Proactively “From the Sea”; an agent of change leveraging the littoral best practices for a paradigm breaking six-sigma best business case to synergize a consistent design in the global commons, rightsizing the core values supporting our mission statement via the 5-vector model through cultural diversity.
Steve, you're a candy ass. NO ONE, for NO reason, other than my childs doctor or my wife is going to put their hands on my child like that, not with me standing there taking video so I can score points on tv. Somebody's ass would have been well and truly kicked to hell and gone for that. And your wife? She a POS for letting them do it to. She should have b!tch slapped that TSA toad trying to feel up her kid.
BTW, I want the head toad at TSA to guarantee me that there are no sex offenders working for TSA. Wanna bet they can't do that?
I have a feeling very soon that TSA is line for a smack down of epic proportions via lawsuit and/or Congressional oversight. TSA has went from protecting the public to attacking the public.
Some where, in a dark cave or maybe in a plush villa in the middle east, a tall bearded man is smiling. His war on the battle field has had its' reverses but his war on the American way of life is doing just fine. It's only a matter of time until the scenario suggested by Byron plays out. A father, mother, or grand parent hears the plaintive cry of their child and shortly has a a TSA agent (who was only following orders) on the floor in a choker or face pummel. Federal offense. Steve, you're worse than a candy a55, you're a certified limp d**k.
Yep -- way outta bounds. I have three daughters, 6 and under. Not looking forward to holiday travel. Already wrote POTUS and asked if he would allow his daughters to undergo this s--t. Also asked ACLU what they're doing about this. My family and I will definitely opt out of the scans, and I'll be noting names the whole. And yes, I'm one of those who is likely to go apes--t if something similar happens to one of mine. I'm ready to be arrested in the course of defending my kids against criminal ASSAULT, which was what this noodly dad recorded being committed against his child. By the way, I hear Napolitano opts out of scans. I wonder what W would do? Welcome to Amerika. Stand by for road blocks ...
And read this: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2010/11/body-searching-children-no-for-the-us-army-yes-for-the-tsa/66535/. Follow the other links.
We have created a huge, expensive, lumbering bureaucracy that allows knuckleheads with a GED and no common sense to have total, unquestionable authority over us while we travel. These yahoos don't make anyone any safer - to get a bomb or a weapon on a plane all your have to do is be smarter than the TSA - which, obviously is not too difficult. What a colossal waste of my tax dollars.... <span><span></span></span>
We are less safe than prior to 9/11. I feel sorry for flight crews who are routinely exposed to the new scanners. Once thier nuts fall off and thier ovaries become cancerous, maybe someone will realize there are hidden dangers to the new scanners. Unfortunately, it will be too late for many.
Add to that the massive loss of productivity, all fueled because we reject as a society, a very effective, and actually still used, method: Profiling. You know...we can't hurt anyone's feelings...
Somehow the ACLU and the like minded, has convinced all of America that any action to search for a perpetrtor is automatically done from a basis of an 'ism, and not becuase there is supportable, credible thought process that goes into making those checks.
When a crime happens, not on an airline, it seems OK for LE to actually look at criminal records and find the most likely to have committed the same crime. That is profiling, too, and the public demands it. We jjust can't use it to prevent crimes, but after a murder, kidnapping assault or bank robbery, it becomes ok...to close the barn doors.
In this case, we have to suspect even children of carrying bombs. Yes, I've read plenty of history about Vietnam, but that was with a population in an active war zone, not the concourses of just about any airport in the world.
Now, in the grand scheme, the enemy can be satisfied at the impact on the World's economy that will not be added up as the cost of this war. Yep, they are smiling over this, and also knowing they will be able to keep desensitizing the entire TSA system, as people have pointed out, that was did it for the least dollars, even when that added up to billions upon billions, so it will come under assault for us to demand exemptions (like knowing your child has been randomly picked to be searched...yeah how effective is that?), and they will know these and find the way to exploit them, because...like toner cartiridges, it's what they have been doing. You think our military is felxible in adapting? Not so much when compared to them, giving they are still attacking us after all thse years, desipte our reactionary innovations.
They are attacking us on the financial front moment by moment, and all it takes is a little "BOO!" on a released audio tape, or a laser printed loaded with explosives to "force" us to spend another few billion...you know...to make sure it doesn't happen...again.
