Thomas Anthony Zampetti

Thomas Anthony Zampetti considers serving his country, his friends, and his family with integrity equivalent to a medal of honor. His sense of accomplishment manifests in his service in the military and in the New Jersey police department, as well as in his series of business endeavors. A retired Marine Corps, he now leads a contented and quiet life with his family.

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Here are ten tips to help bar owners efficiently manage their establishments.

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REPOST: How to Start a Bar/Club

While owning a bar can be fun and profitable, it carries all the same duties as any business. The article below discusses the reality of owning a bar and the ways to make it big in the entertainment business.

Learn more about the basics of starting up a bar or club from this article shared by this Thomas Anthony Zampetti blog.

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How to Sandblast glass

Sandblasting has a bunch of functions. It can be used to soften rough surfaces, roughen soft surfaces, take off unwanted surfaces, or shape a surface. If you're curious about the process and wish to try it yourself, you can check out this video to learn how to sandblast glass with experts at the Corning Museum of Glass. Sandblasting can be used for interior fixtures like shelves, tables, and more.

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REPOST: Islamic State's Psychological War on U.S. Troops

Bloomberg columnists Eli Lake and Josh Rogin write about the practice of doxing being used by the Islamic state as a psychological warfare weapon against the U.S. military.

                                            Under fire at home?

                                Image Source: bloombergview.com

This week, Pentagon officials began calling up retired generals to let them know that their home addresses, private e-mails and other personal information had appeared in a document that was publicized globally by a group claiming to support Islamic State.

The phone calls began after the Twitter and YouTube accounts of the U.S. military’s Central Command were briefly taken over by hackers who claimed to be part of IS. The Pentagon downplayed the hack, calling it “cyber-vandalism,” and stressed that the vandals did not penetrate any of the military’s classified information networks.

And while it’s true that the brief defacement of the Pentagon’s social media accounts was no great accomplishment in terms of cyber-warfare, the hack is actually a different kind of terrorist attack altogether: doxing.

The practice of doxing, or publishing people's personal information online, is usually used to unmask hackers on Web forums or annoy figures in the news. It’s a way to deprive an online outlaw of his anonymity or a public figure of his or her privacy. In this case, the posting of the personal data of retired military officers is part of a different kind of strategy, to sow terror among men and women in uniform.  

Indeed, the message could not have been clearer. One tweet read simply: “AMERICAN SOLDIERS, WE ARE COMING. WATCH YOUR BACK. ISIS."

Among the documents posted on the Centcom Twitter account was a 52-page spreadsheet titled “Retired Army General Officer Roster.” The list includes the addresses, e-mails and retirement dates of many former generals. Hence the calls many got this week from the Pentagon. (A link to the document on Pastebin has since been removed.) 

Representative Michael Turner, the Ohio Republican who is chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, told us he believes the hackers may have posted the personal addresses as a sort of hit list. “With the growing threat of sleeper cells and homegrown terrorists, these kinds of communications are not only be a threat but also a target list,” he said.

If this seems alarmist, recall that Stéphane Charbonnier, the editor of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and one of the 12 people killed last week during the massacre at its Paris office, had previously been placed on a "Wanted: Dead or Alive" list published by Inspire, the English-language online magazine of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

And while a spreadsheet of retired generals would be a very broad target list, it is in keeping with the behavior of Islamic State and its supporters in recent months. On Nov. 30, the FBI took the unusual step of warning current military personnel not to travel during the holidays in their uniforms because of credible but vague threats that IS sought to attack troops inside the U.S.  In October, there were two attacks on Canadian military personnel conducted by self-proclaimed jihadists.

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, John McCain, said he was informed by the Pentagon that the military was making efforts to follow up on the Twitter leaks because potential terrorists who were not even involved in the hack now have access to the sensitive information

“I am concerned because whenever those things are publicized, they could be fodder not only for the organized guys but also for the lone wolves,” McCain said. “[The military’s] answer is, ‘Well, it was just a commercial deal.’ But it was another psychological win for the bad guys.”

One retired U.S. general whose name and address appeared on the spreadsheet told us that he was notified this week that some of his personal information had been compromised. He asked us not to use his name so as to not to bring more attention to himself. But he said he feared this would be a new kind of threat for active duty and retired officers.

“I think this is problematic and a trend that will get worse,” the retired general said. “The next steps are hacking into family Facebook pages and getting information on the families and kids of military officers. We are at a time when this is incredibly easy to do. There is a tremendous amount of vulnerability out there.”

In the past, al-Qaeda has discussed in semi-public Web forums its intentions to kill well-known Americans.  In 2011, ABC News reported that al-Qaeda had posted a hit list of 179 prominent media and business figures and politicians, including Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch and the founder of the Blackwater security firm, Erik Prince.

Bruce Hoffman, the director of security studies at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, said the hack reminded him of a Saudi al-Qaeda leader, killed in 2004, who had issued a broad target list that included community activists and counter-terrorism experts. Hoffman also said Chechen insurgents have posted personal information on Russian military officers.

“As a psychological warfare weapon, it introduces a new element that warriors have never had to contend with in the past,” Hoffman told us. “There is a whole new class of military people who will have to live like Hollywood stars do, and have their personal information scrubbed from the Internet. Terrorists are smart enough to understand a modest hacking effort can create these looking-over-your-shoulder/morale issues.”

Thomas Anthony Zampetti is a retired member of the U.S. Marine Corps who founded his own detective agency out of his passion for law enforcement and crime prevention. Click here to learn more about his work in the military and the criminal justice system.

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REPOST: Marines’ guide to Down Under deployments

U.S. Marines are now getting deployed to Australia for rotational assignments. MarineCorpsTimes.com consolidates the following tips for those who may be assigned to the Northern Territory for a six-month adventure.

For this and other shared articles, visit this Thomas Anthony Zampetti blog.

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Abrasive Blasting in Public Areas

Abrasive Blasting in Public Areas on Gas Pipework.

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This Thomas Anthony Zampetti blog shares an article n one of the marines' highlights of the previous year: working with female business leaders to help recruit more women.

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Seasons greetings.

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This Thomas Anthony Zampetti blog shares an article reporting on New Jersey's slow adoption of the taser in police settings.

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Repost: Holiday Safety Tips From Warren Township Police Department

The holiday season is best celebrated safe and sound. Take note of the following tips from the Warren Township Police Department to ensure your safety this time of the year:

                                                         Image Source: tapinto.net

WARREN, NJ - The Warren Township Police Department has issued tips for holiday safety including driving, parking, automated teller machines, shopping, children, at home, and at holiday parties.

  Driving

  Avoid driving alone or at night.

Keep all car doors locked and windows closed while in or out of your car. Set your alarm or use an anti-theft device.

If you must shop at night, park in a well-lighted area.

Avoid parking next to vans, trucks with camper shells, or cars with tinted windows.

Park as close as you can to your destination and take notice of where you parked.

Never leave your car unoccupied with the motor running or with children inside.

Do not leave packages or valuables on the seat of your car. This creates a temptation for thieves. If you must leave something in the car, lock it in the trunk or put it out of sight.

Be sure to locate your keys prior to going to your car.

Keep a secure hold on your purse, handbag and parcels. Do not put them down or on top of the car in order to open the door.

When approaching or leaving your vehicle, be aware of your surroundings.

Do not approach your car alone if there are suspicious people in the area.

Ask mall or store security for an escort before leaving your shopping location.

  Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

  If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located inside a police station, mall, or well-lighted location. Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.

Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you.

Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location.

  Shopping

  Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.

Dress casually and comfortably.

Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible.

Always carry your New Jersey Driver License or Identification Card along with necessary cash, checks and/or a credit card you expect to use.

Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings.

Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible.

Keep cash in your front pocket.

Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.

Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.

Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, transportation terminals, bus stops, on buses and other rapid transit.

Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.

Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, "con-artists" may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

  Children

  If possible, leave small children at home with a trusted babysitter.

Teach your child to go to a store clerk and ask for help in case your child is separated from you.

Teach children to stay close to you at all times while shopping.

Never allow children to make unaccompanied trips to the restroom.

Children should never be allowed to go to the car alone and they should never be left alone in the car.

