A flaw magnet, it turns out, is a natural (as opposed to manufactured) magnet containing a geological flaw that causes the magnet to convert its magnetic field into light.
When used, say, in the construction of an architectural frieze, the crystaline structure of flaw magnets creates a geometric pattern of light.
Yes, here I am for now. "And the universe rings with the joyful cry, 'I am!'" It does. The universe is always doing that for everyone, despite our lapses in knowing it. And despite all the shit.
Au is the periodic table's symbol for the element gold, and it's also the nickname given to me from my baptismal name Aulaire. Thus my blog's name--Au l'Ancienne means Aulaire the Old. "Old" gold, not "true" gold as in "true gold fears no fire." There are fires I fear.
And "old" as in my seventieth year on the planet.