text:
Passengers were left on a train stranded between two stops for 90 minutes after reports a power rail was ripped off the track.
All services along the First Capital Connect loop heading north between Sutton and Streatham are suspended until further notice, but services between Streatham and Sutton via Hackbridge have reopened.
The train, the 11.28am service to Bedford, stopped a mile outside Tooting just after noon today. It is still on the track.
A passenger, who gave his name as Keith, launched a scathing attack on the response from rail staff, though praised the train driver for his actions.
He said: "It took them an hour and a half to get us out. There were people here with flights, heading to appointments, one to an interview. It took an hour even for them to bring up the correct type of stepladder. The driver though was extremely good."
He described how they walked across the tracks and were able to exit the tracks at a maintenance access.
Passengers at Wimbledon Station were also left sitting on a train at Platform 9 for 30 minutes before being told to get off the train and make other arrangements.
A spokesman for First Capital Connect said: "The priority when things like this happen is to make sure passengers are safe, and the safest place for them to be is on the train.
"Before we evacuate we have to turn off power to the lines and this can take time. I apologise to people who had to wait but we always work with their safety as the top priority."
While the power was off all routes north and south were suspended.
First Capital Connect have been unable to give a time when the full service will resume.
As a result the operators have arranged for a coach to visit Rutlish School, by Wimbledon Chase station, which will be taking pupils who usually use the loop to relevant stations as far as Tooting.
Tickets being accepted on South West Trains and London Tramlink services.
Staff at Wimbledon station have said there would be no services from platform 9 until further notice.
A spokesman from Network Rail said: "There has been an ongoing incident on the line between Tooting and Streatham today.
"Electric trains on this line collect their power from the conductor rail (also known as the third rail) through pick-ups that run along the top of it.
"A train from Sutton to Bedford suffered damage to some of its pickups and came to a stand half a mile or so from Tooting at 11.30am this morning.
"The conductor rail was also damaged in the incident and the train was unable to continue its journey
"The cause of the issue is not yet known and investigations are continuing.
"The current state of play - as of 3.15pm - is that one line remains closed between Wimbledon and Streatham.
"Engineers are on the site and repairing the damage to the track. Passengers in the area are advised to check before they travel this afternoon as services will be subject to change."
Have you been affected? Contact the newsdesk on 020 8722 6334.


