

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4 September 2022

Re-booting my Brain to Give Feedback in Further Education

One thing often leads to another. A TES article from February – “Does marking really boost student motivation?” – is currently trending again. No surprise, I guess, as the new academic year is starting and teachers are already, no doubt, beginning to dread the marking that will go with it.

I think the "takeaway" here for me is the elements of the article about feedback. Yes, marking is feedback, it argues, but surely a few words of praise will stay with a learner a lot longer. I couldn’t agree more. Last year, I committed myself to being more conscious of the feedback I gave and the manner in which it was given - this was to ensure that all learners received some kind of feedback from me in any given class. Now, at the start of the new academic year, I feel my brain needs a little re-boot to get back into the zone, as it were. So here are my re-boot thoughts for giving feedback in a Further Education environment. However, I hope it’s just as relevant to teachers in primary, secondary or tertiary education.

Teach the students about feedback
I always include a section about feedback for students in the course handbook which is given to them in their induction week. It outlines for them some of the forms feedback can take outside of the context of written marking. When observers ask students what kind of feedback they get in a class, it's often met with blank stares as students, like us, often primarily associate feedback with written teacher comments. This could become an issue as most FE college have now adopted the Ofsted model of observation where, at a certain point, teachers may be asked to leave the classroom to enable the observer to question the class about their course and their progress. Feedback will come up if your students are questioned.

29 August 2022

Rangoli: Welcome Mat of the Gods

Throughout the predominantly Hindu country of India, a folk art has been practiced for many centuries. Known varyingly as Kolam, Muggu and Mandana (among other names in this huge and diverse nation), the art of Rangoli is created using dyed rice or sand, flour and the petals of flowers. It signifies a sacred welcoming zone for Hindu deities. It can be quite a welcome.

Image Credit Flickr User Shandi

Chivalry is Dead

At the end of a treasure map lies the prize and Sir Moros is determined to claim it as his own. When that prize turns out to be the cutest baby dragon in the land then he knows that the hand of the princess, riches beyond his imagination and the keys to the kingdom are in his grasp. Or are they? Created by a group of six very talented students at the National Centre for Computer Animation, Bournemouth University, Chivalry is Dead shows that UK students can hold their own against their better funded counterparts around the world. It also shows that a nifty little play on words can enhance an already outstanding piece of work even further.

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Particle Flow

The video above records a kinetic motion study created by Michael Schmitz and team for a well known stryenics provider. I think it’s best to hand the rest over to Mr Schmitz:

“Granules are driven by gravity and topography forming an analogue particle system. A moving slanted plane and a grid of motorized stamps control the elements to form infinite variations of behaviors and patterns. The result is a zen-like experience that is both: fascinating and contemplative. Software controlled motion follows a complex choreography and enables precise steering of physical particles in a variety of ways: from subtle to obvious, from slow to high paced, from random-like to symmetric.”

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The Wolf Eel: The Old Man of the Sea

Possibly not what you might want jumping out at you when you are on an ocean dive! This is the wolf eel – it can grow to eight feet long and has teeth that can easily crush human bone. Something to be avoided at all costs, then? You might think so but then the truth is often stranger than fiction. This old man of the sea turns out to be something of a pussycat and will gladly let divers stroke and feed it – and it’s just as curious about us as we are about it. Find out more about the wolf eel over at the Ark in Space with great pictures and an awesome video to boot.

Image Credit Flickr User Ed Bierman

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Cheese Trouble: When Wallace and Gromit met the Minions!

If the minions were suddenly to get peckish for some cheese, where do you think they should go to acquire their portions? Animator Fabrice Mathieu believes they would probably make a bee-line (or should that be cheese-line) to the home of Wallace and Gromit. After all, if anyone is going to have enough cheese for the minions, it will probably be them. They may not be so keen to have their cheese stolen, however! Don’t worry so much about how exactly Monsieur Fabrice has done this, just enjoy the guilty pleasure of this mashup with a cup of tea and a slice or two of Wensleydale.

