Tag Archives: Bricklyn

Bricklyn Eagle's skeleton crew.

We’re Headed to the Island Realm of Puerto Ladrillo for our Winter Retreat

The staff of The Bricklyn Eagle is headed South later this month for a Winter retreat in the warm and sunny (we hope) Inland Realm of Puerto Ladrillo.

A group of LEGO minifigures gathered on the steps of a festive, winter-themed building, adorned with a Christmas wreath and surrounded by snow.

The Bricklyn Eagle’s offices in downtown Bricklyn Junction’s historic district on a snowy December day.

Bricklyn Eagle staff in front row; plus “Friends of the Bricklyn Eagle” behind them on the steps.

Photo taken by a passing pedestrian; with stage directions from Bricklyn Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson, and help from Dall E-3 AI.

Two skeleton figurines sitting at a wooden desk in a cozy room filled with bookshelves and plants, with sunlight streaming through a window.
Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with help from Dall E-3 AI.

We will be leaving a skeleton crew behind to deal with any emergencies or critically important breaking news.

While we’re away, catch up on articles we posted in 2025, as well as our recent series of on the Bricklyn data center moratorium debate.

Looking Back at 2025: Our Five Favorite News Stories

Bricklyn Voters Says “Oui” to Association With France / Bricklyn voters sent a clear message to the French Parliament yesterday by endorsing Bricklyn’s joining the French Republic. The Yes — or “Oui” — vote means that the proposed agreement for Bricklyn to become a French “Overseas Collectivity” has taken a giant step forward.

Venice in Bricklyn: The New Canal District Takes Shape / Bricklyn’s long planned Canal District — referred to by the moniker “Venice in Bricklyn” — is bearing its first fruits with the completion of several Venetian-style palazzi alongside a newly constructed canal.

For the Love of Donuts … Great British Bake Off Judges Paul Hollywood & Prue Leith Invited to Visit Bricklyn / Bricklyn business leaders have invited Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, the co-judges of The Great British Bake Off show, to share their love of donuts while visiting Bricklyn and learning how the LEGO realm has become the donut capital of the Inland world.

Why the Bricklyn Longhouse is Central to Community Life / Chief Bricklyn historian W.T. Jackson describes the design and uses of the Bricklyn Longhouse, perhaps the single most important building in the Realm. Jackson explains how the Longhouse incorporates Viking, Iroquois, and New England roots.

The Bricklyn Brick Spa: A Cleansing Journey / In the first of a series of interviews of “ordinary” Bricklynites, Bricklyn Eagle correspondent Gloria Vanderbrick speaks with Meredith B. Days, manager of the Bricklyn Brick Spa, and discusses the key role spas play in the life of the residents of Bricklyn.

Walt Brickman

See you in late February.

Walt Brickman,
Editor, The Bricklyn Eagle

Federal Council President Hilma Plater-Zybrick chairing meeting.

The Federal Council of Bricklyn Enacts Six Month Moratorium on Permitting of New Data Centers

A gathering of LEGO figures resembling Vikings sitting at a round table with drinks and plates, facing an audience of other LEGO figures in a wooden hall, with a fire burning in the background.
Federal Council members ready for arrival of Council President at the Bricklyn Longhouse on Tuesday. Note that for meetings at the Longhouse members of the Council wear special attire, including Viking-era head gear and (for the men) long costumed beards. On the table are mugs of ale and Bricklyn-style donuts with flat centers. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, using assistance from GPT-4o AI.
A group of LEGO figures depicting a serious woman in a black suit with a red hairstyle and a Viking helmet, seated at a round table, flanked by two other LEGO figures wearing Viking helmets and green outfits.
Council President Hilma Plater-Zybrick arrives to call Tuesday’s meeting of the Federal Council to order. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, using GPT-4o AI.

A crowd estimated at about 200 people jammed into the Bricklyn Longhouse and into two large tents set up alongside the Longhouse and connected to it by video for the January 6th meeting of the Federal Council of the Realm of Bricklyn.

