Hang a left on over to your local NASA swap meet and garage sale because NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is setting an auction up for exclusive lisence to five patents for automated software development. This happens in a little over a week on November 11, 2010, and includes patents which encompass a new method for auto-creating software code which is verifiably equivalent to “user requirements specified in natural language, graphic formats, or other formats with a known semantic structure.” Why is this important? Because you were the one who funded the research that lead up to these patents in the first place.
To find out more about the technology, shoot on over to SpaceREF and read their article on how neato it is and how much people are going to want to buy it. This sort of auctioning off of research-cum-patents is, to some, a spit in the face of copyright law that decided that all federal government documents released are release into the public domain. In some other countries, this type of information is covered by crown copyright which holds it back from the public.
If released into the public domain, this Automated Software Generation could very possibly be used to benefit both commercial and non-commercial projects headed by the people who technically payed for its generation: the taxpayers. Instead, as TechDirt says it so eloquently, “By auctioning off a patent monopoly, it will almost certainly be using taxpayer-funded research to stifle innovation.”
What do you think? Is this how copyright was supposed to work? Or is this a special situation where it makes more sense to generate cash for the government group to do more research?
[Via TechDirt]
Willis Johnson, founder of auto-part auction company Copart, has just listed his home near Napa Valley, Calif. for a hefty $22M. The estate features three car barns, each with old-timer stuff like an antique gas station and vintage diner. Johnson’s not the only grease monkey to make headlines today—New York state attorney general Andrew Cuomo seems to have an obsession with 1970 muscle cars, as well.
Birmingham auto auction bessemer al
November 22nd, 2010
NEW FOCUS RACE CAR CONCEPT: L.A. AUTO SHOW DEBUT FOR FORD’S NEXT GLOBAL TOURING RACE CAR
• Focus race car concept by Ford Racing makes its global debut at the 2010 Los Angeles International Auto Show
• Powered by a 2.0-liter Ford EcoBoost™ turbo engine, the Focus race car concept is built to compete in global road and touring car racing
• All-new Focus, Ford’s latest offering, will be raced by touring car teams globally, building on Ford’s history in engineering race-ready platforms. First race appearance for the car is anticipated to be in the 2011 British Touring Car Championship
• Focus race car concept hints at future potential as Ford coordinates with and provides technical support to private race teams around the world to develop one common race car capable of winning major touring car categories
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17, 2010 – Ford Motor Company is putting racing on the map at the
2010 Los Angeles International Auto Show with the debut of the Focus race car concept, demonstrating future potential for the all-new 2012 Ford Focus to compete in road and touring car championships with teams around the world.
The Focus race car concept is a dramatic example of Ford’s global approach to product development and builds on the company’s comprehensive approach to leveraging its global product platforms.
This race car concept, powered by the sophisticated 2.0-liter Ford EcoBoost I-4 engine, is the first to benefit from a collaborative effort between Ford and race teams around the world that have already built and raced successful Focus race cars. The Focus race car concept has been based around rules governing circuit racing in the United States and beyond.
“This teamwork has resulted in a global racing platform using a common Focus body and a safety cage built to FIA regulations – a competitive platform that can be tailored for regional competition, based on different rules,” said Jost Capito, director of Global Performance Vehicles and Motorsport Business Development. “By leveraging our collective experience and Ford technology worldwide, this approach parallels our global dedication to the Focus production car and specifically its exciting performance derivative, the new Focus ST, to deliver a competitive race car that can be campaigned around the world.”
Using the all-new Focus as its base, the Focus race car concept features AST performance coil-over adjustable dampers, Ford Racing upgraded sway bars with adjustable end links and front brakes with 320-millimeter two-piece rotors and race pads. The Anthracite 18-inch wheels and Hoosier race tires put the finishing touches on the exterior.
In addition to the FIA Super 2000 regulations roll cage, interior components include a Recaro® racing seat, AIM MXL Pista data system and AIM SmartyCam. Ford Racing fire suppression system and Ford Racing six-point safety harness round out the modifications that bring the car from street-spec to race-ready.
“There has been tremendous interest from the racing world in the new Focus, and it’s the perfect fit for a global touring car,” said Capito. “Even more, by working with professional private race teams, we’re ensuring Focus has the support it needs to compete and win around the world.”
Benefits will stretch beyond the track
Professional private race teams are partnering with Ford to develop common technical specifications for the race car, which will conform to FIA Super 2000 regulations with potential to adopt to other regulations.
The teams are being brought together by Ford to harness their strengths and define roles for the development of the race car. Ford will also support the race teams by providing data, advanced engineering tools, state-of-the-art testing facilities and production parts, resulting in teams racing more competitive cars that are developed with greater efficiency.
“Ford’s commitment to using motorsports to influence high-performance vehicles will be highly evident, as the development of the Focus touring car will also provide valuable input as we develop the upcoming Focus ST production car,” said Capito. “It’s very similar to how the Mustang team was able to apply learnings from the Ford Racing Boss 302R to the 2012 Mustang Boss 302.”
The first race appearance for the Focus is targeted for the 2011 British Touring Car Championship. Globally, the race car has the potential to run in many national and regional championships, such as the China Touring Car Championship and 24-hour endurance races like the classic Nürburgring in Germany.
In a counter-intuitive turn of events, the way the market is now, a used SUV can end up costing more than a new one.
Automakers clamped down on SUV and truck production in 2008 and 2009, but now that gas prices are more normal and the economy doesn’t look like it’s getting worse, buyers are snapping up these models.
This isn’t good news if you’re looking through the bargain bin used car deal, but it is good if you’re looking to trade in your old SUV for a new one. Looks like it’s one of the few times where a car has increased in value after it was driven off the dealer’s lot.
For more info on buying a new or used car, check out Consumer Reports car buying advice.