text:
I am looking for some help getting the word out on the Springfield Disc Golf Clubs Feb. Tourney and indoor Putting Tournament. Could you guys help us reachout and spread the word?
Here is what is planned...
A White Level GDSTour event with two rounds in Lincoln Park [18 hole course that has been ranked as one of the top 6 courses in Illinois] with a 3 disc players pack and prizes; followed by food and an Indoor Bracketed Putting Tournament at the State Fairgrounds.
Games of cut-throat will also be going on while the bracket events are occurring.
Projected costs are $35.00
What does that include?
3 disc players pack
$10.00 Bracket Voucher
3-5 $1.00 Cut-Throat Tickets.
The Prize for the Winner of the Bracket Event is 40% of the pot. Cash prizes will continue down thru the ranks - how far down depends on how many people enter.
The Bracketed Event will work like this:
One on One
Both players flip their discs - the first player with "heads" shoots first.
He can putt from anywhere... if he makes it and his opponent misses. He has to make it again. If he does, his opponent is eliminated and he moves on in the brackets.
Play continues until there is only one person.
Cut-Throat will be played by groups of ten w/ one dollar/ticket entry - the winner of the game gets a custom stamp wizard. So basically the winner gets a custom stamped wizard for $10.00 for his $1.00 ticket.
Cut-throat games will continue as long as there is interest...
We have a building large enough that we may have a longest putt competion as well... We mostly likely will have a longest putt competition but working on how the prizes would work... would love to have a sponsor for this one...
This will be scheduled for sometime in February pending a date we can firm up for the Fairgrounds Building.
If we shot the moon and 100 people showed up - the winner would get $400.00 for winning the tourney. Obviously if more players showed up - the prize is bigger, if fewer show up the prize is smaller.
You can give people my email address of email@example.com if they are interested in attending or if they could give us an idea of how many people from their area would be attending... Additional Sponsorships are always welcomed.
I am thinking Chicagoland, Quad Cities, Peoria, St. Louis, hell - Kansas City, Champaigne, Decatur - wherever...
We want to crown the PrairieLand Putting Champion right here in SpringPatch.
This event will be in Springfield, IL right on the MotherRoad Route 66.
All are welcome.
Are you interested?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Johnson chosen as Twins' All-Star teacher
SEATTLE -- Neil Johnson of Shakopee has been selected by fans to represent the Twins in the Target Presents People All-Star Teachers campaign, MLB, Target and People announced Tuesday.
Johnson, a Twins fan, has more than four decades of teaching experience. He teaches calculus at Shakopee High School and also coaches softball and women's basketball. He has also served as the math department chairman for 20 years, and in 2008, he started a pilot program that allowed calculus students to receive college credit from the University of Minnesota
Johnson will join 29 other winners representing the other Major League clubs at Target Field for an on-field ceremony prior to the All-Star Game. During the ceremony, Tony Award winner Idina Menzel will perform the song "Forever Young," written by 11-time Grammy Award winner Bob Dylan, who is a native of Minnesota.
Fans across the country cast their votes on AllStarTeachers.com, selecting the 30 winners out of a pool of 90 finalists. Several celebrities such as Eric Stonestreet, a Dodgers fan who plays a teacher on the television show Modern Family; Matthew Morrison, who plays a teacher on the show Glee and is a Mets fan; and Extra TV's AJ Calloway, a Yankees fan whose mother is a retired principal and whose sister is currently a principal, joined Carlos Beltran of the Yankees and Adrian Gonzalez of the Dodgers as "All-Star Teachers" Ambassadors for the program.
For more information, updates and behind-the-scenes access to campaign activities leading up to the All-Star Game, fans can visit AllStarTeachers.com and ABullsEyeView.com/Baseball.
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, and follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
All Current Offers
{"closeOnBackgroundClick":true,"bindings":{"bind0":{"fn":"function(){$.fnProxy(arguments,\'#headerOverlay\',OverlayWidget.show,\'OverlayWidget.show\');}","type":"quicklookselected","element":".ql-thumbnail .Quicklook .trigger"}},"effectOnShowSpeed":"1200","dragByBody":false,"dragByHandle":true,"effectOnHide":"fade","effectOnShow":"fade","cssSelector":"ql-thumbnail","effectOnHideSpeed":"1200","allowOffScreenOverlay":false,"effectOnShowOptions":"{}","effectOnHideOptions":"{}","widgetClass":"OverlayWidget","captureClicks":true,"onScreenPadding":10}
width: 200,
height: 200,
defaultImage: '',
layers: ''
FreeStarry NightSoftware
FreeLifetimeTech Support
Free Standard Shipping
This short focal length refractor gives wonderfully wide views! You do not need a big, bulky telescope to enjoy backyard astronomy. Our potent little Orion ShortTube 80 Equatorial Refractor Telescope proves otherwise. Compact and hassle free, it's easy to take outside and set up, and easy to bring in when you're done. In fact, this "small wonder" telescope is so versatile, you can even pop the telescope tube onto a camera tripod for daytime spotting scope adventures.
Its 80mm achromatic objective telescope lens has a short focal length of 400mm (f/5), which makes the ShortTube 80 extremely portable and compact. Thanks to its fast f/5 focal ratio, bright, wide-field views of the stars and deep-space objects are the ShortTube 80's forte! The 15.5" enameled aluminum tube boasts an aluminum rack-and-pinion focuser that accepts 1.25" diagonals and accessories. Convenient T-threads on the focuser drawtube allow direct camera attachment for prime-focus astrophotography.
Tracking celestial objects while viewing them in the ShortTube 80 telescope is a cinch with the smooth, stable EQ-1 equatorial mount and tripod. The mount is equipped with dual slow motion controls for easy manual tracking of objects in the night sky, or you can add an optional DC electronic drive for convenient motorized tracking.
The ShortTube 80 refractor telescope comes with an 8x40 correct-image finder scope, 90� mirror star diagonal (1.25"), and 9mm and 20mm wide-field Expanse 1.25" telescope eyepieces. This pint-sized refractor also includes a handy padded case safe transport and storage of the optical tube and included accessories. A niftier grab-and-go scope you will not find!
Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact us at 800-676-1343.
Please note this product was not designed or intended by the manufacturer for use by a child 12 years of age or younger.
Level 1 Beginner - Suited for a wide range of uses, these telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.
Level 2 Intermediate - These scopes offer higher performance and more advanced features than Level 1: Beginner models. They typically take a bit longer to learn and need some set-up or adjustments. But anyone with the slightest technical bent will have no problem getting familiar with these models. Referring to the manual is recommended.
Level 3 Advanced - These scopes provide the best performance but may require more skill to master and appreciate. They have exceptionally fine optics and mechanics. Some are easy to use but are but on the large or heavy side. Some are intended for specialized uses. These scopes will appeal to the more technically inclined. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.
Level 4 Expert - Expert telescopes offer uncompromising optical and mechanical quality for the most demanding amateur astronomer. They may be technically involved or designed for specialized use, such as astrophotography or detailed deep sky observation. They carry a premium price, but are designed to provide the ultimate performance in the field. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.
For telescopes, the optical diameter (also known as aperture) is the size of a telescope's main light-collecting lens or primary mirror, measured in millimeters or inches. Telescopes with larger optical diameters collect more light, which leads to an increase in brightness and image resolution compared to smaller instruments.
For binoculars, the optical diameter (also known as objective lens diameter) is the size of each of the front-facing objective lenses of a binocular measured in millimeters. Binoculars with larger objective lenses collect more light, which increases image resolution and brightness. Binoculars with larger objective lenses are recommended for low light situations, and binoculars with at least 50mm or larger objective lenses are recommended for pleasing astronomical observations at night.
Binocular lenses and prisms are often coated with anti-reflective material to minimize light loss as light travels through the multiple optical surfaces of a typical binocular. Coatings help maximize the amount of light transmitted through each glass surface of a binocular, so as much light as possible reaches the observer's eyes to provide a bright and sharp image.
Good lenses are at least "fully coated," with a single layer of magnesium fluoride coating applied to each air-to-glass lens surface. Multiple layers of coatings are even more effective; the term "multi-coated" means one or more air-to-glass lens surface has multiple coatings. "Fully multi-coated" optics are even better, meaning all lens surfaces have multiple layers of anti-reflective coatings applied for maximum light transmission and optimal image quality.
Orders received by 1pm Eastern Standard Time for in-stock item the same business day. Order received after noon will ship the next business day. When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available. You have the option in check out to request that your order ship complete, if you'd prefer.
A per-item shipping charge (in addition to the standard shipping and handling charge) applies to this product due to its size and weight. This charge varies based on the shipping method.
Standard Delivery: $0.00Standard Delivery to Canada: $20.003 Day Delivery: $64.002 Day Delivery: $64.00Next Day Delivery: $88.00
What is Orion's Standard One Year Limited Warranty?
Orion warranties against defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase for Orion brand products. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. During this warranty period Orion Telescopes & Binoculars will repair or replace, at Orion's option, any warranted instrument that proves to be defective, provided it is returned postage paid to: Orion Warranty Repair, 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076. If the product is not registered, proof of purchase (such as a copy of the original invoice) is required. This warranty does not apply if, in Orion's judgment, the instrument has been abused, mishandled, or modified, nor does it apply to normal wear and tear. This warranty gives customer's specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state. For further warranty service information, contact: Customer Service Department, Orion Telescopes & Binoculars, 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville CA 95076; (800) 676-1343.
Some items may be covered by a warranty period shorter or longer than the standard one year warranty. Specific warranty information is available on the product detail page of the website.
How do I align a finder scope?
Before you use the finder scope, it must be precisely aligned with the telescope so they both point to exactly the same spot. Alignment is easiest to do in daylight, rather than at night under the stars. First, insert a low power telescope eyepiece (a 25mm eyepiece will work great) into the telescope's focuser. Then point the telescope at a discrete object such as the top of a telephone pole or a street sign that is at least a quarter-mile away. Position the telescope so the target object appears in the very center of the field of view when you look into the eyepiece. Now look through the finder scope. Is the object centered on the finder scope's crosshairs? If not, hopefully it will be visible somewhere in the field of view, so only small turns of the finder scope bracket's alignment thumb screws will be needed. Otherwise you'll have to make larger turns to the alignment thumb screws to redirect the aim of the finder scope. Use the alignment thumb screws to center the object on the crosshairs of the finder scope. Then look again into the telescope's eyepiece and see if it is still centered there too. If it isn't, repeat the entire process, making sure not to move the telescope while adjusting the alignment of the finder scope. Finder scopes can come out of alignment during transport or when removed from the telescope, so check its alignment before each observing session.
How do I focus the finder scope?
If, when looking through the finder scope, you notice that the image is fuzzy, you will need to focus the finder scope for your eyes. Different finder scopes focus differently; most Orion finder scopes include a lock ring near the objective and focus as follows:
1. Loosen the lock ring that is located behind the finder's objective lens cell
2. Screw the objective lens cell in or out until the image appears sharp.
3. Tighten the lock ring behind the lens cell. If there is no lock ring the finder scope is focused by rotating the eyepiece.
Once the finder scope is now focused it should not need focusing again for your eyes..
Can the finder scope crosshairs be adjusted?
Yes, but before taking this on, regardless of the orientation, the intersection of the crosshairs marks the center and that's what important. However, should you feel the need to change the orientation of the finder scope's crosshairs; you can do so by carefully rotating the finder scope in its bracket. Loosen the adjustment screws or pull on the tensioner (depending on the model) and rotate the finder scope tube in the bracket until the crosshairs are oriented the way you want. You should not need to rotate the finder scope tube more than 1/4 of a turn. For right-angle finder scopes, unthread the eyepiece to re-orient the crosshairs; gently turn the eyepiece until the crosshairs are oriented as you wish. You should not need to rotate the eyepiece more than 1/4 of a turn to do this. This may leave you with a loose eyepiece. If so, you can add an o-ring or shim to tighten it at the new orientation.
How do I calculate the magnification (power) of a telescope?
To calculate the magnification, or power, of a telescope with an eyepiece, simply divide the focal length of the telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece. Magnification = telescope focal length ÷ eyepiece focal length. For example, the Orion ShortTube 80 EQ Telescope, which has a focal length of 400mm, used in combination with the supplied 25mm eyepiece, yields a power of: 400 ÷ 25 = 16x.
It is desirable to have a range of telescope eyepieces of different focal lengths to allow viewing over a range of magnifications. It is not uncommon for an observer to own five or more eyepieces. Orion offers many different eyepieces of varying focal lengths.
Every telescope has a theoretical limit of power of about 50x per inch of aperture (i.e. 160x for the Orion ShortTube 80 EQ). Atmospheric conditions will limit the usefullness of magnification and cause views to become blurred. Claims of higher power by some telescope manufacturers are a misleading advertising gimmick and should be dismissed. Keep in mind that at higher powers, an image will always be dimmer and less sharp (this is a fundamental law of optics). With every doubling of magnification you lose half the image brightness and three-fourths of the image sharpness. The steadiness of the air (the "seeing") can also limit how much magnification an image can tolerate. Always start viewing with your lowest-power (longest focal length) eyepiece in the telescope. It's best to begin observing with the lowest-power eyepiece, because it will typically provide the widest true field of view, which will make finding and centering objects much easier After you have located and centered an object, you can try switching to a higher-power eyepiece to ferret out more detail, if atmospheric conditions permit. If the image you see is not crisp and steady, reduce the magnification by switching to a longer focal length eyepiece. As a general rule, a small but well-resolved image will show more detail and provide a more enjoyable view than a dim and fuzzy, over-magnified image.
What are practical focal lengths to have for eyepieces for my telescope?
To determine what telescope eyepieces you need to get powers in a particular range with your telescope, see our Learning Center article: How to choose Telescope Eyepieces
Why do Orion telescopes have less power than the telescope at department stores?
Advertising claims for high magnification of 400X, 600X, etc., are very misleading. The practical limit is 50X per inch of aperture, or 120X for a typical 60mm telescope. Higher powers are useless, and serve only to fool the unwary into thinking that magnification is somehow related to quality of performance. It is not.
How do I get started with astronomical viewing?
When choosing a location for nighttime stargazing, make it as far away from city lights as possible. Light-polluted skies greatly reduce what can be seen with the telescope. Also, give your eyes at least 20 minutes to dark-adapt to the night sky. You'll be surprised at how many more stars you will see! Use a red flashlight, to see what you're doing at the telescope, or to read star charts. Red light will not spoil your dark-adapted night vision as readily as white light will. To find celestial objects with your telescope, you first need to become reasonably familiar with the night sky. Unless you know how to recognize the constellation Orion, for instance, you won't have much luck locating the Orion Nebula. A simple planisphere, or star wheel, can be a valuable tool for learning the constellations and seeing which ones are visible in the sky on a given night. A good star chart or atlas, like the Orion DeepMap 600, can come in handy for helping locate interesting objects among the dizzying multitude of stars overhead. Except for the Moon and the brighter planets, it is pretty time-consuming and frustrating to hunt for objects randomly, without knowing where to look. It is best to have specific targets in mind before you begin looking through the eyepiece. Practice makes perfect. After a few nights, this will begin to "click" and star-hopping will become easier. See our Learning Center articles: About General Astronomy
What is the best telescope for a beginner?
The "best scope" for anyone is highly subjective and varies based on the person who will be using the telescope. Their level of interest in the hobby, their aptitude for "the technical", the level of investment that you want to make, and the ability to carry differing weights. For more detailed information on this topic see our Learning Center article: How to Choose a Telescope
How big a telescope do I need?
For viewing craters on the Moon, the rings of Saturn, and Jupiter with its four bright moons, a 60mm or 70mm refractor or a 3-inch reflector telescope does a good job. An 80mm to 90mm refractor or 4.5-inch or 6-inch reflector will show more planetary and lunar detail as well as glowing nebulas and sparkling star clusters. Under dark, non-light-polluted skies, a big scope—8-inch diameter or more—will serve up magnificent images of fainter clusters, galaxies, and nebulas. The larger the telescope, the more detail you will see. But don't bite off more than you can chew, size-wise. Before you buy, consider carefully a telescope's size and weight. Make sure you can comfortably lift and transport it, and that you have room indoors to store it. For more detailed information on this topic see our Learning Center article: Choosing a Telescope for Astronomy - The long Version
Why would I want a manual scope when I can get a Go-To scope?
For the novice stargazer, buying a computer-controlled telescope with a small aperture puts a lot of money into the mechanical and database components of the telescope to locate objects that you can't see with the optics of the telescope. Someone who is inexperienced with astronomy and night sky will spend their time pouring over instruction manuals and text scrolling across a screen instead of exploring the night sky, studying the stars and their patterns and learning how to locate to binary stars and nebula. Our advice . . .go for bigger aperture.
What causes dim or distorted images?
Too much magnification
Keep in mind that at higher powers, an image will always be dimmer and less sharp (this is a fundamental law of optics). The steadiness of the air, the seeing, can also limit how much magnification an image can tolerate. Always start viewing with your lowest-power (longest focal length) eyepiece in the telescope. It's best to begin observing with the lowest-power eyepiece, because it will typically provide the widest true field of view, which will make finding and centering objects much easier After you have located and centered an object, you can try switching to a higher-power eyepiece to ferret out more detail, if atmospheric conditions permit. If the image you see is not crisp and steady, reduce the magnification by switching to a longer focal length telescope eyepiece. As a general rule, a small but well-resolved image will show more detail and provide a more enjoyable view than a dim and fuzzy, over-magnified image. As a rule of thumb, it is not recommended to exceed 2x per mm of aperture.
