I’ve had some synchronistic pushes toward additional work on bright copper-plate, recently. I’m going to take the hint. This is still in the works…

Finally finished a video set to the haunting and evocative tune “Nothing But Flowers” by The Talking Heads with video from a diverse selection of (mostly) science fiction films from the 60s and 70s(with the odd bit of Chaplin and Civil Defense abomination thrown in). I hope you enjoy it (or at least rate it, leave word of how much it sucks, etc)!

From Cryptogram, an encouraging note for the DIY crowd:

Tsutomu Matsumoto, a Japanese cryptographer, recently decided to look at biometric fingerprint devices. These are security systems that attempt to identify people based on their fingerprint. For years the companies selling these devices have claimed that they are very secure, and that it is almost impossible to fool them into accepting a fake finger as genuine. Matsumoto, along with his students at the Yokohama National University, showed that they can be reliably fooled with a little ingenuity and $10 worth of household supplies.

About a week ago I came across a posting on BoingBoing (which I once held in high esteem) of a monologue by Merlin Mann that poked some gentle fun at “steampunk” (it involves a penis-pump built to H.G. Wells’ specifications and the problems of commuting by period steamboat on San Fransisco’s streets), with a sort of “loosen up, Poindexter” kind of message.
(Predictably) a day or so later BB had to post a “response” to Merlin’s jest (from Jake von Slatt, no less), but it wasn’t as funny as Merlin’s bit… and it affected a pompous “taking of exception” attitude, while flogging an upcoming anthology of steampunk lit (coming soon to a bookstore near you!).

I may be known for being a bit brusque and acerbic, but that day I did the absolutely INCONCIEVABLE: I posted an unpopular opinion (via the “Comments” function on BB) that dared impugn the worthless lay-abouts that contribute nothing to the Steampunk milieu while quacking on about their “Steampunk subculture”.

Oy, what a wailing and gnashing of teeth ensued!

I usually think of metal etching in terms of making printed circuit boards, but this basic technique will work whether you want to push electrons down a chute or just want to etch “TOIL IS STUPID” on a copper bracelet. It’s all rock and roll.

I’ve been doing that since I was 15 or so. For most of those early years I manually applied the resist mask, either using a Sharpie-like “etch resist pen” from Radio Shack, or a grease pencil, or layout tape, or rub-on decals. Later, the more ’sophisticated’ photo-etch process was used (note: don’t bother using the spray on emulsion, it has never once worked for me: stick to pre-sensitized boards or look into the photo emulsion films out there) but for quick& dirty prototypes of two layers or less I’ve migrated back to using the “toner transfer” method: laser printing (or photocopying) a design onto the cheapest photo-paper available, then ironing it onto copper clad boards (or brass/copper sheets) with a clothes iron.

It works really well & is cheap and easy (just like me)….

A municipal wireless provider in Lawrence, Kansas is showing the rest of the country how it is done. Lawrence Freenet’s low income focus has forced a dominant cable operator to become the first in the nation to provide free broadband to low income families. Not bad.

read more | digg story

Just saw this YouTube clip, done to a Gilbert & Sullivan classic. It made me laugh, so I’m sharing it-

Time to construct: 5 hours, including parts gathering and loafing.

Materials required:

1. Welding Goggles w/clear polycarbonate lens (only ones at HomeDepot)
2. X-acto knife
3. Steel rule
4. 3 x Super-bright red LEDs (smt, 1210 size)
5. 30 AWG wire
6. 3 volt 2032 button battery
7. Cellophane tape, super glue, epoxy putty (dab)
8. Soldering iron, solder

Just finished this small Jacob’s Ladder in time for Halloween—

This is the mid-sized line-powered model…
a much daintier cordless version is up next.

[Update: 31Oct2008:  Full construction details appeared in Steampunk Magazine #4.

This Halloween I found that the Ford Escort ignition coil I used had burned out under the strain: RIP.

That's the last time I use aYugon Escort coil for  a project!]

Back in the old days (pre UL-2161, anyway) you could make big arcs with a neon sign transformer (NST), like this: