trains and boats and planes

[erastes]

(scuse formatting - it's an email post)

I haven't commented on the madness going on over here yet, because

1. I haven't fully assimilated it - living in the far east of the country,
far away from the Big Smoke and International airports. I'm probably just as
remote from it all, as my flist in other countries. I had no intention
really, of getting on a plane after 11th September and I feel less inclined
to do so now.

Not particularly because of the "terrorism threat" but because of the wave
of half-assed, confusing, unorganised bureaucracy that would go with it. If
this happened in somewhere like Denmark or Germany they would have systems
in place in hours. They are probably already written into the airport's
protocol, and the staff would have had training on such issues. The thing
with the English is that we are a nation of firefighters. With every crisis
that happens, floods, fire, bombs, leaves on the line, wrong kind of snow,
we let it happen first and then try and work out a way of dealing with it
afterwards. There just seems to be no planning.

I remember being in America when there was a bomb scare on a bus, many years
ago. It was wonderfully efficient, we were taken off the bus, swiftly and
calmly - the bus driver obviously knew what to do - had had training - we
waited an incredibly short time before another bus arrived to whisk us
away. Over here, I've had the same experience on a train over here, and we
were trapped on the train for an hour, in terror, and then had to wait six
hours for buses to get taken on to the destination.

2. I'm horribly cynical about the whole thing, I'm afraid. I know how
devious governments can be, and at the moment, there is a lot of sympathy
towards the Lebanese. I'm not saying that's what this is about, but I'm not
saying it isn't, either.

Where I have to agree with http://grrm.livejournal.com/5804.html George
Martin is wondering where it will end, and the implications of it all.
(probity probes, anyone?) I have to admit that if I had a Cello or a laptop
I would object very strongly putting it in the hold, especially as there are
no guarantees that i would get compensation if it were damaged. Yes yes,
travel insurance blah blah but insurance companies are already wriggling out
of their responsibilites citing "terrorism" which of course isn't covered.

Perhaps it will bring about the next golden age of sea travel. I'm all for
that!! Steamer chairs, assignations on the poop deck (oo missus) and trunks
all covered in stickers. Frotting in the moonlight. Friggin' in the
Riggin'. (anyone who knows the next line gets a drive-by snog)

I have to admit that I had a snigger this morning when "Carry On Luggage"
was referred to. Perhaps we should get the Carry On team out of
retirement/graves to do that one.

And also? What a LOAD of WHINEY people!!! "oeh noes!! I can't take my
make-up bag or mp3 player or PSP on board, boohoo!!!"

Oh, grow up.

*stumps off, grumping*

Comments

[ejab62.livejournal.com]

It won't last, though. I really don't think. When the feelings of danger and threats get less, people will not be willingto accept these rules, I think.
Having said that - they can put all the security measures they can think of in action, but when someone *wants* to do damage, they will find a way.
Mmm perhaps a little cynical here but that's me - there's just no way you can prevent it from never happening.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

it's pointless anyway. they are still selling and allowing duty free on the plane - molotov cocktails anyone? and you can buy hairspray and razors.... it's ALL COMPLETELY pointless. It's just a PR exercise.

grrrr

[ejab62.livejournal.com]

"they are still selling and allowing duty free on the plane -and you can buy hairspray and razors" - I didn't know that! This is stupidity at its worst. Oh, and include dumbness. And ignorance and - sigh.

Depressing that these same people are in charge of OUR safety.

[schmoo999.livejournal.com]

I just finished reading an article about people in different American airports having fits mostly over having to dump expensive items such as wine and perfume and this one women sobbed because she had to throw out $60 lipstick before she was allowed to go to her plane. Oy...most people didn't care about dumping toothpaste or shampoo that were cheap which is what I always have. lol.

I can understand this. It is scary and shows that this "war" will no doubt ever ever end. How will I get to bring my kids to Europe someday? To see their cousins in France and Greece? *sigh*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It is a horrible choice to have to make. I mean you know you know it's pretty safe, but a part of your brain still can't help saying "Russian Roulette" to yourself.

Maybe you can fly over and sail back!!!

[darklocket.livejournal.com]

Our most famous opera diva flew home today, because she didn't feel safe in Britain anymore...okay, she's a diva, she's entitled to a few drama queen moments, but that really brought it home to me. Its not going to stop, its just going to carry on until the world is a series of fortified islands, everyone shut off from everyone else. Am very depressed right now.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Me too, it makes me feel horrible. I mean, I don't really travel, but I'd like to be able to should I suddenly get a sudden windfall or amazing books sales or something!!!

:(

[leni-jess.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that if it was me booked out of Heathrow I'd turn right around and go right back, if necessary dumping myself on a friend if I couldn't get my room back, rather than face the disorgansation, cold, discomfort, starvation, lack of sleep, the certainty of damage to my laptop (hadn't thought of your point about insurance; yikes, that settles it), and appalling boredom. To say nothing, of course, of the possibility of some nutjobs getting past the extraordinary security. Anyone over 30 is too old for this! I've had Heathrow on a bad day, in my 20s, and so help me God I'm not doing it again if I can avoid it; this would be that day * 1000.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Being stuck in Heathrow in August is NO fun. Yuk.

