Marking Period #4

Airport Security- the New York Times
By: Jonathon Alcorn
According to Alcorn of the NY Times, the 9/11 terrorist attacks were catalyst to an extensive and expensive expansion of Homeland Security-with the creation of the Transportation Security Administration (or TSA). However, the invasiveness of the modernized security has faced scrutiny, due to full body pat downs, as well as the legitimacy of the new system. Terrorists, such as Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, have proven that radicals are still able to board planes. The system has also squandered tens of millions of dollars on faulty technology that actually fail to detect some explosives.

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/a/airport_security/index.html?scp=2&sq=tsa&st=cse

Security Screening Program to Expand- the New York Times
By: Tanya Mohn

This year is displaying the opening of PreCheck, a security program intended to speed the screening process for frequent flier United States citizens who volunteer information about themselves. These travelers won't be subject to removing clothing or approved liquids from carry-on bags when they pass through security lanes. The travelers are referred to designated lanes as well. The TSA has developed the new mindset “that most passengers do not pose a threat to security,” said John S. Pistole, the agency’s administrator.


http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/security-screening-program-to-expand/?scp=4&sq=tsa&st=cse


*Relevancy and connection with research: Over spring break I am flying to New York- which reminded me of the hassle of going through an airport, as well as visiting Ground Zero. These articles both relate to my research, and prove that even today the effects of 9/11 terrorism continue to change security. Additionally, they prove that the fear of terrorism is slowly dying- proven by the decrease in flier control and invasion. The articles show the chronology of the after effects of 9/11, beginning with extremely heightened fear to a depreciation in fear, as seen with the decrease in security alert. The articles also show that many aspects of the TSA can be challenged today- including the financial loss, discrimination and invasiveness of the program.

Marking Period #4

SOPA and PIPA: Just the Facts

Jared Newman

In this article, columnist Jared Newman elaborates on the negative attention that the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act are receiving. Newman addresses what the bills intended to do: stop online piracy and halting copyright infringement internationally in the media, as well as counterfeit consumer goods and medication. These proposed bills would fight infringement by: requiring Internet services to block domain names, and requiring Internet services to halt associations with infringing websites. Many opponents of the bills believe that the alleged acts will provide little protection against false accusations. I believe that this article may be relevant to my research paper because it provides insight into what the bills would actually do if passed, and what the opposing sides' views are pertaining to the bills.


http://www.pcworld.com/article/248298/sopa_and_pipa_just_the_facts.html