Posts on Kyle Anderson

PDF Rendering Service

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 11:13:15 -0500

Technologies Used

MongoDB, Redis, Chromium (via puppeteer), Handlebars.js, npm, socket.io

Goal

Generating and mailing letters is a common task for every business, and my current employer is no exception. Many letters are created using Mail Merge or a third-party application - processes that are inaccessible to the Node.js services we develop.

The first service to require PDF rendering was one that created monthly statements for mortgage borrowers. The original implementation used the now deprecated PhantomJS headless browser and was baked-in to the single-threaded service. Additionally, there was only one template for every statement.

Bike Stolen, Bike Recovered, Thief Arrested. All in the span of a couple of hours.

Sun, 29 Oct 2017 03:19:04 -0400

Bike stolen, bike recovered, thief arrested, all within a couple of hours.

Confessions of a Human Hat Rack

Mon, 27 Mar 2017 19:26:42 -0400

Changing careers and asking, “Who exactly am I?”

Analysis of Reddit's /r/popular

Thu, 16 Feb 2017 13:10:56 -0500

This post was adapted from the original Reddit post.

In light of Reddit’s release of /r/popular, I wanted to get a sense for exactly which subreddits were being filtered out. The admins apparently decided to not release a list of those filtered subreddits just yet.

Approach

9,000 posts worth of metadata (mainly subreddit, domain, and author) was gathered from both /r/all and /r/popular for every possible time span until Reddit stopped returning fresh results. After that, a straightforward comparison was used to generate the chart above. NSFW posts were excluded for the purpose of generating this chart.

Why I'm Leaving CNN

Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:58:08 -0400

CNN comes under criticism from the top minds of Reddit on a regular basis:

/r/Wikileaks - Censorship: CNN Cuts feed of Rep. Chris Collins When He Brings Up WikiLeaks

/r/The_Donald - CNN CAUGHT ON OPEN MIC. Tells “focus group” voters what to say about tonight’s debate!!!

/r/HillaryForPrison - CNN Cuts Live Feed When Reporter Talks Poorly of Hillary Clinton

Outrageous! Clearly, I cannot conscionably continue to support such shoddy journalism! I quit!

… Except, these are all conspiracy theories.

Line Timing Semi-Automation with Microservices

Wed, 05 Oct 2016 21:45:05 -0400

Two microservices for video router and proc amp control, plus a real-time web interface for timing incoming video signals

Aperio

Sat, 27 Aug 2016 20:06:28 -0400

Common API proposal for sharing business application data between applications

Battling WordPress Malware with Git & Logstash

Fri, 20 May 2016 13:20:33 -0400

For years, this site and several others hosted on its server fell victim to a series of malware attacks. This is the post-mortem of how I discovered and recovered from the infections.

Background

KyleAnderson.us started in 2009 as my first WordPress site. It was originally on a shared host, so naturally my only interactions with it were through cPanel and WordPress itself. This was all fine and dandy, so I took on several other WordPress installations for my good friend Troy and we agreed to split the hosting cost.

TX Map

Sat, 05 Sep 2015 19:08:57 -0400

Data from a proprietary billing application is translated into geographic coordinates then plotted on a map to demo all of the feeds CNN Satellites is working on.

User Avatar Lookup

Tue, 01 Sep 2015 21:37:37 -0400

Automates lookup of user profile pictures / avatars using names provided by SharePoint.

Test-Driven, Angular Slot Game for Fish

Thu, 30 Jul 2015 14:28:56 -0400

From concept to production in under a week: a test-driven Angular slot game built for Adult Swim’s FishCenter Live.

CNN ScriptScrape

Thu, 25 Jun 2015 18:33:31 -0400

MongoDB + Node.js project to gather on-air scripts for analysis. One statistic from this project was included with a question to Jeff Zucker.

Multi-Email Post Node

Fri, 10 Apr 2015 19:04:53 -0400

Simplifies posting to WordPress for multiple users and categories. Built with Node.js and PHP

Weeknight Project: Headon Reddit Bot

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 06:21:39 -0400

The Front Page of the Internet has an untold number of bots accessing and posting content every second. Some contribute valuable context, like autowikibot, which replies to WikiPedia links with an article summary and other links.

Then there’s headonbot.

This is exactly what headonbot aspires to do - what it only aspires to do.

Headonbot was written in Node.js using the snoocore Reddit API driver. This was my first go at writing a Reddit bot, and it hasn’t been field tested yet. So, here’s hoping the script stays alive long enough to beat this joke even further into the ground.

Recipe: Sous-Vide Rosemary Pork Chops with Fig Compote

Sat, 06 Dec 2014 00:09:46 -0500

Pork chops are one of those tricky foods to cook. I’m willing to bet at least half of the chops you’ve ever had were tough and/or dry to some degree. This has a lot to do with the use of direct heat, fast cooking time and a lingering adherence to the old USDA recommended internal temperature of 160º F. (In 2011, the temperature was lowered to 145º F.) The sous-vide cooking method - rediscovered by French and American engineers in the 1960s and recently popularized by Nathan Myhrvold’s Modernist Cuisine - takes a wholly nontraditional approach to cooking, one that is more involved yet eliminates overdone meats once and for all.

BEST Bingo

Thu, 04 Sep 2014 19:14:58 -0400

Interactive, trivia-bingo fusion, employee engagement game built for BEST.

When Cooking Becomes Tenuous, in a Good Way

Sat, 09 Aug 2014 23:57:24 -0400

Using sous-vide, and following many failed attempts at Modernist cooking, I’ve successfully, pleasantly produced Ginger Garlic Steak, grill-seared. Here’s how!

Nonogram Puzzles and Adventures in Programming

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 14:21:52 -0400

I was in a rut, so one slow Saturday I forced myself to learn JavaScript. The result was Nonogram… Free!, a picture-puzzle game with its own puzzle maker.

Can't Waste Good Walking Weather!

Mon, 19 Aug 2013 18:17:59 -0400

The Atlanta area has seen heavily overcast skies with the occasional drizzle over the last several days - Portland style - and boy has it been wonderful.

Mild temperatures begged me to go outside and walk with Goose. Not only did we leave the house four days in a row (where we normally go out once every three days), we also set personal distance records.

Thanks to the lack of glaring sunlight, we were able to hit the 6 mile mark on Friday and the 5 mile mark today. Without the overcast skies, we both are kaput at 4 miles. Gotta love it!

