Society of Robots - Robot Forum
General Misc => Misc => Topic started by: Rand alThor on June 13, 2008, 11:29:22 PM
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Where would one go dumpster diving, anyway? I live in a small town in the middle of the Mojave Desert, so there aren't many stores around. So most of my free finds have to come from the desert. I have found some pretty cool stuff, like an old TV, etc., and plan to do some more looking tomorrow, but I want to spend more time finding and less time searching. We have and Albertson's, a rite-aide, a radioshack, a Video "Giant", haircutters place, and a bank (ohh, and in case I forgot to mention, lots and lots of desert space). We also have the general things, like Gas stations (several of them), a jack in the box, a McDonalds and Taco Bell. The obvious way to get money is to rob the bank but I'm not sure I'm ready to go to juvie :P.
There is a complication, though, Mom doesn't want me to go dumpster diving, so it would make it difficult to explain things that smell like trash in my room, and so I can't go dumpster diving in town.
Any solutions to my dilemmas?
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hmmm...
go to the gas station and buy some deodorant and steal a flower form someones yard, then go dumpster diving behind the radioshack.
then spray some deodorant in your room so it doesn't smell like dumpster,
Don't tell your mom you went dumpster diving, if you does fin out, give her the flower.
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BRILLIANT!
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hmmm...
go to the gas station and buy some deodorant and steal a flower form someones yard, then go dumpster diving behind the radioshack.
then spray some deodorant in your room so it doesn't smell like dumpster,
Don't tell your mom you went dumpster diving, if you does fin out, give her the flower.
it sounds like a walk through solution to an early 90's graphics adventure game!
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it sounds like a walk through solution to an early 90's graphics adventure game!
Yeah, it does.
Anyway, Mom trusts me, and I don't want to betray that trust. I think what I'm going to have to do is convince her to let me go dumpster diving by saying stuff like "But, mom ::), if I go dumpster diving, i won't have to bug you and dad for cash, and i won't have to fund my projects almost completely off of loose change kicking around the house* ::) :-**", to which she'll probably respond "Well, why don't you do work around the house to earn money?" any suggestions for lines?
P.S. (The "roll eyes" will be replaced with innocent eyes, like Puss in boots in Shrek.)
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google is my friend:
http://www.wikihow.com/Convince-Your-Parents-to-Let-You-Do-Anything
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Yeah, I looked at it. But I say any older kid/teen worth their salt knows that stuff. The problem is, some parents (mine, cough cough) are just plain stuborn and unreasonable on some topics. Mom's reason she gave me is because we're not white trash. So if anyone could come up w/ a way to get around this, I'd really apreciate it...
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How about you ask them for money? If that doesnt work why dont you work for it? If that doesnt work, ask someone else for money? If that doesnt work, work for them and then get some money?
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Yeah, I looked at it. But I say any older kid/teen worth their salt knows that stuff. The problem is, some parents (mine, cough cough) are just plain stuborn and unreasonable on some topics. Mom's reason she gave me is because we're not white trash. So if anyone could come up w/ a way to get around this, I'd really apreciate it...
Challenge your mother's beliefs! Ask her to define white trash, and why in the world she implies dumpster divers are white trash. The "Dumpster diving" technique as suggested by the administrator of this site isn't white trash, in fact white trash doesn't exist, it's just a label. In literal sense white trash could be paper someone thrown away but should've recycled. ;)
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OK, I'll try it. But I might not not have any results for a few days because I'll have to wait for the opportune moment to "pop the question" (lol), and such a moment is kinda hard to come by with five other kids underfoot. ;)
BTW, I have made a deal with Mom that if I help Dad put in the yard (w/ sprinkler system and grass-- it's currently pure Rosamond--dirt.) and we(my brother and I) will get $500 divided. So if Jordan doesn't help out much, I'm sure I'll be less stingy with my money. But if I only get 250, I'll probably save some for things like video games, Lego's, etc.
However, our job is (potentially) endangered by contractors :'(. I hope they quote a lot higher then 500. :-\
Thanks for all your help,
The Dragon
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sorry wrong one lol
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I had a friend who tried the dumpster dive thing. He now advises against. Why?
Two Words:
SHARP GLASS
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when i used to live in an apartment complex, almost everytime i'd take the trash out, there would be reminants of someone moving out. there would be a computer sitting there or a vcr or tv, they would not usually put it in the dumpster but next to it.
how about pretend like your going to sell girl scout cookies in the apartment complex, but instead go look in all the dumpster areas. make sure its after a typical moving day, and before the trash men arrive.
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Two Words:
SHARP GLASS
I think when you dumpster dive your not actually supposed to go in the dumpster, just poke around in it with a stick or something, I may be wrong tho.
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lol yea
dumpster diving is dangerous if you actually dive . You are suppose to look inside and move stuff around with like a hockey stick or something
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Yeah, and if I start swimming in a dumpster and someone, say, dumps a bunch of cement on me, I'm a goner, lol! What would Radioshack have to throw away, anyway? It's not like that one article I read on MSN about people who like live off of dumpster diving. They're employed and everything, but they're so anti-consumer-nationist that they like go behind the bakery to get bread cause they throw it out every night. Bread baked daily sound familiar?
I'm still working on getting Mom in a good mood. More developements later.
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I worked for a radio shack one Christmas break from school. They throw a lot of stuff away. Just find out their inventory day. (Sweat talk a cute employee or just hang around long enough to see if the workers complain about it coming up.) No one makes money on inventory day so they all hate it. But when we did inventory I got several small tools for free because they came out of the packaging and we had to throw them away because of that. Wasn't there long enough to see what the policy on broken stuff was. But most of the time if something that is on display is broken or returned by a customer they just take it out of inventory make it is disposed of and throw it away. Lowes does this a lot but when they do it the cool stuff they throw away goes into a trash compactor first. I watched several good propane grills get smashed because the customer returned them.
So don't dumpster dive at lowes you could get squished.
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one second....
you're saying that Radioshack throws out equipment on inventory day ,like in the dumpster behind their store?Are you serious< thats awesome!
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I've been lurking this forum for a while, it's time to post..
Sounds like mom has a typical "consumer" attitude of buy it and throw it away.
It'll take you a little work to get her to see past that, but it's worth it! :)
Personally, I was raised to pay attention to resources, even those that are
thrown away by others without realizing what they were tossing..
It has always served me very well, and as an owner of a successful computer
business, I do not consider myself "white trash".
My hobby in electronics/robotics has always been based on the concept
of recycle whenever possible. I've collected a full parts drawer of electronics
from my recycling (http://learn1thing.blogspot.com/2008/05/recycling-electronics-with-heat-gun.html) and even my robot (http://learn1thing.blogspot.com/2008/06/robotics-first-attempt.html) is made from some recycled parts.
Think she's worried about finding something in a dumpster, wait
until you try to sell her on the heat-gun. (Invest in a mask like mine if you do.)
OBC
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I'll go look at the Radioshack then. (I still haven't asked, BTW.) But she does seem to start thinking that I'm actually serious about electronics because yesterday she let me buy a soldering iron. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D.
Sounds like mom has a typical "consumer" attitude of buy it and throw it away.
Yeah, she really is. She gets after me for saving all these bottles because it makes my room look...well, disgusting. I save them for recycling. It is a pretty good buissness. My friend and I walked the few miles to Albertsons and picked up all the bottles we found on the way. We got like 1.50 out of it (and spent it on Whoppers :)).
Working on that mood.
BTW: Thanks a lot for helping me out like this.
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I brought up the subject yesterday (please forgive me for not getting it in sooner), and it turns out she thought that by dumpster diving I was actually going in the trash can. She also doesn't want me poking around in there with a stick. But she will let me go into Radioshack and ask for broken stuff... It just doesn't have the same appeal... :-\
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Do you have any computer repair guys in your area?
You could ask them to keep a box of broken cards for you.
Old modems have 5v relays and various caps. Sound cards have many small caps, and regulators.
Motherboards have many larger value caps and resistors.
Connectos are plentiful
OBC
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Do you have any computer repair guys in your area?
You could ask them to keep a box of broken cards for you.
Hmmm... I don't think so. The only guys I know of in our area that do computers are in a town (Lancaster) that is about 10 min. drive away. But there prices are so outrageous there that I doubt they'd do that for me. But then again, I've only been in there twice and I've never bought anything (you'll understand that a regular ol' serial cable there, approx. 5 ft, is like $15 there).
However, I do have a couple old laptops I've been hoarding for years in my room, but I kinda need to get my soldering/desoldering skills up.
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Tell her admin said it was ok :P
Go ask your dad instead.
Do a cost analysis, showing that you can obtain thousands of $ worth in parts to further your education in engineering.
Take a shower.
Tell your mom that all the robot engineers do this, and that you would be considered a loser social outcast if you didn't :P
Wear protective clothing before diving, gloves, etc.
Wear a mask so the neighbors won't know who your mom is.
Just drive around the neighborhood with your mom every weekend for just the easy stuff.
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sabotage her car and hold it at ransom for electronic parts >=)
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or, haha this is a good one, you could drug down your dad, and surgically implant extra organs that leech of his life force, then when he wakes up you tell him "dad, i implanted a timed bomb inside your body, so if you dont give me a monthly fee i wont remove it, and only i knows for how long the timer is set".
then you let them lil'testans grow big and strong, then when the time is right you say "okey i can remove the bomb now, but for 2 months fee".
and the you literally get payed for removing organs you can sell on the black market for very much money. this dentist dude sold dead organs and he made millions, think how much living ones are worth!
well thats my 2 cent, hope it helps.
