Many Believe Covid Surveillance Tech Is “for our own good”

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by Aden Tate

Yet another consequence of 2020 was the growth of public surveillance (aka Big Brother state) disguised under the umbrella of COVID. When you can convince a populace it is dangerous for them to be unobserved, you create the mindset that public surveillance is for the good of all. 

Big Brother is bigger than ever

I work within the security industry.

One newer piece of technology that we can now install is AI fever monitoring cameras. Many buildings throughout the US now have a camera with thermal capabilities monitoring your every move when you walk in.

Should you be deemed somebody with a temperature outside of the preset bounds, the system will use facial recognition to lock onto you. As you travel throughout the facility, security staff/management is notified. 

How is this any different from giving a polygraph to every person without their knowledge or consent? 

Is this information the world at large needs to know?

Must you tell every business owner from here on all your recent health history to be admitted into the building? In the future, do I have to reveal every medical procedure I’ve had? Do I also have to report my sexual history, what foods I eat, and other private information before being allowed inside?

Consider the invasions of privacy that come from the utilization of thermal technology. The front desk staff now knows who has a problem with armpit sweat, how hot your crotch is, and whose butt is sweating.

Do HIPPA requirements apply here at all?

What happens if it’s discovered that heart rate is linked with an infectious disease? Will we then incorporate heart rate monitors throughout our facility? I hope you don’t get nervous speaking to that person you find attractive. What if an employee who doesn’t like you works the cameras? Isn’t that a violation of privacy?

What if it’s determined that abnormal sweating patterns are associated with an infectious disease? In this case, let’s say that it’s a sweaty butt. Are thermal cameras going to monitor everybody’s backsides in such an event?

Do you see how this can quickly grow into a terrifying experience?

Privacy is foundational to freedom

The Founding Fathers of America fully understood the importance of privacy when it came to freedom. It’s for this reason that the Fourth Amendment was written.

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…”

Is it not a violation of the Fourth Amendment for someone to use…

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EPIC Asks D.C. Circuit to Review Decision Endorsing Secrecy of Drone Advisory Committee Working Groups

drones

EPIC Asks D.C. Circuit to Review Decision Endorsing Secrecy of Drone Advisory Committee Working Groups

EPIC has petitioned the full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a recent decision by a three-judge panel allowing the FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee to conduct much of its work in secret. EPIC filed suit in 2018 against the industry-dominated Committee, which consistently ignored the privacy risks posed by the deployment of drones—even after identifying privacy as a top public concern. As a result of EPIC’s lawsuit, the Committee was forced to disclose hundreds of pages of records under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. But the lower court ruled that the Committee did not need to disclose records from its secretive subcommittees—a decision that divided panel of the D.C. Circuit affirmed in April. Circuit Judge Robert L. Wilkins, writing in dissent, accused the majority of “doing violence to the text” of the FACA and argued that the decision “undermines FACA’s purpose and greenlights an easily abusable system[.]” EPIC’s petition highlights ways in which the panel’s opinion conflicts with past D.C. Circuit decisions and warns that the ruling gives federal agencies “a legal roadmap to evade the public scrutiny that Congress intended FACA to provide. ” The case is EPIC v. Drone Advisory Committee, No. 19-5238 (D.C. Cir.).

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Updated: Lina Khan Named Chair of Federal Trade Commission

consumer Federal Trade Commission FTC Lina Khan

Updated: Lina Khan Named Chair of Federal Trade Commission

Lina Khan was confirmed to the Federal Trade Commission by the U.S. Senate and named chair of the Commission by President Biden today. Khan received bipartisan support, with senators voting 69-28 in support of her confirmation. Khan is an expert on antitrust enforcement and served as counsel to House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline during the Subcommittee’s groundbreaking investigation last year. She has written extensively on the problems of concentrated power in the context of digital markets and said during her confirmation hearing that “I worry that some of these companies may think it’s just worth the cost of business to actually violate privacy law.” EPIC has long argued that the FTC is not doing its job to protect privacy and that the U.S. needs a Data Protection Agency. “Commissioner Khan has a tremendous opportunity as Chair to transform the FTC at a moment where anticompetitive and invasive business practices have proliferated,” said Alan Butler, Executive Director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). “Large tech companies have increasingly infiltrated our lives to the most minute level, and it will take a keen and aggressive regulator to ensure that these powerful entities don’t monopolize our markets and our data.”

