(Click for full-size pic)
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
An Excellent Question
Constant Reader and all-around good guy Luc posed an excellent question:
The actual stats are a bit long and most likely the average lurker will see that there is no T&A or Gun Pr∅n pictures and skip over the data, so let me offer this observation as a preface:
When the TSA or DHA actually do something of note (almost never) or try to take credit for something someone else has done (all the frickin' time - See underwear bomber, Times Square Bomber, etc) they hold big press conferences and trumpet long and loud their accomplishments to all and sundry.
Politico- Napolitano: "The System Worked"
A larger problem is that even when the information is right under their noses, they still don't recognize a terrorist attack.
WaPo- Napolitano: NYC car bomb is 'a potential terrorist attack'
Napolitano calls it a one-off, and is more likely an act of domestic terrorism.
It's a one off?
Oh- wait...
London 2007: Light GREEN Mercedes Benz loaded with Propane bottles,Gasoline containers,Nails, Electrical wiring, Detonators
Glasgow Airport 2007: Dark GREEN Jeep Cherokee, Propane bottles,Gasoline containers, Detonators
New York City 2010: Dark GREEN Nissan Pathfinder, Propane bottles, Gasoline containers, “Consumer grade fireworks”, Electrical wiring, Detonators.
One-off. Sure.
I'm not sure why they haven't banned driving Nissan Pathfinders in NYC...
After all, someone screws up an underwear bomb and now everyone gets a little testicle squeeze or labia pinch. Why are they still letting people drive SUVs in NYC?
Crap. I'm getting side tracked, and you're probably getting bored.
Stand by one...
Wow. Gun Pr∅n and a prodigious rack. Who knew?
Ok... Now that I have your attention again... Back to Luc's question:
The TSA publishes a weekly "body count" at tsa.gov every Tuesday.
Keep in mind that these are raw numbers with no follow up info to explain the circumstances.
I'll promise you that if they found a gun and evidence that a hijacking was to be committed, you'd see the same "The System Worked" canine and equine show that the DHS/TSA is so famous for.
I have a feeling that the "firearms found" figures are a variation of "I have a ccw and forgot it was in my briefcase where I always keep it", a LEO who is not following correct procedure, a Fed Air Marshall who didn't sign the log book or is late for flight and tried to pass the Screen Point without going the the appropriate hoops, test scenarios where undercover TSA Agents are bringing guns through to evaluate hardware and wetware, and things of that ilk, rather than real, bona fide hijackers and terrorists.
Now- the numbers (just the first 6 months of this year... I got tired of chasing the info):
TSA week at a glance:
12/27/09 To 01/03/10
* 28 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
* 12 firearms found at checkpoints
* 4 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 24 incidents that involved a checkpoint closure, terminal evacuation or sterile area breach
01/04/10 To 01/10/10
* 22 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
* 20 firearms found at checkpoints
* 5 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 26 incidents that involved a checkpoint closure, terminal evacuation or sterile area breach
01/11/10 To 01/17/10
* 9 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
* 8 firearms found at checkpoints
* 0 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 20 incidents that involved a checkpoint closure, terminal evacuation or sterile area breach
01/18/10 To 01/25/10
* 2 artfully concealed prohibited item found at checkpoints
* 21 firearms found at checkpoints
* 14 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
01/25/10 To 01/31/10
* 5 artfully concealed prohibited item found at checkpoints
* 17 firearms found at checkpoints
* 21 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
02/08/10 To 02/14/10
* 5 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 24 firearms found at checkpoints
* 22 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
2/15/10 To 02/21/10
* 6 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 19 firearms found at checkpoints
* 5 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
02/22/10 to 02/28/10
* 3 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 17 firearms found at checkpoints
* 5 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
03/01/10 To 03/07/10
* 4 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 19 firearms found at checkpoints
* 13 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
03/08/10 to 03/14/10
* 2 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 23 firearms found at checkpoints
* 2 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
03/15/10 to 03/21/10
* 2 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 28 firearms found at checkpoints
* 5 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
03/22/10 to 03/28/10
* 4 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 14 firearms found at checkpoints
* 14 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
03/29/10 To 04/04/10
* 2 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 18 firearms found at checkpoints
* 3 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
04/05/10 to 04/11/10
* 3 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 24 firearms found at checkpoints
* 4 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
04/12/10 to 04/18/10
* 3 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 28 firearms found at checkpoints
* 0 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
04/19/10 to 04/25/10
* 6 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 16 firearms found at checkpoints
* 0 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
04/26/10 To 05/02/10
* 7 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 14 firearms found at checkpoints
* 13 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
05/03/10 to 05/10/10
* 5 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 15 firearms found at checkpoints
* 9 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
05/10/10 To 05/16/10
* 2 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 27 firearms found at checkpoints
* 2 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
05/17/10 To 05/23/10
* 0 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 5 firearms found at checkpoints
* 6 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
05/24/10 To 05/30/10
* 3 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 10 firearms found at checkpoints
* 2 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
05/31/10 To 06/07/10
* 5 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 18 firearms found at checkpoints
* 11 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
06/07/10 To 06/13/10
* 4 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 8 firearms found at checkpoints
* 9 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
6/14/10 to 06/20/10
* 4 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 10 firearms found at checkpoints
* 3 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
6/21/10 thru 6/27/10
* 4 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 13 firearms found at checkpoints
* 15 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
6/28/10 Thru 7/04/10
* 3 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 128 firearms found at checkpoints
* 15 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
To answer your question, a shitload of firearms, no explosives, and the guns they find are not worthy of a follow-up with the press corp, so they are, as a rule, a non-event.
