I got it. There isnt something that can do "tv" stuff - which isnt what
Im (was) after. But, with some help from the Ubuntu list I was able to
do exactly what I needed. By adjusting the colors and unsharp mask and
then selectivily removing some of the blurred pixels, I was able to get
the data I needed.

Everyone needs to get off the tv-land stuff and think outside the box.
If there isnt software to do it then there is a person with an idea of
how it might be done - and that Im grateful for.

Oh... I just tried Hugin again --- its much more stable than when I used
it before. I think that'll work for my other stuff.