#Michael Ballif | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jasper-system · 3 years

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This is a link to a list of guides:

Biology & Ecology

The science in Jurassic Park by microbiologist Mike Hays

Wildlife biology in fiction with Texas biologist Rebecca Mowry

Writing outside the human box, with biology professor Brie Paddock

Zombie microbiology 101 with microbiologist Mike Hays

8 things authors should know about viruses, with HIV expert E.E. Giorgi

Plagues in science fiction and fantasy, with microbiologist Gabriel Vidrine

Insects in fiction: what bugs me, with entomologist Robinne Weiss

Writing wolves fairly & accurately, with environmentalist William Huggins

Gender determination in fantasy creatures, with entomologist Robinne Weiss

Rogue viruses in science fiction, with biomedical researcher Lee A. Everett

A primer on primates for SFF authors, with biomedical researcher Lee A. Everett

Space bugs: microbes in outer space, with microbiologist Mike Hays

The reality of bees, with science reporter and beekeeper Bianca Nogrady

The science of animal communication, with expert William Huggins

Debunking myths about hunting, with wildlife biologist Rebecca Mowry

Writing realistic spiders, with entomologist Robinne Weiss

Venomous creatures from insects to platypus, with Robinne Weiss

Entomology and ants in fantasy, with author Clark Carlton and entomologist Wyatt Parker

Spawning monsters with biology, by biologist Sarah J. Sover

Novel Coronavirus 2019 Roundtable with four expert scientists

Genetics, Archaeology, and Anthropology

Genetics myths in fiction writing by genetics researcher Dan Koboldt

Mutation myths in fiction by geneticist Dan Koboldt

Editing life in science fiction, with microbiologist Mike Hays.

Dispeling archaeology myths, with Graeme Talboys

A whirwind tour of the human genome, by genetics researcher Dan Koboldt

The linguistics in Arrival, by expert linguist Christina Dalcher

Realistic translation in fiction, with archaeologist Marie Brennan.

Neurology & Psychology

Getting mental illness right in fiction with psychiatric NP Kathleen S. Allen

Misconceptions about memory with neurologist Anne Lipton

Dementia myths in fiction, part 1 with neurologist Anne Lipton

Dementia myths in fiction, part 2 with neurologist Anne Lipton.

Writing children with BESD, with special ed teacher Rachel Heaps-Page.

Deep character development, with educational psychologist Maria Grace

It’s not brain surgery, it’s neuroscience, by neuroscientist Paul Regier

Bipolar disorder: What writers should know, with psychiatrist Jon Peeples.

Schizophrenia: What writers should know, with psychiatrist Jon Peeples.

Writing about schizophrenia treatment, by psychiatrist Jonathan Peeples

Writing distinct characters via psycological development, with educational psychiatrist Maria Grace

Autism misconceptions in fiction, with pediatrician Josh Michaels.

Writing characters with ADHD, with pediatrician Josh Michaels

Writer’s guide to tics and Tourette syndrome, with pediatrician Josh Michael

Chemistry and Radiation

Chemical fallacies in fiction with chemist Gwen C. Katz (and husband)

Explosions in science fiction, with chemist Gwen C. Katz (and husband)

Nuclear radiation for writers, with nuclear chemist Rebecca Enzor

The science of poisons, with toxicologist Megan Chaudhuri

Binary poisons in fiction, with emergency/toxicology doctor Jane Prosser.

Physics & Space Travel

9 misconceptions about space travel by aerospace engineer Jamie Krakover

Space flight in science fiction, with aviation expert Sylvia Spruck Wrigley.

The weapons of Star Wars, with astronomical engineer Judy L. Mohr

Fiction writing versus physical laws, with chemist Gwen C. Katz

Cryopreservation in science fiction, with researcher Terry Newman

Realistic astronomy in science fiction, with astronomer Tom Benedict

Faster-than-light travel in sci-fi, with physicist Jim Gotaas.

