I mean, how do these things work? We take them for granted, assume them to be safe and secure, but know nothing about them.

Do they cause brain tumors like mobile phones were once feared to do?

As always when searching for knowledge, I turned to Google and it led me to How Stuff Works. In summary, the keyring device is actually a small radio transmitter. When you push the button it turns on the transmitter and it sends a code to the receiver.

And to answer my question about opening someone else’s door:

Given a 40-bit code, four transmitters and up to 256 levels of look-ahead in the pseudo-random number generator to avoid desynchronization, there is a one-in-a-billion chance of your transmitter opening another car’s doors.

Remarkable!

Update: Wikipedia calls this a remote keyless system.

Remote keyless systems operate by broadcasting radio waves on a particular frequency. Most RKEs work at 315 MHz for some North America made cars and at 433.92 MHz for European, Japanese and Asian cars. Modern systems implement encryption to prevent car thieves from intercepting and spoofing the signal.

The operating range is said to be between five and 20 metres.

"In today’s newspapers is a report on what could only be termed to be a senseless phone survey conducted by Domino’s Pizza of 1051 customers who were asked the question on whether Camilla should become the next Queen of Australia. Apparently 85% said no and 5.42% said yes which is probably not a surprising return given the apparent lack of intelligence of their customers.

Furthermore, the question is malicious in its intent for there is no intention whatsoever of the Duchess of Cornwall becoming Queen of Australia. Even if the purpose were not that she would be called “Princess Consort”, the term “Queen of Australia” is reserved solely for the Monarch who will be Prince Charles and not for his spouse.

The media reporting of this trivial survey is yet again another indication of their extreme bias against our Constitutional Monarchy.

We can do little about the media, but we can phone the Domino’s Pizza hot-line and complain that they have abused the trust that their customers place in their product to promote their republican nonsense, particularly with a spurious question. Their feedback number to call is: 1800 805 888 and the more who do this, the less likely they are to offend again."

Pizza polling! I’ll have mine without anchovies and politics, thanks.