There are a bunch of countries that get this right. Singapore for example does security at the gate. It is more manpower intensive, but I have never seen anyone patted down. And they have a lot more Muslims passing through that airport than we do. In Japan-I never had to remove my laptop from my brief case. I had it searched several times-but even then they were quick and polite about it. Even Germany had a better set up than most US airports.
Brought to you by the same people who warned that returning Veterans who believed in smaller government, God, and the Second Amendment bore watching as a domestic terror and security threat.
Napolitano and Holder. The biggest threats to our security and freedom since WWII.
There is a crucial difference between here and Japan or Europe in regards to high speed rail.
In the South especially cities that are proposed to be linked are far from "walkable". Once you get there, you are still going to have to rent a car to do what you have to do. Why go from Houston to New orleans ont he train for two hours plus; still have to park on one end and rent on the other; then wait for what will be significantly less frequency for a ride home?
And it won't be cheap either.
In Florida it really makes little sense. while I-4 can jam up, does it make sense to go through the hassle of getting on a train to Orlando when you can generally drive in not much more time on most days? And for how much tax money that you do not have?
The issue of cars is not a hundred percent true-the new companies that are springing up offering the option to "borrow" cars for short time periods is a great idea to negate the walkability issue. Japan has a similar model with bicycles..
A true high speed train ala the Shinkansen would make the trip from Jax to Orlando in half the time it takes to drive. With the ability to have a beer enroute.
For any airtrip that is under two hours-Hi-speed rail can make a lot of sense in certain areas.
By the way, it is the official position of Goldblog that everyday is opt-out day. There's no need to wait until November 24th. But come November 24th, here's an idea you might try to make the day extra-special. It's a one-word idea: Kilts. Think about it -- if you're a male, and you want to bollix-up the nonsensical airport security-industrial complex, one way to do so would be to wear a kilt. If nothing else, this will cause TSA employees to throw up their hands in disgust. If you want to go the extra extra mile, I suggest commando-style kilt-wearing. While it is probably illegal to fly without pants, I can't imagine that it's illegal to fly without underpants. If you are Scottish, or part Scottish, or know someone who is Scottish, or eat Scottish salmon, or enjoy Scotch, or have a vestigial affection for "Braveheart" despite Mel Gibson, you can plausibly claim some sort of multicultural diversity privilege -- the term "True Scotsman" refers to soldiers who honor their tradition and heritage by wearing kilts without drawers underneath. (<span>This photo</span> illustrates the possible consequences of the "True Scotsman" kilt-wearing very well.)
True. TSA stinks. But what did you expect when we carte blanche'd the whole thing after 9/11. Can it be fixed? No way. Look at their initial and subsequent hiring practices and pay scales: ineptitude has been institutionalized. I'd like to see what an unregulated private sector solution could do driven by underwriters and the insurance industry (ie what quality of security would the airline industry produce if it drove down the cost of their terrorism insurance policies, especially if they handled it at their own gates and within their own luggage systems. Grant them some protection against ACLU/profiling and we'd be miles ahead.
That being said - I wonder what my wife's reaction would be if I whipped out the camera phone when one of our children melted down in public instead of lending a hand. By the same token, if I really felt like my child was being harmed, I don't go into "be a good witness" mode.
Orlando and Jax are two quintessential car towns. Except for the heart of the tourist areas and old downtown cores, if you see somebody walking, you have to wonder whats wrong with them.
If we could adopt the japanese model of sharing rides ...perhaps. If its two hours -maybe even pushing three- I would bet most (barbarian) Americans would rather roll in their own rides.
As for that "two hours"...you are talking car time or ~120 miles. The only city pairs you will now see service over that short a distance today in CONUS are from specialty markets to a very strong connecting hub because the money is made on folks flying somewhere much farther away (genrally international).
For any airtrip that is under two hours-Hi-speed...
Your "malltown" is a "specialty market. Sure, you can fly on Southwest to Nashville (haven't looked, but with the exception of Atlanta and Memphis, I'll bet there are no other flights out of there that are not right at two hours long or longer), but most folks are not going to the Opry, they are headed to the west coast, or Phoenix, or Oakland, or Providence...
From the other airlines, what are your choices? All the rest will be thier hubs...Atlanta/Memphis Houston Dulles DFW etc.
Point is, highspeed rail is going to have to cater to much the same demographic patterns. people are not going to change their behavior just to ride on a train.
