• LPR cameras

    From Aaron Thomas@1:342/201 to All on Thu Oct 15 16:49:46 2026
    License Plate Reader cameras (LPRs aka Flock) have been around for at least 10 years and probably longer. They're an excellent tool for police and they deserve absolutely no scrutiny whatsoever.

    Example: Today I read in the local news that a lady hit a child with her car and drove away. Police used LPRs to track her down (and per New York State law they gave her an appearance ticket for the class E felony and of course she's still free to drive around unrestricted.)

    But without the LPRs she wouldn't have ever been caught.

    The left and the media is trying to make the cameras sound like a bad thing and they're trying to make the public thing negatively of them for 1 clear reason: they could be used by ICE.

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  • From Ron L.@1:120/616 to Aaron Thomas on Fri Oct 16 07:28:09 2026
    Aaron Thomas wrote to All <=-

    The left and the media is trying to make the cameras sound like a bad thing and they're trying to make the public thing negatively of them
    for 1 clear reason: they could be used by ICE.

    I think the real reason is: The Left doesn't control them. If they were in control of them, there would be no outcry from the Great Unwashed Masses.

    But they can be abused and misused, as we've seen recently. But those can be fixed with some human rules.


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  • From Aaron Thomas@1:342/201 to Ron L. on Fri Oct 16 11:54:04 2026
    The left and the media is trying to make the cameras sound like a bad thing and they're trying to make the public thing negatively of them for 1 clear reason: they could be used by ICE.

    I think the real reason is: The Left doesn't control them. If they
    were in control of them, there would be no outcry from the Great
    Unwashed Masses.

    That's part of it. They don't cry about it when it benefits them. And although I haven't figured this "outcry" out completely yet, I've found a few clues:

    1. Nobody ever complained about these cameras before.
    2. Nobody I know is complaining now.
    3. It's Bernie Sanders and AOC who are complaining specifically about feds using them.

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  • From Ron L.@1:120/616 to Aaron Thomas on Sun Oct 18 09:48:50 2026
    Aaron Thomas wrote to Dr. What <=-

    That's part of it. They don't cry about it when it benefits them. And although I haven't figured this "outcry" out completely yet, I've found
    a few clues:

    1. Nobody ever complained about these cameras before.
    2. Nobody I know is complaining now.
    3. It's Bernie Sanders and AOC who are complaining specifically about
    feds using them.

    A few things we need to remember:
    1. The "Left" isn't a single group. They are multiple groups.
    2. At the higher levels, they are a bunch of elitists who each believe that they should rule. They have banded together hoping to use the others to get what they want. We've seen that story before and we know how it ends.
    3. The lower levels are basically drones sharing in a hive mind.

    The "outcry" comes from the hive mind because that's what they were told to do.

    Bernie and AOC are complaining because their "upper" group is not powerful enough to get access.

    The only complaints I hear today are not about the data centers per se, but about things related to them:
    1. Out SoS's husband made a large amount of money pushing through one that the residents didn't want.
    2. Building on arable farm land instead of brownspace.
    3. Destroying rural communities instead of building on brownspace.


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  • From Aaron Thomas@1:342/201 to Ron L. on Mon Oct 19 21:40:04 2026
    3. It's Bernie Sanders and AOC who are complaining specifically about feds using them.

    A few things we need to remember:
    1. The "Left" isn't a single group. They are multiple groups.
    2. At the higher levels, they are a bunch of elitists who each believe that they should rule. They have banded together hoping to use the
    others to get what they want. We've seen that story before and we know how it ends. 3. The lower levels are basically drones sharing in a hive mind.

    The "outcry" comes from the hive mind because that's what they were told to do.

    I get that and I see it. When cornered, the little leftist parrots don't know what to say about the cameras other than "they're an invasion of our privacy!" If you try to get them to elaborate they'll change the subject quickly or deflect with stupidity like "These cameras don't do any good.."

    Bernie and AOC are complaining because their "upper" group is not
    powerful enough to get access.

    That makes sense based on their ridiculous chain of command. I was going to ask "What would AOC or Bernie do if they had access to the footage?" but I think I already know: They wouldn't know how to abuse the privilege but their handlers would have a few ideas.

    The only complaints I hear today are not about the data centers per se, but about things related to them:
    1. Out SoS's husband made a large amount of money pushing through one
    that the residents didn't want.
    2. Building on arable farm land instead of brownspace.
    3. Destroying rural communities instead of building on brownspace.

    I assume you're hearing these things from real people. The leftists never get into any of those kinds of details, but those sound like legitimate complaints to me.

