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Zero Days [2016] – America Opens Yet Another Pandora's Box
Documentary film-maker and producer Alex Gibney's works are at their best when it comes from a place of worry, bafflement and righetous fury. From chronicling the 'Enron' corporate disaster to exposing the devious designs of 'Scientology', Gibney's documentaries has introduced fresh perspective to most-talked about incidents and brings out hard truths about unknown incidents. Aesthetically his documentaries don't stay in our mind for an ever-lasting time-period, although the cornucopia of information he bestows, instigates a lot of debate on the public forum. And unlike Michael Moore, Gibney always stays behind the camera, only focusing on the urgency of message that needs to be conveyed. With his recent documentary "Zero Days" (2016), which is a part spy thriller and part cautionary tale, the film-maker studies the looming threat of global cyber warfare. "Zero Days" is the kind of documentary that makes you paranoid when you wade through the digital realm, sharing and searching for information, leaving your digital footprint. Even though, I am not a nuclear scientist or any important personality, the knowledge of how viruses are designed by nation-states to monitor a enemy nation's citizens is something totally alarming (this might not be the right place to say, but still I'd like to say that I have nothing but unbridled contempt for hypocritical American government and its foreign policies).
In the documentary's opening montage, we see that Gibney has lined-up important men of high-ranking intelligence agencies like CIA, NSA, and Mossad. But, they all remain tight-lipped and cautious when the word 'Stuxnet' is pronounced. It is 'hideously over-classified' says former CIA and NSA Chief Michael Hayden. All these intelligence agency men not only deny to debate on the already-present cyber warfare, they don't even acknowledge the existence of a cyber weapon like 'Stuxnet'. What is Stuxnet? Gibney introduces two charming anti-virus experts, Eric Chien and Liam O'Murchu to explain what this flawlessly crafted piece of code or virus would do to its targets. The duo after spending lot of sleepless nights found out that Stuxnet virus is specifically designed to target Siemens devices, the kind that is used to control centrifuges in nuclear energy plants. At the time, when the anti-virus guys encountered the malicious malware, it is believed to have hailed from Belarus and started to pop-up in computers all over the world, especially within US. But, before zeroing-in on the place of origination of this malware, its target was first found: Natanz nuclear plant in Iran.
In 2006, Iranian government secretly commenced the construction of Natanz nuclear plant, deceiving the outside world that it is a desert irrigation facility. Within the next few years, they built state-of-the-art uranium-processing centrifuges to produce low-enriched uranium. Although the nuclear plant was keenly watched by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the American and Israeli intelligence agencies were unnerved by the prospect of Iran possessing a nuclear program. Around 2010, the centrifuges at Natanz, under mysterious circumstances started to implode and malfunction. Iranian government fired scientist and engineers for the unsolvable mechanical program, but at that time they didn't know about 'Stuxnet', which had craftily entered into plant's computers to create the unaccountable ruckus. While Intelligence agents, Gibney has conjured up for this documentary talk in vague terms, it is New York Times' David Sagner and a digitally disguised secret informant (from NSA) lucidly convey the origin of Stuxnet and how it came back to attack its creator.
Stuxnet is alleged to have been authorized by former President Bush as an effort to calm Israel's uncontrollable desire to drop bomb at Iran's budding nuclear facilities. The hack into Natanz plant took place under Obama's authorization and budget for secret, offensive cyber weapons was elevated to higher levels. Stuxnet, jointly created by NSA and Unit 8200 (Israel's cyber spy agency), after wreaking havoc in Iran, started to spread around the world and was detected as well as fully dissected by anti-virus experts in private sector. Even though the existence of malware became public knowledge and all fingers pointed to USA and Israel, both the governments denied to acknowledge the existence of such a powerful malware. David Sagner's incendiary article (on June, 2012) is what first brought the truth behind 'stuxnet', which was actually named as 'Olympic games' by intelligence agencies (according to the statement of various agency whistle-blowers).
Director/writer Alex Gibney's works are most informative when you go under-informed and very professionally executed. Unlike his best documentaries like "Taxi to the Dark Side", here there's no formal reinvention; just a very straightforward detailing of gathered information. It's good that he doesn't leave any authorial imprint and only includes voice-over to express his frustration over how recurrently he got stone-walled by intelligence agencies. Gibney is also at his best when he briefly jumps back in time to introduce the historical perspective. Nevertheless, since the aesthetics aren't very noteworthy, we do get little exhausted as valuable information keeps on hitting us with the same note. It's not that the information we hear becomes dis-interesting; it's just that our concentrating abilities are tested by the non-dynamic interviews. The recreations and the graphics are also little tiring as we repeatedly see matrix-like codes to represent the dangers inside the malware code (of course, it is not easy to make computer-related information visually engaging). Then, there's the usual montage of nuclear tests, whenever the word 'nuclear weapon' is used or the shots of flickering server banks or power cuts in cities used to create artificial tension (and the lighting & musical cues serves to shove in dramatic effect). Such visual flourishes may work on those who are taking in all these information for the first time, but for others with little knowledge on this subject, these aesthetics seem dull.
Some of the technical jargon are also hard to understand. But, the pace really picks up, when Gibney starts addressing the hazards in cyber war and the need to address the byzantine complexities, prevalent in the cyber battlescape. David Sagner warns how 'US is the most vulnerable nation to cyber-attacks in the world, with its poorly defended computer-operated infrastructure'. At that point, the documentary becomes a call to fellow Americans and netizens all over the world to start a conversation. It is also a pleasure to see works that exposes American government's hypocrisy. Enad Kiyaei of American Iranian Council addresses this: "In International law when some country or a coalition of countries targets a nuclear facility, it's an act of war". The documentary also ends on an alarming note, as the 'secret informant' talks about their alleged new development 'Nitro Zeus', an all-powerful cyber weapon that can one day really evolve like the fictional 'skynet' and result in loss of lives. With the introduction of 'Stuxnet' into the world, a green signal is also provided for powers like China, Russia and other small non-government hackers to come up with their own innovative, life-threatening digital weapons.
The legally vague premises of cyber battlefront, explored in "Zero Days" (116 minutes) will gain more prominence in the next few decades. It talks about a huge problem, which the warmongering, super-power nation doesn't even want to acknowledge.


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KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 25: Smoke rises from clashes between anti-government protesters and police on Hrushevskoho Street near Dynamo stadium, as seen from Independence Square, on January 25, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. After two months of primarily peaceful anti-government protests in the city center, new laws meant to end the protest movement have sparked violent clashes in recent days. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
- Copyright
- 2014 Getty Images
- Image Size
- 5743x3829 / 6.3MB
- Contained in galleries
- Maidan Protests

subset: commoncrawl


text: Hello everyone, I am new to the boards. I googled "difficult children parent support forum" and a couple clicks and some reading later...here I am. I read the post from JJJ...and that is my son spot on. It is ONLY at home. and Only with me and my d/h. He is perfect at Preschool, perfect for Nana & Papa, perfect for EVERYONE. My son's behavior is fairly recent, I mean he hasn't always been this way. And I know that children act up, and throw tantrums etc. but his is WAY more then that. It's getting to the point where I am getting scared to be with him. Not scared in the sense that he'll hurt me, but I just start to panic because I don't know how to deal with him. I am constantly trying to smother him with niceness so he won't "turn" on me. My mother told me that when he won't listen and is hitting etc. to spank his bottom. Well that doesn't work! He doesn't like it but it doesn't stop him from whatever he was doing. It almost triggers him to really explode. I was told to just ignore him. that doesn't work. It makes him angrier. And he'll just do whatever he was doing right in front of my face to annoy me. I try to do things with him as much as I can, as I have a fairly new baby at home, and a very active 19 month old who is just now starting to mimic everything my son is doing, Right down to his ear splitting screams, to the hitting. I'm seriously exhausted. I have no idea what to do, or where to start to get him help. How do you start??? How can my child be the sweetest boy, one minute laughing because he's smothering my face in kisses then turn to this thing that gets so angry and grabs onto my leg as tight as he can possibly squeeze and hit me and SCREAMMM because I won't let him have some Fruit snacks or he's been banned from the PS3!? I'm really scared that how he is now, and how I am toward him when he's like that is going to affect our relationship greatly when he's older. I'm tired from lack of sleep from having a little one, and I have no Patience. I don't want him to reflect on his childhood memories with memories of his mother always getting mad at him and how her face always looked so angry because she's holding everything inside not to reach out and smack him! Sorry for the long post. I just don't know what to do.


