Hacker News Reader

bob29on Microchips That Shook the World (2009)

Then why patent it instead of publishing, making yourself a well known leading expert instead of setting a landmine for the next person who does this particular task?

bob29on Microchips That Shook the World (2009)

SLAMS HARDBOILED EGG ON TABLE after the deed is done, everybody knows how to do it;

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_of_Columbus)

bob29on Show HN: AnyLeaf – PH Sensor for Microcontrollers

I'm using "Aquarium Hydroponic PH Electrode Probe/Liquid PH Value Detection Sensor" on ebay for $36 with probe. It even came with example code.

I'm using it for a basic application and only roughly calibrated it with paper tests using tapwater and vinegar. I'm only measuring between ph 5-8 and my application doesn't really require precision.

bob29on Show HN: AnyLeaf – PH Sensor for Microcontrollers

Looks like the same stuff on Adafruit or ebay but more expensive.

bob29on After 48 years, Democrats endorse nuclear energy in platform

> compared to coal or, in fact, any other type of power generating plant

so nuclear creates less nuclear waste than PV, wind, or geothermal?

bob29on After 48 years, Democrats endorse nuclear energy in platform

There is a difference between safety history and risk.

bob29on Tesla’s former CTO is building a giant lithium-ion battery recycling operation

In that case, why would the "unprecedentedly brilliant engineer-ceo" Musk not develop battery recycling technology as a division within Tesla, solely reaping the rewards of cheaper battery packs?

bob29on Belarusian Officials Shut Down Internet with Technology Made by U.S. Firm

They don't get together on weekends, they chat on hacker news. we call it "adding value to the world"

bob29on Bill Gates' nuclear venture plans reactor to complement solar, wind power boom

So certainly all the non US/EU countries with less strict regulations should have electricity "too cheap to meter" through nuclear, right? since there's no technical challenges here apparently.

bob29on Bill Gates' nuclear venture plans reactor to complement solar, wind power boom

Wow its so easy, can't believe all those idiots trying to build nuclear plants the past few decades have never though to simply apply "better tech". Thanks hacker news/silicon valley!

bob29on Wind and solar are cheaper than thought, admits UK government

This has been/is implemented in various parts of the US, but deregulation can go bothways and consumers aren't always happy. When a winter cold snap hits the northeast and energy demand goes up, the market responds as expected. Of course a rational response would be to also consider the savings during other parts of the year, but large seasonal fluctuations in the utility bill does not agree with many consumer's psychology and budgeting habits.

https://www.virginiamercury.com/2020/03/17/va-to-try-limited...

https://www.opensecrets.org/news/issues/electricity/

bob29on Wind and solar are cheaper than thought, admits UK government

You don't think with all of today's technology there could be a solution where the driver sets charging thresholds and time windows reflecting their needs?

bob29on Wind and solar are cheaper than thought, admits UK government

In that case energy density would be reflected in the cost. That is why cost is often used to compare energy technologies, and not cherry picking a random metric which favors one particular technology.

bob29on Wind and solar are cheaper than thought, admits UK government

Its an observation that comparing vastly different technologies using just a single metric produces mostly misleading asinine statements that aren't sufficient to influence any meaningful policy or engineering decisions without additional supporting explanation and justification.

bob29on Wind and solar are cheaper than thought, admits UK government

They also have orders of magnitude (10^3 - 10^4) more charge/discharge cycles than uranium.

bob29on A Short Guide to Minimal Web Development (2018)

"Minimal Web development" now theres an oxymoron, "Efficient Waste of TIme. Look into Gemini its much better.