text:
Weaver® Introduces New Spotting Scopes
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Before I start here, I have to admit that until fairly recently I had very mixed feelings about spotters as small as the ones I tested for this article. In some ways, I still have mixed feelings about them, but the introduction of miniature Vortex Recon spotters definitely made me perk up and pay attention. Minox MD50 is also comparatively new to the scene, although it takes up the price range previously occupied by Kowa's 50mm spotter that appears to have been discontinued.
Before these models from Vortex and Minox showed up, selecting a compact spotter was a pretty straightforward affair: if you wanted the best one available, you had to pony up the cash for Nikon's smallest Fieldscope. If $700 was beyond your budget, then either Leupold's $400 Gold Ring spotter or the now defunct 50mm Kowa was the way to go. In the lower price bracket were (and still are) a myriad of cheap Chinese spotters like Burris Landmark. Those are, and I am being generous here, a bit of a hit and miss. The only other 50mm spotter I can think of is Kruger Lynx 7-25×50 which retails for ~$1000. It was not immediately available to me, and it is appreciably bulkier than the spotters I am looking at in this case (it does look interesting and may be worth testing in the future).
Here is the spec table for the spotters I compared for this article:
Recon Mountain
Recon R/T Tactical
Fieldscope ED50
Gold Ring
|Weight, oz
|Length, in
|Field of View, ft@1000yards
|136 – 89
|160 – 100
|Eye Relief, mm
|17.5 – 17.1
|15 – 11
|Close Focus, ft
All of these have straight eyepieces, although Nikon and Minox are also available with angled eyepieces. The Fieldscope is the only one that has a detachable eyepiece. However, there are not all that many options for it: aside from the 13-30x variable that comes with the spotter, I have seen a fixed magnification eyepiece that works out to be 27x. I did not have it on hand this time around, but I have played with it in the past. It provides for a very nice image, but 27×50 configuration does not appeal to me all that much unless paired with a low magnification eyepiece. The exit pupil is simply too small for anything but middle-of-the-day use. I think that a longer eyerelief eyepiece with magnification somewhere below 20x would make a killing if it was available (I have seen a 20x eyepiece mentioned on Nikon's website, but never ran into it live and never heard of anyone using it).
Looking at the numbers in the table, several things stand out. One is that the 10×50 Vortex Recon is an odd duck in this group: the magnification is too low for a meaningful apples-to-apples comparison. However, it is still worthwhile to look at it from the standpoint of usability vs magnification. 10×50 Recon also has the longest eyerelief, by a solid margin.
The two Vortex spotters clearly have the widest fields of view. Even the 15×50 model has much larger FOV than the other spotters here when set onto the same magnification. In all fairness though, it is to be expected for fixed power eyepieces. I suspect that fixed power versions of the other spotters would also have much wider FOVs.
It is also worth noting that the 15×50 Vortex and Minox have twist-up eyecups, while the other three spotters have fold-down rubber eyecups. Which you prefer comes down to personal preference. I can live with either if it is reasonably well-executed, but generally prefer twist-up designs. With Vortex offerings, Recon Mountain model comes with a twist-up eyecup, while the Recon Tactical comes with a reticle and rubber eyecup. I ended up looking at the 10×50 Tactical and 15×50 Mountain versions.
Size-wise, Vortex Recon spotters are clearly the more compact pieces, with Minox being similarly short, but much heavier. Leupold and Nikon are both quite a bit longer and a touch lighter than the Minox. Still, Vortex Recon look quite svelte in this group.
One other thing worth noting is that the 10×50 Vortex Recon Tactical I had was the only scope that came with a ranging reticle.
Here is a picture that gives you an idea of the comparative size of the spotters (they happen to be sitting on the roof of my car in the heart of Malibu hills where I did a lot of the testing):
From left to right: Leupold Gold Ring 15-30×50, Minox MD50 16-30×50, Vortex Recon Mountain 15×50, Vortex Recon Tactical 10×50 and Nikon Fieldscopes 13-30×50.
Note that Leupold and Nikon utilize porro prisms (hence the characteristic dogleg shape), while the other three are roof prism designs.
The means of focusing the image vary across the board, with Nikon having the most conventional layout of the bunch: it has a small focusing knob sticking forward out of the prism housing. Leupold also has a small knob, albeit of a different shape, on the side of the prism housing (it is adorned with the Leupold logo in the picture above). Focusing the Minox is accomplished via a large dial (that is the ribbed rubber ring) around the midsection of the spotter's body, while both Vortex Recon models have wide rubber dials right in front of the eyecups. Vortex Recon spotters equipped with a reticle also provide the means for focusing that reticle (a narrow dial between the eyecup and the focus adjustment ring). The Recon models with the reticle have a rubber eyecup, that folds down for use with glasses or with a doubler. The rubber used for the eyecup on the Vortex is notably stiffer than that used for Nikon and Leupold that have soft rubber eyecups. I suppose that with the longer eyerelief of the Vortex, a rather stiff rubber eyepiece is a necessity.
The allure of small spotters like these is primarily linked to their small size and weight, with the implication that you will take one of these with you when you are packing light. With that in mind, I set out to see how well these work without a tripod. First I attempted to determine if any of these are useful handheld. In this regard, the 10×50 version of Vortex Recon is clearly easier to use than the other spotters in this group owing to its lower magnification. Between the rest of them, ease of use offhand largely comes down to how you prefer to hold them. The way I use them, the only one that kinda worked for me was the Minox, although the 15×50 Vortex came close and would have been right up there if it wasn't for a particular quirk. That quirk is the feel and weight of the focusing knob.
In order to use a high magnification monocular or a small spotter handheld, I usually try to grab a hold of it with one hand near the objective and press it against my eyesocket. That gives me a little extra stability, and if I can lean against a wall or a tree trunk, it becomes very manageable for anything but lengthy observation. Once I find an adequately stable position, I use the other hand to operate the focusing knob. Since, this is a somewhat fragile arrangement to start with, a heavy focusing knob tends to impede my ability to hold still. Another thing that really does not work for this type of a hold is a rubber eyecup. It does not allow me to make firm contact between the eyepiece and my eyesocket while maintaining proper eyerelief.
The 10×50 Recon has sufficiently low magnification, where it was usable despite the rather stiff focusing knob and the rubber eyepiece. Still, operating the focusing knob was a bit difficult due to the stiffness and due to that large flat carry clip getting in the way. After some use, the focusing knob did get smoother although not much lighter, and, thankfully, the clip is removable and reconfigurable. However, I wish that it was mounted lower on the spotter body as it is quite handy for carrying the spotter with you. In the picture below, you can see the clip overlaying the focusing knob. I found that uncomfortable except in one particular configuration (more on that later). Also, the Recon scopes come with a carry strap (see picture below). For the life of me, I could not figure out why it is located in that exact spot, rather than a little further down on the body of the spotter. On the other hand, there really isn't all that much space on these very compact monoculars, and the strap does not get in the way all that much. In actual use, I found myself not using the strap, so I took it off completely for a lot of the handheld testing I did. Vortex does provide a long single point strap as an alternative.
While the 10×50 Recon gets away with a moderately stiff focusing knob due to lower magnification, the 15×50 model is a lot more susceptible to vibration so it was a bigger problem there. I did find the retractable eyecup on the 15×50 model to be very good and with a lighter focusing knob, the combination would have been superb. Unfortunately, Vortex Recon spotters that have a reticle (which I liked) are only available with a folding rubber eyecup, so you have to pick what is more important to you: twist-up eyecups or a ranging reticle. One other thing to note before I move on is that all this whining I do about a stiff focusing knob is, in many ways, due to how light the Recon spotters are. Were they heavier, they would be less susceptible to accidental disturbances, but that would defeat some of the purpose behind getting a compact spotter.
Ultimately, at 15x, the Minox was by far the easiest spotter to use handheld. I suspect it was greatly helped by its extra heft, which adds stability. However, the focus ring was well weighted and the twist-up eyecup helped stability.
