Here’s a video of my latest art work.   
Well, more like an Art installation to
celebrate the Fall season.

Here’s a comparison: 

Ron worked on the constructing the LED light bar.  He took a 6’ 1x4 and drilled holes in 6 sets of 5 holes in an x shape.  Each set contains a blue, green, red, yellow and white LED.   Three sets on each half of the light bar with about 6 inches of empty space in between the two halves for the LED driver boards.    Each half was wired to have a common power for the LEDs and separately wiring each LED into a Molex connection strip board.   This allows for easy connection or swaps of LED Drivers and it also minimizes the wiring nightmare.     From Ron’s experience with the green/blue LED light bar he made a more effective LED light bar for this art installation.

In the meantime, I was busy working out the designs to create the fall leaves silhouette stencils.  I got some black cardboard sheets.  I measured out the window panes and cut out 6 panes from the black cardboard sheets.  Next I drew the leaves to fill the space as much as possible.  I then cut out each leaf creating a stencil.   Now that I had my stencil, I moved onto programming the lighting effects.

I used an Arduino to communicate with the A6276 LED driver.  Since I already knew how to interface and write the code for one A6276 LED driver the real challenge this time was to have the Arduino communicate with two or more A6276 LED driver.  While Ron was building out the LED light bar I used the green/blue LED bar and my A6276 LED Driver Development Board to work out this problem.  Once I figured out this out, I was ready to begin coding the lighting effects based on the physical wiring set up for this LED light bar.   For this art installation I’m using red and yellow to create the fall colors.   Now that I have the lighting effect in my code I needed to reprogram a Boarduino (Arduino compatible) since I use the Arduino for prototyping purposes.

Back view

Front view

Now we’re ready for the installation. At the window I taped each stencil to the top row.  I wanted to defuse the LED lighting therefore I used wax paper.   Ron position and attached braces to support the LED light bar.   At the center of the LED Light bar the Molex cable went down to connect the Boarduino to the 2 LED drivers.   Turn on the power and wait for the Sun to set.    As the dark of night approached the colors of the fall leaves brighten and bounced around as if dancing in the wind. 
Enjoy.

Why should there be a pre-existing clause to receive healthcare?  An individual should not be denied because he has a pre-existing condition when changing from one healthcare insurance carrier to another.   It only benefits the insurance company but not the individual.  Where is the service to the individual?  Isn't this why the healthcare industry was created to help individual(s) and their family;  what happened?

It’s ironic that when you enter the workforce you are told you need healthcare insurance even though you are healthy.  You pay into it for several years and when you do need the healthcare insurance later in life you learn that for some things you do not qualify!?!  QUALIFY?!?  What’s up with that? 

There are so many ways the healthcare insurance company denies its members of payment for service rendered thus forcing their members to pay the out of pocket expense yet again.   More people have gone into bankruptcy because of these unforeseen events.   People who paid into healthcare for most of their life find themselves currently without healthcare and in more debt. 

I am puzzled with the healthcare industry were procedures are standardized yet the patients are not informed of the cost involved prior to their procedures.  Why can’t the healthcare industry show patients the cost of procedure in a three tier cost based on the procedure’s difficulty?  Why is it that other industries people know exactly what they are paying for whether it’s either service or item they bought!  What's wrong with this picture? 

So much talk about reform and yet it’s all tailored to benefit the existing system of medical care. I’ve gone without healthcare coverage in the past and it looks like I will again.  Healthy people get less service and yet are the ones that pay the most into healthcare. 

Requiring all people to pay into a system that doesn’t disclose the cost of service only after the service is render does not help people make better choices instead it helps to create the cluster of red tape that exist now in the healthcare system.  People have no real concept of the cost of lab works, tests, visit and what not, they only know that their healthcare plan will cover it not realizing that ultimately everyone has to pay into it in some form or another. 

I say there has to be a cost system that clearly states what the procedure cost is from one hospital to the next.  There shouldn’t be a mystery regarding services. People should be allowed to shop around and see which hospital or clinic or any medical services will give them the best service at an affordable cost.  

To promote pro-active healthcare behaviour patients should have more control over their healthcare.  Patients should know beforehand the cost of service/procedure, be able to price comparison such services/procedures and know exactly what is covered by the healthcare insurance prior receiving it thus allowing patients to better plan their out of pocket expense.  Hospitals/clinics and other medical services should offer discounts to patients paying cash not the other way around.

Recently Ron and I went to see 2 exhibitions at the Harry Ransom Center at the
University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas.

