Flying Naked

As I'm sure you've heard by now, the authorities in the UK have stopped a massive terror plot to bring down 20 planes in the USA using liqud explosives in carry-on bags.

For the first time, we're at "red alert" for a part of the country, specifically, places where planes from the UK are coming into the USA.

At 5:15 this morning, I listened to the CEO of Heathrow Airport describe the security measures thay have undertaken. Read this closely, because this will become the norm for air travel in the very near future.

1. No more carry-on luggage. No computer bags, backpacks, waist packs, whatever. None.

2. No liquids, lotions, creams or other liquid-linje substances. Exceptions are baby milk (which you must drink to prove it's not toxic - a pointless exercise for a suicide bomber) and medications.

3. No electronics of any kind. No iPod, FLASHLIGHTS, Cell Phone, Key Fob Car Unlocker, Laptops, hip tops, nothing that uses electricity or has a battery. No radios of ANY KIND.

4. Allowed items are travel documents, identity papers, money, cards, medications (with prescriptions), sanitary items. All items must be carried in a clear plastic bag. All passengers are hand-searched. All shoes, belts, clothing accessories and so forth are x-rayed and hand examined.

5. Only airport-provided wheelchairs may be used.

Obviously, the next logical step is that you must fly naked & sedated, which would be fine with me. Or perhaps it's time to get serious with this idea:
http://www.focazio.com/pa/

In all seriousness, this raises some profound implications for traveling. Of course, my first bit of advice is, as always; don't check what you can send. Pack it in a sturdy case, call UPS or Fedex, and ship it to your destination. It’s not as expensive as you’d think.

That said, now that you need to (gasp!) check your laptop, it's time to talk about the reality of doing it right.

First of all, physical protection. There's only one way to go when packing a laptop, and that's the case-in-a-case method. My favorite laptop case is the Pelican 1490CC1. There's also a 1490CC2, which is about $20 less, but lacks the storage space of the 1490CC1. They are about $149 (for the CC1) and $129 (for the CC2). Pack that case INSIDE another case (like another Pelican Case ideally, or another HARD-SIDE case.

You can't lock your bags, unless you’re checking a gun, and the TSA-approved locks are a joke, so don’t bother with locks. So another thing you should do is protect your data.

The most basic thing you can do to protect a laptop is to enable a power-on password via the system BIOS. While this won't stop someone from getting at the data on your hard drive if they remove the drive from your computer, it will stop the less-determined. The next level is to disable auto-login on your computer. Yes, it's a pain in the butt to have to log-in to the system, but it's another level of prevention. Before you fly, clear out all of your saved passwords, cookies and delete your temporary files. I use a product called BC Wipe (google it) to make sure files that I delete are really gone.

Finally, and this is a it of a radical step, consider encrypting your hard drive. On a Mac, this is as simple as using the "File Vault" option under the "Security" system preferences. This takes your entire home directory and makes it an encrypted data store. That means that without your password, the data on the file can't be read, even if the hard drive is physically removed. On a PC, things are not as simple, but check out the software that came with the laptop - for example, the Acer TravelMate series includes a fairly decent encryption utility that comes pre-installed on the system.

The other option is to skip the laptop entirely and move your digital life onto a USB Keychain Drive. It's amazing how effective this is. If you go to www.portableapps.com, you'll find a universe of applications that you can copy to a USB Keychain Drive. I carry a Lexar Media 2GB Jump Drive Lightning, and on it I have portable versions of the Firefox web rowser, Thunderbird Email, Open Office - an MS-Office Replacement, Filezilla FTP client, Clam Window Virus Scanner, GAIM - a multi-platform instant messaging client, NVU - a web page & site creation tool similar to FrontPage, GIMP, a photoshop replacement, and VLC, a media player application for video and audio. I fit all that in 747 MB, and that leaves me with lots of room to spare for files. All I need is a Windows computer with a USB port and I'm up and running. The nice thing about this is with a 2GB USB Drive, I can back up everything - applications and files - in a few minutes to a DVD (which holds 4.7 GB). Heck, 2GB is small enough that you can zip the entire drive and upload it to a web server somewhere as a backup. If I really, really really wanted to travel light, I could even forego the USB key drive and put all the applications and data onto a single 2gb SD card (http://usamemory.net/2gbsdcard.html) and tuck that into my wallet. It's easy to find card readers anywhere you go.

In the end, air travel, which I remember as being glamorous and exciting when I was a kid, has gradually gone from being something desirable to being only slightly more pleasant than crawling on your hands and knees through a sewer while being yelled at by angry trolls who are throwing rotten tomatoes at your head.

Getting there is none of the fun, that’s for sure.

Wow. Sad state of affairs, but thanks for all the tips on coping.

