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Index of content:
Volume 2006, Issue 1, January 2006
Degradation of hexagonal silicon-carbide-based bipolar devices99(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2159578View Description Hide Description
Only a few years ago, an account of degradation of siliconcarbide high-voltage diodes was presented at the European Conference on SiliconCarbide and Related Compounds (Kloster Banz, Germany, 2000). This report was followed by the intense effort of multiple groups utilizing varied approaches and subsequent progress in both fundamental understanding of this phenomenon and its elimination. The degradation of SiC junctions is now well documented to be due to the expansion of Shockley-type stacking faults in the part of the devices reached by the electron-hole plasma. The faults can gradually cover most of the junction area, impeding current flow and, as a result, increasing the on-state resistance. While in most semiconductors stacking faults are electrically inactive, in hexagonal siliconcarbide polytypes (- and ) they form quantum-well-like electron states observed in luminescence and confirmed by first-principles calculations. The stacking-fault expansion occurs via motion of 30° silicon-core partial dislocations. The Si–Si bond along the dislocation line induces a deep level in the SiC band gap. This state serves as both a radiative and a nonradiative recombination center and converts the electron-hole recombination energy into activation energy for the dislocation motion. Dislocation motion is typically caused by shear stress, but in the case of SiC diodes, the driving force appears to be intrinsic to the material or to the fault itself, i.e., the fault expansion appears to lower the energy of the system. Stable devices can be fabricated by eliminating stacking-fault nucleation sites. The dominant type of such preexisting defects is the segment of basal plane dislocations dissociated into partials. The density of such defects can be reduced to below by conversion of all basal plane dislocations propagating from the substrate into threading ones in the epitaxial layer. Remarkable progress in fabrication of low basal plane dislocation density material offers hope of bipolar SiC devices being available commercially in the near future.
Adhesive wafer bonding99(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2168512View Description Hide Description
Wafer bonding with intermediate polymer adhesives is an important fabrication technique for advanced microelectronic and microelectromechanical systems, such as three-dimensional integrated circuits, advanced packaging, and microfluidics. In adhesive wafer bonding, the polymer adhesive bears the forces involved to hold the surfaces together. The main advantages of adhesive wafer bonding include the insensitivity to surface topography, the low bonding temperatures, the compatibility with standard integrated circuit wafer processing, and the ability to join different types of wafers. Compared to alternative wafer bonding techniques, adhesive wafer bonding is simple, robust, and low cost. This article reviews the state-of-the-art polymer adhesive wafer bonding technologies, materials, and applications.
Flat panel displays for ubiquitous product applications and related impurity doping technologies99(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2199753View Description Hide Description
Various kinds of flat panel displays such as liquid crystal displays(LCDs), plasma display panels and organic light emitting diode(OLED) displays are briefly evaluated from the perspective of applicability to ubiquitous products. It is clarified that the LCDs and OLED displays are suitable for realizing mobile electronic products with a high quality display, since these displays can use active devices on the backplanes to form active matrix displays and can integrate peripheral circuits of the displays and functional circuits of mobile electronics for a ubiquitous era. It is clarified further that the low temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) thin film transistor(TFT) is the most promising active device for the backplane of such active matrix displays because the LTPS TFT has the possibility to enhance its performance without raising the cost. The low temperature poly-Si TFT fabrication process is introduced, and its key technologies such as crystallization, gate oxide formation, and impurity doping are surveyed. As the property of polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) influences not only the TFT performance itself but also the efficiency of impurity doping and the integrity of the gate oxide, the crystallinity of the poly-Si is reviewed. After that, the history of the development and the state of the art in impurity doping technology and its issues are addressed in detail. Finally, foreseeing the application of LTPS TFT, the realization of OLED displays, and the progress of LTPS TFT for integrating higher functional circuits for ubiquitous applications, the requirements for impurity doping in such progress are addressed. In particular, the single grain silicon technology and the scaling down of the TFT size, which are thought to be highly effective to enhance the performance of TFTs, and issues of impurity doping technology relating to them are discussed.
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Epitaxial growth and optical properties of semiconductor quantum wires99(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2212056View Description Hide Description
In this paper we present a review on major advances achieved over the past ten years in the field of fabrication of semiconductorquantum wires (QWRs) using epitaxialgrowth techniques and investigation of their optical properties. We begin the review with a brief summary on typical epitaxial QWRs developed so far. We next describe the state-of-the-art structural qualities of epitaxial QWRs in terms of (i) size uniformity between wires, (ii) heterointerface uniformity, (iii) crystal purity, and (iv) strength of lateral quantum confinement. Several prominent breakthroughs have been accomplished concerning the improvements of wire qualities, including (i) realization of V-shaped QWRs in the "real one-dimensional" (1D) regime in which exciton states can extend coherently over distances exceeding , (ii) reduction of residual impurity concentrations in V-shaped QWRs to a level comparable to that in an equivalent quantum well (QWL), which resulted in the semiconductor QWR with room-temperature photoluminescence efficiency exceeding that of a QWL, and (iii) reduction of the multimonolayer (ML) interface fluctuations on the second-grown arm QWL surface, in old-generation T-shaped QWRs, to the single-ML level. The second part of this article is devoted to the discussion of optical properties of epitaxial QWRs, such as exciton dynamics, fine structure of exciton levels, and nonlinear effects, studied by means of high-spatial resolution spectroscopy, i.e., microphotoluminescence experiments. We will concentrate our discussions on V-shaped QWRs and put an emphasis on demonstrating how the interface quality influences wire's optical properties. The properties of QWRs in the "zero-dimensional quantum box regime" and QWRs in the real 1D regime will be presented in separate sections. We will show that the realization of QWRs in the real 1D regime makes possible the investigation of intrinsic 1D effects by focusing on a single perfect 1D wire region using microscopic techniques. This has led to important results, for instance, (i) the demonstration of the square-root dependence of 1D exciton radiative recombination lifetimes down to a temperature as low as (limited by the experimental setup) and (ii) the clear demonstration of the existence of Mott transition in a 1D exciton system which is a fundamental problem under long debate.
