Can It Be this SIMPLE?

[Mike_Lynch]

Well this thread certainly took a STRANGE turn. It started off with my asking if a piece
of PBP code I posted was correct / viable, I got a couple of replies that hinted the
code might be workable with slight modifications. Some people suggested the use
of other methods to obtain the required results I was looking for, easier, cheaper,
less complex, all well and good, THANKS.

Then I made the mistake (?) of shooting off my mouth about the price of GAS (Petrol)
and THAT initiated a survey on “transportation fuel cost” (Gas / Petrol per Gal. / Liter)
which in turn appears to have sparked a Geo-Political / Economic discussion among some.

Going back to the TRANSPORTATION issue, SOME peoples perceptions / beliefs in the USA,
are that the slow progression of alternate fuel vehicles is in most part due to the Oil Companies
grip on the political infrastructure here. Those companies have a stake in keeping people
dependent on Crude Oil due to their not having developed much in the way of alternative
energy sources. I just heard the other day that Brazil had obtained their goal
of becoming transportation energy self sufficient.
(http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/10/wo...partner=rssnyt )

What is the “alternate energy & transportation” status where you are?
Alternate Fuel, Solar / Solar Electric, Gas (Petrol) / Electric, Hydrogen Fuel Cell, etc, . . .
Don’t forget to tell where you are.

[sayzer]

...which in turn appears to have sparked a Geo-Political / Economic discussion among some.

Going back to the TRANSPORTATION issue, SOME peoples perceptions / beliefs in the USA,are that the slow progression of alternate fuel vehicles is....

Welcome to among "some" Mike_Lynch!

[Luciano]

Hi,

Sugar Cane in Brazil = Uncontrolled Deforestation

* * *

In Italy we just use small cars.

Example:
http://www.fiatpunto.com

Best regards,

Luciano

[Acetronics2]

Hi,

In Italy we just use small cars.

Example:
http://www.fiatpunto.com

Best regards,

Luciano

Hi, Luciano

For once, I do not agree with you ...

The real problem is ...

- must a "Fiat Punto " reach 150 km/h and beat the 1/4 mile record ???

- must we use use an electric tool instead of a manual one ???

- must we Posess the last 4Ghz PC to write mails ???

- must we use a PIC when a couple of transistors are far enough ???

.... and so on ...


Back to this Topic ...

- is it REALLY necessary to have a faster toy than our neighbour ???

Humour ....

Alain

[Mike_Lynch]

Must we have Green & Purple Hair?

Must we have tongue, lip, eyebrow & assorted other body parts pierced?

Must we have a Million dollar house in a 250 Thousand dollar neighborhood?

Must we have 2 BMWs and a Hummer in a Ford, Chrysler / Dodge, GM / Chevrolet,
Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota Neighborhood?

A Riding lawnmower on a ¼ acre lot?

(Yea, I could go on quite a way too . . . )

“is it REALLY necessary to have a faster toy than our neighbor ???”

Obviously, the answer to all the above is NO.

However I believe it all comes from our desire to stand out from the crowd,
and announce our individuality. Just remember if you do the same thing as
so many others, then you don’t really stand out, you become another member
of that group.

BTW my fastest PC is a 900 Mhz P3, I still use a P2 as a router / gateway and
my cell phone is still
#%^'' %$@# (sorry for the static, I'm breaking up)
ANALOG . . . They Work.

THESE are just observations, no harm / no fowl intended or taken.

[Acetronics2]

may we call ourselves ... responsible ???

heuuuuu ....

Alain

[Melanie]

The answer to all of that Alain is No... but...

There's only one of me, yet I own two cars, one is a small car, the other a large gas-guzzling 4x4 Diesel. If I could get one for a sensible price (instead of the riddiculous prices dealers charge), I'd probably buy a Hummer just because I'd be the only kid on the block with one (the other problem with the Hummer is that Americans have forgotten how to make cars and their build quality is attrocious - GM take notice if you read this forum!).

Which car I chose to drive depends on my mood and where I'm going. If around town I might take the small car, or I just might take the 4x4 because manufacturers spend millions on designing fenders which I consider an under-utilised accessory, and I've found they're great for creating gaps in parking where none previously existed provided there's enough horsepower behind them.

Why should I, as an individual, be asked to economise on energy and minimise pollution when more than half the world doesn't care?

I do my bit... I turn the lights off in the Bedroom when I go to bed (saving 200W), but I keep the air-con running (burning 3kW) because I want to be comfortable. I junked the 28" (300W) widescreen, for a 32" (100W) LCD - saving 200W, a good move but offset by the fact that manufacturing the LCD produced three times as much greenhouse gasses than the glass tubed one.

Do you consciously buy product A because it's 'greener' than product B although it's inferior? Let's get real. I don't want to drive a 'Smart' or today's FIAT 500 or Citroen 2CV equivallent.

When at the end of my days my Grandchildren ask (no, I'm not married and have no children as yet - this is hypotheical) "Grandma what did you do when you were younger?", I want to tell them that "I drove up down motorways at 140mph, burnt fuel at 11/gallon in sound-proofed air-conditioned comfort whilst listening to my favourite music at 110dB". I want to tell them that I was a CONSUMER, I worked hard and in turn made my life comfortable.

[Acetronics2]

Hi, Mel

" I want to tell them .... I worked hard and in turn made my life comfortable. "

That's not - exactly - what I understood from two or three years reading carefully your posts on this forum ...

" bearable " sounds better to me.

Might I take off a couple of your " memories " as examples ??? ...

Now, we should redirect this interesting discussion to " off topic " section , ... may be ...

Alain

[Mike_Lynch]

Out of context quote

. . .When at the end of my days my Grandchildren ask "Grandma what did you do when you were younger?", I want to tell them that "I drove up down motorways . . . . whilst listening to my favourite music at 110dB". . . . .

Are you sure you won’t be telling them
“Eeehhh, What did you say? Speak Up I can’t hear you when you mumble ”

M.L. (Ducking for cover)

[Melanie]

OK guys... I'm replicating this thread in Off-Topic...

We can continue posting on-topic about the technicalities of Mikes Barbie Dragster here...

Did you ever pencil together a circuit with a Time-Delay Relay Mike?