Glenn Beck on his July 31 TV program had a segment about the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) Web site, "Cash for Clunkers." He demonstrated what a Web browser would encounter when logging on to the system.
THIS IS A MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqfuZ7hiap0
"A warning box comes up, and it says, 'This application provides to the DoT CARS system. When logged on to the CARS system, your computer is considered a federal computer system and it is property of the United States government,'" Beck read. "'Any and all uses of this system and all files on this system may be intercepted, monitored, recorded, copied, audited, inspected, and disclosed to authorized CARS, DoT and law enforcement personnel, as well as authorized officials of other agencies, both domestic and foreign.'"
Hmmmmm...Wonder how they will explain this one away?
Was it just me or did anyone else catch the sort of hidden warning there? Glenn touched on it when he talked about the czars. It really is quite clever when you think about it. The gov't sets up this "clunkers" deal and gets people to go to their website which gives the gov't the authority to search your computer, see all of your emails, postings, etc. I tell ya, it is getting to the point that people need to start more "face to face" discussions and not rely on technology so much.
Quote from: BillyakaVarmit on August 02, 2009, 09:31:25 PM
Was it just me or did anyone else catch the sort of hidden warning there? Glenn touched on it when he talked about the czars. It really is quite clever when you think about it. The gov't sets up this "clunkers" deal and gets people to go to their website which gives the gov't the authority to search your computer, see all of your emails, postings, etc. I tell ya, it is getting to the point that people need to start more "face to face" discussions and not rely on technology so much.
I haven't seen the vid yet, but the government already has that authority, they were given it under the patriot act.
Gotta love Unix ;) I can control and stop any interference whatsoever.
Does it really stop IP tracking by your ISP? what about banner ads and all that? I'm curious.
Quote from: Anmar on August 02, 2009, 10:16:42 PM
Does it really stop IP tracking by your ISP? what about banner ads and all that? I'm curious.
I can lock down the OS to prevent ip tracking, java tracking, any kind of tracking. I also don't have to worry about virus's either so i dont have to pay extortion fees to mcafee and other antivirus companies.
Banner ads, are relatively simple to stop. THey come in through a third party link other than the page your visiting and all you have to do is deny them.
Plus i can run windoze software in a window if i so desire. I can mask my ip address so that you can't see it going out, and i can also encrypt the tcp traffic as well as the udp traffic so that no one can snoop my packets.
Quote from: srkruzich on August 03, 2009, 03:52:29 PM
so that no one can snoop my packets.
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/140.gif).. I don't want to "sniff your packets""..
Ohhhhh...my mistake... you said Snoop.. yeah.. snoop.. not sniff... ;D ;D
Well in my opinion.. there is nothing worse than a packet snooper sniffer.(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/chuckle.gif)
Quote from: srkruzich on August 03, 2009, 03:52:29 PM
Quote from: Anmar on August 02, 2009, 10:16:42 PM
Does it really stop IP tracking by your ISP? what about banner ads and all that? I'm curious.
I can lock down the OS to prevent ip tracking, java tracking, any kind of tracking. I also don't have to worry about virus's either so i dont have to pay extortion fees to mcafee and other antivirus companies.
Banner ads, are relatively simple to stop. THey come in through a third party link other than the page your visiting and all you have to do is deny them.
Plus i can run windoze software in a window if i so desire. I can mask my ip address so that you can't see it going out, and i can also encrypt the tcp traffic as well as the udp traffic so that no one can snoop my packets.
Awesome, i guess i need to switch. It's so hard these days to prevent government and corporation from tracking us.
Quote from: Teresa on August 03, 2009, 04:45:36 PM
Quote from: srkruzich on August 03, 2009, 03:52:29 PM
so that no one can snoop my packets.
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/140.gif).. I don't want to "sniff your packets""..
Ohhhhh...my mistake... you said Snoop.. yeah.. snoop.. not sniff... ;D ;D
Well in my opinion.. there is nothing worse than a packet snooper sniffer.(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/chuckle.gif)
LOL well i have had folks try to sniff my packets and they usually get routed off somewhere in EBF Egypt :P
Quote from: Anmar on August 03, 2009, 05:35:27 PM
Quote from: srkruzich on August 03, 2009, 03:52:29 PM
Quote from: Anmar on August 02, 2009, 10:16:42 PM
Does it really stop IP tracking by your ISP? what about banner ads and all that? I'm curious.
I can lock down the OS to prevent ip tracking, java tracking, any kind of tracking. I also don't have to worry about virus's either so i dont have to pay extortion fees to mcafee and other antivirus companies.
Banner ads, are relatively simple to stop. THey come in through a third party link other than the page your visiting and all you have to do is deny them.
