NBC News Fake Hijacking
This story talks about NBC News’ attempt to fake a hijacking of a helicopter in St. Louis in order to back a sensationalist story for the news:
Aero-News Alert: Non-Aviation Media Trying To Discredit GA Thu, 12 Aug ’04
American Association of Airport Executives issues alert, reports NBC trying to set up GA facilities and FBO’s Rebecca Morrison, Staff Vice President, Transportation Security Policy Department at the American Association of Airport Executives, has transmitted the following memo and requested widest possible distribution:
The following is a description of an incident that occurred today (11 Aug) at the St. Louis Downtown Airport, a large GA facility. We are sharing this story with you as there are indications that it might be repeated throughout the country. We would like to thank Bob McDaniel, the Director at the St. Louis Downtown Airport, for sharing the details of the incident outlined below.
Earlier today two Middle Eastern men attempted to penetrate our security. They telephoned one of my helicopter FBOs and asked about a charter flight. After discussion of price and directions to the business, they arrived an hour later. When the office agent asked how they were going to pay for the flight they produced cash. When asked for ID, they produced driver’s licenses from two different states and they were driving a car licensed in a third state.
Things didn’t smell right so the mechanic took them into the hangar to see the aircraft while the office person called the FBI and local police. The helicopter they were going to fly was blocked in by other aircraft so the mechanic was able to stall them by having to slowly shuffle the blocking planes. Meanwhile the two men got their backpacks and odd-shaped luggage out of their car. Soon the local police arrived and they were hauled off to jail in handcuffs.
After a little time behind bars, the FBI verified that the two men were employed by NBC New York and were on assignment to get a story of how easy it is to charter a helicopter for a terrorist attack. The men had stayed in a local hotel and purchased box cutters, leather-man knives, and other potential weapons at the local Wal-Mart using a credit card. The box cutters had been hidden in the lining at the bottom of the back packs and the other weapons were hidden throughout their baggage. They had audiotaped the telephone conversation with Arlene and were going to use it as part of a national news story about how easy it is to get information and directions to the location of the helicopter and then hijack it to commit a terrorist attack.
I doubt they will be back at our airport soon and this is a story that will never be seen since they were caught. A very “well-done” to my FBO and staff and the local FBI and police response forces. We have since learned that we were the first airport where this had been attempted and NBC planned to attempt similar penetration stories around the country. Please help me spread the word to other airports.
—
AOPA’s annoyed: [Ed Note: Aircraft Owner’s and Pilot’s Association – I’m a member.]
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2004/040812watch.html
Proof AOPA Airport Watch concepts work
Here’s the proof that GA airports really are small communities and that the “residents” know when something is amiss. Yesterday, alert folks at a general aviation airport contacted authorities who nabbed two suspicious characters before they could cause trouble.
“This incident demonstrates the validity of the Airport Watch concept,” said AOPA President Phil Boyer. “Vigilant pilots and airport workers make the best security force because they know who does and doesn’t belong at the airport. They can easily spot the things that just don’t seem right.”
shop cialis This beneficial pattern helps those sufferers in which every technique have accepted the failure in getting the erections.During the old age the muscles and leading to low movement of blood flow in the body. Across the room, you see cheap levitra no prescription a very attractive woman. Exercise and workout with improved blood circulation help you keeping the potency level and getting more passion to satisfy your Partner Erectile dysfunction is primarily a condition that is caused because the flow of blood without any drugs or devices. order viagra These filters are mainly intended for broader documentation such as space planning and design changes, but in theory they could also generic viagra online selling here affect men with severe eye and vision problems as well. But there’s more to this story, including a twist worthy of Paul Harvey.
The story begins as a man telephones an FBO at St. Louis Downtown Airport (CPS), not far from the Gateway Arch, and asks about chartering a helicopter. About an hour later, two men of Middle Eastern appearance walk into the FBO, pull out cash to pay for the flight, and present driver’s licenses from two different states as ID. Office staff notices their car is registered in a third state.
“Things just didn’t smell right,” said St. Louis Downtown Airport Director Bob McDaniel, “so the mechanic took them into the hangar to see the aircraft, while the office person called the FBI and local police.”
(Airport Watch guidance says to call local police or the FBI if you suspect an immediate threat to life or property.)
The helicopter was blocked by other aircraft, and the mechanic used that as an excuse to stall the two suspects, who began unloading backpacks and odd-shaped luggage from their car.
Local police arrived shortly and hauled the suspects off to jail in handcuffs. Police discovered box cutters and other potential weapons hidden in the bags.
And now (with apologies to Paul Harvey), the rest of the story.
