well that at least is the most credible explanation I've ever heard for the noise. my car instead prevents you from locking the drivers door without the key (unless you are inside with the door closed). prevents locking keys in in a far less annoying manner :D

Is it not the law where you live to have to wear a seatbelt in your car?!

I'm not sure why you said I was missing the point - I totally agree with you! The warnings are more annoying and distractive than helpful. That's what I said in my other post. This thread was criticising the guy who disabled the warning because he didn't want to wear his seatbelt, which really had nothing to do with the warning except to show that it doesn't even work in the intended way (which is to make people wear their seat belts).

You, sir, are proof as to why these systems don't work ANYWAY. You won't put your belt on for the right reasons (safety education) let alone the wrong reasons (annoying beeping).

  I think you SHOULD most definitely wear your seat belt!! I do always wear a seat belt and not because my car beeps - I do so because I feel the safety is worth it. My common sense tells me a seat belt can save me a lot of grief. Unfortunately my experience also tells me so, because I have been personally in an accident where a seatbelt would have saved me lot of pain and damage (though I wanted to put it on, I could not find the seat belt, it was tucked under the seat I think, unfort I was drunk and put my trust in the driver (who was not drunk, but was a douchebag)) FYI we were driving less than 2 km between two friends' houses.

Oooh it can be done? One reason I'm loathe to even consider buying a new car is the horrid torrent of beeps and sweeps and bleeps that seem to come at you from all angles. I drove my sister's car and it beeped at me to put the seatbelt on on the passenger side, because I had put my bag (with laptop) on the passenger seat!! And a lot of new cars beep when you open the door with the keys in - SO WHAT? I do this constantly (when security is not an issue, eg if you're sitting in the car waiting for someone, it's the best place to leave your keys!!)

So yes, if these beeps can be disabled I may actually buy a new car one day. For now I'll stick to my old and blessedly silent car. I've only accidently left the lights on (flat battery) once in four years - a small price to pay for peace and quiet!!

for sure... I know I am an outlier but it's hard to base your opinion on anything other than your own experience :D

The insight you can give from years of teaching experience is very valuable!

I'd never be turned off math, but I did lose respect for that teacher.

That's interesting...

I learnt algebra/algebra-type concepts in year 6 (11 years old) as one of 4 kids bumped up into an "advanced" year 7 math class. It was the best class I've even taken - we were set a chapter and worked at our own pace, and basically taught ourselves (or hands up for a one on one explanation from the teacher). We were using an (American) Grade 8 textbook. When they cancelled the class the next year I was devastated. I got my dad to buy the book and I went through the whole thing over the summer. I hit year 8 and got frustrated because the topics in that book we did not end up covering until year 10!

Hadn't meant to suggest you did, but wanted to clarify that fact in my post. I am definitely venting frustration at how unlocked iPhones can still have features controlled by the carriers which is bullocks! :(

Being able to buy an unlocked iPhone makes no difference for tethering - it is a restriction your network can apply regardless of where your iPhone comes from. And the fact is some disallow it. The US exclusive deal with AT&T has thereby shafted many people outside the US!

You can't tether on Virgin Mobile in Australia if you are pre-paid. You HAVE to go post-paid - you don't have to sign a contract but you must choose one of their post-paid voice+data plans (which can be a lot more expensive month-month than pre-paid.

It's an arbitrary restriction that is only possible because Apple has enabled the carriers to decide if the phone will do tethering, regardless of the software on the phone (carrier unlocked makes no difference).

I believe that an unlocked phone should be able to do whatever it wants with the data coming in - if I want to share my 3G connection the carrier should only concern themselves with the fact that I am paying for the data they are sending to my SIM.

the "radio" button on Grooveshark does pretty well to take one song you like and find similar music :)

I wondered the same thing. /. really should strive for unambiguous and technical language, even when paraphrasing from TFA (no no don't laugh, that wasn't meant to be funny..)

I assumed it was 50% improvement on the current efficiency. So if an engine is currently 13% efficient (of some theoretical maximum), the new one would be 13*1.5 = 19.5% efficient.

Or are they claiming 50% efficiency of the theoretical maximum?

Mebbe I should RTFA, but I haven't had my second coffee yet.

No, Australia is both the continent and the country.

Parent is a bit of a troll but I guess some people do feel that way.

The difference is that the Australian government IS apologising to people to whom these things DID happen. It wasn't "generations ago" it is still in LIVING memory, and the effects have drastically changed the fate of many many people, including descendants of the people on whom racist policies were inflicted. There are still Aboriginal people alive who were taken from their families. And their kids remain affected because of what their parents went through, where they now live, who their families are now, the lost touch with their biological families, etc.