Forget Businesses, Houston Police Chief Wants Security Cameras In Your Home
from the he's-gonna-say-it... dept
Earlier this week, we wrote about proposals that would require businesses to install surveillance cameras, noting that we’re seeing way too many people bring up the bogus old line that “If you’re not doing anything wrong, what do you have to worry about?” — and suggesting that someone name the concept that any discussion about privacy issues will eventually have someone make a statement just like that, showing just how little they actually understand about privacy rights. Well, here’s another one. Found on Digg is the story that Houston’s police chief doesn’t think surveillance cameras should be limited to public places. Nope, he wants them installed in private homes as well. And what’s the first thing out of his mouth in the article? You guessed it: “if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?”
Comments on “Forget Businesses, Houston Police Chief Wants Security Cameras In Your Home”
No Subject Given
Letmeguess, the easy way to do this would be to embed the cameras in the televisions…
Re: No Subject Given
Maybe we all should embed a camera in our foreheads so the government sees everything we do.
Its criminal to even require cameras in businesses, WTF happened to our governent, I thought it was by the people not by some cocksucker in power!
Re: No Subject Given
To the first person. You forgot the computer screens…
Re: No Subject Given
Can you say 1984?
Re: No Subject Given
Bush is a dumbass president….most texans are retards…..hell, most of americans are retards, they voted bush in, right?
Re: No Subject Given
So who is going to be watching all these cameras anyway? Will the watchers have cameras aimed at them too? If so, who is going to be watching THOSE cameras?
Re: Re Hmm
How about right above the bed and one on the side
: )
If he likes the idea so damn much...
…he should be the first to install a camera in his home, so that we can all see what HE’S doing.
Re: If he likes the idea so damn much...
Anyone that suggests laws like that should have it turned against them first.
Re: If he likes the idea so damn much...
This actually happened in a city where a judge ruled that trash on the curb was “public” and didn’t require search warrant. The police chief, local DA, and judge became subjects in an indepth expose on the impact of the ruling when a reporter went through each offical’s trash. The Sunday suppliment outlined all the items of interest they found in the respective trash cans–TV Guide highlighted, magazines, _old bills and statements_.
The DA and judge were _not_ amused and looked at charging the reporter for invasion of privacy. The police chief just took it in stride saying “I have nothing to hide”. They just asked for the trash back but couldn’t charge the reporter with anything.
Reading this made me shred everything I throw out with my name on it.
Re: If he likes the idea so damn much...
What this person said!!
Re: If he likes the idea so damn much...
…the next place…white house.
Aren't there more important things?
Why don’t they try tackling the majority of crime that happens in public first? Might be an idea…
Re: Aren't there more important things?
There is a ton of crime that occurs in the home, some examples include the following:
# It is illegal to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.
# The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home.
# You can be legally married by publically introducing a person as your husband or wife 3 times.
# A city ordinance states that a person cannot go barefoot without first obtaining a special five-dollar permit.
# It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
# It is illegal to milk another person’s cow.
# Beer may not be purchased after midnight on a Sunday, but it may be purchased on Monday.
# It is illegal to sell Limburger cheese on Sunday.
(sourced from http://www.dumblaws.com, can not atest to how accurate they are)
#It also appears that male/male or female/female sexual intercourse is also illegal in texas
#underage drinking and personal drug use.
– Jessta
Re: Re: Aren't there more important things?
Most of those “Dumb Laws” things are taken from old, stupid, and abandoned laws.
I know there was one that stated:
“If two trains come to a crossing, one cannot move until the other has.”
Re: Re: just how fucking stupid are you guys?
can you spell Urban Legend? we have micro brewery clubs all over dallas. everything you said is a myth…what a jerk.
Re: Re: Aren't there more important things?
#It also appears that male/male or female/female sexual intercourse is also illegal in texas
Depends on your definition of “illegal.” Lawrence and Garner v. Texas overturned those laws in Texas–they’re still on the books, but meaningless.
Picking the worst apple in the basket and caling e
When was the last time anything inteligent came from texas? Come on, if they install cameras in houses, it won’t permiate to the upper states 😉
No offence to all you texans… it’s just that you arn’t the brightest bunch 🙂
Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
I would be offended if your post had proper grammar and no misspelled words, but since that is not true, I am willing to forgive and overlook the less fortunate and ignorant souls of this world, like yourself, who do not know any better.
I am from Texas and don’t agree with our privacy being invaded either. Since privacy rights are of utmost concern and happen to be politically hot right now, anything any government official says that implies reduced rights is likely to be taken out of context, out of proportion, misquoted and misused.
You might want to do a little research and find out what really happened. Possibly the reporter is from your area?
Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
@SmallTwig
>No offence to all you texans… it’s just that you arn’t the brightest bunch 🙂
Yes, that’s why one of the first words ever spoken from the surface of the moon was “Houston,” as in “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” — because those Texans are just SO stupid.
That’s why some of the most high tech companies are located in Austin, Dallas or Houston — because those Texans are just SO stupid.
