Putting the Thrill Back in Legal Thriller: A Review of Guilt by ...

Not too many years ago, an influential friend in the literary world told me, ?Legal thrillers are out.? Having just published my first two novels, both featuring Portland Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid, I desperately needed this death announcement to be premature. The problem, I argued, was an overabundance of bad legal thrillers that had scarred the subgenre?s once-good name. Perhaps trying to replicate the success of groundbreaking novels like Scott Turow?s PRESUMED INNOCENT and John Grisham?s A TIME TO KILL, publishers had overpurchased and overpromoted courtroom-centric novels by lawyers who managed to turn the term ?legal thriller? into an oxymoron. Evidentiary objections, jury selection, and cross-examinations might be real goose bump inducers compared to the average lawyer?s workday, but as ingredients for a page-turner? No, thank you.

Well, I?m delighted to report that, despite my friend?s death knell, law-based crime fiction is alive and well thanks to authors who focus not on blue-in-the-face litigators hollering ?Objection!? at one another, but on good old fashioned storytelling about characters who just happen to be lawyers. When the industry had all but written off the so-called ?legal thriller? in favor of high concept novels in the spirit of THE DA VINCI CODE, Linda Fairstein and Lisa Scottoline continued to dominate bestsellers? lists because they wrote damn good books. Today, Michael Connelly has put to rest any lingering questions about the viability of the subgenre by bringing Mickey Haller to every medium ? #1 in hardback and digital, and $46 million and counting at the box office. What makes these books irresistible aren?t the bells and whistles of the technical ins and outs of the legal system, but memorable characters and solid plotting in the hands of masterful storytellers.

With GUILT BY ASSOCIATION, Marcia Clark joins the ranks of Scottoline, Fairstein, and Connelly. Her debut novel introduces us to Los Angeles prosecutor Rachel Knight, a member of the office?s elite Special Trials Unit. In the opening pages, Knight?s friend and colleague Jake Pahlmeyer is found dead at a seedy motel under even seedier circumstances. She inherits a high-profile rape case from his desk. While the victim?s father exerts political pressure for an arrest, the investigation takes Rachel into LA?s gang world and makes her a target. As if that weren?t enough to keep a gal busy, she can?t help poking around into Jake?s death, despite strict orders to mind her own bees? wax.

Like the finest books in the legal thriller subgenre, very few pages of GUILT BY ASSOCIATION take place in the courtroom. Instead, we see Rachel?s interactions with cops, contacts, and witnesses. We see the action as it unfolds, not as it is summarized later in the artificially sterile courtroom setting. We see Rachel at home with her friends. We get to know ? and like ? her.

Much attention will certainly be paid to Clark?s former career as a prosecutor in Los Angeles, most notably as the head prosecutor in OJ Simpson?s criminal trial. That platform will also undoubtedly bring extraordinary attention to a debut novel. But an unfortunate consequence of any emphasis upon her significant legal career might be an inaccurate perception of the book itself. Clark?s expertise about the criminal justice system leaps from the pages of GUILT BY ASSOCIATION, but not because she shows off her knowledge of the law, rules of evidence, or courtroom procedure. Rather, her experience allows her to write with confidence rarely seen in a first novel ? about Los Angeles, about Rachel Knight, about the secondary characters who occupy Knight?s world and become a part of ours. GUILT BY ASSOCIATION succeeds because of Clark?s gifts as a writer, not as a lawyer. With those gifts, she has created a true legal thriller ? emphasis on the thrill.

ALAFAIR BURKE is the bestselling author of six novels, including 212, Angel?s Tip, and Dead Connection in the Ellie Hatcher series. A former prosecutor, she now teaches criminal Law and lives in Manhattan. Long Gone, her first stand-alone thriller, was published by Harper in June 2011. [Read more about Long Gone in her Conversation with Jen Forbus.] Never Tell, the next Ellie Hatcher thriller, will be published by Harper in June 2012.

GUILT BY ASSOCIATION is now available in paperback in bookstores everywhere.

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Source: http://www.mulhollandbooks.com/2012/03/02/putting-the-thrill-back-in-legal-thriller-a-review-of-guilt-by-association/

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Photo Enhancement Basics and Useful Info

Home | Arts & entertainment | Photography

Photo enhancement is all about improving the quality of a picture image to a higher level. You can easily enhance an old picture to make it look modern. All you need is to discover the right tools to use and the best approaches to engage. Oftentimes, photos may be damaged as a result of age and other environmental conditions. Your photos may wear and tear in the course of time. They can as well fade or look tattered. Whichever is the case; such photos can be enhanced and also turned into modern day pictures.

