Turkish Airport Security Caught Playing FPS Game On-Duty

First person shooter games are all the rage now and have clearly defined a new era of gaming.  However, as this picture below from Istanbul demonstrates, there is a time and place for everything.  Perhaps, playing Call of Duty, while on-duty as an airport security officer in a major international airport, is neither the time or the place.

(Captured from reddit.com user 26985's post on 1/2/2012)

Arms sales: Who buys our guns?

You ever wonder who we sell our guns and other weapon systems to? Turns out the Library of Congress's Congressional Research Service conducted a study to find out.  The report is below.

Here is a table from that report you might find interesting.  Notice how dramatically sales have gone down in the last seven years.  While you're at it, let me know if you find any consistent leaders:

Here's the report as promised:

Pwned: Russian Rocket-maker Guards Caught Sleeping on the Job

Guard management is perhaps the most important entity in any security infrastructure.  If your on-site security personnel are led properly, they are more vigilant and duty-focused.  However, should your guard supervisors fail to properly lead and conduct regular checks on their personnel, inevitably you will find out just how important knowing the difference between leadership and supervision is.

In Russia, Energomash, the rocket manufacturer of the Soyuz capsules, learned this lesson when fellow bloggers  Lana Sator entered their manufacturing plant while guards were sleeping on duty.  As a former supervisor of security personnel, I can attest there is nothing like having a facility penetrated because your responders were asleep.  To make matters worse, Lana and several of her friends made five visits and each time the guards were asleep.  They gained access to several critical manufacturing sections and posted their exploits online.  As you can imagine, Russian defense and space bureaucrats were not happy and are looking at steep punishments for guards and I'm sure, managers.

Here are some pictures from Lana's blog:

The Russians aren't alone.  In 2009, guards from one of the largest guard companies in the world, Wackenhut, were caught dozing off at a nuclear facility.  Check out the video below:

Photoshop: Shark vs SEAL

I ran across a funny pic today, courtesy of the folks at Yell Magazine.  I thought I'd share.  Here's hoping you have a safe and happy New Year except if you're al-Shabaab in which case - well, you get the idea.

(Courtesy: Yell Magazine)

TSA vs The Cupcake Lady

Folks, I really do believe TSA has the toughest job during the holiday season.  They screen millions of travelers from all over the world.  Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the TSA has successfully kept America's skies safe.  That being said, there a few times in which the commit some of the dumbest mistakes in the name of security.

According to the Washington Post,

"Rebecca Hains said the Transportation Security Administration agent at McCarran International Airport took her cupcake Wednesday, telling her its frosting was enough like a gel to violate TSA restrictions on allowing liquids and gels onto flights to prevent them from being used as explosives." Here's the question that's going through my head - "Seriously?"

As a former military law enforcement officer, I can appreciate the zero-tolerance enforcement standards TSA has. In some security environments, it is best to enforce the rules with no exceptions. I also get the logic this TSA screener had. He or she saw the cupcakes with the glazed frosting which by the way probably looked nothing the ones above and assumed it was best to "play it safe".

Here's where things get strange. The cupcakes are allowed by TSA's regulation. I got this off of their blog listing typical "holiday items" you're allowed to bring on the plane:

Foods: Cakes, pies, bread, donuts, turkeys, etc. are all permitted. Here is a list of items that should be placed in your checked bags or shipped: cranberry sauce, creamy dips and spreads (cheeses, peanut butter, etc.), gift baskets with liquid or gel food items (salsa, jams and salad dressings), gravy (mmm gravy), jams, jellies, maple syrup, oils and vinegars, sauces, soups, wine, liquor and beer.

Is there "more to the story"? Probably. I think Ms. Hains encountered a very strict screener who was performing their duties as prescribed by law. Nothing wrong with that. However, the question which never crossed the screener's mind and is indicative of every foothold we in security take was "Is my taking this cupcake worth having my boss and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security hearing about through the Washington Post?" There are times when as a security officer you have to stick to your guns and take a stand no matter who it is you said the dreaded "no" word to. I'm just not sure two cupcakes from a previously screened passenger (remember she went through two airports to get to this point with zero issues) is worth it.

So what do you do? There is no right or wrong answer. You have to be there to figure it out. Perhaps, I would have inquired whether she had the icing with her (i.e. Is the icing cup in your carry-on). Had she replied that she did, then I would have inspected the icing and made a determination from there. I do find it ironic this screener is with an agency which just implemented a risk based philosophy towards passenger search criteria which is supposed to use intelligence, behavioral, and travel pattern data to eliminate these sorts of things from happening.

For a complete list of prohibited items, go to http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Why is my Walmart more protected than my kid's preschool?

Walmart has the lowest prices in town on a lot of items.  This is probably because they're often the only store in some towns.  Recently, I took my son to my local Walmart and began to notice the amount of exterior cameras that were there.  I counted 45!  Then, I began to think of how many must be inside and I remembered seeing they had a roving vehicle patrol contracted to a major security company.  That's when it hit how serious these guys are about their stuff during holiday shopping season or any season for that matter.  Geezo.