It keeps going and going and going

...but not going in your checked luggage anymore.

As of January 1, 2008, extra batteries are prohibited in your checked luggage. I am sure battery salesmen are cursing the heaven over this new safety regulation. But it doesn't really affect me and like most Americans if it doesn't affect me I don't give a crap.

I never carry any electronics in my checked luggage. My camera, laptop, IPod, cell phone, Blackberry, Sonicare tooth brush, and a host of other battery powered items are kept in my carry on luggage. Damn, no wonder my bag is so heavy. There wasn't that much battery power on the first Apollo mission.

In case you weren't smart enough to figure out what a spare battery is, the folks at Safe Travel c/o the Department of Transportation were nice enough to help define the elusive term.

"Spare batteries are the batteries you carry separately from the devices they power. When batteries are installed in a device, they are not considered spare batteries."

America failed to invest in education and now we have to define what the hell "spare" means. Sadly, that tidbit of knowledge probably cost taxpayers $10,000.

More about battery restrictions can be found here:
http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html

Wake-ee, Wake-ee, Hands off the snake-ee

Geez...the autopilot was on...lighten up.

"The FAA is investigating whether the cockpit crew of a go! airlines flight to Hilo last week had fallen asleep during the flight."

"We’re looking into whether the flight crew, the pilot and copilot, had fallen asleep between Honolulu and Hilo,” said FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.

http://starbulletin.com/breaking/breaking.php?id=6739

Adding India to my travel itinerary

Photo Courtesy of --LISA--/Flickr

I am adding India to my list of upcoming destinations. Updates to follow.

You really have to be careful of Europeans

Photo Courtesy of bfraz/Flickr

The Guardian is covering a story about the Department Homeland Stupidity's newest security measures to protect American soil from Limeys, Krauts, and those cheese-eating surrender monkeys; the French. Aside from increased air marshals, new measures may soon require a Visa to entry the United States.

According to the article, "And within months the US department of homeland security is to impose a new permit system for Europeans flying to the US, compelling all travellers to apply online for permission to enter the country before booking or buying a ticket, a procedure that will take several days."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/11/usa.theairlineindustry

It's a good thing the dollar is so weak when compared to te Pound or the Euro, otherwise Europeans may think twice about visiting the U.S.

"This is the kind of scrutiny the American public expects.."

The Department of Homeland Stupidity continues to "randomly" search Blackberries and Laptops of travelers coming into the United States; 4th Amendment Be Damned!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/02/11/laptop.searches/index.html

According to the cnn.com article "Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, equates searches of electronic devices to those of papers in briefcases. 'You forgo your right to privacy when you are seeking admission into the country,' he says. 'This is the kind of scrutiny the American public expects."

That's true. The American public expects the kind of scrutiny from communist or fascist regimes.

United Changing Domestic Bag Policy

Photo Courtesy of Malias/Flickr

In hopes of squeezing a few more dimes out of passengers, United Airlines will begin charging a $25 service fee for a second bag. The policy does not apply to Mileage Plus or Star Alliance passengers. In other words, the shake down only applies to the average passenger.

"United is announcing a new checked bag policy for customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets. Customers purchasing nonrefundable domestic economy tickets who do not have status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee."

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52481,00.html

4th Amendment no longer applies either

Photo Courtesy of Zulma/Flickr

The Washington Post reports that U.S. Customs officers have been asking some travelers to open their laptops and hand over their passwords so that the data on the hard drives can be inspected.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/06/AR2008020604763.html?hpid=topnews

It's hard to keep up with all the civil liberties lost in the name of security, but I'm pretty sure I would have remembered reading something about the dissolution of the 4th Amendment. For those that slept through 12th grade Civics, I have listed the 4th Amendment of th Bill of Rights below. Keep in mind it's from the BILL OF FUCKING RIGHTS... ya know the Rights that used to be given to all Americans.

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

1st Amendment Doesn't Apply in Airports

Photo Courtesy of Redjar/Flickr

You can't yell fire in a crowded theather and apparenlty you can't call a TSA screening officer a Nazi. The St. Petersburg Times recently published a story about traveler Darron Derrick and his recent run in with the TSA at the Tampa International Airport. The moral of the story - tell the TSA the truth and don't expect to fly.

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/06/Business/Comparing_TSA_to_Nazi.shtml

Where do I click to send hate mail?

Contrary to popular opinion, the TSA is ran by actual humans and does want to hear your opinion. The TSA has launched it's own blog in hopes of facilitating "an ongoing dialogue on innovations in security, technology and the checkpoint screening process." In other words, the TSA will find out what really pisses off passengers and keep doing it. Thank you technology.

http://www.tsa.gov/blog