Various officials of the Realm of Bricklyn were also in attendance, including Federal Chancellor Malter Thurnbrick whose office would be charged with leading the data center study called for in the moratorium resolution.

Many of those supporting the proposed data center moratorium also decried the explosive growth in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) that has triggered the demand for large-scale dat centers. Data centers, in turn, were said to have significant adverse environmental and social impacts.

In contrast, those opposing the moratorium on new data centers feared that delay would severely damage the Realm’s economy, as businesses looked to move their operations to more “AI and data center friendly” locations. They also touted what they saw as many other benefits resulting from AI, especially in terms of health care and business efficiency, while downplaying the potentially negative environment impacts.

Editor’s Note: so you can evaluate our own biases in reporting on AI and data centers, please see our statement “On the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence by The Bricklyn Eagle.”

Before taking up the data center moratorium resolution, the Federal Council addressed two other items: first, the Council heard a rare formal public apology; and second, Council President Plater-Zybrick read Chief Prognosticator’s response to the Council’s request for his comments on the moratorium resolution.

The Head of the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce Offers Formal Public Apologies

Council President Hilma Plater-Zybrick gaveled the Council meeting to order, and called Chamber of Commerce head Tom Brickorti and Bricklyn Environmental Alliance leader Jenny Brickdeur to come to the  front of the Longhouse and stand facing each other. so that Brickorti could make a public apology for the Chamber of Commerce’s unethical conduct towards the BEA.

Mr. Brickorti, draped in a long red scarf (symbolizing apologies), walked to the front of the Longhouse.

Two LEGO figurines stand near a small campfire, one wearing a red scarf and blue jacket, and the other in a green shirt, engaged in conversation.
Tom Brickorti apologizing to Jenny Brickdeur. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson, using GPT-4o AI.

As called for by Bricklyn custom, Brickorti donned the red ceremonial scarf worn by those making public apologies.

He then bowed first to the Council, then turned and bowed to the public, and finally made a half turn and bowed to Ms. Brickdeur who faced him across the Longhouse’s ceremonial flame.

Brickorti then offered his apology:

“On behalf of the Chamber of Commerce I stand here to apologize to the members of the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance, to the Federal Council, and to all Bricklynites for the actions one of our staff took in tricking the Alliance into printing and displaying throughout the Realm a poster they would not otherwise have used in their efforts to support the moratorium resolution. Our staffer has been fired, and on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, I apologize for this act of chicanery. We will also compensate the Alliance for any additional costs they have borne as a result of what we have done.”
For details on this incident, see the Bricklyn Eagle’s December 29, 2025 news story.

Ms. Brickdeur replied by accepting the red scarf tendered her by Mr. Brickorti and said: “On behalf of the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance, we accept your apology.”

Apparently, this was the first public apology session conducted at a Federal Council meeting since 2014 when two Councilors apologized for making threatening gestures and shouting at each other during a Federal Council meeting.

📍 For two other examples of public apologies, see these stories from  Indianapolis and Los Angeles.

Council President Hilma Plater-Zybrick Reports on Correspondence from the Chief Prognosticator

Following a five minute recess, Council President Plater-Zybrick reclaimed her gavel. She then read into the record a brief statement from the Chief Prognosticator in response to the Council’s request for their advice on the moratorium resolution.
See The Bricklyn Eagle’s Dec. 20, 2025 article for more on the Council’s request.

Chief Prognosticator David Bricks
Bricklyn Chief Prognosticator David Bricks. Photo by The Bricklyn Eagle, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.

