tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55777983639700790672024-03-18T21:02:51.593-07:00Exsulto CorpDigital Art / Game DevBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-72570298568522264342023-12-15T11:44:00.000-08:002023-12-15T11:44:29.284-08:00There Is No Spoon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLG_5UHmBwFeCLVGiPvPX5BNxvwt5kQHGgUpocJ1dceeruzzfyOz8-sZqji90kHE9pBK4j2AskrgvtOJxH9Ne6NqGEhFLpUIEjujvTzcC0Z4QTpMn5CcgfJedjSzCcXD2zTN6HMZLHII3J3ihIbUpNc8kKKuVz3JI8KfTWeJjXaF6DKOngkv9YZyhoDgX/s1344/Leonardo-Spoon.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1344" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLG_5UHmBwFeCLVGiPvPX5BNxvwt5kQHGgUpocJ1dceeruzzfyOz8-sZqji90kHE9pBK4j2AskrgvtOJxH9Ne6NqGEhFLpUIEjujvTzcC0Z4QTpMn5CcgfJedjSzCcXD2zTN6HMZLHII3J3ihIbUpNc8kKKuVz3JI8KfTWeJjXaF6DKOngkv9YZyhoDgX/w640-h426/Leonardo-Spoon.jpg" width="100%" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>They fit a chip into a Spoon - sold for two hundred dollar</div><div>Your Spoon has low battery - it sadly is not solar</div><div><br /></div><div>Please download Firmware 2.0 - via bluetooth pairing</div><div>Phone app requires OS update - and a little swearing</div><div><br /></div><div>Spoons require login now - TFA in several weeks</div><div>All passwords have been stolen - notice: server breach</div><div><br /></div><div>Try Spoon Subscription Plus - your trial is concluded</div><div>Subscription fee to increase - Lifetime Member excluded</div><div><br /></div><div>Spoon Inc. has been acquired - accept new Terms of Service</div><div>Founders cash stock options - employees growing nervous</div><div><br /></div><div>Notice: Spoon service shutting down - but thank you for the cash</div><div>Spoon is gone, there is no Spoon - it's electronic trash</div><div><br /></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-66662347267648612752023-10-14T14:27:00.001-07:002023-10-15T14:58:17.918-07:00Rackmount Rollo<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j45pqgNOMiL2PTNcvE4hoq7ZUeiUWro6VtRffe7DsB8F41Jn0ATDpxUmCtDuwml_1_AF-QCSmhY-rKVdXak6UUnNytNh3IFH56cQpnHfvv2KFHBB5yDXSuIYvpTxuwOasEHdg2Tdj8RIQL5eH4n6pMPP2egmS_oYS_yY_j3Llwgh2JJkBegUdzfYtKWb/s3689/rollo-rackmount.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j45pqgNOMiL2PTNcvE4hoq7ZUeiUWro6VtRffe7DsB8F41Jn0ATDpxUmCtDuwml_1_AF-QCSmhY-rKVdXak6UUnNytNh3IFH56cQpnHfvv2KFHBB5yDXSuIYvpTxuwOasEHdg2Tdj8RIQL5eH4n6pMPP2egmS_oYS_yY_j3Llwgh2JJkBegUdzfYtKWb/s3689/rollo-rackmount.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2306" data-original-width="3689" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j45pqgNOMiL2PTNcvE4hoq7ZUeiUWro6VtRffe7DsB8F41Jn0ATDpxUmCtDuwml_1_AF-QCSmhY-rKVdXak6UUnNytNh3IFH56cQpnHfvv2KFHBB5yDXSuIYvpTxuwOasEHdg2Tdj8RIQL5eH4n6pMPP2egmS_oYS_yY_j3Llwgh2JJkBegUdzfYtKWb/s600/rollo-rackmount.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Please see the attached postage-printer mount. It's stuck into the 10" side of the 19" rack-o-crap that was on my desk. Made of metal Meccano metal-errector-set stuff, the prototype is surprisingly solid. See one part tested with oxide-red primer. There is room for proper rack-ear adapters on the sides, if one wanted to move it around. The 3D printer clogged, currently in shambles. </div><div><br /></div><div>This desk is maybe five percent cleaner.</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-2764473533199886582023-04-11T10:56:00.003-07:002023-04-17T08:45:19.527-07:00Apple Developer Experience<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOmvoqNNbLHJc9Cc3wMSSs3OdDAy6QOz2FoaMJcA9Mz_SUlYNOb4cuZQChneTWISh1bhjXOoC_6HwuBkwUEdO5jG32OmfoX7spGGG86HAkZA1JMY5sDDOWAiUMPpU5irWmYsZ67A6tps3In5IX5a9rxLeoJ6Uml1vu8pNh9lgn_c9UAG44GK7wVF2Cw/s1180/xcode-errors.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="1180" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOmvoqNNbLHJc9Cc3wMSSs3OdDAy6QOz2FoaMJcA9Mz_SUlYNOb4cuZQChneTWISh1bhjXOoC_6HwuBkwUEdO5jG32OmfoX7spGGG86HAkZA1JMY5sDDOWAiUMPpU5irWmYsZ67A6tps3In5IX5a9rxLeoJ6Uml1vu8pNh9lgn_c9UAG44GK7wVF2Cw/w640-h201/xcode-errors.png" width="608" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div> <p></p><p>Apple drops support for old iPad... sell iPad.</p><p>Xcode drops support for old Watch... sell Watch.</p><p>Buy new Watch... iPhone doesn't pair. </p><p>Update iPhone... Xcode doesn't support iPhone update.</p><p>Update Xcode... OS doesn't support Xcode update.</p><p>Update OS... Mac doesn't support OS update.</p><p>Apple dropped support for my Mac... sell Mac.</p><p>I just realized Apple ends support based on model-year, not purchase-year. Some stuff in the Apple Store is two years old, and may only get half the Xcode support. Over time, I'd need to replace more devices - so that initial 25% is not savings, it's annual depreciation.</p><p><br /></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-38687903690731589172022-03-10T12:00:00.002-08:002023-08-12T12:24:15.712-07:00Reduce, Reuse, Recycle<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIG4wORG0tlrs3nKAaTxMpMuECKcwgJIt1nRmr6g7arxvmkJbp9lj8LBrAZmD0pGS31xTuBE6dsBMmezhS2S4hEt3yw4sWF56BppbPoqiXVFsUZSf-BIHbjReurDZTVAPKsdHJ0P5GnDYCuwZVB7iLN0EtGnH_5DoPKtTG3eA4yiXd3ONC9p5m0wxcmg=s2153"><img border="0" data-original-height="2153" data-original-width="2153" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIG4wORG0tlrs3nKAaTxMpMuECKcwgJIt1nRmr6g7arxvmkJbp9lj8LBrAZmD0pGS31xTuBE6dsBMmezhS2S4hEt3yw4sWF56BppbPoqiXVFsUZSf-BIHbjReurDZTVAPKsdHJ0P5GnDYCuwZVB7iLN0EtGnH_5DoPKtTG3eA4yiXd3ONC9p5m0wxcmg=w640-h640" width="560" /></a></div><div><br /></div>TSG reuses clean boxes and packing material - those not plastered with logos and unremovable labels. Why do companies spend resources making their materials single-use? Probably they're just using our doorsteps as advertising. We defeated plastic clamshells, maybe we can defeat nonconsensual porch-advertisement.<div><br /></div><div>Not even Walmart will reuse a Walmart branded box.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Shipping boxes are getting worse - branded tape, bleached cardboard, color printing, glued boxes that rip-open, branded filler material, tamper-proof labels... Unboxing videos should shame companies for elaborate single-use garbage.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>I'd choose re-usable plain-packaging if that was an option. Colorful, branded packaging alerts porch pirates. Probably, we'd all prefer low-key packages. Recycling cardboard still consumes water, collection centers, and trucking resources.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Anyhow, I made this portrait of a box-monster meeting Danbo.