Both Leupold and Nikon would do well offhand if it was not for those soft rubber eyecups. I just could not maintain proper eyerelief with those in handheld use. Nikon did have an exceptionally smooth focusing knob that often came in handy.
Once the time came to mount these on a tripod, the various handling quirks became less important, although the quality of the focusing mechanism continued playing a large role. Nikon was easiest to use on a tripod, edging out Leupold and Minox ever so slightly. Both Vortex spotters, were very easy to set-up with both a conventional and quick-detachable tripod mounts available, but they are so light, that a stiff focusing knob really got in the way. Still, once I developed some familiarity with them, I was able to use them without too much difficulty. The quick detach tripod mount that came with the Recon spotters, while handy, was not as steady as a more conventional tripod attachment. It worked well with the 10×50 Recon, but turned out to be less than optimal with the 15×50.
Since they were mounted on tripods, I spent some time going through different magnifications on the three spotters with variable eyepieces: Minox, Leupold and Nikon. Generally, Leupold had the longest eyerelief across the board and was fairly easy to use. Minox did better than I expected, and while I was wearing contacts did not give me any trouble. When wearing glasses, Leupold was clearly easier to use at high magnification. Nikon…. well, I have tested a few Nikon Fieldscopes over the years and I always come up with the same conclusion: awesome spotter with infuriatingly crappy zoom eyepiece. The little Fieldscope was very hard to use at any magnification while I was wearing glasses and even when wearing contacts, it got challenging at higher magnifications. Another little quirk with the Fieldscope eyepiece is that it comes with a plastic cap that fits inside the rubber eyecup. As I was testing the spotter, I had to fold the rubber eyecup down a number of times. After a little while it got so loose, that the plastic cap would no longer stay put and would fall out at the slightest provocation. If I were to buy this spotter, I would have to come up with some sort of an alternative arrangement to keep the eyepiece protected. Conversely, Leupold that also has a fold down rubber eyecup comes with an eyepiece cap that fits very snugly on top of the folded eyecup. That seems to be a better arrangement.
Both of the Vortex scopes have plenty of eyerelief for use with or without glasses. Since these came with fixed magnification eyepieces, I experimenting using both of them with a doubler. If you intend to do that, I suggest you stick with a 10x Recon. Boosting it to 20x with a doubler was surprisingly useable.
Ultimately, spotters, even tiny ones like these, are there to let you see things far away; hence, once I got a reasonable grip on the best way to use them from an ergonomics standpoint, I spent a lot of time looking through them both at resolution charts and at natural targets.
As far as image quality goes, Nikon stomps all over the competition fairly convincingly. I did comparisons in the following way:
1) Compare all scopes at 15x (aside from the 10×50 Vortex, obviously). Note that Minox is listed as a 16-30 variable, while the spotter itself is actually marked 15-30x. I did not bother to check actual magnification and assumed that this is close enough. Here is a snapshot of Minox' magnification ring:
2) Compare all scopes at 20x (aside from the 15×50 Vortex, obviously). For 20x test, I used the 10×50 Vortex with a doubler.
3) Compare all scopes at 30x. Naturally, that excluded the 10×50 Vortex, but gave me a chance to look at the 15×50 one with a doubler.
4) Based on the results from steps above, look at variable magnification scopes at intermediary magnification ranges.
I did all of the above in varying lighting conditions and at the end did some specific flare testing.
Nikon had negligible flare and clearly showed the most detail whichever magnification we were looking at. However, it had the biggest edge at 30x.
At 15x, the Vortex and Minox actually got kinda close to the Nikon, but at 30x there was little doubt that the Nikon was better. The one knock on the Fieldscope is that the field of view is fairly narrow, similar to the Leupold. All of the variable magnification spotters, have a wide black ring around the image at low magnifications which gradually disappears as you increase magnification. Fixed power Recon spotters, conversely, have no trace of that effect and the image looks a lot more relaxed simply because you do not see the black circumference around it. For prolonged observation, I found looking through the 15×50 Vortex easier than through the other scopes here at 15x.
Here is an overall optical performance matrix for each magnification with "1"indicating highest performance and "5" lowest. These are my subjective evaluations, so the number only make sense in the context of this article.
|Nikon Fieldscope 13-30×50
|Minox MD 16-30×50
|Leupold Gold Ring 15-30×50
|Vortex Recon Mountain 15×50
|Vortex Recon 15×50 with 2x doubler
|Vortex Recon 10×50 with 2x doubler
The little Vortex spotters did not do all that well with the doubler with 15×50 being particularly useless when boosted. 10×50 with a doubler, while not great was actually serviceable and occasionally useful. I suspect that if Vortex were to look a little bit into improving the performance of the doubler it could be even more viable. Even as is, I think it is useful. There is an interesting tradeoff in the works here. With the variable eyepiece spotters here, the image at 20x is clearly better. However, the downside is the tunnel-like effect at low magnifications. With the 10×50 Recon, I get a wide and relaxed view at low magnifications (where I am likely to spend the most time), but sacrifice some of the image quality at high magnification once I add the doubler. I suppose it comes down to individual preference. The doubler is small and light and can be carried separately. Here is a picture of the 15×50 Recon with the doubler on top of it.
The one downside of the wide field of view of the little Vortex spotters is the increased susceptibility to flare. That is not uncommon for wide field of view designs and in this group, both Recons had the most sensitivity to bright light sources just outside the field of view. Veiling flare, interestingly, was not very prominent on any of these spotters, with Leupold being a little worse than the others.
Geometric aberrations were adequately well controlled across the board. Besides, for spotters in this price range, my official position on geometric aberrations is as follows: "if it does not jump out at me, I do not care very much". Chromatic aberration was virtually non-existent in the Nikon and hard to find in both of the Vortex spotters. Minox and Leupold showed some CA, especially at higher magnificaiton, but for the money I am not going to complain too much.
Nikon and Leupold had somewhat deeper depth of field than the Minox, with the Vortex having the shallowest DOF of the bunch (at the same magnification, naturally).
With all this out of the way, here are some conclusions in no particular order.
Nikon Fieldscope 13-50×50
If you are after the most optical quality (or do not have a larger spotter for range and/or long distance use), the little Fieldscope is still your best bet, provided you can live with the limitations of its eyepiece. If Nikon offered a couple of different fixed power eyepieces for it with at least one being 15x or so, I would have owned one of these by now. Alternatively, they could redesign the zoom eyepiece, but that does not look very likely. Still, image quality is better than you would imaging looking at how tiny the thing is and the focusing knob is both light and precise. When used as a traditional spotting scope, in this size range, this is the one to beat.
Would I buy this one? As is, probably not, but that is largely because I own a slightly larger (65mm) spotter, so my needs from a compact spotter are different. However, if Nikon were to rework the eyepieces…
Minox MD50 16-30×50
This is easily the champ in the "bang for the buck" contest. Form factor-wise, it looks like a scaled down full-size spotter with a proper "foot" for a tripod mount. It has a very solid feel, owing to it being short and moderately heavy. It is easily the heaviest spotter in this group. Eyepiece cover is somewhat unusual: it is a threaded metal cap that fits over the whole eyepiece providing a lot of protection in case I were to just throw the spotter into the backpack. Here are a couple of snapshots with the cover on and off.
Optically, the spotter is very good for what it costs. It is a bit cheaper than the Leupold and outperforms it in most ways, while being more compact: FOV is wider, low light performance is better and overall image quality is better from 15x up to 22x or so. At higher magnifications, eyerelief gets a little short and Leupold is easier to use. However, the FOV advantage carries over across all magnifications. The focus ring is on the body of the spotter and the large diameter offers a fair amount of adjustment precision. I do not have any particular preferences on how the focusing mechanism is implemented as long as it is executed well. This one is quite good.
