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Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

popularmechanics.com

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Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#521

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> The thing about radios isn't true. You can remove them easily Do you think cars still use the old ISO 7736 and ISO 10487 standards for radios? Those standard-sized oblong units where people would replace them with after-market radios? That's not the case anymore and hasn't been more than a decade or two. Car radios these days are an integral part of the cars computers and the infotainment system. They aren't remova…

Can't even plop them into an identical model because they have to paired with the main computer with special software nowadays. Sometimes I think people on HN hasn't interacted with a car made in the last couple of decades based on how outdated their statements on car functionality are.

I left a reply to the parent that should clear up your concerns. If recent Apple devices can be cracked, do you really think BMW have software engineers that can build something more secure?

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#522

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It prevents the fuel pump in the engine from working (I had to add an electric fuel pump because the original one isn't doing very well). Yes on the hot meal. I've been homeless and it stinks.

It amazes me that, in wealthy countries, there are significant homelessness problems due to economic displacement. I consider it an existence-proof of the idea that a free market cannot solve all problems. I think homelessness due to other causes-- mental health for example-- are more complex but similarly demonstrate fundamental flaws in the framework of society. Only once was I able to give a homeless person a meal…

> It amazes me that, in wealthy countries, there are significant homelessness problems due to economic displacement

I was shocked and disgusted to learn that my country of birth, The Netherlands, which is the 6th most prosperous country in the world[1], has this concept of "economic homelessness". This means that an individual or family has work and steady income, but are unable to afford rent due to a combination of politically created circumstances: lack of affordable housing, liberalisation of previously rent-controlled/social housing, and private rents running wild.

This isn't just for minimum wage workers, many people at the lower end of the middle class are either unable to afford current rent, or rent takes up the vast majority of income.

[1] https://www.prosperity.com/rankings?pinned=NLD&filter= [2] https://vng.nl/artikelen/economisch-daklozen-vallen-tussen-w... (in Dutch)

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#523
post #521

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't even plop them into an identical model because they have to paired with the main computer with special software nowadays. Sometimes I think people on HN hasn't interacted with a car made in the last couple of decades based on how outdated their statements on car functionality are.

I left a reply to the parent that should clear up your concerns. If recent Apple devices can be cracked, do you really think BMW have software engineers that can build something more secure?

[deleted]

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#524

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well it’s not the libertarian conception of a free market. I’m not that kind of libertarian but as I learn more about their theory, a major complaint is that right now the wealthy use their money to influence the state to influence markets. The libertarians theorists would prefer the wealthy use their wealth to compete in the market, not use the state to force things to the benefit of one firm. That’s why they want a…

There are more make believe libertarians than there are libertarian theorists and they like virtually everyone else want the board tilted to benefit them. The people that are most likely not to want the board tilted are however those who already substantially benefited by the current state of affairs. It's trivial to forget that their isn't much in the way of ground truth underneath society what people think of as th…

I mostly agree with you. Most people, whatever theory they subscribe to, are bad at their theory. There are a lot of Christians who aren’t good Christians. Lots of Republicans in favor of big government if the project is military in nature. Lots of liberals claim to care about people of color but still advocate for policies that harm minority groups. Most people simply have muddy politics because they’re more focused on other things. I don’t think it makes certain underlying theories bad just because lots of people claim them but don’t practice them. Christianity is full of great loving ideas, republicanism makes sense in a lot of ways, etc.

But I disagree that getting the government out of the way means leaving existing power structures intact. What I have learned from libertarian theory is that a whole lot of existing power structures exist (in the USA where I live) specifically because someone bribed the government in to supporting something they wanted. Take Disney continually extending copyright laws for example. Instead of getting old media in the public domain we get ever more restrictive copyright law because some corporations found it worth fighting for. Removing government in that instance would reduce existing power imbalances. So called “right to repair” laws for example provide a balance to the powers granted by government to corporations that would lock customers out of repairing their own equipment. I’ve also heard a few credible stories of instances where big corporations advocate for regulation that ends up squashing competition. Of course some kind of regulation whether from the state or by other means is necessary to avoid pollution, waste, abuse, etc.

In essence I am saying that even though there are many who call themselves libertarians who simply don’t understand the theory or advocate for its actual practice, this does not mean that libertarian theory is itself bad. I think instead that certain aspects of libertarian theory appeal to people who maybe just don’t want to pay taxes but never really learn or care about the theory behind the idea.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#525

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I presume you guys are in the US. In Europe, at least the parts where I live(d), most homeless indeed have drugs problems. There are social places where they can sleep, get clean, they help them with first steps of integration back, but its often tied to being clean from drugs. Many choose not to accept this. Then for those who reject there is free drug dispensary & usage place, we talk about proper opiates like hero…

Nope I'm from the UK but we have a system that is closer to the American then the Swiss. There are services out there but they're incredibly poorly funded.

No doubt it's underfunded, but it's one of those things that will always be seen as underfunded due to the prevalent victim-mentality these days.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#526

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Yeah. One time it was an older lady with her daughter. They stayed with me 3 days until they managed to sort something out with social services. I think they're in San Diego now. They had a dog along who crapped in my living room, and they ended up cleaning my house top to bottom as an apology. Just because someone's homeless it doesn't mean they're on drugs or stuff like that!

Are you still in touch with them, by chance?

Sporadically, yes. They're in a small apartment in San Diego. The dog is dead (old age).

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#527
post #319

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Not that both can't be true, but was surprised at your words. I read it as a subtly sweet story. Surprising in both generosity and gratitude, hinting at still being in touch, sincerity. (But yes, agree that poverty itself is sad.) btw you're a beautiful person, spiritplumber (been without home in the past too)

Obviously, the person helping is super nice and the people that are in that position are super nice as well. But what saddens me is that an older lady and her daughter are homeless, that should not happen in a functioning society.

I'm not rich. I can't fix the whole thing.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#528
post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except old engines with mechanical fuel pumps like the GGP has

GGP said it was an aftermarket electric fuel pump

Both; the mechanical fuel pump doesn't work so well, so the engine has issues starting, so i added an electric pump. At that point it was easy to also add a DPDT relay since I was taking the whole thing apart either way

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#529

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> I mean, it gets down to about -17F here in the winter. Did you know that Minneapolis is considered the best bicycling city in the US?

Did you know that's largely because of all of the dedicated bicycle paths/lanes it has? That's a lot different than a rural farm town with no shoulders of note on the roads that only see snow cleared (and sees no salting of the majority of the roads) if someone in the neighborhood happens to have a plow on their truck and clears a path out to the highway for their own household.

[deleted]

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#530

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I give out any singles I have. I don't care if it goes to drugs/alcohol. withdrawal from some can be deadly, others torture. The homeless population here in Denver is scary.

> I give out any singles I have. How much Kraft cheese do you keep on hand?

lol. provolone only my friend
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