Hope this answers part of your question.
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Big Guy, question for you since you are somewhat of an expert on the subject: In the last year, how many explosive devices or real weapons (not including nail clippers) did the TSA found on passengers by screening them?We aim (heh) to please here at L2UJ, especially when it comes to gun questions...
The actual stats are a bit long and most likely the average lurker will see that there is no T&A or Gun Pr∅n pictures and skip over the data, so let me offer this observation as a preface:
When the TSA or DHA actually do something of note (almost never) or try to take credit for something someone else has done (all the frickin' time - See underwear bomber, Times Square Bomber, etc) they hold big press conferences and trumpet long and loud their accomplishments to all and sundry.
Politico- Napolitano: "The System Worked"
A larger problem is that even when the information is right under their noses, they still don't recognize a terrorist attack.
WaPo- Napolitano: NYC car bomb is 'a potential terrorist attack'
Napolitano calls it a one-off, and is more likely an act of domestic terrorism.
It's a one off?
Oh- wait...
London 2007: Light GREEN Mercedes Benz loaded with Propane bottles,Gasoline containers,Nails, Electrical wiring, Detonators
Glasgow Airport 2007: Dark GREEN Jeep Cherokee, Propane bottles,Gasoline containers, Detonators
New York City 2010: Dark GREEN Nissan Pathfinder, Propane bottles, Gasoline containers, “Consumer grade fireworks”, Electrical wiring, Detonators.
One-off. Sure.
I'm not sure why they haven't banned driving Nissan Pathfinders in NYC...
After all, someone screws up an underwear bomb and now everyone gets a little testicle squeeze or labia pinch. Why are they still letting people drive SUVs in NYC?
Crap. I'm getting side tracked, and you're probably getting bored.
Stand by one...
Wow. Gun Pr∅n and a prodigious rack. Who knew?
Ok... Now that I have your attention again... Back to Luc's question:
In the last year, how many explosive devices or real weapons (not including nail clippers) did the TSA found on passengers by screening them?"
The TSA publishes a weekly "body count" at tsa.gov every Tuesday.
Keep in mind that these are raw numbers with no follow up info to explain the circumstances.
I'll promise you that if they found a gun and evidence that a hijacking was to be committed, you'd see the same "The System Worked" canine and equine show that the DHS/TSA is so famous for.
I have a feeling that the "firearms found" figures are a variation of "I have a ccw and forgot it was in my briefcase where I always keep it", a LEO who is not following correct procedure, a Fed Air Marshall who didn't sign the log book or is late for flight and tried to pass the Screen Point without going the the appropriate hoops, test scenarios where undercover TSA Agents are bringing guns through to evaluate hardware and wetware, and things of that ilk, rather than real, bona fide hijackers and terrorists.
Now- the numbers (just the first 6 months of this year... I got tired of chasing the info):
TSA week at a glance:
12/27/09 To 01/03/10
* 28 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
* 12 firearms found at checkpoints
* 4 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 24 incidents that involved a checkpoint closure, terminal evacuation or sterile area breach
01/04/10 To 01/10/10
* 22 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
* 20 firearms found at checkpoints
* 5 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 26 incidents that involved a checkpoint closure, terminal evacuation or sterile area breach
01/11/10 To 01/17/10
* 9 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
* 8 firearms found at checkpoints
* 0 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 20 incidents that involved a checkpoint closure, terminal evacuation or sterile area breach
01/18/10 To 01/25/10
* 2 artfully concealed prohibited item found at checkpoints
* 21 firearms found at checkpoints
* 14 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
01/25/10 To 01/31/10
* 5 artfully concealed prohibited item found at checkpoints
* 17 firearms found at checkpoints
* 21 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
02/08/10 To 02/14/10
* 5 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 24 firearms found at checkpoints
* 22 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
2/15/10 To 02/21/10
* 6 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 19 firearms found at checkpoints
* 5 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
02/22/10 to 02/28/10
* 3 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 17 firearms found at checkpoints
* 5 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
03/01/10 To 03/07/10
* 4 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 19 firearms found at checkpoints
* 13 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
03/08/10 to 03/14/10
* 2 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 23 firearms found at checkpoints
* 2 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
03/15/10 to 03/21/10
* 2 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 28 firearms found at checkpoints
* 5 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
03/22/10 to 03/28/10
* 4 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 14 firearms found at checkpoints
* 14 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
03/29/10 To 04/04/10
* 2 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 18 firearms found at checkpoints
* 3 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
04/05/10 to 04/11/10
* 3 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 24 firearms found at checkpoints
* 4 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
04/12/10 to 04/18/10
* 3 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 28 firearms found at checkpoints
* 0 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
04/19/10 to 04/25/10
* 6 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 16 firearms found at checkpoints
* 0 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
04/26/10 To 05/02/10
* 7 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 14 firearms found at checkpoints
* 13 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
05/03/10 to 05/10/10
* 5 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 15 firearms found at checkpoints
* 9 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
05/10/10 To 05/16/10
* 2 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 27 firearms found at checkpoints
* 2 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
05/17/10 To 05/23/10
* 0 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 5 firearms found at checkpoints
* 6 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
05/24/10 To 05/30/10
* 3 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 10 firearms found at checkpoints
* 2 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
05/31/10 To 06/07/10
* 5 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 18 firearms found at checkpoints
* 11 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
06/07/10 To 06/13/10
* 4 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 8 firearms found at checkpoints
* 9 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
6/14/10 to 06/20/10
* 4 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 10 firearms found at checkpoints
* 3 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
6/21/10 thru 6/27/10
* 4 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 13 firearms found at checkpoints
* 15 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
6/28/10 Thru 7/04/10
* 3 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 128 firearms found at checkpoints
* 15 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
To answer your question, a shitload of firearms, no explosives, and the guns they find are not worthy of a follow-up with the press corp, so they are, as a rule, a non-event.
Hope this answers part of your question.
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Hell Hath No Fury...
...like a woman scorned.
As these pictures illustrate, men just don't get it.
(Click pics for full-sized images)
Of course, sometimes guys can be just as evil...
As these pictures illustrate, men just don't get it.
(Click pics for full-sized images)
Of course, sometimes guys can be just as evil...
Monday, November 22, 2010
We're Hurting Their Widdle Feewings!
Hey TSA Officers:
Ready to solve the puzzle?
TSA workers face verbal abuse from travelers
Awwww. You're breaking my fricken' heart!
Well, children... It's just like when you tell me:
"You don't like it? Don't fly."
So then...
You don't want to get abused?- Get another job.
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Ready to solve the puzzle?
TSA workers face verbal abuse from travelers
“Molester, pervert, disgusting, an embarrassment, creep. These are all words I have heard today at work describing me. ...These comments are painful and demoralizing,” one unnamed TSO posted on Frischling’s website.
Another said: “Being a TSO means often being verbally abused. You let the comments roll off and check the next person; however, when a woman refuses the scanner then comes to me and tells me that she feels like I am molesting her; that is beyond verbal abuse.”
Awwww. You're breaking my fricken' heart!
Well, children... It's just like when you tell me:
"You don't like it? Don't fly."
So then...
You don't want to get abused?- Get another job.
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Opinions. Not Worth A Tinkers Dam
When TBG started to go off regarding the TSA's new pat-downs and sooper-dooper xray machine, I thought to myself "That dude needs to switch to decaf."