Finally, would I buy one of these? I am actually thinking about it. It is sufficiently inexpensive to be worth looking at. While I am unlikely to drop the cash on the Nikon, this one is much easier to swing and it does most things I need in a compact spotter quite well. I probably would have liked it even more if the magnification range was 12-24x or thereabouts. Over the years, I found exit pupil of 2mm is about as small as I am willing to go under most circumstances, so 24x top magnification is just right for me with a 50mm objective lens. On the other hand, having a little less magnification on the low end would help both handheld use and low light performance.
Leupold Gold Ring 15-30×50
This a pretty decent spotter in its own right, although I feel it is a bit behind the competition. Eye relief is pretty long and the scope has good depth of field. However, FOV is fairly narrow and the cheaper Minox is better optically. On the plus side, the way the focusing knob is set-up makes it easy to keep the scope undisturbed and it gets high marks for ease of use. Bottom line is that this is a perfectly decent spotter that could use a bit of a refresh.
Would I buy one? Not when I get the Minox for $100 less.
Vortex Recon 10×50 and 15×50
When I first wanted to look at these, I thought that the 15×50 model looked far more interesting. After spending some time with them, I found the 10×50 more to my liking. 10×50 was a lot easier to use handheld and performed well in low light. On top of that, in a pinch, it offered fairly decent performance with a doubler. As pure spotters go, these are somewhat limiting. Truthfully, they should be in a category of their own: somewhere between a small monocular and a mid-size spotter. Neither one of these is going to replace a mid-size spotter any time soon, and I do not think they were ever intended to do so. What they do best though is pack very respectable optical performance into an unusually compact and lightweight package. Additionally, I think the 10×50 is best viewed as a basis for modular system, rather than as a standalone product. It offers a number of different carry options, additional mounting accessories, different attachment points for the clip and a doubler. In my case, I already had a doubler, so for me it was a no-brainer. For example, after all that complaining I did earlier about ergonomic compromises, I did find a way to use the Recon that fits me so well, that I think I will actually buy one. What I did was the following: I took the strap completely off and repositioned the clip to the right hand side of the spotter body, where the handstrap was originally. On the left side of the spotter, I attached the quick-detachable tripod mount. I like to support the spotter with my right hand and use the left hand for operating the focusing knob. With this setup, I can comfortably operate the focusing knob handheld, while maintaining the capability of quickly attaching the spotter to a tripod. Here are a couple of pictures of the set-up I ended up with.
This is the side of the scope where the tripod mount goes:
And here is the view where the tripod mount is rotated alongside the spotter body for handheld use:
With the 15×50 configuration, I found that I gravitate toward using the tripod a lot more thant I do with the 10×50 version. Well, the way I see it, if I am going ot have it sitting on the tripod all the time, I might as well go for a proper small spotter, like the cheaper Minox or the higher performing Nikon. On top of that, the 15×50 version is much less useable with a doubler which further limits my options.
The best I can tell, the Recon spotters are essentially single barrel versions of the Viper binoculars Vortex has: 10×50 Recon is simple one half of a 10×50 Viper binocular. Given a choice, I would have liked to see the 15x Recon based on the 15×56 Kaibab binocular instead. I think that would give it a significant boost in optical quality and a larger objective bell diameter to help with boosted use. On top of that, even wit ha 56mm objective lens, it would still be comfortably smaller than the more traditional 50mm compact spotters.
Bottom line, would I buy a Recon spotter? Yes on the 10×50. No on the 15×50.
780080 Elite Spotting Scope
788045 Elite Spotting Scope
|JPG (lo-res) – TIF (hi-res)
|JPG (lo-res) – TIF (hi-res)
January 2011
Mike Capps
Paul Arnhold – Bushnell Outdoor Products
Bushnell Introduces Two New Models to the Elite Spotting Scope Line
Overland Park, Kan. — Bushnell Outdoor Products, an industry-leader in high performance sports optics for more than 60 years, has added two new models to the Elite Spotting Scope line. When it comes to quality and performance, the Elite product line is the best Bushnell has to offer, and these scopes continue that rich tradition.
Featuring ED Prime Extra-Low Dispersion glass, fully multi-coated lenses and premium BAK-4 prisms, the new spotting scopes deliver amazing color resolution and contrast while providing exceptional edge-to-edge detail. With a rugged armored housing and fully waterproof and fogproof construction, this scope is built to withstand the elements. Bushnell provides extra all-weather insurance with its patented RainGuard HD water-repellant coating – a permanent lens coating that causes moisture to bead up and scatter less light – providing clear, crisp views in the unclearest of conditions.
Both spotting scopes are available in a versatile 20-60x magnification range with either a 45-degree or straight eyepiece. The scope's 80mm objective lens helps capture as much light as possible for optimal performance in low light conditions. For added comfort during extended periods of glassing, Bushnell has enhanced the scope with a twist-up, adjustable eye piece.
The new Elite spotting scope includes a protective case and retractable sunshade, and is available for a suggested retail price of $889.99. Bushnell also offers several accessories for the spotting scope, including an SLR camera adaptor and several tripods and window mounts. The new models complement the existing Elite 15-45x 60mm spotting scope.
To learn more about the Bushnell Elite spotting scopes, visit the product page online. For more information about Bushnell Outdoor Products, visit www.bushnell.com or call 1-800-423-3537.
Bushnell Outdoor Products is a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer products based in Overland Park, Kansas. Bushnell Outdoor Products sells its products worldwide under the Bushnell®, Tasco®, Serengeti®, Bollé®, Uncle Mike's Law Enforcement®, Stoney Point®, Hoppe's®, Butler Creek®, Cébé®, Millett®, Uncle Mike's®, Final Approach® and Simmons® brand names. For information about any of these brands or products, please contact Bushnell Public Relations at (913) 752-6105.
CHESTER, Va., August 19, 2011 – The new Dialyt 18-45×65 Field Spotter from Carl Zeiss has just won two prestigious industry awards, Field & Stream magazine's coveted Best of the Best award in the hunting optics category for 2011 and On Target magazine's 2011 Editor's Choice Award. These highly regarded annual awards programs are designed to find and honor the absolute best new and innovative products each year. Here is what these publications are saying about this product:
Field & Stream: "For hunting, the Dialyt could be one of the purest, most rugged spotting scopes in quite some time. Tester Van Buggenum certainly believed so, writing in his evaluation that "this is what I think a spotting scope should be!" Clearly, the scope says retro with its straight metal body armored in ribbed black rubber and its built-in variable eyepiece, but without the dust or moisture issues of traditional drawtube scopes…..". – T.M."
On Target: "The new Dialyt Field Spotter from Zeiss is a compact, powerful, top-quality spotting scope for use in the field without a tripod. Measuring 15.55″ L x 3.07″ H x 2.99″ W, and weighing 42 oz., it is designed to provide high mobility for observation in difficult or mountainous terrain. Its premium optics permit the hunter to pick out fine detail, even against confusing backgrounds and in low light situations….."
"We are honored to receive recognition for our innovation and continued efforts to produce top-quality optics that not only meet but exceed hunters' needs and expectations in the field," said Michael A. Jensen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Carl Zeiss Sports Optics. "The Dialyt is a great addition to our spotting scope offerings and is the perfect choice for those who need to glass distances quickly while keeping weight to a minimum."
The ZEISS Dialyt 18-45×65 Field Spotter is lightweight and especially popular with western hunters in the U.S. and those hunting in mountainous areas throughout the world. This straight, rubber armored scope with built-in variable eyepiece features premium optics and is fully waterproof and dustproof, unlike draw-tube scopes. It fits easily into a backpack, it is tripod adaptable, and, if necessary, can be rested on a pack or rock, or leaned against a tree for further stabilization at higher magnification.
About Carl Zeiss:
Carl Zeiss is an international group of companies in the optical and optoelectronic industries. The company has representatives in more than 30 countries. Carl Zeiss is a stock corporation which is wholly owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation).
