Those searching for "wanderers" or "medical" missing people please look here

[PonderingThings]

In an effort to try to help find missing people who may be in shelters across the country, or deemed as "homeless", I'm going to try to post on this thread any web, or news articles that contain photos from shelters or soup kitchens.

I know my mother would be able to spot one of her children when they were just a speck on the horizon... perhaps someone in the background of one of these photos may be a missing person?

Frequently these photos have the backgrounds blurred, or the people are photographed with their backs to the camera. It isn't a crime to be down on your luck, or to be missing. I do not wish to invade anyone's privacy, instead I'm hoping to have an enormous stroke of luck and possibly provide a lead to a family who has a missing loved one.

As Lorne Boulet's Aunt said in another thread " This is like a needle in a haystack during a wind storm". So the odds aren't great... but maybe, just maybe, they are worth it?

Also, if you have the time, check out some of the links that are NOT in your area. People have been known to wander a long ways!

Finally please be aware that news stories are not always archived. Usually the links expire within 14 days. If you find a photo that may have a family member in the background I would advise you to copy it to your hard drive for safekeeping.

Just an idea to try to help the families of the missing, lets see how it goes...

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

[PonderingThings]

http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060127/NEWS01/601270338/1006

There is a series of photos (six slideshows) about the Heavenly Blessings Ministries Shelter in PENSACOLA, FLORIDA. Mostly photos of volunteers and well known regulars, but a few photos of possible "clients" in the background.

The story is dated January 27, 2006

Worth taking a look.

Can't post any of the photos here as they are all for sale.

More photos from the same location:
[/url][url="http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060125/NEWS01/601250331/1006%3C/a%3E"]http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060125/NEWS01/601250331/1006 (http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060125/NEWS01/601250331/1006)
(http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060125/NEWS01/601250331/1006)

[PonderingThings]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Homeless_-_American_Flag.jpg

Homeless Black Man, New York, dated 2005-08-04

[PonderingThings]

http://lozoya.com/homeless.htm

The above link is the site of Oscar Lazoya, a fine art photographer.

He has a series of 11 photos (works of art!) taken between 1997-2001 of various people, in Albuquerque, NM.

[PonderingThings]

This photo is from a website that is no longer up... but I think it represented someone in Oregon, date unknown.

http://opus.hcs.state.or.us/images/programs/homeless-large.jpg

[PonderingThings]

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:qMcKPuxNtBv5rM:www.putphoto.com/d/153103-1/Homeless.gif
The original web page is not working. Unknown location, unknown date.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.daymonjhartley.com/Pages/homeless.html
Photo of a couple, and their child hitchhiking on a Detroit freeway, trying to get back to Arizona. They had tried to get work in Michigan. Date unknown.

[PonderingThings]

www.epath.org/blog/ (http://www.epath.org/blog/%3C/a%3E%3C/b%3E)

LOS ANGELES Blog on the homeless. Photos of homeless in the area. May be a good site to check from time to time if you believe the person you are searching for may be in the area.

Photo of a homeless person which is not archived, but came from this blog is below. Date unknown.

http://www.epath.org/blog/uploaded_images/Project%20Homeless%20Connect-738642.jpg

[PonderingThings]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hollyhomeless27jan27,0,1527128.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Article talks about young runaways in Los Angeles. There are two excellent photos taken January 24, 2006. One is a homeless teen from Riverside and the other is a panhandler.

[PonderingThings]

http://news.newstimeslive.com/story.php?id=79216&category=Local
The article is dated January 27, 2006 and is talking about Danbury, CT

http://news.newstimeslive.com/photos/2006-01-27/0126wc02.jpg

Dawn Wilson and Michelle Ross of the Mid-Connecticut Council on Alcoholism, far right, survey for homeless people Thursday in front of the Dorothy Day soup kitchen on Spring Street in Danbury.

[PonderingThings]

This photo is from a story about volunteers who participated in the homeless count, in Columbus, Ohio. I don't think there are any homeless people in the photograph... but just in case I posted it.

Original article can be found here:
http://www.10tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4407210&nav=LUESMuat

Article is dated January 25, 2006

http://wbns.images.worldnow.com/images/120960_G.jpg

[PonderingThings]

http://media.kxly.com/stories/images/2006JAN/hcount.jpg
Spokane, WA believed to be taken January 27, 2006

[PonderingThings]

http://www.alligator.org/pt2/060125homeless.php

Excellent photograph of a 62 yr old man and a 41 yr old man in Gainsville, Florida. Article is dated January 25, 2006

[PonderingThings]

http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/285270212163585

Article has 2 good photos of homeless men living near the Yakima River in WA. Article is dated January 27, 2006

[PonderingThings]

http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060127/NEWS/601270329

This article is about a homeless street fair in Salem, OR. There is one photo with people milling about in the background... not very clear though.

Article is dated January 27, 2006

[PonderingThings]

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060127/NEWS01/601270336/1006

Photo taken outside a employment agency that finds work for homeless people in Melbourne, Florida. Unsure how many people pictured are homeless though... Article is dated January 27, 2006.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.tauntongazette.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16013326&BRD=1711&PAG=461&dept_id=24232&rfi=6

There is no photo in this article, but they talk to a man who is nicknamed Monk...




The cold doesn't bother a homeless man who goes by the name "Monk" as long as he has a few blankets and enough change from recycled cans to buy something to eat for dinner.
Monk, who said he's veteran of the Navy who has traveled the world and the country, has been homeless for a year.


"I lost my job and after I went through my savings and my retirement account, I figured it was time to move," 53-year-old Monk said with a chuckle, referring to his move to the streets.
This article is from Taunton, MA.

[PonderingThings]

http://timesheraldonline.com/ci_3444146

Clear photo of a homeless woman in Vallejo, California. Article is dated January 27, 2006.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.ktva.com/topstory/ci_3437226

Photo of a homeless white man, in Anchorage, Alaska. Article is dated January 26, 2006.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5173512

Two photos of homeless men. One is 65, the other is?

They are in the Los Angeles, California area (affluent areas). The article is dated January 27, 2006

[PonderingThings]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3610503.html
Photo of a homeless young couple (good photo of the young woman) in Houston, Texas. Photo is dated January 24, 2006.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.wxii12.com/news/6465347/detail.html

At this link there is a video about a group that is helping the homeless. Unfortunately I can't view videos right now on my computer so I don't know if there is anything on it.

Its in the WINSTON-SALEM, N.C area and the article is dated January 26, 2006.

[PonderingThings]

http://rdu.news14.com/content/your_news/fayetteville/?AC=&ArID=79627&SecID=32

http://images.news14.com/media/2006/1/25/images/02_homeless_clothes2.jpg

A multi agency Help for the Needy Event, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The article is dated January 25, 2006.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.themorningnews.org/archives/personalities/portraits_of_homeless_men.php
(http://www.themorningnews.org/archives/personalities/portraits_of_homeless_men.php)

Article was written in June 2004. Sketches of the 3 interviewed homeless men accompany the article. In the New York area.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.photo.net/photo/pcd0158/homeless-in-washington-dc-13

Photo of homeless in a park, in Washington, DC - no date given.

[PonderingThings]

http://archives.thedaily.washington.edu/1997/042597/image.garden.042597.html

Homeless youths plant a garden. There is an excellent photo of one girl. Photo is dated 1997.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.friendsoftheshattuckshelter.org/html/homeless.htm

A photo from behind a man, in Boston, MA. Date unknown.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.aipress.com/pictureawards/44572.01.homeless.jpg

Older homeless man. The photo was taken by someone from Tenessee, but it could have been taken anywhere in the world. Date unknown.

[PonderingThings]

http://persweb.wabash.edu/facstaff/morillos/Images/Paintings/homeless.jpg

A painting of a dark haired homeless man. The artist doesn't give a location (but he is from the states and lived in New Orleans). The painting was done in 1995.

[PonderingThings]

http://schwinger.harvard.edu/~motl/usa-photos/ByJochenBrocks/homeless.jpg (http://schwinger.harvard.edu/%7Emotl/usa-photos/ByJochenBrocks/homeless.jpg)
Older homeless man. Taken in Boston, MA in November 2001 or before.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.liquid-acc.com/mt/archives/homeless.jpg

Excellent photo of a white man taken at the "ARCH" soup kitchen. Don't know where that is in the U.S.. Taken in 2004 or before.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.dallasnews.com/cgi-bin/bi/dallas/photography/photographers.cgi?step=PORTFOLIO&artistID=45&photo=1423
(http://www.dallasnews.com/cgi-bin/bi/dallas/photography/photographers.cgi?step=PORTFOLIO&artistID=45&photo=1423)
Dallas, Texas, 10 yr old homeless white girl. 1986

[PonderingThings]

This is from the "Nightwatch" site, in Seattle, WA. Its a site about homeless shelters and services.