After all, how bad can it be?
Look! CBS says most of us don't mind.
CBS Poll: 4 in 5 Support Full-Body Airport Scanners
Problem is, I think those 4 out of 5 are like me, and only travel once every 5 years or so, and are NOT travelers like TBG (thank God) and travel all the frigging time.
I guess you might have a different view, if like TBG, you had to submit to both the scanner and a pat-down. (We exchanged a series of rather colorful emails about this... I'm sure a 4th Amendment post is in-process. Don't miss it.)
Two things regarding the CBS poll...
They are playing fast and loose with their stats and sources. I hate it when pollsters don't discuss their polling criteria and methodologies...
The fine print? Here:
If not, then STFU. You don't have a valid frame of reference to give an opinion.
So, since I have no frame of reference, or as TBG phrased it "you don't have a dog in this fight..." I'll just keep my lip buttoned and watch the game from the sidelines.
One other thing that might cast a suspicious pall over the CBS article is the following quote:
How do you think the questions was asked?:
Meanwhile, for your amusement, a cartoon that MIGHT have some validity, if you look at the situation pragmatically:
Proxi, a non-traveler.
After all, how bad can it be?
Look! CBS says most of us don't mind.
CBS Poll: 4 in 5 Support Full-Body Airport Scanners
Americans overwhelmingly approve of the use of full-body digital x-ray machines - a new technology in use at some airports in the U.S.
Problem is, I think those 4 out of 5 are like me, and only travel once every 5 years or so, and are NOT travelers like TBG (thank God) and travel all the frigging time.
I guess you might have a different view, if like TBG, you had to submit to both the scanner and a pat-down. (We exchanged a series of rather colorful emails about this... I'm sure a 4th Amendment post is in-process. Don't miss it.)
Two things regarding the CBS poll...
They are playing fast and loose with their stats and sources. I hate it when pollsters don't discuss their polling criteria and methodologies...
The fine print? Here:
This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,137 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone November 7-10, 2010. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.Do they travel? How often? Have they experienced the TSA enhanced pat-down?
If not, then STFU. You don't have a valid frame of reference to give an opinion.
So, since I have no frame of reference, or as TBG phrased it "you don't have a dog in this fight..." I'll just keep my lip buttoned and watch the game from the sidelines.
One other thing that might cast a suspicious pall over the CBS article is the following quote:
Most [Americans], meanwhile, do not approve of racial or ethnic profiling - a practice not in place.I'm not sure they asked the question in an appropriate context.
How do you think the questions was asked?:
"Do you approve of racial profiling?"Yeah. Get back to me on that...
-or-
"Should individuals meeting specific criteria for know terrorist activities be subjected to more scrutiny than the average traveler?"
Meanwhile, for your amusement, a cartoon that MIGHT have some validity, if you look at the situation pragmatically:
Proxi, a non-traveler.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Fun & Feast Friday
Lots of fun on Friday-
It was the annual IDS Thanksgiving feast and wiffle ball home-run derby...
As per usual, I has a hand in the cooking, my contribution was the prep and cooking of a roast pig...
A 66lb porker named Roxanne.
I picked her up from Terry's on Penman Rd on Thursday afternoon. (1.79/lb. Can't beat that with a stick.)
When I placed my order I asked that they butterfly the carcass, but I guess they aren't really set up to do that, so all they did was cut her in half from stem to stern. Eh- mai wenti.
And since I really didn't want to gross anyone out, I had them remove the head.
After a liberal soaking in mojo criollo, I made slits in the meat to insert slivers of garlic under her skin and throughout the meat. I put her in the cold box to steep and I hit the hay since to have the things ready for this particular shindig I had to be on site at about 4:15am...
About 4:30 AM, and it's 40 degrees; Prepping the Caja China for action. Roxy is in the cardboard box.
I had two helpers volunteer to assist, although it was mostly for immoral support...
Jingalls showed up about 5:00, so we made a pot of coffee then we got down to business. Roxy was strapped to the rack, put into the Caja China and we lit the coals at 5:20.
At 5:45 we started the timer and started to watch the internal temperature of the meat.
(NB: Always use a remote probe thermometer. We used one this time and it worked out great.)
About 6:00 our other partner in crime arrived with more coffee...JessicaS improved our topics of conversation, and to a somewhat lesser degree, our language. There were only a few occasions we had to ask her to go "earmuffs-on" mode to spare her delicate feelings as we discussed Florida gun laws, TSA madness, restaurants, and travel spots.
About 7:15, it's about 52 degrees - Cooking is well underway, and the sun is just coming up...
Other participants began arriving as we neared the 9:00 hour-
We had just put on the next load of charcoal when RonH, KathyK and CynthiaW arrived to shoot the breeze and enjoy the heat... (Jess is cooking marshmallows over the fire.)
How's she doing?
We opened the box after several additional loads of charcoal, and it looked like things were just about perfect.
Internal temp in the ham was 168°... the round things are slices of sour oranges, in case you were wondering.
Ok... Let's flip her over to finish cooking and crisp up that skin!
Yours Truly and JIngalls doing the flip... Easy does it.
The welding gloves are a pretty important item to have on-hand (heh) too.
Next- to help render the fat and get good heat distribution we have to
modify the packaging...
Gotta get at the fat under that skin... Nurse! Scalpel please!
All right, no scalpel ... I'll just use my Cutco Santoku instead...
X marks the spot.
Lest you think we were all alone, rest assured, we were not.
Directly behind us, RallisP was manning the turkey fryers.
The Big Bossman fried 6 turkeys to go along with our petite porker...
(After all, we were feeding about 110 people, give or take a few.)
Rallis standing guard over the pots of hot oil... The guys in the background are watching the wiffle ball home run derby. That competition stared about 10:30 in the morning and lasted several hours...
Jeremy putting one across the plate... Zach is one of the 200 point targets in the outfield.
Ok... time to serve up some pork.
Jingalls and I open up the Caja China... Internal temp on the meat- 190°.
Wow.
"That's beautiful! What is that, velvet?"
We remove the pork from the box...
WayneD and BenC are carefully supervising us...
The top rack is removed and we're ready to start pulling and cutting....
At this point I have to put down my camera and attend to business-
We were serving at 1:00pm, so we started picking & pulling about 12:15, after giving the meat a short rest and we had the meat at the serving table right on time...
Some other pics from the shindig-
Life is uncertain - pick up your dessert first, otherwise you might miss out.
Dennis trying to decide where to start at the dessert table...
Random folks in line for the food...
We got smart this year and rented tables & chairs to make the actual meal easier.
It worked out well, I think...
Random IDS folks-
More random IDSers...
And the last group...
It was a beautiful day- although it started out cool (40°) it finished out in the mid 70s, with clear skies.
Great food, great fun, great folks...
Days like this remind me why I work at IDS.
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
It was the annual IDS Thanksgiving feast and wiffle ball home-run derby...
As per usual, I has a hand in the cooking, my contribution was the prep and cooking of a roast pig...
A 66lb porker named Roxanne.
I picked her up from Terry's on Penman Rd on Thursday afternoon. (1.79/lb. Can't beat that with a stick.)
When I placed my order I asked that they butterfly the carcass, but I guess they aren't really set up to do that, so all they did was cut her in half from stem to stern. Eh- mai wenti.
And since I really didn't want to gross anyone out, I had them remove the head.
After a liberal soaking in mojo criollo, I made slits in the meat to insert slivers of garlic under her skin and throughout the meat. I put her in the cold box to steep and I hit the hay since to have the things ready for this particular shindig I had to be on site at about 4:15am...
About 4:30 AM, and it's 40 degrees; Prepping the Caja China for action. Roxy is in the cardboard box.
I had two helpers volunteer to assist, although it was mostly for immoral support...
Jingalls showed up about 5:00, so we made a pot of coffee then we got down to business. Roxy was strapped to the rack, put into the Caja China and we lit the coals at 5:20.
At 5:45 we started the timer and started to watch the internal temperature of the meat.
(NB: Always use a remote probe thermometer. We used one this time and it worked out great.)
About 6:00 our other partner in crime arrived with more coffee...JessicaS improved our topics of conversation, and to a somewhat lesser degree, our language. There were only a few occasions we had to ask her to go "earmuffs-on" mode to spare her delicate feelings as we discussed Florida gun laws, TSA madness, restaurants, and travel spots.
About 7:15, it's about 52 degrees - Cooking is well underway, and the sun is just coming up...
Other participants began arriving as we neared the 9:00 hour-
We had just put on the next load of charcoal when RonH, KathyK and CynthiaW arrived to shoot the breeze and enjoy the heat... (Jess is cooking marshmallows over the fire.)