</div></div></div><div><br /></div></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-35035663927491959602021-11-03T12:27:00.005-07:002021-11-14T11:29:01.459-08:00Computational Furnace<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEeIALPAAf04AFrrgMytny7P_icu-shTsWaOV2qW9XKni_uFENoCZGhpc3gjU3EdMGdTh5LldWwMGcD_StUqCoG840SYjB5ZAAs1S74RPLCadVDoCnmyLyr_XfEypjQDxZ04_StNfNlWR/s1547/robot_5363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1547" data-original-width="1160" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEeIALPAAf04AFrrgMytny7P_icu-shTsWaOV2qW9XKni_uFENoCZGhpc3gjU3EdMGdTh5LldWwMGcD_StUqCoG840SYjB5ZAAs1S74RPLCadVDoCnmyLyr_XfEypjQDxZ04_StNfNlWR/w480-h640/robot_5363.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Model 3 is 50 degrees warmer than human <br />and nearly twice as soft"</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p><p>I had to order firewood from strangers on facebook. These strangers being the only reply to many requests for firewood within 50 miles. It was one of those couple's accounts with two names and two people in the photo - I presume this is to police booty calls and other drunken shenanigans. Money was wired digitally, and I was pleasantly surprised when firewood arrived split and perfectly stacked the next day. </p><p>The wood stove is a bit messy - smoke, ash, and occasional spider attacks. And so I joked that TSG should heat with his monster computer. The idea was met with curious eyebrows and penciled out calculations in his yellow notepad. </p><p>The wood stove runs at 8000 BTU on average - which is 2400 watts, so two monster computers probably. Firewood was $200 per month (up from last year), while computer power would be $160. TSG notes the first 1200 watts is cheaper than the second because of tiered pricing for hydropower here.</p><p>Wiring in the quonset is a limiting factor - he'd have to pull that additional 20 amps of power very carefully to avoid tripping breakers - or worse. So TSG set one monster computer going half power, doing <a href="https://www.worldcommunitygrid.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cancer research</a> and <a href="https://www.cudominer.com/?a=rdatuyZf5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">crypto mining</a>, while he logged his results.</p><p>The network went down one morning, and so the monster computer stopped making heat, but was otherwise reliable. At the end of one month, TSG cured some cancer, sold his crypto for $150, saved $60 in firewood, and paid $39 in additional power. Payback on a second monster might be 1 to 5 years, given uncertainly in this tiny dataset, weather, and wildly fluctuating prices.</p><p>Workstations are already for sale (Xeon/Epyc/Threadripper/NVidia) that max out near 300 watts per processor, and power supplies up to 2000 watts. Next-gen CPUs aim higher. I joked that TSG should add a 20A circuit in this office, when he upgrades the garage. </p><p>These new chips can cost as much as a small car, with used prices more comparable to wood stoves. TSG says that as compute and renewable energy prices go down relative to fuel prices, this idea becomes less ridiculous. And there remains the problem of reliable jobs for your computer-turned-furnace.</p><p><br /></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-812527109842498372021-03-24T12:40:00.001-07:002021-03-29T10:53:24.710-07:00Eclipse Plumage<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xeTyoEZPv4FyxR_V4u_2TRKjO-UAtUWrWORgEq1RajU3fbV048bitKb04Me2ewytM_Q3ApAxJlvdn9A-Yrgwl1CmtdEI4ubIkYhczk-46oQ1_ywAeFTQkovaEtdvX4JzsDhu0FQqCs8R/s1600/seagull-flight.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xeTyoEZPv4FyxR_V4u_2TRKjO-UAtUWrWORgEq1RajU3fbV048bitKb04Me2ewytM_Q3ApAxJlvdn9A-Yrgwl1CmtdEI4ubIkYhczk-46oQ1_ywAeFTQkovaEtdvX4JzsDhu0FQqCs8R/w640-h428/seagull-flight.jpeg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"hide the food"</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>TSG jokes that nearly everything is mating display - advertising health, values and resources. Any overt show of wealth, however, is discouraged in this environment of extremely rural law-enforcement. The town aesthetic is frugal theatre, TSG explains, "a plywood and blue-tarp facade." You need only fool the gulls, apparently.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fine, I'll order tarps.<div><div><div><br /></div>There's no local police of any kind. The murder of Gene, for example, was investigated by a young officer flown out for a day - no fancy detective. TSG suggests a place needs 500 residents to afford a trained officer full-time. Otherwise the job is so undesirable, he says, that only criminals apply.</div><div><br /></div><div>In an average year, official statistics include a dozen property and violent crimes, and often one soul reported missing, vanished into the wilderness. At more than double the urban crime-rate, you have a 1 in 20 chance of being included each year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last night I had a dream about ice-cream.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm seated alone outside a crowded cafe. A guy sets down this ice-cream boat and hands me a plastic spoon. I stare at three bone-white scoops, each molded in the shape of a tiny skull. Then I notice fine head-hairs, and detailed cranial sutures. I pull at the hair in frustrated effort to reveal edible ice-cream, but these are firmly rooted and the skull lifts out. This scoop has visible hammer indentations.</div><div><br /></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "idleprocess-20";
amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";
amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";
amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
amzn_assoc_region = "US";
amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links";
amzn_assoc_asins = "1735183903";
amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit";
amzn_assoc_linkid = "30bcd05714f78ea4979f0550b6ba7cec";
</script>