Constructal theory of generation of configuration in nature and engineering100(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2221896View Description Hide Description
Constructal theory is the view that the generation of flow configuration is a physics phenomenon that can be based on a physics principle (the constructal law): "For a finite-size flow system to persist in time (to survive) its configuration must evolve in such a way that it provides an easier access to the currents that flow through it" [A. Bejan, Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics, 2nd ed. (Wiley, New York, 1997);Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 40, 799 (1997)]. This principle predicts natural configuration across the board: river basins,turbulence, animal design (allometry, vascularization, locomotion), cracks in solids, dendritic solidification, Earth climate, droplet impact configuration, etc. The same principle yields new designs for electronics, fuel cells, and tree networks for transport of people, goods, and information. This review describes a paradigm that is universally applicable in natural sciences, engineering and social sciences.
Diffusion in alumina100(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2393012View Description Hide Description
Experimental results on diffusion in alumina are summarized and critically discussed. The most reliable results are those on volume diffusion in single crystals (sapphire), and are available for a wide variety of substances, including the structural elements oxygen and alumina, water, monovalent cations, and trivalent cations. Experimental results on volume diffusion in polycrystalline alumina have also been reported for hydrogen, water, some actinides, and rare earths. Diffusion coefficients have been deduced from deep penetration tails on diffusion profiles, and have been interpreted to result from fast diffusion along dislocations or grain boundaries. However, there are questions about these interpretations that are discussed. Mechanisms of diffusion in alumina are uncertain; a variety of charged defects has been suggested to control diffusion in alumina, but no interpretation is widely accepted because of discrepancies with experimental results. The possibility of an AlO defect is put forward to stimulate exploration and discussions; together with a diffusion-reaction mechanism, it can explain many puzzling features of diffusion in alumina. The electrical conductivity of alumina results from the transport of ions if the OH concentration in the alumina is greater than about OH groups per Al atom. At lower OH concentrations electronic conductivity becomes dominant.


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Bumgarner shuts out Cubs as Giants homer twice
Hours after the Giants opened the bomb bay doors and jettisoned Aaron Rowand and Miguel Tejada off their roster Wednesday, two other players offered surprising shots of their own.
Jeff Keppinger snapped the club's 61-inning streak without a home run, Pablo Sandoval made it consecutive shots with a drive deep into McCovey Cove, and Madison Bumgarner pitched brilliantly in a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs at AT&T Park.
Keppinger also contributed a run-scoring single and finished a triple away from the cycle, helping the league's worst offense score four runs for the first time in eight games.
Bumgarner brought the rest of the thunder in what might have ranked as his best big league outing. He matched his career high with 11 strikeouts in eight innings while holding the Cubs to two hits.
"It was huge for the fans' standpoint, to stay with us, and from a personal standpoint, to bang out (some) hits," said Mark DeRosa, who started in place of Aubrey Huff at first base and will play a larger role in September, according to manager Bruce Bochy.
"At the same time, it only does us some good if we use it to go into the next series."
The Giants were 10-18 in August, their worst month since September 2007. They avoided their first 19-loss month since September 1996.
They still control their own destiny, even if it's an uphill climb. They're still six games behind Arizona in the N.L. West with six games remaining against the Diamondbacks, who arrive to begin a three-game series Friday at AT&T Park.
When Keppinger arrived in a trade from Houston on July 20, the Giants held a 4 ½-game lead. They are well behind Arizona now.
"But this is as close as I've ever been (to the playoffs), so I'm not giving up by any means," said Keppinger, who has driven in seven of the team's last 13 runs.
Bumgarner entered with the lowest run support (2.94 runs per game) among all full-time N.L. starting pitchers. The Giants scored four runs for him for just the fourth time in his 28 starts.
DeRosa said the victory should serve as a good reminder that the Giants only need to scratch out a few runs to win, adding, "I'll take our pitching staff over anyone's."
Bochy said he plans for Pat Burrell to start in the outfield Friday against Arizona.
"This team responds better when the chips are on the table," Burrell said. "We've slipped, no doubt. But it isn't over. We're going to fight this thing out. The better team is going to prevail, obviously, and we believe we are that team."

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As I Lay Dying
by William Faulkner
As I Lay Dying Section Sixteen, narrated by Tull Summary
- Vernon and Cora see Peabody's team of horses run past their house. Cora understands right away (that Addie has died), but Vernon is either slow to catch on or lazy and in denial.
- Vardaman comes around at midnight and knocks on their door. He is dripping wet from the four mile walk to the Tulls'.
- He tells Vernon that he was there earlier in the day and that he knows there was a fish. Cora says that Vardaman has gone mad and that Addie must have passed away.
