Pulitzer Prize Winners Announced

MIAMI HERALD PHOTOJOURNALIST WINS BREAKING NEWS, NYT PHOTOG WINS FEATURES.

By Charles E. Roop

View the story and photos from the NPPA: http://nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2009/04/pulitzer01.html

Day at the Dog Park

IMG_0411_edit.jpg, originally uploaded by thewxmanjeckel_83.

Remembering 9.11.01

080911_911memorial_CR1, originally uploaded by thewxmanjeckel_83.

University of Florida journalism senior Marilia Brocchetto walks by the Sept. 11 Memorial on the Plaza of the Americas on campus Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008. The memorial was sponsored by the College Republicans at the University of Florida. It contains 2,977 flags, which represent the number of deaths from the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks from the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Frisbee Fiend

Frisbee Fiend, originally uploaded by thewxmanjeckel_83.

Jack Zhang, a material science junior, attempts to catch a frisbee on the north lawn near the Reitz Union on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Fla. on Wednesday, September 3, 2008.

UF and Hawaii

By Charles E. Roop

I know, I know, it’s a little late for these photos since the Hawaii and UF football game was Labor Day weekend. Better late than never, eh?

Get Your Posters Here…

Get Your Posters Here…, originally uploaded by thewxmanjeckel_83.

People stand and check out the poster sale at the Reitz Union colonade at the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Fla. on Monday, August 25, 2008.

Fay Update – Early Mon. PM

By Charles E. Roop

ORMOND BEACH, FLA. – I am back online and checking the stats of Tropical Storm Fay. Things have shifted a little from last night’s post. The storm has moved off shore of Cuba. The center of circulation seems to be moving more north from looking at the Key West radar. The NHC have the storm moving slightly east of what was predicted last night. However, I am now wondering if this more 0-degree-appearing track will alter the forecast and have it hit more Monroe or Lee county.

I am noticing some deep troughing going on higher than 300 mb and wonder if this will cause this to make a northeast turn early or not. This is a tough one to track and will leave me pondering what will happen for the next day or so.

As for intensity, I think

Most of the models have this storm as a tropical storm before landfall. I agree. I do not think that it will have enough time to gather strength before it strikes.

So, here is what I think right now: there is a good chance this will make landfall somewhere near Lee County (Naples-ish) as a tropical storm and the forecast track will, at least, be a little further east than what the NHC is currently saying. Will I be right? Time will tell. Stay tuned.

Day Two…

By Charles E. Roop

ORMOND BEACH, FLA. – By the looks of this sign, it seems that the Volusia County Beach Patrol has a lot of work to do when it comes to traffic control. But that’s okay. So far, it’s been a decent vacation. There has not been much rain in the Daytona Beach vicinity and Erin and I were able to do some swimming. After some dining this evening, Erin and I decided to take our annual four-mile walk from our timeshare to the Daytona Beach pier. We left at around 6 p.m. and got back at around 10 p.m. I am little surprised that we got there and back so quickly. I guess we must have hit a time warp.

Now I am back in the luxurious lounge checking my email and weather data, which leaves me to T.S. Fay.

The storm is getting to be a pain to track and predict. The convection has frequently fluctuated and moved during the day. From looking at recent infrared satellite images, the convection has shifted to the south central island of Cuba. Winds are still at 50 mph and the movement has slowed to 10 mph (this could be a sign that a northerly turn could occur soon).

The forecast models are also starting to move in different directions. Half of the models have the storm moving more north-northwest to the Pensacola area while other models have the storm still hitting near Tampa Bay and moving north-northeast. As of 11 p.m., the NHC is following the latter and using it as the official track.

I am not sure what will happen with this storm now when it comes to intensity and track. The storm is a little flimsy with the center of circulation and the models are splitting. I am not sure if it will reach hurricane strength or it will, God forbid, rapidly intensify and move in higher than a category two. I will keep checking back as much as I can. Stay tuned.

On vacation…and watching Fay

By Charles E. Roop

ORMOND BEACH, FLA. – Erin and I are in Ormond Beach at my mother’s timeshare just chllin’ in the owners lounge. They did a good job renovating this room. I feel like I am some ritzy room where I should have a nice glass of expensive wine. Anywho, no photos yet. I have mostly been getting video, but there could be something up later.

Erin and I arrived in town at 2 p.m. and noticed a cloudy and wet beach. The Daytona Beach vicinity was rocked with heavy showers. It has since been on and off rain, so not much beach or pool time. Erin, mom, my step-dad and I had some dinner near the boardwalk and browsed around for a little bit. We did some shopping and came back to our place to get some pool and spa time.

However, I am a little concerned that a little tropical storm named Fay will screw up the rest of our time in town. As of now, the NHC official forecast has Fay making landfall as a small hurricane south of Tampa Bay Tuesday afternoon and moving north passing by Gainesville on Wednesday. The forecast models have been fluctuating slightly from left to right for the last couple of days. Now, most are in agreement with a west coast lanfall (or brush) with a couple of odd-balls (including the GFDL) making a cross over the state while other models (including the NOGAPS/Navy model) have Fay move more west in longitude.

A weakness in the ridge is expected to move Fay more north 36 hours from now according to the latest NHC discussion. Where it will go after the turn is up for debate. As of 8 p.m., central Florida is now in the 3-day cone of error (and I bet at the 11 p.m. or 7 a.m. advisory, the entire peninsula will be in the cone). I, as well as the rest of the state, will and should monitor the progress of the storm. I will check the stats whenever I get a break from my break and will let you know what’s up.

Stay tuned.

The Chess Master

By Charles E. Roop

Caption: Daniel Ludwig plays chess with one of 20 people simultaneously at the New Engineering Building on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Fla. on Wednesday, August 6, 2008.