I just finished reading Connie Willis's new books 'Black Out' and 'All Clear'. Originally meant to be a single book, but split in two by the publisher, it's a time travel story about the daily lives of people living in England during WWII. It's not directly applicable to the TSA's heavy-handed tactics, or TSA Chief John Pistole's and others' disdain for our rights, but it's instructive.

The larger message of Willis's books is that heroes are everywhere. WWII wasn't won solely by those fi... read more

NOBODY should have to make a choice between being scanned or groped by the TSA. Choosing between being a guinea pig for the backscatter machines (naked photos of you + possible cancer causing low level x-rays) or being molested if you 'opt-out' is not a choice. Here's what a UC San Francisco biochemist has to say about the machines: news.cnet.com/8301-31921_...541-281.html

You can do something about it. And because I've been known to go that extra mile, here's everything you c... read more

Connie Willis was speaking and signing books at UW last night, so I made it a point to get on over there. So glad I did, even though it was cold and blustery out.

I love her stuff; 'Bellwether' is one of my all-time favorite books. 'Doomsday Book' is another of my favorites, although it's not light like 'Bellwether'; 'harrowing' is a more apt word. Now I'm reading 'All Clear' - finished 'Black Out' a couple of weeks ago.

Anyway, her talk was great. She's clearly a professor type, but so... read more

If the TSA has its way, metal detectors at airports will disappear and every single person who wants to fly will have to go through the naked body scanners. www.ajc.com/business/tsa...d-531607.html

If you refuse, then you'll have to undergo a severe groping -- or an 'enhanced pat down' as the TSA prefers to call it. Only then will you be allowed on a plane. This, even though the machines (aka 'whole body imagers') are privacy invasive and may have health con... read more

The Chaffetz amendment just passed in the House: 307 voted yea, 119 voted nay, 12 didn't vote. It's not over yet, of course, but this is really great. The amendment was attached to a TSA reauthorization bill.