It's only a "few bad apples" when nobody reports on the bad apples

Florida ‘Deputy of the Year’ Used Flock to Stalk Ex, Held Gun in Her Mouth, Did a Nazi Salute

https://www.404media.co/florida-deputy-of-the-year-used-flock-to-stalk-ex-held-gun-in-her-mouth-did-a-nazi-salute/

#Florida #Deputy #Flock #Surveillance #Cameras #Nazi #ACAB #Tech

Today I awoke to a dreary overcast day, perfect of the universe to give me an overcast day on the only day in a few months that I've even had to go photographhin', but we work with what we're given. The journey is the destination and all that.

So here are some buildings and the scenery in the main part of West End in Winston Salem, NC. Not a terrible ton of fodder out there, but enough to fill the till for the day and get me out and about for a while.

After this I went and had some dipping tacos at a legit Mexican place and got mom a taco salad to take back home with me. I didn't feel much like stopping too many places.

The workflow has evolved. I now have neat little imagemagick scripts. How quaint! After I edit with #rawtherapee, I run my scripts to downsample my images to the size I like at the quality I like for my server.

As-is, my photos tend to overexpose, but I can always wrench them back on the editor. The camera says my brightness is perfect, but it always looks too washed out to me on the editor. I would trust the .jpeg files from the camera as-is if this wasn't the case, though I did do some cropping on two of these.

#photography #landscapephotography #mountain #pilotmountain #MtAiry #landscapephotography #canon #mirrorless #bofipho #r8 #cameras #northcarolina #nc #winstonsalem #blueways #greenways #cityscapes #landscapes #yourcity

Alt...

A rickety old bridge I found in the dark and dismal park. See? Dark and dismal can be okay too. Not everything needs sunshine.

Alt...

While we're being dreary, we might as well look at some roots of the creek that runs through here.

Alt...

stickers all over an electric meter, from whom to whom who can say.

Alt...

A Blue/Brown contrast I really liked that I was playing with, there's another set of buildings that look similar to this one, like they traded paint... but the other building is one street away.

“Social movements are effective specifically when there is solidarity between their broader base and the people who are committing criminal direct action. When social movements stand behind their criminals, they win…

With shotgun and angle grinder (and handheld bandsaw), with expanding foam and spraypaint, people really are out there destroying these cameras en masse. A lot of people are getting caught (usually by other cameras), but not everyone is.” ~ Margaret Killjoy

#Criminals #cameras #surveillance
https://margaretkilljoy.substack.com/p/people-really-are-cutting-down-flock

The #Cop Who Took On #Flock

After Noel Pichardo called out his city's embrace of Flock #surveillance #cameras , he was subjected to five internal affairs investigations in less than two years.
#alor #privacy

https://www.wired.com/story/the-cop-who-took-on-flock/

#Flock Accused of Reactivating Its #Cameras Without Notifying a Town

A Massachusetts newspaper reports that officials from the town of Littleton (population: 10,141) "claim that 5 of Littletonâ(TM)s #FlockSafety cameras were switched back on by the company without informing the town..." Littleton had temporarily disabled the cameras earlier this year, according to the article, but upon discovering the cameras were still active, city officials say they directed the Town Counsel "to initiate cancellation of the contract with Flock Safety & directed the Town Administrator to coordinate the removal of the 6 cameras on public ways" with the Dept of Public Works. Ironically, it's the same Mass town that last year was breached by a Chinese-state-sponsored #hacking group for over 300 days. Flock has also considered #dashcams installed in hundreds of thousands #Uber , #Lyft , & delivery drivers' vehicles "to scan license plates those drivers travelled passed"
#privacy

https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/08/08/0621205/flock-accused-of-reactivating-its-cameras-without-notifying-a-town?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed

All this talk about sunglasses with tiny cameras on them, and many people's reaction to them, make me think there is a need for a revival of the old concept of sousveillance, a.k.a. reverse-surveillance. Maybe the "pervy glasses" is exactly what every member of free society needs.

#privacy #surveillance #sousveillance #meta #sunglasses #cameras

Normally where I'd be taking off every weekend to peruse nature, I've been kicking it with some family lately, and having my pipe on my back porch instead of a log somewhere, but come fall, I will descend upon the changing leaves, and try to find you guys some cool NC mushrooms.

For now, I will be a bit more vocal about news and things online. Rest assured the fire continues.

#nc #northcarolina #self #selfcare #summer #cameras #nature #climatechange

Alt...

Ah, sweet summer rain...

WTF!!! #DHS Tells #Police That Common #Protest Activities Are ‘Violent Tactics’

DHS is urging law enforcement to treat even #skateboarding and #livestreaming as signs of violent intent during a protest, turning everyday behavior into a pretext for police action.

By Dell Cameron, Jul 10, 202

"The #DepartmentOfHomelandSecurity is urging local police to consider a wide range of protest activity as violent tactics, including mundane acts like riding a #bike or livestreaming a police encounter, WIRED has learned.

"WIRED has made this article free for all to read because it is primarily based on reporting from Freedom of Information Act requests [#FOIA]. Please consider subscribing to support our journalism.

"Threat bulletins issued during last month’s '#NoKings' #protests warn that the US government’s aggressive immigration raids are almost certain to accelerate domestic unrest, with DHS saying there’s a 'high likeliness' more Americans will soon turn against the agency, which could trigger #confrontations near federal sites.

"Blaming intense media coverage and backlash to the US military deployment in #LosAngeles, DHS expects the #demonstrations to 'continue and grow across the nation' as #protesters focused on other issues shift to #immigration, following a broad 'embracement of #AntiICE messaging.'