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or, haha this is a good one, you could drug down your dad, and surgically implant extra organs that leech of his life force, then when he wakes up you tell him "dad, i implanted a timed bomb inside your body, so if you dont give me a monthly fee i wont remove it, and only i knows for how long the timer is set".
then you let them lil'testans grow big and strong, then when the time is right you say "okey i can remove the bomb now, but for 2 months fee".
and the you literally get payed for removing organs you can sell on the black market for very much money. this dentist dude sold dead organs and he made millions, think how much living ones are worth!
well thats my 2 cent, hope it helps.
...
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How big should this fee be :P? It's got to be largge enough at least to bribe the police to overlook me practicing "medicine" without a liscence... :P
But seriously, I think we are getting of subject.
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wow polar bear.... interesting
listen u could just do robotics projects for people and get paid for it, I've been doing this for a while now and so far I've been able to pay for a mac, an ipod touch, 5 servos, motor controller, and a bunch of other gear. Do a good job and they will come back for more!!!
There are plenty of oppurtunities!!
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That's a great idea! But how am I going to get the word out/who wants custom robots/I'm just starting how am I gonna come up with a nice outer case if they want it because I don't have a vacuum pump thingy?
And I am planning on making my little brother's "RC" car wireless. He's 8, and as such, doesn't have much moola...How much should I charge him?
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That's a great idea! But how am I going to get the word out/who wants custom robots/I'm just starting how am I gonna come up with a nice outer case if they want it because I don't have a vacuum pump thingy?
And I am planning on making my little brother's "RC" car wireless. He's 8, and as such, doesn't have much moola...How much should I charge him?
Genius idea, but it won't really give you any profits... Make him do your chores for a while. :)
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Find some need that people have in your neighborhood and build a robot that fulfills that need. Also try to get a reputation that you build robots . You do not only need to sell to kids you know, plenty of adults want some sort of robot to do a job or perhaps a robot merely to entertain them.
As for your brother , give him a break hes only 8. Make him do some favor for you , you don't really need to charge him.
Think of a robot or some electronics that people want that you could make at least 20 bucks profit each .
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Someday, I am going to try to build a vacuum/sweeping/mopping robot in one that is better than the Roomba.
Then I will give it to mom saying "See how helpful robots can be" and get her to fund future robots. ;D ;D ;D
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Someday, I am going to try to build a vacuum/sweeping/mopping robot in one that is better than the Roomba.
sounds good, but really how much better can it get? I mean Roomba gets the job done , how would you improve on that
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Someday, I am going to try to build a vacuum/sweeping/mopping robot in one that is better than the Roomb
You should also let it mow the lawn. But make it so the master doesn't have to plant wires around the yard: Do some sort of grass sensor.
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I mean Roomba gets the job done , how would you improve on that
I have heard a few complaints about the Roomba.
1.It is slow.
2.You still need to vacuum once in a while.
I also think I can get it done hopefully for cheaper.
Another thing is that if you want it to mop that's another $300 dollars for the Scooba. I hope to make my robot intercangeble.
You should also let it mow the lawn. But make it so the master doesn't have to plant wires around the yard: Do some sort of grass sensor.
Hmmm... maybe after I perfect the vacuuming robot I'll try, but I have to make absolutly sure it has perfect obsacle avoidance...I don't want my robot running over things.
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I mean Roomba gets the job done , how would you improve on that
I have heard a few complaints about the Roomba.
1.It is slow.
2.You still need to vacuum once in a while.
I also think I can get it done hopefully for cheaper.
Another thing is that if you want it to mop that's another $300 dollars for the Scooba. I hope to make my robot intercangeble.
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good points , hopefully you'll be able to do it.
I'm curious, why didnt iRobot make it perfect , was it because it is extremely difficult to do or is it because it is difficult to mass produce and perfect robot.
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they sacrificed perfection and reliability for quick profit and cheap price. Ive seen several products that came before it with the same purpose but where rather expensive. It also helped everyone to except the fact that robots can become a part of our daily lives.
Maybe an all in one robot is not the best option. The scene from 5th element comes to mind where the priest is talking to that weird guy with the plastic head plate (forgot his name) He drops a glass on the floor and like 5 robots come out of the wall and clean up the mess. One sweeps up the glass and another sprays water down. Then the last one buffs the floor.
Hmm have to add this to my dreams of building a swarm colony one day :)
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yes I believe that the future of home robotics is specialized robots - each one has its own job , not like rosy the maid
some tasks can be combined though
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Another advantage to specialized robots is if one blows up or breaks down or something, the whole house routine (in theory) fall apart until it gets replaced or fixed.
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Another advantage to specialized robots is if one blows up or breaks down or something, the whole house routine (in theory) fall apart until it gets replaced or fixed.
You mean disadvantage?
also that would be an advantage ! Only one task isn't completed instead of all the tasks ( general robot). The programming would be done in a way that one failure would not disrupt the routine.
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:( :( :( I made a typo there. I meant to say that the whole house routine wouldn't fall apart. I totally agree with you.