Thieves Are Now Targeting AI Data Center Construction Sites for Copper and Expensive Equipment
Luis Prada (7/3/2026)

Investigators recovered two stolen trailers carrying $1.3 million in data center supplies, including copper wire and infrastructure equipment.

Americans don’t seem like they’d be particularly broken up if the data center craze gripping corporate America were stopped dead in its tracks. According to recent polling, data center hate is one of the few things capable of uniting people across the political spectrum. At this point, the only people who’d genuinely miss them—besides the tech CEOs insisting we need them for reasons they can’t explain—might be the thieves making a fortune stealing the mountains of copper and equipment headed to their construction sites.

According to Business Insider, investigators recently recovered two stolen trailers near Chicago containing roughly $1.3 million worth of data center supplies, including $300,000 in copper wire stolen in Alabama, and another trailer carrying $1 million in infrastructure equipment taken from Florida. It’s a booming industry, with the US Department of Homeland Security estimating that cargo theft costs businesses about $35 billion a year, and the AI boom is now fueling a whole new niche within that black market.

Wherever data centers are being built, the thieves follow. We do live in a land of opportunity, after all, and what is a data center if not a giant opportunity to steal a lot of copper wiring to offset all the water the data center is going to be stealing from us?

The same race to build ever-larger data centers that has sparked public backlash over energy use, water consumption, and the menace they pose to nearby communities has also made an entirely new criminal economy. Every data center needs truckloads of valuable materials before the servers can be crammed in. Every new shipment is just another opportunity thieves can seize.

While the AI revolution threatens to kill countless jobs, leaving potentially millions of Americans in the lurch, maybe all those future jobless Americans can turn to the booming data center theft industry. Maybe AI is a job creator?

from the album "Songs of Resistance 1942-2018", released in Sept 2018

Every year on April 25, Italians gather around heavily laden tables and barbecues and chant “Bella Ciao” at least half a dozen times, right hand on the heart. It was sung as an anti-fascist resistance song during the second world war and singing it has become part of the annual ritual celebrating Liberation Day, the anniversary of the end of the fascist regime and Nazi occupation in 1945.

In March and April 2020, under Italy’s first strict lockdown, “Bella Ciao” could be heard constantly, coming from the roofs, windows and balconies overlooking empty streets in Rome, Milan and Bologna, like a reassuring, collective mantra.

But “Bella Ciao” wasn’t born as a partisan anthem. Its first authors were the 19th-century mondine (literally “weeders”), female rice paddy field workers of the Po Valley, in the country’s north east, who sang dirges lamenting their harsh working conditions. The original lyrics describe “insects and mosquitoes”, the boss’s “cane”, the “curved” backs of the mondine, the “torment” of wasting their youth toiling. Its repetitive quadruple meter seems designed to mark the long working hours and make time go faster. As in the wartime adaptation, the words “bella ciao” (“goodbye beautiful”) were sung thrice in the second line of each verse, but the identity of the bella the mondine are waving goodbye to remains unclear. It could be their beautiful youth, their freedom, or even themselves.

In the 1940s, an unknown author adapted the mondine’s song of protest for the Italian resistance movement, telling the story of a young man who leaves his girlfriend to join the partisan militia, and, probably for the last time, says goodbye. This version offers a much darker narrative: “Take me,” the narrator asks the partisan, “because I feel death approaching.”

“If I die as a partisan,” he continues, “you must bury me / up in the mountain / under the shade of a beautiful flower / and all those who will pass by / will say ‘What a beautiful flower / This is the flower of the partisan / who died for freedom’”.

The repetition of “bella ciao” in this last-farewell story seems to convey the impending danger of the invader approaching, as much as the narrator’s inability to say goodbye for the last time.Every year on April 25, Italians gather around heavily laden tables and barbecues and chant “Bella Ciao” at least half a dozen times, right hand on the heart. It was sung as an anti-fascist resistance song during the second world war and singing it has become part of the annual ritual celebrating Liberation Day, the anniversary of the end of the fascist regime and Nazi occupation in 1945.

