Here’s my problem with the new enhanced security measures being practiced by the TSA: they’re giving people the opportunity to bitch about something new. And that’s basically it; as for the rest of what everyone’s complaining about/defending regarding the gropey-gropey pat downs and nekkid-picture-taking scanners… I really don’t care all that much.

Why? How can I be so blind to the erosion of liberty?

Because I don’t think any such erosion exists. We have lots of rights in this here country, but air travel ain’t one of them. Yes, the 4th amendment protects against unreasonable search and seizure, but if you read the fine print on any airline ticket (hell, any train or boat ticket too), you are agreeing to be searched any time the security apparatus sees fit.

I do dislike the way the TSA operates, but mostly because I find their processes inefficient and the screening decisions made by thier employees arbitrary and capricious. I think it’s security theater more than actual security.

Yes, these new procedures are kind of a pain in the ass. No, I wouldn’t be surprised if the naked scanner pictures are being ogled by unprofessional TSA people behind closed doors.

But I don’t think this is any kind of a nefarious plot to bring us closer to fascism. Nor do I think this is the government valiantly defending us from evildoers. What I think is that this whole situation is another example of the government trying to do good, but in actuality acting like the large, uncoordinated, ham-handed, heavy-fisted, obnoxious drunk uncle it so often is.

That’s it, that’s all. Is it too much to ask for people to recognize this for what it isn’t and to move on?

(SPOILER ALERT: Yes, I bet it is.)

Thanks to the Android market, I can now post from my phone. Whee!

I think there’s something wrong with my brain. Years of wide-eyed gazing at the TV and hoovering up any and all pop culture references have filled the space that should be devoted to necessary professional-discourse and career-advancing information. I can give you exacting details about the technical specifications of the Starship Enterprise or I can quote you entire scenes from various 80’s movies, but ask me to riff on the latest trends/advances/ideas in my chosen field, and I’ll stare back at you with a giant gaping hole where my brain should be.

Let me back up to say: I’m not a total idiot. Give me long enough and I can come up with something. I can contribute. Better yet, the written word. I am gold as far as e-mail exchanges go. I can rock me some prose, yes I can. But sometimes – most times – I am not so good at off the cuff.

Earlier this week, I had a meeting with my boss and a guy who is a Big Name in the historic preservation world. He’s super nice, extremely smart, very well spoken, and a great writer.

And I could barely string three words together. I did eventually contribute, but it was right at the end when things were winding down and even then mywordsjustsortofcameoutinonehugerush.

Miserable.

I think the issue here is self-confidence and an over active internal dialog. When I get to talking shop with someone who I don’t know very well and think is as-or-more knowledgeable than me, my brain expends a great deal of effort telling me that a.)I am a moron and b.)the other person sees right through my pretense at knowledge and insight.

So I recognize this, and have to find some way to get over it. I’m sure public speaking is the answer. Which is part of the reason I’ve agreed to guest-lecture said smart-guy’s class in a couple weeks and why I’m drawing up a preservation focused tour of the museum. Like Miles says in Risky Business, sometimes you gotta say “What the Fuck”.

Oh, and the Enterprise usually cruises at about warp 9.2, although it can get up past 9.6 in a pinch.