Stop Whining & Bend Over...

Nigeria Slams 'Discriminatory' Flight Checks

Nigeria has criticised new security measures for passengers flying to and from the United States as unfair and said they amounted to discrimination against 150 million people.

Yeah? Well all 150 million of you can just suck it up. It is discrimination. We're being discriminate about with whom we want to be locked up in a metal tube flying at 35,000 feet and there's no room for whining or hurt feelings. If having a security officer check your anal cavity with a flashlight and sonar might even possibly make it safer to fly - then bend over and shut up. And that goes for y'all in Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen and the other dangerous countries as well. The new procedures might not work, but they certainly can't hurt... unless you don't relax and take a deep breath first...

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Vacation Spot? Not...

Al Qaeda Claims to Have Taken 2 U.N. Diplomats, 4 Tourists Hostage

Al Qaeda's North Africa branch claimed Wednesday it is holding hostage a senior U.N. peace envoy, his aide and four tourists kidnapped in the Sahara Desert in recent weeks.

The United Nations special envoy for Niger, Robert Fowler, and his aide Louis Guay, both Canadian diplomats, were kidnapped Dec. 14 in the southern Sahara country.

Four tourists, including two Swiss, a German woman and a British man, were kidnapped by gunmen Jan. 22 near the border in neighboring Mali, their tour operator said.

"We announce to the general public that the mujahideen (holy warriors) reserve the right to deal with the six kidnapped according to Islamic Shariah law," Al Qaeda in North Africa's purported spokesman, Salah Abu Mohammed, told the pan-Arab TV station Al-Jazeera overnight Wednesday.

Tourists? Seriously? What the f-ck is there to "tour" in the middle of the desert on the Algeria/Mali border? I know Europeans have a liberal definition of what constitutes an acceptable "vacation" but you'd think even they might not be intrigued by sand, rock, and camel shit. Here's a pic from Google:


There, you've seen the middle of nowhere and didn't have to risk being kidnapped and beheaded by barbarians.

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It's The Damnedest Thing I've Ever Seen

Europeans will vacation any-fucking-where...

A British Parliament Minister hiking on vacation in Colombia was held at gunpoint in the jungle and forced to eat powdered coffee creamer from a jar in his backpack after soldiers mistook it for cocaine, Reuters reported.

You know my Euro-friends, just because it's on the map doesn't make it a tourist stop!

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Vacationing In The Caucasus?

Holiday In Georgia Turned To Dash From Hell

A BRITISH family on a horse trekking holiday told yesterday of their terror as they fled war-torn Georgia.

Chris Wills, wife Melissa and their two teenage girls tried to catch a flight out but found the airport shut by a bombing raid. Instead they headed to neighbouring Armenia in a taxi.

Speaking before climbing into the cab in capital Tbilisi’s Freedom Square — named after Georgia’s breakaway from Soviet masters in 1991 — Melissa said: “It’s a huge relief to get away from this.”

The jewellery designer, 49, brand consultant Chris, 51, and daughters India, 17, and 15-year-old Iona were due to spend two weeks in Tusheti, in Georgia’s wild north.

Seriously? A vacation in Georgia? Was the Kabul Hilton full? The Congo too hot this time of year? Too "touristy" in Timbuktu? I've said it before, I'll say it again: Europeans will "holiday" any-fucking-where as long as the hotel rate includes breakfast.

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I'm Not Sure Where To Start?

Flight Attendant Sues Wife Of Evangelist Joel Osteen Over Alleged Air-Rage Incident

In a pretrial frenzy of finger pointing, lawyers for both women say airplane passengers and Continental employees will testify it was the other woman who was out of control.

The FAA report states that Osteen asked another flight attendant to clean a liquid on her first-class seat armrest. When that attendant said she would get another flight attendant, Osteen grabbed a second flight attendant and took her to the seat, the report said. The second attendant said she would call cleaning personnel and headed to the cockpit, the FAA said. Osteen followed her and came across Brown, whom she pushed and elbowed in the left breast in an attempt to get to the cockpit, according to the report.

The flight attendants asked to have Osteen removed from the plane; she and her family left voluntarily. Osteen denies the charges of assault.

According to court documents, Brown claims that she suffers from anxiety and hemorrhoids because of the incident and said her faith was affected. She is also suing Osteen for medical expenses for counseling.

Let's start with the flight attendant. You let this affect your faith!? A rich TV preacher's wife (allegedly) acts like a bitch and you need counseling for it? Grow up and get over it. You might want to rethink your line of work, Ms. Brown.

Moving on to Vick... I don't really care for the whole "prosperity gospel" thing, but to each their own. I don't begrudge you your money or a seat in first class - it is the only way to fly. However... Clean up your own damn armrest! How freaking precious are you?

Loser pays, anyone? Please?

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Italy To Use Military To Bolster Police

Italy Defends Move To Patrol Streets With Soldiers

The Italian government has defended its decision to use soldiers to patrol cities in an effort to curb crime, rejecting criticism that it will "militarise" the streets.

"There is a strong call from citizens for better control of the streets, for improved safety," Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa told Sky Italia television.

"My hope is that particularly in the evening, in the cities, these troops can ensure greater safety." [...]

Italy's main trade unions said rather than using soldiers the government should make better use of 25,000 police who are doing desk work, and the mayor of Turin said the move was "populist demagoguery" that would hurt tourism and Italy's image abroad.

This sounds like a good idea to me, and far from making me feel uncomfortable as tourist it would make me feel safer! Italy just went to the top of my travel list in Europe. Especially given how dangerous it's become in the Netherlands and northern Europe because of Muslim aggression. And yes, I know there are Muslims committing violence in Italy, but it's all in how you deal with the problem.

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I'm Usually Not One To Support The Average Lawsuit...

But in this case I'll make an exception...

Lawyer Sues Delta Over Delayed Trip To Argentina

A lawyer has sued Delta Air Lines Inc. for nearly $1 million, claiming the company's incompetent and rude employees made his 80-year-old mother's birthday trip to South America a stressful, costly horror.

Richard Roth said he and his family arrived in Argentina almost three days late, forcing him to spend thousands of dollars on food, hotels and transportation, plus buy tickets for another airline.

Roth also claims Delta misplaced his luggage, which meant he had to buy new clothes for himself and family members after arriving in Buenos Aires.

During the ordeal, Roth's court papers say, several Delta employees were "nasty," "rude," "obnoxious" and "totally disrespectful." Those who were courteous were generally ineffectual in assisting him, he claims.

I don't think the damages he's claiming are out of line. Having experienced Delta's imbecilic customer service more than once, I only believe everything he says and I hope he gets every penny. Then I hope someone takes on US Airways - truly the worst airline flying.

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You Obviously Never Studied Marketing

Have you heard about the spate of shark attacks in Mexico? I won't rehash my thoughts on the danger of going in the ocean, I've made my feelings abundantly clear. I just wanted to point out a little tidbit from the story. Looking to reassure visitors to Mexico, marine biologist Chris Lowe, of California State University, Long Beach offered this choice piece of wisdom: People have a much better chance of dying of food poisoning going to Mexico than being bitten by a shark. Yeah, that ought to bring'em running. Of course it does relate to one of my other big questions about people and their holidays... Who freakin' vacations in the third world?

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Kiss The Ground! Kiss The Ground! Kiss The Ground!!!

Thank you God! Thank you God! Thank you God!

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The Out Of Towner

I'm spending a few days with some friend's in South Carolina. I'm pretty sure I hate South Carolina. Wait, letmethinkaboutityepIhateit.

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Have You Seen Them?

FBI Seeks Identity Of Two Men Seen Aboard Washington State Ferries

The FBI released photographs of two men Monday who have been seen on Washington state ferries "exhibiting unusual behavior" and asked the public for help identifying them.

