text:
The interview with Michael Koryta is finally back on Sunday! We have experienced some technical problems and we thank you for your patience. This blog is barely three months old, so we're still adjusting. After reading the following interview, I hope you'll want to read Michael's latest book The Cypress House (if you haven't done so yet) before the new one comes out, next June: The Ridge. And pay him a visit at http://www.michaelkoryta.com/
He's a very nice guy. And a great writer. And he's so young too.
I will also be adding another interview during the weekend (hint: the author's latest book is titled One True Sentence).
BEGINNINGS, FOLLOWINGS and INFLUENCES
## Your first novel was published when you were 21 years old. Did you start reading and writing earlier than the average kid?
M.K.--I don't think I started reading earlier, but I probably started writing earlier. The two basically were a simultaneous experience for me. As soon as I could read, I wanted to write. I'd read a book and then sit down and try to write my own version of the story, provided it was one I liked. And I liked about everything - I was an insatiable reader as a child.
## Apparently, you wrote a novel before Tonight I Said Goodbye but it was rejected. Why do you think it didn't work out, and do you have any other unpublished novels?
M.K.--I actually wrote three novels. Two in high school, one as a freshman in college. The only one I sent anywhere was the third of the rejected novels, and it didn't work out because it wasn't very good. It was about 450 pages with 50 pages of plot. I was learning how to write, that's all, learning how to tell a story. By the time I started on Tonight, I had a good sense of my characters and that allowed me to focus more on the story and I think that was a good thing. To me, Tonight has always been a sequel, even if it was the first of my published books.
## What is your best memory of reading a book?
M.K.--Wow, there are so many. The two most profound, I suppose, would be discovering Dennis Lehane's excellent PI novel Gone, Baby, Gone when I was 16. It was the first time I saw what a contemporary writer could do with the form that lifted it well above the genre. Probably also the first time I found myself entranced by prose as well as story. So discovering Dennis's work was pretty huge for me. The other really key moment came a few years later when I read Stephen King's book On Writing. I hadn't read much of King's fiction at all - The Shining was, to that point, the only novel of his I'd read, though by now I'm pretty much through his entire body of work - and I was so blown away by his approach to writing, the clear rules of good prose paired with an obvious and overriding love of storytelling. That book was awfully influential to my approach.
## You studied criminal justice at Indiana University; what was the career goal at the time?
M.K.--The career goal was to be a writer. But I was well aware that writing might be slow in paying the bills, so I was working for a private detective as well and I thought the CJ degree would help in both career paths. It has, too. It was a good choice for my interests, I think.
## You also worked as a newspaper reporter; did you work the crime beat?
M.K.--I worked virtually every possible beat at the newspaper, including crime beat, and the experience was invaluable. Learning to write on deadline, to write clean and tight, all those things were helpful. But the diverse variety of people I met and stories I covered had the greatest influence. I can read virtually any chapter of any pf my novels and see some thread of connection to a story I worked on as a reporter. It's a pervasive influence and one that shaved years off my development time, I suspect.
## My guess is that you probably hear all sorts of jokes about your age from fellow writers. What's the funniest one you've heard?
M.K.--Oh, man, there have been so many. I guess my favorite came from Dennis Lehane when he introduced me for a reading a while back. He recited my accomplishments to date, then said my age, and followed up with "If there weren't signs that he's beginning to lose his hair, I would absolutely hate him." That wasn't bad. But for the record, that hairline is continuing to hold its position thus far. Fingers crossed and knocking on wood as I type that.
## Anyone asked if you've ever used a typewriter or a pen to write a story? And did you?
M.K.--I did both as a kid. I had a little fascination with my dad's electric typewriter, and of course I wrote some longhand in notebooks, but I am young enough that I was raised with computers and discovered early on that the only way I could keep the words close to pace with the thoughts was to type. I type extremely quickly, though not with proper form. I drove my typing teacher in middle school crazy with that - I had these unbelievable words-per-minute rates, and no errors, but my hands were always floating around the keyboard. I thought that was funny as hell, and she could never really grade me down for it.
## How did you end up working for a P.I. and what were you asked to do? How long did you do it?
M.K.--I actually started that in high school, through an independent study program. I'd always wanted to work in the profession and that gave me a chance to get a sense of it. He liked me enough that he offered me a part-time job, and that turned into a full-time job, and that turned into one of the most important opportunities and relationships of my life. I can never thank my boss, Don Johnson, enough for what he allowed me to do, for his generosity and insight and guidance. He's a first-class guy, and I'm still in touch with him often. In terms of case work, I handled a bit of everything - background investigations, fraud, wrongful death, accidents, custody disputes, one death penalty defense case...just a real wide range. I worked with him from the time I was 16 until last December, so that was, believe it or not, a full decade of PI experience before I turned 27. i quit the job when i signed my new contract with Little, Brown. I still miss it, time to time. But writing for a living is the best gig in the world. Should things go poorly with the books, though, I'd not hesitate to go back to that business. I enjoyed it, and I felt it was making a difference daily, which is a rewarding thing.
## Was working in the P.I. world the influence to start writing full-time or did you always want to become a full-time writer?
M.K.--No, I always wanted to write full time. That was always the dream.
## When you found the idea for Tonight, did you realize that you were creating a series with Lincoln Perry?
M.K.--As mentioned earlier, Tonight is in my mind a sequel, so yeah I had a plan for a series character from the start. the idea, actually, began with the title. I had that title from the time I was 17, and I knew its significance. I knew it would be the final entry in the diary of a girl who had gone missing. That was all I knew, but everything else grew from that. Just that phrase. It's funny to think about - an entire book, an entire career, coming from four words that floated into my brain one day when I was mowing my parent's lawn.
## Did you try out different names for L.P. and how did you choose this one? And how do you normally go about choosing characters's names; do you put a lot of thought behind that?
M.K.--Nope, he was always Lincoln Perry, and there wasn't any real choosing. Though I can, again, remember the moment specifically - I was 16 years old, it was about 10 p.m., and I was walking my neighbor's dog (one of the odd jobs I always had in the neighborhood) and thinking about the books I wanted to write. The character name just clicked in. I liked it. There's no symbolism or special meaning. I just liked the sound. I think that's interesting that I can remember those moments, though, the name and the title and exactly where I was and what I was doing when they came to me. Because I was always daydreaming about stories, you know, so the fact that I remember those moments so vividly is interesting to me.
## Are you aware that writer Ann Beatie is married to Lincoln Perry (a painter) and have you heard of Lincoln 'Stepin Fetchit' Perry? Any links with your Lincoln Perry?
M.K.--Yes, I learned of both of those after my first book was published. Fans e-mailed me to point that out. I'd never heard of either prior to publication, and I never did any Internet searches on the name. I always avoid that, because I don't want anything to taint the identity I have in my head. For example, I might have been bothered by the actor's name, because while the achievements of that Lincoln Perry were extraordinary - he was the first black film star, really - there is also a good deal of negativity surrounding that specific role due to race concerns. So had I known all of that at the time, it might have gotten into my head a little, and maybe I change the name. Who knows? I just try not to confuse real people with my fictional characters.
## Are you inspired much by real-life events (or crimes) at all or do you mostly start from scratch all the time?
M.K.--I've been inspired by real-life events but generally things I've worked on or encountered. I've never done a "ripped from the headlines" kind of story. That's just not my thing.
## How does your research process work and do you do it mostly before writing a book?
M.K.--I do as much as possible after the first draft. I prefer to get the story hammered out first. There are times, of course, where the story can't progress unless I understand something, and then I'll research while I'm writing.
## After setting your first two books in Cleveland, in the third one you get out of Ohio for parts of the story; then you wrote a standalone (Envy the Night) that was mainly in the woods, on the edge of a lake. Did you need a change of scenery and of characters at this point in your career, or did it just happen because the idea was there and you wanted to write it now?
M.K.--A little of both, I think. One thing I was clear on: I did not want to become known as a series writer. I didn't want to be branded as "author of the Lincoln Perry novels." I was way too young to commit to one character for the rest of my career, and sometimes it is really, really hard to break away from that once you've reached a certain point. So in terms of Envy the Night, I wanted to go in a different direction entirely. In terms of sending Lincoln out of Ohio, that's actually true in the first book, as well - a good portion of the action in Tonight takes place outside of Cleveland, down in South Carolina. So that wasn't really much of a departure.
## Do you have a career plan for the near future or do you simply go year by year?
M.K.--Michael Connelly, who I think is the consummate pro in this business, says it best: you write with your head down. So my focus is book-to-book. No grand plan. The only thing that's close, I suppose, is my really firm desire not to write myself into a niche I can't get out of, as mentioned with the series concerns. I want to push my range fairly early so that publishers, booksellers, and readers can accept that I'll try different things.
## Is there any possibility in your mind that Frank Temple could come back at some point and Envy the Night wouldn't be a standalone, but the first book in your second series?
M.K.--When I wrote it, the answer was a firm, resounding no. When it was published, my answer was no. Now, two years later, my answer is a faint, whispering no. That's because I miss the characters I created in that novel. Frank, sure, but particularly Ezra Ballard and Nora Stafford. With that said, though, what it would take the right story concept, and I don't have that yet. I've kicked around some ideas - almost unintentionally - but nothing's jumped up and bitten me yet. So we'll see. I liked the cast, I really did. I also liked that book, though, and a follow-up that doesn't build on it in a satisfying way would be very, very disappointing to me.
## In your recent books, you thank other writers (like Lehane, Connelly, Lippman, etc) for different reasons; what was the best advice you ever received from someone in the book industry?
M.K.--I've gotten so much generous guidance from people in the business, from the three you name to people like George Pelecanos and Steve Hamilton and a host of others, that I'd hate to narrow it down. But Connelly's guiding light: "Write with your head down" is the one I remind myself of the most, right alongside Lehane's constant urge to his students to do it because they love it. I don't need to remind myself of that one quite as much because the love is always there. But it's a damned difficult business and because of that you can get overly worried about sales and marketing and chain store numbers and reviews and all of that, and anytime I feel myself doing it, I tell myself to put my head down and focus on the book and the rest will take care of itself. So far, it has, too. So far it has.
## Your novel "The Silent Hour" is in part the character study of a PI; where some authors would write their main character into the ground, book after book, you showed a lot of maturity (or one could say 'balls') in taking a step back and having your PI hesitate, reflect and reconsider the purpose of his work. Tell me what you can about how you decided to do that; was it also a way for you to refresh or reinvent L.P. to keep him (and the series) interesting, both for you and for the readers?
M.K.--Absolutely, absolutely. I want to write LP as a real person, and real people are damaged by, and suffer consequences from, their actions. You see so many series characters out there who bounce back untouched in each new book, the past tragedies forgotten. Well, that's bullshit. That's not real, that's not good fiction. So I wanted to write a book in which you see LP struggle with the events of the first three, and I wanted to do a character study of "The Detective" in a way that went beyond him and focused on the people who do this work every day. The response has been interesting. Some readers love it, and they seem to appreciate what I was trying to do. Others have chastised me, wishing that the book had been lighter and happier and faster-paced, with more gunplay, etc. For me, though, that was a risk I was willing to take. I knew I'd lose some people with this one, I really did. I also knew that in order for me to feel as if I was creating fiction that did what good fiction is supposed to do, I had to write a novel in which Lincoln tried to walk away, in which he felt beaten, felt defeated. Because that, to me, is the reality of someone in his role would feel. I don't like Superman characters, never have. I didn't want to write one, and it's hard to avoid that sense when you use the same hero book after book. So I ran a little bit of a gamble. I don't think it is my best book - to date, Envy the Night is, in my opinion - but it's one I'm awfully proud of because I pushed myself hard on it and didn't give myself what seemed like an easy way out. Didn't let the past just roll off him and shove him happily into a new plot.
## Would you have been ready to accept it if your thinking process had concluded that you were done with L.P.? Was there any doubt in your mind that it could happen, even after only four books?
M.K.--I may be done with LP. I was filled with doubts while writing that book, and I think they are evident. I think you can see me, if not wrapping things up, trying to get him to a place where he can rest comfortably. I'm done with the next book (So Cold the River) and a draft of the one after that (The Cypress House) and have started the third (The Ridge), and none of them are LP novels. I had the sense, when I wrote the last sentence of The Silent Hour (which I'd known, word for word, for over nine months...just the sentence, not the conclusion) that it would be his parting words. Then I went back to Cleveland. I walked around the neighborhoods from which all of his back story comes, and I felt a pang. That's the best way to describe it, because it actually seemed like a kind of painful thing, a grief. A "too-soon" feeling. maybe that means I'll need to go back to him at some point. I really can't say right now.
## Does the Whisper Ridge house really exist? What is the inspiration behind it?
M.K.--Yes, it does. I saw a home exactly like that - sans dead body and bizarre history - when I was a reporter, and it was just this haunting, gorgeous place. I knew I'd write about it someday. The story behind the house I saw isn't as fascinating, but the home itself and the grounds at the time that I saw them, when it was abandoned, were incredibly powerful.
## Your next book is titled So Cold the River (2010). What can you say about it?
M.K.--I can say without reservation that I've never been more excited about a book release, and that includes my first novel excitement. This is a step in a very different direction - it's part crime novel, but it's also a ghost story, a literary story, a look at a place and piece of history that I absolutely adore - and I'm just anxious as hell for it to come out. It has gotten some wonderful support so far, and my hopes are high for it, but in keeping with Mr. Connelly's mantra, my head is down.
ABOUT TEACHING and ALWAYS LEARNING
## How long have you been teaching at the Indiana University School of Journalism? What are your classes?
M.K.--I'm not teaching this semester. I taught journalism for a couple years, I may do it again. I like teaching, particularly when the students are enthusiastic and there are a few in the bunch who clearly have a love of the written word, but my preference is for teaching creative writing. I'm teaching again at Dennis Lehane's writing conference at Eckerd College this winter, which is a wonderful, wonderful conference. I spent a few years there as a student, and now I teach there, and it's really a sacred week to me.
## If there is one thing you'd like your students to remember from your teaching, what would it be?
M.K.--On the first day of class, I give them three mantras. They are asked to repeat them to me on the last day. these are 1) Every word counts; 2) Story is character; 3) Write because you love it.
## What is your motivation in teaching? Wouldn't you rather keep the hours for your own writing?
M.K.--My motivation in teaching is that I've benefited so extraordinarily from the teaching of others - Lehane, and my journalism mentor and dear friend, Bob Hammel - who also didn't need to give up their hours toward it but did because they knew there was someone out there, like me, who desperately needed the help. When you've been touched by a great teacher, you have no reluctance to teach. I'll always teach somewhere, because I'll always remember the impact some people had on me.
## You studied under Dennis Lehane at Eckerd College; what kind of teacher is he and can you name the one aspect of your writing that you improved the most with him?
M.K.--He is, quite simply, the best classroom instructor I ever had. I took classes with him at Eckerd's conference and one semester of a low-residency MFA program at Pine Manor. I can't name one aspect of my writing that improved from the experiences, because every aspect improved. I've got a long way to go, but Dennis, man, Dennis is motivation to me like you would not believe. The thing I took away with most respect from watching him and learning from him was how determined he is to always get better. Everyone says that, every writer you ever talk to will tell you they want to get better with each book, and most of them are either full of shit or they don't really know how to improve. Dennis, he's so ambitious, so driven, and so talented, but he's also so demanding of himself. That's how the great ones always are, I think. He wants a better book out of himself every single time. Always will.
## What could Michael Koryta the teacher say about Michael Koryta the writer?
M.K.--His reach exceeds his grasp, and hopefully it always will.
## In crime fiction (or fiction in general) what is the difference between a good writer and a great writer?
M.K.--Ability to get to the core of human emotion. To elicit from the reader a sense of oneness with the characters, a sense of the shared journey we are all on. In this regard, David Sedaris is a great writer - you don't laugh that hard unless someone has hit the core of your emotions. In this regard, Cormac McCarthy is a great writer, and Richard Price, and Stephen King. Maybe some are known for working one specific emotion dominantly - horror for King, humor for Sedaris - but they get down to you, they're telling a story that hits you in an intimate way.
WRITING and REWRITING, SEARCHING and RESEARCHING
## To better understand your creative process, can you share some information on how you create a novel?
M.K.--It's generally a collision of ideas to me. Like flint on a stone - something small hits on something bigger and all of a sudden we're cooking. There are always major obstacles, always, but that's the fun of it. Writing is a journey of discovery.
## What is better: creating a great character or a great plot?
M.K.--I refer to one of my mantras for teaching: story is character. They have to work in tandem in good writing. Have to. But if you're going to make me bend one way or the other, I'd say that the most fascinating person alive is only fascinating based upon what they've done. Right? Their actions provide the fascination. So...you have to give plot the nod. But I repeat - they can't be separated in a good piece of work.
## Do you fuss a lot over words and sentences, rhythms, etc? Do you find it difficult to edit your own writings?
M.K.--Refer to another mantra: every word counts. Absolutely. I'm kind of obsessed with sound and rhythm in particular. Pick any paragraph from Cormac McCarthy's novel The Crossing and read it aloud. Pure gold. I love that.
## Do you write many drafts or do you rewrite chapter by chapter, paragraph by paragraph, etc?
M.K.--Many drafts. Many, many drafts.
## What do you find is the most difficult part of writing a book?
M.K.--The middle of the first draft, without exception. Since I don't have an outline, the middle is where I begin to founder on the rocks. So you figure out a way to right the ship and sail on.
## Do you write short stories? How different is your writing process for those, if you do?
M.K.--I really don't. I need to try. I feel as if that's something I'm lacking as a writer, that skill set.
## What sort of schedule do you keep most of the time?
M.K.--Unless I'm traveling, I write 1,500 words a day, seven days a week.
## What is the best environment and atmosphere to write in? Any specific music, ritual, etc?
M.K.--For me, music is key. I like the background noise, try to match it to mood sometimes. It helps block everything else out.
## What do you want to achieve as a writer?
M.K.--I'd like to write at least one book that lingers. One book that people will read long after I'm gone.
THIS and THAT
## Do you write while on a promo tour?
M.K.--Can't write in a hotel room. Just terrible results when I try.
## What are your favourite book and movie set in Cleveland?
M.K.--Crooked River Burning by Mark Winegardner is a good novel. Major League is the definite sports comedy.
## Which one of your books would you most want to see as a movie? Are there projects in development?
M.K.--I've had offers, none of which have been exciting enough with regard to talent or dollars to make me bite yet, but if I could pick one it would actually be the book that won't come out until 2011, The Cypress House.
## Can you name two books you wish you'd written? And why?
M.K.--I can name two thousand. Here's two: Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell. He achieves everything I want to achieve as a writer in that book. It's just gorgeous, in every facet. And A Prayer for the Dying by Stewart O'Nan. One of the most haunting pieces of writing I've ever encountered.
## If I could ask them, what would L.P., Joe and Amy have to say about the life you gave them?
M.K.--"Stop throwing punches, dude. We're hurting!"
## Last question, the one I ask every writer I interview: If there's a crime novel written and you are the main character, what would be the first sentence of the book, and how would your character die?
M.K.--Good one. First sentences: "As usual, he thought he saw it coming. As usual, he did not." As for the death, all I ask is, make it swift.
I'd like to thank Michael Koryta for agreeing to do this.
Thank you also to Melanie Storoschuk and Donna Nopper.
**********************************Interrogation Room section)
It was a dark and very stormy night. There would be smoke; there would be blood; and tears –of sadness, of hurt, of loss. Of longing and belonging.
But there would be hope too.
Although not before many other nights would follow, as dark and stormy.
When Arlen Wagner, former soldier who fought during WWI, sees smoke in the eyes of all the passengers aboard a train, he knows that death awaits and that everyone is doomed unless they get out. Wagner convinces only one man though, 19-year old Paul Brickhill. Together they get off at the next stop and continue their journey on foot. Wagner's terrible gift has never been wrong before, especially on the battlefields, and it just saved his and Brickhill's life. Problem is, it might be only temporarily.
The two travelers soon find themselves at the Cypress House, a battered down boarding house that doesn't seem to be getting a lot of customers, except for a group of shady and violent characters that include the local sheriff and a judge. With a ferocious hurricane approaching (the historical 1935 Labour Day one), Wagner and Brickhill decide to help out Rebecca Cady, Cypress House's owner, to protect and board up the place. They also intend to protect Rebecca against the powerful control that judge Wade and sheriff Tolliver hold over her. When Wagner's dark ability again shows him that death is very close, he knows he must act as soon as possible. Will it be enough to save others? What about himself?
In The Cypress House, Koryta paints a realistic portrait of an era (the 1930s during the Depression in the South) by intelligently using some historical events and places around which he creates characters that seem so real and alive you can't believe they haven't existed. The triangle delineated by Arlen, Paul and Rebecca is a driving force of emotions and conflicts that sends the story into a spinning forward movement, not dissimilar to the devastating hurricane coming towards them. Although the trio would take its chances against the storm, when Arlen's dark gift shows death in the eyes of Paul, it's the killing, evil power of the judge's gang that becomes the main threat and the one against which they need to protect themselves more.
Then, when Rebecca's brother shows up, it changes the whole dynamic of the group, things start to get out of control and the nucleus explodes. Koryta brilliantly helps define these characters by giving each of them a complex and troubled past. "Everybody's got a few things they'd like to keep quiet on", Arlen points out to Rebecca. Arlen's got a dark, emotional secret about his father; Rebecca has a necessary, although forced, relationship with the judge; and Paul has a more foggy past and family secrets of his own. Of course, there is also judge Wade's posse, its own small-scale storm charged with a magnetic field of violence and blood.
Koryta drives this thrilling ride by showing you that no one is perfect, that everyone eventually has to redeem themselves, to deal with their past and accept it, or their past will haunt them always. No one is perfect but everyone can make the best of what was dealt to them. Especially in adversity...and in really bad weather.
Regarding adversity, it is sometimes said that an athlete is as good as her last performance. Gold medal? You're the best until someone else wins it. Sure, but it would be unfair to say that a writer is as good as his last book, mainly because it is only human to have uneven performances, be it in sports, in writing, in your everyday work, etc. Nonetheless, a writer is supposed to never be satisfied with the most recent success –in sales, reviews, or other—and to always aim at writing a better book than the previous one, whatever 'better' means to the writer (it might not be the same for the publisher, the agent, the readers) but better it should try to be.
In The Cypress House, Koryta paints a realistic portrait of an era (the 1930s during the Depression in the South) by intelligently using some historical events and places around which he creates characters that seem so real and alive you can't believe they haven't existed. The triangle delineated by Arlen, Paul and Rebecca is a driving force of emotions and conflicts that sends the story into a spinning forward movement, not dissimilar to the devastating hurricane coming towards them. Although the trio would take its chances against the storm, when Arlen's dark gift shows death in the eyes of Paul, it's the killing, evil power of the judge's gang that becomes the main threat and the one against which they need to protect themselves more.
Then, when Rebecca's brother shows up, it changes the whole dynamic of the group, things start to get out of control and the nucleus explodes. Koryta brilliantly helps define these characters by giving each of them a complex and troubled past. "Everybody's got a few things they'd like to keep quiet on", Arlen points out to Rebecca. Arlen's got a dark, emotional secret about his father; Rebecca has a necessary, although forced, relationship with the judge; and Paul has a more foggy past and family secrets of his own. Of course, there is also judge Wade's posse, its own small-scale storm charged with a magnetic field of violence and blood.
Koryta drives this thrilling ride by showing you that no one is perfect, that everyone eventually has to redeem themselves, to deal with their past and accept it, or their past will haunt them always. No one is perfect but everyone can make the best of what was dealt to them. Especially in adversity...and in really bad weather.
Regarding adversity, it is sometimes said that an athlete is as good as her last performance. Gold medal? You're the best until someone else wins it. Sure, but it would be unfair to say that a writer is as good as his last book, mainly because it is only human to have uneven performances, be it in sports, in writing, in your everyday work, etc. Nonetheless, a writer is supposed to never be satisfied with the most recent success –in sales, reviews, or other—and to always aim at writing a better book than the previous one, whatever 'better' means to the writer (it might not be the same for the publisher, the agent, the readers) but better it should try to be.
Michael Koryta is not only better from book to book he also finds a way to reinvent himself at the same time. Which is impressive for someone who's not yet 30. He could use a different pseudonym on each book cover and no one would ever guess that the same guy had created these stories. That's how clever and original his stories are; he uses recurring 'accessories' like the weather –the forces of nature and the devastation they bring on the planet and its inhabitants become a sort of veil over events and characters, enveloping them tightly while sending them towards their destiny. Koryta also uses locations that play a major role in his stories, like the gigantic West Baden Spring hotel (So Cold the River) that is surrounded by haunted and haunting people, and by evil water; a boarding house that seems to bring the bad out of everyone who enters it (The Cypress House) and also an abandoned house, the Whisper Ridge, that has kept secrets for many years but seems ready–and willing—to reveal them (The Silent Hour). His forthcoming novel (The Ridge) will focus on a lighthouse that was built hundreds of miles from any significant body of water and on the reporter who is sent to write about it.
Koryta uses all these 'accessories' with a subtle restraint which renders them more effective. They are there all the time, but they're not overused nor do they overwhelm. They serve a purpose like a supporting actor, sometimes stealing a scene and at other times just hovering in the background. You might even forget them for a while but they come back to remind you of their importance. Koryta deftly manages the growing suspense with a perfect pacing. As the tension mounts, you find yourself less inclined to pause in your reading. Your eyes frenetically pursue the words while your hands keep pace by turning pages after pages after pages. The Cypress House is one of the most engrossing books I've read in the past three years.
Koryta uses all these 'accessories' with a subtle restraint which renders them more effective. They are there all the time, but they're not overused nor do they overwhelm. They serve a purpose like a supporting actor, sometimes stealing a scene and at other times just hovering in the background. You might even forget them for a while but they come back to remind you of their importance. Koryta deftly manages the growing suspense with a perfect pacing. As the tension mounts, you find yourself less inclined to pause in your reading. Your eyes frenetically pursue the words while your hands keep pace by turning pages after pages after pages. The Cypress House is one of the most engrossing books I've read in the past three years.
After writing five thrilling crime novels, four of those starring PI Lincoln Perry, Koryta left his comfort zone to explore the genre's limits by stretching them until they exploded and fused back together into a new and original sub-genre; one that straddles the edge between reality and the unexplained, exploring the hidden and often haunted side of people, places, and things. It touches on the gothic, on the supernatural, on the noir, but isn't limited by any of these. It is a sum of all its parts. Michael Koryta is not the first one to stretch the limits of the crime genre into supernatural territory, of course, but he's one of the few who can succeed at it by making it believable and natural. He is certainly one of the best at it, on a short list where I would include Peter Straub, John Connolly and just a few others. In any case, it would be a disservice to Koryta (as it is to most writers) to try and categorize his writing too specifically.
Some books have a visual, cinematic strength that make you feel as if you're watching a movie. Koryta's stories, and especially The Cypress House, make you believe you're in a movie. He is a specialist like Scorsese and Hitchcock are in their field. Michael Koryta has already been compared to writers like Stephen King, Peter Straub and Dennis Lehane; soon, if they are very good, other writers will be compared to Michael Koryta.
The Cypress House
(I've read an ARC from Hachette Book Group Canada)
JF 2 March 2011


