cool tech - the Joule Thief…

This circuit can be applied in lots of devices to squeeze juice from seemingly ‘dead’ batteries. No reason you couldn’t gang dead batteries together to milk totally dry!

“Video - Simple circuit to squeeze last drops of juice from batteries - The latest Weekend Projects video shows you how to build a “Joule Thief.” Bre Pettis explains: Windell Oskay of Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories joins me to teach you how to make a super clever little circuit called the Joule Thief! The Joule Thief allows you to squeeze the life out of what most people think of as “dead” batteries! We were inspired by Big Clive to make this project and it’s the perfect platform for a flashlight, book reading light, or really just something you should make to get more use out of your batteries! - Source / Make a Joule Thief - This circuit is a very small implementation of a typical transformer feedback single transistor invertor. The transformer was a standard ferrite bead with two windings wound on it and the circuit was using the high voltage pulse generated when the transistor turns off to light an LED from a single 1.5V battery. This page has two variations on the original design to use the simple circuit in a useful manner. The amazing thing about this circuit is that it will run right down to about 0.35V if left running continuously, and will often provide a week of continuous low level light from a battery that would normally be considered dead. The level of light is initially quite high but gradually reduces as the battery voltage goes lower. However, it can still be used for reading in a dark room, even when the battery is almost completely drained.- Source“

more bogus terrorism insanity…

More fallout from the fear mongers trying to destroy all our rights, GO RON PAUL!

“Loss of tourism costs USA $100B, 200K jobs, $16B in tax revenue - The 17 percent decline in US tourism since September 11th, 2001 has had a devastating effect on the economy, costing nearly $100 billion (200,000 jobs, 16 billion in tax revenue). Visitors to the US from around the world rank the border procedures as among the worst on earth. “What affects travel and tourism affects our economy and our image around the world. Travel and tourism is the face of America, whether it’s people coming here or Americans going elsewhere,” he said. “It’s the person coming from India to look at a company in America for parts, or a person from South America who can’t get into the country for a conference because he can’t get a visa,” Dow said.

dia del muerto

Halloween and the Day of the Dead seem to live in perfect harmony in Mexico these days, to the chagrin of traditionalists. But the kids love it since they can trick or treat for candy, then celebrate with the sweet bread and treats served as part of the Day of the Dead festivities. I didn’t have my digital camera, only my cell, but took a photo of the two statues on display at the traffic light in Chapala.

Went bar hopping with friends and checked out the many altars paying homage to the dead. Walking back to my truck, I saw several people sleeping in the plaza. This happens a lot when people come here with little money, so they simply sleep on the streets. The cops don’t care as these people don’t cause problems.

The Cinco de Mayo street was completely closed to traffic as most houses put up an alter, so there was a steady procession of people viewing the displays, some quite exotic. Damn, didn’t take photos but need to get into the habit of that. And my friend Alvaro who runs the Gavilan bar lost his oldest son to a terrible bus and car accident this last year, so they had a very nice alter in the bar where many people came to pay their respects.