Vacation Walks - Flagstaff and Phoenix

Wed, 07 Aug 2013 15:46:29 -0400

Walking on a regular basis just wasn’t part of my lifestyle growing up. (Maybe the extreme heat of the Mohave desert played a role in this.) But once I moved on to college in Flagstaff, living on a pedestrian campus for four years demanded it. Walking to most places instead of driving is something I truly miss about living in Flag.

Thankfully, I had the opportunity to visit Arizona and see some old friends and meander through the streets I used to know so well as a college student. The weather could not have been better.

Walk 6: Not a Cloud in the Sky (And that's not a good thing.)

Thu, 18 Jul 2013 22:16:19 -0400

77-83° | Comfy then Hot | 4.53 mi.

Continuing on with being ambitious, Goose and I tried to hit 5 miles once again. This time, it was the heat that made us fall short. What started out as comfortable weather quickly turned into a hot mess as the sun beat down unopposed.

After perusing beautiful neighborhoods we hadn’t seen before (above), we reached the downtown square and Goose was ready to quit. He was panting more heavily than usual and took every opportunity he could to take a break. He’s such a loyal dog, though, and will always hop up ready to go whenever I decide a break is over. I’m just trying my best to not push his body too far.

Instead of literally going the extra mile (home), I popped in to Starbucks and borrowed Haley’s car, offering to pick her up at the end of her shift. This worked out well, and goose was perfectly fine once he was back home. Overall, an average walk but I’m glad we got it in!

Walk 5: Doggy Socializing Time!

Mon, 15 Jul 2013 13:28:23 -0400

73° | Mostly Cloudy/Mild | 4.27 mi.

By some miracle, I was up before 9 a.m. today, so I was eager to get outside before the temps rose. I was also a little ambitious about walking five miles today and left it at four and a quarter, mainly because when we passed the dog park there were three other dogs playing! Couldn’t pass that opportunity up, since this park seems to be pretty quiet during the week.

We met a very nice grandmother and her three grandchildren, and Goose got to play with their dog Sodie (as in sodie-pop) as well as another woman’s two dogs, Coco (above) and Shelly. One of the young boys (about 8 years old) told me about a time when he ate a Lego. Good job, kid!

Dog parks are great when others are around because when the dogs get along, you get along. Interactions like this give such a great sense of community.

So, even though we didn’t hit 5 miles today, our 4.27 miles was apparently a personal record plus Goose got a ton of romping and running out at the park.

Note for the charts below: The huge spike was caused by an unusually long traffic light with an awkward crossing. Gonna have to find a way around that intersection, especially since it’s a two lane road leading up to it with no sidewalks.

Walk 4: Walks over games, apparently.

Sat, 13 Jul 2013 22:18:31 -0400

74° | At Dusk | 3.75 mi.

After taking a ridiculous amount of overtime at work this coming week, I made a conscious decision to relax as much as possible today, especially by playing the many games I’ve acquired through this and previous years’ Steam Summer sales. (This year: Bioshock Infinite, CS complete, Borderlands 2 w/ DLC, LA Noire w/ DLC, and Antichamber.)

But there’s something about the weekend that just draws me to do things around the house, so I did. After most of the work was wrapped up, I took Goose outside for a walk to take advantage of the mild evening temperatures I’m normally busy during.

We hit the square first. (Goose likes to people watch.) Then we did our 3 mile walk in reverse, but when we got closer to home, it was clear we both had enough energy to go a bit farther, so we did. Pretty satisfying late-evening walk, and Goose got a nice bath afterward.

Walk 3: Sweaty Neighborhood Roaming

Fri, 12 Jul 2013 16:55:36 -0400

80° | Partly Cloudy | Hot.

When you approach something from a different angle, you’re bound to see it differently. We set out on a route opposite of what we normally take, starting with a climb up 40 feet instead of ending with a slope down. So even after passing it many times before, I noticed this wonderfully odd house for the first time:

I almost didn’t go on this walk, but Haley said that Goose was rambunctious all morning and needed to let out some energy. I took care of some hard drive/file juggling and we set out, though I half regret not leaving sooner - the outside temperature rose five degrees in that time.

Goose was breathing pretty heavily half way through, and I was cramping up from yesterday’s 4-miler, so we cut this one short at 2.5 miles and 2 water breaks. At least we got some time in.

Walk 2: Misty and Wonderful

Thu, 11 Jul 2013 14:40:45 -0400

73° | Overcast | 80% chance precip.

Goose and I tried a new four mile route today, stopping twice for a water break. We also made it to Starbucks by the square just at the end of Haley’s shift to surprise her with a visit. (I tried one of their new soda drinks - the spiced root beer [venti, 180cal] - and it was pretty good. Maybe not $3.25 good, but pretty good.)

The weather was my idea of perfect - room temperature and misty with overcast skies. Overall pretty enjoyable, though the route we took could use fewer main thoroughfares, as it’s noisy and makes Goose anxious.

Walk 1: Not really a walk

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 13:06:25 -0400

This weekend’s yard work amounted to about 15 miles worth of walking, all before this blog’s first official walk.

WalkBlog Introduction

Fri, 05 Jul 2013 17:59:26 -0700

It would be an understatement to say the last four months have been eventful. From buying a new home, to adopting a (then) three-month-old puppy, a lot has unfolded in such a relatively short amount of time.

Assuming so much responsibility has significantly accelerated the amount of work I voluntarily put into my home, my family, and myself. Chores no longer carry the usual negative connotation as everything I do to maintain and improve life for my family gives a sense of pride and accomplishment. I feel strong ownership of action, more than ever before, and I’m compelled to make the best out of every moment.

Let's Go, Goose!

Fri, 28 Jun 2013 18:19:49 -0700

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6nEA5FyBxA

This video was shot with a GoPro camera attached to Goose’s walking harness. I’ve been told it can be a tad nauseating, but at least it’s only a minute short.

Track by FLYamSAM - “The Offbeat”

EDM Looking Glass - Complete

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 13:48:36 -0500

This project really stretched my editing muscle and patience. Forget basic projects where a timeline had a few bits of audio and video with maybe a few titles and transitions. The vision I had when I first recorded the mixset in July sealed in an editing destiny of heavy use of cuts, speed adjustments, and frame-by-frame alignments, not to mention gathering and capturing hours of footage from VHS tapes

EDM Looking Glass - Previews

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:42:14 -0400

In the year plus since leaving the west and starting work at CNN, I’ve been focusing intently on my career in professional video production so much that I have neglected personal projects. This fact began to trouble me recently, and after helping a good friend find his way around Premiere Pro, I became inspired to work on a project of my own.