When Used Costs More Than New
Adesa minneapolis auto auction
November 18th, 2010
From Obama, the Tax Cut Nobody Heard Of — NYT
MIT Media Lab looking for a new director — MIT
Apple = cheap? — Daring Fireball
Wherein Andrew Ross Sorkin calls Dealbook a “real-time SWAT team”, while driving his car to Fort Wayne — TBN
The Onion’s “Shirtless Biden Washes Trans Am in White House Driveway” story now has over 500,000 pageviews — NYT
Jesse Eisinger’s first Dealbook column — ProPublica
Are the risks worth it for war correspondents, asks Reuters Editor-in-Chief David Schlesinger — Reuters
Irish 10yr bonds yielding 8.5% — FT
Ritholtz now writing for Bloomberg — Bloomberg
Goldman Sachs has fired its head of European block trading — FT
Sadly, Aldi’s not the only smoking kid in Indonesia. The south Asian country has one of the worst problems with child smokers in the world. Government figures estimate that 25% of kids over the age of three have tried cigarettes, and 3% are regular smokers. 3% might not sound like much, but remember, these are kids over the age of three. That means some kids are lighting up before they even start school.
My team had no trouble finding smoking kids in Jakarta. We came across a group sitting near a river bank enjoying an after school cigarette break. One of the kids, nine-year old Ipan, has been smoking a year. “I feel good when I smoke”, he told me. The youngest kid we met was Cipto, five-years old. His mother doesn’t only know he smokes, she does it with him. When we met Cipto he was sitting right next to her, both puffing away.
So why is this happening? Mainly because of a lack of regulation. While I was doing research for this story, one of my contacts described Indonesia as the “Wild West” of tobacco regulation. There are virtually no restrictions on cigarette advertising on TV, radio, in print or on billboards. Tobacco companies sponsor all kinds of cool things believed to appeal to kids and teens, from sporting events to music concerts. Cigarettes are cheap (about $1 per pack), and easy to get; we saw a ten-year old walk right into a store and simply buy them, no questions asked.
The largest tobacco company in Indonesia is American-owned Philip Morris. For this story I spoke with their External Communications Director, Anne Edwards, about the problem. She said Philip Morris doesn’t want kids to smoke, they only want to lure adult smokers from their competitors. She also said that the company supports stronger regulations and restrictions in Indonesia. She seemed genuinely disturbed by the footage I showed her (you can see some of it in the video piece here).
For it’s part, the Indonesian government passed a health law in 2009, with some good elements of tobacco control. But a year later, the measures haven’t been implemented yet.
Aldi continues to be smoke free, though he’s gained a whopping 13 pounds since quitting, and still has cravings. The boy who’s still learning the most basic words knows these well: “Mom, I want a cigarette.”
WATCH
Peterbilt dump trucks
November 14th, 2010
If home ownership has been out of your reach, there’s an option you should consider: bid at an auction for a home that is being foreclosed upon. You can find a great house for a fraction of what it sold for initially or what it would sell for if sold through a real estate agent.
In Parts One and Two of this series on buying your dream home via a foreclosure auction, I discussed how to find the right property and then the steps you need to take to find out whatever information you can about the property.
This article, Part Three in the series, focuses on the financial. Pay special attention to this part. This is the part that will make or break you. Part four picks up on the courthouse steps where most sales occur. It’s all about what you need to know about the actual sale process.
Part Four is entitled:
Make Money Buying Foreclosed Homes at Auctions, Part IV. At the Courthouse—Before and After the Sale
***
I’ve been a journalist most of my life, but for the last two years, I’ve been working in the foreclosure department of a real estate auction firm. For years, I asked many, many questions, and now I’m on the other side, answering lots of questions. I’m absolutely amazed time and time again by how many people will bid on a property at auction without knowing how the real estate auction process works…particularly the money end of it. It would be the understatement of the century to say failing to know how much a property costs is a critical error.
Many myths surround the financial end of buying at auction. Even those who research the properties, as I’ve detailed in Parts 1 & 2 of this series, often think that the deposit amount listed is the price of the home. These people are going to the auction and bidding on the home, and when they find out the deposit amount is just that—an initial deposit, not the purchase price—they’re already legally committed.
The first part of the financials of dealing with auction involve figuring out EXACTLY what the house is going to cost you, so you know what your maximum bid can be. It’s a dicey thing to figure out the cost, to be sure.
What is the house worth officially?
—Do a “real property search? Maryland has this information available free on the Web. That site is found through the Dept. of Assessments and Taxation. You type in the address of the property. You will see what it sold for last and when. You will also see the tax assessment values. Do a search from your state through the tax assessment division. If you can’t find it, contact the county government offices, specifically land records. Tell the person exactly what you are doing, and
ask for that person’s assistant. This is no time to get timid! Most people will give you great tips. No one wants to see someone make a financial mistake.
Now, that assessment shows what the house sold for the last time. It doesn’t show you about any second mortgage issues or the like. It will give you a projected tax assessment for years to come. We all know that these are not all that realistic. If you live in a home now, do a bit of a comparison. Look up your current assessment. Is it higher than what you know you can sell your home for? Take that into consideration when figuring the value of your home.
Scope out the Neighborhood. If the home is in an up and coming area, that adds to the value of the home. Good schools and you have kids? Again, it gets rated higher.
What will the house cost you?
Lots of factors go into this: final auction price of the house, unpaid liens/taxes, lawyer fees, title fees, etc. Those are the obvious costs. There may also be hidden costs such as repairs.
You can’t know many of the variables, but put together as many items as you can to get a real idea as to the bottom line on the house you want to bid on. This will be your final bid price, the legal fees, any liens that aren’t covered specifically, repairs to make it livable.
Let’s go into a bunch of different financial topics. By the end of the article you should be drawing a “big-picture” on how to determine what you can afford to (should) bid.
—-You can’t inspect/walk on the property you are looking to buy. WHAT! So how are you supposed to know if this house would be right for you as a living space or as an investment. How do you know what sort of repairs must be made? Well, you don’t and you won’t. You have no legal right to inspect that property physically even AFTER you have bid on the property and you were the winning bidder. It becomes yours ONLY after the sale winds its way through the court system some 45 days later.
So, whatever is wrong with the home becomes your problem. The theory many people have, and with good reason, is that if a person has gotten behind on the mortgage, the odds are high he is also forgoing regular home maintenance. This is one of those hidden costs (i.e., replacing batteries in smoke alarms, furnace filters, painting, caulking, etc.).
—First, is your final bid. (This is the amount you come to after working out all of these variables. It’s your drop-dead price cap for bidding on the house. This is the BASE number you deal with when figuring out how much that house will cost you.
Other Financial Issues
—I’m the highest bidder, so I win the house. No, no you don’t. There are few “absolute” auctions in real estate nowadays. Absolute basically refers to the concept of “the highest bidder wins.” As the bank is the foreclosing party, it retains the right to reject a winning bid. In that case, the bank bids higher (generally the price it was willing to sell the home for) and buys the home back.
—A word about deposits. You will be asked to make a deposit at the time of the sale. There was a time when it could be assumed that the deposit was approximately 10 percent of the amount the bank expects the house to bring at auction. With over-extended mortgages, this is not necessarily the case anymore. Many homes today have debt attached to them that is over and above what the house would sell for on the market.
Read the ads regarding deposits. In many ads, it will say something to the effect that you must bring the deposit up to within 10 percent of the total bid price within “x” number of days. Basically that means if you won a home for $150,000, and the bank was asking $10,000 deposit, per the advertisement with legal particulars, you would have to bring the deposit up to $15,000 within “x” amount of days (per the ad).
Tangible Extra Costs. These are the things you must add on to your final bid price (along with the intangibles estimates) to figure out the true cost of the foreclosed auction price.
—Legal Fees. Again, read the ad. The fees will be spelled out. It’s not a lot, but it should be added into the price you can bid on the home.
—Interest. From the time you win the bid at auction, you start accruing interest on the amount owed. The exact amount will be spelled out.
—Liens, second mortgages. Always ask the attorney if there is a second mortgage. Before you bid, go to the county or city courthouse and take a look at the land records to be sure that there are no liens on that property. If there are tax liens, liens by contractors on the property, those have first claim. What that means is that you may have to pay to get a clear title on the property. Also check to be sure another mortgage has not been taken out on the property. That’s often mentioned in the newspaper ad. (All of the legalities must be stated in that ad.) Most people don’t read all of that fine print. They should.
—Unpaid utilities, water and the like. The ad usually spells this out and a cap is put on the amount the new owner may be liable for, but you need to verify all of this. I rented a home to someone who ran up a grand in heat/air and another grand from the county water department. Water ran $15 every three months there. This woman let pipes burst in the basement and the water flowed. She never intended to pay the bill. These people wanted their money, so they looked to me. I didn’t end up paying, arguing that I had signed no contract on it, and they were the fools who kept extending the deadbeat credit. But if it could happen to me, it could happen to you. It may cost you money or it may just cost you a major headache. Either way, know in advance what you are liable for.
Intangible Extra Costs.
This is touchier. You are making guess-timates at best.
—Repairs. If the person has gotten behind on the mortgage, you can bet all of the typical homeowner has gone to pot. There will be lots of small expenditures—light bulbs, landscaping and the like. Know, however, it could get MUCH larger. I looked at a house at foreclosure I really wanted. When it sold, my dad saw them carting out drywall. It seems pipes had burst in the basement, flooding ensued, and the drywall had rotted out. That’s a BIG expenditure. And it could happen. (That’s why it’s important to get all of the Intel you can on the place. Otherwise, you are taking a risk. If you are willing to take a risk, know that you may have to budget for some remodeling.)
Miscellaneous Financial Considerations.
—Appraisals. If you will need financing, you’ll need an appraisal. You’ll have to find a bank large enough that a foreclosed home mortgage is not a big deal. Again, remember, you can’t go on the property. All the appraiser can do is a “dry by.”
—Insurance. This is a touchy one. Again, you’re not allowed onto the property, but in that interim period while you cannot take possession, that house may go vacant and then it may be vandalized at worst or fall prey to basic homeowner stuff in the interim. You can, and should, get a bare bones insurance policy to cover at least the amount you bid on the property. Once you settle, replace it with a real insurance policy. Work with the lending bank for recommendations. You’ll be told this doesn’t happen. That just means you are working with a firm that has no idea how to deal with foreclosures.
—Moving out the former owners. This is rare, but I get asked this on a regular basis. People will call and tell me they’ve won a house at auction, so how long do the former owners have to move. Well, the auctioneer ONLY auctions the home. When you own the home legally, there may still be people living there. You will have to take legal steps to have them move. In the two years I’ve worked in the field, I’ve never seen it happen, but it CAN happen. The purpose of this article is to give you every financial scenario you need to think through.
The next article, Part IV, will guide you to that next step—you on the courthouse steps making the bid. You’re just steps away from buying your dream home!
Used cars for sale midlothian il
November 11th, 2010
For sale – Celebrity car. One lightly used crime-stopper of a coupe, has go-fast looks with a fuel-efficient powertrain. If you want attention, this is the car for you. Valued between $25,000 and $35,000.
Looking to add some celebrity “muscle” to your garage? Profiles In History is hosting a Hollywood memorabilia auction and lot #122 is one of two hero cars from the modern version of Knight Rider. Surely you recall the series… our very own Alex Nunez sat through every single episode to provide you with details of what was going on.