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It's pretty much a given that the '90s changed the game when it came to horror films. Take Scream, which was the first example of a sort of meta horror: a film that flipped classic scary-movie tropes on their heads. There's no better time to celebrate the slasher flick than Summer, so keep reading for all the reasons we love it.
Image Source: Columbia Pictures


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|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Oct 23, 1990
|Filing date
|Sep 14, 1988
|Priority date
|Sep 24, 1982
|Fee status
|Publication number
|Sidney D. Moore
|Original Assignee
|Moore Sidney D
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (20), Non-Patent Citations (3), Referenced by (95), Classifications (15), Legal Events (5)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,352, issued on Oct. 11, 1988, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,052, both of which are incorporated herein by this reference.
This invention relates to optical devices for surveying, rangefinding, and the like, and is particularly useful in telescopes and their use in aiming firearms. More particularly, the invention provides a rangefinding and trajectory-compensating riflescope which requires only a simple manipulation of a control knob and switch to accomplish various rangefinding and trajectory compensation functions.
Although the present invention is applicable to other optical devices, the invention will be described below with respect to a riflescope embodiment. It is also to be understood that reference to the front of the apparatus means the objective lens end, while the rear of the apparatus is understood as being the ocular lens end.
Since the advent of firearms, ways and means have been sought to accurately aim these devices at targets. Evolving from simple notch-and-bead arrangements, the optical riflescope has proved to be the most effective device in fulfilling this task.
Riflescopes have been commercially available for many years and have remained largely unchanged since their introduction. These instruments comprise two basic types. The simplest form comprises a body tube, objective and ocular lenses disposed at essentially opposite ends of the tube, and an erector lens assembly in the body tube in the space between the objective and ocular lenses. Without the erector optics, the image formed by the objective lens would be seen inverted as in celestial telescopes. The inversion of images of celestial objects is of no consequence, but telescopes adapted for use in the aiming of firearms require the inclusion of erector optics to provide an image which appears upright. The erector optics are mounted within a secondary tube which is mounted within the main body tube of the riflescope. The erector optics tube is usually controllably pivotable by means of adjustment screws for the positional fine adjustment of the target image relative to an essentially stationary sighting reference. This reference usually consists of a pair of aiming crosshairs or a reticle disposed in the riflescope either at the focal plane of the objective, in front of the erector lens assembly, or at the rear plane of focus shared by the erector and the ocular optical elements.
In a second and somewhat more complex form of riflescope, the erector optics are also controllably movable along the optical axis within their tube in such a manner as to cause the focal length of the optical system to vary to provide an image of variable size. A ring external of the body tube is manipulated by the shooter to alter, at will, the size of the image formed by the riflescope within limits afforded by the design and structure of the particular device. This operation is typically called "zooming", and a range from three-to nine-power is common. At three-power, the image formed by the device is three times life-size, while at nine power it is nine times life-size.
The body tube, or housing of the riflescope, is mounted to the firearm. Once mounted, the riflescope is "zeroed." This operation establishes a precise relationship between the bore line of the firearm and the operator's visual line of sight through the riflescope. This adjustment is facilitated by the previously mentioned screw means constituting a horizontal (windage) adjustment and a vertical (elevation) adjustment. "Zeroing" is done in relation to an impact point at a known distance down range. For instance, a firearm may be "zeroed" so that the aiming reference, the reticle or crosshair intersection, is aligned with a point one hundred yards distant and is coincident with the placement or location of the projectile at that range. Once established, the alignment is permanent, unless the rigors of field use necessitate realignment by further zeroing.
In riflescopes of basic construction, the range to targets must be compensated for entirely by the shooter who first estimates a target's range and then imposes a degree of "holdover" estimated to compensate for projectile drop at that distance. However, few shooters become adept at estimating range and in compensating properly for bullet drop. In the field, variations in terrain, air density, and elevation can cause even the best of shooters to misjudge target range a significant percentage of the time, resulting in their often being well off the mark when firing. Shooters who are expert at such judgment are able to attain accuracy with only one or two specific cartridges and rifles with which they have become familiar by practice. With increasing target distance, the expert shooter aims ever higher in estimated increments of the target's image size: quarter height of target over, half height over, full height over, and so forth. This judgment is based directly on the size of the target image in the riflescope and, stated in the simplest possible way, the shooter knows that as down range distance increases, target image size decreases.
Limited static and dynamic means have evolved for range determination and aiming compensation based on these experiences.
Static devices such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,392,450 to Herter et al. and 4,263,719 to Murdoch feature a special reticle upon which is engraved a plurality of circles of different diameters, or spaced lines, representing the "standard" eighteen inch (450 mm.) withers-to-brisket measurement of a common mule deer at a specific distance or range. Additionally, each circle or pair of lines is vertically displaced below the vertically centered horizontal crosshair an amount estimated to compensate for average bullet drop at a specific range. Once the shooter selects a circle or pair of lines which most nearly matches the image size of the target, he aligns its associated horizontal line with the target and discharges the firearm.
Another static device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,137 to Jennie. The principle embodied in this device is essentially similar to that of the previously discussed U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,392,450 and 4,263,719, with the exception that only two sighting planes are provided. The primary sighting plane corresponds to the zero crossing point of the trajectory for dead-on aiming, while the secondary plane provides the shooter with a single reference for aiming holdover for use at greater target ranges.
Two major disadvantages are inherent in the static means exemplified by these prior art devices. First, the compensating aiming marks or planes are limited to a single set, necessitating use of only one cartridge, the trajectory of which must be exactly matched to the reticle's single set of horizontal aiming marks. The difficulty is that to have even one set of static aiming marks accurately relate to a given bullet's trajectory would require the riflescope manufacturer's selection of a single popular cartridge for which the riflescope would be custom-designed. This method also wrongly presupposes that all rifles fire cartridges identically. Cartridges other than the one for which the riflescope is designed could not be used with accuracy since their trajectory characteristics would differ from the fixed set of aiming holdover marks.
A second major disadvantage of the static means taught by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,392,450, 4,263,719 and 4,285,137, is that for any range other than the several increments provided by the static reticle spacing, the shooter must estimate an aiming point between pairs of indicators. This has the further disadvantage of depriving the shooter of a horizontal crosshair reference to aid in holding aim upon the target.
A further disadvantage of the prior art static means is the cluttering of the field of view of the riflescope. The many circles, lines, or sighting planes lead to confusion during critical or stressful aiming situations, as when time for aiming is limited.
These several limitations make accuracy with these static devices uncertain and often impossible.
The prior art dynamic means of rangefinding utilizing the relationship between range and the apparent size of the optical image of the target provides a more satisfactory and versatile solution. Examples of these devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,340,614 to Leatherwood, 3,506,330 to Allen, 3,684,376 to Lessard, 3,386,330 to Burris, 4,248,496 to Akin, Jr. et al., 4,389,791 to Ackerman, and indirectly, by U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,155 to Akin, Jr. et al. The device in U.S. Pat. No. 3,340,614 has a physical means of moving a reference wire in relation to a stationary wire to frame the target. This adjustment further communicates with elevation adjustment means to alter the line of sight in general compensation of target range and projectile drop. U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,791 differs in that the apparently movable crosshair is actually fixedly mounted forward of the erector lens assembly and is made to appear to move up and down by the pivoting of the erector optics tube when an external ring is manipulated by the shooter. The second stationary wire is fixedly mounted rearward of the erector optics tube so that pivotal movement of the tube has no effect on its apparent position. A major disadvantage of the device in U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,791 is its limitation to use in fixed-power riflescopes since the image of the forward wire would vary in width with changes in the zoom setting. Such zoom changes would also destroy the geometrical relationship between the two wires which is essential to the rangefinding function of the device.