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-34358629028294620742021-03-12T11:54:00.001-08:002021-03-15T11:37:02.185-07:00Nocturnal Pest<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBurzB82N0zvlR0Tn1v3Mh4lcjGqXbSDHh___ZdQhIYMGThLT683Ll_HyEQQF1ezIjxpE2aOYVQf-dZDv5xSEvLp9fjlAUCAEGe1ktPkzlErfz3sDUGCy7IVf1S5kWlqziiK3NoHrbVcvj/s1600/tiny-spider.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBurzB82N0zvlR0Tn1v3Mh4lcjGqXbSDHh___ZdQhIYMGThLT683Ll_HyEQQF1ezIjxpE2aOYVQf-dZDv5xSEvLp9fjlAUCAEGe1ktPkzlErfz3sDUGCy7IVf1S5kWlqziiK3NoHrbVcvj/w640-h424/tiny-spider.jpg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"mythical clogger of vents"</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Years ago, there was murder and arson at the satellite station. TSG says Gene was 35, played harmonica, and got bludgeoned to death in his sleep with a hammer. I found his notebook on the bookcase - GENEZARET neatly labeled in large black marker. The last note was dated 04oct94. </p><p>The government had decided not to reopen the station after the terrible incident, so TSG wrote a grant proposal to restore the receiver himself. The deal made himself the director of a non-profit to own and maintain the station - services and data on contract, billed to the government. </p><p>Thought I saw a baby wolf-spider in the window last night. It was perfectly still, just camouflaged as an everyday shadow. Not sure what I was looking at, I came back with the inspection torch. It glowed slightly under the UV light, popped-out a startling length of leg, and left. </p><p>I showed the photo to TSG; he says no, it's a yellow-sac attracted by the pheromone of gasoline. They will build a new nest every day, which pressure-sensors in the vents should detect.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5Cd3EWQ5CCv7BbYukdjEM5-q2XhJ5jEoUVifKp784pHZlUsBj1U3wnCsz7Bm_PasPPSZ_OG82O40LcSmod-Kx0jQkZvD85f-1LAzW1C3Dktow6KXQcqFN9yest9rphUMWgHkBD4uDeSn/s560/spider-sac.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5Cd3EWQ5CCv7BbYukdjEM5-q2XhJ5jEoUVifKp784pHZlUsBj1U3wnCsz7Bm_PasPPSZ_OG82O40LcSmod-Kx0jQkZvD85f-1LAzW1C3Dktow6KXQcqFN9yest9rphUMWgHkBD4uDeSn/s16000/spider-sac.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Sac spiders, I was told, are named for silk nest-sacs they leave behind - not the abdomen sac with the butt. Sacs are biologic containers from living things, while sacks are manufactured. If you would put your sandwich inside, it's probably a sack. <br /><p><br /></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-34659854439235442482021-03-05T11:27:00.002-08:002021-03-05T22:34:48.059-08:00Gelatinous Foam<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmfpm-N9L_cIjWYybUOljccHPAYj-LTnlB666Sxbp7_ySmo8-ehTQTr2StqafR7TJxFVCSXa9zgLJK3EPpG9UhyacuG1w-mOYTteAFbhg8_oLRBXohhgliA0B0IPhcLIlaGpBPA5rFtgQ/s1600/tiny-jello.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmfpm-N9L_cIjWYybUOljccHPAYj-LTnlB666Sxbp7_ySmo8-ehTQTr2StqafR7TJxFVCSXa9zgLJK3EPpG9UhyacuG1w-mOYTteAFbhg8_oLRBXohhgliA0B0IPhcLIlaGpBPA5rFtgQ/w640-h424/tiny-jello.jpg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"probably toenails are vegan"</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>During the phone interview, TSG asked me why I wanted the job. "Photography", I said. </p><p>A previous hire, "the discrete mathematician", had left projects in an unstable state. I told TSG that clean-up should be straight-forward, "white knight rolling-in after expectations were low, and blame had been assigned." TSG laughed, which was good - because this is how I talk. "Don't ever get a phd", he said. </p><p>The mathematician had named the main program "General-Guacamole" - and things got weirder. Where I'd expected to find a database and labels for water, heat, power, etc. Instead the software was formatted as perl poetry - a food recipe complete with ingredients and preparation. </p><p>System variables avocado and sea-salt were given to the function mortar-and-pestle. Lime juice was measured. Jalapeños were diced. Cilantro was chopped. It was beautifully done, and it was currently running all life-support and satellite systems. This nonsense must have taken a long time.</p><p>The wiring panel contained hundreds of connections, none labeled. I attached a signal generator to the closest thermostat, walked down each wire at the panel, and checked for a tone. Input #126 beeped, printing it output "61", and a little heat-gun pushed it to "81." In the code this was named "peas" - I search-and-replaced "peas" to "utility-room-temp" in all files.</p><p>The Micro Nikkor 40mm lens arrived; it has fantastic close-focus. </p><p><br /></p>
<script type="text/javascript">
amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "idleprocess-20";
amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";
amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";
amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
amzn_assoc_region = "US";
amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links";
amzn_assoc_asins = "B005C50H2Y";
amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit";
amzn_assoc_linkid = "9926f99270b2078694edb83a17144b27";
</script>
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-36748729226908381982021-03-03T11:59:00.000-08:002021-03-03T11:59:57.383-08:00Class characteristics<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_Dedb40udBiMj3dVfvT9t-DVovg1uqy38wcnzZtZ8Zvtcv1aOsUVag1OS9xE_iKxW-fbQhXCBI8IbW5uFhX957aKtB6wkbui4V6-OvExfJBrPOqoThBzCec6bR9ynAb-mAqR5DZql9p_/s1600/tiny-glo-load.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_Dedb40udBiMj3dVfvT9t-DVovg1uqy38wcnzZtZ8Zvtcv1aOsUVag1OS9xE_iKxW-fbQhXCBI8IbW5uFhX957aKtB6wkbui4V6-OvExfJBrPOqoThBzCec6bR9ynAb-mAqR5DZql9p_/w640-h424/tiny-glo-load.jpg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"it's safe - don't lick anything"</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Freight arrives by plane, but the airstrip is generally closed to civilian traffic. Float-planes do super-bucks catering to the wealthy, and hospital emergencies. Pilots are even more respected than Lodge-owners. </p><p>I had decided to get here crossing the bay, because I know a yacht guy. The water was rough, and the boat was slow. The two of us listened to emergency radio - it had one show, about flipped boats. The captain had to row a dingy the last hundred meters to where TSG was waiting. </p><p>In retrospect, that was an obscenely royal entrance.</p><p>The entire town consists of 52 households. Within an hour of my arrival, everyone had heard of the new minor celebrity - Red Shirt Guy. A nickname which persisted three hundred wardrobe changes, because Brian was already a dog's name.</p><div>I'm printing the lodge doors, and created a stack of failed prints. The FreeCAD design lacks tool-marks, or material character. I think construction adds interesting detail - too interesting in this case. TSG wants legible door numbers, and has me playing with fonts. Later I learned the slicer's "Layers" view-mode can simulate a detail preview. </div><div><br /></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "idleprocess-20";
amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";
amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";
amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
amzn_assoc_region = "US";
amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links";
amzn_assoc_asins = "B008133KB4";
amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit";
amzn_assoc_linkid = "f4e8791a08e25a46342b06ab2b7ac12e";
</script>
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-89035633335464148932021-02-28T11:04:00.001-08:002021-03-03T08:54:22.860-08:00Aposematism<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8Heb5JiSvhmLPimrjeWZrmh5RY2SVsMqlvBgcJEc2oAaktHu2ZJcvzQxt7LvBKhv2_jkGfi1_3EgbUDaKmxURFqjP5F8NoNhN-xhYqYhyphenhyphenz8Dq_koef6191AZJTe10bLySrXOpNSzHZtN/s720/tessellation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8Heb5JiSvhmLPimrjeWZrmh5RY2SVsMqlvBgcJEc2oAaktHu2ZJcvzQxt7LvBKhv2_jkGfi1_3EgbUDaKmxURFqjP5F8NoNhN-xhYqYhyphenhyphenz8Dq_koef6191AZJTe10bLySrXOpNSzHZtN/w640-h640/tessellation.jpg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"too much makeup"</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I looked it up - Nikon claims this old DSLR will survive 150,000 photos. The shutter-count is only 8983. TSG says it went in for repair once, after a hard drop broke the flash. Film cameras are holding their value, but folks are selling these DSLRs, and prices are dropping like pianos. He's ordered a 'micro' lens for it.</p><p>I found drawer with a hundred plastic forks - individually wrapped packets marked with a bear. After that I started putting fried-noodle takeouts in the work-fridge, hold the forks. It's a way to repay TSG for drinking his beer, since he won't take money. These supplement beans and rice, which he has in bulk-drums. TSG said he gets freight delivered twice a year; that includes two-hundred servings of dried beans! </p><p>The lodge color conversation has landed on fashion, which is a four-letter word here. If I understand correctly, TSG believes fashion is a signal of toxicity - attracting false, unreliable people. I can't imagine such a person traveling for days, mud-trail flanked with gravestones, for an Instagram. </p><p><br /></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-88565476611790686702021-02-25T13:38:00.004-08:002021-02-28T11:05:53.004-08:00Color Universe<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTur9-BIeTJwwqvTNRcVOp1Q_7SZj8uwDNb8cZ8ho_wkMrhI_hyL6T5NPmlhdvYnKkIex7Mj9Ru0yiQAy-9ebOdNadw-tYibLpNG1lJEK6jStR-tENT0mWa42w83_aheXaWi0SZQm2G_b/s640/the-lodge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTur9-BIeTJwwqvTNRcVOp1Q_7SZj8uwDNb8cZ8ho_wkMrhI_hyL6T5NPmlhdvYnKkIex7Mj9Ru0yiQAy-9ebOdNadw-tYibLpNG1lJEK6jStR-tENT0mWa42w83_aheXaWi0SZQm2G_b/w640-h512/the-lodge.jpg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"whoa, looks like you been busy"</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><div>I'm looking for a lazy universe where I'm not hand-mixing every color. Hobby paints exist in our universe, with colors like German-Panzer-Yellow, and Ford-Blue that match historical objects. And artist paints are available for mixing another universe, like Black 3.0, and DayGlo. TSG suggested we use what we already have.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>While thinking about paint, I found a <a href="https://brandmark.io/color-wheel/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">slick tool</a> that generates color variations. I uploaded a quick sketch and computer-generated hypothetical lodges from a hundred color universes. A few were interesting. We have plenty of time to contemplate before we get to paint.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've had luck with this kind of machine-generated partnership; it's fun. We joke that managers always say, "bring me a rock", and then complain about the delivered rock. Automation never gets tired of bringing rocks - you'll have so many damn rocks. People like choosing from a short list - top six is good. </div><div><br /></div><div>One time a manager asked for all the output, "publish everything." I argued that would be very bad, more than anybody could handle. We published nearly ten-thousand computer-generated reports before folks quit the project. I was not popular; that manager was oddly ecstatic. </div><div><br /></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-1981376423274545922021-02-24T11:56:00.004-08:002021-03-03T08:57:31.260-08:00Polyetherimide<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZNW__l-XjSG9l3YRZhVEQkWG5MxZEzHEkrkiqGY_enV-WVxc-ohL9iVUmIoAE0iH75ANlnZ7IJLg12Ja1mhSJvT7-BOhHA8v8MyqUkD790iX92jIAiaadSjRdM95lo69j9v4K8pSSkX9/s1600/tiny-flats.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZNW__l-XjSG9l3YRZhVEQkWG5MxZEzHEkrkiqGY_enV-WVxc-ohL9iVUmIoAE0iH75ANlnZ7IJLg12Ja1mhSJvT7-BOhHA8v8MyqUkD790iX92jIAiaadSjRdM95lo69j9v4K8pSSkX9/w640-h424/tiny-flats.jpg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"what, it's just more wall"</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>In the morning, I have the compound to myself. The game is to keep quiet. Lighting the stove before backup heat kicks on, I make coffee by flashlight like a coffee burglar - folks out here drink it with a pinch of salt. The stove vibrates slightly when it's almost empty. Power relays make subtly different clicks on and off. Eventually the water-pump announces somebody is awake.</p><p>We got one door hinge installed on the lodge; five to go. I'm putting all the hinges on the right, because I don't have to look at it for the next 50 years; TSG is undecided. Can't bespoke all the things, and finish the build by summer. </p><p>TSG was printing wall segments when I saw this reflection in the PEI. He's being patient for photos, waiting for me to help him move the thing. He thought it was weird - taking a picture of a boring wall segment. </p><p><br /></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-52804331460111151552021-02-20T10:42:00.006-08:002021-02-24T12:20:53.792-08:00The Mandaloretts<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_UHjibXgnKhcK2JKlZ8Cis-qccFuzVVcQ-VrejbOQjPDcvIPvlZNNkyR8Y8B_DaJvT9YGWUBzwUr-qXwxgpkyQUZEjqmLzVlSJozhgdG7lsqL6cENh44o9u5BATL3vmGaEURzYBhKEnr/s1600/tiny-volume.