Solar eclipse brings together more than 100 gazers

By Dan England dengland

A line of bearded gentlemen, mothers and 6-year-olds tugging on their shirts fidgeted and waited for a chance to see a safe look at the black orb blotting out the sun.

Sunday’s solar eclipse brought out more than 100 to the Fossil Creek Regional Open Space just east of Windsor off Colo. 392, and all of them wanted at least one peek through the filtered telescopes large enough to see E.T.’s home set up by members of the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society.

After all, the cereal boxes, pieces of foil and squares of filtered glass were cool, but not quite as cool as seeing the real thing through one of those scopes. Members of the club, which includes residents from Loveland, Fort Collins and Greeley, seem to know this. They love the sky so much, many keep their telescopes in the trunks of their cars. You never know when you might run into a good viewing night in a sweet dark spot.

“We were going to be out here anyway,” said Dave Karp of Loveland, who works at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley and is a club member. “So why not share?”

They post their public viewings online and host them at least once a month. Many of the 100 came to Fossil Ridge because they read online that the club would be out there. The club might get more than a dozen on one of those viewings. But 100? No.

Then again, Sunday’s eclipse, which peaked at 7:29 p.m. at 84 percent in Colorado, was a special night. The last annular eclipse in the U.S., so called because a ring of the sun was still visible, was May 10, 1994. The next annular eclipse is on Oct. 14, 2023.

That’s why Michael Lucas of Fort Collins brought a piece of tin foil with a tiny hole poked in it, and that’s why he brought his kids out, too, even if one, Joshua, 6, told him at 7 p.m. to call him over to the scope from the fields where he was playing when the sun got darker.

“We remember doing this in elementary school,” said Michael’s wife, Lee Ann. “So we thought this would be something fun for the kids to see.”

Sarah McBride’s five children, aged 16, 14, 13, 11 and 9, brought cereal boxes lined with a square of pin-pricked foil. They learned that from the Internet, too.

“The kids were really excited about the eclipse,” McBride said. “We all were.”

In between peeks through the scope, people also brought smoky glasses, something that looked like you’d wear them in a 3-D movie, fancy cameras and even welder’s helmets. Greg Jackson, who lives with his wife, Nina, just north of the Wyoming border, came to Fort Collins for a little welding work Sunday, then he took Nina and his sister, Barbara Jackson-Long, and her husband, both of Denver, out to dinner before coming out to Fossil Ridge. He brought his helmet for a safe peek at the blotted suns.

“I haven’t done something like this for years,” Jackson-Long said. When you have a hobby you’re passionate about, there’s a natural inclination to want others to be enthusiastic about it. Maybe even as jazzed as you about it.

As more people lined up at the scopes while thanking Karp and other members of the club, Karp just had to smile a bit. For one night, most everyone was.

2012 Billboard Music Awards: Adele, Coldplay, LMFAO Win Big, Katy Perry Given Spotlight Award

By ABC News

The red carpet at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, held Sunday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, was tinged with sadness — while it was in progress, word came that Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees had passed away. But most artists agreed that the group’s music would live forever.

“It’s a very, very sad thing that Robin Gibb has passed,” Taio Cruz said. “I’m definitely going to be listening to their music for years to come. I think they will live on through their music and so that’s a good thing.” Carrie Underwood won the prize for the best red carpet look, sporting a blue-grey confection of a dress that featured what seemed to be an entire fabric store’s worth of chiffon and tulle. Taylor Swift was similarly striking, sporting a bright-red column of a gown and bangs. In general, most stars dressed very well — the only one in a scandalous outfit was Miley Cyrus. She was wearing what looked like a white, oversized man’s suit jacket with nothing underneath. If she had moved suddenly, the world would have gotten an eyeful.

Miley, who said she’s been working on new music, told ABC News Radio that she loved coming to the show because it covers all musical genres.

“It’s amazing — there are so many unique artists,” she said. “It’s so nice when you get away from something that’s specifically country or hip-hop or pop or whatever it is, you know, and it’s just all the different artists and celebrating them.”

She added, “Especially now [that] a lot of the artists have passed away, being able to celebrate them and their life and the music, and carrying that on, is awesome.”

Justin Bieber was extremely low-key, chatting with everyone on the carpet about his new album “Believe”. Noting that he, his mentor Usher, his protegee Carly Rae Jepsen and his buddies The Wanted were all performing on the show, he told ABC News Radio, “I think it’s great, you know all of us together here and having a good time — I don’t think I [could] be in a better place.”

