Paranoia To New Levels?

[Ruptured Duck Motorsport]

Both from The Register


Flight Sim enquiry raises terror alert

A mother's enquiry about buying Microsoft Flight Simulator for her ten-year-old son prompted a night-time visit to her home from a state trooper.

Julie Olearcek, a USAF Reserve pilot made the enquiry at a Staples store in Massachusetts, home to an earlier bout of hysteria, during the Salem witch trials.

So alarmed was the Staples clerk at the prospect of the ten year old learning to fly, that he informed the police, the Greenfield Recorder reports. The authorities moved into action, leaving nothing to chance. A few days later, Olearcek was alarmed to discover a state trooper flashing a torch into to her home through a sliding glass door at 8:30 pm on a rainy night.

Olearcek is a regular Staples customer and schools her son at home. The Staples manager simply explained that staff were obeying advice. Shortly before Christmas, the FBI issued a terror alert to beware of drivers with maps, or reference books.

At one time it was rare to find US citizens, in the safest and most prosperous country in the world, jumping at their own shadows. Now we only note how high.

Beware of strangers carrying books, warns FBI

The FBI has issued a terror warning to police to look out for individuals carrying almanacs or maps, reports AP.

The warning was sent to 18,000 officers before Christmas. Almanacs, warns the FBI, may be used "to assist with target selection and pre-operational planning." The Bureau acknowledges that there may be "legitimate recreational or commercial activities" that justify an individual carrying around a map or reference book.

The publisher of Old Farmers Almanac has vowed to co-operate with law enforcement agencies at every level. But it's too late to contact the author of the United States' best-known almanac, as the suspect eluded authorities by dying 213 years ago.

Readers are advised to find and remove any portions of almanac that may be lying around on their hard disk. Particularly if it's this one, from those subversive fifth columnists at Langley.

 

[Fax]

At one time it was rare to find US citizens, in the safest and most prosperous country in the world, jumping at their own shadows. Now we only note how high.

The most armed to the teeth, with the most sophisticated, lethal weapons in the world jumping at their own shadows...get it?

[smokie]

I enjoyed this article http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/28/34781.html from the same source, which says that during the process of online purchasing a Dell PDA you are asked:

Which country will the product be used in? (and Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and North Korea don't appear in the drop down)

What is the intended use of the product? (With the choices of Home, commercial, Government/Civilian or Government/Military)

and lastly

Will the products(s) be used in connection with weapons of mass destruction, i.e. nuclear weapons, missile technology or checmical or biological weapons purpose? (with a Yes/No choice)



Naturally, The Register answered with all the "wrong" anwers just to see what happens, here is thei write up

Having pressed "continue" with some trepidation, we fully expected that, after a suitably dramatic pause, heavily-armed SWAT teams supported by spooks bearing a one-way ticket to Guantanamo Bay and nuke-laden stealth aircraft would surround the building demanding immediate surrender.

But no. Instead we were invited to proceed to the payments page and enter credit card details for immediate shipment. It was at this point that we made our excuses and left the Dell website.

Of course, it's likely that Dell's cunning plan involves taking the credit card payment for intelligence-gathering purposes and then sending in the helicopter gunships.

[Ruptured Duck Motorsport]

heheeh, its articles like those mixed in with serious IT stuff that make The Register worth visiting.

[Fax]

Things really have become very unpleasant over here, when you go to a sporting event here in Cincinnati (a Reds or Bengals game) security does everything but strip-search you entering the venue.  I haven't flown lately and Dave or Matt could probably give a better account, but from everything I've been hearing airport security has become nightmarish since we went on security code orange.  Guess I'll find out at the end of the month when I fly down to Orlando to hook up with Matt for Daytona.
John

[Ruptured Duck Motorsport]

The alert has dropped a level I hear - should be a bit easier for you fax

[Robbo SPS]

The alert has dropped a level I hear - should be a bit easier for you fax

The UK's level is still the highest its ever been. Cant say any more... so just get on and enjoy life.

[dryhen]

We had thought about skiing in the USA at Easter, but thought by the time we had got through immigration, the snow would have melted ! Something tells me Canada will give a warmer welcome !  

[Canada Phil]

Hi Dryhen, You are always welcome in Canada. Skiing at Easter sounds a bit late to me? Whistler in British Columbia is probably the best known for proper mountains although Quebec has some fine slopes too and a lot closer to Europe.
Canada Phil

[dryhen]

Nice to hear from you Phil.

We were also thinking of Banff, which is cheaper than Whistler, tho' not so extensive ......... You're right about the Canadian welcome - we;ve had a great time in BC before.  Quebec ? Isn't that like being in Le Mans but colder  Thought I'd better mention LM before Smokie decides this thread is irrelevant !

[smokie]

Since when has relevancy been a quality of any posts on this forum???  

[Ruptured Duck Motorsport]

Hmmm, I thought that irrelivace was a requirement, sure I read it in the T&C somewhere

[Matt Harper]

Guess I'll find out at the end of the month when I fly down to Orlando to hook up with Matt for Daytona.
John

This happened to me quite recently. I should also note that I get pulled aside for 'additional security checks' EVERY time I fly anywhere in continental USA.

Arrive at check-in at Orlando Int. I have an e-ticket to Indianapolis. Go through checked baggage routine and security. Metal detector stays silent - however it's "shoes off, unbuckle belt and make like Jesus, just before Easter" for me. Get dressed - go to departure lounge.
The flight is called and when I hand my ticket to the gate clerk, it's "Ah, Mr Harper, please step aside for additional security".
"No kidding" I reply, to which the security 'guard' says, "We don't appreciate your attitude". So I reply, "If this is a random secuity check, I need to start doing the state lottery - you pull me every time - is it because I'm not American?" The guard sighs and says, "I can stop you boarding this plane, you know". "Lets just get on with it", I respond.
The next question floors me somewhat. "Who is Lee Cooper?" asks the guard. "I haven't the faintest idea" I reply. "Then why", asks the guard, "Are you wearing a polo shirt with someone's name on it, who is unknown to you? That makes me kinda suspicious about you."
I was tempted to point out that the woman ahead of me was wearing some dude called Levi Strauss's jeans, but by then the rubber gloves were coming out.....  

[Andy Zarse]

Good job you never had Gianni Versace on Matt. Wearing a dead man's clothes is a step too far for these dudes.

[jpchenet]

Good job you weren't wearing Farah trousers Matt. You'd probably have been done for impersonating one of Charlies Angels!!  

Wierdest one recently for me was flying back to Heathrow from Rotterdam. Having picked up a freebie golf umbrella from the trade show, I offered it to the check-in clerk as I was only taking hand luggage. "Just take it on board then" she says. "But isn't it a security risk" I questioned.
"Yesh, but this is de Nederlandsh you know, we are far more relackshd" she replied.  

You should have seen the looks I got from the ground crew at Heathrow as I got off with it though!