Statement of Chief Prognosticator David Bricks:

“In light of concerns some have raised about potential bias the Office of the Chief Prognosticator might have in commenting on a resolution that relates to the use of artificial intelligence, we have concluded that the Chief Prognosticator will not comment on the data center resolution before the Council. …

“We cannot indicate whether our Office uses, or does not use, any form of artificial intelligence in our work. …

“As provided in Section 3.7 of the Constitution of the Realm of Bricklyn: ‘The Office of the Chief Prognosticator’s data analysis and methodologies shall not be divulged to any members of the public, including members of the Federal Council or to any other officials in the Realm of Bricklyn. Only the Chief Prognosticator and his or her Deputies confirmed by the Federal Council shall have access to that Office’s data analysis and methodologies.’ “

Public Comments Offered on the Data Center Moratorium Resolution

A scene depicting Lego figures, including a monster, two boys holding a sign reading 'STOP AI: FRANKENSTEIN TECHNOLOGY,' with Viking figures in the background.
Echoes of Joni Mitchell’s song, “Shine.” Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance of GPT-4o.

Some two dozen individuals and groups briefly spoke during the two hour set aside for public comment on the data center moratorium resolution.

Speaking on behalf of its over 300 members, Bricklyn Environmental Alliance Director Jenny Brickdeur told the Councilors that it was “essential that we take the time to learn about the consequences a massive data center might have on our environment and how we use our limited undeveloped lands.”

Brickdeur added, “we are not anti-business, in fact many of our members are small business owners. But we cannot put our environment at risk, and we cannot saddle Bricklyn ratepayers — including business ratepayers — with what are now the largely unknown energy costs that might result from the demands a large data center would place on the realm’s energy supplies and supporting infrastructure.”

➤ Further comments from Ms. Brickdeur and others supporting the resolution can be found in recent Letters to the Editor we have previously published.

A scene featuring two Lego figures in business attire, one holding a sign that reads 'AI WILL BUILD BRICKLYN'S FUTURE,' with Viking helmet decorations in the background.
Opposing the data center resolution. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance of GPT-4o.

In contrast, those opposing the resolution, led by Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce Director Tom Brickorti and Dunk Them Donuts CEO David Plater Broffman, stressed the risks that passing a two-year moratorium would have for Bricklyn’s business community.

As Brickorti noted, “we will be placed at an extreme competitive disadvantage with other Inland realms, several of which are already proceeding with the development of data centers.”

Dunk Them’s CEO Broffman, looking back at the overflow crowd assembled in the Longhouse, stood at the microphone and said, “As I have already noted in public remarks, the future of Dunk Them Donuts’ expansion in the Realm of Bricklyn, and especially in our Bricklyn Junction home, will be put at risk if this two-year moratorium is put in place.

A Lego figure wearing sunglasses and a red 'DUNK THEM' shirt holds a pink donut while standing at a table surrounded by other Lego figures dressed in Viking attire.
Dunk Them Donuts CEO addressing audience at the Federal Council’s Tuesday night meeting. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance of GPT-4o.

“As Mr. Brickorti just explained,” added Broffman, “we live in a highly competitive environment. I see many of our 800 employees here in the audience. They understand the stakes!

“I do not mean to be threatening, but simply want you on the Federal Council to understand the risks you are exposing our employees to by shutting off our company’s ability to expand our use of artificial intelligence and other technologies essential to business growth in the coming years.

➤ Further comments from those opposing the moratorium can be found in Letters to the Editor we have previously published.

Councilors Debate Resolution Calling for a Two-Year Moratorium on the Permitting of Large-Scale Data Centers

Following the conclusion of the public comment period, Council President Plater-Zybrick recognized Councilor Bob Senbrick to speak to the data center moratorium resolution he had introduced.

A Lego figure wearing a Viking helmet and glasses, dressed in a vest with a bow tie and flower, standing in front of a bookshelf.
Councilor Bob Senbrick before start of yesterday’s Federal Council meeting.. Photo by Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson, using GPT-4o AI.

Nattily attired in his trademark bowtie, and vest with a pinned flower, Senbrick — the longest serving member of the Council — rose to speak.

