Now, you all know me. You've all seen me take something and keep at it till it's done.
Be this building something, making something...trying something. And you all know that I can't let go.
In this case, it's building a battery.
My laptop was second hand and dead when I acquired it, and while I've fixed most of it the one thing I can't do anything about is the battery.
Cracks can be glued and held together with plate steel - but a lithium ion battery is another problem. For those that don't know, in ideal conditions a lithium battery decays over time. In use or not, charged or not it still decays.
Stored properly, half charged in a freezer they can last a few years. Constantly charge/discharging in a laptop? At more then ideal, constantly changing temperatures? With trickle charging?
The battery now lasts minutes - maybe 5 on a good day. If I'm running warcraft I don't have enough time to log in.
And I'm sick on it.
So I'm planning on building a battery for the laptop - a one use power pack - with AA batteries.
This is possible because my power supply can take a DC power source in the range of 12-16(ish) volts - intended for use in a cars "12 volt" system. If it works with one use batteries, I can redesign to work with rechargeables...
But the plan. Ten AA batteries in series should provide 15 volts - well in the adapter range. Between them that's about 30 amp hours - because I believe the amp hour rating is cumulative over a battery pack.
So given that the original battery was 11v, 5.8 amp hours and rated at 2 hours that should give me 5 times the capacity. Which is of course laughable. And clearly wrong.
It doesn't take into the account it has to run through a DC rectifier.
But my question to you lot is...how long do you think it'll last? Do you think it'll even boot....?
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Semi-legal pleasures
With the current government in the UK anything considered a "pleasure" by a large part of the population seems to be in the cross-hairs for a tax hike or a ban, possibly both. See also drinking, smoking, driving...
But this morning I found one that isn't (yet) banned or taxed (more then anything else). It is frowned upon though. Medical experts advise against it. Dietitians would shake their heads sadly..
But this is what you do. Get some water - clean, wholesome tapwater will do. Place it on the stove, bringing it to the boil as quickly as possible - can't possibly waste energy by taking your time.
While the water boils get out the fresh baked bread. Carefully cut yourself a couple of slices. Thin, but not too thin. Get out the butter-
Stop. I saw that. Get out the BUTTER, not margarine or some such synthetic stuff. The butter - salted butter. Yes, salt is bad and wrong, or so they claim - ignore them.
Place 3 eggs in the boiling water and start timing - three minutes, no more. Butter the bread and then cut it into strips, about three quarters of an inch wide.
Remove the soft boiled eggs (yes, this many eggs is bad for you - to much cholesterol, or so they say) and one at a time, remove the top. Break the yolk, adding a little salt if you only had "healthy slightly salted butter" - and then....oh, and then dip the bread into the egg before slowly eating...
Savour the lovely taste.
When you've finished the first egg, remember - you have two more.
But this morning I found one that isn't (yet) banned or taxed (more then anything else). It is frowned upon though. Medical experts advise against it. Dietitians would shake their heads sadly..
But this is what you do. Get some water - clean, wholesome tapwater will do. Place it on the stove, bringing it to the boil as quickly as possible - can't possibly waste energy by taking your time.
While the water boils get out the fresh baked bread. Carefully cut yourself a couple of slices. Thin, but not too thin. Get out the butter-
Stop. I saw that. Get out the BUTTER, not margarine or some such synthetic stuff. The butter - salted butter. Yes, salt is bad and wrong, or so they claim - ignore them.
Place 3 eggs in the boiling water and start timing - three minutes, no more. Butter the bread and then cut it into strips, about three quarters of an inch wide.
Remove the soft boiled eggs (yes, this many eggs is bad for you - to much cholesterol, or so they say) and one at a time, remove the top. Break the yolk, adding a little salt if you only had "healthy slightly salted butter" - and then....oh, and then dip the bread into the egg before slowly eating...
Savour the lovely taste.
When you've finished the first egg, remember - you have two more.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
You can't keep soldiers down
Not mine or hers, but worth passing along...
Courtesy of Trixy at http://more-to-life-than-shoes.blogspot.com/2008/03/you-may-be-taliban-if.html....
'YOU MAY BE A TALIBAN IF...'
1. You refine heroin for a living, but you have a moral objection to beer.
2. You own a $3,000 machine gun and $5,000 rocket launcher, but you can't afford shoes.
3. You have more wives than teeth.
4. You wipe your backside with your bare left hand, but consider bacon 'unclean.'
5. You think vests come in two styles: bullet-proof and suicide.
6. You can't think of anyone you haven't declared Jihad against.
7. You consider television dangerous, but routinely carry explosives in your clothing.
8. You were amazed to discover that cell phones have uses other than setting off roadside bombs.
9. You've ever uttered the phrase, 'I love what you've done with your cave.'
10. You have nothing against women and think every man should own at least one.
11. You bathe at least monthly whether necessary or not.
12. You've ever had a crush on your neighbour's goat.
Courtesy of Trixy at http://more-to-life-than-shoes.blogspot.com/2008/03/you-may-be-taliban-if.html....
'YOU MAY BE A TALIBAN IF...'
