False Sense Of Security

Milwaukee police officer convicted of stealing money while responding to burglary

"A Milwaukee police officer has been fired after his conviction for stealing cash from a convenience store where he had responded to investigate a burglary. According to the criminal complaint, the owner of Hopkins Food Mart at N. 46th St. and Hopkins Ave. had reported a burglary, and Howell came to take a report. The owner showed Howell a drawer with cash that was not taken during the burglary, and Howell later went back to the drawer and took some of the money. His actions were recorded on store surveillance video. Upon his arrest, Howell admitted taking about $200 and said he did so because he was behind on his rent." Continue reading →

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Can police collect DNA when someone is arrested? Supreme Court to decide.

"The US Supreme Court heard argument Tuesday in a case testing whether government officials can routinely collect a person’s DNA at the time he or she is arrested and then use that DNA sample to try to link the individual to unsolved crimes. At issue in the case is whether taking a DNA sample from an arrestee without first obtaining a court-authorized warrant is an unreasonable search under the Fourth Amendment. DNA material contains a plethora of highly personal information bound within a person’s genetic code. DNA might someday reveal information about an individual’s susceptibility to future diseases and perhaps even personality traits." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCan police collect DNA when someone is arrested? Supreme Court to decide.

The Housing Bubble and the Limits of Human Knowledge

"Senior government officials previously denied that the government was on the hook for Fannie and Freddie (presumably thinking that their denial would never be tested by events — a bad theory). What financial shape were Fannie and Freddie in as the crisis proceeded? How bad would the effects of the shriveling bubble be? How much can you trust the word of government officials? How much about the financial future can central bankers or anybody know? Consider the lessons of the following 10 quotations." Continue reading →

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One fake MIT shooter and the troubling trend of SWATting

"When all was said and done, the area remained shut down for nearly three hours. More than 30 armed officers searched the campus. Traffic was diverted outside the area. Numerous news outlets followed the situation. MIT issued formal warnings to all members of its community (more than an hour after the initial CPD alert). Students were asked to take shelter in place throughout the morning. The MIT employee identified by the caller was put through questioning but eventually cleared of any involvement. Even the FBI and Secret Service were called in on the matter. Haven't heard about this? Thankfully, it's because no shooting took place on February 23 at MIT." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOne fake MIT shooter and the troubling trend of SWATting

Senators in Immigration Talks Mull Federal IDs for All Workers

"Key senators are exploring an immigration bill that would force every U.S. worker—citizen or not—to carry a high-tech identity card that could use fingerprints or other personal markers to prove a person's legal eligibility to work. The idea, signaled only in vaguely worded language from senators crafting a bipartisan immigration bill, has privacy advocates and others concerned that the law would create a national identity card that, in time, could track Americans at airports, hospitals and through other facets of their lives." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSenators in Immigration Talks Mull Federal IDs for All Workers

10 Reasons The U.S. Is No Longer The Land Of The Free

"Even as we pass judgment on countries we consider unfree, Americans remain confident that any definition of a free nation must include their own — the land of free. Yet, the laws and practices of the land should shake that confidence. In the decade since Sept. 11, 2001, this country has comprehensively reduced civil liberties in the name of an expanded security state. While each new national security power Washington has embraced was controversial when enacted, they are often discussed in isolation. But they don’t operate in isolation. They form a mosaic of powers under which our country could be considered, at least in part, authoritarian." Continue reading →

Continue Reading10 Reasons The U.S. Is No Longer The Land Of The Free

Houston passes law requiring photographs, fingerprints of gold sellers

"Houston City Council on Wednesday passed new rules on precious metals dealers despite a lengthy attempt to water down the ordinance by Councilwoman Helena Brown, who called it 'safety theater' that would burden businesses and invade jewelry sellers' privacy. Officers in the Houston Police Department's precious metals unit said reputable dealers already implement many of the new rules but said the ordinance - which requires a photograph and thumbprint of each seller and mandates dealers enter transactions into an online database - will help them catch crooks and recover stolen goods." Continue reading →

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Bereaved son billed $800 for late city ambulance that failed to save his father

"The bill for $780.85 stems from Ford’s call to DC Fire & EMS (DCFEMS) on New Year’s Eve when his father, 71-year-old Durand Ford Sr., began having problems breathing. Records show the younger Ford called 911 at 1:25 a.m. that night. But while the fire department dispatched a vehicle to his house nine minutes later, no ambulances were available. DCFEMS officials called for assistance from Prince George County, more than seven miles away, 22 minutes later. A medical unit from Prince George County arrived at Ford’s home at 1:58 a.m., by which point the elder Ford had died." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBereaved son billed $800 for late city ambulance that failed to save his father

Bereaved son billed $800 for late city ambulance that failed to save his father

"The bill for $780.85 stems from Ford’s call to DC Fire & EMS (DCFEMS) on New Year’s Eve when his father, 71-year-old Durand Ford Sr., began having problems breathing. Records show the younger Ford called 911 at 1:25 a.m. that night. But while the fire department dispatched a vehicle to his house nine minutes later, no ambulances were available. DCFEMS officials called for assistance from Prince George County, more than seven miles away, 22 minutes later. A medical unit from Prince George County arrived at Ford’s home at 1:58 a.m., by which point the elder Ford had died." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBereaved son billed $800 for late city ambulance that failed to save his father