- Tull hitches up the team of horses, and the three of them go back to the Bundrens'.
- Cash has finished the coffin, and Anse nails the coffin shut.
- The next day, Vardaman is found in the same room, having fallen asleep after drilling the coffin full of holes. Two of the holes went into the corpse's face.
- Cora says that Anse is getting what he deserves as a sinful man. Vernon thinks that that wouldn't be right because Anse did the best he knew to. Still, Vernon is glad that his wife is so pious, figuring it can't hurt him in the long run.


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KPCC News In Brief
January 8, 2009 Archives
Jurors deliberate fate of ex-Orange County Sheriff Carona
Jurors will enter their second day of deliberations Friday in the federal corruption case against former Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona. KPCC's Susan Valot says jurors got the case today.
Susan Valot: Jurors seemed pretty peppy once they were handed the case at about lunchtime. They've spent more than two months listening to testimony and arguments. Now, they've got to sort through 59 pages of jury instructions to decide whether Carona broke federal law.
Prosecutors say he used his office for personal gain by trading favors for bribes. And the prosecution's main witness is Carona himself. The former sheriff never testified. But his former assistant sheriff, Don Haidl, secretly recorded conversations with Carona, talking about the deals they allegedly made. Prosecutors say the tapes show Carona formed a cover story with Haidl to hide their actions.
But defense attorneys say Carona was simply stating the truth on the recordings; no cover story.
The jury of 11 men and one woman deliberated for nearly four hours today. If convicted, Carona could be sentenced to eight years in prison.
- January 8, 2009 8:14 PM
- Categories: Criminal Justice
Non-profit founder explains dire need for medical aid to Gaza
As the death toll in Gaza rises, international charities are working to establish a humanitarian corridor for the delivery of relief supplies. KPCC's Patricia Nazario says one of the organizations preparing to help Palestinians is based in Southern California.
Patricia Nazario: Operation USA is preparing at least 15 tons of medical supplies – gauze, syringes, and bandages – for shipment within the next couple of weeks.
The organization's founder, Richard Walden, says Gaza needs immediate help because it lacks a sophisticated first-aid infrastructure.
Richard Walden: "Twenty years ago, it was a piece of desert, that was made into a large refugee camp, that became a territory. It doesn't have all the things that a city or a province would have in another country, where you'd have long-standing people who've lived there."
Nazario: Walden says Culver City based Operation USA has conducted worldwide disaster relief since he started the organization 30 years ago.
More information about its partner organizations and the pending relief effort in Gaza is online at OPUSA.org.
- January 8, 2009 7:28 PM
- Categories: Health, Politics/Public Affairs, Society/Culture
Prop 8 supporters file lawsuit challenging state campaign finance laws
Supporters of Proposition 8 have filed a federal lawsuit that challenges the state's campaign finance laws. KPCC's Molly Peterson reports.
Molly Peterson: The Yes on 8 campaign says the ballot question's opponents have harassed Californians who supported the ballot measure that defined marriage as between a man and a woman.
A lawsuit filed in federal court in Sacramento lists phone calls, vandalism, death threats, and other incidents as evidence that the state's campaign finance laws are unconstitutional.
California requires people who donate $100 or more to ballot campaigns to make public their names, addresses, and phone numbers. Yes on 8's claim aims to end that practice. It argues that donors' First Amendment right to speak in the public arena free from threat is more important than the state's interest in disclosure.
Opponents of Prop 8 used campaign finance records to target supporters in Los Angeles. The manager of El Coyote restaurant in Hollywood,who'd donated to the Yes side, resigned after protesters gathered outside and threatened a boycott.
- January 8, 2009 7:24 PM
- Categories: Criminal Justice, Politics/Public Affairs
Poll: Most Americans willing to pay taxes for infrastructure
Most Americans are willing to pay a little more in taxes to upgrade schools, roads, and other public works projects. That's the finding of a poll commissioned by a group called Building America's Future.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg head the organization. Its survey found that 81 percent of Americans are prepared to pay one percent more in federal taxes for re-building efforts.
Governor Schwarzenegger says the poll results don't surprise him because Californians have overwhelmingly supported bond measures for projects like that.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: "The people are willing to pay for it. They want to have their infrastructure kept up. They want to have the infrastructure kept up, they want to have new roads and new schools. They don't want to have their kids in overcrowded classrooms…"
Schwarzenegger also had positive words for President-elect Barack Obama's re-building proposals, particularly those that involve renewable energy.
Building America's Future conducted the online poll of 800 adults late last month.
LINK: Building America's Future
- January 8, 2009 7:20 PM
- Categories: Business/Economy, Politics/Public Affairs, Society/Culture, Transportation
State legislative analyst worried about borrowing in Schwarzenegger's budget plan
Reasonable, but risky. That's how the state's non-partisan legislative analyst describes Governor Schwarzenegger's latest budget proposal.
Mac Taylor says the plan is a "good faith effort." He agrees with the Administration that the state faces a $40 billion shortfall. But Taylor is worried about the borrowing in the governor's plan.
Mac Taylor: "So you've got at least $23 billion in '09; 10 that you have to finance through the credit markets, and given the status of those markets at the time, that could be very difficult for the state to do, to access that credit in the coming year."
Taylor says he's also concerned about the legality of "revenue anticipation warrants," another expensive type of borrowing the governor wants to use.
