[PRCo] Re: The newest form of terror

[Phillip Clark Campbell]

	* To: "pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org" <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
	* Subject: [PRCo] Re: The newest form of terror
	* From: Derrick Brashear <shadow at dementia.org>
	* Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 20:05:35 -0500
 
yinz aren't paying attention. 
international is b[n]ot the same as domestic.

Derrick


>> On Feb 2, 2010, at 7:25 PM, Bob Rathke wrote:
>>
>> I've been on several planes in the past month,
>> including two flights last week.  We were never told
>> that the restroom was off limits 60 minutes before
>> landing.  However, these were flights within the U.S.
>>
>> Bob 2/2/10


> On Feb 2, 2010, at 8:00 PM,
> Schneider Fred <fwschneider at comcast.net> wrote:

> Interesting.
Mr.Brashear;

I haven't flown in ages,  I don't have a need to fly,  I do not 'want' to fly,
but I can't rule it out altogether.  From this it is possible to assume that
I would not be aware of rules - regulations regarding flying.  Yet I am
very much aware of this 'bathroom' rule relative to domestic or
international flights.  It has been all over the news hasn't it.  I wonder
how it is possible to miss what seems obvious.  This is most baffling.

The failed Christmas attempt to bomb a flight landing in Detroit was
'apparently' an international flight;  thus tighter security is needed on
international flights.  This is baffling as well;  it is not at all unlike the
following 'reasoning:'  Suzie wears red shoes.  Suzie is a girl.
Therefore all girls wear red shoes.

Let's carry it one step further.  'The' worst terrorist attack on this
nation - 9:11 - was on 'national' flights by terrorists already on
U.S.A. soil.  Further comment here is not needed is it.

The current dual standard on 'bathrooms' inflight is much ado
about nothing - 'pure' window dressing to give an appearance of
action.  This in the face of news today where top security 'people' say
that an 'attempted' terrorist attack on U.S.A. soil in the next 6-months
is 'certain.'

-------

In the wake of the current financial debacle all are clamoring for more
regulation - this with the news that the current regulators were slack
if not totally negligent in doing their job.  This with the 'news' that the
regulations on banks instituted after the Great Depression were
systematically removed in the last couple decades allowing and even
promoting risky investments.  This also with the news that the recent
declaration of this being a new era, a new age, that nothing can go wrong,
we are in a state of perpetual euphoria is 'identical' to statements made
in the 1920s.

IF this is an imperfect world then why aren't we connecting the dots?
A perfect euphoria shall never exist.  It is certainly not wrong to work
for better conditions but to believe that perfection is possible in an
imperfect world is baffling.

I have written this before and even yesterday but gave an example some
time back.  While speaking specifically of pollution in the form of litter,
Pogo said it best:  "We have met the enemy and he is us."  The fraility
of the human condition is prone to error, even many errors, even constant
error.  More regulation is not necessarily the answer;  action by those who
are in regulatory positions is what is needed - human action.  Have you
ever tried contacting a regulatory agency to get action?  Their walls are
steel - even iron - not brick.  The Iron Curtain takes on a whole new meaning
doesn't it.

One current example of this Iron Curtain - Toyota is having quality control 
problems with runaway engines first blamed on floor mats, then faulty 
pedals, but denying any electronic / software involvement.  Steve Wozniak, 
co-founder of apple, worked through the system to bring evidence that 
software is to blame for runaway engines in some cases.  He tried contacting 
Toyota officials and regulatory officials without success.  He went to the media;  
he now has the attention of company officials.  Please watch the news for details.

Vigilance seems to be an operative word from finances to flying.  It was
a diligent - vigilant passenger who thwarted the attempts of the terrorist
inflight on Christmas.  This is not to disparage any air marshal on board
as that individual could be elsewhere.  It does raise questions about
security screening and why this individual with explosives was not
detected.  Those in charge cannot do it all;  indeed, many fail at the job,
and slackers exist in every job.
Be responsible and diligent and vigilant for yourself.



Phil