what about those with hair like the devil: the redheads. Burn them!

What about those wearing wigs - of whatever colour?
Or people with a glass eye?
Those with some prosthetic leg or arm?
Surrealism in progress, indeed.

surrealism in progress

On 'surrealism in progress':
Maureen Dowd's column in the New York Times seems a nice 'adjunct' to this post:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/opinion/30dowd.html?em:

"We seemed to still be behind the curve and reactive, patting down grannies and 5-year-olds, confiscating snow globes and lip glosses.

"Instead of modernity, we have airports where security is so retro that taking away pillows and blankies and bathroom breaks counts as a great leap forward.

"We are headed toward the moment when screeners will watch watch-listers sashay through while we have to come to the airport in hospital gowns, flapping open in the back.

"In his detached way, Spock was letting us know that our besieged starship was not speeding into a safer new future, and that we still have to be scared.

A blond terrorist is surreal? Racism is surrealistic .

And for that matter, agism too.

Lets call it Surrealistic Service

and lets cut it off like the airlines did with real service. You can reinstall real service on a total scale using the loads of money saved by abolishing surrealistic service costs in all their forms. Terrorism is more likely to disappear with this approach.

SOP

Tonight I expect everyone to follow the standard operating procedures (SOP)
For a safer and a better 2010.
Happy New Year !

Surrealism? Do you mean like melting watches- even before the plain exploded?

Paris must be nice on New Year's Eve.

Paris is always nice except on New Year's eve.

How pathetic, posting on someone's blog on New Year's eve, nice to know that things can only end better in 2010, nevertheless, best wishes to you all.

Veerle

If it's love you need, Veerle, please contact me.

Surrealism

Bruce Schneier has characterized airport security checks long ago as "security theater". It remains the best characterization. He recently wrote: "I wish that, just once, some terrorist would try something that you can only foil by upgrading the passengers to first class and giving them free drinks."

@Dens

I don't think it's love that I need, I had relations but they never kept me happy, I might be looking for some 'joie de vivre' but where and how?

Hide and peek.

Thanks for the reprint of the letter. Ah, Paris! I was there a few years ago and it was simply fabulous. And now for a bit more theatre...
Today’s Washington Post includes an opinion by the former head of DHS, Michael Chertoff, wherein he promotes the widespread use of full-body scanners at airports. Mr. Chertoff dismisses privacy objections by claiming that measures will be taken by machine manufacturers and the TSA to address the concerns of the undressed. Do people peering at naked pictures care much about the faces anyway?

I think those calling for the use of these scanners fail to project the affect that such invasive technology will have on a business that relies, to some degree, on consumer choice. The airline industry is already in a precarious financial state, and if some people choose not to fly the aggravating skies because of scanners or long security lines, then those who must will end up paying more and taxpayers will eventually have to subsidize the airlines. Consider, too, of the impact this will have on tourism and it will be clear why Chertoff’s hide and peek proposal is too costly. (Perhaps not for the former Secretary since his private firm has one of the machine manufacturers as a client).

Happy New Year to you all.

Buck

The only way of finding "joie de vivre" is by dying.

Buck

You are very welcome.

Happy New Year to you. Keeep flying.

And if TSA agents harass you keep in mind that it is just "security theater". See Michel's comment.

Dens

The 'dying-thing' comes at this moment a bit to early, in the meantime, any -somehow more useful- suggestions while we're still alive?

Veerle

Have you considered the use of drugs already?

Dens

I'm a controlfreak.

Veerle

Maybe the joie de vivre lies within this loss of control. If it ain't working as you are doing, you must change the doing.

Dens

Last year I had always this oneliner on my screen 'if you can change your mind you can change your life', it didn't work... Everytime I changed the 'doing' it felt like I was a bad actor in my own life and I'm trying to stop acting all the time, but the naked truth seems to be boring as well as disappointing.

Veerle

I only read "I didn't try enough"

Dens

Fair enough, I'll try harder, but isn't it sad that I have to do all that effort to enjoy life a bit, shouldn't it come more spontaneous?

Dens

Maybe your right and I should go for the drugs.