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  • From Dr. What@1:342/201 to Aaron Thomas on Tue Oct 20 04:59:10 2026
    Aaron Thomas wrote to Ron L. <=-

    The only complaints I hear today are not about the data centers per se, but about things related to them:
    1. Out SoS's husband made a large amount of money pushing through one
    that the residents didn't want.
    2. Building on arable farm land instead of brownspace.
    3. Destroying rural communities instead of building on brownspace.

    I assume you're hearing these things from real people. The leftists
    never get into any of those kinds of details, but those sound like legitimate complaints to me.

    Real people and trusted news outlets.

    People don't care about "AI taking over the world" (hint: It won't anytime soon). They really don't care about Flock cameras (only the few instances they get abused).

    But they do care about grandma's house getting bulldozed for a new data center that could have been built on brownfield less than 20 miles away that already had access to water, power, etc. with no one living near by.

    But here in Michigan, our "green" Governor has done many things to kill the land (ex: wiping out forests to put in a solar panel farm that only produces 6 months out of the year - if the storms didn't damage them).


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  • From Aaron Thomas@1:342/201 to Dr. What on Wed Oct 21 07:59:22 2026
    People don't care about "AI taking over the world" (hint: It won't
    anytime soon). They really don't care about Flock cameras (only the few instances they get abused).

    I Google'd "abuses of Flock cameras" and it only made me love the cameras even more:

    1. Stalking romantic partners (this is the only bad thing but who cares)
    2. Tracking travel patterns (big deal)
    3. ICE sharing (sounds good to me)
    4. Reproductive rights targeting women who get abortions (yea right)
    5. Targeting protesters and activits (love it)

    But they do care about grandma's house getting bulldozed for a new data center that could have been built on brownfield less than 20 miles away that already had access to water, power, etc. with no one living near by.

    The thing that some people don't get about data centers is that when you own property you can do whatever you want with it (within zoning limits.) It's a case of "I'm paying too much attention to what my neighbors do on their own property."

    I did a search to get an idea of what the complaints about data centers are:

    1. Demand for electric raising consumer prices (We need the Alaska pipe line) 2. Water consumption/contamination (All power plants cause this)
    3. Cooling systems making neighborhoods hotter (#1 most hilarious crap)
    4. Air & noise pollution (Let's ban Harley Davidson too then)

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  • From Ron L.@1:120/616 to Aaron Thomas on Thu Oct 22 06:46:45 2026
    Aaron Thomas wrote to Dr. What <=-

    I Google'd "abuses of Flock cameras" and it only made me love the
    cameras even more:

    Ya, but we just had another "abuse" where the police blindly accepted the Flock results, impounded and destroyed a mother's car, and, effectively, wrecked her life - and Flock was wrong.

    Like I said, we can fix this with simple human rules. Police can't just take your property with just a hunch (which is what Flock produces), so why are they able to violate our rights when Flock says "Yes, that's it"?

    The thing that some people don't get about data centers is that when
    you own property you can do whatever you want with it (within zoning limits.) It's a case of "I'm paying too much attention to what my neighbors do on their own property."

    No. This is different. This is owners getting pushed off their property via Eminent Domain in order for a data center to be built that doesn't need to be built THERE.

    1. Demand for electric raising consumer prices (We need the Alaska pipe line)

    We need to have the gov't stop regulating electric companies - which causes these problems.

    2. Water consumption/contamination (All power plants cause this)

    And this is a myth with data centers anyway.

    3. Cooling systems making neighborhoods hotter (#1 most hilarious crap)

    Well, they did think that AC caused global warming at one point. :)

    4. Air & noise pollution (Let's ban Harley Davidson too then)

    But the Harley is only spending moments driving by your house while the data center does it 24/7.

    But this comes back to the question: Why are we building data centers in the middle of rural housing area when there are lots of other places that have no one living near by?


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  • From Aaron Thomas@1:342/201 to Ron L. on Thu Oct 22 06:55:16 2026
    Like I said, we can fix this with simple human rules. Police can't just take your property with just a hunch (which is what Flock produces), so why are they able to violate our rights when Flock says "Yes, that's it"?

    Did they impound somebody's vehicle?

    No. This is different. This is owners getting pushed off their
    property via Eminent Domain in order for a data center to be built that doesn't need to be built THERE.

    Both of those issues sound iffy to me. Are you sure there's not more to these stories?

    3. Cooling systems making neighborhoods hotter (#1 most hilarious cra

    Well, they did think that AC caused global warming at one point. :)

    I'm confused because I don't know if the left wants us to waste electric or save it. I think they want us to save electricity so that there's more for them to waste.

