OT Celebration (Not intended to be offensive, possible humor)

From: Don Maslin <donm_at_cts.com>
Date: Fri Jul 6 17:21:11 2001

On Fri, 6 Jul 2001, joe wrote:

> At 12:38 PM 7/4/01 -0400, you wrote:
>
> >Sellam Ismail wisely wrote:
> > > Check out the other articles while you're at it. Be prepared to be very
> > > disappointed with what the Founding Fathers had in mind and what we have
> > > ended up with today :(
> >
> >Well said! All that most of the present politicians in the
> >U.S. appear to be concerned with today are taxation, oppression,
> >lining their pockets with cash, and being pawns of business interests.
> >Why don't they just rename the USA to something like the United Police
> >State of America and have it over with?
> >
> >Back something slightly more on-topic: how many here, when giving
> >further tought to the pros and cons of computers get the feeling that
> >we'd all be better off if computers and some related technology didn't
> >exist?
>
> I know that I'd have a lot more time! Ebay, the internet, mailing
> lists and the like EAT time!
>
>
> > I'm thinking of those cameras attached to computers which are
> >being used in Florida to identify and track people, based on their
> >facial features, walking on the streets and sidewalks, in an attempt
> >to "catch criminals."
>
> WHAT??? where did you hear that? I live in Florida and I've never
> heard it.

There was a front page article in our newspaper on them, Joe. It is in
Tampa and the purpose is precisely what you speak of below in the London
Tube stations.
                                                 - don


> > In other words, they're comparing people's
> >faces to pictures of criminals in a database. Those seen talking with
> >suspected criminals, or those with similar faces, become suspects as
> >well. Very Orwellian. Why people aren't shooting at the cameras and
> >protesting against their use, I don't know or understand. I guess
> >that "good little citizens of the state" (foolish, senseless, people)
> >ought not do such things.
>
> You'd guess wrong too! We have very few cameras here. The ones that
> we have are mainly located in banks, ATMs, convience stores and the
> like. We have very few cameras in public areas. FWIW I went to London a
> couple of years ago and I was amazed at how many cameras they had. Nearly
> every street corner has one, the Underground (sub-way) stations are full of
> them and every store had a battery of them. Also I saw something in
> the news about the UK police setting up a video recognition system that's
> supposed to be tied in the the cameras in the Underground stations. It's
> supposed to look for known wanted criminals and alert the police if any of
> them are spotted in the stations. Does anyone know if that system has
> gone into opeation or how effective it is?
>
> Joe
>
>
Received on Fri Jul 06 2001 - 17:21:11 BST