Author: Fuzzy Curmudgeon

Back in August, I complained mightily about the TSA PITA at BWI that I had to endure back in July.
I’m not so sure I still agree with what I said then.
For one thing, after I calmed down, I realized that

• I hate to fly…period.
• I hate to be lined up for anything

Both of these concerns were operative at the time (there were probably 300 people in line ahead of me at the Southwest counter). However,

• The line actually moved pretty fast
• Although I was picked for a luggage explosives search, it was done with a minimum of BS, although the young lady could have been a bit more friendly
• There was actually someone at the head of the security checkpoint line directing people to lines that were moving faster than others…and there were plenty of machines
• There was a minimum of BS at the gate
• The plane was only 15 minutes late taking off…because the crew had gotten a red light before they landed and were having whatever it was checked by maintenance
• Finally…we were actually about 10 minutes early getting in to our destination.

At Indianapolis, last Tuesday, there was a humongous line at the checkpoint; at least 200 people when we got there. I think we had just been federalized, because there was a lot of TSA training going on. But the line moved quickly, the folks at the checkpoint were pleasant and helpful, and they didn’t make my wife take her shoes off this time. (I wear sandals year-round, and apparently they never bother with sandals.)
In Ft. Myers (SW Florida International Airport), they were federalized THE DAY WE GOT THERE. I figured we were in for it coming back…but yesterday we practically breezed through what was nevertheless a very thorough security checkpoint, and again, the people were pleasant, joking, helpful, and watching everything very carefully.
But I wasn’t impressed that they pulled three elderly white folks out of the line at the gate for a secondary check. If TSA were allowed to profile, this would not happen. I see no reason to bother our elderly travellers when the people who are more likely than anyone else to try something funny in the air would be males of Middle Eastern descent between the ages of 20 and 40.
On the other hand, I suppose Norm Mineta thinks that the 80-year-old lady who got pulled out of line in Ft. Myers was likely to pull a knife on a stewardess. (That would assume, however, that Norm Mineta actually thinks.)
At any rate, overall I’m impressed with the TSA…so far.

Via InstaPundit, I give you women’s liberation…in Jordan.
Now that’s not boring…that’s entertainment.

There is just nuthin’ going on today.

Listening to this defense attorney (on Fox) for child-beater Madelyne Toogood, I find myself feeling somewhat sorry for the lady. But only from the standpoint that she apparently doesn’t have the independence or brains to say “this Irish Traveller bullshit stops with me and mine; I am going to make something of myself in this world and give my children hope for a different future.”
Rocket Rosen? What a name. [I guess his first name is actually “Steven”.] And don’t insult Indiana jurisprudence, asshole. Just because we convicted Mike Tyson and our judges set punishment rather than our juries doesn’t mean we have shitty courts.
Claiming that growing up in this “Irish Traveller culture” means that “you don’t go to high school, you don’t go to college” is likewise a load of bullshit. They don’t do those things because it’s easier to fleece unknowing victims and live on their ill-gotten gains than it is to get an education and become productive members of society. If this young lady had really wanted to break the cycle and make something of herself, I’m sure she could have done so.
And this tearful BS of hers last night, saying the child shouldn’t be punished for her (the mother’s) mistake, got it exactly wrong. The child was hardly being punished by being assigned to a foster family by CPS. The mother was being told that, until further evaluation, she was being deemed an unfit mother. Any punishment therein was strictly directed at the mother — not at the child.
Watch this whole thing get spun into intolerance of a different culture.
LATER: I just looked at the Fox News website and read the following in this story on the case:

Authorities said the mother had left the store angry because she was refused a cash refund for goods. The woman is then seen putting her daughter in the back seat of a sport utility vehicle, then pummeling, slapping and shaking her for nearly a half-minute.

This woman is seriously fucked up in the head. She does not need to get her daughter back, and her other two children need to be taken from her as well.
The idiot attorney added:

Rosen also criticized the girl’s temporary placement with another family, saying the Toogood family was tight-knit and traumatized by the decision.
“To me, this is very detrimental, very psychologically detrimental, bordering on abusive,” Rosen said.

Um, counselor…abusive to whom? The family isn’t the victim here. A little girl who had no way to defend herself from her enraged mother is the victim here.
MORE UPDATE: I see Rachel has weighed in on this 🙂

Girls, McDonalds isn’t responsible for your obesity. YOU ARE.
Take some fucking responsibility for your own actions.
We’re turning in to a nation of sissy-miris, for crying out loud. The judge should laugh this out of court and fine the lawyer for bringing a frivolous lawsuit.

Good thing tomorrow is Sunday and not Monday.

View full-size image

Twin sisters of different mothers, in my opinion. That’s my wife Sally on the right. On the left is our friend Christine, who is a waitress at Mel’s Diner in Naples. We met Christine and her cohort Jackie when we were here in September 2000 for our honeymoon, which you can read about starting here.

Much has changed in the year and a half since we were last here.
For one thing, Michelbob’s is closed until next month. Bastards. Sally wanted ribs for her anniversary dinner.
For another, Bill’s on Fifth is now Pier 41. The food is just as good or better, though. I had filet mignon and Sally had shrimp scampi…both amazingly tasty. The chef came out and made the rounds and was very happy to hear us wax poetic about the food.
For another, we went down to Marco and Mustang Sally’s appears to have closed the door. Which is a shame, they had good food, too. Not to mention the karaoke vocal stylings of Myles Loud. His Elvis and Tom Jones (complete with torn-open shirt) are spot-on. Apparently he hangs at the La Casita restaurant in Marco now.
On the plus side, the beach is still there. Down the street, the Tides Inn has finally been torn down to make way for condominiums…starting at $2.5 MILLION. Yet here we are on the south end of Loudermilk Park, 300 feet from the beach…and Sally’s parents aren’t rich.
On the minus side, we only seem to come here when tropical storms are heading right for us…
I’m beginning to wonder if the north side of Naples has changed as much as the south. Scares me.

What is it about this town…you drive and drive and drive and never seem to get anywhere.
And residents, get a clue…lane changes are best signalled with that funny little lever on the left side of your steering wheel.
Otherwise, it’s that second wedding anniversary kind of thing. Posts will be light this week since I’m limited to 48kbps via AOL. Echh. At least Sally’s parents got cable at the condo this year, and at least they get Fox News 🙂
Beach? What beach?

…terrorism is still terrorism.
And PETA is about to find out what a terrorism investigation is all about. Giving money to the ELF is a no-no, morons. Especially under a “get tough on terror” administration.
Your salad days (hee hee) under Clinton are over.