In March and April 2020, under Italy’s first strict lockdown, “Bella Ciao” could be heard constantly, coming from the roofs, windows and balconies overlooking empty streets in Rome, Milan and Bologna, like a reassuring, collective mantra.

But “Bella Ciao” wasn’t born as a partisan anthem. Its first authors were the 19th-century mondine (literally “weeders”), female rice paddy field workers of the Po Valley, in the country’s north east, who sang dirges lamenting their harsh working conditions. The original lyrics describe “insects and mosquitoes”, the boss’s “cane”, the “curved” backs of the mondine, the “torment” of wasting their youth toiling. Its repetitive quadruple meter seems designed to mark the long working hours and make time go faster. As in the wartime adaptation, the words “bella ciao” (“goodbye beautiful”) were sung thrice in the second line of each verse, but the identity of the bella the mondine are waving goodbye to remains unclear. It could be their beautiful youth, their freedom, or even themselves.

In the 1940s, an unknown author adapted the mondine’s song of protest for the Italian resistance movement, telling the story of a young man who leaves his girlfriend to join the partisan militia, and, probably for the last time, says goodbye. This version offers a much darker narrative: “Take me,” the narrator asks the partisan, “because I feel death approaching.”

“If I die as a partisan,” he continues, “you must bury me / up in the mountain / under the shade of a beautiful flower / and all those who will pass by / will say ‘What a beautiful flower / This is the flower of the partisan / who died for freedom’”.

The repetition of “bella ciao” in this last-farewell story seems to convey the impending danger of the invader approaching, as much as the narrator’s inability to say goodbye for the last time.

One morning I woke up,
Oh, my beautiful, goodbye!
My beautiful, goodbye!
My beautiful, goodbye, bye, bye!
One morning I woke up,
And I found the invader.

Oh, partisan, take me away,
Oh, my beautiful, goodbye!
My beautiful, goodbye!
My beautiful, goodbye, bye, bye!
Oh, partisan, take me away,
For I feel like dying.

And if I die as a partisan,
Oh, my beautiful, goodbye!
My beautiful, goodbye!
My beautiful, goodbye, bye, bye!
And if I die as a partisan,
You must bury me.

And bury me up there in the mountain,
Oh, my beautiful, goodbye!
My beautiful, goodbye!
My beautiful, goodbye, bye, bye!
And bury me up there in the mountain,
Under the shadow of a beautiful flower.

All the people passing by,
Oh, my beautiful, goodbye!
My beautiful, goodbye!
My beautiful, goodbye, bye, bye!
All the people passing by,
Will tell me: What a beautiful flower!

And this is the flower of the partisan,
Oh, my beautiful, goodbye!
My beautiful, goodbye!
My beautiful, goodbye, bye, bye!
And this is the flower of the partisan,
Who died for freedom.

And this is the flower of the partisan,
Who died for freedom.

--<<O>>--<<O>>--<<O>>--<<O>>--<<O>>--<<O>>--<<O>>--<<O>>--

Una mattina mi son' svegliato,
O bella, ciao!
Bella, ciao!
Bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
Una mattina mi son' svegliato,
E ho trovato l'invasor.

O partigiano, portami via,
O bella, ciao!
Bella, ciao!
Bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
O partigiano, portami via,
Ché mi sento di morir.

E se io muoio da partigiano,
O bella, ciao!
Bella, ciao!
Bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
E se io muoio da partigiano,
Tu mi devi seppellir.

E seppellire lassù in montagna,
O bella, ciao!
Bella, ciao!
Bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
E seppellire lassù in montagna,
Sotto l'ombra di un bel fior.

Tutte le genti che passeranno,
O bella, ciao!
Bella, ciao!
Bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
Tutte le genti che passeranno,
Mi diranno: Che bel fior!

E quest' è il fiore del partigiano,
O bella, ciao!
Bella, ciao!
Bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
E quest'è il fiore del partigiano,
Morto per la libertà.

E quest'è il fiore del partigiano,

Morto per la libertà.

