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And just how well is this going to work?
Aug. 10th, 2006 04:49 amAccording to CNN International, British police say they have disrupted an apparent plot to blow up planes in mid-flight. Heathrow was reportedly closed, though it's open now. New air travel security measures mean that no hand luggage aside from an extraordinarily limited set of items will be allowed on planes from UK airports.
If the carry-on limitations are any indication, it must be one hell of a plot, and one that is believed to still pose profound risk. Yes, indeed, in the bit of time I've been writing this, the banner has been changed to read, "Plot to blow up aircraft flying from UK was 'intended to be mass murder on an unimaginable scale,' police spokesman says."
CNN reports that Britain's transportation secretary Alexander "said the measures would be kept under review and would only be in place for as long as necessary. He said that he recognized that the measures meant that airline passengers would face immensely difficult circumstances."
No shit.
I'm trying to imagine any flight, let alone a transatlantic one, without a book to read. Having to check both my laptop and my CPAP equipment, or leave them at home. Not traveling with any jewelry other than what I'm wearing. No little PEZ Boy MP3 player, no inflatable neck pillow. Checking my purse, being allowed only a pocket-sized bag with ID/Passport, cash, credit cards, and essential prescription medications needed in flight...so long as they aren't liquid, or are somehow verified as authentic, and similar restrictions on the incredibly short list of allowed items...I'm not sure flying would be a realistic choice for me at this time. Work demands du jour mean accepting increased risks affecting my computer equipment and the time I have available to work on it are a really bad idea.
Fortunately, I'm not heading for an airport for another 11 days. There's a bit of time to see how this settles out, what if any security changes TSA decides upon during that time. So far, they've only prohibited liquids, gels, lotions, and similar items from carry-on baggage. I can put my toothpaste in my checked bag....
Yes, I realize these are small matters compared to any loss of life in deliberately-executed terrorist actions, let alone "mass murder on an unimaginable scale." But the travel disruptions that occur because of this particular set of security measures are going to be profound and then some. It's going to directly affect the world, and my personal world as well. We'll all find out how over the coming days and weeks.
Onward.
If the carry-on limitations are any indication, it must be one hell of a plot, and one that is believed to still pose profound risk. Yes, indeed, in the bit of time I've been writing this, the banner has been changed to read, "Plot to blow up aircraft flying from UK was 'intended to be mass murder on an unimaginable scale,' police spokesman says."
CNN reports that Britain's transportation secretary Alexander "said the measures would be kept under review and would only be in place for as long as necessary. He said that he recognized that the measures meant that airline passengers would face immensely difficult circumstances."
No shit.
I'm trying to imagine any flight, let alone a transatlantic one, without a book to read. Having to check both my laptop and my CPAP equipment, or leave them at home. Not traveling with any jewelry other than what I'm wearing. No little PEZ Boy MP3 player, no inflatable neck pillow. Checking my purse, being allowed only a pocket-sized bag with ID/Passport, cash, credit cards, and essential prescription medications needed in flight...so long as they aren't liquid, or are somehow verified as authentic, and similar restrictions on the incredibly short list of allowed items...I'm not sure flying would be a realistic choice for me at this time. Work demands du jour mean accepting increased risks affecting my computer equipment and the time I have available to work on it are a really bad idea.
Fortunately, I'm not heading for an airport for another 11 days. There's a bit of time to see how this settles out, what if any security changes TSA decides upon during that time. So far, they've only prohibited liquids, gels, lotions, and similar items from carry-on baggage. I can put my toothpaste in my checked bag....
Yes, I realize these are small matters compared to any loss of life in deliberately-executed terrorist actions, let alone "mass murder on an unimaginable scale." But the travel disruptions that occur because of this particular set of security measures are going to be profound and then some. It's going to directly affect the world, and my personal world as well. We'll all find out how over the coming days and weeks.
Onward.
