All Points Bulletin
The proliferation of public surveillance cameras has gotten lots of ink over the past few years. So has the increased security around logical terrorist targets. If there's one place in the U.S. I would expect to be blanketed by state-of-the-art cameras almost seven years after 9/11, it would be the center of New York City: Times Square. Indeed, take a walk around Times Square (and anywhere else in Manhattan, for that matter) and you'll notice cameras everywhere -- and those are the ones you can see. So if someone drives a van packed with explosives into the center of Manhattan, or saunters down Broadway with a dirty bomb in a backpack, authorities should be able to get at least a license plate number or a face out of it, right?
Check out this still photo of the suspect in today's Times Square bombing. The video from the NYPD news conference is here. Note the sharpness of detail, the expression on his face, right down to the distinguishing scars. Apparently, he seriously underestimated the capabilities of today's technology.
Feel safe yet?
Check out this still photo of the suspect in today's Times Square bombing. The video from the NYPD news conference is here. Note the sharpness of detail, the expression on his face, right down to the distinguishing scars. Apparently, he seriously underestimated the capabilities of today's technology.
Feel safe yet?
posted by The Cunning Realist at Thursday, March 06, 2008
10 Comments:
Don't worry. They've got all your emails and a good picture, and your address. They guy with the bomb isn't important. He represents a feature, not a bug of the national security state.
And I thought this one was bad - A military base was robbed. According to the article, no surveillance video, and the thief just pried open a door. They stole id cards, blank and completed, and the equipment to make them. When asked what they could do with this, "access to bases". "So alerts have gone out around the world." Holy Smoly!
Love the media freak out, the mayor and police commissioner shoulder to shoulder at a press conference bravely announcing that NYC is "open for business" again after the attack. A dipshit on a 10-speed with a bag of cherry bombs. How will we have the courage to go on living, faced with this great terror?
BOOGA BOOGA BOOGA VOTE FOR MCCAIN OR THAT TERRORIST ON THE BIKE MIGHT BE UNDER YOUR CHILD'S BED!!!!!!!
BOOGA BOOGA BOOGA
Exactly. Have you peed your pants yet? Good. We have you where we want you.
Honestly, I don't like the idea of having cameras all around. I just don't trust authority anymore. When I was younger I was secure in the knowledge that if I were ever accused of a crime I would receive a fair hearing. Now I am not at all sure of that.
Maybe I'm just being paranoid. Maybe I have watched "Enemy of the State" too many times. I mean, I look around and I don't see people being pulled off the street and locked up. But history has (or should have) taught us that power will be abused. And with the general climate of fear we now live in, I don't trust the authorities to be fair and rational. In addition, the label of National Security can be used to put any information into a black hole. So we potentially can't even see how these security "tools" are being used.
I can see a massive potential or abuse here, especially once these cameras get better resolution and tracking capabilities. Considering how much I disagree with the way our country is being run, and for whom, I don't feel that the authorities have my best interests at heart.
I am reminded of the Simpsons:
Marge: I thought the law was powerless!
Chief Wiggum: Powerless to help you, not punish you.
I mean, I look around and I don't see people being pulled off the street and locked up.
http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A10762
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23397836/
Damn, Goldhorder. That was quite the depressing tale regarding the hydroponic brothers. I'm afraid of what I'll find when I click the MSNBC link, but alas, I'm sure I won't be surprised. Here goes...
What no follow up post anon? Don't worry...most are just poor minorities...you are generally treated better if you are paying a large sum in taxes to the government...just make sure any assets you have are well hidden. And drive older cars. The...we'll steal your car if you drive drunk...is just starting to get popular. Police auctions should do well in the depression also. Auctions always do well in depressions.
Oh, sorry Goldhorder. Ya, I read the MSNBC article. No, it wasn't surprising at all.
I bought my gold at $448. When did you get in?
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