I like the idea of kilts. My retired firefighter MC club wears them to ride on occasion. My best TSA story comes from last pring in Tampa. In line with the rest of the sheeple, I had the belt off and was transiting the line wearing a pair of hiking shorts with brass snap and heavy zipper. Tripped the metal detector and was off to the line to be wanded. Had me unsnap and open wide. Still tripped the wand with all of the metal. TSA asks, "sir, what other metal do you have down there?". Me; "Just a pair of brass balls, would you care to see them". TSA; Supervisor! Me; where are you taking me?
I'll bet there are no other flights out of there that are not right at two hours long or longer)
Oh yeah.Charlotte its easy to forget about USAIR :-D
The high speed rail experience won't escape the throes of the TSA if it were to manage to ramp up a sizeable customer base...You can bet on that for good reasons.
Of course their PC -Everybody/ANYbody can guilty- mentality will make it such a joy....
Air Tran, American, Continental, Delta, and United Excpress. You can't get anywhere direct from Shopping Mall save for direct to DC or Denver. (American does run MD-80's to DFW which is nice).
In Japan-I was able to make it to Misawa in less time overall than taking a flight from Haneda. I could walk right from my office to the gate, be on a bus to Sagami Otuska and on my way. I would be in my favorite Irish pub outside the gate in Misawa in right at 4 hours. Getting through Haneda would take as long if not a little longer.
We Americans choose not use high speed rail for some really lousy reasons. China ( higher population density I know) is embracing it and soon Taiwan will have a line between Taipei and Kaiosiung. Here in Alabama a line between Nashville, HSV, Birmingham, and Montgomery would do able and buildable. It would save me a lot of grief every time I go to the VA hospital for sure.
Somebody should direct that TSA spokesman to their own website that informs us that TSA officers are "...specially trained..." to deal with children. Obviously that training wasn't done in this officer's case. What I saw on the video is a functionary robotically going through the screening procedures without any attempt to put this upset little girl at ease. Maybe it happened before the cell phone was turned on but I doubt it.
I'm convinced that much of what TSA does is for "security theater" as it is to detect actual threats. One could also argue that they're making the pat downs especially offensive now so that fewer people will opt out of going through the new scanners (although I've been told by law enforcement types any "pat down" that doesn't embarrass you is probably ineffective).
Like Skippy says over at his place, I'm glad I'm not flying this Thanksgiving. Between the folks who are unaware of the new procedures, the ones who plan to challenge the system (good luck with that), and those who feel that they should receive special exceptions "just because", it could take awhile to get to the gate. As TSA says, travelers should give themselves "...adequate time to check their bags and go through security." Next week that should be about 3-4 hours.
Pirate, Agree with you to a degree. This whole scene might have been avoided if the little girl had been warned ahead of time that "Teddy" was going to ride through the x-ray machine on his own. On the other hand, just because you "prep" a 3-year old doesn't mean that any of it is going to stick, especially if they're tired and cranky.
I think it is also the continental distances coupled with the lower population densities. Japan isn't a physically large country, at least compared to the USA. China may be large, but it has the higher population density. Here in California hi-speed rail would work well between SAN-LA, and maybe LA-SF (if I leave the office in SAN at noon - I'm only a mile or two from the airport - I can fly to a dinner event in SF, but it's close). Beyond that, not so much. LA-Salt Lake City or LA-Chicago? I don't think so. Even at midnight, with no traffic, you need to allow an hour to drive across the LA basin.
These are just the same idiots that were guarding the hen house on 9/11; only now they have uniforms and official status and are soon to be SEIU members. Just wonderful. Why is it so difficult to get these a$$holes to adopt the El Al approach?...aside from the gobs of money that former congressmen, cabinet members and their staffers are making off the machinery...
All the wailing and gnashing of teeth toward TSA misses the point. I've flown El Al and have been through their security and Israeli government security at Ben Gurion Airport and at a land crossing between Israel and Jordan. TSA doesn't do things the Israeli way because they would get the living hell sued out of them and lose. There is NO WAY the Federal courts would allow TSA to profile like the Israelis do and if they did, there's no way the PC bedwetters in Congress would allow that to happen. SOooooo...TSA uses random searches or does everyone. They have no choice. Blame this on the courts and Congress, folks. Not the screeners.
As for the screeners, I keep reading about people who want or intend to do things to the screeners as a means of revenge. That is a complete waste of time. Those people are doing what their chain of command tells them to do. If you have a problem with TSA, take it up with the TSA administration or Congress. The stupidity comes from Washington, not the lowly-paid TSO standing in front of you.
