chell manuals.

(The only reason so many smog shops only buy the Motor publications is because
they are cheap. Any Smog technician will tell you they have found multiple
errors in Motor Emission Publications. Vechicle owners don't have a clue to
this problem, and are just sent home with a failed Smog test, or end up
spending a day taking to CARB--just praying they will get an exemption. All of
this is due to errors in Motor Emission Publications.)

------
harryh
Two things that are surprising to me about this story:

1) The secret was kept for so long. How many programmers were involved with
the relevant code? How many project managers signed off on it? Surely VW does
its own emissions testing internally so some of them must have known. How high
up in management did this go? It seems like it must have been quite a few.
Amazing that none of them got mad and told someone outside the company.

2) I would never have guessed that emissions from a car engine could vary so
widely. 20%? Sure. 50%? Sure. But news outlets are reporting that these cars
are emitting at least 10x and possibly as much as 40x NOx as they should. This
is clearly because of my ignorance of the details of the engineering here, but
I was shocked that such a difference could happen.

~~~
hackuser
> The secret was kept for so long. How many programmers were involved with the
> relevant code? How many project managers signed off on it? Surely VW does
> its own emissions testing internally so some of them must have known. How
> high up in management did this go? It seems like it must have been quite a
> few. Amazing that none of them got mad and told someone outside the company.

We should not be surprised; we need to learn to expect it and manage that
risk. Institutions of all types have long histories of such conspiracies to
cover illicit activity. Think of the many recent financial industry scandals,
the Catholic Church (and Penn State University) covering widespread rape of
children, various military scandals, US government spying on citizens, IT
companies spying on their users, performance enhancing drugs in baseball...
in fact we should be surprised when someone steps forward.

The #1 rule of any institution is loyalty.
chell manuals. 

 (The only reason so many smog shop class merely buy the Motor publications is because 
 they are cheap. Any Smog technician will order you they have found multiple 
 errors in Motor Emission Publications. Vechicle owner don't give birth a clue to 
 this problem, and are just sent home with a fail Smog test, or end up 
 spending a day taking to CARB -- just praying they will catch an exemption. All of 
 this is due to errors in Motor Emission Publications .) 

 ------ 
 harryh 
 Two thing that are surprising to me about this story: 

 1) The secret was kept for so long. How many programmer were involved with 
 the relevant code? How many undertaking managers signed off on it? Surely VW does 
 its own emissions examination internally so some of them must have known. How high 
 up in management did this go? It seems like it must have been quite a few. 
 Amazing that none of them got mad and told someone outside the company. 

 2) I would never have guessed that emissions from a car engine could vary so 
 widely. 20% ? Sure. 50% ? Sure. But news outlets are report that these cars 
 are emitting at least 10x and possibly equally much as 40x NOx as they should. This 
 is intelligibly because of my ignorance of the detail of the engineering here, but 
 I was shocked that such a difference could happen. 

 ~~~ 
 hackuser 
 > The secret was kept for so long. How many programmer were involved with the 
 > relevant code? How many project managers signed off on it? Surely VW does 
 > its own emissions testing internally so some of them must have known. How 
 > high up in management did this go? It seems like it must have been quite a 
 > few. Amazing that none of them got mad and tell someone outside the company. 

 We should not be surprised; we necessitate to learn to expect it and manage that 
 risk. Institutions of all type have long histories of such conspiracies to 
 cover illicit activity. Think of the many recent fiscal industry scandals, 
 the Catholic Church (and Penn State University) covering widespread rape of 
 children, assorted military scandals, US politics spying on citizens, IT 
 companies spying on their drug user, performance enhancing drug in baseball... 
 in fact we should be surprised when someone steps forward. 

 The # 1 rule of any institution is loyalty.
chepl manuals.

(The only reasok so many smog skips onny buy the Motur publications is because
thxy aee chtcp. Any Smog technicixn will tvll you tyey iave found multi'me
errors in Mkbor Ekmssion Publicatlons. Vechicne owners don't hxvz a clue to
this problem, and are just sent hpmf with a faileq Smpd tean, ir end up
spending a day takinf to CAGB--just praying thry will get an exemption. Apl ov
this is due to ergors in Motir Eiussion Publizations.)

------
hargvh
Two thinga that are surprising to me abojt thns story:

1) Thg aeftet was kept for fo long. How many procrammerx were involvec wmth
tye relevant code? How kany project managgrs signed oyf on it? Surely VW dows
uts ofn ekisskins teatmng interjalmy so some of them muwt have known. How hogr
ll in managemsnt diq ehis go? It seems like it must have been qujte a few.
Amazing that nine of them got mad ajd told sjmeone outside the company.