In the updated show, which first aired in 2008, K.I.T.T. is a Ford Mustang that wears Shelby GT500KR parts. The car in this auction has all those parts, inside and out, except it falls short one kind of important aspect: there’s no supercharged V8 underhood… or any V8 at all for that matter. And it’s not even the good V6 Mustang. Inside the engine bay sits the old 4.0-liter unit and it’s paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. That’s right… this K.I.T.T. is all show and no go.
Sadly, the most interesting thing about this car is that it also includes the wooosh-wooosh signature Knight Rider sweeping red light up front. Even that would get old quickly. Buying this car does have its benefits though, as the auction proceeds are being put towards a children’s charity. The auction is a one-day affair scheduled for November 6th, 2010 at The Globe Theater in Universal Studios. David Hasselhoff sold separately.
Canada’s First Fiat 500 Auctioned at Toronto’s Venetian Ball
- Very first Fiat 500 in Canada sells for $85,000
- Fiat Cinquecento (500) Prima Edizione is a collector vehicle with unique numbered badge – “Numero Uno”
- A total of 500 Prima Edizione vehicles will be offered for sale in Canada
- Annual Venetian Ball benefits Villa Charities
October 17, 2010 , Windsor, Ontario -
Chrysler Canada on Saturday evening donated Canada’s first Fiat 500 to the live auction at Toronto’s 17th annual Venetian Ball. The ball was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre with all proceeds benefiting Villa Charities.
“The enthusiastic bidding for this iconic vehicle, and the fact that it sold for $85,000, underscore the excitement and interest the Fiat 500 has generated since Fiat’s return to Canada was first announced,” said Ed Broadbear, Vice President of Marketing – Chrysler Canada.
“Chrysler Canada and Fiat are proud to donate Canada’s very first Fiat 500 to support Villa Charities,” said Reid Bigland, Chrysler Canada President and CEO. “Thanks to the alliance between our two companies, the feeling of kinship with the vibrant Italian-Canadian community has strengthened and we are pleased to be a part of this wonderful event.”
The “Numero Uno” is the first in a series of 500 limited edition vehicles which will feature a unique Prima Edizione sequential badge according to production order. The Fiat 500 Prima Edizione will be exclusively available in three colours: Bianco (White), Rosso (Red) and Grigio (Gray).
The modern generation of the Fiat 500 will be introduced in North America at the end of 2010 and will offer customers uncompromising safety, fuel efficiency from its 1.4-liter MultiAir™ four-cylinder engine, individualization options, quality and advanced technology. This vehicle combines the best of European engineering and Italian style. It also is tangible evidence of Fiat’s commitment to fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles. In fact, Fiat has the lowest average CO2 emissions of any automaker in Europe.
Chrysler Canada, its employees and dealers have a long history of giving back to the communities where they live and work. Chrysler Canada’s charitable giving supports a variety of organizations across Canada each year.
About Villa Charities
Since its formation in 1971 to provide culturally sensitive care for an elderly Italian-Canadian population, Villa Charities has extended its mandate to include support for individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental illness. Building on its rich Italian-Canadian heritage, and by living life with Italian passion, the Villa Charities family of organizations has grown to include Villa Colombo Services for Seniors, Columbus Centre, VITA Community Living Services, Mens Sana and Villa Colombo Vaughan Di Poce Centre. Recognizing its relevance across generations, Villa Charities is launching new initiatives to promote quality of life, health and wellness, youth engagement, the creation of new knowledge and investment in new technologies. For more information, visit www.villacharities.com.
About Chrysler Canada
Founded as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925, Chrysler Canada Inc. is based in Windsor, Ontario, and celebrates its 85th anniversary in 2010. Chrysler Canada’s product lineup features some of the world’s most recognizable vehicles, including the Dodge Grand Caravan, Jeep® Wrangler and Chrysler 300.
Chrysler Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chrysler Group LLC, one of the world’s leading automotive companies. Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group, produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram Truck and Mopar® vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler’s culture of innovation – first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 – and Fiat’s complementary technology – from a company whose heritage dates back to 1899. Fiat will contribute world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-sized cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded lineup of fuel-efficient vehicles well-suited to Canadian customer needs.
Corporate Website: http://www.chryslercanada.ca
Government car auction Gainesville
November 10th, 2010
If you don’t want to spend the whole $185,000 for which it was sold at the 2008 Barrett-Jackson auction, you can now buy single parts of the 1966 Batmobile Replica. This may seem like a blasphemy to some, but I find the idea of pimping my car with some subtle detail as a Rocket Exhaust Tube Kit quite appaling.
And the best thing about it: all the important gadgets actually work.
That Batmobile flamethrower will surely impress your future girlfriend.
One of the stars of the TV show Batman was the Batmobile. Here is a compilation video of all of the gadgetry that was seen on the show.
p.s. thanks to N8 from www.StarCarCentral.com for his editing tips
(misterhonk.de)
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Welcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on four particular stories of interest today.
Facebook Scheduled to Make Major Announcement This Morning
FacebookFacebook is holding a press event at its headquarters at 10 a.m. PT today. The company hasn’t disclosed the agenda for the meeting, but given that it runs through lunch, the announcements could be significant.
Last week, the company released major updates to its Photos product and has continued to expand its new Places network. Though the event could very well be about new features or integrations for Places (note the use of the word “check-in” in the invite), we think it’s more likely a new product, such as video chat.
Stay tuned; we’ll be reporting live from the event.
Verizon and Motorola Announce Two New Smartphones
Verizon and Motorola have jointly announced two new smartphones: Droid Pro, for business users, and Citrus, a basic, entry-level device.