<span>If its two hours -maybe even pushing three- I would bet most (barbarian) Americans would rather roll in their own rides. </span>
Two or three hours? Pikers!
Thanks to the TSA and the current customer (non)service attitude of most US carriers, if I can drive there in eight hours or less (450 miles) I'm grabbing the keys to the Bluesmobile and going. That puts most everything east of the Mississippi within striking distance from my starting point outside the Vortex of Suck known as DC. Heck, I almost prefer the 14 hour cannonball run down to Florida (or climb aboard the AutoTrain) in lieu of dealing with Ridge's Retards -- especially if I'm carrying any toolboxes with me.
The BRAC is supposed to increase the number of people working on the Arsenal, even with the NASA job cuts. Add to that fact that they are building an industrial park outside of Gate 9 ( and infringing on 36 holes of fine Alabama golf in the process! :( ). If Raytheon starts building SM-3's here ( SM-3 Block IIA and IIB)-it will more than offset any NASA job losses. Plus- I think with the new Congress, Constellation will get a new lease on life.
Sid, I'm with sober on this one. The airports I generally go through (including SEATAC, which at one time had a terrible reputation) have signs, videos, announcements, etc. letting folks know what to expect. Some of this isn't new stuff either since we've been told to empty our pockets long before 9/11. People are either clueless or choose to ignore these reminders because, well, they're "special". Remember, you're only as fast as the dumbest/least prepared person in line.
Personally, I favor a third option. Decline scan, decline patty cake, request that they PROFILE ME. How many fat old men, anglo-franco-german-baltic-irish mainline protestant retired military and merchant marine officers traveling with his petite german irish christian church elder CPA wife, both native born US citizens... have blown up anything anywhere ever? She looks Irish, I look kind of anglo-german or maybe scots.
Reason for traveling? Going to the wedding of the honorably discharged decorated combat veteran NCO college student and mail man son of an Italian-irish retired Naval officer from New Jersey and his Scotts irish small town South Carolina Special Ed Elementary Teacher to a southern belle blond Carolina girl college student with a working single mother. Marriage at the first (denomination) church in the small town. She's converting from evangelical to main line.
Photo ID, sure. Passport, Navy ID, Zcard, State Drivers license. Social security card? here. Certificate of Birth registration, wallet sized with state seal, here. Finger prints, sure. Better yet, why don't we check my FBI file for my old TS etc etc clearance, and my seaman's papers and key it to the passport scan, so when you stick in my passport, ding! there's my picture and curriculum vitae on the screen and the FBI file with BI's back to the (ahem) administration announces it's existance and my deplorable pattern of one speeding ticket on a rural interstate every 10 years or so.
I do see a problem. TSA Inspector's ability to conduct an interview and draw a conclusion.
You see, it is all set up so the inspector never ever draws a conclusion. Abstract thought, that's an ability you don't run into every day.
Steve, you're a candy ass. NO ONE, for NO reason, other than my childs doctor or my wife is going to put their hands on my child like that, not with me standing there taking video so I can score points on tv. Somebody's ass would have been well and truly kicked to hell and gone for that. And your wife? She a POS for letting them do it to. She should have b!tch slapped that TSA toad trying to feel up her kid.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I want the head toad at TSA to guarantee me that there are no sex offenders working for TSA. Wanna bet they can't do that?
I have a feeling very soon that TSA is line for a smack down of epic proportions via lawsuit and/or Congressional oversight. TSA has went from protecting the public to attacking the public.
ReplyDeleteSome where, in a dark cave or maybe in a plush villa in the middle east, a tall bearded man is smiling. His war on the battle field has had its' reverses but his war on the American way of life is doing just fine. It's only a matter of time until the scenario suggested by Byron plays out. A father, mother, or grand parent hears the plaintive cry of their child and shortly has a a TSA agent (who was only following orders) on the floor in a choker or face pummel. Federal offense. Steve, you're worse than a candy a55, you're a certified limp d**k.
ReplyDeleteI've believed for years that TSA was a ticking time bomb.
ReplyDeleteThe detonators are going off.
I'm only surprised it's taken as long as it has.
