Friday News Wrap-Up
Posted by Pamela S. on Friday, May 18th, 2012
Even if you write a daily post, by the time you are finished, there is something new. Maybe you are too busy buying shares of Facebook to read this. If you read the article in Forbes a few days ago, you may not be buying those shares. Forbes magazine warned readers to stay away from Facebook shares. Their concerns are mostly financial, but there are other reasons to stay away from Facebook, as a user.
Image Source: jeestock.blogspot.com
I Spy a Career with the CIA
Posted by Pamela S. on Thursday, May 17th, 2012
The Central Intelligence Agency is the most powerful force in the world. The CIA has the ability to spy on you through the Internet, kill you with a heart attack gun that leaves no trace, and soon they will be able to spy on you through your TV. If you believe this, stop reading. I probably can’t change your mind. Looking for an exciting, demanding investigative career in an organization that fights crime and terrorism on an international level? Then the CIA may be the place for you.
Image Source: pbs.org
Elvis is Alive and Living in Area 51:Debunking Conspiracy Theories
Posted by Pamela S. on Wednesday, May 16th, 2012
I have a neighbor who is always calling me outside to look at the sky. He points to trails left by jets and tells me that the government is poisoning us. He says,“You’re an investigator, do the research.” I try to remember if planes have always left these trails. So I investigated.
Image Source:pragmaticwitness.com
The High-Tech Eye: Emerging Surveillance Technology
Posted by Pamela S. on Tuesday, May 15th, 2012
Everyone has the right to privacy. This statement seems at odds with the post I wrote yesterday, which was partly about the pleasure I got from watching people while on surveillance. It also seems to be contradictory to promoting the benefits of private investigation. Not so. As ethical investigators we are always questioning, researching technological advances and weighing the benefits with the impact on privacy.
Image Source: zoomers.ca
What People do When They Think no one is Watching
Posted by Pamela S. on Monday, May 14th, 2012
Whether you are a private investigator, or in law enforcement, if you have spent time on surveillance, you have probably learned a lot about human nature. We are usually following someone because someone finds them untrustworthy, or they are suspected of wrongdoing, but they are also people like us. They have families, they go to work, and they struggle with life’s important questions.
“Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking.” H. Jackson Brown
Image Source:passiveaggressivenotes.com
A Life of Intrigue: The Secret World of Spies
Posted by Pamela S. on Friday, May 11th, 2012
It’s the stuff of fantasy. Most of us played “spy” as children and invented our own spy gadgets. Some people morphed that childhood dream into a real career, inventing or using spy equipment. Whether you are a CIA or FBI operative, a private investigator, or a geek with a penchant for amazing technology, you are engrossed by the equipment used in clandestine operations.
Image Source: discoverytsx.com
The Worst of the Worst: The Disabled Veterans National Foundation
Posted by Pamela S. on Thursday, May 10th, 2012
Charitable pleas for money that never serves the needy is one of the most heartbreaking manipulations. I have written on charity scams in the past, but I was unaware that veterans charities have some of the worst track records. Many veterans charities are outright scams, or the administration costs are so high that only a tiny portion trickles down to the veterans.
Image Source:articles.boston.com
News Roundup: Security Threats from Above and Below
Posted by Pamela S. on Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
Who leaked the news about the al Qaeda underwear bomb? I firmly believe in the first amendment, and when the media gets this kind of information they are not going to sit on it. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers told CNN that this kind of leak could be devastating. “If something bad happens because it was leaked too early, that’s a catastrophe and it’s also a crime.”
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Top Ten Popular Culture Myths about Private Eyes
Posted by Pamela S. on Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
The private eye is a staple of noir fiction, mystery novels, television series and movies. Popular culture has given us a type of glamor and mystique that is very hard for a real person to live up to. In the world of private eye fiction, the easiest way to get the girl is to have a fast car, a gun, and a private investigation license. It doesn’t hurt if you are movie star handsome and have a strong right hook. We put fictional Private Eyes under the magnifying glass to discover their flaws.
Image Source: celluloidpopculturejunkie
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Buyer Beware
Posted by Pamela S. on Monday, May 7th, 2012
Everyone wants a deal, but we all know if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Buying products from sites like eBay can save you money, but you can get ripped off if you don’t know what to look for. The Internet is rife with counterfeit goods. You will end up spending more money in the long run, if you don’t buy from a trusted source. Make sure that what you want is the real thing before you send your electronic payment.
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