Hoodoo Highway

Elevated Threat Level Insanity

I just hate all this "elevated threat level" stuff. I have felt for a long time that it was used as a means of playing on the fears of Americans. This daily reminder is used to control our fear and reaction at whim. It has allowed this administration to railroad so many of our civil rights - hidden in the name of "security".

Now, we are banned from taking even more things on the plane. To be honest, why don't they ban carry ons other than one that holds your laptop, etc. NO clothing, etc... I get so tired of being behind those folks, cramming with all their might, an overstuffed bag or two (not to mention their backpack) into the area above your head.

Nevertheless, we are now banned from taking on the following extremely dangerous and deadly substances........ this is not all inclusive... Here are some of the no-nos

Liquid Foundation - they will take it. If it is expensive stuff this will likely piss you off!

Hand cream - yep that dangerous stuff that women all over the world carry in their purses to attack folks with.



Lip Gloss - oooh another bad one. Bad, bad lip gloss. What? You might slather some on your lips and give someone the kiss of death?


Mascara - hmmm? Do you see a trend here? Makeup? Hell if this stuff is this deadly, maybe we need not be wearing it. OR maybe there have been plots for men to come on board planes and go to the bathroom and turn themselves into a drag queen? What a horridly, evil plot. How wicked in its design and terror!!

Seriously, I understand they want us to be safe. I understand that there is a war on tarrrre (terror for those that do not speak Bush). But come on, really now are we taking this a bit too far? I understand things with alcohol content (hand sanitizers, hair sprays, hair gels, etc..) I do. But lip gloss? Mascara? Come on get real. When was the last freaking time a woman did anything to terrorize anyone on a plane? Those 19 pigs that conducted the chicken shit acts of 9/11 were all MEN, every last one of them. While we are at it, let's also be real - they were of middle eastern origin. They were not 68 year old grandpas from Kansas City, or 15 year old cheerleaders from Dallas, or 92 year old great grandmas from California or even a 45 year old, 26 year federal employee, female from Arkansas. Not a single one of them were anything other than Middle Eastern Males. Hello? I see a pattern here and it ain't with the folks carrying on a tube of lip gloss. Now am I saying every Middle Eastern Male is a terrorist? NO!! I am saying let's just be realistic here and recognize the real threat. Most folks flying are not the real threats.

Oh yes, Jello, Yogurt and any other food item of a similar consistency is banned. Bottled water is banned. Great - I just love that tiny cup of water you get when they finally get around to you about 40 minutes into the flight. Fine, I can live with it. You cannot bring your coffee on the plane with you. This sucks - trust me - I take that 6am flight to Cincinatti out of Little Rock periodically and they do not provide coffee on the flight!! 6am and no coffee... YIKES.

Oh yes, mom - don't you dare bring that teething and crying baby of yours to the screening area with a gel teething ring. Banned. Great - I hope I do not have to sit next to the poor child teething with no teether ring, no anbesol because it is a gel or topical ointment, no liquid tylenol or liquid advil whatever you give kids these days. NADA. Doesn't that make for a pleasant trip.

I fly out tomorrow, going to take my bee bar hand cream (it is literally a bar, like a bar of soap). Bars of soap are not on the banned list but liquid soap is. I just know they are going to take it. You are supposed to be allowed to take lip balm in a tube that is not liquid - yea let's see my burt's bees lip balm make it through. Flying is becoming such a pain, wonder if a train goes to Fort Wayne, Indiana?

posted by Deb @ 11:02 PM