Picky picky
I know... crappy post. I'm just trying to get back in the swing of things; sorry.
I've recently decided to embark on a new hobby, which involves sticking pointy bits of metal inside locks to make them open without a key. This has tended to evoke a raised-eyebrow sort of reaction from people when I mention it. I suppose it's fairly understandable; lock picking is generally understood to be something of an anti-social activity, associated with things like cat burglars and James Bond.
Being associated with James Bond might seem like a pretty good thing, until you think a bit and realize he's actually kind of a sociopathic dick. I suppose it's not really his fault; I'd have a hard time being civil too, if I knew I could put a pistol round through the tires of every un-muffled Harley I saw, and the worst I'd get would be a stern talking-to from Judy Densch.
In the end, regardless of how long they've known me or how jokingly they mean it, people generally assume I am learning how to pick locks so that I can enter their homes while they're at work and commit deeds of unspeakable evil, like make combination mobiles/lamps from lingerie (brassieredeliers, I would call them), or eat all the cheese.
And I suppose these are valid concerns. I do love me some cheese.
So why lock picking?
Kind of like this.
Primarily, I just think it's kind of cool. It has also given me a new perspective on just how insecure most consumer level locks are. Much like banks or the stock market, they only work when everyone thinks they do. So really, our society is based on the honor system. Even locks, which are supposed to keep out the parts of society who don't follow the system. After a week of practice, it takes me anywhere between one to ten minutes to pick the Master brand padlock I bought -- a fairly beefy version that I wouldn't have thought twice about putting on a shed, or or fence -- and about the same to pick a little luggage lock.
On top of that, picking these locks is kind of the dumb way to do it; "shimming" most padlocks can be done with a pair of shears, an empty soda can, and a couple of minutes.
Anyway, it's been interesting, and it promises to get better. My next step is going to be a Kwikset deadbolt -- the kind that I've seen in use everywhere (like on my parents' place, and most apartments I've lived in).
So… hide your cheese, folks.