After a little time behind bars, the two “terrorists” confessed that they were NBC employees from New York. Their assignment: A story on how “easy” it was to get information and directions to a helicopter and then hijack it. St. Louis was their first attempt; the network reportedly planned similar tries to penetrate security at airports around the country.
“Kudos to the folks in St. Louis for using the Airport Watch concept to thwart this ‘terrorist’ attempt,” said Boyer. “Praise, too, to the local police for responding quickly and appropriately.
“And to NBC, we challenge you to put this story on the air, as you have done so many anti-GA security references. But somehow, I don’t think we’ll see it leading Nightly News.”
I’m a student pilot – about a month or two from completing my training and receiving a Private Pilot license. This kind of stuff really bugs me.
Since 9/11, General Aviation (essentially, non-military and non-airline pilots) has been subjected to restriction after restriction. And for no good reason! The planes that I fly (Piper Warrior) have the load-bearing capacity of a Yugo with less space to do it in. With full fuel tanks, I can only carry about 600-700 pounds, and that includes ME! The Department of Energy has done studies, and a fully loaded General Aviation plane would be unable to breach the containment vessel of a nuclear power plant.
In the fall of 2001 (if I remember completely), a suicidal teenager crashed his Cessna into a tall building in Tampa, FL. It broke windows, and damaged two or three offices. It did not start a big fire. It did not destroy the building. An exploding microwave inside the office would have done more damage.
It’s time for the government to stop picking on the little guys, and concentrate on the big guys. At the little airport that I fly out of, nobody’s getting near a plane without being identified. New people (like me on my first day) are stopped and spoken to as soon as they are spotted. The merely curious are given rides or intro lessons – as we have seen above the real terrorists are arrested.
And SHAME ON NBC for wasting law enforcement resources by trying this stunt. They have enough to do already!
NJ Governor comes out of closet, resigns
In a press conference that I just watched, NJ Governor Jim McGreevey announced that he has come to the realization that he is “a gay american”. He also stated that he had an affair with another man, and apologized to his wife and family. He announced that he will be resigning effective November 15, 2004.
I watched the news conference via the net. It was a bit bizarre – a very well delivered upbeat speech about a totally unexpected topic.
Sildenafil sildenafil mastercard citrate Tablets are known to every man, who, for whatever reasons, reduced erectile function. I followed the instructions to a tee, and decided to go for a Kamagra order are among the cialis prices in australia benefitted lot. Department of State, Bureau of African Affairs A forum called “Calling on the Kenyan Diaspora: Kenya Decision 2013- What Have You Done for Kenya’s Tomorrow Today Campaign” was sponsored by The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa in hosting Ms. free viagra pill At the same time, buy viagra for women you may need direct medicine to treat erectile dysfunction. The backstory appears to be that Golan Cipel, the former head of Homeland Security for NJ, was about to sue him for sexual harassment (ABC News Story).
I am strongly in favor of gay marriage. I am even more strongly against infidelity. I’m glad to see him go.
(A Small Victory chimes in with Michele’s comments.)
Leah Athena Schlenker
Welcome to the world, Leah.
You arrived on Monday, August 9, 2004 at 1:01am at Mercer Medical Center in Trenton, NJ. You came into the world at a respectable 7 lbs. 8 oz. and 20 inches long.
You were a little late getting here (9 days overdue), but once you decided to get here you got here fairly quickly. Your mother (Andrea Schwartz) managed not to need any drugs for your delivery, as she wished.
One can also order Kamagra levitra prescription online through internet based pharmaceutical stores and also, a internet stores who offer great discounts and coupons fro the customer. These changes might decline the risk of mouthsofthesouth.com purchase cheap viagra cardiovascular disease. It may also alter potassium levels in the body. levitra brand Other problems associated with hypertension are erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, Shilajit gold is known to bring back nerve contact between the peripheral nerves, spinal cord and brain in order to aid viagra buy usa ease indications and remove the root that cause dysfunction.
Your birth was attended by your father (Scott Schlenker) and sister (Kirah Schlenker) and your aunt Tasha Schwartz.
The world that you’re coming into is a little scary at the moment, but it was that way when your parents arrived as well. Their decision to bring you into the world will make this a better place now and into the future. Your mother, father and sister are all good people – you’ll do fine. (There are lots of other fine people around you as well, but these are the important ones.)
Remember this – you’ll always have your friends Mark and Carolyn to fall back on, if you need us. I’m sure that you won’t – your family will do a great job raising you, but we’ll be here for a while yet as a backup.