Good group shot, date unknown.
http://www.seattlenightwatch.org/lessons.htm

On their main page http://www.seattlenightwatch.org/index.htm
if you refresh the page a different photo will appear. Many are clear photos of men and woman.

Their newsletter page has an abundance of photos also. Lots of photos on the various pages.

Unsure as to the dates... I'm guessing the photos were taken in 2004 or before.

[PonderingThings]

http://homelessfaces.ca/

Faces of homeless people taking part in an awareness campaign, in Victoria, Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada.

At the bottom of the page there is a series of links, for organisations in that area that help the homeless ... there are possibly other photos on those sites.

[PonderingThings]

http://spot.colorado.edu/~adler/homeless.jpg (http://spot.colorado.edu/%7Eadler/homeless.jpg)
Homeless woman and dog. Possibly Colorado. Date unknown.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.gocasas.com/dt/dt%20images.htm

Lots of pics from a night out. The man in the read coat was identified as homeless (they prayed together) but there is no mention about the other people. Very clear photos.

Reading a poster on the wall I think these were taken in Mississippi... but I could be wrong. Date unknown.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.house.gov/vanhollen/images/CVH-serving-homeless.jpg

Tall, Black man. Govenor's dinner, November 2003, Maryland.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.vermontguardian.com/images/local/0904/Homeless.jpg
Photo of homeless woman, in Vermont, date unknown.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.soupmobile.org/

Photo of a homeless Black man, Dallas, Texas. 2004?

http://www.soupmobile.org/photos.php (http://www.soupmobile.org/photos.php)

Excellent photos of homeless women and children, Dallas Texas, 2004?

[PonderingThings]

http://www.bradbelt.com/images/04-6-9-Homeless-manw2.jpg

Back of man in Los Angeles, California. June 2004

[PonderingThings]

http://brighamrad.harvard.edu/project/people/BLH/exhibit/cs/homeless.html

Homeless man, white, San Franciso, California. 1997 or before.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.vagrantcafe.com/images/homeless.jpg

Older Black man, 2004? New York?

[PonderingThings]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05233/556854.stm

Older, White man. Pittsburg, PA. August 2005

[PonderingThings]

http://www.fims.uwo.ca/olr/feb2504/homeless.htm

20 yr old, white, homeless woman (has been on the streets since she was 12). London, Ontario, Canada. Dated Feb 2004

[PonderingThings]

http://www.grmnewark.org/ministries/emergency.html

Homeless white man, in a page about a shelter in New Jersey. There is no date for the photo, but the site was last updated in September 2002, so it would have had to be taken before that.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.howardschatz.com/books/index.php?gallery=homeless

Image of a young homeless man. Date unknown. This is the cover image to a book which apparently contains 75 images of homeless people, captured by a photographer. The web site doesn't say where the photos were taken, only that they were taken during a year long period.... so at least before Jan 2005.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.atwitsend.org/rjportraits.html

This is a photographer's page. Excellent photos of people. No dates given (so 2005 or before - possibly may years before)

In particular is:

Homeless Man, Santa Monica, CA - Black
http://www.atwitsend.org/Homeless%20Man%20600%20copy.jpg

Hospital patient, Los Angeles, CA - Old, White woman
http://www.atwitsend.org/Patient%20UCLA%20600%20copy.jpg

"Leon", Hollywood, CA - Black Man
http://www.atwitsend.org/Leon%20Vine%20Street.jpg

Boy in abandoned building, Philidelphia, PA - white
http://www.atwitsend.org/Boy.jpg

[petra]

PT---Love the idea of this thread

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-pshooting23jan23,0,298198.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines


Here is an article about a homeless man, shot to death in palm beach, florida.
He worked for 30 yrs, had financal means to help out relatives, which he did. Yet, he seemed to chose this way of living.

Gives a good perspective of homeless as caring, kind wondeful people who survive outside the norm of society.

