But, it’s not perfect. It depends on maps that humans created. Humans that may have never even heard of the place you are traveling to, much less visited there to verify the map’s veracity. So, I’m expected to use some common sense.  When the little unit tells me to turn right on a street that’s one-way to the left, I ignore the GPS.  Of course, I am rewarded with a disgusted “re-calculating”, but I don’t run the risk of hitting someone head on, either. I’ve never had an incident where mine told me to turn onto railroad tracks, but it has been known to happen.

The latest case of an Oklahoma woman who blindly followed the instruction to turn left resulted in near tragedy. She didn’t look to make sure there was actually a road there before turning. It was railroad tracks and she got stuck in the gravel.  Fortunately for her, she was able to get out of the car before the train it it, but now she is reportedly suing the rental car company because she followed the advice of a machine and, apparently, not her own common sense, leading to the train striking her car. Suing someone else for her own negligence.

I think most people understand that when a  GPS says to turn, you should look at where it is telling you to turn to see if there is actually a road there and not a cattle trail. I’ve never heard of anyone suing a map company for their own inability to read a map, or determine that there is not actually a road where the map says there is. When it comes down to it, a GPS is really just an automatic map. And, as I said before, it relies on maps created by fallible humans.

So, please, do not switch off your common sense when you switch on your GPS.  It is merely a tool, not a master whose bidding you must do unquestioningly.

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If you ever get a chance to visit Nassau, you will not be disappointed.

Find out what and how to pack for your destinations. Find out where the hidden costs of cruising are and how to avoid them to stay within your budget and actually return home with money in your pocket. Find out how to save money on shore excursions and still see all the sights you want. Find out which cabins offer the smoothest ride and how to upgrade for little or no additional cost.

On-board credits: what they are, and how to get them. It’s all here.

Cruise Tips & Insider Secrets is a must-have for everyone who loves cruising, even if you consider yourself a seasoned veteran.

The current low price of only $17.00 and a money-back guarantee makes this offer a real no-brainer.

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It seems that in 1982, The US Border Patrol decided to set up a checkpoint on the only highway that leads to Key West to check for drugs and illegal immigrants.  This turned a three hour trip into a 24-hour trip, effectively isolating Key West from the rest of the US.

This, understandably irritated people who live and work in Key West as it tended to stifle their tourism industry, among other things.  The officials of Key West repeatedly petitioned the government to do away with this checkpoint to no avail.  Attempts at an injunction in federal court also failed.

Finally, on April 23, 1982, as a form of protest, the city council declared their “independence”.  Since, in their eyes, the federal government, by setting up what they considered a border station, was treating them like a foreign nation, they might as well become one.  Their nation became known as the Conch Republic.

Mayor Dennis Wardlow was proclaimed Prime Minister of the Conch Republic and immediately declared war on the United States by breaking stale Cuban bread over the head of a man dressed in naval uniform.  After the war raged on for a total of a minute, the Conch Republic surrendered to the same man in the Naval Uniform.  Of course, now as a conquered nation, they did what all conquered nations do – applied for foreign aid.  I heard they asked for anywhere from 50 million to a billion dollars, but it doesn’t matter because they didn’t get it.

Of course, there was no secession, no war and no foreign aid, but there was plenty of publicity and the border patrol removed the checkpoint soon after.

Their motto: “We seceded where others failed.”

Find out what and how to pack for your destinations. Find out where the hidden costs of cruising are and how to avoid them to stay within your budget and actually return home with money in your pocket. Find out how to save money on shore excursions and still see all the sights you want. Find out which cabins offer the smoothest ride and how to upgrade for little or no additional cost.

On-board credits: what they are, and how to get them. It’s all here.

Cruise Tips & Insider Secrets is a must-have for everyone who loves cruising, even if you consider yourself a seasoned veteran.

The current low price of only $17.00 and a money-back guarantee makes this offer a real no-brainer.

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I gave a huge hint when I published the poem Christmas Cruise, but of course, I didn’t exactly yell to the world if and when we would be taking such a cruise.  Well, the cruise is over and we’re back home so I will be publishing some photos and stories of our fantastic Christmas cruise to the Caribbean.

First stop – Key West, Florida.

Click on a photo for larger image.

This is just the first installment on this.  I will be posting more photos and some things we learned while in Key West.  Then, it will be on to the Bahamas.  Be sure to check back for more.

Find out what and how to pack for your destinations. Find out where the hidden costs of cruising are and how to avoid them to stay within your budget and actually return home with money in your pocket. Find out how to save money on shore excursions and still see all the sights you want. Find out which cabins offer the smoothest ride and how to upgrade for little or no additional cost.

On-board credits: what they are, and how to get them. It’s all here.

Cruise Tips & Insider Secrets is a must-have for everyone who loves cruising, even if you consider yourself a seasoned veteran.

The current low price of only $17.00 and a money-back guarantee makes this offer a real no-brainer.

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So, from Iowahawk, here it is: The Airport Security Love Song – Comply with Me.  Hilarious!

UPDATE: I found this video on YouTube where someone put it to music! Ha!

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We Americans love our freedoms.  We are free to travel between state borders with no papers, proof of citizenship, or permission.  And we like it that way!  It should be no different if we are walking, driving, riding a bus, or … flying.  Problem is, though, if a person is walking or driving and decides to blow him or herself up, they are likely to be the only casualty.  If a person blows him or herself up on a bus or a plane, many more people will die.  So, where does security trump freedom and to what extent should it do so?

I’m not a fan of the TSA’s practices, but I do realize they are in a bad position.  They are tasked with keeping the flying public safe.  If someone gets onto a plane with weapons, then everyone is asking why the TSA allowed those weapons on board.  It happened, tragically, on 9-11-2001, and that is exactly one of the questions we asked.  And exactly why airport security has changed so drastically.

