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The critical issue these days when discussing political parties should be national security as without effective defense every other debate is moot. The GOP fall from grace preceding two election cycles of defeat merely allowed the continuation of flawed governance. The only difference is party blue rather than party red.

Michael Leiter is a Bush appointee. Obama did not replace him. Leiter is in the news due to the Flight 253 terror plot. There are conflicting reports between at least three sources, the NY Post, the NY Daily News and US News & World Report. The conflict is whether Leiter was on vacation before the event and declined to return or that he left the day after the botched national security that allowed the botched terror plot.

from the NY Post….

The White House acknowledged Thursday that Michael Leiter, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, had taken six days annual leave after the Dec. 25 attempted plane bombing but said he remained intimately involved in the U.S.’s response to the thwarted terror attack.

It was reported Thursday that government sources were upset that Leiter had gone on a ski trip following Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s attempt to destroy a Detroit-bound plane.

“People have been grumbling that he didn’t let a little terrorism interrupt his vacation,” one of the sources is reported to have told the newspaper.

from USN&WR…

Terror Chief Michael Leiter Wasn’t Vacationing Through Attack

Only later did he head out of town. “Only after explicit consultations with both the White House and the Director of National Intelligence and considering the current threat environment did Director Leiter take six days of annual leave after the event, which again did not affect in any way his ability to remain engaged with all elements of the United States Government,” he said.

The piece above critcizes the NY Daily News for reporting Leiter was on vacation and declined to return to work after the Flight 253 incident on Dec 25th. But Alex Kingbury at USN&WR misses the point.

The stumbling US national security ‘team’ seriously botched this one. Liberals in Congress criticize conservatives for holding up a critical confirmation of Obama’s nominee to head TSA. Napolitano’s no help. So having the head of another national security ‘resource’ take to the slopes AFTER a security breach is equally disturbing. Not like they fixed what’s wrong before he left.

At the very least this supports Senator Jim DeMint’s ‘holding up’ the confirmation of Erroll Southers as the head of the Transportation Security Administration. These national security vacancies require very special people to lead the effort. One could say there are vacancies in leadership roles that are filled not to mention other positions throughout government.

Nearly a decade after 9/11 everyone should be able to expect better than this from US national security. Among other things Bush bashers love to draw comparisons. Any criticism expressed toward the current administration is met with rebuttals concerning the Bush years. The point those arguments fail to recognize is 9/11 publicly exposed national security vulnerabilities and placed the topic front and center. Much was corrected by the Bush adminisstration and not without excessive opposition from the left. Now that the left is once again in the majority in Washington they are not allowed a pass to make earlier mistakes over again.

US national security failures started with Clinton and ended with Bush. Let’s not have a do over.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

U.S. officials say a suspicious material found in a passenger’s bag that triggered a security scare at a California airport on Tuesday actually turned out to be bottles of honey.

The scare caused a shutdown at the Meadows Field Airport in the city of Bakersfield and a hazardous material crew and bomb squad were called to the scene.

Two Transportation Security Administration officers were also treated and released from the hospital after being exposed to what were described as “fumes” from the bottles.

Police say they are investigating to determine why the incident happened. They said the owner of the bag has been cooperating.

Security at U.S. airports has been tightened since a Nigerian man’s botched attempt to blow up a U.S.-bound airliner on Christmas Day

(from VOA News)

One of the political debates in the news concerns President Obama’s nominee for leading the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The simple pro and con on the issue has conservatives criticizing the Obama Administration for dragging its feet on filling the vacancy and liberals countering with the complaint that Republican Senator Jim DeMint is holding up the confirmation of Erroll Southers, Obama’s current candidate for the job.

Senator DeMint’s January 1, 2009 press release answers critics of his position. It is short, sweet and to the point. Maybe critics of Senator DeMint should consider the fact that holding up the confirmation of a flawed nominee is better than confirming same. Given recent security failures the importance of this nomination is emphasized. Rubber stamping President Obama’s first choice in the name of expediency is irresponsible at best. President Obama can easily replace this nominee with someone worthy of filling the vacancy. Here’s DeMint’s press release.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

DeMint Statement on TSA Nominee

January 1, 2010 - WASHINGTON, D.C - Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) made the following statement about President Obama’s nominee to lead the Transportation Security Administration (TSA):

“Erroll Southers has not been forthcoming about whether he’ll give union bosses control of our airport security, which is one of the most important decisions he’ll make as head of the TSA. Mr. Southers’ unwillingness to form a position on collective bargaining seriously calls into question his judgment, because it weakens security and has already been rejected by the CIA, the FBI, the Secret Service, the Coast Guard, and by every previous TSA administrator.”

