Catwalker

 Since Farcebook won't let me post this, here it is here:
https://financialpost.com/diane-francis/canada-deep-economic-trouble-diane-francis

 Because Farcebook won't let us Canajuns post links to news stories, here is a link for my Farcebook friends:

Frank Borman Dead at 95

Fair winds and calm seas, Mr. Borman.

じゃまた

 I had a request in the comments on my Youtube page, from a post of five months ago. A viewer requested a step-by-step on installing UGS (Universal Gcode Sender) and Candle (Another controller for a GRBL CNC machine.)

My main focus in this video is Linux, Candle required compiling. For some reason, the binary would not run correctly.

I also show how to install both on Windows 10.

 A "Medical" System Gone Nuts

 Let's tackle the compass module of the BN-880 Gps/Compass Module.

#include <Arduino.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include "HMC5883L_Simple.h"
#include <U8g2lib.h>
#include <SPI.h>
#include <TinyGPS++.h>
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

// Create a compass
HMC5883L_Simple Compass;

// The TinyGPS++ object
TinyGPSPlus gps;

U8G2_ST7920_128X64_1_SW_SPI u8g2(U8G2_R0, 13, 11, 10, 8);

static const int RXPin = 4, TXPin = 3;
static const uint32_t GPSBaud = 9600;
char zs[32] = "";
int x = 0;
int y = 0;

// The serial connection to the GPS device
SoftwareSerial ss(RXPin, TXPin);

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(115200);
  ss.begin(GPSBaud);
  Wire.begin();
  u8g2.begin();
  u8g2.clearBuffer();
    
  // Magnetic Declination is the correction applied according to your present location
  // in order to get True North from Magnetic North, it varies from place to place.
  //
  // The declination for your area can be obtained from http://www.magnetic-declination.com/
  // Take the "Magnetic Declination" line that it gives you in the information,
  //
  // Examples:
  //   Christchurch, 23° 35' EAST
  //   Wellington  , 22° 14' EAST
  //   Dunedin     , 25° 8'  EAST
  //   Auckland    , 19° 30' EAST
  //    
  Compass.SetDeclination(1, 40, 'E');  
 
  // The device can operate in SINGLE (default) or CONTINUOUS mode
  //   SINGLE simply means that it takes a reading when you request one
  //   CONTINUOUS means that it is always taking readings
  // for most purposes, SINGLE is what you want.
  Compass.SetSamplingMode(COMPASS_CONTINUOUS);
 
  // The scale can be adjusted to one of several levels, you can probably leave it at the default.
  // Essentially this controls how sensitive the device is.
  //   Options are 088, 130 (default), 190, 250, 400, 470, 560, 810
  // Specify the option as COMPASS_SCALE_xxx
  // Lower values are more sensitive, higher values are less sensitive.
  // The default is probably just fine, it works for me.  If it seems very noisy
  // (jumping around), incrase the scale to a higher one.
  Compass.SetScale(COMPASS_SCALE_400);
 
  // The compass has 3 axes, but two of them must be close to parallel to the earth's surface to read it,
  // (we do not compensate for tilt, that's a complicated thing) - just like a real compass has a floating
  // needle you can imagine the digital compass does too.
  //
  // To allow you to mount the compass in different ways you can specify the orientation:
  //   COMPASS_HORIZONTAL_X_NORTH (default), the compass is oriented horizontally, top-side up. when pointing North the X silkscreen arrow will point North
  //   COMPASS_HORIZONTAL_Y_NORTH, top-side up, Y is the needle,when pointing North the Y silkscreen arrow will point North
  //   COMPASS_VERTICAL_X_EAST,    vertically mounted (tall) looking at the top side, when facing North the X silkscreen arrow will point East
  //   COMPASS_VERTICAL_Y_WEST,    vertically mounted (wide) looking at the top side, when facing North the Y silkscreen arrow will point West  
  Compass.SetOrientation(COMPASS_HORIZONTAL_X_NORTH);
 
}

// Our main program loop.
void loop()
{
   u8g2.firstPage();  
   float heading = Compass.GetHeadingDegrees();
  do {
    u8g2.setFont(u8g2_font_squeezed_r6_tr);
    printInt(5, 15, gps.satellites.value(), gps.satellites.isValid(), 5);
    printFloat(5, 25, gps.location.lat(), gps.location.isValid(), 10, 7);
    printFloat(5, 35, gps.location.lng(), gps.location.isValid(), 10, 7);
    printFloat(5, 45, heading, 1, 6, 3);
    printDateTime(5,55, gps.date, gps.time);
  } while ( u8g2.nextPage() );
  smartDelay(500);
     
   Serial.print("Heading: \t");
   Serial.println( heading );   
   delay(1000);
}

// This custom version of delay() ensures that the gps object
// is being "fed".
static void smartDelay(unsigned long ms)
{
  unsigned long start = millis();
  do
  {
    while (ss.available())
      gps.encode(ss.read());
  } while (millis() - start < ms);
}

  static void printInt(int x, int y, unsigned long val, bool valid, int len)
{
  char sz[32] = "*****************";
  if (valid)
    sprintf(sz, "%ld", val);
  sz[len] = 0;
  for (int i=strlen(sz); i<len; ++i)
    sz[i] = ' ';
  if (len > 0)
    sz[len-1] = ' ';
    u8g2.drawStr(x, y, "Sats: ");
    u8g2.drawStr(x+17, y, sz);

  smartDelay(0);
}

static void printFloat(int x, int y, float val, bool valid, int len, int prec)
{

  if (!valid)
  {
    while (len-- > 1)
    u8g2.drawStr(x, y, '*');
    u8g2.drawStr(x, y, ' ');
  }
  else
  {
    dtostrf(val, len, prec, zs);
    u8g2.drawStr(x, y, zs);
    int vi = abs((int)val);
    int flen = prec + (val < 0.0 ? 2 : 1); // . and -
    flen += vi >= 1000 ? 4 : vi >= 100 ? 3 : vi >= 10 ? 2 : 1;
    for (int i=flen; i<len; ++i)
      u8g2.drawStr(x, y, ' ');
  }
  smartDelay(0);
}

static void printDateTime(int x, int y, TinyGPSDate &d, TinyGPSTime &t)
{
  if (!d.isValid())
  {
    u8g2.drawStr(x, y, "Time: ********** ");
  }
  else
  {
    char sz[32];
    sprintf(sz, "GMT Time: %02d/%02d/%02d : %02d:%02d:%02d", d.month(), d.day(), d.year(), t.hour(), t.minute(), t.second());
    u8g2.drawStr(x, y, sz);
  }
  smartDelay(0);
}

じゃまた

 So, I finally got around to getting a memory card for this, I should've done it sooner. Oops.


Nothing against the company, I was being slow.

じゃまた

 Unboxing and build of my latest acquisition.

A Sainsmart Genmitsu 3020 - Pro Max

じゃまた

 Unboxing a new camera to use on my Rumble/Youtube/Vimeo sites.

 The church, particularly in the west, is in big trouble.

How?

It is being destroyed from within.

Is this a case of our sinful nature taking over, and we are eating the organized church alive, or is this a case of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" and wolves have crept in with the purpose of destroying from within?

Or is it both?

Watch this, and form your own opinion.

My latest non - technical video.