Atmospheric conditions aren't optimal.
Atmospheric conditions vary significantly from night to night, even hour to hour . "Seeing" refers to the steadiness of the Earth's atmosphere at a given time. In conditions of poor seeing, atmospheric turbulence causes objects viewed through the telescope to "boil." If, when you look up at the sky with just your eyes, the stars are twinkling noticeably, the seeing is bad and you will be limited to viewing with low powers (bad seeing affects images at high powers more severely). Seeing is best overhead, worst at the horizon. Also, seeing generally gets better after midnight, when much of the heat absorbed by the Earth during the day has radiated off into space. It's best, although perhaps less convenient, to escape the light-polluted city sky in favor of darker country skies.
Viewing through a glass window open or closed.
Avoid observing from indoors through an open (or closed) window, because the temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor air, reflections and imperfections in the glass, will cause image blurring and distortion.
Telescope not at thermal equilibrium.
All optical instruments need time to reach "thermal equilibrium." The bigger the instrument and the larger the temperature change, the more time is needed. Allow at least a half-hour for your telescope to cool to the temperature outdoors. In very cold climates (below freezing), it is essential to store the telescope as cold as possible. If it has to adjust to more than a 40 degrees temperature change, allow at least one hour. Time to adjust varies depending on the scope type and aperture.
Make sure you are not looking over buildings, pavement, or any other source of heat, which will radiate away at night, causing "heat wave" disturbances that will distort the image you see through the telescope.
Does the atmosphere play a role in how good the quality of the image will be?
Atmospheric conditions play a huge part in quality of viewing. In conditions of good "seeing", star twinkling is minimal and objects appear steady in the eyepiece. Seeing is best over-head, worst at the horizon. Also, seeing generally gets better after midnight, when much of the heat absorbed by the Earth during the day has radiated off into space. Typically, seeing conditions will be better at sites that have an altitude over about 3000 feet. Altitude helps because it decreases the amount of distortion causing atmosphere you are looking through. A good way to judge if the seeing is good or not is to look at bright stars about 40 degrees above the horizon. If the stars appear to "twinkle", the atmosphere is significantly distorting the incoming light, and views at high magnifications will not appear sharp. If the stars appear steady and do not twinkle, seeing conditions are probably good and higher magnifications will be possible. Also, seeing conditions are typically poor during the day. This is because the heat from the Sun warms the air and causes turbulence. Good "transparency" is especially important for observing faint objects. It simply means the air is free of moisture, smoke, and dust. These tend to scatter light, which reduces an object's brightness. One good way to tell if conditions are good is by how many stars you can see with your naked eye. If you cannot see stars of magnitude 3.5 or dimmer then conditions are poor. Magnitude is a measure of how bright a star is, the brighter a star is, the lower its magnitude will be. A good star to remember for this is Megrez (mag. 3.4), which is the star in the "Big Dipper" connecting the handle to the "dipper". If you cannot see Megrez, then you have fog, haze, clouds, smog, light pollution or other conditions that are hindering your viewing. Another hint: Good seeing can vary minute to minute. Watch the planets for a while to pick-up those moments of good seeing.
How long will it take my eyes to dark adapt?
Do not expect to go from a lighted house into the darkness of the outdoors at night and immediately see faint nebulas, galaxies, and star clusters—or even very many stars, for that matter. Your eyes take about 30 minutes to reach perhaps 80 percent of their full dark-adapted sensitivity. Many observers notice improvements after several hours of total darkness. As your eyes become dark-adapted, more stars will glimmer into view and you will be able to see fainter details in objects you view in your telescope. So give yourself at least a little while to get used to the dark before you begin observing. To see what you are doing in the darkness, use a red light flashlight rather than a white light. Red light does not spoil your eyes' dark adaptation like white light does. A flashlight with a red LED light is ideal, or you can cover the front of a regular flashlight with red cellophane or paper. Beware, too, that nearby porch and streetlights and automobile headlights will spoil your night vision. Your eyes can take at least 1/2 hour to re-adjust.
How do I see the best detail on the surface of the Moon?
The Moon, with its rocky, cratered surface, is one of the easiest and most interesting subjects to observe with your telescope. The myriad craters, rilles, and jagged mountain formations offer endless fascination. The best time to observe the Moon is during a partial phase, that is, when the Moon is not full. During partial phases, shadows cast by crater walls and mountain peaks along the border between the dark and light portions of the lunar disk highlight the surface relief. A full Moon is too bright and devoid of surface shadows to yield a pleasing view. Try using an Orion Moon filter to dim the Moon when it is too bright; it simply threads onto the bottom of the eyepiece, you'll see much more detail.
How do I best view Deep-Sky Objects?
Most deep-sky objects are very faint, so it is important that you find an observing site well away from light pollution. Take plenty of time to let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Don't expect these objects to appear like the photographs you see in books and magazines; most will look like dim gray "ghosts." (Our eyes are not sensitive enough to see color in deep-sky objects except in few of the brightest ones.) But as you become more experienced and your observing skills improve, you will be able to coax out more and more intricate details. And definitely use your low-power telescope eyepieces to get a wide field-of-view for the largest of the deep-sky objects.
What will the planets look like through the telescope?
"The planets don't stay put like stars do (they don't have fixed R.A. and Dec. coordinates), so you will need to refer to the Orion Star Chart on our website. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are among the brightest objects in the sky after the Sun and the Moon. All four of these planets are not normally visible in the sky at one time, but chances are one or two of them will be.
JUPITER: The largest planetJupiter, is a great subject to observe. You can see the disk of the giant planet and watch the ever-changing positions of its four largest moons, Io, Callisto, Europa, and Ganymede. If atmospheric conditions are good, you may be able to resolve thin cloud bands on the planet's disk.
SATURN: The ringed planet is a breathtaking sight when it is well positioned. The tilt angle of the rings varies over a period of many years; sometimes they are seen edge-on, while at other times they are broadside and look like giant "ears" on each side of Saturn's disk. A steady atmosphere (good seeing) is necessary for a good view. You may probably see a tiny, bright "star" close by; that's Saturn's brightest moon, Titan.
VENUS: At its brightest, Venus is the most luminous object in the sky, excluding the Sun and the Moon. It is so bright that sometimes it is visible to the naked eye during full daylight! Ironically, Venus appears as a thin crescent, not a full disk, when at its peak brightness. Because it is so close to the Sun, it never wanders too far from the morning or evening horizon. No surface markings can be seen on Venus, which is always shrouded in dense clouds. Sometimes using a color filter will lessen the glare of Venus and help you see the crescent.
MARS: If atmospheric conditions are good, you may be able to see some subtle surface detail on the Red Planet, possibly even the polar ice cap. Mars makes a close approach to Earth every two years; during those approaches its disk is larger and thus more favorable for viewing. For more detailed information on this topic see our Learning Center article: What Will You See Through a Telescope
How do I Find Deep-sky Objects: Starhopping?
Starhopping, as it is called by astronomers, is perhaps the simplest way to hunt down objects to view in the night sky. It entails first pointing the telescope at a star close to the object you wish to observe, and then progressing to other stars closer and closer to the object until it is in the field of view of the eyepiece. It is a very intuitive technique that has been employed for hundreds of years by professional and amateur astronomers alike. Keep in mind, as with any new task, that starhopping may seem challenging at first, but will become easier over time and with practice. To starhop, only a minimal amount of additional equipment is necessary. A star chart or atlas that shows stars to at least magnitude 5 is required. Select one that shows the positions of many deep-sky objects, so you will have a lot of options to choose from. If you do not know the positions of the constellations in the night sky, you will need to get a planisphere to identify them. Start by choosing bright objects to view. The brightness of an object is measured by its visual magnitude; the brighter an object, the lower its magnitude. Choose an object with a visual magnitude of 9 or lower. Many beginners start with the Messier objects, which represent some of the best and brightest deep-sky objects, first catalogued about 200 years ago by the French astronomer Charles Messier. Determine in which constellation the object lies. Now, find the constellation in the sky. If you do not recognize the constellation on sight, consult a planisphere. The planisphere gives an all-sky view and shows which constellations are visible on a given night at a given time. Now look at your star chart and find the brightest star in the constellation that is near the object that you are trying to find. Using the finder scope, point the telescope at this star and center it on the crosshairs Next, look again at the star chart and find another suitably bright star near the bright star currently centered in the finder. Keep in mind that the field of view of the finder scope is between 5° - 7°, so you should choose a star that is no more than 7° from the first star, if possible. Move the telescope slightly, until the telescope is centered on the new star. Continue using stars as guideposts in this way until you are the approximate position of the object you are trying to find. Look in the telescope's eyepiece, and the object should be somewhere within the field of view. If it's not, sweep the telescope carefully around the immediate vicinity until the object is found. If you have trouble finding the object, start the starhop again from the brightest star near the object you wish to view. This time, be sure the stars indicated on the star chart are in fact the stars you are centering in the finder scope and telescope eyepiece. Remember the telescope and the finder scope will give you inverted images (unless you are using a correct image finder scope), keep this in mind when you are starhopping from star to star. Observing Hint: Always use your lowest powered eyepiece in your telescope when starhopping . This will give you the widest possible field of view.
Is there an eyepiece available that will rotate the image so that it can be used for scenic viewing?
We carry correct-image prism diagonals which provide right-side up non-reversed images in refractor and cassegrain telescopes. It is not possible to correct the image orientation in a reflector telescope.
How do I clean any of the optical lenses?
Any quality optical lens cleaning tissue and optical lens cleaning fluid specifically designed for multi-coated optics can be used to clean the exposed lenses of your eyepieces or finder scope. Never use regular glass cleaner or cleaning fluid designed for eyeglasses. Before cleaning with fluid and tissue, blow any loose particles off the lens with a blower bulb or compressed air. Then apply some cleaning fluid to a tissue, never directly on the optics. Wipe the lens gently in a circular motion, then remove any excess fluid with a fresh lens tissue. Oily finger-prints and smudges may be removed using this method. Use caution; rubbing too hard may scratch the lens. On larger lenses, clean only a small area at a time, using a fresh lens tissue on each area. Never reuse tissues.
How do I Polar Align an Equatorial Mount?
For Northern Hemisphere observers, approximate polar alignment is achieved by pointing the mount's R.A. axis at the North Star, or Polaris. It lies within 1° of the north celestial pole (NCP), which is an extension of the Earth's rotational axis out into space. Stars in the Northern Hemisphere appear to revolve around Polaris. To find Polaris in the sky, look north and locate the pattern of the Big Dipper. The two stars at the end of the "bowl" of the Big Dipper point right to Polaris. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere aren't so fortunate to have a bright star so near the south celestial pole (SCP). The star Sigma Octantis lies about 1° from the SCP, but it is barely visible with the naked eye (magnitude 5.5). For general visual observation, an approximate polar alignment is sufficient: 1. Level the equatorial mount by adjusting the length of the three tripod legs. 2. Loosen one of the latitude adjusting T-bolts and tighten the other to tilt the mount until the pointer on the latitude scale is set at the latitude of your observing site. This may vary depending on the mount, some have one bolt and a tightening screw instead. If you don't know your latitude, consult a geographical atlas to find it. For example, if your latitude is 35° North, set the pointer to +35. The latitude setting should not have to be adjusted again unless you move to a different viewing location some distance away. 3. Loosen the Dec. lock lever and rotate the telescope optical tube until it is parallel with the R.A. axis. The pointer on the Dec. setting circle should read 90°. Retighten the Dec. lock lever. 4. Move the tripod so the telescope tube (and R.A. axis) points roughly at Polaris. If you cannot see Polaris directly from your observing site, consult a compass and rotate the tripod so the telescope points north. Using a compass is a less desirable option, a compass points about 16° away from true north and requires you to compensate foe accurate polar alignment. The equatorial mount is now approximately polar-aligned for casual observing. More precise polar alignment is required for astrophotography and for use of the manual setting circles. From this point on in your observing session, you should not make any further adjustments to the latitude of the mount, nor should you move the tripod. Doing so will undo the polar alignment. The telescope should be moved only about its R.A. and Dec. axes.
How do I track Celestial Objects with an Equatorial Mount?
When you observe a celestial object through the telescope, you'll see it drift slowly across the field of view. To keep it in the field, if your equatorial mount is polar-aligned, just turn the R.A. slow-motion control. The Dec. slow-motion control is not needed for tracking, but may be required to center the object. Objects will appear to move faster at higher magnifications, because the field of view is narrower. A DC motor drive system can be mounted on all Orion equatorial mounts to provide hands-free tracking. Motor drive systems are typically offered as an optional accessory. Objects will then remain stationary in the field of view without any manual adjustment of the R.A. slow-motion control. A dual-axis motor drive is necessary for astrophotography.
How do I find objects with the setting circles?
Look up in a star atlas the coordinates of an object you wish to view. 1. Loosen the Dec. lock lever and rotate the telescope until the Dec. value from the star atlas matches the reading on the Dec. setting circle. Remember that values of the Dec. setting circle are positive when the telescope is pointing north of the celestial equator (Dec. = 0°), and negative when the telescope is pointing south of the celestial equator. Retighten the lock lever. 2. Loosen the R.A. lock lever and rotate the telescope until the R.A. value from the star atlas matches the reading on the R.A. setting circle. Remember to use the upper set of numbers on the R.A. setting circle. Retighten the lock lever. The lower set is for the Southern Hemisphere. Most setting circles are not accurate enough to put an object dead-center in the telescope's eyepiece, but they should place the object somewhere within the field of view of the finder scope, assuming the equatorial mount is accurately polar aligned. Use the slow-motion controls to center the object in the finder scope, and it should appear in the telescope's field of view. The R.A. setting circle must be re-calibrated every time you wish to locate a new object. Do so by calibrating the setting circle for the centered object before moving on to the next one.
Is there an image quality difference between a short-tube and long-tube?
Short refractors have more visible chromatic aberration than long refractors. You're likely to see purple or orange halos around bright planets and the lunar limb. With short reflectors, "coma" comes into play: stars appear like "commas" or "seagulls" near the edge of the eyepiece field. For most people, a little color fringing or coma is no big deal. These aberrations are less noticeable at low magnifications, which is one reason not to push the power higher than about 100x in most short-tube telescopes. High-end short-tubes made with exotic glasses or with corrector lenses can handle higher power. For more detailed information on this topic see our Learning Center article: Short Tube vs Long Tube- What's the Difference
{"closeOnBackgroundClick":true,"bindings":{"bind1":{"fn":"function(event, startIndex, itemCount, newItems) { QuickLookWidget.assignEvents(newItems); $(\".Quicklook > .trigger\", newItems).bind(\"quicklookselected\", function(event, source, x, y) { OverlayWidget.show(\'#_widget2085394498007\', event, source, x, y); }); }","type":"itemsloaded","element":".PagedDataSetFilmstripLoader > .trigger"},"bind0":{"fn":"function(){$.fnProxy(arguments,\'#_widget2085394498007\',OverlayWidget.show,\'OverlayWidget.show\');}","type":"quicklookselected","element":".Quicklook > .trigger"}},"effectOnShowSpeed":"","dragByBody":false,"dragByHandle":true,"effectOnHide":"fade","effectOnShow":"fade","cssSelector":"ql-category","effectOnHideSpeed":"1200","allowOffScreenOverlay":false,"effectOnShowOptions":"{}","effectOnHideOptions":"{}","widgetClass":"OverlayWidget","captureClicks":true,"onScreenPadding":10}
Online or in your mailbox. Check out our colorful catalog, filled with hundreds of quality products.
Please send me email about sales, new products, and astronomy.
Since 1975 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars has been offering telescopes for sale direct to customers, with an unswerving commitment to best quality products, value and unmatched customer care. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee says it all.
Orion offers telescopes for every level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert. From our entry level beginner telescopes for amateur astronomers to our Dobsonian telescopes to our most advanced Cassegrain telescopes and accessories, you can find the best telescope for you. Because we sell direct, we can offer you tremendous value at a great price. Not sure how to choose a telescope? Orion's Telescope Buyer's Guide is a great place to start.
Orion binoculars are known for quality optics at a great price. We offer binoculars for every viewing interest, including astronomical binoculars, compact binoculars, waterproof binoculars, birding binoculars, and sport and hunting binoculars.
Orion's telescope and astrophotography accessories will enhance your telescope enjoyment without breaking the bank. Expand your viewing experience with accessories ranging from moon filters to power-boosting Barlow lenses to advanced computerized telescope mounts. Capture breathtaking photos with our affordable astrophotography cameras. And when you're stargazing, Orion's telescope cases and covers, observing gear, red LED flashlights, astronomy books and star charts will make your observing sessions more convenient, comfortable and meaningful.
At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, & reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!