Yep -- way outta bounds. I have three daughters, 6 and under. Not looking forward to holiday travel. Already wrote POTUS and asked if he would allow his daughters to undergo this s--t. Also asked ACLU what they're doing about this. My family and I will definitely opt out of the scans, and I'll be noting names the whole. And yes, I'm one of those who is likely to go apes--t if something similar happens to one of mine. I'm ready to be arrested in the course of defending my kids against criminal ASSAULT, which was what this noodly dad recorded being committed against his child. By the way, I hear Napolitano opts out of scans. I wonder what W would do?
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Amerika. Stand by for road blocks ...
And read this: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2010/11/body-searching-children-no-for-the-us-army-yes-for-the-tsa/66535/. Follow the other links.
ReplyDeleteWe have created a huge, expensive, lumbering bureaucracy that allows knuckleheads with a GED and no common sense to have total, unquestionable authority over us while we travel. These yahoos don't make anyone any safer - to get a bomb or a weapon on a plane all your have to do is be smarter than the TSA - which, obviously is not too difficult. What a colossal waste of my tax dollars....
ReplyDelete<span><span></span></span>
We are less safe than prior to 9/11. I feel sorry for flight crews who are routinely exposed to the new scanners. Once thier nuts fall off and thier ovaries become cancerous, maybe someone will realize there are hidden dangers to the new scanners. Unfortunately, it will be too late for many.
ReplyDeleteApplause for Byron, and we'll take up a collection to spring him from jail when he flies again.
ReplyDeleteI have given up on air travel. Drive or don't go. I am no longer forced to tolerate idiots and I won't!
Add to that the massive loss of productivity, all fueled because we reject as a society, a very effective, and actually still used, method: Profiling. You know...we can't hurt anyone's feelings...
ReplyDeleteSomehow the ACLU and the like minded, has convinced all of America that any action to search for a perpetrtor is automatically done from a basis of an 'ism, and not becuase there is supportable, credible thought process that goes into making those checks.
When a crime happens, not on an airline, it seems OK for LE to actually look at criminal records and find the most likely to have committed the same crime. That is profiling, too, and the public demands it. We jjust can't use it to prevent crimes, but after a murder, kidnapping assault or bank robbery, it becomes ok...to close the barn doors.
In this case, we have to suspect even children of carrying bombs. Yes, I've read plenty of history about Vietnam, but that was with a population in an active war zone, not the concourses of just about any airport in the world.
Now, in the grand scheme, the enemy can be satisfied at the impact on the World's economy that will not be added up as the cost of this war. Yep, they are smiling over this, and also knowing they will be able to keep desensitizing the entire TSA system, as people have pointed out, that was did it for the least dollars, even when that added up to billions upon billions, so it will come under assault for us to demand exemptions (like knowing your child has been randomly picked to be searched...yeah how effective is that?), and they will know these and find the way to exploit them, because...like toner cartiridges, it's what they have been doing. You think our military is felxible in adapting? Not so much when compared to them, giving they are still attacking us after all thse years, desipte our reactionary innovations.
They are attacking us on the financial front moment by moment, and all it takes is a little "BOO!" on a released audio tape, or a laser printed loaded with explosives to "force" us to spend another few billion...you know...to make sure it doesn't happen...again.
There are a bunch of countries that get this right. Singapore for example does security at the gate. It is more manpower intensive, but I have never seen anyone patted down. And they have a lot more Muslims passing through that airport than we do. In Japan-I never had to remove my laptop from my brief case. I had it searched several times-but even then they were quick and polite about it. Even Germany had a better set up than most US airports.
ReplyDeleteHigh speed rail anyone?
Brought to you by the same people who warned that returning Veterans who believed in smaller government, God, and the Second Amendment bore watching as a domestic terror and security threat.
ReplyDeleteNapolitano and Holder. The biggest threats to our security and freedom since WWII.
Dagnabbit, didn't you know that a fourth plane on 9/11 was flown by an 82 year Swedish great-grandmother and her evil-spawn 3-year-old descendant?
ReplyDeleteNo young Muslim has ever harmed a US citizen! It is those grandmothers who are out to get us!!
*sigh* I had to give up banging my head a couple of years ago as constantly replacing keyboards got too expensive....
Bless their hearts...
ReplyDeleteTSA = Thousands Standing Arounds.
There is a crucial difference between here and Japan or Europe in regards to high speed rail.
ReplyDeleteIn the South especially cities that are proposed to be linked are far from "walkable". Once you get there, you are still going to have to rent a car to do what you have to do. Why go from Houston to New orleans ont he train for two hours plus; still have to park on one end and rent on the other; then wait for what will be significantly less frequency for a ride home?
