nadin is back from her dad's funeral and kvetching already.

[thundley4]

nadinbrzezinski   (1000+ posts)             Tue Jun-21-11 06:41 PM
Original message
The stupidity of our government (and why tourism is down)
   
It is partly the economy, people cannot afford to travel... but....

We came home last night from my dad's funeral, which happened in Mexico City. Our port of entry was Houston.... and I was ready to see once again a waste of money.

So in order to get to our flight in Mexico City we went into an airport where we had to go through security and our bags had to go through security, that includes what went into the belly of the plane... (yes they do stupid shit like run explosive dogs and randomly test bags, alert is down... so it is not 100%)

We went though a secondary checkpoint, your TSA... and a random tertiary check before getting into the aircraft. Oh did I mention the actual cops IN THE DAMN TERMINAL?

So we fly into Houston and we go through immigration... customs AND TSA... never mind we NEVER, for once second, left the secured (sterile) area... But we had TO GO THROUGH TSA... why? I guess that security abroad, which incidentally is BETTER... is not enough, or rather TSA needs to justify it's existence.

For the record there are a few airports around the world where yes, it would make sense... quito comes to mind... but not all.

This is a waste of time, and yes, resources... and by the way insulting too.

Oh and here is the best part, if TSA got your vanilla bottle (mine was in the luggage) guess what they sold at the airport? Care to guess what size too?

Just a general rant... we also did a little touristy stuff, and I hope next trip with hubby is NOT for a funeral... so far he's batting 1000.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1340220

[miskie]

wait -- 'explosive dogs' ? -- that sounds AWESOME !

Bad guy mugs an old lady - they release an explosive dog, and as soon as it grabs the perp's pant leg.. BOOM !

[Skul]

Let's have a look.

So in order to get to our flight in Mexico City we went into an airport where we had to go through security and our bags had to go through security, that includes what went into the belly of the plane... (yes they do stupid shit like run explosive dogs and randomly test bags, alert is down... so it is not 100%)

Absolutely.  So exactly, what's the problem?

We went though a secondary checkpoint, your TSA... and a random tertiary check before getting into the aircraft. Oh did I mention the actual cops IN THE DAMN TERMINAL?

ZOMG!!11!
Don't tell anyone Nads.
They hide behind the potted plants and jump out at you when you least expect it.

So we fly into Houston and we go through immigration... customs AND TSA... never mind we NEVER, for once second, left the secured (sterile) area... But we had TO GO THROUGH TSA... why? I guess that security abroad, which incidentally is BETTER... is not enough, or rather TSA needs to justify it's existence.

Nads, honey.
You weren't paying attention. You took a wrong turn sweety.

Oh and here is the best part, if TSA got your vanilla bottle (mine was in the luggage) guess what they sold at the airport? Care to guess what size too?

Nads, you aren't paying attention.
If you did, you'd know that taking liquids in excess of three ounces through the security checkpoint, is a no-no.
There's a reason for that Nads.
Your attention span is so short, I doubt you'd undersatnd.

Stupid, stupid DUmbass.

BTW, Nads.
Those puppies you saw were probably drug sniffers.
Depends on the breed.
I don't expect you'd know the difference.

[FlippyDoo]

It has been so long that we've heard from nadin that I wondered if this might be an imposter, but this line eased my fears:

This is a waste of time, and yes, resources... and by the way insulting too.

And yes...I'm glad that my pick for DOTY is back.

[miskie]

It has been so long that we've heard from nadin that I wondered if this might be an imposter, but this line eased my fears:

And yes...I'm glad that my pick for DOTY is back.

Oh excellent timing ! I was wondering - I know they say 'All dogs go to Heaven', but does that include explosive dogs ? 

[Skul]

Oh excellent timing ! I was wondering - I know they say 'All dogs go to Heaven', but does that include explosive dogs ? 

Yes, Sir.
They just arrive a little at a time.

[FaC]

The reason that you have to go thru security again after international arrivals is because you have had access to your hold baggage (to get it through customs), even if you re-check it. I have to do this all the time coming back into the country.

There is a lot of stupid stuff at the airport but this is one area where there is some actual logic....

[Evil_Conservative]

The stupidity of our government (and why tourism is down)

So true.

Obama opened his big mouth and told people not to come to Las Vegas.

[Chris_]

wait -- 'explosive dogs' ? -- that sounds AWESOME !

Those poor dogs.  Do they know?

[GOBUCKS]

Well, know-it-all nadin has officially returned. You may recall the poll I posted not long ago:
http://www.conservativecave.com/index.php/topic,60133.msg696154/

And for a winning nadin script:

I guess that security abroad, which incidentally is BETTER... is not enough, or rather TSA needs to justify it's[sic] existence.

The winner is #4 - Stupid 'murkin airport security.

As always, the winner will receive a brand-new iPad2 from Skimmer. Please send him an e-mail with your shipping address.

[NHSparky]

So in order to get to our flight in Mexico City we went into an airport where we had to go through security and our bags had to go through security

For the smartest woman on the Innertubez, she sure doesn't make her point very clear.  She's bitching about Houston airport (and let's not mention that it's the EEEEEVVVVVIIIILLLLL George H.W. BUSH (GAAAAHHHHH!!!) Intercontinental Airport) but the way she writes it she's talking about Mexico City.  

Hey, that's how I'd read it.  And frankly, she's bitching about Houston when she just got back from Mexico City?  The place is a crime-ridden shithole with some of the worst pollution in the world.

And yeah, it's pretty apparent she's never done much international travel.

Oh Nads?  Newsflash for ya, hon--when we "outchop" from Westpac, we sailors on SUBMARINES (you know, the people whom you claim to know oh so well) had to go through Customs inspections and declarations as well.  Filled out I-94's and everything.  Aren't you amazed to learn that?

[NHSparky]

Oh, one other question--how much milk did you manage to pawn off on your dead relatives and their families?

Second, you live in San Diego, I thought.  WTF are you doing flying into Houston?  Are you that ****ing hard up for frequent flyer miles?

Or are you that ****ing stupid that you didn't realize you could have driven an hour and a half or taken a ****ing Super Shuttle (or better yet, the train--the Pacific Surfliner is a nice way to spend a couple of hours) and saved yourself a shitload of time in the air, doing turnaround, etc...

Nah, you didn't think of that.  All that ****ing milk has rotted your brain.

[GOBUCKS]

Mexico City is a third world cesspool, of course, and anyone who's been there knows this, even nadin. The new air  port, though, is very nice. I haven't been there for about three years or so, but one thing I always liked at the air  port was when you arrived at customs, you pressed a button. If you got a green light, you just walked through. If you got a red light, they would take you apart. I've got a 100% green light record, but once a guy I was travelling with hit a red light, and it took him forever to clear. It's a neat game of chance. There may be other air  ports where they do that, but Mexico City is the only one I know.

[GOBUCKS]

madrchsod  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jun-21-11 07:25 PM
Response to Reply #2
7. yes you do have fans ..on this site and at least one other i found!
sorry about your dad....

   

nadinbrzezinski  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jun-21-11 08:16 PM
Response to Reply #7
11. I know of three sites
and one mostly former site... I used to think it was me. These days I really... well you know.

I suspect some folks are attracted to this regardless. Given I have known well... bullies, since I was in kindergarden... I have made a conscious choice to well... ignore them.

 
Trust me, know-it-all, it's.....you. You are...an arrogant....condescending...offensive.....dare I say, bitch? And yes, I know...
 

nadinbrzezinski  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jun-21-11 07:06 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. Well there is that too
them fans, in many ways, would not know real security if it bit them in the ass.

Of course the Murican tourist (two of them in fact) complaining were funny.

"Them" fans...I just love...that. And yes, I know...know-it-all nadin is being...fake...folksy.
Stupid Muricans.

[franksolich]

It has been so long that we've heard from nadin that I wondered if this might be an imposter, but this line eased my fears:

And yes...I'm glad that my pick for DOTY is back.

Am I evil for kind of, sort of, for hoping nadinostradamus wasn't coming back?

[thundley4]

Am I evil for kind of, sort of, for hoping nadinostradamus wasn't coming back?

Not really, but I'm glad she's back. I like seeing her whining about the bullies, when she is more of a condescending bitch and bully than all the rest combined.

[GOBUCKS]

Am I evil for kind of, sort of, for hoping nadinostradamus wasn't coming back?

Yes...but you knew...she would...be back. And yes, I know...you'll vote for her...too.
(What I'd like to see is franksolich's cats and nadin's parrots having a play date.)

[Freeper]

They get pissed when we say democrat party then they call us Muricans. 

[Vagabond]

What is she talking about? 

If she thinks Houston is a pain in the ass she oughta try catching a Falcon flight outta Baghdad.  You take off land in KIA and then have two hours to get your passport stamped get through security check your luggage on the next flight, then clear security again.  If you do one thing wrong, or don't have the 3 KD to pay customs on you, then you get to stay in lovely downtown Kuwait City on your own dime until the next flight, and pray it's not Kuwait Airlines.

And Houston doesn't have Sri Lankans handing you paper towels in the bathroom and asking for money for the service.

Yep Houston is definitely better than Kuwait International Airport.

[AprilRazz]

Oh Nads?  Newsflash for ya, hon--when we "outchop" from Westpac, we sailors on SUBMARINES (you know, the people whom you claim to know oh so well) had to go through Customs inspections and declarations as well.  Filled out I-94's and everything.  Aren't you amazed to learn that?

Yep. Had to do that a few times coming back from Med cruises. Funny thing was my male chief was the one doing the inspecting. We managed to get a few things through undeclared just by scattering a few "feminine items" around our racks. He wasn't really interested in looking through everything.