The products and services from Carl Zeiss set the standards in the Medical and Research Solutions, Industrial Solutions and Lifestyle Products markets. The ZEISS brand has stood for innovative ideas, precision and quality for more than 165 years. More than 24,000 employees work for Carl Zeiss around the world. During fiscal year 2009/10, they generated revenues of EUR 2.98 billion. As part of the Carl Zeiss Group, Carl Zeiss Sports Optics is responsible for sales, marketing and distribution of its state-of-the-art binoculars, spotting scopes, riflescopes and laser rangefinders throughout the United States and Canada.
For more information, visit: zeiss.com/sports or call 1-800-441-3005.
Sight is paramount in making accurate decisions afield, and the folks at Kowa have created a spotting scope that won't disappoint.
On AccurateShooter.com, reviewer Danny Reever stated, "The Kowa Prominar (TSN 88X series) is quite simply the best spotting scope I've ever looked through. In all instances the Kowa out-performed everything I was able to compare it to. The Kowa had unrivaled clarity, and I could resolve 6mm bullet holes at 500m with it better than with my 100mm Pentax. After testing the Kowa, I sold my Pentax PF100-ED, and I'm planning to purchase a Kowa TSN-884."
Featuring a large 88mm objective, the Kowa TSN-844 is an incredibly compact scope slightly exceeding 13 inches in length, excluding eyepiece. The scope body constructed of magnesium alloy, affords a trim weight of 53.6 ounces. Including the 20-60X eyepiece, length is 16 3/8 inches, and weight is 65.1 ounces. When compared to other scopes such as the Pentax PF100-ED, the Kowa is an amazing 3 1/2 pounds (56 ounces) lighter allowing you to use a more compact and lighter tripod if you so desire.
Kowa offers three new eyepieces designed for its 77-88mm family of scopes: a 25X long eye relief; a 30X wide angle; and a 20-60X zoom. These current eyepieces are held securely within the body by means of a locking button on the scope body designed to be pressed while removing an eyepiece preventing accidental detachment. The shortest distance at which the TSN-884 can focus is 16.5 feet — perfect for handgun spotting duties.
Bright, super-sharp, distortion-free images come from superior glass. The objective lens of the TSN 884 incorporates Pure Fluorite Crystal (PFC) giving you 99% or higher light transmission. One focuses the Kowa via a system of two focus controls along one axis. The Kowa 883/884 is designed to function in all weather conditions with the nitrogen-purged body fully sealed and the "housing" waterproof.
On AccurateShooter.com's Daily Bulletin, the Kowa Prominar was rated number one by the Cornell Ornithology lab in its 2008 Scope Quest – a detailed review of 36 spotting scopes.
Set your sights on something extraordinary this year with the Kowa TSN-884.
Program Period: July 7, 2011 – August 14, 2011
Promotion Terms and Conditions
1. Description of Promotion. The Nikon PROSTAFF® Spotting Scope "On the Spot $100 Instant
Savings" Promotion (the "Promotion") is valid from July 7, 2011 through August 14, 2011 (the "Promotion
Period"). A Nikon Inc. authorized sport optics dealer or reseller (collectively, a "Dealer") that at the time of
purchase provides bona fide retail customers ("Customers") with $100 savings (the "Instant Savings
Amount") on each purchase by such Customer of a new, qualifying Nikon PROSTAFF Spotting Scope
product set forth in Section 5 below (the "Spotting Scope Product") and otherwise adheres to these
Promotion Terms and Conditions will receive a credit in the amount set forth in Section 4 below for each
such Spotting Scope Product for which the Instant Savings Amount was applied by Dealer (the "Credit
2. Advertising Requirements. For each Spotting Scope Product for which Dealer requests a Credit
Reimbursement, Dealer must (a) advertise the product at least once during the Promotion Period as
indicated by the example below, in media that complies with the 2011 Nikon Sport Optics Cooperative
Advertising Program, (b) display in the advertisement the regular price, the Instant Savings Amount and
the After Instant Savings price as indicated by the example below, and (c) fully comply with the 2011
Nikon Sport Optics Cooperative Advertising Program requirements.
3. Requirements. The Promotion is valid only for retail sales of new Spotting Scope Products purchased
from Nikon Inc. by Nikon authorized Dealers or distributors and sold by Dealers from July 7, 2011 through
August 14, 2011 and delivered to Customers in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Purchases made in or delivered to other countries are ineligible.
4. Qualifying Nikon PROSTAFF Spotting Scope Products:
Only the following Nikon spotting scope products listed below will qualify for this Promotion:
Description Product # Instant
PROSTAFF 16-48×65 Straight
Body 8308 $ 100.00 $ 60.00
PROSTAFF 16-48×65 Angled
Body 8309 $ 100.00 $ 60.00
PROSTAFF 16-48×65 Spotting
Scope Outfit 8314 $ 100.00 $ 60.00
PROSTAFF 20-60×82 Straight
8311 $ 100.00 $ 60.00
PROSTAFF 20-60×82 Angled
Body 8312 $ 100.00 $ 60.00
PROSTAFF 20-60×82 Spotting
Scope Outfit 8317 $ 100.00 $ 60.00
5. Dealer Credit Reimbursement. Credit Reimbursement claims must be submitted as a single package
by Dealer to Nikon on or before September 14, 2011. Multiple submissions will not be permitted and
Dealer's first submission will be the only submission accepted. Dealer must submit a copy of Dealer's
advertisement displaying the Promotion together with a completed Credit Request Form for the Promotion
in the form attached hereto, including but not limited to, a copy of the point-of-sale receipt for each
Spotting Scope Product sold, which receipt shall state the name of the Customer and the date of the sale,
and show that the Instant Savings Amount was applied to the purchase price for the Customer at the time
of sale. The actual selling price for the Spotting Scope Product is determined by Dealer. No Credit
Reimbursement will be issued for claims submitted after September 14, 2011.
6. Non-Compliance. Nikon reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any Dealer from receiving
any Credit Reimbursements if Dealer does not comply with any terms and/or conditions of this Promotion.
Any fraudulent, false or deceitful submissions or acts by a Dealer in connection with this Promotion will
automatically disqualify such Dealer from receiving any Credit Reimbursement.
If there are any questions concerning the Nikon PROSTAFF Spotting Scope On the Spot $100 Instant
Savings Promotion, please email Nikon at: firstname.lastname@example.com.
111545 ImageView Spotting Scope Back
111545 ImageView Spotting Scope Front
|JPG (lo-res) – TIF (hi-res)
|JPG (lo-res) – TIF (hi-res)
January 2011
Mike Capps
Paul Arnhold – Bushnell Outdoor Products
Capture Wildlife and Outdoor Adventures Like Never Before with the Bushnell ImageView Spotting Scope
Overland Park, Kan. — Bushnell Outdoor Products, an industry-leader in high performance sports optics for more than 60 years, introduces the ImageView Spotting Scope, a unique innovation in the optics industry. By uniquely combining a spotting scope and digital camera, the ImageView Spotting Scope gives outdoor and nature enthusiasts the opportunity to record their outdoor adventures and enjoy memories for years to come.
The ImageView Spotting Scope combines a 15-45x power spotting scope with a 5.0 megapixel digital camera. With a 70mm objective lens and the characteristic bright multi-coated optics from Bushnell, users experience a bright, crisp image. Once the user has the scope focused via the zoom eyepiece, the ImageView can instantly be switched over to camera mode to take flawless photos of the subject. The internal digital camera provides 22x magnification, giving users the ability to capture incredible images that were previously unattainable without expensive photography equipment.
The ImageView captures both still pictures and videos. It boasts a flip-up 2.5" viewing screen to review what has been captured or recorded and includes a table tripod, remote shutter cable and soft carrying case. Another notable feature is the USB port, which allows the spotting scope to be plugged directly into a computer for quick and convenient viewing.
The ImageView is compatible with SD cards up to 32 GB capacity, giving users the ability to capture an entire trip's worth of high resolution digital images or video clips before having to pause to download files. The ImageView Spotting Scope is available for an MSRP of $479.95.
To learn more about the Bushnell ImageView Spotting Scope, visit the product page online. For more information about Bushnell Outdoor Products, visit www.bushnell.com or call
1-800-423-3537 for consumer inquiries.
