L.A. Observed reports on the Institute for Figuring, a new organization about, well, figuring. What they mean by this is the graphical representation of math in all ways: fractal art, paisley, mathematical patterns in natural objects, mosaics, buckyballs, half the stuff on your screensaver. There’s fascinating stuff on the site about paper folding, crocheting hyperbolic space, etc. It reminds me of Bathsheba Grossman’s amazing sculptures.
Tag: geek
I just want to see under the sink
I’ve been shopping online for flashlights today, and found what I needed. In the process I temporarily had to enter the insane world of flashlight geeks.
Because the flashlight is a phallic symbol, and because shining a light in someone’s face is a dominance display, flashlight geeks are primarily male. They live in a Tom Clancy world of military fantasy in which the guy with the best gear wins. Let’s read this description of the SureFire E2D Executive Defender:
An advanced technology Xenon lamp that produces a spot-free beam so intense it can momentarily blind an attacker (four times more lighting power than a standard two D-cell flashlight), and its crenellated Strike Bezel™ allows it to be used as a last-ditch impact weapon. Constructed from aerospace-grade aluminum coated in a super rugged military-specification finish, the pocket-size E2D Defender also features an optically-coated Pyrex® lens; high-energy, ten-year shelf-life lithium batteries; a steel pocket clip, and law enforcement-style click-on/off momentary switching for blinding flashes or emergency signaling. A patented lock-out tailcap allows the light to be locked in the off position to eliminate accidental activation when stowed away
And here it is:
$105.
Even better is the M3 Turbo Combatlight, a “Special Operations Flashlight”:
The SureFire M3T is a specialized illumination tool designed to project a tightly focused beam of intense white light at greater ranges than the standard M3 CombatLight . Featuring a 2.5-inch TurboHead reflector to tightly concentrate the beam for longer-range applications, the M3T is CNC machined from aerospace-grade aluminum and coated in a military specification Type III hard-anodized finish that is so tough the knurled handle of the M3T can be used to saw through the aluminum of lesser flashlights. Powered by three lithium batteries (10-year shelf life), the M3T CombatLight™ produces 125 lumens of light for over an hour, or 225 lumens for 20 minutes with the included ultra high output lamp (that’s 15 times the output of a typical 2 D-cell alkaline flashlight). Like all lights in SureFire’s Special Operations Series, the M3T features a shock-isolated bezel/lamp assembly that can withstand the repeated recoil of a large caliber weapon. The M3T also features unique switching originally developed for law enforcement- twist for constant on, or depress the tailcap button for momentary illumination or emergency signaling.
$330. I really like the detail that it can saw through “lesser flashlights” in case an actual flashlight dicksize war occurs.
Don’t get me wrong. I like flashlights! I enjoy bright things, and technology, and geekery. And I need flashlights, because I’m always looking behind a computer to see where the damn cable went, or opening my front door when the porch light is blown out, or some other task. So I ordered a new keychain flashlight, because mine broke. It wasn’t $105, and I believe its aluminum is below aerospace grade and not coated with military spec flashlight coating from the special military flashlight coating plant. It is a lesser flashlight.
I hope I never have to have a flashlight fight with someone who’s geared up with the best of the best, though. I’d totally lose.
The growth has been amazing.
I know a lot of guys name their penises. I’ve never done that. I just decided to call mine “google”. That way I can laugh like Beavis & Butthead whenever the company or the website is mentioned, or talk about “checking Google” etc. Minutes of fun await me.
Also, as eyeteeth just pointed out, lol “googlewhack”.
current dashboard
For reference purposes
Goth Poem.
Redeemed flaming fireflies
—-=-==-====-==-=—-
Their saint flowing from a helpless mother reveres me.
A spasm is towering above a razor!
A dust towering above a forbidding grass drifts, hopefully.
Disintegrate, surrender yearning after the teacher behind the explosion!
At last it is gothtastic.
Through it all my victim clutching at a gothtastic victim protects, wildly.
Barbedwiregirl
(created with the Goth Poetry Generator from this Poetry Generator page.
SCIENCE!
overdrawn
Watching the iDisk sync on my Mac, i’m alarmed to see it syncing “item 27 of 26”.
Later on, I’m still more alarmed to see it syncing “item 1 of 0”.
This is about the dark matter that makes up the unseen universe, isn’t it?
I set the serif, but I did not kern the Futura
I started futzing with my browser fonts. God help me. Once this begins I go into an OCD frenzy in which everything looks too big, too small, too bold, too faint. I blame Torgo. Anyway, while I’m raging at machines and rubbing my eyes and trying to figure out what hurts the least to look at all day, I thought I’d ask you all what you use. POLL TIME.
Edit: If you answered “Microsoft Comic Sans”, the “see below” means “please kill yourself now”.
I think I’d buy a Hummer if I could have one of these too.
The Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) is mounted on top of a HMMWV and controlled from a command center within the vehicle. This system can mount the M2 50-cal machine gun, the M240 medium machine gun, the MK19 automatic grenade launcher, and the M249 squad automatic weapon in addition to a powerful color day camera, an infrared camera, and a range finder. This system allows the gunner to sit within the armored vehicle and, using a computer screen, control the weapon with the use of a joystick. Prior experience with Xbox desired but not required.
via Defense Tech blog
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