Homeland Stupidity

‘Don’t Email Me; Call Me, or I Won’t Do My Job’, Says Lawmaker

"Meet Tick Segerblom, a state senator in Nevada. Tick boldly advertises that he has no principles, no respect for the rule of law or the Constitution, and no cojones: not only is he 'blocking Nevada’s Anti-NDAA legislation,' but when 'PANDA [People against the NDAA] Nevada’s State Team Leader, Chris Corbett, met with Senator Segerblom last week,' Tick flippantly announced: 'If people really care about this bill, they’ll call me.' Tick dislikes emails and will not accept them, despite the good folk of Nevada handsomely paying this slug to communicate with them." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Don’t Email Me; Call Me, or I Won’t Do My Job’, Says Lawmaker

The trouble with using police informants in the US

"Some law enforcement agencies in the US use informants in as many as 90% of their drug cases. But there are surprisingly few rules on how informants are used and a groundswell of calls for the system to be reformed. 'Snitches' are staple fare in Hollywood crime dramas, often working secretly with the police to bring down mafia godfathers or powerful drug cartels. The reality of informants in the US criminal justice system is usually rather different." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe trouble with using police informants in the US

Colorado to grant Secret Service vast new powers

"The bill grants members of the Secret Service arrest powers by considering them to be a peace officer, putting them on a par with state law-enforcement officials. The legislation does not only apply to agents guarding the president or other government officials but also to special agents, uniformed division officers, physical security technicians, physical security specialists and special officers of the United States Secret Service. The idea actually aligns with an Obama agenda to create vast new restrictions and regulations on guns. Hundreds of sheriffs nationwide have said they cannot enforce federal restrictions that would violate the Second Amendment." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingColorado to grant Secret Service vast new powers

Beware Of All Enterprises That Require New Clothes

"Despite sequestration and Big Sister's threats that the reduced growth of the TSA's budget -- not its actual operating one -- will delay passengers in hours'-long lines, the agency signed a $50-million contract with VF Imagewear for uniforms. Yes, those ugly, neon brown-sorry, blue polyester shirts that the thugs at the checkpoint wear cost a pretty penny. But this is old news. I'm bothering you with it because VF Imagewear is 'better known for its Lee and Wrangler brand jeans.' Additional lines include 'Vanity Fair®, ... The North Face®, and JanSport®.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBeware Of All Enterprises That Require New Clothes

NSA Whistleblower Thomas Drake speaks at National Press Club – March 15, 2013

"Thomas Drake, a former Senior Executive at NSA who was charged under the espionage act after he blew the whistle on waste and fraud and illegal activity at the intelligence agency, spoke at a March 15, 2013 National Press Club luncheon. Drake's event was part of the club's celebration of Sunshine Week, a national initiative to underscore the importance of open government and freedom of information." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNSA Whistleblower Thomas Drake speaks at National Press Club – March 15, 2013

Glenn Greenwald: Domestic drones and their unique dangers

"What possible reason could someone identify as to why these small, portable weaponized UAS products will not imminently be used by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the US? They're designed to protect their users in dangerous situations and to enable a target to be more easily killed. Police agencies and the increasingly powerful drone industry will tout their utility in capturing and killing dangerous criminals and their ability to keep officers safe, and media reports will do the same. One has to be incredibly naïve to think that these 'assassin bugs' and other lethal drone products will not be widely used on US soil." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Greenwald: Domestic drones and their unique dangers

Repeal the “War on Terror”

"When Congress approved the post-911 'Authorization for Use of Military Force' on September 14, 2001, Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California was the only member of the House to vote against it. The Authorization for Use of Military Force has been used to justify torture, warrantless surveillance, and now summary execution of terror suspects – including at least three US citizens, among them a 16-year-old boy – by drone strikes. That measure is the American equivalent of the 'Enabling Act' passed by the German Reichstag in 1933 – a blank check for both foreign military adventurism and domestic repression." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRepeal the “War on Terror”

FBI Pursuing Real-Time Gmail Spying Powers as “Top Priority” for 2013

"Despite the pervasiveness of law enforcement surveillance of digital communication, the FBI still has a difficult time monitoring Gmail, Google Voice, and Dropbox in real time. But that may change soon, because the bureau says it has made gaining more powers to wiretap all forms of Internet conversation and cloud storage a 'top priority' this year. FBI general counsel Andrew Weissmann said that the FBI wants the power to mandate real-time surveillance of everything from Dropbox and online games ('the chat feature in Scrabble') to Gmail and Google Voice. 'Those communications are being used for criminal conversations,' he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFBI Pursuing Real-Time Gmail Spying Powers as “Top Priority” for 2013

Homeland Security Using Video Games to Recruit Top Students as Cyber Warriors

"Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is seeking up to 600 new student hackers to combat what they claim is the increasing danger of cyber attacks on critical infrastructure throughout the country. Rather than the normal propaganda techniques used to lure young Americans into other branches of the government, Homeland Security is taking a different route which includes the use of sophisticated video games to essentially promote job opportunities within their agency to young impressionable high school students." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHomeland Security Using Video Games to Recruit Top Students as Cyber Warriors

Inside Oklahoma’s Quest To Dominate The American Drone Industry

"Oklahoma businesspeople, academics, and politicians are collaborating through an organization named USA-OK, which aims to make the heartland state the focal point of American UAV development. A quasi-affiliated group, the Governor’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Council (PDF), was formed via an executive order from Governor Mary Fallin in 2011. Both organizations are lobbying for commercial drone test sites in Oklahoma and increased government assistance in luring more large military contractors to the state. Oklahoma is already home to approximately 15 companies servicing the UAV industry." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInside Oklahoma’s Quest To Dominate The American Drone Industry