“And now we learn that he misled Congress in sworn testimony about accessing confidential records. The TSA is one of the most critical security agencies in the War on Terror, and the Senate must carefully vet this nominee. If Mr. Southers is unwilling to put security ahead of politics and if he can’t tell the truth, then he’s not qualified and should not be confirmed.”

###

Is this going to be one of those stories that turns out to be a mistaken report or another embarrassing and dangerous episode with US national security? The sole excerpt presented here from the AP report linked below is troubling. ‘ No update late Sunday night on the man who walked through the exit.’ Hence the earlier question on whether this is a mistaken report or we all have something more to worry about on aviation security.

Flights Grounded at Newark Airport
Officials: Flights grounded at US airport after man goes through exit door to bypass security
By KIM GAMEL Associated Press Writer
January 4, 2010 (AP)
The Associated Press

A spokesman said the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is assisting with the possible security breach, and Davis had no update late Sunday night on the man who walked through the exit.

TSA Statement on New Security Measures for International Flights to the U.S.
News & Happenings
January 3, 2010

Today, the Transportation Security Administration issued new security directives to all United States and international air carriers with inbound flights to the U.S. effective January 4, 2010.

The new directive includes long-term, sustainable security measures developed in consultation with law enforcement officials and our domestic and international partners.

Because effective aviation security must begin beyond our borders, and as a result of extraordinary cooperation from our global aviation partners, TSA is mandating that every individual flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening. The directive also increases the use of enhanced screening technologies and mandates threat-based and random screening for passengers on U.S. bound international flights.

The TSA statement above seemed to be the only related information available at the TSA’s website after viewing the initial item from AP via ABC.

Maybe this is good news. If US national security remains a major topic in the media perhaps needed corrections will follow. But few are probably counting on it. As an example of what is meant by that is former security chief Michael Chertoff and former CIA chief Hayden were on Meet the Press Sunday. David Gregory, the host, offered the disclaimer that Chertoff is tied to a company offering screening technology to the federal government. During the program, all three, Obama’s deputy national security adviser John Brennan, Michael Chertoff and Michael Hayden either praised Napolitano in light of security failures or expressed no concern about her handling of such matters.

Gee, could this be another case of revolving doors, business as usual in our nation’s capitol and all players responding based on their personal agendas? Another good reason to read Michelle Malkin’s book, Culture of Corruption. No, this blog nor the author of this post are receiving anything for expressing this sentiment. As a public service from this concerned citizen the link to Malkin’s book is in this blog’s sidebar along with other important titles. If you haven’t already you would do well to read them. Certainly they are not the only books out there but are the ones this blog is currently promoting, again, with no money or other perks involved. Read.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

related:

DHS Plans to Catch Only One in Four Travelers Committing ‘Major’ Criminal Violations While Entering U.S. on International Fights in 2010
Monday, January 04, 2010
By Terence P. Jeffrey, Editor-in-Chief

(CNSNews.com) - Documents produced by the Department of Homeland Security indicate that in fiscal 2010 the department is planning to catch only 26 percent of travelers committing major criminal violations while seeking to enter the United States through international airports.

click to read the rest….

Barry from DC’s homeland security princess, Janet Napolitano, first stated the US national security system worked in referring to an attempt to detonate explosives on board a US airliner landing in Detroit on Christmas. Today she is stumbling over herself to produce damage control for her previous appraisal. No doubt this is taking place at the ‘urging’ of others in the Obamanation.

But let’s not focus only on the Obama Administration’s reaction to a failed terrorist attack. Failed only because the terrorist fortunately botched the assignment. Members of the US Congress are equally disappointing in their response to the event.

from the House Committee on Homeland Security…..