Teach children their full name, address and telephone number to give to police officers or mall security. Teach children to immediately inform you if a stranger is bothering them.

  At Home

  Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house, even for a few minutes.

When leaving home for an extended time, have a neighbor or family member watch your house and pick up your newspapers and mail.

Indoor and outdoor lights should be on an automatic timer or motion activated.

Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied.

Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through the windows and doors of your home.

When setting up a Christmas tree or other holiday display, make sure doors and passageways are clear inside your home.

Be sure your Christmas tree is mounted on a sturdy base so children, elderly persons or family pets cannot pull it over on themselves.

If you use lights on your Christmas tree ensure the wiring is not damaged or frayed. Frayed or damaged wiring can cause a fire.

Place your Christmas tree in water or wet sand to keep it green.

Never place wrapping paper in your fireplace.

  Strangers at Your Door

  Be aware that criminals sometimes pose as couriers delivering gifts.

It is not uncommon for criminals to take advantage of the generosity of people during the holiday season by soliciting donations door-to-door for charitable causes although no charity is involved.

Ask for their identification, and find out how the donated funds will be used. If you are not satisfied, do not donate.

Donate to a recognized charitable organization.

  Hosting a Party

  Have non-alcoholic beverages available for party guests.

Find alternative transportation for intoxicated guests.

Arrange for an official designated driver for your party who will not drink at all.

    Attending a Party

  Have something to eat before consuming alcoholic beverages.

Eat high protein foods that will stay in your stomach longer and slow the absorption of alcohol into your system.

Remember only time will eliminate the alcohol from your body.

Know your safe limit.

Never drink and drive.

Retired New Jersey State Police officer Thomas Anthony Zampetti is an expert in criminal investigations. Subscribe to this blog for more discussions on law enforcement and social justice.

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Private Detectives and Investigators : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Private detectives and investigators find facts and analyze information about legal, financial, and personal matters.

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Detective technology in movies: Are they for real?

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Wood Carving, Glass Engraving, Gourd Carving, Gun Stock Carving, Egg art and more are easily accomplished using high speed engraving systems and equipment from Profitable Hobbies. Start your own business today or just a great hobby.

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The role of advanced biometrics in capture and detection

Recently, the FBI announced a plan to expedite the collection of DNA profiles to be included in the Next Generation Identification (NGI) program database. As reported, this would allow an officer to run a test while an arrestee is in temporary custody, which will eventually move to put the suspect in immediate custody once a match is found.

                                      Image Source: gizmodo.com

With consistent innovations in technology, capture and detection processes, which basically rely on profile matching, will integrate advanced strategies in indexing biometric data for identification purposes. Earlier generations of biometrics indexing employed fingerprints, facial and retinal scans, voice recognition, handwriting and signatures, and other multimodal features including human behavior. Biometric identifiers uniquely recognize humans through such traits.

                                      Image Source: betanews.com

Biometrics allows for increased security, and are very much associated with practical technology in detecting identity fraud and battling new threats such as illegal immigration, organized crime, cybercrime, and terrorism.

Despite previously detected flaws including not being able to acquire profiles for the whole population and the need for high-end devices, biometrics still provides the strongest benefit to government institutions and security agencies in battling criminal activities.

                                     Image Source: bluesheepdog.com

Among successes are standardization of mug shots, improving the quality of CCTVs, even replicating social media profiles. Denmark even employed LED lights in detecting criminal activity.

Nowadays, people are more willing to submit biometric data as the tools become more accessible in the form of downloadable applications such as in smartphones. These advances in the field of biometrics will surely bring about a more automated, real-time, and highly accurate set of information.

Thomas Anthony Zampetti is a former New Jersey State Police officer in the narcotics and organized crime division who established his own private investigation firm. Follow this Twitter account for the latest in law and order.

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Methods of Solving a Detective Case | eHow

Detectives must solve criminal cases within the bounds of the law, which place limitations on when and how detectives can conduct searches, when they must release suspects, with whom they can speak and what evidence is sufficient to gain a warrant.

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Skills and Knowledge for Private Detectives and Investigator

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This Thomas Anthony Zampetti blog shares an article that describes what the world's first space detective agency is like.