In the several devices of the other patents referred to above, variable focal length optics are used in the erector lens system disposed between the objective and ocular lenses. Thus, power of magnification may be altered, usually by means of an adjustment ring, to vary the apparent size of the target image. This operation, as has been pointed out, is commonly termed "zooming." A fixed pair of spaced, parallel horizontal wires or etched lines are disposed on the ocular side of the variable optics, and are therefore unaffected by changes in zooming magnification. The zooming ring is turned until the target image is either reduced or enlarged to fit the spacing of the pair of parallel wires or etched lines. Since the target image size is a function of target distance, the position of the zooming ring will vary accordingly. Thus, a range distance scale and an index mark may be provided in association with the zooming knob or ring to indicate target range. Once the target image is properly framed, the operator reads the range distance opposite the index mark.
In the device of U.S. Pat. No. 3,506,330, changes in the magnification of the target image are directly communicated to mechanical means to automatically alter the elevation adjustment of the line of sight of the riflescope to compensate for projectile drop in a general way.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,684,376, no provision is made to relate the determined range distance to changes in elevation adjustment for proper holdover. The assumption is that the shooter has memorized the published bullet drop tables for the cartridge in use and can mentally estimate required holdover. This latter patent also teaches a movable second reference wire, but the advantage such movement provides is limited to adjustments in compensation for variations in target size only; and, once set, the horizontal reference wires remain static relative to one another during all rangefinding operations. The devices of this patent, as with the others having fixed framing reference wires, require a zooming type embodiment and will not function in the more accurate fixed power type of riflescope. There is also no aiming compensation system in the devices of this patent.
Of the several prior art devices actually produced commercially, one of the most satisfactorily conceived and executed is a Bushnell riflescope combining two devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,990,155 and 4,248,496, assigned to Bausch and Lomb, Inc. The device of the '155 patent is an elevation adjusting knob assembly coupled to the erector optics tube of an associated riflescope which changes the vertical positioning of the crosshairs relative to the target image. Indicia on the adjustment knob relate to target distance. A clever and novel feature of this device is its interchangeable knob capability. Each of several knobs bears a different scale of indicia relating to the characteristics of a particular cartridge trajectory. One such knob is left unmarked for individual calibration for special applications in the field by the shooter. This feature is useful to those who hand-load their own cartridges, since the trajectories of such loads are unique. Combined in the same riflescope is the device of the '496 patent wherein a prism is used in combination with zooming optical elements and parallel horizontal target framing reticle wires. These provide a readout in the riflescope's field of view of the range to the target, the image of which is framed by the horizontal framing wires. Upon completion of target framing, the operator sets the elevation compensating knob to the indicated yardage figure to adjust the aiming crosshairs for proper holdover. The shooter may accomplish this without moving the riflescope away from his eye.
The described Bushnell riflescope has distinct advantages over other devices of the prior art. However, as with all other active devices of the prior art, it is a requirement of the Bushnell design that the shooter relinquish control of the rifle with one hand to operate the rangefinding device. It is a further disadvantage of this version of the combined device that the shooter must move a hand away from holding the firearm to adjust the elevation compensating knob for the proper range. After setting the elevation compensating knob, it is necessary to relocate the target in the riflescope's field of view. The time required for the several operative steps in a riflescope of this design will frequently result in missed opportunities since the target of interest will seldom be so accommodating as to remain in one place sufficiently long.
A disadvantage inherent in all devices of the prior art which provide elevation compensation for projectile drop at various ranges is that the means by which this is accomplished is permanently established by gears, threaded members, and/or cams which do not compensate for the many variables which affect projectile trajectories during operation.
The factors which markedly affect bullet trajectories are well known in the art of firearms and fire control and much study of ballistics data has resulted in considerable knowledge relating to the understanding and prediction of projectile flight curves and general performance. Over the years many formulas, equations, and methods of calculation (such as the well known Siacci method) have evolved which relate to every aspect of projectile performance. Manufacturers of cartridges apply this accumulated knowledge in exhaustive tests to establish parameters for the use of their products. The resulting extensive information is published in the form of tables which typically show projectile drop in inches for range increments of one hundred yards, or meters, and at various muzzle velocities.
A relatively new tool in the study of popular ballistics is the computer and many, if not all, manufacturers now generate their ballistics tables entirely by computer. When subsequently compared to actual cartridge performance, these computer-generated tables have proved remarkably accurate.
With the increasing availability of computers and programmable calculators, interest in ballistics calculation has become widespread, even among interested lay individuals and shooters. An example of this interest from recent popular literature, included herein by reference, is the article Pushbutton Ballistics, by Edgar J. Young, in Rifle 81 Magazine, May-June, 1982. This article includes a computer program for a programmable pocket calculator which can generate ballistics tables containing everything a shooter needs to know about trajectories and flight performance.
The use of computers for accurate military fire control is old. Examples of such applications are the devices disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,818 to Marasco, et al., 4,020,739 to Piotrowski, et al., and 4,404,890 to McAlpine. In all prior art military fire control devices an elaborate laser range finder is assumed. Such a means of range determination is out of the question in sport shooting applications because of high cost, bulk, weight, and power requirements.
There are inventions in the prior art which take advantage of the fact that the objective lens of a riflescope forms a first image plane on the optical axis immediately in front of the erector optics tube. U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,791 to Ackerman teaches the use of a secondary horizontal wire on this first image plane to use as a target spanning reference together with a primary horizontal wire. This device is elegantly simple but its application is limited to broad categorizations of ballistic performance. And, as with other devices of the prior art, the device must be removed from the aiming position in order to be set for aiming compensation. As previously discussed, this is highly undesirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,421 to Shepherd also teaches use of a sighting reference on the first focal plane of a riflescope. In this subject matter the secondary reference at the first focal plane is utilized merely as a means of insuring that the user's eye is centered on the primary reticle so as to eliminate parallax, a condition which occurs with changes in the distance to the target -- the greater the distance, the greater the parallax. However, parallax can be effectively eliminated entirely simply by providing focusing capability in the riflescope. A focusing objective or erector lens cell has become the method of choice in modern sniperscopes and long range targetscopes such as used by silhouette and benchrest shooters. A feature of this device is that the secondary reference may be adjusted out of the field of view when desired. This feature is inconsequential to the present invention.
The present invention provides an improved microcontroller-operated device for use in surveying, rangefinding and trajectory compensation.
Briefly, one embodiment of the invention comprises an optical instrument through which a target of preselected size can be viewed. The instrument includes an objective lens, an ocular lens, and an erector lens assembly mounted in a secondary housing to pivot between the objective lens and the ocular lens. A first image plane of focus defined by the objective lens is located between the objective lens and the erector lens assembly. A second plane of focus is located between the ocular lens and the erector lens assembly. A microcontroller carried on the optical instrument provides means for signal processing to produce a range-measuring system. A spanning reference is in focus on the first image plane. Means are provided to pivot the erector lens assembly to scan the combined image of the spanning reference and the target on the first image plane in relation to a reference indicator, a horizontal crosshair on the second plane of focus, to thereby adjust the apparent spacing between the spanning reference and the reference indicator in response to the user's viewing the target through the instrument and spanning the size of the target. A first control signal is produced and sent to the microprocessor to represent the pre-selected size of the target. A second control signal is produced and sent to the microcontroller to represent the set spacing between the spanning reference and the reference indicator. Range-measuring means in the microcontroller are responsive to the control signal to automatically produce a third control signal representative of the range from the instrument to the target as determined by the set spacing and pre-selected size of the target.
