Homeland Security Funds for Maine

Maine will receive $6.5 million in funding for homeland security from the federal government. The funds will pay for equipment, communications gear, and training in response to crisis management situations. Read more in "Homeland Security funds come to Maine", Morning Sentinel, July 5, 2009.

DHS Kills Police Access to Satellite Data

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has killed a program that allowed domestic law enforcement access to data provided by military satellites. The satellites provide detailed imagery from overhead. Democrats are worried about using military satellites for domestic surveillance programs citing privacy rights. The use of satellites would help with a range of domestic security and emergency management situations to include acts of terrorism, border security, and more. Let's all tie our hands behind our back just a little bit tighter! Info from "DHS to Cut Police Access to Spy-Satellite Data", The Washington Post, June 24, 2009. Click here to learn more about aerial photos and overhead imagery.

Fire and Security Expo, Miami, FL July 28-30, 2009

The National Fire Protection Association will present America's Fire and Security Expo 09 in Miami, Florida during the July 28-30, 2009 timeframe. Click here for a listing of other security trade shows, seminars, and expositions.

New Taser Blog

The makers of TASER have now come out with a blog - about Tasers! Go figure! It is good reading and it will educate you about the use of Tasers, how they help police officers do their jobs, and provide resources for training. It will also give you the "Taser" slant on the news. See the following link:

http://blog.taser.com/

Click here for more information about Tasers and stun guns.
http://www.mainesecurity.com/taser_and_stun_guns.htm

Click here for a listing of security blogs.
http://www.mainesecurity.com/security_blogs.htm

(Photo courtesy of TASER International)

Cell Phones and Tracking Software

Technology is a wonderful thing and it is hard to keep up with it. While technology is good - it brings new products and services to us to make life more comfortable - it also has a downside. Look at the technological advances in the cell phone sector. We now know that with the use of GPS and other methods that cell phones can be used to track individuals. Well now there is research ongoing that will allow the microphone of a cell phone to record environmental sounds, send those sounds to a software application, and then the software would be used to understand the cell phone user's behavior. Hmmmmm. I can think of lots of applications in the marketing, security and intelligence fields where that could be useful. Read more in "Cell Phones That Listen and Learn", Technology by MIT Review, June 22, 2009.

New Blog at Department of Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has started a new blog. It is called http://www.dhs.gov/journal/theblog. Check it out. It also has an RSS feed if you use that computer feature to get your news. Click here for a comprehensive listing of security blogs.

Tire Safety in Summer Months

Travelers going on vacations via their automobile need to heed safety warnings and instruction on tire safety. Read a recent news article on this topic entitled "Your Tires Take Care of Your Safety, What Do You Do for Them?", Marketwire, June 12, 2009. Click here to read more on tire safety precautions.

Computer and Network Security Blogs

Are you interested in computer or network security? Read more on these topics by perusing through this list of computer security blogs.

Books about Personal Security

To view a listing on books about personal security click on the link below:

Books on Personal Security

2009 Underwater Port Security Tour Coming to New England

The "2009 Underwater Port Security Tour" is coming to Boston and New Haven on the 6th and 7th of July. The security tour is a joint venture between VideoRay and BlueView Technologies and the purpose is to demonstrate underwater port security imaging and inspection systems and solutions. The demonstrations last about three hours. The demonstrations will continue throughout the summer into the fall along the coastlines and parts of the interior of the United States.

Port Security has always been very important in the United States in our war against terrorism. Just because we haven't had an attack locally since 9/11, we can’t let our guard down. Several ports are (or can apply) for the most recent port security grants - so knowing what technology works is very important. The following web site provides information on the port security grants.

http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/psgp/index.shtm

At each of the many stops in the Underwater Port Security Tour, attendees will be able to see demonstrations of the latest equipment by experts, and drive the equipment themselves in a simulated setting. Click on the following web site for more information to include the schedule, a tour map, and registration information.

http://www.underwaterportsecuritytour.com/index.html

Maine Military & Community Network

The Maine National Guard has established an organization called the Maine Military & Community Service Network. This group is designed to help families of National Guard members from the state of Maine who are deployed overseas in the War on Terror. Read more on this in "Program to help military families", Sun Journal, June 12, 2009.

Most Firms Have No IT Security Awareness Training

A recent blog reports that " . . . 38 percent of businesses in the United States suffered at least one or more serious security breaches in 2008 . . " yet almost a large percentage U.S. businesses spend almost nothing on security awareness and certification training. Read more on this topic in "U.S. Businesses Underfund Security Training", Secure Channel Blog, June 10, 2009. Click here to learn more about computer security.

Portland City Council Gets a Vote on TASER Use

The Portland City Council will vote on the possible use of Tasers by the Portland Police Department. The use of Tasers will be reviewed by the Public Safety Committee and then they will make a recommendation to the Portland City Council. Read more from the news article "Portland manager: Taser plan must face review by panel", Portland Press Herald, June 24, 2009. Click here to learn more about Tasers and stun guns. (Photo courtesy of Taser International).

Futuristic Weapons for Police

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is studying some futuristic weapons technology for its officers. They are specifically looking for equipment that will help officers be able to identify each other during periods of limited visibility when shooting incidents are likely to occur. Read more in "NYPD looking at futuristic weapons technology", USA Today, June 9, 2009.

Maine Camp Counselors Infected with Swine Flu

Four summer camps in Maine have discovered cases of Swine Flu (H1N1 virus) recently. All cases were camp counselors. Read more in "Swine flu infects nine Maine camp counselors", Portland Press Herald, June 24, 2009. Click here to learn more about how to prevent pandemic flu in Maine.