- January 8, 2009 7:16 PM
- Categories: Business/Economy, Politics/Public Affairs
Local non-profit prepares to send emergency relief to Gaza
A Southland non-profit that specializes in disaster relief is joining several international charities to donate first-aid medical supplies to Gaza.
Culver City-based Operation USA is preparing at least 15 tons of gauze, syringes, and bandages for shipment within the next couple of weeks. Its founder, Richard Walden, says the organization needs financial contributions to buy more supplies. He expects some resistance because people on both sides of the conflict harbor very strong reactions.
Richard Walden: "But on the other hand, a lot of people see it for what it is. It's a humanitarian crisis rather than an ethnic or religious war. We're not looking at the merits of either side's positions. We're looking at the fact that thousands of people have been injured."
Operation USA is partnering with the International Red Cross, World Vision, Save the Children, and other groups to ship emergency supplies to Gaza.
LINK: Operation USA
- January 8, 2009 7:11 PM
- Categories: Health, Politics/Public Affairs, Society/Culture
LA City Councilman Smith proposes smoking ban for outdoor restaurants
The City of Los Angeles is looking to limit second-hand smoke exposure near restaurants. Councilman Greig Smith's proposed ordinance would ban smoking at eateries with outdoor seating areas. He told KPCC's "AirTalk" who would be subject to fines.
Councilman Greig Smith: "The person that is committing the violation is the person that we would cite, if we cite anybody. Unless the restaurant is notified by people, 'Hey, there's people out there smoking, please tell them to stop,' and they say, 'No, we're not going to do that.' Then we would make also the establishment liable."
Smith said the law would apply within 10 feet of any establishment that serves food, except bars with outdoor seating and other adults-only venues. The L.A. City Council could approve the ban by this summer.
- January 8, 2009 7:08 PM
- Categories: Health, Politics/Public Affairs
Protests break out at Oakland transit meeting about police shooting
Angry protests broke out last night in Oakland on the eve of a Bay Area Rapid Transit meeting about the shooting death of a man in one of its stations. Reporter Bret Burkhart of KGO Radio said the meeting, a week after the death of 22-year-old Oscar Grant, attracted a very emotional crowd.
Bret Burkhart: "Many asking why the now-former BART officer has not been arrested; many blaming the shooting on racism; some asking why the other officers haven't been suspended or arrested. Some denouncing the violence last night, but others supported it, and blamed the BART board for it. Some called on the BART boycott, and called for the resignation of some of the board members."
Burkhart told KPCC's "Patt Morrison" that cell phone videos, widely circulated online, show three officers standing over Grant, who lay on his stomach and was shot in the back. The transit police officer who allegedly shot Grant has resigned from his job. Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums announced he will launch a third investigation into the shooting.
- January 8, 2009 7:03 PM
- Categories: Criminal Justice, Transportation
US participates with other nations in new anti-piracy patrols
A new international anti-piracy force has set sail under American command. It's starting patrols next week to counter a surge of activity by Somali pirates. Commander Jane Campbell with the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet described the mission to KPCC's "Patt Morrison."
Commander Jane Campbell: "We are authorized to go in and interdict if we see somebody in the act of piracy; and quite frankly, just given the size of the area, we're not going to be there, even with this new task force – be able to be everywhere in what is basically a 1.1 million square mile area."
Campbell's fleet is based in Bahrain; it'll participate with more than 20 nations to combat piracy. Last year, pirates targeted more than 100 ships and commandeered more than 40 off the coast of Somalia. At present, those pirates are holding 315 members of commercial ships' crews as hostages.
- January 8, 2009 6:59 PM
- Categories: Criminal Justice, Politics/Public Affairs
LA City Council considers smoking ban for outdoor restaurants
The Los Angeles City Council's considering whether to expand L.A.'s smoking ban to outdoor dining areas. It would prohibit smoking within 10 feet of outdoor establishments that serve food.
A similar law in the city of Calabasas has logged fewer than 20 violations in two years, said Calabasas City Councilman Barry Groverman. He explained some of the medical reasons for a smoking ban to KPCC's "AirTalk."
Councilman Barry Groverman: "Cigarettes are – first of all they're filtered, and second they're very hot. When you breathe off of a cigarette, it's very, very hot and it causes a reaction in the lung that causes you to cough, so cigarette smokers tend to smoke shallow. When you're outside, that heat effect is gone, it's cooler, room temperature, and it gets very deep into the tissue of the lung; and the lung surgeons can actually identify the distinction."
Calabasas was the first Southland municipality to enact outdoor smoking restrictions. If the L.A. City Council approves it, a ban with exceptions for bars and other adult-only venues could be in place by summer.
- January 8, 2009 6:51 PM
- Categories: Health, Politics/Public Affairs
Heal the Bay: Too many toxins getting into LA waters
The environmental group Heal the Bay says regulators aren't doing a good enough job of keeping toxic substances out of L.A. waters. State and federal laws require industrial plants to test for how wastewater affects aquatic life. In a new report, Heal the Bay scientist Charlotte Stevenson says polluters are failing those tests without penalty.
Charlotte Stevenson: "Water that is toxic to aquatic life is being discharged into L.A.'s waterways, and likely this is really just sort of the tip of the iceberg, because the lack of action by the state has probably caused this laxness on toxicity enforcement throughout the entire state."
