Get this: The filing fee for a Certificate of Citizenship is $1,335.

The advantage of a Certificate of Citizenship over a passport is that it does not expire (I believe this is correct).

The passport fee is $130.

Con Artistry

It is very difficult to live on Mackinac Island, it is 100% a tourist town. Its like saying Disneyland is the most walkable city in the US.

I wrote the parts used in another post in this thread, but if you have any specific questions, let me know.

It is an Allpowers 200W flexible panel, about 33" x 54"

I started with a trike, and added a cheap direct drive ebike kit (Voilamart), and a Hailong battery 48V 20 aH. Then built a frame out of electrical conduit with Makerpipe connectors. The solar panel mount is made of 1x2 wood epoxied together and lashed with string onto the metal frame. I connected the 36V 200W Allpowers flexible solar panel to an Elejoy MPPT boost charge controller, which outputs 54.2V into the battery. That is the short version.

Looks like a good project.

Not much. I generally ride with the panel in flat top position.

200W solar panel, 48V 20 aH battery. Range is 25 miles on battery with no pedaling, estimated additional 20 miles per day of full sunlight with solar panel, pedaling will increase range. In full sun, the panel charges at about the same rate as the plug in charger, 3 amps.

Why inform Putin’s Bitch?

https://lemmy.today/post/24438091

I have a solar bike trailer that I use as a charging station. It has a 200W Allpowers 36V solar panel and an Elejoy boost charge controller. In good sun it puts out over 3 amps to charge my 48V, 20 aH bike battery, which is about the same as my 120V plug in charger does. If you angle it toward the sun you can get 25% to 50% more power than a flat top configuration. I can pull the trailer behind the ebike, but I don’t do that much because it is more fun to ride without a trailer. I would estimate that the 200W solar panel would add 25 miles to a daily ride. My battery does 25 miles, so it could have a 50 mile range in a day, but then you would have an empty battery and would have to charge it the next day. That is with zero pedaling, any pedaling energy would be added to that range. When my bike is charged up, I connect the solar panel to a microinverter (balcony power) and it adds power to my 120VAC house system on the grid, to reduce my electric bill.

I find that youtube videos can be very helpful if I search for a subject of interest. Freetube has a good search function for youtube. Freetube usually works for me, although sometimes I have to change my vpn location.

I also have a number of channels that I follow using RSS (QuiteRSS). I can be very selective in which channels to follow. I regularly add and delete channels. I use Freetube to search subjects and find channels to follow related to those subjects. I watch the RSS videos in a librewolf browser that deletes cookies every time I shut it down, and it has medium privacy settings.

The youtube feed is horrible, as are the advertisements. I don’t get any advertisements, I am not sure if it is because of adblock or if it is because I never sign in to google/youtube on my device. The sidebar of related videos is somewhat like a feed and contains a lot of junk, but occasionally I find an interesting video or channel by looking at the sidebar while watching a video.

I am happy with the way my setup is working now, but of course things could change at any time.

we’re all moving to Truth Social.

i guess there were too many recalls.

Albania. In particular southern Albania near Greece. Most places are good, but if you like the beach, Saranda. If you like history, Gjirokaster.

Ohiowa

Email from April 11:

BraX3 April Project Update

Hi everyone,

We’re back with an important update covering three key areas: how we’re adapting to the newly imposed U.S. tariffs, how that change can impact backers, and a short update on our beta program.

Let’s dive in. For U.S. Customers: Navigating the Tariff Challenge Together

We’ve always aimed to do things differently—with more transparency, fairness, and user-first thinking. This moment is no exception.

From the start, we made a conscious decision to ship BraX3 domestically within the U.S.—not from China like most crowdfunded projects. This was meant to save you money and avoid the hassle of customs clearance.

But the recent escalation in trade tensions has changed the landscape. The U.S. has now imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese electronics, making it financially impossible for us to import BraX3 as originally planned without significant losses.

Most companies either freeze deliveries or push 100% of the added cost onto customers. We won’t do that.

Instead, we’ve made a bold move: we’re shifting final assembly to the European Union. This change allows us to:

Regain control of our delivery timeline

Minimize the impact of unpredictable tariff complications

Maintain momentum and keep our promises

Of course, this change adds cost—logistics, disassembly, reassembly, and EU compliance. We’re absorbing the majority of it, but we are asking U.S. customers for a $30 contribution to help close the gap.

Here’s what to expect:

In the next 2 weeks, you’ll receive an email with a secure portal

Through that portal, you can:

    Pay the $30 surcharge

    Add accessories to your order

    Update your shipping information

Full refunds will be available if you decide not to proceed—no questions asked

We know this isn’t ideal, and we wouldn’t ask unless it was truly necessary. But we believe this approach keeps us aligned with the values that brought us all together.

A Note on Delivery Timeline Impact

With the shift to EU-based assembly, we’re also adjusting our estimated delivery timeline.

The logistics of transferring partially assembled units, reassembling them in the EU, and completing the necessary production steps will require an additional 20 days. This pushes our U.S. shipping window to approximately mid-end May 2025.

Additionally, to ensure the product’s EU origin is recognized for customs compliance, there’s a regulatory process we must follow. While we’re working hard to keep this smooth and timely, there’s still a chance it could introduce a few more days of delay—though we’re doing everything possible to avoid that.

We know this isn’t what anyone hoped for, but we also believe this approach gives us greater control, higher quality assurance, and the best path forward under the current global circumstances.

For Non-U.S. Customers: Optional Upgrade to EU Assembly

For our backers outside the U.S., your BraX3 is still set to ship with the original China-based assembly.

However, this shift has also opened up a new opportunity: we’re now offering an optional upgrade to the EU-assembled version of BraX3—bringing the same improvements we’re implementing for U.S. deliveries.

Why consider the upgrade?

Enhanced quality control and handling during final assembly

Compliance with European manufacturing and security standards

Alignment with the changes being made for U.S. units

In the coming weeks, all customers, regardless of location, will receive an email with a link to a dedicated order management portal. Through this portal, you’ll be able to:

Upgrade to the EU-assembled version for $30 (optional)

Add accessories to your existing order

Update your delivery details
Pay VAT as per our terms in the FAQ section (EU-based customers only)

We believe the EU-assembled version adds real value—but if you’re happy with the original assembly plan, no action is needed. Your order will proceed as originally planned.

Beta Devices Are Out & Feedback is Rolling In

We’re also happy to report that the BraX3 beta devices have been shipped and received by most of the selected testers.

Feedback is already flowing in, and we’re addressing bugs with quick turnaround. It’s encouraging to see iodeOS progressing right on schedule, and we’re confident in our momentum toward a stable production release.

In Closing

We’re doing our best to handle real-world challenges with integrity, creativity, and community in mind. Whether you’re a U.S. customer facing a new decision, or a global backer looking to benefit from these improvements—we’re here to make sure the result is still something we can all be proud of.

Thank you for your continued support, trust, and patience.

Plamen

p.s. We recommend listening to the latest live stream on Rob’s channel, where he addresses the challenges and shares our thought process in greater detail.

I am waiting for my Brax3 phone. I am thinking about requesting a refund. I have heard that a Pixel phone with Graphene is a much better choice.

New York con man dump and pump