"The bulletins—first obtained by the national security nonprofit #PropertyOfThePeople through public records requests—warn that officers could face assaults with fireworks and improvised weapons: #paint-filled fire extinguishers, smoke grenades, and projectiles like #bottles and #rocks.

"At the same time, the guidance urges officers to consider a range of #nonviolent behavior and common #ProtestGear—like #masks, #flashlights, and #cameras—as potential precursors to violence, telling officers to prepare 'from the point of view of an adversary.'

"Protesters on #bicycles, #skateboards, or even 'on foot' are framed as potential 'scouts' conducting reconnaissance or searching for 'items to be used as weapons.' #Livestreaming is listed alongside '#doxxing' as a 'tactic' for 'threatening' police. Online posters are cast as ideological #recruiters—or as participants in 'surveillance sharing.'

"One list of 'violent tactics' shared by the Los Angeles–based Joint Regional Intelligence Center—part of a post-9/11 fusion network—includes both protesters’ attempts to avoid identification and efforts to identify police. The memo also alleges that face recognition, normally a tool of law enforcement, was used against officers.

"Vera Eidelman, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union [#ACLU], says the government has no business treating #constitutionally protected activities—like #observing or #documenting police—as threats.

"#DHS did not respond to a request for comment."

Read more:
https://www.wired.com/story/dhs-tells-police-that-common-protest-activities-are-violent-tactics/

#ACAB #FusionCenters #Fascism #Authoritarianism #Resistance #Journalism #PoliceState #CriminalizingDissent #Protestors #Protest #USPol #CriminalizingProtest #Orwell #BigBrother #DoublePlusUngood #SurveillanceState #NaziPatrol #NineteenEightyFour

One of my first ever big expeditions with a Camera was, against all good reason, was to climb the 3-4 miles to the top of Pilot Mountain - after working 10 hours that day.

Thursday, I had it in mind to come back to the mountain with fresh eyes and some experience.

Well... ehhh, I also didn't plan the timing of the day very well, as, as you can see, I don't have an actual photo of the mountain.

"Firekeeper, why do you not have pretty picture of Mountain?"

BECAUSE THE SUN WAS BEHIND IT!

Ughh, Charlie Brown. Well, I suppose my next visit to this splendiferous Mountain will be had at 7:00pm rather than 7:00am next round, but nonetheless, I did walk the top and grab shots as I went, and made the most of the morning mist down below, or as much as I could of it.

I took WAY more photos than I thought I did Thursday so these first four will be the first of eight to twelve from that trip. Right now, 8 seems more definite, so here's the first 4 that I've edited thus far.

tagdump:
#photography #landscapephotography #mountain #pilotmountain #MtAiry #landscapephotography #canon #mirrorless #bofipho #r8 #cameras #northcarolina #nc #winstonsalem #blueways #greenways

Alt...

View of some morning mist down below Pilot Mountain

Alt...

More Morning Mist, I wonder had I gotten here earlier if I had seen more... I wonder if I had gotten here earlier if I would be able to see anything lol

Alt...

Some ominous looking steps up to the crown of the mountain.

Alt...

Some craggulous rockyness up on the bald top of the mountain.

Ideally, I want a ~50mm pancake equivalent for this to match my R8. Something in the 24-35mm range should do for APS-C. I'm not that picky, but for now, the stock lens will do fine, and it closes up rather tiny even if it is a zoom lens. All good!

#photography #cameras #sony

Alt...

A new(used) camera!? What could it be?!

Random question for the Fediverse... looking for a cheap game camera to strap into a tree (my own)... mountain lion moved into the neighborhood and would like to see if it's going through a field near me. Not close enough to the house to wire.. Suggestions/thoughts? Not looking for anything fancy, just something reliable and weather proof, SD card. No need for connectivity. Just want to check it occasionally. #cameras #gamecameras

Why Statesville, plaid-clad camera-person?
Because Statesville is the new location of my cousin's tattoo parlor, that just opened, and I got to photograph it!

It's called "The Parlor", go on, go there, he's awesome.

While those photos aren't public, Statesville very much is, so here's some photos I took yesterday of downtown.

As usual, my goal isn't as much to document where I am like I'm trying to prove it exists to a speculative audience, I just took a few shots while I was there.

#photography #streetphotography #urbanphotography #landscapephotography #canon #mirrorless #bofipho #r8 #cameras #northcarolina #nc #winstonsalem #statesville #blueways #greenways

Alt...

Pic-a-nic tables, rainbow colored for the purposes of fun and whimsy

Alt...

The "Vile weed strangling our Dixie" aka Kudzu, and a somewhat aging powerline.

Alt...

The Statesville Clock Tower, as-so named because people often look at their watches near it.

Alt...

A metal horse,a rusty one! That's... as descriptive as I can be! You have to see it.

This is a very manecured place. It's part golf course to keep the Tesla and Corvette drivers busy and off of the highways during the day, but if you walk out far enough, you can still find some rustic rather untouched wilderness, my kinda stuff.

I did end up walking out of the woods and finding Mallard lake right in front of me and beyond it, part of the golf course itself, but it was a pleasant surprise to walk out of the woods after half a mile of walking and "BEHOLD... LAKE".

Oh yeah and happy first post on the new instance. Holla back y'all, my ego needs it.

#photography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #landscapephotography #canon #mirrorless #bofipho #r8 #cameras #northcarolina #nc #winstonsalem #highpoint #greensboro #tanglewood #trees #flowers #plants #blueways #greenways #summer #forestphotography #forest #thewoods

Alt...

Some of the gardens around the Arboretum. Most of the flowers have come and gone... gotta be faster about these things, still mighty green tho.

Alt...

Another garden area, like this one a lot.

Alt...

Playing with reflections never gets old, Mallard Lake and the golf course beyond it.

Alt...

A spiderweb illuminated by a ray of sunlight