text:
Specialty Clinics & Services
Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital has made arrangements with area specialists to conduct outpatient clinics and services for the convenience of local residents in WaKeeney.
"Big City Care... a lot closer to home."
It is important to have available a variety of services.
Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital is proud to offer the following specialty services.
|Pulmonologist, Dr. Kent B. Berquist, MD, with the Mowery Clinic in Salina will see patients in WaKeeney beginning September 16, 2011. He specializes in the treatment of diseases of the lungs, bronchi and chest. Please contact WaKeeney Family Care at 785-743-2124 for an appointment.
|Neurosurgeon, Dr. Ali B. Manguoglu, MD, FACS, FRCS, ED(SN) with the Salina Regional Hospital in Salina will see patients in WaKeeney. He specializes in Decompression of Peripheral Nerve Entrapments, Spine and Spinal Cord Injuries, and Adult Cranial Surgery Please contact his Salina Office at 785-823-1032 for an appointment.
Surgical Services
Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital is proud to be able to offer surgical procedures on a scheduled basis. Dr. Jerod M. Grove, and Dr. Charles Schultz consult on a rotating basis to provide services on a weekly basis. Please call 785-743-2182 for an appointment.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Global Infrastructure Hub and Mexico's development bank Bancomext have established an alliance to work together in relation to the newly established Mexico Projects Hub.
The Mexico Projects Hub has been developed by Bancomext to encourage private investment in infrastructure in Mexico.
GI Hub will share information and ideas with Bancomext based on its own activities including the recently developed Global Infrastructure Hub Project Pipeline.
The Mexico Projects Hub can be found at www.mexicoprojectshub.gob.mx