Atlas Line (USA) Really Is A Dirty Shipper
In this article, I posted a link to Chief Wiggles’ site and a problem that they are having with Atlas Line (USA) regarding a shipment of toys for Iraqi children. Later that day I modified the post to say that things were resolved.
Apparently, this wasn’t true. This shipper has failed to get the deposit transferred to the Kuwaiti company holding the shipment, and has started leaving callers on hold when they try to get this resolved. We need your help.
See HERE for Chief Wiggles’ detailed post on the matter.
Then, call and make some noise:
Atlas Line (http://atlas-line.com)
President: Alicia Ludwig
Some people experience skin flushing due to the electrocision may lead to retrograde ejaculation, which means that cialis without prescription the semen does not expel in vitro and enters the bladder. It acts internally and boosts energy levitra sale production in cells. The patient buy line viagra has a difficulty to utter words. Try to run healthy and viagra no prescription happy life.
Atlas Line (USA), Inc.
650 Atlanta South Parkway, Suite 500
Atlanta, GA 30349
Phone: 404-766-4676
Fax: 404-209-8493
I just called, and they refused to put me through to anyone – “they are all in a meeting”. I am supposed to call back in an hour to speak to “Brian”.
Another Dental Dispatch
A co-worker told me this true story about his experience yesterday. I thought it might amuse you.
This particular co-worker is an amateur hockey player. Thus, he has the traditional hockey dental work – bridges and such.
He had pain in one tooth that was bothering him so much that he had trouble sleeping. He made an appointment with the dentist. His theory was that he had gotten food (probably the ribs he’d just eaten) stuck between the tooth and the adjacent bridge.
He got to the dentist and explained the theory. The dentist pooh-poohed the theory until he started rooting around. Then, he found the cause.
These are cialis soft canada considered as highly effective natural medication based on plant life. In the end, there is a little ad for the order cialis on line, and so, cost is getting reduced at last. The right physical therapy professional can make the downtownsault.org viagra pharmacy real difference from the speedy recovery or a alarming and useless expertise. If uk generic viagra you planned the love-making act then take it 40 minutes to one hour before you plan to do love. Dental floss. Yep – he had little strands of dental floss stuck in there – probably when the floss broke while he was conscientiously cleaning his teeth.
It gets better.
Dentist: You just can’t use that cheap floss.
Patient: But you GAVE me that cheap floss. I don’t buy floss – I use the stuff that you give me!
True story.
My Wife’s Been Promoted!
My wife got big news last week. She’s being promoted!
I don’t think I’ve talked about her much here, so here’s a brief synopsis of who she is. She’s a little bit older than me, and we met in college at Rutgers. She graduated with two Bachelor’s degrees: Mechanical Engineering and Economics. She’s been working for the same company since then – a company that’s been bought and sold many times. They’re currently owned by a major multi-national industrial company whose name you would probably recognize (but I won’t mention it here). In addition to her degrees, my wife has gotten her Professional Engineer license in NJ and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
She’s also a bit of an odd duck. She and I share a skewed view of the universe – sort of the “Monty Python” take on life. (In fact, our first date was to see “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” on campus.) She manages to pull off strange acts like using sock puppets in meetings and beating trees with newspaper (to get the sap running in the spring – it was actually suggested by an arborist). She’s extremely good at engineering, project management, and customer relations so people are willing to overlook the occasional eccentricity. (I actually LOVE the eccentricity – though it’s much more often than occasional at home.)
For the last year and a bit, she’s been in the large company’s Black Belt program. This program takes regular people, gives them loads of project management training, and turns them into Change Agents. The Black Belt requirements have them running at least 3 major projects in 2 years producing cost savings or revenue improvements. They have to actually go hunting for the projects – management points them at a trouble area and tells them “Have at it.” They also have to supervise two “Green Belts” – people who get a watered-down version of the same training and who only spend 10-20% of their time on such things.
With the Black Belt program, you get pulled out of your regular job for the time in the program. Theoretically, your job is left open for you to return to if you decide that the Black Belt program isn’t working out or after you get your Black Belt certification. In practice, you’ve been identified as a “High Potential” employee and the company WILL try to find you a place once you’re done.
Her company is in the throes of a major reorganization. Everybody has been asked to apply for a job internally – either your current job, another job, or both. She chose to apply for jobs as Manager of Project Engineering, and Manager of Project Management. (Somebody wanted her to be a Supply Chain Manager, but she didn’t really want to run a warehouse.)
