New Atomic Zombie web site, December newsletter

Greetings fellow Atomic Zombie krew and bike hackers!

We are pleased to announce a brand new look for Atomiczombie.com .

The site has a completely new look with fully integrated store which means fewer clicks, faster checkout and discounts for multiple download orders.

We hope you like the new look. Season's Greetings, everybody.
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** December 2009 newsletter **

The latest Atomic Zombie newsletter is now online in the News & Blog section at:
http://www.atomiczombie.com

This month's features include:
• DIY Night Vision Camera
• New Atomic Zombie Store: discounts, fast checkout, freebies, more stuff
• Garage News
• Bike Builders Tips
• Builders Gallery additions
• New AZ Krew members
• Bikes Belong study
• The Impaler project
• New OverKill and Pedal Truck projects
• Terminator Chopper build series
• Build the SpinScooter DIY project
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** Builders Gallery updated **
There are more additions to the Atomic Zombie family. There are now more than 700 entries in the gallery. Keep up the great work, everybody!
http://www.atomiczombie.com
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** T-shirts, Sigg water bottles, stickers, hats and more! ** Mouse pads, t-shirts, mugs, water bottles, bumper stickers, decals, BBQ aprons, and more. http://www.cafepress.ca/atomic_zombie .
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*** Subscribe to Atomic Zombie DIY Homebuilt HPV and E-Bike Projects by Email:
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*** New Atomic Zombie store - shirts, mugs, Sigg water bottles, decals, hats and more:
http://www.cafepress.com/atomic_zombie

AZ bike building community pulls together

It all started with a post in the forum about a possible fraudster selling one of our plans, and using our pictures. Within hours of the original post, the bike building community converged on the seller and the service provider. I have no idea how many emails were sent by our bike building community telling both parties to stop the illegal activity.

I personally fielded dozens of messages from concerned members, some of whom are lawyers and law enforcement, offering to volunteer their time to pursue the matter in the country of the offender. This all happened in a couple of days of the ruse being exposed to the community.

WOW! Talk about taking action. It reminded me of a similar incident when someone set up a web site and took photos from various builders galleries and blogs, and posted them on his site as his own. His intention was to design and sell custom bikes, but tried to pass off the pictures he took from others as his own creations. His deception was exposed very quickly.

The post appeared on a bike forum and many concerned builders, especially those whose pictures the offender posted, sprung into action with emails to the web site host and the fraudster. He had to take everything off of his site because as it turns out, none of the images were his own, a direct violation of the web host's Terms of Service (TOS) and Terms of Use.

In both cases, the offenders were flooded with emails from the community demanding that they take the unauthorized content off of their sites. It took less than two weeks for each offender to comply. You can try to hide behind pseudonyms, but eventually, somebody will find you.

The Internet has many dark sides, but it's amazing how people will suddenly come together demanding action and responsibility by those who disrespect our online community and the things we share in common, the things that bring us together. We can be a very protective group when we feel threatened and disrespected. We truly are an international community. Based on our monthly web traffic stats, tens of thousands of Atomic Zombie builders are all over the world.

There is a fine line between sharing information to benefit the online community as a whole, and blatantly stealing others' work, trying to pass it off as one's own. The best practice is to give credit where credit is due, and don't assume that it's OK to rip off other people's stuff. Some people don't understand "netiquette" and misunderstandings do happen. Not everyone is malicious in their intent. However, it's best to err on the side of caution. Don't assume - ask first.

It was incredible to see the bike building community come together many times this year to help each other, get involved in various causes and thwart illegal activities. We truly are a family that sticks together and stands together.

Cheers, friends

CBC News - Ottawa - Ottawa boy ordered to shut down his radio station

The feds have nothing better to do with their time.

CBC News - Ottawa - Ottawa boy ordered to shut down his radio station

Builders Gallery updated - choppers, recumbents & more

There are new additions to the Atomic Zombie family this month - choppers, recumbents, crazy bike and tall bike.

Check out these and other awesome Atomic Zombie Krew members' creations at www.atomiczombie.com . Keep sending in pictures of your completed human powered and electric bike projects.

Please send send pictures of *your own* projects:

- one or two high resolution, sharp, clear .JPG pictures of your completed and painted projects
- ensure that each picture is no more than 2MB in size, please
- one picture will be for the thumbnail (about 150 dpi)
- one picture will be for the full size picture (684 dpi)
- the name(s) of your completed and painted projects
- your name
- your location (state/province and country)

Zombies are getting hitched!

Well, it's going to be official, folks!!!

2010 marks 10 years of Brad and I being together, so we've decided to celebrate by getting married next year.

We want to share this awesome news with our Atomic Zombie family here and abroad.

We haven't decided on a date yet, but will keep you posted.

Tonight we will tell our family here and do some celebrating!!

NEW - DIY Night Vision Camera

So, the winter is setting in, time to set our sights on our electronics projects for awhile. The garage is officially closed now to bike building.

We recently launched a new Do-It-Yourself instant download plan for all of you electronics hobbyists. We know you're out there! This is the first of many electronics plans that we will be releasing over the next year.

This easy-to-build Night Vision Viewer lets you see deep into the night without detection. This covert system can light up a room as if you were using a flashlight, yet only you will be able to see the light. The performance of this Night Vision Viewer is as good as some commercially available night vision systems that cost a lot more. Using invisible infrared light, the Night Vision Viewer can see in 100% darkness, indoors and outdoors, and will run from a battery pack for several hours.

The covert Night Vision Viewer can also be used to detect other night vision systems or as a jammer to hide your face to most security cameras. Another interesting effect of the Night Vision system is referred to as "X-Ray Vision", which allows the user to see through certain materials (including clothing) that may be opaque to infrared light. If covert surveillance or countermeasures is your game, then this is one piece of equipment you will definitely want in your spy gear arsenal.

For more information and how to order this project, visit http://www.atomiczombie.com.

NEW Product - Covert Night Vision Viewer Plan

Using invisible infrared light, the Night Vision Viewer can see in 100% darkness, indoors and outdoors, and will run from a battery pack for several hours.

If covert surveillance or countermeasures is your game, then this is one piece of equipment you will definitely want in your spy gear arsenal.

The Night Vision Viewer is built around commonly available parts, most of which can be found new at any electronics store, or be taken from dead video appliances. This project is well within the reach of anyone with a desire to do a little hardware hacking, and even includes a basic guide to getting started in electronics.

There is a lot of room to add your own modifications as well, so you can create your own unique spy gear in order to further your cause. The truth is out there, and now you will be able to see it, even in total darkness!

• 75 pages of detailed instructions
• 69 pictures and diagrams
• Introduction to electronics
• Instant download 16.5MB PDF file

More details and ordering information at http://www.atomiczombie.com .