1. You refine heroin for a living, but you have a moral objection to beer.
2. You own a $3,000 machine gun and $5,000 rocket launcher, but you can't afford shoes.
3. You have more wives than teeth.
4. You wipe your backside with your bare left hand, but consider bacon 'unclean.'
5. You think vests come in two styles: bullet-proof and suicide.
6. You can't think of anyone you haven't declared Jihad against.
7. You consider television dangerous, but routinely carry explosives in your clothing.
8. You were amazed to discover that cell phones have uses other than setting off roadside bombs.
9. You've ever uttered the phrase, 'I love what you've done with your cave.'
10. You have nothing against women and think every man should own at least one.
11. You bathe at least monthly whether necessary or not.
12. You've ever had a crush on your neighbour's goat.
Friday, March 14, 2008
The games we play...
Now that I'm back in England I've joined the local roleplay games group again, just in time to help torment a Canadian.
Somethings you just can't make up....
Meet Steve. He's a likeable fellow, cheerful, good knowledge of the rules (not upto myself or another rules lawyer, but he uses us like resources. Why look it up when someone at the table already Knows?) and a decent sense of humour - which is good.
Because he needs it.
The club organises games around 8 week rotations, shuffling things around - games can and do go on past that, but typically a good game will be on one, off one rotation.
So with just 8 weeks to get us moving he starts the game in Waterdeep, a port city with more nightlife then you can hit with a club. This was not a mistake.
What was a mistake was saying "Ok, none of you know each other" and trying to get the group to form up "naturally".
His first attempt failed because half the group decided to go to a different inn. Which was fine, because we dropped from 6 individual people to two groups - this has to be easier to manage.
It's taken a break in, an attack by a wondering thugs, the deaths of several pigeons and a lost handbag to get the two groups together in the same building talking.
What they're talking about is a new handbag and the current fashion in elven clothing. But at least we're in the same building.
But this is what can happen when you get good roleplayers. You discuss handbags.
Somethings you just can't make up....
Meet Steve. He's a likeable fellow, cheerful, good knowledge of the rules (not upto myself or another rules lawyer, but he uses us like resources. Why look it up when someone at the table already Knows?) and a decent sense of humour - which is good.
Because he needs it.
The club organises games around 8 week rotations, shuffling things around - games can and do go on past that, but typically a good game will be on one, off one rotation.
So with just 8 weeks to get us moving he starts the game in Waterdeep, a port city with more nightlife then you can hit with a club. This was not a mistake.
What was a mistake was saying "Ok, none of you know each other" and trying to get the group to form up "naturally".
His first attempt failed because half the group decided to go to a different inn. Which was fine, because we dropped from 6 individual people to two groups - this has to be easier to manage.
It's taken a break in, an attack by a wondering thugs, the deaths of several pigeons and a lost handbag to get the two groups together in the same building talking.
What they're talking about is a new handbag and the current fashion in elven clothing. But at least we're in the same building.
But this is what can happen when you get good roleplayers. You discuss handbags.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Watching with mother - part 2
My previous post was not intended to indicate that women aren't allowed to watch horror films.
The intended point was the odd situation, watching zombie flicks with a women who enjoys period dramas and romances.
But back to the film.
I fully expected mother to give the film a negative review - but no, she rated it as "I've seen worse".
So it leaves me to describe resident evil apocalypse.
I've seen bad films. I've sat and watched "While you were sleeping". "Last of the Mohica's" - an exercise to test a jedi master's- sorry, a zen master's patience.
This was worse.
In terms of an action film, it has certain points in its favour. It has blood, guts and completely ridiculous fight scenes. But that's about all I can say that's positive.
Now, the negatives...
Lets start with the plot - or lack there of. The entire film fails to develop beyond "Oh no, ZOMBIES!". There's an attempt to add something plot like - go save the mad scientists daughter. This shouldn't be mistaken as plot, but as an excuse to expose the few survivors to additional ways to die.
Then there is the characters. Now, I can freely accept that women are just as competent at violence as men. For every two wives killed by their husbands, one husband is killed by a wife.
What I can't accept is a PAIR of "kick ass strong women" - both of whom manage to carve a bloody swath through an undead horde while male characters die like flies. Lets be more specific, male trained soldiers with twice the body weight - and therefore muscle - armed with assault rifles and grenades - die, while a pair of women in mini-skirts live.
I know, it's a zombie film. The dead are rising. And I'm complaining about about silly fighting scenes?
Well, yes. To me, a zombie film isn't about some superhuman characters killing zombies. The point of a zombie film is the annihilation of anything still breathing by the shuffling mob...
*Ends the rant by digging out a film...something with living dead...*
The intended point was the odd situation, watching zombie flicks with a women who enjoys period dramas and romances.
But back to the film.
I fully expected mother to give the film a negative review - but no, she rated it as "I've seen worse".
So it leaves me to describe resident evil apocalypse.
I've seen bad films. I've sat and watched "While you were sleeping". "Last of the Mohica's" - an exercise to test a jedi master's- sorry, a zen master's patience.
This was worse.
In terms of an action film, it has certain points in its favour. It has blood, guts and completely ridiculous fight scenes. But that's about all I can say that's positive.