Just to add... If you're flying somewhere and don't have an address to ship your stuff to, I checked with USPS and they have no problem with people sending packages as General Delivery. You can address the package to yourself and send it to the Post Office of the town where heading and just pick it up when you get there.

>2. No liquids, lotions, creams or other liquid-linje substances.
>Exceptions are baby milk (which you must drink to prove it's not
>toxic >- a pointless exercise for a suicide bomber) and

Actually, most liquid explosives are sufficently toxic that if you drink it at the security check point, you won't make it to the gate, so it isn't completely pointless. Particularly if it's a binary liquid- most of those components are to the far end of the Ph scale one way of the other. If you beverage digests you and not the other way around, you either have the worst luck in the world or were up to no good.

That being said, not allowing people to do the same with water as they do with formula is beyond pointless. They aren't even allowing people to carry on beverages that they buy PAST the security check point- what are they admitting here? That the government is terrorizing the people, or that they have no controls on what gets in the shops in the airports?

Either way, BRAVO to security for supporting terrorism. Way to go guys!

heh, heh... This link was posted on another site:

Bill of Rights, TSA edition

In two weeks my entire family is flying from Florida to Idaho. This includes two children: 4 anf 5 years old. I was planning on taking a DVD player, and a few toys and games. If I cannot do this, then my kids are gonna be trouble on a five-hour flight. It won't be their fault, it is just the way that kids are.

This is gonna be a LOT of fun!

**EDIT**
We are also flying Southwest, where they do not provide lunch or drinks. If I cannot bring food or water, this is gonna be a VERY long flight.

And thus we come to the real reason why terrorism works. Inflict pain and suffering on people, either directly, or better yet, get them to do it to themselves for you. Primary mission failed (maybe- interesting that they aren't touching checked baggage), but the secondary one has been successfully completed - disruption.

Frankly, I've found that it is often cheaper to charter a flight than fly commercial. Even when it isn't less expensive, there are unique advantages.

Some Advantages:

1. Leave when you want, arrive when you want.
2. Take what you want.
3. Land closer to distination.
4. Superior personal service.
5. Psychological advantage in business contacts.
6. No TSA BS.

Have you ever tasted baby formula?? That stuff IS toxic! I'm surprised my children thrived the way they did drinking that stuff! I'm pretty sure I'd rather drive anywhere possible than drink baby formula. Breast milk might not be so bad as formula, but that would just be wierd.

Fear Factor: Terrorist Edition

That being said, the whole flying naked concept might be okay, if I were fortunate to sit next to a few select female celebrities <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I think it just reinforces the concept that as long as you can still think, you're still "equipped". The ability to carry the tools may be restricted, but the ability to think can't be...unless the TSA has been secretly collaborating with the Romulans <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

It definitely worked with me. Given the choice of driving and taking an airliner, I take my truck. My EDC backpack is with me, and my laptop sits on the passenger seat. I get to take lots of toys, cooler and firearms are in the back of the truck. End of the month I go on vacation too; I'll be driving three days instead of flying three hours. These days I feel naked flying.

Unfortunately, my tactic won't work for most folks, but if I was going on vacation from Florida to Idaho with children, I'd consider renting a motorhome or at least a good size van and take whatever stuff I need. Spoken by a guy who's never driven long distances with young kids.

Actually (and this may be a campfire forum topic) this sort of terrorism cannot work, because it has no clear aims.

For example, the IRA acheived something, because we understood what they wanted. Whether we can or will give it to them. or what the terms should be is another matter, but if you understand that, then the opportunity for some type of settlement exists.

With 9/11, 7/7 etc, we are seeing a collection of individuals with a broad 'anti-western' agenda. But no clear demands or goals per se, just a lose collection of grievances. They kill, cause fear and disruption, but there is no clear goal.

So even if we wanted to negotiate, we can't. And they can't win in terms of firepower. So we reach an unhappy stalemate. They snipe, we defend and retaliate. But no one wins until we start talking.

I just find this massively frustrating - I have no time for terrorists, and fully condemn their actions. But if half the energy they expended on violence was spent promoting co-operation and harmony - that would be a beautiful thing

The only aim of terrorism is to cause terror. It has certainly done that. If a few people decide not to fly anymore, this event has worked as terror already.

I personally will not give in to terrorists by allowing them to alter my lifestyle.

Remember the movie "Amistad" and the accomodations on the slave ships? I am convinced that the airlines and the authorities will not be content until we are stripped, restrained and stored similarly whenever we have the misfortune of traveling by air. Oh, and they will still charge us several hundred dollars for the privilege. At least on Pentathol Airways one will have no memory of the event!

RP

I don't normally self reply, but this is too good to miss.

Apparently the flights aren't being allowed to load beverages, and the crews are being required to dump thier boxed meals. Someone is either really enjoying themselves or there is a security hole big enough to sneak a tank through.

Hmmm.......

The OBJECT of terrorism is not terror. The TOOL of terrorism is terror.

The object is the same as all warfare - the pursuit of political ends by other means.

By all means don't allow them to disrupt your daily life - I applaud these simple acts of defiance we can,and should, all perform.

But Al-Queada doesn't really care how many people fly, use spanish trains or dance in Balinese nightclubs. They care about people seeing their acts and driving our response towards, for example, western interests in the mid-east.

My strong preference is to drive (master of my own destiny and all that stuff). But, that would be three days there and three days back. Since I can only afford to take a week off, I would spend six days on the road for a one-day vacation. I also don't have a vehicle with less than 120,000 miles on it, and can't afford to rent much of anything. Plus, when you throw in hotels and meals for the trip, it gets expensive fast.

Anywhoo... Terrorists can never take away our freedom. The politicians are taking care of that for them.

Looks like we've REALLY learned our lesson and spent those countless billions (on no-bid contracts I'm sure) wisely. As I've stated and I'm sure many here already know, the TSA is there to LOOK like it's serving a purpose, but the only thing it does is cause endless grief.

They implemented techniques like the TSA to whitewash the nightmare of security that they should have been fixing. Now we see that we will be reduced to mindless numbers with no rights when we board a flight. I think it's time someone holds these folks accountable. Where are the X-Ray scanners for checked baggage and many other promised security improvements? This should be a non-issue at this point, certainly for an international hub like Heathrow. Security hole big enough to steer an oil tanker through I'd say.

Thanks for the tips on protecting laptops. I'm sure there is an upcoming flight in my near future and the information will come in handy. (That Pentathol Airways spoof was great!)

The more I see of this, the more I realize that the terrorists single aim is this: kill innocent people.

Sure, they want a one-world order and religion based on Muslim fanaticism, but I doubt they would stop killing at that point.

And I agree, TSA "security" is a joke. There are too many loopholes and possibilities. We need a tougher stance and more action against terrorism, IMO. The only way they are going to stop killing us is if we kill them first.

Okay, on to that second cup of coffee... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The objective of terrorism is to terrify - Lenin.
As a British Subject I am not a liberty to discuss the whys and where's of the operation. I will say, however, that most British Muslims, irrispective of their feeling about the war in Iraq or the Israeli/Hizbolla war, do not and never would countenance such acts of murder. Be thankfull for that.

So a lactating mother who is carrying around baggies of BREAST milk must drink her own lactations to prove it? Isn't that kind of.... weird?

What can we do? Not fly anymore? Pay through the nose on gas driving our cars? We're losing no matter what we do.

The WTC terrorists did way more damage than just the bldgs & lives. They couldn't have done a better job of costing us money & destroying our rights if they had tried.

Commercial Airline Announcements:
"Attention Passengers. For your safety, the Bill of Rights is not valid on airport property, or aboard any aircraft. All essential and valuable personal items must be in unlocked, checked baggage. Any item to be used for child pacification must be checked. Any item to be used to block out the sounds of an unpacified child also must be checked. Headsets will not be provided on the aircraft, as they can be used to choke flight crew. Plastic government issued ID cards can be used as weapons and must be surrendered to security staff. Your ID number, Airline, Flight Number, and Seat Assignment will be temporarily tatooed to your forehead. Any attempt to remove this is a 2nd degree federal felony. All passengers must be secured in a security 5-point harness with limb movement restricted. Airlines may restrict the use of lavoritories for safety concerns. Please, do no urinate or deficate in the isles. Please, drink plenty of water before departure, as no water is provided on any flight. Thank you for flying. Enjoy your flight"

ConAir Flight Annoucments
"Attention Passengers. You have been tried and convicted in a court of the United States of America. The Bill of Rights does not apply to you. You have no personal property, and any property found upon you is now a FELONY. All passengers must have handcuffs, and ankle cuffs on at all times. To relieve yourself, notify a crewmember and you will be released from your seat and escorted to the lavoritory. Failure to obey any flight crew member will result in isolation and severe bodily harm. Your prisoner number must be visible at all times. We do not have inflight beverage service. Thank you for flying ConAir. Enjoy your flight"

Food & water purchased between the security checkpoint & the gate should be allowed. Not allowing this is ridiculous. Airports should be required to have such stuff for sale in the secure area.

Due to the realization that there are in infinite number of ways to harm people on board an airliner and that there is at least a 50/50 chance that terrorists are more creative in thinking of these ways than the rule-makers are, the following are the new rules for airline travelers:

We have made no attempt to control who or what is on board your flight.

Be aware that the goal of one or more of your fellow passengers may be to kill as many innocent people as possible with no regard for his own life.

Checked baggage is not permitted – We suggest you use UPS or FedEx next-day delivery to your destination for items that are too large to be carried on. You’ll notice that cost of the saved labor, fuel and equipment has been deducted from your fare. Plus the odds of it getting “lost” is are much lower and no one will rummage through it.

You are responsible for your own safety. We encourage you to arm yourself with any weapon(s) you feel qualified to use effectively. Be aware that persons with ill intent may be similarly armed (but hopefully outnumbered). Also be aware that such persons may choose less selective and more destructive weapons than those acting with good will.

We suggest that you remain vigilant to anyone or anything that may pose a threat to your safety and take appropriate action.

Just as when not on an airliner, you are accountable for your own actions and may be prosecuted under US law for crimes such as intentionally harming an innocent person or recklessly endangering the lives of others.

Finally, please walk briskly through the inoperative metal detectors in the now-defunct security checkpoints so as not to hold up the passengers behind you. No rubbernecking, please. Do not place any carry-on items, shoes, belts or contents of your pockets on the x-ray machine’s conveyor belt.

You may not be significantly more or less safe than before, but we hope you will find that the majority of passengers can now get safely and quickly to their destination with a minimum of hassle.

P.S. We really don’t care if you *feel* safe or not.

Have you all been reading the articles? The overwhelming response from the populace is one of complacency: "Well, what else can we do?", "It's better to FEEL safe", "I think it's ridiculous, but I'll do it anyway." They have no choice, since no one knew that this was going to happen today. My husband is one of thousands being caught up in this right now. The airlines should be giving people full ticket refunds; my husband has the right to take his business elsewhere without being penalized.

They're not realizing that this is going beyond mere "inconvenience." It's that type of attitude of letting things just happent to you is why we will continue to be at the whim of others. I wish more people would be inclined to stand up and say, NO, I'm NOT going to let this happen. Perhaps that kind of attitude would have made more of a difference on 9/11.

Instead of that, they're beefing up gate security to ensure that after you dump your water bottle at the metal detector, you don't buy another one to carry aboard. I'm not afraid of being in an airliner crash -- I'll play those odds, but I won't deal with what the BS TSA puts the passengers through to keep them "safe".

Like I said earlier, before 9/11 I flew as a routine. Post 9/11 I've flown twice, both on official business, no option. On personal business I drive. If I needed to visit the opposite coast, I'd drive.

The ongoing kneejerk response is crazy. As I understand it, you can't buy a bottle of water in a clear container (Arrowhead for me, Zephyrhills and others for guys back east). That's over the top.

I have to fly in a week or two. I was wondering, is wearing the Bright Orange Convict Jumpsuit they sell as a holloween outfit "over the top"? I'd find it real funny when they confiscate the plastic handcuffs.

Not over the top at all. You'd just be dressing for the part the TSA wants you to play.

posted by thseng:
"We have made no attempt to control who or what is on board your flight.

Be aware that the goal of one or more of your fellow passengers may be to kill as many innocent people as possible with no regard for his own life.

Checked baggage is not permitted ? We suggest you use UPS or FedEx next-day delivery to your destination for items that are too large to be carried on. You?ll notice that cost of the saved labor, fuel and equipment has been deducted from your fare. Plus the odds of it getting ?lost? is are much lower and no one will rummage through it.

You are responsible for your own safety. We encourage you to arm yourself with any weapon(s) you feel qualified to use effectively. Be aware that persons with ill intent may be similarly armed (but hopefully outnumbered). Also be aware that such persons may choose less selective and more destructive weapons than those acting with good will.

We suggest that you remain vigilant to anyone or anything that may pose a threat to your safety and take appropriate action.

Just as when not on an airliner, you are accountable for your own actions and may be prosecuted under US law for crimes such as intentionally harming an innocent person or recklessly endangering the lives of others.

Finally, please walk briskly through the inoperative metal detectors in the now-defunct security checkpoints so as not to hold up the passengers behind you. No rubbernecking, please. Do not place any carry-on items, shoes, belts or contents of your pockets on the x-ray machine?s conveyor belt.

You may not be significantly more or less safe than before, but we hope you will find that the majority of passengers can now get safely and quickly to their destination with a minimum of hassle.

P.S. We really don?t care if you *feel* safe or not.


- Tom S. "


<img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> that hilarious! thats the airline i'm using from now on for sure!!

Brain flash:

Step 1: Make each airline responsible for security on its own flights. Each airline must operate its own security checkpoint with its own personnel. Let them make their own rules.

Step 2: Make airline tickets fully refundable right up to the time that you board the plane. If you don't like the "service" at security, you have a chance to take your money elsewhere.

Ok, so it would require a seperate terminal for each airline, but who's idea is perfect?

I can imagine the marketing angles on this one...

"Fly SS Air - We make you feel soooooo safe. (You never actually get *through* security)"

"Fly Packin' Air - The terrorists may be armed but so are you! Special this month only: Sharp pointy knives served with the in-flight prime rib."

The reason they are not allowing food and water purchased between security and the plane to be taken on the plane is that the belief was that the "secure" area had been compromised, and that was actually where the bad guys were getting the explosive components.

Where did you get that idea? The truth is not something that they are suppose to share with the infidel. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

"In Islam it's OK to lie and deceive Kafirs (infidels) because Islam is in a permanent state of war with all non-Muslims and deception is a legitimate tactic. The word or promise of a Muslim to a Kafir counts for nothing in the eyes of Allah."

I feel so safe.

CNN now says they were planning to use a sports drink mixed with some chemical and possibly detonating it with a cell phone or MP3 player.

This tells us one thing: They are ingenious as the rest of us humans on this planet, and anyone with a brain and some education could probably do the same thing. They will use any combination of "allowed" items to complete their objective. The only way to prevent them from doing anything to aircraft is to make it a completely sterile environment. TSA approved flight wear, everything in checked baggage, bread and water only. Books would have to be banned because they "could" be used as a weapon. Expanding the inflight "entertainment" could make it somewhat bearable. God forbid I'd have to have a chat with the stranger in the seat next to me.

Where do I get that idea? Dead simple mate. If they did have the support of most British Muslims, the first that any of us would have known about it is when the Airlines blew up. And I would not be posting on this forum because I would be fighting a civil war against them. The B.M. don't want to get involved because they know a) what will happen if the fundermentalists get a foot hold in this country and b) that the Sikh's (who detest the Muslims with a passion.) will cut loose. Those laddies take their allegance to the Crown very seriously - As do I.

OK folks, it's been one hell of a long day, the boss got me out of bed at 3 this morning, and we've been at it all day up until about an hour ago.
Without getting into a bunch of stuff I can't talk about, which is MUCHO! I'll try to sort out a thing or two.
1. The items in question were normal items you might travel with, just not much reason to have in your carry-on.
2. Yes, TSA(Thousands Searching Aimlessly) is having a serious knee-jerk right now. The powers that be don't want to listen to those of us that know about these things. That being said, we ARE wearing them down, now that their panic attack is beginning to subside, and I believe that you should see some more finite instructions as to what can and cannot fly with in the next couple of days.
3. The dropping of inflight beverages and meals (if it happened) is localized and temporary at the most. They better get that stuff back on, I'm flying soon too!
Gimme my nuts! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
4. As for the tasting of formula, do you have a better short term solution? We did, and got Ph sampling kit's out to as many security points as we could. Most formula's are going to stay around the neutral side, explosives normally will go higher or lower, depending on the type.

Sorry if anyone here feels that their rights are being trampled upon by the big bad government. I'm not with TSA or even DHS, but I do help advise them in technical matters. One thing we are trying to do is save lives, if you don't like what we're doing, I'll bet there is a suggestion box somewhere near the screening point, come up with a better idea, that is doable, and we'll take it into consideration.

(initiate soapbox mode)
Folks, I'm sorry, but I get a little P.O.'d when people want to be safe, but they don't want to be inconvenienced! I've been chasing these B!@#$%^s for fifteen years now, since long before "IED" and "terrorist cell" were used by the everyday American citizen. The liberal news media, Western Governments and yes, the America people ignored the problem when we tried to tell you. We've fought this war in the shadows far away from the suburbs and white picket fences since '72, and terrorism was just something that happened in other places and couldn't happen here!
Well guess what? It's here America, wake up and smell the TNT!
I agree that the only rules here are the only rules in a point blank gunfight! Kill them before they kill us! But I don't make policy, I just enforce it. If I did, the world would have a few hundred million less people on it. Maybe a good idea that I don't
(deactivate soapbox mode)
Sorry Martin, I just soapboxed all over your post. Nothing personal everybody. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

A buddy of mine just took over training their worthless assed screeners in proper techniques last week. Let me tell you, he's in a ugly spot right now, he had to fly to DC this morning. Nobody would listen to what he had to say last week, this week seems to be a different story.

I agree with a bunch of you, I would prefer to fly armed as well (I do when I'm on the job). But think about all the dorks and gangbangers out there that couldn't hit the broadside of a barn from the inside with a pistol they have never fired...

Now make them very nervous, and put them on your plane!
<img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Personally, I put down about 200-300rds a week with my SIG, and I'll tell you, I'd feel pretty hesitant to take a shot on a crowded plane, how about the rest of you?

Folk's, this was to be a big hit, and the country is growing more and more complascent by the day. In my line of work, complacency kills!

Sorry if I stepped on any toes, I didn't mean to, but like I said, It's been a long day.

Mike

When they start turning in their radical/violent members and denounce violence I might start taking anything they say as more than B.S..

there are certainly more people in the know than me, but it has occurred to me that this was probably a diversion. It may have been a legitimate terrorist plan, but these guys generally don't get caught unless they want to get caught. Everyone is now tied up looking at airports and searching passengers. What else is going on now that is receiving little or no attention now that the world's attention has been diverted to this 'plot?' The terror masters have said all along that they want the next attack to eclipse 9-11 in a big way. I think with all these so-called experts and politicians patting themselves on the back for stopping what they think is "THE BIG ONE" may be very surprised when the nukes start going off. I think we should be very concerned what with chasing missing Egyptian students and other assorted little fish, we may be missing the real target.

I imagine the next step is to restrict the usage of the in-flight lavatories. Soon the aircrew will have to give you a pat-down before you can go and they'll pop open the door if you're in there for more than 180 seconds.

Well said! I suppose that means no Casio digital watches, or any quartz watch, as they are elecronic and have a battery in them too.
The problem is really that a simple few have cost us many dollars and many freedoms. They need not be forgiven, they need a simple solution which I shall leave to your imaginations.
I won't fly anywhere any more. It is just not worth the hassle.
When I first started flying all you needed was a ticket, no ID, no searches and it was something you dressed up for and felt like royalty and were treated like royalty. It is now like a trip on a Mexican rural bus, only thing missing are the chickens. Heck, even a Mexican bus is less hassle!
I will never, ever sacrifice my 1961 model P-38 for any air trip, anywhere!! Cheers!

I can see the future of airline travel. You ship ALL your luggage separately on a cargo plane. At the airport, you strip & you package up your clothes for shipment back to your home. While nude, pass through security for x-rays & a cavity search, then you put on new disposable coveralls & sandals. After boarding the plane, everyone will be handcuffed to their seat. If you must make a head call, you will be escorted to the can & observed while using it. At your destination, you will be released & must immediatly leave the airport. Only people flying will be allowed into the airport. You have to apply at least 6 months before flying for a permit to fly. This will involve all the checks for a security clearance. Your travel docs will be encoded into a RFID chip in advance & will be implanted under your skin. The handcuffs prevent martial arts type moves being put on other passengers. What good are unbreakable cockpit doors if the hijackers say "Open up or we will strangle one passenger with a shoelace every ten minutes until you do"?

If you read the Koran (actually, you should), you get to find out that Allah really doesn't like people who kill in cold blood.

So maybe these guys are the Muslim answer to the Satanism.

It's a protection racket, basically. You turn in your village turd, you get your throat cut.

BTW, I'd love to know where you got that quote. I don't recall it in either of my translations of the Koran.

As I said, terrorism works. It doesn't matter if an attack is successful, only that it was tried, becuase it scares the intended people.

It scares the people, who ask the politicians to protect them from "those people" over there.

It scares the politicians, who are afraid someone will blame them for not doing enough. So they get more oppressive, and without an invasion, you can only really opress your own people.

The government presses down on everyone, making everyone's life harder, but it presses down just a little more on "those people".

"Those people", who happen to be our neighbors, our coworkers, our classmates, and up until a few weeks ago, our friends, start to resent being singled out just becuase their parents came from the country that the real turds live in.

"Those people"'s children take that resentment and turn it into something ugly. While at the same time, the turds can turn to thier supporters and say "we are the good guys- look at what they do to us".

And if the government decides to opress someone else, and invades another country were the turds are a minority (not turd supporters, but the real deal- if supporting turds was a crime, half the cops and feds in Chicago and Boston in the 70s and 80s should be hung for supporting the IRA via NORAID). And in the process, you make more turd supporters, some of whom get angry enough to turn into turds themselves.

And so forth and so on.

Mal, I havent' checked the news for about 12 hours- did you get that off one of the "news" services, or are you going off my post? That assessment was from the gut- technically from the ulcer. It always says "hiya" when someone screws up a doesn't do thier ************ job.

Hey, Mike, let me say thank you. I'm glad to know that there is at least ONE person with a brain advising the bueracracy.

Although I have to admit, I rather like the "you pack it, you sip it" policy- it would save a lot of time on trials.

Huh... sounds like "ConAir"

I think that was the most comprehensive posting I've seen on the subject. I wanted to point out that my posts seem really against things, but I do believe that the government MUST protect us from explosives. That is the only thing a passenger cannot defend against. Everything else should be in our court, but there are alot of crazy and untrained people in the world that think they know what they are doing. I don't have that training, and I'd feel real uneasy about trying to identify the "bad guy" in an evironment where everyone has a weapon.