My thoughts and prayers for his loved ones.

[concernedperson]

This should be made a sticky so it doesn't get lost. PT, this is a great reference and could potentially help a lot of people.

[PonderingThings]

Thanks Petra, just trying to find new ways to help.

Interesting story you posted... kinda shows why some people would choose the lifestyle... although most don't - it chooses them.

[Kelly]

I agree that this is a great idea/thread. As most of you know, we are the 1st agency to seek the missing among the homeless with our Come Home program. As soon as I get time, I will carefully fo through this thread and I will also show it to my peers.

Thank you!

[petra]

Thanks Petra, just trying to find new ways to help.

Interesting story you posted... kinda shows why some people would choose the lifestyle... although most don't - it chooses them.
PT--you are right that it is unusual since he chose this lifestyle and most don't, found it interesting about constant contact with family.

CP--good idea about having this thread as a sticky.

Kellly--i need to get over to your board and red more about your work.

Wonder if Jerry Tang's friends, who are just so admirial have any additional info. Believe they have canvassed many groups in bay area looking for Jerry. It would be great if some of them would pop over to WS and share their wealth of talent. I am so impressed by them. I just wish Jerry would be found.

[PonderingThings]

WEBCAMS

http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/ (http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/)

Time Square, New York City - Cam #4 is street level

http://www.nola.com/bourbocam/classic/ (http://www.nola.com/bourbocam/classic/)

Lots of street level cams in New Orleans, LA

http://www.talkingtree.com/blog/webcam.cfm

Street level in Concord, MA

http://camera.touchngo.com/ (http://camera.touchngo.com/)

Street level, 4th Avenue and G Street, Anchorage, Alaska

http://westland.net/beachcam/

Venice Beach, California

http://westland.net/piercam/
Pier Cam - Live from the Santa Monica Pier, California

*********************************

Below is a listing of where web cams are - in every state:
http://barusa.tripod.com/webcams/usa1.htm

PLEASE HELP - IF YOU ARE AWARE OF A STREET LEVEL WEB CAM, WHERE PEOPLE ARE SEEN CLOSE ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE, PLEASE POST THE LINK.

Note to viewers. These cams are usually set up in an area that is "touristy", very affluent areas or very scenic areas. Your missing person may not live there, but they may be working as a vendor? They could also be just "passing through"? You decide if a cam is worth monitoring.

[PonderingThings]

Do you know her?

http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/images/212UFNV.jpg

Amnesia Victim - is alive - found in Las Vegas, Nevada date found?
http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/212ufnv.html (http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/212ufnv.html)

[PonderingThings]

Do you know her?

http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/images/176UFNJ.jpg
Amnesia Victim, what she looked like in 1994 when found - still alive - Camden, NJ

http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/176ufnj.html (http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/176ufnj.html)

[PonderingThings]

http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/images/219UFTX.jpg
Abandoned Child - still alive 2 yrs old in 1998 (9 yrs old now) - McAllen, Texas
http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/219uftx.html (http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/219uftx.html)

[PonderingThings]

http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/images/460UFHI.jpg
Unidentified Patient
Found in in Ala Moana Park in Honolulu, HI on May 4, 2004.
Has Canadian Accent
http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/460ufhi.html (http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/460ufhi.html)

[PonderingThings]

http://meyahna.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/tijdoe.jpg
Found in Tijuana, Mexico - Possibly Canadian - Date found unknown

http://www.outpostforhope.org/missing_loved_ones/flyers/john_doe_tijuana/John_Doe_Tijuana.pdf

[PonderingThings]

http://meyahna.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/txdoe.jpg

Found August 30, 2005 - in Harlingen, Texas


http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/About/Releases_and_Newsletter/2006/2006-01-06_APS_John_Doe.asp (http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/About/Releases_and_Newsletter/2006/2006-01-06_APS_John_Doe.asp)

[PonderingThings]

There is no photo available on this man, but he is living
http://www.njsp.org/miss/ui_camden_l_u753785712.html

CASE INFORMATION

The subject was found unconscious in Pine Hill Borough. He was taken to JFK Hospital in Cherry Hill, NJ.

