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Book review: Survival Guide for Citizens in a Revolution
Posted by Laurize Mimay
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So, based on the title, this could either be a useful book filled with valuable information, or a book filled with propaganda. I was scared to even scroll down the page, especially since the author is “Anonymous.”
However, a pleasant surprise awaited me, Anonymous: Survival Guide for Citizens in a Revolution, is filled with useful information. Much of it is the same information I follow when a hurricane is headed for my house. Stockpile non-perishable food and bottled water, get prescriptions filled in advance, buy rice.
This guide is actually intended for people who think they are ABOUT to be in a country with civil unrest, not a country that is already disrupted. The most important tid-bit of information: stay calm.
The book is broken down into different areas. First warnings signs of coming unrest. Preparations. Security. Creating a Take-Box. General Strategies. Additional Security Tips. How to Deal with Exceptional Situations.
This book is certainly worth a read.
Cell phones records: Are they yours?
Posted by Laurize Mimay
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The ACLU recently posted the 2010 cell phone data retention chart, which it received from the Justice Department under a Freedom of Information Act request. Included HERE is a clean copy of the report; but here is a summary of how long different American carriers keep your data lying around for law enforcement to access.
Location Tracking
data about which cell towers your phone uses.
- ATT: Forever
- Sprint and Nextel keep that information for 18-24 months
- Verizon stores it for 1 rolling year
“Detail” of your text
details include call history, date, time, senders phone number, and receiver’s phone number
- ATT: post paid 5-7 years, and does not retain content information at all
- Verizon: 1 rolling year and text content for 3-5 days
- T-Mobile: pre-paid 2 years and does not keep content at all
- Sprint and Nextel keep details for 18 months “depending on the device”and content
- Virgin Mobile: detail for 60-90 days and content for 90 days
IP information
this is your session information and browsing history
- Verizon: IP session information for 1 years and browsing history for 90 days
- T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile: Don’t store any
- Nextel and Sprint: store IP address and browsing history for 60 days
- ATT: IP session info is “only retained on non-public IPS for 72 hours, If public, not retained”
This may be information to consider the next time you enter a contract with a cell-phone provider. Privacy is NOT a right guaranteed under the US constitution or Bill of Rights; but you can use information to protect yourself.
Baggage touts at Changi Airport
Posted by Laurize Mimay
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The next time you travel by plane you may be approached to take on extra luggage. Travelers are targeted because they have fewer pieces of luggage, and then asked to take on bulky pieces as they check-in their own pieces. These items are usually electronic goods and the travelers are generally paid $5-10 per kilogram. The money is either paid after check-in or upon final delivery at ports such as Chennai, Sri Lanka and Yangon.
Between $1,000-5,000 fine and up to six months in jail if youre caught carrying another persons luggage in Singapore airport
Changi Airport is aware of the touts and is conducting “anti-touting patrols” at all four of its’ terminals. Carrying another person’s luggage is not only illegal but people caught touting in public places can be fined between $1,000-5,000 and be jailed for up to six months.
Photoshop: Philippines Officials
Posted by Laurize Mimay
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We do it for fun or for malice. We use Photoshop to put our head on top of a sexy body. But the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways Patrol was caught Photoshoping themselves into a typhoon cleanup photo. :blush:
Typhoon Nesat struck just a few days ago and instead of going to view the damage; they used Photoshop to put themselves in. Don’t they look pensive and appear to be assessing the damage? Good job guys! But you got caught! Look closely, they seem to be floating in midair… not such a good job after all.
The chastising has begun by folks Photoshoping them into other photos.
Flight safety and security for celebrities
Posted by Laurize Mimay
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Regardless whether you’re a celebrity or not, safety and security during flights are important. For a celebrity, however, there are considerations to remember during flight.
Critics, stalkers and angry fans can be violent when they have the chance to show how they feel with the celebrity. That is why most of VIP’s choose to have privacy in an exclusive luxurious in-flight suite. There are many Executive Services that offers this kind of privilege, you just have to be ready to pay what it takes. Celebrity or regular Joe, if you have the “dough”, why not right?
If you are wealthy enough, maybe you can charter your own jet. Some benefits of having to relax on a safe flight, is you can also talk about important matter such as business information with your partner without thinking of leaking the information to other sources.
Celebrities, Athletes, Wealthy individuals who are all VIP’s are at risk of being kidnapped, harmed, ambushed by fans and/or paparazzi… the risk doesnt deminish 30,000 feet in the air, but exclusive airplanes and flights keep them safe from these inconveniences and/or dangers more than Economy. Convenience can also be a factor as well as flexibility.
Happy Birthday Hillary Duff… paparazzo style
Posted by Laurize Mimay
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Hillary Duff turns 24 today. Happy birthday! What do you do when it’s your birthday and you’re a celebrity? Get a bodyguard before you head out the door; paparazzi are waiting.
But this paparazzo isn’t so bad. He not only remembered the special day, he got flowers for Hillary. Her security even let him pass to hand it her personally!
Maybe he’ll get a special picture of her as a return favor, one day.
Yemini Defense Minister Survives Attack
Posted by Hina Syed - Terrorism
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A suicide bomber and militants with hand-grenades attacked Ali’s convoy, near the southern city of Aden. At least three soldiers were killed and nine others injured. The convoy was attacked as it exited a tunnel. Major General Ali was staying in Aden during a visit to the south; where militants have already claimed three cities. The army is trying to regain the territory.
