patrick.net

New Renter says

You also have no idea what the police were told. The person who made the call may have exaggerated the danger.

You and I have exactly the same information about what the police were told. The difference is, you jump to the conclusion that the information fits a "profile of a dangerous disgruntled worker to a T." That's quite a leap. More importantly, you seem to illustrate without understanding the point that Edward Snowden tried to make about the NSA: with enough information, almost anyone can be made to seem dangerous, or a villain. Some of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib were denounced by business rivals or enemies, which happened for centuries in places where the presumption of innocence did not apply. What happens when your psycho ex-girlfriend turns out to have an uncle at NSA, and you find yourself in Guantanamo after Googling information about 9/11? Will you be pleased that you fit a profile of a dangerous person "to a T," based on a tip from someone who doesn't like you, combined with a selective search of your Web history? Nevermind though - Guantanamo was closed years ago - I remember it was a promise from an elected official, and those are always kept.

curious2 says

You and I have exactly the same information about what the police were told. The difference is, you jump to the conclusion that the information fits a "profile of a dangerous disgruntled worker to a T."

Again here was the scenario.

The police received a tip that a recently dismissed worker had been looking into "backpacks" and "pressure cooker bombs" shortly before termination on the company computer. Those facts disturbed someone at the company enough to call it in. The police paid the guy a visit and after a brief conversation decided there was no need for further involvement.

curious2 says

What happens when your psycho ex-girlfriend turns out to have an uncle at NSA, and you find yourself in Guantanamo after Googling information about 9/11? Will you be pleased that you fit a profile of a dangerous person "to a T," based on a tip from someone who doesn't like you, combined with a selective search of your Web history?

There was no arrest, there was no "enhanced interrogation", they did not send the poor schmuck to a secret prison to be executed and buried in an unmarked grave. The guy fit a very basic profile - recently dismissed worker + interest in homemade explosives and delivery devices. Hell yes the police should investigate!

The police did their jobs with nobody getting hurt. I'd like more stories such as this one to end so well.

New Renter says

the police should investigate!

Would you feel the same way if, instead of the police getting a call from the owner of the computer, the NSA had pieced together the information entirely on its own? For example, if they got his search records directly from Google and got only his (un)employment status from the employer or the unemployment office? Would it concern you if they are storing your entire web history just in case someday you might become "disgruntled", and would you wonder who has access to that information meanwhile? Do you remember when the TSA confiscated nailclippers?

this is 3rd rate journalism. stupid reporter can't get the story straight.

first husband and wife searched the wrong terms at once.

later the searches happened at work.

curious2 says

New Renter says

the police should investigate!

Would you feel the same way if, instead of the police getting a call from the owner of the computer, the NSA had pieced together the information entirely on its own? For example, if they got his search records directly from Google and got only his (un)employment status from the employer or the unemployment office? Would it concern you if they are storing your entire web history just in case someday you might become "disgruntled", and would you wonder who has access to that information meanwhile? Do you remember when the TSA confiscated nailclippers?

But that is not at all what happened here so it has NOTHING to do with the OT. What DID happen is the police got a tip, they investigated the person of interest and lost interest in that person after the interview. THAT is the (non) story here.

New Renter says

they investigated the person of interest a

Based on the picture, the police did not just investigate. They raided the house like it is in a war zone.

New Renter says

The police did their jobs with nobody getting hurt. I'd like more stories such as this one to end so well.

While I think the mere presence of the police at the dudes house is troubling, let's make the case they followed a valid lead. The issue is that people are often severely mistreated once they rightfully refuse entry without a warrant. If the guy gave it up it's his problem but I suspect a lot do so out of fear to what happens if they don't. If a lead is credible enough a judge can hand out a warrant in no-time, but the police is caught entering homes without warrants time and time again. The nation has been primed by shows such as 24 to accept the 'shoot first ask questions later' meme.

gsr says

New Renter says

they investigated the person of interest a

Based on the picture, the police did not just investigate. They raided the house like it is in a war zone.

What picture? The link in the OT had no pictures nor was there any raid.

Look for the desktop version of the link. The mobile version does not have it.

gsr says

Look for the desktop version of the link. The mobile version does not have it.

Yep, there it is, thanks. The OT link was to the mobile version.

Gotta say that's the first time I've seen detectives outfitted in full riot gear. I have to admit the photo does change the flavor of the story.

After interviewing the company representatives, Suffolk County Police Detectives visited the subject’s home to ask about the suspicious internet searches.

One has to wonder what the company reps told the cops. Its hard to accurately make a judgement without knowing that crucial piece of the puzzle.

New Renter says

http://www.army.mil/terrorism/1999-1990/

Seems real enough to me.

The irony of going to that page...

In any case, far more Americans lives could be saved by doing any of the following:
1. Replacing cars with maglifts
2. Stopping corporations from polluting
3. Ending childhood poverty
4. Fixing our healthcare system
5. Stopping the shipping of jobs overseas. Doing so will lower poverty and thus all poverty-related violent crimes.

Yet, we spend little or nothing on any of these things like feeding the massive pigs of the NSA and warfare industry.

Dan8267 says

Yet, we spend little or nothing on any of these things like feeding the massive pigs of the NSA and warfare industry.

Don't forget the prison-industrial complex

Dan8267 says

The irony of going to that page...

Odd, it works fine for me.

Well perhaps Emperor Obama could at least send out an official communication to outline all unacceptable Google search keywords and phrases.

Dude I saw an article today that the NSA can activate your Android microphone now.

CaptainShuddup says

Dude I saw an article today that the NSA can activate your Android microphone now.

They have been able to do that since the iPhone 3G, with a warrant of course.

epitaph says

CaptainShuddup says

Dude I saw an article today that the NSA can activate your Android microphone now.

They have been able to do that since the iPhone 3G, with a warrant of course.

I'd bet they've never NOT had those abilities.

robertoaribas says

Do you think it would have been any different if they'd found the anarchists cookbook in his work desk, with some pipebombs circled? and notes of how to build them?

No difference: same unlawful search and seizure.

New Renter says

gsr says

Look for the desktop version of the link. The mobile version does not have it.

Yep, there it is, thanks. The OT link was to the mobile version.

Gotta say that's the first time I've seen detectives outfitted in full riot gear. I have to admit the photo does change the flavor of the story.

You were right the first time. Even the picture is misleading.

From the bottom of the article:
Photo: Massachusetts police search a home after the Boston bombings

robertoaribas says

CaptainShuddup says

Well perhaps Emperor Obama could at least send out an official communication to outline all unacceptable Google search keywords and phrases.

you are a f***ing idiot as usual. It was local police, and his coworkers that set off the alarm.

Just like IRS political targeting was not done by Obama appointees such as Lois Lerner and Wilkins, but by rogue low level Cincinnatti office fall guys...

Even when harrassing law abiding citizens it appears that Obama is still leading from behind, he is just a very mediocre communist.

robertoaribas says

Straw Man says

robertoaribas says

Do you think it would have been any different if they'd found the anarchists cookbook in his work desk, with some pipebombs circled? and notes of how to build them?

No difference: same unlawful search and seizure.

they didn't seize anything; They didn't execute a warrant. they came by and talked to him, which he agreed to.

Roberto, did you fix that toilet? The unlawful search was obviously the peek into his search patterns. Subsequent visit is obviously not the illegal search since the idiot agreed to it (just like the dumb blacks who were blackmailed by cops into giving up their money). Don't pretend to be more dumb than you already are.

Thank for playing and all, but you really are just too stupid to bother offering any opinions.

Stop humping my leg, boy. Go fix a toilet.

What the hell do you do for a living

Rest assured that whatever I do for a living does not involve fixing toilets.