That’s why two of the world’s largest airlines are based in Texas (American Airlines in Dallas and Continental in Houston) — because Texans are just SO stupid.
Granted, Police Chief Herald Hurtt is NOT one of the brightest bulbs in the box, but don’t lump all Texans in with that idiot.
@Jesse McNelis:
># You can be legally married by publically introducing a person as your husband or wife 3 times
This is the definition of a “common law” marriage. It did not originate in Texas.
># It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
Probably because it’s illegal to shoot a buffalo at all, regardless of the shooter’s location.
># It is illegal to milk another person’s cow.
Because to do so without the cow owner’s permission is called “theft,” illegal just about everywhere.
># Beer may not be purchased after midnight on a Sunday, but it may be purchased on Monday.
This is part of the so-called “Blue Law,” common in the South, not just Texas, which has long since been recended.
># It is illegal to sell Limburger cheese on Sunday.
Also part of the Blue Law.
>#It also appears that male/male or female/female sexual intercourse is also illegal in texas
This law, along with similar laws in 4 other states (along with anti-sodomy laws in 9 other states), was struck down by the Supreme Court in Lawrence et al. v. Texas in 2003.
Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
I agree. But add one more, Bush is from texas and dumb as a brick. Here are 3 more I can think of..
1. Medicare created by drug companies and cover only drugs people dont need
.
2. After you watch him talk you know 50% less then what you knew before (this possibly why a vast majority of Texans are so much dunmber, since Bush was governer there ) — correct me if im wrong..
3. Refer to number 2
Hidden Force said:
@SmallTwig
>No offence to all you texans… it’s just that you arn’t the brightest bunch 🙂
Yes, that’s why one of the first words ever spoken from the surface of the moon was “Houston,” as in “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” — because those Texans are just SO stupid.
That’s why some of the most high tech companies are located in Austin, Dallas or Houston — because those Texans are just SO stupid.
That’s why two of the world’s largest airlines are based in Texas (American Airlines in Dallas and Continental in Houston) — because Texans are just SO stupid.
Granted, Police Chief Herald Hurtt is NOT one of the brightest bulbs in the box, but don’t lump all Texans in with that idiot.
@Jesse McNelis:
># You can be legally married by publically introducing a person as your husband or wife 3 times
This is the definition of a “common law” marriage. It did not originate in Texas.
># It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
Probably because it’s illegal to shoot a buffalo at all, regardless of the shooter’s location.
># It is illegal to milk another person’s cow.
Because to do so without the cow owner’s permission is called “theft,” illegal just about everywhere.
># Beer may not be purchased after midnight on a Sunday, but it may be purchased on Monday.
This is part of the so-called “Blue Law,” common in the South, not just Texas, which has long since been recended.
># It is illegal to sell Limburger cheese on Sunday.
Also part of the Blue Law.
>#It also appears that male/male or female/female sexual intercourse is also illegal in texas
This law, along with similar laws in 4 other states (along with anti-sodomy laws in 9 other states), was struck down by the Supreme Court in Lawrence et al. v. Texas in 2003.
Re: Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
That’s why some of the most high tech companies are located in Austin, Dallas or Houston — because those Texans are just SO stupid.>>
No, they are not from Texas..they moved there because of cheap taxes and labor that they didn’t have to teach English to. But Texans aren’t more stupid, except maybe politically, than anywhere else since the vast majority of Texans are from somewhere else, ironically often from the north like the Bush family, lol.
Peter
Re: Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
get your facts right. Bush isn’t “from” texas. He wasn’t born here. He only lives here. Lets clear that fact up right now. Bush is “from” the north…
True texans’ are about the brightest you’ll find. You wouldn’t have your freedom without texans lets not forget that as well.
Texas is the only state that can fly it’s flag at the same level as the american flag. Let’s not forget that all you other states must by law fly your flag lower than the American and Texas flag!
God bless Texas! The only Lone Star that can handle itself.
Re: Re: Re:2 Texas Flag?
>Texas is the only state that can fly it’s flag at the same level as the american flag. Let’s not forget that all you other states must by law fly your flag lower than the American and Texas flag!
What is the source on this?
California was a republic before it was a state, just like Texas, wouldn’t that mean that California should fly their flag at the same level as the US flag?
Moreover, why is this even important? How does where a state flies their flag reflect in any way on the population of a state? It seems a bit arrogant to even imply this.
Re: Re: Re:2 Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
Wrong! Any state or national flag may be flown at the same height as the U.S. ensign. Just not above it.
Check it out: http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html
This part is nice:
“When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor – to its own right.
..The other flags may be smaller but none may be larger.
..No other flag ever should be placed above it.
..The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.”
Re: Re: Re:2 Picking the worst apple in the basket and
100% FALSE
http://www.snopes.com/history/american/texasflag.asp
Re: Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
Yep…You got me there!! Bush is a complete IDIOT!!!
Re: Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
thats right its always the presidents fault … let me guess this war is his fault as well ? hmmm cowards thats what americans have become thats right i said it !! not one is willing to stand up for what they beleive in freedom !!! no the cameras in the house and in business aint freedom so lets stand up for our rights !!! back our president and do something about the b.s that has over taken this nation ! but no we sit here blaming everyone not ever looking into a mirror and saying maybe i can do something to help this situation out!
