NYC Considers Google Glass For Restaurant Inspections 104
New submitter TchrBabe writes: "NYC is now considering equipping its Health Department inspectors with Google Glass to provide a record of restaurant inspections. 'A yearlong pilot program would require 10 percent of the 160 health inspectors to wear video devices — including, possibly, the much-maligned Google goggles — under legislation to be proposed Thursday. "I think it would limit the abuses on both sides of the table, and it would allow for a more objective view by the judge on the violations that have been cited," said bill sponsor Vincent Ignizio.'"
Added benefit (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Added benefit (Score:5, Interesting)
My favorite story about the differences in hygiene standards in Europe compared to America.
Health inspectors walk into a famous French restaurant in NYC. 3 Michelin stars, celebrity chef. Cat crosses path.
Inspectors: Sir, do you realize there's a cat in your restaurant? This is not allowed
Owner: Of course there's a cat in the restaurant, if I can't have him here how would you suggest I handle the rats?
Inspectors close restaurant. Exeunt
The funny thing is, living in Europe, and then living in Asia I can tell you most of the world does not have the same very very high standards of the US. And, surprisingly, people do not die from eating raw milk products, or from eating cheeses and meats that have been allowed to sit out in the heat all day, or from any of the many other sins an American health inspector will make you repent for.
Should do building inspection too (Score:4, Interesting)
Not in private homes, because I do think people deserve some amount of privacy in their home but, definitely for where the real corruption is: commercial buildings.
My wife's previous employer owned the building that their office was in. They tried to get a permit to build a roof deck and were blatantly extorted by the Boston city building inspector. They refused to pay, he denied them the permit.
Corruption is everywhere where people have power.
Invasion of Privacy? (Score:2, Interesting)
Do the state laws on restaurant inspections in the State of New York provide for the recording of who frequents those restaurants? Since these video inspections are part of the public record AND pick up everywhere the inspector turns their head, it would seem that if passed, this legislation would amount to government surveillance that could then be searched under the freedom of information act. Or how long before law enforcement or the NSA start accessing these videos? Of course they will say if you don't have anything to hide, then you don't have anything to worry about. That may be, but it still doesn't mean this isn't a government approved invasion of privacy.
If you don't think your inspectors are actually inspecting, then tail them. If you don't think they are writing down all the violations, then send a second inspector. In short, define the problem and address it. Doing so doesn't involve recording everybody in the establishment.
Re:Quality lowers from a government official. (Score:4, Interesting)
Did you ever notice that Police Dashboard cams seem to glitch out between the time they do the stop, and during an escalation. Then seems to be working when a bruised suspect finally hits the cop.
I expect the same thing...
You see a video of the inspector. Talking to the owner who is wearing a nice gold watch. Well lets take a look at that refrigerator, the display get very pixally the sound wavers and is hard to hear, then it finally comes back on, with the inspector well it looks good then shakes the guys hand with a tan line, while the inspectors is wearing a gold watch.
Actually, that doesn't happen as often as one might think and when it does, it goes against the police. One of the purposes of dash cams is to provide evidence that the officer did not beat the guy up.
Re:Added benefit (Score:4, Interesting)
"Consumption" was an old name for tuberculosis. TB is normally transferred through the air, not food contamination.
Raw milk is not generally available to poor urban people today, because farms are no longer near cities. It's mostly consumed in rural or suburban areas, near the source farms. There is no need to ban raw milk with the incredibly small risks associated, compared to the carcinogens in city water, for example. So banning raw milk is essentially an attack on poor and middle class rural people, which is fashionable today.
Re:cumulate filth (Score:4, Interesting)
Actually I think you're misinformed. How exactly does it follow that just because people die of dysentery, all hygienic practices in the US not done in other countries are aimed at preventing dysentery?
Furthermore, as stated, European countries often don't have the same health regulations as the US. And, contrary to popular opinion, Europe is full of western countries.
Again, Dysentery is mostly caused by amoebas, and a bacteria called shigella. Shigella is naturally found in humans and apes and you contract it by drinking water with human feces in it. (Which is why when you're in an asian or african country you shouldn't be drinking tap water).
That's completely different then unpasteurized milk, or food that's been left out in the heat.
Furthermore, if you google what I said you'll get all kinds of links on the first page. Like link 1:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com... [usatoday.com]