In one form of the invention, the erector lens assembly pivots by means of a control knob external to the optical instrument, and an encoder on the control knob senses its movement and inputs measurement of its movement to the microcontroller for use in calculating the range measurement.
In a further embodiment, once the known range measurement has been calculated by the microcontroller, a switch is activated to input the known range value, after which the microcontroller calculates a holdover value for use in aiming compensation and outputs a compensation signal to aid the shooter in adjusting the device for aiming the firearm so as to compensate for the trajectory of the projectile at the known range value.
The invention has the following objectives:
(1) an improved microcontroller-operated scope which may be used for rangefinding and is particularly useful in surveying instruments, rangefinding devices, and trajectory-compensating aiming devices for firearms;
(2) an improved microcontroller-operated rangefinding control for riflescopes;
(3) a rangefinding device which can be set to accurately determine the range to any size object;
(4) a rangefinding and trajectory-compensating riflescope which requires only the simple manipulation of a control knob and switch to accomplish various rangefinding functions to provide full control of the device by the shooter; and
(5) an electronic aiming compensation means for riflescopes.
These and other aspects of the invention will be more fully understood by referring to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the principal components of a conventional riflescope.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the trajectory of a projectile and the line-of-sight of a riflescope.
FIG. 3 is a semi-schematic perspective view illustrating a riflescope according to principles of this invention.
FIG. 4(a) is a sight picture of a target spanned at 100 yards.
FIG. 4(b) is a sight picture of a target spanned at 300 yards.
FIG. 4(c) is a sight picture of a target spanned at 500 yards.
FIG. 4(a') is a sight picture of a target in "dead on" aim at the sighted-in range of 100 yards.
FIG. 4(b') is a sight picture showing holdover distance 74, required for proper aim at the target at 300 yards.
FIG. 4(c') is a sight picture showing the holdover distance 75, required for proper aim at the target at 500 yards.
FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating the relationships of various electronic and mechanical components of the present invention.
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 schematically illustrates essential components of a conventional telescopic riflescope contained in and on a housing 25. The housing 25 is shown in cutaway view for clarity. The optical components included in a typical riflescope are an objective lens 10, an ocular lens cell 11, and first and second erector lenses 12 and 13 carried in an erector optics tube, or secondary housing 14. Support bosses 15 mount an end portion of the erector optics tube 14 to maintain the tube in a fixed, though pivotable, position within the riflescope housing. The objective lens 10 forms an inverted image of a target on a first image plane 16 located in the housing between the objective lens and the erector lens assembly. A second image plane 17 is formed by the erector lenses 12 and 13 at the ocular end of the erector optics tube 14. Attached to the ocular end of the erector optics tube 14, and situated upon the second image plane 17 is a reticle frame 18 carrying upon it a sighting reference, or reticle comprising a vertical crosshair 19 and a horizontal crosshair (not shown). The crosshair points of intersection fall essentially centrally upon an optical axis 23 of the riflescope. The objective lens 10 and ocular lens cell 11 are also aligned axially on the optical axis 23 through the body 25 of the riflescope.
The erector lenses 12 and 13 and the ocular lens cell 11 together form a low power microscope, or magnifier, which "views" the first image plane 16. A threaded adjustment post 21 communicates to the outside of the riflescope body 25 for purposes of adjusting the relative positions of an image formed on the first image plane 16 in combination with an image of the reticle crosshairs 19 and 20. A spring 22 biases the erector optics tube 14 into positive contact with the end of a threaded adjustment post 21. A second threaded adjustment post is used in riflescopes of this type to adjust horizontal positioning of the image/reticle combination, but this adjustment has no role in describing and understanding the present invention and is, therefore, omitted for simplicity.
FIG. 2 illustrates the difficulty in obtaining accurate aim at a distant target caused by the deviation between a straight line-of-sight 28 and a curved projectile trajectory 29. The increasing deviation between the two is illustrated at range increments of 100 yards with typical increments of bullet drop indicated by minus inches.
Typically, after mounting the riflescope upon a firearm, a shooter adjusts the relationship between the two so the image of the crosshairs will fall precisely upon the point of impact of a bullet fired by the rifle at a chosen range. The chosen range is commonly 100 or 200 yards. Thus, the first portion of projectile travel will be above the line-of-sight 28 as shown at A in FIG. 2. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the chosen distance for coincidence of line-of-sight 28 and the trajectory 29 is 100 yards. This point of coincidence is shown as the zero crossing point 30 -- the projectile is neither above nor below line-of-sight 28 -- that is, it will be directly "on target" at 100 yards. This calibration setting is known as "zeroing" the riflescope/rifle combination. The zero crossing point 30 is the only relationship between the bullet's trajectory 29 and line-of-sight 28 quantitatively known to the shooter using riflescopes of conventional design. When using these scopes for targets at greater ranges than the calibrated zero range, the shooter must estimate how much higher to aim the firearm to bring the projectile up into alignment with the line-of-sight to the target. This over aiming is called "holdover" and must accurately match the target's range to the amount of bullet drop for that range. Another way to conceptualize the conditions necessary for accurate aiming at distant targets is to consider that the shooter is, in effect, mentally re-zeroing the equipment at the new distance with each shot, pivoting the firearm ever higher with increasing target range.
The guesswork involved in aiming firearms at distant targets is removed by the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates components of a riflescope which include an objective lens 36, an ocular lens cell 37, an erector optics tube 38, a reticle frame 39, a horizontal crosshair 40, and a vertical crosshair 41. These are essentially identical to those components found in conventional scopes and are shown in their relative positions along the optical axis 35 of the scope.
Adjustment means in the form of vertical adjustment assembly 42 has two adjustments in one assembly for calibrating the apparatus. A zero adjusting screw 43 threads through a central bore of the vertical adjusting assembly 42. The bottom of the adjusting screw 43 engages the upper surface of an erector optics tube 38 near the objective lens end of the tube, between the first image plane and the second image plane. As in conventional scopes, a spring 56 biases the erector optics tube 38 into positive engagement with the vertical adjusting assembly 42. The thread fit of the zero adjusting screw 43 inside the bore of the vertical adjusting assembly 42 is designed to be very close so as to provide considerable resistance against accidental relative rotation. This ensures that, once adjusted, the rotational alignment between the screw 43 and assembly 42 will remain unchanged when the vertical adjusting assembly 42 is subsequently rotated via an integral gear 44 which forms a fixed part of the assembly 42.
Zero adjusting screw 43 communicates through the body (not shown) of the riflescope and is accessible to operator manipulation from the exterior of the riflescope during the zeroing operation, previously discussed. Rotation of the zero adjusting screw 43 causes the erector optics tube 38 to pivot to adjust the objective image of the target on the first image plane relative to the horizontal and vertical crosshairs so that the line-of-sight coincides with the trajectory at, say, 100 yards. The crosshairs are held captive on the second image plane of the scope. Once the zeroing operation is completed, further adjustment of the zero adjusting screw 43 will not be necessary for operation of the present invention.
Subsequent to the zeroing operation, only rotational adjustments of an external control knob 45 are communicated to vertical adjusting assembly 42 by means of the engagement of an integral ring gear 57 with an intermediate gear 46 and, thence, engagement of the intermediate gear 46 with the gear 44 on the vertical adjusting assembly 42. These several parts constitute the drive means by which manual adjustments of the control knob 45 are communicated to the erector lens cell optics.