I would just like to have all of my freedoms back. Unfortunately, in all democracies (I think...) the few bad apples have spoiled everything and there is a slow gradual eroding of rights. All in the name of "safety" or "national security". *sigh*

Once we're all flying naked, how long do you think it will take these extremist morons to take a cue from the drub smugglers and start swallowing balloons filled with things (like nitroglycerin). Then they'd just throw a tantrun in the plane's aisle, jumping up and down, and there you go. No carry-ons with liquids, no electronic mp3 players for detonators, but still ... BOOM!

I suppose the TSA would then start Tasering everyone to see if they could set them off.

That would have been a "cover" beverage. There are a number of things that could have been disolved in it, but it would NOT have been the sports drink itself. Mike or I could terrify everyone here listing things that go boom when mixed with eachother, or just need a little nudge.

Here's the funny thing to me- one of the "news" agencies is listing components. Not ratios, but trial and error would tell you want you need to know. And the even funnier thing is, if I remember my misspent teenage years properly, what they list needs more than just a little electrical shock to detonate.

The "pack and sip" rule on baby formula should be on everything. Mike, correct me if I'm wrong, but without mentioning specific components, every liquid explosive has a key component that is:
a) a strong oxidizer, acid or base,
b) a petrochem, or
c) a heavily nitrated compound, usually a hydrocarbon
and usually all three. Figure it's an hour between the drink and the boarding- long enough for your body to react to the chemicals in a negative manner. And anyone who seems more interested in his buddy's drink when he's coughing up blood should probably be called suspicious.

And the piece that just pisses me off is why did they snag half the turds in question and tell the media? They should have snagged them all, told the media if NEEDED and in that order. English law is much more relaxed about making people dissappear than US law is. Now the other half have gone to ground.

The zap from the taser probably wouldn't do it. And thanks for mentioning this scenario- I've been thinking it for ten years now, I just hate being the first one to mention things in public.

I've got enough to feel guilty for.

A small timer and power supply would fit in a condom, along with a small primary charge (the cap). It would be a little bigger than a nine volt, but people can swallow that. That would then trigger a sympathy boom from each of the 30 or so, two ounce packages of plastique in the same belly. Not hard to make, and not hard to train for. And two pounds of comp B, C4, semtex, what have you, will drop most anything.

Now, for the people who want to make a really big bang and be sure, I'm not sure if being huggy and snuggly would mean you were close enough to set eachother off. But this is a family show, so let's not take that thought too far. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Those missing students should get a year in jail, then be deported & never be allowed back in the US, ever.

Thanks for mentioning that. Although not all muslims will go along with that, it is true.

One must keep in mind that many western muslims are not "Religious Muslims" but "Cultural Muslims" and therefore do not know much of what the Koran says. However in the current time, the botom line is that the Koran (and the other books that they follow) teaches them to kill their enemies (anyone who does not follow the faith as they follow it, muslim or otherwise). Unfortunately, too large a portion of the eastern muslim population seem to follow that thinking. I don't seem to think that any fanatical muslim would consider the killing a westerner "cold blooded".

One must remember that Mohummed took up the sword and said convert or die to the rest of the world.

It is a very bad idea to have all your data on a usb flash drive or similar memory card. I have had them go down with no warning, unfortunately at the same time as my hard drive had a fit. I nearly lost all my data. Always keep any data that you cannot afford to lose in three different locations. For example, your hard drive, dvd and flash drive, or another computer.

Flash drives should only be used as a transfer medium where you have the original file elsewhere, do not use them as an archive.

That would be a almighty burp! <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I was wondering about that, I don't know alot about chemistry, but I couldn't think of anything that would be in a "sports drink" that would react with things. I do know a few chemical engineers, but I figure it's best not to discuss these things. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I was too wondering why I was reading the news and seeing something like "21 captured, possibly 50 involved"... uh...

Hopefully in the next week or two, things will die down, and some rationalization will appear. We can't protect ourselves 100%.

Mac, if you'd read his post, you'd understand he was talking about transport.

Bravo, bravo.

I couldn't agree with you more. I actually heard two separate experts this morning on the news radio that I listen to here around DC. Both agreed that screening is a waste of time and that our resources should be focused on the trackdown/eliminate part. "...no one was ever caught at the airport..." was the basic theme. So I must applaude the somewhat left of centrist radio station.

People are responsible for their own safety, period. Police, EMTs, firefighters, military etc... assist in this capacity, but it is up to the individual to make himself safe and secure. I fully support the previous occupations (voluntary or otherwise) and was part of the same, but they are too few and far between......oh yea, that would be a police state.