NIC# U753785712
Case Number 94-0019

Date Found July 9, 1994

BIOLOGICAL PROFILE
Estimated Year of Birth 1952 - 1962
Sex - Male
Race - Black
Height - 5'7"-5'11"
Weight - 145 - 185 lbs.
Hair - Black
Eyes - Brown

CLOTHING
Unknown

OTHER
The male has a form of Dementia. He may be from an island country.
Fingerprints and full body x-rays are available for comparison.

[PonderingThings]

(2) Babies found abandoned one in Jan 2003 (white), the other in October 2003 (Asian) in New Jersey.

http://www.njsp.org/miss/unident_live.html

[PonderingThings]

http://cdn-channels.netscape.com/fotosrch/3/20060128HOL107D.jpg
Man on Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, California - Jan 27, 2006

[PonderingThings]

http://cdn-channels.netscape.com/fotosrch/4/20060113MH604.jpg (http://channels.isp.netscape.com/weather/bigpic.jsp?cap=homeless&id=134)
http://cdn-channels.netscape.com/fotosrch/4/20060113MH603.jpg
http://cdn-channels.netscape.com/fotosrch/4/20060113MH602.jpg (http://cdn-channels.netscape.com/fotosrch/4/20060113MH602.jpg)


Homeless people in Fort Lauderdale, Fl Photos taken January 13, 2006

[PonderingThings]

http://cdn-channels.netscape.com/fotosrch/3/20060113MH601.jpg
Fort Lauderdale, Florida January 13, 2008

[PonderingThings]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060129/ids_photos_ts/r3956992277.jpg

Black man, musician, Los Angeles, California (from Cleveland?). Photo taken Jan 28, 2006

[PonderingThings]

http://www.alligator.org/edit/news/issues/04-spring/040210/news.html

White man, Gainsville Florida

[petra]

WEBCAMS

PT--You are doing a great job here.

Your post on WEBCAMS had me up most of the night. I was just watching people and wondering..........(felt like a peeping tom)

Do you know anything about webcams? I was thinking of a few cases posted on here where their loved ones have been possibly sighting in an area..

Can individuals buy one and set them up--is it legal??
Reason I ask is because I think it would be invaluable in some situations.

Know they have them all over Uk and stores, buildings have survailances but never thought of it for individual use, maybe it is and I am behind the times?

[PonderingThings]

Webcams.

Absolutely anybody can set up a webcam as long as they have a camera, a computer, and access to the internet.

To archive the pics takes a lot of disk space, but to just transmit isn't a big production.

Most webcams are placed to see a city skyline (like the famous KAT cam in Vancouver, B.C.), or Mount St. Helen's for example. Large cities have webcams to show traffic on major routes. They are not to be confused with surveillance cameras as usually that information is transmitted to a recorder or computer hard drive, and is NOT shared with the public.

For the "people cams" they can be fun. One of the Times Square (NY) cams is known as a "date cam" where you and your date go to be "seen".

There was another cam that used to be on a city bus bench - don't remember the city, but tourists from around the world would go and hold up signs saying "Hi Mom" so that their family across the world could see them!

The cams in New Orleans are specifically set up to people watch. Some are still down since the hurricane, but should be back in a little while.

At least one bar in Florida has a cam that shows you what's going on....

Almost all of them are set up to see Main Streets, or touristy areas. Homeless type people are discouraged from being in these areas... usually... very few are set up close enough to actually be able to see the features of people... some that are I pointed out.

They are fun to watch! Odds are our missing won't be passing by the camera... but... if "Uncle Bob" is housebound and wants to help with the search he can monitor one, or more, webcams.... because you just never know! http://www.websleuths.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif

Privacy issue: It's my understanding that as long as a webcam is trained on a place where an individual has no expectation of privacy (like a public street) you are not breaking any laws. If you point it at your neighbors window they might take issue with the invasion of their privacy. I'm no lawyer though!

I've edited this again to add: Webcams were set up outside some shelters when the concept was new, and they were quickly removed as the people wouldn't visit the shelter. They are discouraged in the immediate area.

Because the camera has a value the best thing would be to get a sponsor, like an office, on a busy main street, and have them transmit the signal. It would keep the computer secure and possibly you could get corporate sponsorship.... The camera's at Time's Square are sponsored by well known restaurants for example.

[petra]

Thanks for that info very interesting....we have some webcams sitting around the house still unpacked. hubby was going to use them to speak with family and friends....another toy not installed and collecting dust!!!!

