Advice Goddess Free Swim
Am I ever wiped out. I've been on Islam time -- twice this week having wake up at 4 am to get to the airport so they can make sure I'm not going to blow up the plane for Allah. This morning, around 5:30 am, I got body-scanned and felt up at the Vegas airport. The lady at the scanner who gave me the boob grab explained, "We couldn't get a clear image" (of my boobs, she meant). Yeah, it's called underwire, lady.
Anyway, please throw out some topics below. I have stuff to blog, but I'm supposed to be taping a radio show a minute ago (waiting for them to call my hotel in Berkeley, where I just arrived for a newspaper conference).
The nest time, just give the TSA lady a good flash & get it over with (preferably while Gregg is nearby with a handy camera).
Martin at January 29, 2010 12:07 PM
You know, the last few air travel posts (along with comments) on this blog managed to scare the hell out of me as I had some business travel coming up. I flew out to the West Coast Sunday morning, and returned last night. To me, security was no different than it's been for the past eight years or so -- still had to take my shoes and belt off, still had to take my computer out of its bag, but noticed nothing unusual beyond that. Maybe it was because our flights avoided the really busy times at the airports.
Or maybe it was because I'm one of the most nondescript people alive while Ms. Alkon tends to attract the eye a little more!
old rpm daddy at January 29, 2010 12:14 PM
Theology - if god is perfect and we are created in 'his' image, then what is with all the genetic mistakes?
lujlp at January 29, 2010 12:20 PM
"Most travellers say obese passengers should pay more"
http://tiny.cc/JgmFD
lsomber at January 29, 2010 12:59 PM
Well, Adam was. All that inbreeding though....
brian at January 29, 2010 1:09 PM
RIP Howard Zinn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg
Eric at January 29, 2010 2:00 PM
In that vein eric,
RIP J.D. Salinger.
E. Steven Berkimer at January 29, 2010 2:09 PM
It's really unfortunate I don't have a fetish for women in Security uniforms... going to the airport could be a lot of fun!!!
I would like to advise you all to avoid Heathrow. My Christmas trip was via Heathrow. We flew to Heathrow, and found our flight to Basel was cancelled. We were rebooked to Zurich. My bags followed four days later. Then, on our way to Vienna, the Basel/Heathrow flight was cancelled. We went on a later flight. Then on our way home, our flight out of Vienna was delayed and we missed our connection.
They blamed the weather. The weather was NOT that bad. The first time there was like half an inch of snow on the ground and none in the air. The second there were clouds. The third there was fog... totally unexpected in London, of course, they can't be expected to know how to handle fog. It was absolutely absurd.
Next time we will transfer in Paris, or some other nearby hub, so that if worse comes to worse we can take the train.
Oh well. Other than the flying the trip was awesome!
Also, I now know Heathrow very well. I recommend that weird jungle cafe with the giraffe. Also the clotted cream toffees from Harrods... though they are not low carb. Or low cal. Or low fat. No matter what diet you are on they are no good for you.
NicoleK at January 29, 2010 2:23 PM
"To me, security was no different than it's been for the past eight years or so -- still had to take my shoes and belt off, still had to take my computer out of its bag, but noticed nothing unusual beyond that."
And so, you are used to stripping to prove your innocence - that's not unusual? You have little or no problem with people presuming you guilty?
"They blamed the weather. The weather was NOT that bad."
Beg your pardon, NK, but passengers don't really have the means to determine such a thing. Amy routinely links to Patrick Smith's Salon.com columns, which explain how this works: no commercial aircraft is allowed to leave an airport without a place to land, plus alternates. And yes, airlines, rather than engage you in a long-winded explanation of this, will simply say "weather" to stop the arguments.
Radwaste at January 29, 2010 3:13 PM
Pastor Tim explains the Haiti earthquake:
"In the past, Tim and Alecia O'Byrne had thought other disasters would prove a vessel to carry their children home. None had done so yet. But Tim, thinking about the Book of James, said of the earthquake, 'There are no accidents.'"
In other words, thousands died to facilitate the adoption process. It's great the kids survived and are going to a better(?) home, but still . . .
See article http://capitaljournal.cjonline.com/news/local/2010-01-23/haitian_orphans_brought_to_kansas
Nanc in Ashland at January 29, 2010 3:40 PM
nest time, just give the TSA lady a good flash & get it over with (preferably while Gregg is nearby with a handy camera).
I think they arrest you for flashing them. I would've, otherwise.
And they said the scanner was "radio waves" -- don't know whether there's a risk in that, but the process doesn't really allow for any sort of asking of questions.
Oh, and let's all remember why we're so inconvenienced and info-raped at the airport. And it isn't because people are Quakers. And no, as the line goes, not all Muslims are suicide bombers, but almost all suicide bombers are Muslim. Islam is a death cult, totalitarianism masquerading as religion, and calls for the death or conversion of the "infidel" (all who don't believe in Allah), and so-called "moderate Muslims" aren't exactly marching in the street against the barbarians. Of course, that may have something to do with the fact that they like to live rather than die. Note that plenty of people insult Jews and Christians and maybe get a snarl in reponse, but former Muslims who criticize Islam have to go into hiding lest they get beheaded, etc.