How's she doing?
We opened the box after several additional loads of charcoal, and it looked like things were just about perfect.
Internal temp in the ham was 168°... the round things are slices of sour oranges, in case you were wondering.
Ok... Let's flip her over to finish cooking and crisp up that skin!
Yours Truly and JIngalls doing the flip... Easy does it.
The welding gloves are a pretty important item to have on-hand (heh) too.
Next- to help render the fat and get good heat distribution we have to
modify the packaging...
Gotta get at the fat under that skin... Nurse! Scalpel please!
All right, no scalpel ... I'll just use my Cutco Santoku instead...
X marks the spot.
Lest you think we were all alone, rest assured, we were not.
Directly behind us, RallisP was manning the turkey fryers.
The Big Bossman fried 6 turkeys to go along with our petite porker...
(After all, we were feeding about 110 people, give or take a few.)
Rallis standing guard over the pots of hot oil... The guys in the background are watching the wiffle ball home run derby. That competition stared about 10:30 in the morning and lasted several hours...
Jeremy putting one across the plate... Zach is one of the 200 point targets in the outfield.
Ok... time to serve up some pork.
Jingalls and I open up the Caja China... Internal temp on the meat- 190°.
Wow.
"That's beautiful! What is that, velvet?"
We remove the pork from the box...
WayneD and BenC are carefully supervising us...
The top rack is removed and we're ready to start pulling and cutting....
At this point I have to put down my camera and attend to business-
We were serving at 1:00pm, so we started picking & pulling about 12:15, after giving the meat a short rest and we had the meat at the serving table right on time...
Some other pics from the shindig-
Life is uncertain - pick up your dessert first, otherwise you might miss out.
Dennis trying to decide where to start at the dessert table...
Random folks in line for the food...
We got smart this year and rented tables & chairs to make the actual meal easier.
It worked out well, I think...
Random IDS folks-
More random IDSers...
And the last group...
It was a beautiful day- although it started out cool (40°) it finished out in the mid 70s, with clear skies.
Great food, great fun, great folks...
Days like this remind me why I work at IDS.
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Quote of the Day
Democratic strategist James Carville dropped this one-liner:
“If Hillary gave up one of her balls and gave it to Obama, he’d have two.”
@ Politico
Yowza!
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
“If Hillary gave up one of her balls and gave it to Obama, he’d have two.”
@ Politico
Yowza!
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
One Thing To Think About During TSA Interactions
I'm not-necessarily an Alinsky-style 'Rules for Radicals' kinda guy, but it doesn't hurt to remind the TSA Officers about their own procedures and why they are there.
You'll see most of the TSOs are wearing rubber gloves for their protection and yours (in theory)-
HOWEVER- the implication is that after they've pawed through the guy in front of you's dirty underwear in his carry-on or whatever, BEFORE they touch your carry on bag, they better be changing their gloves.
If they don't, I'd bitch long, loud and fill out a complaint form at the airport and fill out the form at TSA.gov .
It's been my experience that they don't change gloves often enough...
Same thing with the Grope-Fest over at the Rapid-Scan 1000 Porn-o-Scope...
New gloves for every person they touch.
You wouldn't let a doctor or nurse examine you with gloves they used with their last patient, why should it be different at this venue?
Just saying...
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
You'll see most of the TSOs are wearing rubber gloves for their protection and yours (in theory)-
HOWEVER- the implication is that after they've pawed through the guy in front of you's dirty underwear in his carry-on or whatever, BEFORE they touch your carry on bag, they better be changing their gloves.
If they don't, I'd bitch long, loud and fill out a complaint form at the airport and fill out the form at TSA.gov .
It's been my experience that they don't change gloves often enough...
Same thing with the Grope-Fest over at the Rapid-Scan 1000 Porn-o-Scope...
New gloves for every person they touch.
You wouldn't let a doctor or nurse examine you with gloves they used with their last patient, why should it be different at this venue?
Just saying...
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
TSA Punch-out.
(Wow. Glad this happened. I thought I was going to be the first one to do it.)
A Connecticut man has been arrested after exchanging words and punching a TSA screener at a security checkpoint at Indianapolis International Airport.
First off:
Second:
Anyone want to guess what happened?
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
A Connecticut man has been arrested after exchanging words and punching a TSA screener at a security checkpoint at Indianapolis International Airport.