Click for larger image

We are all growing weary over the ever-increasingly invasive screening procedures we are asked to endure in order to go see Aunt Millie for Christmas.  There is even a grassroots effort – wewontfly.com – asking people to either not fly on November 24 (the day before Thanksgiving and one of the most heavily traveled days of the year) or opt out of the full-body scanner.  This will subject the passenger to a pat-down (grope-down) screening and slow the security process.  They are hoping to convince the TSA to remove the scanners.

But, in the wake of the shoe bomber, the underwear bomber, and potentially the buttock-implant bomber, the TSA is trying to find ways to detect these threats.  One way is to use full-body scanners.  Since the flying public have the option to opt-out of this screening, there must be a different way to detect these threats, so now they are subjected to aggressive pat-downs.  However, the rules have changed and they are now using their palms instead of the back side of their hands to pat down – hence the term grope-down.

When you are being ‘patted down’ with the front of the hand, this allows unscrupulous screeners to cop a feel if they want and get away with it.  It would be easy to convince a supervisor or even a jury that you did not grope, but only that it was the passenger’s perception.  So, when they are checking a woman’s chest area for boobie-bombs and decide to do a squeeze test (to make sure there are no explosives, of course), there is little recourse.  However, if a police officer did the same thing, he or she would be subjected to all kinds of civil and legal liabilities.

However, if a passenger refuses the full-body scan and an agent does not do a good job of patting down and misses a weapon and a plane blows up or is hijacked, then people will scream about how ineffective the TSA is in detecting threats.  Their security procedures are constantly being tested and constantly found faulty.  Several tests have revealed contraband that was successfully taken through a security checkpoint.  Every time this happens, the TSA tightens their search, robbing us even more of our freedom to fly.

On the other hand, abuses of authority should not be tolerated.  Ever.  By anyone.  If any TSA agent performs his or her duty in a way that is not completely professional, they should be taken to task for it and face civil and/or criminal penalties.  The 4th Amendment should not be taken lightly and we are seeing it chipped away piece by piece, especially when we fly.  So, the balance has to be there with real consequences for those who take advantage of their position to abuse travelers.

So, where do we draw the line?  We can’t tell the TSA to protect us from every threat then scream when they want to nude-o-scope us.  We can’t tell them to back off a bit, then scream that they missed something that would not be caught on a normal, non-invasive screening.  I guess, we could fly naked, as I suggested in a previous article.

While I do not agree with open-handed pat-downs, or full-body scanners that show such detail, I do agree we need to stop every threat possible.  As we get more sophisticated in our screening, those who want to sneak contraband around security are also becoming more sophisticated, like a deadly cat-and-mouse.

So, America, what do we do?  Where is the line drawn?  What can we do?  As a people, we do have the right, nay the responsibility, to help shape the policies of every government agency, including the TSA.  But, when we do, and we get what we want, don’t scream about the results.  The TSA is in a damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-don’t situation.

Ben Franklin said it best, “Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.”

Will the current TSA practices stop you from flying?  Will you opt-out of the full body scan if selected?  Are you comfortable with the grope-down?  Please respond in comments.

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If you listened to the media, it was the ‘cruise from hell’ or ‘nightmare cruise’ or whatever the hell else they come up with.  However, when they finally got to actually talk to the passengers, they were told a different story.  No matter how hard the reporters tried to bait the passengers to say how horrible Carnival is, they wouldn’t say it.

No, the stories that came out told of a crew that went way above and beyond to make a potentially horrible situation much less horrible.  Yes, I’m sure it was very disagreeable, especially when the toilets weren’t working.  But, what the crew did to take care of their guests was phenomenal.

What happened aboard Carnival Splendor could not be predicted.  It could have happened on any of the cruises I have taken, or will take.  That does not dissuade me from going on another cruise.  If, on my next cruise, something similar does happen, it will be inconvenient to be sure.  I will certainly be upset about it and perhaps a bit grumpy.  But, as long as we were safe, I would get through it and do so with the best possible attitude I could muster.

The cruise line also, in my opinion, went above and beyond.  All charges guests had made to their shipboard accounts were forgiven, no matter what they purchased.  the bar service offered all drinks, soft and hard, at no charge to the guests.  Guests were given the portraits taken at no charge.  Transportation costs were refunded whether or not they were booked through Carnival.  Hotel costs were covered for guests staying overnight.  Guests were given a full refund for this cruise and a voucher for the full amount they paid on this cruise toward a future cruise.

I’ve heard that Carnival has made several more concessions, but I haven’t been able to verify those.  But, I have no doubt they did.

Now, I realize that Carnival was trying to make unhappy customers happy so they would cruise again and continue to cruise.  Most cruise ship customers are repeat business and they will do well to keep these customers.  But, that’s what good customer service is all about – keeping current customers while winning more.  That’s how you stay in business.  That’s great customer service.

No, I wasn’t there and I’m very happy I wasn’t.  It was an uncomfortable and inconvenient situation I can’t really imagine.  However, from what I’ve read from passengers and the cruise line, they did their best to take a bad situation and make it less bad.

I’ve cruised on Carnival before and my next cruise will be on a Carnival ship.  I know I will be very well taken care of.

Read Smoke on the Water – John Heald’s blog account.  John Heald is the Cruise Director aboard Carnival Splendor on this cruise.  His account is not only vastly entertaining, but very informative as well.

Find out what and how to pack for your destinations. Find out where the hidden costs of cruising are and how to avoid them to stay within your budget and actually return home with money in your pocket. Find out how to save money on shore excursions and still see all the sights you want. Find out which cabins offer the smoothest ride and how to upgrade for little or no additional cost.

On-board credits: what they are, and how to get them. It’s all here.

Cruise Tips & Insider Secrets is a must-have for everyone who loves cruising, even if you consider yourself a seasoned veteran.

The current low price of only $17.00 and a money-back guarantee makes this offer a real no-brainer.

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I got to thinking what it would be like to take a cruise at Christmas time and I came up with this poem in the style of “Jingle Bells”.

Christmas Cruise

The day has fin'ly come
We are leaving for our cruise
A week of fun and sun
No time left to snooze.
Driving to the coast
To board a great big boat
Now, we don't mean to laugh and boast,
But, we won't need a coat.