Imaging over long distances, with astronomical engineer Judy L. Mohr.

Relativity: Did Einstein kill steampunk? with physicist Dan Allen.

Practical spaceship design, by Boeing engineer Eric Primm.

Exoplanets and habitability, by physicist Jim Gotaas.

Radio waves for sci-fi authors, with atmospheric physicist Candida Spillard.

Distance and legal systems in sci-fi, with “space lawyer” J.R.H. Lawless.

Space law: lowering the cost of space travel, with “space lawyer” J.R.H. Lawless.

Space battles in sci-fi, with veteran U.S. Army officer Michael Mammay

Interstellar space law: who owns Oumuamua? with lawyer J.R.H. Lawless

Lunar travel to the moon and back, with astrophysicist Jim Gotaas

Earth Sciences

Near-future scenarios for us & our planet, with science reporter Bianca Nogrady

How the ocean will kill you, with marine biologist Danna Staaf.

Habitable atmospheres for authors, by atmospheric scientist Lynn Forest.

Gravity basics for SFF authors, by physicist Dan Allen.

The future of energy, by geophysicist Karen Lanning.

Earthquakes: Fact vs fiction, by civil engineer Amy Mills.

Climate change and cli-fi, by geophysicist Karen Lanning

Waste management in SF, with expert Gareth Jones.

Enclosed ecosystems and life support, with biomedical scientist Philip Kramer.

Computers & Technology

Ability and luck in writing with biostatistician Dustin Fife

Computer and internet myths, with computer scientist Matt Perkins.

Your sci-fi cell phone isn’t cool enough, with silicon valley consultant Effie Seiberg.

CGI is not made by computers, by 3D video game artist Abby Goldsmith.

Erroneous code in fiction, by programmer KJ Harrowick

7 things to know about cybernetics, with neuroscientist Benjamin Kinney.

Writing believable nanotechnology, with physicist Dan Allen.

Holograms in sci-fi, with Judy L. Mohr

State-of-the Art Microscopes with microscopist Terry Newman

A writer’s guide to cyborgs, by biomedical expert Brie Paddock

Analog versus digital imaging, by astronomical engineer Judy L. Mohr

Quantum computing & cryptography I by physicist Dan Allen

Quantum computing & cryptography II by physicist Dan Allen

The current state of artificial intelligence by industry expert Dan Rowinski

Common misconceptions about AI, an interview with expert Ben Taylor

Machine learning for writers, with software developer Ember Randall

The future of communications, with expert S.B. Divya

GPS systems: What authors should know, with engineer Judy L. Mohr

Big brother is watching: surveillance & privacy, by Google developer Ember Randall.

Research and Medicine

Medical misconceptions in fiction, with nurse Karyne Norton

Proper lab technique for SFF writers with nuclear chemist Rebecca Enzor.

Research in writing: How to ask an expert, with Boeing engineer Eric Primm

Researchers gone wild, with laboratory manager Gabriel Vidrine.

How to write convincing death scenes, with science reporter Bianca Nogrady.

More medical myths in fiction, with nurse Stephanie Sauvinet.

Organogenesis in 3D, with biomedical researcher Megan Chaudhuri.

Immortality in science fiction, with clinical researcher Edward Ashton

The near-future of medical technology, with physician assistant Rachel Berros

First aid and Field Dressings for Writers with medical expert Stacey Berg.

How to write about biomedical researchers, with genetics researcher Dan Koboldt

Nursing myths in fiction, with nurse Stephanie Sauvinet

Writing realistic research labs, with scientist Jenny Ballif

Research ethics in science fiction, with scientist Dan Koboldt

Drug development for writers, with research scientist Bradley Johnson.