The reported act of terrorism – whether directly related to al Qaeda or not – and the response to it will be the focus of an oversight hearing next month. The Committee will get to the bottom of what did and did not happen with Mr. Abdulmutallab and what security precautions need to take place in the future.”

from the Senate Committee on Homeland Security….

WASHINGTON - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Ranking Member Susan Collins, R-Me., announced Monday that they would convene a hearing in January to examine the layers of security meant to protect airline passengers from terrorist attacks but which accused terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab successfully evaded.

Hearings scheduled for January!!! So this is how are fine leaders respond to dropping the ball on national security. Not to worry folks, your elected and appointed leaders are on the job. They’re not concerned enough to interrupt their Christmas and New Year’s plans to deal with security breaches so you should not worry either. Just continue as before….. clueless.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Open thread: Obama’s statement on the Christmas Day jihadi attack; Perfunctory, hasty, and bloodless (Michelle Malkin)

Another event to once again raise the discussion on national security. Not like the status of US national security is ever erased from the American consciousness but one has to wonder if that includes the Obama Administration? The President has been criticized for not being more visible on this and other issues since heading to Hawaii on vacation. His security princess, Napolitano, stated after the Flight 253 incident, the first of two, that ‘the system’ was working properly. That someone was able to board a commercial aircraft and attempt to detonate explosives on final approach contradicts Napolitano’s conclusion. Unless only doing something after the fact is her idea of national security. And even then, simply notifying other commercial aircraft of the conditions on Flight 253 is of little value.

For those who missed it a Delta or Northwest (owned by Delta) flight, number 253, had a Nigerian passenger who attempted to detonate explosives on board as summarized above. A strange coincidence, or not, involved the same flight number on a subsequent flight in which another passenger was either detained and/or arrested for causing a disturbance. One troubling set of circumstances finds reports about the first incident suggesting the description of the ‘perp’ as a terrorist was premature and early reports about the second incident being characterized as a second terrorist attack. How’s that for a spot on press response?

Here’s a more recent account of the second incident.

A U.S. law enforcement official says an unruly passenger was detained Sunday when a Northwest Airlines flight landed in Detroit, Michigan, but he was later declared as not a security threat.

The plane was on the same route and carried the same flight number as one on Friday, when a Nigerian man allegedly tried to blow up Northwest Flight 253 just before landing.

In the latest incident, security personnel arrested a passenger upon landing Sunday because he was verbally abusive to the flight crew and had locked himself in the airplane bathroom for a long time.

The pilot radioed for emergency help. Passengers were evacuated and dogs sniffed the luggage which was spread out on the tarmac.

A law enforcement official tells news agencies that the passenger turned out to be a businessman who got sick during the flight .

And another recent update provides an excerpt on the initial incident.

Passengers have told investigators the man went into the bathroom for 20 minutes before landing, and then when he went to sit down, said he had stomach problems, and pulled a blanket on himself.

Just as the plane was getting ready to land, they heard a pop, smelled smoke and then saw the man on fire.

A Dutch passenger jumped on the Nigerian to subdue him, and blankets were used to put out the fire.

Does this brief review adequately establish Napolitano’s press statements are absurd? Certainly everyone is entitle to their opinion but you can guess that most Americans expect a different outcome in order to state the ’system worked’ when discussing US national security.

On the topic of President Obama’s silence on the matter in recent reports this blog’s reaction. It is reminiscent of an old expression about incompetence that begins with ‘better to be viewed as an idiot than….’. You probably know the rest.

Some related items are provided below on the explosive (PETN) reportedly used in the first incident.

a highly explosive organic compound belonging to the same chemical family as nitroglycerin—i.e., the nitric acid esters of polyalcohols.

PETN was introduced as an explosive after World War I. It is used by itself in detonators and detonating fuses (Primacord) and in a mixture, called pentolite, with an equal amount of trinitrotoluene (TNT) in grenades and projectiles.

PETN is a colourless, crystalline material that is generally stored and shipped as a mixture with water. It is less sensitive than nitroglycerin but is easily detonated. Valued for its shattering force and efficiency, PETN is the least stable of the common military explosives but retains its properties in storage for longer periods than nitroglycerin or cellulose nitrate (nitrocellulose) does. PETN is also used in medicine as a heart stimulant.