The Droid Pro is aiming straight for the BlackBerry market with a 3.1-inch touchscreen, full QWERTY keyboard, 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of memory and 2GB of on-board storage, which can be further expanded with SD memory cards. It also features a 5-megapixel camera with dual LED flash and auto-focus, and supports Wi-Fi, BluetoothBluetooth 2.1 and tri-band UMTS. The device should be available in the first week of November.
The Citrus is a small touchscreen phone that runs AndroidAndroid 2.1. Few details have been released; Engadget reports that the device will have a 3-inch screen and a 524 MHz MSM7525 processor. It should hit the market by the end of the year.
Google Goggles Arrives on the iPhone
Google Goggles, a feature that allows users to perform visual searches on the objects around them, has been added to the search giant’s newly updated iPhone app [iTunes link].
The feature, which has been available on Android devices since December 2009, recognizes objects like landmarks, logos, book covers and text, and allows users to quickly pull up additional information about those items.
Nokia N8 UK Launch Date Delayed Until October 22
Nokia has pushed back the UK launch of its N8 smartphone from October 1 to October 22.
The N8 features a 3.5-inch, 640×360 capacitive touchscreen, 680 MHz CPU, 256 MB of SDRAM, 16 GB of on-board storage memory, as well as a 12-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, Xenon flash and full HD capability.
The price for the device is £429 ($683) SIM-free or on contract from £30 ($48) per month. It will be available at Carphone Warehouse, O2, Orange, Phones4u, T-Mobile, Tesco Phone Shops, Three Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone stores throughout the UK.
Further News
- TumblrTumblr released an overhaul of its queue interface late Tuesday.
- New webOS devices are coming “early next year,” HP Senior Vice President Eric Cador said at an industry conference in Barcelona.
- Netflix released an updated version of its app for iPhone and iPod touch Tuesday. Users can now those devices to play movies on their TV sets.
- FaceMash.com, the Facebook prototype Mark Zuckerberg built in his Harvard dorm room one October night in 2003, is now up for auction on Flippa — or at least the URL is.
- Popular zombie-killing video game Left 4 Dead 2 is now available to Mac users.
- Digg Founder Kevin Rose asked his TwitterTwitter followers Tuesday if DiggDigg should bring back the Bury button. Given that 69% of respondents answered in the affirmative, we may very well see the feature’s return soon.
For more Mobile coverage:
- Follow Mashable Mobile
- Subscribe to the Mobile channel
- Become a Fan on Facebook
- Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad
Device driver backup software
October 20th, 2010
For sale – Celebrity car. One lightly used crime-stopper of a coupe, has go-fast looks with a fuel-efficient powertrain. If you want attention, this is the car for you. Valued between $25,000 and $35,000.
Looking to add some celebrity “muscle” to your garage? Profiles In History is hosting a Hollywood memorabilia auction and lot #122 is one of two hero cars from the modern version of Knight Rider. Surely you recall the series… our very own Alex Nunez sat through every single episode to provide you with details of what was going on.
In the updated show, which first aired in 2008, K.I.T.T. is a Ford Mustang that wears Shelby GT500KR parts. The car in this auction has all those parts, inside and out, except it falls short one kind of important aspect: there’s no supercharged V8 underhood… or any V8 at all for that matter. And it’s not even the good V6 Mustang. Inside the engine bay sits the old 4.0-liter unit and it’s paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. That’s right… this K.I.T.T. is all show and no go.
Sadly, the most interesting thing about this car is that it also includes the wooosh-wooosh signature Knight Rider sweeping red light up front. Even that would get old quickly. Buying this car does have its benefits though, as the auction proceeds are being put towards a children’s charity. The auction is a one-day affair scheduled for November 6th, 2010 at The Globe Theater in Universal Studios. David Hasselhoff sold separately.
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Main
| Self-Induced Decline and Fall »
October 1, 2010
Would You Buy a Used Car From This Man?
Posted by Van Helsing at October 1, 2010 7:17 AM
Or a new car, or an electric car, or anything whatsoever at this point? The Ruler of General Motors hawks the taxpayer-subsidized yet extravagantly expensive Chevrolet Volt with his clueless economic advisor Jennifer Granholm:
Days auto auction georgia
October 16th, 2010
Today Hammer Time brings you its guide to commonly-used auto auction phrases and their translations.
Car Dealer – “You can have it if you want it.”
Translation – “I know you’re going to run the bid up anyhow. So go ahead and *%&#$&! take it.”
Car Dealer – “This car is a bad boy.”
Translation – It drinks. It smokes. Some day soon it will be hanging out with the other bad boys at the neighborhood junkyard.
Car Dealer – “What do you think is gonna be the money on that car?”
Translation – “I haven’t bought a Volvo station wagon in so long… I have no clue where the market’s at. I need you to help me so I don’t end up losing my ass on the damned thing.”
Car Dealer – “The auctioneer keeps on running me up.”
NOTE: ‘Running me up’ means the auctioneer pretends there’s another buyer bidding against you. Thereby making you pay more.
Translation – “My tow guy is already slashing the tires on the auctioneer’s car. One more time and his windows get busted too.”
Car Dealer – “That car has a coolant leak.”
Translation – “…Because I cut the lower radiator hose.”
Car Dealer – “That car won’t start.”
Translation – “…Because I pulled the fuse”
Car Dealer – “That car has a nasty history”
Translation – “Just take a whiff inside of the car and you’ll see exactly what I mean.”
Car Dealer – “It has a perfect Carfax.”
Translation – “I already know it was wrecked. Hopefully I can buy it cheap and sell it to some dumb Yuppie who believes in Carfax reports.”
Car Dealer – “The money is too high today.”
Translation – “There are so many money launderers and other subsidized entities at this sale… I should have just gone fishing.”
Car Dealer – “It’s a great car.”
Translation – “I can’t sell the damn thing. But if I tell you it’s a great car you may buy it off me.”