And it won't be cheap either.
In Florida it really makes little sense. while I-4 can jam up, does it make sense to go through the hassle of getting on a train to Orlando when you can generally drive in not much more time on most days? And for how much tax money that you do not have?
The issue of cars is not a hundred percent true-the new companies that are springing up offering the option to "borrow" cars for short time periods is a great idea to negate the walkability issue. Japan has a similar model with bicycles..
ReplyDeleteA true high speed train ala the Shinkansen would make the trip from Jax to Orlando in half the time it takes to drive. With the ability to have a beer enroute.
For any airtrip that is under two hours-Hi-speed rail can make a lot of sense in certain areas.
Jeffery Goldberg has a novel idea for next week.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it is the official position of Goldblog that everyday is opt-out day. There's no need to wait until November 24th. But come November 24th, here's an idea you might try to make the day extra-special. It's a one-word idea: Kilts. Think about it -- if you're a male, and you want to bollix-up the nonsensical airport security-industrial complex, one way to do so would be to wear a kilt. If nothing else, this will cause TSA employees to throw up their hands in disgust. If you want to go the extra extra mile, I suggest commando-style kilt-wearing. While it is probably illegal to fly without pants, I can't imagine that it's illegal to fly without underpants. If you are Scottish, or part Scottish, or know someone who is Scottish, or eat Scottish salmon, or enjoy Scotch, or have a vestigial affection for "Braveheart" despite Mel Gibson, you can plausibly claim some sort of multicultural diversity privilege -- the term "True Scotsman" refers to soldiers who honor their tradition and heritage by wearing kilts without drawers underneath. (<span>This photo</span> illustrates the possible consequences of the "True Scotsman" kilt-wearing very well.)
True. TSA stinks. But what did you expect when we carte blanche'd the whole thing after 9/11. Can it be fixed? No way. Look at their initial and subsequent hiring practices and pay scales: ineptitude has been institutionalized. I'd like to see what an unregulated private sector solution could do driven by underwriters and the insurance industry (ie what quality of security would the airline industry produce if it drove down the cost of their terrorism insurance policies, especially if they handled it at their own gates and within their own luggage systems. Grant them some protection against ACLU/profiling and we'd be miles ahead.
ReplyDeleteThat being said - I wonder what my wife's reaction would be if I whipped out the camera phone when one of our children melted down in public instead of lending a hand. By the same token, if I really felt like my child was being harmed, I don't go into "be a good witness" mode.
Orlando and Jax are two quintessential car towns. Except for the heart of the tourist areas and old downtown cores, if you see somebody walking, you have to wonder whats wrong with them.
ReplyDeleteIf we could adopt the japanese model of sharing rides ...perhaps. If its two hours -maybe even pushing three- I would bet most (barbarian) Americans would rather roll in their own rides.
As for that "two hours"...you are talking car time or ~120 miles. The only city pairs you will now see service over that short a distance today in CONUS are from specialty markets to a very strong connecting hub because the money is made on folks flying somewhere much farther away (genrally international).
For any airtrip that is under two hours-Hi-speed...
ReplyDeleteYour "malltown" is a "specialty market. Sure, you can fly on Southwest to Nashville (haven't looked, but with the exception of Atlanta and Memphis, I'll bet there are no other flights out of there that are not right at two hours long or longer), but most folks are not going to the Opry, they are headed to the west coast, or Phoenix, or Oakland, or Providence...
From the other airlines, what are your choices? All the rest will be thier hubs...Atlanta/Memphis Houston Dulles DFW etc.
Point is, highspeed rail is going to have to cater to much the same demographic patterns. people are not going to change their behavior just to ride on a train.
I like the idea of kilts. My retired firefighter MC club wears them to ride on occasion. My best TSA story comes from last pring in Tampa. In line with the rest of the sheeple, I had the belt off and was transiting the line wearing a pair of hiking shorts with brass snap and heavy zipper. Tripped the metal detector and was off to the line to be wanded. Had me unsnap and open wide. Still tripped the wand with all of the metal. TSA asks, "sir, what other metal do you have down there?". Me; "Just a pair of brass balls, would you care to see them". TSA; Supervisor! Me; where are you taking me?
ReplyDeleteI'll bet there are no other flights out of there that are not right at two hours long or longer)
ReplyDeleteOh yeah.Charlotte its easy to forget about USAIR :-D
The high speed rail experience won't escape the throes of the TSA if it were to manage to ramp up a sizeable customer base...You can bet on that for good reasons.
Of course their PC -Everybody/ANYbody can guilty- mentality will make it such a joy....
Air Tran, American, Continental, Delta, and United Excpress. You can't get anywhere direct from Shopping Mall save for direct to DC or Denver. (American does run MD-80's to DFW which is nice).
ReplyDeleteIn Japan-I was able to make it to Misawa in less time overall than taking a flight from Haneda. I could walk right from my office to the gate, be on a bus to Sagami Otuska and on my way. I would be in my favorite Irish pub outside the gate in Misawa in right at 4 hours. Getting through Haneda would take as long if not a little longer.
We Americans choose not use high speed rail for some really lousy reasons. China ( higher population density I know) is embracing it and soon Taiwan will have a line between Taipei and Kaiosiung. Here in Alabama a line between Nashville, HSV, Birmingham, and Montgomery would do able and buildable. It would save me a lot of grief every time I go to the VA hospital for sure.
Somebody should direct that TSA spokesman to their own website that informs us that TSA officers are "...specially trained..." to deal with children. Obviously that training wasn't done in this officer's case. What I saw on the video is a functionary robotically going through the screening procedures without any attempt to put this upset little girl at ease. Maybe it happened before the cell phone was turned on but I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteI'm convinced that much of what TSA does is for "security theater" as it is to detect actual threats. One could also argue that they're making the pat downs especially offensive now so that fewer people will opt out of going through the new scanners (although I've been told by law enforcement types any "pat down" that doesn't embarrass you is probably ineffective).
Like Skippy says over at his place, I'm glad I'm not flying this Thanksgiving. Between the folks who are unaware of the new procedures, the ones who plan to challenge the system (good luck with that), and those who feel that they should receive special exceptions "just because", it could take awhile to get to the gate. As TSA says, travelers should give themselves "...adequate time to check their bags and go through security." Next week that should be about 3-4 hours.
I haed always heard that a Scotsman wears underpants with a kilt, and has since Queen Victoria reviewed the Black Watch on a windy day.
ReplyDelete<span>I had always heard that a Scotsman wears underpants with a kilt, and has since Queen Victoria reviewed the Black Watch on a windy day.</span>
ReplyDeletePirate, Agree with you to a degree. This whole scene might have been avoided if the little girl had been warned ahead of time that "Teddy" was going to ride through the x-ray machine on his own. On the other hand, just because you "prep" a 3-year old doesn't mean that any of it is going to stick, especially if they're tired and cranky.
ReplyDeleteI think it is also the continental distances coupled with the lower population densities. Japan isn't a physically large country, at least compared to the USA. China may be large, but it has the higher population density. Here in California hi-speed rail would work well between SAN-LA, and maybe LA-SF (if I leave the office in SAN at noon - I'm only a mile or two from the airport - I can fly to a dinner event in SF, but it's close). Beyond that, not so much. LA-Salt Lake City or LA-Chicago? I don't think so. Even at midnight, with no traffic, you need to allow an hour to drive across the LA basin.
ReplyDeleteDulles and Denver are UAL hubs...They count on connecting traffic.
ReplyDeleteFor your beloved ShoppingMall USA, it willb e interesting to see what changes in traffic happens as NASA manned space fully peters out.
All of the "See Me Naked" machines (which the TSA "ALWAYS" sends me through) are closed at my local field today...
ReplyDeleteThe biggest issue is the TSA doesn't tell people when they are at the tables to TAKE EVERYTHING out of their pockets and all metal off.
ReplyDeleteIt really slows stuff down as folks then have to stop in line and take off out more stuff.
These are just the same idiots that were guarding the hen house on 9/11; only now they have uniforms and official status and are soon to be SEIU members. Just wonderful. Why is it so difficult to get these a$$holes to adopt the El Al approach?...aside from the gobs of money that former congressmen, cabinet members and their staffers are making off the machinery...
ReplyDeletehttp://xkcd.com/779 has a suggestion. Read the “hover” text.