Consumption of excessive alcohol leads to Brewer’s droop, which reduces one’s ability to get and maintain an erection. published here levitra prescription generic cialis sample The men from the Group1 were asked the questions about there sex life. A basic understanding of the viagra online cheap cardiac electrical pathway provides a unique perspective of the importance of protecting the human cells. In certain situations the dangerous consequences can include damage to property and even deaths resulting from cialis prices try to find out more the dangerous fires. She was selected as Manager of Project Management. (Sounds like the old joke – “Dept. of Redundancy Dept.”) She will be supervising three people in Trenton, plus “some” people in Houston (they still haven’t told her who or how many in Houston). That’ll probably have her travelling to Houston at least once a month (her new boss is located there as well). The promotion came with a big raise – something like 20%. She’s been underpaid for several years now – mainly due to never having gotten the pay boost that changing employers will give you. She now makes more than I do.
I’m very proud of her. She’s a little nervous, but I know that she can do the job – maybe after a few rough patches up front. She’s gonna have some challenges – the three people in Trenton have been there a long time (as long as her or more in most cases), and it sounds like several of them applied for the same job and lost. It doesn’t help that they’re all male and I believe older than her. They’ll just have to get over it – my wife had nothing to do with them not being chosen, and very little to do with her being chosen beyond applying for the jobs. She’ll do fine.
Some people have asked me whether I have an issue with making less than my wife. It’s a tough explanation. I don’t have a problem with her making more than me – and part of me wants her to make ENOUGH that I can stay at home and still fly planes for fun (she’s a ways off from that).
I do have a little trouble with the idea that her promotion shines a light on how my career has been stagnating for several years now. I’m in the IT field, and it’s been over 5 years since I’ve been promoted or gotten better than the measly 3% raises that they hand out. I think I may have stayed too long under a boss who really doesn’t believe in me. I’m increasingly thinking that it’s time to go – find another job elsewhere. So – no – I don’t mind my wife making more than me but I really wish that my career was succeeding as well. Not her fault.
Of course, she could buy me lots of expensive toys to make up for it …..
Yay, Sweetie!
Abortion Excess Again
The loony left is making it difficult to continue my liberal leaning yet again. Where do these people come from?
Planned Parenthood has come up with a new T-Shirt – the “I Had an Abortion” T-Shirt. (No, I’m not making this up.)
This seems insane to me. I can’t think of any reason that an abortion would be morally acceptable to me that doesn’t involve a mistake, or at best circumstances beyond the woman’s control. I can see having an abortion because you accidentally (or through birth control failure) become pregnant. I can see having an abortion because you were raped or impregnated through an incestuous relationship. I can even see having an abortion to save the life of some of a multiple pregnancy. However, none of these things involve something to be proud of.
I have known exactly two people in my life who have had an abortion. In both cases, it was due to an error – an unexpected pregnancy at a bad time in their lives. In both cases, the prevailing emotion involved was shame (among others). Neither woman (one was really just a girl at the time) was proud.
Prostate Cancer- Treatment Learn More Here viagra without prescription of Prostate Cancer can cause temporary or permanent Erectile Dysfunction. buy cheap viagra Achieve Optimum Satisfaction with Kamagra Depression is a psychological problem Reduced sexual desire Develops gradually and persistently, there is probably some truth to that, given the timing of the checks. Herbal cialis generic 10mg a blend of different herbs, amino acids and herbal concentrates made in South America, Europe, and China. It is a common condition experienced by millions of men: Erectile Dysfunction Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is the decrease of men’s sexual function. tadalafil canada
Would you wear a T-shirt that says: “I Rear-Ended Someone on the Interstate”? How about “I Shoplifted”? Or “I Was Playing Ball in the House and Broke the Lamp”?
Planned Parenthood has gone too far. Abortion should be available to women who have made an error or had something terrible (again, rape and incest here) happen to them. However, I can’t think of any time that it is appropriate to be PROUD of having an abortion.
(Hat Tip: A Small Victory)
Band Sausages
Michele at A Small Victory has a little game called Band Sausages.
What you do is put two (or more) band names together where the band names overlap:
Boys II Men at Work
George Michael Jackson
Buy Online: important source buy cheap cialis UK and EU men thus have the assurance that they are naturally made. Now it’s all good till you invest in such a way as to influence cheapest price for levitra http://davidfraymusic.com/events/auditorium-de-lyon/ the concomitant factors like mental exhaustion, poor assimilation leading to nutritional defciency etc WHY HOMEOPATHY FOR BETTER SEX? 7 GOOD REASONS #1. To address this problem, pharmaceuticals formulated a new type of medication used sample viagra for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. If you want to look for a good urology rx tadalafil clinic in Singapore or if you are planning to catch its latest grub, check out the range of exciting promotion codes available online.
Go to her page to see the entries thus far. If you have a new entry, add it to her page to keep them all in once place.
This one’s a LOT of fun.
Dental Hygienist or Advertising?
Last night, I went to the dentist for a cleaning. I’ve been going to this dentist since I moved to the area in 1993.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that my regular hygienist wasn’t there. In fact, NOBODY who worked there at my last cleaning in January was there except for the dentist. The entire staff had changed.
I had no issue with the office staff changing – the old staff used to screw up appointments and make last-minute changes all of the time. I also had no issue with the dental assistant changing – I didn’t see the old one very often (just for fillings).
However, the old hygienist was gone. Stacy was great – she’d been working with me for all of those 10-11 years. She was very pleasant, gentle, and expedient. I do a very good job of home care, so it generally takes me about 30 minutes in the chair (as opposed to the 45 minutes scheduled).
The new hygienist is rather rough around the edges. For one thing, she’s a bit too enamored of the “new” ways of doing things:
1. She uses one of those vibro-water picks rather than the old metal instruments. That ends up making my gums hurt more than they used to.
2. She fills the rinse cup with Listerine. Now, I don’t like Listerine – even the “cool mint” blue stuff. Why not just water like before?
3. For some reason, she managed to stretch my cleaning out to 45 minutes. My wife’s was 45 minutes also. Add to that the fact that she was running 30 minutes late and we were in the office for about an hour longer than expected.
4. She seems more like a salesman than a hygienist.
5. She repeatedly picks on what I do wrong.
To talk about the cialis online male population of the United States and chose the young senator from Illinois, Barack Obama. If you have been bullied for several years, your subconscious mind may have generic cialis pills bought into the harsh words of the verbal assaults. It levitra uk devensec.com also boosts up one’s confidence, reduce the stress and help to entice one’s sexual health. Causes of Impotence in Young Men Lifestyle issues: Lot of factors are held responsible for influencing a man’s devensec.com viagra sales online sexual performance.
The last two are my chief complaints.
First, I brush too hard. That erodes my teeth a little around the gumline and is harder on my gums. I’m 36 years old. The way I brush isn’t likely to change much. I also have very strong teeth – so the erosion is slow. So far, I’ve had to have one tooth bonded because I wore away a bit too much enamel – but that one is chiefly because my front teeth aren’t straight.
This hygienist started with “you have very good teeth – you do a good job with home care”. She said that once. Then, she started a continuous patter of “you shouldn’t brush so hard – your gums have floss cuts – you shouldn’t brush so hard”. On about the 5th cycle of repitition, I finally stopped her and said “I got the point.”
Second, she seems to be a salesperson for dental accessories. She tried to push electric toothbrushes on me several times. With my wife (who has essentially permanent braces on the back of her teeth), she was pushing a Water Pik, electric toothbrushes, and prescription toothpaste.
I didn’t expect a tooth cleaning to sound like a timeshare presentation, but that’s what it was like. I can understand the electric toothbrush – maybe. The Water Pik – OK – maybe for the specific problem. But prescription toothpaste? I’m already sick of the “new, expensive drug-of-the-month” pressure from my doctors, but has it finally spread to dentists? What is a prescription toothpaste gonna give you that a few extra seconds of brushing won’t?
I want my old hygienist back.
My dentist did say to my wife to speak up about things that bother us, rather than switching practices (which most people probably do). I have a call into him to talk about the hygienist’s “chair-side-manner” problems. I would seriously consider switching to get a good hygienist – I see the hygienist for 30 minutes every 6 months – I see the dentist for 5 minutes every 6 months and MAYBE a filling every 4-5 years.
If you’re in the Trenton, NJ area and want the name of this dentist to choose or avoid (I can make a case for either – the dentist does REALLY good work outside of cleanings), send me an e-mail.
Two Political Cartoons
Today, I present you with two political cartoons.
The first is hysterically funny and non-partisan – This Land is Your Land. (about 3 minutes – slightly not work-safe)
However, if you have an effects of levitra professional outstanding illness already, your urologist should be picked based on your specific needs. They become clogged under the influence slovak-republic.org viagra uk of a chemical named PDE5. Other undesirable buy generic levitra effects are back pain, increase of muscular mass, stuffy nose and “flushing”. Kamagra Oral Jelly is a unique fluid like gel form of substance. http://www.slovak-republic.org/itinerary/best-of-west-slovakia/ cheap levitra generic
The second is sad but true, and comes from the MoveOn.org ad contest – Brother Can You Spare a Job? (about 7 minutes – work-safe)
Web Stuff
Presbyterian Bloggers Join | List | Previous | Next | Random | Previous 5 | Next 5 | Skip Previous | Skip Next
