Teens making cell chargers makes MSNBC front page - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2013, 06:54:23 pm
content: It's cool and all but hasn't the "Minty Boost" been around for a while?http://learn.adafruit.com/minty-boostI guess reporters don't use google?Quotehttp://video.msnbc.msn.com/nbc-news/52205351

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2013, 07:08:45 pm
content: Never let the facts get in the way of a good story. Especially not in Texas.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2013, 07:13:47 pm
content: Hey! I live in Texas

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2013, 07:15:52 pm
content: And it always struck me as a silly product.Where would you ever be that you would need your cellphone, but not have access to means of charging only access to AA cells.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2013, 07:17:49 pm
content: Quote from: MikeK on June 14, 2013, 07:15:52 pmWell you could be spending the day at an amusement park, going on a nature hike, a long bike / motorcycle ride.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2013, 07:21:26 pm
content: Quote from: Stonent on June 14, 2013, 07:13:47 pmMy condolences.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2013, 07:24:06 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on June 14, 2013, 07:21:26 pmHey we're one of the few states that has no income tax and a balanced budget opposed to Michigan where I was born. I read today that Detroit was defaulting on 2.5B in debt.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2013, 07:29:56 pm
content: Sure, but you also have Texans.I'm just kidding, the worst Texas ever did to me was rain on me when I flew through a Dallas airport

author: staxquad
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2013, 11:16:59 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on June 14, 2013, 07:29:56 pmJust don't try to sing the National Anthem in Texas during an NBA finals game if you ain't WHITE, even if you're an 11 year old boy born in Saint Tony.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 14, 2013, 11:22:15 pm
content: Quote from: Stonent on June 14, 2013, 07:24:06 pmUmm, how does that work?

author: justanothercanuck
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2013, 11:42:14 pm
content: Quote from: MikeK on June 14, 2013, 07:15:52 pmI think the idea behind them is that they're meant to be DIY, as opposed to buying one of those emergency cell chargers.eg:http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/eb7b/?srp=4

author: gxti
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 12:05:32 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on June 14, 2013, 11:22:15 pmSeveral states do it:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_income_tax#States_with_no_individual_income_taxMost still tax corporations, most also have sales tax, all have one or the other. And don't forget that the federal government still taxes everybody.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 12:08:45 am
content: Quote from: gxti on June 15, 2013, 12:05:32 amMeanwhile, in New York...

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 12:20:06 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on June 14, 2013, 11:22:15 pmIt's state-level income tax. There is still the federal income tax. And Texas has one of the highest property tax rates in the union.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 12:34:30 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on June 14, 2013, 11:22:15 pmWe have a state sales tax that varies by county, but roughly 8 to 8.75% that generates the majority of the internally generated income. Most, but not all states that have an income tax have a lower sales tax rate.Food is not subject to taxation unless it is junk food (candy, drinks, prepared hot foods). Some states do not tax any form of food.We do have sales tax on clothing which some states do not, but medications are not taxed (these are all subject to the normal 8 to 8.75% tax rate) But we designate certain weekends before the start of the school year as tax free where clothing, school supplies and many other school related items are not taxed.I found a breakdown from 2004 of the state's income in a quick google search. Population at that time was 22.5 million.QuoteMeanwhile on the other end of the spectrum, California has a roughly 9% sales tax and around 10% income tax.New York city is 8.875% sales tax and a 4 to 9% income tax based on income.US Federal income tax varies from about 15% to 38% for most normal people.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 12:36:46 am
content: QuoteTrue... But we also have a much lower housing cost.You can pick up a basic 1700 Sq.ft house for about $130,000

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 12:42:20 am
content: Quote from: Stonent on June 15, 2013, 12:36:46 amMeh. There are a number of them about that size down the road from me, for sale for half that. Yes, you read right, $65k. Now, it's not the nicest area in the world (nor the worst), but we have more than two seasons and no Texans, so for me it makes up for itIf you want a more populated area, there appear to be a number for sale in the nicer areas of Rochester for $80-100k.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 12:48:56 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on June 15, 2013, 12:42:20 amHere's a quote from an e-mail to a business counterpart in Montreal, Canada when we got on the subject of weather.I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.QuoteAs far as "Texans" most of them are fairly decent don't believe everything you see in the media. The majority of the jerks I've dealt with are transplants from other states.If you're talking about religious stuff, we have a lot of Southern Baptists but they're all around the south followed by Methodists, non-denominationals, Lutherans and Catholics. There's some pentacostal chuches in the more rural areas, I haven't met any of them in person.I've lived here for nearly 35 years and have not met a single "earth is only 6000 years old", or "Jesus rode dinosaurs" person.I don't recall ever having a conversation with anyone who felt evolution and their faith were incompatible. I've always felt that the science was there so that must have been how God intended it. That and my family was big into fossil collecting and IIRC my grandfather discovered a completely new species of Trilobite.I know Dave's an atheist and I've met a few atheists over the years. Most of them once they hear you don't have odds with evolution really don't seem to care any more about arguing with you and tend to get along ok with them.Radio host Dennis Prager said something one time that I though summed it up perfectly (He's Jewish)Quote

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 12:51:41 am
content: Jesus, you've got all four seasons in one day! We only have to put up with that crap for a small portion of spring and fall, or as we like to call them, "still winter" and "almost winter"

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 12:55:43 am
content: 20 dollars for a 7805 and an Altoids tin. The most expensive thing in their BOM is Altoids... I wonder who is eating the mints!

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 01:09:06 am
content: I love how this degraded into a thread about Texas.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 01:10:28 am
content: Everything's bigger in Texas, including the thread tangents.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 01:13:07 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on June 15, 2013, 12:51:41 amOne year, I distinctly remember snow and 90 degree temperature in the same week.Another one of Texas's fun little things is playing games with physics. It can be 24F (A few degrees C below zero) out side and pouring rain. Sure the water freezes as soon as it hits the ground, but sometimes it happens.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 01:41:13 am
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on June 14, 2013, 07:08:45 pmOr in Oz!Journos are mainly nice folk,but they don't really know much about anything but Journalism!

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 02:14:45 am
content: Quote from: vk6zgo on June 15, 2013, 01:41:13 amEverything I know about Oz I learned from Tv shows about dangerous animals, Paul Hogan, Steve Irwin, Fosters commercials, "The Outback Steakhouse" and Dave Jones.Oh yeah and random news broadcasts about people getting eaten by sharks.(Mostly Dave Jones)

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 03:27:40 am
content: People get eaten by crocodiles,too!Not much that can eat you on land,though--maybe feral pigs!!Just think Texas,but much,much,bigger,& with a smaller population!

author: PeteInTexas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 04:04:20 am
content: Quote from: Stonent on June 15, 2013, 12:36:46 amIf its not in the Austin area, its not worth it. And be prepared to commute 60 mins to go 15-20 miles as mass transit is not a priority. Toll roads is the preferred solution to traffic woes.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 05:39:53 am
content: Quote from: Smokey on June 15, 2013, 01:09:06 amWell, when you give people the chance to discuss bad journalism or Texas they apparently prefer Texas. That must mean something. Eight out of ten cats prefer ...