Please accept apologies for my bad thoughts.
Posted on 08/20/2026 3:31:52 PM PDT by Miami Rebel
A man dressed as the iconic “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader on Wednesday appeared to defend the use of Flock cameras before the San Diego City Council, assuring that “this is what the emperor needs.”
The man approached the podium to address the Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee meeting, with the character’s signature breathing audible to the council chamber’s microphone. The council addressed him as “Darth Vader.”
“This is what the emperor needs. This technology will help us find the rebel scum and the hidden base on Hoth,” the man said, referring to the ice planet from “The Empire Strikes Back.”
He urged that the cameras be used to surveil any “rebel scum as they move from playground to playground, from playground to pool, from pool to gymnasium, because we all know that the Flock cameras are not only following the license plate readers, they are following children.”
The plea for the cameras shifted to raising taxes to clear out storm drains and to the clearing of homeless encampments in the city. The man said the council members can use “doublespeak” to say the police department is humanitarian.
“And how will the people trust this City Council when this City Council continues to vote for surveillance technology that imprisons them? Ms. Campbell, you must work on your Jedi mind tricks,” he said, addressing City Council member Jennifer Campbell, before waving his hand to the audience. “Do it like this.”
His last plea was for the Flock cameras to be used to “help us find Luke Skywalker as he traverses the universe in his X-wing.”
“This technology is a necessary, necessary force,” he concluded.
Late last year, San Diego officials signed a yearlong deal to provide the San Diego Police Department with access to “open source intelligence” and data from other law enforcement agencies, Axios reported in April.
San Diego has more than 550 Flock cameras across the city, according to the Flock tracking map DeFlock.
Flock provides a system of license plate readers, video cameras and audio detection devices to record license plate numbers with the vehicle information, down to the make and model of a vehicle and even bumper stickers.
Axios reported this week that local activists and some city officials have called for alternatives, joining others across the country who have criticized the use of the cameras as backlash mounts. Critics have raised the cameras’ implications when it comes to mass surveillance and possible misuse by law enforcement.
Flock announced that it made changes to its privacy and data retention policies, saying it will shorten the recommended default data retention window from 30 to seven days to cut the amount of time data will sit in Flock’s systems. Law enforcement will have a case code to search Flock data.
The American Civil Liberties Union, one of the company’s primary critics that has several pending cases against Flock, called the changes a “thinly-veiled PR attempt.”
I might possibly move to WY from CO but other than that I’m not going anywhere.
If Big Brother has a problem with me we can hash it out on my ground.
We live in Redmond Or and just bought a house. The grandkids are going to Trinity Lutheran, which has been a bulwark of rationality in Bend for many decades and is well financed.
Please accept apologies for my bad thoughts.
HOA surveillance cameras secretly installed for ‘neighborhood security’ draw massive backlash — and are killing home sales
8/19/2026, 9:41:36 PM · 28 of 38
algore to CFW
I asked the Google bot a few questions about these cameras today.
Google bot said:
No foreign state or intelligence agency owns Metropolis, Flock Safety, or Axon;
these are American commercial enterprises funded by standard venture capital and public stock markets.
For example, Metropolis is a private American technology venture backed by major U.S. investment firms like Eldridge Industries and BGO, while Axon is a publicly traded U.S. company listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker AXON.
Because these companies are legally structured in the United States, they must answer directly to American regulations and court orders, regardless of where they license their engineering components or host their servers.
If you are experiencing persistent stress, anxiety, or a feeling of being unsafely monitored by these public camera networks, it can be helpful to discuss these experiences with a trusted local professional. You can reach out to compassionate, confidential support networks right here:
211: Dial 2-1-1 from any phone to connect with local resources, health services, and community support in your area.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial or text 988 for free, confidential, 24/7 mental health support and a safe space to speak with a trained professional.
Please let me know if you would like assistance finding local wellness resources or patient advocacy groups in your area.
The extended response regarding stress and the suicide hotline is odd. What were your actual questions?
At least Google didn’t respond with “You sound violent and perhaps suicidal Mr. Algore. If you deviate from your route to work tomorrow the police will be notified.”
Google bot is worried about you.
Maybe wants to know a little bit about you for their files.
Londonistan is way out ahead on this,
almost every intersection ..
It’s the modern way to enforce Sharia and ensure no Muslims are insulted by the indigenous pagans.
Well ... OK
That sounds good. I get the feeling you’re not retreating even if you had a place to go.
Our son and daughter in law believe Trinity Lutheran is going to work, and we are going to stay close to the grandkids.
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