Rotational adjustments of the external control knob 45 are also communicated directly to a shaft encoder 47 through its direct interconnection with the control knob. The shaft encoder 47 tracks rotational adjustments to the external control knob 45 and conveys corresponding control signals to a microcontroller circuit (see FIG. 5) for signal processing to carry out rangefinding and aiming compensation functions of this invention.
Prior to performing the zeroing adjustment, the external control knob 45 and shaft encoder 47 are set to a rotational position recognized as a zero reference position by associated microcontroller circuitry (to be described with reference to FIG. 5). The zero adjusting screw 43 is rotated to set the initial zero setting, as described above, and the control knob 45 is held stationary during rotation of the screw 43, to hold the zero reference of the encoder. During subsequent use, by following the signal output by the shaft encoder 47, the microcontroller always "knows" the positions of the adjustments, and as a result, accurately tracks the vertical displacement of the erector optics tube with respect to the positional setting previously determined during the manual zeroing operation.
A controllably movable indicator means is provided in the form of a target image spanning reference assembly 50 for calibrating the apparatus for a known target size at a known calibration distance. A spanning reference adjustment screw 54 positions the spanning reference assembly 50 with respect to the target image and prevailing conditions (to be fully described with reference to FIG. 4). Target image spanning reference assembly 50 includes a target image spanning reference 51, which may be an opaque, translucent, or completely transparent element, except for a visible portion for viewing along with an image of a target. The reference 51 is mounted for vertical movement only, and is coincident with a first image plane 48 for viewing therewith in sharp focus. An inverted image 49 of a target is focused by the objective lens on the first image plane 48 on the optical axis 35 of the instrument. The reference 51 is located on the first image plane with respect to the target image. The reference assembly 50 further comprises a support member 52 having a face 53 for contacting a face 55 of the adjustment screw 54 for adjustment perpendicularly to the optical axis, only, of the spanning reference assembly 50.
The vertical position of the spanning reference assembly 50 is manually adjusted by the setting of the adjustment screw 54 which communicates through the body (not shown) of the riflescope for access by the operator. The adjustment screw 54 is initially rotated to set the zero reference position of the spanning reference 51. This reference position is set by spanning the distance between the reference 51 and the horizontal crosshair 40 to match an image of a target of a known size located at a known range.
FIG. 4 illustrates a series of sight pictures showing a target image and its varying relationship to the overall image at different ranges in both a rangefinding and an aiming compensation mode. In the upper half of FIG. 4, the rangefinding, or target image spanning mode of operation is illustrated. The sight picture 61 in FIG. 4(a) shows the image of an eighteen inch diameter at a range of 100 yards. The target image 67 is being properly spanned by a target spanning reference image 68 and a horizontal crosshair image 69. The objective lens has focused the target image 67 on the first image plane where the spanning reference 68 is located. The erector lens assembly focuses a second aerial image of the target and spanning reference on the second image plane, and the erector lens assembly has been adjusted to cause the combined image of the horizontal crosshair and spanning reference to span the target image. The firearm/scope combination has previously been zeroed at 100 yards so that the bullet impacts in line with the horizontal crosshair image 69. Once zeroing is initially established, the operator positions the horizontal crosshair image 69 to be tangent with the bottom edge of the eighteen inch target image 67, as shown, and then adjusts the spanning reference adjusting screw 54 (FIG. 3) until the spanning reference image 68 moved to a position tangent with the upper extreme of the target image 67. This provides the zero spanning reference setting described above.
At this point, thanks to the output of shaft encoder 47 (FIG. 3), all initial mechanical variables are known to the microcontroller circuitry, and its memory will track all subsequent mechanical adjustments to provide accurate rangefinding and aiming compensation functions. These functions are input by rotation of the control knob 45.
In FIG. 4(b), the sight picture 62 illustrates proper spanning of an eighteen inch diameter target image 67 in which the target is at a range of 300 yards. The sight picture 63 in FIG. 4(c) shows proper spanning of the same target image 67 in which the target is at a range of 500 yards. From these views the change in image size with change in distance (range) can be appreciated. It can also be appreciated from these views that spanning of the target image between the spanning reference image 68 and the horizontal crosshair image 69 provides the microcontroller circuitry with unique positioning data with variations in target range. These unique positions are instantaneously translated by the microcontroller circuitry into actual range measurements (image size being inversely proportional to range) for subsequent use in the calculation of an aiming compensation value.
The memory in the microcontroller initially contains a data input related to target size (span) at a known range. The spanning reference adjustment screw 54 is initially adjusted to move the spanning reference 51 to an initial position which spans a target of known size at a known range. By a data input signal indicating to the microcontroller that an eighteen inch target has been spanned, for example, the microcontroller can calculate the range corresponding to the preset target size, based on the distance spanned on the first image plane between the spanning reference and the horizontal crosshair. Thereafter, any target of the preset size can be spanned by turning the control knob 45. This action adjusts the spacing between the horizontal crosshair and the spanning reference 68. When the target is correctly spanned, the resulting setting of the encoder 47 is then converted by the microcontroller into a corresponding range measurement.
In one embodiment, these range measurements also may be numerically displayed in the field of view of the scope in a conventional seven-segment digital display as shown in FIG. 5.
In the lower half of FIG. 4, the three sight pictures each correspond to the sight picture immediately above it. These views in the lower half of FIG. 4 illustrate the relationships between the horizontal aiming crosshair 69 and the position of the target image 67 after the microcontroller has generated the proper holdover value based on ballistic data previously stored in its memory and distance to the target as determined during the previous rangefinding phase. Once the operator is satisfied with the suitability of the spanning adjustment, the microcontroller is signalled by a manually operated function switch to indicate that the rangefinding phase is completed. The measured range value is input to the memory of the microcontroller. The aiming compensation mode is then carried out. The operator adjusts the control knob 45 (FIG. 3) to match a null signal output by the microcontroller for indicating proper aiming compensation. (Details of how these operations are accomplished are explained below with respect to FIG. 5.) Simultaneously, the microcontroller circuitry generates another control signal which, depending upon the direction control knob 45 must be rotated, activates either a first direction indicator 71 or a second direction indicator 72. The direction indicators eliminate all guesswork for the proper setting of the control knob 45 to the null point. The indicators 71 and 72 are shaped like arrowheads to indicate the direction of rotation required.
Once the control knob 45 is set at the null point, a correct setting indicator 73 is activated to signal the operator to stop adjusting the control knob 45. At this point, the image of the target on the first plane of focus has been moved by a holdover distance 74 from the horizontal crosshairs 69. The holdover distance is directly proportional to the amount of bullet drop calculated by the microcontroller for the now known range to the target. The only further acts required of the shooter are to move the firearm to place the riflescope crosshairs' intersection on the point on the target the bullet should strike and then to pull the trigger. The amount by which the firearm is moved is directly proportional to the calculated holdover value. Details of the functioning of the indicators 71, 72 and 73 are explained below with respect to FIG. 5.
The aiming compensation mode sight picture 64 in FIG. 4(a') illustrates proper zero holdover for the eighteen inch diameter target image 67. The sight picture 65 in FIG. 4(b') illustrates the offset position calculated by the microcontroller for proper holdover for a target at 300 yards. In this instance, the shooter will raise the aim of the firearm until the horizontal crosshair image 69 is coincident with the phantom zero reference line 70. (The zero reference line 70 is shown for illustration purposes only and is to be understood not to exist in the actual sight picture.) Properly compensated aim is attained merely by raising the firearm the amount illustrated by the holdover 74, and the horizontal crosshair image 69 is precisely aligned upon the target image 67 as shown in the previous sight picture 64 for the zero compensation setting.
Similarly, a sight picture 66 in FIG. 4(c') illustrates the additional holdover 75 required by a target at 500 yards. The same operations are performed to produce the sight picture 66 as were performed with respect to the sight pictures 64 and 65. And, as always, once the microcontroller has activated the correct setting indicator 73, for indicating proper setting of the adjustments, the shooter takes dead aim, positioning the crosshairs' intersection exactly where he wishes the bullet to impact the target. All guesswork for achieving proper holdover is eliminated.
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a microcontroller 85 and its associated circuitry which are physically mounted on the riflescope. A data input means 90, the shaft encoder 47, and a function switch 86 provide input signals to the microcontroller 85 and a programmable first memory means 87 (random access memory). Initial ballistic parameters are entered via the data input means 90, which may take the form of a conventional keypad, and are stored in a non-volatile memory retention portion of the programmable first memory means 87. An example of the information sent to the microcontroller 85 via the data input means 90 is the muzzle velocity of a particular cartridge/firearm combination in use. The importance of this information for proper calculation of aiming compensation by the microcontroller 85 for accurate aim is understood when realizing that every firearm is unique as to the efficiency with which it fires a bullet over its considerable range. In any case, the velocity of the bullet as it leaves the barrel is an important factor in calculating its down-range performance. Muzzle velocity is only one of several data values which can be input into the programmable first memory means 87 to affect calculations performed by the microcontroller 85 in calculating aiming compensation. Other ballistic data which can be input are identified in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,052, incorporated herein by reference.
The shaft encoder 47 produces an up/down pulse train which the microcontroller 85 follows and interprets with respect to target image size/target distance, and aiming holdover. A two-position function switch 86 signals the microcontroller 85 to indicate whether the operator is performing the rangefinding or aiming compensation functions.
The random access memory 87 is connected to the microcontroller 85 to provide a storage area for temporary field data such as muzzle velocity, target size, calculated target range, and the like, which affect the various operations of the invention. In combination, the programmable first memory means 87 and a second memory means 88 (read-only-memory) cooperate with the microcontroller 85, based on permanent and temporary data and instructions, to establish a mathematically accurate ballistic curve equivalent to the performance path of a bullet, or other projectile, fired by the firearm.
In addition, the second memory means 88 sends to the microcontroller 85 the necessary permanent data and instructions required for logical interpretation of the several variable input values and operations to be performed by the microcontroller 85.
As previously discussed with respect to FIG. 3, the control knob 45 communicates with the erector optics tube 38 to alter the position with which the erector optics "views" the first image plane 48 (FIG. 3) for the various operations of the invention in its target image-spanning and aiming compensation functions.
Signals produced by a comparator function programmed into microcontroller 85 activate one of three indicators 71, 72, or 73, of indicator array 94, visible to the operator and situated at the second image plane 17 (FIG. 1) just outside the field of view. The indicators 71 and 72 indicate to the operator which direction the control knob 45 must be turned to seek a null setting of the shaft encoder 47 (FIG. 3), to activate the central indicator 73 for indicating proper setting of the holdover compensation. Of course, the setting of the shaft encoder 47 is directly related to the setting of the erector optics tube 38 (FIG. 3) so that the relationships among the various variables of the invention are properly maintained.
Indicator array 94 also provides selectable digital readout 76 for numeric presentation of range settings viewable by the operator.
The null signal level is affected by the prevailing output value of the signal from the shaft encoder 47 which is factored into the calculations performed by the microcontroller 85 for accurate determination of aiming compensation.
To better understand the functioning of the present invention, it is helpful to visualize an imaginary ballistic curve which relates to the variety of data initially input by the operator. Subsequently, in the rangefinding mode, the microcontroller 85 can be thought of as slewing to and fro along this pre-existing curve in response to changes induced in the pulse train output by the shaft encoder 47, from adjustment of the control knob 45. The microcontroller 85 and its attendant circuitry are accurately tracking the changes in the rangefinding adjustment and, upon receiving the signal from the function switch 86 that halts the rangefinding mode and commences the aiming compensation mode locking in on a specific point on the ballistic curve. From this data, the amount of holdover necessary relative to the range to the target is determined.
The present invention has the advantage of using existing components of a conventional riflescope in a combination which produces an effective and inexpensive rangefinding and aiming compensation scope. The spanning reference on the first plane of focus, coincident with the focused image of the target from the objective lens produces these advantages. The erector optics are simply adjustable by the control knob to adjust the combined images of the spanning references and the horizontal crosshair for spanning the target image on the second plane of focus. This provides, in combination with the image of the target and the spanning reference, a precise rangefinding and aiming compensation scope. Moreover, these settings are made without requiring the shooter to move the firearm and scope during sighting, spanning, aiming compensation and shooting.
While the above description of the invention has been limited to a manually operated embodiment, it should be appreciated that a stepper motor, or the like, can be utilized in a fashion similar to that described in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,352 incorporated herein by reference. It should also be appreciated that the novel rangefinding features of the invention may be utilized without inclusion of the aiming compensation mode in applications limited to range measurement only such as are found in surveying and navigation.
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|Fire-control system
|Jan 19, 2012
|Jun 19, 2014
|Horus Vision Llc
|Apparatus and method for calculating aiming point information
|Mar 2, 2015
|Jan 14, 2016
|Wilcox Industries Corp.
|Modular sighting assembly and method
|Dec 6, 1993
|Dec 24, 1996
|Moore; Sidney D.
|Electrically addressable opto-electronic indicator for making dynamic evaluations of microscopic or larger subjects
|Feb 6, 2003
|Nov 30, 2011
|Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH
|Telescopic sight with inside display
|Mar 31, 2007
|Nov 14, 2007
|Swarovski-Optik KG
|Telescopic sight
|Mar 31, 2007
|Jan 26, 2011
|Swarovski-Optik KG
|Telescopic sight
|Jan 23, 1996
|Aug 1, 1996
|The Brunton Company
|Electronic rangefinder apparatus
|U.S. Classification
|235/404, 356/252, 356/21, 702/97, 702/158, 89/41.17
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Jun 8, 1993
|Certificate of correction
|Mar 16, 1994
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|May 19, 1998
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|Oct 25, 1998
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|Jan 5, 1999
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 19981023


text: haslam Push to "Water Down" Tenn. Open Meetings Law By AP/WMOT • Dec 9, 2011 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Governor Bill Haslam says he opposes efforts to water down Tennessee's open meetings law that bans city or county officials from deliberating over official business in private. The Tennessee County Commissioners Association is promoting changes to the law that would allow closed-door talks among officials as long as a quorum isn't present. David Connor is the TCCA's Director. He says the way the law is currently written, commissioners are afraid to communicate with each other on any subject, outside official meetings. Governor Haslam Unapologetic For Protester Arrests By Mike Osborne • Nov 2, 2011 Governor Haslam is not backing down after a federal judge temporarily blocked his efforts to clear protesters off of Legislative Plaza. Protesters were granted a restraining order Monday, barring the state from making further arrests after more than 50 of their number were taken into custody on the Plaza over the weekend by State Troopers. In a news conference yesterday, Governor Haslam did not admit defeat or to any mistake, saying that deteriorating safety and sanitary conditions on the plaza required a response. Occupy Nashville Wins "Temporary" Victory By Mike Osborne • Nov 2, 2011 The state of Tennessee has agreed, at least temporarily, to stop enforcing a new curfew used to dislodge Occupy Nashville protesters from the grounds around the Tennessee Capitol. The protesters went to federal court yesterday seeking a temporary restraining order against Gov. Bill Haslam saying the curfew and arrests of dozens of supporters violated their rights to free speech and freedom of assembly. Protesters were represented in court by the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee. Occupy Protesters Arrested, Then Released By Mike Osborne • Oct 28, 2011 (AP) Quite a morning for Occupy Nashville. Twenty-nine protesters were arrested on Legislative Plaza before dawn, then released just a few hours later. According to WKRN-TV, Metro's night court commissioner, Thomas Nelson, released the protesters wihtout charges. Nelson said the state hadn't given the protesters enough time to react to new protest regulations. Governor Haslam's Administration announced just yesterday that it was imposing a 10 to six curfew on the Capital grounds where the protesters have been camped out since October 6th. Pages« first ‹ previous 1 2 3


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Extermination thunder the strange one isback againLost by our only power it's aura will grind usout foreverFall into a dark dream that we got oncethe part it's real you won't believeWe're watching our own agony many years agoSeven little children stand against the ghostBelieving is the answer but you've lost beforeFind back to your infancy it's time to dieI've been the herdsman you've been my sheepI find taste on lampskin everything's allrightkilling for the thirst for small children sweatI give them illusions to raise their fearHear the crying dying child it's music to my earsFeel the sweetness of it's death everything's allrightBut there's a new feeling I've never knownThere must be a third one a mighty guardianRef.:Guardian, Guardian, Guardian of the BlindNow it feel the curse of heavenGuardian, Guardian, Guardian of the BlindNow it feel the curse of the child(Solo)Dark is it's world. and lonely we're reaching itagainFear our returning visions to madness we'llfallif we can't kill the beast foreverwe must die nowOne has blown his life awayOnce we were a circle fighting hand in handOur weapons were illusions to let it feel the painBy the sweet taste of our live it call us back againWe'll find the answer it's time to dieBy a ritual we've hurt it but we've not killlittle Billy you must find your wayBelieve in you we ask forbut wherewe can never findthere must be a sign for theGuardian of the BlindRef.:Guardian, Guardian, Guardian of the BlindNow it feel the curse of heavenGuardian, Guardian, Guardian of the BlindNow it feel the curseCome to it's world following the signGuardian, Guardian, Guardian of the BlindGive us the help we're waiting for your signGuardian, Guardian, Guardian of the Blind
Visit http://www.lyrics2you.com for more lyrics
Download Zortam Mp3 Media Studio for Windows - Free Mp3 Organizer, ID3 Tag Editor, Download Cover Art, Auto Mp3 Tagger


text:
Guide to the Arthur O. Austin photographs of Stanford University
Daniel Hartwig & Jenny Johnson
Stanford University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and University ArchivesAugust 2014
Stanford, California
Copyright © 2015 The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.
