startled
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The lonely F-18 that defends the state of Oregon
The Air National Guard’s 142nd Fighter Wing is based at Portland International Airport. Their rows of F-15s are usually lined up on the southern side of the runway, but I think they’re all inside warming their landing gear in front of the fireplace this weekend. This (presumably visiting) F-18 looked a little lonesome sitting outside on this cold, gray day, with the weight of defending the Beaver State’s airspace resting on its fuel-filled shoulders. Don’t worry, little guy! You’ll be fine.
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Mathematical doodling (and it’s a small, tensegrity-filled world)
I was just introduced to these mathematical doodling videos, which are pretty great. I’m also partial to the one about elephants and camels.It turns out that Vi Hart’s dad is George Hart, who wrote this tutorial on creating tensegrity models out of soda straws. In 2008, I found that page and used the design for my first human-scale tensegrity structure. This is what it looks like if you make it out of 2×2s and nylon rope instead of soda straws and rubber bands (and then lug it out to the desert):
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Unauthorized Trader Joe’s Commercial
via youtube.comThis was much better than I was expecting it to be.
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A very eager privacy curtain
via youtube.com -
How Ink Is Made
via youtube.comIndustrial manufacturing × printing nerdery × pretty colors.
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Every time I think I’m gonna wake up back on the playa.
For the next week, my mailing address will be:Space Mountain, in the Alternative Energy Zone6:35 and Florencec/o BRCPOBurning ManGerlach, NV 89412Do stop by if you’re in the neighborhood. -
Rights of passage
In related news, I just went to the store and bought a six-pack of beer to make more bread with. I’m not completely certain, but I think that’s the first time I’ve purchased beer in the nearly eight years I’ve been able to do so legally. Patrick will not be proud.
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Baking my own staff of life
So I read about this no-knead breadmaking recipe six or seven months ago, and I was dying to give it a try. Not very actively dying I guess, because it took me half a year to get to it, but this weekend I procured ingredients and necessary hardware and got to work.
That’s the dough I made. It’s really easy! You mix some stuff together, then ignore it for half a day, then smoosh it into a ball. You let it sit out a bit longer for good measure, then stuff it into a ludicrously hot Dutch oven (inside your nationality-unspecified regular oven). Then you take it out again before it’s burnt. That’s it!
My first baked bread. I think it’s quite handsome. There are still some kinks to work out: the bottom crust is a little overcooked, but overall the flavor is sweet and just a touch salty. It makes a fine conduit for dipping sauces, but the large air pockets make sandwiches difficult.Next I’ll try the Cook’s Illustrated variation, as reported on the excellent Breadtopia. It’s still really simple, but more flavorful through the addition of beer (finally, a use for beer!) -
Nissan isn’t afraid to back away from the tough questions
From the Nissan LEAF FAQ.
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Physics glitch
via youtube.com