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When to Stop Playing Gambling Games: The Two Main Approaches

There is no one answer to the question of when to stop playing gambling games. This decision is highly personal and depends on a variety of factors. However, there are two main approaches that players in Australia typically take: either quitting immediately after a big win or stopping when losses exceed a certain limit. Whichever approach you choose, it is important to be aware of the risks involved and make a conscious decision about when to walk away from the table.

The game is over when you win

For some gamblers, the thrill of winning is enough to keep them coming back for more. However, there is always the risk of losing what you've won, and many players find that it's simply not worth it to continue gambling after a big win. If you choose to quit after a big payout, set aside some money so you can still enjoy your winnings without having to worry about losing it all again.

From the perspective of people who have won numerous times in online casinos, it is best to end the game as soon as you achieve a big win. According to Caziwoo USA, more players end their session when they make a large profit instead of continuing until they lose all their money. Therefore, the individuals who continue gambling end up winning more money than those gamblers who stop once they reach their predetermined limit.

When losses exceed a certain limit

Another approach is to stop playing when your losses exceed a certain amount. This can help prevent you from chasing your losses and becoming too deeply entrenched in the game. It's important to set a limit that you're comfortable with and stick to it; if you find yourself constantly exceeding your limit, it may be time to reevaluate your approach to gambling.

Some people, however, disagree with this statement. They instead feel that if they play a little more, they will eventually win the jackpot. In the end, it is up to you which method works best for you. Additionally, it's important to understand that while having faith is all well and good– blindly trusting in victory seldom gets anybody very far. Lastly, You must understand what your financial situation currently entails before gambling at a casino –so That way, losing All your funds does not unintentionally transpire into becoming A total life-ruining catastrophe.

Helpful tips for gambling responsibly

Learn to understand your limits

Both of these approaches have their merits; ultimately, it's up to you to decide when to stop playing. The most important thing is to be aware of your limits and make sure you gamble responsibly. If you're not sure where to start, plenty of resources are available to help you make informed decisions about gambling.

Set a budget and stick to it

Decide how much you're willing to lose before you start playing, and don't exceed that amount. Once you've reached your limit, walk away from the table and don't be tempted to continue playing.

Don't chase your losses

If you find yourself losing more than you're comfortable with, stop playing and wait for another day. Trying to win back your losses will only lead to more losses– remember that the house always has an edge in gambling games.

Be aware of the odds.

Remember that the house always has an edge; over time, you're more likely to lose than to win. Don't gamble more than you can afford to lose and accept the fact that you may never get back what you've put in.

Take breaks often

If you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, take a break from gambling. It's important to remember that gambling should be enjoyable; if it's not, you might have a problem.

There are many approaches to gambling, but ultimately it is up to the individual to decide when to walk away from the table. With any approach, it is important to be aware of the risks involved and make sure you gamble responsibly. If you're not sure where to start, plenty of resources are available to help you make informed decisions about gambling. The most important thing is to set a budget and stick to it; if you find yourself losing more than you're comfortable with, stop playing and wait for another day. Trying to win back your losses will only lead to more losses– remember that the house always has an edge in gambling games. Remember, gambling should be enjoyable.

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22 August 2022

Dew - Earth's Liquid Jewelry

In his poem Hyperion, Longfellow said, “Every dew-drop and rain-drop had a whole heaven within it." What would he make of today’s world of micro and macrophotography? To say his words had an element of truth in them might be assuming that the camera never lies. However it can hardly be doubted that he might find joy in this collection of outstanding photographs. Perhaps he would feel that they represented the inner peace for which he was searching.

Image Credit Flickr User Stevetookit

Image Credit Flickr User Ecstaticist

Earth's liquid jewelry wrought of air. Philip James Bailey
Dew forms on any exposed and thin object in the morning and (unknown to some) also in the evening. It is caused by the object cooling. When it cools it radiates the heat it is generating. That heat causes moisture in the surrounding atmosphere to condense. The water is not able to evaporate faster that it is condensing. So, dew forms.

The Ballad of Holland Island House

This is quite an extraordinary meeting of talents, brought together to tell the true story of the last house standing on a sinking island in the Chesapeake Bay, the northern part of which is within Maryland, the southern portion within Virginia. Animator Lynn Tomlinson uses a truly inventive animation technique using just a thin layer of oil-based clay.