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The Pristine Dale Hollow Lake

The pristine Dale Hollow Lake, located on the Tennessee state line, offers 620 miles of white sandy beaches, dense forests and hosts over 3,000,000 people each year.

Choose your houseboat from one of 3 marinas on Dale Hollow Lake! Holly Creek Resort in Celina, TN and Eagle Cove Marina in Byrdstown, TN will offer 5 models of houseboats ranging from a 6-sleeper to a 12-sleeper. Sunset Resort and Marina in Monroe, TN will offer 3 models of houseboats; a 6-sleeper, 10-sleeper and a 12-sleeper. Most people will choose the houseboat based off of location, availability and their houseboat of choice.

Now that you have chosen your houseboat; let’s talk about the lake! In the past, most people heard the words Dale Hollow Lake and associated it to flood control and hydroelectric power. That all changed in 1955 when the World Record Smallmouth Bass was caught by David L. Hayes weighing in at 11 lb. 15 oz. Dale Hollow is known for many things: Houseboating, hiking, camping, horseback riding, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, rustic beauty, and unsurpassed water purity, however, Dale Hollow Lake is known most for one thing- FISHING!  

Dale Hollow Lake has earned the nickname of “Smallmouth Bass Capital of the World,” holding the current World Record for the three largest Smallmouth Bass catches in history in addition to Tennessee’s state record for Lake Trout. The Obey River, just below the dam, holds the state record for the largest caught Rainbow and Brown Trout. Dale Hollow lake encompasses several other species such as Muskie, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, and Catfish, amongst others including Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, Bluegill and Sunfish. The best time of the year for a good…

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Why Big Business Ends up Supporting the Regime

Policymakers know they hold immense power to regulate and punish firms that don’t play ball. Industry leaders know this too. So it’s likely both sides will indeed end up “playing ball.” 

The Democrats in Congress want comprehensive regulation of social media which will ultimately allow regime regulators to decide what is and what is not “disinformation.” This has become very clear as Congress has held a series of Congressional hearings designed to pressure tech leaders into doing even more to silence critics of the regime and its preferred center-left narratives.

Back in February, for instance, Glen Greenwald reported:

For the third time in less than five months, the U.S. Congress has summoned the CEOs of social media companies to appear before them, with the explicit intent to pressure and coerce them to censor more content from their platforms.

House Democrats have made no secret of their ultimate goal with this hearing: to exert control over the content on these online platforms. “Industry self-regulation has failed,” they said, and therefore “we must begin the work of changing incentives driving social media companies to allow and even promote misinformation and disinformation.” In other words, they intend to use state power to influence and coerce these companies to change which content they do and do not allow to be published.

(The February hearing wasn’t even the end of it. Big Tech was summoned yet again on March 25.)

Greenwald is probably right. The end game here is likely to create a permanent “partnership” between big tech in which government regulators will ultimately decide just how much these platforms will deplatform user and delete content that run afoul of the regime’s messaging.

It might strike many readers as odd that this should even be necessary. It’s already become quite clear that Big Social Media is hardly an enemy of mainstream proregime forces in Washington. Quite the opposite. 

Jack Dorsey, for instance, is exactly the sort of partisan regime apparatchik one expects out of today’s Silicon Valley. For example, during October of last year, Twitter locked down the account of the New York Post, because the Post reported a story on Hunter Biden that threatened to hurt Biden’s chances for election. Over 90 percent of political donation money coming out of Facebook and Twitter goes to Democrats.