text:
Vendor punts coin-operated Wi-Fi base-station
Slot machine
People rarely need coins to make a call these days, but don't ditch your coppers just yet because manufacturer Handlink has designed a coin-operated Wi-Fi access point.
Handlink's Wi-Fi point is coin-operated
The bizarre creation supports 802.11b/g connections, but this wireless wonder won't just let you connect to the web the second your laptop comes within range.
First, you've got to dig deep and slot some coins into it, after which the kiosk will print out a ticket that details your temporary Internet access account details. You then use this information to gain web access through whatever enabled gadget you like, whether it be an Eee PC or an iPhone.
Of course, once your time has elapsed then the connection automatically ends. At which point, you'll have to trot back over to the kiosk and feed it some more cash. Unfortunately, the machine doesn't appear to accept notes or card payments.
Handlink's coin-operated Wi-Fi access point is, admittedly, targeted at hotels, coffee shops and public places. But you have to appreciate the retro charm, mixed with new-age technology.
Sponsored: Your Guide to Becoming Truly Data-Driven with Unrivalled Data Analytics Performance


text:
This summer has been quite busy. Since returning from Costa Rica at the end of June, I have had guests visiting our house each week. From my parents, to co-workers, to David's parents, to friends, our house has had a revolving door. Finally, after almost four weeks of non-stop visitors, David and I are heading to Florida for a quick visit with his brother and then we can finally enjoy the rest of the summer together in our home alone. I love being busy, but I find that when I am entertaining guests (whoever they may be) I am unable to maintain healthy eating habits. So quickly I toss aside vegetables, home cooked meals, and exercise. Rather, I adjust my life and lifestyle to accommodate my guests and to impress them with the delights of nearby restaurants, fairs, and events. Why am I always so surprised then that I gain weight? Clearly, I allow guests to be an excuse to eat to wildly. To help readjust this aspect of my diet, I have decided to "join" weight watchers. When I use the word diet here I am referring to the definition in which diet means the kinds of food that one habitually eats.
In middle school, I was a little chubby. My mom was doing weight watchers at the time and I followed along with her. What I learned from the program was not only how to count calories but how to make myself accountable and aware of the mindless snacking and the richness (or lack there of) of my food. My just keeping a journal of food, I noticed how I rarely ate fruits or vegetables or even drank water throughout the day. My diet was not well-balanced as as a result I felt listless. I became aware of the poor diet decisions I made everyday and was therefore able to take control over it and refocus myself on eating right. I worked really hard on adjusting my palette so that my daily diet was more nutrient rich and less processed. It was a hard journey that I remember well. From time to time, I forget about it (particularly when guests are in my house) and revert to my old diet of brown foods and sugary drinks.
By "joining" weight watchers now as a young adult, I am not attending classes nor am I following the whole program to a T but I am being mindful of my intake of veggies, fruits, lean proteins, water, and carbs. By jotting down my food, I am making sure that my meals are balanced and not skipped and health centered. Just two days into this modest plan and I feel more energetic, more satisfied, and more proud of my choices. I feel like I am recapturing the diet that I truly want and enjoy living.
It is cool these days to be a health nut. It is cool these days to be a exerciser and it is cool these days to talk about these topics and to be excited about sharing tips and tricks on maintaining a wholesome living. I am looking to be a part of this new cool group and I feel like I am on my way. Now, let's keep this focus through my long weekend in Florida!


text:
"Bound by love and magic.
Betrayed by those they trust.
Not everyone survives."
Taken by Charlotte Abel is the second book in her Channie series. The book opens with the main characters, Channie and Josh, hiding from their enemies in a cabin in the woods, nearly freezing to death. Josh, a royal mage, is just learning to use his powers. Alone for the first time, teenaged, and newly married, Channie and Josh must hide from those who want them dead. Intrigue and danger follow them every step of the way, as they prepare for the solstice and the impending mage war.
Charlotte Abel has once again written an exciting and enjoyable book. She leaves readers on the edge of their seats and wanting more. I can't wait til the third installment comes out in September 2012.
You can visit Charlotte Abel's website TheChannieSeries.com or purchase the book on amazon.com.


text:
I guess I shouldn't just disappear like that. Sorry for worrying anyone. I've simply just unplugged from a few things.
Internet - blogging, email, facebook, surfing
Cell Phone - 98% of texting, 75% of phone calls. I'm not ignoring calls, but I've stopped carrying my cell phone with me most of the time. If I'm out, I have it on me, but if I'm at home or with the family, I just don't have it with me. And I've always been horrible about returning phone calls, so not carrying my phone with me has just made it 1,000 times worse.
It'll just be for awhile longer, probably until after Christmas, so I ~will~ be back. All is well with me, I just needed to get back to my roots with my husband and children.
Nothing is really going on with me for the most part. Let me see ...
~ I went and visited my best friend in Phoenix last month. It was great.
~ I'm really starting to focus on my job search. I must have a job by January end.
~ Ella is amazing me with her reading and writing skills. She learned how to do both in Kindergarten, but she can read almost anything now and her handwriting is unbelievable.
~ Allison is following in her sister's footsteps in learning things at school. The one thing she doesn't have from her sister is her behavior in school. Allison stays on green light every day, in fact, she has only gone to yellow light one time this year, which was just the other day. I got her yellow card write up and it said "Kissed a boy". Ha. I hope that's not starting this early, but we got a good laugh out of it now!
~ Karl has finally started talking! He only said a few words up until a month or so ago, but recently, it has exploded. He can say dozens and dozens of words now and he'll repeat any word you ask him to say. It's so awesome. His pediatrician had said he will need to start speech therapy if he wasn't talking by age two, so he started it up two months before he turns two. Whew! Had me worried there for a moment.
~ I'm done with my weight loss kick. I was doing really well and actually, I accidentally lost too much weight. I got down to 118, which is just too skinny, so I gained 7 lbs back. I'm now sitting at 125 which is where I want to stay. I can fit into my size 4s now, (size 2 in gap! But I know how the gap and old navy sizes their clothes too big. A size 2 at those stores really mean size 4. But there is something about seeing that number which makes me smile!) I hope I'm able to maintain my current weight. Losing it isn't hard, it's the maintaining that is the real battle!
~ Due to my unplugging, I have lost some contact with some of my friends, which really bums me out. But I'm going to try my hardest to rekindle what relationships I may have missed out on. Besides family, friends are what is really most important, and I certainly don't want to lose that. I hope they will be able to find it in their hearts to forgive my distance.
That's about it! Thanks for all the emails, texts and phone messages many of you have left for me. I've tried to return many of them, but I'm sure there are some I missed.
If I'm not back yet, I hope everyone has a great holiday season!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
The man in the wilderness asked of me
How many strawberries grow in the sea?
The answer given to children in this old nursery rhyme is: "As many as red herrings grow in the wood." The answer for those of us in California is nearly 40,000 commercial strawberry acres, mostly nestled along the Pacific coast, produce a crop worth more than $2 billion a year. About 80 percent of all commercially grown strawberries in the United States come from California. But these totals don't begin to count what's grown in backyards all over the country.
This whimsical beauty is an easy plant to grow almost anywhere, making it an ideal choice for beginning gardeners, especially children. It's best to plant strawberries in early to late spring when the soil warms up. It likes full sun and slightly sandy soil for drainage. Strawberries can stand up to harsh conditions, but when the fruit is forming it's very thirsty. That's especially true if grown in patio pots that can get hot because of limited soil volume. Another downside is pests, which love strawberries almost as much as kids love them. Keep an eye out for crop robbers, including birds.
But, even with a black thumb, most people can produce lots of strawberries in their own gardens, which may account for how it has been able to survive through the ages. Strawberries have been traced back to Roman gardens and online sources report that Medieval stonemasons carved strawberry designs on alters and around the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals, symbolizing perfection and righteousness. The most common explanation for how the strawberry got its name is that children in the nineteenth century threaded the berries into straw and offered them for sale.
Whether you grow them yourself or buy them from farmers markets or grocery stores, what you'll bring to the table is a nutritional powerhouse. Jodi Reinman at the California Strawberry Commission says a new study from UCLA published in the "Journal of Medicinal Food," finds the antioxidant power in strawberries becomes
bioavailable or ready to work in the blood after just a few short weeks of eating, resulting in the potential for improved defense against chronic disease.
"There's a lot of talk today about the levels of antioxidants in fruit," said Dave Grotto, RD, and author of 101 Optimal Life Foods, "But just because a food contains antioxidants does not guarantee that those antioxidants are available for use by the body once eaten. This study
validates the importance of eating super foods like strawberries on a regular basis."
For 50 ways to eat strawberries, download the commission's new strawberry recipe
iPhone app at http://bit.ly/8LANJo Visit the California Strawberry Commission online at calstrawberry.org


text:
The perfect way to a great finish
CSR Hebel has worked closely with the leading coating manufacturer Dulux AcraTex to develop a range of finishing options for all Hebel systems.
From simple acrylic coatings to high build renders and textures, Hebel has a system that will not only meet the aesthetic requirements for your project but also provides inherent flexibility to reduce cracking.
Aerostone supplies three Acratex finishes for walls and fences.
- Hebel PowerBase and Hebel PowerFinish A 2-coat total acrylic leveling and finishing system
- Hebel HighBuild – For rendering and leveling irregular surfaces.
Click on links above for Dulux technical information or download the Hebel application guide pdf's below
Easy to work with, Hebel and Dulux coatings have been designed to help you achieve the perfect finish to any Hebel project, including the highly sought after smooth, monolithic look. The coating systems have been engineered to accommodate the thermal expansion and contraction and physical characteristics that are unique to Hebel.
Aerostone also offers:-
Coharo Coatings: for a Polished Concrete look. Click here for more information
Rockcote: For alternative Renders and Coating. Click here for more information


