Homeland Stupidity

Living the Lockdown Life

"While watching coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing and its aftermath, I couldn’t help but notice multiple uses and variations of the word 'lockdown' (e.g. 'Boston is locked down'). I’ve been hearing that word used more and more frequently over the last few years, and finding its connotations are troubling. Between 1990 and 2008, use of the term 'lockdown' in English-language books ballooned ten times. Suddenly lockdowns were no longer just a prison thing. They became a school thing, and then an area, neighborhood, city thing. As of Tuesday morning, Google News reported more than 50,000 uses of the word 'lockdown' in the news media in the previous 30 days." Continue reading →

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John Browne Explains the Great Game

"Of countries that have to make something, like the Swiss – the Swiss have got a heap of granite with icing on the top of it and yet they're one of the richest countries in the world. It's the people that do this stuff. It's the people and the leadership and if they believe in something they do it, and the Germans, too. They believe in hard work but what's more, they believe that the hard work of today's citizens should be kept intact so that those hard working people, when they retire, should be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor. The Anglo-Americans say the hell with the future, the hell with children, the hell with grandchildren. We want that money now." Continue reading →

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JFK passenger detained by TSA after talking about ‘bomb’ sandwich

"Airport officials detained a traveler who mentioned an explosive device at JFK — only to discover he was actually talking about food referred to as The Bomb, TSA sources said. Jason Michael Cruz, 29, was on an escalator in Terminal 7 Thursday when a TSA officer overheard him tell a friend he 'had the wrong kind of bomb' just after 1 p.m. Officials ushered Cruz and his friend, Matthew Okumoto, to a holding area, where they learned the pair was talking about a sandwich called The Bomb, airport officials said. TSA officers held the pair until airport cops arrived, causing Cruz to miss his Los Angeles-bound flight." Continue reading →

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Homeland Security agents indicted for falsifying records in corruption investigation

"Two Department of Homeland Security employees have been indicted in a scheme to falsify investigative documents to disguise a lack of progress on cases in their South Texas office. The Justice Department announced Wednesday that 49-year-old Eugenio Pedraza was indicted Tuesday on charges of falsifying records, obstructing justice and conspiracy. Pedraza is a former head of DHS's Office of the Inspector General in McAllen. Agent Marco Rodriguez also was charged. The IG's office investigates wrongdoing in the DHS, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection." Continue reading →

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Reclaiming our Police Forces

"A couple of articles worth reading on the subject of Law Enforcement. One of the real important reasons for ending the drug war, in my opinion, has been to reclaim the positive relationship between police and their communities. The drug war in particular, along with militarization, has turned the police against those they are supposed to serve, and vice versa." Continue reading →

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The Internet-Homeland Security Power Center Revolving Door

"The second-ranking official at the Department of Homeland Security said she will resign shortly, ending four years as a champion of a civilian-controlled Internet. In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Jane Holl Lute, the sole deputy secretary at Homeland Security, said on Monday she would give notice this week and leave to pursue a role in international Internet affairs. Lute said that she was leaving with the department on a strong footing in Internet matters, with its central role cemented by an executive order on cybersecurity issued by President Barack Obama in February." Continue reading →

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Boston Dynamics’ Terminator-like ‘PETMAN’ robot tests chemical suits

"Defense contractor Boston Dynamics has new video of its Terminator-like 'PETMAN' robot standing, walking, posing and… wearing a chemical protection suit, for some reason. The project is funded in part by the Defense Department’s Chemical and Biological Defense program, CNet reported Monday. Despite the apparent usefulness in testing chemical suits in potentially hazardous conditions, it’s likely not the PETMAN’s only objective. All seeming motility aside, this thing is downright creepy to watch in action." Continue reading →

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Fresno Police Say “We Are Not An Occupying Force.” Residents Feel Otherwise.

"FRESNO, CA — Police are present 'on every street corner,' visibly carrying rifles through neighborhoods. Extra squad cars, including armored police vehicles, patrol the streets. The excess police presence prompted the police chief to remind the public, 'We are not an occupying force.' Residents may feel otherwise." Continue reading →

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The Growing Militarization Of U.S. Police

"As politicians exploit the Newtown tragedy to promote new laws to restrict firearms and implement universal background checks that could lead to gun registration and confiscation, another parallel trend– namely, the increasing militarization of law enforcement, most visibly demonstrated by the growing use of massive, SWAT-type raids on businesses and individuals, sometimes with federal involvement or authorization – is heightening concerns that America is moving toward a police state. The increased militarization of police forces and the associated use of SWAT teams for routine law enforcement are a dangerous trend." Continue reading →

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“Anti-Government” Couple on Run With Children; Lost Custody After Pot Charge

"Joshua Michael Hakken and his wife Sharyn Hakken are on the run in Florida after kidnapping their own two children from Sharyn's mother this morning. Patricia Hauser has had legal custody of her grandchildren, four-year-old Cole and two-year-old Chase, since 2012, when Joshua and Sharyn lost custody for displaying pot in front of their sons at an 'anti-government rally' in Louisiana. There aren't a lot of details out there right now, so it's possible that the Hakkens really were a danger to their kids. But it will be just so goddamn awful if all of this is the result of them using some marijuana at a rally in front of their kids." Continue reading →

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