Yup, good old-fashioned human technology about a century old.

OSHA does not have a PEL for pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), which is used both as a drug for preventing angina pectoris and as an explosive.

If you really need to know what a PEL is the following link explains along with many other items typcially covered on a MSDS or Material Safety Data Sheet. And one last related OSHA link.

OSHA has data on PETN. Now if only DHS had detection methods for this well-known explosive and implemented them to avoid a Flight 253 problem.

As a final note for this post a political point is in order. Bush bashers frequently express 9/11 happened on the Bush 43 watch so it was his fault. This blog has stated in the past that there is plenty of blame to go around regarding US national security. A couple of things to keep in mind. 9/11 was not conceived, planned or otherwise arranged by terrorists in less than eight months which is the time George W Bush was in office prior to the attack. Before that President Clinton completed two terms in office and posts here as well as information freely available elsewhere indicate some dropping of the ball as regards terrorism and Osama bin Laden, etc.

When Bush 43 took office and after 9/11 occurred it became his war on terror and he owned the problem. An unfortunate downside to pursuing public office. Post 9/11 the Bush Administration was successful on matters of national security for two terms. The same ownership transfer now applies to President Obama. Given the Flight 253 episode(s), Napolitano’s statement, Obama’s silence, the previous and now infamous warning by VPOTUS Joe Biden the national security situation is once more front and center.

Nothing about current US national security policy inspires confidence.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Absolutely unbelievable! Apparently the audacity of the O is contagious. Or maybe this is a product of his recent World Apology Tour. The UN has raised a question on whether the US is killing people indiscriminately with the use of UAVs. Perhaps they should have first asked this question to al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah or any other terrorist group. For that is what terrorists do. Absolutely unbelievable! If anyone requires further explanation of this issue there is no point continuing a discussion. The world is truly losing its collective mind. This is beyond audacity. That the UN is the source is the only thing that is not a surprise.

What the hell do they think 9/11 was if not indiscriminate killing? In more than eight years has the UN accused al-Qaeda of violating international law for that? Nearly 3000 civilians killed in the attack on the WTC and the UN wants to know about drones? Wow! And this same organization is involved with determining whether or not Iran is developing nuclear weapons. How vulnerable do you feel right now?

It will take some time to nominate another story that even comes close to comparing to this one on the absurd meter.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

The U.N. Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings says the use of armed unmanned aircraft by the United States to hunt down terrorists could be a violation of international law. Philip Alston said Tuesday that Washington must explain how it is sure the United States is not killing people indiscriminately with these aircraft.

U.S. officials have never confirmed the use of Predator drones, but it is widely reported that the Central Intelligence Agency has used them to kill suspected terrorist leaders operating in Pakistan’s largely ungoverned tribal areas along its border with Afghanistan.

U.N. Special Rapporteur Philip Alston questioned the legality of their use under international law. “My concern is that these drones, these Predators, are being operated in a framework which may well violate international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The onus is really on the government of the United States to reveal more about the ways in which it makes sure that arbitrary executions, extrajudicial executions are not, in fact, being carried out through the use of these weapons,” he said.

U.S. officials never acknowledge these strikes, saying they do not discuss operational or intelligence matters.

The Special Rapporteur, who is an independent expert appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council, said the U.S. response has been “untenable” and that Washington needs to be more willing to discuss aspects of its drone program. “Otherwise you have the really problematic bottom line, which is that the Central Intelligence Agency is running a program that is killing significant numbers of people and there is absolutely no accountability in terms of the relevant international laws,” he said.

Alston said the United States should explain who is running the program and what precautions are being taken to ensure that these weapons are used within the framework of international law. He added that there must also be accountability and review mechanisms in place regarding their use.

Is this how the masquerade begins? Okay, the cancer thing may be the beginning. Those distancing themselves from the idea to release the only person convicted of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland are also part of the beginning. When people began questioning the validity of the cancer claim the obvious conspiracy theory arose expecting a fake death, funeral and subsequent plot by Libya to financially support and place al-Megrahi in seclusion or some sort of convict relocation program.

The circumstances surrounding a diagnosis of prostate cancer like those of the release arrangements are suspect. So again, has the masquerade begun in earnest with this latest report?