text:
Lamar Villere, portfolio manager and partner at Villere & Co., loves to buy when people are selling.
Villere & Co. is a fourth-generation family owned and operated money management firm with $2.2 billion in total assets. The New Orleans-based firm manages two mutual funds the Villere Balanced Fund (VILLX) and the Villere Equity Fund (VLEQX).
Generally, Villere prefers small-caps.
"We don't really have a small-cap bias, as much as large-caps are too expensive," he told ThinkAdvisor. "We have trouble finding them attractive. And they're not, in a lot of cases, they're not really growing."
Villere said the firm's portfolios are also much more concentrated than most. They tend to own 20-25 stocks rather than owning 100-200 stocks, he said.
As Villere describes it, "We're basically the opposite of passive."
The stocks Villere looks for are companies with low debt and a strong cash flow and that dominate their niche.
"Generally we want companies that are growing double digits," Villere told ThinkAdvisor. "Companies that are, we think, have a very strong competitive landscape, a duopoly or something like that, where they've got a large moat around the business."
Villere is also looking for companies that are trading at a reasonable price, which he said has become increasingly difficult over the last couple of years.
"Generally speaking, in the last probably two years, things that we've bought, we've bought on the heels of some news story, something that has caused the stock to drop," Villere explained. "We'll go in and do a lot of work to figure out if that's just noise or if it's real."
Villere discussed three companies and stocks he likes right now, two of which he's been able to buy during market reactions to news stories.
Axon Enterprise (AAXN)
Axon, formerly known as Taser, is a dominant player in non-lethal weapons and has a growing body camera business.
"If there's going to be an incident, you'd rather A) it be non-lethal and B) have a record of it from the officer's perspective," Villere said. "And Taser is a market leader in both of those things. It seemed like to us, that's a great opportunity."
Last month, Axon announced that they would equip every officer in the U.S. with a free body camera for a one-year trial including data storage, support and training.
"The market reacted negatively to it because they thought it was going to be super expensive," Villere said. "We'd already owned the stock, but it dipped so we bought a bunch more. Since then, they've had great results."
2U provides online education and partners with top universities – like NYU, Yale, Northwestern, Cal-Berkeley, among others – to create online graduate degrees.
"[2U] keeps 60+% of the money, the colleges get the rest. The colleges love it … because it's actually profitable," Villere said.
They recently acquired a South African company called GetSmarter, which offers non-degree certificate programs.
"It got beat up because it made an acquisition and they said the acquisition was going to be diluted," Villere said.
However, the new partnership offers an international footprint and new relationships with Harvard, Cambridge, MIT and others.
Howard Hughes Corp (HHC)
Howard Hughes Corp develops and operates master planned communities. It built Woodlands and Bridgeland in Houston, and Summerlin in Las Vegas.
It is also developing a residential tower in Hawaii that is 93% sold. Villere said, "it's basically a town that's vertical."
The firm is currently developing in South Street Seaport in New York City, which Villere toured during his visit to New York. Villere said many leases are structured with percentage of sales rent, which provides upside potential.
—Related on ThinkAdvisor:


text:
A Marriage survives Infidelity
By Marla Keller
Listen to Betsy Chasse interview Marla about her article series here on Meaningful Mom about Trust, Marriage, Infidelity and how you can build your own foundation of trust with in you! Listen now!
Jami and I have been married for over 28 years. And I have been happily married for most of that time, absolutely in love with my husband and in awe of his love for me (which is how I feel now, strangely enough). It was 16 and ½ years ago that my world came down, shattering around me. My husband had cheated on me. I remember being in fetal position with my heart crushed hoping I wouldn't breath again. Knowing that we had two small girls, ages 8 and 9, who depended on me, I made sure the girls went to school on time, were fed, and did their homework. All they knew was that "daddy was learning how to be a better husband and father", and I knew, well I knew I had work to do, and Jami put himself into rehab for relationship issues and we decided to begin to heal our relationship and ourselves.
What I realized is that his cheating for the first 12 years of our relationship (with different women) was really about my worth, not about him. Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking responsibility for my husbands behavior, I wanted to understand if there was anything I could learn about myself from it, and boy did i! It cut to my core fear of never being enough—not smart enough, not pretty enough, not the right shape—which I had held on to for a lot of years way before Jami came around. I had to do the difficult process on me for "us" to ever work.I had to regain my own self worth in order to be with someone who respected that. You should never blame yourself for others behaviors, but understanding what was missing within yourself to allow that behavior into your life is a valuable lesson in setting boundaries and self-love. Jami also needed to learn his own self worth and that looking for attention wasn't fulfilling it.
I also realized that Jami is not my "Savior" and I am not his. That was tough. I believed it was my job to save and restore the good in others, because it helped me feel better about me.
You know that big word "Codependent?" That was me to a "t." It's a big word that simply means that I did for others because it made me feel better when they felt better. I was so angry when Dr. Russ Warner at Family Week told me this! How could I be codependent when he is codependent??? This did not fit my paradigm at all. His issue with other women was codependence. Ughhhhhhh! Needless to say, I was not happy.
Here's what I learned:
Every relationship has a control/abandonment cycle. And I was the identified controller and Jami was the identified abandoner. Rest assured, you don't have to live this way forever, but you do need to identify it and stop it.
The Controller (More Codependent)
I am in charge. I am aware of most possible outcomes, and I make sure they happen. I like people to perform as I expect. If you don't clean the kitchen to the standards I am used to, I will clean it over again to make sure it gets done the right way (and hope you'll watch me do it so it's done properly the next time). I like to feel as though I have the power. In a relationship, I like security and am willing to do anything I need to do to make that happen. I will vocalize my opinion, and if you act in disagreement of that I will get upset. Most of the time, it's "my way or the highway." I use phrases like "You should…" or "You ought to…." I get jealous easily. I like attention, especially yours. If you say no to something, I will probably try to get you to say yes another time.
We all have characteristics of, and most of us can be, a Controller.
Now, what about the Abandoner?
The Abandoner (More Narcissistic or Selfish)
When things get weird, uncomfortable, or too close for comfort, I will likely just stop responding. Like that time we were arguing and I just walked out of the room, or when I didn't respond to your text. My "safety blanket" is avoiding or leaving. I don't usually push my opinion, and if you say no I won't bring it up again (sometimes I do this to spite you). I close myself off emotionally. I know this drives you crazy. And to be honest, I sort of like that. I often react this way when I feel controlled. It's the only defense I feel like I have, and it works.
Again, that is an extreme example. But you get the idea. This is fixable, and identifying it is your first line of defense against it hurting your relationship. We learned these things along the way, and teach them to our clients. It's not easy. What we have done, and what we give to our clients, is a simple process, but it's definitely not easy.
Jami and I made it through the tough stuff. I discovered my worth over time, and that I didn't need to control everything around me to feel safe. And Jami discovered his worth, and didn't need to abandon to feel safe. We also discovered love again, or really for the first time. We always loved each other, but now we had the tools to love without strings, and to forgive, and to have good boundaries with each other.
Read The Next article in this series Leaving After Cheating – To Divorce or Not – What are some of the right reasons to divorce?
- It's okay to be angry and hurting. You may feel guilty for feeling this way. Or you may feel justified. And probably you flip back and forth between these two feelings. And that's okay. But please remember this: acting from your anger and hurt often will begin to create a barrier between you and your partner. Process them through journaling, and then picturing what your ideal relationship and life look like. Then bring your anger and hurt to your partner. Process them together, but friend don't live there. Staying in this place will only cause you bitterness and disappointment.
- It takes time to trust again. And that's okay. You are going to have good days, and you are going to have bad days. It took me up to 2 years to fully trust Jami again. I began to trust him over time, but to fully trust again took the whole time. I still have moments when I'm tired, or have had too much Gin and Tonic, that I drop into that pain. But it's never the same pain, and Jami is great at hearing my pain, acknowledging it, and letting me know that he is truthful, faithful, all-in, and aware of his conscious states (because that was one of our main problems, awareness and not choosing to become numbed-out). And I heard this statement over and over again when I was hurting or angry, and it was done with humility each time. Bless him. It does take the humility, so if you're not seeing it there will be a problem.
- I am not the "Savior" of the world. I couldn't even save myself, and you can see that I was no good at saving Jami. Remember, you cannot save him. He must do that himself. This all comes with my controlling nature. As Disney so well puts it, "Let it go…" (and you know you just sang that song).
- Forgive yourself and him. Forgiveness does not make what happened okay, does not let anyone out of being accountable for his or her actions, and is in fact the best first step for building healthy boundaries. So why wouldn't you do it? Because it's hard. But it's important! Check this blog out for more info on forgiveness: and it's a choice wayyyyyyy before it's a feeling. You need to forgive your partner for what they did, and you need to forgive yourself for not seeing it, or not preventing it, or, or, or…
- Good boundaries are important. Boundaries are really a matter of will. This is why we often teach people that what you say your boundaries are is far less important than really believing you are worth keeping that said boundary. And you must forgive before you can have better boundaries. I can state (and I did) that if Jami ever cheated on me I would take the girls and go. Why do you think he didn't share his struggles with me for so long? I said it, but apparently I didn't mean it. Each situation is different. So stop making up why someone cheated, and start supporting couple-ships that choose to stay together. We need each other, and we need support. Check out this blog for more info on healthy boundaries:
We all have hurt and pain. And we need each other to get through it. I promise that if you follow these guidelines you will find peace, empowerment, joy, and love again. It's not easy, but it is most definitely worth it!
Marla has been married for over 28 years. She became a mother in 1990 at the age of 21 and again at 22, and decided to put a hold on her university degree to raise her kids. When her girls went to school she enrolled in an Adult Degree Program at Greenwhich University, and in 2001, Marla finished her BA degree in Family Counseling. Marla, along with her husband Jami, began their Relationship Coaching business part-time and volunteer in 1995 when they were Coach and Facilitator Certified with Life Skills International, and it has turned into a full-time career. In 2009, Marla became Executive Coach Certified through Invite Professional Coach Training, and in 2011 turned Passion Provokers into a full-time job. They have been empty-nesters since 2013, and enjoy a connected relationship with their daughters, and their son-in-law of 3 years. She is the co-author of many books and curriculums, and is working on her story about infidelity and redemption which comes out next year. Visit Passion Provokers to learn more.