Oh, Christmas cruise, Christmas cruise
A week-long get away.
Here it will be wet and cold,
But we'll be warm as May.

Crashing through the sea
The ship has left the pier.
It's only you and me
And lots of Christmas cheer.
The first stop is Key West
It's sunny and it's warm.
We want to start on a new quest
So we jump in the swarm.

Oh, Christmas cruise, Christmas cruise
A week-long get away.
Here it will be wet and cold,
But we'll be warm as May.

It's on to Bahamas
Where we will stay two days.
Here there's no life dramas
Just lots and lots of rays.
The sun is pounding down,
To the ocean we will go,
Or maybe we will go to town
To spend our hard-earned dough.

Oh, Christmas cruise, Christmas cruise
A week-long get away.
Here it will be wet and cold,
But we'll be warm as May.

Then back aboard the yacht,
It's westward we will go.
We're hatching a new plot
To see a Vaudeville show.
We have just two more days
Before this cruise will end.
We are already seeking ways
To start a brand-new trend.

Oh, Christmas cruise, Christmas cruise
We're sorry it is done.
Here it is all wet and cold,
But we had lots of fun!

-Chris Cummings

Find out what and how to pack for your destinations.  Find out where the hidden costs of cruising are and how to avoid them to stay within your budget and actually return home with money in your pocket.  Find out how to save money on shore excursions and still see all the sights you want.  Find out which cabins offer the smoothest ride and how to upgrade for little or no additional cost.

On-board credits: what they are, and how to get them.  It’s all here.

Cruise Tips & Insider Secrets is a must-have for everyone who loves cruising, even if you consider yourself a seasoned veteran.

The current low price of only $17.00 and a money-back guarantee makes this offer a real no-brainer.

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But, what exactly is my crisis?  If I’m mid-life, I’m supposed to have a crisis, aren’t I?  According to common knowledge, I guess I’m supposed to want a little 2-seat sports car or a girlfriend half my age.  But, that’s not what I’m yearning for.

I looked up the symptoms of mid-life crisis.  One of them is a feeling of need for adventure or change.  Bingo!  That’s the one.

I have several friends who have lost their brains and opted for the other woman, ruining their long-time marriages in the process.  My wife and I have been married for 25 years and the last think I think about is abandoning that and finding another woman.  Believe me, I’ve finally got this one trained (read she’s got me trained) and don’t want to start over.

No, my need for adventure or change does not include changing my soul-mate and the adventure that follows that.  No, my need for adventure includes my wife.  I want to go new places, see new things, do neat stuff.  I watch The Amazing Race and find myself thinking how neat that would be.  My problem, though, is that I would want to sight-see more than I would want to race.

The good news is that the kids are out of the house and we have been traveling more than we ever have.  We went on a cruise this past summer and are getting ready to go on another.  But, like the spoiled kid, I want more.

Hence, my abnormal mid-life crisis.

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It’s called The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide and it contains tips I didn’t even know about. I’ve been to Disney World several times in my life and enjoyed every trip. Unfortunately, I didn’t have this guide during those times and I did spend some money!

Included in this wonderful guide are tips on when to go to save the most money and have the most fun. I remember one year, we were able to walk on to most attractions without waiting in line – because there was no line. You will learn the pros and cons of staying on the Disney property or staying off-property. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. This will help you decide which is best for your vacation.

Find out which restaurants are best, where to find the best souvenirs, how to beat long lines, and where the shortcuts are. There is even a section on what to do when it rains.

The The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide is $29.95 for now and is risk free because it has a money-back guarantee, and, if that weren’t enough, you have access to a web link for unlimited updates forever. You will be able to download this e-book instantly upon purchase.

I know I sound like a barker at the fair, but I love Disney World, my family loves it, and I’m excited about this information. I wanted to go back to Disney World this winter, but was thinking it was too soon after our summer vacation. After reading The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide, though, I think I will plan to go this winter.

This article was written by guest blogger Amanda DeLuca.

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The legal limit in the US set by the FAA is .04%, while the legal limit in most states for driving is .08%.  The Delta captain would not have been in violation in the US, but would not have been able to fly until his BAC dropped below .02%.

I think .04%, even .02%, is too much for anyone in control of a commercial vehicle, especially one that carries passengers.  While the FAA doesn’t seem too concerned about the safety issue,

“Although the data does not suggest that alcohol abuse by pilots is a serious safety issue, we continue to remain vigilant” to ensure that it never does, FAA spokesman Les Dorr said.

I find myself agreeing with Elaine Weinstein, former head of safety recommendations at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), who said

she has been convinced by years of accident data that there should be a zero tolerance for alcohol and drug use by pilots and others who transport people for hire.

I believe that anything that takes that pilot’s or driver’s attention from his or her job and the safety of their passengers and others should be prohibited and closely monitored.  Violations should require severe consequences.  There should be absolutely no evidence of alcohol or drugs in their systems at the time they are scheduled to drive or fly.

When I board a bus, train or plane, I want to be sure the driver or pilot is at their best to ensure my safety and that of my fellow passengers.

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However, the airlines are doing their dead-level best to discourage me and others from flying.  I’m not talking about the extra security and other hoops of BS the TSA is having us jump through, but the things the airlines are doing to us.

The above parody from MadTV sums it up perfectly.  More and more, that all-inclusive airline ticket has become part of an a-la-carte plane trip.  Several years ago, airlines started charging travelers for the audacity of wanting to carry clothing and other necessities with them.  Luggage fees became standard.  Complimentary peanuts or other snacks have also gone by the wayside, but you can purchase a snack for about $5.00 each.  The last time I flew, the drinks were still part of the fare, but that was last summer.

If you want a blanket or a pillow, be prepared to shell out some bucks.  Now, according to this article from the San Francisco Chronicle,Virgin Atlantic began charging $80 extra if you want an aisle seat.  According to the article, they say it is a standard industry practice, but this is the first I’ve heard of it.

So, how long will it be before airlines start offering standing room like on a commuter train or bus, but if you want a seat at all, you must pay extra?