Bushnell Outdoor Products is a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer products based in Overland Park, Kansas. Bushnell Outdoor Products sells its products worldwide under the Bushnell®, Tasco®, Serengeti®, Bollé®, Uncle Mike's Law Enforcement®, Stoney Point®, Hoppe's®, Butler Creek®, Cébé®, Millett®, Uncle Mike's®, Final Approach® and Simmons® brand names.
New Trophy XLT Spotting Scopes from Bushnell
Overland Park, Kan. — The new Trophy XLT spotting scopes from Bushnell Outdoor Products offer hunters and outdoor enthusiasts a durable, high quality spotter at an affordable price.
The Trophy XLT spotting scopes are built to withstand the toughest tests from Mother Nature and the demands of the field. Built with a rugged, rubber-armored housing, the spotters are fully waterproof and fog proof. The spotting scope's porro prism design and fully multi-coated optics deliver exceptional clarity and light transmission from sunup to sundown.
Each scope includes a quick-detach objective cover, soft-sided case and a compact tripod. In addition, a premium, hard-sided case is included to provide added protection during travel and transport.
Two models are available in the Trophy XLT line, a 15-45x 50mm version with an MSRP of $318.95 and a 20-60x 65mm model that is available for $364.95.
For more information about the Trophy XLT Spotting Scope, visit the product section online. To learn more about Bushnell Outdoor Products, visit www.Bushnell.com or call 1-800-423-3537.
Bushnell Outdoor Products is a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer products based in Overland Park, Kansas. Bushnell Outdoor Products sells its products worldwide under the Bushnell®, Tasco®, Serengeti®, Bollé®, Uncle Mike's Law Enforcement®, Stoney Point®, Hoppe's®, Butler Creek®, Cébé®, Millett®, Uncle Mike's®, Final Approach® and Simmons® brand names.


text:
In Macbeth, why does Fleance not flee to Macbeth's castle after Banquo is killed?
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- list Cite
This is a very good question. The text does not provide any answer. We know that Banquo was very suspicious of Macbeth, and he may very likely have confided his suspicions to Fleance, warning him to be very wary of Macbeth, especially since the three witches had prophesied that Banquo's heirs would be the future kings of Scotland. Fleance could have deduced that since the murderers were waiting to ambush him and his father only one mile from Macbeth's castle, it was Macbeth who had set the trap. At the end of Act 3, Scene 3, Banquo calls:
"O treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! / Thou mayst revenge--O slave!"
Banquo certainly wouldn't have advised his son to fly to Macbeth's castle. Fleance must have understood that his father wanted him to fly, fly, fly far away, and stay safe until he had time to grow to manhood and then seek revenge. In fact, the word "fly" seems to imply that Banquo wants his son to get as far away as possible.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Car Title Loans Green Bay Wi
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text:
Yara is a workplace where people develop. For this to continue to happen, the talent management processes need to evolve and improve constantly, as described in the Talent Management Framework that was launched in 2010. In 2011, Yara provided nearly 3,000 employees around the world with access to the Human Resources Information System (HR IS), initiated a new Talent Development process, improved its Workforce Planning process, launched a High Potentials program, tested a new 360-degree feedback tool and rolled out an IS supported Performance Management Process.
In order to focus on the development of our employees, Yara has designed a new Talent Development Mid-Year Review process, supported by a new HR IS tool. Over 1,200 employees on all continents and in all business segments took part in the pilot project. They tested and evaluated the different components; the process, Yara's competency model, the HR IS tool and the communications and training activities. Based on the valuable feedback and insights Yara will change and improve the various elements before the full global roll-out in 2012.
The Workforce Planning process ran globally on all levels for the second year in row. The outcome was a clearer view of the need for succession planning, competency development, and recruitment. This provided valuable input to short and longer term plans, with an increased focus on gender and diversity. The Yara GRI report (available on yara.com/GRI) provides some details about Yara's performance on diversity metrics.
In 2011, Yara upgraded the workforce planning processes and launched a global recruitment process that have a specific focus on monitoring and promoting diversity, including gender diversity, in the organization. An open and transparent job market where all vacancies are advertised internally is also part of our efforts to promote diversity and mobility in the organization.
As part of a Key Talents program, Yara HR launched a High Potentials program in August. Thirteen young professionals, between 27 and 34 years old and representing 11 nationalities, were selected based on merit and potential. This is a rolling program, with annual uptake and exits, where the High Potentials are followed closely over a period of 2–3 years and are expected to hold 1–2 development positions within that period.
While employees are responsible for their own life and development, managers have a critical role in ensuring that all Yara's people can perform to the best of their abilities. Managers at all levels are the ultimate stewards of talent in Yara. Therefore special emphasis is placed on people management.
Altogether, we believe that having efficient performance and talent management processes will enable us to identify, develop, deploy and recruit the talent we need across the world and, at the same time, meet individual employees' expectations for rewarding work and personal development.


text:
MLB Trade Deadline: Tigers Acquire Fister and Pauley from MarinersJuly 30, 2011
In a move that swapped a couple of pitchers with last names that were probably hard to grow up with, the Detroit Tigers have sent Charlie Furbush along with Casper Wells and AA 3B prospect Francisco Martinez to the Mariners in exchange for Doug Fister and David Pauley.
The Tigers had a pressing need for a back of the rotation pitcher for their stretch run and they got that with the addition of Fister. He comes to the Motor City sporting an abysmal 3-12 record but keep in mind that he comes from a Mariners club that just ended a 17-game losing streak. His 3.33 ERA and 1.17 WHIP are a much better indication of what Fister brings to the table. He should slot in nicely in the fourth spot in the rotation behind a dominant Justin Verlander, a very solid Max Scherzer and a rejuvenated Rick Porcello with Brad Penny as a good veteran No. 5 guy. Fister is also capable of eating up innings to help out the Tigers somewhat injury prone and inconsistent bullpen as he has thrown three complete games so far this year.
David Pauley is the other addition Detroit has brought in to help the bullpen. He brings with him an ERA of just 2.15 and a 0.99 WHIP. He is a sinkerball pitcher who relies on keeping the ball down in the zone and getting ground balls. With Al Alburquerque struggling to stay healthy and the rest of the pen not named Papa Grande really struggling to be consistent, Pauley may be just the set-up man the Tigers need.
The Tigers in return part ways with Charlie Furbush, Casper Wells and Francisco Martinez. Furbush had not done much to impress the Tigers in his brief time in the majors having started only two games and not faring very well in either one with an 8.59 ERA in those two starts. He had become an option out of the bullpen recently but with Phil Coke's move back to a relief role, Furbush became more expendable.
Casper Wells is a promising young outfielder but with Andy Dirks getting more playing time of late and putting up similar, if not a bit better, numbers and providing a bit more speed on the bases, Wells is a piece the Tigers could afford to part with. Brennan Boesch will also see even more playing time as a result of the trade which should be a positive.
Francisco Martinez may be the most intriguing part of this deal. The AA third baseman will give the Mariners plenty to look forward to at third base in the coming years and with the Brandon Inge era mercifully at an end (fingers crossed), Detroit is taking a bit of a risk dealing a highly touted prospect at a position of relative need in the next couple years. I guess Dave Dombrowski is confident that Detroit's other 3B prospect Nick Castellanos will be able to handle the job and his .302 average, 59 RBIs, 26 doubles and 111 hits in 98 games with the Whitecaps seem to support that.
In all, I am very optimistic that the Tigers made the right move and did it without mortgaging their future. Fister and Pauley should really alleviate some of the pressure on Detroit's pitching staff and help them pull away in the AL Central. Oh and by the way, we get a chance to see Jacob Turner make a spot start as a result of this as well. Can't wait!


text:
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text:
33rd National Quiz Bee 2013
The Quiz Bee Foundation in cooperation with the Office of the President (OP), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will hold the 33rd National Quiz Bee from December 1, 2012 to March 25, 2013.
