On 28/01/2011 11:41 AM, scott wrote:
>> Next up: Why is it prohibited to use your phone while filling your car
>> with fuel?
>
> To stop you wasting time when the next customer could be already handing
> over their money.

That sounds quite plausible.

So why do they insist you turn your engine off?

Post a reply to this message

> So why do they insist you turn your engine off?

With an engine there seems like a plausible risk that it could start a 
fire (given that it has thousands of volts specifically generated to 
make a spark to ignite fuel) under some non-so-uncommon circumstances 
(eg loose spark plug lead).

Post a reply to this message

Jim Henderson wrote:
> Same here, I think (the "not surprised" bit is confusing me, 

I'm saying that if you're in an industrial place that the general public is 
not allowed into where keying up a radio blows fuses, that's understandable, 
but you wouldn't want to design an airplane where someone from the general 
public not following the rules about their cell phone crashes the plane.

I.e., it's perfectly safe in a nuclear reactor to say "nobody turn off the 
coolant supply while the rods are out of the core." But you wouldn't put 
that control panel in reach of the public tours of the facility.

Having a cell phone in the cockpit cause troubles is more reasonable than a 
cell phone in the passenger compartment causing troubles.

-- 
Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
  "How did he die?"   "He got shot in the hand."
     "That was fatal?"
          "He was holding a live grenade at the time."

Post a reply to this message

Jim Henderson wrote:
> Well, no, shielding against those signals is a problem for the designers 
> and builders of the airplane.  

Both, then. :-)

-- 
Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
  "How did he die?"   "He got shot in the hand."
     "That was fatal?"
          "He was holding a live grenade at the time."

Post a reply to this message

scott wrote:
>> So why do they insist you turn your engine off?
> 
> With an engine there seems like a plausible risk 

They also don't want it popping out of gear and driving away with the hose 
still in it, running into the car in front, running down the attendant, etc.

-- 
Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
  "How did he die?"   "He got shot in the hand."
     "That was fatal?"
          "He was holding a live grenade at the time."

Post a reply to this message

scott wrote:
> can still mostly watch an LCD TV even if you have a bright window 
> directly in reflection 

Maybe where you are. San Diego is a bit bright to even watch with the 
reflection off the wall of the window's light. ;-)

> However someone decided to then market a "glossy" LCD (which is actually 
> simpler and cheaper to make) and many people prefer it.

It's nicer when the room is dark, yes.

-- 
Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
  "How did he die?"   "He got shot in the hand."
     "That was fatal?"
          "He was holding a live grenade at the time."

Post a reply to this message

On 28/01/2011 4:38 AM, Jim Henderson wrote:
>
> Well, here in Utah, that's true if you're with AT&T.  With Verizon,
> reception is pretty good everywhere I've been.
>

I would have thought that with either all those open spaces or canyon 
buildings, reception would be patchy. Well you live and learn.

>>>
>> Never tried. Any excuse to switch it off.
>
> :-)  As I mentioned to Darren, I like to try to get that kind of data
> because it fits in with my hobby of flying in flight simulators.  Knowing
> speed/altitude data is useful when taking off (and landing) to try to get
> it right.
>

Did I ever mention that I used to use flight simulators? I spent hours 
on FS4. So much so my wife bought me a flying lesson for my 40th 
birthday. How could I have forgotten that I suffer from acrophobia? I’ve 
not used a flight simulator since.

>>>
>>>
>> OK these were handhelds with power to reach the horizon.
>
> The horizon is a long ways away. ;-)
>

About 15 miles, all round. ;-)

-- 
Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On 28/01/2011 11:14 AM, Invisible wrote:
>>> Next up: Why is it prohibited to use your phone while filling your car
>>> with fuel?
>>
>> 'Cos as a bloke its very unlikely you can do two things at once. ;-)
>
> It's true that I find it almost impossible to talk at the same time as
> playing my keyboard.
>
> It's also true that I'm one of the few people in Laura's Rock & Roll
> class who can wave their arms at the same time as dancing with their
> feet. Most of the girls can't do it. ;-)
>
> Also... I can play Bach? QED.

Well done you. :-)

It was a joke.

-- 
Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:23:47 +0000, Invisible wrote:

>>> And even today, WiFi is OK on many flights (as there are in-flight
>>> WiFi services now on some flights).
>>
>> Funny how much less dangerous it is when they can charge you money for
>> it, isn't it?
> 
> Next up: Why is it prohibited to use your phone while filling your car
> with fuel?

It isn't, at least not here in Utah.  Used to be, a few years ago.

Jim

Post a reply to this message

On Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:06:24 -0800, Darren New wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> Same here, I think (the "not surprised" bit is confusing me,
> 
> I'm saying that if you're in an industrial place that the general public
> is not allowed into where keying up a radio blows fuses, that's
> understandable, but you wouldn't want to design an airplane where
> someone from the general public not following the rules about their cell
> phone crashes the plane.

I see, and yes, I agree.

> I.e., it's perfectly safe in a nuclear reactor to say "nobody turn off
> the coolant supply while the rods are out of the core." But you wouldn't
> put that control panel in reach of the public tours of the facility.
> 
> Having a cell phone in the cockpit cause troubles is more reasonable
> than a cell phone in the passenger compartment causing troubles.

Yes, and many pilots reportedly leave their cell phones on while working.

Jim

Post a reply to this message