The music is by Anna Roberts-Gevalt and Elizabeth LaPrelle – a perfect companion to the animation which produces a soulful and haunting view of the impact of sea-level rise. The words, told from the perspective of the house are reminiscent of Longfellow’s The Windmill (to me, anyway!) but the tone here is much more elegiac. Altogether it is a mesmerizing experience: moreover, it’s wonderful to hear an authentic if somewhat melancholic American voice come through the sound and visuals so strongly.

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What is Magna Carta?

If you are researching Magna Carta for a history essay then you cannot go wrong with this for sheer clarity. In just under four minutes you will understand how the Magna Carta came in to being and how it echoes down the eight centuries since it was written from the US Declaration of Independence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

To top it all, directed by Gergely Wootsch for the British Library, this animation has a voiceover by Monty Python’s Terry Jones. Honestly, watch this and tell me that history is still boring.

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Lunchtime

This is bonkers. A park bench may seem like a peaceful place to have your lunchtime sandwich but when you are joined by a menagerie of dancing African animals you know that any chance of quiet solitude is over. The Lion King this ain’t. Filmed on location in Merrion Square Park, Dublin, Lunchtime was written and directed by Andrew Barry. It features choreography by Lisa Tyrell of the Whynot Dance Company.

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Cats in Sinks

There is no point trying to figure out cats. Well, not until their plan for world domination has succeeded and we are all in their thrall. Who am I kidding? That happened in Egypt around 4,000 years ago. That aside, cats do still puzzle us, especially when it comes to things like their propensity for sitting in sinks. Our sibling site the Ark in Space has a whole gallery of cats enjoying themselves in sinks for no apparent reason. Enjoy!

Image Credit

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13 August 2022

Skull Rock: Is this the Best Super Villain Lair Ever?

Are you a super villain looking for a new lair? Then look no further. Take a look at Skull Rock, also known as Cleft Island. Situated off the coast of Wilsons Promontory in the state of Victoria it is at the southernmost point of the Australian mainland. It is beautiful, unspoiled and above all, peaceful. From a distance you may not think it is anything to write home about – and that’s the beauty of it. Your new hi-tech facility, where you can evolve your next fiendish plan without interruption, is hidden in plain sight. Plus it’s handy for the shops.

Image credit Flickr User Michael Sale

Agents of the various enemy states against which you plot may search for you but it will be in vain. The last place they will think of looking is this unremarkable and bare piece of rock protruding from the sea. Yet if we examine the island a little closer, you will soon see that the place is quite possibly perfect for an irredeemable scoundrel such as yourself.

The Trogon: Beautiful Nibblers of the Forest

The Trogon – it sounds like a species of alien out of Star Trek or Doctor Who. However, this family of somewhat overlooked birds has its roots very firmly on planet Earth and the Ark in Space has a great photo feature on them today. These exquisite birds are well worth a look.

Part of the Trogonidae family contains six species which are considered the most beautiful – if not the most unusual – in the family. These are the Quetzals – you can see one in the picture above.Jump over to our sibling site, the Ark in Space, for a glimpse of ten of the 39 species of trogon.

Image Credit Flickr User Brettocop

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Snowtime

I am not even going to wonder how this is done, just bask in the beauty of it all. If you are one of our regular readers then you will know that we like timelapses at Kuriositas. However, this one is different – very different. Vyacheslav Ivanov has captured the formation of snow crystals.

Again, I have no clue how it was done but thank you for doing it, Mr Ivanov.

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God-Mother

Although not necessary this is a perfect excuse to feature some Bulgarian folk music on Kuriositas. I came across this wonderful, enigmatic animated short by Nina Paley today and as well as being entranced by her work I was further transported by the ethereal, other-worldly singing of the Bulgarian State Radio and Television Female Vocal Choir which I first came across in my 1980s university days. The combination is simply… well, why don’t you watch it and put your own adjectives in place?

