Ok--I had an 8:55 AM flight between Newark and Austin Tx.

I made SURE I made it to Newark in plenty of time to negotiate it all. Took the 5:09 AM train, got to the monorail at 5:30 AM. Was to the terminal by 5:40. It then took me 1hr & 20 minutes to:

1. Drop my checked bag (I printed to boarding pass out at home).

2. Get through security.

I was to my gate by 7:30, which was comfortable early.

But the bag drop and security gates were nightmarish. Lots of yelling by TSA and the rent a cops. I was particularly worried for a young man in line who was obviously autistic, and bordering on a major freak out because of the yelling.

From today forward, I'm going to train it when possible, and if not, probalby not travel. I'm over flying, after 20 years.

Reading many of the letters here helped me realize something about my Republican sister. She has not flown since 9/11 and she says she never will again. It just dawned on me. Bingo! She's the perfect hysterical example of what the GOP wants and she behaves accordingly. It's all about keeping people down and making them behave like sheep. Stupid, stupid followers who have allowed themselves to be whipped up into a fear frenzy where the only option is to over-dramatize every corner of their life as it relates to terrorism. She has always been an alarmist and a drama-queen, but I think the Neocons have "helped" her to become even more so.

This is also the sister who thought that anybody looting in the aftermath of Katrina should have been shot on site, no warning, no questions asked. She says she votes Republican because they are they only ones who can keep us safe. Hork.

And the rest of the family wonders why I can barely stand to be in the same room with her. What a total wear-out.

We flew out of O'Hare early on Thursday morning. The TSA must have done a bang up job communicating with its local people. They had some unique interpretations of the procedures. One was that no medicines were allowed in your carry-on luggage, liquid or pill form, unless it was in the original container with a prescription label on it. People like me who carry enough pills for the trip in a smaller container were forced to surrender our medication or leave. They also seemed to think that they had the right to question passengers about the medical condition behind the prescription, even though they weren't about to let the prescription through.

To make matters worse, we were told that we couldn't put any of the forbidden items in our checked luggage. We were told that when they went through the x-ray, the bags would be opened and the offending items removed.

of Asshole Americans. Imagine that the airlines do not ban mascara, water and all this other ridiculous shit and a plane does blow up due to liqid explosives. Watch while every single family member of the victims of that flight sue the government and the airlines for negligence. Watch as the industry is truly bankrupted and those that need to travel can no longer do so unless they have some rich friends they can hire a private jet for the trip. Or they have to use their whole 2 week vacation to go see friends or family for a two or three day stay.

The only way I can see this stopping is that we vote in new leadership and make it clear to them that these stupid measures mean nothing and that anytime you fly on an airplane, you can't sue for terrorist related activities, make that part of the legal agreement for getting on an airplane.

If I hadn't of already spent the money on plane tickets this November before the little London fiasco, I would not go to my friends wedding. Then I would be calling the airlines to say, hey, let the TSA or Homeland Jackasses know that you lost money because of their ridiculous "safety" regulations.

Oh and apparently American's have become a bunch of spoiled pussies, even whining about not having an iPod, oh shit you'll have to read or watch one of the crappy airline films, boo fucking hoo. Too cowardly to use their common sense that getting blown up on an airplane is no more likely than getting hit by lightning and that you're lack of water is not making the plane more secure and whining about expensive toys that you can't have, whaa whaa whaa. For plenty of years no one had computers on a plane.

Oh and I also agree that many security delays are because plenty of people are morons who have no idea how to follow directions. This summer while transfering in Heathrow to my connection flights there were placards on the walls of to take off your coat, take out your laptop, ect. The people that did this while waiting in line went through check points quickly, those that waited till they got to the x-ray machines made the lines take forever.

Damn sheeple

the time will come when we arrive for our flight in a spandex unitard. it'll really force people to confront obesity that's for sure - nobody wants fries after seeing themselves in a unitard. but then some terrorist will swallow a bomb (or shove it... well you know) and all bets will be off.

I'm in the mood for more airport entertainment. I think I'll encourage some local toupee wearing fellow to hide firecrackers under his piece. Just think of the fun. Now, along with all of those folks bailing our their luggage, we can sit by and watch the hillarious new addition of the TSA corps yanking on everyone's hair before they can proceed to their gate.

I've got another knee slapper in the works for denture wearers, too.

The point is, the wacko's have already won without inflicting any injuries. They have the entire aviation world marching to their tune whenever they feel like it. They pull the strings and then grin while the puppets dance.