0:00 To Bring You My Love
7:55 Meet Za Monsta
12:42 Working For The Man
18:02 Send His Love to Me
22:52 Down By The Water
26:26 Long Snake Moan
31:36 Legs

It's from Julio Torres show 'Fantasmas' which on Max currently but check for it elsewhere in the future if you don't have Max, it's brilliant. Here's another underrated clip from same show starring Steve Buscemi

Self-immolation is the ballsiest way anyone can go/get their message across

A Tibetan man protesting China’s occupation fatally set himself on fire outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan on Thursday evening, capturing the horrifying scene on livestreamed footage.

The protester, identified by a friend as Lobga Rangzen, was dressed in full monastic garb when he planted a Tibetan flag on the sidewalk and then self-immolated along the busy street during the evening rush, according to the video.

He scattered pieces of paper as he burned to death.

Rangzen, who has lived in the US for about 20 years and worked as an Uber driver, crumbled to the ground less than a minute after he was engulfed in flames as passing cars honked their horns.

About 15 seconds later, a pair of first responders with fire extinguishers doused the flames. 

Rangzen, 42, was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

One witness, a 37-year-old man from New Jersey, said that he “just saw some smoke from over there, gushing up.”

“It was a big flame with fire,” he continued, adding that he saw two officers from the UN put out the flames.

“Thank god they were there, but it was too late man.”

By the time first responders arrived, Rangzen’s breathing was so faint his survival seemed unlikely, the witness said.

“He was too far gone.”

Lobsang Paljor, a fellow Uber driver and friend of Rangzen, said he met Rangzen through their local Tibetan community and was shocked that he self-immoluted. 

Paljor said his friend embraced peaceful protests.

“No, never aggression,” Paljor told The Post. “But he was always like, you know, peaceful protest, as always,” he continued.

Paljor emphasized that Rongzen opposed the Chinese occupation and that he wanted “to have a complete, free Tibet.”

The flag was still in place about an hour after the shocking display as cops investigated the scene.

Police were spotted carrying the sheets of paper that Rongzen scattered, one of which said “CHINA OUT OF TIBET” — a slogan commonly associated with the Tibetan Independence Movement, or contemporary “Free Tibet” movement.

Since March 2009, more than 150 people are known to have set themselves on fire in Tibet to protest what they describe as “Chinese occupation,” according to Free Tibet.

The “Free Tibet” movement seeks to recapture sovereignty for the Tibet Autonomous Region, marked by the restoration of power to the Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism.

“Many of the protesters have shouted slogans while on fire, including calling for the Dalai Lama’s long life and his return to Tibet, for the Panchen Lama to be freed, and for human rights and freedom in Tibet,” Free Tibet says on its official website.

“Severe punishments are handed out to those accused of assisting or encouraging the protesters or sharing information abroad,” Free Tibet continues.

This movement challenges the region’s incorporation into China, which followed the Seventeen Point Agreement in May 1951 — an accord that sought to establish a peaceful transition while the People’s Liberation Army moved into the region.

During the 1990s, the movement gained international visibility through the “Tibetan Freedom Concerts” held in the United States, featuring prominent bands such as U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Rage Against the Machine.

Prior to the Chinese Communist Party’s rise to power during the Republic of China era, Tibet functioned with de facto autonomy and maintained its own distinct administrative structures.

While many individuals who choose self-immolation are not formally affiliated with Tibetan Buddhist monastic orders — with many coming from secular professions — these public displays remain a significant form of both political and religious resistance.

EDIT: TITLE MISLEADING, according to the text of the grandma's gofundme he was probably only in the morgue freezer for about three hours, not five:

"On February 8, 2026 during what should have been a joyful Super Bowl Sunday, the Fiordilino family experienced every parent’s worst nightmare. Their 18‑month‑old baby boy, Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, suffered a tragic accident and fell into the family pool. He was underwater for approximately five minutes before first aid was administered while waiting for first responders. Vincent was rushed to Gilbert Mercy Hospital, where doctors worked tirelessly to save him. At around 8:00 p.m., the unthinkable happened—Vincent was declared deceased. His devastated parents were sent home in unimaginable grief. But God had other plans. A little after 11:30 p.m., the family received a call no one expected: the medical examiner had detected a faint heartbeat. Vincent was immediately airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, fighting for his life. 