The first approach towards a better photo enhancement is to locate a good scanner. HP Photo Scanner is one of the best scanners you can always use. It can be in the form of the HP All-in-one unit comprising of a printer, scanner and copier. Such a scanner also comes with photo editing software which you can use in enhancing or restoring an old picture.

To succeed in photo enhancement process, you need to begin by evaluating your old photo and also discovering the actual effect you want to achieve. When you?re through with that; you?ll go ahead to use a good scanner to start the enhancement process. You must evaluate the image properly before you start the editing process. You need to know the level of the damage done on the photo. Look properly on the picture and then identify the wears, tears, discoloration and frayed edges. This will help you to decide on the right tools you?ll use in restoring the detected damages.

In most cases, photo enhancement is all about determining your priorities. You may not focus on editing or preserving every aspect of the photo. Rather, you only need to focus on the most important aspects you wish to touch. This makes the editing process faster and easier. You may need to add new life to the old picture simply by adjusting the color and lighting tools located on the photo edition software. It?s always very important to use the best photo editing software programs. In most cases, modern day photo scanners do come with the right software programs.

Nevertheless, you can equally install the latest photo editing software programs that can help you out. The Windows Live Photo Gallery is one of the best programs you can always go for. It usually offers fast and easy color correction. All you need is to move the sliders from one end to the other in order to adjust the color of the photo.

During the enhancement process, you don?t need to preserve every part of the photo. There?s always the need to crop the image in order to remove unwanted parts. You?ll also need to adjust the exposure of the image. You can improve the faded picture by simply adjusting the lighting.
You have to do proper color correction in order to fix the discoloration on the image. You simply have to use the editing tools on the software to achieve this aim. You?ll also remove blurs, dusts and scratches from the image before you do the final cropping.

At the end of the enhancement process, you simple print and archive the photo. You?ll be amazed to see how modern the image will look like.

About the Author

Mr. Sant Kumar is providing photo retouching, background removal, photo restoration services to its clients worldwide.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Ishaan-kk/203124

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Source: http://www.articlerich.com/Article/Photo-Enhancement-Basics-and-Useful-Info/2008959

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Just Show Me: How to see what?s using up your battery on your Android phone (Yahoo! News)

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Yahoo! News - Welcome to Just Show Me on Tecca TV, where we show you tips and tricks for getting the most out of the gadgets in your life. In today's episode we'll show you how to improve your battery life on your Android phone. By checking ?

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_technews/20120301/tc_yblog_technews/just-show-me-how-to-see-whats-using-up-your-battery-on-your-android-phone

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China manufacturing sees gains in February (AP)

[unable to retrieve full-text content]AP - China's manufacturing gained momentum in February, helped by strength in new orders, export demand and production, a government survey showed, though inflation pressures remain a concern.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/china/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120301/ap_on_bi_ge/as_china_manufacturing

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Guest post: Clinton treads softly around energy-rich Algeria ...

By Stephen Snyder of Ergo

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton visited Algiers on Saturday and gave Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika a free pass on two major issues of contention between the two countries: his government?s upcoming rigged elections and his support for Bashar al-Assad in the worsening crisis in Syria.

In the midst of a regional tour to promote democracy-building and rally international support for intervention in Syria, Clinton?s sudden silence on these issues in Algeria spoke volumes. At the root of this silence is Algeria?s position as a cornerstone in the global oil and gas market.

Amid rising energy security concerns in the US and western Europe, Algeria?s growing importance as a provider of natural resources outweighed the Bouteflika government?s defiance on democratisation and Syria. Clinton?s lack of criticism signals Washington?s top priority in its relations with Algiers: finding common ground on energy even at the expense of political and security initiatives.

Clinton recognises the importance of keeping Algeria, an Opec member and critical link in the global energy supply chain, open to western business. Algeria is the seventh-largest supplier of oil to the US with nearly half a million barrels delivered daily. Through three trans-Mediterranean pipelines, Algeria also provides approximately 12 per cent of the European Union?s natural gas imports, the third-highest share behind only Russia and Norway. Without Algeria, Europe would be forced to increase its dependency on Russia, a notoriously unreliable supplier.

Washington is also keen to ensure western economic interests retain access to a lucrative market. Anadarko of the US alone accounts for nearly a quarter of Algeria?s oil production, making it the country?s largest foreign operator. Several other US and European energy companies, including oil majors BP, Conoco-Phillips, ENI, and Total, are also active in Algeria. On the heels of an energy boom in Algeria over the last decade ? national oil company Sonatrach?s revenues shot up 240% from 2001 to 2008 ? western firms are eager to keep the door to investment open.