Two months ago, I created and published “edm looking glass #1,” originally and blandly titled “glitched creation,” to satisfy the urge to make something not for work. It’s a minute and a half montage of archive film and VHS footage set to modern electronic dance music, or EDM. The particular song was “Choose Me II” by Xilent, recently featured on BT’s compilation album “Laptop Symphony.”

New Mixset - djSquared

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:27:26 -0400

A new half hour mix named after the first song in the set and the caring nature through which I made this set, WTFuck starts in electro house and ends in dubstep and is the cumulation of several weekends of work - picking tracks, mixing, and creating the album art. WTFuck is available for listening as a direct download below. Enjoy!

Click here to download WTFuck by djSquared.

Allstate Commercial

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:49:55 -0700

Download the video

Allstate Commercial

Suburbia and its culturally draining impact

Sun, 22 May 2011 15:41:39 -0700

As I was standing in line at the grocery store, a friend I was with started wondering aloud why people would care so much about the endless celebrity drama portrayed on tabloid covers. The gossip industry is a highly competitive and profitable one. Publishers are often willing to pay a photographer tens or even hundreds of thousands to get that one most-desired shot. After giving this some thought, I believe the popularity of tabloids, among many other cultural phenomena, are indirectly connected to the influx of suburban sprawl the United States has seen in recent decades.

Effects of physical community arrangement

Before suburbs became popular with Americans, the three main components of society - residential, commercial, and industrial sectors (thanks for engraining those in my head, SimCity) - were very close together. Sometimes, one could find all three sectors in the same building. But, as societies continued to grow, the urban areas became overcrowded and busy, and as a result, people developed a desire for a blend between rural countryside lifestyles while still maintaining easy access to cities.

The predecessor to today’s suburbs were very much literal cabins in the woods, according to architecture author and novelist James Kunstler in his TED talk in 2004. Once these lone homes became popular in the 1950s, vast tracts of them were constructed and created the types of suburbs many of us live in today. While the original idea of a suburb was to live away from the city, while still close enough to it to commute, commercial and industrial sectors began to move into the suburbs to accommodate the rising number of suburban-dwellers. Demand for commercial and especially industrial sectors in urban environments fell dramatically once significant portions of a city’s population moved away from the city’s center, and the three main societal sectors became segregated.

Suburbs have now furthered the need to commute between locations. Before suburbs, people were naturally brought together in public spaces. When a city’s population is able to live, work and play in close quarters, the need to commute is reduced and can even be eliminated. Suburb-dwellers, though, must travel anywhere from ten to thirty minutes to go anywhere significant beside their homes. A tremendous issue of isolation exists for people living in suburbs.

Promotional Video: Sun Sounds of Arizona

Tue, 17 May 2011 09:26:45 -0700


Project Meta Camera: Canon XH-A1 Editor: Final Cut 7 Graphics: Photoshop CS5 Primary Role: Producer

Sun Sounds of Arizona is a local non-profit that provides access to printed materials, primarily periodicals and local newspapers, that the visually impaired otherwise wouldn’t have access to. I was asked to lead a team of two photographers and one editor to produce a 5-7 minute promotional video for the organization. For this, we used a documentary-style approach and gathered interviews from listeners of the service as well as volunteer readers.

"Envisioning the New Flagstaff" - Documentary

Mon, 09 May 2011 11:59:20 -0700


Project Meta Cameras: Canon T2i Canon XH-A1 Editor: Premiere Pro CS5

In 2009, I covered the Arts and Business summit hosted by the Flagstaff Arts and Business alliance for NAZ Today. It was at that summit that I learned how interconnected the art industry is with the local economy - that the arts mean business. Since that summit, I’ve noticed that a rising number of galleries in downtown Flagstaff have been closing their doors. This project is an attempt to overview what exactly is changing in the art industry and what the future of art in Flagstaff is by talking with local business owners, art leaders, and artists about the state of the art-based economy, business strategies, and the importance of the First Friday ArtWalk.

Get Your Fashion Fix on Route 66

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:13:46 -0700


Project Meta Cameras: Panasonic HMC-150 (x3) Editor: Final Cut 7

Every other fall, the merchandising program at the NAU School of Communication produces a fashion show featuring local designers alongside student designers. I first participated in documenting this event in 2008 under poor lighting and audio conditions. This time around, in 2010, the venue, and thusly the production quality, changed for the better. This 42 minute program was filmed in HD on Panasonic SD-card-based cameras. For this production, I served as one of the camera operators and the editor. Original shooting date was in November, but it was only recently completed because it was done pro-bono.

A vow to never be alone.

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:44:16 -0700

When I get home, my roommates are typically talking about such varied topics as ultimate fighting, computer programming, and escapades I can’t particularly disclose in public.

This is something I spent the first 18 years of my life without.

I’m about to graduate from Northern Arizona University. My parents and American society in general told me that I needed a degree to get a good job. That’s probably true, but what I’ve gained the most from this college experience is not an education. It’s social conditioning.

Southern California Edison demolishes Mohave smoke stack

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:10:38 -0700

The smoke stack in mid-fall. (Photo: Brandon Neuman/NAZ Today)

LAUGHLIN, Nev. – Southern California Edison demolished an approximately 41-story smoke stack this morning, which had landmarked the Mohave Generation Station and the Colorado River Valley. The plant had been decommissioned in late 2005, and today, the first major phase of demolition was completed.

“It was a great resource for power and it was also a great resource for jobs locally,” said Steven Conroy, spokesperson for Edison.

Bridal Spectacular - Tuxedo Solo, January 2011

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:23:21 -0700


Project Meta Cameras: Sony DSR-250 Sony PD100 equivalent Editor: Premiere Pro CS5

This is a two-camera edit of the tuxedo fashion show number from the Bridal Spectacular’s January 2011 show. The addition of the second, handheld camera wasn’t planned, and the second camera was in full-auto mode. While it’s not perfect, the shakiness kind of adds to the energetic nature of this particular song. Unfortunately, trying to correct the sometimes over-blown images from the second camera didn’t work out, so it’s there as it was. Also note that I’m running the front-of-house camera and managing the projector feed at the same time, hence the strange panning at the beginning.

