Beware of the bus driver
Nov 10, 2009 | 11:26 pm
#47
Join Date: Sep 2009
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"Because, after all, we should always suspect anything remotely unusual. All hail conformity."
Nov 11, 2009 | 6:10 am
#48
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The argument, which has some merit, is that certain folks like school bus drivers, postal workers, sanitation workers, and so on, are out in the same public spaces on a regular basis, and would be more likely to notice sudden differences in the environment than others who aren't as familiar with those places.
I see this as just another PR piece to assure the public "we are doing everything to keep you safe".
Nov 11, 2009 | 6:19 am
#49
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..."Three cheers for Mr. Bus Driver who's with us today..."
Nov 11, 2009 | 6:26 am
#50
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But how is that any different than me being in the same public spaces every day? I drive through the same neighborhood the bus driver does and walk my dogs down the same sidewalks that the postal worker walks. I know a lot more about when my neighbor goes to work and comes home - should I call the police if he comes home late? What makes a bus driver more qualified to determine "normal" than any ordinary resident of a neighborhood?
I see this as just another PR piece to assure the public "we are doing everything to keep you safe".
I see this as just another PR piece to assure the public "we are doing everything to keep you safe".
Nov 11, 2009 | 7:09 am
#51
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
BTW, Schneier is a cryptologist, not a physical security expert. You might as well link to JoeBlow's website if you are linking to supporting evidence as JoeBlow's opinion would be as good as Bruce Schneier. If the issue was about codes or ciphers, then Schneier's website would be a good place to look.
Nov 11, 2009 | 7:11 am
#52
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
Now, if you take the bus driver and give him some honest-to-goodness training how to distinguish between something unusual and something that could be a threat, then maybe there's a point. But I don't see that happening effectively.
Nov 11, 2009 | 10:11 am
#53
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Just for grins and giggles, heres the little brochure the TSA has for school bus drivers.
What is with the constant fear of people that take pictures? 
Look for people who:
* Appear to be conducting surveillance
(using video cameras, taking photos, etc.)
* Appear to be conducting surveillance
(using video cameras, taking photos, etc.)
Nov 11, 2009 | 10:59 am
#54
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Just for grins and giggles, heres the little brochure the TSA has for school bus drivers.
What is with the constant fear of people that take pictures?
What is with the constant fear of people that take pictures?
Mike
Nov 11, 2009 | 6:06 pm
#55
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Since when can a bus driver ask people for their identification?
Great, now we not only have airport screeners as wannabe LEOs, we got school bus drivers as wannabe LEOs.
"Do you want to go to school today?"
Nov 11, 2009 | 6:19 pm
#56
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With all due respect to good bus drivers, I have to say that many of the people who drive the buses that bring our kids to school are fortunate that they can find the place every morning.
Nov 11, 2009 | 8:15 pm
#57
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Montgomery County MD requirements for school bus operators include:
Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public...
Knowledge of basic arithmetic...
High School graduate or GED preferred...
Knowledge of basic arithmetic...
High School graduate or GED preferred...
Nov 11, 2009 | 11:12 pm
#58
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 381
"You've obviously not read what Schneier has done lately. He's more than a cryptologist now ... his last three books have been on more general topics than cryptology ... and all have been widely praised."
No, I have not read his latest book, Schneier on Security, published in 2008 and his ONLY recent book, the last being in 2003. Again, he is not a physical security expert. His latest book is about the broad subject of security. Per his website page, which details the book's content, he discusses many different security issues and is written for the layman. It cannot even approach the depth of books that cover just a single issue. For example, one of the issues he discusses is computer security. That is such a broad field in itself and there are many subfields, including one which I went to school for, information security. I would rather read a detailed book written by someone with a CISSP certification, about computer security, than a general book on a broad subject, written for a layman by Schneier. Just take a look at the requirements for obtaining the CISSP and you would understand why. Anyone can write a book for money. It doesn't make them an expert.
No, I have not read his latest book, Schneier on Security, published in 2008 and his ONLY recent book, the last being in 2003. Again, he is not a physical security expert. His latest book is about the broad subject of security. Per his website page, which details the book's content, he discusses many different security issues and is written for the layman. It cannot even approach the depth of books that cover just a single issue. For example, one of the issues he discusses is computer security. That is such a broad field in itself and there are many subfields, including one which I went to school for, information security. I would rather read a detailed book written by someone with a CISSP certification, about computer security, than a general book on a broad subject, written for a layman by Schneier. Just take a look at the requirements for obtaining the CISSP and you would understand why. Anyone can write a book for money. It doesn't make them an expert.
Nov 12, 2009 | 5:13 am
#59
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An Interesting Comparison...
Montgomery County MD requirements for school bus operators include:
Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public... Knowledge of basic arithmetic...High School graduate or GED preferred...
Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public... Knowledge of basic arithmetic...High School graduate or GED preferred...
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Applicants must be proficient in English (e.g., reading, writing,
speaking, and listening); and
Have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent; OR
Have at least one year of full-time work experience in security
work, aviation screener work, or X-ray technician work.
Applicants must be proficient in English (e.g., reading, writing,
speaking, and listening); and
Have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent; OR
Have at least one year of full-time work experience in security
work, aviation screener work, or X-ray technician work.
...and for all these years, we've been comparing screeners to burger-flippers...