Libyan officials say the convicted Lockerbie bomber has been hospitalized in Tripoli.

They gave no other details on Abdel Baset al-Megrahi’s condition.

Last month, Scotland released Megrahi on compassionate grounds after he served eight years of a life sentence, saying he was near death from cancer. The decision prompted an outpouring of anger from families of the Lockerbie bombing victims.

In Scotland’s parliament Wednesday, lawmakers voted to reject the government’s decision to release Megrahi. The government asked parliament to endorse the decision to free the bomber, but lawmakers - in a largely symbolic poll - voted 73 to 50 against the action.

Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown says his government did not pressure Scotland to release the bomber to improve Britain’s trade links with Libya, despite reports that he wanted the bomber freed.

Mr. Brown said Wednesday that he told Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi that the decision was Scotland’s alone.

Earlier, Britain’s foreign secretary said Prime Minister Brown did not want the convicted Lockerbie bomber to die in prison, because it would have a catastrophic effect on British-Libyan relations.

Notes taken during a meeting between British official Bill Rammell and Libya’s minister for Europe, Abdulati Alobidi, show Rammell telling the Libyans that neither Mr. Brown nor British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw wanted the bomber to die in prison.

The documents also show that Straw decided to include Megrahi in a prisoner transfer deal to help improve ties with Libya. Straw originally excluded the bomber from the deal.

Megrahi is the only person convicted for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, that killed 270 people.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

Reviewing a recording in a collection of videos assembled over many years is partly what inspired this post. That and the belief that we need to examine the human condition periodically even with all the attention to current events, politics and public affairs. The attraction of ‘culture’ as an addenda to content of many internet sites featuring news and/or analysis largely focus on celebrity, pop culture, gossip, fads and dysfunction. It seems more meaningful to explore people, places and things from the past which may provide a positive guide for the future.

The initial inspiration above relates to a video produced near the century mark of the notable accomplishments of two men from Ohio in the bicycle business which made Kitty Hawk a famous location in the world of aviation. One could say they launched the world of aviation. Although the topic is not without debate.

The story mixes nicely with a recent news story on the failure of the remarkable aircraft known as the Raptor. The F-22 has fallen on hard times and may have blemished the equally remarkable legacy and former home of Clarence ‘Kelly’ Johnson and the Skunkworks of Lockheed, now and for some time, Lockheed Martin. Johnson and the Skunkworks were responsible for such masterpieces as the U2 spyplane and this blog’s favorite, the SR=71 Blackbird.

Much about the history of aviation are the truly amazing developments that occurred over the last century. And the pursuit of such things is virtually littered with accounts of those who tried but failed to achieve what others have since or records of latent genius and intuitive journeys which never advanced from that point.

One such intuitive journey is demonstrated in the visual works of Leonardo Da Vinci. The obvious study and attention to detail in evidence in a drawing assists in documenting the time that can pass from concept to creation.

Perhaps Da Vinci is an example of a fertile mind and ample talent overloaded by the sheer quantity of interests occupying his time. You could use this item to counter the kids next time they say they’re bored and there’s nothing to do. (Just had to say that.)

His notes and drawings display an enormous range of interests and preoccupations, some as mundane as lists of groceries and people who owed him money and some as intriguing as designs for wings and shoes for walking on water. There are compositions for paintings, studies of details and drapery, studies of faces and emotions, of animals, babies, dissections, plant studies, rock formations, whirl pools, war machines, helicopters and architecture

Who are the Da Vinci’s of today and what are they achieving? They certainly cannot be found in healthcare reform or other legislative agendas.

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (it-Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci.ogg pronunciation (help·info), April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was an Italian polymath, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician and writer.

Now there’s a resume’.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

The first video may not be so impressive unless you are familiar with the history or background of the Messerschmidt Me 262 jet aircraft. That’s why the second video is presented. Although this story is not new bringing back something which barely missed extinction in the face of historic events is a good thing in this case.

The next video is by description a clip and ends rather abruptly but you’ll get the idea if you need some background information. The introduction of jet engine technology and jet powered flight was being developed around the time of WWII. This bird is certainly part of that chronology and history. An impressive early entry into this technology.

Just a little Sunday distraction the selection of which was influenced by the blog author’s personal bias and serious interest and participation in aviation. (and partly by chance)
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

The video title as seen on youtube has been omitted. It is only fair if this story is true to present it for benefit of those who feel oppressed or offended by other similar stories with decidedly different outcomes.

Personally, I view it as understandable risk assessment that some find unpleasant. I call it a sign of the times, fair or not.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

You can hear the protests already. And while it seems the only substantial discomfort to passengers was a major inconvenience, the new catch phrase, Flying While Muslim, may be as flawed as the reason for 9 Muslims being removed from a DC flight to Orlando. That is if this quote from one of those removed is accurate. “My brother and his wife were discussing some aspect of airport security,” said passenger Kashif Irfan. Most reports indicate the conversation was about the safest place to sit. And while a guess might be that those removed were required to pay for a different flight to complete their trip may end up being reimbursed once the smoke clears, if they are not then the discomfort was more than inconvenience. Certainly the protests expected will conclude the travelers were treated unfairly. While there may be an argument to support that notion one can also express the tendency to act on the side of caution since 9/11. Even if the outcome is unfair. So was 9/11.

It has been seven years since the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Flight 93 were attacked. Those who wish to object to the occasional incident typically referred to as flying while Muslim, etc., might consider that under the circumstances little has been done in the Muslim community to convince the non-Muslim world the religion of peace is a religion of peace. If it is not fair to ask this of the Muslim community then is it fair to expect the remainder of the world to take it on ‘faith’ that Islam is largely peaceful given the actions of so-called radicals among them?

To adhere to the spirit of full disclosure readers of this blog should know the author’s racial demographic is white. That alone exposes one to a better than even chance of being viewed as a racist. While the author is way past the college years, it was in that environment the following tidbit was presented. No matter who you are if you believe you are not prejudiced you are deluding yourself. Prior to that the concept of ethnocentrism was presented. Or according to wordnet at Princeton, ‘a belief in the superiority of one’s own ethnic group.’ The point is, if you haven’t already guessed it, we all deal with our own prejudices and those of other people every day. It is not likely something that will be rectified any time soon.

For those who suspect this white author has never experienced prejudice as severe as others the following anecdotes are offered. While traveling alone on a cross-country trip by car I was stopped on an interstate by a member of the state police (state intentionally omitted). As I exited the vehicle on command the officer was resting his arms on his open car door aiming toward me what appeared a cannon in my eyes. You can imagine the fear caused by the very real possibility my life was about to end. Obviously I’m still alive. It seems a fellow officer had been killed during a traffic stop and for some reason this officer thought I did it. The matter was of course cleared up but none too soon.

A similar event but with a fellow traveler found the two of us being stopped, interrogated, searched and otherwise inconvenienced by local authorities in a small rural town. It was excused by them as their own brand of fighting drug trafficking. Again, at some point, we were allowed to continue our travel. Had these two events resulted in worse outcomes it might be viewed as intolerable acts of prejudice or at least injustice perpetrated by law enforcement bending the rules.

There are many more anecdotes that will not be offered as it is hoped the two offered thus far will suffice. Again, there is a point. And some of the anecdotes not offered would feature someone from the white racial demographic being treated wrongly simply based on that fact. And yes, the point is prejudice happens to everyone. That may be the only part of prejudice that is an oxymoron. The question is what do we do about it? And that, beloved readers (wink, wink) is the 64 trillion dollar question. For those of you old enough to remember the significance of the 64,000 dollar question, bailouts and other current economic realities caused the inflationary figure displayed.

Happy New Year, my *&$##^&

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

postscript: Perhaps the flying while Muslim on September 11, 2001 is responsible for the flying while Muslim difficulties since then.

Trackposted to The Pink Flamingo, Leaning Straight Up, Woman Honor Thyself, and The World According to Carl, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Many Americans Traveling for Thanksgiving Holiday
By VOA News
21 November 2007

Millions of Americans are on the roads or at the airports Wednesday, traveling to be with family and friends for Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday.

This year is expected to mark the largest Thanksgiving travel period ever - despite rising gas prices and fears of air delays.

The American Automobile Association estimates a record 38.7 million Americans will travel at least 80 kilometers for Thanksgiving, compared with the prior record of 38.1 million during last year’s holiday travel period.

Most of the travelers are likely to go by car, while the rest will fly or take trains or buses. Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest travel day of the year in the United States.

President Bush issued a holiday proclamation, saying Thanksgiving is a time for Americans to gather in a spirit of gratitude with family, friends and neighbors. He said Thanksgiving is also a chance to serve others and to share blessings with those in need.

Thanksgiving is a North American holiday to give thanks at the end of the harvest season, with family gatherings and holiday meals that include turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada.

The earliest Thanksgiving events were held in former British colonies in what are now U.S. states - in present-day Virginia in 1619 and present-day Massachusetts in 1621.

By Alex Villarreal
Washington
27 October 2007
Villarreal report (mp3) - Download 452k
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Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have successfully attached a new room to the station. They completed the task during the first of five spacewalks planned during their two-week mission. VOA’s Alex Villarreal reports from Washington.

Crew members of the U.S. space shuttle, Discovery, embarked Friday on the mission’s first spacewalk.

During the more than six-hour excursion, the Discovery and International Space Station crews used the station’s robotic arm to move a new module, named Harmony, from the shuttle to a temporary location on the space station.

Space Station Flight Director Derek Hassman called the day a success. “It’s not very often that I can report that a day goes exactly as we planned, but this is probably about as close as we get to one of those days. And this is one of those days where you really appreciate all the months and years of planning that go into these missions,” he said.

The Harmony module, the size of a bus, will provide docking ports for Japanese and European scientific laboratories to be installed on the space station. It will be moved to its permanent location after the shuttle departs.

Space Station program manager Kirk Shireman said the module is a welcome addition. “Today, the International Space Station is 18 percent more volume than it was yesterday with the attachment of Harmony. We went to..we were 15,000, about 15,000 cubic feet. Today we’re 2,600 feet, cubic feet more. So we’re glad to have the extra volume on board ISS.”

Spacewalkers also worked Friday on a massive solar power structure that will be relocated during future spacewalks and retrieved a broken antenna to be returned to Earth.

So far, the mission has not encountered major problems. After Discovery docked on Thursday, NASA engineers analyzed photos of the shuttle for damage. NASA officials say the engineers found nothing to warrant more focused inspection.

Discovery launched on Tuesday and is expected to return to Earth on November 6.

By Trish Anderton
Jakarta
22 October 2007
Anderton report (mp3) - Download 496k
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The Indonesian government says the pilot in a fiery plane crash earlier this year ignored repeated warnings to abandon his landing attempt. The March 7th accident in Central Java claimed 21 lives. Trish Anderton reports from Jakarta.

The report from Indonesia’s National Transport Safety Committee, issued Monday, says the pilot of the Garuda plane tried to land, despite 15 warning alarms and his copilot’s calls to abort the attempt.

It also finds the plane was traveling faster and descending more sharply than normal. The plane skidded across the Yogyakarta runway into a rice field and burst into flames.

Peter Gibson of Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority says pulling out of a landing if you are having problems is one of the essential rules every pilot learns.

“You must have a stabilized approach and that means, literally, the aircraft is configured for landing, and everything is proceeding smoothly, and if anything is giving the pilot concern, the training says go around and do it again,” said Gibson.

The report also called the airport’s emergency plan less than effective, and said delays in putting out the fire may have contributed to the death toll.

Transport officials say the report is designed to help prevent future accidents.

But Danang Parikesit of the Indonesian Transportation Society says it should have made detailed recommendations on how to improve elements such as communications and emergency response.

“The report does not address specific intervention or specific measures that need to be carried out by those three most responsible organizations in airline safety: first, the government, second, the airport authority and the third is the airline company,” said Parikesit.

The pilot and copilot survived the crash, and remain suspended from duty. The government says, by law, the report may not be used as part of any possible criminal case against the men.

The accident was the second major air crash in Indonesia this year. On New Year’s Day, an Adam Air jetliner plunged into the sea off the island of Sulawesi, killing everyone aboard.

The United States has declared that Indonesia does not comply with international air safety standards. In June, the European Union banned all Indonesian airlines from its airspace.