Brief with Lighting Designer David Hartley

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:21:38 -0700

David Harley has been working as a professional lighting designer and general audio/visual guru for over thirty years. I caught up with him at the Bridal Spectacular convention, one of the events in Las Vegas which has hired me for video coverage of their fashion shows. In the slideshow below, Hartley gives a glimpse into his life as a lighting designer.

Download the video

Reminiscing: Middle School Book Drive (2002)

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:54:20 -0700

Prior to high school, I was a bona-fide overachiever. This included a duty as president of my middle school’s National Junior Honor Society. During my 8th grade year, we ran a book drive for the elementary school nearest ours, one I believe was deemed an “at-risk” school under the No Child Left Behind Act. Our initial goal of collecting 1,000 children’s books was shattered with a final count somewhere around 4,500 books. Here is the news report highlighting the event, which aired around December 15, 2002. (Warning: My elocution and sweater-belt are completely terrible.)

Sedona Sky Drive

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 21:16:33 -0700


Project Meta Camera: Canon Rebel T2i Editor: Premiere Pro CS5

“Sedona Sky Drive” is a video that I recorded while driving from Sedona to Flagstaff, Ariz. on highway 89A. A rising trend on the internet is taking driving videos like this one and mirroring the top half of the frame on the bottom. This simple transformation eliminates the road, for the most part, and makes the visuals surreal beyond belief. The original inspiration for this video came from “Tokoyo Sky Drive”

Rock-A-Hoola Water Park - Abandoned

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 21:14:47 -0700

I always enjoy exploring abandoned locales, and Rock-A-Hoola is no exception. This abandoned water park is located along the I-15 in southern California. I believe the location (i.e. the middle of nowhere) is the reason why this and the accompanying master-planned resort community went under in less than a decade of operation. As with many abandoned sites, it’s slightly depressing to think about what it was like before it was left to rot - the happy visitors playing in these pools, children splashing and laughing just as I did at Wet-N-Wild in Las Vegas. Be sure to check out the promotional video for the park below.

Click to enter gallery.

Stories from InsideNAU

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 10:00:03 -0700

This semester, I took a part-time job as a reporter for InsideNAU, a PR/news program that focuses specifically on NAU happenings and events. I produced five packages for the show throughout the semester, doing the writing, editing, and some shooting. I enjoyed doing all of these stories; Below are four of the packages, from most to least favorite.

S05E04 - Astronomy Club

Download the video

Collection: Digital Photography and Workflow

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 17:07:18 -0700

Over the summer, I purchased my first digital SLR, a Canon T2i. It was quite the transition for me since most of my photographic career leading up to this semester has been film-based. Overall, I’m happy with the transition. Two classes have forced me to take more pictures; here are some of my favorite shots; not all of which were taken specifically for class.

(Click the image above to launch gallery.)

Bridal Spectacular 2011 TV Ad

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:20:23 -0700


Project Meta Cameras: Sony DSR-250 Editor: Premiere Pro CS4

Below is the second advertisement I produced for the Bridal Spectacular bridal show in Las Vegas. I’ve worked for the Bridal Spectacular since I was in high school, and I’ve been filming the fashion shows for a couple of years now. The show is put on twice per year at the Cashman Center convention hall. For more info on the show, check out their website.

Documentary: Coconino Amateur Radio Club at The Grand Canyon Marathon

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:23:06 -0700

A documentary about the Coconino Amateur Radio Club at the Grand Canyon Marathon.

"Good Night and Good Luck" Trailer

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:42:41 -0700


Project Meta Editor: Final Cut 6

One of this year’s class assignments involved taking a movie and making a trailer out of it. I decided to use one of my favorite films, “Good Night and Good Luck,” a story about Edward R. Murrow’s fight against Senator Joseph McCarthy’s unconstitutional investigations and prosecutions in his crusade against communism. (I also used a sound byte from the film in one of my DJ mixes here.)

When Everything Falls Apart

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:09:58 -0700

There’s hardly anything like the emotion of a girl who just heard her father is dead.

Vance White’s eyes. Somewhat related. (One of the few photos I have access to since my computer is out of service.)

What should we hold dear? Some things? Everything? Nothing? Most people won’t live to see the age of 100. Material possessions come and go for a myriad of reasons. And the Earth? Check back in 5 billion years.

Thoughts on Perspective

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 22:22:46 -0700

‘You won’t last six months in this town.’ - Anonymous

If you’re sensible, you take an indirect hint from the broke fuckers who spend half their lives wasting away at the blackjack table, pounding back cigarette after drink after sorrow.

“It’s always like this,” The stranger across the table from me says after yet another losing hand.

I was in the same boat as him, walking away from the cards with 2/3 fewer chips than I started with. Thankfully, the $60 I used to bet with all came from video poker winnings from earlier. No matter what, I told myself, I’m leaving here $20 up.

Greed got the best of me that night. Though ending the night with a profit, it was much less than it could have been. After hitting two four of a kinds on video poker, I had turned my initial $40 into $150 for $110 profit. Half an hour and two more free beers, and that dropped to $60 profit, and I cashed out. It was 4 a.m., and this is when I tried to sleep and couldn’t. So I tried my luck at blackjack at 6 in the morning. On a Sunday. Though I lost winnings, I convinced the pit boss to comp me breakfast.

There are two ways to look at this situation I put myself in. Either I could have won more, got greedy and lost, or I simply won $20, free food and drinks, and a night out. All of this seems to relate back to a concept I recently read about called the anchoring effect.

Mixset - "21"

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:39:43 -0700

For the first time in a long while, I’ve recorded a DJ mixset, and named after turning 21 in 2010. The original concept for this mix was to have 21 tracks to represent my 21st birthday, but that seemed a bit overkill. I was also trying to work some hip-hop into it, but that didn’t work either. In the end, I recorded an improvised, electro house set that’s 10 tracks and 40 minutes long. It’s great to dance to, and it includes some of my favorite electro tracks of the past year. (And only two of them are popular tracks, which is lower than average for my mixes.)

BT Spins in Vegas; Ravers _____ in Phoenix

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:11:25 -0700

Standing in this massive line was ridiculous, I thought. $45 gets me this? But after a few directions and the flash of a wristband, I was in.

BT, and his vocal accompaniment JES, performed at Rain Nightclub at the Palms Resort and Casino Saturday night, and it was a hell of a show.

You’re gonna have to trust me - this is BT.

Granted, this was my first nightclub experience, so it might as well have been all the same as any other club. But what made this particular venue attractive on this particular night was the man himself, BT.