Re: Re: wooosh
>># Beer may not be purchased after midnight on a Sunday, but it may be purchased on Monday.
>This is part of the so-called “Blue Law,” common in the South, not just Texas, which has long since been recended.
And Texans are sooo smart that they totally miss what’s wrong with the first statement.
Re: Re: Re: wooosh
And you are soooo smart that you missed the fact stores could not sell alcohol before 10:00 am on Monday at the time that law was in effect. Do I need to explain further or do you have a Texan acquaintance who can help you understand?
Re: Re: Re:2 wooosh
well, at first it was funny, now it’s just sad.
Re: Re: Re:2 wooosh
if you wake up in the middle of night and finally realize what’s wrong with the statement let me know
Re: Re: Re: wooosh
wooosh
by Michal on Saturday February 18, @09:16
>And Texans are sooo smart that they totally miss >what’s wrong with the first statement. NOthign >wrong with that.
Us Texans get it, Midnight Sunday morning thru Monday. Maybe you don’t understand, but that’s your problem.
Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
thanks for the lovely smackdown hiddenforce, saved me the trouble
Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
Ummm…Dude…It was a joke…Geez!
Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
Man!!! You guys sure are being hard on Texans!! I live here, and don’t have any problems with spelling or anything :o) There are dumbasses all over, just look at washington DC!!! That guy is just banging on the Homeland Security drumb, he wants cash, and thought he could get it with this hair brained idea.
Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
And I quote here:
***I don’t have any problem with spelling or anything…..
***That guy is just banging on the Homeland Security drumb, he wants cash, and thought he could get it with this hair brained idea.
uh…… drumb ?? hair brained ???
that’s drum and hare-brained, respectively.
perhaps you need to go back to second-grade remedial spelling and vocabulary classes?
Re: Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
MAN!!! What does it take for a joke to go over around here?!? I was trying to be funny, but I guess it was lost on you. I would go back to second grade, but I hear you are the bully, and might kick my ass or something. Fuck you… Did I spell that right?!?
Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
No offense to you either but you might check your spelling and capitalization. Texas starts with a capital T… Guess that has nothing to do with intelligence though.
Former Texan
Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
Learn how to spell before you try to accuse a whole group of people of not being bright. The lack of language skills in your post took away the meaning from your response.
Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and CALI
I know it’s nit-picking…but if you’re going to make a comment about intelligence (or someone else’s lack therof), you should check your spelling before you post. And what’s up with that ‘subject’?
Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
Hey buddy, watch that mouth of yours. Go pick the people from Georgia. Its not like any of them know how to use a computer (except of course, the guys they imported for [AdultSwim].)
While with a population of over 5.2 million in the Houston Metropolitan area alone, there are definately A LOT of stupid people here. BUT! We do also have some of the smartest people here too. Check out the Houston article on wikipedia
We arn’t all THAT dumb! Even we would riot rather then to let some self deluded asshole with some authority place camera’s in our personal homes.
Re: Re: Yup.
We do also have some of the smartest people here too.
Yup, the smartest people in the room.
Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
OK now you’re picking on me, you don’t even know me, and I must speak up. Wasn’t that your initial goal? I’m FROM Georgia (I don’t live there at the moment.) I can use a computer and, in fact, have been an I.T. professional since the mid-eighties. I actually understand words of more than three syllables and can use them properly in sentences. I’ve found that, for the most part, I must “dumb down” my rhetoric for the online crowd.
Generalizations mean nothing as one can rarely make an accurate statement that uses the word “always” or “never” and it removes any validity from the rest of your content, IMO.
Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
Hmm, we texans will remember that statement when it’s time for you to undergo a complex and potentially lifesaving surgery. In case you didn’t know, Houston is the largest and most advanced medical center in the world, and many medical procedures and technologies originate there. Not to mention the fact that much of the oil used by idiots like you is drilled here, and the remainder is refined in our plants. Of course, we’ve also developed all of the advances in that field that allow us the most bang for the buck, as well as better and more efficient plastics and the like. We also have NASA and over 65% of the defense industry within our borders. Say goodbye to rockets and missiles, as well as all the techs that have been demilitarized over the decades. A favorite for all us techies- we lead the nation in computer chip producement and comm development, as we house major branches of firms such as Texas Instruments, AMD, Intel, Ball Semiconductors, Dell, Applied Materials, and Amtel. We also have at Texas A&M the largest uniformed group of students outside of the military academies.
Face it yanks, if Texas left the union you wouldn’t be able to drive your cars to work every day, and, you’d probably die a whole lot sooner. You’d have no plastics, and be seriously lacking in beef, poultry, and grain.
And just in case you were wondering, Texas is the only state in the US that has every right to secede whenever we want. We’re still a sovreign republic- we just decided to join up with you back in the day. And since the stereotypical Texan has at least three guns in his house anyway, as well as most of the defense industry, I’m sure we could hold our own if you tried to keep us from leaving.
Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
amen
Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
“We also have NASA”
Location chosen for the climate, Eintstein.
“And just in case you were wondering, Texas is the only state in the US that has every right to secede whenever we want. “
Every state has the right to secede.
“We’re still a sovreign republic”
No texas is a state, and people with your attitude are the reason people hate us. No one likes an arrogant fool.
” I’m sure we could hold our own if you tried to keep us from leaving.”
I doubt we’d get any resistance with people like you living here.
Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
“Texas is the only state in the US that has every right to secede.”
No, it doesn’t. Read the Texas Constitution (a long nasty document, as are most state constitutions)
It could, however divide itself into 5 states, but that’s unlikely. In fact, there’s nothing against any state subdividing (in fact at least one has)
– former Texas resident, now living in the 5th largest economy in the WORLD (California), 13% of entire US GDP and largest state economy.
PS: So Texas, you’re welcome to leave any time. Don’t let the door hit you.
PPS: To contradict the intellectual insults to Texas, you might want to point out that at one point Austin was the most educated city in the US (possibly still is, if you don’t count the burbs). Also had the most greenbelts. Plus the best margaritas north of the Rio Grande. Unfortunately, it “dallas-ified” horribly at the end of the 20th century. Once they started into elevated highways and moved the airport, it really slid. But God willing, El Patio is still serving up the best tex-mex…
PPPS: dammit, now I’m hungry.
Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
Yeah, you come off looking like some sort of Einstien with a statement like this. Perhaps you should move to Texas.
Re: texas
I suspect it’s you showing your ignorance. We all know that the best and brightest of all you rude uncultured yankee slobs have invaded us here in Texas in full force. This naturally has caused a dramatic fall in the intelligence quotient of both areas of this country. Happiness is still a yankee headed north on Interstate 35 with an illegal alien under each arm.
Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
to the moron who said Texans aren’t the brightest bunch, …it’s offense, not offence…and permeate, not permiate
maybe our intelligence needs to permiate the offence of your brain…
Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
> No offence to all you texans… it’s just that you arn’t the brightest bunch 🙂
I could say something like “no offense, but yer a complete idjit” but I won’t, since (as anyone with more than half a brain can see) statements like this clearly are offensive. And no, smileys don’t make it OK.
Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
I laugh as I see almost everyone calling each other stupid. How many of these posts actually said anything intelligent anyway? It’s easy for everyone to argue, since like other forums it gives you that sense of , “hey we are ganging up and really sticking it to them” feeling. Childish bull is all it is. Most of you who just like to bicker are the reason we are in the shape we are in, you can’t grow up and be intelligent or take a big reality check and realize real problems, no wonder we keep losing our rights and freedoms. We are regressing as a race and it shows.
1984
*quack* *quack*
(translation: this is doubleplus ungood)
ALL HAIL THE INGSOC
Re: 1984
hahahaha
No Subject Given
Is this Houston police chief now working for FOX?
Haven’t reality shows gone far enough already? Do they really need to extend into the homes of “more boring” people?
Re: No Subject Given
If someone wants to pay me a million dollars to watch my family I will be more than happy to let them follow me around in my home with a camera. As long as they pay up front.
The most exciting thing they will see me do is reply to shit like this.
No Subject Given
Man that kinda twisted authoritarian logic is just disgusting.
hmm..
After reading the last post, maybe Texans should have camerias in homes.
Houston Police Chief Wants Security Cameras In You
I think the Chief should be the first one to have one mounted in his home, to evaluate it for a couple months, have a live stream to the internet.
Re: Houston Police Chief Wants Security Cameras In
First place they should install that camera is the crapper of the top 20 supporters of the idea. First thing I’d do if someone stuck one in my house is point it at the front porch…let ’em see those dangerous magazine sellers that keep creeping around.
Cameras in homes.
Did President Bush recommend this guy?
No Subject Given
First of all, WHAT THE F***!Second of all, who does he think he is, the president of the U.S.A.?What he is thinking of is wrong and it is going to make alot of people pissed.It is an invation of privacy.Of coarce Bush is probally going to listen.After all he is from texas.I hope Bush will not listen to the captian.For the sake of the US I really hope that he doesn’t listen.
Sarah White
Re: Cameras
This just goes to show how much those in power are losing the plot. However, the good thing is that as Lucretius stated: “Those whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first send mad”
Unfortunately, we will have to suffer for a little whilst the Gods weave their magic, but rest assured that idiots such as this police chief will eventually end up in a padded room being watched by their own creation!!!
Patience my friends….
No Subject Given
The important piece is this fool has dared open his mouth and spout this totalitarian shite. This kind of shite is intolerable and this man is crazy. Who cares if he’s from texas, there are worse places…just ask the folks who live in DC.