Car Dealer – “He’s got no money”
Translation: The auctioneer is pretending like he has bidders on the vehicle when he actually has himself and the Coke machine.
Car Dealer – “That was a quick hammer!”
Translation – The auctioneer pretended like he didn’t have money and then sold it to his buddy… or the auction owner… or himself…
Car Dealer – “The auctioneer has a buddy.”
Translation – His buddy is helping him buy vehicles. He’s quick hammering every deal he can get. It’s a federal crime but good luck proving it.
Car Dealer – “I just got brother-in-lawed”
Translation – The auctioneer didn’t take my bid and sold it to his buddy instead.
Car Dealer – “Finance fodder.”
Translation – Late model vehicles that typically go for healthy premiums at the auctions.
Car Dealer – “Sleds”
Translation – Low end cars that typically sell for $5000 or less.
Car Dealer – “That car will shine up.”
Translation – The car is as rough as a wore out mop. Some cars can take a beating. But buying this one and fixing all the problems will be like polishing a turd.
Car Dealer – “I haven’t seen one of those in a while. Looks to be dealer kept.”
Translation – Some poor soul spent thousands to keep that bad boy running.
Car Dealer – “It died of stage fright.”
Translation – It quit running before it to the auction block.
Car Dealer – “It has the turd engine.”
Translation – The car has either the low horsepower engine (Mustang & Camaro V6’s) or a defect prone engine (Chrysler 2.7L, VW/Audi 1.8L)
Car Dealer – “I got it when they were napping.”
Translation – “Everyone was looking at the car(s) that were coming and didn’t pay attention to the one I bought. Got it cheap.”
![:: [Auto eMötive] : Rebel & Sexy :: by el maui / lefotodelmaui.it](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/4991318252_a4d11968a1.jpg)
September 23rd, 2010
Today Hammer Time brings you its guide to commonly-used auto auction phrases and their translations.
Car Dealer – “You can have it if you want it.”
Translation – “I know you’re going to run the bid up anyhow. So go ahead and *%&#$&! take it.”
Car Dealer – “This car is a bad boy.”
Translation – It drinks. It smokes. Some day soon it will be hanging out with the other bad boys at the neighborhood junkyard.
Car Dealer – “What do you think is gonna be the money on that car?”
Translation – “I haven’t bought a Volvo station wagon in so long… I have no clue where the market’s at. I need you to help me so I don’t end up losing my ass on the damned thing.”
Car Dealer – “The auctioneer keeps on running me up.”
NOTE: ‘Running me up’ means the auctioneer pretends there’s another buyer bidding against you. Thereby making you pay more.
Translation – “My tow guy is already slashing the tires on the auctioneer’s car. One more time and his windows get busted too.”
Car Dealer – “That car has a coolant leak.”
Translation – “…Because I cut the lower radiator hose.”
Car Dealer – “That car won’t start.”
Translation – “…Because I pulled the fuse”
Car Dealer – “That car has a nasty history”
Translation – “Just take a whiff inside of the car and you’ll see exactly what I mean.”
Car Dealer – “It has a perfect Carfax.”
Translation – “I already know it was wrecked. Hopefully I can buy it cheap and sell it to some dumb Yuppie who believes in Carfax reports.”
Car Dealer – “The money is too high today.”
Translation – “There are so many money launderers and other subsidized entities at this sale… I should have just gone fishing.”
Car Dealer – “It’s a great car.”
Translation – “I can’t sell the damn thing. But if I tell you it’s a great car you may buy it off me.”
Car Dealer – “He’s got no money”
Translation: The auctioneer is pretending like he has bidders on the vehicle when he actually has himself and the Coke machine.
Car Dealer – “That was a quick hammer!”
Translation – The auctioneer pretended like he didn’t have money and then sold it to his buddy… or the auction owner… or himself…
Car Dealer – “The auctioneer has a buddy.”
Translation – His buddy is helping him buy vehicles. He’s quick hammering every deal he can get. It’s a federal crime but good luck proving it.
Car Dealer – “I just got brother-in-lawed”
Translation – The auctioneer didn’t take my bid and sold it to his buddy instead.
Car Dealer – “Finance fodder.”
Translation – Late model vehicles that typically go for healthy premiums at the auctions.
Car Dealer – “Sleds”
Translation – Low end cars that typically sell for $5000 or less.
Car Dealer – “That car will shine up.”
Translation – The car is as rough as a wore out mop. Some cars can take a beating. But buying this one and fixing all the problems will be like polishing a turd.
Car Dealer – “I haven’t seen one of those in a while. Looks to be dealer kept.”
Translation – Some poor soul spent thousands to keep that bad boy running.
Car Dealer – “It died of stage fright.”
Translation – It quit running before it to the auction block.
Car Dealer – “It has the turd engine.”
Translation – The car has either the low horsepower engine (Mustang & Camaro V6’s) or a defect prone engine (Chrysler 2.7L, VW/Audi 1.8L)
Car Dealer – “I got it when they were napping.”
Translation – “Everyone was looking at the car(s) that were coming and didn’t pay attention to the one I bought. Got it cheap.”
Today Hammer Time brings you its guide to commonly-used auto auction phrases and their translations.
Car Dealer – “You can have it if you want it.”
Translation – “I know you’re going to run the bid up anyhow. So go ahead and *%&#$&! take it.”
Car Dealer – “This car is a bad boy.”
Translation – It drinks. It smokes. Some day soon it will be hanging out with the other bad boys at the neighborhood junkyard.
Car Dealer – “What do you think is gonna be the money on that car?”
Translation – “I haven’t bought a Volvo station wagon in so long… I have no clue where the market’s at. I need you to help me so I don’t end up losing my ass on the damned thing.”
Car Dealer – “The auctioneer keeps on running me up.”
NOTE: ‘Running me up’ means the auctioneer pretends there’s another buyer bidding against you. Thereby making you pay more.