A crooked hallway plastered in tiny mirrors beings me in to the club. The place is pounding with music. And people.

You have to shove past everyone in a club like this, but they’re all attractive, so I guess it doesn’t matter. Shoving past people for five minutes got me to a relatively uncrowded bar.

“What’s strong and cheap?” I asked the bartender after observing a guy pay $7 for a cheap beer. He gave me a double rum and coke for $13.

Waiting for the first DJ to finish, I stood on the upper balcony next to people I couldn’t hear. I watched as security guards ushered people, cleaned up drinks, etc. The dance floor was packed, and there was no telling where I’d end up if I tried to enter it. Best keep my distance.

Salton City - Environmental, Economical Disaster Remnants

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:45:47 -0700

Salton City, Calif. is a failed resort city established in the late 1950s. Roads were constructed, ammenities were built, but no one bought houses in the master-planned community. The death of the city came when the corporation that started the venture, the Holly Sugar Corp., supposedly bailed on the project when it didn’t seem profitable enough. Combined with rising salt levels in the sea and a pair of tropical storms hitting the area, the dream of building a vacation lifestyle community in the stark heat of the Imperial Valley was shattered.

Today, driven to the Sea by low prices and a slumping economy, some have built small trailer homes on land that was supposed to be reserved for pristine vacation houses. The poor condition of the sea water has led to an environmental downfall, which makes the desire to live in such an area questionable.

Several times I read about Salton City, Calif. online and wanted to take a visit. Recently, I was able to. The sights and smells were incredible and disgusting: paltry life and a wasted environment. The sand isn’t made of rocks. It’s made of weathered and broken-down fish skeletons. This environmental damage has been reoccurring for decades.

Photo Blog: Southern California, Summer 2010

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:43:53 -0700

After finishing work with the NHTV Breda workshops, I traveled from Flagstaff to Las Vegas, and then, after a week, to southern California to see my dad, who moved to the city of Brea for a new job. The following pictures were taking along this trip. After my visit in California, I’ll be traveling to Phoenix to see a few friends.

A rollover accident on the I-15 on the way to California. This was before first responders arrived, and there were people on top of the car trying to get people out of the overturned car.

Covering the Critical Story - Schultz Fire, Flagstaff

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 23:54:56 -0700

Last Sunday was supposed to be one of my first actual days off in a while. I slept in until noon, thinking that nothing could bother me today.

I checked the usual: Phone, e-mail, etc. Reports had been coming in since 10:30 of a wildfire very close to the Flagstaff area. “Another one?” I thought. Flagstaff had an extremely close, 350 acre wildfire start the day before, called the Hardy Fire.

A long exposure of the Hardy Fire southeast of Flagstaff the night after it started.

Using preliminary information from APSN, I wrote a blurb and posted it on NAZ Today’s website. Little did I know that this would just be the beginning.

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today) - Another fire in the Flagstaff area has sparked up in the Schultz Pass area, approximately six miles north of the Flagstaff downtown area.

Evacuations of the now 50-acre fire are beginning in Timberline, Wupatki Trail, and Fort Timberline neighborhoods with Wupatki Estates and Fernwood on standby. With 15-17 mph winds gusting to 30 mph, this fire is growing rapidly.

According to APSN, the fire is active on both sides of the forest service road 420, and four air tankers, as well as two helicopters have been requested to help extinguish the fire.

The Flagstaff Airport is now redirecting all air traffic so that air tankers can easily come into the area, according to APSN.

The ‘mushroom cloud’ of smoke from the start of the Schultz Fire, early Sunday afternoon as seen from the NAU campus.

Abandoned Route 66 Icons Point to New Future

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:02:11 -0700

Think of the modern American road trip. Where are people headed? Where do they stop along the way, and why? As US Highway 66 was developed and populated, midwesterners traveled the historic road from Chicago to Santa Monica, with many popular stops in the state of Arizona. But in many cases, unlike the road warriors of today, the highway itself was the destination, not a town or city.

That mentality seems to be all but gone now. With a faster and higher-capacity Interstate system in place, highway travel is seen more as an inconvenience than an experience.

Peter Dedeck wrote in his book, Hip To the Trip: A Cultural History of Route 66, “Route 66 fell victim to its own success.” That success is the highway’s efficient planning. 66 followed the contours of the terrain, whereas other US highways such as US 30 and 40 did not.

Such an efficient and speedy way to head west gained popularity, and by the time the Interstate system was being developed in the 1950s, a culture was bred around the highway. Gas stations were established, roadside attractions were built, and popular artists wrote songs and made films about the expressway to the west.

That culture was disbanded when the Interstate was constructed. Many sections of Route 66, the most efficient paths, were paved over by Interstate highways. Dedek writes, “In 1985, Route 66 existed existed only as a series of mostly disused strips of eroding pavement stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles.”

And as many of the sections of Route 66 disappeared, so did the businesses that thrived off of them.

According to Dedek, the “funeral” for Route 66 was held in Williams, Ariz. in 1984. Icons from the highway’s culture gathered on main street to say goodbye to America’s Main Street.

In that same region, two abandoned structures along Route 66 struck a particular interest: Pine Springs and Twin Arrows. One of them is leading the way in a redevelopment of that highway culture that was almost lost.

What led these businesses to fall? What is their future? Will the Route 66 culture be re-fostered and restored in a point-to-point travel society?

Abandoned Arizona - Route 66 from Kyle Anderson on Vimeo.

"Flag Lady" Continues 8th Year of Diamondbacks Support

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 20:57:39 -0700

Cindy McBride dances with pom-poms during the 3rd inning of the Diamondbacks v. Phillies game on April 23, 2010.

Baseball fans inundated by the half play, half advertisement that is a Diamondbacks game seem to lack the resonating fanaticism that used to define our national past time. But one D-Backs fan remains loyal, consistently showing her support for Arizona’s major league team, usually from the upper level seats.

“Some of them take 20, 30, 40 hours,” says Diamondbacks fan Cindy McBride. “Or some take 80 or 90.”

She’s talking about her Diamondback flags. There are stacks of them, each on a wooden pole and about as big as McBride herself.

“It’s a visual support of the players,” McBride says as she waves gold and maroon pom-poms to the beat of the music during the 3rd inning.

Each player has a personalized flag, made of red, black, and gold sheen.

Most of the flags are signed by the players themselves.

Things I'm Doing

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 11:05:33 -0700

Spreading myself too thin.

