Photos and Projects

  Below is the HeathBuilt Voltage Reference Source ( Model EUW-16 ) which was given to me by Professor Marshall Dixon's Estate.  This unit was manufactured in Benton Harbor, MI in 1965 and is a millivolt voltage reference source with an amazing range of +/- 100VDC.  Mr. Carlson's Lab has a restoration video on a similar unit, the EUW-16A, but that unit uses vacuum tubes and this one does not. A working unit like this is incredibly useful and necessary when developing embedded code for sensor channels, especially ADC code.  It allows one to send different known voltage values from 0-5V (in my case) to different ADC channels and then verify the known voltages are being sampled correctly by the micro and firmware. The EUW-16 delivering +100VDC. After opening up the unit, all 3 capacitors were checked:  the two main 70 MFD/350V caps on the right and the 1.0 MFD/200V on the left below.  None were leaking and decided to leave them in the unit undisturbed. Capa...

  This Cardinal was eager to go for a nature ride.  Taken behind the back screen door which didn't detract from the final image.  Makes an afternoon shot look misty and early morning. Cardinal Cardio:  1/640s, f6.3, ISO 720, 400mm Cropped Image

  Some good photos of a Hawk, Cardinal and Butterfly this morning at the Butler Prairie.  Especially liked how clean the Cardinal image turned out because they move around so much.  The Hawk was very high up but like his vertical look along with the tree limbs.  I was lucky to see the butterfly as they are so well camouflaged but he didn't move the entire time.  Very fortunate to capture all of these in one morning. Hawk over the Botanical Gardens Cardinal along the canal Butterfly at the prairie

  Since today is Good Friday, today is a Good Friday post.  Several years ago, I heard someone saying that the Bible describes a very large number of Roman soldiers were sent to arrest Jesus.  This was contrasted with my impression at the time (where I got it, I do not know) that probably 5-10 unlucky saps had been sent out to apprehend this incredibly popular "Healer" who had come to the city and stirred up so much controversy with the pampered religious elites. However,  John 18:3 in several English translations is a bit more specific.  This verse in some translations refers to the number of Roman soldiers sent to arrest Jesus as either a ' cohort ' or a ' detachment ' which are terms given to specifically describe a group of 600 soldiers.  Since I am a numbers guy, I became and still am rather intrigued with this number. If it was a group of soldiers anywhere near that number sent at night to avoid the crowds, this would strongly imply that Jesus was vi...

  Below is the output of using the "imadjust" function in the Matlab Image Processing toolbox, to yield a significant improvement in the overall color contrast adjustment of digital photos. Script Old New Experimenting further with photo editing with Matlab and its Image Processing Toolbox.  Below is a simple script which converts an image to gray scale and then adjusts its contrast.  The Histogram for each image is plotted as well. Script Output

  Several of his former students combined to write Marshall's Obituary .  Hard to capture all that he did and meant to others. Below is a short clip for Marshall's homemade documentary that his former students are putting together.  The goal was to be around 60 seconds, this one is 1:30.  Hard to say something in such a short period of time but was pleased with this version.  Everyone's videos will be compiled and played at his funeral ceremonies on April 23.

  We visited The Bob Ross Experience in Muncie located at the home of Dr. Lucius L. Ball near the campus of Ball State University.  In the 1980s, this house was a WIPB television studio where Bob Ross filmed Seasons 2-15 of The Joy of Painting .  Dr. Ball was a physician and the eldest of the Ball brothers who started the Ball Manufacturing Corporation and eventually became the benefactors of Ball State University and Ball Memorial Hospital. Lucius Ball home where The Joy of Painting was filmed In front of the actual easel used in the show Art is serious business :-) Actual Set of The Joy of Painting Seasons 2-15 Vintage 1980s TV playing The Joy of Painting Fantastic blue ground cover next door Great story of the home TV studio Bob Ross Memorabilia  Photo album showing actual camera arrangement Birthday Photo Habitat for Humanity photos Giving back to Muncie Hiding behind a hedge Canoeing down the street Ewa standing next to the actual easel used by Bob Ross  ...