    But this comes back to the question: Why are we building data centers in the middle of rural housing area when there are lots of other places
    that have no one living near by?

    Zoning ordinances should already have that covered in most places. For example: Data centers can't be built in NY's agricultural residential zones (only homes can.) But if someone lives in mixed use zone (like in an urban area) they can't fight it, and they should have moved to a strictly residential (or agricultural residential) zone.

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  • From Ron L.@1:120/616 to Aaron Thomas on Fri Oct 23 06:53:06 2026
    Aaron Thomas wrote to Dr. What <=-

    Like I said, we can fix this with simple human rules. Police can't just take your property with just a hunch (which is what Flock produces), so why are they able to violate our rights when Flock says "Yes, that's it"?

    Did they impound somebody's vehicle?

    Towed. Impounded. Damaged beyond repair. Caused the innocent women to lose her job because she could not get to work.

    All based on a Flock "tip" that was treated as irrfutable evidence. Some of the officers involved even commented that the car didn't look like the one they were looking for.

    No. This is different. This is owners getting pushed off their
    property via Eminent Domain in order for a data center to be built that doesn't need to be built THERE.

    Both of those issues sound iffy to me. Are you sure there's not more to these stories?

    Eminent Domain has been abused for a while now. So this isn't surprising on that front.

    And, yes, there is probably more to those stories, but getting the facts here is hard because the people involved don't want the facts known.

    I'm confused because I don't know if the left wants us to waste
    electric or save it. I think they want us to save electricity so that there's more for them to waste.

    It's easy to be confused about the Left because they can't think for themselves.

    I just chalk it up to "they're nuts" and don't bother trying to understand their "reasoning".

    Zoning ordinances should already have that covered in most places.

    Zoning is controlled by the same people who do Eminent Domain. They do whatever they please and don't care about us plebes.


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  • From Gregory Deyss@1:267/150 to Dr. What on Sat Oct 24 21:46:44 2026
    Real people and trusted news outlets.
    Where are these and what do you consider to be trusted.
    Surely not the national news outlets such as ABC, CBS, or NBC, even the soft spoken words that are heard on NPR radio lean way left.

    It's often that these sources can be seen twisting the narrative that they are trying desperately to get me to believe. It's repetitive

    I can instantaneously see what they are doing in real time.
    I have always maintained to think for yourself and do your own research and never ever to believe in someone else's narrative and make it your own.

    I believe the reason why these lefty networks are increasingly nasty is because they all got "throat-punched" by the results of the last Presidential election. All of these loons wanted Kamila to win - her and her blue wall would keep Trump at bay. How did that work for out? They are infuriated and embarrassed, though they would never admit. They are truly the enemy of the people.

    Can you imagine how different (and not for the better) if Word Salad won.
    If she ever shows her face again on the National Stage I might through my hat into the ring. Fidonet in the news. It would be.

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  • From Gregory Deyss@1:267/150 to Aaron Thomas on Sat Oct 24 21:57:39 2026
    On 21 Oct 2026, Aaron Thomas said the following...

    People don't care about "AI taking over the world" (hint: It won't anytime soon). They really don't care about Flock cameras (only the f
    instances they get abused).

    I Google'd "abuses of Flock cameras" and it only made me love the
    cameras even more:
    Me too. You ever notice the people bitching about the use of these are the very people that are the problem. Troy, NY is filled the brim with people of a criminal mentality or perhaps it is do whatever it is you want to do because your limited intelligence that suggests that people like me, are the cause for all that goes wrong in their world. When really they need to get educated and keep a job and improve their own lives and stop blaming everyone but themselves.

    .�______ �������Ŀ �������Ŀ ���������Ŀ ���������ͻ ���������������Ŀ
    _[]_���ij� �FIDONET� �M A I L� � FILES � �T R U M P� �Another Message�
    { NET 267 � �TROY,NY� �HUB 800� �1:267/150� � 2 0 2 6 � � by Gregory �
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  • From Aaron Thomas@1:342/201 to Ron L. on Sat Oct 24 20:45:56 2026
    Did they impound somebody's vehicle?

    Towed. Impounded. Damaged beyond repair. Caused the innocent women to lose her job because she could not get to work.

    All based on a Flock "tip" that was treated as irrfutable evidence.
    Some of the officers involved even commented that the car didn't look
    like the one they were looking for.

    My interpretation of this is: Some cops are bad people and do a bad job, but that doesn't mean that their tools are bad; just dangerous.