text:
One laptop per child: a worthy goal, but does it lead to the most effective learning? Research published over the years has challenged the assumption that youngsters do better working on their own than sharing a computer.
Join us for a discussion of the research this evening, as Steve Moss, of the Partnership for Schools, takes us through the issues.
We meet virtually at 7pm UK time, here:
To check the time where you live, use this world clock.
Steve has also written an article on the same subject, and that will appear in Computers in Classrooms , the free e-newsletter for people with a professional interest in educational ICT.
Listen to the recording and follow the chat by clicking on the following link:


text:
Natural Video Matting using Camera Arrays
|Neel Joshi
|Wojciech Matusik
|Shai Avidan
|University of California, San Diego
|(a) We use a camera array to capture a collection of images of a scene. Here we show a single camera's image. (b) We synthetically refocus the data and compute the variance image of the refocused images (darker means lower variance). (c) From the "variance image" we automatically compute a trimap. (d) We extrapolate the variances into the unknown region of the trimap and use these measurements to solve for the alpha matte. (e) We then compute the alpha multiplied foreground and composite it over a new background.
We present an algorithm and a system for high-quality natural video matting using a camera array. The system uses high frequencies present in natural scenes to compute mattes by creating a synthetic aperture image that is focused on the foreground object, which reduces the variance of pixels reprojected from the foreground while increasing the variance of pixels reprojected from the background. We modify the standard matting equation to work directly with variance measurements and show how these statistics can be used to construct a trimap that is later upgraded to an alpha matte. The entire process is completely automatic, including an automatic method for focusing the synthetic aperture image on the foreground object and an automatic method to compute the trimap and the alpha matte. The proposed algorithm is very effcient and has a per-pixel running time that is linear in the number of cameras. Our current system runs at several frames per second, and we believe that it is the first system capable of computing high-quality alpha mattes at near real-time rates without the use of active illumination or special backgrounds.
Neel Joshi, Wojciech Matusik, and Shai Avidan.
Natural Video Matting using Camera Arrays.
ACM Transactions on Graphics. 25(3) July 2006.
Addendum: Reduction from our method to Triangulation Matting
SIGGRAPH 2006 Talk
PPT Slides Only (8.76 MB) | Zip File of Slides and Videos (58.3 MB)
Divx (54.3 MB) | Quicktime MPEG4 (56.3 MB)
Supplementary Videos (all Divx)
Smoke: central view | synthetic aperture | variance | trimap | alpha | alpha multiplied foreground | composite
Coffee: real-time screen capture
Hair: real-time screen capture
Dynamic Backgrounds: real-time screen capture


text:
Join Richard Harrington for an in-depth discussion in this video Finishing techniques, part of Premiere Pro Guru: Multi-Camera Video Editing.
Now that I've got a flattened sequence, I could take advantage of some quick color grading techniques. For example, with each angle here, it's pretty simple. If I press f, for match frame, it loads up the source. Remember, this makes it simple to apply color correction to the original file. I'll take a look at it in the project. There it is. Double click to load and I could toss on the three way color corrector. Notice, there is no motion effect. So if I make any adjustments here, for example lifting that, making a bit brighter and let's make that really saturated.
Pulling up the master saturation while pulling down the shadow saturation, you'll see that all other references of that clip are affected. Load that clip up there. And if we toggle that effect on and off, you see that it affects everything in the timeline. This is much faster than going one clip at a time, applying everything. Now, you could still look at your clips, reveal it in the bin just by choosing Reveal in Project, double-click to load, and apply the three-way color corrector. Now any adjustments you make are going to be applied to all instances of that clip. I'll lift that up a little bit and put a little contrast in the shadows, round out the saturation. And what you're going to see is that propagates to other cases where we used that angle. This is a very fast way for you to go through and quickly color correct the whole sequence.
Rather than having to do every single shot, you could affect just the individual clips one at a time. Now, you may have learned this earlier when we took a look at this and we did this before we loaded them into the multi-camera sequence. It doesn't matter if you do at the beginning or at the end. I just recommend you explore the master clip relationship for color grading. Besides this though, you could take advantage of other things like effects or global effects, thanks to an adjustment layer. By making an adjustment layer to your project, it's pretty simple to apply everything globally. Just choose new adjustment layer and click OK.
And you can drop that above your sequence. Make that last for the duration of your sequence and take advantage of any of the looks that you'd like to apply. Remember, you'll find several different looks here in the lumitri looks folder and these could be used. Maybe you just want to apply a cinematic boost for color and contrast and that's a nice rounding of the blacks. Or a really strong and gritty bleach bypass. Notice that with each one of these, it applies to everything down below.
So, you can combine multiple looks, in fact. Maybe I want to put a second adjustment layer. And on this one, we'll do a desaturation. And you'll see different effects to try. You want to stylize things? Let's try a black and white. But instead of doing it completely over the top, I'm going to blend that, and use something like soft light, or perhaps screen. And I could mix the overall opacity to blend it in. Those two adjustment layers are going to play. And notice, real time performance over the multiple angles. By flattening the clip, this works much better and reduces the burden.
Instead of all five angles having to play at once off the drive, you can rely upon the individual clips and get the performance boost. At this point, it's just a regular sequence. You're out of the realm of multi-camera editing and you're into normal finishing techniques. Be sure to check out some of the other Premier Pro guru courses, as well as additional classes available here on lynda.com to give you some ideas on visual finishing, color grading and enhancing for style.
- Importing files into Premiere Pro
- Using content analysis
- Modifying timecode
- Adding clips to a multicamera sequence
- Determining the sync point through timecode, audio, or other methods
- Syncing with PluralEyes
- Creating a multicamera workspace
- Editing and finishing the footage
Skill Level Intermediate
Q: This course was updated on 02/13/2018. What changed?
A: The following topics were updated: determining the sync point, syncing with PluralEyes, and the Multi-camera Monitor panel.


text:
I wanted to make a rice bowl for dinner with some chicken I had in my freezer. I was thinking taco bowl, and then it hit me! Buffalo chicken rice bowl with lettuce and celery and some cilantro. I couldn't wait to get started.
Cook 2 cups of rice according to package directions or in a rice cooker. Cut about 2 cups of lettuce into small strips.
Slice 3 stalks of celery crosswise to make thin half moons. Remove cilantro leaves from stems to equal about 1/4 cup.
Place 2-3 cups shredded roasted chicken in a bowl. I had some in the freezer from this post. You could also use a rotisserie or leftover grilled chicken.
Heat chicken in microwave or in a skillet if necessary. Add about 6 tablespoons of buffalo wing sauce. Do one spoonful at a time to make sure it's as hot (or not) as you like. Then stir in 1-2 tablespoons of blue cheese dressing. If using less buffalo sauce, I would recommend using only one tablespoon of dressing.
Spoon rice into the bottom of a bowl. Add portions of the chicken, celery, lettuce and cilantro. Shredded cheese would also be a good addition. I forgot to add some before photographing.
To make a burrito, layer the rice, chicken, some shredded cheese, lettuce, celery and cilantro. Roll up and enjoy!
John and I couldn't decide which one we wanted for dinner. We went back and forth, and eventually chose the bowls. They were amazing! We can't wait to have the burritos tomorrow for lunch.
- 2 cups rice, cooked according to package directions or in a rice cooker
- 2-3 cups of cooked chicken, shredded
- 6 Tbsp buffalo wing sauce
- 1-2 Tbsp blue cheese dressing
- 3 stalks of celery, sliced into thin half moon shapes
- ¼ cup cilantro
- 2 cups lettuce, sliced thinly
- 1 cup shredded cheese, any flavor
- tortillas, optional
- Place chicen in a bowl and add buffalo sauce one tablespoon at a time until chicken is coated and at desired level of spiciness.
- Stir in the blue cheese dressing. If using less buffalo sauce, try one tablespoon before adding another one.
- For the bowl: Layer with rice, chicken, celery, lettuce, cilantro and cheese if desired.
- For the burrito: Layer rice, chicken, cheese, celery, lettuce and cilantro in a tortilla shell and roll up.
The bowl could also be served cold like a salad. This would make an easy take-to-work lunch. All your co-workers will be jealous!
Hope this gives you something to add to your regular weeknight meals!


text:
Class starts: January 20, 2015
Cost: $349 per registrant (members and non-members).
Sold Out
This course introduces participants to awarding and packaging financial aid funds, elements of award notifications, basic packaging models and guidelines for packaging federal financial aid funds. This course is a perfect collaborative learning tool for advanced financial aid professionals, and has been designed with the necessary tools, equipment and subject matter expertise to aid you through the educational process. A credential is provided after successfully completing and passing the credential test, which is available at the conclusion of the course and included in your course fee.
NASFAA University courses are 100% online with an asynchronous focus, meaning the individual attendee can log on anytime/anyplace (assuming they have Internet access) and participate in course requirements – naturally there are due dates they will need to adhere to, i.e. weekly assignments that must be completed. There are also weekly synchronous class meetings held one night per week at 6pm ET (schedule to be released soon). However, these "live" classes are optional and recorded for on-demand viewing by the course attendee. While there will be no grade reductions for students that do not attend these live classes, we do encourage attendance to due to the highly collaborative nature of the courses.
Live Class Schedule
As a participant of this course you will be asked to:
David Tolman's career in financial aid began in 1992. Before joining NASFAA, he had been the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Boise State University for nearly 12 years. His training experience includes many summers as faculty for WASFAA Summer Institutes, being a non-federal trainer with the U.S. Department of Education, and an instructor for NASFAA decentralized training. David also taught principles of microeconomics courses at Boise State University as an adjunct faculty member. His education includes a Bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and a Master's degree from Arizona State University.
Debra La Grone began her career in higher education in 1990 after graduating from the University of Utah. Since then, she held various positions in financial aid offices at the University of Utah, Texas A&M University, Stephen F. Austin State University and Texas A&M University –Texarkana. She joined the NASFAA staff in 2011 as a Training Specialist in the Division of Training and Regulatory Assistance. She is responsible for researching and writing NASFAA training materials and webinars, updating NASFAA publications, and responding to technical questions regarding regulatory issues posed by NASFAA members.
We limit our online class size to ensure that we provide an effective, collaborative learning environment where participants receive experience and attention they need. Requests to cancel must be sent to firstname.lastname@example.com.
By submitting your registration, you agree to the following cancellation schedule:
If you do not cancel by 6:00 am ET January 20, you will be responsible for the full amount of the registration fee. Medical emergencies will be re-scheduled to another available course with a doctor's note.


