Category: Other nerd pursuits

For the April meeting, we still want to do a group build, but choose between either #0037 WaveRunner, the latest #0041, or ANY Hackerbox of your choosing. Or don’t bring a hackerbox at all. Just show up for the fun. Just show up. 🙂

We had a fun March meeting in the Burg. Pre-game at Red Dragon again, it was open mic night, had to get out of the way of the drunk dart players, and the UFO food truck was in attendance. Then we headed over the library where we had another new member attend. We did the usual spiel, break out the locksets, let him play and learn a bit, talk about Defcon, show off all the badges, blah blah blah, and soon enough it was over.

For the April meeting, we’re going to do something different. We’re going to hold the meeting up in Stone Ridge, VA (near the Dulles Airport, off of Rt 50 between South Riding and Aldie). RSVPd members on the Meetup page will get the specific location.

We’re going to have a group workshop on Hackerboxes. Specifically, a couple of us are going to work on Hackerbox #0037 WaveRunner. If you don’t have it, you can order it now to be sure to have it in time for the meeting. Also a good time to check your soldering kit and supplies for completeness. Alternatively, you can bring another hackerbox. Even more alternatively, you can just play pool or Galaga and drink beer with us. Just show up and be part of this thing.

Last night, Meeting #2 of DC540 was held at the downtown library meeting room.  Four attendees (plus the host) had an interesting time talking about lots of hacker culture topics.

Emery handed out decks of cards and encouraged people to learn and apply the Solitaire cipher (Pontiflex) described in Neal Stephenson’s novel “Cryptonomicon.”  

Here’s a link that describes the usage of the cipher: https://www.schneier.com/academic/solitaire/

Sounds like there’s a consensus for pregaming at a local drinking establishment prior to next month’s meeting.  That will be announced prior to the meeting.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F253926650152

Can I assume you’ve all seen this already and bought in?  The Make: Electronics Humble Bundle?  For $20 you get over 20 ebooks on a wide range of topics for makers and electronics tinkerers.  

Also, anyone up for a happy hour Tues or Wed?  Hit me up on Twitter @dc540baab or email [email protected]

First meeting, I’d call it a success despite my arriving a few minutes late. I want to thank everyone who showed up, both those I have met before and those I haven’t.  Hopefully next time will be in a drinking establishment. Stay tuned!

The ONLY reason I didn’t walk away from DEFCON this year with a mohawk is that Kat resigned her position at MohawkCon. I waited too long, I guess, and then she told us down at the circle bar she had quit, and I was disappointed.

By the way, I have a shit-ton of surplus equipment I’m trying to get rid of.  A whole lot of older 1U Dell servers and older Cisco switches.  Free for the taking for anyone local.  Market value not even high enough to be worth shipping,.  But great for anyone putting together a lab.

Also if anyone wants to experiment with GE Simon alarm keypad panels, or strip them of their components, I have HUNDREDS of them.