Airlines are nickel and diming us to death and wonder why fewer people are flying.  I think most of us understood when fuel prices were outrageous that airlines charged extra, but when fuel prices started coming back down, the luggage fees have not gone away.

I still love to fly, but I have to look at the economy of driving when we take vacation this summer.

See also: Growing fees leave airline passengers annoyed

*** UPDATE – United has plans to charge a fee if you want to board a few minutes before the other passengers… Sheesh!

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It’s called The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide and it contains tips I didn’t even know about.  I’ve been to Disney World several times in my life and enjoyed every trip.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have this guide during those times and I did spend some money!

Included in this wonderful guide are tips on when to go to save the most money and have the most fun.  I remember one year, we were able to walk on to most attractions without waiting in line – because there was no line.  You will learn the pros and cons of staying on the Disney property or staying off-property.  Both have their advantages and disadvantages.  This will help you decide which is best for your vacation.

Find out which restaurants are best, where to find the best souvenirs, how to beat long lines, and where the shortcuts are.  There is even a section on what to do when it rains.

The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide is $29.95 for now and is risk free because it has a money-back guarantee, and, if that weren’t enough, you have access to a web link for unlimited updates forever.  You will be able to download this e-book instantly upon purchase.

I know I sound like a barker at the fair, but I love Disney World, my family loves it, and I’m excited about this information.  I wanted to go back to Disney World this winter, but was thinking it was too soon after our summer vacation.  After reading The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide, though, I think I will plan to go this winter.

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But, the light brown calf was happily romping between mom and dad this afternoon allowing us to get some great photos.  No news on a name, yet, but as soon as I hear, I’ll post a follow-up.

If you get a chance and live close, come on out and see the new baby.

GPS: LAT 35.886261,  LON -95.277530

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You can see a great video about airline fees at “Yeah, there’s a fee for that!”

Airlines jumped right on baggage fees, charging for even the first bag.  Then, they started charging for snacks aboard the plane.  Already, one airline (Spirit) whining about people with carry on bags (because they don’t want to pay for checked bags) will be paying for carry-on bags that have to be put in the overhead bins.  Now, I read RyanAir wants to charge people to go to the lavatory.

But, this just in… according to an article at USAToday.com, the Transportation Secretary and at least one senator is fed up with the airlines hijacking passengers:

“We’re gonna hold the airline’s feet to the fire on this,” LaHood said in an interview published on the Elliott.org travel site. “I think it’s a bit outrageous that an airline is going to charge someone to carry on a bag and put it in the overhead. And I’ve told our people to try and figure out a way to mitigate that.”

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday he’d propose legislation declaring carry-on bags to be “reasonably necessary” to air transportation unless the Treasury Department reverses its recent ruling that carry-on bags aren’t necessary. That would make such fees subject to federal taxes the same as fares.

Of course, the Spirit Airlines CEO says that Shumer just doesn’t get it.  See Spirit CEO: Sen. Schumer ‘seems to have spoken without knowing all the facts’.  The fact being that they want to charge $45 for a carry-on is pretty straight forward.  Maybe if they lower or eliminate checked bag fees, we can all go back to enjoying air travel.

In an earlier post, I suggested we should just all fly naked and avoid all the hassles.  The TSA certainly won’t need their “Nude-o-scope“.  ABC News is talking about the “Nakation” in its article: Avoid Baggage Fees With Nude Vacations.  Well, sign me up… (Now, where’d I put my toothbrush?)

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It seems a federal air marshal had to subdue this moron because he apparently tried to light his shoes on fire while in the lavatory.  According to this article from MSNBC, the man is a Qatari diplomat and claimed to be trying to set his shoes on fire.

We may need to begin checking our shoes before boarding  a plane if this keeps up, or take off the undies and go commando.  Heck, let’s just strip off and fly naked.  Not only will it be difficult to hide a weapon,  it will certainly save on baggage fees as well.

NBC: Passenger subdued aboard United jet

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But, one place I will never, ever go back to is Montana Mike’s.  It is a steak restaurant with pretty decent atmosphere, but the food was average at best.  I had a 9oz sirloin medium well.  I’ve had better at family steak restaurants to be quite honest about it.  It was tough, but after dousing it with Worcestershire sauce, I could eat it.

The service was terrible.  The waitress disappeared after serving us.  I had to finally take my glass and go find her to get more to drink.  When we got our check, we had a voucher for $30 (we were responsible for taxes and gratuity – no problem).  The part I was responsible for was $2.24 over the $30 and $3.05 for the tax.  Again, no problem.  I handed her my voucher and check card.  When she returned, my card was charged $10.13.

Naturally, I questioned the discrepancy.  She could not explain, so she had the manager come over.  He explained that I was responsible for the $2.24 and the $3.05.  I agreed, but asked him how $5.29 magically became $10.13.  He tried adding it up and finally said that they added in a 15% gratuity that was required by the voucher.  There was no such requirement.  I told him the waitress wasn’t worth 15% because she was inattentive and I had to actually get up with my glass and go find her.  He didn’t care.

“Never argue with an idiot.  They will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”  I figured the guy was an idiot and just left.  I did contact the resort who issued the voucher and gave them this information as well so they can find another restaurant to send business to.

So far, this is the only place in Branson I will never return to.

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Anyway, according to this article, an American Airlines flight attendant named Helen went postal on a passenger who asked for orange juice.  She allegedly was acting very strange and agitated toward other first-class passengers.  I’m interested to know what becomes of this one.

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I found out about it Sunday.  The TSA posted their Aviation Security Screening Management Standard Operating Procedures on their website.  Fortunately, vital information was electronically redacted (blacked out).  Unfortunately, much of the redacted material can still be read.  I won’t go into how it can be read, but it doesn’t take much and there are sure to be other posts that will tell you how.  The TSA quickly removed the document from their website, but too late.

