What makes you grin? Antidote to grumpy thread

[Pillock]

Mobiles don't meanigfully interfere with anything apart from shit speakers. Electronic devices have to be tested for both not generating interference, and not freaking out if it's hit with interference.

 

That's why you can use them on flights, and in hospitals.

[Noel Tidybeard]

iirc mythbusters tried with about 30 phones all ringing and still nowt happened

[daveb47]

Just had a home check from the German Shepherd rescue place.

So hopefully may be getting one soon.

[Skizzer]

  On 01/04/2015 at 14:53, Pillock said:

Mobiles don't meanigfully interfere with anything apart from shit speakers. Electronic devices have to be tested for both not generating interference, and not freaking out if it's hit with interference.

 

That's why you can use them on flights, and in hospitals.

 

Fair enough...

 

...although the immobiliser in my old Polo G40 definitely didn't like mobiles.  I found this out when the car wouldn't start because my work colleague in the passenger seat was on the phone.  He was busy ranting on to our boss about my piece of shit car not starting, while I was trying to signal that the problem was him.  Phone off, car happy.

 

This was in about 1999, mind you. 

[Richard]

The reason you aren't allowed mobiles in petrol stations is because if you drop it and the battery comes out there might be a spark.

[oman5]

I think there is a "petrol station exploder" app for iPhones, but you can only use it once.

[quicksilver]

A hot young female friend of mine who currently drives a Merc SLK and isn't short of a bob or two is looking for a new car to transport her dog. Her requirements:

-Big boot

-Cheap

-Old is fine as long as it doesn't cost a lot to run

-Ugly is fine

 

Most people were suggesting various modern cack (including a VW Pisshat - yuck!) so I programmed those requirements into the Mighty Shite Computer, waited a few minutes and out came its suggestion: a certain Swedish estate much favoured by egg-eating Scotsmen. To my surprise she didn't seem totally against the idea of an old Volvo and also wins much credit for rejecting a BINI with the entirely correct observation that it is kind of ugly. Clearly not just a pretty face...

[Luckythirteen]

  On 01/04/2015 at 15:58, Richard said:

The reason you aren't allowed mobiles in petrol stations is because if you drop it and the battery comes out there might be a spark.

Makes sense.

[vulgalour]

Really, mobile phones are a health and safety nightmare and probably lower house prices what with their coming over from other countries.

[xtriple]

Today I have discovered microwave chips. I am mightily impressed that they both taste like chips and are edible!

 

Scrumptious!

[dave21478]

Are petrol pumps linked to the shop by some kind of wireless setup? That seems unlikely to me, I would imagine they are hard-wired.

 

I always assumed that the no mobiles on the forecourt thing was simply to get people to concentrate on the task of transferring highly flammable fluid without slopping it all over the floor instead of fannying about with their telephone.

[Alfamale]

Can never get my head around phones being banned as they may produce a spark but ladies in high heels are perfectly at large to wander about doing exactly the same bloody thing.

 

This was pointed out at length to the cashier at sainsburys who bollocked me over the tannoy. References to mythbusters was also presented.

[cort1977]

Phone incident is amazing.   Although clearly it is a good idea to get people to concentrate while dispensing pez I think that the origins of the rule go back to turning off CB radios and any other equipment in a vehicle and phones were just tacked on to that in the early days.

[Pillock]

I think Mythbusters did a good job in going through this, essentially it's bollocks.

 

Phones don't spark. There's no mechanical action, unlike an old landline that used a high voltage to ring the bells and in theory could produce tiny sparks.

Yes, phones have a battery. So does your car, 12v with hundreds of Ah rather than 3.3-3.6v with approx 2 to 3 Ah capacity. But they let you bring the car battery onto the forecourt. Your phone could short if you THREW it at the ground (not just drop, you need to mash all the battery contacts inside together) but it's not likely - one of the first components will be a polyfuse which disconnects the battery. Also, that spark will not be near the petrol you're filling your car with, unless you throw your phone at the filler nozzle instead.

 

The biggest risk, which is still a tiny weeny little bitty risk, is a static spark from you to the car, right next to the filler cap, whilst you're filling the car. So if you're wearing polyester trousers and keep rubbing balloons up and down your woolly jumper whilst you're filling, you may go boom. Phone not needed.

 

It sounds like nobody wants to be the first to say you can use your phone, so they just keep the myth going.

[MrDuke]

Snopes has a fairly comprehensive article about the possible roots and perpetuators.

 

EDIT: Pillock has covered some of it above.

[kinkersaab]

Todays trade in. What a cracker, a gen 2 auto with leather. What am i to do with that? any takers? Done 50k. 2 owners

[MrDuke]

[Richard]

The potential spark is from the battery disconnecting as it falls out when the phone hits the ground, which is where the petrol vapours are.

 

That is definitely the reason behind it, I've been told that by a friend who services petrol pumps and the instructor on an ATEX course I attended. Whether it's valid or not is another matter.

[hairnet]

Further to kinkers post was in derrygonnelly getting pez and ice cream

[MrDuke]

Phwoar, look at the 'back doors' on that!!!

[hairnet]

Ffs there was a wira and another outside

[messerschmitt owner]

taxed the Fiat today - took it out for a run and noticed my sneaky local garage had reattached the lead for the petrol tank sender unit and not told me ... which means I now have a working fuel gauge again.

[DS20]

I went to the Post Office earlier today to tax the Citroen which, as it was first registered in April 1974, involved a change of taxation class to Historic, and a payment of £0.00 for twelve months' tax   It's a wonderful feeling

 

Edit: 

The receipt from the P.O. even shows VED Paid as £0.00  

[KruJoe]

Mrs_KJ passed her test today. OMG First time!

It has been a long time getting her to this stage, she was bricking herself beforehand, and there were a couple near misses on the test, but she got the cert, that's what counts. WOOT!

[catsinthewelder]

Well done Mrs KJ

 

Now there are two of you driving does that double the amount of rammel you are allowed to keep on the farm?

[skattrd]

Nice one Joe, so that means she can drive you home from the pub now

[fordperv]

Well done mrs Kj, tell you what it's a great excuse to buy another shite motor, just remember "i bought you a car dear"

[Pillock]

Mrs_Pillock has just bought a Unimog

 

A real one.

 

For 99p

 

Because someone listed it wrongly on eBay.

[Pillock]

Apparently so, but chances of them actually selling a tested, legal Unimog for a quid are pretty minimal.

[andy18s]

Will perform for money

 

http://www.wimp.com/cope-unemployment/