Nuclear zero

Just remember kids, if we go to nuclear zero, then only the terrorists will have nukes!

Mosin shoot

I forgot to post the first time I shot the mosin with the scope. 100 yards, not zeroed so its mostly group size. It was the end of the day, and I was rushing alot (excuses I know!)

It has gotten better(maybe not the group was bigger, but I see a bifurcation), as you can see below. The pic is at 100 yards, scope "zeroed" for 200, should be 2.1 inches high at that range. I was aiming for the center of the black square. There was 1 flyer that I did not find because the surrounding box had a few holes in it. (ha or it went in one of the other holes (not likely, but we think Kerr did that earlier that day)). The two shots above the square were not too shabby, but there were two to the left. According to the chart, i am using "too little finger". Could also have been anticipating, it was the end of the day. At any rate, thats what happened. Trigger control work should fix the problem. Next time at the range I'll attempt a paper plate with a black square again.
Update: I forgot to mention, this was shot from a "field position" of me sitting and using the bi-fur-pod as a rest. I'll try and do a bench rest version to see what the mosin is capable of (might need someone(s) to also do that), then a field rest version to see what I am capable of.

Random pics I forgot to blog about

Pic 1: I was zeroing the mosin and using its carry case that I made from some old jeans to hold it up (sort of as a bench rest). In my movements, the case was hit with muzzle blast or a bullet. It basically shredded into confetti and made some huge holes.


Pic 2: Finding out the score of a bocce ball game during festivities. That was a great day, we rolled down this big grass hill, had (wine and beer) with (cheese or salmon spread) and crackers)). We met this outgoing kid, Justin, that wanted to play bocce with us. We let him play (well, throw the balls around randomly). I was talking to his dad, and he runs up "what are you drinking".... pause from me, then "Apple juice". Later he says "do you have to drink apple juice when you are playing bocce?" ---- my answer "but of course!" [note: people tell me that it was not apple juice]. [also, those are not my toes!]

Quote of the week

""i send you an email about getting a pig for a pet, and you send me one about cooking bacon. nice baby."" - Sara

It wasn't intentional! i promise! (or was it?!?!? MUAHAHAHAHA)

Soda Can Solar Heater

I made a solar can solar heater. Fairly simple, collect a bunch of cans, drill/cut out the top/bottom, assemble into tubes, assemble tubes into a panel, paint panel, stick in window.

Cans in tubes:


Can tubes made into a panel:


Painted and installed:


The bad thing is that I figured out that in the winter the sun doesn't go directly overhead, it is inclined. We are on the wrong side of the building, so the windows do not get direct sunlight.

In the summer, on the other hand, we do get direct sunlight as it is inclined the other way. Sooooo.. that sucks.

I might donate the panel to my sister or mom.

The core and the gap (cl-users)

Found another core/gap map, common lisp users around the world.

Sara has a point, its just because the core/gap have by definition different computer/internet penetration.

I suppose it could be that common lisp users would appear when real work (tm) does not really have to be done, which would not be the case in the gap. (tongue in cheek)

Rediscovering living in a village

I have seen a movement toward more "resilient" communities that ends up with urban people trying to learn how to emulate a village. Well, they actually end up trying to setup a commune, but eh.

Its not that bad of an idea, have stuff that you can fix/produce locally.

The problem is, humans ran into a scaling problem with that plan. A village can not have a space program. Most villages would never have developed aircraft like that ones that we depend on. Etc, etc.

Designing a lower cost/easier to manufacture {insert farm tool here} can be done without the need to move out to a farm and prove that you can survive without outside inputs (or too many of them).

Making a better functioning community is a good idea, but we can not forget the advances afforded to humanity from trade.

Vrius free another 6 months

Every six months ubuntu comes out with a new version. I download the livecd and boot into it to scan my windows xp box for viruses (I don't run an anti-virus).

----------- SCAN SUMMARY -----------
Known viruses: 649863
Engine version: 0.95.3
Scanned directories: 43392
Scanned files: 516438
Infected files: 0

I think I will keep doing what I am doing. Maybe windows defender is defending me.

My router stops many(most?) virus attacks and I keep everything as updated as I can. I don't open random things and only download things when I was looking for them. I don't use too many software packages that are common vectors. I tend to not download things on the first day/week to give them a bit of time to settle.

For piece of mind I run the antivirus every six months from the livecd, rootkits and all, you know. I once had someone tell me that "You have a virus" (in anger) when I told him I didn't run an antivirus. It doesn't work that way.

Keyword arguments

Are keyword arguments to a function sort of like setters/getters for class?