Flawed “stop and frisk” policy in New York City

Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch says “What gets lost many times in the quiet of a court room is that New York City police officers are trained observers who are skilled in spotting illegal weapons.”

So how good are these trained observers? A detailed ACLU analysis of police data reveals that less than 2% of those stopped actually had weapons. No wonder the NYPD refused to divulge the data — in violation of the state’s Freedom of Information law — and a court had to compel them to do so.

Other scathing reports have come from the Vera Institute of Justice, the New York State Attorney General, and the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Not only is “stop and frisk” of dubious constitutionality, it just doesn’t work.

Maine Gov. Paul LePage — another asshole

Fatal heroin overdoses in Maine quadrupled from 2011 to 2012 but asshole Gov. Paul LePage opposes a bill that would put Naloxone (a drug that can reverse overdoses from heroin and other opioids like morphine) in the hands of police, firefighters, at-risk users and their families.

But much worse, LePage also vetoed a bill last year to create “Good Samaritan” protections from prosecution for drug possession for people who call 911 when they suspect a companion has overdosed. In other words, if you’re doing drugs with a friend and you OD, your friend has a disincentive to call for help.

And that’s why LePage can Bite Me.

via Maine Gov. Paul LePage Looks Set To Reject Overdose Prevention For No Good Reason.

In Russia, Big Brother is Watching You!

This HuffPo headline sounds like a Yakov Smirnoff line: “Russia Says It Knows Journalists Are Overhyping Sochi Hotel Problems Because It’s Spying On Them.”

The Russian deputy prime minister responsible for the Olympic preparations, Dmitry Kozak, believes some Western visitors are deliberately trying to sabotage Sochi’s big debut: “We have surveillance video from the hotels that shows people turn on the shower, direct the nozzle at the wall and then leave the room for the whole day.” What a country!

Russia Says It Knows Journalists Are Overhyping Sochi Hotel Problems Because It’s Spying On Them.

Your refrigerator could be sending out spam

Nowadays, malware manages to insinuate itself on smart devices such as kitchen appliances, home media systems and web-connected televisions. Many of these gadgets have computer processors onboard and act as a self-contained web server to handle communication and other sophisticated functions. It seems that many of these gadgets are poorly configured or use default passwords that leave them exposed.

BBC News – Fridge sends spam emails as attack hits smart gadgets.

The middle class is screwed

Historically, the gap between rich and poor grows under Republican administrations and stays stagnant under Democrats. The trend is now showing up in the restaurant trade, where mid-price joints like Olive Garden and Red Lobster are struggling, while top-end eateries like Capital Grille are thriving.

The Middle Class Is Steadily Eroding. Just Ask the Business World. – NYTimes.com.

New York City reserves the right to sell your protected health information to the highest bidder

Some eagle eye at the New York Post noticed that one of the last acts of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg was to revise the privacy policy of the New York City Fire Department to include this language: “We may also use and disclose your PHI [Protected Health Information] for certain marketing and fundraising activities.”

It will, no doubt, improve my user experience.

FDNY might sell your personal health info | New York Post.