Why this resolution?” he began. “Because the simple truth is that Bricklyn is unprepared to deal with large-scale data center proposals that could have profound impacts on not just neighboring properties, but on the Realm as a whole.

“We need to ensure that our zoning and energy code regulations provide clear standards for data centers so that if they come, they will fit with our energy and land use policies, and be good neighbors.”

“I’m particularly concerned,” Senbrick continued, “with what we’ve heard today from the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance and others about the enormous demand data centers could place on the Realm’s energy infrastructure, and on our long-held policy of maximizing use of renewable energy sources including wind, solar, and hydro power.

“Whats more,” Senbrick concluded, “the energy demands being triggered by increasingly complex artificial intelligence programs and other technologies may well require construction of a nuclear reactor, something our Realm is quite unprepared to deal with. All the more reason we need the time that a moratorium will give us to plan more effectively.”

President Plater-Zybrick next recognized the youngest member of the Federal Council, South Burlington’s Jessica Tiler Jemison, who had seconded Senbrick’s resolution.

A smiling LEGO figure wearing a Viking helmet, sitting at a table with a mug and a plate, against a backdrop resembling a medieval tavern.
Councilor Jessica Tiler Jemison during yesterday’s Federal Council meeting. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, using GPT-4o AI.

Jemison noted that while she supported Senbrick’s resolution, she remained “troubled” by the rapid expansion in the use of artificial intelligence, which, she said, “is driving the call for massive data centers.”

“I have been assured by Councilor Senbrick,” added Jemison, “that the intent of his resolution is that the study to be undertaken will also examine the possible regulation of AI, as its use is obviously closely tied to the need for data centers.”

Is the Proposed Moratorium Legal?

Bricklyn Junction Councilor Mario B. Marconi next spoke against the resolution, noting the key role that Dunk Them Donuts plays in Bricklyn Junction, and its importance to the city’s economy. “This resolution, with its very lengthy moratorium, is reckless,” said Marconi. “While I respect Councilor Senbrick, I ask him to weigh the impacts his resolution could have on thousands of hard working Bricklynites, and consider withdrawing the resolution.”

Councilor Marconi also asked the Realm’s Chief Attorney, William Brickstone, to verify that the proposed moratorium would be upheld if challenged in court.

A Lego figure dressed in a suit holds a microphone and a document in a crowded assembly hall, with attendees seated in the background.
Bricklyn Chief Attorney William Brickstone addressing members of the Federal Council in the Bricklyn Longhouse last night. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, using GPT-4o AI.

Brickstone replied that though there is no direct Bricklyn law or judicial precedent involving land use moratoria, he was “confident the proposed moratorium would be upheld.”

Brickstone explained that “In the absence of Bricklyn law or relevant judicial rulings on a particular issue, Bricklyn’s Supreme Court has said it can take note of how the statutes and courts of the neighboring state of Vermont have addressed the same kind of issue.” See Henry Brickson v. Realm of Bricklyn, 27 Brick 322 (2013).

“For example,” said Brickstone, “while a two-year moratorium may be viewed by some as quite lengthy, or even reckless, it is clearly within the time frame Vermont law allows.” Citing [24 VT § 4415 ]. This form of “persuasive authority” would likely be cited by the Realm of Bricklyn Supreme Court.

Attorney Brickstone also cited a Vermont Supreme Court case [ In re Interim Bylaw, Waitsfield, VT, 170 Vt. 541 (1999) ] which upheld a moratorium that temporarily prohibited one and two-family dwellings in the Town of Waitsfield’s forest reserve zoning districts or on land above an elevation of 1,700 feet.

As Brickstone noted, “The Vermont Supreme Court found that the town’s moratorium reflected a legitimate municipal interest in resource protection, while also noting that the plaintiffs had not shown that the moratorium denied them all ‘economically beneficial’ use of their property, as other possible uses remained. The reasoning of this Vermont Supreme Court decision, “said Brickstone, “would very likely be given considerable weight by our own Court.”

