Candidate Andrew Cuomo proposes a state Office of Faith-Based Services

Andrew Cuomo, who’s running for something, recently spoke to a gathering of Baptist leaders in Harlem. He announced his intention to create a state Office of Faith-Based Services. In addition to its mission of helping churches and other faith-based institutions to provide “education, health, workforce training, food programs and social services to communities, especially those most in need,” it would probably provide a means of funneling state funds to worthy institutions that support Cuomo’s aspirations for higher office.

Andrew Cuomo proposes creation of state Office of Faith-Based Services – NY Daily News.

Di Blasio cracks down on journalists shooting video in public places

NY1 reporters are routinely harassed by school safety officers as well as by NYPD officers when they try to cover stories outside of public schools.

Mayor Di Blasio seems to be following the august tradition of tough guy Rudy Giuliani.

Meeting to Address Reports of School Safety Officers Rushing Students Out of Neighborhoods – NY1.

Who owns “how” ?

Management consultant Dov Seidman is suing Chobani yogurt for using the word “how” as a noun.

Seidman uses the phrase “How Matters” to promote his business; he’s also written a book, How: Why How We Do Anything Means Everything. 

The suit is a result of Chobani using the phrase “Chobani. How matters.” in its advertising.

Sigh. Remember when Apple tried to protect the letter “i” ?

How About That? – Lingua Franca – Blogs – The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Oregon man robbed of his gun . . .

Perhaps he could have defended himself if he had been armed.

Twenty-one-year-old William Coleman III of Gresham was standing and talking to his cousin when another man approached him and asked for a cigarette.

The man asked Coleman about his weapon, a Walther P22 pistol. He then pulled a pistol from the waistband of his pants, pointed it at Coleman and said, “I like your gun. Give it to me.”

Coleman did as he was told and the man then fled on foot.

Open carry enthusiast robbed at gunpoint: ‘I like your gun. Give it to me.’.

Another Bloomberg screw-up

A high-tech polyurethane floor poured in August for the new Police Academy’s massive, 45,000-square-foot gym was a total botch job.

The new Academy building was begun in 2010 and slated for completion in 2013. Now that the high-tech floor (touted as ‘better than Madison Square Garden’) has started to buckle, it will be 2015 — at the earliest — before it can be put into service. Also, it’s going to cost a bunch o’ bucks to replace and the project is already $100 million over budget.

Nice work, Mike.

High-tech floor at new NYPD academy is already falling apart | New York Post.

Washington Post in a stunning display of journalistic courage

Now that Secret Service Director Julia Pierson has resigned, the Washington Post has issued a flaming critique of her tenure.

Why would they wait until now? Is it their practice to lock the barn after the cows have left? I think it’s either a cheap shot . . . or they were too chicken to blast the Director while she was still in office.

Pierson failed to provide fresh start for Secret Service that administration wanted – The Washington Post.

CDC Director all mealy-mouthed about Ebola

When CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta asked CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden if the recent Ebola patient in Dallas should have been tested for Ebola on his first visit to the hospital, and if he should have been asked about his recent travel history, Frieden got vague and evasive:

“That’s one of the things we’ll be looking at,” Frieden said. “But we’re reiterating the message for every health worker in this country — think about travel history. If someone’s been in West Africa within 21 days and they’ve got a fever, immediately isolate them and get them tested for Ebola.”

Gupta then asked Frieden to explain guidance the CDC has issued on that and again asked: “Should this person have been tested?”
“We weren’t there so I can’t tell you exactly what that person said…” Frieden responded.

Gupta interjected, “You’re advising public health departments. Last time I was here (at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta) there was a call with many primary care doctors to educate them on this exact issue. That was a couple of months ago. Should this person have been tested?”

Frieden answered, “We know that in busy emergency departments all over the country, people may not ask travel histories. I don’t know if that was done here. But we need to make sure that it is done going forward.”

Texas Ebola patient came into contact with children – CNN.com.