FLASHREPORT

First, they banned our cell phones (with the exception of First Lady Shriver), now they want our GPS, satellite radio and garage door openers. The California Air Resources Board has approved a "Cool Cars" regulation that will require car windows to have an advanced glazing in order to block the sun's heat, supposedly reducing the need for air conditioning. This was the same government agency that earlier this year floated the idea of banning black cars in California for the same reason.

Unfortunately, as with so many brilliant government ideas, the regulation was adopted before this window glazing technology was completely tested. Turns out the glazing can interfere with GPS, garage door openers, cell phones and satellite radios. The regulation will even be imposed on soft-top vehicles, leading to speculation Jeep may stop selling its soft-cover vehicles in the state. Sun roofs would be tinted so dark they would essentially be black (forget driving PCH with that California sunshine beaming down on you). Read more here.

Did I mention that ankle tracking bracelets for convicted criminals may also not work when the new window glazing rules are implemented? As long as he's in his car, any parolee can forget that pesky piece of hardware strapped to his leg. On the bright side, conspiracy theorists will feel a lot safer knowing the government can't track them in their cars...