But that’s OK, because I take pride and joy in all of the work I do. Sometimes, I feel like I’m not doing enough work, to which my close friends call me insane for thinking. Here’s what I’ve been doing with my time aside from blogging here.

(Note: I normally don’t do this whole ‘‘Sorry for all the lack of updating omglol" because I know no one cares about how infrequently I update or every little thing I’m doing with my life, but I felt compelled.)

Low clouds and remnant snow define this winter landscape of NAU’s central campus.

HD Video: Starflex Brownie w/ Flash Bulb

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:45:36 -0700


Project Meta Cameras: Canon XH-A1 (x2) Editor: Final Cut 7

For years, my family had this camera in their repertoire of antiques for years, and, for a while, I thought it was obsolete. Some might consider it so, but you can still buy the 127 film it accepts, load it, and shoot with it.

At a thrift store in Flagstaff, I found a giant flash pack and reflector that resembled the smaller one that came with the camera. The pack also included 7 flash bulbs, ones that I had never found or seen before. For $2, I had to have it.

This is an HD video of the flash bulb going off. They’re one time use only, so I figured documenting the technology was more worthwhile than using it for its intended purpose.

You can find these GE #5 flash-type bulbs online for about a buck a piece on eBay.

Starflex Brownie w/ Flash Bulb from Kyle Anderson on Vimeo.

FUSD Considers Closing South Beaver Elementary

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:03:41 -0700

Preface: This article was originally written for a Public Affairs class on February 16, 2010. Today, the FUSD announced they would be delaying closure of South Beaver Elementary along with three other schools by 60 days. But it’s only postponing the inevitable and feeding the tension between parents and teachers and the administration. (See: this article from the Arizona Daily Sun.)

FUSD Board members listen to parents, teachers and children voice their concers at the February 6th meeting about rezoning and school closures.

Historic South Beaver Elementary will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this summer, that is, if the Flagstaff Unified School District doesn’t close the school as a cost-cutting measure.

The FUSD school board held a series of community forums in late January and early February at schools across Flagstaff to ask the public for input on how to deal with budget cuts at the state level.

South Beaver Elementary hosted one of those meetings on February 6. Parents and board members worked under tightly-wound emotions as proposals for imminent school closures were presented. Parents were worried when it became apparent that most of the elementary closure plans included their school.

“It’s going to be a situation that’s tragic,” said Mike Cromer, a teacher at South Beaver since 1976. “It’s going to tear families apart. It’s going to displace children.”

NAU Donates $30K to Spike Lee's Checking Account

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:55:30 -0700

Promo poster for NAU’s Spike Lee event.

Who was this Spike Lee guy, anyway?

I had no idea who this famous black film director was until NAU decided to hire him to speak on January 27th. The university was aflutter, and everyone was waiting in anticipation for his appearance, one the university reportedly spent $30 thousand to make happen. A Spike Lee film festival was scheduled for the weekend before his Wednesday night talk, but excessive snow on the library’s roof canceled the screenings. One of my classes required me to view at least two of those screenings, so instead of watching “Do the Right Thing” (1989) and “She’s Gotta Have It” (1986), I was forced into watching both parts (four acts) of “When the Levees Broke,” (2006) the only Spike Lee film that was screened before his talk.

Let's Make A Reality - TV Game Show Experience

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:24:32 -0700

In the rotting carcass that is the Tropicana Hotel and Casino’s convention center, a television studio was constructed, and in the last two and a half months, 98 episodes of TV’s newest game show have been taped in it.

The locale for CBS’s debut game show, “Let’s Make A Deal” with Wayne Brady, happens to be a 15 minute drive from my house. I invited my mother, who had been on the original “Let’s Make A Deal” in the ’70s, and my grandmother to a taping, one this writer, costumed in a size 18W purple dress and a necktie made of fake pearls, couldn’t take pictures of. Regardless, I figured it’d be a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon while I’m home for winter break.

Cultural Project: Found Bookmarks

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:54:20 -0700

About 150 things people left in donated books, scanned and sorted: bookmarks, receipts, photos, tickets, handwriting.

Raking the Leaves

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:44:18 -0700

There was something nostalgic, even romantic, about raking the leaves. Maybe it was the fact that I hadn’t done it in years. It being raking leaves.

This was not a romance story. It was an everyday chore prescribed to me by my mother to be completed after she returned from shopping.

Leaves of this size and structure were easy to rake. I can remember raking so much and gathering so little. That was when I was much younger; a time before college.

Have a Good Summer

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:50:17 -0700

The cover of my 8th grade yearbook. Soooooo 2000s.

Last night, I ran into two girls who both went to my middle school, and we started talking about teachers and weird people we remember from 8th grade. Today, I had a peek at the yearbook from that grade, and the signatures I had accrued 7 years ago popped out at me. Many girls wrote as if I was their lover (some meant it), a lot of guys wrote lame jokes and weird stuff, and some had nothing better to say than, “Have a great summer.”

Why Lie?

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:18:38 -0700

During our rompings in Vegas, Tekel and I encountered a man with a sign that read, “Why Lie? Need Beer!!!”

Photo by Mene Tekel

We gave him a dollar and suggested anything but Miller. He said no problem; he was gonna get weed anyway.

First Attempts with Holga 120N, Horseman Accordion & Rusty Rollbox

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:52:41 -0700

Preface: About a month ago, I borrowed a Holga 120N from my roommate on a whim. The assignment for my photo class was to emulate a famous photographer, and the guy I chose had a great set of Holga pictures on his website. I rushed to the local photo store and bought two rolls of black and white 120 film. I asked the clerk, “So, is this film in a canister like 35mm?” The old man behind me chuckled at my inexperience. They patiently explained how 120 worked, and I was instantly fascinated.

Last weekend after Thanksgiving, I decided to pick at the antique cameras my family had acquired over the years and had been sitting on a bookshelf collecting dust. For the longest time, I just assumed that the film for those cameras didn’t exist. But when I inspected them, lo and behold, most of them took 120. The ones that didn’t could be easily modified to fit 120 or 35mm. So I went on a shoot near the airport in Las Vegas. Admittedly, these frames are far from perfect, and I seriously screwed up the Horseman pictures.