Yemen is currently under quite a bit of upheaval; including fighting between political factions and an al-Qaeda militant group in the south. Most recently, Saleh, left the country.
Mexican Drug Cartels Threaten Social Media Users
Posted by Giovanni Guerra
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Social Media has become a powerful channel for individuals to voice their discontent. Just a few weeks ago however, Mexican Drug Cartels took a stand against those individuals who would speak out against their activities on social media sites.
Early Sept. 13, 2011, two bodies were found hanging from a pedestrian bridge in the Mexican border city of Nuevo Laredo. This violence is believed to be the work of the Zetas Cartel, a cartel with a history of military training.
CNN Reports that signs found with the victims state that these two individuals denounced drug cartel activities on social media sites Al Rojo Vivo and Blog del Narco. These signs also threaten other social media users who are doing the same.
Image via CNN.com video
This episode of violence displayed the cartels determination to shut down those who denounce their activities. While threats against those who denounce their acitivites is not new, the threat against social media users is new, but it seems that this threat is not going to stop some social media users from voicing their opinions, not from twitter or from the two blogs mentioned by the cartels.
Investigations Firm Launches New On Demand Case Management System
Posted by Giovanni Guerra
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Michael Saad International (www.michaelsaad.com), a threat management and personal security firm, launched a new online case management system which enables their investigative clients to get up-to-date information, on demand, anytime day or night. Continue reading
How not to be a victim of Terrorism
Posted by Hina Syed - Terrorism
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Terrorism has been around for a long time. It has left a very ugly scar on all the victims it has claimed. Today, people might think that terrorists are human beings who can destroy the whole world in a single explosive. However, this is not true at all. They are ‘ordinary’ people just like us but the only difference is their views of life. From their own perspective, they want to change the world by annihilating all bad and weak individuals that disagree with their views or religion.
For individuals, becoming a victim from a terrorist attack can be devastating. Although, people who are drawn into terrorism focus on examining their victims and taking advantage of their weaknesses. In order not become a victim, avoid the predictable routine, such as socialization which is being used on us as terrorism tactics. We can not prevent terrorism but we can avoid it by taking control over predictability.
Evil walks Differently: Cameras know
Posted by Laurize Mimay
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Counter-terrorism and law enforcement have long relied on video surveillance as an essential tool. However, it has limitations. One of the biggest challenges is programming software to recognize specific people in variable conditions; such as low light, cluttered backgrounds, or when they shave beards.
Associate computer science professor Chris Bregler is studying whether security threats can be identified by the way they walk. Using the same motion capture technology used in The Lord of the Rings information is currently being loaded into computer to compile a large database.
So how does this actually work?
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A person with explosives strapped to their chest will have an uneven gait and thus move differently than someone with no explosives.
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A person unused to carrying a backpack has his feet strike the ground at different intervals than a person accustomed to the weight.
Of course, right now this technology is still in the laboratory. But one day we should see it hit the streets.
Application Processing
Posted by Michael Saad
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We have had several applicants say that the job listing part of our site doesn’t always work… We are currently working on new code to update it and make it easier (and much more simpler) to apply for jobs and upload your resume. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.
UPDATE
The Jobs Code has been rewritten and tested on multiple platforms.
al-Shabaab barring aid to Somalia
Posted by Hina Syed - Terrorism
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The rain failed for a second year, cattle died, families marched for weeks to escape famine and still al-Shabaab either actively restricts aid or imposes highly restrictive rules to aid operations. Amnesty International reports that al-Shabaab demanded the destitute should “depend on God” instead of taking aid from the “infidels.” Almost 2.2 million Somali’s are in territory controlled by the known terrorist organization.
photo courtesy of the Associated Press
The US is currently engaged in providing aid to the Horn of Africa, to the tune of 580 million dollars, to meet the urgent humanitarian crisis. About 92 million dollars is going directly to Somalia. However, a great deal depends on whether al-Shabaab will let the assistance pass.
Number of travelers in Indian Kashmir increases
Posted by Jacie Anne Reynolds
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According to news, over 700,000 travelers and visitors that went to Indian Kashmir this year and this is the maximum amount of visitors since an uprising arisen against the law in New Delhi for more than 20 years ago. Police said that hostility is at its lowest phase since the beginning of a nationalist rebellion way back in 1989. However, before the revolt arisen, there are large numbers of visitors that used to go to Himalayan state. The official of the senior government tourism said that this is the great season for visitors since the uprising started in the state. Pakistan and India, which is both nuclear-armed nations, each hold part of the uncertain areas and both clam it completely, even if a slow-moving peace talk offering is under their way.
Indian Kashmir
The official count record claimed that the rebellion in Indian Kashmir has also left almost 47,000 individuals dead, while Human Rights Organizations claimed that the figure of missing and dead people totals to at least 70,000. Furthermore, almost million of visitors and travelers visited the region that is most commonly called as the Switzerland of the East in 1988 for its spectacular landscapes, freshwater lakes and snow-capped mountains. Still, these figures declined after the rebellion started. Tourists began returning in huge numbers after Pakistan and India released a peace talk offering last January 2004 to resolve the 60 years of antagonism ignited by their enemy claims to Kashmir. In 2008, a sum of half a million travelers went to Indian Kashmir.