The police don't like to be on tape
And when law enforcement agents are caught on tape not following the law, the tapes are usually concealed, editted, or covered-up in some way. In the past several months we have had several examples here in Florida. The biggest is in the news now, where law enforcement had to be sued by the media to release a tape that shows what happened to a 14-year old boy who died in the juvenile boot camp program. The coroner claimed the cause of death was natural causes, but the truth is that the boy died from internal bleeding. The guards at the boot camp claimed they did nothing wrong. The editted version of the tape they released shows them using excessive force on the boy, and beating him. There must have been some indication that the boy was in medical distress, because the tape also shows a nurse examining the boy between beatings.
Now, if the cops weren’t doing anything wrong, why did they have to be sued to release the tape?
Instead of putting cameras in private residences, I think we need more cameras on our PUBLIC officials.
On a side note, my husband brought up an interesting question recently. He was in our front yard, looking at the street light, and he noticed there is video cable coming out of the pole near the top, and the cable disappears into the lamp. We’ve since noticed that all of the street lamps we see have this same cabling. My husband used to install cable and noticed the wiring. The question is, why would street lamps need video cable? We’ve been speculating how easy it would be to put cameras in the lights, that no one would likely notice, and each post has an ID number, making it easy to locate. There are also these little cylinder things attached to the lamps that resemble the cameras that are attached to the traffic lights to “see” light-runners. Big Brother may not actually be in our homes, yet, but it looks like BB could be watching our front doors. Now, there has been a push to put all these wires underground, which would make it less likely anyone would notice an oddly placed video cable.
Re: The police don't like to be on tape
Double and tripple this! Cops are nothing but a bunch of punks from highschool who could only fight if they were in a gang or picking on some skinny kid. Every cop involved in this beating of this 14 year old should have one of their children killed! And then be killed by that kids mother! Cops must pay severe prices for their abuse of public trust! It is an epidemic when people of color are so easily killed by police and America sits on fat ass and does nothing! WELCOME TO THE POLICE STATE!!!-you NAZI bastards!
Re: The police don't like to be on tape
what he’s probably seeing is the little device that listens and changes the light for an ambulance.
No Subject Given
This is an attack on your privacy rights. I hope something like this never happens but who knows what will happen in the next fifty years. Our personal freedoms are slowly but surely being eroded by government doing what’s best for you and the USA. I understand the need for security but the Patriot Act and the NSA’s snopping is not what’s needed. I just hope that people wake up and stop this erosion before it’s too late or else in fifty years as people sit in their living rooms with video feeds to the local pd and FBI office and their NSA made phones sitting on the side table will look back and ask why did we allow this to happen to such a great nation? And if you don’t think that it’s possible think about how you feel about the New Deal and Great Society social reforms everytime you get your paycheck (or what’s left of it) and realize that someone half your age in better health then you has the rest of your money in his EBT account.
You all should calm down a bit..
Did any of you actually read the article or are you just simply reating to the blurb???
First…The comment seems to of been made to spark discussion(“brainstorming”, according to the Mayor); Second…The chief only was referring to installing cameras if a “homeowner requires repeated police response”.
Don’t get me wrong–I’m not thrilled about the idea at all. I do accept, however, that we live in a world where everything costs money-and most of us aren’t that excited about forfeiting more of our income to the government. I know if I was informed that my town could save $$$ by installing a camera on my paranoid neighbors property(instead of repeatedly sending patrol cars) then I would at least CONSIDER it.
Re: You all should calm down a bit..
What is it with the haters here? Making fun of how someone speaks, and assuming that reflects how intelligent they are? If you did that to some poor guy at the gas station, you should feel lower than you know what. There’s no difference here. You people are just as guilty of over-generalization, stereotyping, and just plain prejudice as any klan member. Shame on you. Now go sit in a corner and reflect on your miserable attitude and how you’re going to change it.
Re: Re: You all should calm down a bit..
>> What is it with the haters here? Making fun of how someone speaks,
Othertimes you don’t have to make fun, because it’s funny enough on it’s own.
Arrgh!
What a load of crap. That story was just to get a bunch of internet wackos all wound up. Did it work???
They already have them.
They’re called satellites.
Re: They already have them.
Then again you can’t expect intelligence out of most Americans much less a Texan it seems. The companies are there because that’s where they got started they recruit from all over the country to try to get people there. Not all Texans fit the bill of the chosen Govt. officials by their wonderful state, however when you pick people to be your representatives you have to accept the criticism of being idiots. This is especially the case as the state’s smart companies like the airlines are going bankrupt because their own politicians have done them and the rest of the country in with their bad politics much less personal lives. Pick a better spokesman if you don’t want to be deemed dumb.
Yep it's the weekend again
Why is it that every Friday, one or more stories that evoke an emotional response are conveniently placed to the top of the page over the weekend?
This time, it’s cameras inside of homes, and RIAA spying on kids; two topics that are bound to get lots of response. Is it just me or am I noticing a pattern here?
Idiot Cop
This cop should be canned if he has so little regard for privacy as his remarks show. He’s an idiot, the kind of idiot who would have fit in well with the leadership of Hitler’s Germany or Stalin’s USSR.
It's not about privacy....