[rosie-red73.livejournal.com]

I was sitting watching all those idiots in the airport yesterday and thinking 'why are you still flying when they've said they haven't even caught them all yet?' but it just occurred to me yesterday that I'm flying in two weeks. For the first time in about eight years I'm getting on an aeroplane, I shall have my son and my unborn child with me and I'm crapping myself. I'm only flying to Jersey, it's only an hour-long flight. No one's going to try blowing up a flight to Jersey are they? Who would care about Jersey? (I'm talking the teeny island, obviously, not the big place in the US).

But what if they do?

The thing I find so scary is that if they want to do it, they will. They'll find a way. Fear of being caught will not put them off. Some muslim guy on the news yesterday said the only people who could even hope to dissuade people from making these attacks are muslim leaders themselves.

I was heavily pregnant with Sam when 9/11 hit and I remember watching the first throes of war unfold on the TV in the labour room. I remember wondering what the fuck kind of world I was bringing a child into, whether his future would involve seeing gun-toting soldiers in tanks on his walk to school, or whether nuclear fallout would ever be an issue. OK, so I was on some major drugs and four years on, very little has changed but you can't help wondering what if...

Christ, I'm ridiculously verbose today.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Verbose is good.

But how do we know they are even telling the truth? Last time they arrested all those people and the judges just let them all off. I know it might be true, but... oh I don't know, it's horrible to mistrust your government so very much.

Lebanon

[dubaiyan.livejournal.com]

Yep the timing 'gives one furiously to think'!!

Re: Lebanon

[erastes.livejournal.com]

nod nod nod

[tammylee.livejournal.com]

Friggin' in the
Riggin'. (anyone who knows the next line gets a drive-by snog)
It repeats itself twice more then it goes, something like, 'And there was fuck all else to do'?

The captain of this lugger
he was a dirty bugger
he wasn't fit to shovel shit
from one place to another! <--only stanza I've got memorized! =D

I was very angry yesterday at the whole banning of liquids and magazines and such. What if they come up with explosive fabrics? Are we to fly naked? I can see it now, I'm probed because I get lippy and the security staff decide punitive action is required and they find either my Nuvaring or my Divacup and next thing I know I'm humiliated, on an FBI watch list and my cootch candy is bagged for evidence because some ignorant wahoo doesn't know what either of those two items are. (Frankly, it would be an awesome story to tell at parties if a bomb squad was called in to deactivate my birth control. XD)

Honestly, what recourse do you have if security decides you're a threat? They just have to say they felt you threatened the security of the flight or they suspected you might be a terrorist and they are free to do whatever they please. Who polices these people? You're told it's for your protection and you must comply.

Erg. Yes, yes, I realize people would rather feel safe than free but the little anarchist in me rages against it all. (To date I have been detained for a suspicious pair of boots and a suspicious hair brush. I tried to cooperate with a minimal use of sarcasm but judging from the hard-assed response I got I obviously wasn't restraining myself enough.)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

and pets! No reason why you can't implant c4 into a pet and explode it. And razors and hairspray you can buy at books, and spirits you can buy at the duty free....

and if they arrest you, god help you. 28 days without charge at the very least.

Horrid

Oh yes, and you get a drive by snog!

*SNOG*

[thistlerose.livejournal.com]

I'd complain if I couldn't take at least one book on a trans-Atlantic flight. I've got a friend flying into Minnesota tonight; I'll get to hear all about New York airport security. :P

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

I've been on transatlantic flights. They last forever. You can't sleep for very long, and you can't eat or watch movies when meals and movies aren't scheduled. There's no way to stay sane on a plane without books, puzzle magazines, and notebooks. No way at all.

[thistlerose.livejournal.com]

I've been on transatlantic flights, too. I've been on transpacific flights. :P Some people can sleep on airplanes; I can't. Even on overnight flights. In the past, one could bring food onto airplanes, but I don't think that's allowed at the moment. A friend of mine flew to Germany the other day, and she was pretty miserable.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

one word!

DRINK!

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

Not a great idea when you're on anticonvulsants. To quote my neurologist, "Of course you can drink! Just be sure to call the undertaker first."

[erastes.livejournal.com]

You can only take books that you buy at duty free.....

eep.

It's the Da Vinci Code Conspiracy!!!!

[thistlerose.livejournal.com]

What an awful thought! Poor people.

[maidenform.livejournal.com]

Eventually, the rules will get so ridiculous that there will be an uprising. I'll lead it. :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I'll be there!!

:)

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

the only placeholder I have for "Friggin' in the Riggin'" says "Sex Pistols?"

But I was quite young then and could be wrong.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

it is! But you didn't quote the next line so no snog for YOU!

Hello! so nice to see you here! *wags*

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

awww, no snog? :(

I think I deserve one for insisting that my nearly-eleven-year-old could NOT buy Misfits shoelaces with glow-in-the-dark skulls until she had actually LISTENED to some of their music, and by that I meant THEM performing it, not the My Chemical Romance cover of "Astro Zombies."

or maybe I'll just snog YOU, neener neener!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

*IZ SNOGGED*

[enolabloodygay.livejournal.com]

I may have misheard this or misinterpreted it, but they said on the BEEB news tonight ' all but essential items can be taken on board'

So my pet giraffe can sit on my knee but my toothpaste will be consigned to the cargo hold?

I can take any extraneous items I like on board (feel free to decide what you want to take on board) but no water, no pens, no books or whatever, but if I want to take a frivolous fan on baord, I can?
Is it just me? Or has the BEEB gone down the pan?
I shall shortly be boarding the 12.09 from Heathrow with all my see-through possesions in a plastic bag.
It's just a shame that all my explosives will not be obviously and conviently packed for the security to see.