Listening to ABC News this morning, they seemed to take great pride in telling what kind of information can be found in the document to help terrorists bypass the security that is in place.  This story doesn’t get into a lot of detail, but it goes into enough.  It seems that all a terrorist group has to do is watch American news stories and watch American movies to get ideas on how to attack us.

See also:

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They say they are doing this in an attempt to reduce the number of instances in which innocent five-year-olds are mistaken for terrorists.  I think it’s hilarious that even Senator Ted Kennedy was refused boarding passes a couple of years ago, several times, because some terrorist used the name T. Kennedy.  The secret no-fly list was built on the assumption that terrorists always use their real names when they want to blow up airplanes.

I know I had to supply my full name as well as my wife’s when I purchased our plane tickets to Washington, D.C. earlier this year.  It was really funny because their system was not set up for middle names or initials, so it ran our first and middle names together.  I wondered if that would be a problem since our ID’s had a space, and our boarding passes did not.  But, I guess we didn’t look like your typical terrorist, so we were allowed to board.  And I didn’t even have to give them sex, which made me feel much better.

Since I stole the graphic from Wonkette, you should also read her hilarious article: TSA introduces new ways to ruin your vacation prove you’re not a terrorist

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This article from a Baltimore TV Station, “Millions Ride Risky Subway Cars“, is a good example.  The cars are actually only risky in a train-train crash, and that risk is very low in subway systems.

The DC Metro train crash is a tragedy that killed 9 people and injured scores more.  The NTSB is trying to figure out what happened and the news media is focusing on the crash-worthiness of train cars.  Both are important, but I think the news media is failing to focus on the more urgent matter, at least at first.  Let’s try to figure out what went wrong first, fix that, then fix the train cars.  The question of whether or not the train cars were designed to protect occupants in a crash is secondary to what caused the crash in the first place because if the crash had never happened, crash-worthiness would not have come up.

On the positive side, though, is now that this catastrophe has happened, transit systems across the US will begin evaluating their train cars just in case a crash happens, and this is a good thing.

In a recent trip to Washington, DC, my wife and I rode the DC Metro without any problems at all and I still believe it to be a very safe form of tranportation.  I plan to use the Metro again when I return.

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Newseum

After a nice breakfast, we started today at the Newseum.  This museum is dedicated to the role that journalism plays in a free society and keeping it free.  Among its many exhibits are the front pages from newspapers from around the nation and around the world covering more than a century of printed news.  The first newspapers from before colonial times and the role they played in early American history is documented.  We see the changing methods of how journalists get their information from the field to the media.  On exhibit were several sections of the actual Berlin Wall.  It is interesting to note the differences between the East and the West sides of the wall.  There is graffiti on the west side, while the east side has no markings on it whatsoever.

Berlin Wall

Not only print media is represented here, but also newsreels, television, and internet is shown.  We saw the car that journalist Don Bolles was killed in and read the story of how he was lured to a meeting at a hotel, and while he was waiting for his contact, someone planted a bomb under his car.  We also saw a bullet-riddled Silverado pickup that was actually armored and used in Bosnia by Time Magazine.  Apparently, it did its job and protected the occupants.  We also saw the antenna that was on the World Trade Center when it collapsed.  The last time I visited the Newseum, it was in Rosslyn, but now it is in

Armored Truck

the District and is much, much larger.

After leaving the Newseum, we went to the National Archives.  The line was out the door and around the corner and it was not looking promising.  However, it moved quickly and within 20 minutes, we were inside.  They have added many permanent exhibits since I was here last.  This large exhibit is largely interactive and allows children and adults alike ot explore what information is archived.  Basically, anyone who has had any dealings with the government and has had a record made, is in the archive.  We learned how one can use the archives to study genealogy.

Of course, we did see the original Charters of Freedom, as the Delcaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and the Constitution collectively became known.  The documents have faded with time even though they have been cared for, but now technology has advanced to help us further preserve these important documents.  At night and during emergencies, these documents drop into a specially-built vault for protection.

Back to Pentagon City for a quick bite, some souvenir purchases and the hotel room to pack, for tomorrow we start home.

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White House

Betcha can’t guess where we went first today.  Okay, you guessed it.  After we got off the Metro at McPherson Square, we walked through Lafayette Park toward the White House.  We could not tour it because world events dictate the highest security for the President.  In order to tour the White House nowadays, you must write your congressman for access and that can take a few months.  It was odd that we could walk right up to the fence in front of the White House and take pictures, but when we walked around to the back, we had to go out to the middle of the ellipse to take a direct-on picture of the back because the Secret Service would not allow us to get any closer.  My wife was not very impressed with it, though, she said it looks bigger on television.

From there, we walked across the Washington Monument, through the cherry trees, and

Jefferson Memorial

around the tidal basin to the Jefferson Memorial.  She was much more impressed with that one.  The central statue in the memorial is, of course, Thomas Jefferson in the middle of the rotunda.  All around the rotunda are some famous words of Jefferson’s denouncing tyranny and wise words on changing with the times, however, not too often.  It is very interesting and enlightening to read of the wisdom of the founders of this great nation.  Looking out of the memorial to the north was a beautiful view of the Washington Monument glistening in the midday sun.

We decided to finish our tour of the American History Museum we started yesterday after a quick lunch in the Constitution Cafe downstairs.  Of all the museums we have eaten lunch in, this one is the most expensive at $28.00 for a hamburger, chicken sandwich, 1 order of fries, a bag of chips, a banana, a Hershey bar w/almonds and drinks.  It was refreshing, though, and soon we were off to continue where we left off – 1st floor, east wing: Transportation and Technology.  We saw all sorts of interesting exhibits of rail and road transportation from 1876 – 1999.  We saw scenes from Oklahoma’s section of Route 66, including cars with Oklahoma tags.  A depression-era travel trailer was actually ahead of its time, which was good because many people who lost their homes during the depression were forced to live in them.  Trailer parks got their start from this phenomenon.

Locomotive

Train travel and shipping was prominent as well as models of passenger trains showed dining cars, passenger cars, and Pullman sleeper cars.  The role of the conductor was likened to the captain of a ship.  The conductor was actually in charge of the train, when it could go and when it stopped even though the engineer was actually in charge of how it would stop and go.  In an emergency, the conductor was in charge.  Pullman porters, mostly ‘negro’ as the exhibit put it, took care of making the bed down in the evening and changing it to places to sit in the morning.  They were to make it as though the traveler was in a luxury hotel.  The job actually paid well and it was an important link for the black community.  The porters would bring news of jobs and opportunity in the north to those living in the south.

The original flag which flew over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814, and inspired the words to the Star Spangled Banner, was on display.  This same flag, which used to hang at the Smithsonian, is in a special display after its latest restoration, to help preserve it further.  It is so fragile now that it can never be hung again.  We learned that the pieces missing from the flag were actually cut and given to guests as souvenirs by its custodian, Major Armistead.

The second floor east wing showed African American innovations.  The focus of which was on a Washington area black photographer named Addison Scurlock and his family.  He opened a studio on U Street and created what is called “the Scurlock Effect”.  His innovations in Photography rival those of today’s famous portrait photographers.  He seemed to capture the beauty and depth of his subjects.  He captured life as it was and made it easy for the view to place themselves in that place and time.  He was the first photographer to accurately meter his subjects so they would stand out from the background, which is sometimes difficult to do with dark-skinned subjects.  However, he was able to do this successfully and the result was phenomenal.

We viewed photos from the 2009 inauguration also, our favorite is when the president and his wife are waiting on a freight elevator to go to yet another inaugural ball.  They are looking into each others eyes and you can see, even feel the love between them.  It was pretty awesome.

Second floor west showed us some gowns, possessions and accomplishments of first ladies – not all of them wives of the presidents.  Some were daughters, nieces, and even daughters-in-law.  Some on display were of Martha Washington, Dolley Madison, Sarah Polk, Mary Todd Lincoln, Laura Bush and more.  We saw how communities changed by focusing on the industrial workers in Connecticut, Jewish immigrants in Cincinnati, and slaves and free African-Americans in South Carolina.

Moving onto the 3rd floor west wing, we saw Archie Bunker’s chair, Dorothy’s ruby slippers, Oscar the Grouch, and Kermit the Frog.  We also saw this huge doll house, The Bradford Doll House, chock-full of miniatures.  Faith Bradford spent more than 50 years collecting and building this miniature house.  Authentic items from Lincoln’s life and times, including a campaign banner are on display.

We finished up on the 3rd floor east wing where we saw the history of the US military from the Colonial era to the present.  We saw how our armed forces defined periods in our history.  We saw actual revolutionary war uniforms, a restored Bell “Huey” helicopter, and General Colin Powell’s Desert Storm fatigues.  We saw some of the hidden dangers our soldiers faced in Vietnam, with mines and punji sticks.  We also took a tour through the American Presidency, which highlighted the role of the American President.  Here we saw how presidency ages the holder of the highest office by watching Lincoln grow much older year-by-year.  By the time he was assassinated, he looked much older than he actually was.  We even saw a file cabinet that was broken into during the Watergate scandal.

Capitol Building

From there, we walked to the Capitol building where we took pictures from the pool in front.  It was a beautiful day, so we were able to capture some great pics before heading back to the Metro.  Earlier today, we met a family from South Carolina and taught them the intricacies of subway travel.  It was surprising when they boarded the same train 2 stations later, what are the chances of that.  The mom of the family is also a teacher, like my wife, so they had a lot in common.  We decided to eat together, but had no idea where, until a local saw that we were obviously hot, tired, confused and hungry and stopped to tell us to walk on through Pentagon City Fashion Mall where there were some great restaurants.  We settled on Chammp’s, a sports-themed restaurant and finished the evening.

Well, one more day in DC tomorrow and we are headed for home.

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After my now standard bagle and donut breakfast, we headed off on the Metro again.  Let me make a comment about the DC Metro trains.  Every station we’ve been to has been clean and the staff has been helpful and friendly.  The trains, though crowded at times, are clean and comfortable.  This is definitely the way to travel when in DC.  Fares are $1.65 to almost anywhere during peak times and $1.35 off-peak.  Fares can be a bit more, or a bit less depending.  You can purchase fare cards in the exact amount you need, or put $5 or $10 and use them up.  When you get low, you can insert the old card and add money to it.  If you play it right, you can ride the train for the total time and leave nothing on the card.  In fact, some people we met at the hotel were leaving and gave us what remained on their cards.  I plan to do the same if I have any left over.

Our first stop today was the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.  The first thing we did was get a free ticket to view the permanent exhibit.  They do this to keep the exhibit from becoming overcrowded so you are able to actually view and learn about the atrocities portrayed.  Just when I thought I knew all about the heinous acts of the Nazis, I learned more.  Even the things I did learn and know about from history was made painfully real when viewing the artifacts and displays.  I learned that not only did Hitler and the Nazis perpetrate hate and anti-semitic propaganda to all their citizens, beginning at a very early age, but they also ‘graded’ the German people.  They used tools to measure hair color and shade, eye color, head size, nose size, etc. to determine how ‘pure’ you were so they would know if you ‘deserved’ to be a citizen of the Third Reich.

They also had sterilization campaigns to make those who didn’t match up to their standards infertile in an attempt to radicate undesirables.  Mentally and physically handicapped children, as well as adults, were most often killed by gas or lethal injection.  Then their bodies were used for medical research.  It very much sickened me, but it certainly made the holocaust much more real in my mind.  I see how easy it is for 1 man filled with hate to spread the message of hate to a hopeless people and for them to latch onto it with such gusto.  What I don’t understand is how someone could have so much hate to begin with.  We spent about 4 hours at this museum viewing both the special exhibits and the 3 floors of the permanent exhibit.  This is a must-see when in DC.