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_UHjibXgnKhcK2JKlZ8Cis-qccFuzVVcQ-VrejbOQjPDcvIPvlZNNkyR8Y8B_DaJvT9YGWUBzwUr-qXwxgpkyQUZEjqmLzVlSJozhgdG7lsqL6cENh44o9u5BATL3vmGaEURzYBhKEnr/w640-h424/tiny-volume.jpg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"sending this pic to my girls"</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>A friend suggested this one; setup TSG inside the Volume. Folks familiar with <a href="https://ascmag.com/articles/the-mandalorian" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Mandalorian</a> may know they film the actors surrounded by a thousand LED screens. This technique does state-of-the-art real-time compositing and lighting. Real-time lets you know if background composite is working immediately vs. waiting until post-production. Using these same composite LEDs for lighting is also easier and more accurate.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have several old computer screens, so I quickly set the wallpaper to sunset, placed one behind him, and turned out all other lights. Boom: instant composite plus reflections and transparencies on the vacuum-tube are all correct, in-camera. With something like VNC, I can sync multiple screens for additional lights.</div><div><br /></div><div>Few people remember that electronics were once the size of a city bus. A century ago, this monument would have been one of many in the Large Adeline Radio Installation. Even the once popular beach sand has migrated across the bay.</div><div><br /></div><div>TSG sent this photo to all his digital girlfriends. He's got every dating and messaging app in the ongoing struggle to lure attractive visitors out to this desolate landscape, during a pandemic. </div><div><br /></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-82014381073139196012021-02-19T12:03:00.002-08:002021-02-24T12:21:11.643-08:00Hinge-Worthy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKrjFy-dYzm5zt8enFnBesUnwj1gdzRYoAHnyAvoXrEFjGHrcqRavjhfG9aeJXh4Y6e9_yzFCUP-asQGBPoysPBx-busrKi9-CEi2m1kkcQILNp0HZBF4-QRHWmSi8EmvjgI8qtpOwXNa/s1600/tiny-door.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKrjFy-dYzm5zt8enFnBesUnwj1gdzRYoAHnyAvoXrEFjGHrcqRavjhfG9aeJXh4Y6e9_yzFCUP-asQGBPoysPBx-busrKi9-CEi2m1kkcQILNp0HZBF4-QRHWmSi8EmvjgI8qtpOwXNa/w640-h424/tiny-door.jpg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"unlikely this would pass inspection"</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I hit 10k steps on Wednesday, just walking laps. TSG was unimpressed, and asked me to find some door hinges. TSG believes proper exercise is chopping firewood, or hauling tiny cinderblock.</p><p>I didn't find door hinges, but did find door-sized hinges. The idea is one brass hinge can make two 8ft doors. Since we may need a dozen doors, this probably beats fabricating hinges from scratch. Decided to do a test-fit on the quonset hut, and preliminary results are encouraging. </p><p>I've PLA-printed tiny working hardware down to 5mm, still too thick - perhaps a smol nozzle, or SLA can go thinner. If going that route, better to hide hinges in the building print and help keep the assembly square. A precise builder would put the hinges on the inside. </p><p>Luminar AI did a nice fog in the background; first time that worked out. Also noticed gimp was deleting metadata from my jpegs, so I copied it back with exiftool: </p><p style="background-color: #333333; color: #f2f2f2; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">exiftool -TagsFromFile tiny-door.png "-all:all>all:all" tiny-door.jpg</span></p><div><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-34009698527534127782021-02-15T14:10:00.005-08:002021-02-24T12:21:27.941-08:00The Forever Lodge<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnQlg0Ur1I_wMBVlIKqXBz_IwJbN-72rzvegYvHwJbDs7ny_K-3ytKR3GH1uAyGjqcFGU0aDgZDc5Q4QdHBySIpYrzE0_tmlnpXpPuXWpY20KBEpyIA5uHKU-GvpZ5vxVshJcM6sX8Klw/s1500/tiny-styrene.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnQlg0Ur1I_wMBVlIKqXBz_IwJbN-72rzvegYvHwJbDs7ny_K-3ytKR3GH1uAyGjqcFGU0aDgZDc5Q4QdHBySIpYrzE0_tmlnpXpPuXWpY20KBEpyIA5uHKU-GvpZ5vxVshJcM6sX8Klw/w640-h426/tiny-styrene.jpg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Me, Myself, & Styrene"</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The lodge was built with simple styrene sheet and mr. cement over a few days, after watching an Adam Savage build. There are four upper and two lower units. Design goals included a flat roof, covered parking, and as much light perforation as possible. Working with styrene was much like working in CAD design software. The result is smoother than a printed-part, but has it's own hand-built imperfections.<div><div><br /></div><div>Before rating this material, I did some checking. Polystyrene is stronger and lighter than PLA, but it's also a non-organic petrochemical. PLA biodegrades, while polystyrene persists hundreds of years. This little lodge will outlast my house! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">♸</span></span></div><div>Many plastics are <a href="https://youtu.be/-dk3NOEgX7o" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">not recycled</a>, even when sent to a sorting center, unless required by law. The industry often produces material at lower costs than recycling. These symbols are insufficient without adjusting cost structure. Thinking about the 200 tons of plastic already floating in the ocean - we should reduce and reuse this stuff. I saw folks doing interesting projects with sheet aluminum from beer cans, and plastic from food containers.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><div>The photo was a result of me constantly checking scale with Tiny Science Guy. The white styrene catches light and makes dramatic shadows. I used the Nikon 50mm - my phone couldn't spot focus. Luminar did a decent perspective correction. Sadly, the AI wasn't able to identify sky, so this is a low-budget gimp sky simulation. Doing it this way I lost blues in the shadow side of the building.</div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "idleprocess-20";
amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";
amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";
amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
amzn_assoc_region = "US";
amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links";
amzn_assoc_asins = "B002DTDLUC";
amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit";
amzn_assoc_linkid = "0c9b7e1feed1e944ecf1f2faa69cf44d";
</script>
