Posted on 12/09/2009 12:48:32 AM PST by Swordmaker
This happened a while ago but every time I re-read this column I become infuriated . . .
It was the nicest, neatest, new Apple laptop computer. I'd had it for just six days.
So I was treating my new computer with great care. I cradled it in my arms as though it were a six-day-old infant. Although I must admit I have never actually held an infant. Because I'm a klutz, I drop things — so much so that I have been forbidden by my family from holding my children and grandchildren until they reach puberty.
I was at security at the San Diego airport. I took off my shoes and put them into a tray. My jacket went into another tray. My beautiful new computer into a third tray, and I resisted the urge to wave goodbye to it as it rolled into the security machine.
I went through security and waited on the other side of the machine and quickly put my computer into my carry-on bag and zipped it up. Suddenly there was a pleasant security man saying, "Is this yours? I have to look at it." With that he grabbed my bags and moved me to a table off to the side.
I hobbled after him, trying to put one of my shoes on as I hopped along behind him.
He unzipped my carry-on bag, ran his hand over my computer, and looked under and opened a small leather bag that I carry. He went through it and put it back. Then he went into my other bag and kept searching for something.
"Excuse me, what did she say she saw?" I asked, motioning to the operator of the X-ray machine.
"She says there's some green mass of liquid in your bags."
"Oh crap," I thought, "now he's going to find out I'm part of a ring that is smuggling Liquid Prell from San Diego to New York." Great maturity kept me from saying this out loud. Finally, after going through every item in my bag, the security officer was satisfied that I was not carrying any mysterious green liquid. He carefully zipped up my bag and said, "You're free to go."
I grabbed my bag in one hand and swung my carry-on onto my shoulder when I heard this sickening crash. Horrible. There, smashing against the concrete floor, was my new computer.
"Oh, I didn't zip that one up," said the security guard. "Let me help you with that."
"My new computer!" I moaned. The screen was a cobweb of cracks. It was dented and it was so out of line it couldn't be closed.
I looked at the security person and thought about all the airlines and the hell that traveling has turned into.
On one side we have the airlines, which have dropped all pretense of giving their passengers even the most rudimentary service. On the other side we have passengers, who feel resentment at being charged a fortune to be lied to and abused. Mark my words: Airline passenger rage will be the catch phrase of this holiday season. We're on a collision course.
The prospect of being forced to sit for countless hours bent like a pretzel in a tiny seat with absolutely no leg room so that a fat and greedy airline CEO can meet his profit forecast is the stuff that revolutions are made of.
Millions of Americans will be flying off on vacations in the next few months. It's time they realized we're at war with the airlines. The minute you set foot in an airport you must assume you have been captured and are a prisoner of war. You owe your captors nothing more than your name, rank, serial number and driver's license. You must expect your captors to lie to you at every turn. When they "innocently" announce that your flight is delayed for 10 minutes, don't believe it. Take your cell phone and book yourself on another airline. Are they claiming they are serving a "delicious" meal on your flight? Save your life. Do what I do – carry a spare pastrami sandwich in your carry-on bag at all times.
If you wish to comment on "Jerry's Ink" please send your message to jerry@dfjp.com
However - it is TSA that sucks. Their arrogance is constantly on display as they know the slightest complaint from a passenger gives them the authority to wreck havoc on their lives.
The greenies don’t want us to fly. The government probably doesn’t think too much of the idea either.
Not to mention using the inner strap as well, which most laptop cases have.
Do you still drive?
That's B.S. Barry Soetoro. You can always Just Say No. Or at least I do. When I signed on to NEC's Unix division, my manager presented me with a PC-98 Microsoft Windows box. I asked him flat out, "This is a joke, right?". I proceeded to use that as a footrest until they took they machine for some other unfortunate soul to use, while I ran Linux for desktop on a more suitable machine.
I'm not all that fond of CDE on Solaris, but it works better for me than Microsoft Windows.
In Nov. my Continental flight to Newark was delayed for 5 hrs. As a result we then missed our next flight to PA. So we ended up renting a Hertz car to get home and had a flat tire on Route 78 at midnight.
Huh? A TSA agent did not zip up his bag and he spends the last two paragraphs complaining about “the airlines” - sheesh...
: D
You can always Just Say No. Or at least I do.
Not in BumF&%k, Egypt you can't...
When I signed on to NEC's Unix division [...]
There are only two major 'nix networks in town... I know the guys running both of them, and consult for both of them. But the lion's share of the work here is in SOHO and residential, which is primarily, and ultimately Windows.
I have converted a fair number of mom & pop folks to Linux (Ubuntu, so BSD, really), and considering the level of 'nix support in this town, I probably get most of that action...
But 'nix boxen don't break and are virus free... And ext3 doesn't crap itself up like NTFS5 does.
If you expect me to be a Linux purist and make a living here, you're dreaming.
I feel sorry for this guy, because I've fallen into similarly unfortunate (though not as expensive) circumstances. However, it was definitely his fault... and this is the exact lesson to learn, not "TSA is evil" (they are, but not for this).
This is where it is good to have a non-"TSA approved" laptop bag... I have to take the laptop out, then I am the one to put it in again.
Exactly.
The best gift you can give yourself every day is to keep your head in the game. Always be aware of what is going on around you and your person. You'll be amazed at what you'll see and what tragedies you'll avoid.
Now yer talkin' tough.
The airlines are only doing this because a majority of customers demanded the cheapest airfare possible.
Poor man. TSA set him up for failure. But he grabbed the bag without double-checking.
Only marginally better, in that it has actual multiple desktops. However, CDE sucks. Every version I've ever run was a serious dog. Of course, it used to be all you could get, so you had to live with it. Hell, I'd rather use gnome than CDE.
BTW: I was the same way at my job. First thing I did with my laptop was load Linux on it. WHen they ordered me my latest desktop, the disk came virgin clean. I honestly don't know how folks get work done on windows.
Don't know where you got THAT idea. It's incorrect.
Ubuntu is not BSD, it's based on Debian Linux.
>I have converted a fair number of mom & pop folks to Linux (Ubuntu, so BSD, really), and considering the level of ‘nix support in this town, I probably get most of that action...<
Chuckle. Upthread you said something about not speakin’ da Macanese. Since said Macanese is based on Unix, I bet you speaka more of it than you’ll ever care to admit.
Ducking and running for cover :P
The greenies don’t want us to fly. The government probably doesn’t think too much of the idea either.
Well, while I might agree that the greenies don't, I doubt it about the government. I think the "government" (in that generic form) does realize how much business and money comes out of that activity and into the rest of the economy.
Oh, sure. The operative word being "I". (I'm not a comfortable passenger.)
Anyway, you're not comparing survival rates for car crashes versus plane crashes, are you?
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