Mrmike's Journal
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06/08/2006 19:23 #29528
A Dumb Giggle, but a Giggle nonetheless06/07/2006 13:26 #29527
Homeland Security??My brother is a source of fascinating adventures. He is autistic, schizophrenic and has a few other ics that have keep life rather interesting. He functions very well and to look at him, you just see a guy. I say this because all of the afflictions have limited his recreational interests.
One of his favorite hang outs is to go the airport and watch planes come and go. There is a spot off Aero Drive where you can also watch the Weather Service launch their balloons each night. Giving my parents a breather, I took him over the other night to hang out for bit. Not a soul heads out there normally. He's hanging by the fence watching the activity, I'm sitting in a beach chair, watching and reading the paper. When my brother brought some binoculars out to watch a cargo jet take off, is when things got interesting.
A police car immediately shows up, marked by with homeland security stickers. I get to my feet and produced ID for both of us. As I'm talking to the first guy, a second car was in route, and apparently two more were at the ready, all positioned to haul off the retarded guy with the binoculars. After explaining all of this and keeping my brother cool, I looked to the first cop who explained he'd call off "the other units." With four cars in pursuit, it kind of made me wonder who was watching the airport.
Strange days indeed, reminds me of when the Lancaster cops arrested my Mom's car out from under me, but that is a journal for another day.
No matter what your age ( and I know I got a few miles on me more than most of you), when you call the rents and start talking with "You're not going to believe this, but..." you can always get that look out of the folks.
My Dad's response: "We're getting too old for this shit."
One of his favorite hang outs is to go the airport and watch planes come and go. There is a spot off Aero Drive where you can also watch the Weather Service launch their balloons each night. Giving my parents a breather, I took him over the other night to hang out for bit. Not a soul heads out there normally. He's hanging by the fence watching the activity, I'm sitting in a beach chair, watching and reading the paper. When my brother brought some binoculars out to watch a cargo jet take off, is when things got interesting.
A police car immediately shows up, marked by with homeland security stickers. I get to my feet and produced ID for both of us. As I'm talking to the first guy, a second car was in route, and apparently two more were at the ready, all positioned to haul off the retarded guy with the binoculars. After explaining all of this and keeping my brother cool, I looked to the first cop who explained he'd call off "the other units." With four cars in pursuit, it kind of made me wonder who was watching the airport.
Strange days indeed, reminds me of when the Lancaster cops arrested my Mom's car out from under me, but that is a journal for another day.
No matter what your age ( and I know I got a few miles on me more than most of you), when you call the rents and start talking with "You're not going to believe this, but..." you can always get that look out of the folks.
My Dad's response: "We're getting too old for this shit."
mrmike - 06/07/06 23:09
No argument there, Dragonlady, it just made me wonder if we didn't become a case history right on the spot
No argument there, Dragonlady, it just made me wonder if we didn't become a case history right on the spot
dragonlady7 - 06/07/06 22:02
The NFTA cops and the Dep't of Homeland Security are separate. Transportation Security Administration is completely separate from NFTA. I'd be interested to know which dudes came to get you. The actual "cops" in the airport are NFTA-- they have bulletproof vests, guns, mace, etc, and are actually, like, the enforcers.
DHS? They're a bunch of weenies with walkie-talkies. I don't know who actually patrols the place, but I ride the shuttlebus with them and they're, well, nobodies. NFTA drives the cool cars. TSA sits around like a buncha rejects.
So, I'm sorry to say, but it was probably the NFTA that came to bug you. And yes, they have No Idea.
But you have to look at it from their point of view with a lot of these things. If it turns out that your brother *was* a terrorist, and he got away with whatever nefaious plot he was planning, how God-Damned stupid would they look? I mean really.
"How did he manage to do that?"
"Duh, you can just go sit right there and look."
"How can this be? Oh the humanity! When someone can just whatever whatever whatever! This is outrageous! Heads must roll!"
And so they have to go and look all stern and posture around and make dire threats and hassle innocent people, because they have to do *something*.
Flying Tigers, by the way, is closed "for renovations" because of money and, like, um, cockroaches, not because of security concerns. Just FYI. (One of my coworkers used to waitress there, is how I know.)
The NFTA cops and the Dep't of Homeland Security are separate. Transportation Security Administration is completely separate from NFTA. I'd be interested to know which dudes came to get you. The actual "cops" in the airport are NFTA-- they have bulletproof vests, guns, mace, etc, and are actually, like, the enforcers.
DHS? They're a bunch of weenies with walkie-talkies. I don't know who actually patrols the place, but I ride the shuttlebus with them and they're, well, nobodies. NFTA drives the cool cars. TSA sits around like a buncha rejects.
So, I'm sorry to say, but it was probably the NFTA that came to bug you. And yes, they have No Idea.
But you have to look at it from their point of view with a lot of these things. If it turns out that your brother *was* a terrorist, and he got away with whatever nefaious plot he was planning, how God-Damned stupid would they look? I mean really.
"How did he manage to do that?"
"Duh, you can just go sit right there and look."