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-87110894082798549062021-02-11T12:08:00.003-08:002021-02-24T12:22:34.130-08:00Mr. Handsome Cab<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCk7eJw_6unMviNU5mvcbP73ertzRu7FG2tlF1c7LAj91z3xqZsIMDPEjA1YXl3IcHRU9jk7-Ff20cMWtSas-fCYP03vZYYtFaMNfuzzSFpznaF-GWVTPxmGJS638GhNhHQfuto4M_15Of/s1500/tiny-APC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCk7eJw_6unMviNU5mvcbP73ertzRu7FG2tlF1c7LAj91z3xqZsIMDPEjA1YXl3IcHRU9jk7-Ff20cMWtSas-fCYP03vZYYtFaMNfuzzSFpznaF-GWVTPxmGJS638GhNhHQfuto4M_15Of/w640-h640/tiny-APC.jpg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"APCDOMG"</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div>This 3d model was designed by <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2719293" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">KrisWall</a>, and I brush-painted the APC with acrylics. Expectations were minimal since I'm noob and these paints are ancient. Been harvesting inspiration from pro tutorials - and trying to understand the basic steps. I like the results, and will probably try weathering. Also need to invest in reading glasses and triple-zero brushes.</div><div><br /></div><div>TSG was impressed, but his eyesight isn't great. The iPhone lens can easily see twice as much detail as an average human. Take care not to accidentally photograph your fingerprints, or keys. I've added macro-focus to my wish-list for AR glasses, after night-vision.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "idleprocess-20";
amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";
amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";
amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
amzn_assoc_region = "US";
amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links";
amzn_assoc_asins = "B07GGC6GBC";
amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit";
amzn_assoc_linkid = "963e7dac5d74b9a61f646f88aaf12e49";
</script>
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-54503100249775817422021-02-10T11:13:00.003-08:002021-03-12T09:55:36.477-08:00The Wolf-Spider of Smol Street<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzfMbR6gM8wne97yH3u1qr8dR12bYdwMJSwT0Hlx65FG-pzNNbJHsxT7FYq1W7jKR4s-lx63-_K2vCS4jECpCQ2if8aIs3UKNl-PEhH-z6hOEDyDWXjVYu_BcCCZzQ8VMvFg-4Q5qpEyF/s1500/tiny-trailer.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzfMbR6gM8wne97yH3u1qr8dR12bYdwMJSwT0Hlx65FG-pzNNbJHsxT7FYq1W7jKR4s-lx63-_K2vCS4jECpCQ2if8aIs3UKNl-PEhH-z6hOEDyDWXjVYu_BcCCZzQ8VMvFg-4Q5qpEyF/w640-h640/tiny-trailer.jpg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"3d-printed tires are tight"</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Finally managed to find some proper ladders. Tiny Science Guy (TSG) uses these to supervise the build from 40mm above the chaos. He managed to see an aluminum trailer buried out behind the yard. The tires were missing, but otherwise it's in good condition. Priorities now include rigging a trailer-hitch for the APC, and the perimeter. </p><p>The yard perimeter is welded steel, which seems overkill until TSG's talk of spiders. We've been hauling box-tube lengths two at a time on the APC. Unless we get that trailer rolling, the perimeter will be complete in 7 years. </p><p>According to locals, there are giant wolf-spiders - the size of an APC. They say people shouldn't wander out at night, and head inside when the dogs are going nuts. TSG says he's gonna capture a wolf-spider, but this is the same guy that says you get a finite number of meals before your teeth fall out.</p><p><br /></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-19955179196293879182021-02-05T13:23:00.006-08:002021-02-24T12:22:05.326-08:00Luminar AI for Combinatorial Science<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7Z44Qf8js_wZRhC25TLAVhJhFtFrnmzC2P2BVcYWU0w8XpP8Lla1ooAwKWxT9GpTFaqc5Ab5MDraXHYnsvCmIqWsgIeGjir7ve2xqzF7RBY_LuKMbGSD7LlskSxkN8qrzroTg8Gl4jQG/s1500/tiny-radome.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7Z44Qf8js_wZRhC25TLAVhJhFtFrnmzC2P2BVcYWU0w8XpP8Lla1ooAwKWxT9GpTFaqc5Ab5MDraXHYnsvCmIqWsgIeGjir7ve2xqzF7RBY_LuKMbGSD7LlskSxkN8qrzroTg8Gl4jQG/w640-h640/tiny-radome.jpg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"When speaking, the squash is pronounced giggity."</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><div><br /></div><div>Still need to weld the antenna in a few places - the strap is just used to hold it temporarily. It's difficult to get materials, but this guy prefers to scavenge and a cobble anyhow. I ordered styrene for the doors and windows ages ago. Shelves at the local stores are sparse, but the good news we have green so everything is gonna be green. </div><div><br /></div><div>This pandemic project is trying to combine parts of street and conceptual photography. I choose colors, themes, symbols, while working to increase that random street magic. Using my collected pile of stuff, I might slowly construct a literal street. My theory is that combinatorial magic is proportional to the number of available elements, with some more provocative thing breaking the scene slightly.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've watched people sit with one idea for hundreds of hours, while I often kill ideas in a day. My critic will find the problem likely to murder the idea. Sadly, it won't stick to silently judging other people's work.</div><div><br /></div><div>Many great ideas are built of a smaller ideas - so it's important to make them mix. If I can very quickly preserve an idea as a real object, my critic stays quiet. This trick is so effective that I risk getting crushed under a hoard of objects. For safety I've chosen 1/87 scale.</div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><br /></div><div>I installed Luminar AI photo editor. Tiny Science Guy approves of the "skinny" tool. I'm a fan of the Color LUTs, and Sky Replacements. I trialed a bunch of editors a while back, and Luminar made the best impression. The Object Eraser still needs AI ... 9 of the 31 tools are currently marked as AI. Honestly, software makes a larger difference than cameras and lenses right now. </div><div><br /></div><div>After Luminar, I still use Exiftool and Gimp. The longer workflow isn't ideal, but I know these other tools better. The Adobe fiasco has taught me to avoid all-the-eggs-in-one-basket. Mo tools is mo better. </div><div><br /></div><div>New Fujifilm cameras are out, and they do look nice and small. I've been using my iPhone, since it's got decent macro-focus and wireless image-transfer. I resize for the web anyhow, and since I'm not walking around with a camera I should dust-off the old heavy gear. Been expecting legit computational photography in these new cameras, but if the revolution's inside they're keeping it very quiet.</div><div><br /></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-12955137988731099692021-01-21T12:17:00.003-08:002021-02-18T09:58:38.974-08:00WIP: Scale Model Quonset Hut<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoHkFSjdtWNQQzGJc3EjCgOF8wHD4DV9whEfun3R9d-vy0r8KqKKIs3-_c4v9ySJErlhGXz3HvznE-VCGAoD9RxUPJQJt_8Oa4AoeF5Ke9O1IflwpQDH0q-Gisqd2mWn3U3UsuClR3ncL/s1280/painted-glazing-putty.