The first exhibitions titled:  From out that Shadow: The Life and Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe was very inspiring.  There were original books, letter, and photograph of him and his loved ones.  There was several painting of Poe’s writings and more impressive was his manuscript written on his homemade scroll in his handwriting.  Poe has beautiful penmanship.  It was so cool to actually see his work and to see the desk that he spent endless days and night working on his masterpieces.   I enjoyed reading some of his letters and seeing how he influences many generations to come with his wonderful works of art.   I enjoyed reading some of his stories and I think I’m going to pull those books out again and reread them.  Each time you reread an old favourite depending on where you are at in life, the stories seem to change a bit.


The second exhibitions titled:  Other Worlds: Rare Astronomical Works was a shear delights. Books far, far old then Ron and I combined where on display. Several books such as “De Revolutionibus" by Nicolaus Copernicus showed drawing of his theory on our solar system. I was so awe stricken when I saw Galileo's works in person and realized it was he's 400th anniversary, WOW.

When I saw Kepler's work and all of a sudden it hit me; not only was I in the presence of great scientists but great mathematicians too.  During my undergrad, I heard these name and studied their theories and principals but for some unknown reason they didn’t exists.  I had no connection to them.  I had similar experience when learning about the Civil War.

                

I remember when we stopped at Chattanooga for a few days and Ron showed me the many Civil War graves in the south then did I finally started to relate to the stories of the Civil War and why it was so important to know it.  I finally connected to it just as I’m finally connecting to these great individuals.

Speaking of great works I was pleasantly surprised when I learned about the Gutenberg Bible and the First Photograph.

                                              

As we enter the building and walked down the center corridor and right before stepping down to the other two exhibitions there is a wooden oval structure which has 2 openings (at 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock).   Inside this wooden oval structure there is one enclosed display platform and within this display there are two books.   The book on the left is closed to show the binding and cover while the book on the right is open to show the inside details of this beautifully first printed book.  This book is of 2 volumes and is well preserved.  Looking at the printing and then noticing the hand coloring of the artwork and filling in of key words still illustrates the need for people to give it the finishing touches given the level of technology at that time.  Still it was a major accomplishment and a major turning point thus allowing for communication to spread more quickly than ever before.   Today we have the internet and I wonder what tomorrow will bring.


                                              

As we exited the wooden oval structure, we notice yet another entrance to a small room and walked over.  As we enter the little hallway, there were images on the wall of how the first photograph came to be.  Opposite to this wall was the entrance to the little room.  We enter this dimly light room and within the enclosed glass wall there it was the first photograph ever taken.  The photograph is the original heliograph plate placed within it original golden frame.   Since the room was dimly light I lowered myself to an angle in which I could see the images on the plate.  Amazing!!!  Just amazing to see the same view that once Joseph N. Niépce saw.  He even had sketched it out which was one of the images displayed in the hallway entrance.  I love photography. 

Yet again I’m humbled by this experience.  A thought crossed my mind during this adventure and it was, "Why didn’t I get this kind of exposure when I was a child?" Only as an adult am I experiencing history in the real world not via books or in a classroom where all you do is memorize date, names and key points.  Where’s the real connection?  How can one relate to what has happened and how it truly impacts one’s own life today?  There is so much we take for granted and it’s like a mystery box as long as it works why bother understanding how it came to be and by who.  So much is lost by not knowing. 

Finally, we met again Frida Kahlo.  During our sabbatical in Puerto Rico of 2005, we attended an exhibition of Frida Kahlo in Ponce. The Museo de Arte de Ponce had an exhibition called “Frida Kahlo and her worlds” which ran during the months of Junuary 2006 through May 2006.  They displayed several of her works.  Here’s where we meet again Frida Kahlo; we saw her famous painting titled: Self-portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird and still quite impressive.

If you find yourself in Austin, Tx and have some free time, I highly recommend visiting the Harry Ransom Center and see these wonderful and illuminating exhibits.  

Passed Away September 2009

I recently learned that Hydro passed on 2 weeks ago.  He's no longer suffering.  Becky had to put him to sleep since he got so much worse near the end.  He had several attacks which impaired his ability to get around and even functional normally.  Both of them were suffering so the time came and well she had to do what needed to be done. My sympathy,  Farewell Hydro, rest in peace.

I remember the first time I meet Hydro. We had just relocated to Austin.  We began meeting our neighbors and getting to know the neighborhood and surrounding areas.  One evening during our return walk, I saw Becky walking her two dogs – Willie Bob and Hydro.  Hydro walked on his own without being held onto by a leash.  He saw me and came over for a pat on the head; I guess it was his way of welcoming us.  Over time I got to know Hydro and more so when I became his dog walker.   At first when I started to walk the 2 dogs they walked in a slow pace and over time with my playfulness I eventually got both dogs to walk a little faster.   One day I challenged the boys for a run and believe it or not they both ran.   It was funny watching Willie Bob running behind me and Hydro shooting in front of me.  I bet the seniors got their laughs out of this but eventually the boys got used to a little run, walk, run and finally stroll back to their home.  

