Saggy Pants a Terrorist Threat?

I will admit, I do not like when guys wear saggy pants.  I don't want to see their underpants (or worse, their behinds).  However, I don't think that they are a threat to air safety.

If you haven't heard, Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day front man, was kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight because of his saggy pants.  He reportedly asked, "Don't you have anything better to worry about?" or something of the sort.  I'm of a mind with Billie.  Seriously?  That's the biggest issue you have on this flight?  Then drop it.  I mean, the guy is going to be sitting the whole time so are you even going to see anything?  

After all, if he wants to look ridiculous, I think that's his problem.  It's not affecting the flight in any way!  I've certainly seen people wear worse than baggy pants on a plane.  I don't think the flight attendant has any right to say what people can or cannot wear (unless it's blatantly obscene -- which I have seen with no consequences.  I've seen a woman board a plane wearing a see-through shirt.  I think that's far more offensive than a pair of baggy pants.).  

I think the airline industry is all just a bunch of power hungry a-holes.  But, that's just my opinion.  ;)  

I hate flying

And not for the obvious reason (my fear of falling/heights).  That doesn't really bother me.  I don't actually notice that I'm up in the air much (unless there is a lot of turbulence).  What really bothers me is that none of my flights ever go according to plan.

I flew to Indiana early on Friday morning.  My flight into Chicago was delayed for an hour and then my flight into Fort Wayne was delayed by over an hour.  It was irritating, but I still managed to only be about an hour late getting into Fort Wayne.  The person next to me was quiet and I mostly just read my book while I waited.

I flew back to Colorado last night.  The flight to Chicago actually did go as planned.  We left just a few minutes late and arrived roughly on time.  The flight into Denver was another story.  

We actually arrived above Denver really early.  The pilot told us that we would circle Denver for a few minutes while waiting for an updated landing time.  Woo hoo!  Early landing!  Not so much.  We circled and circled for over half an hour.  By that point, we were later than we were originally supposed to land.  Still no one says anything to us.  However, I know what the problem is: an incredible lightning storm.  

It was terrifying to be circling above the city while watching bolts of lightning strike every few seconds around us.  The pilot told us we couldn't land because of the weather.  Well, eventually, we had to fly to Colorado Springs airport to re-fuel.  We sat on the tarmac for about an hour.  They wouldn't let us off the plane.  And I was sitting next to someone with some mental handicaps.  She was incredibly loud and would not stop talking.  

It was late, I hadn't slept a whole lot, I'd been up since early that morning, and I was irritated by the situation.  I actually daydreamed about strangling the woman next to me.  She was that annoying.  And I am really tolerant of annoying people! 

We finally took off and still the woman wouldn't shut up.  I tried to pretend that I was asleep but she still insisted on trying to talk to me.  Ugh!!!!!  We landed in Denver about 30-40 minutes later (I still don't know why it took so long!  It's only an hour to hour and a half drive from the Springs to Denver!).  

Anyway, I was at the back of the plane, so it took another 15 minutes to get off of the plane once we finally landed.  And then I had to take the train to the main terminal.  There was only one train running, so I had to go from terminal A, to B, to C, and then back to B, back to A, and then on to the main terminal for ground transportation.  

Finally, I got to see Philip's smiling face.  :)  I was so relieved to just be back in Denver!  By the time we got home, it was after 1:30am.  I was exhausted but I couldn't sleep right away because of all of the irritation!  So, needless to say, I am tired today!  

I really hope that our flights in September for the wedding and honeymoon go much more smoothly!  At least I had an awesome time in Indiana for the weekend!  :)

Porno Scan & Sexual Assault

I'm sure my Facebook friends are sick of my posts about the new "porno scan" and the sexual assault the TSA is now making people choose between when flying. So, I've decided to put together some of my favorite articles regarding the situation.

Don't touch my junk: The origin of a lot of the outrage.

National Opt-Out Day Called Against Invasive Body Scanners: “You should never have to explain to your children, ‘Remember that no stranger can touch or see your private area, unless it’s a government employee, then it’s OK.’”

TSA to investigate Oceanside man ejected from airport, may prosecute: A recap of John Tyner's experience with updates.

'Naked' airport scanners may be 'dangerous': One summary of how the porno scanners my be harmful to your health.

DHS Chief Says Abandoning Airport Scanners Would Be "Irresponsible": Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Monday vehemently defended her department's use of advanced imaging technologies and pat-downs at U.S. airports, saying to do otherwise would be 'irresponsible' and that passengers who don't like it can 'travel by some other means.'"

I'm sure that the airlines will thank her when people like myself take her advice and avoid flying altogether. Sounds like a great future for the already troubled airline industry.

TSA Full-Body Scanners: Protecting Passengers Or Padding Pockets?: The reality of why the government is really using these porno scanners. What a surprise... isn't it always about money with our government? "These scanners, for all their naked human goodness, cannot see through skin... a dedicated bad guy doesn’t really mind hiding a little PETN in his or his dog’s body cavity for a few hours, given that it’s going to be a one-way trip."

'The Americans Make Us Do This': Lessons in TSA Liberty from the ChiComs: International flyers take on the new "security" measures... Also, a recap of a poll. "More than 69,000 people have voted; 96% object to the new rules." I'd say that poll says a whole lot about the situation.

Shep Smith: ‘If You Touch My Junk, I’m Going To File A Lawsuit Against You’: Amazing video of Shep Smith regarding the measures.

TSA Pats Down 3-Year-Old: Yes. You read that right. Even your toddler can be violated by the TSA. No worries, though: "James Marchand, TSA Regional Security Director, wouldn’t comment on the video but... helpfully suggested that perhaps TSA screeners could make the experience more fun for kids by making a game out of it." Great plan. Let's make a game out of molesting a child. That won't make things confusing for them at all.

The 'Israelification' of airports: High security, little bother: A summary of how Israeli airports are safer but less irritating and invasive.


I'm just so frustrated by all of this. People are saying that the naked scans and molestation are necessary for security. I call Bull shit. The scans can only see the skin. Any person determined to blow up an airplane just has to put a bomb in his/her anus. No one would ever know.

Also, why is the security so intense to get a on a plane with a hundred or so people when I went to the Avs game last night with thousands of people and there was absolutely nothing? Open your eyes, people. It's about the money!

Besides, if a terrorist really wanted to cause trouble, he or she would blow up the entire airport before even entering security. THE NEW SECURITY MEASURES ARE POINTLESS! It's about the MONEY and the CONTROL.

This is a slippery slope, people. If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.