Smile, you're on BorderCam.
November 4, 2006 5:17 AM Subscribe
Who needs a fence when you have webcams? The state of Texas now has a virtual border watch online and is asking for your help spotting illegals crossing the border. It looks like Arizona has a similar program as well with pimped out ATV's. Let the hunt begin.
Warning: The Texas site seems to require IE, an ActiveX plugin and registration.
Ah crap. You can probably guess what I meant.
posted by hoverboards don't work on water at 5:32 AM on November 4, 2006
posted by hoverboards don't work on water at 5:32 AM on November 4, 2006
Due to the remote location of some of this stuff, I can't wait until some 'enterprizing' folks realize that these cameras and equipment are free for the taking...
posted by DesbaratsDays at 5:37 AM on November 4, 2006
posted by DesbaratsDays at 5:37 AM on November 4, 2006
Can't they hook up guns to them so we can shoot remotely? C'Mon, c'mon
posted by bonaldi at 5:42 AM on November 4, 2006
posted by bonaldi at 5:42 AM on November 4, 2006
It is of little use to spot someone who is illegally entering the country and then arresting that person and putting him or her in jail. Do citizens make the arrests? What then happens?
posted by Postroad at 6:05 AM on November 4, 2006
posted by Postroad at 6:05 AM on November 4, 2006
Yeah, it's only a matter of time before they start snapping up those Samsung robocops.
posted by mecran01 at 6:50 AM on November 4, 2006
posted by mecran01 at 6:50 AM on November 4, 2006
At first, I thought this site was something thrown together by right-wing, loony, vigilante fringe nutjobs, kind of like those border militia people in Arizona, who slapped a State of Texas seal on the site to make it look state-affiliated.
But then I noticed that the "mailto:" link goes to an actual state government e-mail address.
posted by jayder at 7:11 AM on November 4, 2006
But then I noticed that the "mailto:" link goes to an actual state government e-mail address.
posted by jayder at 7:11 AM on November 4, 2006
Hang little rubber duckies in front of the cameras so they look godzilla-sized.
posted by taosbat at 7:19 AM on November 4, 2006
posted by taosbat at 7:19 AM on November 4, 2006
Can't they hook up guns to them so we can shoot remotely? C'Mon, c'mon
yup
posted by underdog at 7:41 AM on November 4, 2006
yup
posted by underdog at 7:41 AM on November 4, 2006
This will be awesome when the Pandas come.
posted by srboisvert at 3:28 PM on November 4, 2006
posted by srboisvert at 3:28 PM on November 4, 2006
I wonder how many false positives it'd take to make this program absolutely useless. Anyone up for some civil disobediance?
posted by arto at 5:41 PM on November 4, 2006
posted by arto at 5:41 PM on November 4, 2006
Unless they hid the cameras really well, they'll just wind up victims to bored teenagers with a box of .22 ammo.
posted by drstein at 6:59 PM on November 4, 2006
posted by drstein at 6:59 PM on November 4, 2006
You have to sign up in order to see the pics. I know Rick Perry's people probably already have me filed as a dissident for being Anti-Republican, but for some reason I still don't feel comfortable signing up for this thing. Kinda feels like I'm supporting it if I do. Part of the current Texas governor's plan has been bolstering border security extensively. This past summer, Perry announced spending upwards of five million dollars on a "virtual posse" program. Guess that's what this is.
In this and most all other regards, Perry has been Shrub's loyal lapdog. It's been like having Dubya still be Texas governor while also POTUS. I don't see how this will change, because the opposition vote will be spread out between Bell, Friedman, and Strayhorn. Diehard republicans will re-elect Perry in a heartbeat, and those of us who haven't liked what goes on in Texas since before I was in high school, will once again be disorganized and spread too thin to matter.
And I also haven't seen any of the other contenders saying they would take down these cameras, or throw out the idea of a wall between Mexico and the US.
Didn't the republicans tear down a wall just under twenty years ago? How soon they forget. Guess they think we don't need no learnin' from the past.
posted by ZachsMind at 7:34 PM on November 4, 2006
In this and most all other regards, Perry has been Shrub's loyal lapdog. It's been like having Dubya still be Texas governor while also POTUS. I don't see how this will change, because the opposition vote will be spread out between Bell, Friedman, and Strayhorn. Diehard republicans will re-elect Perry in a heartbeat, and those of us who haven't liked what goes on in Texas since before I was in high school, will once again be disorganized and spread too thin to matter.
And I also haven't seen any of the other contenders saying they would take down these cameras, or throw out the idea of a wall between Mexico and the US.
Didn't the republicans tear down a wall just under twenty years ago? How soon they forget. Guess they think we don't need no learnin' from the past.
posted by ZachsMind at 7:34 PM on November 4, 2006
... still holding out for a tear gas diffusion system
posted by fourstar at 11:27 AM on November 5, 2006
posted by fourstar at 11:27 AM on November 5, 2006
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posted by hoverboards don't work on water at 5:31 AM on November 4, 2006