I'll tell you, I literally watched for many, many hours all over the cities of US.

I wonder if some of the families here with certain circumstances are using them or have thought of it. wouldn't think it was that expensive. i'll happily donate mine..(hubby won't miss them)

[PonderingThings]

Petra the webcams that go on the home computers are the same concept only their resolution is not as good. Those cameras are intended to capture an image that is only a couple of feet away... so if you point it out the window you probably wouldn't see much (blurry).

The cameras that are used are more like the larger surveillence cameras because they can take sharper photos OR they are still digital cameras with telephoto type lenses, that are set up to take a shot every 30 seconds, or minute.

Hope this helps make it a little clearer.
*************
The famous Kat Kam, Vancouver, B.C. Canada
http://www.katkam.ca/
They offer 3 different views of the city-they change the camera direction when they feel like it.

Here is some technical information about their setup - but each is different - its just to give you an idea of what is done. Some of it is pretty "techie" but understand they take great pride in their photos and have had the Kat Kam running for quite a while. "People Cams" wouldn't necessairly be as techinical:

How the Kat Kam works...or doesn't (Read this before you e-mail us with equipment questions!)

If the current image in your web browser is old, and you are 100% positive that the problem is not your browser having trouble refreshing, what has probably happened is that we're offline for maintenance, or something has become disconnected, or one or more of the componants has/had lost power, or there is a service interruption originating at our ISP. It could be a problem at the user's ISP too. Or one of us has screwed up and improperly set the capture device.

If the cloudy sky has a blue hue (or tint or whatever) at dawn or dusk, that's just the camera doing its own compensation; it's not a filter. There are no filters used in this operation. I've tried pretty much every combination of settings and nothing works to remove the bluing of the clouds at dawn and dusk.
Also, during rainy and cloudy conditions, please do not expect a crisp, perfectly focused picture.

If you wonder how the Kat Kam works, and/or want to put together your own webcam:

The camera is a 2004 Olympus C-5060 Widezoom digital camera.
It is attached to a photo capture program written by Randall in C# .NET over many grueling hours.

NOTE: The Katkam Capture program is now available for sale. Click here for details.
An absolutely gorgeous example of someone else's use of the Katkam Capture program: The Weather Mine, Canmore (Rocky Mountains), Alberta, Canada

Shots are saved (usually at 5 minute intervals) in JPG format at 90% quality for way smaller file-size and faster downloading than when saved at 100% quality.

Randall also wrote a PERL script running on the webserver to generate the thumbnail collection pages based on your input.

Old stuff:

The former setup was a Kodak DC240 Zoom digital camera attached to a modified video capture program supplied by Kodak's Web tech department. We used a developer API (application program interface) from Kodak, which provided a COM object interface to the underlying driver. Unfortunately, the Kodak API and/or driver was very buggy and crashed the Katkam computer often twice or more a day. The product and tech support were discontinued shortly after Telemark acquired it.

And the setup before that was a Hitachi High-8 (analog video) camera attached to a Snappy interface, which served us well until the camera had its meltdown. It would take a number of captured frames (1, 2, 4 or 8) and interpolate (layer) them to make a denser, higher resolution image.

[petra]

Thanks PT...thought it seemed too simple a solution!!!:doh:

Learned something new today. again and again
Guess those cameras will gather more dust........

[PonderingThings]

This is an article dated January 26, 2006. I tried searching and could not find a follow up article. Please be aware that there is a University there so it may be one of their students.

http://orion.csuchico.edu/Pages/Volume33Issue13/Dimensions/Tlbcttabon.html

Man found injured and unconscious
By SCOTT JASON - Staff Writer

OROVILLE -- A 15- to 20-year-old man was found injured and unconscious Saturday night in Oroville, and the Butte County Sheriff's Department is asking anyone with information to come forward.

The victim is listed in critical condition at Enloe Medical Center. He was found shivering with a black eye and head trauma at 10:25 p.m. in the 2500 block of Oroville Bangor Highway, Sgt. Mike Hannah said.

It is unknown how he got there and what happened to him, he said.

The victim is described as a 6-foot tall white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a red pullover sweatshirt, blue jeans and black tennis shoes.

"We are hoping to have someone make a missing persons report," Hannah said. "Until we identify him, we are kind of stuck."

