My bigger issue in flight is with AIF - Altitude-Induced Flatulence. Chewing gum does not seem to help that. Looking around and casting suspicion on nearby passengers is one strategy to avoid detection. That is a short-term solution that does not work very long.
I took my kids on the train last month and was frankly glad that they didn't meet anyone on that train. There were a couple of people in the lounge that had been imbibing a little too much. There was the one lady who, upon finding out that she'd have to go down stairs to get to the cafe, let out with a super loud "F---" that the whole car heard, and then proceeded to alternately wail and swear about how difficult everything had been going for her. There were the woman and man at the station in Tucson who got in a huge shouting match with all manner of profanities flying left and right because the woman thought the man had made some remark about her mother while they were on the train. I thought the police were going to get called for that one.
Great, now we've worked farts into this thread.
I think part of the problem is that many of us have been taught that we're not really in this together. That working together for the benefit of strangers without compensation is wrong and un-American. That it's really all about how to get to the top at the expense of everyone else however you can. Pardon me for pointing this out, but we now have Gordon Gekko on the news telling us how he's going to fix our society's problems by following his tried and true method of buying us out, diving up the proceeds, and selling off whatever remains to the highest bidder. I think it's pretty clear that we've been building a society that only thinks of ourselves and will turn on each other the moment anything goes wrong. Then we wonder why nobody seems to think about the needs of anyone else. I think we know why. We just don't want to admit it.
Nor does it happen to everyone, as some posters imply. It has not happened to me either, sorry to tell you.
[citation needed]
Everyone doesn't get mugged, either. I guess that means that those who do should just suck it up and walk it off, huh?...
So, are you suggesting that every single person screened by TSA gets secondary treatment? Seriously?
The worst problems I've had with TSA is in little ole Spokane, hardly the terrorist mecca of the world. I've had shaving cream confiscated, I've been subject to such a thorough search of my backpack that I nearly missed my flight, and in general it's like trying to enter Fort Knox. I've had far less problems in much bigger airports such as Sea-Tac and LAX. Now, all that said, I would guess that if a million people had had the identical experience with flying I have, you'd have a million different opinions on it. Just because my experience has been (relatively) hassle-free certainly doesn't mean everyone else's has. And just because others have had very bad experiences doesn't mean others haven't had good ones. I fly when necessary, and take Amtrak when I want to. So I guess I'm not a fan either. I would never tell anyone to fly (or not) based on my experience nor would I ever tell anyone else they're wrong about flying based on my experience. Or take the train or drive, for that matter.
Yeah - like going to Japan.Let me be frank - I have no problem with flying. Enjoying flying and being a railfan are perfectly compatible, not mutually exclusive. Who doesn't like big machines?
There are times that flying absolutely beats the heck out of the train.
That seems like useful advice about getting baby to mimic and relieve the pressure that way. Thanks.
As it happens, I plan to go to Japan soonish - the flight - in those tiny economy seats - seems more worrisome than traveling on the trains there (where the carry-on limits are so much less) - or the subways where it's SRO and hauling baggage - even small baggage - is discouraged.Yeah - like going to Japan.Let me be frank - I have no problem with flying. Enjoying flying and being a railfan are perfectly compatible, not mutually exclusive. Who doesn't like big machines?
There are times that flying absolutely beats the heck out of the train.
If you bothered to read what I actually wrote, I did not say anything of the sort that you imply above. Your conjecture (actually setting up a strawman and knocking it down admirably) is entirely your contribution. I have been a critic of the TSA when it behaves poorly. But the point still remains that a vast majority of people who go through TSA barriers do so with no issues. That is not to say that some do not have huge problems. But completely getting rid of security inspection before boarding aircrafts in today's world is not an option either and has not been for decades predating the TSA. What needs to happen is that the more egregious behaviors of some TSA agents needs to be curtailed and a more transparent mechanism for remediation of the same needs to be put in place. But completely getting rid of gate security in commercial aviation is something that only people who are grossly unconnected with reality contemplate seriously.
For you (a seasoned traveler, with no special needs), that's certainly an accurate statement. But that's a decision that everyone needs to make for themselves. I'd suspect that the decision could come out differently for folks with less experience trying to haul a large family though a TSA show.
Absolutely. No question about that. However, as far as air travel is concerned, the actual number of people that appear to avail of air service anyway (even for completely discretionary travel) seems to strongly suggest that for a vast majority the existence of TSA is not a sufficient deterrence to traveling by air. That is of course not to say that (a) the security processes are not a pain and (b) TSA sometimes appears to be trying hard to make it so for no particular conceivable reason. But in general, inconvenience yes, but deterrence, no. Greater deterrence appears to be things like baggage fees etc., but that is an outcome of the general philosophy of unpackaging everything so that the base fare presented can be as low as possible - the RyanAir (no pun intended
) syndrome, and planned reduction of seat inventory to sustainably increase base fares. Ironically, the latter also give Amtrak more breathing room in fare setting in air competitive markets.
If you would like some help in your transit planning from NRT to your final destination, please PM me. I'd be happy to help you.As it happens, I plan to go to Japan soonish - the flight - in those tiny economy seats - seems more worrisome than traveling on the trains there (where the carry-on limits are so much less) - or the subways where it's SRO and hauling baggage - even small baggage - is discouraged.Yeah - like going to Japan.Let me be frank - I have no problem with flying. Enjoying flying and being a railfan are perfectly compatible, not mutually exclusive. Who doesn't like big machines?
There are times that flying absolutely beats the heck out of the train.
36 hours in coach on the EB seems like nothing ( can walk, move, visit lounge and diner, recline) compared to the Pacific flight and the totally different - much faster - much more crowded trains when I get there.
But I will be flying to NRT -- no alternative - and hoping I like working with the transit there when I get there.
For some serious analysis of what is theatre and what might actually help security please see Bruce Schneier blog -- - no I've no connection therewith whatsoever - it's just the best analysis of risks I've seen - neither he nor me is selling anything .Absolutely. No question about that. However, as far as air travel is concerned, the actual number of people that appear to avail of air service anyway (even for completely discretionary travel) seems to strongly suggest that for a vast majority the existence of TSA is not a sufficient deterrence to traveling by air. That is of course not to say that (a) the security processes are not a pain and (b) TSA sometimes appears to be trying hard to make it so for no particular conceivable reason. But in general, inconvenience yes, but deterrence, no. Greater deterrence appears to be things like baggage fees etc., but that is an outcome of the general philosophy of unpackaging everything so that the base fare presented can be as low as possible - the RyanAir (no pun intended
Is security a pain in the butt? Of course, but what exactly is the reasonable alternative? As I said, the actual procedures can and should be streamlined, and to some extent such is taking place, but in a proper Capitalistic manner some of it requires buying into the convenience. But getting rid of it completely as dreamed by some is untenable in today's world.
Do you have a URL for said Blog. I am interested in actually reading what he has to say. It would be really nice if there were any reasonable less intrusive method to achieve the same end.