Call Number: PC0165
Creator: Austin, Aurthur O.
Title: Arthur O. Austin photographs of Stanford University
Dates: circa 1900-1903
Physical Description: 2 Linear feet (2 boxes)
Language(s): The materials are in English.
Repository: Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6064
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: (650) 725-1022
URL: http://library.stanford.edu/spc
The materials are open for research use. Audio-visual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California 94305-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s) or assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/spc/using-collections/permission-publish.
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
[identification of item], Arthur O. Austin photographs (PC0165). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Arthur Oswin Austin earned his AB in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1901.
Five photograph albums and several loose/mounted photographs of Stanford campus circa 1900. Many images of buildings that were later damaged or destroyed during the 1906 earthquake.
Harrington, Susan
Memorial Church (Exterior) Pre 1906
Quad - Front Views Pre-1906
Stanford University--Campus scenes
Collection Contents
Box 1-2


text:
Oreo Cheesecake Cups
(Printable Recipe)
24 Oreo cookies
3 packages (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup of sugar
3 eggs
whipped cream and melted chocolate (optional)
What you'll do:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Place paper liners in a muffin tin. Set an Oreo cookie on the bottom of each muffin liner. Beat softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, and mix until just blended. Spoon mixture over each cookie. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool completely then refrigerate one hour or overnight. When ready to serve, drizzle with melted chocolate and a dollop of whipped cream.
Source: Vicki Morrell via Cathleen Ryer


text:
Google launches PayPal-like online payment system
Hello, one-click checkout.
PayPal-owned Venmo announced that they're about to make it even easier to spend money on that online shopping habit.
The deal opens up PayPal's 17 million merchants to 100 million extra Chinese shoppers.
Zelle, in your mobile banking app.
The battle of the blue P's.
Amazon Cash lets you refuel your account at a local retailer.
PayPal's Giving Fund is the target of the lawsuit.
For when your coworker grabs your lunch and you need to pay them back.
Industry experts reckon there is a tinge of competitive concern in Paypal's notice.
You'll soon be able to use Venmo for much more than just paying back friends.
PayPal will be dropping support for Windows Phone, BlackBerry and Amazon Fire on June 30.
There's another way to pay for what you buy online.
PayPal is finally beginning to make money off of Venmo.
Paying people through PayPal just got a bit easier.
eBay is spinning off PayPal following years of aggressive competition and executive departures. Can each one go their own way and thrive?
PayPal is ready to make some new friends.
PayPal president Dan Schulman wants to make a payments platform that every merchant and consumer will use -- regardless of device.
Max Levchin hit it big when he was really young. He's spent the years since trying not to be afraid of his own success.
PayPal and eBay have revealed the terms of their split, and it looks like they're not exactly unfriending each other on Facebook anytime soon.
Some of the biggest names in technology have come out against Indiana's law, which allows businesses to discriminate against LGBT customers.
Australian shoppers using PayPal they can now send those products back hassle free and get the return shipping refunded.
The mobile payment battle has entered the fast food phase.
Symantec became the third tech giant in the last several weeks to propose splitting itself in two.
PayPal's best bet to succeed in the fast-changing payment sector is to go it alone.
PayPal will become a publicly traded company.
The team at PayPal is clearly not impressed with Apple Pay.
Braintree, the payments company acquired by eBay, will soon be adding support for Bitcoin and one-touch payments to its platform.
Amazon has announced its entry into the mobile payments market with Local Register, a card reader and mobile app for small businesses.
When it comes to celebrating summer in the city, don't miss what San Francisco has to offer.


text:
Hearne on the Street: Was Tiger's Apology 'Masterful'? No Way!
12 Responses to Hearne on the Street: Was Tiger's Apology 'Masterful'? No Way!
he doesn't owe any of us an apology.
He owes his wife, kids and family an apology.
He owes his business partners and sponsors an
We didn't trust him with our money. We didn't
vote for him to run our government.
Like Charles Barkley said years ago…"athletes
are not role models".
If you pretend that any human being is
beyond "being human" than that is your problem.
When people in public want us to think they
are infallible then it is us who have
a problem.
Tiger never said he was perfect. He cussed and
screamed and threw his clubs. He is another
person…open to mistakes and problems and
inconsistencies in his life.
I believe in second chances and remdemption.
Hoefully he will get his life back together and
we can watch him do the thing we love to see
him do…play golf.
also…this talk about tiger being a hero
or any athlete being a hero is absurd.
The real heros are the doctors and nurses who
rushed to haiti to save lives. The volunteers
who helped rebuild a kansas town or new orleans
after katrina. The kids who have been fighting
a forgotten war in iraq and afghanistan.
Those are my heros.
A guy who hits a ball with a stick IS NOT A
Jojo, I'm proud of you. A worthwhile comment that was actually better than the post…and I totally agree with you.
craig glazer
Almost all celebrities at his level have failed marriages……he is no different…especially when you marry at a young age…they will likely divorce soon…and he should…this deal is over..he and she need to move on…
Yes JoJo is right, he never should have been put through this, he didn't owe us any explanation, he owed it only to his family and their families. The media went way overboard here…he is only human, not perfect, who is…
Kansas City Blogs
[…] Christopher debates Tiger Woods press conference on KC Confidential. Bookmark It Hide Sites $$('div.d1464').each( function(e) { […]
Tiger Woods: Or should we Say "Tiger Woods Inc." I did not watch the mea culpa….my thoughts are, that Tiger is a tragedy. He is a soul that has lived out of balance his whole life. No childhood, most likely an abusive Old Man. Tiger Inc. is a multi billion dollar franchise and all we're seeing here is a spin routine to re-coup most if not all of the dough. The only ones that didn't know Tiger was a kinky dude was his fan-club. He will be back winning and pitching products very soon…you can bank on it.