Jordin Sparks, who walked the red carpet with her boyfriend Jason Derulo, told ABC News Radio how nervous she was to sing “I Will Always Love You” as part of a tribute to the late Whitney Houston.

“I’m very nervous to sing, but I’m excited that I get to honor her in this way,” she said. “The family will be here, so to be able to see them, and show them that we all still love her and we’re honoring her and she deserves the award…I’m excited.”

Nelly Furtado, who’s been out of the pop spotlight for a while, performed her new song “Big Hoops” on the show, despite the fact that she was not wearing big hoops on the carpet — she was wearing mirrored geometrical earrings instead. Speaking about getting back into the swing of things in preparation for the release of her new album The Spirit Indestructible, she told ABC News Radio, “It actually feels amazing. I’m ready, you know, I took a break, and, you know, I made a Spanish album that was great fun. But I feel very refreshed and very ready for all this again.”

The telecast included performances from pop powerhouses like Katy Perry, Usher, The Wanted and Kelly Clarkson. R&B was represented by Chris Brown and country by Carrie Underwood, but there was only one rock act on the bill: Linkin Park. On the red carpet, the band’s Mike Shinoda told ABC News Radio, “Coming to the show I didn’t know we were the only rock band. I thought there would be at least one more that’s kinda simultaneously sad and exciting, but we’re excited to hold it down for the rock audience.”

*** The 2012 Billboard Music Awards were heavy on performances, but only a handful of actual trophies were handed out during the show.

Ty Burell and Julie Bowen of ABC’s “Modern Family” hosted the three-hour ABC broadcast and kicked off the show with profanity-laced spoofs of R&B, country and children’s videos. Ty and Julie paid tribute to the Bee Gees’ Robin Gibb, who died earlier on Sunday.

LMFAO opened the show with a medley of their hits “Party Rock Anthem,” “Sorry for Party Rockin’” and “Sexy and I Know It.” They later accepted the Hot 100 Song of the Year trophy for “Party Rock Anthem” and the Duo/Group award. Justin Bieber took the first award of the night, taking the Social Artist of the Year trophy. He spent more than 50 weeks on Billboard’s Social 50 chart. Justin thanked everyone for their support over the last five years as he’s grown up in the public eye. Justin delivered his latest hit, “Boyfriend,” later in the show using neon pops of color to accentuate his big production performance.

Lisa Marie Presley presented the Spotlight Award to Katy Perry, who scored five No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 from her album “Teenage Dream”. Michael Jackson is the only other artist to pull that off. Perry said she was honored to be in that company, but added she didn’t feel she compared to Michael though. Perry took her 91-year-old grandmother as her date. Her grandmother actually lives in Las Vegas, and Perry said she couldn’t wait to do shots with her after the show.

Perry returned later in the show to sing her new single “Wide Awake,” which will be featured in her new concert movie, “Katy Perry: Part of Me”, later this summer. She called the song the most personal, intimate song she’s ever released. There’s little doubt it was inspired by her failed marriage to Russell Brand. Perry performed the song while flying above the stage in a Cirque du Soleil-inspired production number.

A newly svelte Kelly Clarkson took the stage to sing her brand-new single, “Dark Side.” She was introduced by Robin Thicke — her fellow mentor on ABC’s upcoming music competition series, “Duets”.

UK boy band The Wanted were on hand to sing “Chasing the Sun” before moving on to their new big hit “Glad You Came.” Miley Cyrus wore a white and very revealing man’s suit jacket as a dress to present the New Artist award to Wiz Khalifa. Wiz admitted he was shaking as he accepted the trophy. He later paid tribute to the late Adam Yauch, better known as MCA of the Beastie Boys. Wiz also presented the Duo/Group trophy to LMFAO.

Chris Brown sang his new hit, “Turn Up the Music,” after an introduction from Brandy. The performance featured Chris dancing with a group of backup dancers and people riding bikes with lighted spokes on a ramp behind him. Chris later accepted the R&B Artist trophy, thanking his fans and the radio stations that played his records. Natasha Bedingfield gave the evening’s tribute to the late Donna Summer with a performance of “Last Dance.” Whoopi Goldberg was on hand to introduce the Whitney Houston tribute portion of the show. John Legend kicked it off by singing “Greatest Love of All,” and Whitney’s Sparkle co-star Jordin Sparks delivered the late legend’s signature hit, “I Will Always Love You.”

Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown and sister-in-law Pat Houston were in the audience for the tribute and later came onstage to accept the Billboard Millennium Award on Houston’s behalf. Kris Kristofferson opened the tribute to Billboard’s Woman of the Year, Taylor Swift, who was honored for her record breaking career. Zooey Deschanel came out to recognize Taylor’s philanthropic efforts too and introduce her to accept her Woman of the Year trophy.

Taylor thanked her fans for the trophy saying, “I’m so humbled and honored by this.” Usher opened his performance of “Scream” in a top hat and tuxedo, dancing with a masked woman in red dress and cape. The woman suddenly disappeared, and a man who looked just like Usher wearing the same outfit appeared onstage. They performed the same dance routine side-by-side before the real Usher finished out the song in command of the stage.

Carly Rae Jepsen gave the first big awards show performance of her big hit “Call Me Maybe.” Luke Bryan introduced Carrie Underwood’s dramatic performance of “Blown Away,” the title cut from her bestselling new album.

Linkin Park delivered a fiery performance of their new single, “Burn It Down,” from their upcoming album Living Things.

Cee Lo Green reunited with his group Goodie Mob to sing “Fight to Win” before launching into the Beastie Boys’ “Fight for Your Right” in tribute to Yauch.

Taio Cruz introduced the winner of the Billboard Battle of the Band contest, Patent Pending, for their performance on the show.

Gavin DeGraw introduced Nelly Furtado to perform her new single “Big Hoops (Bigger the Better).” Alicia Keys honored Stevie Wonder with Billboard’s Icon Award, teaming up with him for a medley of his hits “Higher Ground” and “Overjoyed.” Stevie celebrated his birthday last week and asked Alicia to sing “Empire State of Mind” as his birthday present. After a speech asking for worldwide unity, Stevie sang a new song called “Join Our Love” before closing out the night with “Superstition.”

Apple Renames New iPad 'Wi-Fi + Cellular' in Some Markets

Apple has dropped the "4G" moniker from its new iPad in countries where the tablet does not actually run on 4G networks.

The Apple websites in Australia and the U.K., for example, now advertise the new iPad as "Wi-Fi + Cellular" rather than "iPad + 4G." The description says the tablet "connects to the Internet over Wi-Fi and fast mobile data networks." The U.S. iPad website also switched to "Wi-Fi + Cellular," likely because Verizon and AT&T are still in the process of rolling out their 4G LTE networks. The U.S. website description, however, says the iPad "connects to the Internet over Wi-Fi and fast mobile data networks - up to 4G LTE."

The change comes after consumers in the U.K. and Australia complained that their "4G" tablets were not, in fact, 4G. The 4G LTE networks available in Australia, for example, operate on the 1800MHz frequency, while the iPad's 4G LTE feature operates on the 700MHz and 2100MHz frequencies, which are still in use by analog TV stations. That prompted consumer groups in Australia and the U.K. to open investigations. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission succeeded in getting Apple to issue refunds to new iPad buyers who were not satisfied with its "4G" speeds, but the group - as well as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the U.K. - also wanted Apple to remove the "4G" designation.

Initially, Apple argued that 3G service in Australia is basically on par with 4G. Australian providers like Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone "are 4G networks in accordance with accepted industry and regulatory use of the descriptor '4G,'" according to Apple.

For more on that, see Apple Discovers 4G Nonsense Stops at U.S. Border.

That argument apparently did not fly, and the new iPads were renamed as "Wi-Fi + Cellular." In a statement provided to the Sydney Morning Herald, Apple said it made the switch because telecom companies "do not all refer to their high-speed networks with the same terminology," so "Wi-Fi + Cellular" was a more "simple term." For more, see PCMag's full review of the new iPad and the slideshow below.

The Province>Blogs >Technology Technology RSS Feed Samsung Galaxy Note first impressions

After a disappointing experience with an Android tablet recently, it was timely that Samsung offered to loan me their latest Android device, the Galaxy Note. This is a bit of a strange device though…it’s a 5.3″ tablet that is also a phone…commonly referred to as a ‘phablet’.

I got the chance to briefly use one at SXSW earlier this year but a few minutes with a device is rarely enough to tell if it’s a winner or not (I didn’t have high hopes at the time). It seemed too big to be practical and it comes with a stylus! I thought decent touch screen technology had finally killed off the stylus…although my first true smartphone (a Treo 650 and all the Palm PDA devices I had before that) used one.

