Infrared Makes a Great Presentation Aid

Hawk in winter imaged with a thermal camera

After I finished speaking about engineering I brought out one of my company’s gyro-stabilized camera gimbals. This one, in particular, has both an optical and false-color FLIR Photon infrared camera. The gimbal is able to autonomously track objects while they move and while the gimbal itself is perturbed by wind and other disturbances. The students thought that was incredibly cool as I tracked their movements using the optical camera. Then I turned out the lights and switched to infrared mode. My audience lit up like a Christmas tree under infrared and I was greeted with a resounding “cool…!” I had one of the students put her hand against a wall for a few seconds and the camera picked up the hand-shaped residual heat signature. I also had one student walk around the room trying to escape the gimbal’s gaze. He was successful but not immediately!

I have given presentations about engineering and technology to grade-school and high school students in the past and I enjoy it every time. I think I made a few converts on this run!

Posted by on 25 May 2012 at 8:54 PM

Filed Under: Engineering

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May 20 Annular Eclipse

The Nugget and Daddy watching the 2012 solar eclipseToday we were treated to a very rare event, an annular solar eclipse. Because the orbit of the moon is more distant, it does not completely occlude the sun and produces a “ring of fire” effect. In fact, the word annular means ring-shaped. Jim, a local astronomer, was ready with a telescope and solar filters but the weather did not cooperate today. Instead we were cursed with a large blanket of thick clouds, so the eclipse viewing event was canceled. In fact, the cloud mass covered the entire Northwest, so driving to a better viewing location was not an option. I took my family and camera to Panorama Point anyway, just in case there was a break in the clouds. We arrived at 6:17PM, just 2 minutes after the point of maximum occlusion. Supposedly up to 70% of the sun’s light would be blocked but it didn’t seem that much darker when we arrived. Amazingly the solar disc was visible through the clouds so I was able to snap a few photos:

I was not fully prepared to photograph the eclipse since I only had a portrait lens with me. I probably should have taken my older Canon Rebel, a less capable camera, but it comes with a 300mm zoom!

Posted by on 20 May 2012 at 8:26 PM

Filed Under: Astronomy, Photography

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Delicious Oven Baked Halibut

About a year ago I discovered that I enjoy cooking and I have since taken over the role of cooking for my family. Instead of following recipes, I just experiment until I find a good taste combination and go with it. LRH recently suggested that I blog some of my recipes, so here is my first try: a tin-foil halibut bake. (if you can stand the price of halibut, that is).

Cooking Halibut Start off with a sheet of tin foil and cover with a thin layer of butter or cooking spray. Chop some spinach and place a bed of it on the foil (you can drizzle some flavored olive oil on the spinach). Lay the filet down on top of the spinach and surround with shrimp. Then cover with a marinade. You can use something pre-made (like the packets at the Safeway meat counter) or make something out of olive oil, spices, etc. This time I used lemon garlic sauce.
Cooking Halibut Add a chopped green onion and a chopped shallot to the filet.
Cooking Halibut Now for mushrooms and black olives. Cremini or oyster mushrooms work well.
Cooking Halibut Add some chopped tomatoes and then cover with your favorite spices. I used paprika and a small amount of cayenne pepper.
Cooking Halibut Wrap up the tin foil and bake in the oven for about 20-25 min at 350-400 deg F. Enjoy.

Posted by on 2 October 2011 at 9:07 PM

Filed Under: Cooking

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My PRK Experience: Six Month Postop

I had my six month post op appointment yesterday. On the visual acuity test, I tested 20/20 in both eyes and with both eyes open I could read the 20/15 line without difficulty. In fact, they didn’t test my eyes individually at 20/15, but I believe I could have easily passed. Incredible results – I was actually surprised since my last check-up, several months ago, had me testing at 20/25.

My night vision is crystal clear without halos or other distortions. I haven’t had any other complications like dry eye or floaters. Overall the results are better than I could have imagined. Strangely, I still have intense pain when I get an eyelash stuck on the ablated area of the cornea. My surgeon explained that this is due to the epithelium and it may take up to a year to heal thoroughly. Its a minor issue and I’d say the surgery was worth it.

I have another appointment in 6-months to mark the 1-year check-up. My vision has been stable for three months, and I don’t expect that to change.

Posted by on 27 September 2011 at 11:48 PM

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More Fun at the Range – Ice Blocks for Target Practice

We went back to the range this weekend with six ice blocks. Our group had a variety of rifles this time in .308 Winchester, 7.62×51 M118Lr, .30-06 Springfield, 8mm Mauser and .444 Marlin. As appealing as it was, I resisted the urge to just empty an M14 magazine. Perhaps its the engineer in me, but I wanted to test each cartridge on a different block of ice and record the results. Surprisingly, the .30 caliber rounds made more spectacular explosions than the .444 Marlin. While we were dismantling the block ice, my two-year-old was watching with LRH safely from the parking lot. After we started the experiment she commented, “loud things break a snows Momma”. LOL.

She also commented when the guy with the Mauser took three shots to bring down the block. He was using AP rounds so they punched little holes in the ice that she couldn’t see. Her remark was, “he can’t do it Momma, Daddy do it!” Just priceless.

