How to Pick a Lock

This is a re-post of a blog written by Jason Fitzpatrick on Lifehacker.com . I read it today and it was AWESOME. The way they pick the lock on the Combination Lock is super cool. Yeah, super cool. If you like what you read here, go ahead and check out their website. They have some really neat stuff.
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Learn to Pick Locks for Fun and an Increased Understanding of Security

By Jason Fitzpatrick

Oct 25, 2010 12:00 PM

Learning to pick locks is a fun exercise in learning about locking mechanisms, honing a useful skill, and getting a better understanding of how locks work and protect—or fail to protect—you and your stuff.
Photo by Lanchongzi.

If you've never picked a lock before, you're missing out. It's fun, for the most part it's a strictly analog/mechanical pursuit (a therapeutic break from electronic gadgets), and unlike say, learning to juggle, when you end up locked out of your house you can actually put your skill to use.
The best place to get started with lock picking is to look up a local chapter of Locksport International. Not only does it add in a social element to the hobby but in meeting up with other more seasoned lock picking enthusiasts you'll get a chance to see and try out all sorts of tools and practice lock sets that would cost a bundle to buy when you're just getting started. Download the previously mentioned Locksport International Guide to lockpicking here.
If you're really interested in learning about locks and lock picking don't bookmark the guide and hope to get around to it later. It's an excellent visual primer and extremely accessible, go grab the PDF and read it. While it's downloading, enjoy the video below which demonstrates, thanks to a clear lock casing, exactly what is happening inside when you pick a lock.
In addition to highlighting the Locksport International guide, we've covered some pretty neat techniques over the years for dealing with locks and doors.

Pick a Lock with a Bump Key

Two years ago bump key lock picking was all over the internet—though it certainly wasn't new to criminals or locksmiths. People couldn't believe how easy it was pick many simple locks using little more than a key blank and a screw driver. (original story)

Build Your Own Vibrating Lock Pic

As you get more into lock picking you'll be tempted to buy some of the cool toys out there. Skip the $100+ vibrating lock pick sets and build your own from around $10 worth of parts—principally an Oral-B vibrating tooth brush. (original story)

Unlock a Sliding Chain Lock with a Rubber Band

While not technically lock picking, it's a very simple and clever method for opening a chain lock using nothing more than a rubber band. If you've picked a lock and found a security chain behind it, you just need a rubber band and a deft hand. (original story)


Crack a Master Combination Lock

Got a Master combination lock you want to get open but you don't want to destroy the lock or what it's attached to? Follow the link above to download a flowchart to guide you through cracking the combination without damaging the lock. Don't have time to diddle your way through testing combinations and following a flowchart? Open it with a beer can:

While the above videos showcase some pretty flashy techniques, we'd again direct you back to the previously mentioned Locksport International Guide to Lockpicking. It's a rock-solid beginners guide to picking locks, taking them apart, tinkering with them, and learning quite a bit about lock history and mechanics in the process.

If you're a lock picking hobbyist, sound off in the comments with your favorite resources, tools, or tricks and help your fellow readers get started with the hobby.

DIY

I have been on a bit of a Do It Yourself kick this month. I built a candle out of an orange, built a pencil holder out of fire wood, built a picture frame from an old pallet and a privacy fence, and turned some nursery boxes into a storage display. 

DIY Pen Holder

I am currently loving the feeling that I get when I am able to build things for myself. It feels good. It feels like I have actually accomplished something with my day! I have found lots of really great websites that tell me how to build some of this stuff. Here is the short video that showed me how to make the Orange Candle. This blog talked about making the Pen Holder. 

After all this awesomeness, I began wondering what else in life might be awesome to learn how to DIY online. I looked up some really cool stuff and some really stupid stuff. Stuff like DIY Tatooing and DIY Tanks. You know what I was not able to find though? How to DIY community change or DIY culture shift. I starting thinking about this. What if people are not changing the world because we are all waiting on someone or something to show us how? Is it possible that I have delayed starting a culture shift in my community because I don't think I can or don't think I know how?!

DIY Orange Candle

Here is the bottom line: We can all change the world. You don't need a video, a step by step guide, or a "How to Change the World for Dummies" book. You already have everything you need. To change the world, you just need to think of something that you can do to help someone else and do it. Don't ask, don't wait, just help someone. 

