Holy crap!

Holy crap!  I wrote some more code today (Java, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS).  After discovering that bits and pieces of it actually worked, I even committed it to GitHub.  Amazing!

Thermal imaging...

Thermal imaging...  Just a few years ago, this infrared imaging technology cost tens of thousands of dollars for a low-end device.  Now it's available as a teensy add-on to an iPhone or Android, for a couple hundred dollars.  After some quick testing around the house, I can tell you that it works as least as well as those military-grade devices the last time I saw one of them in action.  I haven't seen it in low light level situations yet (we'll try it tonight), but it looks very promising.  Here are three shots I took around the house:

The first one shows Miki, watching Debbie eat her lunch (and hoping for some of it to drop down within his range).  Note how his head – and especially his eyes – glow brightly.  Those are the areas where his body is losing the most heat.

The middle photo is of our kitchen table top, without my hand in the photo.  I made this by placing my left hand on the table top, counting to five, then taking my hand away and snapping the photo.  The infrared camera is sensing the very slight temperature difference caused by my hand's presence a few seconds before I took the photo.  My hand's image was still clearly present 20 seconds later, then rapidly faded away.

The last photo is a closeup of Miki's head (still sitting, waiting hopefully).  The resolution isn't even close to the visible light camera, but it's plenty good enough to discern what you're seeing.

I'm looking forward to trying this tonight, to see if we can spot some wildlife...

Obama rebuilds the American dream...

Obama rebuilds the American dream...  Via my mom:

One Old Lady Who Loves Obama - A DIFFERENT TAKE...

This is certainly a different way to look at what is happening.  One 82-year-old lady loves Obama and she may have a very good point. She says that Obama is amazing, and is rebuilding the American dream!

She gives us an entirely new slant on the "amazing" job Obama is doing, and she says that she will thank God for the President.  Keep reading for her additional comments and an explanation. When discussing Obama, she says:

1. Obama destroyed the Clinton Political Machine, driving a stake through the heart of Hillary's presidential aspirations - something no Republican was ever able to do.

2. Obama killed off the Kennedy Dynasty - no more Kennedys trolling Washington looking for booze and women wanting rides home.

3. Obama is destroying the Democratic Party before our eyes!  Dennis Moore had never lost a race. Evan Bayh had never lost a race.  Byron Dorgan had never lost a race. Harry Reid - soon to be GONE!  These are just a handful of the Democrats whose political careers Obama has destroyed. By the end of 2014, dozens more will be gone.  Just think, in December of 2008 the Democrats were on the rise. In two election cycles, they had picked up 14 Senate seats and 52 House seats. The press was touting the death of the Conservative Movement and the Republican Party. However, in just one year, Obama put a stop to all of this and gave the House and the Senate - back to the
Republicans.

4. Obama has completely exposed liberals and progressives for what they are. Sadly, every generation seems to need to re-learn the lesson on why they should never actually put liberals in charge.  Obama is bringing home the lesson very well: Liberals tax, borrow and spend. Liberals won't bring themselves to protect America.  Liberals want to take over the economy. Liberals think they know what is best for everyone. Liberals are not happy until they are running YOUR life.

5. Obama has brought more Americans back to conservatism than anyone since Reagan. In one year, he has rejuvenated the Conservative Movement and brought out to the streets millions of freedom loving Americans. Name one other time when you saw your friends and neighbors this interested in taking back America!

6. Obama, with his "amazing leadership," has sparked the greatest period of sales of firearms and ammunition this country has seen.  Law abiding citizens have rallied and have provided a "stimulus" to the sporting goods field while other industries have failed, faded, or moved off-shore.

7. In all honesty, one year ago I was more afraid than I have been in my life. Not afraid of the economy, but afraid of the direction our country was going. I thought, Americans have forgotten what this country is all about. My neighbors and friends, even strangers, have proved to me that my lack of confidence in the greatness and wisdom of the American people has been flat wrong.

8. When the American people wake up, no smooth talking teleprompter reader can fool them! Barack Obama has served to wake up these great Americans! Again, I want to say: "Thank you, Barack Obama!" After all, this is exactly the kind of hope and change we desperately needed!!

9. He made Jimmy Carter happy since Jimmy is no longer the worst president we've ever had.

A cheerful read, if you don't think too critically about the assertions.  While I wish I felt the same optimism that the author does, I do not.  I see little evidence (as opposed to talk) that the American electorate is actually supportive of (much) smaller government.  I do remember similar public feelings – when Carter was president – and after a brief flirtation with sanity, the electorate reverted right back to big government proponents (remember the Clinton administration?).  The government is now vastly larger by any method of measurement than it was during Carter's term.  I won't be surprised at all if the government continues to grow, even if we managed to elect, say, Ted Cruz.