Car Glass Rules Could Impair Cell, GPS and Radio Signals In CA 762
An anonymous reader writes "The California Air Resources Board (CARB) just passed a new regulation that requires glazed glass in automobiles that is supposed to reduce the need to use air conditioning. The catch is that the same properties that block electromagnetic sunlight radiation also block lower frequency electromagnetic radio waves. That means radios, satellite radios, GPS, garage door openers, and cell phones will be severely degraded. Even more surprising is that it requires this glass even for jeeps that have soft covers, plastic windows, and no air conditioning.'"
Did they specify WHERE the glass has to be? (Score:5, Funny)
I know when they passed legislation requiring motorcycle helmets to be worn, they didn't specify "where", so people were strapping one to their knee or hanging it from an elbow.
Perhaps you can do the same thing, and sell glazed drinking glasses, stick one in your cup-holder, you're golden?
If it keeps people from yapping on their cellphone (Score:2, Funny)
I say it's a win-win situation.
Hmm I wonder ... (Score:5, Funny)
[places pinky finger to mouth]
An .. Aerial !!!!
I've developed a new type of air conditioning (Score:4, Funny)
I've spent the past several years designing and prototyping a new type of eco-friendly air conditioning for automobiles that solves both these problems. By using the intrinsic velocity of an automobile and cutting-edge gas dynamics, I've discovered that the inside of a car can be cooled merely by adding an additional aperture to the side of the vehicle. This aperture can even be temporary, thanks to an innovative sliding glass mechanism that preserves visibility and allows a variety of different settings to suit the user's preference. A slight decrease in aerodynamics and therefore fuel efficiency, as well as a tendency for papers to blow around in the back seat, is the only downside.
Ahh, that explains that ... (Score:3, Funny)
I wondered why General Motors dropped the Oldsmobile brand.
Re:! surprising (Score:5, Funny)
...my Jeep has air conditioning: the TD2-50 A/C system
(using it is pretty easy, too: take off the top and both doors, then go 50mph).
Re:You mean ... (Score:3, Funny)
... people will have problems using cell phones while driving?
When Arnold says he'll "take swift action" [latimes.com] he MEANS IT!
Re:Hmm I wonder ... (Score:1, Funny)
I think that I smell a market for some bendy bit of wire that sits on the outside of the car and funnels the radio waves to the inside compartment . I might call it ...
[places pinky finger to mouth]
An .. Aerial !!!!
I thought that was banned because of the wind resistance, and hence more fuel consumption it caused.
Re:I guess this article had its intended effect... (Score:4, Funny)
Not sure this really effects Detroit all that much. I think they only sold 6 cars last year.
Now the "foreign" manufacturers that set up shop south of Michigan? They might actually care.
Re:I've developed a new type of air conditioning (Score:3, Funny)
BTW (Score:3, Funny)
Did you know that some of that old glazing material was Abseto in old homes... I wonder what crap they want put on our windows now; that in 30 years we'll find out causes cancer, autism, allergies, Liberal Rage Disorder, NIMBY Rightwing Syndrome, a taste for Bud Light, and a yearing for Married With Children reruns...
I am a firm beliver in colored glass+copper foil+lead with two sheets of clear wire reinforced safety glass on the outside.
In California? (Score:2, Funny)
Whoa, wait a minute... short-sighted, ineffectual, over-reaching, burdensome laws... IN CALIFORNIA? As a California native, I am shocked, SHOCKED!
Re:This was known as ... (Score:3, Funny)
Hopefully, this implementation of it won't peel or bubble.
Re:You mean ... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Ahh, that explains that ... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:You mean ... (Score:5, Funny)
Then turn on the blender to make margaritas because they're still hot and now thirsty.
Re:Ahh, that explains that ... (Score:5, Funny)
If cars were computers:
Re:Welcome to California... (Score:3, Funny)
That doesn't really logically follow. I'm sure most Californians wouldn't vote to confine gays to a lifetime in a small cage, and wouldn't vote to allow chickens to marry.
Re:You mean ... (Score:3, Funny)
I drive wearing night-vision goggles, you insensitive clod!
Now... The goggles... They will do nothing.
Re:! surprising (Score:1, Funny)
You mean those people who made stupid choices like having teenage sex and getting pregnant or not graduating high school and those people who live way above their means and spend far more than they should can't buy shares? Oh how sad. We should create a welfare program that rewards stupidity and laziness. Oh wait....
Re:Welcome to California... (Score:3, Funny)
My first though was from Men in Black:
Edwards: Why the big secret? People are smart. They can handle it.
Kay: A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it.
When actually confronted with the condition that the government must tax to raise money to spend for programs, and every dollar out means a dollar in, just like your family budget. It takes some reasoning because nobody thinks of it that way (I don't know why, really). But let them vote on things and they'll spend far more money than they'll ever pay in taxes, and they'll still rail against taking any more money from them.
I say we start charging people for school, and let the market sort it out. You'd be amazed how many people couldn't afford to send their kids to school, even if you set their taxes at zero.