Happy New Year 2008

On January 5, 2008, I was sworn-in as President of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers at their Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  I also presented a paper at the Meeting's Seminar titled, " Forensic Engineering Use of Digital Fixed Lens, SLR and Video Cameras."  I compared the images that each camera could obtain of a damaged electrical panelboard.

On February 14th, 2007, I gave a presentation to the East Bay Claims Adjusters Association at their monthly Meeting, www.eastbayadjusters.org They have asked me to make a presentation about electrical injury.  I will show and discuss the causes of electrical injury by electrical distribution equipment and electrical controls.

On January 29, 2007, I received a new projector from Dell for my East Bay presentation, their email said it was shipped on 1/29/07.  My old projector produced 1,800 lumens of light but it did not give enough detail in the restaurant where I gave my Central Coast Claims presentation, do to the daytime light in the restaurant.  The Dell 2400MP produces 3,000 lumens of light.  It came with a hard case specially made for the projector, ALL the cables needed even a cable for component video, a remote control and everything fits in the case including the instruction book.  The cables even have velcro ties for the wires!  I tested the Dell 2400MP in a white room with the shades open during the day.  It produced an excellent image on a screen of still photographs and video.  I was able to go through the photographs using the projector's remote control.  The remote also had some control of the video.  I recommend this projector as an excellent unit to buy.

In November of 2006, I gave a video presentation to the Central Coast Claims Association titled, "What do Forensic Electrical Engineers Do" at their monthly Meeting.  The video was enjoyed by all and they thought that it was a change of pace from Power Point presentations.  The CCCA Christmas Meeting in San Jose was well attended and everybody had a great time.

On January 4th 2007, I was sworn in as President Elect of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers at their Business Meeting in Florida.  I also became Chairman of the Admissions Committee and I am now keeper of the gate for NAFE.  I am Chairman of the Website Committee for NAFE and I maintain the Website, www.nafe.org

Wiley is publishing a new Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences and I am the author of the Article on Forensic Electrical Engineering.  My manuscript has been accepted by the section editor for publication.  The Encyclopedia was to be published in January with Abstracts Online but some of the authors did not meet the deadline for manuscripts.

I will be adding another page to my website that will list some of my old forensic investigations and photographs of the causes of the damages or loss.

 I taught 3 classes at the Annual Meeting of the New Jersey Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators, March 9 to 11, 2005.  The subject was Harmonics and Using Digital Video to investigate fires. 

The new high definition camera by Sony is great.  However, it has a light sensitivity of 3 Lux and requires more light for video then the 480P, 2100 camera. 

Recently, my computer was invaded by the Sasser Worm, which was developed by a High School student in Germany.  It took me 2 days to get the worm out of my computer.  I think that the student should never be allowed to touch a computer key board again as punishment!

I tested the new Sony VRX- 2100 camera.  I did not notice much of a difference from the VRX- 2000 at low light.  However, the shutter at the end of the lens was a good improvement and the selectable slow zoom worked great.

I recently bought an NEC DLP LT170 projector at BestBuy.  It comes with a plate for attaching it to a tripod if you do not have a table to sit it on, flat or raised with its retractable feet.  I projected the movie "Cold Mountain" onto my spackled white bedroom wall at night.  The color. details and scenary were great.  It was like watching the movie at a movie center.  I utilized my portable Toshiba DVD player to input the progressive scan video in the projector's RGB 15 pin connector and Sony headphones for excellent sound from one of the DVD player's headphone jacks.

Now I have a 65" wide portable video screen for the projector and a high definition tuner with an upscaling DVD player integrated manufactured LG. The tuner by LG has an optical audio output, which I have fed into a 5.1 sound system. The detail of the high definition video is great but the upscaling DVD player does not match its quality when playing DVDs.  The DVDs can not be played into the RGB connector of the projector through the RGB output of the LG because of copyrite protection built into the DVDs.  I am utilizing a Trek indoor/outdoor antenna to obtain the high definition video signals, which are broadcasted.  I am able to obtain a dozen high definition stations and another dozen standard digital stations.                              

                                                    Yours truly, TOM

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