text:
Thomas said to Jesus, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." – John 14:5-6
Anecdotal evidence suggests that one of the most popular questions in search processes these days is how one handles the "the's" in John 14:6. While many liberal mainliners would like to simply ignore them and change Jesus' words to read "a way," the reality is that in the Greek, the definite article is there. Jesus, at least according to John, claimed himself to be "the way." So, what do we do with that in an increasingly pluralistic society? How do live into our baptismal vow to "seek and serve Christ in all persons" while also "respecting the dignity of every human being"?
It is a delicate balance to hold on to the scandal of the particular of Jesus while also embracing the radical hospitality of Christ's all encompassing loving embrace. When we focus too much on the "the," we lose focus on the grace of God. When we focus too much on radical welcome, we forget that all have fallen short of the glory of God. In recent years, the answers seems to be some sort of "lowest common denominator" spirituality that basically says, "if you are a good person, you're ok." In this worldview, evangelism is unnecessary, so long as we all give to the Millennium Development Goals. That's not helpful either. So, what are we to do?
First, I think we need to be honest about the "the." As Christians, we believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We have found access to the Father through Jesus, and as a result, we are eager to help others find that access as well. Recently, I have been a part of the General Convention Task Force on Leveraging Social Media for Evangelism, which developed a tweetable definition of Episcopal Evangelism.
We seek, name and celebrate Jesus' loving presence in the stories of all people – then invite everyone to MORE. #EpiscopalEvangelism
Our story is the story of Jesus. That's the only story we can tell. That isn't to disparage the story of our Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, or None neighbors, but rather to be honest about our hope and what we believe to be the source of our salvation. Do we hope for conversion? Absolutely. Do we coerce? No. Are we emotionally abusive? No. Do we use scare tactics? No. Embracing Jesus as the way doesn't require that we drag others kicking and screaming, instead, it means being honest about who we are, where we place our hope, and inviting, gently and with love, others to experience that same gift of life. It isn't an easy balance to strike, but it is, I believe, our calling as disciples of the one who claimed to be the way, the truth, and the life.


text:
Curated by Dr. Cledie Collins Taylor, Collect: The Power of Knowing honors art collectors who have preserved and shown us works we may not have seen on our own, especially art from the continent of Africa. The works show evidence of our creativity from the distant past to our current times. There is power in knowing this history.
In this exhibition, you will find traditional African pieces like the Mende helmet mask from the Edsel and Shirley Woodson Reid Collection, new schools of art from Africa — that are not about tradition but about expression — such as Prince Twins Seven-Seven's painting from the collection of Modell Cheatham, works by African Americans like Charles McGee's charcoal drawing from the collection of Ken Myree, and pieces made by self-taught artists, including Samuel Hodge's stained glass window from the collection of Albert Nelson.
We thank all of the collectors who have shared their art for this exhibition. Special thanks go to Mr. Harold Braggs and Mr. Richard Harper for sending us the young collectors who are continuing this legacy.
Collect: The Power of Knowing is free museum admission.


text:
It looks like the final season of Chuck is pulling out all the stops when it comes to geek icons. On the heels of the news that producers had cast Luke Skywalker himself (Mark Hamill) in a guest villain role for the season five premiere comes word that Trinity will be joining the series as well. In non-geek-speak: Carrie-Anne Moss has been cast as a recurring villain with a possible heart-of-gold.
Moss will play Gertrude Verbanski, the CEO of a spy company that plays rival to the one Chuck (Zachary Levi) started last season. She also has an apparent romantic history with Casey (Adam Baldwin) that will likely muck up the works as well.
Moss has lent her voice to such video games as Mass Effect 2 in recent years. This will the first major television appearance since The Matrix.
[via EW]


text:
All photography by Cherie Nutting
A double reed horn with a series of holes, made of apricot wood in Ouezanne, a town in Northern Morocco. It often has a spit guard as well. Sometimes called the Arabic oboe, variations of the Ghaita can be found in other parts of the world such as Persia (Ney), India (Shehnai and Nagaswaram), Tibet (Gyaling), Thailand (Pi) and China (Suona).
A double skinned drum made in a variety of sizes. Drumheads are made with goatskin and played with both sticks and hands.
Traditional, smaller Arabic ceramic drum with a snare. Often found all over the Middle East. It has a strong sound for its size.
A large shallow drum with a snare, common in North Africa.
Moroccan variations are also known as the lotar, hejhouj or sentir. The Jajouka one specifically is pear shaped and is specifically a loutar or gimbri, whereas the Gnawa ones tend to be rectangular. Even an oval shaped one is available. A bowl back styled rustic lute with a goatskin top. It has four strings traditionally made from goat intestines but now often strung with nylon strings. The instrument is usually played with a long curved pick, which adds the attack and texture of the sound.
A common bamboo flute, recorder-like, made in Jajouka.
A violin, played upright on the knee typically played with the Gimbri, drums and vocals.


text:
This recipe was a last minute addition to my Christmas baking. I have been needing to use up a couple of containers of marshmallow fluff that Randal bought last month (for a frosting recipe that I never made), so when I saw this fudge recipe over at Annies Eats, and how quick and easy it looked, I thought I would give it a try.
1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow cream
½ c. sugar
2/3 c. heavy whipping cream
¼ c. butter
1 t. instant coffee (I used 1 packet of Starbucks via)
¼ t. cinnamon
¼ t. salt
1 (12 oz.) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
Line an 8" square baking pan with foil. In a pan, combine marshmallow, sugar, cream, butter, coffee, cinnamon and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Let boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until smooth. Pour into pan. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours. Cut into squares.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
A suspected drug dealer was shot to death in a Zona Norte nightclub on Friday, May 3, at around half past noon.
The bar, named Malquerida ("bad girlfriend"), on the corner of Constitución and Callejon Coahuila, is across the street from a police substation. According to police conjecture, the shooting was the result of a quarrel between a couple of drug dealers.
Tijuana's daily El Mexicano used the term "narcomenudear" in reference to the men, indicating that they were allegedly involved with drug sales at the retail or street level.
Reportedly, the victim walked into the club and took a seat. Shortly after settling in, two others arrived, an argument ensued, a gun was pulled, and the first-arrived was shot to death. Someone else in the club was hit by stray gunfire and reports are unclear as to the victim's connection to the persons involved in the shooting.
The dead man was indentified as 26-year-old Adrian Salinas. Police captured one of the suspects (the purported shooter) at a Zona Norte hotel. The second party, accompanying the shooter, was also reportedly captured in the area.
Sources: El Mexicano, Frontera
More from SDReader
- More stories by T.B. Beaudeau
- Another for the Tijuana morgue — May 13, 2015
- Tijuana extortionists preyed on illegal border-crossers — Dec. 2, 2013
- Would-be pimp slapped down by Tijuana police — Feb. 21, 2013
- Prep-school student assassinated in Ensenada — Jan. 28, 2013
- Tijuana Turnaround? — Nov. 3, 2009
Ah, yes. This is why I don't go there anymore. It was great back in the 60s and 70s, but since then it has gone downhill fast. My mom used to have a house in Rosarito back in the day, and we spent most weekends down there. Haven't been to Mexico in over 20 years now, and have no desire to go anymore. I love the smell of urine in the morning, smells like poverty...lol.
You love the smell of urine in the morning? Ever been to the area near Petco Park--at any time of the day? Does that smell like poverty as well?
Why in God's green earth would I go to that area? I just got sick of all the crap that was going on down there in TJ., and farther south. Got tired of being pulled over and having to hand over money for something I did not do. There really is nothing we, or I, need down there.
I like going down there for the excitement of being in another country, another culture. As I'm not a drug dealer, user, or smuggler... and because I'm too poor to be a kidnapping target, I feel pretty safe. And I've never been pulled over in many trips.
A "nightclub" is open at half-past noon? I'd say it's no nightclub, just a neighborhood dive. We have plenty of those in the US, but nobody--and I mean nobody--does a dive like those in Mexico, and TJ is ground zero for them.
Clearly, Mexico needs gun control! They must have allowed the NRA to take over their government!
If anyone wants to see weirdos and you don't even have to leave your own country, just ride the San Diego Trolley after dark thru the Orange Line and you'll think you are in a third world country right in the good ole U.S. Americans conveniently forget that the reason there is so much drug activity at the border is due to the U.S. being the largest consumer of legal/illegal drugs in the world but Americans conveniently overlook that every time they start talking about Mexico and drugs. So perhaps you people should do something about the ridiculous drug consumption here in the U.S. before pointing the finger at any other country. The U.S. seems to have an obsessive-compulsive behavior when it comes to everything including drugs, overeating, alcohol consumption and the list goes on and on.