Binary poisons in fiction, with toxicology expert Jane Prosser

The science of aging and its fictional cures with biomedical scientist Philip A. Kramer

Sights, sounds, and smells of the lab with scientist Rachel Brick

Emergency triage: bring out your dead, by ER physician assistant Rachel Berros

Futuristic first aid: wound care, by ER physician assistant Rachel Berros

Roundtable on the novel coronavirus, with a panel of four scientists.

COVID-19 and the American pandemic, by Dan Koboldt

Fact in Fantasy (#FactInFantasy)

Here are articles related to culture, animal husbandry, warfare, and other relevant topics for fantasy authors.

Fantasy Cultures

Developing realistic fantasy cultures with sociologist Hannah Emery

A quick and dirty guide to feudal nobility, with history buff Jerry Quinn

France as a fantasy culture, by itinerant francophone Dan Koboldt.

Female professions of medieval Europe, by Renaissance man Jerry Quinn.

Religious fundamentalism in fantasy, by Crusades hobbyist Spencer Ellsworth.

Historically accurate ways to die, by historian Wanda S. Henry

Women’s voices from Heian Japan, by David and Carol Harr

Prophets, preachers, and parasites in fantasy, with historian Jay S. Willis

World-building

10 things authors don’t know about the woods by bowhunter Dan Koboldt

Worldbuilding: basics of social stratification, with sociologist Hannah Emery

Languages in fiction, with linguistic expert Christina Dalcher.

Woodworking myths in fiction, by craftsman Dustin Fife.

Writing realistic forests, with surveyor Terence Newman

World building with the Spanish Inquisition with historian Jay S. Willis

5 Facts About the American Old West, with historian Hayley Stone.

Folklore systems in fantasy, with historian Colleen Halverson.

Money and economics for SF/F writers, with decision scientist Elise Bungo

Political philosophies for fictional worlds, with political scientist Kate Heartfield

World building with food and drink in fiction, with culinary expert Crystal King

Organic world-building through ecology with biologist Sarah J. Sover.

Spawning monsters with biology, with biologist Sarah J. Sover

Plants in World-building: Cacao Case Study with expert Amber Royer

How to name characters in fantasy, with naming consultant Hannah Emery

Magic

Designing realistic magic academies by sociologist Hannah Emery.

Witchcraft for Writers, with Renaissance historian E.B. Wheeler.

Superstition for Writers, with Renaissance historian E.B. Wheeler.

A brief history of real-world magic, with historian Jay S. Willis.

Horses, Travel, and Adventure

Horses in fantasy writing by rancher and horse trainer Karlie Hart

How to describe horses in fiction, with expert equestrian Amy McKenna

Horse terminology: gaits and anatomy, with expert equestrian Amy McKenna

Horse terminology: tack and riding, with expert equestrian Amy McKenna

3 ways to write a better hike, by outdoors editor Victoria Sandbrook Flynn

How to write rock climbing wrong, with longtime climber Michelle Hazen.

Matching horses to use, setting, and character, with expert Rachel A. Chaney.

How to injure horses realistically with expert Rachel A. Chaney

8 ways to write horses wrong with expert Rachel A Chaney

Wilderness, Weapons and Warfare

Wilderness survival tips, by Montana ranger Rebecca Mowry

Medieval versus modern archery by bowhunter Dan Koboldt

A short history of warfare in the western world, with historic actor Jerry Quinn

Weapons and tactics in fantasy warfare, with veteran/historian Michael Mammay.

Realistic fighting for SF/F authors, by martial artist Eric Primm.

Realistic knife fighting, with martial artist Eric Primm

Building a fantasy army: Leaders, by veteran officer Michael Mammay.

Building a fantasy army: Soldiers, by veteran officer Michael Mammay.

8 tips for writing realistic soldiers, by veteran officer Michael Mammay.