I hate how the privacy advocates frame the discussion. I’m against Government surveilance too, but what needs to be said is not “we’re entitled to privacy”. The real problem is that you can’t trust law enforcement. How do you know they won’t use information they gather in an illegal way? Who watches the watchers? If you think this is a trivial concern, then you don’t know history. The watchers almost always use their information illegally. J. Edgar Hoover used his information (illegally) to become the most powerful man in the United States.
Law enforcement cannot be trusted. There are numerous examples of this. You give someone power and they will abuse it. It’s human nature. I know I would.
The only solution is complete transparency. If the cheif of police can watch me masturbate, then every citizen in the City should be able to watch the Chief of police masturbate. Don’t like it? Then don’t be the Chief of police. Or, don’t create this ridiculous panopticon.
Well, this goes to show...
As I read this forum, I laughed as to how many people are already hating, blaming, teasing, in general, fighting among each other. This is the reason all the things we complain about actually happen. We fight among ourselves so much that we eventually allow the dreaded to occur. Do any of you think our Government and all these rightous types don’t know that? Our Government isn’t to blame, it’s us. How many people live in their own perfect world not acknowledging what others may have been through or dream of? No, smokers, no beer, no music, I don’t like the way you dress, eye sore, hot coffee, caffine, no fat, no sugar, the list goes on for miles and scary enough, laws are made every day for stupid little things like this. Plain and simple, people are stupid, not one state, not one country, all. This generation cares only for themselves, (not all but many) what they have, my phone, my car, all about me, me , me. Divorce is good, marriage is bad, devil worship is a right, God is not. Once again, the list goes on. I will state this just to make a point..I grew up very abused, mentally, physically, spiritually. My wife had the same. We have had such rotten luck even after meeting and getting married that most ask us why we haven’t killed ourselves yet. We have been homeless twice, (not by our doing). She has had cancer twice, she has spinal compression, isn’t expected to live longer than 5 years, I am missing disks in my back, among ten other things. I have three wonderful kids who we vowed to give a life that we couldn’t have as children. Unfortunately my oldest son is chronically alergic to everything and has had surguries and extensive care. My younger boy is now becoming the same, my baby girl was born 11 months ago, wasn’t expected to make it but fought and stayed with us. She was on monitors for a long time while my wife’s stomach was wide open from a massive hematoma. We didn’t sleep for weeks. I should be on disability but wanted to make a career by going to college and becoming a pc technician, which i have been trying to do. However, we have little money, no one to help , and we are losing our home soon, (due to the cost of energy in total going up 500% between electricity and gas)along with our van and have no help available. I can’t go back to construction, her disability doesn’t cover a fly, and now I have to struggle through college and pray we make something happen soon. Frustrating? Yes. Yet , I try not to judge, am friendly, love my family, and don’t tell others how to live their life. My wife and kids are precious, not some cell phone or new car. I have struggled harder than many can even immagine to right a lifetime of wrongs in a family chain, and damn it, I did it. I broke that chain. Even with all this, I simply would like people to have freedom, be more understanding of others. How can everything be about ME in a world of billions? It can’t.
I have had a life that many couldn’t possibly understand ,or want, and I am judged by this. Being poor is the worst racism I have seen, why? Because it covers all colors. Yet , I have hope. Sort of the way Texans are all being put down. No I am not a Texan, yes I think our President may have been ran over by a buffalo when he was little. There is good and bad in everyone, and even both in most.
My point in this is simple, we as a people need to get over it. We need to stick together, we need to quit making a law for everything that we don’t like. I will as politely say this as possible, there are many whiners out there, people who have has great lives that couldn’t understand the not so good life of others. They whine, complain and want laws and rules to suit them, and tell others what to do. I think that is a dangerous way to look at life. Example…let’s pick on smokers when transportation and rockets are causing the polution. Why not? No goody two shoes will use those shoes to hike it to work. People fall for this crap all the time,( make em’ look bad, now we raise the tax to whatever the hell we want.) Wow didn’t see that coming. Back to the main point here, the same will happen with security cameras, make abuse in the homes look even worse, plaster it on the news, start off with criminals being monitored and bam, there it is. I admit I laugh at those who don’t forsee something coming as if it hasn’t been done before. After drunk drivers were lessened, states needed more money so goes seat belts. Of course now we are breaking down on speeders since the non wearing seat belt people are a minority now. I truly worry about my kids growing up in a society such as this. I still have hope that people will wake up but at the same time I feel that there are so many selfish, greedy people who don’t truly know reality beyond a solon, that hope is lost. I don’t push my religiion or views,(not like they are pushed on me) it’s not up to me to do or say, but I assume I have the same right to speak what I feel. I truly hope that people don’t take this camera thing lightly, it’s just another way to justify taking away freedom. Some may say sattellites, some may say they already see, well fine but let’s see them explain it if they are spying. If we allow it, then no explanation needed. In closing I will say, this is Bizarro world(lol) Everything that is bad is being looked at as good, we live so sheltered, so afraid, so monetary like, we no longer appreciate the one true thing that matters, freedom and life itself.
Re: Well, this goes to show...
Your post is a great lesson in humility ME.
I wish you all the best.