Plus i can run windoze software in a window if i so desire. I can mask my ip address so that you can't see it going out, and i can also encrypt the tcp traffic as well as the udp traffic so that no one can snoop my packets.
Awesome, i guess i need to switch. It's so hard these days to prevent government and corporation from tracking us.
Well thats because most everyone out there lets microsloth corp dictate what they can and can't do on your own computer. Shoot if you know how you can turn off the microprocessor identification module so they can't id your computer.
DId you know that your printer identifies itself every time you print a page? Look in the print, you will find the serial number and other info in the print itself somewhere on that page.
http://jalopnik.com/5328941/ten-most-traded+in-and-purchased-cash-for-clunkers-vehicles/gallery/
According to Jalopnik, here are the top-ten cars purchased so far under Cash for Clunkers:
1. Ford Focus
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Corolla
4. Toyota Prius
5. Ford Escape
6. Toyota Camry
7. Dodge Caliber
8. Hyundai Elantra
9. Honda Fit
10. Chevy Cobalt
Lets see now... we've got a single Chrysler model at #7 and a single GM model at #10. Hmmmmm... not exactly a groundswell of support for taxpayer owned auto companies. But man, it is rather clearly a shot in the arm for Japan and South Korea. I'm not 100% certain where the Duratec engines that Focuses use are built—I'm guessing Japan. But I have little doubt that there are lots and lots of parts manufactured in Japan and South Korea in the cars in that list.
I think I have all of these right but if something is wrong someone please correct me:
1. Ford Focus - built in Wayne,MI - engine built in Chihuahua, Mexico
2. Honda Civic - Majority built in Alliston, Ontario - sedan version also built in East Liberty, OH
3. Toyota Corolla - built by NUMMI (joint venture of GM and Toyota) in California and Toyota's Cambridge, Ontario plant
4. Toyota Prius - TsuTsumi, Japan
5. Ford Escape - Claycomo, MO - 2.3 L engine made in Mexico - 2.5 not sure yet - 3.0 Cleveland, OH
6. Toyota Camry - Georgetown, KY and Subaru's plant in Lafayette, IN
7. Dodge Caliber - Belvidere, IL
8. Hyundai Elantra - Ulsan, Korea (they are also built in St. Petersburg, Russia but we get the Korean built ones)
9. Honda Fit - Suzuka, Mie, Japan
10. Chevy Cobalt - Lordstown, OH
Will try to find percentage of parts origins in a bit. Need to get home. :D
Also realize that despite GM having only 1 in the top 10, it does represent 18.3% of the total purchases under Cash for Clunkers, therefore its the largest percentage.
Why would Japanese companies make cars in Japan to sell in the USA? American labor is actually cheaper because the dollar is so weak.
Quote from: Anmar on August 05, 2009, 08:25:55 PM
Why would Japanese companies make cars in Japan to sell in the USA? American labor is actually cheaper because the dollar is so weak.
Anymore, I think their largest US sellers are being made in the US (at least as much as they can) while their smaller US sellers are made in Japan. I believe they also try to keep production of vehicles that will sell here better than elsewhere, here in the US like the trucks for instance. All Nissan trucks sold in the US have been built in their US plant, Toyota also has a US plant that builds all of their trucks. Mazda's trucks were actually just rebadged Ford Rangers and Honda's Passport SUV was a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo. Their new Pilot, that replaced the Passport, is now built in Lincoln, AL (previously it was also built in their Alliston, Ontario plant as well as the Lincoln plant). Suzuki's new truck is actually a rebadged Nissan Frontier so is also built in the US. The 4 liter V6 engines that power them are also built in their US plants as well, though I'm not sure where a lot of the other parts come from. I'll need to drop by a dealership sometime and see their parts origin list.
I have however found that the Prius and the Honda Fit are made in Japan. It could just be that the Toyota US plants aren't setup to assemble the hybrid setup, I have no idea though. I bet the Fit is assembled over there because one, it is a decently compact car which sell good over there and two, its not likely going to be a major seller here compared to their Civic and Accord and is aimed more towards the younger crowd.
I live close to NUMMI, and Toyota is saying they may shut it down because GM is also leaving the plant.
So, I thought CARS had already run out of money, like last week? And Congress is trying to approve more money into it? But all the TV ads still say they're doing it.
Quote from: Anmar on August 06, 2009, 11:14:57 AM
I live close to NUMMI, and Toyota is saying they may shut it down because GM is also leaving the plant.
Anmar, regarding what might happen at NUMMI in Fremont. I eat breakfast fairly frequently at the Sky Kitchen at San Carlos Airport as do several employees of Tesla Motors which you may know of living in the area. There is talk that NUMMI might become the new home of the Prius and\or Tesla Motors. Very speculative but something being talked about by both parties.
David
I thought Tesla just finished a new plan down there in SJ.
