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It's been a long time since I was in a Dick Smiths but it sure reminded me of Radio Shack. Went to a JayCar near Christchurch a few years ago and was impressed.

While GPS receivers are supposed to use 23:59:60 a receiver I was testing the last time there was a leap second did indeed generate 23:59:59 twice. Our software now accepts either. We're getting started on a new system this year, hopefully we'll get a selection of GPS receivers wired up to see what they do on June 30th.

Meanwhile, AT&T will be shutting down it's 2G network by the end of 2016.

http://www.business.att.com/enterprise/Family/mobility-services/machine-to-machine/m2m-applications/cd2migration/page=addl-info/

Yeah, we're still waiting for fiber-to-the-town here in rural Centurylink territory.

Hybrids do make use of the battery and motor during highway use. When going downhill the engine will shut down and the battery will charge. This charge will be used by the motor on the next uphill to reduce engine use.

For plug-in hybrids with their large batteries several miles of all electric range can be generated on a long downhill.

Ford recently admitted their EPA estimates were crap: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1092703_ford-cuts-gas-mileage-on-6-models-what-you-need-to-know-and-open-questions

"Up Your Face" Or something like that...

The SYNC system has nothing to do with the powertrain. It's only used for infotainment and climate control.

Ford did an update to the MyFord Touch infotainment system last year this way. Downloaded a bunch of files onto a USB drive, plug into car, wait 20 minutes. Since it uses an automotive version of Windows CE of course it needed to reboot a half a dozen times during the update. But for power-train related updates you have to take it into the dealer.

I was a programmer in 1978, still a programmer. Did assembly language for 4040, 6800, 6809, 68HC11, and PIC. Don't do much of that anymore, thankfully.

Ah yes, the "Sync by Microsoft" warning label. Fortunately I don't have to use it much (C-Max Energi) as I rarely take my phone out of airplane mode and just listen to music from a USB flash drive.

I bought a Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid a couple of weeks ago. It's positioned between the Prius and the Volt in the marketplace. My usual trips around town fit nicely into it's electric-only range while having the gas engine for trips out of town.

"I'll be in my bunk" - Jayne

At the very least schools should be built tornado proof in tornado alley. http://www.monolithic.com/topics/schools

Robots are your plastic pal who's fun to be with. Who needs laws?