Author: luken7

An avid and passionate sailor, drummer and technologist. My career focuses around computing and storage technologies. My passion is sailing and playing drums. I love music, especially progressive jazz and rock.

Affordable new FLIR MD-series thermal imaging camera

Posted on by luken7

Oh how I want, I want…

Affordable new FLIR MD-series thermal imaging camera

imageRegular readers know that I am enchanted with thermal imaging. I even dream in thermal!

But I don’t own a thermal imaging camera. Why not? They are incredibly expensive! The FLIR M-series “R2-D2” units I lust after (shown at right) run about $10,000 and up.

So my little heart went pitter-patter when I saw this press release about FLIR’s new MD-series thermal imagers…

AFFORDABLE NEW FLIR MD-SERIES THERMAL NIGHT VISION SYSTEM — Easy to Mount and Use on Any Vessel

Portland, OR –FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLIR), introduced a new member of its maritime thermal night vision product family: the MD-Series. A fixed-mounted thermal camera that is easy to install and use, MD-Series helps boaters detect obstructions, other vessels, and people in the water at night.

Starting at $3,499, the MD-Series uses FLIR’s state-of-the-art technology to create clear thermal imagery night and day. MD-324 features 320 × 240 standard-resolution, 24° field of view, and 2× e-zoom, while MD-625 features 640 × 480 high-resolution, 25° field of view, and 2× and 4× e-zoom. Both models are built to withstand harsh maritime environments, include automatic defrost, and come with a two-year standard warranty.

Weighing in at only three pounds and standing a mere seven inches tall, MD-Series is easy to install on any boat or any size boat. It’s Ethernet-enabled for simple integration in your current electronics and consumes as little as 4.8 W.

“We developed FLIR MD-Series to provide boaters with an affordable thermal night vision system to mount on their vessel. We’re using the same thermal imaging technology that has made the handheld First Mate and the premium M-Series product families so invaluable to boaters,” said Lou Rota, FLIR Maritime VP of Business Development. “Being on the water at night should be as pleasurable and safe as it is during the day, and MD-Series makes that possible.”

FLIR MD-Series will be on display at the Miami International Boat Show, February 14-18. More information is available at FLIR.com/MD-Series.

Source: http://www.navagear.com/2013/01/29/affordable-new-flir-md-series-thermal-imaging-camera/

Jimmy Cornell’s New Rally

Posted on by luken7

Hmm. Contemplating…

An environmentally focused round-the-world sailing rally is now in the planning stages. Organized by Jimmy Cornell, the Blue Planet Odyssey has multiple departure points, including several from North America, and will visit some of the planet’s most threatened landfalls as sailors make their westward circumnavigation. The first legs of the rally depart Europe in the summer of 2014 and from the U.S. East Coast that fall. Those following the rally’s main course will pass through the Panama Canal in February 2015 and meet up with West Coast sailors to cross the Pacific. cruisingworld.com/1302BPO

Thanks,
Tony Nelson

My New WordPress Theme

Posted on by luken7

Think I’ve come across a really nice theme. Called “Book Lite”, it’s a single column, minimalist focused theme. I like how it works with galleries, providing a nice presentation while the text layout is focused on reading, like a book.

The Moody 45DS – The Perfect Cruiser?

Posted on by luken7

Can the Moody 45DS be considered the Apple design of sailboats? More than a pilot house, its a true Deck Salon. Literally, the salon is at deck level, with the ability to navigate from within during adverse weather conditions. the layout of the boat is fantastic, from the safety on the deck to twin rudders. Only problem, the deep draft and higher than ICW spec mast, keeping it out of the Pamlico Sound.

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And Just Like That RIAA and MPAA Strike Again

Posted on by luken7

So after the RSC publishes a fantastic report on copyright reform, not even a day goes by before the Hollywood moguls strike fear and terror into the hearts and campaign contribution buckets of the RSC members to take down the report. Being the strong willed, leaders that they are…they quickly complied.

Copyright reform in its current form is not just absurd, but it is restricting innovation and progress, something that the likes of the MPAA and RIAA want to keep as current status. In the end, any and all entities that suppress  freedom and free speech eventually fall. Whether it be kings, governments or business entities that believe people are their products and subjects, eventually they all collapse under the immense pressure or get outflanked due to their narrow thinking. Hollywood should be thinking about how to win over customers with a valued product and service, something equitable to all. If not, they’ll eventually find themselves on the loosing end with a shrinking business due to an outdated business model. Rread the full policy brief here. 

So, late Friday, we reported on how the Republican Study Committee (the conservative caucus of House Republicans) had put out a surprisingly awesome report about copyright reform. You can read that post to see the details. The report had been fully vetted and reviewed by the RSC before it was released. However, as soon as it was published, the MPAA and RIAA apparently went ballistic and hit the phones hard, demanding that the RSC take down the report. They succeeded. Even though the report had been fully vetted and approved by the RSC, executive director Paul S. Teller has now retracted it, sending out the following email to a wide list of folks this afternoon:

What this election is really about

Posted on by luken7

This election is about a few specific things:

  • collectivism vs. the individual
  • governing by govt. vs. governing by religion
  • welfare to people vs. welfare to business
  • subsidizing new industries vs. subsidizing old industries
  • americans loosing out vs. americans loosing out
  • and lastly…..which candidate lies the least..