This Just In
**Newsflash**
"People Banned from Flying"
Just kidding. But banning all people from flying would be the ultimate solution to fighting terrorism in the skies, wouldn't it? 'Throwing out the baby with the bath water' comes to mind as does 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'. I shan't be surprised if this headline would see the light of day in the near future. I can clearly envision cargo being the only items in the sky, exclusively loaded by robots, flying in unmanned drone planes to their strictly controlled destinations. One day.
Julie and I flew out to Las Vegas in October 2001 - she for a business conference and me on vacation. It was mere four weeks after 9-11 and we landed in a desolate Vegas with near empty streets and hotels. It seemed we had the city to ourselves. So many people afraid to fly and thus cancelled their travel plans in the wake of the then recent tragedy. Her then employer did give her the opportunity to back out of her travel plans. We discussed it for about 10 seconds. The decision was easy for us. We both took it in stride then, without any fear, and we will continue to fly without fear. Fear is one thing, but travelling with odd, inconsistent restrictions with renewed scrutiny by security does appear to me to border on the breach of civil liberties once taken for granted. How far will the list of banned items go? The television sound bytes portray travellers like sheep bleating, "Well, if it's for our safety then I completely agree with the government." Wowsers. Wondering if they will sing the same tune when there are mandatory anal cavity checks for frequent fliers? In any case, here is some recent real news from Air Canada:
"The Canadian Government has announced increased security measures at all Canadian airports. Following is important information that will help you prepare for travel on Air Canada and Jazz flights during the next 30 days
* Check-in & Security: Allow extra time for check-in and security clearance. Air Canada recommends that you check-in 90 minutes before departure for flights within Canada, 120 minutes before departure for flights to/from the USA, and 180 minutes before flights to/from other international destinations. It is also recommended that you reduce carry-on baggage as much as possible.
* Liquids on board: Effective immediately, liquids or gels (i.e. shampoo, hair gel, all types of beverages) in containers of any size will not be permitted onboard any flight. The only exceptions will be for prescription medications (the name on the prescription must match that on the boarding card), essential non-prescription medicines and for passengers travelling with a baby or infant; baby milk or formula.
* Flights to the USA and U.K.: Transport Canada will be performing random searches in the gate area for flights to the USA and to the U.K.
* Go Discount: Customers travelling on a Tango fare with a Go discount who have opted out of their checked baggage allowance may check in their carry-on baggage free of charge until August 17, 2006. The bag must conform to Air Canada carry-on weight and size limitations."
from boing-boing...
"People Banned from Flying"
Just kidding. But banning all people from flying would be the ultimate solution to fighting terrorism in the skies, wouldn't it? 'Throwing out the baby with the bath water' comes to mind as does 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'. I shan't be surprised if this headline would see the light of day in the near future. I can clearly envision cargo being the only items in the sky, exclusively loaded by robots, flying in unmanned drone planes to their strictly controlled destinations. One day.
Julie and I flew out to Las Vegas in October 2001 - she for a business conference and me on vacation. It was mere four weeks after 9-11 and we landed in a desolate Vegas with near empty streets and hotels. It seemed we had the city to ourselves. So many people afraid to fly and thus cancelled their travel plans in the wake of the then recent tragedy. Her then employer did give her the opportunity to back out of her travel plans. We discussed it for about 10 seconds. The decision was easy for us. We both took it in stride then, without any fear, and we will continue to fly without fear. Fear is one thing, but travelling with odd, inconsistent restrictions with renewed scrutiny by security does appear to me to border on the breach of civil liberties once taken for granted. How far will the list of banned items go? The television sound bytes portray travellers like sheep bleating, "Well, if it's for our safety then I completely agree with the government." Wowsers. Wondering if they will sing the same tune when there are mandatory anal cavity checks for frequent fliers? In any case, here is some recent real news from Air Canada:
"The Canadian Government has announced increased security measures at all Canadian airports. Following is important information that will help you prepare for travel on Air Canada and Jazz flights during the next 30 days
* Check-in & Security: Allow extra time for check-in and security clearance. Air Canada recommends that you check-in 90 minutes before departure for flights within Canada, 120 minutes before departure for flights to/from the USA, and 180 minutes before flights to/from other international destinations. It is also recommended that you reduce carry-on baggage as much as possible.
* Liquids on board: Effective immediately, liquids or gels (i.e. shampoo, hair gel, all types of beverages) in containers of any size will not be permitted onboard any flight. The only exceptions will be for prescription medications (the name on the prescription must match that on the boarding card), essential non-prescription medicines and for passengers travelling with a baby or infant; baby milk or formula.
* Flights to the USA and U.K.: Transport Canada will be performing random searches in the gate area for flights to the USA and to the U.K.
* Go Discount: Customers travelling on a Tango fare with a Go discount who have opted out of their checked baggage allowance may check in their carry-on baggage free of charge until August 17, 2006. The bag must conform to Air Canada carry-on weight and size limitations."
from boing-boing...
posted by John MacDonald at
Monday, August 14, 2006
2 Comments:
In the time it took comments to load I've shifted from advising cruises to civil disobedience slowdown and everyone bringing liquids and whatnot. ;)
brilliant idea.
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