Stevenson says California needs clearer standards to measure how toxic wastewater is. State regulators say that they're working on those, and that in the meantime they're enforcing water quality rules as well as they can.
LINK: Heal the Bay
- January 8, 2009 6:44 PM
- Categories: Environment, Politics/Public Affairs
Corruption case against ex-OC sheriff goes to jury
After more than two months of testimony and arguments, the jury finally today began deliberations in the federal corruption case against former Orange County sheriff Mike Carona. The jury got the case around noon. KPCC's Susan Valot has been in the courtroom in Santa Ana.
Susan Valot: Prosecutors spent the morning rebutting the defense's closing arguments. Defense attorneys say the prosecution's main witnesses are liars. They say the evidence just isn't there to convict Carona. But prosecutors say it is there.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Sagel repeatedly told the jury that the "truth is the truth" – as laid out in the secretly recorded conversations between Carona and his former assistant sheriff Don Haidl. Sagel said on those recordings, Carona and Haidl try to come up with a cover story to hide a conspiracy to use Carona's position as sheriff to make money.
Sagel pointed out that not once during the several hours of tape does Carona get up and say he didn't know what Haidl was talking about – or question statements Haidl made about money and gift exchanges. Eleven men and one woman will decide whether to convict Carona.
- January 8, 2009 5:12 PM
- Categories: Criminal Justice, Politics/Public Affairs
Economist says government has to respond to retail slump
Washington lawmakers and policy experts are debating the size - and the timing – of a proposed federal stimulus package. Jon Haveman, founding principal of Beacon Economics, told KPCC's "Patt Morrison" that the government will have to respond to the slump in retail - and soon.
Jon Haveman: "Somebody spending - the only thing that can turn around these numbers – and it's not likely to be the American people. That's more likely to be the American government.
"We had Barack Obama this morning making his pitch for a $700 billion-plus stimulus package and it's quite clear that something like that is going to be necessary from the American government."
Haveman said that's because Americans fearful about their economic security are saving and not spending.
- January 8, 2009 5:07 PM
- Categories: Business/Economy
Macy's closure underscores retail problems
Last month marked one of the worst holiday shopping seasons on record for American retailers. Jon Haveman of Beacon Economics said today's announcement that Macy's would close 11 department stores - including one in downtown Los Angeles - underscores retail's problems.
Jon Haveman: "California is in fact a little bit worse than the national average and this is just a high profile event. And that sort of synthesizes or expresses what's been going on in California for the last two years. Retail in employment in California has been falling since about February of 2007."
Haveman, author of "An Economic Backdrop for Fiscal Reform in California," told KPCC's "Patt Morrison" that the mortgage lending and foreclosure crisis plays into the decline in retail profits.
- January 8, 2009 5:02 PM
- Categories: Business/Economy
Directors Guild announce Best Director nominees
Five directors of five highly-acclaimed films are on the Directors Guild list of nominees for Best Director of last year. KPCC's Nick Roman has the list in hand.
Nick Roman: The Directors Guild chose an impressive group of directors that turned out an equally impressive group of films. The Guild nominated Ron Howard for "Frost/Nixon." It's his fourth nomination - and he's won twice.
Gus Van Sant is up for the biopic "Milk." Christopher Nolan is nominated for the Batman summer blockbuster "The Dark Knight." Two directors got their first nominations: David Fincher for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - and Danny Boyle for "Slumdog Millionaire."
Boyle's on a hot streak. He was picked as the Best Director of 2008 by the L.A. Film Critics Association - and he's up for a Golden Globe Award. Fincher and Howard are also Golden Globe nominees.
The Directors Guild presents its award at the end of the month. The winner has a very good shot at an Academy Award. The Directors Guild has been honoring film directors for 60 years. The winner of its award goes on to win an Oscar 90 percent of the time.
- January 8, 2009 4:59 PM
- Categories: Arts
Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador refugees can still re-register
The re-registration deadline ended last month, but natives of Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador may still qualify for temporary protected immigration status. More on the story from KPCC's Patricia Nazario.
Patricia Nazario: U.S. Immigration officials say people may qualify – if they can demonstrate good cause for failing to file during the re-registration period. Before that period ended on December 30th, hundreds of people from Central American countries applied at consulates in Los Angeles and Santa Ana.
To qualify for the exception, foreign nationals must submit documents that prove they lived in the United States eight years ago. That's when earthquakes in their native countries prompted the U.S. government to extend protected legal residence to these immigrants.
Their renewal applications must also include a letter, along with any evidence that helps explain why they didn't complete the process last year.
It costs $350 to renew work permits. Applicants who cannot pay the fees can request fee waivers. Immigration officials will consider applications case-by-case.
Link: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- January 8, 2009 4:54 PM
- Categories: Politics/Public Affairs
State schools superintendent responds to proposed budget cuts
A state proposal to save money by trimming five days from the school year doesn't sit well with California's superintendent of public instruction.
Jack O'Connell told KPCC's "AirTalk" he doesn't believe the state is going to save $1 billion, as the governor's administration claims.
Jack O'Connell: "Here's the reality – these districts have collective bargaining agreements already. So, we have a thousand school districts in the state, and I don't believe you're going to see a majority of these school districts be able to renegotiate and suddenly in the middle of the year reduce funding for these five days."
The state finance department spokesman has said that no school district will be forced to cut days from the academic year for budget reasons.
- January 8, 2009 1:08 PM
- Categories: Business/Economy, Education, Politics/Public Affairs
School year cut would not be mandatory
The Schwarzenegger administration is defending a proposal that would allow school districts to save money by cutting five days from the academic year. H.D. Palmer is a spokesman for the state department of finance. He told KPCC's Larry Mantle that the proposal would not be mandatory.
H.D. Palmer: "It is not something that we are proposing as you shall do this or you must do this, we are giving school districts the option of doing this in order to save what again would be, as you noted, a little bit over $1 billion in the coming fiscal year. This is not a proposal that would affect the current school year or the current fiscal year."
Palmer added that educators suggested the proposal last year when they met with the governor about the budget crisis.
But state schools superintendent Jack O'Connell responded that there are better ways to save money - and that districts shouldn't even have the option of cutting instructional days. O'Connell said he realizes that California will have to cut education money amid the budget crisis, but he added that the state should do it with a scalpel - not a meat axe.
- January 8, 2009 1:06 PM
- Categories: Business/Economy, Education
State superintendent opposes shortening school year
The state schools superintendent is criticizing a budget proposal that would allow school districts to shave five days off of their school year. The proposal by Governor Schwarzenegger would give districts the option of reducing their school year from 180 days down to 175 days to save money.
State Superintendent Jack O'Connell told KPCC's Larry Mantle that cutting school days is not the way to go.
Jack O'Connell: "We know we're going to have to postpone the purchase of much needed textbooks, and computers, and technology, and professional development for our professional educators - all of them really necessary for our students. But to deny our student a learning opportunity that every other class has had since we increased to 180 – I want more learning opportunities for our students, not fewer."
O'Connell also argues that such a move could put students in poor areas at a further disadvantage, since wealthier districts might be able to pay for the extra five school days on their own.
- January 8, 2009 1:02 PM
- Categories: Business/Economy, Education, Politics/Public Affairs
Macy's closes downtown LA store
The bad economic news just keeps on coming. Macy's says it's closing 11 stores across the country - including one in Los Angeles. KPCC's Nick Roman has the details.
Nick Roman: Macy's reports same-store sales in December fell 4 percent from the year before. That wasn't as bad as expected – but to get there, the Cincinnati-based retailer had to discount merchandise sharply to drive up the sales numbers. It's no surprise then that Macy's followed its gloomy sales report with an announcement that it's closing 11 stores in nine states.
Among the closures is a Macy's store in Downtown L.A. at 7th and Figueroa. It's a good spot if you work in downtown – or if you ride the bus or the Metro Red Line. But it's a little tough to see from the street - and parking's no picnic. The store's been open for 20 years - but it never seems to be especially busy.
Macy's president says closing this store is part of the retailer's usual end-of-the-year process to "prune under-performing locations." Clearance sales start next week. As for the 136 workers at that downtown Macy's – they might be able to switch to other Macy's stores in the Southland.
- January 8, 2009 1:00 PM
- Categories: Business/Economy
Defense attorneys say allegations against Carona are false
Defense attorneys in the federal corruption trial of former Orange County sheriff Mike Carona yesterday went over the allegations for the jury - one act at a time. It took them all day to finish up their closing arguments. KPCC's Susan Valot was in the Santa Ana courtroom.
Susan Valot: Carona's attorney Jeff Rawitz detailed the allegations, and then went over why Carona was not guilty of any of them. The defense's main theme – the prosecution's chief witnesses lied.
They say former assistant sheriff Don Haidl - who secretly recorded conversations with Carona - has every reason to lie because it could mean a lighter sentence for him. Haidl's already pleaded guilty to federal tax charges. Attorney Rawitz told the jury Haidl's stories are "preposterous" – and that Carona never would have risked his up-and-coming political career for such a small return.
The defense also hammered the prosecution for not calling to the stand another key witness: former assistant sheriff George Jaramillo. They say without his testimony, there are gaping holes in the prosecution's case. Prosecutors will get a chance to address that - and other issues - with their rebuttal before the case goes to the jury.
- January 8, 2009 12:54 PM
- Categories: Criminal Justice, Politics/Public Affairs


text:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Hopes, Dreams, and Plans Quotes
How we cite our quotes: Citations for the text follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph); for art and illustrations: (Chapter.Illustration)
Quote #1
Seriously, I know my mother and father had their dreams when they were kids. They dreamed about being something other than poor, but they never got the chance to be anything because nobody paid attention to their dreams. (2.48)
As Arnold's drawing in figure 2.2 illustrates, his mom and dad had plenty of talents and dreams of their own. The problem is that they were never given the opportunity to make those dreams come true. Why didn't anyone notice the dreams of Arnold's parents? Why is it so important to be able to dream?
Quote #2
But we reservation Indians don't get to realize our dreams. We don't get those chances. Or choices. We're just poor. That's all we are. (2.52)
For Arnold, poverty is something that crushes your soul and crushes your dreams. How does poverty impact the ability of people to dream? How can hope get crushed?
Quote #3
He's a big, goofy dream, too, just like me. He likes to pretend he lives inside the comic books. I guess a fake life inside a cartoon is a lot better than his real life.
So I draw cartoons to make him happy, to give him other worlds to live inside.
I draw his dreams.
And he only talks about his dreams with me. And I only talk about my dreams with him. (3.118-3.121)
We know that Arnold and Rowdy are close because they share their dreams with each other. Their dreams are very different, though. Arnolds wants a different life outside of the reservation, while Rowdy is making do with living a "fake life" inside of his comic books. They both want to escape, but how are the ways in which Rowdy and Arnold want to escape actually very different?


text:
Michelle Schmude is chairperson in the department of Mass Communications and heads the advertising track. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor's degree in business and history. In 1999, she graduated from Point Park University in Pittsburgh with an International Master of Business Administration degree. Michelle received her Ed.D. from Wilkes University.
Upon her graduation from Pitt, Dr. Schmude served as a marketing associate with QED Communication and was an account executive for TCI, Media Services. Dr. Schmude held various positions in the admission office at Point Park University including the dean of full-time admission and was responsible for all admissions-related marketing and advertising. In addition to her role as chairperson of the department of Mass Communications, Dr. Schmude serves the college as director of college marketing and advertising at King's.
Dr. Schmude was named to the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal's "Top 25 Women in Business" for 2012. She has been selected to serve on the Marketing Task Force for the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania and editorial board for the Journal of Mass Communications and Journalism. In addition, she also serves on the following committees for the college: Catholic identity, strategic planning, enrollment management, and the web team. She is a member of the American Advertising Federation, Northeast Pennsylvania Chapter and is a faculty advisor for Lambda Pi Eta, the department of Mass Communications' National Honor Society, and the Media Club.
Dr. Schmude presented in April 2012 at the Global Landscapes Conference and in November at the Congregation of Holy Cross 2011 Communications Summit at the University of Notre Dame. She has presented numerous conference sessions on marketing and advertising in higher education institutions and admission trends at the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counselors Annual Conferences and the College Board Fall Counselors Workshop and Regional Forum. In 2009, Dr. Schmude along with Ms. Isabel Balsamo and Ms. Tish Last had their conference proposals accepted for the Governor's Conference on Higher Education and the Global Landscapes Conference: Business, Ethics, and Sustainability.


text:
Synonyms of speak in English:
2 we spoke the other day
converse, have a conversation, talk, communicate, chat, pass the time of day, have a word, gossip
informal have a confab, chew the fat
formal confabulate
6 you must speak to him about his rudeness
reprimand, rebuke, admonish, chastise, chide, upbraid, reprove, reproach, scold, remonstrate with, take to task
informal tell off, dress down, rap over the knuckles, come down on, give someone what for
formal castigate
If I am to speak for ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days; if an hour, I am ready now.
Woodrow Wilson, 28th US president
speak for
speak out
- if you've got a grievance, then speak outspeak publicly, speak openly, speak frankly, speak one's mind, sound off, stand up and be counted
Definition of speak in:
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text:
Family members of a man washed away by flood waters while rescue crews were trying to bring him and a woman to safety told KVUE News Wednesday that his body has been found.
Fred and Kathlyn List live in the neighborhood and were attempting to lead a visitor out of the subdivision Tuesday night when their car was stranded in the rushing waters north of Georgetown, near the Berry Creek Country Club.
A firefighter moved out to pull each of them to safety one at a time, but as they moved toward the end of the car, the force of the water swept them away. Kathlyn List, 78, who was wearing a life jacket given to her just moments earlier, floated down the raging floodwaters and was caught in two ropes rescue workers had thrown across the creek.
Fred List, 80, was not wearing a life jacket and disappeared into the water. Emergency workers spent the night looking for him from both the banks and above with a search helicopter. His body was found about a mile downstream.
Georgetown Spokesperson Keith Hutchinson said Fred List was not wearing a life jacket because rescue crews were trying to save the couple one at a time. They had planned to take his wife to safety first.
"It's certainly a tragedy," Hutchinson said.
Officials said a sensor was not working at the low-water crossing that automatically turns on flashing lights that warns drivers not to cross the creek. A city employee was in the process of manually turning on the lights and putting up barricades when the List's car drove over the bridge.
Neighbors wondered if more could have been done to save them.
"I'm not a rescue worker; I just think that something should have been done. Helicopters should have been brought in. sent down a rescue seat, a cable.... In the time that elapsed, I would have thought they could have had someone here," said Greg Witte, neighbor.
"It's always tough. Their job is to protect life and safety and are trained to handle this kind of event," Hutchinson said. "It's just... it's a hard thing for the family and a hard thing for the firefighters involved, but it's something everyone's trying to deal with this morning.
Kathlyn List was hospitalized, but she has since been released from the hospital.
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text:
The Big 12 Conference has announced a few changes to their 2014 football schedule to "provide national exposure for the matchups."
Listed below are the three games that have had their dates changed:
Saturday, September 6
– Oklahoma at Tulsa (ABC, ESPN or ESPN2)
– Originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20
Thursday, September 18
– Auburn at Kansas State (ESPN)
– Originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20
Saturday, September 20
– Oklahoma at West Virginia (TV Network TBA)
– Originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27
The 2014 football schedules for each team have been updated, as well as the 2014 Big 12 Football Helmet Schedule.
Also this afternoon, the Kansas State Wildcats officially announced their 2014 schedule. K-State was unable to release their schedule until the date of the Auburn game was resolved.
2014 Kansas State Football Schedule


text:
Michelle Obama is coming to Dallas next week
Here's the announcement from the White House.
The visit is part of a tour by the first lady to celebrate the second anniversary of Let's Move!, her initiative to combat childhood obesity.
