And you are here why?

via ASP (admit it - you've felt like this at least once or twice...)

The Guardian parses through the Global Terrorism Database , and charts the results above. Some important caveats - these are a count of attacks , not of impact   not a count of fatalities The second point is particularly relevant - you have some attacks (9/11) with large fatalities. All that said, it is important to note that, in the end, attacks are quite rare - it is worth turning it over to Bruce Schneier here As the details about the bombings in Boston unfold, it'd be easy to be scared. It'd be easy to feel powerless and demand that our elected leaders do something -- anything -- to keep us safe. It'd be easy, but it'd be wrong. We need to be angry and empathize with the victims without being scared. Our fears would play right into the perpetrators' hands -- and magnify the power of their victory for whichever goals whatever group behind this, still to be uncovered, has. We don't have to be scared, and we're not powerless. We actual...

The Beeb reports that over in Britain, the Ministry of Defense is seriously toying with the idea of putting missiles on apartment roofs during the Olympics.  Because, you know, Terrorists.  Also, Think Of The Children™ The MoD says in the leaflet that the missiles will not pose a hazard to residents and "will only be authorised for active use following specific orders from the highest levels of government in response to a confirmed and extreme security threat". The document states: "Having a 24/7 Armed Forces and police presence will improve your local security and will not make you a target for terrorists. "The location has been chosen as it is situated close to the Olympic Park and offers an excellent view of the surrounding area and the entire sky above the Olympic Park. "The top of the tower also offers a flat, uncluttered and safe area from which to operate." The Army website says the HVM system is "designed to counter threats from...

From The Big Picture (Barry Ritholz) replicated in full below.  It may seem alarmist and over-the-top at first pass, but the links/citations are accurate.  You read the individual articles here and there, but then when they are all collected in one place, the totality is not just alarming, it is deeply frightening. Sigh. I feel like one of the wing-nuts who goes around talking about the Tri-lateral commission, black helicopters, and the like, but as has been said before, Just because you're paranoid don't mean they're not after you . Then again, its all for our protection right?  Think of the children, blah, blah, blah. Any American Who Criticizes the Government May Be Labeled a Terrorist I   noted   in 2009: The Department of Homeland Security and police forces label anyone who they disagree with – or who disagrees with government policies – as “terrorists”. Don’t believe me? Well,   according to a law school professor , pursuant to the ...

Seriously, who in the FBI actually came up with this load of cruft about how to spot terrorists in an Internet Cafe? I mean, seriously , take a look at these --> Are overly concerned about privacy, attempts to shield the screen from view of others Really Captain Obvious? Speaking for myself, I prefer to read my emails out loud to everybody around me when I'm in an Internet Cafe, Just In Case somebody might think I was doing Something Bad.  You can never be Too Safe, you know? Are observed switching SIM cards in cell phone or use of multiple cell phones Oh a doozy!  Because no one out there ever uses more than one phone, right?  And god forbid that I ever travel abroad, and purchase a SIM there so I don't have to pay crazy roaming rates. Use of anonymizers, portals, or other means to shield IP address VPNs?  TOR?  I guess if I don't have anything to hide... Suspicious communications using VOIP or communicating through a PC game OOooooh,...