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Subscribe                 607 Ideas, 183 Comments, 1848 Votes »

Vote Up 1  Vote Down	Regulate Botox  Jim Cashel  The active ingredient in Botox - botulinum neurotoxin - is the most lethal ingredient known to man. Security experts warn if sufficient quantities were bought or produced by terrorists, they could produce a powerful weapon. Foreign Policy http://bit.ly/aqvMXt Comments (0)Security, botox, terrorism
Vote Up 5  Vote Down	Reduce Nuclear Arsenal to 313 Warheads  Jim Cashel  The US should reduce its nuclear arsenal from 5,113 warheads to 313. A nicely argued policy op-ed in NY Times: http://nyti.ms/airxAm Comments (0)Security, nuclear
Vote Up 4  Vote Down	To Combat Prison Rape, First Focus on Guards  Jim Cashel  One study involving 64,000 prisoners showed 2% had been sexually abused by other prisoners, and 2.9% by prison staff. Library of Economics and Liberty http://bit.ly/c4l2bL Comments (0)Security, prison, rape
Vote Up 4  Vote Down	Avoid the Worst Mistake a Parent Can Make  Jim Cashel  The heart-wrenching, Pulitzer Prize-winning article about parents who mistakenly leave a baby in a locked car to die (about 20 times per year in the US). Washington Post http://bit.ly/9w41Ir Comments (0)Security, car, baby, hyperthermia
Vote Up 4  Vote Down	Lock Down Pakistani Nukes  Jim Cashel  Oh great - a recent study by Harvard non-proliferation experts identifies Pakistan as the country with the least secure nuclear weapons. http://bit.ly/cR5bQc Comments (0)Security, pakistan, proliferation, nuclear
Vote Up 1  Vote Down	Decode Typing Using Sounds  Jim Cashel  Spies now have a new tool: researchers at the University of California have devised a way to accurately transcribe what is being typed by just using the sounds of the keyboard. Economist http://bit.ly/cHJKdG Comments (0)Security, technology, typing, spy
Vote Up 4  Vote Down	Don't Worry About Auto Safety  Jim Cashel  Why is there so much attention about auto safety and manufacturer recalls when nearly all accidents are caused by human error? Shouldn't we worry more about that? NY Times http://nyti.ms/a5387k Comments (0)Security, car, safety, recall
Vote Up 4  Vote Down	For Middle East Peace, Use Female Negotiators  Jim Cashel  Women are better at forging compromise than men. Why not have women lead Middle East peace negotiations? Christian Science Monitor http://bit.ly/cOaiog Comments (1)Security, peace, middle east, negotiation, women
Vote Up 4  Vote Down	Use Laughter to End Global Conflicts  Jim Cashel  Global conflicts are often sustained through being portrayed as either heroic or tragic. Finnish researchers suggest reframing issues in a comedy to promote reconciliation. http://bit.ly/beVjZr Comments (0)Security, conflict, peace, laughter
Vote Up 2  Vote Down	Shut the Pirate Stock Exchange  Jim Cashel  One way to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean would be to shut down the pirate stock exchange in Haradheere which provides financing and materiel. Financial Post http://bit.ly/9iK5WK Comments (0)Security, pirate, piracy, stock exchange
Vote Up 4  Vote Down	To Break Up Youth Loiterers, Play Classical Music  Jim Cashel  British officials have found that playing classical music in areas where youth are known to congregate is an effective means of encouraging them to leave. Reason Magazine http://bit.ly/ciBmZO Comments (1)Security, music, youth
Vote Up 1  Vote Down	Verify Old Atomic Tests by Testing Wine  Jim Cashel  Scientists have shown that grapes absorb harmless levels of radioactive carbon following atmospheric nuclear tests. Old wines can be tested. The Guardian: http://bit.ly/bYu0tU Comments (1)Security, wine, nuclear, verification
