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#BlackHero Wangari Mathai
Wangari Maathai
Smart, forward thinking, planner, strong, outspoken, beautiful infectious smile.
She reminds us that small steps and planning can make the greatest impact even when equality seems impossible. Rest in Peace Miss Maathai.
In China, Beware: A Camera May Be Watching You
This article is an interesting listen. It reminded me of an article I posted a few months back about Microsoft helping the NYPD do pretty much the same thing (See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/09/nypd-domain-awareness-surveillance-system-built-microsoft_n_1759976.html).
I guess the only difference is the United States has not quite reached the programs full potential. Either that are we are much more quiet about it. Nevertheless this should not scare anyone for visiting China however it should wake people up about what is soon to come in a city near you. As I mentioned earlier when the news first came out about NYPD, if it was created by Microsoft you better believe Washington State metropolitan cities like Bellevue and Seattle are not far from trying to get these laws implemented. Seeing as how the Seattle Police Department already has a drone, I mean why would not they have the technology to spy on anyone they please?
Next Chapter (Written by AmbassadorNique)
Torn between chasing money but wanting to make change at the same time. The curse of knowing to much in a capitalist society that is ran by money, greed, corruption evil and lies. No judgement, nor will I throw any stones, because looking out the window I know I can still only try and understand the intentions of the greedy or the struggle of the hopeless, the crimes they feel they must commit to get just a taste of the so called American dream. Fore isn’t that what we all want?
Slaves to the almighty dollar many of us that know better do whatever we can to find a balance between what our heart is telling us and what bill collectors are telling us we must do to get by. Some with no setup or blueprint to success are left making life up as they go learning from the mistakes of our parents, grandparents, peers and neighbors. Saying to ourselves we will not make the same mistakes as those who’s missteps led to their downfalls.
Determination for survival is mandatory. The nihilistic mentality that tomorrow is not promised and we have only one life to live keep minds trapped living for today, and NOW. Forgetting that in an age of global warming the next storm or natural disaster is only around the corner. Furthermore what will we do when the revolution really does arrive? Have we all fallen asleep with our televisions on? Will we be to busy focused on our own problems to recognize the signs?
Life is long, but more importantly life is now. We must strive to live longer, live healthier, live happier, smile, share, integrate, lend a hand, and discover. Be thankful and never underestimate the importance of a baby step. Be thankful that you can wake up with hope. That you can see even a glimpse of the light in the tunnel. There are some who cannot. Never be to quick to judge, to busy to understand, or to blind to see the larger picture. Even if life has no meaning it is up to us to make each day have a purpose.
I am so thankful for my family, my friends, my life. The monkey that was on my back is gone. Now it is up to me to do the things I said I would. To put the time into making the goals I said I would accomplish happen. Get in Shape, learn photography/photoshop/finalcut pro, Study/Take the GREs, Learn Japanese, and save money! These are my goals! THIS is the bigger picture for me.
Microsoft, NYPD Develop Counterterrorism and Crime Prevention System
Side bar: I guess this was to be expected.. This is pretty much scary to think that cops will have to do even less work to catch “criminals” with many mistakes already happening although this type of technology can make it easier.. I am not sure it will make it better. Also if NYPD is using it in NYC, and Microsoft his HQ in the State of Washington, this will probably be in the City of Seattle sooner than we think.. (If its not already here…). -Ambassador
Microsoft and the New York Police Department (NYPD) have jointly developed a counterterrorism and crime prevention system that will for example notify about…
By John Ribeiro Aug 9, 2012 12:20 AM
Microsoft and the New York Police Department (NYPD) have jointly developed a counterterrorism and crime prevention system that will for example notify about suspicious packages and vehicles, and allow NYPD personnel to search for suspects using technologies like smart cameras and license plate readers.
But privacy advocates are concerned about its implications.
The new Domain Awareness System (DAS) will be marketed by Microsoft to cities in the U.S. and other parts of the world, with NYPD getting 30 percent of all revenue from sales of the system. Microsoft is required to provide to NYPD access to any innovation derived from the sale of the system to new customers.
“We think we can recoup all of of our expenses over a period of time, and maybe even make a few bucks,” New York city mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said at a press conference on Wednesday from the Lower Manhattan Security Command Center, a counterterrorism center. A video of the conference is available on the city’s official website.
The new DAS system takes advantage of new policing software that allows police officers and other personnel to more quickly access relevant information gathered from existing technology, and help them respond more effectively, Bloomberg said.
“In other words, we are finding new ways to leverage already existing cameras, crime data, and other tools to support the work of our investigators, making it easier for them to determine if a crime is part of an ongoing pattern, and will allow the NYPD to better deploy its officers,” he added.
Developed by police officers, detectives, and software developers working together, DAS aggregates and analyzes existing “public safety data streams” in real time, including live camera feeds, 911 calls, and mapped crime patterns, providing NYPD investigators and analysts with a comprehensive view of potential threats and criminal activity, according to a statement. The city has approximately 3,000 closed-circuit TV cameras connected to DAS. NYPD said it has begun to expand camera coverage to the boroughs outside Manhattan.
All the information is presented visually in geographical and chronological context, said police commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.
Investigators will have immediate access to information through live video feeds, and instantly see suspect arrest records, 911 calls associated with the suspect, related crimes occurring in the area, and other data, according to the statement. The police can also track where a car associated with a suspect is located, and where it has been in past days, weeks or months.
DAS will be used only to monitor public areas and public activities where no legally protected reasonable expectation of privacy exists, according toguidelines that aim to establish policies and procedures to limit the authorized use of the system and to provide for limited access to and proper disposition of stored data. Facial recognition technology is not utilized by the DAS, it added. The DAS is described in the document as a counterterrorism tool, but data can be used for law enforcement and public safety purposes under certain conditions.
Privacy advocates wonder how the DAS will ensure that its users are not engaging in “routine, unconstitutional warrantless surveillance” of the New York population.
It is scandalous for Microsoft and the NYPD to describe location data from license plate readers and surveillance cameras as “public safety data”, said Peter Eckersley, technology projects director, at the Electronic Frontier Foundation in an email. “If you drive a car, the history of where you drive it reveals numerous intimate facts about your life. All of this information about New Yorkers is now going to be hoovered up without consent, accountability, or judicial oversight.”
John Ribeiro covers outsourcing and general technology breaking news from India for The IDG News Service. Follow John on Twitter at @Johnribeiro. John’s e-mail address is john_ribeiro@idg.com
AmbassadorNique 