The man probably wasn't hit by a car because there were no broken bones, he said.

Hannah said the victim may have been robbed since he didn't have a wallet or keys. There were no signs of any violence where the victim was found, so it is possible he was dropped off there, Hannah said.

The victim's fingerprints will be sent to the Department of Motor Vehicles and Department of Justice for identification if no one comes forward with a missing persons report, he said.

The Sheriff's Department can be reached at 538-7321.

Staff writer Scott Jason can be reached at sjason@chicoer.com.

[PonderingThings]

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060130/NEWS08/601300327/1001/NEWS
(http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060130/NEWS08/601300327/1001/NEWS)
Man found drowned in Des Moines river on October 25, 2005.
Estimated age: 40
Moustache and goatee
5' 81/2" tall
198lbs

He didn't appear to be homeless, but just down the road is a homeless camp. Police have been unable to ID the body.

Sketch and more info at link.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.team4news.com/Global/story.asp?S=4509339&nav=0w0v

Hospital Tries to Identify Man Found Along the River

Reported by Jennifer Cavazos

How do you care for a person who doesn't know his name or where he's from?

It's an issue facing doctors and nurses at Valley Baptist, now they're trying to play detective and find out who Chuy really is.

"We've had nobody call to inquire, we've had the Mexican Consulate by, from the history they were able to get they didn't believe he was a Mexican citizen. Fingerprints are not on file anywhere, so we're still searching in this case," says Valley Baptist Care Services Director Joanne Wetch.

A week ago today, a man who calls himself Chuy, was brought into Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.

He was found along side the Rio Grande between Bluetown and Los Indios, not far from the Military Highway. He was disoriented and only wearing his underwear.

"He's a gentlemen that he doesn't give reliable information and we're just not sure of the information he is giving us," says Maria Rubio with Valley Baptist' Social Services.

The man says his name is Chuy. He's a Hispanic in is 50's about 5'6 and 160 pounds. He has salt and pepper hair with a beard and mustache.

He has two tattoos, one on his left arm with the word 'Changa' and one on his right hand with a cross.

Hospital officials aren't sure if he's a U.S. or Mexican citizen. He does say he's from Lopez.

"He's been real inconsistent with that information. He will say he has family in McAllen and they he'll say no, they're in Santa Rosa," says Rubio.

The hospital has procedures in place to handle situation like this.

"We'll start with checking our nursing unit and seeing if anyone has called the hospital looking for a patient, we'll call the police to see if they have any missing person reports. We have had cooperation with police where they've gone to fingerprint a patient to see if they can trace their identity through fingerprints," says Wetch.

A spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol says they don't see cases like this often. Their first priority is making sure the victim gets medical attention.

If you think you know 'Chuy' call the security department at Valley Baptist Medical Center at 956.389.1697.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.chronicle-tribune.com/apps/pbcs.../602180320/1002
PHOTO AT LINK

Police have few clues in case of woman found wandering
First name may be Lisa, officials say
BY BARRY WILLIAM WALSH
bwwalsh@marion.gannett.com

Marion police were no closer Friday to confirming the identity of a woman found wandering county roads this week, but they may have her first name.

According to Grant County Sheriff's Department reports, the woman, who police believe to be in her late teens to early 20s, identified herself as Lisa to the man who offered her a ride to Indianapolis on Thursday.

The woman remained under doctors' care in a semi-conscious state Friday at Marion General Hospital, Deputy Police Chief Cliff Sessoms said.

"(Detectives) are going back up to talk to her," Sessoms said. "She has been uncooperative and is not talking when she was conscious."

Sessoms said police have received several telephone calls from people reporting possible identities of the woman, but as of late Friday afternoon, none of the tips had panned out. He also said police have entered the woman into various police databases to try to find out if she's been reported missing elsewhere.

Despite all of their attempts, Sessoms said police believe their best chance of identifying her is by continuing to publicize her photo.

"The most important thing is continually getting her picture out to the public," Sessoms said. "From our point of view, the most critical thing is finding out who she is. ... Somebody out there, if they see the report and they know who she is, they're going to call us."

According to Marion police, at about 11 a.m. Thursday, the woman was at Marion Food and Snack near the Ind.18/Interstate 69 interchange, asking people for a ride to Florida. A man offered her a ride to Indianapolis, and the woman accepted the offer.