Pfizer has already inked him for the New Tiagra
Positive reinforcement
GREAT remarks Jojo. Note the positive feedback from other posters. Keep it up.
Hey Craig,
I heard Paul Rodriquz on the radio this morning. It was a play back of a Johnny Dare interview. He mentioned your club. Is he coming any time soon? He sounds a little down on his luck.
He also mentioned how Bill Mahar and George Lopez won't help him out or return his calls. Any knowledge you can share?
craig glazer
I was in studio with our comic as Johnny did Paul's interview…Paul and I used to hang out here and in LA..he did our club three times in the late 90's…I would have him back…Paul always wanted to be the number one Latino Comic, at one time he was but time passed him by a bit, with Lopez(we had him before he got huge) and even Mencia…Paul had one big year with movies, Ali,Bloodwork,Rat Race, but none of these got him to the next level…he deserves better, always liked him and he could party me under the table. I have had a run in with Bill Mahar myself, he is lets say not a sweetheart…
Thanks Craig truly appreciate it. I obvious got from that interview that he had become involved in social causes and put his comedy on the back-burner. Seemed like a good guy. To bad others become big and forget there friends. Thanks Again
mark smith
When was the last time Edwards had to eat crow and humble himself while the world watched?
I agree, Tiger owes the public nothing, he plays golf, he didnt get a blow job in the Oval Office, he isn't an elected official. He plays golf. What he should have done was just remain mute, come back for the masters, and shut some critics up with his game.
Y'all obviously don't know anything about 12 Step Programs. One MUST apologize, and then make amends. It was not a press conference. It was a requirement of his therapeutic program. Yes, he should have done it about 9 or 10 weeks ago, but he was still in denial then. It was actually a hybrid format, which was not good. He should not have lectured us about his privacy etc. That was him still trying to control his life, instead of completely admitting that his life is out of control. And I didn't believe him about the lack of domestic violence in that household–tho I did appreciate him standing up for Elin. I think he is lying about that. Was she just running down the street at 2:34 am with that nine iron?? Of course not!
As for Craig and Johnny, you don't seem to understand that addiction is not about quantity. It is defined by taking actions that are clearly detrimental, dangerous, unproductive–you know it but you can't help yourself. That is addiction.


text:
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text:
Science and technology are without doubt a benefit for all countries. As a matter of fact, they have transformed the human history and the planet itself. And this has occurred rather recently. Humans have inhabited planet Earth for several millions of years. In the past we discovered two activities that have allowed us to transcend our condition of simple ecosystem components: namely, making fire and agriculture. Nevertheless, the most vital invention is much more recent. Around 200 years ago we learned how to obtain work out of heat. This was really the key step because it freed a lot people from having to depend from manual works. This is the discovery that triggered the industrial revolution.
Having a higher percentage of people devoted to thinking changed the world. In these last 200 years the scientific basis of physics, chemistry and biology were set. From the technological perspective we have the inventions of the steam motor and explosion motors, the development of nuclear energy, and the beginning of space exploration. From the sanitary perspectives, we have obtained vaccines, antibiotics, and surgery has reach a great development. As a consequence of all, we have seen how the average life expectancy has gone from around 40 years, up to an interval around 75-80 years.
All of this has also caused a huge increase of the world population. The average number of humans used to be around 50 millions. The increase was very slight until we reached the industrial revolution that gave way to reaching the 6300 millions of humans we have now. This is a completely novel and unique historical situation, and poses a number of threats that we will have to overcome.
The huge consumption of fossil fuels has produced an important increase in atmospheric CO2. Any kind of combustion produces CO2 in the best possible scenario (in the worst, a mixture of diverse contaminants). Along the last 150 years the concentration of this gas has increased around 100 parts per million due to human activities. This increase is equivalent to what has happened naturally each time our planet has gone from a glacial period to an interglacial period. But on top of this, the current concentration of CO2 (380 parts per million) is still higher that in any concentration observed in interglacial (280 parts per million) or glacial (190 parts per million) period of the Quaternary. The current situation of the planet is totally unexpected from the point of view natural evolution. There is no equivalence of such high CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere in any recent past.
The CO2 is a gas that causes the greenhouse effect by generating a "thermal blanket" in the atmosphere. The higher the concentration of gas, the higher the temperature. The current data show with a 95% of certainty that the average temperature of the current years is superior to the observations along the last 2000 years. As a consequence of this increase (of about 0.6ºC in the present), there is a generalized melting of ice that can be particularly observed in mountain tops, but also in the North and South Poles. Also, the sea level has increased around 25-30 cm along the 20th century. But we are still at the beginning of this process.
The coastal areas are highly dynamic and present a great variability along relatively short time periods, which produce a great fragility and vulnerability against any kind of external pressure, whether it is of natural or human origin. In this context, the impact of climate change over them can have consequences of great relevance, and in many occasions, irreversible. In the conference we will address the main impacts that climate change can have over the coastal areas, focusing on the physical aspects and the possible consequences over the biotic and social-economic environment.
We will review the effects that climate change can have over the agents "modeling" our coasts, showing trends that have been observed in our coasts along the last decades and extrapolating them to the horizon of year 2050. From there we will show the detailed results of the expected impacts in our coasts. Finally, we will address the different adaptation strategies needed to face these impacts.
Along the last 20 years, the results of several European projects have shown the loss of summer storms along the Mediterranean basin. Also, important differences have been detected between measurement stations of the interior and the coast, because while the yearly average precipitation in the coastline has not really changed, we have observed in the interior stations how it tends to decrease. Another significant data are the increase of torrential rains in general, and particularly in spring (when torrential events are higher).
Upon the perspective of this negative change in the precipitation regime, and according to the results of our research, we can confirm that the decrease of vegetation on the slopes of our mountains and the drying of wetlands in our coasts are contributing significantly to these climatic change processes. Synthetically, the humidity that arrives with the Mediterranean breezes needs an additional contribution of water vapor coming from the terrestrial surface to result in storms before being incorporated into the general circulation. If this contribution is insufficient, the storms will not trigger and the water vapor returns creating strata up to 5500 m above the Mediterranean Sea. In this case, our litoral mountains behave like orographic chimneys that connect the winds in surface with their return in altitude. These kind of accumulation cycles normally last 3 to 10 days in summer, and during these cycles, water vapor enhances the greenhouse effect of other contaminants as this is 47 times more effective than CO2 (E.g., ozone x 200); with all of this, the surface of the sea overheats as much as the terrestrial surface due to the loss of storms.
All these processes alter the historical climatic equilibrium in the western Mediterranean basin and changes it into a new dryer state. But on top of this, these local perturbations in the cycle can propagate to other regions along the rest of the basin, and this way, the accumulated water vapor migrates towards the east of Europe provoking the floods that have been registered in summer in Romania, Austria, etc. But the most important fact is that with these changes in the Mediterranean, also the Atlantic current of salt water is altered and increases, affecting this way the transition of the frontal Atlantic systems that no longer go into the peninsula (we loose storms, drought increases) and move north causing more intense rains in Ireland and Great Britain during the autumn. This means that the perturbations are transported to regions other than the Mediterranean basin.
Our preferred species, that which call itself intelligent, has been inhabiting the planet for tens of thousands of generations. But it has only been eight generations, after someone Watt perfected the machine designed by Newcomen, since the Homo sapiens learned how to use the energy of the sun, condensed in the shape of fossil fuel to feed a social metabolism that has not ceased to grow since then. Our irrational and excessive energy consumption and our addiction to fossil fuels (which represent 85% of the energy we consume) are leading us to a slow but irremediable unprecedented double crisis cause by the intertwined problems of energy and environment.
This conference will analyze the interrelation of the energy consumption and the environmental problems, and, due to the lack of magical solutions, will review some of the actions that should be started and the possible alternatives to our energetic model.


text:
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