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Why Depth First Searches Are Bad

General News

There are a lot of different searching strategies, but at a high level, the basic ones are "Depth First" and "Width First". In non-geek terms, when you get to a "page" do you follow every link until you get to a page with no links, or do you get the whole page, then follow the first link then back up?

Yes, sadly, I think that way.

So, I decided to try mountain biking at SanTan regional park. I went a few weeks ago (and ran over a rattlesnake, but that's a different story) and the riding was ok. But, there is an entrance that is closer to me than the one off Brenner Pass. I decided to try the GoldMine entrance and started biking up GoldMine to get to SanTan when I met a person coming down who said it wasn't ridable and would be hike-a-bike. I turned around and tried a different trail and that is when I saw an abandoned mine. I detoured up to see it before riding back to my car (only by the saving grace of Stan's and tubless tires).

...and now we descend into the search. I got home and searched for "santan park mine". A few links down I found out about the "Lucky Strike Mine". How interesting. There's gold in them thar hills!

Then, I found out that two of the old prospectors are actually buried there! As a matter of fact I rode right by the graves. Wow, I'm observant. But so what, who were these people? What is their story?

Then I found out about Marion Kennedy and Mansel Carter. Fascinating.

From there, natually I had to go back and "run" the trails and go see it for myself.

Now, do these people have relatives? Has someone gathered their DNA to do the DNA genealogy? Regrettably they don't let you inside the fence or let you see the remains. That's why I brought bolt cutters and a shovel! Ok, I might be making that last part up. There are limits to even my "depth first" searches.

I went from "Let's go mountain biking" to "looking at the graves of early miners". I find it interesting that all of this was here, less than 15 miles from my house, and I never even knew about it. It's amazing what you can learn when you're not just driving by places.

After that I finished my "run" (scare quoted due to the amount of hiking above my anaerobic threshold). Here is the hike up. Yes, it really is that steep.

But the views are pretty nice.

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Motorpacing

Fitness

In bike training there is a technique called motorpacing.

I went for a ride on Thursday and I actually got to do this. I don't understand what the big deal is. I was just cruising along when this thing goes past. I let it go, but then another one comes past I decide to kick it up a notch and try to pace a little. What a boring five miles. I really think it was a waste of time. Here is a picture of my pacer. Can anyone tell me what I was doing wrong?

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Updates

General News

Ok, so there are going to be some changes around here. In preparation for those I upgraded my version of Geeklog. When I did that, naturally, themes got all twisted around. I eventually found PurePro which let me easily create the theme you see here. Basic, but good enough for now.

So, for the changes.

The boys want to be able to tell their friends about their links and things that interest them. So, it seems like I might have two new contributing editors. I suspect they'll go like gangbusters at the beginning, and then we'll see.

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Annoyed...

General NewsSo, a bunch of years ago I created a cookbook for my sister for her birthday. That was the whole intention. A gift for my sister. Not everlasting fame. Not accolades. A gift. (p.s. it looks really cool if you take the time to print it and bind it on cool paper). For those if you who have never created a cookbook...good...don't. It's a PITA.

But, what I did was compile recipes for salsa and drinks, and then make then, annotate some of them and then, in a fit of insanity...

EVEN CREDIT THE ORIGINAL SOURCES...

Crazy, I know.

So, after JT posted his salsa stuff on the ol' FB, I decided to see how my "cookbook" showed up in Google.

Irritated. It is a morass of sites that have downloaded it and then want you to pay to download the thing that I got freely from other people (and attributed even though it was only ever destined for my sister) and then compiled and perverted for my own uses. (i.e. read the recipes carefully, I put in some easter eggs).

So here it is. For free. Please just attribute it. Notice I even say "compiled by" not "written by".

So You're a Dip...and Things to Sip

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Time to humiliate myself

FitnessNo, this is not an April Fool's joke. (I was going to post this up on 4/1, the beginning of the second quarter, but decided to wait a day.) I'm in horrible shape, and this can't continue. I like to blame the herniated disks in my back, but honestly, it has been a lack of discipline. So, I'm going to fix it, and put some goals out there that are in the public and force me to stick to them. I'm goal oriented, for better or for worse. It worked for Fatty so I think it will work for me. Here are the goals:

#1: I will average running a mile a day for 2011

This doesn't sound too bad, but considering how little I have been running I think it's a good goal. It will be made slightly harder due to the fact that we're already part way through the year.

Additionally, any miles that aren't on my Garmin don't count. (Although going forward, I will count treadmill miles). I've probably run about 20 without my Garmin, but it doesn't matter.

#2: I will average biking 2 miles a day for 2011

This should be easier, since it's easier to ride than run. Same rules as above. I think this might be sandbagging. If that is the case I'll be upping the requirement as I get further along.

So, where are we?

4/1 is the 91st day of the year. That means I should be at 91 and 182 respectively. Right now I'm at:

  • Running: 25
  • Biking: 48
So, I have to make up 66 miles of running and 134 miles of biking.

(I've made up a few miles since I drafted this)

Time to get to work.

You can track me via a Google spreadsheet.

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Engrish is fundamental

General NewsEnglish: It's fundamental.

Saw a t-shirt today that was obviously somebody's or some chain's coture line:

"die before dishonor"

O.K., seriously?

Let's review here:

"To die: A verb meaning to kick the bucket."

So, I want to make sure I understand what you're saying: Just before I complete total and horrific acts in your name or on your body, you would like to die.

Now, let's look at what the real quote is: "Death before dishonor." (Honestly, the online sources suck on this, but I don't have a copy of OED.)

Death is a noun, the act of dying. What you're saying now is "Before I would accept dishonor, I would die."

There is a difference there, and the difference shouldn't be that subtle. But then again, maybe it is but shouldn't be.

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I'm so conflicted

General NewsGuess which action the kids chose?

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Jot's Tiger Cub Pinewood Derby Handbook

General NewsSomehow I ended up getting tricked into being a Tiger Cub Scout Co-Den leader. (The good news is my other co-leader is the person who is really doing the work). In scouts there are generally two things that the scouts love.

#1: Camping
#2: Pinewood derby

The problem is when you have new parents coming in with Tigers they're very uncertain of what the heck to do with Pinewood. So, I decided to create a simple guide. Read on.

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Sometimes spell check isn't enough

PhotographyYes, the camera on my cellphone is broken. It won't really focus. But still, I had to take this shot. It was on a display at my local Lowe's.

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Humor

PhotographyStory. About 6 weeks ago I was in the airport bar in San Jose waiting on my flight. I looked over and saw that someone had left something. I hadn't seen the guy in a while, so I picked it up to see if there was a way to contact him. Then I read the cover. I had to take the picture or no one would ever believe me.

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