text:
SWINDON Town players took to unknown ground as they grappled to master the art of table-top football in a fast-paced match for Sport Relief yesterday.
Kayden Jackson, Louis Thompson, Tyrell Belford and Jack Stephens kicked off today's national charity campaign a day early by competing in UK Shared Business Services' (UK SBS) Sport Relief Table Top Football Cup, which saw the sportsmen face the firm's employees.
Their best efforts, however, failed to win them the champion's trophy in the two five-a-side fixtures.
The event marked the launch of the not-for-profit firm's Sport Relief Call Centre, which will operate from its offices today.
Throughout the week employees vied for a chance to compete against the Swindon Town FC pros.
Following a series of highly contested heats, four outstanding table-top football players – Tom James, Ben Snell, who formed the Bassett Sixth Form Team, Tony Claxton and Steve New, or NewClax United, were selected.
They beat the football stars 17 to 2 and 22 to 5 respectively.
Still heady from his crushing victory, Tom, a 26-year-old grants performance leader at UK SBS, said: "Ben and I went to Wootton Bassett School together and instead of doing General Studies we played table football, so we are seasoned players.
"I don't think the Swindon Town players could handle the pressure."
His partner and fellow grants performance leader Ben, 27, added: "Our training paid off. We wanted to stop them scoring and that's what we did. We thought they played table football a lot, but obviously not."
Although disappointed at the club's defeat, goalkeeper Tyrell was keen to raise awareness of the charity.
"We are very disappointed," he said. "This is definitely harder than football. But we wanted the club to get behind this to raise awareness of Sport Relief."
Team-mate Kayden said: "Unfortunately we only practice with our feet, not our hands. It was a fun match when we weren't losing so much. It is for a good cause and it was good to get out there and represent the team."
Around 100 UK SBS staff have volunteered to take donation calls from around the country tonight.
Jonathan Preece, UK SBS chief executive, said: "We have held charity events throughout the week for Sport Relief.
"The table football match was a way to promote the call centre and make sure people donate through the phone line and raise money for charity. This marks the start of an exciting 24 hours for us."
- Wake and Shake at Convingham Park Primary School, 9am.
- Swimathons at Lime Kiln Leisure, Centre, Highworth Rec, and Faringdon Leisure Centre, all day
- Row-athon at Kingsdown School, 8.40am to 2.40pm
- Sport Relief Mile, all day at Churchfields Academy
- Swimathons at Lime Kiln Leisure, Centre, Highworth Rec, and Faringdon Leisure Centre, all day
- Swimathons at Lime Kiln Leisure, Centre, Highworth Rec, and Faringdon Leisure Centre, all day
- Sainsbury's Coat Water Mile – one-mile event at 11am and 11.15am, three-mile event at 10.45am, and six-mile event at 10.30am
- Cricklade Mile Run at Cricklade Leisure Centre – one mile event at 9.45am, three-mile event at 9.30am, and six-mile event at 9.30am


