Newsfilter For Terrorism Junkies
October 13, 2007 9:54 AM Subscribe
The Global Incident Map is an interactive map displaying "terrorism events and other suspicious activities" happening at this very moment (updated every 5 minutes) all around the world. Click on the various icons for "event details" or scroll down for "announcements, alerts and breaking news." Via.
I have this theory of why our government's intelligence so often seems to fail. And it goes a little something like this: The way that analysts and programmers have decided to organize data, huge amounts of data, is not useful for real world purposes. Somewhere along the way someone decided they just need lots of information and lots of computers crunching numbers and some guy magically looking at it all will make sense of it and problem solved.
I bet intelligence people look at stuff similar to the Global Incident Map and try to ascertain what's going to happen next.
posted by PHINC at 10:34 AM on October 13, 2007
I bet intelligence people look at stuff similar to the Global Incident Map and try to ascertain what's going to happen next.
posted by PHINC at 10:34 AM on October 13, 2007
I'm always on that map -- because I'm so hot I'm a nuclear incident.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:45 AM on October 13, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:45 AM on October 13, 2007 [1 favorite]
This and similar stuff previously discussed a little here. Not crying double. Just saying, "Look! More terror!"
posted by thinman at 10:45 AM on October 13, 2007
posted by thinman at 10:45 AM on October 13, 2007
Why limit it to terrorism? Put every single goddamn crime in the world on there and watch it really light up!
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:55 AM on October 13, 2007
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:55 AM on October 13, 2007
And Bill O'Reilly just got some new desktop wallpaper.
posted by Keith Talent at 11:03 AM on October 13, 2007
posted by Keith Talent at 11:03 AM on October 13, 2007
This needs to be mashed up with a map of kitten and puppy births and unexpected views of rainbows to provide the necessary balance.
posted by Abiezer at 11:04 AM on October 13, 2007
posted by Abiezer at 11:04 AM on October 13, 2007
Oh my god! Mr. T is in India! And in Istanbul!
posted by TheNewWazoo at 11:25 AM on October 13, 2007
posted by TheNewWazoo at 11:25 AM on October 13, 2007
In real time.*
* "Real time" for these purposes is defined as when someone gets around to filing a wire service report on it.
posted by smackfu at 11:28 AM on October 13, 2007
* "Real time" for these purposes is defined as when someone gets around to filing a wire service report on it.
posted by smackfu at 11:28 AM on October 13, 2007
Amyms, thanks for posting this - I was really interested and bookmarked it. At risk of showing my laziness, what is the source?
posted by frumious bandersnatch at 11:28 AM on October 13, 2007
posted by frumious bandersnatch at 11:28 AM on October 13, 2007
b1tr0t - Russia and China seem peaceful. I guess socialism is good for something.
Well, it has to be reported for it to show up on the map, no?
Somehow, this map reminds me of computer games circa the early '90's.
posted by porpoise at 12:32 PM on October 13, 2007
Well, it has to be reported for it to show up on the map, no?
Somehow, this map reminds me of computer games circa the early '90's.
posted by porpoise at 12:32 PM on October 13, 2007
This site has been around for a while, and has been maintaining a very high standard of absolute bullshit for all of that time.
There is, as I write this, a "biohazard" symbol flashing on Australia. Apparently some white powder was found in an envelope at a post office, six days ago. Since there's been no followup report, I think we can conclude it wasn't anything toxic, or even illegal.
But wait! There's an explosion symbol in Kansas!
("People are putting acid inside soda bottles and throwing them around the neighborhoods." Report two days old.)
Another biohazard symbol, this time in Florida!
(Someone mailed a letter containing white powder to a Hooters restaurant, three days ago.)
An airport symbol in California!!
(Bomb threats at Oakland International. No bomb existed. Report three days old.)
A biohazard symbol in the UK!
(Another friggin' parcel with harmless "white powder". Report four days old.)
But how about all of the scary icons in Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan and Israel?!
(OK, those are all real. Hurrah.)
Back in March when this site was young, it had a "nuclear" icon flashing right in the middle of the USA... because someone stole a soil moisture meter that had a couple of grains of radioactive material in it.
posted by dansdata at 12:34 PM on October 13, 2007
There is, as I write this, a "biohazard" symbol flashing on Australia. Apparently some white powder was found in an envelope at a post office, six days ago. Since there's been no followup report, I think we can conclude it wasn't anything toxic, or even illegal.
But wait! There's an explosion symbol in Kansas!
("People are putting acid inside soda bottles and throwing them around the neighborhoods." Report two days old.)
Another biohazard symbol, this time in Florida!
(Someone mailed a letter containing white powder to a Hooters restaurant, three days ago.)
An airport symbol in California!!
(Bomb threats at Oakland International. No bomb existed. Report three days old.)
A biohazard symbol in the UK!
(Another friggin' parcel with harmless "white powder". Report four days old.)
But how about all of the scary icons in Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan and Israel?!
(OK, those are all real. Hurrah.)
Back in March when this site was young, it had a "nuclear" icon flashing right in the middle of the USA... because someone stole a soil moisture meter that had a couple of grains of radioactive material in it.
posted by dansdata at 12:34 PM on October 13, 2007
If I ever go crazy and decide to engage in terroristic activities, I'm totally going to use in my planing stages.
Take that, Irony.
posted by quin at 4:09 PM on October 13, 2007
Take that, Irony.
posted by quin at 4:09 PM on October 13, 2007
paranoiapr0n
That's a perfect summary. I should have used that as my post title.
posted by amyms at 4:22 PM on October 13, 2007
That's a perfect summary. I should have used that as my post title.
posted by amyms at 4:22 PM on October 13, 2007
That's kind of a cool idea, but wow that's ugly and badly done. I kind of want to do it the right way now.
posted by blacklite at 8:53 PM on October 13, 2007
posted by blacklite at 8:53 PM on October 13, 2007
Thankfully, the kind of people that this would scare the bejeezus out of only know how to use the internet to forward urban legends and look for flashing angel clip art.
posted by Legomancer at 9:34 PM on October 13, 2007
posted by Legomancer at 9:34 PM on October 13, 2007
It should also be illegal to do the things I get away with in the name of National Security.
Thankfully they haven't realized that my 'badge' is actually nothing more than an expired credit card and a hunk of polished rebar I found, all duct-taped together.
So, I'll be in your base, harmin' your dudes for some time to come.
posted by quin at 11:16 PM on October 13, 2007
Thankfully they haven't realized that my 'badge' is actually nothing more than an expired credit card and a hunk of polished rebar I found, all duct-taped together.
So, I'll be in your base, harmin' your dudes for some time to come.
posted by quin at 11:16 PM on October 13, 2007
"Bayside Hooters Reopens After Powder Scare"
Whew.
posted by funkbrain at 11:01 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]
Whew.
posted by funkbrain at 11:01 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]
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posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 10:01 AM on October 13, 2007