If you don't like the screening processes, then don't fly. I'm not. I'm late 30's and my parents and I didn't fly anywhere growing up, no one did. We planned accordingly. I think it is time that we Americans take a good look at what we now take for granted and change our perception/expectations accordingly.

Regards,
Bill

+1 You know, I think I could rent a horse and buggy. I could get across the country in a few months... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The news is kind of unclear, but is there still beverage service on domestic U.S. flights? I'd like to know if I should drink more water before I fly, since it could be 6+ hours on a 3 hour flight (delays and all, God forbid you fly into LaGuardia!).

Let's hope someone doesn't get really dehydrated and go beserk!

Oh, and if I remember right, when I flew in November of 2001, all of the security aspects they are putting back into place was done then. Including I believe banning of liquids past the checkpoints.

Here is where I get banned from the site? <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Macgyver,



That is also my understating. They are only following what the Koran is telling them to do.

I downloaded a Koran to my Palm and looked at it for awhile. There are passages about killing the infidel. There are nasty passages about making the infidel die slow painful deaths and cutting their heads off. People like Osama are not nuts they are religious zealots! They just want to bring peace to the world. Unfortunately their idea of peace it that all infidel are dead or enslaved. It is an old desert pirate religion! The game plan is: kill the males, rape the women, enslave the children and enjoy the booty! The leaders get first pick of the women and treasure.

As I said in my post, it's for those times where you want to travel very, very, very light. I consider USB drives to be disposable, like a ball point pen.

So is it true what the media says that approx. 60% of Muslims in the U.K. under the age of 24 would rather be living under Sharia law? Just curious.

Mike,

Thank you!!!

“We are not fighting so that you will offer us something. We are fighting to eliminate you.”
- Hussein Massawi, Islamic leader

-Blast

Depends which section of the media your talking about. Sharia Law has been demonised in the west because it's mostly practiced in country's that are Theocracies or Dictatorships that use Islam as a method of control. If practiced as presribed by the Koran, Sharia Law is scrupliously fair. It demands a very high moral standard from Muslims. It also has a strong element of retribution. It's biggest weakness is that it evolved in a tribal, desert environment. Many young Muslims consider British Law to be immoral and I have to say that that when it comes to people who murder for gain, rapist's, drug pusher's, peadophiles etc I tend to agree with them.
One other point, or rather two:
1) I am not a Muslim.
2) Anyone who tries to impose Sharia Law on me or mine will regret it.

sounds real cruel and nasty...

just dont allow anyone of muslim origin...to enter the US...

Deport all those who have no legal right to be here immediately...no questions/answers etc
Quickly/decisively!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ban all arab /easern flights into US for a week

I heard it on television (can't remember which channel, a <doh!> on my part). I found this article when googling the subject, but I tend to be skeptical of newspapers/media with the name "New York" in front of it. What do you think of it, Leigh? I'm just wanting to learn here. Ditto on anybody trying to enforce Sharia law around here. We don't have many camels to pay each other back in Tennessee, so that part wouldn't work here anyway, heh. (I think a locally fictitious guy nicknamed "Sgt. Humper" in the TN Natl. Guard's 278th Armored Cav. Regt.back from Iraq had one locally it was rumored)

http://www.nysun.com/article/35758

yeah. it does sound like con air. hahaha <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

If airline ban shampoo, toothpaste, what the hell are we suppose to clean ourselves at next destination. Are we suppose to buy those small disposal toothpaste and shampoo at hotel.

Airline travel is becoming much more expensive from this date.

It is just a ban on carry-on. You can still put this stuff in your checked suitcase. Not being able to carry shampoo does not bother me. If your bags get lost, the airlines will usually offer you an overnight kit consisting of shampoo, toothbrush, comb, etc.

What does bother me is not being able to carry more essential items: drinks, non-perscription skin lotions, lip balm, and other things that people may need due to various medical conditions.

Well, the entire "paranoia" mindset also bothers me too.

I just cancelled my plans to fly to a conference and take my family for a vacation. WIll probably take a week Hawaiian Islands cruise with them instead. The terrorists can make me blow off work, but not family time!

I just re-read my post and it was little strong and gave the wrong impression. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> sorry guys. It seems I got off on a rabbit trail somewhere. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I was just trying to get the idea across that if you put your essential data on a flash drive, it may not be there when you arrive and really need it. Thats all.

*HOWLS WITH MOCKING LAUGHTER*

You do realise that the majority of American muslims are black, right? And that about half of the folks of Arab/Persian/Turkish/Lebanese decent in this country are christian. You can't tell by looking, and there isn't enough polygraphs on the planet. All you'll do is get even more people on the warpath.

I give you the Golden Landmine Award, becuase you found the one way to screw the situation up more than it already is.

*hands picard a mason jar full of bed bugs* Don't worry, they eat the dirt. Trust me.