text:
The Navy has awarded a contract to convert a cargo ship into a "floating base for up to 200″ Special Ops troops and the biggest, baddest military helicopter, the Navy's MH-53E, David Axe reports in War Is Boring blog.
"This is going to be a seriously capable ship,"says Tim Colton, a maritime consultant. One that the government has been trying to keep quiet, Axe notes.
"The call for bids went out through normal public channels," Axe writes. "But the vague official descriptions of the vessel's purpose have helped her escape wide notice."
The floating base will allow Delta Force and SEAL commandos to sneak up on the enemy using jet skis, Axe says.
Read more at War is Boring.


text:
Dodgers acquire pitcher Kevin Correia from Minnesota
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired right-handed pitcher Kevin Correia from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations. Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement.
"Kevin gives us an additional option as a starter or long reliever," said Colleti. "He also supplies us with more veteran pitching depth for the stretch drive."
Correia, who will turn 34 on August 24, has won at least nine games while making 26 or more starts in each of the last five seasons since 2009, during which time he's struck out more than twice as many as he's walked with 585 strikeouts and only 290 walks. He was selected to the 2011 National League All-Star team as a member of the Pirates and has appeared in 344 games (213 starts) in 12 Major League seasons.
In 2014, Correia has gone 5-13 with a 4.94 ERA in 23 starts for Minnesota, including 13 quality starts and 16 starts of 6.0 or more innings. He has pitched well away from Target Field this season, posting a 3.17 ERA (23 ER/65.1 IP) in 11 road starts, and has gone 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA (7 ER/18.0 IP) in three starts against the National League West, with victories at Colorado and vs. San Diego.


text:
EVESHAM United continued their impressive build-up to the new season with a deserved 1-1 draw against full-time Cheltenham Town at a hot Jubilee Stadium.
Only a late equaliser by Andy Haworth prevented an Evesham victory over Mark Yates' League Two side.
Evesham, playing their third game in five days, made the early running and shocked their visitors by taking a seventh-minute lead.
Kevin Slack's deep corner was played back in by Nathan Jackson and striker Ashley Edenborough opened his United account by glancing in a well-directed header past keeper Ben McNamara.
Lance Smith's effort was then cleared off the line after he rounded the advancing McNamara.
At the other end, Duncan Culley pulled a shot narrowly wide following good work from Zack Kotwica.
More silky skills by Kotwica resulted in confident keeper Kevin Sawyer making smart saves from Jamie Cureton and James Bowen.
Edenborough tested McNamara with a powerful 18-yarder but Sawyer shone in the second-half with saves from Kotwica, Matt Richards and Jermaine Hylton.
After pressure, the leveller arrived deep in injury-time when Lee Vaughan crossed for Haworth to tap in.
Evesham: Sawyer, M Jackson, Binns, N Jackson, Sysum, Wellon, Evans, Wood, Smith, Edenborough, Slack. Subs: Sauntson, Dovey, Saunders, Palmer, Harding, Baldwin, Hitchman, Hughes, Tambling, Goddard.
Attendance: 454.
Evesham gave a good account of themselves against Gloucester City last Friday before going down 2-1.
Jared Wilson fired Paul Collicutt's side ahead from the penalty spot in the first-half only for Elliott Chamberlain and Adam Mann to reply for the Tigers after the break.
The hosts survived early pressure to take a 27th-minute lead when Edenborough was pulled down in full flight.
But Chamberlain levelled early in the second-half and Mann's fine strike past substitute keeper Josh Goddard won the match with 13 minutes left.
Evesham: Sawyer (Goddard 75), Wilson (Jackson 45), Binns, Drake, Dovey (Sauntson 38), Wellon, M Jackson (Harding 65), Wood, Edenborough (Smith 45), Palmer (Saunders 60), Watts (Hughes 67) Attendance: 149.
Meanwhile, for the third year running, season ticket prices remain the same price at Evesham.
An adult ticket costs £140 and it is £75 for concessions.
They can be bought by contacting Bob Prater at the club on 01386-442303.
Match day entry will be £9 and £5 with under 16s going in for free.


text:
Greensboro, NC -- At a restaurant, there are a few things you probably take for granted: The cook's hands were clean, the food was cooked at the right temperature, and no one in the kitchen was sick.
But a state lawmaker wants to relax the rules that ensure those very requirements.
The ServSafe course teaches restaurant managers what to do to keep customers from getting sick.
The certification program covers everything from proper cooking temperatures, safe thawing methods, when to send an employee home because they're sick and even how to wash their hands and when.
However, State Senator Tom Apodaca wants fewer people certified.
"You have some businesses that have operated a long, long time without having to have somebody certified, a certified food protection manager there. And now, you have a brand new requirement in a tough economy, they're trying to comply with," said Andy Ellen, President of The North Carolina Retail Merchants Association.
Starting January 1, 2014, restaurants will be docked points if they don't have one ServSafe certified manager on each shift.
But the NC Merchants Retail Association said that would cost a lot of money.
Each ServSafe Certification costs restaurants $150. And with the turnover a lot of restaurants have, they would constantly be putting people in training.
Triad restaurants have mixed opinions about the rule.
"As long as one person is there to lay down those rules, 'we're going to do this for this, this is going to be hot, this is going to be cold, whatever.' As long as that's laid down, it's easy to follow those things," said Matthew Hand, kitchen manager at Fincastle's in Greensboro. "So, I think just the one is sufficient."
"We are driven by the consumer, so if it makes the consumer happier for us to have a person on each shift, then that's ultimately what we're going to do," said Eric Porter, owner of Porterhouse Restaurant in Greensboro.
Officials at one Triad health department said reducing the number of ServSafe managers would be a step backward.
According to Sandy Ellington, a health educator with the Guilford County Department of Public Health, the program is critical to consumers' health.
"We have the consumer in mind. We're trying really hard to protect people. And people are paying attention when they go into food service facilities now," said Ellington.
The U.S. Food Code only makes ServSafe an option for more than one restaurant manager. So according to Ellen, other states don't go as far as making it mandatory like North Carolina is planning to do.
The bill to change the plan has been referred to committee.


text:
Using the "offers from" options you can filter merchants from regions which are most common in our database: the UK, Germany, Austria and Poland.
If a checkbox near a flag is selected, offers from merchants from that particular region will be displayed, otherwise they will not be visible.
If you select offers from "all regions", all offers from all merchants will be displayed. These incude offers from merchants in countries not listed here.
leather with ventilation system and Aero Punch Technology attached thumb velcro strap
us PU3G Innovation material and with Soft Punch Technology Clima Cool Technology velcro strap
Off PU3G Innovation material and with Soft Punch Technology Clima Cool Technology velcro strap
Sizes: 8-12 oZ Material: Polyurethan Special features: velcro strap
leather glove with Soft Punch Technology inside and thumb off PU3G Innovation material Clima Cool Technology attached thumb velcro strap
Off PU3G Innovation material with ventilation system attached thumb velcro strap
leather with Soft Punch Technology ventilation system attached thumb velcro strap
Material: leather
Material: leather Colour: black/red 12, 12, 14oz with attached thumb and velcro strap
Material: Polyurethan Colour: red 6, 8, 10, 12, 14oz attached thumb velcro strap
Sizes: 8oz, 10oz, 12oz, 14oz Colours: black, red
Material: Polyurethan, foamed material padding with suede inside Colour: blue/black 8, 10, 12, 14 oz attached thumb and velcro strap
cowhide foam padding fixed thumb velcro strap
fighting gloves AIBA/DBV-certified and approved 10 oz velcro strap
Material: cowhide, multiple stitched Filling: foam Colour: black velcro strap Sizes: S, M, L and XL


text:
Technology Safety
Video & Surveillance Camera Use
Video and surveillance cameras are increasingly being used by agencies and collaborations as part of security systems, to document interviews or capture evidence, for monitoring at supervised visitation centers, as part of medical examinations, for web‐conferencing, for video interpreter or video relay, and for virtual protection order hearings. This tip sheet briefly highlights: how video cameras work; how agencies and partnerships are or might use video cameras; and, some risks, benefits, and things to consider including interception, safety planning, confidentiality, upfront notification, legal issues and informed consent.
This piece was created by the NNEDV Safety Net Project to assist agencies and partnerships with identifying and addressing victim safety concerns that can arise from using video technology in various ways. It is also meant to help U.S. DOJ Office of Violence Against Women grantees spot issues that may benefit from a more in-depth review of technology plans and implementation in order to ensure your agency or collaboration is most effectively addressing victim safety concerns.
- English: Video Cameras (1 page PDF)


text:
Aaron M. Phelps Partner
- Office
- Grand Rapids
- Phone
- 616/336-6257
- Fax
- 616/336-7000
- email@example.com
- email@example.com
- Download
- V-Card, Resume
- Assistant
- Diane Bruins, 616/336-6745
Litigation Experience
Aaron's practice is primarily focused on commercial litigation - in Michigan and around the country. His practice includes complex contract and corporate governance disputes, telecommunications and energy matters, and health care litigation. Most recently Aaron has been representing over 175 companies in lawsuits against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for ERISA violations (first trial resulted in $6 million judgment).
Aaron also has expertise in the environmental area, having defended civil enforcement proceedings, conducted contested case hearings, prosecuted appeals of permit denials and successfully challenged MDEQ rules as unconstitutional.
One of Aaron's other passions is Michigan Agriculture Law, where he represents several Michigan farms and agri-businesses in a variety of matters from FDA and MDEQ enforcement actions to Michigan Right to Farm issues. Aaron writes a bi-monthly Ag law newsletter and regularly speaks on issues of Michigan Agriculture law around the state.
Recent Representative Matters
- Representing 100 companies in lawsuits against Blue Cross and Blue Shield Michigan for charging hidden fees in violation of ERISA; obtained a $6 million judgment (plus attorneys' fees) following trial.
- Representing a major metropolitan city in a federal court suit filed by it against telecommunications giant Comcast, challenging the constitutionality of a Michigan statute.
- Represented a leading beverage processor in federal court litigation brought by a Wall Street investment fund asserting preemptive rights to increase its equity stake.
- Represented a furniture manufacturer in federal court litigation brought by it to recover damages arising from a national hockey team's breach of a construction contract for its sports arena.
- Represented former owner and a board member of a Tier 1 automotive supplier in an $80 million insider preference and fraudulent conveyance claim filed against them in New York.
- Represented a Michigan-based transportation company in a breach of supply contract case brought by a paper mill in federal court in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Representing a food processor in federal court on its claim to recover environmental remediation costs from the seller of property in Ohio.
- Represented a major energy company in declaratory judgment action challenging the constitutionality of a MDEQ rule, which would have interfered with its efforts to construct a $2 billion power plant.
- Represented an agricultural trade association and other agricultural plaintiffs in a challenge to a MDEQ rule requiring all concentrated animal feeding operations ("CAFOs") to obtain pollutant discharge permits.
- Represented a major Michigan dairy in federal court litigation brought against it by the Food and Drug Administration.
- Represented a large Newaygo CAFO in a township zoning dispute, which raised Michigan Right to Farm Act issues.
Professional Affiliations
- Federal Bar Association, Western District of Michigan
- State Bar of Michigan (Litigation and Environmental and Agriculture Law Sections)
- Grand Rapids Bar Association
Bar Admissions
- All Michigan state courts
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
Community Involvement
- Kent County Farm Bureau, Vice President, 2015
- Michigan Agri-business Association, Member
- United Growth for Kent County, Member
- Blythefield Hills Baptist Church, Member
Wake Forest University School of Law
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
J.D., magna cum laude, 2002
Order of the Coif
Wake Forest Law Review
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan


text:
How cholesterol medication might help your colitis
From some of the comments on my blogs, I noticed that several people had been either noticing a difference in their colitis symptoms while on medication for high cholesterol or had been prescribed these medications to help with their IBD. Some of the most common cholesterol-reducing drugs are statins, which inhibit cells in your body from producing extra LDL (the "bad") cholesterol. However, statins also help prevent heart disease by preventing immune cells from collecting inside arteries and forming plaques, which can lead to clots or heart attacks.
So what does this have to do with colitis? In IBD, immune cells are recruited from all over your body through your bloodstream to your intestine to promote inflammation. The immune cells get signals from the cells lining blood vessels (endothelial cells) telling them where to go and about how many cells should go. Think of it as a dispatch system…your immune cells are firefighters and the endothelial cells are organizing who goes to the fire and where the burning building is located. The theory is that statins might prevent inflammation by blocking the signals between the immune cells and endothelial cells thereby preventing the inflammation before it starts. To continue the analogy – in colitis, the fire could have been put out by a fire extinguisher, but your immune system is programmed incorrectly to think that it's a four-alarm fire. By turning off the "wrong" signals, the immune cells will know the difference and the inflammatory response will be toned down accordingly.
Researchers have shown that cholesterol-reducing drugs, such as simvastatin (Zocor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor) can reduce the severity of colitis in some mouse models of the disease. As has been shown with anti-TNF therapy, all colitis is not equal; therefore, early studies indicate that statin treatment might work better for some people than others. Recently, a few reports suggest that cholesterol-lowering medication may also reduce the risk of colitis-associated cancer by inducing tumor cell death.
Reducing inflammation is just one way in which these medications might be beneficial to IBD patients. Next week, I'll talk about how cholesterol medications are being used to alleviate the symptoms of colitis (i.e., trips to the bathroom!).