Despite all the fear that these “security” issues strike up, and all the hype relating to an Orwellien scenario. The United States is NOT a nation of idiots, (although it is difficult to support this pov in a discussion with internationals today, but i stand my ground). A US citizen would die before giving up his/her freedom entirely. Once the realization dawns upon us that we were duped into giving in this far, we are sure to see many changes. Time will tell, but in the meantime i have hope and i fuel that hope with posts such as ME’s, RJ’s and Mike’s and many others. Thanks all.
RJ – panopticum, thanks for the link, it’s my word of the day.
As for the spelling police and the grammar battles, thanks for the entertainment, u skwabelling edyots, wut duz it madter howe i right sometin az longue azz yu kan hunder standit?
This discussion clearly was blown out of proportion, I myself made the same mistake while reading down the list, but i find this bit of information to be quite relevant:
“First…The comment seems to of been made to spark discussion(“brainstorming”, according to the Mayor); Second…The chief only was referring to installing cameras if a “homeowner requires repeated police response.”
thanks Mike.
Re: Well, this goes to show...
I agree. I can’t say I don’t tend to be selfish and want people to understand and fix my problems for me, but these laws are disturbing. What’s the point of living here if it’s no longer a free country? It kinda makes things not worth fighting for. Don’t doubt for a minute that I would love to see abuse stopped (I see enough of it continue all the time), but not at so high a price as to remove our civil rights and freedoms. Likewise, I would like to see many other problems stopped, but not like this.
Also, on the idea of them abusing things like this…
I’m waiting for them to combine some and create this situation:
They see me sit at the computer, get my personal info because I go on a P2P program to more quickly download something, and then decide to throw me in jail because I’m anonymously annoying someone online. Of course, normally they wouldn’t bother with such a thing, but if it’s so easy to do and someone already doesn’t like me… well then they’ll try. Not that I know how they could prove intent, such as to annoy, but they would most likely try to make it their word against mine. What happened to “innocent until proven guilty?” It seems to me that’s been gone for a while.
Just wondering...
Who will be watching the watchers? And will they be in charge of deciding what’s wrong and what’s right. And how long will it be until being a Muslim or Atheist or anybody who doesn’t agree with the propoganda of the current watcher regime is deemed a crime in itself? Haven’t we fought wars to stop this kind of oppression before? Having foreign ideologies forced upon ourselves seems like an ancient concept slowly being exhumed again.
no justification
I hope we all agree that there is something seriously flaued with the following statement –
“if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?”
This is no way to justify an invasion of privacy.
It should be merely discredited as short-sighted and completely absurd. Kind of falls in the same line as. “if I can’t see it, then it doesn’t exist”. Foolish.
Mystery makes a couple valid points, but i don’t see the logic in the following–> “back our president and do something about the b.s that has over taken this nation !” Back the president and you will be completely undermining your position on fighting for our rights. It makes no sense.
Security cameras in homes
The police chief should be careful what he asks for. Police officers havent had very good luck in front of the cameras.
Sam
Then we wonder...
Scenario: let’s get people arguing once again, it makes it so much easier to get away with taking their rights away. How ignorant to blame all of Texas for one idiot’s comment. I won’t be dishonest and say I care for some of the more famous faces that have emerged from Texas in the last few years, but don’t we have that in every state? There really is no exception. I know people from different states, and countries and most are very good people and even if they weren’t I wouldn’t blame the whole statecountry.
We have a nation that acts like children, bickering , arguing, calling names and so we allow ourselves to be disaplined by our Government. I suppose being the only life I have to live, I am sorry as hell that I have to live it in this day and age where no one cares about anyone else. I see things differently than most I guess but oh well. I figure if we believe in what we want, don’t critisize others, and do what we will as long as we don’t affect others, this would be a much better place to live.
I had to ask myself, what would the real reason be for cameras and control. I figure it must be control, but why? Why take away our freedoms? What is there to gain? Then it circled right back, MONEY. The more control over people, the more over our pocket books. Yes it is that simple or our lazy Government wouldn’t bother if no for monetary value. What most people don’t realize is this…slave labor is working for an extremely small income , next to nothing. Tell me what minimum wage is. Even above that a bit. If we look at it this way, $5 buys what, two loaves of bread? Maybe a pack of cigaretts? A dollar or two under a gallon of milk? A bit over a gallon of GAS? So if you work 8 hours after taxes, perhaps 32 dollars a day? This is roughly yes. Now tell me, with the high prices that this isn’t slave labor. How does this come about? Don’t tell me economy this, economy that, it’s bull. Most jobs are over seas, more companies are moving over seas, we don’t have the jobs we should. All for big business to pay next to nothing to other countrie’s workers, and charge us an arm and a leg for the product when many of us don’t make enough to live on. Cameras? Sure, they know how we work, how we have let everything get out of hand, how we are spoiled babies that whine and cry and want something new everyday and this is how Big B and G play on it. They don’t cause it, they use it against us, our own faults, oh , that’s right, this is a don’t blame me society, I forgot. So, even suggesting instituting a camera into our homes, now they can really tell what we want, they can make sure we aren’t making an extra buck that we aren’t reporting. That fine line will get finer as rules change, as we are watched, “well they yelled at eachother, or seemed to be so it’s domestic violence, let’s jail them.” If you even seem to be exerting anger, you will be put in jail, boy, I can see it now. As I said before, I don’t care, once i’m done with my life, all I am taking with me is that I stood for what I believed and that I treated others with a respect that people deserve. I do worry about my kid’s future though, very much and pray this way of life gets better , for everyone and their children not just mine. Quit arguing, would you be mad if a Texan saved your daughter or son’s life? I wouldn’t be, or any other style, shape, color, or race of person. This forum is a good example of the why there is no unity, it should just be called STATES without the United, hmmm give it time, someone will surely sue to change it i’m sure, may be offensive in some way. cripes.