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Bingewatchers Anonymous

Are you a bingewatcher? Do you promise to yourself that you will only watch one, perhaps two new episodes of your favorite TV drama when it goes online and then sit through the entire season? Then perhaps you need to enroll with Bingewatchers Anonymous, like Jeff, who has been advised by a friend to go along to one of their meetings. Written and directed by Kody Cunningam, you might recognize yourself among this motley crew but how long before you – and they – fall off the wagon?

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10 Tips to Becoming a Professional Casino Player

There are a lot of tips out there on how to get started playing online casino games but the advice is all over the place. Here's how to find out exactly what will help you become a better player.

Casino players are the kings and queens of the gambling world, but you don’t have to be a professional to play. The rules of the game of casino roulette and poker are very simple. But mastering the basic rules of each casino game is a skill set that takes years of practice to achieve mastery. To win consistently at the tables, you need to learn how to analyze your opponent’s weaknesses and use them against him. In this article, we’ll look at ten rules that you should learn to apply when playing at a casino.

This post has 10 tips that can help anyone to improve his or her betting strategy, even if they are not casino players yet.

Find an online casino

There are many types of online casinos, but the most popular and successful ones that offer free play and games. They provide their players with a unique experience, and allow them to practice before playing real money. For example, Slots City allows players to try out slots without depositing any money. That’s why it’s important to choose an online casino wisely. Make sure that you’re dealing with a reputable company that will pay you back if you lose your money.

If you want to try some online casino games, it is very important to choose a safe one for beginner onlinecasino players. There are many online casinos that aren’t reputable at all, so it's important to select one carefully. One good thing about online casinos is that you don’t have to drive anywhere, which is why it is easier to access them. Another benefit of using online casinos is that you don’t have to go to a brick-and-mortar casino to play your favorite slot or game. Instead, you can play them right from the comfort of your own home.

Set Your Expectations Low

In online casinos, the games of chance can be exciting and thrilling, but the games of skill, and in particular poker, are often boring and frustrating. This is because it requires some concentration, patience and strategy, and as such there is little excitement or entertainment value to the game. In addition, playing online poker, as opposed to a live casino game, offers little personal interaction with the dealers and other players.

Understand Your Weaknesses

It is possible to play a game of chance online with the right strategies. However, there is a lot of information that will help you understand what you need to know and be ready to play. A few things that could help you win more money are to understand the basics of the game, know your odds, and realize that you cannot always rely on luck to help you win. You need to know how to control the game.

Understand the Game

When players play slots, they often try to analyze how the machines work. Most online casinos offer guides on how to win, but it’s never too early to understand the game itself. This is especially true for slot games since the odds of winning are fixed. While some players may feel lucky, the machine does not care, and they’ll lose even if they don’t make any mistakes. Knowing what you’re dealing with gives you the advantage.

Know When to Walk Away

Do you play online casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, and more? If you do, then you may have come across the phrase “walk away,” which usually means that there’s no reason to continue playing a particular game because you’re sure to lose. However, if you’re able to walk away from a losing streak, you can eventually turn that bad luck around.

Have an Attitude of Gratification

In online gambling, players want to win more than anything else. They want to feel the rush of winning as much as possible. So, as they play, they set their targets based on how much they think they can win. They decide how much money they want to spend and try to get as close to their target as possible without spending more than their budget allows. If they win, they get a feeling of happiness and satisfaction; if they lose, they feel sad and frustrated. This is called “gratification.”

Have a Clear Purpose

While there are many sites available that allow you to play casino games, it’s important that you select one that offers the most exciting and varied range of games. Casino games come in all shapes and sizes and they all have one thing in common, they’re designed to give the player the best chance of winning.

Learn About Betting Patterns

With the advent of online casinos, players have the ability to bet on all sorts of events. Online casinos are typically offered in many different forms, including table games, slots, scratch cards, and sports betting. The more options available, the better, but there is one thing that all casinos have in common: They all use betting patterns.