text:
What is Schine's comment about fathers and mothers in this novel? How do the parenting styles of Kit, Joseph, and Frederick compare and contrast? Which one is a good father? How is fathering juxtaposed to mothering?
Created: 08/11/11
Replies: 3
Join Date: 10/15/10
Posts: 1289
Join Date: 10/16/10
Posts: 84
I thought the dichotomy between mothers and fathers in this novel was fascinating. There were a variety of parenting styles depicted, but I think Schine comes out pretty strongly on the side of mothers being more helpful parents than fathers. Betty was devoted to her children, as was Annie, and Miranda wanted to be to Henry, but the fathers were either passing through (Kit), distant and tone-deaf to the children's needs (Joseph), or totally confused about his role (Frederick). None were effective.
Join Date: 07/24/11
Posts: 38
I agree that it is the mothers in the story that seem to be the better parents here. Kit behaves like little more than a child himself and he definitely isn't a good parent to Henry. Joseph is a stepparent, but after he and Betty separate, he only seems to reach out to Annie and Miranda when he has something to gain from it or he wants them to convince their mother to respond in a certain way. Frederick is the worst of them all because he lets his children dictate his life a lot more than he should.
Join Date: 08/29/11
Posts: 36
Kit starts out as a seemingly caring parent. After he leaves, his character is no longer developed, and one loses track of whether he's doing any parenting at all (with the introducion of Leanne, one realizes that he's almost out of the picture). Joseph is clueless. Frederick is a dolt.
Betty truly cares about her daughters. Annie cares about her children; Miranda cares about Henry (that she later switches to Henry's mother is just beyond me).
Please login to post a response.


text:
North Coast Music Festival Announces Final Round of Artists
North Coast Music Festival is thrilled to announce the final wave of artists, including critically acclaimed indie-dance act PASSION PIT, Fool's Gold Records head honcho A-TRAK, Pretty Lights Music recording artist GRAMATIK, and many more! Check out the full line up below.
Get your tickets exclusively at Clubtix.com!
NaS | The Disco Biscuits | Lotus | Mac Miller
Gary Clark Jr. | Rebelution | Purity Ring | Laidback Luke | A-trak
Datsik | Gramatik | Madeon | Skream | Paper Diamond
Claude VonStroke | Future Rock | Emancipator | Conspirator
RL Grime | Danny Brown | Aloe Blacc | AlunaGeorge | Just Blaze
Capital Cities | Seven Lions | JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound
El Ten Eleven | Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Cherub | Poolside (Live) | Flatbush Zombies | On An On | the Werks
Bondax | Midnight Conspiracy | the Knocks | DVBBS | Herobust
Zoogma | French Fries | Dean Cohen | Ojo de Buey
Manic Focus | Thibault | K.Flay | Brassft Punk | Ghost Beach
Porn and Chicken | Ghosthouse | the Coop | Gemini Club
PASSION PIT are riding high this year after the release of their second studio album, Gossamer, which has been met with rave reviews and singles to match the energy their fans fell in love from their first album, Manners. Their latest single is "Carried Away." DJ, turntablist, producer, and Fool's Gold Record's founder A-TRAK joins the impressive lineup with fellow labelmate and rising star Danny Brown. A-trak's latest release is the Tuna Melt EP, and you can check out his original productions and remixes here. Portland's own EMANCIPATOR released his latest album, From Dusk 'til Dawn in January, which you can check out here. The legendary DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND joins the already eclectic lineup, along with improvisational
Don't forget, the 4th Annual Dos Equis Toast of the Coast is happening now, where you could win a chance to perform at this year's festival. For full details, head here.
- Log in to post comments


text:
ByJennifer Valentino-DeVries
After a Wall Street Journal story last week about Google bypassing the privacy settings on Apple's Safari Web browser, Microsoft has written a blog post accusing Google of doing similar things on Internet Explorer.
But what is happening on IE is a bit different, and it involves a problem that has been known about for some time by Microsoft and privacy researchers.
Here's what's going on: By default, IE is designed to block little files called "cookies" if they come from tracking companies. But the way it does this is fairly complicated.
IE uses something called P3P – the Platform for Privacy Preferences Project – a computer protocol that allows websites to share their privacy policies with the Web browser, rather than forcing the user to read each policy. P3P is a good idea, but it's one that has never really caught on, and other Web browsers don't support it.
IE supports P3P by default; if a Web company tells IE that it tracks users, or if it doesn't have a P3P policy at all, IE stops it from placing "third party" cookies, the kind usually used by advertisers and tracking companies.
But there's a big loophole in this setting: If a Web company doesn't follow the right format in its P3P policy, it's allowed to set cookies anyway. The P3P policy for Google.com simply says "This is not a P3P policy!" and then provides a link to a further explanation.
Privacy researchers have been complaining for years about this IE loophole and the companies that use it. Lorrie Cranor, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, wrote a blog post on Saturday pointing out yet again that "lots of companies do this," including Google and Facebook. She also has been calling on Microsoft to make changes to close the loophole.
Back in 2010, Ms. Cranor's research team found that thousands of sites, including a few of Microsoft's own, had problems in their P3P policies that allowed them to set cookies in IE. Many of the problems were due to typos and other mistakes; others were found to be deliberate misrepresentations.
Generally, nobody has put a stop to this, but Microsoft said in its Monday post that it is now "actively investigating" whether to prevent the setting of cookies in these circumstances.
The link provided by Google explains that the company doesn't follow the P3P syntax for Google.com because doing so interferes with things like +1 social networking buttons and with Google gadgets on iGoogle.
Google's advertising technology – doubleclick.net and googleadservices.com – follows the P3P protocol, according to the Journal's tests. This makes the IE situation different from the one on Safari, where Google put its doubleclick.net advertising trackers on people's computers in spite of Safari's privacy settings.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Facebook's page about P3P says the following: "the P3P standard is now out of date and does not reflect technologies that are currently in use on the web."
And it's worth pointing out that Microsoft has been eager to attack Google over privacy missteps, even taking out ads about Google's new privacy policy.
Still, Ms. Cranor says such behavior "looks like a circumvention."
So what should you take away from all this brouhaha about cookies and P3P and IE and Safari? Simple: Keeping track of your privacy preferences online is complicated to the point of being nearly impossible.
Every time a tool attempts to block something – like tracking cookies – companies come up with workarounds. And sometimes these privacy tools end up creating problems for honest Web developers, further complicating the situation.
Microsoft, for its part, is using the recent controversies to point users to its Tracking Protection Lists, a new feature in IE9 that lets users create lists to block trackers. Microsoft even introduced a new one on Monday that aims to block Google tracking. These lists block more than just cookies and aim to prevent any requests at all from tracking companies.
But the privacy arms race seems likely to rage on.


text:
AT&T Improves Republic Services' Speed and Safety with Enhanced Push-to-Talk
Connecting More Than 10,000 Employees On-The-Go, Nationwide
Dallas, Texas, May 20, 2013
AT&T* Enhanced Push-to-Talk is connecting Republic Services' network of more than 10,000 waste management professionals across the country with the tap of an app. When it came to communicating with drivers in the field, Republic Services needed a solution that provided both speed and reliability.
"We like AT&T Enhanced Push-to-Talk because it enables our dispatchers to connect quickly and safely with a large team of drivers – seamlessly," said Bill Halnon, CIO of Republic Services. "Our drivers face a number of obstacles in the field. Communicating with their colleagues should never be one of them."
Time is one resource that can never be recycled. That's why Republic Services chose AT&T Enhanced Push-to-Talk when it came time to recycle their old push-to-talk solution, as they are recycling all of their old push-to-talk devices.
Enhanced PTT allows AT&T customers to communicate faster, use larger talk groups, and deploy across many types of handsets. From the start, it was designed specifically for AT&T's speedy 4G LTE networks.
Key features of AT&T Enhanced PTT include:
- Larger contact lists and talk groups than competitive PTT solutions
- Ability to combine PTT services and mobile applications, with help from AT&T's team of mobility consulting and integration experts
- Supervisory override and talk group scanning, features that were previously available only for two-way radio users
- Sub-second call setup
To learn more about AT&T Enhanced PTT, please visit www.att.com/EPTT.


