Garage Hangout

Saturday I replaced the VFS (variable force solenoid) in the van. It's not shifting funny and hunting for torque converter lockup.

Well see if it helps. Just trying to prolong the inevitable.

Saturday I did chicken on the grill.

I actually haven't been paying attention but the Lowe's near us is supposed to have a bunch.

I removed the name badge holder to try and clean it up, but it was a little too far gone to look good again.
Too dusty and bent up.

So I replaced it with this little mini license plate I had laying around.


I decided to utilize the existing holes in the box instead of drilling new ones.

Quote from: bonneyman on Jul 22, 2026, 07:10 AMSeems like over the past 3 months Flock cameras have been popping up all over town. Nobody I talk to knows (or cares) anything about them, and they seem like another blanket surveillance thing. Sort of like the photo-radar and speed cameras from a decade ago. Legislation was passed at the state level banning those - and now these new cameras are appearing all over the place.
Are you guys experiencing these things in your locale?

I say, Bring them on!

So what's the big deal about Flock cameras? The benefits far outweigh any downsides that can be conjured up. Unless you plan on robbing a bank, shop lifting, steal a car, kidnap a child, or possibly cheat on your partner.

It's lame when it's claimed to be incorrect 30% of the time. What about the 70% it's spot on? And over time accuracy will improve. Overall the same folks that want to eliminate Flock,, Want to eliminate police. Imagine that?

Quote from: bonneyman on Jul 22, 2026, 05:45 PMFlock cameras are an license plate reader that have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning capabilities. They record your vehicle make, model, color, and any identifying marks (dents, roof racks, bumper and rear window stickers) as well as your plate. Then they grab any bluetooth or Wi-Fi device (smart phone, smart watch, TPS sensors) to make a personal fingerprint of you and your vehicle. Tracks where you go and puts all that data on servers that police (and just about anybody else) can use.
Here's a site that lets you track your city and see where the cameras are.

https://deflock.org/

Well that's pretty frightening!

That's the kind of technology that's great for law enforcement but you just know it's going to be used for other things as well. 

Flock cameras are an license plate reader that have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning capabilities. They record your vehicle make, model, color, and any identifying marks (dents, roof racks, bumper and rear window stickers) as well as your plate. Then they grab any bluetooth or Wi-Fi device (smart phone, smart watch, TPS sensors) to make a personal fingerprint of you and your vehicle. Tracks where you go and puts all that data on servers that police (and just about anybody else) can use.
Here's a site that lets you track your city and see where the cameras are.

https://deflock.org/

What's a flock camera?

  Yes lots of new cameras here.
It seems like flock cameras and the data centers go together.

Seems like over the past 3 months Flock cameras have been popping up all over town. Nobody I talk to knows (or cares) anything about them, and they seem like another blanket surveillance thing. Sort of like the photo-radar and speed cameras from a decade ago. Legislation was passed at the state level banning those - and now these new cameras are appearing all over the place.
Are you guys experiencing these things in your locale?