Posted by on 3 May 2011 at 4:20 PM

Filed Under: Shooting

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My PRK Experience: Over a Month Postop

Left Eye: post-op day 47
Right Eye: post-op day 33

I had another check-up Monday and it went well. I’m currently -0.25 diopters (20/20) in my left eye and somewhere between -0.25 and -0.5 diopters (20/25) in my right eye. Visual acuity is mostly stable with some (almost imperceptible) fluctuations in my right eye. Both eyes continue to appear healthy with no signs of haze or other complications. While I’m disappointed that my right eye is not 20/20, I understand that I  really need to reevaluate at the 6-month mark, because these subtle changes will continue until then. I’ve also completely discontinued using eyedrops (including steroid drops) and its possible that my right eye is asymptomatically dry, reducing visual acuity.

Still, 20/20 and 20/25 is nothing to complain about. I find myself starting at signs in the distance and expecting to read them no matter how small the text is. When I can’t read the text I start to worry that my vision is deteriorating – fortunately its all in my head.

Posted by on 29 April 2011 at 6:12 PM

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Fun at the Range: Shooting an Ice Block

I had a good time at the range this Saturday. We showed up with a block of ice, placed it at about 25 yards and proceeded to destroy it with one 40-caliber rifle round. I’m going to bring 5 blocks next time I go shooting. Check this out:

The 444 is an intimidating cartridge that produces plenty of recoil. There was a small group of guys at the range and only two of them were willing to shoot that rifle. My wife walks up, chambers 4 rounds and proceeds to dismantle a block of wood at 50 yards. After she was done, her first comment was “that didn’t kick much.” Any woman who can handle a large-bore rifle is hot. Add red hair to the mix and you’ve got mega-hot so I count myself blessed!

We also brought some clays and put them on the hill at 100 yards. We had a Mini-30, Mini-14, 30-30 and a brand new absolutely badass Ruger Sr-556. Those clay zombies didn’t last long. I’m going back in a few weeks with more ice blocks and a real video camera (not that worthless thing in my iPhone). Stay tuned.

Posted by on 20 April 2011 at 7:49 PM

Filed Under: Shooting

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Negotiating with a Very Intelligent Toddler

Siena was being stubborn this morning and resisting a change of clothes. LRH wasn’t making any progress, so I tried a bribe thinking it would make her comply immediately.

Me: “Siena, if you let me change your clothes, I’ll give you a piece of yummy beef jerky.”
Siena: “No daddy, I candy”

Needless to say, my bribe quickly turned into a negotiation. This kid never ceases to amaze me.

Posted by on 17 April 2011 at 11:51 AM

Filed Under: Fuss Nuggets (My Kids)

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Shooting in the Dark: How to do Muzzle Flash Photography

I brought my camera to the range yesterday with the intent to capture some muzzle blasts from pistol rounds. The idea was originally inspired by my friend who has a Bersa Thunder in .45 and some +P rounds. The results were amazing, to say the least.

The process is fairly straightforward provided you have solo access to an indoor range or can find a safe place outside to shoot with low lighting conditions. You’ll need a good SLR camera with support for bulb exposure, a solid tripod and some patience. Follow the tips below:

  1. Choose a location where you have control of the light. Ideally this would be access to a private indoor range. In order to get a good exposure, the shutter of the camera must be depressed with ambient light at a minimum. Obviously it would be unwise to shoot in complete darkness, so dim the light just enough that you won’t overexpose but are still able to see the target. Always observe the four rules of gun safety, especially rule number 4: “be sure of your target and what lies behind it.”
  2. Set up the tripod and camera near but slightly behind the shooter. Adjust the focal length to frame the photograph how you want. If you instruct the shooter to keep the firearm in an invisible box, you can try zooming in to fill the frame with more of the blast.
  3. With the lights on, instruct the shooter to take position and take aim, but not fire. Set the focus to manual and adjust until the firearm is in focus. In cameras that have a live-view mode, this is a simple task since the LCD display can be zoomed in while the focus ring is tweaked appropriately. Mark the position of the shooter’s feet, so he can return to that position for subsequent shots.
  4. Set the camera to the lowest ISO speed to reduce grain and light sensitivity.
  5. Set the camera for manual bulb exposure and adjust the aperture to an fstop that darkens the background without reducing the muzzle flash. I found that f/5.6 to f/8 works the best in very dim light.
  6. With the shooter in position, turn down the lights and instruct the shooter to fire after depressing the shutter button. A bulb exposure holds the shutter open as long as the button is pressed, so when the shooter is done firing the button may be released and the muzzle flash will be captured.
  7. Adjust aperture as needed to brighten or darken the blast.

Here are the results:

Posted by on 2 April 2011 at 1:22 PM

Filed Under: Photography, Shooting

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My PRK Experience: Right Eye Day 3

Left Eye: post-op day 17
Right Eye: post-op day 3

Just a quick update on my right eye. Its going much like the left eye did – the worst day being yesterday accompanied by lots of pain, blurriness, and ghosting. Today its been mostly pain free, but the blurriness still remains. Hopefully if my eye is healed enough, I’ll get the bandage contact lens removed tomorrow and I should be seeing very clearly by the end of this week. I also get to reduce the application of Pred Forte in my left eye to two drops per day tomorrow.

It will be interesting to see if my right eye reaches 20/20. My surgeon had to make a decision on how to treat my right eye because my optical perscription determined with the phoropter differed from wavescan data by 0.34 diopters. He decided to under correct by 0.25 diopters, opting to trust the wavescan machine. Either way, its better to be under corrected than overcorrected and I should know where I stand by the end of the week.

Posted by on 27 March 2011 at 7:33 PM

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