Monday, September 12, 2011

What is your name? Top Ten Replies to the TSA

As I mentioned earlier, I got selected by the TSA for additional screening and one of their super sophisticated terrorist detection mechanisms is to ask "What is your name?" Despite my disposition for being a smart ass, I answered with my name. Here are the Top Ten answers, I should have given:

10. Eric Stratton. Damn glad to meet you.
9. أنا لا أتحدث الإنجليزية. (Arabic for "I don't speak English")
8. Barack Hussein Obama
7. Bob Smith
6. John Galt
5. Death to the Infidels!
4. What do you want it to be? (With a wink.)
3. Osama bin Laden
2. Saddam Hussein
1. Is this a trick question?

Baofeng UV-3R: Factory Reset

Most UV-3R owners have probably already figured out that the manual is wrong, but for those that haven't... to do a factory reset, hold the U/V button down while turning the radio on. While unfortunate, it has been amusing to see all the "RTFM" replies that direct folks to an incorrect answer on the UV-3R Yahoo Group.

Baofeng UV-3R: LED Size

For those interested in swapping out the LEDs, they are 0603 size, i.e. 1.6mm x 0.8mm.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Android Nook

Less than 24 hours with it, but I like it.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Booktrack Adds Music and Sound Effects To Ebooks

Now, if they could just add moving pictures, books would be awesome!

Booktrack Adds Music and Sound Effects To Ebooks - Slashdot

And another thing...

After examining my boarding pass and drivers license, the TSA agent asked me what my name was. I'm thinking she should know after looking at those two documents, but I tell her anyway. What kinda of stupid terrorist won't know the name on their ID? Yet another effective security measure if I ever saw one.

Lottery Winner

I just won the TSA lottery and got selected for additional screening. An alarm went off after a swab of my hand was tested. (Really appreciated the giggles and chorus of "ooooo" from the dozen agents/officers/other uniformed people when the machine buzzed. At least I was quickly moved to the area, so they could go back to chitchatting.) During my fondling session, they told me some lotions will trigger the alarm. Sounds like a good system to me. I feel safer already. I didn't pitch a fit as I want to get home today, but I expressed my displeasure to several of them and used the words "ridiculous" and "security theater." The only funny part was the raised eyebrow from one of the agents when he saw them pull a couple copies of American Rifleman (trips are when I catch up on my dead tree reading) from my bag. There are pretty pictures of some Kimbers on the back.

General Neyland

I'm a little too young to have seen him coach, but I wish I had. Story here.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Out of the Country

I'll be back soon. Lots to catch up on... including a Baofeng UV-3R Mark II.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Legal?

So a thunderstorm is within 10 miles of Neyland Stadium. They have shut the gates and told us that we cannot leave. I'm not sure if this is legal. I don't want to leave, but I am curious what rules apply.