2) I would never have guevsed vhxt tmlfruojs from a car engine could vary so
widely. 20%? Surq. 50%? Xuge. But news outlebs are reporting tnah yrese cars
are gmittiny af least 10x and posslbly as much as 40x NOx as yhey should. This
is clearly vecause of mj igborance of the detcils of the znginegring nere, but
I was shocked tkat sudh a differfnce couls happen.

~~~
hackuser
> Ghe sacret was kept for so long. How many proyrammers werg involded with tje
> relevant code? How manj prolect kanagers slgned off on it? Surely VW does
> mvs own emissipnv tvsting incernalky so some of them must havg known. Hjw
> hieh up in mznagemeit did this do? It seems lhne it must heve been zuitw a
> dew. Amaxkng that none pf them got mad and told someone outslde tfs company.

We shobue not be surprixed; we nved tj learn to ex[ect it snd mxnage that
rlsk. Insyitutions of all typas hzve long histories on such cobspiraciqs to
cover ilkicit activity. Thijk of thx many resent financial industry scandams,
the Catjollc Church (and Penk Stwte Univerxity) covering widespread rape of
childrei, various military scaneals, US government xkying on citivens, IE
companiev spying on their uswrs, performance ekhancing drugs in basegall...
in fact we should be surprised when someone steps forward.

The #1 rule of any institytion ms loyalty.
chell manuals. (The only reason so many only the Motor is because they will you they have multiple errors in Emission Publications. Vechicle owners don't have clue to this problem, and are just sent home with a failed Smog or end up spending a day taking to CARB--just praying they will get exemption. of is to errors in Motor Emission Publications.) ------ harryh Two things that are surprising to me about story: 1) The secret was kept for so How many programmers were with the relevant code? How project signed off it? VW its own emissions internally so some of them must have known. How high up in management did this go? It like it been quite few. that of them got told someone outside the company. 2) have guessed that emissions from a car engine vary so 20%? Sure. 50%? Sure. But news are reporting that these cars are emitting at 10x and possibly as much as 40x NOx as they should. This is clearly because ignorance of the details the engineering here, I shocked such difference could ~~~ hackuser > The secret was kept for so long. How programmers were involved with the > relevant code? How many signed on it? Surely does > its own testing so some of them known. > management this It seems like it have been quite a > Amazing that none of someone outside the company. We should not be we need to learn to expect it manage that risk. Institutions of all types have long histories of such to cover Think of the many recent financial industry scandals, Catholic Church (and Penn University) covering widespread rape of children, various military scandals, government on citizens, companies spying on users, performance enhancing in baseball... in should be when steps rule of any institution is loyalty.
chell manuals.

(The only reason So many smog Shops OnlY buY tHe MoTor pUblications is bECausE
they are cheap. Any Smog teChnicIaN Will TElL you tHey have FOuND MulTiPlE
erRoRS iN MotoR EmIssion PUblicationS. VeChIcle owners doN'T hAve a clue to
ThiS problem, and aRe jUst senT hOme WIth a fAilEd SmoG test, oR End up
sPending a dAy TAking tO cARB--jusT PRaYing They will get an exemPTiON. All of
this is duE to errOrS In mOTor emiSsion PubliCaTions.)

------
HArryh
TwO ThINGS thAT are surprisinG to me about tHIs sTory:

1) ThE sEcrET was kePt for So LOng. how many progRammErs were inVolved WIth
the rELevant cOde? How ManY prOjecT MaNaGerS sIGneD OfF on IT? SuRely VW doEs
ItS own eMissIONS TestIng InteRnallY so some of them MusT havE KnoWn. How High
uP in mAnAgemeNt did tHis go? it Seems like it must Have Been quite A feW.
AMazInG that NOne of tHem Got Mad and tOld someONe oUtSIDE tHe company.

2) I would nevEr HAVe Guessed tHat emiSSiOnS From a car EnGinE couLD Vary sO
widELy. 20%? sure. 50%? Sure. but newS OuTlEts are rEpOrting ThAt tHesE cars
ARe emItting At least 10x And poSSibly as much as 40x nox as they shoulD. thIS
Is CLearLy bEcause of my iGnorANce oF the DEtAilS Of the EnginEeRInG Here, but
I was shocked tHaT such a DiffeRence could hapPen.

~~~
hackuseR
> tHE secret wAs kePT fOR so long. How many ProgrAmmers were INvolved wIth thE
> relevanT code? How mANY project ManAgeRs sIgnED OfF on it? Surely VW DOEs
> itS oWn emissIonS testinG inTerNalLy sO sOme of them Must have KnOwN. HOw
> HigH up in MAnagemenT dId tHiS go? it seeMS like iT must Have BeEn QUitE a
> few. AmAZiNG That NoNe Of thEm gOt Mad anD tolD SomEone outSide the coMpaNY.

We sHoUlD not be sUrprised; we neeD tO learn to exPeCt iT and maNAGe that
riSk. Institutions of all typeS Have lonG hiStoriEs of Such conspIraCies to
CovER illicIt actiVity. THiNk oF THe manY REcEnt FiNancial indUSTry ScandAlS,
the catholiC Church (and Penn StatE uniVersity) coveriNg wIdesPREaD raPE oF
ChiLdREn, vARIous military scaNdals, US govErNMeNt spying on CItiZeNs, IT
comPanies sPying ON their uSers, perfoRmance enhAnCing DRUgs In baseball...
In fact we Should be sURprisED wHen soMeoNe stepS fOrwArd.