There will be multi-level elimination rounds, before the National Grand Finals. The schedule of the nationwide elimination is as follows:
Any student enrolled in the present school year from any public or private school in the country with an academic grade point average of 85%, its equivalent or higher, that falls in the following can join in the competition:
Participation of both public and private schools shall be subject to the no-disruption-of-classes policy as stipulated in DepEd Order No. 9, s. 2005 entitled Instituting Measures to Increase Engaged Time-on-Task and Ensuring Compliance Therewith.
For more information, interested individuals may contact:
Ms. Pettizou Palarca-Tayag
Executive Vice President, Quiz Bee Foundation Secretariat
2/F Palarca Bldg., Quezon Boulevard corner P. Paredes St., Manila
Telephone Number: (02) 741-0856; (02) 735-1272; (02) 964-9210
Mobile Phone No.: 09 17-892-2560
Email Address: email@example.com
Website Address: www.quizbee.org
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text:
13th Marik Militia
Sarna News
- The Challenge With Balance in MechWarrior Online
- First BattleTech of 2018: Republic vs Free Worlds League
- MWO Benefit Tournament For MechWarrior Family That Lost Home Due To Fire
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- Read more →
|Thirteenth Marik Militia
|Unit Profile (as of 3059)
|Lucky Thirteenth
|Parent Formation
|Marik Militia
|2980 [1]
The Thirteenth Marik Militia was a BattleMech regiment serving in the Free Worlds League.
- 1 History
- 2 Officers
- 3 Tactics
- 4 Composition History
- 5 Regimental Mech Paint Scheme
- 6 Notes
- 7 References
- 8 Bibliography
The Thirteenth debuted during the First Succession War and performed as the vanguard of the FWLM's operations, successfully striking the Aldebaran shipyards in the Capellan Confederation as a part of the first Free Worlds League offensive of the War.[2] The Militia continued to receive favorable recognition throughout the war. Following near-destruction on a failed raid on Hesperus II[when?], the unit was completely reconstituted utilizing the remnants of other forces devastated in the just-concluded ComStar War (2837-2838). Following a decade of stellar performance, the Thirteenth regained its previous reputation.[3]
Third Succession War[edit]
In June 3012 two mercenary units in the employ of the LCAF, Snord's Irregulars and the Kell Hounds launched a joint attack on Castor. The mission was to find and destroy a rumored stockpile of old nuclear weapons, and to give the Kell Hounds some combat experience in the process (their first combat mission in fact);[4] Cranston Snord also intended to try and acquire a collection of Fabergé eggs believed to be on Castor, and to have the Irregulars humiliate the Thirtieth Marik Militia. According to subsequent commentary from Captain Jonathan Taylor, Thirteenth Marik Militia, Second battalion, First company, Cranston Snord personally destroyed his Centurion during that joint raid, indicating that at least elements of the Thirteenth Marik Militia were involved in the fighting.[5] The attackers managed to identify and destroy the weapons cache just before the defenders could use the nuclear weapons on the attackers with the intent of framing them for using them. By lucky chance, Cranston Snord, while looking for the Fabergé eggs, apprehended Colonel Nage of the Thirteenth Marik Militia in the open market of Alfagemini City and also ultimately managed to secure nine Fabergé eggs for the Irregulars' museum on Clinton.[6]
Anton's Revolt[edit]
Prior to the outbreak of the Marik Civil War (3014-3015), the Thirteenth was stationed on Dieudonne, from where they first engaged the rebel forces in November 3014, sustaining light casualties.[7][8]
Fourth Succession War[edit]
In 3029 during the Fourth Succession War, the Thirteenth saw action once more against Snord's Irregulars, unsuccessfully defending against a raid on Bordon.[9][3]
Andurien Secession[edit]
By 3028, the Thirteenth Marik Militia was stationed on Irian.[10] In 3033, during the Andurien Secession, the Thirteenth took part in operations on the world of Wasat. This wasn't a serious attempt to take the world, but rather a way for Thomas Marik to gain political support at home and disrupt the Sarna March by interrupting the Lyran Commonwealth's attempts to absorb the world.[10][11] In 3036 the Thirteenth Marik Militia led forces loyal to Duncan Marik onto Andurien soil by attacking Ingonish. They were supported by the Third Free Worlds Guards and the Iron Guard regiments against a few rebel regiments.[12][13][3]
Clan Invasion[edit]
In 3047, the Militia saw action against the Seventeenth Arcturan Guards RCT.[14] By 3050, the Militia was stationed on Irian again.[15] They were still on Irian as of 3054.[16]
Operation GUERRERO[edit]
During Operation GUERRERO the Thirteenth Militia returned to Wasat, this time accompanied by the Fourth Oriente Hussars, Second Sirian Lancers, and Twenty-first Centauri Lancers. They captured the world, destroying the Second Republican in the process. Following two weeks of combat, they provided a company to perform security operations due to the ramping up of tensions between the near-mutinous Lancers and the LCCC.[3] After these events they returned to their homeworld, Irian.[17]
In 3059, SAFE rated the loyalty of the Thirteenth as "questionable", primarily due to the twenty-years previous support for Duncan Marik but also for the lack of political support many members showed to Captain-General Thomas Marik due to his overtures of peace to neighboring states. Their view tended towards the expansionist during what was seen as a time of opportunity to do so.[3] By 3067 SAFE maintained this "questionable" rating, though with the caveat of their complete loyalty when it came to the FWL overall.[18]
As of 3067 the Thirteenth were still guarding Irian BattleMechs Unlimited on Irian.[18] At some point during the Jihad the Thirteenth joined the Word of Blake. Stationed on Chara in September and October 3077 alongside the Fourth Free Worlds Legionnaires and the Steel Guard, the Thirteenth faced off against Clan Wolf in Exile's Beta Galaxy when the Free Worlds League front of Operation SCOUR deployed Group IV to seize Chara. The Thirteenth inflicted serious losses on the Wolves before the coalition forces retreated off-world.[19]
- 3012, Colonel Ruger Nage[6]
- 3025, Colonel Chang Janewicz.[20]
- 3050, Colonel Lloyd Reissing.[21] He was still in command 17 years later in 3067.[22]
The Militia was adept in covert-landings and small-unit operations behind enemy lines, as well as liberation missions, siege operations and riot control.[3][23]
Composition History[edit]
Thirteenth Marik Militia (Regular/Questionable)[20]
- CO: Colonel Chang Janewicz
Thirteenth Marik Militia (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[24]
Thirteenth Marik Militia (Regular/Questionable)[21]
- CO: Colonel Lloyd Reissing
Thirteenth Marik Militia (1 Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[3]
- CO/1st Battalion: Colonel Lloyd Reissing
- Second Battalion: Force Commander Gabby Moive
- Third Battalion: Force Commander Kelsey Birch
Thirteenth Militia Aerospace (1 Wing/Regular/Questionable)[3]
- Wing Commander: Commander Ashleigh Standton
Seventeenth Irian Armor (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[3]
- Armor Commander: Force Commander Leon Schaech
- Note: the heavy armor of the Seventeenth supports the Thirteenth in on-Irian operations only, as its primary mission is the defense of the Irian BattleMechs Unlimited facility.[3]
Forty-third and Forty-forth Irian Mechanized Infantry (2 Regiment/Green/Reliable)[3]
- Troop Commander: Colonel Mykelti Winston
Thirteenth Marik Militia (1 Regiment/Regular/Questionable/95% strength)[18][22]
Thirteenth Militia Aerospace (1 Wing/Regular/Questionable/110% strength)[22]
- Wing Commander: Commander Ashleigh Standton
Seventeenth Irian Armor (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable/100% strength)[22]
- Armor Commander: Force Commander Leon Schaech
Forty-third Irian Mechanized Infantry (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable/95% strength)[22]
- Troop Commander: Colonel Mykelti Winston
Forty-fourth Irian Mechanized Infantry (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable/100% strength)[22]
- Troop Commander: Colonel London McCall
Regimental Mech Paint Scheme[edit]
A Panther in regimental colors
- The Thirteenth was recorded as having been "decimated during a disastrous raid on the Lyran world of Hesperus" in the years following its First Succession War debut, per Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 61. The unit was then rebuilt following FWLM operations during the ComStar War (2837-38). The Thirteenth Marik Militia unit article in the Field Manual specifically references the decimation as occurring during a 'raid', but that may refer to the Third Battle of Hesperus II of March 2789, where the FWL lost the FWLS Devastator, though no ground units are mentioned in that particular event in House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth). Until further clarification as to the date of the unit's near-destruction, this historical point will be noted here.