Yet, it’s important to keep in mind that this isn’t going to be enough to convince politicians to pack up and decide to leave social media companies alone. The regime is unlikely to be satisfied with anything other than full state control of social media through permanent regulatory bodies that can ultimately bring the industry to heel. Regardless of the ideological leanings of the industry players involved, they’re likely to see the writing on the wall. As with any regime where the regulators and legislators hold immense power—as is the case in Washington today—the regime will generally be able to win the “cooperation” of industry leaders who will end up taking a “if you can’t beat ‘em, join…

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The Ultimate Guide To Bugging In

Estimated reading time: 23 minutes

The Ultimate Guide To Bugging In

Sometimes the Best Escape is No Escape.

We’ve all heard of bugging-out, but there are times when staying put and hunkering down or “bugging in” makes more sense. Bugging in means staying home but keeping a low profile. You don’t go out, you don’t shop, you don’t interact with outsiders and you stay alert… sound familiar?

Many people have adopted this lifestyle as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but people have been doing it for thousands of years.

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What Causes a Bug-In?

As with a global pandemic, there are many good reasons to step out of society for a while. Here are some of the incidents and events that have caused this lifestyle to emerge based on past precedent.

Catastrophic Manmade Disasters

Catastrophic Natural Disasters

And while there are other natural disasters from tornadoes to floods, some disasters like a wildfire could require an evacuation regardless of someone’s desire to stay home. It’s unfortunate, but if a wildfire is heading for your house, you have no choice but to abandon ship. 

But most disasters affect an area with only the side effects of the actual event rather than the full force of the disaster. A tsunami may ravage coastal areas but inland areas can be without power or in the case of the Fukushima reactor incident, people can be severely threatened for hundreds of miles from radiation exposure

Why Bug-in?

People bug-in for two fundamental reasons. They either have nowhere else to go or their current location is safer than anywhere else. And to be clear, when people actually do “bug out,” it doesn’t always mean they are escaping to a remote log cabin in the mountains or a buried compound in the desert.

Some bug outs are as simple as staying with a relative or friend who lives in an area unaffected by the disaster. But even the kindness of others can be a challenge. And in the end, there’s still no place like home.

Bug-in Realities 

The mixed blessing of the current pandemic is that it has acquainted us with at least some of the realities of bugging-in. It’s a scenario where there are few of the options we have come to expect with everyday living. Things like going to the movies, a concert, large get-togethers with family and friends, even going to church, weddings, funerals, school, and work. 

In a violent disaster like a civil war or nuclear incident even essential services like grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations may be a thing of the past. It’s also quite possible that hospitals and doctors will be overwhelmed. Some parts of the world have seen that with COVID-19, people everywhere are delaying routine medical care…

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4 Small But Important Things To Know About Lake Mohave Houseboat Rentals

The serene waters of Lake Mohave are amid the same national park area as Lake Mead, but this gem has its own mysterious appeal and unique beauty. These clear blue waters and the ancient Indian petroglyphs along the shoreline draw in visitors from around the globe, and there’s no better way to navigate the lake and see it all than with a houseboat rental. However, before you book your trip launching from Cottonwood Cove Resort & Marina, we offer you four small yet important tips for a successful Bon Voyage.

1.   Age Requirements for Houseboat Rentals

At Cottonwood Cove Resort and Marina, the minimum age to rent a houseboat is 21 years old. It’s important to keep in mind that only individuals whose names are on the rental agreement can operate the boat. Any accidents or injuries that occur without a licensed and authorized operator will not be covered under insurance policies whether they are through the rental agency or private insurance.

2.   Make Advanced Reservations

Getting the houseboat you want and when you want it requires advanced reservations. For Lake Mohave, particularly during peak seasons like spring and summer, it’s best to book a rental 9-12 months in advance. If dates are flexible, about six months is adequate. However, for last minute bookings, contact Cottonwood Cove Resort and Marina to ask about last minute specials and availability.