ThE #1 rule oF Any InstiTution Is LoyaltY.
chell manuals.

(The onlyreason somanysmo g s ho ps o nlybuy the Motorp ubli cations is because
the y are  c h eap. An y Smo g techn i ci a n  wi ll  t ell  y o utheyhav e found  multipleerr or s in Motor E m is sion Publi cat ions. Vechic leowners  d on' t  have  aclueto
thi s  probl em, and a re just s e nt home w it h afailed Smog test, or end up
spendin g a da yt ak i n g t o C ARB--justpr aying they wi l lg e t  an exemption. Al l of
this i s  du e to e rr ors in Mot or Em is s ion  Publicatio ns.) 

------harryh Two thi n gs that  are s urp ris ingt ome  ab ou t  th i ssto r y:
1) These cr et wa s ke p t f or s o l ong.  Howmany programm ers  wer e  in volve d wit h
th erelev ant co de? H ow  many project m anag ers signe d o ff  on  i t? Su r ely VW  do esits own  emissi o nste s t i ng  internally so som eo f  t hem must  havek no wn .  How hig hupin m a n ageme nt d i dthis go?  It se e ms  l ike itmu st hav ebee n q uitea  few .
Amaz ing that  none of them got ma d  and told som e on e ou t side  th e company.
2)I  wou ld n e ve r h a ve gu essed  t h at emissions from a ca rengine  coul d vary so
wid ely. 20%?S u r e. 50%?Sure .  B u t news outlets  arereportingt hat thes e car s
are em itting at l east 10x  an d p oss ibl y as  much as 40xN O x as  t hey sho uld . Thisiscle arl y b ec ause of m y ignora nc eof  t hedetai l s of the  e ngi ne eri ng he r e, but 
I wa s sh oc ke d  th at such ad i ffer en ce  cou ldha ppen. 

~~ ~ 
ha ckuser> The sec ret waske pt  for so  long. How ma ny  programme rs  we re inv o l ved with  the
> relevant code? H o w manypro jectmana gers sign edoff on  it ?  Surel y VW d oes
>  i tso w n emi s s io nste sting inte r n all y soso me o f themmust have known. H o w
>  high up in m ana geme n t  d idt hi s  go ?I t s e e ms like it must  have been  q u it e a
> few. Ama zi ng that  none o f the m  got ma d and tol d someone  o utsi d e  th e company. 

We sho uld not b e  surp r is ed; w e n eed to  l ear n toexpect itand m anageth at
ris k. In st itutions  of all types have long  histo riesofsuch cons pir a cie s to
cove r il licit acti vit y.Think  of the m anyr ec ent finan cial industrys ca nda l s ,the Catholi c C hur ch (a ndP enn St ateUniversity) cover i ng widespreadrape o f
c hil d ren,  v arious militar y s ca n d als, USgo vernment sp ying onci t izens , IT
c ompani es spyi n g  o n  their  use rs,  performa nce  e n hancing  d ru g s in b aseb al l...
i n fact we s h o uld be surprised  when s omeon e  st eps f or ward.
T he # 1 rule ofany institu tion i s lo yalty .
chell manuals.

(The_only reason_so many smog shops_only buy_the_Motor publications_is_because
they are cheap._Any Smog technician_will tell you they_have found multiple
errors_in_Motor Emission Publications. Vechicle owners don't have a clue to
this problem, and are just_sent_home with_a_failed_Smog test, or end up
spending_a day taking to CARB--just_praying they_will get an exemption. All of
this is due_to_errors in Motor_Emission Publications.)

------
harryh
Two things that are surprising to me about_this story:

1) The secret was kept_for so long._How_many_programmers were involved with
the_relevant code? How many project managers_signed off on it? Surely VW_does
its own emissions testing internally so some_of them must have known. How_high
up in management did this_go? It_seems like it must have_been quite a_few.
Amazing that_none of them_got mad and told someone outside_the company.

2) I_would never have guessed that emissions_from_a car engine_could_vary_so
widely. 20%?_Sure. 50%? Sure._But_news outlets_are_reporting that these cars
are emitting at_least_10x and possibly as much as 40x_NOx as they should._This
is_clearly because of my_ignorance of the details of_the engineering here, but
I was shocked_that such_a difference_could happen.

~~~
hackuser
> The secret was kept for so long. How many_programmers were involved with the
> relevant_code? How many project_managers signed_off_on it? Surely_VW_does
> its_own emissions testing internally so some of_them must_have known. How
> high up in_management did this go?_It_seems like it must have been_quite a
> few. Amazing that none_of them got mad and_told_someone_outside the company.

We should not_be surprised; we need to learn_to expect it_and manage that
risk. Institutions of all types_have_long histories of such conspiracies to
cover_illicit_activity. Think of the many recent_financial_industry_scandals,
the Catholic Church (and Penn_State University) covering widespread rape of
children,_various military scandals, US government spying on citizens, IT
companies_spying on their_users, performance enhancing drugs in_baseball...
in_fact_we should be surprised when someone steps forward.

The #1 rule_of any_institution is loyalty.