Express Service for Airline Screening Grounded

It appears that over 250,000 frequent flyers who signed up for an express security screening service will be on the losing end. Verified Identity Pass, a firm that ran speedy travel lanes at airports, went out of business. Read more in "TSA's express security grounded", USA Today, June 23, 2009.

Strange Case of Taser Use in Maine (continued)

The weird case of Taser use by Maine law enforcement officers at a bachelor party held in August 2007 here in Maine is still in the news. Read the latest on this case in "Arbitrators side with deputy in Taser case", Knox Village Soup, June 22, 2009. Click here to learn more about tasers and stun guns. (Photo courtesy of TASER International).

Business Intelligence and Corporate Security Trend

ComputerWorld has posted an article (a reprint from another web site) entitled "Next Stop for Security: BI and Business Services". It explores how security professionals are being appreciated more now than in the past given the insecure climate (computer hackers, bad economy, and other threats) that businesses now face.

Terrorist Threat to U.S. Aviation System

The terrorist threat to the United States aviation system still remains today. There are many areas of aviation security that are still lacking and where we could do better. One of these areas is where the U.S. has not pressed for explosive detection equipment in foreign airports for air passengers traveling to the United States. Read a comprehensive article on this topic in Homeland Security Affairs Journal (January 2009) entitled "The Terrorist Threat to Inbound U.S. Passenger Flights: Inadequate Government Response". Click here to learn more about aviation security and terrorism.

Portland, Maine Police to Test Tasers

There will be a few Portland, Maine city police officers carrying Tasers with them over the next three months. The police department is conducting a three-month test to determine their suitability for Portland. Having used a Taser on others and having been on the receiving end I can tell you that they do work! The Taser is an excellent alternative to pepper spray (OC effects will last for 15 minutes to a few hours), batons (can you spell head injury or broken bones), and firearms. There are some training issues involved. Just because you have a Taser doesn't mean you should use it on a 72 year-old grandmother or 8 year-old child; but I am sure that Portland's finest are well-trained and can discrimate who needs to be Tased and who doesn't. Read more in "Behave or be zapped: Portland police plan Taser trial period", Portland Press Herald, June 23, 2009. (Photo courtesy of Taser International).

Run for the Fallen - Maine

Read an article entitled "Run for the Fallen - Maine", in the September 4, 2008 edition of the Seacoastonline.com online newspaper. This article talks about a volunteer who organized an event honoring fallen Maine service members this past August. He will be organizing a similar event again this coming August. This is truely an event that merits support. See the "Run for Fallen - Maine" website for more information.

Personal Data Left on Computer Hard Drives

When most people discard their old computers they usually are not thinking about security, identity theft, and proper ways of cleaning their hard drive of important financial information. There are ways to "wipe" the hard drive of any information that can help someone use it for the purposes of identity theft. Read a recent article in The Christian Science Monitor on this topic. For more information click on identity theft and computer security.

619th Transportation Company (Army Reserve - Maine) Heads to Iraq

The 619th Army Reserve (Maine) Transportation Company is headed to Fort Dix, New Jersey to conduct pre-mission training and then will head to Iraq. The unit of 170 personnel is based in Auburn and Dexter, Maine. Read more in "Army Reserve company given emotional sendoff", Portland Press Herald, June 21, 2009.

Changes at Franklin County Detention Center in Maine

With the jail consolidation program that Maine embarked upon several years back (for better or worse) comes changes to the Franklin County Detention Center. Read more in "As jail transforms, layoffs and other difficulties arise", Daily Bulldog, June 18, 2009.

Medical Helicopter Pad for LifeFlight at Waldo County General Hospital

LifeFlight will begin operations at Waldo County General Hospital on June 26th. Read more in "Waldo General to use new helicopter pad", Bangor Daily News, June 18, 2009.

Small Regional Airplanes a Concern in Maine

The smaller regional jets that operate in the country are a concern to members of Maine's congressional delegation. Read more in "Mainers Set Sights on Flight Safety," Bangor Daily News, June 21, 2009.

Unemployed Veterans of Maine

We have been in this "War on Terror" for almost eight years now. A large number of our Maine youth have answered the patriotic call to duty, served one or two times in a war zone, and have now re-entered civilian life here in Maine. I wonder just how well we as Mainers are doing in helping them with that re-integration process. The text that follows was wrote by a Mainer who did just that. He joined the military, served, and then was discharged. What he received in return was a slow start in re-entering civilian life.

"I will never forget giving my farewell to fellow graduates of Yarmouth High School as I shipped out to Basic Combat Training in 2003. My decision to serve in the Armed Forces was an easy one. Two grandparents, two cousins and a family of veterans encouraged my decision to fight for the values of "our" country.

But now I am an unemployed veteran of war.

I saw the deserts of Iraq before my 20th birthday. I was both passionate and terrified as I stepped off the commercial airline into the country of Kuwait. This is what myself and so many others join to do: represent the powers of our people and serve our country."

Read the rest of this story in "Life As an Unemployed Veteran of the Iraq War from Maine", The Exception Magazine, April 6, 2009.

Swine Flu Spreading in Maine

The Maine Center for Disease Control has stated that Swine Flu is spreading in Maine. There are now 50 confirmed cases in Maine.

Maine Guard Unit Returns from Iraq

A small 7-man Army National Guard unit from Maine returned from a deployment to Iraq. Read more in "Small Guard pilot unit returns home from Iraq", Bangor Daily News, June 19, 2009.

Suggestions for Propone Safety Around the House

Do you use propane in your home? Propane is a very safe and efficient fuel when used safely; however it can be destructive if safety measures are not followed. Read more in "Propane safety around the house", delmarvanow.com, June 3, 2009.