Julia Child's Kitchen

We headed off to the American History Museum where we decided to eat lunch first and recharge a bit.  Afterwards, we started exploring the first floor of the museum beginning with Julia Child’s Kitchen.  In 2001, Child donated the contents of her custom-designed kitchen, including small utensils, cookbooks, etc. to the Smithsonian.  After that, we saw the winner of DARPA’s Grand Challenge Race where a robotic vehicle called Stanley successfully traversed a multi-terrain course without human intervention.  We even saw the only 2-wheeled entry, a motorcycle that could right itself if it fell.

Stanley

We then headed off to Edison’s inventions, most notably the light bulb.  This exhibit takes you from idea to invention and beyond.  Of course, with the new uses for electricity, they had to invent the electric meter in order to charge customers for using the electricity.  Generators, motors, steam and gasoline engines are on display, both scale models and the real things.  We were partway through the “America on the Move” exhibit when we were told the museum was closing.  Darn the luck, now we have get to come back tomorrow.

WWII Memorial

Well, it was 5:30 and we weren’t ready to head back to the hotel, so we started walking westward toward the Washington Monument where we were greeted by music from the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival on the south side.  We walked on past to the World War II Memorial.  This is a beautiful fountain with the Atlantic on the north and the Pacific on the south.  The view from the fountain looking back toward the Capitol was pretty awesome.  The walls of the memorial are etched with quotes from famous military men.

After resting there a bit and cooling off, we walked on westward by the reflecting pool for the Lincoln Memorial, enjoying the shade and nice breeze that found its way to us, until we were at the steps of the memorial.  Lincoln is one of my wife’s heroes and she was in awe of the statue.  Mark another one off of our list.

Lincoln Statue

A long walk back to the Mall and the Metro station and it was a train ride back to Pentagon City where we enjoyed a Chinese dinner and the end of another great day.

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So, after a hearty breakfast of toasted bagel with cream cheese, waffle, and donut with 3 glasses of OJ, we were off.  We made it to the Metro station just as the train pulled up, so we hopped right on.  As the doors closed, I realized that we were on the wrong train (Yellow instead of Blue).  I had neglected to look at the sign on the train before just hopping on.  Oops.  So, at Pentagon Station, we switched to the correct train and off we went again.  Next station, Arlington Cemetery, and off the train again.

Kennedy Gravesite

One can almost feel the reverence the cemetery almost demands from each of its visitors.  As you walk through the manicured grounds, and see the grave markers perfectly lined up, you realize the sacrifice that has filled the rolling hills.  Most of those interred there have given their lives in the service of this country and it is humbling.

We visited the tomb of John F. Kennedy and its eternal flame.  The outer wall of the memorial has the words of his inaugural speech (Ask not what your country can do for you …) inscribed upon it.  There was also a beautiful view of Washington, D.C.

The best part of that visit was the tomb of the unknowns and watching the changing of the guard.  It was very hot since the sun was shining and, at that point, the breeze had stopped.  We were standing on the steps watching the honor guard pace back and forth with perfectly measured steps, turn, change shoulders, and walk again in full dress uniform.  I suddenly felt like a wimp for complaining about how hot it was as I watched this soldier honor the unknown soldiers so perfectly and without complaining, and here I was griping because it was hot.  Poor me.

Honor Guard at Tomb of the Unknowns

When it was time, the relief commander appeared.  The following is an excerpt from the cemetery’s website:

The guard is changed every hour on the hour Oct. 1 to March 31 in an elaborate ritual. From April 1 through September 30, there are more than double the opportunities to view the change because another change is added on the half hour and the cemetery closing time moves from 5 to 7 p.m.

An impeccably uniformed relief commander appears on the plaza to announce the Changing of the Guard. Soon the new sentinel leaves the Quarters and unlocks the bolt of his or her M-14 rifle to signal to the relief commander to start the ceremony. The relief commander walks out to the Tomb and salutes, then faces the spectators and asks them to stand and stay silent during the ceremony.

The relief commander conducts a detailed white-glove inspection of the weapon, checking each part of the rifle once. Then, the relief commander and the relieving sentinel meet the retiring sentinel at the center of the matted path in front of the Tomb. All three salute the Unknowns who have been symbolically given the Medal of Honor. Then the relief commander orders the relieved sentinel, “Pass on your orders.” The current sentinel commands, “Post and orders, remain as directed.” The newly posted sentinel replies, “Orders acknowledged,” and steps into position on the black mat. When the relief commander passes by, the new sentinel begins walking at a cadence of 90 steps per minute.

The Tomb Guard marches 21 steps down the black mat behind the Tomb, turns, faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, then takes 21 steps down the mat and repeats the process. After the turn, the sentinel executes a sharp “shoulder-arms” movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the sentinel stands between the Tomb and any possible threat. Twenty-one was chosen because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed — the 21-gun salute.

Duty time when not “walking” is spent in the Tomb Guard Quarters below the Memorial Display Room of the Memorial Amphitheater where they study Cemetery “knowledge,” clean their weapons and help the rest of their relief prepare for the Changing of the Guard. The guards also train on their days off.

The Guards of Honor at the Tomb of the Unknowns are highly motivated and are proud to honor all American service members who are “Known But to God.”

It was a beautiful and moving ceremony I last witnessed when I was about 12 years old and in the 6th grade.

Whale in Natural History Museum

Afterwards, it was back to the train and off to the Smithsonian.  We decided upon the Natural History Museum and walked in to see a huge elephant on display in the rotunda.  We went to the right and started out in the Early Life section with the fossils and moved quickly to the dinosaurs.  After looking at the dinosaur bones, we were very happy they didn’t have skin on them.  There is a fossil lab right there in the gallery where they clean and process fossils to get them ready for display.  There wasn’t anybody in there at the time we visited, but it looked pretty fascinating.  We moved through the Ice Age section and entered African Cultures.  From there, it was the Ocean hall with a huge whale hanging from the ceiling.

On the second floor, we viewed the famous Hope Diamond.  The display changed since the 6th grade, but the diamond was still there.  They have Marie Antoinette’s earrings, along with gifts Napoleon gave one of his wives.  All sorts of geological exhibits with other stones and minerals.  One exhibit I thought was a bit ironic: Orkin’s insect zoo.  It was indeed fascinating with live insects and interesting facts about them.

