Yes, one person tried to smuggle explosives in his shoes. So now we need to remove our shoes. What will happen when the next terrorist tries to smuggle explosives in his/her anal cavity? Are we going to be given the finger search each time we fly? The US policy so far - in my opinion - was to react, not to prevent: A person tries with the shoes, all shoes are banned, a person tries with water bottles, all bottles are banned. A person tried from Schipol Airport, now Amsterdam is the focus. The list goes on. Do you see a pattern here?

My exact trepidation.

There are always a lot of tips given out this time of year about how to make and keep resolutions and make the next year better than the last. But I have only one “secret” to impart: discipline. It is the key to unlocking your potential and finally moving forward with your life. Discipline is essentially the ability to put off what we want in the moment for what we want in the long run.

As I review my personal objectives for 2010, discipline is a core component of each.

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."

—Neil Gaiman (via patrickrhone via Princess Bethany)

Steve Jobs and Apple appeared in an extraordinary number of 2009’s “Best of” lists.

“Even today with the heightened security in North America, they will check your items to death. But they will never look at you, at how you behave. They will never look into your eyes … and that’s how you figure out the bad guys from the good guys.” … That’s the process — six layers, four hard, two soft. The goal at Ben-Gurion is to move fliers from the parking lot to the airport lounge in a maximum of 25 minutes. … So. Eight years after 9/11, why are we still so reactive, so un-Israelified?

It’s amazing how we treat security nothing like the leaders in this area. Thanks for the link Ståle.

New Year’s Eve Blue Moon

The New Year’s Eve blue moon over St. Paul, Minnesota. Happy 2010 to all.

A more spacious and St. Paul version of the Barrio located in Minneapolis. I’ve always been satisfied with the food and service and, personally, like the decor and ambiance Barrio provides.

youmightfindyourself:

Norman Rockwell’s Photo Realism

My favorite Rockwell painting.

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

—Benjamin Franklin

There’s not much more to say here except that regular travelers will once again be punished with absurd rules because the TSA can’t do its job right. I try to be level-headed with these things, but this one is just too much.

I fear travel in 2010 will be an entirely new level of stupidity.