2010 › May

Ash cloud continues to close European airports

by Sean McLachlan on

The long arm of Eyjafjallajökull has struck again. After the havoc it caused in April, and a second wave of hassles last week, a stronger ash cloud from this grumpy Icelandic volcano caused numerous airport closures in Spain yesterday.

Today the situation has spread. The cloud that closed nineteen Spanish airports yesterday has drifted east. Italian airports at Milan, Pisa, and Florence had to shut down this morning and there are reports of delays and cancellations at Nice, France. The Iberian peninsula hasn’t been totally cleared either, with airports in the northwest of Spain and Portugal closed through the morning.

Another arm of the cloud has reached back into the UK, closing several Scottish airports this morning.

Even countries not hit by the ash cloud are affected as transatlantic flights have to divert around a long curtain of ash, delaying their arrival.

The situation is changing constantly and travelers are advised to check ahead before flying. In fact, since dear old Eyjafjallajökull doesn’t seem to have any intention of easing up, now might be the time to look into crossing the Atlantic on a freighter.

Biologist find beaver dam so large it’s visible from space

by Kraig Becker on

According to The Sun, Biologists have discovered a massive beaver dam in a remote area of a Canadian park that is so large that it is visible from space. Built out of wood, stone, and mud, the dam stretches more than a half-mile in length, and is believed to have been built over a 20 year period.

Located in Wood Buffalo National Park in Northern Alberta, the dam stretches more than 2790 feet in length, making it twice the size of the Hoover Dam. Reportedly there are dozens of lodges built along the structure where families of beavers live. It is believed that these families have worked cooperatively over the years to build, repair, and extend the size of the structure.

The huge dam has created an environment that is especially safe for the bucktoothed, aquatic rodents. The dam builds up water around their lodges, allowing them safe passage to and from their homes and keeping predators from coming too close. The beavers that live near this particular dam are safe from the coyotes, wolves, and bears that would normally prey upon them.

The unprecedented size of this particular dam is what has biologists both surprised and excited. The fact that it has grown to a point where it is visible from space demonstrates the communal nature of the creatures that built it, and their ability to construct structures on a massive scale.

Photo of the Day (5.8.10)

by Catherine Bodry on


I clicked on the thumbnail of this photo, by justin fain, because of the vibrant colors; I decided to use it for our Photo of the Day feature because of the clouds. Why? Because they remind of the type of squiggly drawings I made as a kid to represent tornadoes. It just sort of tickled me. Beyond that, I can’t help staring at that blue wedge of water and wishing I could paddle around in it for a while. It looks like a warm day, so afterwards I’d probably take a nap on that patch of grass just below the center of the photo. It’s cold and rainy where I’m at today, so it’s easy for me to get lost in a scene like this one.

Have any photos that inspire rainy day daydreams? Post it Gadling’s Flickr pool – we just might post it for Photo of the Day.

The swastika: symbol of peace and harmony

by Sean McLachlan on

Sixty-five years ago today German President Karl Dönitz declared an unconditional surrender to the Allied forces, ending the war in Europe. Berlin had fallen to the Soviets, Hitler had killed himself a week before, and the Third Reich was dead.

The scars from that terrible conflict are slow to heal, and symbols used by the Nazis still cause controversy. When the Hamburg Radisson Hotel remodeled last year, a giant pane of glass in the lobby ceiling had etched designs resembling swastikas, causing a public uproar. When Google Earth revealed a U.S. Navy building built in the shape of a swastika, the Navy promised to spend $600,000 to change the shape of the building.

But the swastika is far older than the Nazis. Cultures all around the world have been using it since before recorded history. Travelers can encounter swastikas in the most surprising places, and it can take a little getting used to.

The word “swastika” is Sanskrit and loosely translates as “lucky” or “auspicious”. It’s one of the oldest symbols in the world and one of its earliest and most enduring meanings is as a symbol of the sun. The one pictured here is from Bongeunsa Temple in South Korea. The Buddhists see the swastika as a symbol of, among other things, dharma (sacred duty) and harmony.

In Hinduism it’s a symbol of Brahma, the creator, although it retains its ancient solar symbolism as well. Because of the great variety of beliefs and practices in Hinduism, it actually has several meanings. Swastikas can be found on temples and private homes throughout India, one of the most visible to travelers being on a riverside temple in Benares. The swastika is sacred to the Jains as well, making India one of the most swastika-heavy countries in the world.

The swastika was used in the West too. Interlocked swastikas are a common motif in Classical art. In more modern times they were used as everything from good luck charms to occult symbols of the Sun. The book The Nazis and the Occult by D. Sklar traces the symbol’s use through various occult societies in early twentieth century Germany. These societies hearkened back to pagan times and believed the swastika was the sun symbol of the Nordic master race. Many early Nazis dabbled in the occult and it seems this is where the Nazi Party got the idea to put it on their flag and ruin the swastika for the Western World.

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Harrods changes ownership – still not British owned

by Scott Carmichael on

The iconic Harrods department store has new owners. For a staggering $1.91 billion, Mohammed Al Fayed sold his most famous investment to the Qatari royal family.

The Harrods brand name is attached to more than just the Knightsbridge store – Harrods also operates smaller stores at airports, and on the QE2 cruise liner and provides luxury air charter service through Air Harrods.

Despite being rather kitchsy and pricey, a trip to Harrods is a real must visit on any first trip to London. The store is immense, and the food department alone is enough to entertain you for hours.

The Qatari royal family made the purchase through their investment arm, Qatar holding, which is a fully owned affiliate of Qatar petroleum. Al Fayed purchased Harrods in 1985, and was only the fourth owner. He has invested millions in the store, adding improvements like his stunning Egyptian escalator. In 2005 he unveiled a statue of his son Dodi and Princess Diana who died in a car crash in 1997.

(Image from: CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)