The agency's Seattle field office, along with the Washington Joint Analytical Center, was still seeking the men's identities and whereabouts Wednesday as ferry service was temporarily shutdown when a suspicious package was found in a ferry bathroom and taken away by authorities.

"We had various independent reports from passengers and ferry employees that these two guys were engaging in what they described as unusual activities on the ferries," Special Agent Robbie Burroughs, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Washington state, told FOXNews.com.

"They felt that these guys were showing an undue interest in the boat itself, in the layout, the workers and the terminal, and it caused them enough concern that they contacted law enforcement about it," she told FOXNews.com.

The two were photographed by a ferry employee about a month ago, and those photographs were distributed to ferry employees three weeks ago by local law enforcement.

Here are their pictures:

If you have seen them or have any information about them call the FBI's Seattle office at 206-622-0460.

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More Warnings And Curious Events

It seems that there may be something in works...

Airports Warned About Terror Dry Runs

WASHINGTON (AP) - Airport security officers around the nation have been alerted by federal officials to look out for terrorists practicing to carry explosive components onto aircraft, based on four curious seizures at airports since last September.

The unclassified alert was distributed on July 20 by the Transportation Security Administration to federal air marshals, its own transportation security officers and other law enforcement agencies.

The seizures at airports in San Diego, Milwaukee, Houston and Baltimore included "wires, switches, pipes or tubes, cell phone components and dense clay-like substances," including block cheese, the bulletin said. "The unusual nature and increase in number of these improvised items raise concern."

Of course the authorities still don't think there's a link between any of these incidents. Oh heavens no. It's probably just a bunch of Lutheran grandmothers who need to be taught how to pack properly.

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File This Under WTF!?! Or "Right This Way Mr. Atta, We'll Escort You To Your Plane"

Apparently someone in Phoenix needs a ton a bricks to fall on them...

Serious Security Questions at Sky Harbor Airport

It's what you have to do when you fly - use X-ray machines, metal detectors, and deal with liquid restrictions in your carry-on luggage. You know the drill.

Security checkpoints are just part of travel these days. They're supposed to keep us safe, so we use them - but not all of us and not all the time. [ ... ]


It's what we discovered in the middle of the night - TSA agents going away, and security guards taking over. It's 4.5 hours - every night - when an employee badge becomes an all-access pass.

Night after night, our hidden cameras captured what security experts tell us is a disaster waiting to happen.

The X-ray machines were off, the metal detectors were closed, and bags with unknown contents were carried to the secure side of the airport where the planes are.

We watched as a security guard let people with purses, coolers and suitcases
walk right through - bags unchecked.

Sweet Jesus! Heads need to roll, jobs need to be lost, public flogging must occur. But I bet nothing will be done until something happens and then the airport officials will feign shock and amazement at how something so horrible could have taken place on their watch.

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In Defense of Profiling

Paul Sperry of the New York Times gives an eloquent argument for why profiling is an absolute must. Free registration is required to read the article, but remember www.bugmenot.com is on your side. Excerpts:

Young Muslim men bombed the London tube, and young Muslim men attacked New York with planes in 2001. From everything we know about the terrorists who may be taking aim at our transportation system, they are most likely to be young Muslim men. Unfortunately, however, this demographic group won't be profiled. Instead, the authorities will be stopping Girl Scouts and grannies in a procedure that has more to do with demonstrating tolerance than with protecting citizens from terrorism.

Once an Islamist suicide bomber is sitting next to you on the train, your chances of escape are slim. The only solution is for the police to stop him well before he boards your car. But with the system as it stands, that terrorist could easily slip in through the numerical window of random security screening. By not allowing police to profile the most suspicious train passengers - young Muslim men who fit the indicators above - Mr. Bloomberg and other leaders not only tie one hand behind law enforcement's back, but they also unwittingly provide terrorists political cover to carry out their murderous plans. Call it politically correct suicide.

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More lip service from Mexico

File this under "Yeah, Whatever"

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