Total Control

[DRMD421]

This one hit home with me. Though its not motorcycle related, I do plan to go cruise around the track on my Rocket and maybe buy a shirt or two at the trailers. NOW it's motorcycle related!

No matter your stance on the issue of gun control, I am sometimes amazed at the gall of some "leaders" who think they have to control everything....even something going on in another state. They have control of 90% of the media, yet that isn't enough for them. That worries me greatly.

 

[skydog1000]

All the people at the top think they are smarter than the little guy.
They forget that the little guy built this nation to what it is.
Or should I say what it was!!!!!
Thanks to all there help at the top we are going down hill FAST


Get out there and have fun guys and gals thats all we have left.


PS Lupe Nolton has your goat.

 

[TheMadScientist]

We are all being watched. Where my wife buys groceries they have a rewards card. It gives you a discount but it allows them to know what you buy. At the pharmacy there is a perks card, same thing applies. At the gas station my wife uses the grocery reward card to get a discount on gas, so they know how much gas you buy and when. Now Lowes and Home Depot offer a card that is suppose to be helpful because it keeps track of what you buy and when you buy. The utility company keeps track of how much power you purchase. Some utility companies are talking about installing meters that are networked. This will eliminate the need for meter readers but will allow them to start Trending the data. How much power you use and when versus the time of day. Imagine being in court and they want to prove you were home at a certain time and they say look at this chart see this power spike here this is when your a/c kicked on but look here this spike here correlates with the power rating of your big screen TV. TVs are smart now. Netflix is great but what we watch through them is recorded. Cell phones are not secure. When my friend bought his new home and had his power turned on he was barraged with telemarketers and salesman. Some even came knocking. Face book is starting to be used now by employers as research for their employees. The point is our lives are more transparent then most realize. The reason behind it all is money. This information could be used by the government, as well. I could go on and on but i might start sounding paranoid.

 

[tdragger]

Good post, Mr. Mad. The advances in technology are inevitable. Being able to take advantage of these new programs is the smart thing to do. Also being vigilent and rational about apparent abuses is equally important.

For example, I use my Lowes card a lot. I really don't care if they are tracking my purchases. If it means that they get information to supply products and services that I want, GOOD! I also like it because I get a 5% discount on everything that I buy.

An electric utility example. The market is still developing but soon most utilities will offer what it called "time of use" rates. The idea is that if you can use electricity in off-peak times, the utility can defer building more capacity (power plants). If it means that I can save on my electric bill by running the dishwasher at night instead of when we leave for work in the morning, that's a behavior that I'm willing to change.

 

[mexican]

Ladies ang gentleman ,,,,, welcome to the future!!!!!

 

[DRMD421]

Im not a fan of having to carry a bunch of cards everywhere, personally. My wife actually agreed with me on this while at the grocery store a while back. The young lady said " you would have saved $7.00 on your purchase today with your Tom Thumb Rewards Card" , to which I replied " or you could have just charged be a fair price instead of making me tote a piece of plastic with me everywhere I go".

 

[cardinal93]

Im not a fan of having to carry a bunch of cards everywhere, personally. My wife actually agreed with me on this while at the grocery store a while back. The young lady said " you would have saved $7.00 on your purchase today with your Tom Thumb Rewards Card" , to which I replied " or you could have just charged be a fair price instead of making me tote a piece of plastic with me everywhere I go".

I never carry the cards...just use the same phone number to get them all and the cashier looks it up (or just gives it to me with the "company" card)

We are all being watched. Where my wife buys groceries they have a rewards card. It gives you a discount but it allows them to know what you buy. At the pharmacy there is a perks card, same thing applies. At the gas station my wife uses the grocery reward card to get a discount on gas, so they know how much gas you buy and when. Now Lowes and Home Depot offer a card that is suppose to be helpful because it keeps track of what you buy and when you buy. The utility company keeps track of how much power you purchase. Some utility companies are talking about installing meters that are networked. This will eliminate the need for meter readers but will allow them to start Trending the data. How much power you use and when versus the time of day. Imagine being in court and they want to prove you were home at a certain time and they say look at this chart see this power spike here this is when your a/c kicked on but look here this spike here correlates with the power rating of your big screen TV. TVs are smart now. Netflix is great but what we watch through them is recorded. Cell phones are not secure. When my friend bought his new home and had his power turned on he was barraged with telemarketers and salesman. Some even came knocking. Face book is starting to be used now by employers as research for their employees. The point is our lives are more transparent then most realize. The reason behind it all is money. This information could be used by the government, as well. I could go on and on but i might start sounding paranoid.

As a government employee...let me say, you're scaring me

 

[TheMadScientist]

I think technology is like guns, it is not bad but can be used for harm. The driving force behind a lot of this is money. We are a nation of consumers. The more they know they easier it is to sell.

Did you know it is still not illegal to use subliminal advertising?

 

[DRMD421]

ESPN Sources: Two NASCAR Drivers Advised Not to Do Interviews in Media Center to Avoid Appearing With NRA Logo

Law abiding citizens being demonized from all sides. Makes you wonder if the local news here has been told not to air any stories about gun related crimes since that also would effect the gun issues being debated now. I'm thinking probably not.