You are all the same
To be fair you americans are all bred from the same genepool, gradually shallowed by incest, after splitting off from the united kingdom because you wanted to marry your sisters, all as bad as each other in my book, if bush proposed that and said it was to help prevent terrorism you would all happily bend over and get raped in the arse by him.
Speak English not American just because you get confused so u use z instead of ise etc may mean you will be able to score that little bit higher in your tests or actually not have the rest of the world laugh at you as george bush goes on another crusade and finds nothing.
Re: You are all the same
Actually, my roots stem from Italy which my grandparents were from. Also a lot of early settlers were from England. The United States is made up of many different races, not American. American is not actually a race which seems to confuse many people. If people were honest, we have many different nationalities, not many are pure blood any more. Even so, who cares. This is another example of how our governments get us into wars, we fight believing in a dream that has faded more and more and it’s us, the typical person, who ends up fighting and dying. I say let our governments fight it out, I think the war would last five minutes if it ever happened. I find it very upsetting that none of our countries in this world can grasp the fact that our governments do things many of us don’t like, so the typical citizen or person gets the brunt of it. I have to say, you seem as shallow as they come. Do you think we all agree with political B.S.? Do you think many of us would just like to live in peace? Everything is about power and money and narrow mindedness, do I agree, no. So, do I play the blame game and say wherever you are from are a bunch of inbred morons, drink coffee not tea you pansy? No, where would it get me anyway? A stupid little argument, that’s all. Many of us still have to live and raise a family, many are working more than two jobs. This is a good way to keep people from standing up for their rights, keep them too busy. Many agree we need a better system so if people like you go on thinking the way you do, that all of a country is bad due to it’s leaders and even a portion of the country, then how much do you really want peace on earth?
Re: You are all the same
Bitter much? Still burning that we kicked your sorry ass over 200 years ago? Or that we have saved your bacon countless times since? Perhaps you need to look inward at your 4th world country that considers catsup a spice and fried fish a cullinary delight…
Let's see what he's doing
…it’s only fair. Bike 1, Bike 2, Bike 3, Google. Leave the guy alone – he’s a cyclist!
Every stae has the right to succede: remember that several did, and were illegally invaded to protect northern commercial interest.
these security cameras will never be used, not in hte sense that you are all complianing about, they simply do not have the money. What he suggested might be replaced by allowing surveillence cameras inside your home to be put there voluntarily, and so you can hand over the tapes afterwards.
Regarding US/UK wars, I think the tally runs like this
American Revolution: USA
1812: UK (the USA was kept out of Canada, and the US blockade runners curtailed, so that Britain could get on wit defeating Napoleon)
there were two conflicts were force was threatened but not used
Suez: USA
then there was one small, democratic, Commonwealth country during the Cold War, which the US invaded to keep out Communist forces, but the UK government merely threatend to use force in the defence of the island and the US withdrew. I cannot remmebr the name of the island, but this is a point for the UK, and matches Suez, where no force was used either.
If anyone thinks of wars between the two countries, then add them to the tally, but so far it is tied.
With regard to the USA saving the UK, the UK saved the Americans even before thier country existed, from the French, in the french and Indian war, and it was the taxes necesssary to pay for that and protection against future attacks that were on of he main causes of discontent in the lead up to the revolution. the other, the border along the Appalachians, was fixed in the treaty which ended the war, cutting th ecost of defending the American colonies by a lot.
OTOH, the USA get points for Hawii, although it was an independent counrty which became a US state by the migration of a large number of US servicemen and thier families, who voted to join the USA. This is what has been done in Western sahara, and the practice has been declared to be a violation of International Law by the USA.
Te US national anthem is possilby one of the most odd choices of a song, since it is a poem about a fort surviving a naval bombardment (forts were attacked only to allow an attack on what they were defending, usually shipping, when huge prizes could be taken, or to allow landings to take place. bombardments were not intended to take the fort or force the occupants to surrender, merely to prevent the fort destroying the ships) in a minor attack in a war the the US lost, set to the tune of “To Anacreaon in Heaven”, a song to the greek equivalent of Bacchus.
US English only came about because Webster couldn’t spell (a somewhat major failing in a lexicographer), but for some reason did not see fit to plagiarise the OED.
interesting post
Thanks for sharing this highly interesting post