#guides for writers #myths in fantasy #military guide for fantasy writers #guides for fantasy writing #writing resources #worldbuilding

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halloweendailynews · 3 years

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Watch 'Halloween 4' Opening Credits Shot-for-Shot 2021 Recreation

Filmmaker Michael Ballif, the indie production collective Witching Season Films, gave us all a Halloween treat this past weekend when he released his 2021 shot-for-shot recreation of iconic opening credits sequence in the 1988 sequel Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. In the video’s description, Ballif explains, “As an effort to show our ultimate appreciation and love for the iconic…

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#Halloween 4 #Michael Myers #Witching Season Films

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scumdogsteev · 5 years

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October Horror Films 2019 | Day 24 | The Witching Season (dir. Michael Ballif; Witching Season Films 2015)

Trailer:

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Block: Anthologies

#october horror films 2019 #the witching season #horror movies #horror films #anthologies #anthology #movie posters #trailers #micahel ballif

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materialsscienceandengineering · 7 years

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Scientists power past solar efficiency records

Collaboration between researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) shows the high potential of silicon-based multijunction solar cells.

The research groups created tandem solar cells with record efficiencies of converting sunlight into electricity under 1-sun illumination. The resulting paper, "Raising the One-Sun Conversion Efficiency of III-V/Si Solar Cells to 32.8% for Two Junctions and 35.9% for Three Junctions," appears in the new issue of Nature Energy. Solar cells made solely from materials in Groups III and V of the Periodic Table have shown high efficiencies, but are more expensive.

Stephanie Essig, a former NREL post-doctoral researcher now working at EPFL in Switzerland, is lead author of the newly published research that details the steps taken to improve the efficiency of the multijunction cell. While at NREL, Essig co-authored "Realization of GaInP/Si Dual-Junction Solar Cells with 29.8% 1-Sun Efficiency," which was published in the IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics a year ago.

In addition to Essig, authors of the new research paper are Timothy Remo, John F. Geisz, Myles A. Steiner, David L. Young, Kelsey Horowitz, Michael Woodhouse, and Adele Tamboli, all with NREL; and Christophe Allebe, Loris Barraud, Antoine Descoeudres, Matthieu Despeisse, and Christophe Ballif, all from CSEM.

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todayclassical · 7 years

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May 22 in Music History

1722 Birth of composer Johannes Schmidlin.

1723 J.S. Bach arrives in Leipzig to become cantor of St. Thomas Church.

1759 Birth of composer Gervais-Francois Couperin.

1780 Birth of composer Jan Emmanuel Dulezalek.

1783 Birth of composer Thomas Forbes Walmisley.

1790 Birth of tenor Giuseppe Ciccimarra in Altamura.

1811 Birth of Italian soprano Giulia Grisi in Milan.

1813 Birth of German composer Richard Wagner in Leipzig.

1813 FP of Rossini's opera The Italian Woman in Algiers at the Teatro San Benedetto in Venice.

1820 Birth of composer Alexander Ernst Fesca.

1822 Birth of English conductor and Henry Wylde.

1836 FP of Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio Paulus 'St. Paul', composer conducting, at the Lower Rhine Music Festival in Düsseldorf.

