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I really don’t mean to turn this blog into a media rant, but I’m on a roll today and will keep it short. I was, like most of you, disappointed that the media’s been exploiting the VT tragedy with nonstop coverage and pathetic interviewing of anyone they could get their hands on to fill the 24 hour news cycle. That’s fine, I can mostly turn it off and just get the occasional update from the web as facts emerge. That was until I saw the paper this morning. Here’s a hint guys- if you plaster ego-shots of some twisted sociopath in movie scene poses with guns all over your papers, websites, and broadcasts, all it does is turn him into some martyr for the cult of the deranged. You’re creating an anti-hero for that miniscule fraction of society born without all the right wires connected. No, these images won’t encourage a normal person to cross the edge to insanity after getting turned down for a date one too many times. But with 300 million people in this country, never mind internationally, the law of averages ensures that some miniscule fraction of society will lack the neurons that ensure our social fabric. These images, with those of Columbine, encourage that fraction of fractions to go on a spree for their 15 minutes, rather than just taking themselves out. I’m not talking censorship. It is completely within the rights of news outlets to show whatever they get their hands on. But stop pretending you bear no responsibility for the actions you take. This story could have easily been covered without turning this kid into a martyr. This isn’t censorship, it’s discretion. What do you think the odds are the next maniac will mail you a package of images before committing atrocious acts and seeing if he can break the old record for domestic body count? Guess what guys, this is also how terrorism works. You don’t think suicide bombers make those videos just for their families, do you? Wake the fuck up. Stop giving these people an outlet and making them famous. I’m not naive enough to think that it will stop these events, but we sure as hell don’t have to encourage them. Alright. Rant over. Back to your irregularly scheduled blogging… Share:

The 24 hour news cycle has officially killed the Fourth Estate. Seriously, if there is, tell us in the comments. I’m sick of the exploitation, just give me the damn news. I gave up on local news about 10 years ago after a baby died in a parked car and the reporter decided to throw an oversized thermometer in a car during the day to show how bad it was. Fox is propaganda, and CNN lost me a couple years ago. Can’t remember the exact incident, maybe Terry Schaivo. This week is just obnoxious and degrading, and with all the TVs all over coffee shops and airports, it’s inescapable. sigh Share:

Do you ever have days where you feel that you’re not so much writing as you are psychically channeling the obscure hallucinations of an illiterate eight year old? Me too. Share:

(Physical security, that is) Road House “Be Nice.” “Until when?” “Until it’s time to not be nice.” Don’t forget the rest of the quotes. Seriously- even you non-physical security types need to watch this. The ultimate expression of the security mindset. (This post inspired by this link) Share:

This is so stupid. Terrorism is a tactic, which is also defined as a particularly nasty crime. There are a lot of definitions, but I tend to use various versions of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations: …the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives” (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85). So tell me, how does the following meet the definition of terrorism? A 14-year-old boy who allegedly kidnapped a classmate at knifepoint and was later found with a backpack full of restraining devices and weapons will be charged with terrorism, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said. The Mesa boy, who attended Powell Junior High School, also faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping and carrying weapons on a school campus. A very bad crime? Yep. Terrorism? Nope. Only in the heads of over-zealous prosecutors who don’t understand terrorism, or the risks of abusing the laws against it. This kid needs to be dealt with, but how can you possibly compare this to real terrorist acts? This is a sick kid. Not a terrorist. Share:

Working from the library today and they have this on every door. Boulder was pretty liberal, but even they didn’t have a gun check at the library. I love living in the Southwest. Of course I know a bunch of people with concealed carry permits, just not here in Phoenix/Scottsdale. (yes, I know it also means knives and such, so stop spoiling everyone’s fun) Share:

troll 1 |trōl| noun: 1. A cowardly creature that hides behind anonymity to demean, harass, or threaten others (sometimes illegally) because they lack the intelligence to engage in real dialog or debate. 2. A pathetic, almost-life form that leaches off society without contributing anything of value. Trolls are the lowest form of life. Ugly, pathetic creatures of absolutely no worth, they strive to destroy the good work of others through intimidation. Trolls may lack intelligence, but they can be persistent pests, and in large numbers they can destroy a community. Some trolls are more aggressive and represent a physical danger, and must be dealt with harshly only by trained professionals, typically law enforcement. Trolls have been tolerated in our society for too long- these… things… must be confronted and destroyed. While full eradication is impossible, concrete steps can be taken to limit their impact on the world. Trolls can be marginalized through persistent effort, but only when a community acts together to condemn their behavior. You can participate in the Troll Eradication Project by taking a few simple steps: Reduce their habitat: Trolls live anonymously; very few have the intestinal fortitude to carry out their activities when they can be identified. Should trolls appear, forcing them to identify themselves will often scare them away. In some cases, more radical action needs to be taken and their ability to communicate restricted. Confront them: Trolls are cowardly, and will often flee confrontation when a community bands together. Some trolls may attack individuals, but few are willing to confront entire communities openly. Eliminate their food: Trolls feed off the negative energy they create. In some cases, persistently ignoring them may cause them to seek food elsewhere. Call in a professional: Some trolls are dangerous and violate the law. In these cases, law enforcement should be notified promptly. Outright threats and harassment are clearly illegal and should only be dealt with by professionals. Remember- only YOU can prevent trolls. We must control the troll threat before our communities are overrun. < p style=”text-align:center;”> Seriously folks- after yesterday’s events, we just can’t put up with this anymore. Share:

I read a few posts today on the deplorable harassment of Kathy Sierra (read Scoble, Feld, Kathy’s Site). Basically, Kathy is giving up on blogging and public speaking out of fear due to a series of death threats and online sexual harassment. It’s absolutely disgusting. And as someone who has been a member of online culture since the BBSs of the 1980’s, I’m simply embarrassed. There is one way to describe those who perpetuate this- fucking cowards. I know these people. They are everywhere on the Internet- hiding behind semi-anonymous IP addresses and spewing their garbage on every forum, IRC channel, or blog they can slap their pathetic personality on. I know them in the real world; too cowardly to face authority, but more than willing to make anyone they perceive as weaker miserable for no more reason than to inflate their pathetic egos. I’ve helped more than a few of them learn just exactly how “special” they are as we kicked them out or took them to jail. I’m probably violating my policy of not blogging about technology, but this is a cultural issue, not an industry issue. Except that it highlights the need for those of us in security and law enforcement to provide the same protections online that we do in the physical world. We can’t do this just by hiding behind our own walls; we need to band together as a community and figure out ways to improve online safety without violating online privacy (the usual mistake). Our society has very very few limits on freedom of speech, but threats and harassment to create fear are clearly unacceptable. Reading Kathy’s blog it looks like she is already working with law enforcement, and I sincerely hope they catch and prosecute those involved. There is no excuse for this. We cannot tolerate it. And those of us in security have the same responsibilities online as we do in the physical world to do our part. Share:

I watched Planet Earth on the HD version of the Discovery Channel last night. It’s friggen awesome- the best use of my HDTV since the World Cup. I mean, where else can you watch a 20 foot Great White shark launch itself out of the water in slow motion in high definition as it munches on a sea lion fur seal? Only thing better would be sharks with freaking lasers on their heads. There are a lot of security tie ins- ranging from situational awareness to… aww, who am I kidding, it’s just really cool. Like IMAX at home. I highly suspect animals were harmed during the filming of this particular production.* *not that I like to see things getting killed, been around too much death for that, but this is a seriously amazing documentary. Updated: it was a fur seal, not a sea lion. You’d think I’d know that. Thanks Alan… Share:

Nope, not the lifeguard dude. Someone a bit more interesting. I bet that Night Rider dude never climbed Kilimanjaro despite some serious leg injuries. Chris Hoff wins the official award for “Best Host for Security Geeks in Boston”. I rolled in Tueday night and after an excellent dinner we won a secondary award for “Worst Dressed in the Hotel Bar at Midnight”. He followed this up by letting me tag along to BeanSec over in Cambridge, where I also got to catch up with Mike Murray. The life of a road warrior can get a bit lonely at times; it was great to spend two nights hanging with my peers in casual environments rather than catching up on Dancing with the Stars or Armed and Famous. BeanSec was pretty cool, and I’m thinking we need something similar in Phoenix. PHXSec? Thanks Chris- hopefully I’ll get the chance to return the favor someday… Share: