Posted 10:23 AM by Robert Ronald Smith

Smith flies again

Precisely 3 years after swearing off flying again, I broke my pledge and took an "overnight" flight from Seattle to Minneapolis. My excuse is that I drove to Seattle with my daughter, in her vehicle, and had to get back home. From a hassle standpoint, it was probably as good as it gets... a flight leaving at 1 AM on little Sun Country. I can only imagine the length of security lines during busier flight times... they must be truly awful.

If you don't fly often, you may not know the current security hassles. Shoes and belts must be removed, which slows line movement considerably. Now forbidden in carry-on luggage is any liquid or gel, which includes such common items as cologne, perfume, and hair products. No bottled water or pop, no coffee, etc. The bottom line is that most people now check their luggage rather than carry it on. Now that we've all purchased luggage designed to fit in overhead storage, we're now checking it instead. Naturally, that means that baggage pickup areas are more crowded and waits there are longer.

It's now recommended that you get to the airport 90 minutes ahead of flight time, and you're not going to want to go through security more than once, so once you're in the security line, you're likely stuck in the gates area.

So, commercial flying continues to become an ever-increasing pain in the ass and waste of time. Many travelers will spend more time at the airports than in the air. All of the terrorists involved in the 9/11 tragedy went through airport security, several were searched, and none were stopped. Worse, the most likely result of heavy airport security is that terrorists will resort to attack with handheld missiles, which even avoids their need for killing themselves.

Airport security is, despite the humiliation, inconvenience, and waste of time for all travelers, a myth as far as "protection" goes.

Posted 10:25 PM by Robert Ronald Smith

Smokers die young... yah, shure, you betcha

Here's a fun news item about Anna Smith of Spotsylvania county, Virginia, who recently turned 107 and is still enjoying her cigarettes. Naturally, though, she can't enjoy smoking in her own room; she has to go out to the smoking courtyard. There is probably some danger that her secondhand smoke might make other residents live too long.

If you think I'm joking, check out World's Oldest - All Smokers,

Posted 10:54 PM by Robert Ronald Smith

A step back in history

Tuesday afternoon, I made a side trip to check out Harris Machinery, in the Midway area. No, there's no machinery I'm in the market for, but I figured that any company that would sell an igloo-making machine just had to be interesting. Even though they're out of the igloo device, my trip was anything but wasted. If you have an interest in big old machinery (or new), you gotta visit Harris. Even more interesting to me was the set of buildings they reside in... great brick buildings from 1830.



The main building is very big... 3 stories, with massive wood floors, beams, and pillars strong enough to hold an unbelievable collection of very heavy equipment that you'll wonder how they even got up there. I couldn't identify half of the equipment they have. The buildings were originally used by a company that made railroad cars. Harris has been in business for the past 103 years.

If you have an interest in big old machines, or in fine old buildings, visit Harris during normal work hours. They're about 3 blocks north of University Ave., on 30th, a little west of KSTP. I'll be returning there soon, with a camera this time, and I expect to take a LOAD of photos.

Posted 1:15 AM by Robert Ronald Smith

What would I look like if...

There is a great site from Perception Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, Scotland, called Face Transformer, that allows you to take a facial photo of anyone and then see it transformed to change the age, race or sex, to transform it to the style of a famous artist, or to make an exagerated caricature or make it chimp-like.

I thought... who better to do it with than George W.? So here is his official portrait plus some of the transformations of it.

Top center is Afro-Caribean
Top right is East-Asian
Lower left is West-Asian
Lower center is Child
Lower right is Apeman (50% Chimp)



There are other transformations available once you upload a photo. Choose a photo carefully... best is a straight-on face shot, mouth closed. Great, addictive fun.