    There's a local radio show host here who doubles as the local radio news reporter. A few months ago he was complaining about the cameras being an "invasion of our privacy" and (ironically) later the same day when he was telling the news he said that "a missing child was found safe after police used the cameras to locate her." I keep forgetting to call him up to remind him of that gaffe.

    Regarding the complaints about data centers:
    Eminent Domain has been abused for a while now. So this isn't
    surprising on that front.

    I mis-read your message about this. I get it now. People being pushed off their property for a data center sounds outrageous to me. I saw some people get pushed off their land in a nearby town for a highway expansion, but that clearly made the highway (State RT 17 in Windsor NY) safer and better. I can't imagine a data center making anyone safer or better.

    I'm confused because I don't know if the left wants us to waste electric or save it. I think they want us to save electricity so that there's more for them to waste.

    It's easy to be confused about the Left because they can't think for themselves.

    Right. I used to think it was fun to ask them questions but in reality it's just sad to see people being such puppets, answering with catch phrases that were invented by their handlers.

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  • From Aaron Thomas@1:342/201 to Gregory Deyss on Sat Oct 24 21:02:14 2026
    I Google'd "abuses of Flock cameras" and it only made me love the cameras even more:
    Me too. You ever notice the people bitching about the use of these are
    the very people that are the problem. Troy, NY is filled the brim with people of a criminal mentality or perhaps it is do whatever it is you
    want to do because your limited intelligence that suggests that people like me, are the cause for all that goes wrong in their world. When
    really they need to get educated and keep a job and improve their own lives and stop blaming everyone but themselves.

    Have you noticed a spike in stupidity since Cuomo revised the bail laws? I notice it here! Nobody knows how to drive anymore. Those damn e-bikes are all over the place. The store shelves are getting wiped out by thieves. The cops aren't doing sh~t about it.

    It's Bruce time! (And it's also brewsky time!)

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  • From Ron L.@1:120/616 to Gregory Deyss on Sun Oct 25 09:20:34 2026
    Gregory Deyss wrote to Dr. What <=-

    Real people and trusted news outlets.

    Where are these and what do you consider to be trusted.
    Surely not the national news outlets such as ABC, CBS, or NBC, even the soft spoken words that are heard on NPR radio lean way left.

    Oh, heck no. Any "mainstream" media is assumed to be propaganda today. Add CNN, Washington Post, etc. to your list.

    Even Fox is really more Controlled Opposition than "news" today. I would only watch it for entertainment.

    Right now, OANN, MRC, several others on X (like Libs of Tik-Tok) are my sources. But I still treat them as "information sources" as opposed to "fact sources" and do my own research. I've had too many "trusted" sources turn strange (ex: Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson) to blindly trust any information source.

    It's often that these sources can be seen twisting the narrative that
    they are trying desperately to get me to believe. It's repetitive

    Which is why I don't blindly trust them and use them for information only, ignoring their editorial and assuming that they are biased.

    I believe the reason why these lefty networks are increasingly nasty is because they all got "throat-punched" by the results of the last Presidential election.

    Oh, there are more reasons than that.

    Lower ratings (remember that their "product" is eyeballs for advertisements) are causing them to leak money like crazy.
    I believe that some billionaire leftoid is paying lots of money to keep entities like CNN and Washington Post financially afloat.

    And now the FCC is watching closely. Some of these media sources are close to getting their broadcast licenses revoked because of their blatent propaganda and refusal to broadcast information that the Left doesn't like - but people need to know.


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  • From Ron L.@1:120/616 to Aaron Thomas on Sun Oct 25 09:20:34 2026
    Aaron Thomas wrote to Dr. What <=-

    My interpretation of this is: Some cops are bad people and do a bad
    job, but that doesn't mean that their tools are bad; just dangerous.

    Exactly. That's why I say that we need human rules around the use of these new tools.

    In this case, the Flock tip should have been treated as just a tip and the facts should have been verified by humans FIRST before the police went that far. Just like the police would have done if a human called in the tip.

    I mis-read your message about this. I get it now. People being pushed
    off their property for a data center sounds outrageous to me. I saw
    some people get pushed off their land in a nearby town for a highway expansion, but that clearly made the highway (State RT 17 in Windsor
    NY) safer and better. I can't imagine a data center making anyone safer
    or better.

    Exactly. That's what Eminent Domain was intended for.

    But it's too often abused today and if you follow the money, it leads to corrupt city employees.

    Right. I used to think it was fun to ask them questions but in reality it's just sad to see people being such puppets, answering with catch phrases that were invented by their handlers.

    That's why I don't bother to engage with them anymore. They are just bots spouting their slogans that were programmed into to them by the TV today.


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