MTSU Guitar grad wins Rosario Guitar Competition

Erol Ozsever wins First Prize at the Rosario Guitar Competition in Columbia, South Carolina.

In the finals, Erol performed Aquarelle by Sergi Assad, and Muerte del Angel Tango by Piazzolla.

Judges for the competition held during the weekend of April 25, '09, included Steve Aron, Christopher Berg, and Valerie Hartzell.

Erol graduated from MTSU with a degree in Guitar Performance and now is finishing his Masters as a Graduate Assistant at Indiana University under Ernesto Bitetti.

Congrats Erol!!

Murfreesboro tornado damage

The bad news

Many people lost a lot in the 4-10-09 Murfreesboro tornado. The map shows the path of the tornado (click to enlarge).


It was worse than I thought.

The NWS tornado survey said at it's max, the tornado was EF3, 1/2 mile wide, on the ground for 23 miles and caused total destruction of well built houses.


My brother jokingly urged me to 'sneak in and loot.' A dark sense of humor.

UPDATE:
Murfreesboro tornado reached EF-4 intensity

From the NWS:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT TEAM HAS DETERMINED
THAT THE TORNADO WHICH STRUCK MURFREESBORO ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON REACHED EF-4 IN INTENSITY. EF-4 INTENSITY...WITH WINDS NEAR 170 MPH...WAS REACHED IN THE HIGHLAND PARK DRIVE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS
THE TOMAHAWK TRACE AREA. SEVERAL WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WERE DESTROYED IN THESE AREAS...HARDWOOD TREES WERE DEBARKED...AND VEHICLES WERE TOSSED CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE.

FINAL SUMMARY (TIMES BASED ON RADAR)...

STRENGTH...EF-4
MAXIMUM WINDS...170 MPH
PATH LENGTH...23.25 MILES
WIDTH...MAXIMUM 750 YARDS
TOUCHDOWN TIME...1219 PM
TORNADO END TIME...1255 PM

Storm chasing in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Storm Chasing in Murfreesboro

It was an exceptionally fine and productive day of storm chasing. I intercepted this tornado near Osborne Lane in Murfreesboro, TN yesterday. This tornado was near the end of it's life and was beginning to "rope-out" by the time it crossed rt. 96 near Lascasas. I actually entered the debris cloud at one point and came within a quarter mile. It was a very impressive tornado at one point, causing localized devastation, dozens of injuries, and 2 deaths. It missed my house by at least 3 miles.

The second picture was taken by my friend Titus Bartos from Murfreesboro Rd. when the tornado was much stronger.

I really love to witness the power of nature. It was a rare opportunity. Some part of me likes the eerie sound of that tornado siren at MTSU.

Here is a short video I took as the tornado was moving away from me after I passed through the debris cloud off Osborne Lane.



Watch the initial touchdown that was captured on a webcam live on WKRN. Listen to the broadcasters, they were obviously impressed, nearly freakin' out over the seriousness of the situation. (youtube video below)