text:
Any website can be penalized (or even worse, banned): the penalties usually occur when trying to circumvent the algorithm engines by purchasing links for example to low relevance and quality payment.
e. Offers usability advantages
Give users of your web site good usability means:
– generate engagement and increase return visitors
– acquire external links from other sites (earning link)
– get quotes on social networks
The optimization on-page includes among its activities the design of a solid and intuitive information architecture.
Google WebMaster Tools is a basic but powerful tool to check your websites SEO health. Using the drop-down menus in "search queries", the owner of a site can query information for a specific period. The data of the last month will be displayed by default and comparing the daily averages of an elected period with that of the last period.
In order to view "Search Queries," you only need to access the Google Webmaster Tools main page. From there, click anywhere on the site and you will see a menu on the left. Finally select "Search Queries".
What data do you get with "Search Queries"? (that's truly important for guaranteed SEO services)
While it is true that the data are varied, they reflect what happened in a site in the last three months and the data of variation in periods shorter than a month.
Queries, detail the number of queries in the search engine that have been returned to the pages of a site during a specific period.
The list of queries, shows specific queries of Internet users that have influenced site and the results of this in the search engine.
It is through Google Webmaster Tools that the owner will be able to see the top 200 queries that lead to your site during a certain period.
Impressions tell the webmaster how many times the pages of a site have been queried in the results of the search engine and the changes in the percentage of average impressions per day compared to the past period.
Clicks detail the exact number of clicks that users have made to the portal entry and appear in search results during a query.
The percentage of clicks, refers to the percentage of impressions that have allowed entry to a web portal.
The average position shows the average maximum position of a site on the search results page when a specific query is performed. It also indicates the changes that occurred during the past period.This position calculation is based on the URL of the site that has the highest ranking for a given search.
Through the search queries it is possible to filter the data (click on "Filters" section). The owner can view certain statistics such as mobile searches, search statistics that include a word or not, filter by location, or filter data from pages that generate little traffic.
The data obtained in the section "Search queries" are of great value to the webmaster as they define the tactics of Web Positioning guaranteed, so called
SEO Guaranteed
>It is recommended that you continually check the list of queries and check if the expected keywords are displayed. If they do not appear the content of your site is probably not useful. (guaranteed SEO services docet)
If unexpected words such as "casino" appear, it is likely that your portal has been hacked.
These results would prove that some webmaster have improve the content of your site. Start by changing the title of your page so that it appears more often in search results. A relevant and appropriate title will positively influence your guaranteed Web Positioning. Create an AdWords account and review your list of inquiries. This way you will get new ideas about keywords.
Please note that not all search data for a site processed by Google Webmaster Tools. It is likely that a search will not be done for those non-relevant searches. In addition to protecting the privacy of the webmasters, Google does not send all the information of the site of the owner.
It may happen that Google Webmaster Tools data differs from information provided by other Google tools. Google Analytics crawls traffic from users who have JavaScript installed and on the other hand Google AdWords defines the words calve in different ways.


text:
The Fresno County Sheriff's Office called for about 250 residents to evacuate from the path of the blaze that has burned 1800 acres so far and destroyed at least one home and a dozen other structures.
"My house is fried and my animals are gone," Ashley Magallon said after being evacuated. "It's okay as long as we help each other out, the neighbors help each other out. We'll live."
Authorities closed Highway 168 just south of Prather for several hours while firefighters battled the fire and evacuated residents.
"We have a slope and wind driven fire right now," Will Goodman with Cal Fire said. "When wind and fire line up, they make more aggressive runs."
The fire is 5 percent contained as of Saturday night, fire officials said.
"It's huge," Dana Bays said as she watched the fire. "We watched it explode, coming across Old Millerton Road and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger."
The fire near 168 is forcing people out of their homes. FCSO is helping people evacuate. @ABC30 pic.twitter.com/a5RJGXPvu6— Joe Ybarra (@JoeYbarraTV) July 30, 2016
An evacuation center has been set up at Foothill Middle School and a center for large animals at Sierra High School on 33326 Lodge Road in Tollhouse.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Stay with ABC30 for updates.
#Prather UPDATE #Fire— CHP Central Division (@CHPCentralDiv) July 30, 2016
Detour from SR168 use MillertonRD to AuberryRD to Prather & vice-versa
Drive Safely watch for @FresnoCoFire Crews!


text:
The continuous enclave: Strategies in bypass urbanism
Ramos, Viktor
Schaum, Troy
Master of Architecture
This thesis takes a formal approach to understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by studying mechanisms of control within the West Bank. It is only through the overlapping of two separate political geographies that they are able to inhabit the same landscape. The Oslo Accords have been integral to this process of division. By defining various control regimes, the Accords have created a fragmented landscape of isolated Palestinian enclaves and Israeli settlements. One feature of the Oslo Accords is the bypass road which links Israeli settlements to Israel, bypassing Palestinian areas in the process. These are essential to the freedom of movement for the Israeli settlers within the Occupied Territories. Extrapolating on the bypass, this thesis explores the ramifications of a continuous infrastructural network linking the fragmented landscape of Palestinian enclaves. In the process, a continuous form of urbanization has been developed to allow for the growth and expansion of the Palestinian state. Ultimately, this thesis questions the absurdity of partition strategies within the West Bank and Gaza Strip by attempting to realize them.


text:
File photo
Thursday, July 21, 2011 | 7:45 p.m.
Sun coverage
Sun archives
- Heck amendment gives insight into his Yucca Mountain stance (7-13-2011)
- Nevada delegation to lawmakers touring Yucca Mountain: go away (4-27-2011)
- Yucca Mountain or not, nuclear waste resides here (2-13-2011)
- With GOP takeover of House, is revival of Yucca debate in offing? (11-24-2010)
- Nuclear agency's rule change relieves pressure on Yucca Mountain (11-17-2010)
- State says report gives wrong impression about Yucca Mountain safety (9-10-10)
- Panel: Yucca Mountain waste dump process continues (6-29-10)
- Nevada files motion for Yucca application withdrawal (5-17-10)
- Yucca Mountain dump opponents see their momentum ebb (4-13-2010)
- Yucca Mountain foes hail historic step to kill nuclear waste depository (3-4-2010)
- Energy Department withdraws application for Yucca Mountain (3-3-2010)
A Nuclear Regulatory Commission report released Thursday makes no conclusions about whether entombing the nation's most radioactive material at the Yucca Mountain site in the desert northwest of Las Vegas is scientifically sound or safe.
The federal oversight agency released a statement acknowledging that the 733-page technical evaluation includes no findings about whether the proposed Yucca Mountain repository meets regulatory requirements. It promised two more volumes before Sept. 30.
Nevada's top state official working to stop the Yucca Mountain project pointed to that date as the last day of the federal government's fiscal year and noted that federal money for the stalled project has been drying up.
Joseph Strolin, interim chief of the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects, labeled the report the product of "bias and inappropriate collusion" between federal nuclear regulators, Energy Department proponents, and scientists and contractors paid to plan and build the repository since the mid-1980s. Energy companies have also been waiting for the government to make good on a pledge to accept and dispose of the nation's spent nuclear reactor fuel.
"There's no legal requirement for this," Strolin said after an initial review of the report with state officials and lawyers working to block the Yucca project. "My impression is this is a creation of NRC staff frustrated and angry at not being able to finish their life's work."
Strolin noted the report contained no answers to more than 200 technical challenges Nevada still has pending in the stalled NRC Yucca Mountain licensing process.
A government scientist in charge of reviewing the safety of the Yucca Mountain site said it was important to release the report. A presidential commission is studying alternatives to Yucca Mountain, and it is important for panel members to be able to learn lessons from the project, said Aby Mohseni, acting director of high-level waste repository safety.
Members of Congress and the public also could benefit from the report, Mohseni said Thursday night.
"This represents what we have learned over 30 years," said Mohseni, who pushed for release of the report over the objections of more senior officials, including NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko.
Mohseni has accused Jaczko and other officials of using political pressure to manipulate the staff's scientific work on Yucca Mountain.
A spokesman for the NRC said the report was released after senior managers were assured that readers could accurately interpret the staff's technical assessment without drawing conclusion about policy changes or regulatory actions.
"In addition, the (report) is being issued so the staff can document its independent technical review of the application for knowledge capture and records preservation," NRC spokesman Eliot Brenner said in an email.
Brenner said the report does not address any licensing or regulatory issues concerning Yucca Mountain, which has been in the planning stages for nearly three decades at an estimated cost of $15 billion. The planned dump has never been used.
In a statement, the NRC described the report as "part of the agency's orderly closeout of the Yucca Mountain license review process" and said it was "intended as a public record of the staff's scientific and technical work."
In 1982, Congress directed the Energy Department to study whether the ancient volcanic ridge was a good place for a repository. Plans call for entombing some 77,000 tons of highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel that's now stored at power plants and research facilities around the country.
President George W. Bush gave the go-ahead for the Yucca waste repository in 2002.
But opponents have continued to raise concerns about air, water and soil contamination. Nevada state officials and attorneys argue that the technology for storing radioactive material isn't fully proved, and that transporting waste to Nevada poses more risk than leaving it where it is.
The states of Washington and South Carolina, plus Aiken County, S.C., the Prairie Island Indian Community of Minnesota, and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners want the NRC to order the project to proceed. They argue that Congress promised a place to put high-level radioactive waste from sites including the Hanford nuclear reservation in Washington and the Savannah River site in South Carolina.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has remained a staunch foe of the Yucca project, and President Barack Obama reached the White House after promising to kill it.
Obama cut off funding and promoted Jaczko, a former Reid aide, to NRC chairman in 2009.
After an independent licensing board last year rejected the Obama administration's request to withdraw the project application, Jaczko instructed NRC staff to stop work on critical safety questions about possible groundwater contamination 10,000 years in the future and radiation releases for a million years.
Jaczko has yet to schedule a final vote on the matter by the five-member nuclear commission.


text:
Stone, Andy, Briggs, Jonathan H. and Smith, Tom (2003) Towards Implementing m-learning Support for First Year Students at Kingston University. Learning Technology, 5(2), pp. 9-11. ISSN (online) 1435-0625Full text not available from this archive.
Official URL: http://lttf.ieee.org/learn_tech/
|Item Type:
|Faculty, School or Research Centre:
|Faculty of Computing, Information Systems and Mathematics (until 2011)
|Depositing User:
|Automatic Import Agent
|Date Deposited:
|18 Jan 2010 10:36
|Last Modified:
|18 Jan 2010 10:40
Actions (Repository Editors)
|Item Control Page