1850 Birth of Austrian violinist and composer Johann Schrammel.

1852 Birth of French violinist Emile Sauret.

1856 Birth of English-American organist and composer Humphrey John Stewart in London.

1861 Birth of tenor Desire Pauwels in Ghent.

1865 Birth of Catalan-Argentinian conductor Enrique Morera in Barcelona.

1872 Richard Wagner lays the cornerstone of his Festival Theater in Bayreuth, Germany. It was his 59th birthday.

1873 Birth of Estonian composer Rudolf Tobias.

1874 FP of Verdi's Requiem, conducted by the composer in Milan.

1874 Birth of composer Francesco Paolo Neglia.

1879 Birth of American composer Eastwood Lane.

1879 Birth of composer Jean Emile Paul Cras.

1884 Birth of composer Alceo Toni.

1885 Birth of Costa Rican composer Julio Fonseca in San Jose.

1891 Birth of French composer Lucien Caillet.

1892 Birth of Dutch tenor Louis Van Tulder in Amsterdam.

1899 Birth of pianist Marcelle Meyer.

1900 Birth of Flemish coloratura soprano Vina Bovy.

1902 Birth of Czech baritone Emanuel Kopecky in Prague.

1907 Birth of Corsican soprano Marta Angelici.

1909 Birth of English composer Minna Keal.

1911 FP of Debussy's Martyre de Saint-Sebastien. André Caplet conducting Paris Opera at the Théatre du Châtelet.

1916 Birth of American composer Gordon Binkerd.

1917 Birth of Austrian conductor George Tintner in Vienna.

1922 FP of Alexander von Zemlinsky's opera Der Zwerg 'The Dwarf' at the Cologne Opera.

1924 FP of Igor Stravinsky's Piano Concerto at Koussevitzky Concert, at the Paris Opéra conducted by Serge Koussevitzky, composer was the pianist in Paris.

1924 Birth of composer Claude Andre Francois Ballif.

1925 Birth of Argentinian baritone Norberto Carmona in Mendoza Argentina.

1925 Birth of American tenor James King in Dodge City, KS.

1929 Birth of composer Asher Ben-Yohanan.

1931 Death of Spanish soprano Ofelia Nieto.

1931 FP of William Grant Still's ballet Sahdji. Eastman Ballet and Rochester Civic Orchestra, Howard Hanson conducting.

1934 Birth of American pianist and conductor Peter Nero.

1935 Birth of American tenor Mallory Walker in New Orleans.

1949 Death of German composer Hans Pfitzner in Salzburg.

1977 Death of Dutch composer Marius Monnikendam in Haarlem.

1950 FP of Richard Strauss' Four Last Songs in London.

1982 FP of Alvin Singleton's A Yellow Rose Petal for orchestra. Houston Symphony, C. William Harwood conducting.

1990 FP of John Harbison's Simple Daylight with text by Michael Fried, with soprano Dawn Upshaw and pianist Alan Feinberg at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco.

1999 FP of Bright Sheng's Flute Moon with Aralee Dorough, flute. Houston Symphony, Christoph Eschenbach conducting.

2003 FP of Melinda Wagner´s Piano Concerto Extremity of Sky commissioned by the Chicago Symphony, Emanuel Ax with the Chicago Symphony under Daniel Barenboim.

2013 Death of French modernist composer Henri Dutilleux.

#classicalmusic #musichistory #today in music history #todayclassical #onthisday

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theeleganceintheextremes · 4 years

Video

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Synopsis: A writer spends the night in a notoriously haunted house in hope of finding inspiration for his latest project. He soon realizes that he is living in his own horror story. - Witching Season Films

Film Personnel: Crew: Director/Editor: Michael Ballif | Writers: Michael Ballif, Caroman Turner, David Harris | Producers: Jake Watters, Allen Bradford, James Morris | Executive Producer: Michael Ballif | Director of Photography: Michael Ballif | Musical Composers: Randin Graves and Slasher Dave | Art Director: Sadie Z Ballif | Production Designers: Jake Watters, Allen Bradford | FX and Creature Designer: Tyler Russell | Gore FX and Makeup Artist: Jordan Swenson | Gaffer: Allen Bradford | Recording/ Sound Designers: Michael Ballif, Allen Bradford, James Morris | Production Assistants: Samuel Morris, Adam Zeller Cast: James Morris, Stevie Dutson

Social Media Platforms | Witching Seasons Film Official Website Official Facebook Profile Official Instagram Feed Official Twitter Feed Official YouTube Channel

Social Media Platforms | They Live Inside Us Official IMDb Profile

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moviesandmania · 6 months

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HE NEVER LEFT (2023) Reviews of serial killer thriller plus trailer

‘Some legends refuse to die’ He Never Left is a 2023 American horror thriller film about a fugitive and his girlfriend being stalked by a serial killer at a motel. Written, co-produced, directed by and co-starring James Morris from a storyline co-written with co-producer Michael Ballif. Executive produced by Josh Harrington and Jake Watters. The Witching Season Films production also stars Colin…

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#2023 #Alicia Oberle Farmer #Charla Bocchicchio #Colin Cunningham #He Never Left #horror thriller #James Morris #Jessica Staples #movie film #review reviews #serial killer #trailer

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caseinpoints · 7 years

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NREL, Swiss scientists push silicon-based solar cells to 36% efficiency

Collaboration between researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) shows the high potential of silicon-based multijunction solar cells.