Federal Council member Bill B. Butler
Federal Council Member from South Bricklyn and railroad engineer, Bill B. Butler, aka 3Bs. Photo from The Bricklyn Eagle archives.

Speaking next, South Bricklyn Councilor Bill B. Butler noted that “even though Councilor Senbrick’s proposed data center moratorium is likely legal, I nevertheless have “very mixed feelings about the moratorium proposal.”

As Butler explained, “I share many of the concerns expressed on both sides, and am looking to see if there’s some room for compromise.”

“Having said that,” Butler added, “I’d like to ask, Madame President, for a 15 minute recess.”

Council President Plater-Zybrick polled the Council, which unanimously agreed to Butler’s request.

A Compromise Takes Shape

Three LEGO figures stand in an indoor setting with wooden walls. One figure wears glasses, a green vest, and a horned helmet; another is dressed in a red outfit with a cowboy hat; and the third figure is in a brown outfit with a horned helmet.
Discussing Councilor Butler’s proposed amendment, from left to right Councilor Senbrick, Federal Chancellor Thurnbrick; and Councilor Jemison. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, using GPT-4o AI.:

During the break, the seven Councilors could be seen huddling in several small groups joined by Federal Chancellor Thurnbrick, Bricklyn Planning Director Tim Brickedy, Bricklyn Energy Department Director Joanna Brightbrick, along with the Environmental Alliance’s Jenny Brickdeur and the Chamber’s Tom Brickorti.

On returning to their seats after what had turned into an hour long recess, President Plater-Zybrick recognized Councilor Butler. The South Bricklyn Councilor turned to Bricklyn Councilor Senbrick and asked if Senbrick would agree to amend his resolution by shortening the duration of the moratorium from two years to six months, with a provision that by future vote of the Council this six month period could be extended by up to an additional three months.

Councilor Senbrick taking off his reading glasses, looked back at Butler and said that he would agree to this shortened time frame “out of a desire that the Federal Council speak with a unified voice on this important issue,” and “having received assurances from Chancellor Thurnbrick that his Office, with help from the Planning and Energy Departments, could complete the study called for in my resolution within the shortened six to nine month time frame.

After Councilor Jemison seconded the amended resolution, the Federal Council approved it by unanimous vote and adjourned the meeting.

Conversations Continue after Adjournment

In a sign of good will, Tom Brickorti and Jenny Brickdeur could be seen chatting amiably, while Council members and others milled in the Longhouse, though it was past eleven in the evening.

We were able to speak briefly with several of the Councilors. We spotted Councilors Senbrick and Butler standing arm in arm.

Two LEGO figures stand together in an indoor setting, one wearing sunglasses and a green vest while the other is dressed in a brown vest with a bow tie and a flower.
Councilors Butler and Senbrick after the meeting. Credit; Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, using GPT-4o.

Councilor Senbrick told us he was “completely satisfied” with Butler’s proposal to shorten the moratorium. Senbrick also acknowledged that Chancellor Thurnbrick and his staff “will have a lot of work to do in putting together their report and recommendation in less than six months,” adding that “I’m keeping my fingers crossed no other major issues demand their attention in the months ahead.”

Councilor Butler nodded in agreement and said: “I was very glad that Bob was willing to agree to our shortening the moratorium’s duration. We were headed for a very divisive outcome, with not just a split vote on the Council, but with a deep split between two key constituencies, the business community and environmental advocates.

“I had been thinking,” Butler continued, “about offering an amendment to Bob’s resolution before the meeting, and briefly sounded out Bob and Hilma about it, but it was in hearing Tom Brickorti’s apology at the start of the meeting that drove home for me that we Bricklynites really need to keep each other’s best interests at heart, and I thought that shortening the length of the moratorium was one way of doing that, of course if Chancellor Thurnbrick also felt it could work.”

