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Orlando's theme parks can't afford for parents to decide not to fly
Written by Robert Niles
The Orlando theme parks go together with the airline industry like a hot day and a frozen Butterbeer. Airlines flies millions of visitors into Central Florida each year, delivering a huge percentage of the visitors to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld. As the heart of the travel business, a healthy airline industry helps ensure a healthy theme park industry.Tweet
So anything that threatens people's willingness to fly endangers the Orlando parks. That's why I'm watching closing the growing outrage over the U.S. federal government's new screening procedures for airline passengers.
My kids find it hard to believe, but not all that long ago it was possible to fly anonymously. When I was in college, I flew from Indianapolis to Orlando using my friend's father's ticket. No one checked any identification. We had paper tickets, and if you presented the ticket, you got to fly. The only time you saw anyone checking travelers' ID was in the movies when the bad German or Soviet border guard was trying to catch the hero (who, inevitably, was traveling with fake papers.)
Obviously, that's changed in today's environment. Not only do you have to show ID to get on a plane today, but under this year's new security procedures, the name on your ID must match exactly the name on your flight reservation. I can't recall ever being able to get on a plane without going through a metal detector, but for the past several years you've had to take off your shoes to be X-rayed before boarding and can't carry onto the plane more than a tiny amount of liquid from outside the secure area, either.
But that's not been enough, in the view of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. Starting last month, the TSA mandated the use of new high-resolution "backscatter" imaging machines at all major U.S. airports for randomly selected passengers. You can refuse to go through the machines (which produce what looks like a naked image of your body), but if you do, you will be subject to a new, much more invasive pat-down, which travelers and security experts have compared to the pat-downs that new prisoners are subject to when they are checked into jail.
The new pat-down procedures don't stop with an agent feeling your arms and legs, as before. They also require TSA personnel to place their hands inside your waistband and also to touch your groin area, to check for hidden contraband.
What's driving some parents over the edge is that fact that children are also subject to the new screenings. Obviously, many parents object to having to choose between a TSA agent taking what amounts to a naked picture of their child or having the agent placing his or her hands on what most kids have been taught are their "private areas" that no stranger ever is allowed to touch.
Complains are pouring in (link displays TSA scanner images that may be NSFW), and some parents have declared that they won't fly again until the new procedures are rescinded.
Airlines aren't happy with the new procedures, and pilot and flight attendants (who are also subject to the screening) are livid. They're concerned about the health effects of the cumulative doses of radiation that they'd be exposed to going through the new screening machines on a daily basis. And they're not thrilled with the alternative of being felt up by TSA personnel daily, either.
So what will happen? As I see it, travelers have three choices:
1. You can accept the new procedures, and keep flying.
2. You can reject the procedures, and stop flying.
3. You can protest the decision to take this approach toward security, and call or e-mail your elected representatives to demand that they rewrite the law to order the TSA to change its screening tactics - if not for adult passengers at least toward children. (Of course, if change doesn't happen, then you're left deciding between choices 1 and 2.)
That decision is your call, of course, but I know that they theme park industry is really hoping that their fans who live outside a reasonable driving distance of their favorite theme parks don't choose option 2. Disney, Universal and SeaWorld can't afford for the nation's parents to decide that, in order to protect their children from what would otherwise be called abuse, they won't be flying anymore. Which is why I wouldn't be surprised to the see the industry's lobbyists start contacting those elected representatives, too.
Readers' Opinions
From 184.108.40.206 on November 15, 2010 at 10:58 AM
Well first of all, I think that parents are over reacting. As a parent myself, I am pleased that the airlines is taking strict steps in security so that my family and I are flying safe.
Would you rather be slightly inconvenienced to assure a safe flight, or would you rather not have great security and wonder who or what is on that same flight with you?
Mom from NJ
From Robert Niles on November 15, 2010 at 11:30 AM
Personally, I don't think that these needle-in-a-haystack random screenings help make flights safer at all. And I find it frustrating that while our current courts seems so intent on expanding rights for corporations, they have no interest in protecting Fourth Amendment rights for individuals. (Yes, I believe that civil rights are important. I don't want to live in a police state.)
I'd prefer that the TSA instead spend its money on good, old-fashioned detective work, the work that has foiled multiple potential attacks, including the recent cargo bomb attempt from Yemen. The TSA's taking this approach simply because it's the easy way to show that it's doing "something." It's a lazy way out, and I don't want the TSA *ever* taking the easy way out on ensuring security.
No, my kids aren't flying again in the U.S. until the rules change. But that's not really a big deal for us because, as frequent site readers likely know, we're really into roadtrips. :^)
From Derek Potter on November 15, 2010 at 12:26 PM
So it appears the terrorists are winning...because the government is taking away the rights of its citizens for the sake of fear. I'm all about safety and preventing a bomber on a plane, but not at the cost violating the privacy and rights of citizens. There are other ways to make planes safer than by frisking and x-raying children and harassing honest law-abiding citizens. I don't buy for a second that these searches are random and not selective. Anyone who does is naive I highly urge readers to go with option 3 and complain very loudly to your representatives. I suspect that if enough people do that, then things will change. This issue is very related to the theme park industry, but the scope of it is a whole lot bigger. I'll leave with a quote from Benjamin Franklin.
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
From Brian Emery on November 15, 2010 at 12:26 PM
It takes too long to drive so unless you can transport us like on star track, many folks will be stuck flying… I will not forgo my 8 days every May because of a little pat down. Heck some might even enjoy it..
Yes a random pat down will not deter anyone from trying whatever… Our US officials always have good intentions but lack common sense…
From Anthony Murphy on November 15, 2010 at 12:31 PM
I too think it is being blown way out of proportion as well since how could we have stopped the "underwear bomber" at the airport (never mind the warnings, paperwork, etc). I am curious if there is another way. I mean, I too think its a little weird, but I have no idea what the alternative is.
Still, I think your story has some legs (no pun intended)because I have noticed that Orlando International Airport tends to be very strict on going though security. They are sticklers for the liquids and what you carry on (my mother lost her nail clippers, something she didn't even know was in the luggage on the way back). I have never seen longer lines than at Orlando. So the point is, chances are the Orlando airport will be all over this!
From 22.214.171.124 on November 15, 2010 at 12:34 PM
The two new techniques are a huge invasion of privacy! I have no choice but to fly in January, but if TSA keeps using these techniques, it will definitely prevent me and my family from flying May 2011 and November 2011.
From Martha Moyers on November 15, 2010 at 1:19 PM
Over-reacting? You have a choice of having your children's naked bodies on an X-Ray machine, the health impact and long-term consequences of which are unknown, or having their privates groped and fondled by a TSA goon? If having you and your kids private body parts groped and scanned doesn't wake us up to the loss of our freedoms, what will? You have heard of the 4th Amendment, right? And it's not even the case that this outrage will make us safer. No, treating the entire US flying public, including nuns, old ladies in wheelchairs, and little kids, as guilty until proven innocent, does nothing to protect us from terrorists. The few, very few cases were discovered by police work, or the perps stopped by their fellow passengers. The head of security for Israel's airline says these Nude-o-scan machines are useless. What they do is interview people, especially those who fit the profile of a possible terrorist. Oh, yeah, we can't profile, can we? That would be "politically incorrect." I did so want to take my family to Disney World someday soon but I will not subject myself or them to the group of losers and perverts known as TSA. The TSA should be abolished and airport security turned over the the airlines, who have a vested interest in not having their passengers blown up. What's next, body cavity searches?
From Brian Emery on November 15, 2010 at 1:53 PM
Martha you are wrong because if you choose to fly and these are the things you are agreeing to by flying.. You can choose not to fly and no one will grope you.. You can simply say no by not flying or taking alternative means to vacation…
The difference is that nobody is forcing you to fly.. Freedom of choice…
And let's be real do you think these TSA folks want to do this? Do you think they are enjoying it? Do you think they will go home and try and remember 1 of 5,000 folks that passed through their x-ray machine – Times 5 days a week…. It's just a pat down…. No one will be touching kids inappropriately with you right there….
From Terry O'Neal on November 15, 2010 at 2:07 PM
I think it is interesting that Martha states that she wasn't overreacting, then presents a false dichotomy of having to choose between getting groped by a pervert or getting yourself subjected to things we don't know the after effects of. Perfect example of the overreaction.
I don't like being touched at all, or exposed to anything potentially harmful, so I won't fly, but it's not a bunch of criminals at work here. They're not just doing it for the sake of doing it. The shoe bomber got on a plane, the underwear bomber got on a plane, and the people in charge never want it to happen again. They made a choice to error on the side of safety, not comfort.
From 22.214.171.124 on November 15, 2010 at 3:23 PM
Interesting statistic:
After September 11 many people switched from plane to car travel. The resulting additiona lethal accidents (planes are a lot saver) already killed more people than the terror attack itsself.
From M. Ryan Traylor on November 15, 2010 at 3:42 PM
But TSA's "theater" hasn't stopped a threat from occurring. And theater is exactly what it is. It gives the performance of safety.
One can say that it is the duty of passengers to subject themselves to these screenings, but, let's look at other screenings.