text:
Comedy is usually thought of as beneficial but not necessarily significant or essential. However, there is actually a structure and significance to humor as seen in comedic pieces. For instance, during comedic movies, many times the events are going decently well but in time they begin to devolve and become somewhat tragic, that is until the arrival of the comedic turn. The comedic turn is what serves as the axis which turns tragedy on its head and the once sorrowful story suddenly becomes joyful and hopeful. In light of the structure behind comedy, it may play a larger role than initially believed.
The important role that comedy plays is to inject hope through a greater understanding of truth. In Harry Potter, students encounter a Boggart, a creature that attacks them in the form of their worst fear. One would think students would be taught a deadly, powerful spell to defeat the Boggart but instead they are taught to use the spell, "Riddikulus" which turns the Boggart into something humorous. Through their laughter, the students learn that the opponent they face is not indestructible but ultimately conquerable. The transformation of approach from terror to humor stems from understanding this truth and allows them to then laugh from an assurance of victory.
For Christians, we are able to similarly fight our enemy with laughter from the same hope of victory. Our hope stems from the unique comedic turn of Christ, the axis that turns tragedy into joy. Raskin, a distinguished professor of linguistics at Purdue, explains the link between the comedic turn and humor stating it comes from, "the idea is that every joke is based on a juxtaposition of two scripts. The punch line triggers the switch from one script to the other. It is a universal theory." In the biblical story, there exists the two scripts: the present fallen world and the future perfect world. When Christ came, died, and rose again, he was the punch line that triggered the switch from the fallen world and bridged the gap to the perfect world.
Christ's life and death was a miraculous act that suddenly and irreversibly altered the fight against sin. The fight against a once seemingly formidable enemy becomes a fight filled with the joy and laughter that accompanies ultimate victory. The consolation of a happy ending is labeled by Tolkien as the Eucatastrophe, "the consolation of fairy-stories, the joy of the happy ending: or more correctly of the good catastrophe, the sudden joyous "turn." As a result of Christ's life and death, we are able to fight against our enemy without total anxiety or fear. If Satan is our Boggart, Jesus is the "Riddikulus" which allows us to claim our assurance of victory. Because of Christ, we are able to recognize the ridiculousness attempt of Satan to rule and can wage war against us. This joy found in the fight against Satan does not trivialize or underestimate the battle but rather esteems the miraculous turn created by Christ's birth, death and resurrection.
We will face obstacles and struggles in the present world since Christ's Eucatastrophe has not come to its full effect, but this does not mean His actions lack present effect. The underlying quality of the Eucatastrophe is,"It is not only a "consolation" for the sorrow of this world, but a satisfaction, and an answer to that question, 'Is it true?'" While the Gospel's Eucatastrophe creates a perfect hope for the future, it has the ability to deeply affect our present spiritual struggles by removing fear or anxiety in the midst of battle.


text:
Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore Throw Party for 'Two and a Half Men' Gang
Righteous dude!
It didn't take long for Ashton Kutcher to become the most popular guy among the cast and crew of "Two and a Half Men."
PHOTOS: Check out Ashton's incredible abs
Charlie Sheen's replacement on the smash CBS sitcom threw an impromptu party for the entire show's staff after the first day of shooting wrapped on Friday, an insider tells Us Weekly.
With wife Demi Moore at his side, the 33-year-old was a happy host in the back room of West Hollywood hot spot Troubadour, "buying drinks" for all comers, the insider says. DJing the off-the-cuff bash was Jordy Masterson, the brother of Kutcher's former "That '70s Show" co-star Danny Masterson.
PHOTOS: Guess the age differences with these couples
Kutcher and Moore, 48, "were both cute together and friendly with everyone," the source tells Us.
Indeed, the low-key celebration epitomizes the new Zen Kutcher brings after the chaos of Sheen's ouster earlier this year.
"Everybody is loving Ashton on the set," the source raves. "He's really coming off like a cool low-maintenance guy, and with everything that went down with Charlie, everyone is breathing a sigh of relief."
PHOTOS: Charlie Sheen's craziest controversies
Unlike 45-year-old Sheen's drama, "He jokes with the crew, has no tantrums, he comes in well-studied in his lines -- it's such a nice change. So far there have been no issues and everyone is really happy with how it's working out."
Adds the source: "Nobody is missing Charlie right now."
Celebs who own restaurants and bars


text:
White Sox host Pink Out game in support of breast cancer awareness and education
CHICAGO - The Chicago White Sox are teaming up with the Chicagoland affiliate of Susan G. Komen to support breast cancer awareness and education with the White Sox Pink Out game on May 10. Fans are invited to show their support and help increase awareness about breast health and screening by wearing pink to that evening's game vs. Arizona.
The first 10,000 women ages 14 years and older will receive a White Sox pink scarf. The White Sox Pink Out game also will include a pregame ceremony and tribute starting at 5:30 p.m., which includes breast cancer survivors taking the field with White Sox players. During the game, White Sox players will show their support by wearing pink caps. Pink shirts also will be available for purchase, with a portion of proceeds going to the Komen Chicagoland affiliate. A postgame fireworks display will be set to a soundtrack of songs that honors the strength and spirit of breast cancer survivors and all who are impacted by this disease.
"The goal is to do something that truly spreads awareness of a cause that impacts so many loved ones," said Brooks Boyer, White Sox senior vice president of sales and marketing.
The Komen Chicagoland affiliate, as well as Gilda's Club Chicago, will have a presence at the game to spread awareness and discuss available resources and services. A Silver Lining Foundation also will be present to provide information on free screening options.
About 1.3 million people are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, making it the most prevalent cancer in the world today. While there is no exact known cause of the disease, people have a better chance of survival than ever before with heightened awareness, early detection through screening, improved treatment methods and increased access to breast health services. Additional breast health resources and information are available at komenchicago.org.
Tickets to the May 10 Pink Out game vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks are available at whitesox.com, the U.S. Cellular Field ticket office and through Ticketmaster.


text: Office to absorb cuts to maintain senior services By Phil Kabler February 25, 2013 Story Share CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Bureau of Senior Services' central administrative offices will absorb budget cuts in excess of 10 percent in the 2012-13 state budget in hopes of deflecting the impact of the 7.5 percent overall cuts ordered for most state agencies by the Tomblin administration, Commissioner Robert Roswell told legislators Monday."That allowed us to reduce some of the cuts that go directly to services," he told the House Finance Committee.The 7 1/2 percent cut will not affect Senior Services as much as many state agencies, since only about 11 percent of its budget comes from general revenue, with Lottery proceeds, federal funding and special revenue accounting for most of its budget.Overall, the agency's budget will be cut about $1.79 million, to $91.36 million.In 2012, the bureau served nearly 230,500 seniors, with 64 percent of its clients being 75 or older. Of those, 25 percent have incomes below the poverty level, and two of every three clients live alone, he said.The bureau provides a variety of services to clients, including personal care, caregiver respite, transportation, homemaker services, with meals -- both home-delivered and served at senior centers -- accounting for 61 percent of the total, he said.In 2012, the bureau provided 1.4 million home-delivered meals and nearly 1 million meals at senior centers.While the congregate meals are frequently as much for social wellbeing as nutrition, the in-home meals meet a critical need, Roswell said. "We tried to absorb as many cuts in the central office as we could first," he said. "We wouldn't want to cut more meals, and we wouldn't want to cut more in-home care -- either would be bad."Also Monday, members of the Senate Finance Committee discussed ways for the state Treasurer's Office to streamline the process for family members to claim property held by the Unclaimed Property Division.At issue is when unclaimed property is in the name of a deceased family member. Current law requires reopening that person's estate in order for survivors to claim the property.Sen. Bill Laird, D-Fayette, said that process is time-consuming and costly and discourages families from claiming smaller amounts."I think people may leave money lay because it takes more than $200 of work to do that," he said of smaller amounts of unclaimed property.Treasurer John Perdue said his office is required to follow state law for such claims, and it would be up to the Legislature to change the law to make it easier to claim property under those circumstances.In 2012, Unclaimed Property returned more than $9.5 million of property to rightful owners. However, the division currently holds about 944,000 accounts with a total value of about $171 million, he said. Reach Phil Kabler at firstname.lastname@example.com or 304-348-1220. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Facebook founder visits Cabin Creek Health Systems 2 Teen pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Oakes Field shooting 3 Safety shutoff disabled prior to June coal-mining death, report says 4 Reunions: Sept. 26, 2017 5 Huggins, WVU tap South Florida hoops talent Philippi coach plans walk to Ohio to raise funds Previous Story State coal exports up 40 percent over last year Next Story


text:
Arias gets chance to improve numbers vs. lefties
MIAMI -- Shortstop Brandon Crawford was out of the Giants' lineup and Joaquin Arias was in Sunday at Marlins Park -- but manager Bruce Bochy confirmed he was just invoking a routine day-game-after-night-game strategy in order to give Arias a chance against Marlins lefty Brad Hand.
"This isn't a message," he said. "[Crawford is] hitting lefties. The numbers show it."
Entering Sunday, Crawford had lit up southpaws this season with a .322 average, 11 extra-base hits and 14 RBIs in 87 at-bats against them. Arias, however, was only 10-for-54 when facing left-handed pitching. He ended up going 0-for-3 against Hand.
But Bochy believes part of the reason for Arias' struggles has been his lack of playing time.
"I think that's the biggest reason he probably hasn't gotten on track with the bat," Bochy said. "More of his at-bats are against righties and he hasn't gotten consistent at-bats against lefties."
Considering the funk Crawford got into at the end of the first half -- he had just six hits in 38 at-bats to kick off his first 12 games in July -- Bochy has resolved to give his regular shortstop more rest as the season goes on, thus giving Arias a bigger opportunity to improve.
It won't always be Crawford out of the lineup in Arias' place, though. Bochy suggested he could put him in at second base as well.
And with Brandon Belt having to miss more of the season after being diagnosed with a concussion Sunday, it could be that Arias will play more even more often. He's already appeared in 67 games and is batting .182 in 121 at-bats.
Maria Torres is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.