Two Lego minifigures engaged in conversation, one wearing a green outfit and cap, and the other dressed in a formal black suit.
Councilor Butler and Council President Plater-Zybrick speaking after the Council meeting concluded. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, using GPT-4o.

Council President Plater-Zybrick looked at Councilor Butler and added: “We Bricklynites know that it’s up to all of us to really listen to what those we may disagree with have to say. Like Bill, I came into the meeting with some mixed feelings.

“As the one at-large member of the Council,” she continued, “I especially want to respect the voices of all Bricklynite, wherever they live. I could hear the concern from those who live or work in Bricklyn Junction, including the many Dunk Them Donuts employees who came to the Council meeting.

“I was glad that Bob and all the members of the Council could come around to supporting Bill’s amendment to the resolution. It was a very important signal to send to all segments of the Bricklyn community.” ✥

Previously posted in The Bricklyn Eagle:

➤ 12.27.25: Data Center Moratorium Supporters & Opponents Mobilize Amidst Evidence of Poster Chicanery
➤ 12.20.25: Does the Office of the Chief Prognosticator Use ChatGPT or Other AI Programs?
➤ 12.16.25: Data Center Moratorium Resolution Introduced. Hearing Scheduled
➤ 12.01.25: Does a Moratorium on Data Centers Make Sense for Bricklyn?
➤ 11.28.25: Federal Council Member Calls for Two-Year Moratorium on New Data Centers


A stylized eagle logo with large eyes and a yellow beak, designed with colorful building blocks in the background.

We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

To the Editor: Why is it that none of those wise men and women who sit on the Federal Council asked how much this in-depth study will cost? You’d think that would be one of the most important things to know. But not a word mentioned by our Councilors. Of course, we know who will be picking up the tab: we the Bricklyn taxpayers! — Ruth B. Raucous, Bricklyn, VT.


To the Editor: As one of your Vermont readers, I was intrigued by your practice of having “public apologies” made, at least occasionally, at your Federal Council meetings. We would need dozens upon dozens of such apologies from our President and his Cabinet members to even scratch the surface of their lies, misconduct, corruption, and plain nastiness. — Zev S., South Burlington, VT.


To the Editor: Hey, Walt, Bricklyn is certainly a stellar example of how to run a realm.  I’m impressed by the apology tradition and by the willingness of Bricklynites to talk things out and compromise.  I hate to admit it, but I’m mostly taken by the Viking hats and think the ladies should have them as well.  Come to think of it, maybe even the beards too. … Well done, Bricklynites. –– Pat D., Burlington, VT.

Reply from the Editor: Dear Pat D. We appreciate your interest in both our apology tradition and the Viking style helmets that Federal Council members (male and female) wear during Council meetings held in the Longhouse. Our October 7, 2025 article on the history and use of the Bricklyn Longhouse included an explanation of the style of helmets used. We hope you and other readers take a look at that article. Have to say, however, that there is no tradition of female Councilors donning the beards that many male Councilors put on during meetings!


To the Editor: While I appreciate The Bricklyn Eagle’s solid news reporting, I wish you’d take an Editorial stand against AI and the data centers they require. Instead of improving our lives, they will be wreaking havoc with not just our environment, but with our our social cohesion. I agree with the words of Joni Mitchell mentioned in your article, saying we need to shine a light on our “Frankenstein” technologies.

Let me just add that several years ago our Federal Council dealt with a somewhat similar situation when it took the bold step of banning the operation of Facebrick, the Facebook subsidiary serving Bricklyn, because of the company’s neglect of legitimate privacy concerns and its monopolistic practices. I’m hoping that consideration of the growing impact of AI programs, and the need for their regulation, will be part of the study the Federal Council just authorized. — Martin Plater Nelson, South Bricklyn, VT.