Holga:

Unearthed: The 3rd Grade Thank You Card

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:32:00 -0700

During my senior year of high school, an organization approached our student council with a community service opportunity which involved teaching students at at-risk elementary schools basic life lessons, like how to take care of pets and be nice to people. The senior class president, Krit, and I were assigned to a 3rd grade class. We had lots of fun driving down the street once a week to basically play with a class of almost 40 kids after our school day ended.

djSquared - Lounge

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:41:58 -0700

During the last month of the summer, I had my new-used speakers set up in my room along with a DJ mixer and EQ/amp rack. For a while, I had been listening to compilations called “After Dark” and each one had a different globally-known city in the title. They were cheap, but worth it. I came to find out the genre was called Deep House, and I suddenly wanted to make a similar mix. What resulted was “Lounge,” a short, 32 minute Deep House mix that’s average but good background music.

Lost Power Means More Fellowship

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:34:43 -0700

I was about to order some delicious Greek food at Taverna grill. Drinks were served, and someone was going to pay for my meal. It was going to be a good night.

The lights got suddenly brighter, flickered, and a bunch of lights I hadn’t even known existed turned on, leaving the once highly-decorated and classy dining room with an eerie glow. Temporary power outage, it seemed. Several minutes pass, and two others join our party. One of them says it’s crazy outside. Half of the town lost power, according to what he saw.

New Photo Book: Film

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:59:55 -0700

Two weeks ago, I received my first photo book. I spent a good chunk of an evening sifting through my film library and selecting the best frames for this class assignment turned personal project. What resulted from that night is a 38 page, 7" by 7" book with my best film shots from the last year and a few paragraphs stolen from blogs about my work.

You can preview the book on Blurb. If you would like to order a copy, and support my nasty habit of buying too much film and photo supplies, cost is $20 plus shipping.

Interview on NAU Insights

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:53:46 -0700

About a month ago, I was interviewed by Patrick Walker for NAU’s EMF 324 and EMF 226 class’ pseudo-real show, NAU Insights. Each interview is conducted by a student learning how to interview, and the studio is run by students learning how to run a studio. Recipe for disaster? Not quite.

In the following video, Patrick interviews me about student media at NAU. Fun fact: I was asked to make the lower third graphic for the program and threw it together during lunch.

Flag Firefighter Laid to Rest After 28 Years Service

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:07:27 -0600

Fire Department honor guard and pallbearers prepare to move McNeal’s casket from fire engine to burial site at Flagstaff Citizen’s Cemetary. (Photo: Kyle Anderson/NAZ Today)

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today) - By: Kyle Anderson - Friday morning’s stormy weather only reflected the mood of the Flagstaff Fire Department as firefighter Mark McNeal was remembered in a funeral service at Christ’s Church of Flagstaff. But mother nature was wise; rains almost instantly paused for the procession of fire, police and personal vehicles between service and burial.

The memorial service at Christ’s Church was well attended by friends, family and members of the community as well as fire department color and honor guards dressed in formal uniform. McNeal’s casket was transported to its final resting place at Flagstaff Citizen’s Cemetary by fire engine.

“It was a great send-off for Mark,” said Flagstaff Fire Department captain Mark Johnson. “I felt like we honored him very well.”

Just My Luck

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:35:12 -0700

My Friday was all planned out. Three hours of photo printing and matting in the morning. Lunch. Teaching people how to do stuff. Quizzes and exams. A freelance project in its final stages. It was solid and going to put me ahead of schedule.

But then there’s the idea of covering a funeral for a fallen fire fighter. They ask who can shoot it, no one responds. They look at me, I say “previous plans.” So one of the most emotional stories of the year is slated to go untold by us. Bullshit.

Availble for house parties. On the cheap.

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:40:42 -0700

Want kickin’ tunes at your next house party? Specializing in electronic music, djSquared has been acclaimed to throw down beats that even your mother will dance to.

Rates start as low as fifty bucks.

Local Non-Profits Receive $600k in Grants

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:43:52 -0700

Members of FCF and collaborating organizations after the grant ceremony Friday. (Photo: Kyle Anderson/NAZ Today)

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today) - It was a solid half hour program where almost every audience member received a cash prize. This sounds like the perfect game show, but prizes won by this audience will arguably be used for a more philanthropic purpose.

The Flagstaff Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Arizona Community Foundation, awarded $600 thousand to local non-profit organizations, from social and educational services to youth and medical care programs. The 12th annual grant presentation was held this morning at the Coconino Center for the Arts.

“We had over 100 organizations recognized with over 250 checks, which is quite an accomplishment in itself,” said Mark Lamberson, Chairman of Flagstaff Community Foundation’s Advisory Board.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:41:52 -0600

Courtesy: Nate ‘Igor’ Smith, Photographer.

For some it was a forgotten past-time - the discipline of being able to eat massive amounts of hotdogs in one minute. For me, it was life. There had to be a way to break the current record of 68 dogs per minute. I was determined.

Like anyone, I failed a number of times. No one could eat that much on the first try. So I learned from practice, and though the failures discouraged and depressed me, I kept on trying. That Joey Chestnut has nothing on me.

The Black and White

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:58:49 -0600

There are an alarming number of people who come to college and become completely disinterested with the amount of resources and information available to them. Going to every class is a chore rather than an experience. Instead of being excited, some choose to be bored. They feel like there is something better they could be doing. Well, I wish to assure them there isn’t.

Imagine life without having obligations to attend class and complete assignments. Most people would probably do what I tended to do over the summer when I had such a schedule: nothing. There was no compelling reason for me to do anything with my time. Despite vowing to not waste this summer, great though it was, I failed in that regard.

Golden Years

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:23:08 -0600

I can feel myself aging.

The same slippers go on the same feet every morning. It’s 6:30am, the only time I can wake up anymore.

I pour the same cup of coffee as yesterday and the day before. “Hello, Coffee-mate.”

What was I to do today? The sun was rising. The colorful but boring rays it cast onto the breakfast table didn’t matter. The rose bushes lining my backyard, once perfected by the old woman, didn’t matter. This shitty Folgers didn’t matter.

Bridal Spectacular - Twilight Fashion Show

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:00:00 -0700


Project Meta Camera: Sony DSR-250 Editor: Premiere Pro Cs4

Preface: I’ve video-taped the last several fashion shows for the Bridal Spectacular wedding convention in Las Vegas. In August 2009, one of the fashion shows was themed around the popular book series and movie, “Twilight.” I was asked to make a short cut of the show focusing on the fashions and set to “Twilight”-esque music. This is what I came up with. Notes about this shoot: This was the first shoot where I used the Tektronix waveform monitor and vectorscope I bought at the Flagstaff Goodwill for $15 to white balance the camera, and it shows.