But now it’s been just over a week with the device and I have to say, I’m really surprised at how much I enjoy using it. It’s not without some issues which I’ll describe in a bit but it’s been a nice fresh take on the mobile experience.

it is HUGE and does look kind of ridiculous as a phone. There, I stated the obvious. But when I considered how infrequently I actually use my iPhone as a phone (by holding it up to my ear), it became less of an issue. Fact is, I don’t make/receive a lot of phone calls…and if I do, it’s usually in my car while I’m driving and I have hands-free Bluetooth built into my car’s stereo.

Things I liked: huge, beautiful & vibrant Super OMOLED 5.3″ screen with a great viewing angle at 1280×800 resolution speedy with a 1.5 GHz Dual Core Processor inside and crazy fast 4G LTE internet speeds (I’ve been testing on the Telus network in Canada and it’s been faster than many home internet speeds) one of the better Android cameras I’ve used so far (8 megapixel with autofocus on the back) that can shoot up to 1080p HD video despite the giant screen, battery life was on par with my iPhone 4S…each lasts me a day with a little juice left over nice finish on the back cover…not slippery and feels solid despite the back battery cover being wafer thin surprisingly great form factor for a tablet…fits nicely in your hand (slightly bigger than my Canadian Passport) it comes with a stylus, but isn’t required to use the Note – artists can really use the stylus to create some great art and regular people like me can quickly scribble notes Things I didn’t like: looks silly as a phone when held to your face no easy way (by default) to type (two handed) on the device unless you lay it flat and/or prop it up on something – a smart/flip cover or stand would be useful (which are available separately from third parties) difficult to use one handed due to size of the screen – you can’t easily navigate with 1-2 fingers/thumb like a smaller device uses a normal/full size SIM card still running Gingerbread 2.3.6 version of Android OS (likely due to Telus update schedule) somewhat slow autofocus on the back camera and the shutter is a little laggy, the moment you hit the button, the image is captured, despite the image processing delay, you still get the shot you intended the stylus centric handwriting recognition works but is a little clunky to use The screen really is something to behold…it has a fantastic viewing angle and is the correct aspect ratio for HD movies:

The screen is also particularly good at showing photos. My previous Android phone, the Nexus S was too saturated so colors looked over done. The Note’s screen seems just right.

f you think you’re good at Draw Something with your finger, you should be amazing at it with the Note’s stylus…sadly, it hasn’t helped my artistic ability.

Will Smith Slaps Reporter On Red Carpet

MOSCOW, RUSSIA -- CaptionAlways expect the unexpected on the red carpet – just ask Will Smith.

While arriving to the premiere of “Men in Black 3” in Moscow on Friday, Will slapped a reporter who, first, hugged him and then tried to kiss him.

In the footage of the incident, obtained by TMZ, the “MiB” star is smiling on the red carpet and allows the reporter to hug him, before the young reporter – who is reportedly Ukrainian – tries to kiss Will on the face.

The star then pushes the reporter away and backhand slaps him on the cheek.

“Come on, man. What the hell is your problem, buddy?” a stunned Will exclaims.

Will quickly brushes off the incident and continues to make his way down the red carpet with a smile, where he addressed the incident with the next reporter on the red carpet.

“He tried to kiss me on my mouth! He’s lucky I didn’t sucker punch him,” Will is heard saying.

According to TMZ, the reporter often tries to kiss stars as his “shtick.”

The world's largest solar eclipse party? Game on!

A solar eclipse will blot out part of the sun this weekend, and astronomers in Colorado are organizing what they hope will be the world's largest viewing party in one place. Their venue: an entire football stadium. The eclipse will occur in the afternoon and early evening on Sunday, during which time the moon will pass between Earth and the sun, casting a shadow on the planet. This weekend's event is called an annular solar eclipse (from the Latin word "annulus," meaning "little ring"), because the moon will not completely cover the sun, but will leave a fiery ring around its circumference.

At its peak, the moon will block roughly 94 percent of the sun's light. This potentially spectacular solar eclipse will be visible from much of Asia, the Pacific region and North America, provided the weather cooperates.

