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Comment Why is this an issue at all? (Score 1) 341

Can someone explain to me why this is an issue at all? The FBI is not asking Apple to create a backdoor to encryption, they want a firmware update for this specific phone to bypass the pin lockout/self-destruct features. They have asked Apple to tailor it to this specific device, if the FBI were to try and change the code to use it on other phones it would effectively break Apples digital signature and be useless on other devices (or so I've heard).

Comment Re: EBike (Score 1) 251

Very fun project! The motor is a Chinese hub motor my cousin sent me, the bike had been crashed and severed the wires. It ended up frying the hall sensors in the motor that detect the magnet position, I was able to replace the sensors and it worked like a champ (1000watt 48v motor). Electric motors are extremely easy to fix so long as the copper windings are in good condition. You can find hub motor kits on ebay for cheap, you just need a battery source which can get pretty expensive.

Comment EBike (Score 5, Interesting) 251

I built an electric bike powered by old laptop batteries I collect dead laptop batteries from my employer, many of them contain lithium cells that look similar to AA's called 18650's and it's usually just a single bad cell and the rest are good. I put enough in series to give me 48v and enough in parallel to give me 50 miles of range (about 160 cells). I connected the cells together using nickle strips and a tab welder I built from an old microwave transformer. The microwave was covered in stainless steel so I cut that up and used it to build a battery box that fits perfectly in the front triangle of the bike (yes, it's insulated).

Comment Re: sorry, all my laptop batteries are dead (Score 1) 143

Is this comment based on actual experience? I've taken apart hundreds of laptop batteries to scavenge cells to use in electric bike battery packs. I like to do lots of destructive testing too; over charging, shorting out cells, driving screwdrivers through the middle of them... for all the claims made about thermal runaway and fires, I've got to say laptop 18650 cells are the most uneventful batteries I've ever seen when subjected to abuse.

Comment Re:Every month a new battery breakthrough, but.. (Score 1) 119

uhh... what? 50%? Is that how many numbers are made up on the spot? I build electric bike battery packs out of laptop batteries so I have paid close attention to cell capacity, and working in IT gives me an unlimited supply of old used batteries (nearly all laptop batteries use individual 18650 sized cells in series and parallel). 10 year old laptop battery packs with 6 cells are typically 56Wh, a battery from a brand new machine which still uses 6 cells has 64Wh. 14-15% over twice the time period is a far cry from 50%, so yeah, I seriously have not noticed.

Comment No more excuses (Score 1) 635

If your workplace has showers I'd definitely recommend biking to work. Depending on your commute it may not be much longer than driving, my drive is 16 minutes and it takes me 25 minutes to bike 8 miles to work. Saves gas, I get my workout in, and it's time that mostly would have been wasted in the car anyway... if time is an issue this may be a great option. Get rid of all the junk food and sugary drinks, take your lunch with you, and bike or run during lunch. We have a group of guys that bring in mountain bikes and we hit up some of the local trails around here. Or you could go run. But having a group helps with motivation and keeps people accountable. It seems time is a concern for you, but honestly stepping away from your hectic schedule would probably do you a lot more good than trying to exercise while you work.

Comment Re:Educate first. (Score 1) 1141

The problem isn't that people aren't aware. Do you really thinking people aren't aware that soda is full of sugar? Do you think people don't realize that donuts aren't healthy either? Sorry, I don't buy it and a label is unlikely to stop people from buying what they desire. People don't always gravitate towards what's "good" for their bodies, in fact given the obesity epidemic it's obvious it is quite rare. We are a society built on instant gratification, food and drink serve that need quite well. You want to educate people who don't want to be educated, or eating healthy is simply not a priority for them (nothing wrong with that if they accept the repercussions). I like bombing down trails on my mountain bike, I'm well aware that it can be very dangerous and possibly harmful, but they thrill I get from doing it has priority over the potential danger. This situation is no different, I'm well aware of the consequences as any fool should be.

The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not. - Mark Twain

Comment Re:Apologies (Score 1) 338

While I'm not a troll by any means, the level of hostility and such has led me to feel it would be a good idea to apologize to everyone for having wasted their time with a ridiculous inquiry. Trolling was never my intention, but it appears I may have done so unintentionally by asking to be informed by people that are experts of many fields, and intelligent and well educated, so you all have what apology I can offer. And I'm quite serious. I don't think I can really say anymore, so I'll leave it at that, link my client to this article, and let him judge for himself.

Link your client to this article? So he can see how you throw him under the bus with your comments? I'm not sure allowing him to see this "hostility" will help in any way unless your goal is to insult him. I wouldn't do that to a client, it's unprofessional, and I especially wouldn't do it to a FRIEND.

Comment Re:Exactly! I was saying that too! (Score 1) 1174

Of course we accept it, the public outcry was to add security for planes. If you think we do things based on actual chances you haven't been paying attention. If we see some sensationalized story in a national newspaper we believe if it can happen to them it can happen to us. The TSA's job is to make planes as "safe as possible", and you have to admit they are doing a good job at that, but perhaps a little too good, I think most people would rather take a little extra "risk" than deal with the TSA these days and that needs to be communicated to them. But don't forget, your privacy and self respect is not one of their metrics for a job well done.

Comment Super cool! I hope this doesn't become widespread (Score 1) 249

I love the concept of flying cars, I think the world has had a love affair with the idea for almost hundred years. I can't help but think of the old TV shows about the "Home of the future" complete with your own flying car (of course it had a big plastic bubble on top). But it makes me cringe to think what it would be like if that actually happened, if owning one of these was affordable to the average citizen. I know quite a few people who don't take care of their vehicles, routinely run out of gas or have some other mechanical failure, or get in fender benders... and most of the time it's no big deal, you just roll to a stop. The difference with this vehicle is that those problems are now fatal.

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