First off:
Jim Fotenos, spokesman for the Transportation Security Agency, said in an airport police report, "Our transportation security officers work on the front lines to protect the nation from a terrorist attack and physical violence against them is shameful. TSA will work with local authorities to see that appropriate action is taken."Dude, you and the TSOs are NOT on the "front lines"... Hie your sorry asses over to Afghanistan if you want to be Front Line troops and get treated as such.
Second:
He had already stood and been scanned in a full-body advanced imaging machine before the incident.
... full details of the exchange are not in the police report, but it indicates that Christina said he has a history of medical issues, including two metal implants, a colostomy bag and a fused right wrist.
Anyone want to guess what happened?
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
TSA Anti-Grope Strategies
(pic by Oleg Volk)
Everybody's jumped on the bandwagon, talking about the TSA Nightmare...
JayG, Tam, Breda, Borepatch I and II, Joanna, etc...
Welcome to the party, y'all. I've been bitching about it for years.
Want to Play
Common Sense
DefCon Jumpy
Please Sir
Crotchbomber
I Hate LAX
More Hate
Letters
Etc
Etc
It's not just the TSA, it's DHS in general.
It's all well and good to say "I just won't fly."
It's somewhat less effective when you have to fly on a relatively frequent basis as part of your job.
This is how it works:
Employee: "I really hate it. I either have to be irradiated in the TSA Microwave Oven/Nude-o-Scope, or I get to have my junk juggled by the former do-you-want-fries-with-that mouth-breathers turned oh-so-professional TSA screeners who can't tell a tight scrotum from a lump of C-4... Do you mind if I drive to Portland instead of flying?"
Employer: "Let eme do the math on that... tack 3 extra days on each end of the job for the trip and reimburse you for the mileage? Nope. Get your ass to the airport."
Employee: "We could rent a car for the trip and I'll take vacation days for the travel days. The rental and the gas will be a wash with the airfare."
Employer: "Well, the vacation-days thing would work for the first 4 or 5 trips. What then? What about your events in Europe and Asia?"
Employee: "...I don't know. Maybe I could get a transfer to a department or position that doesn't travel?"
Employer: "Why are you a special case? I don't think we should create a special position just so you don't get your crotch rubbed or have to get 3 seconds of high-intensity radiation a few time a year. If you don't want to travel, I'll hire someone else who will. Say goodbye to your (already dwindling) health insurance."
So that's not really an option, is it?
Meanwhile the TSA will just keep pushing the issue, restricting our rights (hint: Fourth Amendment)
and reacting to last weeks threat.
Shoe bomber? (Wasn't caught by the TSA)
Let's start scanning shoes now.
The 2006 Liquids Plot from the UK? (Wasn't caught by the TSA)
Ban all liquids.
Underwear Bomber? (Wasn't caught by the TSA)
Let's use a more invasive body scanning system, or just physically checking people's crotches.
Is that the best way to counter threats?
Something happens, then they find a way to counter what has ALREADY OCCURRED?
What is going to happen when someone smuggles an explosive on to a plane in a body cavity, extracts it in the lavatory of the plane and sets it off?
How will they know that's what happened?
And guess how will the TSA react?
Cavity Searches.
And they will expect us to put up with it.
After all- we put up with baggage checks.
We put up with metal detectors.
We put up with the explosive sniffer (which wasn't made by a company that Michael Chertoff is a stockholder/consultant so they can't use it any more.)
And now we're putting up with the nudie-scope and getting our genitals probed.
I had a list of things I want to say next time I get the rubber glove treatment.
I came up with another one... Especially with the same-sex-search policy.
Yo TSA dude. You think you're going to make me embarrassed?
The moment I start to get the genital grope I'm going to whisper to the Groper:
"Gosh, my boyfriend doesn't even give me this much attention."
I bet that search would cease pretty quickly.
Nothing like fomenting a little homophobia to hasten things along. Heh.
One good solution:
Go read The Gormogons.... How to Fix Airport Security
Or Jennifer's Comments
All in all, if you look at it the right way, the TSA is improving the world we live in:
1) TSA provides many great employment opportunities to registered and unregistered sex offenders, voyeurs and child molesters, thus keeping them away from your neighborhood.
2) Because many people are now avoiding the air travel altogether, the TSA actions reduce the pollution from the airplanes while increasing the number of passengers on the much more efficient public transportation such as trains or buses.