DUI checkpoints. They occur all over Los Angeles on a weekly basis. Drivers on the road are subjected to passing through. They can take another route, but if they divert too close the checkpoint, police will follow and pull them over. Going through the checkpoint, the basic level is a wave through. Officers may shine a light in your face, say good evening and move along. Others are pulled aside, given breathalyzers, walk the line, etc etc. But NOT EVERY DRIVER!
Requiring every airline passenger to submit to body scan or extensive pat down is ridiculous. AND the body scans don't see under skin. Anything being "muled" in, won't be noticed.
Personally, I'm looking forward to my flights this holiday season and the possible groping. As awkward as it will be for me, I'm sure it will be for them. But just because I'm going to giggle at the ludicrousness of the situation doesn't mean it's right.
My biggest problem with the TSA is this: coherency. TSA is a federal program, yet different airports seem to operate under different rules. There are the basics. But sometimes, walking through metal detector with belt and/or jacket is okay.
Here's a specific example. A couple of years ago I flew from LAX, to IAH, to RIC and back to LAX. In Houston, I received a small jar of Egyptian mustard as a gift. This jar was under 3 oz. I carried it on from IAH to RIC. When returning to LAX from RIC, TSA stated that I couldn't carry that item onboard the plane. Their answer, it was a paste. However, I continued to argue the 3 oz rule. My feeling, although I attempted to get them to say this, but they never would, was the arabic language written on the jar made them feel unsafe.
TSA has to realize that you can't change the rules as it will confuse passengers. Name recognition is key here. Everyone knows exactly what type of experience they will have at a Six Flags, Cedar Fair, Disney, or Universal Park.
From James Rao on November 15, 2010 at 4:47 PM
I echo the sentiments of several other posters whose writing is much more eloquent than mine: the more our government tightens the clamps on our freedom, the greater the victory of those who seek to advance political/religious agendas through cowardly attacks on otherwise innocent victims.
Flying has been an abomination for years - now even more so. Bring on the Family Truckster, my family is cruising down a Holiday Road!
From Anthony Murphy on November 15, 2010 at 5:04 PM
BTW, this does not keep me from wanting to fly in the future!
From Robert Niles on November 15, 2010 at 6:14 PM
The head of the TSA's getting called in front of Congress to testify on Wednesday. So messages to Congressional offices on Tuesday (pro or con) will have the attention of the office staff, more than would be usual for any given topic.
From Mark Hollamon on November 15, 2010 at 6:16 PM
When you give up freedom for security you end up getting neither.
From Derek Potter on November 15, 2010 at 8:26 PM
The argument that designates flying a "choice" or "privilege" is missing the point. Flying is a method of transportation, just like driving in a car, taking a train, or walking. I shouldn't have to be subject to a virtual strip search in order to get to the place I'm going just because people didn't do their job 10 years ago. Also, I bet we don't see these kinds of searches on people who are boarding private planes and jets, which are just as dangerous in the air as airliners. These searches are nothing more than a lazy reliance on technology in lieu of actually doing it the right way. They trample on people's rights for the sake of their convenience and use fear to justify it.
Solution...do some real work. Use all of that intelligence to find the real bad guys instead of picking on 4 year old girls and little old ladies. If you are worried about security on the plane, train and arm the pilots. You trust them with the plane, why not with a gun as well. Of course it also might be a good idea to pay pilots more than a Taco Bell manager makes too.
From Fred Roy on November 15, 2010 at 8:51 PM
Has everyone forgotten how to drive? I live in the Detroit area and have been driving to Orlando since 1972. On the first trip we took we stopped at the rest area between Disney World and Orlando. Surprisingly when we left the restroom there were 5 cars parked next to each other with Michigan license plates. Now you hardly ever see out of state plates. We drive to just north of Atlanta the first day and are at Universal Studios by 11 AM the next day. Don't give me any crap about being tired. I'm sixty and I'm not.
From Brandon Mendoza on November 15, 2010 at 9:32 PM
I don't have children, so I can't comment on that aspect until I have kids... but as an adult, I have no problem as I know I have nothing to hide. I check the rules and regulations of what I can and can't bring on a flight, so I have no problem being checked. And I know that not everyone gets checked. But I'd rather be groped than to be scanned. Those scanners are too new and I know I'm in the minority, but I don't have as much problem with "personal space". But I think it's not as big of a problem for men... I can see it being a problem with women considering the way society is when the amount of male perverts there are around.
From Carrie Hood on November 15, 2010 at 10:12 PM
As I lack kids I wouldn't know but frankly I don't think I'd want mine subjected to that kind of thing. Besides, my kids should have to do it the same way I did. Stuck in the car, bored as hell and being yelled at every ten minutes!
Frankly, I haven't been on an Airplane since 2002 and have no plans to fly anyplace. I have four wheels and a hundred thousand miles that pretty much speaks to my husband and my-selves opinion of "Getting there is half the adventure of a vacation". Cause really, you never know what your going to see or the new random places you just might find.
About the only thing that would get me on an airplane at this point is overseas and frankly you couldn't pay me to get near an American carrier for that. So until I can't get someplace by my own four wheels or someplace that those nice people with the really big boats don't go.. I'll just drive!
From Andy Stevens on November 16, 2010 at 1:28 AM
I don't particularly mind security, generally if everyone forms an orderly queue, we'll all get through it. It is invasive, but if we want to fly we've not an awful lot of choice.
What's curbing my desire to fly to Florida from the UK this coming year. Price. Virgin fares are sky high and I don't have the option of driving.
From David Sutter on November 16, 2010 at 6:51 AM
Wow! What a mixed bag of thoughts. All very vaiid. But I just went thru OIAs new scan. And no big deal really. It was all very professionally. My bag wnt on the belt and I walked in hands up scanned and bag in hand left for the monorail to my gate. I look at it this way I travel maybe once twice a year by plane. And your in and out in a lot less time then youd think. I agree children should not need to be body sanned ..the walk thru detector should do. But as a full grown adult. Well like they say you wanta fly. then you gotta follow there rules. And flying is not a requirement for a vacation. ROberts correct use your car. So you and the little ones only get three days at the "happiest place on earth" instead of a full week. But who knows you just may find that little gem tucked away enroute. And discover America. There are great places to visit. Some take a day some a few hours. But its a nice break. And make for a more leasurly vacation. When My son was small we would drive to Orlando from Jersey. stop and visit Williamburg, Go vist Padro at SOuth of the Boarder and he learned to enoy theses as much as his 3 days at DIsney WOrld, or one of the other major parks in Fl.
From HANNAH CALLER on November 16, 2010 at 7:39 AM
I think some people need to think about this security "issue" it's not some pervert getting kicks out of a naked photo of you or your child it's a professional doing their job to make sure thousands of people don't get killed by some terrorist nut, the scan is viewed once then deleted,its only if you don't agree to this that you get a more envasive pat down, it is not a removal of your freedom it's a way to keep you safe, the underwear bomber could have killed a plane full of people, had he been subject to one of these scans he wouldn't have even been able to bored the plane and as a few people have said..... You could always drive! I still intend to fly and these this new system actually makes me feel safer!
From 126.96.36.199 on November 16, 2010 at 7:56 AM
I understand that many people are upset by this new system but you have to understand, it's in the best interest of the populace.
Robert, you stated that picking a random person every once in a while isn't going to do anything. It actually does. People that actually wanna commit harm on US Soil are watching our public transportation systems to see if they can maybe not get caught bringing a bomb on board via on their body. If they are staking out at the airports watching our system and they see random people being taken out for random screenings, they might scratch their plan because of the fear of getting caught.
Yes, you can argue that your personal rights are being taken away but I think people would rather have everyone experience the inconvenience than let the enemy have a chance at causing mayhem.
From HANNAH CALLER on November 16, 2010 at 8:02 AM
Andy, the main reason Virgin flights are becoming more expensive is mainly down to the government the tax you pay on a flight is decided by them, Richard Branson is not happy about this either, the tax hike that's just come in is based on your destinations capital city,(for example it's now more expensive to fly to the Caribbean than it is to fly to LA) also the cost of fuelling the aircraft has increased over the years, given a choice Richard Branson would not increase the prices of the flights so much!
From Tyler Stover on November 16, 2010 at 8:12 AM
Sadly I feel these infringements of our rights and liberties are here to stay. The American people have become addicted to feel-good security measures. It isn't just the airlines. We can't be bothered to learn how to drive our cars, so we just insist the automakers load them down with three tons of airbags, "blind spot" monitors, traction and stability control, tire pressure monitors, etc. Americans love having something tangible they can point to and say "because of this I'm totally safe."
Every change to screening procedures the TSA makes is simply a reaction to yesterday's failed plot, closing the barn door after the horse almost got out. The problem is, until we're only allowed to fly knocked out by hyper-sleep, bound, naked, with cavity searches before hand, there is absolutely no way to shut off all methods of attack for terrorists. And every time we surrender our freedoms for our "safety" they accomplish exactly what it is the set out to do. The body count is merely the means the main objective - fear, slavery, humiliation.
I am aware of my rights. I know I will never be completely safe. I live life aware of my surroundings and the risks, but never yield the experience of living to fear. Until the TSA feels the same way, I will not be flying unless there is absolutely no other option.
From Martha Moyers on November 16, 2010 at 10:05 AM
"Those who would trade liberty for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin. There's risk in life, people. You are far more likely to be killed in a car accident, eaten by sharks or stung to death by bees than blown up by terrorists in a plane. We cannot be totally secure and it's not worth trashing the 4th Amendment to do so. However, these TSA measures, according to security experts, are just "security theatre" and don't really even do anything to make us safer. If we really wanted to secure air travel, we would take a page from the Israelis. They say these machines are worthless and they profile and interview passengers directly. They haven't had a terrorist incident on planes in years, and lots of Islamic nutjobs hate Israel more than they hate us. It would nice if the TSA would act professionally while they are taking naked pictures of your teenage daughter or fondling your son's genitals but too many of them are rude and insolent. And it has been forgotten that even after 9/11, airports have the capacity if they wish, to dismiss the TSA and take over security on their own. I say let pilots carry weapons, most of them are ex-military anyway, and profile those in high risk groups (single Muslim males from Africa or the Middle East). Leave the nuns and little kids and old ladies in wheelchairs alone! When was the last time a 3 year old kid tried to blow up a plane??? And how many terrorists has the TSA caught--none!! The shoe bomber and the underwear bomber were stopped by passengers. And why do they search kids but do nothing about the ground crews and not search cargo planes? They are always responding to the LAST threat.
From M. Ryan Traylor on November 16, 2010 at 10:38 AM
As Robert stated, detective work is what is needed. I feel that TSA is trained to do certain actions and not think outside the box.
Many of the comments here stating that people can just drive are a bit odd. But then I remembered that it's ThemePark Insider and we are mainly talking about vacations. But even with vacations, some people want to maximize their time since they may not have the luxury of two weeks off from work.
Also, think about people who travel for business rather than pleasure, and the pilots and flights attendants. Pilots and flight attendants are subjecting to this every time they report to work. Seems a bit extreme to me.
I will continue to fly and push the edge of fighting back against the invasive checks.
Here are two more experiences I've had.
First, at LAX, I noticed a backpack resting behind a column near the queue for the ticket check. As we waited in line for about 10-15 minutes, no one ever picked up that bag. When we approached the TSA Agent who would look at our boarding pass and IDs, we mentioned that this bag was sitting over there. His response, "don't worry, you'll be safer upstairs."
Thanks for not shutting down the airport? If he knew what the item was, why not just say something.
The other one was a lockdown. Waiting in line at the metal detector, bags are on the belt, shoes off, etc, we hear "LOCKDOWN". Everything comes to a stop. Passengers look around at each other and are ordered by TSA to stay in line. Five minutes later the area is unlocked.
We make it through the metal detector, have our bags, and are about 10' from the checkpoint when "LOCKDOWN". This time, agents swarm in front us, directing passengers to remain where they are and sit down. I casually asked one agent what was happening. The response, "Sir, please have a seat."
So, I'm sitting and think, hey news travels fast in LA, so I check my phone for any news updates. TSA Agent comes over and states that I need to put my phone away. I stop using the phone and engage in conversation. My questions to the agent where in the range of "What's happening? Will our flights be affected? Is this a drill?" and all the responses were synonymous with "Please remain seated."
From James Rao on November 16, 2010 at 12:52 PM
These new measures, if approved, will continue to keep honest people honest. Nothing more.
From 184.108.40.206 on November 16, 2010 at 12:58 PM
I feel that scanners should be for EVERYONE on every trip, i would much prefer me or my child being scanned than flown into the side of a building... im not silly enough to think that this is enough to stop terroist acts as we see with the printer cartridges, ther is always another way.. this time it didn't work and fingers crossed it never happens again but i would prefer a scanning than be responsible for kicking up a fuss now, getting the rules changed back to not being scanned then having a plane come down because someone managed to get something on board ! every one who complains now has the power helping the terroists, giving them an easier life ! as a world we should stand up and let every check possible being done to prevent this or any other attack being able to happen,Not making it harder for the people on our side to do there JOB !
As for the parks around the world including Orlando i think if this is going to stop people flying, imagine what a plane coming down in the middle of seaworld would do for tourism ! i think that might damage travel a little bit more !
From Robert Niles on November 16, 2010 at 1:14 PM
Are you looking forward to having nude pictures of you and your children posted to the Internet, too. 'Cause that's already happened to some travelers.
How about the cavity search? Are you okay with a TSA rep placing a finger inside your child? Because that's coming, too.
A terrorist doesn't need to blow up anything to win, at this point. Neither the shoe bomber nor the underwear bomber succeeded, remember. The strategy that this point might very well be to try something that prompts the TSA to introduce a new, more invasive screening. That way, people throughout the West remain inconvenienced and fearful and the terrorists appear more powerful.
At some point, we've got to decide: are we a free country, or not? If we want to abandon freedom in favor of perceived security, then let's own that decision and quit declaring that we are a free country. It's the hypocrisy of people crying "Freedom" who support police-state tactics that drives me nuts.
I believe that travel is a liberating, enlightening and rewarding act. And while I want law enforcement to use its investigative powers to prevent crime and apprehend criminals, I don't want law enforcement to infringe on the rights of the innocent. Travel is not a privilege. It is and ought to be a right.
From Brian Emery on November 16, 2010 at 3:09 PM
A body cavity search… hahaha – Don't go "nuts" here Bobby… Getting a little carried away here now…
It's just a new scanner and a Pat down…. No civil liberties are at stake… None.. Get over it….
Most kids won't complain, but the over protective parents will…. What do you have to hide?
It's simply – Don't Fly… Take the Acella..
From 18.104.22.168 on November 16, 2010 at 6:39 PM
Too often, we take things for granted, and this is no different. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but flying is a privilege, not a right.
The Supreme Court has stated numerous times that driving is also a privilege and not a right.
When you choose to take advantage of this privilege, you agree to obey by the rules required by the privilege:
You agree to take a driver's test
Whatever it is, you must remember that these are privileges and not rights.
From Tyler Stover on November 16, 2010 at 8:42 PM
Brian Emery, I happen to have a copy of the Constitution of the United States, and I will quote you the relevant section:
Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
This is a government mandated search, and given that it involves such intimate touching and/or imaging that creates an image of the person practically nude, and it has already been demonstrated that these images are being stored, government claims to the contrary, I would argue these are unreasonable searches for the populace at large. Now if there is true cause to suspect a certain individual, backed up by evidence and a warrant, then I'd say this would be a reasonable search. However, as a routine search of persons suspected of no crime it is invasive and dehumanizing. And it won't in any way stop a determined terrorist. They'll just use a different method, prompting the government to take away yet another right.
From Derek Potter on November 17, 2010 at 7:11 AM
Definition of privilege...
"a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor."
Flying isn't a privilege, it's a right. The free market principle dictates that it is. The planes are owned by private sector companies who charge money to take people somewhere, and they will sell a ticket to anyone. Its like a giant taxi that goes a long way quickly. You don't have to obtain a license to be a passenger in a plane, nor do you have to pass any kind of test to obtain "permission" to be on one. The only thing that excludes some people is the price, but that doesn't mean they can't get the money to fly. If the airlines were dictating who could get on their planes based on some kind of membership or club of some kind, then it would be a privilege. The airlines could do their own security, but that would add to their bottom line and raise ticket prices. These measures do very little to make a plane safer, and they come at the cost of our basic rights. It's unacceptable.
Just put it this way, there would be trouble if I had to witness my 4 year old daughter being frisked and touched by some random stranger (did anyone see that link that's disappearing quickly from the internet?) who happens to have a tin badge and zero cause for search. Any parent worth their salt would be incensed.
From Martha Moyers on November 17, 2010 at 7:43 AM
"Experts in medicine, biochemistry, and biophysics warn that one type of machine, backscatter X-ray, concentrates in the skin rather than diffusing through the body as medical radiation does; therefore, the dose you receive is shockingly high -- far higher than the government admits. Dr. Jeff Zervas, a surgeon in Montevideo, Minnesota, told me, "As far as living tissue is concerned, the less exposure to ionizing radiation, the better. Zero is best." Dr. Zervas also worried about the TSA's legendary incompetence: "What happens, for example, if some clown leaves the machine on, and a passenger's standing in the field? And who calibrates these things? I wouldn't trust a bureaucrat or anyone else without a stake in its safety to do it properly."
In our discussion about the 4th Amendment, etc. we have not dealt with the health risk from the scanners. The government claims they are safe but many experts disagree: Dr. David Caskey, a cardiologist who was also teaching at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans "In the medical industry we try as hard as possible to avoid even the smallest dose of radiation. Here you will be subjected to a rather significant amount. The result can and will be an increase in cataract formation, thyroid cancer, bone marrow suppression, etc." He was especially concerned for female passengers. "Even low level radiation can adversely affect a woman's ovaries. There's the potential for later birth defects. That risk increases if the woman is pregnant in the first trimester when she would likely be unaware of the pregnancy."
Millimeter waves may be even worse. No one knows their exact effects on human flesh, but one study concludes that they "unzip doubleanded DNA, creating bubbles in the double strand that could significantly interfere with processes such as gene expression and DNA replication. ... a new generation of cameras are set to appear that not only record [millimeter] waves but also bombard us with them..."
so it looks like there will be possibly more deaths from cancer from these scanners than there would be from terrorists, assuming that these procedures would really stop terrorists, which has not proved to be the case.
Even if you don't mind you wife and kids having naked images made of them or having their private parts groped, you might want to think twice about subjecting growing children to these machines. There is some evidence that they are especially harmful to those who have suffered from skin cancer or are at high risk of doing so. I for one do not want my DNA "unzipped".
From Brian Emery on November 17, 2010 at 9:27 AM
Where in the constitution does it say "You have the right to fly"… It's a choice and a privilege… You have several choices in travel…. So chose not to fly… If you choose to fly, then you are subject to all federal standards and guidelines… Therefore you are choosing to be searched and maybe if randomly selected a pat down…
Ask any kid if they will take a small pat down to go to Orlando? Most will find it amusing and fun… No One is looking into your orifices…Lighten up Francis and take the train..!
From M. Ryan Traylor on November 17, 2010 at 11:09 AM
Yeah, but I don't need a pat down to get into my car.
From 18.104.22.168 on November 17, 2010 at 1:37 PM
Brian, you are absolutely right. Any type of public or private transit is a privilege, not a right. For instance, I see nothing wrong with asking certain passengers to ride in the back of the bus. It is not their right to ride the bus at all, so they should be glad to submit to any regulation or policy.
From Martha Moyers on November 17, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Amusing and fun?????? Seriously????? Did you see the video of the little 3 year old kid screaming as a TSA person touches her all over? Don't we teach our children not to let people touch their private parts? If someone touched a kid the way TSA agents do and that person didn't have a tin badge and a uniform, they'd be arrested for child molestation. And the scanner photos are child pornography by law. I for one do not want myself or my grandchild groped and touched. Even the most fervent apologists for the national security state don't say it would be "amusing and fun". And judging by the hearings in Congress and the nationwide outrage about this whole issue, a lot of people are not willing to be "we the sheeple". It's not about security, it never was, it's about control and seeing how much dignity and freedom we will give up. I think maybe the frogs might have woken up and are starting to jump out of the boiling pot. And the Constitution doesn't have to mention all our rights in detail. The 4th Amendment covers this situation well, as do the Ninth and Tenth Amendments. The government's powers are strictly enumerated and all powers not specifically delegated to it are reserved to the states, respectively, and to the people. The government does not grant us rights, we have rights, including freedom of association (travel) which are inalienable and come to us from the Creator and these rights cannot be granted by government, only defended. Nor can they legitimately be taken away. Enjoy being a serf, but as for me, I will stand free and tall and not let these bastards push me around!!!
From 18.104.22.168 on November 17, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Either let me live in freedom or die in the fight for it. I will not give up my liberty for a false sense of security. Anyone who really believes that the TSA's measures are effective at catching intelligent terrorists should click the following link:
As the sister of and daughter of veterans, I know that our military has sacrificed so that we could keep our freedoms. Why then is the government trying to take them away little by little? Those who say people are overreacting, don't see the big picture. Is it better to live free with some risk; or live in "safety" with no freedom?
From Martha Moyers on November 17, 2010 at 2:03 PM
Time to add a little humor to this discussion:
Jay Leno: "It was bad enough when the TSA agents would go through your underwear in your luggage. Now they're going through your underwear while you're wearing it.
Now, to make it worse, the airlines are charging a $15 molestation fee."
Conan: "People are concerned that the new airport security scanners could lead to pictures of their genitals ending up on the Internet. Apparently no one has told them that without pictures of genitals, there would be no Internet."
Ideas for T-shirts: "There could be shirts like:
"I'm with this (TSA) pedophile! (arrow pointing left)"
From Robert Niles on November 17, 2010 at 6:58 PM
Here's what I would like to see:
1) To protect the privacy of innocent passengers who go through the scanner, Congress should pass a law mandating that the TSA immediately delete any scanner image of anyone who "passes" and is not detained for additional screening. A policy statement isn't enough. We need criminal penalties for keeping these images around, in memory or cache, so that they might be released.
2) To address the radiation exposure issue, create a verified ID program, with biometrics, for pilots and others who work past the secure zone, so that they don't have to be scanned every time through.
3) Congress should pass a law mandating that the TSA cannot places hands inside the clothing nor touch the clothed genitals of any passenger under age 18. Scanner, metal detectors and traditional pat-downs are the only acceptable screens for minors.
4) I tried to confirm this, but couldn't get a definite answer. But if it is not yet the case, the TSA should not employ anyone who has a violent or sex-related offense on his or her record. If the TSA hasn't checked for that among screeners, it should be required to check existing personnel and dismiss anyone who doesn't pass.
5) Congress also should outlaw TSA cavity searches without probable cause. They're not doing those now, and I want to ensure that they don't even contemplate starting.
6) If you want to decline all screening, you can turn around and leave the airport without penalty.
If these safeguards were in place, I'd feel more comfortable flying, and would allow my children to go through the checkpoints. And I think it would satisfy more would-be flyers as well.
From Martha Moyers on November 18, 2010 at 8:27 AM
I agree with Robert, this would be minimally acceptable. However, I see in the news today that Orlando Sanford International Airport is opting out of TSA for their own security measures. I would prefer that we search for terrorists, not explosive materials, which are almost impossible to find, by profiling and interviewing like they do in Israel (and people get through security there in 25 minutes or so, usually) but because of political correctness, the government does not have the balls to take up the Israeli model. The State of New Jersey has introduced a bill to halt some of the worst abuses in New Jersey airports, California is planning to prosecute any TSA personnel who violate California law, and a bill has been introduced in Congress. So this has gone viral and is not just a few libertarians making a fuss. However I found out there is an Amtrack train which goes from Lorton Virginia to central Florida which carries your car along on the train and until the government ruins train travel, I am will be taking the train on any visits to Florida. That or take 2 days to drive. Just much less hassle.
From Derek Potter on November 18, 2010 at 2:48 PM
New legislation from Ron Paul has been introduced. It basically removes immunity from the TSA and their employees from being arrested or sued for violating local and state law. Very short and to the point
HR 6416, the American Traveler Dignity Act:
No law of the United States shall be construed to confer any immunity for a federal employee or agency or any individual or entity that receives federal funds, who subjects an individual to any physical contact (including contact with any clothing the individual is wearing), X-rays, or millimeter waves, or aids in the creation of or views a representation of any part of a individual's body covered by clothing as a condition for such individual to be in an airport or to fly in an aircraft. The preceding sentence shall apply even if the individual or the individual's parent, guardian, or any other individual gives consent.
From 188.8.131.52 on November 19, 2010 at 7:52 AM
We stopped flying with the kids after our first WDW trip. Due to security procedure, (which I respect), my 3 year old had a book as a comfort item to transition from airport to plane, which security took to check for contraband. We told him it was a gift from Mickey for being a good boy at WDW. He could not handle having it checked, because the security staff said, "I just want to check this out." He knew it was his book, not a library book, (which gets checked out) and he lost it.
Was he the first kid to lose it in the Orlando airport? No. Did it suck? Yes.
We had an infant, as well, and had done everything we could to prepare the kids for the trip, including sharing pictures of airport security and social stories for flight.
We decided it was not the airport's fault, not our kid's fault for being wired the way he was, and not really our fault, because we did our HW. We just decided to weave 13 hours of driving into our vacation plans from now on.
If it is more restrictive now, I'm glad we have an alternative routine in place.
I think people who expect kids to travel by plane to come to see them need to remember how much harder travel is on little ones, especially with the restrictions on fluids.
While I am on the box, business travelers who are shocked by tourists flying into MCO might consider another airport. Parents need to be thoughtful, but one man was so rude to this mom on the plane I offered him my ear plugs, because it was his whining that was getting under my skin.
From 184.108.40.206 on November 19, 2010 at 9:35 AM
The terrorists have won. we have lost all of our freedoms. Big Brother is becoming reality. 1984 was only off by 26 years. I'll get off the soap box now.
Here is the truth of it all. I stopped flying a few years ago because the cost. My family of 4 can travel the day and a half to WDW and cost us a third of the cost to fly. Which gives us extra money to spend at the parks.
These new security protocols have completely turned me off from flying commercially now. I will still go to WDW but will not fly. I am not a person that believes these new practices make us any more safe. Just like I am not impressed with the bag checks when you go into the parks. All it amounts to is a delay for the customer with no benefit. If someone wants to do something they will accomplish it.
The question is what would Walt think of this? Since he was a strong believer in the American ways and freedoms.
From Robert L on November 19, 2010 at 1:06 PM
Law enforcement can not pat you down without probable cause, but the TSA seems to think they are immune to that very protection we are afforded. I would like to see lawsuits brought against the TSA for every person subjected to the full body scan or the intrusive patdown techniques now being employed. We are all assumed being terrorists and have to be scanned or patted down to prove our innocence. Seems backwards to me. The shoe bomber and the underware bomber boarded aircraft outside the United States, correct? And bomb equipped packages were intercepted on the way from Yemen to the U.S. So why isn't the FAA and the Congress putting more pressure on foreign governments and airports to stop the threats where they have been originating? Profiling may be the best tool law enforcement has to find and limit threats, but being politically correct seems to trump common sense, and we all suffer for it.
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NEW ORLEANS -- A New Orleans bartender who accused Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. of pushing her has dropped all charges against him, bar management said Wednesday.
The unnamed female bartender told police Gooding stopped by the Old Absinthe House in the French Quarter in the early hours of Tuesday with a group of people. She said Gooding soon became angry with other patrons who recognized him and wanted to take pictures with him.
Police said Gooding was presumed to be intoxicated, and a misdemeanor battery warrant was issued for his arrest.
Gooding and his attorney met with police Wednesday and was given a court summons, police said, but later in the day the bar's management said the bartender chose to drop all charges.
"While we will continue to investigate this matter internally, we are hopeful that this will put an end to the matter and allow everyone to get back to enjoying all that our great city has to offer!" a statement from the management read.
Gooding is starring in the upcoming movie "The Butler," filming in New Orleans. He won an Academy Award in 1997 for best supporting actor in the film "Jerry Maguire" and starred in this year's "Red Tails," about the Tuskegee Airmen.


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London, United Kingdom
My Rating
One of the trip's highlights. So much information, Bob's commentary both informed and well delivered right amount of fun mixed in withthe serious stuff.
Paris, France
My Rating
Great lessson from guide on French history and the meanings of the carvings and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before the climb to the top. Great views all around. highlight spotting the hot air balloon behid the Eiffel Tower. Highly recommend the guide whose knowledge of the Tower was great
Paris, France
My Rating
Booked the champagne tour and sat at window looking over the wonderful sights of the city. Went upstairs to 59th floor and enjoyed even more of the same. Suddenly had a perspective of some the streets and buildings we had walked around the previous days. Spent over an hour and a half up there.
London, United Kingdom
My Rating
Yeah yeah yeah I think I'm in love with Liverpool it's easy cos I know. Trains both ways ran on time and were comfortable. Beatles Story brilliant covering all aspects of the Beatles brilliant career. Broken up by the Lennon Imagine exhibit. Had time to wander around the Mersey the setting of so much of the history of these times. Magical Mystery Tour in the afternoon covered all the sites of the early Beatles history with very knowledgeable guide. Now have a greater appreciation of the lyrics of Penny Lane and how it fits into their early lives. ( also saw cabs doing similar trips and would have preferred them as an option - a bit more intimate and can get into places a bus can't) Leftedown the road from the "new" Cavern and spent a great hour down there soaking up the atmosphere of what it would have been like all those years ago.
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Our school serves the children of the world. With 32 languages spoken and most continents represented, we truly are an International School. My students come from Somalia, Egypt, Yemen and Thailand to name a few. Some of our students have never been to school in their own countries nor are they literate in their first languages. As a 3rd grade teacher I have 1 year to prepare my kids for the state ELA exam and literally hours for the math exam, if they arrive late in the year. Our children work harder than others and their families are incredibly dedicated to the education of their children. The parents of our students are supportive of their children and the teachers that are hoping to instill vast knowledge and values into their youngsters. As educators, we are friends, we are family but mostly we are nurturers to our kids and each other. We need more books and instructional videos and online support to succeed in making our students successful. We need appropriate clothing to make our families comfortable during all of our violent seasons. We are a determined and dedicated staff and want the best for our children.
Great School! Just remodeled, everything up to date, You sense the excitement and enthusiasm from everyone upon entering the building. The International School BPS #45 is exactly what the name states with over 30 different countries represented the students and faculty are working toward one goal, a quality education.
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141 Hoyt St
Buffalo, NY 14213
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Public Policy Polling of North Carolina on Wednesday published some leftovers of its Georgia survey. See the crosstabs here.
Among the tidbits:
– Voters of all party stripes (56%) agree that alcohol sales should be legal on Sundays. But surprisingly, the measure is more popular with independents (60%) and even Republicans (57%) than with Democrats (53%).
– One reason is that African-American voters (53%) were less enthusiastic about Sunday sales than white voters (59%).
– Another surprise: Younger people aged 18 to 29 were less caught up in the idea (51% approved) than those 30 to 45 (61%) or those 46 to 65 (63%). Senior citizens were the only age group opposed to the measure.
The PPP poll also indicates we like our politicians best when they're out of office. Former U.S. senator Sam Nunn measured out as the most popular figure in the state. Right behind him was another former senator – and governor — Zell Miller.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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April 7th, 2011
2:08 pm
Opposition from seniors isn't surprising. They're still upset over the whole desegregation thing, too.
April 7th, 2011
2:10 pm
Black people aren't real Democrats anyways.
April 7th, 2011
2:10 pm
And wasn't it Republican Senator Judson Hill's district that polled nearly 4:1 among likely GOP primary voters in favor:opposition to Sunday sales?
Not that Hill gave a damn, of course.
April 7th, 2011
2:13 pm
Ah yes, the Dems…always trying to impose their will with their policies and beliefs–I don' t own a gun so neither should you. I don't want to buy alcohol on Sunday so neither should you. I don't believe in God so neither should you. I don't drive an SUV so neither should you. I don't make any money so neither should you.
April 7th, 2011
2:14 pm
Mike is actually right. Most black people are very socially conservative even though they vote Democratic.
April 7th, 2011
2:17 pm
Very True
Which kind of makes you wonder why the GOP needs to employ fear based tactics on a socially conservative group which is also what alot of Latinos are being Catholic and pro-life
Nice diatribe….one could easily insert Repubs wherever there is the word Dem and the diatribe still be correct
April 7th, 2011
2:35 pm
Perhaps our less-than-useful habit of labeling people (and ourselves) "conservative" or "liberal" would be more useful if we would stick the word "fiscal" and "social" before each use. Going a step further, any time somebody yammers about "freedom," perhaps they should indicate for WHOM. I know very few people who favor freedom for everybody, though the answer to "for whom?" differs greatly.
Perhaps that would alleviate false assumptions and lead to a more constructive discourse. (Compulsive, chronic haters notwithstanding.)
April 7th, 2011
2:37 pm
Mike – "Black people aren't real Democrats anyways."
Very True – "Mike is actually right. Most black people are very socially conservative even though they vote Democratic."
There is a lot of truth in these two comments. For close to a 100 years blacks were a monolithic Republican voting bloc. Then with Goldwater and Reagan and the Republican "southern strategy", blacks fled to the Democratic Party as a monolithic bloc.
Will blacks go back to the Republican Party in the future? If blacks retain the basic "social conservative" beliefs they do hold, maybe.
In 40 years this nation, and this state, will be majority "brown" with whites as just another minority. Will evangelical whites and evangelical "browns' join to create a majority at the polls?
The combination has possibilities. But it would require both whites and browns to accept candidates from both groups as legitimate. And that would require a major shift in core beliefs. At present whites do not accept Obama as legitimate and most browns did not accept Bush 43 second term as legitimate. So there would need to be a change.
"The wind of change is blowing through this continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact."
The above quote is from Conservative British Prime Minister Harold MAcMillan's speech to the South African Parliament in Feb 1960. Change a couple of words and it fits the demographics of the ever changing American landscape.
April 7th, 2011
2:42 pm
My fear is that as this nation does continue to brown that certain parties will implement a scorched earth strategy to make sure everyone loses regardless of race instead having to bear the sight of brown people in real control
April 7th, 2011
2:44 pm
I'm not surprised that Republicans favor Sunday sales. If you're a repuklican in this state you need to stay drunk to escape the goings on in your party.
April 7th, 2011
2:51 pm
Alcohol! Worlds most Abused Drug!!
April 7th, 2011
2:51 pm
Hey, Joe — I own firearms and I don't care if you do, as long as you pass a background check and all your weapons are properly registered. I don't buy alcohol, and I don't care if you want to or not. I don't believe in a god, but it doesn't bother me if you do. I used to drive an SUV, but I traded it in for something more reliable and cheaper to drive and insure. And I have a good job, but I don't know about you.
You sure do seem to be wound up, joe. Maybe you should try decaf.
April 7th, 2011
2:57 pm
I'm a senior citizen and a Democrat and do not oppose Sunday alcohol sales. And I don't impose my beliefs on other people.
So don't stereotype all Democrats, you sound snarky.
April 7th, 2011
2:59 pm
Joe Mama:
"and all your weapons are properly registered"
Are you sure you really want that?
April 7th, 2011
3:15 pm
Joe- Sorry, you're confused about which party forces it's will on the other. Republicans (or at least Republican politicians) are all for freedom for the people…unless they don't agree with it. The Republican senators are against Sunday sales, so tried to force that belief on everyone else by trying to vote down SB10. Republicans are against abortion, so they try to force that belief on everyone (SR 153). The list goes on & on.
April 7th, 2011
3:35 pm
Joe Mama- surely you don't live in Georgia. If you did you'd know that there's no need to register firearms here. The only licensing or registration required by law here is if you intend to carry a concealed weapon. You are then required to obtain a Georgia Weapons License from your County Probate Judge.
April 7th, 2011
3:37 pm
Sam Nunn – Now there is a Democrat I would have voted for and campaigned for, eagerly. He is the type of person who should be President because he would not embarrass the country like the last three clowns we have elected.
April 7th, 2011
3:38 pm
There is no way this poll is correct. Only 51% of 18-29 years olds support it? Maybe the wording was confusing? As a 29 year old, I can tell you that 100% of people my age that I know are supportive of allowing sales on Sunday.
April 7th, 2011
3:43 pm
LawDog – the problem with these surveys is most people don't respond. It only gets the opinions of people who have nothing else to do but answer stupid questions on a 0 to 10 scale.
April 7th, 2011
3:47 pm
What I don't get is why they won't put this to a vote and then vote for their constituency. Majority rules. This is just like the Washington Republicans from 2009-2010 and the Wisconsin Democrats this year. Spine-less weasels in the minority who want to impose their will on others by refusing to bring issues to a vote. This time the weasels are red and blue, but they're still a minority and they're still spine-less!
April 7th, 2011
4:07 pm
I can speak from experience. As a black person, almost all of the other black people I know are socially conservative, including my parents. I however, am much more socially liberal than they are. Black people tend to vote for Democrats since there is a belief the Democrats have a better ear to their issues and are more understanding than Republicans. However, one would not know this when speaking to what one thinks about alcohol sales, abortion and marriage equality, for example. In addition, the church is the center of the black community, hence where these socially conservative views come from.
April 7th, 2011
4:10 pm
Zell can't hold Sam Nunn's jock….
April 7th, 2011
4:17 pm
Ah yes, the Dems…always trying to impose their will with their policies and beliefs–I don' t own a gun so neither should you. I don't want to buy alcohol on Sunday so neither should you. I don't believe in God so neither should you. I don't drive an SUV so neither should you. I don't make any money so neither should you.
What state do you live in? Joe Mama and Jeanne are right. Republicans are WAY more about controlling what other people do than Dems.
I'm a lesbian atheist gun owner who votes Libertarian or (sadly) Democrat when a good Libertarian candidate is not available. I leave people to their own beliefs as long as they leave me alone. Unfortunately, the Republicans won't stop passing laws to deny me rights. The Democrats thus far have left me alone, except taxing me to death (but Repubs do that, too).
April 7th, 2011
4:18 pm
Sorry…only meant to italicize the first paragraph.
April 7th, 2011
4:28 pm
Last Man Standing — "Are you sure you really want that?"
Yes, I do. I want that very much.
In the words of those who supported warrantless wiretapping, 'I've got nothing to hide.'
April 7th, 2011
4:30 pm
Troglodyke: Great post. I can understand where you're coming from.
April 7th, 2011
4:31 pm
John Galt — "Joe Mama- surely you don't live in Georgia. If you did you'd know that there's no need to register firearms here."
I don't know where Joe resides, or what the legal requirements are where he lives. I didn't speak about my weapons, I spoke of Joe's.
Any other conclusions you'd care to jump to, sir?
April 7th, 2011
4:35 pm
I still can't figure out why black people hate Martin Luther King, if they liked him and believed in him then they would be republican like him….just sayin…
April 7th, 2011
4:38 pm
What Troglodyke said. And I dig her handle.
My wife likes to post as "Ho Chi Mindy" on conservative boards sometimes, just to give the regulars the vapors.
April 7th, 2011
4:48 pm
Heck, I wish we had Zell in the Gov's mansion and Sam in the White House. We would SEE some REAL change or someone would be explaining why!
April 7th, 2011
4:49 pm
If white people have a marijauna plant in their truck ya know it's a keg back there as well.
April 7th, 2011
5:09 pm
UpU.S.tooter I do not think Zell wants to hold Sam Nunn's jock, and I don't think Sam wants him holding on to it.
April 7th, 2011
5:18 pm
Ironic, that the right-wing loves local control — until it means locals actually get to vote on something the Christianists oppose. But then again, they don't really understand irony or hypocrisy. After all, these are people who think Rush and Hannity are intellectuals.
April 7th, 2011
5:29 pm
Joe Mama, I stand corrected.
We return you now to your regular programming.
April 7th, 2011
7:31 pm
"The PPP poll also indicates we like our politicians best when they're out of office."
Yep, I will like Barack Obama more when he is out of office.
April 7th, 2011
8:04 pm
People can believe what they want to believe, but verily I say unto you most are hypocrite. These so-call Christians white and black enthrall everyone with the belief that Sunday is the Sabbath and we should rest because its the Lords day, but should'nt everyday be the Lords' day? I've been to plenty shopping malls on Sunday and believe me when I tell you those Baptist know how to spend the money, but I guess money should only be spent on the so call righteous merchants and not the devils brew….what a bunch of hogwash. Live and let live ,and I'll drink to that any day of the week.
April 7th, 2011
8:24 pm
Like I said @very true ,bunch of hypocrites, for all there purported Christian values, baby mama's and absentee fathers run rampant in the black community.
April 8th, 2011
9:54 am
I don't think ANYONE should be allowed to own or carry a firearm unless they have passed a police-certified weapons training course. I don't want some drunken nut going all John Wayne in a crowded establishment.


text:
- Age / Gender:
- 23, Male
- Location:
- Inside your mind
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Ranked as Civilian
Contact Info / Websites
Recent Game Medals
First Boss Domination 10 Points Defeat the first boss. Medal Stats.
Get Talent 5 Points Spend your first Talent Point. Medal Stats.
Small Spender 5 Points Spend some rubies in the ugrade menu. Medal Stats.
Sticking Around 5 Points Play through the intro. Medal Stats.
complete level 5 10 Points complete level 5 Medal Stats.
complete level 1 5 Points complete level 1 Medal Stats.
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Clean 100 Points Complete the game without harming animals or civilians. Medal Stats.
Total Medals Earned: 49 (From 12 different games.)
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The Reward Rated 4.5004 Stars The Reward is a film about bromance, fantasy, killing stuff... and HIGH FIVES!! Comedy - Original Organ Story Rated 4.4794 Stars A dark, musical tale with a lot of heart... also lungs, a brain and a stomach Comedy - Original Good Citizen Rated 3.8740 Stars A cynical short on the life of a good citizen, inspired by reality. Informative We live in the sea Rated 4.1036 Stars Sea creatures love to sing and swim about. Music Video


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Celebrity Makeup Mishaps
Some stars obviously forget the last minute mirror check before they head out in public.
Taylor Momsen
Obviously, former Gossip Girl star Taylor Momsen isn't terribly interested in looking pretty. Really, this scab-red matte lipstick and plum-hued eyeshadow is probably exactly what she was going for. But we wouldn't recommend trying it at home.
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A Woman Was Denied a Marriage License Her Fiancé Can't Say "I Do."
A couple residing in the Winnebago County, Illinois was denied the right to get married. Colette Purifoy has been with her partner John Morris for 38 years now. They have children together and have been seeking a marriage license for the past six months. What's stopping them? In the eyes of the law, John is unable to give his consent due to brain damage.
in marriage sad brain damage i do


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Jeff LaBar
|Jeff LaBar
Jeff LaBar at Festivalna Hall, Sofia, June 15, 2011.
|Background information
|Birth name
|Jeffrey Philip LaBar
|March 18, 1963
|Darby, Pennsylvania, U.S.
|Glam metal, heavy metal
|Years active
|Associated acts
Naked Beggars
|Jeff Labar Official Site
Cinderella Official Site
Jeffrey Philip LaBar (born March 18, 1963, in Darby, Pennsylvania) is an American guitarist most famous for playing in the band Cinderella, in which he replaced original guitarist Michael Smerick, also known as Michael Kelly Smith. LaBar also has a side band with Cinderella bandmate Eric Brittingham called Naked Beggars. During Cinderella's temporary break-up in the mid-1990s, LaBar supported himself by running a pizza shop with his brother and by doing assorted construction jobs. LaBar and Cinderella recently completed their 20th anniversary tour with fellow rock veterans Poison, who were also celebrating 20 years in the business.
LaBar married Debinique (Debby) Salazar on January 25, 2006 on stage in Pottsville, Pennsylvania before a Blue Öyster Cult concert. In April 2007 LaBar and his wife parted ways with Naked Beggars. They hosted an internet radio show "Late Night with the LaBar's" on www.realityradio.biz. He has a son named Sebastian from a previous marriage. Sebastian is in a band called Mach22. He is also engaged to Kaitlyn Fail and expecting a child.
LaBar then joined a new project with Frankie Banali, Tony Franklin, and Markus Allen Christopher. Their debut album, Freakshow, was released in April 2009.
2012 - presently with Cinderella
External links[edit]
- Jeff Labar's official website
- Late Night with the LaBar's
- Jeff Labar Metal Sludge interview with C.C. Banana (July 14, 2006)
- [1]
- [2]
|This article on a United States rock guitarist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


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Z Story Chapter OneLooking around at the world today, you wouldn't believe the things you have to deal with. Nevermind Global Warming, the year 2012 or the sun falling from the sky, those are just some fairy tales in the past. Now a days, if you aren't one already, you get to deal with a land of the undead. I'm not talking about vampires, although I wish I was because they'd probably be more friendly, no I'm talking about zombies. Flesh- eating psychopathic freaks that are rooming pretty much every square mile of the earth right now. Well, except for maybe the deserts of Egypt, yet I wouldn't doubt there being some there too. How could something like this happen, you may be asking.
Remember that H1N1 scare back a couple years ago that everyone was rushing to get a vaccine pumped into their systems for? That wasn't the smartest idea seeing as it hadn't been tested over a few year
period. If it had been, they would have seen that the patients that initially seemed healthy fell ill for no apparent reason an
So Over...So Over...
The taste of salty tears flowing down my face,
Hearing the words I knew I'd embrace,
Making me wish I had bit my tounge,
For now my whole body is growing numb,
"We're getting too busy" were the words,
Why do we sound like fricken nerds,
I just can't believe this is coming to an end,
And now I somehow have to be just your friend,
I think I've made a huge mistake,
This is something I can't just remake,
Loving you has made my heart sing,
Leaving you was a stupid thing,
Maybe we'll be together again one of these days,
Or perhaps we will stay our seperate ways,
I just hope that you'll be alright,
For I know I'm going to cry tonight...
The Untold StoryThe wind outside was hauling as Selene waited for Michael in the abandoned house that they were hiding in. He had gone out to find then some fresh blood at a near by blood donor building. Selene lay out her guns and knifes on the table, reloading the empty ones, light from the window sawn on the weapons. She suddenly heard faint footsteps in the hallway.
"Michael, is that you?" Selene shouted, but there was no response. Grabbing her Walther P99, Selene began so rise from the chair.
She slowly turned to have her gun was knocked out of her hand. Selene saw the shadow of a young girl before her. Glancing over at the table, she saw no sign of her other weapons. "Who are you?" Selene asked, but suddenly Michael came through the window, bringing the girl down. Holding her down, he grabbed the gun and pointed it at her head.
"Michael wait!" cried Selene.
"Why? She tried to kill you!" Michael yelled back.
"No, she's my sister " Selene could just barely make out.
Lying before them was a young g
Forbidden Chapter 3They are not only dead but immortal as well. They think that they can't die because they can't be killed in ordinary ways. Both the males and females are tremendously strong. Each of them has their own unique power or ability. Some are able to read others' thoughts, while others can walk on walls. A few even have the talent to subdue one to them.
In a sense, they are still like us, however, because they can't just appear and disappear whenever they please. They still look like us, except for their pale skin and fangs. So it is possible to fall in love with them
That night, Racquelle dreamt of him once more. He reached out his hand to her. His skin was much paler and when she took his hand in hers, it felt as frigid as ice and. However, Racquelle felt safe again. She wanted him; no, she needed him there. "I love you," David whispered in her ear. "Forever and Always."
Racquelle awoke with a jolt, and glanced at the alarm clock on her bedside table. The clock read 1:00pm. Shit, I forgot
Forbidden Chapter 2Chapter 2
Once you've become one, you can never go back. All it takes is one bite and you're turned. Some victims take awhile to change, while others are right away. However, if the victim is sucked dry of all blood, they will die.
Unfortunately, when they have become the undead, there's no turning back. He or she will turn more innocent people, as well. They feast on blood because they need it. It is key to their survival. That is why hunters must track them and destroy as many as possible. Also, this is why it is unusual that one would want to contact a hunter.
"Meh, it's probably just a prank of some sort." Racquelle finally let out, trying to reassure Uriel. Or, am I reassuring myself, she thought nervously.
"Maybe But I don't know," pondered Uriel. "I mean, why go to all the trouble?"
"Well " Racquelle searched her mind for some other reasonable explanation, when suddenly, CRASH.
"What was that?"
The two raced up the stairs to find Otieno kneeling down, trying to pick up a broken
Forbidden Chapter 1Forbidden
Chapter 1
In former days, when most people lived in small villages and met someone that was supposed to be dead already, it was easy to spot them. Nowadays, however, when so many of us live in big cities, and when families move much more than they used to, you have to look for other, more predominate or hidden signs. They are active only at night because the sun will kill them. Instead of risking ultimate death, they go to nightclubs or stay in the shadows of the evening.
Most of them can wait until they can steal blood packs from a blood bank or hospital. Yet some want the warmth and taste of blood, even if it's in the middle of the streets.
Vampires, thought Racquelle Gale as she loaded a stake into her gun. What a pig, couldn't even wait for an abandoned alley. She tossed back her long, curly brown hair as she approached the bloodsucker. He didn't even look up until she was two feet away from him and his victim.
"Hey sweetie. If you give me a few seconds, I can finish up w
Meet the Forbidden CharactersForbidden Characters
Racquelle Gale- The kind of person that almost everyone likes because she's easy to talk to. She has aqua coloured eyes and chestnut brown hair. Racquelle can be very emotional at times. She is a vampire hunter who lives alone in her apartment. So she usually likes to stay with her friends at the hunter's base. When she is not hunting, Racquelle tries to get gigs at local theatres, singing.
David James- Racquelle's deceased boyfriend who was turned into a vampire after being in a terrible car crash. He finally confronts Racquelle after four months with the truth. He has blond hair and "clear sky like" blue eyes. He is a very creative person that likes to carve things into wood.
Uriel Falcon- Racquelle's best friend. Uriel is like a big sister to Racquelle and protects her. She is a tough person to figure out at times because she isn't one to talk about her problems. She has brown eyes and dark brown hair. Also, she is a vampire hunter and good with a revolver. She
Preview for Story
Preview for:
Racquelle Gale, a mortal vampire hunter, discovers her love that she thought was dead has returned to her. David James was given another life, yet he still is madly in love with Racquelle. He is willing to risk anything and everything for her. However, she must decide whether or not to trust him, or stake him.
Knowing that if her fellow hunters get word that David is a vampire, they will take him down, Racquelle has not choice but to secretly leave them. Now she must decide if her life is worth risking seeing her love again.
Author Notes:
Taking place in Los Angeles in the year 2036, I have the ability to invent my own technology and change it up a bit if I need to. In the time period of this story, it is not allowed to love a vampire if you are human. Especially since not a lot of people know about vampires, they want to keep it like that. As it was centuries ago, those who disobey this must become a vampire if they are human or die.
Soon to Come: A list of char
DisneyWorldIt's a place of wonders and dreamers,
Where wishes really come true,
Everywhere you look you'll see,
The fantasies of Walt Disney,
From Mickey Mouse to Captain Jack,
You'll even find the wizard's hat,
Heros from the movies come to life,
And in the night the castle shines bright,
Ariel the mermaid sings her sweet song,
While you merrily stroll along,
Or run to see a great adventure,
Like the Pirates venture,
You'll meet some friends from the big screens,
Taking many pictures to prove you've been,
One man's dream has trully come true,
All starting from a mouse he drew.
{The End}
VampiresDark eyes that are frightening but comforting at the same time,
A heart that can be warm or its core filled with ice,
Ears that can hear my heart pounding,
Fangs that can rip open my flesh.
Can fall in love but pay the price,
Wander in the night
Drink blood to satisfy their thirst,
Perfect in every way,
Have their horrid past and many different ways of taking it.
In the need of someone but prefer to be alone,
With tenderness underneath.
How long until we understand these creatures?
How long until the war of our worlds ends?
How much longer will we be blind?
There is so much more to a vampire than meets the eye.
The paleness of their skin,
The warmth of their body replaced with an icy feeling,
Each one has their own unique trait,
Every one has a weakness,
Every one has untold petinual.
Vampires what would so many people do without them?
Look behind those eyes,
Look behind their twisted minds,
Look behind their broken souls,
And you find a little piece of you,
VampiresLovely things, vampires. Friends of the night. Enemys of the light. Feasting on the blood of humans or animals. They look like normal people at night. Just like one of us. Then tricking us so they can suck our blood in the dark alleys near bars. Aren't they lovely, vampires.
VampiresMany want to become them
Like I do they never have anyone they just have
others and masters many don't understand them they
don't hurt any one only for blood
I don't see y people can't except the fact that vampires
are not any thing u worship but things
u believe in and y can't one take me away?
Roses bleeding red
unfaithful delusional reality and demonic intellectual minds of angelic faces with burning wings, screaming songs to their tired god whose light thats burnt out.
They ambush your life highlighting the bad and digest your vomit(humility) for emortality infecting your wounds and drinking every drop of blood wanting you to turn as cold and hollow as them.
They drain the light out of your world wasting you and bleeding you dry for them to reach their salvation, their form of life after death; their resurection. And when you plead for relief they cut you open and taste your soul greedily eating at your heart and rearranging everything before sowing you back up.
And you are left there in purgatory always pulled an inch from your unholy final death.
Blood drips
From hollowed fangs
A chorus sings
Of days long gone
When the world
Was plagued by Us
The Immortals
Of a time now forgotten
Yes, my child
When We ruled
When We laughed at the heavens above
A time when We could hunt freely!
A time when rivers themselves streamed blood!
Yes, the age
Of when Vampires ruled
And all quivered
Under Our shadows
Under the night
In which We took flight
Feasting, hunting
On whomever We chose
Ah, the age
The lost age of Vampires...
It will soon come again.
Vampires heartacheI awake in the night;
I can no longer sleep.
I don't see myself in mirrors;
I see somebody else.
I am alone.
I am dead.
The red stripes on white flesh
Keep me somewhat Sane.
I stare at the ceiling;
It is as cold and dead as I am.
The pain burns within;
as my life slowly fades away.
VampiresCreatures of the night
Fleeting in and out
Of his sight,
Moon shines
Shadows frozen in time
Blood red lips
From drinking too deep
It stains
Rave scenes,
Glowing light sticks
Moving blurs
Of mortal bodies
Dashing along
Narrow alleys
Praying for some relief,
Something to satisfy
Sucker for a sweet word
Voice says
"Follow me,
Little one"
He followed
The creature
Inserts fangs
Into point A and point B
Festive faces
Fangs piercing flesh
Fool for flattery
Fool falling prey
He shivers slightly
Flinching away
From the pain,
"It hurts wonderfully"
But it didn't last
Long enough
For him to feel satisfied,
For him to feel full
Lonely little boy
Pressed his fangs
Through young necks
For gratification
"Fulfill me"
His seductive eyes
Seemed to plead
But each fix was never enough
"Your blood is a drug
Your body is a fix...
I want to consume
Each drop"
His prey is repulsed
He enjoys it not enough...
There is no love
For a lonely vampire
He'd die
If the prey ran away
"I need your blood..."
He prays for
The sun rises, From beyond the horizon,
Birds start to sing their dawn chorus;
The funeral march of vampires.
That will forever protect us.
They lay buried deep,
Down within their graves,
Trying to ignore that symphony that would accompany their death,
And resist their bloody craves.
They lick their fangs in satisfaction,
Picking flesh from their teeth,
Smiling oh so smugly,
As the humans don't know what lies beneath.
The sun reaches its high point in the sky,
They are cramping up with blood lust,
The wait is almost agonising,
But they know that their fate would still be dust.
Enter the night,
They hear he cry of the baying wolf,
Thousands of clammy hands hurtle through the earth,
As they look for a human to engulf.
Vampires in my thoughts
Vampires in my mind
I don't care the peace i will find
I will try so hard to be kind
I will wrestle them
I will hit them hard
I wll take the winning card
I free my mind
I free my thoughts
All the effort is not for naught
Vampires in my thoughts
Vampires in my mind
I dont care the peace i will find
I will try so hard to be kind
United we stand
Hand in clamy hand
Juniors, Seniors mighty and small
Come one come all
Watch the deadly vampires fall
United with hand in hand
We stand
VampiresVampires are the creatures of night,
Whose kiss is an eternal bite,
They'll feast on blood until the dawn,
For in the sunlight they will be gone.
Some fear them yet some do not,
Those who love them have never been caught,
For when you're turned and dead for good,
That can put you in a horrible mood.
As the undead they cannot die,
Not even when choked with a tie,
There are only afew things you can do,
But best to send a hunter to do this for you.
They will stake them in the heart,
It's almost a slaying form of art,
Then the vampire will turn to ash,
And the rest of them will try to dash.
But not all vampires are as evil as you think,
Some write their life stories all out in ink,
Others never wanted to be this way,
They had absolutey no say.
Still vampires are creatures of the night,
With a very fierce eternal bite.
{The End}
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Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
The Hidden Land (1986)
by Pamela Dean
Compact | Rate recommendations
No current Talk conversations about this book.
The plot is tighter in this book and moves along at a better pace (well, a pace I liked better, anyway). We "know" the world now, so Dean can focus on the intrigue. In a way, there aren't that many surprises, since the children have been playing this story out for years before the start of the series, and they've been discussing what comes next all along. Still, watching them try to change parts of the plot and try to figure out the new bits is intriguing. I just wish this world felt more three-dimensional...or is that deliberate, reinforcing the fact that in many ways it was just a children's game?
As always, Dean's books are beautifully dense, packed with allusions and quotations. Her characters are smart, careful, kind, and in way over their heads as the world they thought they'd imagined collapses into a Shakespearean tragedy around them. Highly recommended.
Ted, Ruth, Patrick, Ellen, and Laura are still stuck in the Secret Country, the world of their imagining that has become all too real. War is brewing, war against the Dragon King, and tensions are running high. For the king and his counselors, it means preparing for battle. For the five children, it means trying to avoid playing out the worst of the Secret Country's fates.
The Hidden Land picks up pretty much immediately after The Secret Country and a lot of what I said about its predecessor continues to be the same. It's a intelligent, twisty young adult series. Characters are genuinely complex and multi-faceted. Hundreds of pages later, they can still surprise you. They are also smart and literate. Dean throws around T.S Eliot and Shakespeare as easy as breathing. Her language is evocative and enigmatic, which suits the feel of her story.
The mysteries in this book aren't straightforward. You have to work for it. Dean doesn't so much flesh out the Secret Country for you as much as she builds it in frames and sketches, leaving you to fill in the blanks. For the most part, it works. Sometimes I did get frustrated with the ambiguity and how, by the end of the book, I didn't know that much more than the beginning. I also thought that the bit with the Land of the Dead was hyped up in the synopsis but ultimately too short.
But at the end of the day, The Hidden Land remains a mature, rewarding fantasy with beautiful language and complex characters.
Fighting to avert the problems they relished inventing in their game from manifesting in the Hidden Land the five cousins with varying success impersonate the five royal children whose identity they have taken over upon arrival in this world. Unableto do so they end up escaping back to their own world.
References to this work on external resources.
Wikipedia in English
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0142501433, Paperback)
The five cousins are still trapped in the Secret Country, and must play their parts. When the King is poisoned, Ted-Prince Edward-must take the throne, even though he has no idea how to rule a country, battle magic, or inspire followers. Soon enough he will have to do all three because the Country is on the verge of war with the treacherous Dragon King.
(retrieved from Amazon Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:41:31 -0400)
The participants in a fantasy role-playing game discover that the "imaginary" land they created during their game is all too real and that they have become trapped in the mysterious, magical world.
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(Source: snow-cone, via fit-positive-healthy)
(Source: snow-cone, via fit-positive-healthy)
// from snow-cone
May 31 2012
Yesterday, was easily the longest day of my life. Houston to London to Spain all in one day. It was insane , exhausting and hopefully things will go up from here. I brought only a carry on and a backpack. Along with many hopes and dreams. I don't know what I am looking for here. I also don't know why I am here. Im hoping this trip will answer questions, I haven't thought of asking.
It reminded me too much of home. The Brits where extremely nice, going the extra step to make sure were where happy. However , it was much too fast pace. Their culture resembled New York, the People extremely diverse.
Spain- so far I feel right at home. I'll update when I fly out Wednesday.
Story of my life.
(Source: skydazzle, via loveandpalmtrees)
// from skydazzle
(Source: lovewithouthypocrisy, via heckyesuofh)
// from lovewithouthypocrisy
// from alisonwynn
// from a-rose-colored-dream
// from h-e-r-o-i-n
(Source: life-love-laughter, via fit-positive-healthy)
// from life-love-laughter
// from birdcity
// from misstanwyck


text:
Sully Sloth, New sewing pattern for February 2014
Sully is 16″ from head to "tail", but his legs lay out longer. He is made from soft faux fur and is fully jointed. Eyes are needle felted and nose is embroidered. His eyes are shaded with an artist's marker. Detailed, written instructions with illustrations for clarity. … Continue reading
Writing is like a dragonfly…
One of my first blog posts, thought I'd share it again for those you didn't get to read it before!
How to dye cotton fleece!
So, I just had a new pattern come out in the September issue of Soft Dolls and Animals Magazine and I had promised to get the directions up on my blog to dye the cotton sweatshirt fleece that I used for the Polliwog pattern for those who don't know how to do it. I apologize, … Continue reading
How to spot dye wool fabric…
Most of the creatures I make are made from woven wool that I buy from the Dorr Mill Store in Guild, NH. Wool is easy to dye and you can use any dye that can be used on natural materials. I've used acid dyes (Prochem), Flavored drink mixes (ie: Kool Aid) and food coloring. There … Continue reading
2010 in review
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here's a high level summary of its overall blog health: The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow. Crunchy numbers A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 2,100 times in 2010. That's about 5 full 747s. In … Continue reading


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Calorad Classic is an amazingly powerful and healthful weight loss supplement enjoyed by thousands of satisfied customers. With well over 10 million bottles sold, critical and clinical acclaim in both the traditional and non-traditional wellness and fitness communities.
Calorad Classic is the original collagen protein weight loss supplement invented in 1981. Calorad Classic used to be sold by EYI, Essentially Yours Industry. There is tremendous demand for Calorad Classic and Calorad Advanced. More than 10 million bottles have sold. Both Calorads can help you lose weight (curbing the appetite and diminishing food cravings), experience improved skin, achieve better sleep and digestion. Calorad is all natural and will bring a complete change to your body resulting in a more positive attitude.
J&B's Health Center is proud to exclusively offer both the original Calorad, now called Calorad Classic, and the new Calorad Advanced formulas. Calorad Advanced was developed and enhanced, in 2009, to help knock off belly fat linked to cardiovascular disease.
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