- It should be noted that different years have been given for the 3011/3012 raid on Castor conducted by Snord's Irregulars and the Kell Hounds. The history section of the Kell Hounds sourcebook is ambiguous, noting on p. 5 that the raid was planned in 3011 and then narrating how Snord's Irregulars and the Kell Hounds approached Castor from two directions around 7 June, without stating a year. On page 7, however, it is narrated that the Kell Hounds only returned from the mission in the fall of 3012. In the sourcebook's scenario section, the two scenarios referring to the Clinton battle on pp. 30-31 ("Lowering the Boom") and 56- ("Delta Romeo") are both dated 15 June 3012. Similarly, Cpt. Taylor states he fought the Kell Hounds and Snord's Irregulars on Clinton in 3012.[5] When Lowering the Boom was re-published via BattleCorps in 2008 the timestamp was changed to 7 June 3011; whilst this seems to be an oversight based on p. 5 of the Kell Hounds sourcebook, the reprinted BattleCorps scenario is the more recent publication, and the dates in that source have been given primacy in this article.
- ↑ The Kell Hounds, p. 6
- ↑ House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 90, "Marik Militia"
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 61, "13th Marik Militia: Lucky 13th"
- ↑ The Kell Hounds, p. 5
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Rhonda's Irregulars, p. 38 ("Raid on Bordon" sidebar)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Kell Hounds, p. 5
- ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 33, "Free Worlds League Military (April-July 3014)"
- ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 36, "Free Worlds League Military (August-December 3014)"
- ↑ Rhonda's Irregulars, pp. 38-39, "Raid on Bordon"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 86, "Phase One: 3030 - 3034"
- ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 65, "Wasat and Oliver (October)"
- ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 88, "Phase Two: 3035 - 3040"
- ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 72, "Ingomish (January)"
- ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 57, "17th Arcturan Guards RCT: The Kezla Rams"
- ↑ 20 Year Update, p. 56, "Marik Militia"
- ↑ Objective Raids, p. 38, "Marik Militia"
- ↑ Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 112, "Marik Militia"
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Field Manual: Updates, p. 149, "13th Marik Militia"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 48, "Chara Operational Report"
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 108, "Marik Militia"
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 20 Year Update, p. 56, "Marik Militia"
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 Field Manual: Updates, p. 160, "Marik Militia"
- ↑ Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 130, "13th Marik Militia (D)"
- ↑ Historical: War of 3039 , p. 140, "Free Worlds League Military"
- 20 Year Update
- BattleCorps Scenario: Kell Hounds Scenario - Lowering the Boom
- Cranston Snord's Irregulars
- Field Manual: Free Worlds League
- Field Manual: Lyran Alliance
- Field Manual: Updates
- Historical: Brush Wars
- House Marik (The Free Worlds League)
- Jihad Hot Spots: Terra
- The Kell Hounds
- Objective Raids
- Rhonda's Irregulars
- Historical: War of 3039
- Objective Raids


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Converting an attic into a master bedroom suite in Arlington, VA
How to enlarge a small suburban house without building an expensive addition? How about this conversion of an existing attic into a master suite with lots of light and stylish details.
The 45-degree angle of the roof has become an overall feature, repeated throughout the suite in different forms. A central boxed skylight brings light both to the entire space and to an enclosed bathroom/bar, which serves as a divider between sleeping and dressing areas. Extra closets, with concealed doors are located along the walls.
Designed by Architect Hector J. Alvarez. Built by owner Carlos Santoyo and McPherson Remodeling.


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Nazi bombs left Warsaw as little more than a smouldering heap of rubble at the end of World War II.
Now, nearly 70 years later, the charm of the pre-war Polish capital dubbed the "Paris of the north" has been brought back to life for the first time thanks to a new film, using cutting-edge three-dimensional computer imaging.
Whether from the eye of an eagle soaring over the skyline, a pigeon flying down city streets, or passengers on a tram, "Warszawa 1935" invites viewers into the lush squares and parks of the city centre, a vanished world that very few still recall.
For Stefan Zoltowski, now 84, seeing "Warszawa 1935" rekindled memories he thought were long lost.
"It's impressive. I saw part of the street on which I spent my childhood," the retired physician who grew up on Zlota (gold) street in the heart of Warsaw told AFP.
The Nazis razed the apartment building belonging to his family to the ground during the 1944 Warsaw Uprising.
Over 80 percent of Warsaw was destroyed by the Nazis, and more than 700,000 of its 1.3 million pre-war residents perished under German occupation between 1939-45.
Today, a shopping mall and the landmark Stalinist-era Palace of Culture built by the Soviet Union in socialist-realist style just after the war stand on the streets where Zoltowski once played with childhood friends.
The 237 metres (299 yards) high Palace of Culture is now flanked by parking lots, parks and capitalist-era sky-scrapers, which have transformed the city centre almost beyond recognition over the last two decades.
The new 3D film which shows the city as it was before its destruction and subsequent communist and capitalist-era revamps, fills a deep yearning for "the Warsaw we miss" says Ryszard Maczewski, head of the Warszawa1939.pl foundation working to document the capital's pre-war design.
"No one has done this before. It's been quite a challenge," film producer, Ernest Rogalski, told AFP at the film premiere.
The production team scoured the Internet and the national archives in search of photos and city plans that could serve as the basis for its virtual reconstruction.
As luck would have it, the national archives held detailed late 19th century plans made by celebrated British civil engineer William Lindley for the city's waterworks, which proved to be a treasure trove of information. His waterworks are still in use today.
"It's a map-making masterpiece," says Pawel Weszpinski, a cartographer with Poland's National Archives.
Only three European cities of the era—Warsaw, Frankfurt and Hamburg—were mapped at a scale of 1:200 with such intricate precision. Even trees in Warsaw were drawn to scale.
Meanwhile, pre-war commercial registries gave clues about the location of shops and other businesses, allowing the movie makers to put up advertising logos and company signs in just the right spots.
But getting all this information on the silver screen took a whopping 12 terabytes of digital imaging in what can only be described as a programming project of mammoth proportions.
"It took enormous computing capacity to render our three-dimensional images. We used servers at the Polish Institute for Nuclear Research and at a data centre in China. In Europe, nobody wanted to help us, for fear of overloading their servers," film director Tomasz Gomol told AFP.
Their digital city-tour is quick, just 20 minutes, and does not allow the viewer to linger and admire its richness of detail.
"That inconvenience will change soon when the film comes out on DVD and Blu-ray," says Gomol as he reveals plans are afoot for a sequel digital journey into Warsaw's forgotten past.
Explore further: Webcam follows Peregrine Falcons


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I'm not a gardener. I love to garden, but I don't profess to be an expert nor do I have the world's best green thumb. What I do have is a little knowledge from growing vegetables over the years. Moving from a climate in Virginia that had a much longer growing season made it difficult to adjust to New York. However, I thought I'd get ahead of myself this year, and I started planting seeds indoors WAY before planting season. I waited SO long for tomatoes last year that I just wanted the opportunity to have them a little earlier.
We had a warm streak in May where it seemed opportune for planting. Since the warm weather was going to last until the proper days for planting in my area, I figured it wouldn't hurt to plant my plants and seeds a little early. I was watching the weather, noted times to plant, and I went forward with planting in an effort to have some veggies before the norm for my area. Then, a woman whose child went to school with mine in the course of conversation with me said, "WHAT? You planted your plants ALREADY? They're going to DIE!" She told me that SHE is a farmer and knows I planted too early and that my plants would all get killed. My heart dropped a bit as I thought I had educated myself regarding weather, etc. because I so meticulously grew these plants from seedlings and had them in every available growing spot in my house. For months, I babied those plants and fed them. The last thing in the world I wanted was for them to die.
