"It's not gonna get any better. Don't look for it. Be happy with what you've got." - George CarlinThere was a breakdown in the system, a failure to "connect the dots," as Barack Obama put it. You might think me cuckoo, but I'm prepared to give the FBI, CIA, TSA, NSA and ATF a pass on the underwear bomber. This is one nutbag out of who knows how many thousands who very nearly succeeded, but ultimately failed. Here's news for you: if you think this isn't going to continue happening for the rest of our lives,
you're the one who's cuckoo.TIME magazine had a good report a few weeks ago on how the Ft. Hood shooter was an example of
a new kind of fundamentalist crackpot, one who didn't fall into terrorism by growing up in Middle Eastern slums and attending an extremist Islamic school, but was instead a middle class, American college graduate who got persuaded by the radical rhetoric he read on the Internet. These are people who may be mentally ill, socially isolated, looking for something to be a part of, or all of the above, and radical Islam is what they attach to. Who knows how many human hand grenades like this are out there? Like Paul McCartney sang, "All the lonely people/where do they all come from?" You can't find `em all.
Reading people's gripes online is a hoot. "Why should the innocent be inconvenienced?," followed by, "Make me safer!" People want safer flights but with fewer safety measures.
The only way you're ever going to have a 100% safe flight is if everyone flies naked. You'll only be allowed one bag and two balls as your carry-on luggage. You can get a pair of overalls at the gate when you land, and buy everything you need in your destination city. It would do amazing things for local economies if everyone had to buy a week's worth of clothes and toiletries every time they flew. It's the only way you'll ever be assured total safety, though.
Tiger Woods vs. Charlie SheenI start to understand why black people feel they're treated differently than white people, even today, when I look at this Charlie Sheen story.
Tiger Woods peacefully used his wood on about 18 ladies' holes. Charlie Sheen allegedly threatened his wife with a knife at Christmas. Tiger Woods is now vilified, loses his family, loses sponsors left and right. Charlie Sheen's wife now wants his restraining order waived and CBS says they don't see this affecting his future with whatever TV show he's on.
Could there be a more glaring double standard?
Charlie Sheen's real name is Carlos Estevez, by the way. Punish that Hispanic bastard, too, dammit!
And I quote from the book of Carlin, Chapter "You Are All Diseased," verse "Airport Security": "Muslim fundamentalists, Christian fundamentalists, Jewish fundamentalists and just plain guys from Montana are going to make life in this country interesting for many years to come." And that was in 1999...
He also started his final special in 2008 with the famous words, "FUCK LANCE ARMSTRONG! AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, FUCK TIGER WOODS TOO!"
Boy oh boy do I miss George.
The uninitiated must think I'm insane when we're discussing world events or some large philosophical topic like religion and I start quoting George Carlin. "Your point of reference is a deceased comedian?" George was more than that! Yes, he was a sort of guru for me. Most of my favorite quotes on my Facebook page are from him.
Hey, have you finished Last Words? I'm still at 1/2.
I was giving the TSA a pass thinking surely they were diligent, but as more info comes out, this may have been a straight-up goof. I still think no matter what we do these things are going to happen, though.