(no subject)

I got back to Factorio for a little while yesterday evening. I love the problem solving!

I was lying in bed with Danae designing a control system in my head that would make exactly one of four machines run at a given time based on a variety of incoming binary signals. I finally decided I could have each binary input translated into a value, then I could add those values together on a single control line for the machines. Then the machines could look for a signal value within a range and turn on or off appropriately.

So I'd have to make sure the translated value for each binary input was different enough that ranges couldn't overlap. For example, if I have inputs representing the values 1, 2, and three, the logical state of signals 1 and 2 being on while 3 is off would be equivalent to signals 1 and 2 being off while 3 is on.

I first jumped to using powers of 10, translating incoming signals into 1, 10, 100, etc. Then I wondered what the lowest usable values would be, because it felt more elegant, and because moving up a factor of ten each time would limit the range of the control system if I wanted to add a lot more machines because I'd hit the maximum system value much more quickly. I started adding up numbers in my head and by summing the previous numbers in the set, got 1, 2, 4, 8, 16... And I suddenly giggled and opened my eyes and said to Danae, "I just invented binary!"

Thrifting

To the kringloopwinkel today!

It took some exploring to find a way around the construction blocking bicycle traffic on both Straat van Messina and Rembrandtweg where they go over the Beneluxbaan on bridges. I managed to find a bike tunnel to the south after trying north first. And after the tunnel, I overshot the store going north and had to turn around. The way home was much more direct!

I've been in grungier thrift stores than Kringloopwinkel Amstelveen. It was fairly clean and free of dirt and grime. What was amazing was the clutter. With the exception of a tiny little 'store' (actually a garage filled to the rafters with junk) run by a little old lady in Baraga, MI, it was the most cluttered thrift store I've ever been in! There was a whole room-sized portion of the first floor that was basically inaccessible. I had to look across the top, or climb up to the stair landing and look down, to see what was in it.