Eat more energy

Data Center Moratorium Supporters & Opponents Mobilize Amidst Evidence of Poster Chicanery

Bricklyn Eagle masthead

December 27, 2025 / updated December 29, 2025

by Mark Tiler Richmond, Politics & Law Correspondent and Paul B. Macro, Business & Economics Reporter

Both sides of the data center moratorium debate have begun mobilizing for the Bricklyn Federal Council’s January 6, 2026 meeting to be held at the Bricklyn Longhouse — a venue used for meetings when a large crowd is expected.

Federal Council member Bob Senbrick
Councilor Bob Senbrick. credit; Bricklyn Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with help from DallE-3 AI.

The data center moratorium resolution, introduced by long-time Federal Councilor Bob Senbrick, would block any applications for data centers for up to two years, during which time the Federal Council would assess whether current regulations are adequate to deal with likely data centers and their impacts. For the full text of the proposed moratorium resolution.

Colorful competing posters are visible on streets throughout the Tri-Partite Realm, having been hammered or stapled in place at a pace usually only seen when Federal Council elections take place. Here are two of the most prominently displayed posters. The first (immediately below) shows a “Mr. Data Center” speaking out against the moratorium resolution. The second highlights data centers as energy guzzlers.

Illustration of a character named Mr. Data Center, a smiling robot with three server racks, promoting opposition to a data center moratorium with speech bubbles saying 'We love AI', 'Energize me!', 'No Moratorium!', and 'Build more of us!'

Above poster distributed by the Coalition to Build a Better Bricklyn, a group just formed by the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce to advocate against the proposed moratorium.

The poster below is from the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance which is coordinating efforts by those supporting the data center moratorium resolution.
READERS: Please see the Note from the Editor at the bottom of this page for important additional information about this poster.

A colorful poster depicting a large, cartoonish face on a building, expressing opposition to energy-guzzling data centers, with the text 'We don’t need energy guzzling data centers!' and 'EAT MORE ENERGY!!'. The background features wind turbines and solar panels.

Colorful digital illustration of an eagle's head, designed with a playful, blocky style, set against a blue background with circular logo-like elements in various colors.

We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

To the Editor: My, oh my! Isn’t it too much that the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance, the very group leading the charge against data centers and artificial intelligence, has used a graphic that I’d bet was generated by AI! Admit the truth you tree-huggers, you also love to use AI. — Bartholomew Roberts Fortune, Bricklyn, VT.


To the Editor: On behalf of the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance (BEA), I want to apologize to our fellow Bricklynites about the error we made in not realizing that the illustration we used for our support the data center moratorium poster was generated by use of AI. The illustration was provided us by an excited new member of the BEA. He told us that he had drawn it, and we believed him as our AI proofreader (also a new member) failed to do the required AI check for the illustration.

We’re looking further into how all this occurred. But suffice it to say that this mistake further strengthens our concerns about the insidious nature of AI, when it is now becoming increasingly difficult to tell AI-generated art from art made by sentient people such us Bricklynites. — Jenny Brickdeur, Director of the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance (BEA), Bricklyn, VT.


Note from the Editor:

posted Dec. 29, 2025
Let’s Check the Facts:

In light of the letter to the editor we received and published (see above) from “Bartholomew Roberts Fortune,” along with the reply letter from. Jenny Brickdeur, Executive Director of the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance,, we at The Bricklyn Eagle did some fact checking of our own and contacted both BMr. Fortune and Ms. Brickdeur. Here is what we discovered.

An illustration of a historical pirate standing on a shore with ships sailing in the background, depicting maritime life from a bygone era.

Bartholomew Roberts with his ship, The Fortune, and captured merchant ships in the background. A copper engraving from A History of the Pyrates by Captain Charles Johnson c. 1724. From Wikimedia..

Pirating a Name:

To begin with, when asked about his name, Mr. Fortune quickly acknowledged that his real name is Mason B. Blair, and that he used his “pirate” pseudonym in his letter to The Bricklyn Eagle, as well as on other occasions. The name is that of the early 18th century Bricklyn-born pirate, Bartholomew Roberts Fortune.