Amy Alkon at January 29, 2010 4:11 PM
Hey Amy, I got the full body screen too In Vegas but no boob grab...the advantage of wearing a juicy suit and underwire (that's really plastic). The guy in front of me was worried he'd look small (and the screener would giggle) because the airport was cold. :-)
Catherine at January 29, 2010 6:59 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2010/01/29/advice_goddess_5.html#comment-1691964">comment from CatherineWas it the blonde woman?
Amy Alkon at January 29, 2010 9:58 PM
Last time I was in Vegas, the women wanted $40 dollars to feel me up.
The Former Banker at January 29, 2010 10:27 PM
And now for your reading pleasure, the Web proudly presents "Teen Boy Puts Sister's Hook-up Goals On Facebook":
http://www.sojones.com/news/1636-facebook-revenge-brother-vs-sister/
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at January 29, 2010 10:29 PM
On the frivolous side of things today, courtesy of the good women at GoFugYourself...
Here's one of those things I never thought I would have to specify, like, "Don't date a man whose mother still cuts his toenails for him," or, "Don't let the paparazzi snap pictures of you without your knickers": If you're getting a tattoo, MAKE SURE IT'S SPELLED CORRECTLY. (Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/28/misspelled-tattoos-perman_n_439993.html?&just_reloaded=1
And I get angry when people don't spellcheck emails.
Though I think suing for emotional damage may be a touch "exreme," I can say I would be royally pissed off if I had a misspelled tattoo...although human spellcheck should come into play.
And I contend that the "I'm Awsome" guy deserved it.
NumberSix at January 29, 2010 11:05 PM
I know this one is a bit old, but I immediately thought of Amy when I read it. I like a good romantic comedy, but these kinds of movies make me want to set my hair on fire (see also: Bride Wars...not that I did, or will ever, except possibly if someone wishes to extract state secrets).
http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/01/09/leap-year-what-hollywood-gets-wrong-about-women-and-marriage/
NumberSix at January 29, 2010 11:14 PM
Sorry for all the posts, but I don't want to post more than one link per comment. Anyway, also a couple of days old, but- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35117174/ns/politics-white_house
Many things to discuss in this story, many sides to consider, but I think it's bad form to openly disagree like that during the State of the Union. It lessens his credibility to react so emotionally. He should have waited until after and made a careful, considered statement about his disagreement with the president. Anyway, any thoughts on Alito, campaign spending, the Supreme Court, etc.?
NumberSix at January 29, 2010 11:25 PM
On the subject of suicide bombers, Mohammed should perhaps have been more specific:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOfp0LHtpV0
NumberSix at January 29, 2010 11:58 PM
@Radwaste: "And so, you are used to stripping to prove your innocence - that's not unusual? You have little or no problem with people presuming you guilty?"
I didn't say it was good, Raddy. I just said it wasn't worse. Airline security has always sucked. The last eight years or so since 9/11 sucked more. I was prepared for a whole new level of suck on this flight, but was a little relieved not to see it. That doesn't mean I was happy with it to begin with.
old rpm daddy at January 30, 2010 8:08 AM
Even the MSM agrees that the President's criticism was factually inaccurate, and hypocritically overlooked the fact that in the previous election he himself received campaign contributions from foreigners.
You seem to be interpreting "in his image" to mean "exactly equal to", which is not an interpretation that Christians use. I interpret "in his image" to mean "sentient".
Pseudonym at January 30, 2010 9:11 AM
I am not a number, I am a free man! Loved that show.
Anyway, re: the President's chastising of the Supremes during the SOTU, yeah, wrong forum, absolutely.
After the pre-planned "You lie!" outburst I thought he'd take this golden opportunity to double down on the Yes Some Of Us Know How To Behave Like Statesmen hand and improve his standing in the public eye.
He could've hammered the Court's decision (and it's a bad one) in a separate statement and enjoyed better press.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at January 30, 2010 10:56 AM
Unfortunately, Obama's a drooling idiot, and therefore incapable of comprehending that simple fact.
brian at January 30, 2010 11:06 AM
As I said on another thread it is always a bad idea to piss off a judge, and Obama pissed off 9 of them, you can bet on it.
irlandes at January 30, 2010 11:24 AM
Actually, I was referring to Alito's bad form, but the president did not handle it gracefully, either. I have often wondered why politicians want to lower their credibility by acting like grade schoolers fighting in class.
NumberSix at January 30, 2010 2:51 PM
Because it's not an act. Everybody more mature than that is working in the Real World.
brian at January 30, 2010 6:20 PM
"Because it's not an act."
That's the scariest thing, ever.
That, and the clown from Stephen King's "It". *shudder*
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at January 31, 2010 5:03 PM
Agree with you there. I can't walk across storm drains anymore.
NumberSix at January 31, 2010 7:41 PM
I don't know if anyone's still reading this, but for all the Muppet and/or Queen lovers out there:
http://www.greatwhitesnark.com/2009/11/24/spectacular-the-muppets-cover-queens-bohemian-rhapsody/
Best. Thing. Ever.
NumberSix at February 2, 2010 12:17 AM
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