____________________

There were times when I would sit in the back area of French Quarter’s south court and let the boy lay down for awhile and sun bath.  They loved it especially Hydro.   Since he was an old timer, there were times when I would come up to him and give him a body massage and in particular around his hip.  Boy-o-boy did he love that rub.  He would stretch out the leg, drop his head and yawn.   He was a happy pup, I say.  

He surprised me one day, and I wished I had a video camera on hand that day. It was the only time that Hydro and I really played.  He was like a little pup running around playing chase and hide-n-seek.  It was great to see him so happy and so playful.   At one point, I raise my hand above my head and Hydro got on his hind legs so when he return to all fours I decided to get his front two legs and we dance.  Oh what fun we had and the seniors watched. All the years they’ve known Hydro this was the first time the ever saw him this happy.   I was thrilled that Hydro and Willie Bob both were having so much fun. 

Then there was the time when they boy spent a day with us in our apartment.  I even got a video of them hanging about and posted it under Pups.  Ron also did a writeup under Evelyn's Dog. Gosh they were so well behaved.  You’ll never experience such gentle and well demeanor dogs.  I love them dearly and that also includes Chyna the cat who also lives with them.  I am most grateful to them for welcoming and letting me play and take photos of them.

Here is to you Hydro.  I love you dearly.  
Thank you for the fond memories I now cherish even more. 

                   

Since my last post “Chicken Housing or Coop” we have been busy building our latest model which we call Crestview.   During this process we have questioned and answered most of the problems that Chicken owner experience when building their own coop.   The challenge was to come up with a sustainable unit for urban folks which not only protect their chickens but allows them to have a unit that is discreet, smaller than a traditional shed, low maintenance, modular and of course affordable.

Judith expressed her concerns to me when she recalled the number of people who toured her coop (part of the first Austin’s Funky Chicken Coop Tour) last year and how they would love to start raising chickens but could not.  They either did not have the means to own one or they lacked the skills and / or tools to properly make one of their own.   Aha, I can help thus we’re here at this latest stage of development.

This photo above is the Crestview.  Why Crestview you may be wondering?  It was Ron’s idea to name this model after Austin’s neighborhood.   We have another coop model called Brentwood but we’re still working on that one.   We have started to show our coops and it’s interesting to see people's reaction and responses.

As Judith and Sharon approaches our models which are setup in the backyard, Judith appeared surprised and shock to first see the Brentwood coop and as she walks in front of it she discovers that there is more on the other side of it.   She moves in that direction raises her hands to her face and looks over to Sharon and looks back again.    They see kiddy cornered to the Brentwood coop a runner going back and connecting to another coop the Crestview.   I had no idea that I would get such a reaction to our coops.  After a few seconds absorbing what Judith was seeing, Sharon began to open the coop and take a closer look.   They were there for quite awhile asking question which I gladly answered.  We had fun moving the modules around.   What was the first response?  "I want all of this.  I want to take this home with me today."   Another interesting comment that came from Sharon was how this design can be used for other pets such as cats.  She said, “I can bring over Dexter to test out the coop.”

Later that day, Aida swings by to take a look and her first reaction was, “Oh, this is perfect for little dog, Emily would love this.  I wish I had a home with a nice backyard.  It’s cheaper to have this than to put up a fence.   Emily can run around between the big coop and the runner and when she’s tired go up the ramp and sleep in her bed area”   She thought the big coop (Brentwood) is ideal for little dogs.  

Yesterday, I was able to show our coops to our neighbors.  This couple has seen more changes in our Brentwood neighbor since they first moved here over 40 years ago.  They used be farmers but decide to live in Austin central.  They liked the design and setup.   Lucile thought this was ideal for children involved in the 4H club who want to start raising chickens of their own.

I was nervous at first but I knew we had something good, solid, and well thought out.  And as I shared my adventures during the research and development of these coops to the people above, I listen to them and got great feedback.    I greatly appreciate their honesty.   I think our solution will greatly help those who want to start raising chicken but have been able to.  

We now have a Facebook account "Austin Kontore" here were more photos of our sustainable urban modules coop will reside. Ron also has a blog where more information can be found here.   If you want to follow us on our adventures we have a Tweeter account here.

He has mirrored his site here:   Austin Antics  

while he works on resorting the original site.