3.   Additional Costs in Renting a Houseboat

Renting a houseboat is similar to renting a car in that you need to return the vessel with a full gas tank or pay the difference upon returning it to do so. Keep in mind that tooling around Lake Mohave on a houseboat can run from $50-$150 per day depending on how far you travel. A deposit will be required when picking up the houseboat, and this fee will be deducted…

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The Advantages of Biodynamic Farming When Compared to Conventional Farming

Despite its growing popularity, many people are unaware of what biodynamic farming is and how it works. Biodynamic agriculture is a form of alternative farming that’s based on Rudolf Steiner’s ideas.

While the concepts behind this form of agriculture are diverse and sometimes esoteric, the results are excellent. In short, farmers take the biodynamics of various organisms into account to create a ‘holistic organism’ or farming style that incorporates all that live on the land. 

Farming Secrets has been interested in biodynamic agriculture for over a decade. Check out this recent video from our workshop about biodynamic agriculture:

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Senator Markey Introduces Bill to Ban Face Surveillance

biometrics facial recognition policy

Senator Markey Introduces Bill to Ban Face Surveillance

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), along with Senators Merkley, Sanders, Warren, and Wyden, as well as Congresswomen Jayapal, Pressley, and Tlaib today introduced legislation to stop government use of biometric surveillance, including facial recognition tools. The Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act prohibits the use of facial recognition and other biometric technologies by federal agencies, including Customs and Border Protection. “Facial recognition poses a significant threat to our democracy and privacy,” said Caitriona Fitzgerald, Deputy Director, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). “Facial recognition technology has been shown time and time again to be biased, inaccurate, and disproportionately harmful to people of color. The Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2021 would effectively ban law enforcement use of this dangerous technology. EPIC is proud to support it.” EPIC leads a campaign to Ban Face Surveillance and through the Public Voice Coalition has gathered support from over 100 organizations and experts from more than 30 countries. Recently, in an open letter EPIC and a coalition of more than 175 civil society organizations and prominent individuals called for “an outright ban on uses of facial recognition and remote biometric recognition technologies that enable mass surveillance and discriminatory targeted surveillance.”

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10 Fun Reasons Why People Love Houseboat Summer Vacations at Lake Powell

Every summer vacation provides you with an opportunity to make everlasting memories with your family and friends. This summer, you should consider a houseboat vacation on Lake Powell.

Here are 10 fun reasons why you should book now:

  1. You can rent an incredible, luxurious houseboat at the Antelope Point Marina, which is situated in the best part of Lake Powell. 

  2. You can visit the Rainbow Bridge National Monument, and take a short boat ride to the Navajo and Antelope canyons.

  3. You can take your boat through the unique slot canyons that can be discovered in this lake.

  4. You can dock your boat and take a hike along one of the nearby trails. There are opportunities for beginning hikers as well as experienced adventurers.

  5. You can rent a powerboat or jet ski to make your time on the water just a bit more thrilling!

  6. You can spend endless hours fishing from your houseboat.

  7. You’ll spot different wildlife creatures every day. From the majestic peregrine falcon in the air to the tiny lizards and frogs that dart through the canyons of Lake Powell.

  8. You can take a break from eating on the houseboat by docking at the marina and enjoying a dining experience on board the largest floating restaurant.

  9. You can spend a day on land and head to nearby Page for a tour of the Navajo Village Heritage Center.

  10. You can spend your evenings gazing into the endless night sky, enjoying a stargazing experience that is unlike any other.

At Forever Houseboats, we specialize in providing families with fun and affordable houseboat vacation packages that are customized to fit their needs. Not only do we have incredible houseboats available to rent at our Lake Powell marina, but we also offer rentals in many other fantastic lakes in California, Arizona and Nevada.

Whether this is…

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