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoHkFSjdtWNQQzGJc3EjCgOF8wHD4DV9whEfun3R9d-vy0r8KqKKIs3-_c4v9ySJErlhGXz3HvznE-VCGAoD9RxUPJQJt_8Oa4AoeF5Ke9O1IflwpQDH0q-Gisqd2mWn3U3UsuClR3ncL/w640-h480/painted-glazing-putty.jpeg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thinned & Stippled Bondo Glazing Putty</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div>I saw <a href="https://youtu.be/0-kqLtRGhUQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NightShift</a> doing a very cool texture technique using putty and thin-cement on scale models. Thinking I'd try to emulate something like that with materials I have, thinned this Bondo Glazing Putty with acetone and stipple-applied with a brush. This mostly worked, although acetone dries very quickly making you move fast and dirty.</div><div><br /></div><div>Applying Bondo this way is easier to control than with a plastic spreader. Proper model-putty and thin-cement would improve working time, but I have this giant tube of pre-existing putty. The effect is further modulated by light sanding or built-up with additional layers. Bondo sands famously. </div><div><br /></div><div>Half the fun of 3d printing is painting, but this is my first attempt at 1:87 scale. I don't have to be concerned about ruining an expensive kit, so it's all good. These skills come in handy when I need to repair something of value - you can hide a lot of crimes with Bondo.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3gRMJurcJisTIBSKZMXaE9r6w7yu0giXfJXxvs2cnz3wgRkknKFvTyQBtfpdBz38kvLmX6HXCxC78Far8eW_Jo0HknJzgnEq41kZmK0VJGguzuWOxjxJqoBhyphenhyphenf1bJCUaG_liSuK0RJli/s1280/IMG_4958.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3gRMJurcJisTIBSKZMXaE9r6w7yu0giXfJXxvs2cnz3wgRkknKFvTyQBtfpdBz38kvLmX6HXCxC78Far8eW_Jo0HknJzgnEq41kZmK0VJGguzuWOxjxJqoBhyphenhyphenf1bJCUaG_liSuK0RJli/w640-h480/IMG_4958.jpeg" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building the Catwalk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Quonset huts are a bit a retro now, replaced by straighter-walled and larger structures as steel performance improved. Anyhow, the reference photos I like are the older and heavily repaired/modified buildings. Looks like rooftop installations were mostly radar and other comms.</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "idleprocess-20";
amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";
amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";
amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
amzn_assoc_region = "US";
amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links";
amzn_assoc_asins = "B00124SJS8";
amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit";
amzn_assoc_linkid = "a12a7e0aa643e672f4611fce318cc90a";
</script>
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-72744788935714182892021-01-15T13:43:00.001-08:002021-01-16T12:43:55.345-08:00WIP: Raspberry Pi Build<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleFJ_KS4cWheJilKsZruxLJ75bF3r5Paxfc2E06o2JV4S5NTwCtJkZynUbkrHrGJCvVMqIPnOkHJXCip7QWd-MFrh433uUY__irK5MuFoOsjzaaWggC9yECRCPd2YwjW1dZKG5yiIV8NW/s2048/IMG_4942.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="3d Printed Astro Pi Case" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleFJ_KS4cWheJilKsZruxLJ75bF3r5Paxfc2E06o2JV4S5NTwCtJkZynUbkrHrGJCvVMqIPnOkHJXCip7QWd-MFrh433uUY__irK5MuFoOsjzaaWggC9yECRCPd2YwjW1dZKG5yiIV8NW/w640-h480/IMG_4942.jpeg" title="3d Printed Astro Pi Case" width="90%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3d Printed Astro-Pi Case</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div><div>This Raspberry will be my citizen-science build, where I can participate in the scientific research process. These days anyone can volunteer to help scientific researchers answer real-world questions. The Astro-Pi case was designed to fly citizen-science in space, and has room for display, buttons and sensors. The original was machined-aluminum; mine is plastic. I have it wall-mounted on an DIN rail.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's currently running BIONIC for World Community Grid - which doesn't require any sensors, but I'd like to get a whole space-station's worth of sensors going at some point. The Raspberry Pi supports lots of inexpensive hardware add-ons and free open-source software for nearly any interest - cosmic rays, population ecology, climate and human health, to name a few. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's very early days, but another growing area of interest is open-networks. Imagine being part of a public mesh-net that's free. Today most people pay big fees to subscribe to the internet, but someday we probably won't. Mesh networking involves evolving hardware, open-standards, security, and government regulations - fascinating stuff. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've always been interested in what a spare CPU could do given enough time, and have frequently used the idea to automate parts of my job. My absolute favorite approach is just to test randomly generated solutions. Imagine the world's least efficient, but dedicated scientist. Employers loved it, and soon they'd be wheeling all the spare hardware into my office. </div><div> </div><div>April is Citizen Science Month, and CitizenScienceMonth.org has a list of events for anyone planning a Citizen Science project or event. Lot's of these projects run on phone apps and don't require any special hardware. Citizen Science is a way to collect data, but also involves the public in scientific issues -getting to choose projects, learning details, and watching the slow march of progress. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-32945980061731801362021-01-05T12:01:00.008-08:002021-01-15T14:09:14.944-08:00Cyberpunk 2077: Legendary Crafting<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7TqWL5cnpb5l-5Rt3jwMZJFIRBGw-e80lSZmEdKSkVuWjY-eMwkIYh0ms57E18rtcmqMtI1J3fmK1ltQ0MkpgHNhUvI8ogJ0ylkifnixY7LOP_vdo3yrG3v0SXtTteMWYzBS72-UMwvN/s1920/cyberpunk_johnny_crafting.