Vizzini
Newly Enlightened
Last night, while pondering if I need to buy a Blaster-1R while it's on sale, I decided to do some flashlight testing with some of my other D-cell lights (Mag3D with lambertian EverLED, Mag2D with regulated 8AA-2D, and Mag2D with KPR112 and 6AA-2D). So I turn off the lights and start firing photons down the hallway and around the bedroom to check throw, overall light output, etc. After playing for about an hour (swapping a LOP reflector and an UCL/LDF lens between flashlights) I turn the lights back on, put away my toys and ponder my purchase requirements.
As I'm sitting on the couch with my laptop the phone rings. The person calling identifies themselves as being with the Albuquerque Police Department and that one of my neighbors had reported a possible burglary in progress having seen someone inside the house with a flashlight. I explain the situation and then, following instructions, let them know what I'm wearing and leave the house through the front door with nothing in my hands.
After a brief introductory phase with the heavily armed officers outside (hands on head, face the street, spread legs for patdown search), I explain the nights experiments to one officer while two others sweep the empty house on my invitation. After deciding that my version of events checks out they depart along with at least one other officer who was securing the back of the house.
I guess I should be thankful that I've got neighbors that are keeping an eye on the neighborhood, since roaming around inside with a flashlight is kind of suspicious if you're not a flashaholic. And my hat is off the the APD officers that responded. They were polite and very, very good--I hadn't heard anything going on outside the house, and they had me covered the entire time. But next time I think I'll put an illuminated "Flashlight Test In Progress" sign up before I play in the dark again.
As I'm sitting on the couch with my laptop the phone rings. The person calling identifies themselves as being with the Albuquerque Police Department and that one of my neighbors had reported a possible burglary in progress having seen someone inside the house with a flashlight. I explain the situation and then, following instructions, let them know what I'm wearing and leave the house through the front door with nothing in my hands.
After a brief introductory phase with the heavily armed officers outside (hands on head, face the street, spread legs for patdown search), I explain the nights experiments to one officer while two others sweep the empty house on my invitation. After deciding that my version of events checks out they depart along with at least one other officer who was securing the back of the house.
I guess I should be thankful that I've got neighbors that are keeping an eye on the neighborhood, since roaming around inside with a flashlight is kind of suspicious if you're not a flashaholic. And my hat is off the the APD officers that responded. They were polite and very, very good--I hadn't heard anything going on outside the house, and they had me covered the entire time. But next time I think I'll put an illuminated "Flashlight Test In Progress" sign up before I play in the dark again.