In the early hours of February 9, around 4:00 a.m., doctors warned the family that Vincent’s organs were shutting down. His kidneys, lungs, and liver were all struggling. An MRI was ordered later that day to determine brain activity and potential damage. The results came back showing only two tiny “pencil‑dot” areas of potential brain damage, and doctors expressed grave concern. They explained that the next 72 hours would be critical for Vincent’s survival and neurological outcome. But once again, Vincent continued to fight. On Thursday, February 12, at 1:45 p.m., a follow‑up MRI brought a wave of hope the family desperately needed. By the grace of God, the results showed no brain damage. Only a small area of bruising was found, which doctors believe may cause minor balance issues—issues that Vincent’s young brain is expected to compensate for as he grows. Despite this miracle, Vincent still faces a long and challenging recovery. He will need extensive therapy, ongoing medical monitoring, and support for his healing organs. 

As of Friday, Vincent is breathing on his own with the assistance of a ventilator while his lungs continue to heal. Doctors are taking things slowly, allowing Vincent’s body to guide the pace of his recovery. They are amazed by his strength and have lovingly begun calling him “the miracle baby.” The Fiordilino family is overwhelmed with gratitude—but also with medical expenses that are far beyond what they can manage alone. Between emergency care, air transport, ICU treatment, MRIs, organ support, and the long-term therapy ahead, the financial burden is immense. This GoFundMe has been created to help ease that burden so the family can focus on what matters most: supporting Vincent as he continues to defy the odds. Every donation, no matter the amount, makes a meaningful difference. If you cannot donate, sharing this page is just as powerful. Thank you for your prayers, your kindness, and your support for baby Vincent—our miracle fighter."

TEXT OF ARTICLE:

An adorable toddler who was declared dead and then found alive inside a freezing morgue fell into a pool while his parents allegedly smoked weed in the garage of their $750,000 home, according to police. 

Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino was found floating face down in his family's backyard pool in Gilbert, Arizona, around 5.30pm on February 8 while his mother, father, and other relatives watched Super Bowl LX inside, a police report obtained by the Daily Mail revealed. 

His mother and father, Alexus and Angelo Fiordilino, realized their 18-month-old baby was missing after the couple went into the garage 'to talk' before heading to the backyard couch to watch television, investigators detailed. 

After about 15 minutes, Alexus, 29, realized they had not seen Vincent. Panic quickly set in and moments later she found her child floating face-down in the swimming pool, according to the report. 

Alexus immediately pulled her son, who was vomiting foam, from the water and started performing CPR on the pool deck while 911 was called, the report stated. 

Angelo then 'ran' their child to the front yard and performed CPR on him as first responders arrived.   

Vincent was rushed to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead by Dr. Aryan Toosi about an hour later at 6.20pm, according to the police report. 

But five and a half hours later, baby Vincent was found alive and breathing inside the hospital's morgue by a medical professional, police said. He suffered severe brain damage and will need life-long care. 

The lengthy report further detailed the serious 'error' that police believe Toosi made when he declared the child had died. 

Although earlier reports suggested that the bizarre incident was some sort of miracle, heavily blurred police bodycam footage and officers' detailed accounts told a very different story. 

An officer recalled hearing a nurse say 'I have a pulse' before other hospital staffers helped her 'in attempting to revive Vincent', the report stated. 

That cop then walked into the room where Dr. Toosi was talking with the boy's parents, and informed him of what he overheard, investigators said. 

The officer claims the physician then responded sharply. He stated in his report: 'Toosi arrogantly told me he was the doctor, he has a medical degree, he went to medical school for a reason, and to let him do his thing.' 

Toosi then walked back into the emergency room and told staff to stop CPR and other life saving measures on the child, and said: 'As long as there are no objections, I'd like to call time of death,' the officer recounted. 

