Hello friends!

We’ve made it to 2022. The long nights are getting shorter, and with each passing day, may we come closer to the winter of our woes.

I’m planning again(!) on going to DEFCON this year. Last year didn’t pan out, so here’s hoping 2022 won’t have any issues. I was gun-shy about going last year, but, honestly, I should have known that an event for security experts would do more than a good job of assessing the risks and dangers of having a conference in Vegas.

My latest flashlight is an Emisar DT8, which either looks like a safety razor or Bender from Futurama. This thing makes me laugh because it looks ridiculous, but it’s also so fun! I got Ali an Emisar D4v2 for her birthday so she’ll never be blinded by the darkness again. I got her the super warm E21A 2000K which feels like having an incandescent bulb in your hand.

2021: One Year of Hanklights

It all started with me needing an emergency flashlight. Of course, we shouldn’t be surprised that I nerded out and went down the flashlight rabbit hole. Here’s the state of my collection of flashlights from Emisar/Noctigon at the end of 2021.

Anduril 2: Aux LED Voltage Colors

Anduril 2 lets you set your Aux LEDs to the Voltage Color, which shows you a color to represent how much battery you have left. Here’s a reference for what each color represents.

Practice listening to music

Taking the time to be present with a musical piece is like taking the time to hear the artist who made it. It’s a relationship between the musician and the listener: similar to the relationship between you and the shining sun.

Emisar D4v2: Aux LEDs Run Time

A common concern for new owners of the Emisar D4v2 is whether the Aux LEDs drain too much of the battery. Short answer: keep them on low brightness and you’ll be good for years.

Anduril 1 or 2? Check what version of Anduril your flashlight is running

When you get your new Anduril light, you’ll need to first check whether you’re running Anduril 1 or 2. Here’s a simple way to check what version of the firmware is loaded on your flashlight.

Music I’ve been listening to this past month:

• Hiatus - Arrival
• Rina Sawayama, Elton John - Chosen Family
• Taylor Swift - All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)
• Mark Slee - So It Goes Radio #95

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan