Data from the University of #Toronto researchers suggest that travel to the #usa from #canada has declined more than thought

#cdnpoli #uspolitics #cellphone #tariffs #trump

https://mappingtariffs.org/canada-us-visits

Charging old Nokia phones from the 2000s can be tricky without the original charger: Simply applying 5 Volts DC to the connector (positive inside, negative outside) is not enough. You need to provide a pulsed voltage similar to the original Nokia charger or the phone will not charge.

Luckily, a square wave from a NE555 timer and a mosfet will be enough to provide a pulsed voltage that the phone will accept. The frequency also does not have to be exactly 50 Hz. The phone will also charge with a slightly higher frequency (56-57 Hz in my example).

Although this circuit might come 20 years too late, it still enables you to charge those old phones with any power supply that can output 5V DC.

#DIY #Retro #Nokia #Cellphone #Charger #PhoneCharger #Electronics #NE555

No improvement in test scores from cell phone bans... I've said this for years, we need to take the phones away from the parents rather than the kids... #phone #ban #cellphone

Smart Phone Bans in schools failed to positively impact academic outcomes based on research published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Strict phone bans resulted in a meaningful decline in student cellphone us - duh! But test scores have not increased on average, and at first, banning phones led to higher suspension rates.

The research included more than 40,000 schools between 2019 and 2026. Over time, students in schools with strict bans reported a greater sense of personal well-being, however, the bans did not improve student attendance or perceptions of online bullying. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/us/did-school-cellphone-bans-study.html #SmartPhones #PhoneBans #Mobility #Students #Academics #CellPhone #Disicpline #Suspensions #OnlineBullying #SocialMedia

#Africa’s #cellphone towers turn to #solar as diesel costs surge

By ALLAN OLINGO, Updated 12:04 AM EDT, May 2, 2026

NAIROBI, #Kenya (AP) — "Rising diesel prices linked to the Iran war are adding urgency to a shift already underway across Africa to move cellphone towers off #FossilFuels and onto #SolarPower.

"Diesel, which powers the majority of Africa’s roughly 500,000 telecommunications towers, has become more expensive and sometimes harder to secure in recent weeks as global fuel markets tightened following the conflict. Several African countries that rely heavily on imported fuel have reported price spikes and supply disruptions, prompting governments and companies to reassess energy strategies.

"The transition to cleaner power for the towers that provide cellphone service predates the latest price shocks, driven by cost pressures and climate goals. But the war in the Middle East has accelerated the push.

" 'Diesel has always been a major cost, but recent global events have made it even more volatile,' said Lande Abudu, senior energy specialist for Africa at GSMA, a global industry organization representing mobile operators. “That strengthens the case for solar and hybrid solutions.' "

Read more:
https://apnews.com/article/solar-towers-africa-energy-diesel-5ab1f050d9b0ba90d21a5d53f153ba2d

#SolarPunkSunday #RenewablesNow #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower

And can I just say how sad I am LG no longer makes cell phones?

Ive got an oldass LG phone I use for projects. Its been sitting on my workbench for *months*. I think.. well.. better plug that in.. screen blinks.. 100% charge. Turned off it lost 0% charge over months.

#LG
#cellphone
#GoneTooSoon