Translation – “My tow guy is already slashing the tires on the auctioneer’s car. One more time and his windows get busted too.”
Car Dealer – “That car has a coolant leak.”
Translation – “…Because I cut the lower radiator hose.”
Car Dealer – “That car won’t start.”
Translation – “…Because I pulled the fuse”
Car Dealer – “That car has a nasty history”
Translation – “Just take a whiff inside of the car and you’ll see exactly what I mean.”
Car Dealer – “It has a perfect Carfax.”
Translation – “I already know it was wrecked. Hopefully I can buy it cheap and sell it to some dumb Yuppie who believes in Carfax reports.”
Car Dealer – “The money is too high today.”
Translation – “There are so many money launderers and other subsidized entities at this sale… I should have just gone fishing.”
Car Dealer – “It’s a great car.”
Translation – “I can’t sell the damn thing. But if I tell you it’s a great car you may buy it off me.”
Car Dealer – “He’s got no money”
Translation: The auctioneer is pretending like he has bidders on the vehicle when he actually has himself and the Coke machine.
Car Dealer – “That was a quick hammer!”
Translation – The auctioneer pretended like he didn’t have money and then sold it to his buddy… or the auction owner… or himself…
Car Dealer – “The auctioneer has a buddy.”
Translation – His buddy is helping him buy vehicles. He’s quick hammering every deal he can get. It’s a federal crime but good luck proving it.
Car Dealer – “I just got brother-in-lawed”
Translation – The auctioneer didn’t take my bid and sold it to his buddy instead.
Car Dealer – “Finance fodder.”
Translation – Late model vehicles that typically go for healthy premiums at the auctions.
Car Dealer – “Sleds”
Translation – Low end cars that typically sell for $5000 or less.
Car Dealer – “That car will shine up.”
Translation – The car is as rough as a wore out mop. Some cars can take a beating. But buying this one and fixing all the problems will be like polishing a turd.
Car Dealer – “I haven’t seen one of those in a while. Looks to be dealer kept.”
Translation – Some poor soul spent thousands to keep that bad boy running.
Car Dealer – “It died of stage fright.”
Translation – It quit running before it to the auction block.
Car Dealer – “It has the turd engine.”
Translation – The car has either the low horsepower engine (Mustang & Camaro V6’s) or a defect prone engine (Chrysler 2.7L, VW/Audi 1.8L)
Car Dealer – “I got it when they were napping.”
Translation – “Everyone was looking at the car(s) that were coming and didn’t pay attention to the one I bought. Got it cheap.”
September 23rd, 2010
“First, labor only accounts for only about 7 percent of the cost of a car. So, if you cut that to 6 percent, you’re going to make a bit more money, but this is not the biggest expense that an automaker has.”
This doesn’t pass the smell test. I remember that back in the day, we were told that health care costs were a sizable chunk of each American car produced, by those selling single payer.
I pulled up some numbers and in 2004, health care costs were claimed to be $1,525 per car for GM. Throw in pension benefits of $675 from the linked article, and we’re at $2,200 in just health care and pensions per car. If the average car costs $25,000 to build, we’re already at 8.8% before adding in wages. Assuming all other labor costs are equal to pension and health care benefits, we’re at $4,400 for labor and 17.6% of the production cost.
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/05/health_numbers.html
Moreover, not all cars are created equal, and the guys building the Focus and the Cobalt were probably not being paid less than the guys building the F-150 and Silverado. The Big 3 were always beaten up for never producing great regular cars, like the Civics and Accords, especially a few years ago. If a car is going to sell for $15,000, at $4,400 per car labor costs are 29.3% of selling price. If the competition is able to keep labor costs down to, say, $3,000 per car, they can spend a little extra money on their models and still have higher margins (or margins period).
So, it’s not all that surprising to see GM/Ford/Chrysler rode high on the SUV/Truck hog and didn’t invest much in regular cars until the mid 2000s when oil started to head north – the margins almost certainly weren’t worth the investment.
By the way, the average annual operating margin for GM in the 2000s was -0.5%, so it looks like cutting costs by a percent of two might have made a real difference, though I’m not an expert here so maybe it would have been far too little to save the day.
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/03/gms-problems-are-50-years-in-making.html
I’d agree management is partly to blame.
Management (past management that is) offered the UAW far too much in compensation.
In addition, I haven’t read a whole lot of good things in general about management at the Big 3 during the mid 2000s, particularly at GM and Chrysler. So the blame is not only with labor, though labor seems a bigger part of the problem than this guy suggests.
“And yet while Ford certainly struggled for a while, they got through this and have been making good money for some time now.”
Ford survived by slashing costs, having enough cash on hand to handle pretty severe losses while also having the good fortune to have gotten some decent product into the pipeline a while back.
London, UK, 14 September 2010 – Canon today redefines the boundaries of its compact superzoom range with the introduction of the new PowerShot SX30 IS - a high performance camera that boasts a 24mm ultra-wide, 35x optical zoom lens. Succeeding the PowerShot SX20 IS, the new model combines outstanding Canon optics with a host of advanced imaging technologies, providing the ideal tool for photo enthusiasts who want a powerful all-in-one camera for all their creative pursuits.
Perfect for use in any situation, the PowerShot SX30 IS provides full manual control, HD movie recording and a number of creative and automatic shooting modes – delivering as much or as little creative assistance as desired. Other design features, including a 6.8cm (2.7″) vari-angle LCD screen and hot shoe, also allow users to extend their creativity by shooting from different angles and with a range of compatible Canon accessories.
Class-leading zoom with outstanding image quality
The camera’s 14.1 Megapixel sensor allows photographers to generate A2+ size prints, offering detailed images that users can crop creatively with no compromise on quality. The enormous focal range of the 35x optical zoom lens offers users a unique realm of creative possibilities, extending from 24mm to 840mm (35mm equiv.), capturing everything from ultra wide-angle images to extreme telephoto shots.