Vote Up 2  Vote Down	Show a Slideshow, Catch a Terrorist  Jim Cashel  An Israeli security firm shows that terrorists and other criminals have distinct reactions to viewing incriminating photos in a slideshow. This can be used for quick screening at airports. Economist Magazine http://bit.ly/9eX4Ke Comments (0)Security, terrorist, airport, screening
Vote Up 4  Vote Down	Don't Eliminate Nuclear Weapons  Jim Cashel  Is the uncertainty of having no nuclear weapons (but many states poised to build if necessary) really better than having some? Nobel Laureate Thomas Schelling argues that we need to be careful about what we wish for. Daedalus http://bit.ly/971kBC Comments (0)Security, nuclear, disarmament
Vote Up 5  Vote Down	Repeat to Yourself "Crime is Going Down"  Jim Cashel  Why do polls show that citizens believe crime is increasing, when in fact it has been dropping steadily for decades? This misperception has many negative consequences. Boston Globe http://bit.ly/bjX4o8 Comments (0)Security, crime, data
Vote Up 4  Vote Down	To Stabilize Afghanistan, Copy Tajikistan  Jim Cashel  Tajikistan's current stability following civil war in 1991 results from tolerating warlords, small brokered deals, and few peacekeepers. A similar approach could work in Afghanistan. Foreign Affairs http://bit.ly/cVlOC8 Comments (0)Security, war, afghanistan, tajikistan
Vote Up 2  Vote Down	Don't Fight Wars, Do Quick "Interventions"  Jim Cashel  Full wars with subsequent nation building are not worth the cost. American interests would be better met by brief "interventions" when required. NY Times http://nyti.ms/dzVkdx Comments (0)Security, war, intervention
Vote Up 1  Vote Down	Deflect Dangerous Asteroids Using "Mirror Bees"  Jim Cashel  After studying nine strategies for deflecting asteroids, researchers concluded a swarm of mirrors used to heat one side, "mirror bees", is the most promising. A NYTimes "best idea 2009" winner. http://bit.ly/7xZhti Comments (0)Security, asteroid, space
Vote Up 3  Vote Down	Use Google to Prevent Terrorism  Jim Cashel  Google could be efficiently employed to prevent terrorism, including help with data processing, image review, and search analysis. http://bit.ly/5Id2qo Comments (0)Security, terrorism, google
Vote Up 2  Vote Down	Prevent Laser Isotope Separation for Nuclear Weapons  Jim Cashel  A new, easy to hide technique can make be used to make weapons-grade uranium. The US government should invest in programs to track this technology. A Wired Magazine "smart idea" of 2008. http://bit.ly/4D3B1v Comments (0)Security, security, nuclear
Vote Up 5  Vote Down	Landmine Sniffing Rats  Jim Cashel  Specially trained African rats (three feet long) can detect mines in a field 50 times faster than by using a metal detector. Forbes "breakout" idea 2009. http://bit.ly/8QWeXs Comments (2)Security, landmine, rat
Vote Up 2  Vote Down	Fire-fighting Hand Grenade  Jim Cashel  The "Fit-5" extinguishes flames by emitting a cloud of potassium carbonate. Popular Science "Best of 2008" selection. http://bit.ly/6JspPz Comments (0)Security, fire, grenade
Vote Up 1  Vote Down	Strong Curtains Protect Against Hurricanes  Jim Cashel  "Storm-A-Rest" curtains are stronger than plywood in covering windows during a hurricane. Popular Science "Best of 2008" selection. http://bit.ly/5p8tWQ Comments (0)Security, hurricane, curtain
Vote Up 5  Vote Down	Combat Chinese Web Censorship Through University Exchange  Jim Cashel  Sending lots of laptop-toting, Facebook-addicted US college students to China will help circumvent Chinese web censorship. http://ow.ly/HuXc Comments (3)Security, china, web, censorship
Vote Up 1  Vote Down	Blast-proof Wallpaper  Jim Cashel  X-Flex is kevlar-based wallpaper to protect rooms from blasts, accidents or natural disasters. 2009 Popular Science Security Winner http://bit.ly/6zlT32 Comments (0)Security, technology, disaster, military, construction