If you want to get the most out of an online casino, you need to know the different types of betting patterns. To begin with, all online casinos have some type of betting pattern. They have progressive jackpots. The progressive jackpot is a pool of money that keeps growing and growing as more people participate in the games. There are some games that use a progressive jackpot. They include keno, lotto, scratch cards, and others. In some casinos, players can win this money. On the other hand, if you play for real money, you will never win the jackpot because you cannot withdraw the money.

Plan Ahead

You should always plan ahead while playing online casino games. In fact, you should have a strategy for every situation you face, whether it’s a bad hand, a good hand, or if you need to bluff. When you’re playing online casino games, having a strategy is essential.

If you want to win, you should have a plan. When you are playing online casino games, you should always have a strategy. If you don’t have one, you are losing, no matter what you do. To play online casino games, you should always prepare a plan before you start playing. That way, you will know what to do when you need to do it. If you need to bluff, then you will have a clear plan. If you want to do better, you should have a strategy that you follow to achieve your goal.

Study the Game

There’s a reason why online casinos are a hot topic these days. No doubt about it – online casinos are becoming increasingly popular. The world is changing rapidly and online casinos are part of the shift to a new type of online experience. It’s no longer just about sitting in front of a computer all day and hoping to win big. People want to play online and play now.

These days, more and more people are playing online games, particularly those games that involve real money. People love the excitement of playing against other people and making money by winning. But the thing is, when you play online, you need to be very cautious about the site. Never play with money that you cannot afford to lose. Be sure that you have a good plan and a solid strategy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the number one rule of playing casino games is to treat them like the slot machine they really are. When you know this, the real casino game begins. I will tell you everything you need to know to make a career out of playing the slots. You don’t have to take my word for it though, so here’s a link to my review of “The Slot Book: Winning Strategies for Slots, Video Poker, Blackjack and Keno.”

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31 July 2022

Fan.tasia - The Ultimate Disney Mashup

We all like a bit of Disney, don’t we? No? Tough, really, as I do! This mashup by Lindsay McCutcheon is extraordinarily well done and if you’re as much of a fan of Disney animations as I am then you will see any number of your old favorites in here.

This is very clever work and must have taken an age to do – but is probably the best advert for Disney I’ve ever seen.

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How Do You Know When You’re in Love?

That’s the million dollar question – the ten million dollar question probably being what am I going to do about it? However, for now let’s start with the first question. The Atlantic went out on the streets of New York and asked its denizens to ponder that age old question. Out of the mouths of babes, perhaps, come the most amusing but the wisdom of the older New Yorkers shine through (there’s a little cynicism, of course, thrown in for good measure).

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Fishing with Cormorants

It is partnership between man and animal which has lasted over a millennia. A fisherman needs to catch enough fish to sell and feed himself and his family. Sometimes that means that he needs an assistant. The Ark in Space takes a look at the fascinating relationship between the cormorant and the fishermen of China's inland rivers.

Image Credit Pathos Photos

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The Light

As visual metaphors go, this is rather lovely. A lonely street light finds purpose when its light encourages growth through the winter. Created by Yuta Sukegawa, the story is very simple – yet as is often the case, profundity can be found in an uncomplicated tale. When you ‘translate’ this in to the human universe it shows us the extremes that are visited in ordered to protect those which we have nurtured and love. One of the nicest animations I have seen for a long time!

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Modular Origami: The Ancient Art of Kusudama Evolved

Kusudama is a traditional Japanese art form which has evolved in to what is now generally referred to as modular origami. With some remarkable examples, here is the basic difference between the two.

Image Credit Flickr User immortalninjak

Once There Was a King - A Polish Lullaby

This is a rather startling animated version (by Tytus Majerski) of an even more startling Polish lullaby. Once There Was a King tells the story of a monarch and his two companions, all of whom meet rather grisly deaths. You begin to scratch your head about how exactly this was designed to allow children to get to sleep without nightmares (and possibly years of therapy) until you get to the third and final verse and then things are (fortunately!) set straight.

The lullaby itself was written by Janina Porazińska, a famous Polish writer who was born in 1882 and who died in 1971. The writer was enamored of Polish folklore and created her own stories which drew from this rich seam of literature. Her books have been translated into many languages. The song is performed by Maria Peszek.

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