The University of Colorado, at Boulder, will be hosting a free eclipse-watching event at the campus' Folsom Stadium, beginning at 5:30 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. EDT). Special protective glasses will be sold at the football stadium, but organizers suggest planning ahead in case supplies run out. [ Solar Eclipse of May 20 (Photo Observing Guide) ] Attendees will be treated to hot dogs, and have the opportunity to participate in trivia contests and giveaways. But the main attraction will, of course, be the show in the sky, which promises to be the best solar eclipse the U.S. has seen in more than a decade, said event organizer Doug Duncan, an astronomer at the University of Colorado, and director of the school's Fiske Planetarium.

"After leading eclipse expeditions since 1970 I got tired of people not being prepared to watch, so as leader of the country's top university planetarium I went into action," Duncan said in a statement. The campus' Fiske Planetarium and Sommers Bausch Observatory will also celebrate "Astronomy Day" on Sunday, featuring hands-on displays and telescope activities.

Anti-Obama ad flap deals blow to Wrigley Field rehab plan

Ricketts family patriarch had been offered a plan for using super PAC to run ads linking president with Rev. Wright

The long-shot prospect of taxpayer help to renovate Wrigley Field grew more remote Thursday, upended by revelations that the patriarch of the Chicago Cubs' ownership team had been offered a plan for using a super PAC to run racially tinged attack ads that linked President Barack Obama to his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Joe Ricketts, the conservative billionaire founder of TD Ameritrade, whose family trust was used to buy the Cubs from Tribune Co., quickly sought to tamp down the controversy along with his children who run the day-to-day operations of the baseball club.

But the political damage was done.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Obama's former White House chief of staff, was furious.

"I don't think that's fitting in a campaign of any nature," Emanuel said. "You can have disagreements without being disagreeable."

"America is too great a country with too great a future with the content they are talking about," added the mayor. "And it's insulting to the president, it's insulting to the country."

Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts phoned the mayor, but Emanuel didn't return the call.

"He's not interested in talking right now," said a source close to Emanuel. The source was not authorized to speak publicly and asked not to be named.

About six weeks ago, Emanuel said he was in the "final stages" of talks with Cubs ownership over a public-private deal to help renovate an aging but historic sports shrine.

The idea already faced a tough time in Springfield, where Gov. Pat Quinn and lawmakers are struggling to agree on staggering cuts in taxpayer-supported human services and getting a handle on runaway public worker pension costs. Helping the wealthy Ricketts family was hardly a priority at the Capitol.

Then Thursday's firestorm struck. The timing could not have been worse for the Ricketts family.

Emanuel was busy preparing for the NATO summit of world leaders in Chicago this weekend and did not want sideshows distracting from that. If Emanuel had planned to surface a Wrigley deal ahead of the Legislature's May 31 adjournment deadline, he now can point to the Obama ad flap as reason to wait.

As first reported by The New York Times, the political consulting firm Strategic Perception Inc. last week pitched ideas to the super PAC for attack ads against the president that included a strategy of reviving Obama's connections to Wright, who retired from Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago in May 2008.

Obama was forced to distance and later disavow his relationship with Wright after the preacher's inflammatory and often racially charged comments surfaced. Wright once said of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the country, the "chickens are coming home to roost."

Two of Joe Ricketts' children, Pete and Todd Ricketts, both Cubs board members, were present for the meeting where the anti-Obama pitches occurred, according to a source close to the family who asked not to be named. Pete Ricketts, a member of the Republican National Committee, was a largely self-funded but unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate in Nebraska in 2006.

The president of the Ending Spending Action Fund — the super PAC heavily funded by Joe Ricketts — said the ad proposal "reflects an approach to politics that Mr. Ricketts rejects and it was never a plan to be accepted but only a suggestion for a direction to take."

Tom Ricketts noted in a statement that his father had repudiated the ad strategy, and added that he would not have "further comment on this or any other election year political issue. My full-time focus is on making the Chicago Cubs a World Series champion, preserving Wrigley Field and making the Chicago Cubs a great corporate citizen."

Joe Ricketts plays no role in the Cubs' operation. But his desire to use his wealth to play an increasing role in conservative political causes has sometimes clashed with the Cubs' business objectives.

He has long railed against government spending on pork-barrel projects, an irony given the Cubs ownership is trying to work out a deal with City Hall that would involve using $150 million in city amusement taxes to leverage a $300 million renovation of the National League's oldest ballpark.

Joe Ricketts launched the super PAC in 2010 with $1.1 million in funds, federal records showed. It spent more than $254,000 in Tuesday's Nebraska Republican U.S. Senate primary backing conservative state Sen. Deb Fischer, who won in an upset.