ReplyDeleteAll the wailing and gnashing of teeth toward TSA misses the point. I've flown El Al and have been through their security and Israeli government security at Ben Gurion Airport and at a land crossing between Israel and Jordan. TSA doesn't do things the Israeli way because they would get the living hell sued out of them and lose. There is NO WAY the Federal courts would allow TSA to profile like the Israelis do and if they did, there's no way the PC bedwetters in Congress would allow that to happen. SOooooo...TSA uses random searches or does everyone. They have no choice. Blame this on the courts and Congress, folks. Not the screeners.
ReplyDeleteAs for the screeners, I keep reading about people who want or intend to do things to the screeners as a means of revenge. That is a complete waste of time. Those people are doing what their chain of command tells them to do. If you have a problem with TSA, take it up with the TSA administration or Congress. The stupidity comes from Washington, not the lowly-paid TSO standing in front of you.
They did the last time I flew from JAX to EWK. Repeatedly. And people still didn't listen.
ReplyDelete<span>Sid,</span>
ReplyDelete<span>They did the last time I flew from JAX to EWK. Repeatedly. And people still didn't listen.</span>
<span>For your beloved ShoppingMall USA, it willb e interesting to see what changes in traffic happens as NASA manned space fully peters out.</span>
ReplyDeleteNo worries on that, Congress actually planned ahead to take care of that problem. ;)
<span>If its two hours -maybe even pushing three- I would bet most (barbarian) Americans would rather roll in their own rides. </span>
ReplyDeleteTwo or three hours? Pikers!
Thanks to the TSA and the current customer (non)service attitude of most US carriers, if I can drive there in eight hours or less (450 miles) I'm grabbing the keys to the Bluesmobile and going. That puts most everything east of the Mississippi within striking distance from my starting point outside the Vortex of Suck known as DC. Heck, I almost prefer the 14 hour cannonball run down to Florida (or climb aboard the AutoTrain) in lieu of dealing with Ridge's Retards -- especially if I'm carrying any toolboxes with me.
The BRAC is supposed to increase the number of people working on the Arsenal, even with the NASA job cuts. Add to that fact that they are building an industrial park outside of Gate 9 ( and infringing on 36 holes of fine Alabama golf in the process! :( ). If Raytheon starts building SM-3's here ( SM-3 Block IIA and IIB)-it will more than offset any NASA job losses. Plus- I think with the new Congress, Constellation will get a new lease on life.
ReplyDeleteLA -Vegas!
ReplyDeleteSid, I'm with sober on this one. The airports I generally go through (including SEATAC, which at one time had a terrible reputation) have signs, videos, announcements, etc. letting folks know what to expect. Some of this isn't new stuff either since we've been told to empty our pockets long before 9/11. People are either clueless or choose to ignore these reminders because, well, they're "special". Remember, you're only as fast as the dumbest/least prepared person in line.
ReplyDeletesid, Well you got me there. Of course this just confirms my suspicion that they really want everyone to go through the new machines.
ReplyDeleteThe new motto for TSA:
ReplyDelete"Can't see London, can't see France, unless we see your underpants."
No I didn't make it up. But I wish I had.
Personally, I favor a third option. Decline scan, decline patty cake, request that they PROFILE ME. How many fat old men, anglo-franco-german-baltic-irish mainline protestant retired military and merchant marine officers traveling with his petite german irish christian church elder CPA wife, both native born US citizens... have blown up anything anywhere ever? She looks Irish, I look kind of anglo-german or maybe scots.
ReplyDeleteReason for traveling? Going to the wedding of the honorably discharged decorated combat veteran NCO college student and mail man son of an Italian-irish retired Naval officer from New Jersey and his Scotts irish small town South Carolina Special Ed Elementary Teacher to a southern belle blond Carolina girl college student with a working single mother. Marriage at the first (denomination) church in the small town. She's converting from evangelical to main line.
Photo ID, sure. Passport, Navy ID, Zcard, State Drivers license. Social security card? here. Certificate of Birth registration, wallet sized with state seal, here. Finger prints, sure. Better yet,
why don't we check my FBI file for my old TS etc etc clearance, and my seaman's papers and key it to the passport scan, so when you stick in my passport, ding! there's my picture and curriculum vitae on the screen and the FBI file with BI's back to the (ahem) administration announces it's existance and my deplorable pattern of one speeding ticket on a rural interstate every 10 years or so.
I do see a problem. TSA Inspector's ability to conduct an interview and draw a conclusion.
You see, it is all set up so the inspector never ever draws a conclusion. Abstract thought, that's an ability you don't run into every day.