The great thing about this museum is there were plenty of hands-on exhibits for children.  There was even a forensic lab and a fossil lab for kids to learn in.

Back to the hotel after a quick dinner at the Pentagon City food court and resting up for a great day tomorrow.

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Washington Monument

The hotel runs a shuttle to a nearby metro station every 30 minutes or so and we hopped aboard to begin our day.  If you have never been to the DC area, they have a public transit system known as the MetroRail.  If you visit the DC area, this is the way to go.  You don’t have to worry about renting a car, or paying high fares for taxi rides.  For about a buck 75, you can go almost anywhere.  Most places you want to visit are close to the National Mall, so you will also walk… a lot.

We took the train to the Smithsonian station, which was good because that’s where we wanted to go.  We started off at the Smithsonian Castle.  This is not only the visitor center for the Smithsonian complex, but they also have artificacts from the various museums and from James Smithson as well.  In fact, his crypt is located in an anteroom as you walk inside the door.

We made our next stop the Air and Space Museum.  This is a must-see for anyone visiting as it has many exhibits sure to pique the interest of almost everyone.  My wife was intrigued by the actual aircraft the Wright Brothers first flew.  The cloth over the wings had been replaced, but the airframe was original.  Artifacts from the beginnings of the space program are prominently displayed in several areas of the museum.  It is fascinating to see how three men can fit inside such a small area that the space capsule provides.  One certainly could not be claustrophobic and be an astronaut.

Control Panel

Space suits, moon suits and flight suits are on display.  It’s neat to see the differences between US and Soviet suits and tools during the space race.  It makes you appreciate their bravery when you see how fragile their craft were.  Also, when you remember that your pocket calculator has more computing power than they had aboard their capsule and they still managed to land on the moon and return safely, you appreciate their bravery that much more.

A very fascinating exhibit shows how satellites do things from spying on weather to spying on your enemies to connecting the world with television and telephone.  We learned facts about the Hubble telescope and even saw a spare mirror for the telescope.

In fact, there is an exhibit showing the evolution of stargazing tools from the quadrant to the reflective telescope.  We learned how Galileo deduced that the earth actually orbited the sun and not the other way around.

I particularly enjoyed the exhibit on computers in both air and space flight.  I saw the inside of a Cray-1 supercomputer and learned that it was designed in a circular shape to cut down on the length of the wires connecting the busses.  No wire is over two feet in length.  This was designed that way to help the computer run faster.

Cray-1 Super Computer

There are plenty of hands-on exhibits for kids.  They can learn about Bernoulli and how air flow affects objects such as aircraft wings.  They learn why the wings are shaped the way they are, what flaps are and what they do, how the control surfaces such as flaps, elevator, ailerons, and rudder work together to keep a plane in stable, controlled flight.  There are also times when they bring out mobile stations and have a fun lesson with the young ones.

We spent all day in that one museum, so we are going to have to budget our time to make the most out of the four remaining days we have here.  After leaving the museum, we walked to the Washington Monument and took some pictures there.  We plan to get their early one day and take advantage of the free tickets to tour the monument.

We even saw the original model of the Star Ship Enterprise from the original Star Trek show.  This was the model they actually used when showing the outside of the ship.  The exhibit was complete with the original stand that still had some of the blue masking paint on it to make it look like the ship was in space.

Star Ship Enterprise

Day two coming up.

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So, we boarded a little Northwest/Delta Airlines Canadair CPJ jet for our short flight to Memphis.  I actually enjoy those flights because the flight crew is a little more relaxed and human, it seems, on those little planes.  Our flight attendant by no means fit the image of a flight attendant in most of our minds.  She was rather on the large size, but she was very personable with her south Texas accent which made the hour and 20 minute flight seem to go much faster.  I also learned that NWA/Delta, unlike American Airlines, still give out free micro packets of peanuts.  Of course, they do have snacks you can purchase like Pringles, M&Ms, and Trail Mix for only (with a smirk) $2.00 each.

The seats were a little cramped because we had our carry-ons under the seats in front of us robbing us of what little leg room we had to begin with, but since we declined the option to gate-check the backpack, it was our own fault.  After arriving in Memphis, we found the gate for our connection and set out to scare up some lunch.  We found a barbecue stand not far from our gate, so we decided to give it a try.  One BBQ beef sandwich later, we were back at the gate.

Our next plane was an Airbus A319, larger than the CPJ, with more overhead storage so we didn’t have the backpack under our feet.  As we climbed into the Memphis sky, it quickly became apparent that the storms over Oklahoma were causing some nice turbulence East of us.  I suppose it is a good thing that I like roller coasters as the Airbus was doing a wonderful impersonation on one of Six Flags’ finest.  Nobody flew out of their seats or anything like that, but my wife was glad she took dramamine.  In fact, I was glad she did, too, because I didn’t want to wear her lunch in mid flight.  The captain explained that they had, in fact, hit the same turbulence on their flight from DC earlier that day and it had lasted the entire flight.  Ditto for the return trip.

After the pilot finally wrestled the plane on the ground at Reagan National and parked us at the gate, it wasn’t too long before it was our turn to exit the plane and see if the airlines managed to get our luggage to the same destination as us – they did.

The hotel shuttle was quick to pick us up and soon we were checked in for the week.  We found the hotel restaurant, Monuments, and ate an over-priced, triple deck, club sandwich.  Actually, it was the $3.00 8-ounce glass of Coke that irritated me, but as my wife pointed out, we were in a bar and if we had actually ordered something alcoholic, it probably would have been cheaper.  Oh, well.  Live and learn.

Now we rest and tomorrow we tackle DC.

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Actually, I can see more of his talents in his blog.  He seems to have a knack for writing and I find his articles entertaining.  He finds  news stories and even articles from their own blog, http://www.tsa.gov/blog, that should raise questions and concerns about how the agency does their job.  A very good read and definitely recommended.

You can read his blog at http://www.rebelmodel.com/tsa/.

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