The research groups created tandem solar cells with record efficiencies of converting sunlight into electricity under 1-sun illumination. The resulting paper, “Raising the One-Sun Conversion Efficiency of III–V/Si Solar Cells to 32.8% for Two Junctions and 35.9% for Three Junctions,” appears in the new issue of Nature Energy. Solar cells made solely from materials in Groups III and V of the Periodic Table have shown high efficiencies, but are more expensive.

Stephanie Essig, a former NREL post-doctoral researcher now working at EPFL in Switzerland, is lead author of the newly published research that details the steps taken to improve the efficiency of the multijunction cell. While at NREL, Essig co-authored “Realization of GaInP/Si Dual-Junction Solar Cells with 29.8% 1-Sun Efficiency,” which was published in the IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics a year ago.

“This achievement is significant because it shows, for the first time, that silicon-based tandem cells can provide efficiencies competing with more expensive multijunction cells consisting entirely of III-V materials,” Tamboli said. “It opens the door to develop entirely new multijunction solar cell materials and architectures.”

In testing silicon-based multijunction solar cells, the researchers found that the highest dual-junction efficiency (32.8%) came from a tandem cell that stacked a layer of gallium arsenide (GaAs) developed by NREL atop a film of crystalline silicon developed by CSEM. An efficiency of 32.5% was achieved using a gallium indium phosphide (GaInP) top cell, which is a similar structure to the previous record efficiency of 29.8% announced in January 2016. A third cell, consisting of a GaInP/GaAs tandem cell stacked on a silicon bottom cell, reached a triple-junction efficiency of 35.9%—just 2% below the overall triple-junction record.

The existing photovoltaics market is dominated by modules made of single-junction silicon solar cells, with efficiencies between 17% and 24%. The researchers noted in the report that making the transition from a silicon single-junction cell to a silicon-based dual-junction solar cell will enable manufacturers to push efficiencies past 30% while still benefiting from their expertise in making silicon solar cells.

The obstacle to the adoption of these multijunction silicon-based solar cells, at least in the near term, is the cost. Assuming 30% efficiency, the researchers estimated the GaInP-based cell would cost $4.85 per watt and the GaAs-based cell would cost $7.15 per watt. But as manufacturing ramps up and the efficiencies of these types of cells climbs to 35%, the researchers predict the cost per watt could fall to 66 cents for a GaInP-based cell and to 85 cents for the GaAs-based cell. The scientists noted that such a precipitous price drop is not unprecedented; for instance, the cost of Chinese-made photovoltaic modules fell from $4.50 per watt in 2006 to $1 per watt in 2011.

The cost of a solar module in the United States accounts for 20% to 40% of the price of a photovoltaic system. Increasing cell efficiency to 35%, the researchers estimated, could reduce the system cost by as much as 45 cents per watt for commercial installations. However, if the costs of a III-V cell cannot be reduced to the levels of the researchers’ long-term scenario, then the use of cheaper, high-efficiency materials for the top cell will be needed to make them cost-competitive in general power markets.

The funding for the research came from the Energy Department’s SunShot Initiative—which aims to make solar energy a low-cost electricity source for all Americans through research and development efforts in collaboration with public and private partners—and from the Swiss Confederation and the Nano-Tera.ch initiative.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for the Energy Department by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

News item from NREL

Solar Power World

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