On Thursday evening, she'll be in Fort Worth, meet over dinner at an Olive Garden with parents who are changing eating and exercise habits in their homes. The company that owns Olive Garden and other chains, including Red Lobster, last fall pledged to make kids' menus more healthy.
On Friday morning, Obama will join members of the Dallas Cowboys and chef contestants from past seasons Top Chef, the Bravo series, "to highlight the work being done in schools across America to provide healthier food to students."
On her trip, she'll also visit Des Moines, Iowa; Little Rock, Ark.; and Homestead, Longwood, and Orlando, Fla.


text:
Average Airfare At Tucson International Falls Below $400
Flights at Tucson International are getting cheaper, but still pricier than the national average
Flights at Tucson International are getting cheaper, but still pricier than the national average
Business, government leaders lament infrastructure issues hampering imports, exports.
Dry vegetation and blowing winds increase risk for hazardous dust storms.
One-stop site for all crisis information will be accessible by media, public.
Lawsuit plaintiff says Air Force gives inflated view of what base means to local economy.
Those with heart or lung conditions cautioned to avoid exposure to outdoors.
Four consecutive months of positive indicators, most March sales in 10 years.
Lower-priced sales dominate post recession volume, Realty association reports.
Third and final scheduled closure for work on Davidson Canyon Bridge
Mortgage and Consumer Law Group to present for those facing bankruptcy.
County transportation officials want to build safer intersections.
Owners of REhnu launches product thanks to mentorship from Startup Tucson.
Goldwater Institute claims it's unconstitutional because cost outweighs taxpayer benefit.
Low fossil fuel costs mean savings for utility customers for the next year.
County spends $66M a year on jail, aims for 18% fewer inmates through various programs.
Graffiti painted on exterior, courtyard walls some time Wednesday night.
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text:
By Mr Daniel Elkins (ACC )December 8, 2011
WEST POINT, N.Y. -- As the oldest continuously occupied military post in America, West Point creates an extraordinary workload for contracting professionals here who harmonize the post's modern needs with its rich history.
Contract actions by the Mission and Installation Contracting Command staff take into consideration the need to preserve a history dating back to the Revolutionary War while incorporating the latest state-of-the-art equipment in support of the post's 4,000-strong cadet corps, 25 intercollegiate athletic teams and premier performing arts center.
Taking on this challenge is the 35-member staff of the MICC Installation Contracting Office-West Point, responsible for planning, integrating, awarding and administering contracts in support of the academic dean's office, corps of cadets, garrison, department of public works, directorate of logistics as well as other installation customers and nearby 2nd Aviation Detachment at the Stewart Air National Guard Base.
"We have phenomenal employees," said Annemarie Kopko, ICO director. "We're in our own little corner of the world here, so it's pretty amazing that we're able to attract the people we do to work here. They're smart, motivated and excited about work; and I'm talking about people that have been here more than 20 years and those just walked in the door."
Dave Bugger, the MICC ICO-West Point former director, agreed and commended his staff's work ethic at a time when its workload is going up and a new major customer has just arrived at the post. The ICO was instrumental in the move of the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School from Fort Monmouth, N.J., to West Point in time for the July arrival of the first 246 cadet candidates.
Having served as director since 2006, Bugger's stint with the ICO-West Point began in 1990 and wrapped up in September with his retirement. He points out that the very building in which the contracting office resides is a classic example of the length to which the post leaders attempt to preserve its history.
"It used to be the military police station until it was renovated in the mid-1990s," he said. "The engineer who ran the project said if we would have just knocked it down a new building would have cost less. We preserved the shell of the building and basically gutted the inside."
Kopko said the MICC ICO-West Point is presently administering a $9.2 million construction project in-house as part of a multiple award task order contract through the Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization program.
The program aims to keep the inventory of Defense Department facilities in good working order by addressing day-to-day maintenance requirements as well as fund the restoration of aging facilities.
The number of contract actions and modifications for the office remained constant from 2006 to 2009 but jumped by more than 35 percent to 3,358 in 2010. The amount of dollars obligated has also seen a recent spike from $122 million in 2006 to more than $144 million in 2010 and cover the gamut of acquisitions.
"I remember when I first came here, one of my first procurements was to buy a wind tunnel," Kopko said. "We also buy lasers and all kinds of test equipment to support academic research."
Contracting experts also played a major role in the renovation, lighting and sound system of West Point's Eisenhower Hall Theater, which annually hosts national entertainers from stage and music and served as the setting for President Barrack Obama's 2009 address to the nation concerning the surge in Afghanistan.
"It's the second largest performing arts theater on the East Coast, next to Radio City Music Hall, offering a Broadway-caliber venue for performing arts and attracting some of the biggest artists," Bugger said.
From the stage to the sports field, contracting professionals constantly find themselves having to become experts on subjects they've never dreamed of, including football stadium turf.
"We have NCAA-caliber athletic teams here, so it's important that the fields these teams play on meet NCAA standards," Bugger said. "Following a change in technology to Astroturf to reduce injury, West Point's Michie Stadium was one of the first to install the new surface."
"That took a lot of research, and we worked with the football coach and officials from Giants Stadium. The sample proposals we received looked like something for a science project in a clear plastic box with a crosscut of dirt and turf," Kopko added. "Some procurements are very complicated but interesting, and you always walk away learning something."