Before the woman and the man began to drive to Indianapolis, they smoked marijuana at his residence, Grant County sheriff's reports said. They then left his home in the 4200 block of East Montpelier Pike, and once they reached the area of Grant County Road 400 East, the woman jumped out of his vehicle for no apparent reason.

The man stopped and convinced her to get back in the vehicle, offering to take her to the hospital or the police department. But she refused, the report states, so the man decided to take her back to the convenience store.

Then, the woman leapt from the moving vehicle a second time. At that point, the man went to the sheriff's department for help, and deputies sent him to the Marion Police Department because the area is under city police jurisdiction.

While the man was speaking with Marion police, Sheriff's Sgt. Randy Albertson went looking for the woman and found her near Grant County roads 100 South and 500 East.

The woman had some injuries, including some redness to the face, but Sessoms said the injuries didn't appear recent.

"There is nothing to show she was a victim of a crime from the point she was picked up to the point when she was hospitalized," Sessoms said.

Sessoms also said before police could continue with their investigation, they needed to determine who the woman is.

"We don't know that there's a crime that's been committed," Sessoms said. "We're trying to find out who she is, and then we'll find out if a crime's been committed."

Police are seeking information about a woman who was found walking in the area of Grant County roads 100 South and 500 East Thursday morning. Her first name may be Lisa, according to Grant County Sheriff's Department reports. She has been in and out of consciousness since she was found and has not communicated coherently with officers, and no other information about her identity is known. She has a Chinese symbol tattooed on her upper back, and police believe she is in her late teens or early 20s.

NOTE: In the provided photo there is a nose ring and thumb ring present. Long nails and she appears to be White with Brown Hair.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Marion Police Department at 662-9981 or Grant County Crimestoppers at 1-800-237-STOP (7867)

[PonderingThings]

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_050074138.html

In Chicago:

Police were called to the 4100 block of W. Foster Avenue, where a man identified as Mike Miller, who is believed to be in his 40s, possibly has frozen to death while seeking shelter under a bridge, CBS 2’s Pamela Jones reports.

Miller was pronounced dead at 2:15 a.m. at the Stein Institute in the Albany Park District. The cause remains unknown.

[PonderingThings]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060214/480/mh10102141759
Photo of J.C. Brewer taken in Miami, Florida, Feb 14, 2006 (homeless)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060214/photos_ts/2006_02_13t213309_450x328_us_hurricanes_hotels
(http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060214/photos_ts/2006_02_13t213309_450x328_us_hurricanes_hotels)Joh n Williams, one of the Katrina Homeless

[PonderingThings]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2006/02/25/BAGT5HEPCG1.DTL&o=0

Hundreds of people, mostly homeless, line the grassy area in Civic Center after hearing about a cash giveaway. (San Francisco, CA Feb 25, 2006)


http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060226/NEWS/602260401/1039
Lakeland, Florida full article about the homeless.

Has photos of "Robert" and 2 yr old "Jeremy"

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060226/NEWS/602260422/1004
Article talks about Carol, 40, and Tracy, 32 both from Anderson, S.C., have been homeless for three months. Neither woman had been homeless before. They are in Lakeland, Florida.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060226/NEWS/602260424/1004
This story is about Robert, 52 and his wife Linda who recently died (hometown was Lexington, Tenn)

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060225/NEWS01/602250330/1006
Article (with photos) about Diane Lessig and Richard Brooks - South Jersey

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=59806
Article and photo about John Wagner in Gilbert AZ

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/02/22/national/a145940S90.DTL
Article about Grady Allen Carnahan, 32, Little Rock, Ark.

[PonderingThings]

http://www.faithlutheranlv.org/iacon/LightsPress.htm

Las Vegas , February 25, 2006: Iacon Pictures, a student film group from Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School has announced a release date for Life Beyond the Lights . The documentary tells the story of the homeless teen problem in Las Vegas and the group of privileged students who encounter a world they never knew existed. In the documentary, students join an outreach team where they witness the problems faced by teens living on the streets of Las Vegas . The production team, along with director Jose Diaz, encountered teens that had fled abusive homes or simply fallen through the cracks of a neglectful foster care system. The film will premier at Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School on Friday, March 17 at 7 pm with additional showings throughout the weekend.