Today, as I was reaping the rewards of my modest garden, I was thinking back to that conversation in May. It made me think a lot about the human race and perspective. I'm picking a gallon of green beans every other day from this garden. I see tomatoes forming already on my tomato plants. I see my pepper plants blooming. Squash flowers are out. Then, I thought of how this woman had no idea how much my heart dropped when she claimed to be a professional in the field and told me my well loved plants will die. Yes, I love these plants that I cared for from the moment I started seeds in the soil in my house while snow was on the ground outside. These plants not only gave me the reward of watching them grow, but gave me hope for warmer weather to come after a long, dismal winter.
As I looked at the bag I filled with vegetables I picked, it occurred to me that this is just a small example of how the human race operates. So many people profess to be all knowledgeable in different subjects, yet won't open their eyes to another perspective. They pass judgment on others who they feel aren't as wise (whether it be in something like gardening or religion to name two) and decide that the person who isn't as much of an expert as him/her will not succeed in life. These people decide that if you don't think like them, then you are to be discounted, judged, and made to feel less of yourself with harsh words…such as being told the garden you made and spent months on will DIE. Did I get lucky with my choices? I suppose any kind of storm could creep in just like it does in life and could have destroyed that garden. I was just as lucky as any farmer would have been given that things in life are unpredictable. It's how it's handled that matters. Was it fair for the woman to tell me some huge ultimatum bad thing was going to happen because I didn't do things the way others might think I should? Maybe not. I didn't get a moment to explain my thought process. After all, it's just a garden…or is it?
If my garden had been destroyed, it would have pained me that my efforts had been all for naught. The fact that it is thriving so well with what I did proved to me that we, as human beings, need to look at our fellow man and say, "Hey, that might not be my way, but that doesn't mean it's the wrong way. Maybe it's the right way for YOU." I didn't follow the farmer's ways, but I still succeeded. I succeeded through knowledge I gained in my life going from one climate to another and seeing quite a few winters up north changing into summer. I succeeded with my goals by planning ahead, properly nurturing the seeds planted, and taking care to make sure that I didn't forget my goals on a daily basis. This is another thing we can learn in life – having goals by planting the seeds and taking the steps to obtain them CAN make them happen…even if we don't have an easy way to do it (like a greenhouse or farmer's knowledge).
The point is that the farmer was wrong. People may tell you how you should be doing things according to what they have set in their minds or by using their "expertise," while fully ignoring what efforts you made on how to make your (metaphoric) plants survive. They may not understand these efforts you've made, what you've gone through, or what you intend to do if a storm hits. They may also fail to realize that they're in as much danger of a storm hitting as anyone else walking the planet. No one is immune to problems in life. Even if every effort is made to make your plants survive, some animal that doesn't care about you and your garden might start munching away at all that you do making you feel like your garden is in shambles. What do you do then? Put a fence up. Keep the nasty animals out. Do things the way you feel they need to be done in your garden to keep your sanity. And, remember, even if your veggies die, there's always another vegetable stand around the corner. Someone, somewhere has produce available that you can love just as much as what you produced on your own.
To the ones who like to see your garden destroyed…their fertilizer is more like a poison that will kill your plants. We only have this life to live, and the choices on when to start your seeds, what soil to use, when to plant, and how to time things are your own. Making efforts to keep the destructive animals out is also your choice. In the end, when you see the happy results of what comes out of it, you can smile and know you did the right things to get the kind of garden you wanted. Those who tried to make you feel like you did it all wrong will have nothing to say…most likely because they can't get through the fence you put up.


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What a game! The La Vernia Lady Bears rallied for comeback during their Jan. 10 district opener against Wimberley, winning the game, 71-48.
The Lady Texans caught the Lady Bears by surprise at the start of the game, turning the tip into 2 points and quickly pulling ahead to 4-0.
La Vernia Head Coach Kyle Sivadon called a timeout and settled the girls down. The Lady Bears slowed their pace and worked the ball inside, where Heaven Muenster and Sarah Jarzombek anchored the pivot point, and Ciara Jenschke and Jordan Luensmann took their shots from outside.
At the end of the quarter, the scoreboard had the Lady Bears ahead, 17-9.
Wimberley was ready for play after the quarter, driving downcourt and putting up the first 2 points, while their defense stayed in a zone defense, preventing the Lady Bears from coming inside.
The two teams traded baskets until the Lady Texans sank two 3-pointers. Combined with several free-throw points, the half ended with the Lady Texans ahead, 35-33....
Wimberley got things going again in the second half with several points. La Vernia responded with a full-court press defense. This proved too much for the Lady Texans to overcome, and the Lady Bears began to score from inside and outside the paint, racking up 23 points during the quarter to put them ahead, 56-39.
Coach Sivadon rested his starters during the last quarter. When the final buzzer sounded, the Lady Bears had romped Wimberley, 71-48.
The Lady Bears had three players in double figures: Jenschke with 16 points, Muenster with 14 points, and Luensmann with 10 points.
La Vernia went on to win against Gonzales, 82-54, on Jan. 13, raising their overall record to 17-12 and their district record to 2-0. They played Austin Eastside Memorial Jan. 17, and will hit the road Jan. 20 to take on Navarro.
Tiffany Simpson-1
Ciara Jenschke-16
J. Luensmann-10
Maddy Schroller-5
Heaven Muenster-14
Sarah Jarzombek-4
Kendyl Jaskinia-2
Courtney Swize-8
Lily Janek-11


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"Did Dar Shab Mohammad Gharazi " is an Iranian, popular weekly show in Iran. The host of the program is Aparat. The main subject of the program is family entertainment. Director: Reza Rashidpoor
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Coffeehouse Post
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View Thread: Slashdot style moderation?
irascian wrote:My concern is that you'd probably get someone like Darth Vista voted out by the majority, when even though he's a troll he's given me some of the best laughs we've had in a long time on here and I kind of look forward to his posts. I never was one for subtlety
I hear you on the DarthVista thing.
I guess that, technically speaking he's trolling, but I like the guy. He's clever and not outright rude - that changes things quite a bit.
Nothing wrong with comic relief.
Hopefully, people like him (OK - just him - there's nobody really like him) wouldn't be voted off the C9 island.
It's a good point, though - I wouldn't want to see the forums lose some "color" because of overzealous moderation.
Still... I'd like to see a way to take some of these threads in which the conversation dies after ten posts, and find a way to keep the main topic alive for two or three times as long, and I don't see another way to do that right now. I'm tired of the ten-on-topic-comments-followed-by-thirty-flames threads.
C9 is better than that, yo. The people here who really want to make this a good place have a hard time doing that because they're getting called out by people who are paranoid, have an agenda, hate MS, or who are just bored.


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My personal taste in art and graphic design has always leaned towards the abstract, surreal and off-beat. From some of my favorite sci-fi and fantasy artists like Boris Vallejo and Frank Frazetta, to modern day masters like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Max Ernst, great art can create controversy while challenging conventional thinking. And no artist from the last century has done more to challenge the whole notion of what can be considered art like Andy Warhol. I have one of his quotes hanging over my desk and it pretty much sums up his whole philosophy that turned the art world on its head and inspired a whole generation of pop artists and graphic designers.
The Andy Warhol Museum
To promote the upcoming summer exhibitions at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pennsylvania, the ad agency MARC USA in true Warhol spirit, designed a series of posters which are sure to grab people's attention. Combining classic summer themes with imagery most viewers would consider decidedly less appealing, the campaign should have the desired effect. Edgy and provocative, these prints are sure to appeal to fans of the work of Andy Warhol while creating a little buzz for the museum. Sounds like a win-win to me. Hot fun in the summertime indeed!