It would be nice to have the prius here.
Quote from: Anmar on August 06, 2009, 02:48:50 PM
I thought Tesla just finished a new plan down there in SJ.
It would be nice to have the prius here.
The San Jose deal is not completely a "done" deal, but I think probably the one more likely to happen. A deal with Toyata at NUMMI could change all that. Very speculative, but a possibility.
David
p.s. Anmar just as a point of clarification. I eat at the Sky Kitchen, the Tesla folks do too. We talk and wave to each other. Also, I overhear their conversations. Just wanted to emphasize "speculative".
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj216/marshalette/Clunker.jpg)
Hell, I'd just like to have CASH for a clunker!!!!!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Sales attributed to the government's "Cash for Clunkers" program have topped 180,000 units. Lawmakers agreed to add additional $2 billion funding to the program which should give buyers until labor day to trade in their older vehicles for new more fuel-efficient ones.
More than 80 percent of the vehicles traded in have been trucks, SUVs and vans, while 59 percent of the vehicles purchased have been passenger cars. The Toyota Corolla recently overtook the Ford Focus as the best-selling vehicle in the program. The Ford Focus holds the number two spot, while the Honda Civic comes in third.
According to Torque Report: The sales numbers for July are in for the top ten best-selling cars. The Ford F-150 and Toyota Camry are at the top of the list and the Toyota Prius also makes an appearance at the number 10 spot.
* Ford F-Series: 36,327
* Toyota Camry: 33,974
* Honda Civic: 30,037
* Honda Accord: 29,774
* Toyota Corolla: 29,593
* Chevy Silverado: 27,617
* Ford Focus: 21,830
* Ford Escape: 20,241
* Nissan Altima: 19,252
* Toyota Prius: 19,173
The Obama administration has been raving about the success of "Cash for Clunkers" or "CARS" and this week Congress approved $2 billion more for the program. Why the popping of champagne corks? First, the demand for the program was so great that consumers burned through the $1 billion allotted for the rebates in a matter of days. Second, with the amount of flak the administration has taken for its mismanagement of the economy and the health care debate, any perceived victory is welcome. But this is simply not the victory that Obama wants us to believe it is.
Even in the handful of days that the program was active, CARS was plagued by administrative problems -- just like any other government program. The government Web site that dealers were told to use to submit buyers' rebate applications crashed repeatedly due to the high volume of requests.
Dealers also had a difficult time registering for the program. Fine-print stipulations about the types of cars and light trucks that could be turned in and which ones could be bought led to customer confusion. Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) said, "If this is how the government is going to handle billion-dollar programs affecting all Americans, I ask, whatever will we do if this administration takes control of our health care?"
Meanwhile, the positive impact on the automotive industry and the economy, and indirectly on energy consumption and the environment, is grossly, grossly, grossly overstated. The upsurge in new vehicle sales that CARS is expected to bring will likely to be short lived -- all it did was condense several months of expected new vehicle sales and old vehicle trade-ins into a shorter period of time. No new wealth is being created; it's just moving from one pocket to another. And destroying thousands of older, cheaper automobiles negatively affects the economy. I wonder, trading the old clunker in on a car that sells for $25,000-$30,000 plus, with payments for sixty months at $500 to $600 a month... I also wonder how many repo's the government going to wind up with.
Oh yeah.... are you really having a hard time finding an inexpensive used vehicle for your newly driving son or daughter? You can thank BO and his "CARS." program.
And then we have this:
Fox News' Glenn Beck reported that the federal government posted an ominous message at the Clunkers Web site stating that while logged into the Department of Transportation CARS system, users' computers would be considered property of the federal government and therefore all materials on the computers could be scanned, recorded, monitored, inspected and disclosed to any element of the government, including law enforcement.
After Beck's program aired, the government quickly "clarified" that "users who logged into the site had no explicit or implicit expectation of privacy," which sounds essentially like what Beck reported, just in better legalese.
This should be considered an outrage of epic proportions, but the response from watchdog groups has been muted.
The ACLU, which challenged every move the Bush administration made during his eight years in office, had this to say: "It is hard to believe that the Obama administration would do something like this."
Unfortunately it's not hard to believe that the ACLU's selective view of civil liberties would cause them to be asleep at the switch while Socialists run the White House
SuperWarph you know I am an avid fan of your posts. I am not in a reading mood so I am sorry if your post mentioned this concept.
Yes the program is popular. It is just compressing the time in which people already looking to buy a car over the next year do so. They are doing it today because of the program. Since everyone is buying now what happens in 6 months or later? Not to mention that this is being paid for by copier machine money and debt for your kids and your grandchildren. Just for clarification I have no kids or grandchildren, so if I only cared about myself I could say that it doesn't matter to me, but that is not true.
David