Debbie Family History

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:12:43 -0600


Project Meta Format: VHS Capture Editor: Premiere Pro CS4

Preface: It was a strange night so far, and Tekel and I were wandering around his neighborhood dumpster diving. All the usual locations were hit with no apparent luck. That changed once we discovered a huge pile of discarded children’s toys, video games, DVD cases, and most importantly, VHS cassettes.

Many of the tapes were Disney flicks. Some were unlabeled. I found one that had the old Kodak label design on it, reminding me of the tapes my family dubbed our home movies on back in the early ’90s. For whatever reason, I decide to throw it into the ever-growing bin of stuff to take. It turned out to be the best find of the night, and even this entire year of dumpster diving.

Las Vegas Philharmonic - Springs Preserve, Las Vegas - July 4, 2009

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:25:30 -0700


Project Meta Cameras: Sony DSR-250 (x3) Switcher: Panasonic MX50

Preface: This is a short clip from the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s performance at the Springs Preserve Las Vegas on July 4, 2009. This was a three camera shoot: one stationary and two on-the-shoulder roaming on a very packed stage. The cameras were DSR-250s. Production company, providing sound, lighting and video: AV Vegas.

Download the video

Springs Preserve July 4 2009

Montezuma's Well - Fisheye

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:35:15 -0700

Preface: During the summer of 2009, I worked as a lab assistant for the Breda Workshops, a couple of three week workshops wherein students from the Netherlands come to NAU to learn how to write, shoot, edit and produce magazine style package pieces and a 20 minute live shows. One week is dedicated to shooting, and one of the shoots I went on was at Montezuma’s Well in the Verde Valley, Ariz. I decided to bring along a friend’s Lomo Fisheye camera.

Non-Abusive Partying Brings Out the Best

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:09:16 -0700

Friday night was adventure night. It involved wandering around Flagstaff south of the tracks, party hopping with Tekel.

First was Karaoke at Granny’s Closet. The DJ has a pedo smile and DSLR camera which he only used to take pictures of the hottest girls (namely the Dutch) singing and dancing to his pirated music, probably for his “website.” The bar kicked everyone under 21 out around 12:15 and I never got to sing “Happy Together,” by The Turtles. Screw it, we said, and headed back to my car to grab another SoBe before going to the next party.

Ass Kicking

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:00:18 -0700

I’m writing this from atop a mound of dirt on the side of the I-215 beltway overlooking the Las Vegas valley, brightly lit as always, and accompanied by a nearly full moon. I’m listening to BT’s This Binary Universe, and remembering the tranquil swim I took at dusk under a purple and orange sky. Tonight is simply beautiful.

By the end of my sophomore year in high school, I was almost ready to leave A-Tech because I was so overwhelmed with work. Retrospectively, that year was the hardest for me in high school. I had yet to make a lot of friends, and school work was excessive.

djSquared - Splatters of Pink

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:14:22 -0600

Splatters of Pink - djSquared Listen to the full set and read about the meaning behind the mix…

Splatters of Pink

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:33:59 -0700

We worked for a consumer electronics store. I hated my job, stocking overpriced cables on perfectly aligned shelves. At least it paid decently. Two co-workers were on their break, wandering the symmetrical aisles in sheer boredom, wishing they could rip off the red polos and tight black pants.

This was all minutes after I left my last world, one of bliss and sensual pleasure.

“Check out these digital cameras,” said one co-worker. “They’re the cheapest I could find, including clearance. Sixty bucks.”

Two Alarm Fire Behind Wal-Mart, Unknown Cause

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:14:01 -0600

Firefighters spray streams of water and foam on the pile of compressed cardboard which caught on fire Sunday afternoon. (Photo: Kyle Anderson/NAZ Today)

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today) - A large stack of compacted cardboard boxes behind Wal-Mart caught fire at approximately 2:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon, closing McConnel Dr. between Beulah Blvd. and Woodlands Village Blvd.

The Flagstaff Fire Department issued a second alarm to request fire crews from Highlands and Summit Fire Departments to be available for other Flagstaff fire emergencies. Flagstaff firefighters then focused on controlling the fire and preventing spread to the nearby forest.

“Right now, we’re not exactly sure how this started,” said Mark Johnson, Information Officer for the Flagstaff Fire Department. “There don’t appear to be any heat sources in this area, so we’re looking at some other activity that may lead to suspicious activity.”

Flagstaff Police Force Feather Clean-Up at Downtown Pillow Fight

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:20:11 -0600

Feathers fly into the air as the pillow fight in Heritage Square begins. (Photo: Kyle Anderson/NAZ Today)

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today) - An independently advertised pillow fight turned protest took place at Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. About 40 people participated.

The fight began as soon as a small group of people with a shopping cart modified with a loud stereo system, spray-painted cardboard and black flags arrived. Feathers exploded into the air several minutes into the fight, and Flagstaff police responded to a call to the scene moments later.

Film Photography - Superior Medium

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:27:42 -0700

Why film is the superior medium: 24 exposures a roll, and every frame has to be worth 20¢.

Ellen Spiro at NAU - Review

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:39:04 -0600

Documentary filmmaker Ellen Spiro spoke at NAU’s Cline Library last week on Thursday, succeeding two screenings of her latest film, Body of War, a story about an Iraq veteran who returned home just one week after deployment with a bullet in his back that paralyzed him from the chest down.

Spiro spent the two hour talk letting clips of her other documentaries speak for themselves. The clips and her answers during the Q and A session revealed a lot about her as a person and a documentarian.

Art Leaders Attend Summit, Plan Future

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:59:34 -0700

Preface: Leaders of the local Flagstaff art community gathered to discuss the future of art and its impact on Flagstaff’s economy.

Download the video

Arts and Business PKG

Life Changing Music

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:16:40 -0700

This last month has had the tallest loops steepest drops ever recorded. Emotionally speaking, my world has never been shaken around so much. Can I sue for whiplash?

Music. It sets moods. I find that when I’m depressed, I’ll listen to something like Sarah McLachlan’s Afterglow or Delirium’s song “Just a Dream.” Maybe I want to rage… I have heavy dance beats mixed together by PJ Produkt called “Release.” Nostalgic trip? Give me any Newsboys album or Intuition by DJ Encore. All of these push specific emotions through me. But no album has ever pulled emotions out like this one.