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7TqWL5cnpb5l-5Rt3jwMZJFIRBGw-e80lSZmEdKSkVuWjY-eMwkIYh0ms57E18rtcmqMtI1J3fmK1ltQ0MkpgHNhUvI8ogJ0ylkifnixY7LOP_vdo3yrG3v0SXtTteMWYzBS72-UMwvN/w640-h360/cyberpunk_johnny_crafting.png" width="100%" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot Composite Jan '21 w/30% Discount Perk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Crafting Johnny's <b>Legendary</b> Tank Top costs = $104,625</li><ul><li>1 Epic Johnny Tank Top ($60,525)</li><li>39 Rare Item Components ($5850)</li><li>89 Epic Item Components ($22,250)</li><li>16 Legendary Item Components ($16,000)</li></ul></ul><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Crafting Johnny's <b>Epic</b> Tank Top costs = $60,525</li><ul><li>1 Rare Johnny Tank Top (mission item)</li><li>49 Uncommon Item Components ($3675)</li><li>99 Rare Item Components ($14,850)</li><li>132 Epic Item Components ($33,000)</li><li>9 Legendary Item Components ($9000)</li></ul></ul><span><div><span><br /></span></div> </span>I was curious if building was cheaper than buying and the answer is not really. Economically speaking you get more bang for your buck if you sell for cash instead of disassemble into components, and save your perks. The crafting system in Cyberpunk is punishingly expensive.<br /><div><p><span> Once finding nice gear, trying to upgrade it to keep pace with level costs nearly every penny one could scrounge - for a single item. Then you find the exact item you're holding, for sale, at a higher level, for less cash than it would cost to upgrade or craft new. Adding insult, the vendor will offer to buy your hundred-thousand dollar investment for 1% of it's value.</span></p><p>The economy in Night City is so screwed-up, that it only makes fiscal sense to steal. Vendor prices are high to discourage shopping, but crafting needs a tune IMO. As a rule of thumb, you should probably be able to craft ONE Legendary before finishing the game.</p><p> </p></div></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-5350918431817618312020-10-31T12:04:00.001-07:002020-11-21T12:28:15.507-08:00Comic: Pigeon Thoughts<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8Vk1d9hpvuR5ocOFebE3C7N1XqwtE4gQSPF22fJ2Jf8OP4-DKG5pJzUwa7BSNOUluqAXXooV6Kw5NlyIr6mBv1OFHyv5uT_ozp_brisMN27FQTiD8kcZTcP3VmceKzzIupcBFBm6yrvn/s1180/pigeon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="1180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8Vk1d9hpvuR5ocOFebE3C7N1XqwtE4gQSPF22fJ2Jf8OP4-DKG5pJzUwa7BSNOUluqAXXooV6Kw5NlyIr6mBv1OFHyv5uT_ozp_brisMN27FQTiD8kcZTcP3VmceKzzIupcBFBm6yrvn/w640-h640/pigeon.jpg" width="90%" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Been playing with Inkscape on the Mac again. Vector graphics are so clean, and adjustable. The process is definitely slower. My initial quick sketches were on paper with a fat sharpie while looking at pigeons in Google Image Search. These two were my favs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">During high-school I had a job that included doing technical CAD drawings. That was all vector work in Microsoft Visio, so I got pretty good at it. The tools are better now - more painterly. Inkscape has 'simplify' and 'roughen', which worked well here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This drawing only has a few dozen objects, which Inkscape 1.0 handles fine. Super complicated drawings get a bit crashy.</div><p></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-88475288231272566512020-10-14T12:53:00.001-07:002020-11-21T12:29:59.138-08:00Comic: Entertainment News<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9xaICsa4fLHyPnup22H9UDapFuPlIa7GRo_kvhs-Z6a1n9rndCl08O0mpFkHOdxXTVK4R9TutuMmuj9IzCkVQQV-EUu27sm2JN_OcBiT-IkALPTw0RRayDysJMDF9viHSvj_uZyx_r_B/s1200/bird-giraffe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9xaICsa4fLHyPnup22H9UDapFuPlIa7GRo_kvhs-Z6a1n9rndCl08O0mpFkHOdxXTVK4R9TutuMmuj9IzCkVQQV-EUu27sm2JN_OcBiT-IkALPTw0RRayDysJMDF9viHSvj_uZyx_r_B/w640-h640/bird-giraffe.jpg" width="90%" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>We know YouTube and Social Media have algorithms that steer people into rabbit-holes. Now we got folks thousands of videos into the weeds - radicalized by the "entertainment-news" they're watching. I'm getting their hateful panicked messages, you might be too. </div><div><div><br /></div><div>I had been pretending to be a proper algorithm that responds with a calm, fact-checked video they might enjoy - preferably an expert they respect. Isolating folks is bad. Interacting is terrible. But maybe we can somehow influence recommendations remotely - talk to the algorithm using clicks. I'm desperate for something, anything.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">✽ ✽ ✽</div><div><br /></div></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-68763698241365347262020-10-11T14:54:00.004-07:002020-11-21T12:31:17.756-08:00Comic: Greenhorn Orientation<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBSE92efFd0GTmjvVmdFNJ_OO1SBKPIkdfO7BVjiEamzh9HZay-VMHsQGj7JW7LzdAwOdT-hBQyNHHrhbPztrhu3Sn8wsZIY_ZmHUUOZGquglUzDj0BME7Nmeb5VY8NE70NdaRFAl834p/s1024/mlm-devil.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBSE92efFd0GTmjvVmdFNJ_OO1SBKPIkdfO7BVjiEamzh9HZay-VMHsQGj7JW7LzdAwOdT-hBQyNHHrhbPztrhu3Sn8wsZIY_ZmHUUOZGquglUzDj0BME7Nmeb5VY8NE70NdaRFAl834p/w640-h640/mlm-devil.jpg" width="90%" /></a></div>Hell is Multi-Level-Marketing. Lonnie must damn friends and family before someone else does. He easily ropes-in a petty criminal uncle. Early success soon has him aiming for the big fish - and diamond rock-star status. Perhaps these horns are getting too big for his head. <div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✽ ✽ ✽</div></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577798363970079067.post-5780900741097684182020-09-27T11:42:00.004-07:002020-10-07T11:22:36.002-07:00Comic: Rage Coffee<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqsO68gWz9a6e9Q9BU9rNJfTRgMfsNCYeBIC9aULKl0SVb6g5EmzfgpgqIayyTOnNsVDiq7dtS6s2EUS96dk-kHwK-yV2ewyzV4lb8BMpu-ZJ6JNZ1YLukqxnlDaj7beSaDJxftkxA-Rw/s2048/coffee-hack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqsO68gWz9a6e9Q9BU9rNJfTRgMfsNCYeBIC9aULKl0SVb6g5EmzfgpgqIayyTOnNsVDiq7dtS6s2EUS96dk-kHwK-yV2ewyzV4lb8BMpu-ZJ6JNZ1YLukqxnlDaj7beSaDJxftkxA-Rw/w640-h320/coffee-hack.jpg" width="90%" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div>It was fashionable to own a newspaper, and inexpensive too. One hyper-competitive billionaire thought he was pretty smart. Blurring current events with marketing had been very good business - everything he always wanted. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now he's three times divorced and surrounded by ass-kissing sycophants. He smuggles himself to South America in a suitcase. The other fugitive beach bums call him an asshole.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">✽ ✽ ✽</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13200263314063310151noreply@blogger.com0