Kronos Workforce Central(R) - you are a pain in the ass. I'll approve your timecard!

A note on the liquid crystal "art" pictures that I post. Several people have inquired as to how I get these lovely photos, so here's the skinny:

1. Do some sort of surface modification on glass, gold, or polyurethane that I have reason to believe will lead to a particular liquid crystal orientation (and thus, appearance).
2. Apply liquid crystals to these surfaces. Most commonly, I use 5CB, 8CB or E7.
3. View results via polarized transmission microscopy. Usually the pics are at 10X or 20X magnification, as those tend to get the best "artsy" results, but some are at 4X or 50X. Hunt around for something I like and then take a digital picture.

So really, I never know if I'm going to find anything good from a particular sample, although I've found certain combinations of surface modification and liquid crystal are more likely to lead to something striking. Also, I've found that the less scientific significance a sample has, the more likely it is to be visually interesting. Rephrased: fuck-ups in science lead to success in art, at least in my case. The picture in today's post is 8CB on an HS(CH2)10COOH self-assembled monolayer on gold, I think at 50X mag (maybe 20X). If you click on it to view the larger image, you can more clearly see the colored bits (how's that for art-speak) that I really liked in this sample.

8CB is probably my favorite liquid crystal, if I were forced to choose a favorite. Nothing like a good room-temperature smectic A phase, hoo boy.

"Conversations on the topic of Fresh Pussy" or "Why El Señor B is my bestest friend"

Just wanted to point out that I added a new blog link to Post Secrets. Holy crap, I want to send in a postcard now. But what will my secret be? Will you, my dedicated readers, know which one is mine if it gets put up?

Not much satisfies me like a freshly mopped floor

Hello, my lovelies. I've been feelin' a tad antisocial of late, too antisocial even for blogging. Only people on my regular schedule have been seeing me at all, it feels like. I tried to break out of my misanthropic shell on Saturday night, invited out by a friend, J the V, to go see a show. Arrived at the club, knowing I'd beat his ever-late ass there, ordered a gimlet (the Corral Room makes a pretty fine gimlet, incidentally) and began to chat with some random dude because why not is why. Thirty seconds later I looked up to observe the arrival of the last person on earth I care to ever see again.

"Of [all the nights in] all the gin joints in all the ports in all the world, [he] had to come walking into mine".

Okay, okay, I had to butcher that quote to make it fit, but the sentiment was right. I mean, I've been avoiding shows for months now in anticipation of this unlucky coincidence - what were the odds on a show that wasn't even advertised? I had every right to stay there. I paid the cover. I got there first. But I went to the patio outside, drained my double gin and fled to el señor B's, where an odd movie, a tasty beer and some surly company raised my spirits a bit. I wasn't going to enjoy myself at the show after that anyway.

I've been out to the crags every weekend for the last 6 weeks. Have hit up all the major bluffs at DLSP, been to the Dodge, Nekkiduh and even an out-of-town gym this summer. I can't believe I wasted last summer being all "depressed" and shit and hardly climbing at all. This coming weekend, D is taking me bouldering somewhere 'round Wausau. Me and a bunch of burly freakin' boulderers. I shall try not to shame myself - it's been a while since I bouldered out-of-doors and it'll mess with your head. Here is a picture of me looking all sorts of burly on one of my new projects. This climb (Coup d'Etat, 5.11b) is a filthy little footless finger crack that kicked my butt royally. It was brilliant.

Hot weather makes me fall in love with every stranger I see on the street

Just a brief post about an album I've recently become enamored with. I owe my roomie D for introducing me to Josh Small's self-titled album (sorry, couldn't find the cover art online). It's a very simple, lo-fi folk album, just Josh and his banjo. He hasn't got the world's greatest voice, but he can carry a decent tune and the lyrics are simple but beautiful. Who can resist a chorus (and title) of "Fall motherfuckers, fall"? This album in particular reminds me a lot of my favorite Bonnie "Prince" Billy album in style and content. I'm absolutely stuck on the first track, "Pushing boulders", and also "Look at me", which involves some additional...uh...instruments. Man, do I ever love banjo. Speaking of which, I should get some good bluegrass. The kind with sinister banjo. You know what I'm talking about.

D has also been slowly converting me to Linux. I've never doubted that it is superior to Windows or even Mac OS's/applications, but it's got one hell of a learning curve. Luckily D is one patient dude, at least with this computer-retard.

too much to write, so I take the easy way out

i say "fuck it"

Okay, so triumvirate = group of 3
and pentaverate = group of 5
so what the hell = group of 4???

In order to have this burning issue resolved, I am opening up commenting on a trial basis.

It was just one of those nights, no need to send concerned emails

Now that I don't work in a chemical lab all the time any more, I decided to get contacts again. I just put them in for the first time in about 6 years. Here are some observations:

1. The left one is more comfortable.
2. They are tinted a little bit blue, I think, although I'm not positive. I'd prefer they weren't.
3. I feel nekkid.
4. Being able to see stuff in focus, I mean like my own belly button, without my glasses on makes me feel like I suddenly have super powers. Real ones, not the kind I referenced on May 29.
5. They seemed easier to get in than I remembered. But I'll never be one of those people who can insert/outsert them without a mirror and obsessive hand washing.

Last night went to an undergrad party with el señor B. It was fun, met some sweet kids, played the "guess how old I am" game (always amusing to observe shock form upon speculation that someone could be older than 23 and still cute and at a party) and found out that I could be considered a "cougar". Ever heard of this, folks? Apparently a cougar is a hott older lady ('cause I am sooooooo old) out huntin' for some youngblood action. This isn't exactly true, as I'm actually not too particular about age, har har. Okay, that's not entirely true either - I'd probably make out with a youngblood but I don't think they really know what to do after that. Ye ole enthusiasm versus experience debate. There was one ~20 year-old that I thought had some make-out potential but I think he also had a ladyfriend there with him. Also, my aging brain can't remember how one initiates said make-out with a near perfect stranger. I suspect that you just start making out. I guess that wouldn't be too hard physically, but did I really have no regard at all for decorum at that age? Probably not.