Recent content on Micro-optimist
I wanted a modular gearwall for bags, jackets, bike gear, and assorted kid stuff. My niche requirements ruled out commercial options. So I designed my own, based on router table t-track hardware. Results Kids’ corner (usually a (even messier) pile) Entryway, small items Entryway left, small items The Bike Zone Main bike panel Deep storage bike panel Special-purpose wall-mounting designs Bike…
Reviving the line-segment intersection derivation by Simon Walton, posted originally here , archived here . Copied in full below, with some added whitespace and typo fixes. Finding the intersection point of two line segments in $$\mathbf{R}^2.$$ Simon Walton, Dept of Computer Science, Swansea Not long ago, I wanted a quick solution to the problem of finding the intersection point (if any) of two…
My take on the parametric heart shape concept. A : 90 B : 90 There are many ways to use math to define a heart curve . The second one on that page, a sextic algebraic equation, $$(x^2+y^2-1)^3 + x^2y^3 = 0$$, strikes me as one of the most elegant, but it’s not very… adjustable. Rather than using a single polar/parametric/algebraic equation to define a curve, I imagined a different…
I don’t like to be “that guy”, correcting meaningless mistakes of grammar/usage/pronunciation in conversation, because for whatever reason it’s considered rude or thoughtless. But if the mistake you’re making is hypercorrection , pointing that out must be… hypocorrection? Which, by extrapolation, must then be polite and thoughtful (/s). Despite my belief that…
I’ve always been fond of physical modular systems, but lately I’ve become a little obsessed with customizing my stuff with modular attachments. My bike has seen the most of this, both in terms of the number of projects, and the amount of effort put into them. The organizer Much of this is built around Ortlieb bike accessory products, which I have committed to as a sort of…
An exponentially increasing blog post. It bugs me when people misuse the term “exponentially bigger”, often just comparing two numbers. To describe the growth of something as exponential, more than two numbers must be taken into account (unless you somehow have evidence that the underlying process is itself exponential, which is generally not the case in random charts and quotes found…
Benford’s Law states that in many naturally occurring collections of numbers, the leading digit is likely to be small. I love math factoids like this, and I remember how deeply unintuitive this seemed when I first learned it. Now, I find myself looking for a way to explain how intuitive it really is. TL;DR Ok, Benford’s law isn’t obvious. But what would the world look like if it…
Project log for my organizer insert for Ortlieb Back Roller bike panniers. Current status https://ortliebusa.com/product/commuter-insert-for-panniers/ v1.2, in active use. TODO: attach more nylon webbing, for attaching other accessories to the side of the insert sew new version with flaps that cover the frame pockets record a video of the quick-release action Mounted to bag. Photographing this…
Project log for my organizer insert for Ortlieb Back Roller bike panniers. I commute by bike, including a fair amount of shopping and errands, and I'm kind of obsessed with organization. I use some popular Ortlieb panniers, and I like to think I've committed to them as a 'platform' for bike storage, long-term. I chose them because they're spacious, rugged and waterproof, but they're not made for…
I climbed a mountain with Andrea and Donna. It took a lot of work. This is a very long blog post, split into five parts. Check out the slide show first. Then, if you aren’t sure how far you’ll get, read parts 3 and 4, then 2, then maybe 1. Part 5 is mostly for me. 1: prep - 2: hike - 3: summit - 4: safari - 5: post-mortem - slide show (upcoming) Done! Some time in early 2018, Andrea…