3) It will also generate more revenues for the shipping companies such as FedEx and UPS, due to expected increase in the number of packages sent from the Middle East.
4) TSA are buying so much radioactive materials for their scanners that Iran will never get enough uranium to make a nuclear bomb.
5) TSA has finally provided an indisputable proof that an alien spaceship really crashed in Roswell, NM in 1947 by incorporating in their procedures the most advanced and effective alien technology known to humans – the anal probe.
6) Female travelers will be able to opt out of the annual breast exam in favor of the pat-down, while males will be able to forgo the testicular examinations. And with the TSA success record you can be rest assured that they will not find anything dangerous there. Also, you would get a free massage.
7) For the children, TSA would provide a viable alternative to Catholic church: children would be groped and molested by a man in a uniform just as they think they are on their way to heaven.
8 ) The radiation exposure from the scanners will greatly reduce your chances of dying from Alzheimer’s, heart attack, car accident or other unrelated cause of death, although may increase your chances of dying of embarrassment.
9) The infamous “The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure: A Child-Lover’s Code of Conduct” pedophile how-to guide has been pulled from Amazon.com so that it could be converted into a TSA training guide named “The Patdownophile’s Guide to Glove and Security: A Child-Groper Code of Conduct”.
10) Finally, the TSA security procedures are making the potential terrorists realize that passengers aren’t the real enemy. And on the other hand, the passengers are realizing that terrorists aren’t that scary either. -Mikhail Khlystov (известный в узких кругах мой коллега-квн-щик)
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Childhood Fears - Pt. 10
We didn't have the dirt floor, but we DID have the open stair risers...
Proxi - Living in fear since 1960
Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
The New Boyfriend
The youngest girl at The Estrogen Palace has a new boyfriend...
No, not this little sweetheart...
This one. (Ain't she a sweetheart too?)
This is the new boyfriend.
He's a Rhodesian Ridgeback by the name of Koa (coe-uh) that lives across the street from us..
He's a big puppy... About 11 months old.
He's a stalker...
Can Böz come out to play?
Every morning there is a standing 7:30 playdate for the dogs...
It's an activity calculated to tire them both out for the day, in order to avoid household destruction by bored animals.
Here she is...
Special greeting: "Let's play vampire, I'll bite your neck."
There's quite a bit of biting...
And a good bit of laying about...
Here's his trademark ridge and whorls...
They play well together, provided there is no tennis ball involved...
If, however, she is outside attending to the serious business of fetching the tennis ball, she will brook no interference from this interloper...
The ball is hers and hers alone.
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
No, not this little sweetheart...
This one. (Ain't she a sweetheart too?)
This is the new boyfriend.
He's a Rhodesian Ridgeback by the name of Koa (coe-uh) that lives across the street from us..
He's a big puppy... About 11 months old.
He's a stalker...
Can Böz come out to play?
Every morning there is a standing 7:30 playdate for the dogs...
It's an activity calculated to tire them both out for the day, in order to avoid household destruction by bored animals.
Here she is...
Special greeting: "Let's play vampire, I'll bite your neck."
There's quite a bit of biting...
And a good bit of laying about...
Here's his trademark ridge and whorls...
They play well together, provided there is no tennis ball involved...
If, however, she is outside attending to the serious business of fetching the tennis ball, she will brook no interference from this interloper...
The ball is hers and hers alone.
TBG- ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Childhood Fears - Pt. 8
A classic from everyone's Book O' Scary Shit - The Thing Under The Bed.
Proxi - Living in fear since 1960
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Childhood Fears - Pt. 7
Never trust anyone wearing a mask.
You never know what's under it.
Proxi - Living in fear since 1960
Friday, November 12, 2010
Childhood Fears - Pt. 6
On camp-outs in the backyard when I was a kid dogs howling in the distance always freaked me out. Probably from watching too many Werewolf movies on Creature Feature.
(Isn't the human hand instead of a paw a great touch?)
Proxi - Living in fear since 1960
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Childhood Fears - Pt. 5
Wasn't there a haunted house in every neighborhood?
Proxi - Living in fear since 1960.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Childhood Fears - Pt. 4
Thank Gawd we didn't have an unfinished basement. One of my best friends up the road from us did and it stank. This might have been the reason.
Proxi - Living in fear since 1960.
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