Drone Use Takes Off on the Home Front

Awesome!  We have been looking for the next craze that will propel the economy out of our currenty bleak and dire circumstances and into a stage of unmitigated and steady growth...AND HERE IT IS. 

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, all the way from our own multi-trillion dollar military industrial complex, you wanted it, you got it, developed and perfected in all other countries to help with "security," the long awaited (sing to the tune of Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen):

Drones in the U.S.A.
We got, Drones in the U.S.A.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304331204577354331959335276.html

From the Wall Street Journal:

The University of North Dakota uses drones in connection with an undergraduate degree program in unmanned aircraft systems it started in 2009. Al Palmer, a university official involved in the program, said about 78 students have declared majors in the field and that graduates have found jobs with drone manufacturers or operators.

Wow, they even have majors in the field.  See!  Spying is good for the economy - "graduates have found jobs with drone manufacturers or operators."

And, don't forget, drones don't require the hassle of those non-sensical warrants.  See:

Drones Moving From War Zones To The Home Front

From NPR:

"public navigable airspace" were fair game, were not violations of the Fourth Amendment and didn't require a warrant.

So, get ready to be observed everybody...and remember, if you see something, say something.

FBI Suspcious Activity

The Feds are not only watching you, but they want you to watch others too.  Since the launch of the See Something, Say Something campaign by our Homeland Security, a series of flyers have been developed for particular genres of business.  These flyers provide bullet points on what is deemed "suspicious activity" for the genre of business in which they are directed.

For example, if you are the owner of a martial arts studio and someone comes in displaying:

• Interest in learning offensive moves in a confined space
• Interest in learning the use of hidden weapons

...then, according to the FBI, these are cues that this person is "suspicious" - you may want to say something. I'm going out on a limb here, but doesn't this describe 90% of people that decide to go to a martial arts class?  Aren't they interested in defending and protecting themselves in a confined space or the use of hidden weapons?  Oh, geez!

Hopefully, the FBI has already screened these:
Get Serious - Krav Maga
Russian Martial Arts - Confined Space Defense

 

Indeed, this looks very suspicious.

Perhaps, the FBI would be happier if we were all more like these guys:

Other types of businesses on the "Threat Areas" list include:

• Internet Cafes
• Tattoo Shops
• Paintball
• Hobby Shops

I guess displaying an interest in Psychiatry in the Military was not a consideration for the list.

Here is a link for the full list of 25 flyers that were sent out.  Take the dare and see if you find yourself somewhere on the list.  Do you refuse to have a credit card and insist on paying cash?  You are suspicious!