The doctor then called Vincent's time of death at 6.20pm, and six minutes later, Alexus and Angelo were told to say goodbye to their baby boy. 

But as they did so, both of them stated that 'they believed Vincent was still breathing based on the appearance of him gasping for air,' police said. 

That officer also recalled seeing Vincent's 'stomach/chest area rising and falling,' but staff told them that was the gas leaving his body, investigators detailed. 

When medical staff went to move the little boy's body to the morgue later that night, a female officer recalled that she 'observed what appeared to be another audible gasp' coming from the child, the report stated. 

Blood tests taken at the hospital for both parents determined that they did not have alcohol in their systems, but were positive for cannabis, the report stated. 

Because they admitted to smoking marijuana, Alexus and Angelo were both charged with child or vulnerable adult abuse the police report stated. 

The Gilbert Police Department told the Daily Mail: 'The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office will review the case and make a final charging decision.'  

Yaleen Perez, Alexus's mother, launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise money to support Vincent's recovery. 

'His devastated parents were sent home in unimaginable grief. But God had other plans,' Yaleen wrote. 

After learning that he was still alive, Vincent's grandmother said the toddler immediately faced medical issues, including his lungs, kidney and liver shutting down. 

An MRI test was also ordered for him, and determined that there was only two 'pencil dot areas of potential damage,' Yaleen said. 

The family were told the next 72 hours were the most critical for the baby, and on February 12, a secondary MRI showed he has 'no brain damage,' she stated. 

Then, when she entered the morgue, the cop said: 'I again observed what appeared to be a gasp or air release, which was now almost an hour later.'

But a nurse who was there said the alleged breathing sounds could have been due to agonal breathing, which is an involuntary brainstem reflex that occurs when the brain is severely deprived of oxygen, according to the report. 

Once it was discovered that Vincent was alive after being declared dead 'in error' by the doctor, the report says the toddler was airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital for treatment.

An MRI confirmed that he suffered extensive brain damage and will need lifelong care. 

During her interview with police, Alexus said Vincent did not know how to swim, and wears flotation devices when he goes into the water with family. He would often throw rocks and balls into the pool as well, she noted to police.

His father, Angelo, also told officers that he and Alexus 'smoke a little weed' at times, and the last time he did so was the morning of the drowning, according to the report. 

He also said they drink alcohol 'on occasion,' police noted. 

Blood tests taken at the hospital for both parents determined that they did not have alcohol in their systems, but were positive for cannabis, the report stated. 

Because they admitted to smoking marijuana, Alexus and Angelo were both charged with child or vulnerable adult abuse the police report stated. 

The accident did leave Vincent with a 'small area of bruising' that doctors believe will cause 'minor balance issues,' she added. 

'Doctors are taking things slowly, allowing Vincent’s body to guide the pace of his recovery. They are amazed by his strength and have lovingly begun calling him the miracle baby,' Yaleen concluded. 

The Daily Mail approached the Fiordilinos and Mercy Gilbert Medical Center for comment. 

A hospital spokesperson previously told the Daily Mail: 'This is a heartbreaking situation. We immediately conducted a thorough review of all aspects of the care provided to learn what happened and to make meaningful changes to strengthen our care.

'Out of respect for the patient's privacy, we cannot discuss details. We continue to work with the family and their representative. Patient safety and exceptional care is our highest priority.'

The Gilbert Police Department told the Daily Mail: 'The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office will review the case and make a final charging decision.'  

Yaleen Perez, Alexus's mother, launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise money to support Vincent's recovery. 

'His devastated parents were sent home in unimaginable grief. But God had other plans,' Yaleen wrote. 

After learning that he was still alive, Vincent's grandmother said the toddler immediately faced medical issues, including his lungs, kidney and liver shutting down. 

An MRI test was also ordered for him, and determined that there was only two 'pencil dot areas of potential damage,' Yaleen said. 

The family were told the next 72 hours were the most critical for the baby, and on February 12, a secondary MRI showed he has 'no brain damage,' she stated. 

She passed away from COPD/Parkinsons in 2024, by the end she was my best friend (growing up, the opposite), and she told me I was hers too.

UPDATE: FOLLOW UP ARTICLE THAT INCLUDES PHOTOS FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE

Original Article:

Sixteen children who 'looked like feral animals' were rescued from a tiny dilapidated house of horrors in Ohio, as four adults face charges, according to police. 

The gruesome discovery was made by the Vinton County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday morning after executing a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation. 

Law enforcement encountered a horrific scene inside that home that was simply described as 'pure evil,' according to Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson. 

'Conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in,' Wilson said. 

Some of the children found 'couldn't even speak,' he revealed.

'It was terrible. They looked like almost feral animals. It was terrible,' he said. 

Two parents and grandparents were each charged with 17 counts of endangering children, a second-degree felony. 

The suspects were identified as Gary Siders Jr, Gary Siders Sr, Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders. 

The home was in the tiny town of Hamden, which has a population of less than 1,000 people and is about 60 miles southeast of Columbus.

Felony charges were filed by the DA's office because the parents and grandparents were responsible for causing 'serious physical harm,' according to prosecuting attorney William Archer. 

Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain echoed a similar sentiment at a news conference, describing the home as being littered with human feces and a small room where investigators believe the children were kept for nearly four years.

'Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children,' Cain added.

The children ranged in age from 18 months to 18 years and included both boys and girls, officials said. 

Several were in serious condition when found, and two had to be flown to level one trauma centers because of their injuries.

When asked about their emotional state at a press conference, Wilson said that investigators' primary concern upon arrival was getting the children to a hospital due to the extent of their medical conditions. 

Officials did not confirm how all the children were related, but said it was not a human trafficking situation. 

Authorities added that the four arrested were not locals and appeared to have been traveling. 

'Our children deserve better from their parents, guardians, and custodians. No child should endure these kinds of conditions,' Archer, the prosecuting attorney, said. 

'My office will do everything in our power to make sure these children get the love and care they deserve. My office will prosecute these persons to the fullest extent of the law.'
Terri Siders, a relative of the family, told NBC News that she had not heard from the family in at least eight years. 

'I knew little Gary had kids, yeah. I don't remember meeting any of the kids, though,' she said.

'I knew they had a lot of kids through family talking years ago, but there's no way I thought they had that many kids.' 

The four were arraigned in the Vinton County Court of Common Pleas on Wednesday morning and remain in jail on a $300,000 bond. 

Investigators said in an update that they now believe the Siders have lived in multiple Ohio counties since 2008 and have avoided establishing medical or government records. 

Live BBC Evening Session 06-06-1995

A study out of the Salk Institute found that cannabinol, a natural byproduct of THC, appeared to protect neurons against oxidative stress in human brain cell cultures and animal cells. Oxidative stress is one of the key biological drivers behind Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, making the finding significant for researchers studying how to slow or prevent cognitive decline in aging populations. The results suggest that rather than simply degrading as cannabis ages, the THC byproduct may actually develop properties that are neuroprotective.

A separate 2024 study published in JAMA Network Open found no significant link between middle-aged and older adults who recently began using cannabis for medical reasons and cognitive decline or impairment. Columbia University psychologist Carl Hart, who has studied recreational cannabis use in adults extensively, argues the adult brain is more resilient to the downsides of cannabis than traditionally assumed, and his own experiments found that adults who chose to get high before a math test showed minimal impact on accuracy. Taken together, the emerging picture from multiple research teams is that the risks of cannabis for older adults may be substantially lower than previously believed.

Researchers and the scientists themselves caution the findings are promising but not conclusive, and none of the studies amount to a recommendation to use cannabis as heavily as possible. Heavy cannabis use is still associated with short-term memory impairment, and research on teen users continues to show elevated risk of bipolar and psychotic disorders later in life. The key distinction across all of this research is that the adult and aging brain appears to respond to cannabis very differently than the adolescent brain does.

STUDY: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2823671