DIY Boxes

I believe that in many churches, the people that attend the church are waiting for the CHURCH to do something. As it turns out, the CHURCH happens to be you so, hop to it Jack! 


Audacitychurch.tv (the church I am a part of in Wichita, KS) has a principle that it uses a lot. As an organization we believe we are called to only few things. Sunday Worship Experiences, City Groups, and Missions (We call it ImpACT). However, people that are a part of Audacity Church do TONS of things! Just yesterday a bunch of people went to a local community organization and helped them wrap presents for families in need. They didn't need approval, they didn't wait to see if it was ok, they just did something to help. Stop waiting and start doing. 

Question: What are you doing currently to help out your community? What could you do to help out someone you know?

Our Church just did this themselves.  AudacityChurch.tv

PS: The candle only took about 10 mins to make and it is really more of an oil lamp than a candle. The pen holder looks awesome and was done in about 40 mins. The boxes are still being worked on. I'm just sanding them down and painting them to match the apartment decor. I haven't taken a photo of the picture frame yet. Sorry about that. Let me know if you have any great DIY projects going on!

How To Be Who You Want to Be

Have you ever started ranting about something in your mind, only to realize you are guilty of it yourself? That just happened to me about 2 mins ago.

Here is the deal: Stop making excuses why you can't help other people. Don't tell me you have had a busy weekend. I don't want to hear that you work early, or how I wouldn't like what you have to offer, or how it isn't convenient, or you are uncomfortable. Be who you want to be. Do you want to be a person that is selfless, generous, and passionate? Cool, then be that. Do you want to be a person that is selfish, dull, and cold? Ok, be that.

Whatever you decide you want to do, do that, just don't make excuses. Own it. If you are to lazy to help someone, say that. If you don't want to spend the energy to give to others, say that. If you don't want to be generous because it is a sacrifice, then say it. Owning what you are is WAY more cool that constantly pretending you are something that you are not. It doesn't really mean you are right to be the way you are, but at least you will be honest about it.

If you want to live a non-complicated life with plenty of rest and lots of time for you to "Just relax", then don't try to be like Christ. His life was horribly complicated, short on good sleep, and He had very little "Alone time".

Don't twist this thought into meaning you have to do everything for other people and not think about the consequences of living that way. We all need some time to ourselves, but honestly, it is probably not as necessary as we like to think. All I am saying is this: The way you spend your time reveals what your priorities are. Are you living for you, or to make a difference? Am I tired a lot? Yep. My Dad told me when I was a kid, " Tired men rule the world."

People that make a difference are putting it all on the line. Life is too short to be irrelevant. What are you doing to make a difference in this life?

Ninja Fish of Explosive Proportions

Albert Einstein - Brilliant Dude

 “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

― Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein once stated, "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." When I read that, I realized that this thought has a ton of implications in the life of a church. 

I often fall into the mistake of judging a persons ability to serve God on how well they can speak, or lead, or sing, or organize, or "insert cliché church activity here". I have realized that at Audacity Church in Wichita, KS you can be a fish, a duck, a monkey, or a friggin lion and it would have no influence on whether or not you could be a Hero at Audacity(Hero (n): someone who acts heroically; a person of noble quality; one that uses personal ability to help others) . 

I am learning that everyone has unique qualities and talents that can all be used to worship God. We have a person who loves facebook so they make facebook events so we can market with social media. We have a man that has a truck so he pulls our trailer full of equipment. We have a girl that takes pictures so she documents our events for our website. We have a man that has years of military experience that guards the kids area to keep them safe. 

Not everyone sings. Not everyone enjoys speaking. But everyone enjoys knowing they can worship God with the talents that He already gave them. I think Church might not be about a pastor ministering to the people, but rather, about the people ministering to each other under the guidance of a pastor.  A pastor cannot reach everyone but an entire Church of ministers has UNLIMITED potential! 

If you are a fish, you are a genius swimmer. If you are a monkey, you are a brilliant tree climber. If you are a lion, lets hear your awesome roar. Whatever God made you good at, do that and let your talent worship your God. 

I would love to get some feedback on this: What abilities do you have that you might not have thought God could use? Do you know anyone or have you ever been judged by your ability to do something you were never designed to do?