Monday, June 10, 2013

Data Mining

On the radio this morning (Bennett) the NSA issue was raised.
I was struck that we are not allowed to profile in airports, at immigration, etc.
So how do we filter through all the phone records to look for patterns.
I asked on air about this, if we're looking at names of phone records, are we looking at people named Awqueeri from Dearborn calling another Arabic sounding name, or are we looking at someone named Bachmann calling someone named Rand?
It seemed to go over their head and I did not get an opportunity to press the point.
Which domestic terrorists are the government going after, Al-Quaeda or Tea Party?

8 comments:

  1. I'd say the latter rather than the former... sigh

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  2. It went over their heads? Sure, as in a Senator's "plausible" deniability. You: "The sun will rise in the East tomorrow." Them: "That sounds important, but I don't have time now. Send a note to my staff and they'll see that I get it."

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    1. Actually, later in the broadcast they referenced my call and it appeared they understood I meant al quaeda vs yes party after all.

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    2. Yes party? Tea party.(Verizon phone, probably programmed to change my meaning by NSA.)
      I understand and agree Pasc.

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  3. Profiling Arabic-sounding names is NOT racial profiling. It's suspect profiling, a traditional tool of law enforcement.

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  4. How could your question be lost on ANYBODY? you're absolutely right.
    And I, too, believe that Arabic-sounding names are suspect profiling. They might not like it, but maybe when Arabic-sounding named people march in DROVES against their cohorts' terrorism, we'll feel less inclined to have to single them out.

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    1. Every time they mention moderate Islam I hear ONE name, Zoudi Jassar.

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