Tag: awesome

More Lightning with CHDK

2012-09-07 morning lightning 0595

I recently downloaded a slightly different motion detection script for my camera that seems to do a great job catching lightning flashes. I had been hoping for some good lightning opportunities on several occasions, but the storms disappointed me. The morning of September 7th turned out to be just what I needed to check out …

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My Top 100 Audio Tracks Of The Moment

A “Top 100 Songs” meme has been going around, this one on FaceBook. I find it very difficult to choose favorites from music that I enjoy from so many different genres and artists. I made up this list of one hundred tracks based on what I happen to have available for play on my computer …

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Thunderstruck: Lightning Photography with CHDK

Lightning has always been a source of fascination for me, even as a child. I was never one to be fearful of thunderstorms. Watching a good lightning display is something that I really enjoy. Flashes of lightning are very ephemeral. Blink your eyes or turn your head and you might miss an impressive sight. As …

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My First 360° Panorama Attempt

Panoramic photos have always intrigued me. The techniques used to take such photos have changed with the introduction of high-tech digital photography and processing capabilities. I decided to try my hand at a full-range panorama. Prairie grass near Urbana Dog Park in USA I took 53 sets of 3 photographs each for this project. I …

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Bone Marrow Biopsy Number Two

Bone marrow biopsy photo 04

I had my first bone marrow biopsy over a year ago, just after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In preparation for my upcoming stem cell transplant, another biopsy was called for. This time I managed to get some photographs of the procedure, thanks to the assistance of my wife, Tammy. The biopsy procedure took place …

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Cool Abstract Backgrounds

Fractal image generated by qosmic

It’s great when I have a relevant photograph or other image to use as a header background for a post. Sometimes I really don’t have anything appropriate, though. Abstract images are a great substitute for relevance. I’m not really a big fan of abstract art. I’m not much of an artist, either, when it comes …

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Listen to “Packard Pokes At”

For the past several weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of a podcast called “Packard Pokes At.” It’s a weekly podcast that covers news, politics, and religion. Each show is about an hour in length. We record the show on Friday evenings at 9:00pm central time. The show is broadcast live on …

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Christian Supremacy Rears Its Ugly Head

Angry teacher photo: CONFORM

Damon Fowler, a senior at Bastrop High School in Bastrop, Louisiana, is graduating this evening. Many people in his community are wishing that he weren’t graduating, or that he kept his mouth shut, or that he went to school elsewhere, or that he simply didn’t exist. You see; Damon is an atheist. As Damon explained …

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Phidippus audax in my living room again

Phidippus audax 0006

During the past several days, I’ve noticed a new (to me) bold jumping spider (Phidippus audax) in my living room. This one appears to be an adult, judging from its size and the fact that its markings are all white rather than a reddish-brown color. It’s a pretty big spider. This species gets to be …

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Did I mention that I live in a great community?

IMC

I didn’t really know much about the Urbana-Champaign, Illinois area before I moved here in early 1995. As I’ve come to know more of the area and the people, I’ve come to appreciate what a great place I live in. httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyqxyhccIBk I’m not a world traveler, and I haven’t lived in very many different localities, …

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