hmmmm

So.. I’m unemployed, and I’m building a PIC programmer. The main reason for messing w/ PICs is to build a MIDI knob box. Well, to build a version w/ multiple knobs, I figured I’d use a seperate chip to handle the serial transfers. So off to google to search for electronics supply stores that take PayPal. Lots of results, many of them scary Hams sellings scary used military equipment. And some of that equipment included capicitors and transformers with scary PCBs. Since I had just read Zodiac by Neal Stephenson, I was instantly sidetracked into a search on PCBs. Besides finding links on electronic PCBs (because everything is ultimately about my knob box), I also found info on the bad PCBs. But what I found didn’t make me happy. It appears there’s a new study out that says there’s no link between PCBs and cancer in humans. Dr. John Moore, president of IEHR and at the time administrator of the EPA stated that the link between PCBs and cancer has been overstated. Funny, considering he was part of the group that overstated it. Here’s a sample quote: “A new study of rats fed diets containing Aroclors 1260, 1254, 1242, or 1016 found statistically significant, dose-related, increased incidences of liver tumors from each mixture.” So, getting all fumed up, I decided it was time I finally did something. After laughing for years at silly environmentalists, I visted the Greenpeace web site to see how I could help. All set to donate my time and engery to the cause, or at least my money, I came across an interesting page that a lot of kids thinking about volunteering for charity should read. I guess that’s ok, because most jobs needed extensive knowledge of international treaties I had never even heard of. But that brings us back to the beginning, and PICS. Proving in the end it’s all about my knob box.