Random Thoughts

A South Asian man is suing for being singled out too many times in what are supposed to be random bag checks in New York City. I guess by the 21st time, he was pretty sure he was being targeted. After all, according to his calculations, you're more likely to be hit by lightning twice than be searched as many times as he has been.

Which makes me wonder, how exactly do you carry out a true random check? Do you really search the backpack of the three-year-old tagging along with her aged grandmother as they rush to catch a train? It makes more sense to let them go by, even if they were the nth person, and stop the young male who looks as though he might be related to one of the 9/11 hijackers. I sympathize with the guy being frustrated by so many checks, but I don't think he should win his lawsuit. That would have a chilling effect on policemen being allowed to actually use their own judgment sometimes.