Seeing this apparent pseudonym being used, we should have questioned the identity of the individual sending us the letter to the editor.

Even more importantly, we should have recalled that a man using this pseudonym had been arrested two years for donut theft — a crime that cuts to the moral fibre of Bricklyn. The Bricklyn Eagle, in its Sept. 30, 2023 print edition briefly noted this arrest in our Police Blotter column (not available in the online Outland-oriented edition of The Bricklyn Eagle).

A pirate-themed LEGO figure holding a sign that reads 'ARREST: DONUT THEFT 09/28/23', with a police officer holding a donut in the background.
Mr. Mason B. Blair (aka Pirate Bartholomew Roberts Fortune). Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2023 at Bricklyn Police HQ. Arrest for theft of police donuts, a Class A misdemeanor. Police photo prepared with assistance of GPT-4o AI.

Seeking to Trick the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance:

Further discussion with Mr. Blair revealed that just two weeks ago he joined the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance and volunteered to design a pro moratorium poster for BEA, citing his experience as a graphic artist — in fact, Blair has no experience as an illustrator or cartoonist.

Mr. Blair told us that he recruited a friend to also join and volunteer at BEA. This individual offered to help the organization detect the use of AI in text and image. Blair’s friend falsely vouched that Mr. Blair was the creator of pro moratorium (“Eat More Energy”) poster, which BEA subsequently distributed throughout the Realm of Bricklyn.

Payoff for Tricking the BEA into Using the AI Generated Poster:

But most damning of all, Blair told us the scheme was the brainchild of someone from the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce. Blair and his friend were each to be paid 1,000 CuDos (roughly $750 U.S.) as soon as the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance made use of Blair’s AI-generated “Eat More Energy” data center poster. Mr. Blair also knew from his informant that the Chamber would then mock the fact that the BEA was using an AI-generated poster, potentially damaging the credibility of the BEA in advance of the Federal Council’s January 6th meeting.

Tom Brickorti of the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce
Tom Brickorti, CEO of the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce. Photo from Bricklyn Eagle archives.
Jenny Brickdeur, Director of the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance
Jenny Brickdeur, Director of the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance. credit: Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance of GPT-4o AI.

The Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce & the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance Respond:

We asked Tom Brickorti, CEO of the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce, to respond to what we learned. Brickorti told us he was “shocked” and could “in no way condone what happened,” adding that “the Chamber will also investigate this bizarre and misguided scheme. What’s we will issue a full apology to Ms. Brickdeur and members of the BEA.”

Ms. Brickdeur told us that she will discuss the matter with the BEA Board of Directors to determine what, if any, further steps the BEA will take.

In the meantime, given the newsworthiness of the above incident, we are leaving posted the images of the two data center related posters, but with an alert to our readers to be sure to view this Note from the Editor.


To the Editor: Thank you for revealing who was behind this sorry whodunit. I should also acknowledge that I’m a small business owner (of Bonnie’s Fudges downtown) who recently joined the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance because of my concerns about AI. But I do have a question for Editor Brickman. Do you vouch that you wrote the Note from the Editor you just published without any use of ChatGPT or other AI? — Bonnie Plater Berensen, Bricklyn Jct., VT.

Reply from the Editor: None of the text in the Note from the Editor was generated by AI. But we did use AI for help in generating our photo illustrations. We’ve explained our use of AI at greater length on our page: “On the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence by The Bricklyn Eagle.”


Previously posted in The Bricklyn Eagle:

➤ 12.20.25: Does the Office of the Chief Prognosticator Use ChatGPT or Other AI Programs?
➤ 12.16.25: Data Center Moratorium Resolution Introduced. Hearing Scheduled
➤ 12.01.25: Does a Moratorium on Data Centers Make Sense for Bricklyn?
➤ 11.28.25: Federal Council Member Calls for Two-Year Moratorium on New Data Centers