US concerns over the security of its energy supply have only heightened Algeria?s strategic importance. Iran?s unpredictable foreign policy has Washington particularly nervous. The price of gasoline is already up 11 per cent from last year and crude has risen 6 per cent to $107 per barrel over the same span; Tehran?s threatened blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could spike oil prices by as much as 50 per cent. Iran?s ongoing sabre-rattling with Israel and halting of oil shipments to Britain and France last month has further raised tensions and elevated Algeria?s importance as an alternative energy supplier.

With this in mind, Clinton elected not to pressure the Bouteflika government over its stagnant democratization and support for the Assad regime ? two issues at the center of her foreign policy in north Africa.

Only hours after praising Tunisians for ?dislodg[ing] a dictator,? Secretary Clinton dined with Bouteflika, the lone north African autocrat to survive the Arab Spring thus far. Clinton can see that free and fair elections could ? whether due to disputed vote totals, widespread protests, or regime change ? spark an oil price surge akin to the one created by last year?s tumult in Libya. While the Algerian government claims that its upcoming May parliamentary elections will be a meaningful step toward democratic reform, it is more likely that the powerful military leaders will rig the ballot in order to maintain the status quo.

Similarly, only one day after calling for international partners to ?ratchet up pressure? on the Assad regime, Clinton declined to chide Algiers for its support of the Syrian government. Algeria has been the biggest impediment in the Arab League to taking collective action to stop the bloodshed. With no clear strategy for removing Assad, the US has little to gain in trying to shake Algeria from its pro-regime stance. Additionally, Clinton does not wish to put Algiers on the defensive and push it toward Damascus, a close ally of Tehran.

With energy in high demand, Secretary Clinton has little appetite for rankling a key supplier in Algeria. So long as tensions remain high in oil and gas markets, expect Algiers to continue to do as it pleases, knowing that Washington is too concerned about maintaining the flow of oil from a major energy provider.

Ergo, a global intelligence and advisory firm, is producing a series profiling the leading figures in politics, government, and business in Algeria and several other countries in the region.

Related reading:
Written in blood, FT review
The trouble with the Arab League, the World
Dreaming of a united north Africa, FT

Source: http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2012/03/01/guest-post-clinton-treads-softly-around-energy-rich-algeria/

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The Craziest Jeans Company Is Making Silk Denim, Hemp Denim, Gauze Jeans and Reverse Red Dye Pants [Fashion]

Naked and Famous Denim, the craziest jeans company in the world, is getting even wonkier. Along with other jeans, Naked and Famous is releasing Japanese raw denim woven with silk, hemp or gauze and a ridiculously awesome pair of jeans that'll fade red as you wear it (rather than white). More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/EWMWzTDYG6k/

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PFT: Griffin trade rumors already out of control

AP

Michigan center David Molk isn?t lacking for confidence.

Prior to the Scouting Combine, Molk said he could break the event?s all-time record in the bench press, and although he fell short of that (finishing with 41 repetitions of 225 pounds, good for second-best this year), he?s continuing to talk himself up after the Combine.

Told by an AnnArbor.com reporter that most draftniks rank him as anywhere from the second-best to the sixth-best center in this year?s draft, Molk took exception to that. Molk, who won the Rimington Trophy as the best center in college football, says he?s clearly No. 1.

?The fact they could consider any center better than me is pretty stupid,? Molk said.

NFL Network?s Mike Mayock recently called Molk ?very much a finesse guy,? and Molk took issue with that.

?He never played against me,? Molk said of Mayock. ?I don?t think a finesse player has ever had defensive linemen quit during a game; quit and give up because you?re hurting them. I don?t think a finesse player has ever done what I do, which is just ground kids out of the hole. I think the fact he called me a finesse player is because he hasn?t watched me on film.?

Most draft analysts believe Wisconsin?s Peter Konz is the top center in the draft, and Molk takes issue with that, too.

?I have skills he doesn?t have,? Molk said of Konz. ?Obviously, my strength is far better, I?m faster, I would say I?m smarter. Obviously, he?s an intelligent person, I?ve talked to him, but I just think I have a technique that?s unmatched.?

Molk was voted to several All-America teams, but Konz beat him out as an All-American on the vote taken by college football coaches. Molk said ?stuff like that pisses me off.?

It also pisses Molk off that another Big Ten center, Ohio State?s Mike Brewster, is ranked ahead of him in many draft rankings.

?He is nowhere near me as a player,? Molk said of Brewster.

If there?s an NFL team out there wanting a center who?s strong in the weight room and cocky off the field, Molk is your man.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/28/robert-griffin-trade-rumors-already-spinning-out-of-control/related/

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