Now, the negatives...
Lets start with the plot - or lack there of. The entire film fails to develop beyond "Oh no, ZOMBIES!". There's an attempt to add something plot like - go save the mad scientists daughter. This shouldn't be mistaken as plot, but as an excuse to expose the few survivors to additional ways to die.
Then there is the characters. Now, I can freely accept that women are just as competent at violence as men. For every two wives killed by their husbands, one husband is killed by a wife.
What I can't accept is a PAIR of "kick ass strong women" - both of whom manage to carve a bloody swath through an undead horde while male characters die like flies. Lets be more specific, male trained soldiers with twice the body weight - and therefore muscle - armed with assault rifles and grenades - die, while a pair of women in mini-skirts live.
I know, it's a zombie film. The dead are rising. And I'm complaining about about silly fighting scenes?
Well, yes. To me, a zombie film isn't about some superhuman characters killing zombies. The point of a zombie film is the annihilation of anything still breathing by the shuffling mob...
*Ends the rant by digging out a film...something with living dead...*
Watching with mother
In the old days, there was a radio program on the BBC, Listen with Mother.
It was for mothers and their small children to listen to together, in the good old days of stay at home mothers in the fifties and sixties.
Today with mother off work, we sat and watched a film.
No, not Disney.
Not even Pixar.
We were watching a zombie flick.
More on this ....later
It was for mothers and their small children to listen to together, in the good old days of stay at home mothers in the fifties and sixties.
Today with mother off work, we sat and watched a film.
No, not Disney.
Not even Pixar.
We were watching a zombie flick.
More on this ....later
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Lies to children
While at St John Ambulance the other day (yes, it's a bad habit - I'm trying to quit) - I saw a poster.
Now imagine if you will, the building we use. It's a youth center and daily a stream of young people flow though it. So you'd think that there would be some care taken over the decoration.
Well, there is. A graffiti cow - no, I don't understand either - as tall a man and twice as long. Art work and signs, as well as an amazing assortment of bright and colourful posters.
It is of these posters that I wish to speak. Should the brother - you know who you are - have given me the photo I would show you the source of my ire. But he hasn't, so I won't.
Still, this poster. It lies to children.
Not a small lie. Not the tooth fairy, santa, "England might win this year" or "grandma has gone to a better place" - some of which are remotely true. Given the state of average care home...
No, this is a big lie. A lie that could wreck a child's life, if they acted upon it.
It says in letters big and bold, unrepentant and knowing its own sin "You'll never regret doing the right thing".
What was that? You at the back? You can't see what's wrong? Shame on you..
Well go on you pomposs windbag, get on with it!
This poster is wrong on so many levels. The first, biggest and largest flaw is that of foresight.
How are you to know what the "right thing" actually is? The "right thing" may well appear wrong. It may not appear to be an option. The "right thing" might be to do nothing.
I'm not sure I'd know what the "right thing" to do is, in all situations.
The second way this poster is glaringly and obviously wrong is it assumes there is always a right thing to do. Many situations don't have a correct choice.
Reducing every single moral dilemma to the state of "Right or wrong" doesn't help children. It hinders them. It lies.
The number of other dazzling errors here is beyond belief. What if it's a choice between two "right things"? What if....what if....
Ultimately, this poster presents a simple philosophy to a young group of people - with the moral usefulness of an old bicycle inner tube.
Because I sometimes regret doing the right thing. Sometimes the right thing is wrong.
Now imagine if you will, the building we use. It's a youth center and daily a stream of young people flow though it. So you'd think that there would be some care taken over the decoration.
Well, there is. A graffiti cow - no, I don't understand either - as tall a man and twice as long. Art work and signs, as well as an amazing assortment of bright and colourful posters.
It is of these posters that I wish to speak. Should the brother - you know who you are - have given me the photo I would show you the source of my ire. But he hasn't, so I won't.
Still, this poster. It lies to children.
Not a small lie. Not the tooth fairy, santa, "England might win this year" or "grandma has gone to a better place" - some of which are remotely true. Given the state of average care home...
No, this is a big lie. A lie that could wreck a child's life, if they acted upon it.
It says in letters big and bold, unrepentant and knowing its own sin "You'll never regret doing the right thing".
What was that? You at the back? You can't see what's wrong? Shame on you..
Well go on you pomposs windbag, get on with it!
This poster is wrong on so many levels. The first, biggest and largest flaw is that of foresight.
How are you to know what the "right thing" actually is? The "right thing" may well appear wrong. It may not appear to be an option. The "right thing" might be to do nothing.
I'm not sure I'd know what the "right thing" to do is, in all situations.
The second way this poster is glaringly and obviously wrong is it assumes there is always a right thing to do. Many situations don't have a correct choice.
Reducing every single moral dilemma to the state of "Right or wrong" doesn't help children. It hinders them. It lies.
The number of other dazzling errors here is beyond belief. What if it's a choice between two "right things"? What if....what if....
Ultimately, this poster presents a simple philosophy to a young group of people - with the moral usefulness of an old bicycle inner tube.
Because I sometimes regret doing the right thing. Sometimes the right thing is wrong.
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