Developed with the same materials and processes used to manufacture Canon’s range of EF lenses, the PowerShot SX30 IS showcases Canon’s unrivalled optical expertise. The lens construction comprises of multiple special lens elements including an Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) element as well as a Hi-UD element, compensating for light aberrations while maintaining high image quality across the entire zoom range. Hi-UD elements are commonly used in Canon’s globally-trusted range of professional broadcast camera lenses – ensuring maximum image quality while reducing the total lens weight.
A lens of such zooming power would typically pose a significant challenge for photographers shooting in low light or using the telephoto range without a tripod. For this reason, Canon has equipped this model with the most effective optical Image Stabilizer (IS) ever to be used in one of its compact cameras, offering up to 4.5 stops of compensation. This lens-shift system can effectively minimise blur when shooting with long zoom and when the use of a fast shutter speed is not possible.
The PowerShot SX30 IS also features Ultrasonic (USM) and Voice Coil (VCM) motors for fast, accurate and silent zooming and focusing which, along with the optical IS, work in both stills and movies.
The new Zoom Framing Assist function helps users to keep track of distant or moving subjects when shooting with long zoom. Pressing the dedicated shortcut button, the Zoom Framing Assist quickly retracts the lens to one of three preset zoomed-out positions – allowing the user to view more of the scene on the screen and seek the subject – while a rectangle marks the area of the originally zoomed-in frame. Once the user reacquires the subject and positions it back in the rectangular frame, the button can be released and the lens quickly extends back to its zoomed position, allowing the shooting to be resumed in its original framing.
Moving beyond stills
The PowerShot SX30 IS offers 720p HD movie capture with stereo sound and full optical zoom, allowing photographers to switch from stills to movies at the touch of a button. Focus and exposure can be locked or adjusted during movie recording, while a special Dynamic IS mode reduces the camera shake created when filming and moving at the same time, producing a more realistic, steadier picture. Smart Auto in Movie mode can detect 21 different scene types, automatically evaluating and adjusting the settings to achieve optimum exposure, give priority to faces and boost bright colours. Results can be enjoyed to their fullest by connecting the camera’s HDMI-mini port to an HDTV screen.
Designed without compromise for quality, flexibility and creativity
In addition to the incredible zoom capability, the PowerShot SX30 IS offers a number of design features which enable photographers to take control of their images. A 6.8cm (2.7″) vari-angle PureColor II VA LCD screen with a 230k dot resolution provides maximum flexibility in all types of scenes ranging from floral close-ups to crowded concerts. These can be shot more comfortably even from awkward angles and then reviewed in brilliant colour and sharp detail. The Quick-bright function enables images to be viewed and subjects to be framed easily, even in bright sunlight.
For those who want to add more variety to their creative photography, the PowerShot SX30 IS features a hot shoe, allowing accessories such as Canon’s EX Speedlite flash units to be used. Additionally, an optional lens filter adapter allows the attachment of 67mm filters such as the Canon PL-C B 67mm polarizer filter, providing photographers with nearly endless possibilities for adding a creative flair to their images.
For those who want to take great shots instantly, without worrying about manually changing settings, the PowerShot SX30 IS features Smart Auto, which uses Scene Detection Technology to identify shooting conditions and select the optimum settings from 28 variables. A series of new scenes have been added, including subjects with strong facial shadows under harsh lighting and subjects in spotlight. Smart Flash Exposure also controls the power of the camera’s flash to ensure perfectly-exposed subjects both in macro shots and when backlit.
For more creative shooting options, photographers can also use Fish-eye, Miniature, Poster and Super Vivid effects to add a fresh perspective on images. Miniature Effect mode is also available in movies, shooting the scene at a reduced frame rate of 6, 3 or 1.5 fps, to create the effect of a high-speed, time-lapse film of a miniature-scale model.
Store, view and share stories
Sharing special moments with family and friends has never been easier. The PowerShot SX30 IS supports SDHC and SDXC memory cards, providing abundant capacity so photographers can keep shooting without worrying about filling their memory card too quickly. To find favourite shots among hundreds of others, users can tag each image in-camera, allowing it to be grouped with other favourites and easily located at a later date. Smart Shuffle playback also suggests similar images to be viewed based on the current image displayed, locating images in the memory card which may have been forgotten or overlooked in the larger library.
This model also supports Eye-Fi connected functions, allowing remote uploads to image sharing websites such as CANON iMAGE GATEWAY. The camera features a dedicated Eye-Fi section within the User Interface, and disables the auto power-down function when the Eye-Fi card transmits data – allowing the easy transfer of content without interruption*1.
Share stories with CANON iMAGE GATEWAY
Owners of the PowerShot SX30 IS can join the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, an online facility for sharing photos and video. Photographers can take advantage of up to 2GB of personal storage capacity, creating enough room for hundreds of high-quality images. Mobile browsing is also supported, making it easy for friends and family to view photos on the move.
PowerShot SX30 IS – key features:
35x ultra wide-angle zoom
Optical Image Stabilizer (4.5-stop), USM, VCM
14.1 MP CCD
6.8 cm (2.7″) vari-angle LCD, EVF
HD movies, HDMI
Smart Auto
Manual modes, Low Light and Miniature Effect movie
Zoom Framing Assist
Servo AF/AE
Extensive accessory system
*1 This product is not guaranteed to support Eye-Fi card functions (including wireless transfer). In case of an issue with an Eye-Fi card, please check with the card manufacturer.
Also note that approval is required to use Eye-Fi cards in many countries or regions. Without approval, use of the card is not permitted. If it is unclear whether the card has been approved for use in the area, please check with the card manufacturer.
September 23rd, 2010
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