"How can this be? Oh the humanity! When someone can just whatever whatever whatever! This is outrageous! Heads must roll!"
And so they have to go and look all stern and posture around and make dire threats and hassle innocent people, because they have to do *something*.
Flying Tigers, by the way, is closed "for renovations" because of money and, like, um, cockroaches, not because of security concerns. Just FYI. (One of my coworkers used to waitress there, is how I know.)
zobar - 06/07/06 19:45
The more I read, and the more I talk to people, the more I begin to realize that DHS has no idea. I like to pretend that's why their funding is getting cut.
Flying Tigers is closed [which is a damn shame. A damn shame.] but I imagine that nobody would even notice until a DHS muckitymuck stopped in and out of nowhere they'd have to pull the blinds on their giant runway windows.
(e:dragonlady7) has been working at the airport for over a year now and every time I pick her up and an enormous passenger jet comes roaring down onto the runway it still freaks my shit right out. I mean let's face it: airplanes are awesome.
- Z
The more I read, and the more I talk to people, the more I begin to realize that DHS has no idea. I like to pretend that's why their funding is getting cut.
Flying Tigers is closed [which is a damn shame. A damn shame.] but I imagine that nobody would even notice until a DHS muckitymuck stopped in and out of nowhere they'd have to pull the blinds on their giant runway windows.
(e:dragonlady7) has been working at the airport for over a year now and every time I pick her up and an enormous passenger jet comes roaring down onto the runway it still freaks my shit right out. I mean let's face it: airplanes are awesome.
- Z
leetee - 06/07/06 17:44
Well... ha ha ha... i don't know what this says about me, but i like watching planes take off and land too.
Well... ha ha ha... i don't know what this says about me, but i like watching planes take off and land too.
ajay - 06/07/06 14:00
I remember at one time the Flying Tigers restaurant would let you sit at the bar and listen in on the chatter between the pilots and the ATC. Do they still do that?
I remember at one time the Flying Tigers restaurant would let you sit at the bar and listen in on the chatter between the pilots and the ATC. Do they still do that?
06/06/2006 22:51 #29526
Rare 3rd post of the dayThe Davinci Code - the video game????? What the Fuck???
The book was a lot of pretentious badly written drivel. I associated it as one of those books people bought because other people bought. Now we got a movie. Somewhere, somebody is dreaming up a sequel......
Oy vey, good night peeps
The book was a lot of pretentious badly written drivel. I associated it as one of those books people bought because other people bought. Now we got a movie. Somewhere, somebody is dreaming up a sequel......
Oy vey, good night peeps
metalpeter - 06/07/06 19:30
Didn't read it, didn't see the movie. But it is now preaty standard that any movie predicted to be a blockbuster or "A Big Movie" gets a video game made for all video game platforms.
Didn't read it, didn't see the movie. But it is now preaty standard that any movie predicted to be a blockbuster or "A Big Movie" gets a video game made for all video game platforms.
mrmike - 06/07/06 13:30
Not sure about the feminist angle in the book. I just thought it was dreck in general
Not sure about the feminist angle in the book. I just thought it was dreck in general
imk2 - 06/07/06 13:23
I'd much rather read feminist crap than self-help crap, any day.
I'd much rather read feminist crap than self-help crap, any day.
libertad - 06/07/06 02:04
i'm so sick of hearing about that crap.
i'm so sick of hearing about that crap.
mrdt - 06/07/06 00:09
yah, I agree. it's a bunch of feminist crap but that's what it takes to hit the ny times best seller list. sensationalize!!!
yah, I agree. it's a bunch of feminist crap but that's what it takes to hit the ny times best seller list. sensationalize!!!
06/06/2006 16:21 #29525
Another dinner with gratis stuffGot the final dinner meeting for awhile -- It might be raining edgefest tickets by the time it's over. If it happens, I'll make proper noise here for the 30 Seconds to Mars fans.
06/06/2006 08:48 #29524
D-Day or Satans SpawnMy older sister turns 46 today -- It wasn't until I saw the previews for the new Omen movie that all those years of teasing her as Satan's spawn can really take flight (We are that immature). All the double meanings about D-Day can be shelved for this year.
Happy Birthday, Theresa
Happy Birthday, Theresa
theecarey - 06/06/06 23:14
You can only be that mean to the people you love. I always say that my pranks and teasing is a sign of affection. I wouldnt be that mean to just anyone, haha. My buddy (e:pyrcedgrrl) and I are notorious for all the evil stunts and exchange of words we have for each other. We have known each other since the 2nd grade.. thats love!
btw, by your count, that makes three posts on 6-6-6- nice!
You can only be that mean to the people you love. I always say that my pranks and teasing is a sign of affection. I wouldnt be that mean to just anyone, haha. My buddy (e:pyrcedgrrl) and I are notorious for all the evil stunts and exchange of words we have for each other. We have known each other since the 2nd grade.. thats love!
btw, by your count, that makes three posts on 6-6-6- nice!
libertad - 06/06/06 10:21
haha thats awesome!
haha thats awesome!
Sniggity Snort! That was funny.
made me chuckle.
HA! That is not dumb, that is comedic genius.