Now why would we need people who know how to make stuff for money?

Good example of quantitative data making a tendency obvious in a way that concatenating a bunch of nouns and verbs together can't.

From: Nick Shultz, pointer from Bainbridge.

porn causes tsunamis & earthquakes

well, at least in Indonesia, depending on the govt' official:

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/11/porn_causes_tsunamis_and_earth.php


Hat tip: BT

Very thorough writeup on building a CNC mini-mill from high dollar components

http://www.5bears.com/cnc.htm

Nice set of machining articles.

http://rick.sparber.org/ma.htm

The one on softjaws is as good a place to start as any.

If you thought cars might have a bad effect on reality

just wait til an errant spaceship can destroy the solar system: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427361.000-dark-power-grand-designs-for-interstellar-travel.html?full=true&print=true

Interesting discussion of how to harness artificial black holes to go really very fast.


Hat tip: Marginal Revolution

Amusing analysis of the climategate code

So, let us stipulate that it would be a big surprise if burning tons of oil and its progeny had no significant effect on reality. However, the basis of these warmist predictions are the numbers spit out by large programs written by climate guys. And, generally, scientists can't code worth a shit.

To make this specific, there is an interesting, truncated, walkthrough of a couple of files in the main simulation program at:
http://www.di2.nu/200911/23a.htm

More analysis here: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/11/25/climategate-hide-the-decline-codified/

If you like such things, there's inf similar things (in different domains) at: http://thedailywtf.com/

cool science tattoos

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/science-tattoo-emporium/


For example, everyone's favorite: Darwin Kong

Relatively inexpensive reamers for rechambering

http://www.pacifictoolandgauge.com/products.htm

And a how-to on rechambering a 50cal: http://www.riflebarrels.com/articles/50calibre/chambering_50cal_rifle_barrels.htm

AVOID "Road Runner Transportation Services" they will destroy your shipment and not reimburse

Short version: I bought an Emco V13 lathe in august, it was transported by "Road Runner Transportation Services" who as part of the delivery ran a forklift into it, basically totaling it. They've dragged things out for months. Their latest offer is that they will pay me $140. Given that the lathe cost $2600 and shipping was around $700 this is disgusting.

There's no abiguity: they fucked up, destroyed a good quality piece of equipment and are too dishonest to do the right thing. I'm going to have to sue them to straighten this out, which is a big waste of time.

I'd recommend avoiding them at all cost.

Here's some photos of the damage when it was delivered.

Fixing my dad's 357 trooper

My dad bought out a Colt 357 trooper with some problems: these are I frames, identical to pythons on the inside. This is a short writeup on fixing the problems (for the most part). Note there's no sexy action work here, just a few fairly typical problems and one weird one. I write this stuff up so I don't forget, but no guarantees about riveting narratives.

The first problem: the cylinder does not spring back when you push it:

work holding on a mill

Some writeups:

• http://its.fvtc.edu/MachShop3/BasicMill/WorkHold.htm
• http://electron.mit.edu/~gsteele/mirrors/www.nmis.org/EducationTraining/machineshop/mill/intro.html#14
• http://www.mini-lathe.com/Mini_mill/Accessories/Holding/holding.htm

interesting article on lack of gov't allowing urban renewal

http://www.newgeography.com/content/001171-detroit-urban-laboratory-and-new-american-frontier

hat tip http://www.marginalrevolution.com/

forensic photos: 2.5 ported armoralloy python

It's been a while since I opened a python side plate, which at my age means I'm just about to forget everything. So, to counter that my dad and I went through a 2.5 ported python has that someone went through some trouble for to make into a very (very) nice carry gun with a great trigger and excellent porting.

Here's what we have to work with:

One of my favorite python sight combinations

This is a great setup. A Kensight "Elliason" rear (you can buy these at Brownells) with a front sight that was thinned a couple hundredths of an inch using a milling machine.

Front:


Rear:

nice article on machining your own quick change tool posts

http://www.rt66.com/~hypoxic/tool_post/toolpost.html

interesting article on the coming crisis in city bonds

http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2009/11/03/the-coming-collapse-of-the-municipal-bond-market/

High bit: no fucking way you should buy city bonds.

Amusing bit: with no way to default, West Palm Beach, Florida had to raise property taxes to 42.5% in order to meet obligations.


Possibly useful: in terms of debt vs GDB and citizens: "Massachusetts comes in at #1, with more than $10,000 of debt for each citizen and 20 percent of GDP. Each Texan owes about $1,000, by contrast, or 2 percent of GDP.

CA sucks more in various ways: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-voegli1-2009nov01,0,825554.story

Success! Fixed Hardinge QC lathe

I bought a Hardinge Cataract Quick Change lathe awhile back that purported to be in excellent condition but, in fact, was completely inoperable.

It's now been resurrected with some help from a Practical Machinist member and a lot of time over the weekend. I'll be posting photos of how to take apart and reassemble soon, but here's some quick evidence: she cuts!

One weird thing about the QC is that the even on "low" the powerfeed is really fast, but even so, the finish on this is a very nice matte gloss: