Don’t want to go through the TSA’s full body scan or porn-o-scan? The TSA has an alternative: “enhanced” pat-downs. These pat-downs gropings have one objective – coerce you into going through the body scanner.
T-shirts with the logo on the left are available here.
If a significant number of passengers choose to opt-out of the body scanners, the time required to do a normal pat-down would cause such delays that travelers would find alternatives to flying. The airlines would raise hell. To prevent this, the TSA has resorted to the terror tactic of “enhanced” pat-downs.
There is big money at stake here. Former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff actively lobbies for the scanner manufacturer Rapiscan via his firm the Chertoff Group. Each unit has a price tag of $25 million and the Obama administration has provided $1 billion in stimulus money for the purchase of scanners.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has filed a petition for review and motion for an emergency stay with District of Columbia Court of Appeals. EPIC said that the program is “unlawful, invasive, and ineffective.” With this much money at stake, the Fourth Amendment doesn’t stand a chance.
I expect members of Congress to act outraged, hold hearings wherein they act outraged, and then do nothing. Politicians will use this opportunity to get their sound bites on the evening news, then something else will come along and distract us.
If you decide to go the “enhanced” pat-down route, you could pull a Meg Ryan:
Rae,
Learn to read:
“When someone suffering from NPD realizes some imperfection they usually become depressed. Look it up for yourself.”
So does someone who has watched someone they love slowly loose their mind. Look it up yourself.
“Not when your only successful life exists only in the vacuum of cyberspace.”
Again with the crap observation. You still don’t know me, only my shadow.
“You envy me because you cannot defeat me.”
Need I say more? No, because your very actions indicate envy. And fear I might add. Control freaks fear what they can’t control and envy that freedom from their control. Look it up yourself.
“The only people qualified to address my attitude are my parents and grandparents.”
You don’t have to guess. I’m in my forties. However, you should learn the difference between “qualified to address” and “relies”. I don’t rely upon my parents except for the love they’ve always shown, but you are most certainly not qualified to address my attitude. If you don’t like my attitude, quite simply and plainly so even you can understand, screw you. I don’t live for your approval troll. Was that clear enough for ya?
“How did I know he was under psychiatric care for years?”
Because you can’t read and you make shit up just like your trollish buddy. I was in G&T programs until I was in college and they have a lot of psychologists look at you in those programs. The only time I’ve ever seen a shrink in any other capacity was for the depression related to the divorce.
Now, once again, you can attack me, which only makes me giggle at your ineptitude, or you can address the TSA trampling your civil rights. A prolonged campaign trying to smear me will net you nothing but my amusement.
Gyges,
lol
I bet he does, but it’s in the voice of Mickey Mouse. Which coincidentally enough is the voice I hear all his posts in.
___
badtroll,
If you’d ever bested anyone here at anything, I might be impressed with your peacock display. As it is, it made me giggle. If you don’t like that you can’t best me? Here’s some advice from the strategist’s strategist:
“He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.” – Sun Tzu
You’ve had more than a thousand days to try to defeat my anti-propaganda and you’ve failed.
Every.
Single.
Time.
A wise man knows when to cut his losses, but then again, no one has ever accused you of being wise. So much for your “poor me” act. Send whomever you like. Pardon me while I don’t shake in my boots. Unless they’re mystical argument ninjas, you send them to their doom just as surely as you have marched off to your own every time you choose to troll. If you think I’m Alice, then surely you know I have the vorpal sword, Jabberwocky. You should. I’ve cut off the heads of enough of your trollish statements with it.
Blouise,
Can you say cognitive dissonance? I see avoidance, denial, & rationalization.
All,
Most people would appeal to the judgment of others when accused of suffering this type of disorder. Buddha couldn’t chance that. Instead he responded in such a way that it helps to confirm what I had suspected. The response given to each individual identifiable sign of the disorder conforms perfectly. Look it up for yourself.
“One does not get chased with a kitchen knife by a spouse whose[sic] gone insane without making a few mistakes.”
When someone suffering from NPD realizes some imperfection they usually become depressed. Look it up for yourself.
“I’d use my real name”
Not when your only successful life exists only in the vacuum of cyberspace. What better place than a political blog for narcissistic behavior to be championed? The persona associated with the avatar may not be ideal, but it works well. There’s a very good chance his real name has already been damaged. Leopards don’t change their spots and Buddha can’t transform his personality at will. It doesn’t take a mental health expert to understand how Buddha’s behavior would cause him problems in social settings. Especially a professional environment.
“You envy me because you cannot defeat me.”
Need I say more?
“The only people qualified to address my attitude are my parents and grandparents.”
Here’s a guy in, I’m guessing, his forties, who still relies on his parents to address his attitude.
“In case you’re wondering what the actual psychs have called me over the years.”
“I’ve had more psychological testing in my lifetime than most would believe.”
Oh yeah, Blouise. Some parlor trick, huh? How did I know he was under psychiatric care for years? Read the signs and follow the map.
Instead of having me explain how Buddha’s responses fit exactly into the puzzle, it would be best if the readers familiarized themselves with narcissistic personality disorder. I’ll let you discover the sources of information on your own. I wouldn’t want to be accused of stacking the deck.
I do, now what you gonna do about it Alice, call me a troll ? ewwwww I’m a troll. Got to admit I stirred the hornets nest back then. Had alot of fun doing it, it’s what trolls do.
Buddha,
I was just reminiscing about the time BDAman posted that thinly veiled threat about Mike using personal information he had dug up; said it was just a friendly warning…
I wonder if he practices “Are you talking to me?” in front of a mirror?
You have been weighed, you have been measured, and you have been found wanting.
Cue the music
The “projection” remark was directed at Rae…, just to be clear.
Son, your ego is writing checks your body can’t cash. You’ve been busted, you lost your qualifications as section leader three times, put in hack twice by me.
And let’s not bullshit Buddha. Your family name ain’t the best in the blog world. You need to be doing it better, and cleaner than the other guy. Now what is it with you?
Don’t screw around with me Buddha. You’re a hell of an instinctive poster. Maybe too good. I’d like to bust your butt but I can’t. I got another problem here. I gotta do something here, I still can’t believe it. I gotta give you your dream shot! I’m gonna send you up against the best.
Gyges,
Have you also noticed the uptick in troll traffic whenever it’s a thread concerning retaining or reclaiming our civil rights from those who would take them? Just like the uptick when our host in on television.
Pattern recognition is a wonderful thing.
Sounds like a whole lot of projection…
“Unfortunately, this also prevents him from achieving anything significant in real life.
Did you ever ask yourself why someone as sharp as Buddha has never amounted to anything more than to play the role of blog bully?”
You know what they say about assumptions. Quite true in this case. That’s why it’s called a truism.
You don’t know me but rather react to my shadow. Ergo your “observation” is crap. Just like the rest of your whining trollery.
If you trolls don’t like getting your heads served back to you on a platter, feel free to run over to HuffPo and play with the amateurs.
Gyges,
What you and others are doing is taking advantage of the characteristic behavior associated with the disorder to serve your own selfish needs. Buddha is intelligent and well-educated, but he does not function well in civilized society. He thrives on this blog because his online persona does not need to conform to the accepted social behavior of civilized society. Unfortunately, this also prevents him from achieving anything significant in real life.
Did you ever ask yourself why someone as sharp as Buddha has never amounted to anything more than to play the role of blog bully?
Ha … there you go posting while I’m typing …
anon nurse,
Rae is practicing a form of coffe table or cocktail party psych left over from the ’50’s.
Buddha will decide whether or not to respond and it will be fun to read if he does.
Open the satchel and look what pops out ….
Buddha … for some reason my avatar didn’t appear, I think I typed in my email incorrectly … so this was my response to the latest reincarnation, Rae’s post:
Blouise
1, November 23, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Color me blind for I find Gyges’ friend to be modest, outgoing, sacrificing, self-effacing, and unselfish
… ok, there may be a bit of the The Don Quixote in him but that small dollop is to my taste … he sees life “as it should be”. and seeks to transform the world from the way it is to the way “it could be”.
================================================
Have fun
Gyges,
“Just wondering if you’ve noticed that a large chunk of the time when BDAman gets called on his trolling, a new poster appears out of nowhere, supports him, and then promptly dissapears.
Life’s sort of funny, isn’t it?”
Yep. Odd how that happens.
I see the trolls have been busy while my cable was out. Just like roaches when the lights are off.
______
Johnny K/Rae/Trolls,
“narcissistic personality disorder”
That’s quaint. I’ve been called worse by people I care about more. You’d think by now you’d realize that personal attacks on me are filtered by “do I care what this person thinks?” In the case of trolls, the answer is always “no”. Your lot is just upset I’ve kicked every troll ass that’s every crossed my path. But let’s look at that charge, shall we?
Grandiose sense of self-importance –
Believes that he or she is “special” and unique –
Not a bit. I’ve said hundreds of times nobody is special although everyone is unique. Since the that is an all encompassing set, I am also not special. However, since everyone is unique, I am unique. But then again, so are you.
Rarely acknowledges mistakes and/or imperfections –
roflol, yeah, that’s really funny. I’ve been censured by the Prof. before and told numerous tales of mistakes. One does not get chased with a kitchen knife by a spouse whose gone insane without making a few mistakes. The cost of learning and wisdom both are often mistakes and missteps. I didn’t spring fully formed into the world out of the ether. Mistakes and missteps only remain mistakes and missteps if you don’t learn from them. I just happen to be very good at learning.
Requires excessive admiration –
No, not a bit. I don’t care if you admire me or not. If that was my goal, I’d use my real name as admiration of a nom de guerre/nom de plume is admiration of an image created by someone, but not the person themselves. If people admire a painting, that is different than admiring the creator of said painting. If I cared about the adoration of the crowds? I’d go into a profession that encourages sycophants and adulation like politics or television.
Has a sense of entitlement –
Only a sense of entitlement to my Constitutional Rights. To be fair, that sense of entitlement is yours too if you’re an American as they are your rights too – even if we are being tricked and forced into giving them up under the pretense of security theater masking as actual security.
Lacks empathy: is unwilling or unable to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others. –
Yep. That’s why I’m so unforgiving about one of my Jewish friends being called “Christ Killer” by a trolling half-wit. That’s why I’ve tried to help others on this blog, outside this blog and why I stand up against those who would steal your rights and trample your liberties – because I’m an uncaring and unsympathetic bastard. What I am is ruthless to the enemies of the Constitution and to the very select (and small) number of people who have earned a spot on my Permanent Shit List (which requires quite a bit of bad deeds to be added).
Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her –
There are only two people I envy and I’ve mentioned them on numerous occasions: David Gilmour and Buzz Aldrin. Why? There is no better job than world famous guitarist or astronaut. As to others envying me? Well that’s evidenced by the troll attacks. You envy me because you cannot defeat me. Just like you fear me because I am immune to propaganda and speak truth to power.
Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitude –
I’ll stipulate there is arrogance that goes with intelligence so guilty as charged. This disproves that I don’t admit to flaws. I’m also intolerant of willfully ignorant people so enjoy a two-fer. However, if you don’t like my attitude? That’s your problem. The only people qualified to address my attitude are my parents and grandparents. Since my grandparents are all dead and I know what my parents think, I guess you’ll just have to be content to be left out that loop.
In case you’re wondering what the actual psychs have called me over the years, the terms you’re looking for are “polymath”, “genius” and for a short time during my divorce “clinically depressed”, but not one has ever diagnosed me with anything other than that. I’ve had more psychological testing in my lifetime than most would believe. Being that they were medical professionals and you’re just another random jackass troll identity, I think I’ll go with the professional opinions as to what my diagnosis might be instead of a bunch of whining trolls.
If you’re tired of my behavior? Well that would be your problem too. Only one person has the power to make me leave. Despite me giving him every reason to do so in the past and offers to leave, he has not done so or taken up my offers. So tough luck there, sparky!
The corollary to Freedom of Speech is the Right to Ignore. Feel free to ignore me because you have zero chance of silencing me. I’ve even told badtroll that I don’t want him silenced. I need bad examples to play off for one cannot show the light without the contrast of darkness, but I’ve never once tried to limit his freedom of speech even if what he says is hateful and/or misleading garbage. I do not seek his silence, only to discredit what he says. A fair tactic which happens on a fairly regular basis. As far as that goes? Eh, either on their own or in conjunction with something I’ve said, I’ve had quite a bit of help from every other regular (and a few passing lurkers) at discrediting bdaman at one time or another so I really must share that credit. bdaman also lies quite a bit too, like about his confession being forced. It was spontaneous and voluntary so now he’s playing the “poor me” card. If he could actually win an argument or propaganda display, he wouldn’t be reduced to that pitiful strategy. Boo freaking hoo, badtroll! Even though not under arrest, you had the right to remain silent. No one held a gun to your head and forced that admission. You shot yourself. Not for the first or last time either.
Better than you lot have tried to run me off or marginalize me and failed, including professional paid political operatives.
This time will result in the same outcome: your failure.
Now unless you have something relevant to add to the discussion of the TSA violating our collective civil rights instead of bleating about how you don’t like me?
I cordially invite you to perform an anatomically inconvenient act on yourselves.
Without lubrication.
Feel free to sweet talk yourselves first.
Have a lovely evening.
Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 08:24 ET
Government yells “Terrorism” to justify TSA procedures
by Glenn Greenwald
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/11/23/tsa/index.html
Begin excerpt:
I wish there were a genuine unified uprising on the part of Left, Right and everyone else to draw an inviolable line, to declare that not everything is justifiable in the name of fear and Absolute Safety, which are age-old manipulated concepts, against which other competing values must be weighed. Such an uprising is long, long overdue.
But the American Public, on the whole, is perfectly content with increasingly invasive government surveillance. They’ve proven that they will submit to virtually anything before the scary specter of Terrorism: putting people in cages for life without charges, torturing innocent people, invading and destroying other nations that haven’t attacked us, assassination hit lists free of due process, to say nothing of the merciless domestic Prison State that eats up the lives of millions of their fellow citizens for no good reason, fills them with Taser-delivering electric shock at will, and degrades their communities and basic liberties with a deliberately endless and corrosive Drug War — almost all of which has a disproportionate impact on minorities. Indeed, polls show that, despite all the uproar and horror stories thus far, majorities in America are still supportive of these TSA procedures (though the trend is toward rising opposition).
I still would like to believe that what can change public thinking on such matters is having these measures finally start burdening a majority of Americans, rather than being confined to isolated, marginalized, demonized minorities. Human beings are self-interested, and unfortunate though it may be, it’s a fact of life that it’s difficult (though not impossible) to induce widespread public passion over injustices that aren’t affecting most people. If the growing anger over these TSA invasions helps change — or least moderate — how Americans think about Fear of Terrorism and Privacy as competing values, then at least some good will come of it. But it seems more likely that Americans will be just as supportive of future expansions of government power just as long as the Right People are targeted.
end excerpt
SB View
Lots, from day one because I had a different few than theirs.
I played it as a forced confession. Called me a troll so many times I said ok I’m a troll and they all went see told you so.
Gyges
Your friend, Buddha, is the most disruptive component.
How many times did you and your friends call bdaman a troll before he said that he was one?