Travel woes and political fiascos

Houses on Telegraph Hill, overlooking San Francisco Bay.

For those of us traveling this summer, guess it's small consolation to know even airline pilots have to endure over-the-top behaviour from airport security personnel, now wearing fake shiny badges.

An excerpt from Patrick Smith's article in Salon:

"...This inconvenient rule is in place because of another inconvenient rule, the one that makes connecting passengers claim and recheck their luggage when arriving from places outside the United States -- even though their bags have already been screened at the point of departure. The thinking is that people could unpack this or that dangerous item from a checked suitcase -- a 4-ounce bottle of shampoo, say -- then carry it onto the next flight.

"So, together with a throng of exhausted passengers, most of whom are rushing to catch connections, I'm funneled into the grimy, dimly-lit checkpoint. I hoist my luggage -- my black flight case, my backpack and a roll-aboard suitcase -- onto the X-ray belt, then pass through the metal detector. Once on the other side, I'm waiting for my stuff to reappear when suddenly the belt comes to a stop. "Bag check!" shouts the guard behind the monitor."

I can't count the number of times I've missed domestic flight connections at Hartsfield International in Atlanta - even with two hours between time of arrival and connecting flight departure - because of the extremely long lines and slowness of security personnel. In May, I arrived in Atlanta, grabbed my luggage, took it through customs, then headed straight to another airline security point, where I handed over my luggage for the connecting flight to Savannah.

Then I got in line for another security check, before being allowed to leave the terminal and catch my connnecting flight. At least 500 people were already in line, most of them exhausted after all-night flights. I wanted to take a picture of the line which snaked around 16 rows - and the man in a security uniform herding people through, like cattle - but figured security would question me - and I'd never make my connection!

Later that month I flew from San Francisco to Vancouver, British Columbia. Never have I been treated so badly at any airport, even in Third World countries known for rough treatment of passengers. The Canadian Customs officers treated me with suspicion from the moment I arrived, asking a hundred questions about who I was going to meet, did I have their home addresses and telephone numbers, how did I know my friends, where was I staying, etc., etc. This questioning - in a hostile, brusque manner - went on for several minutes. They certainly didn't make me feel welcome; by the time they were finished, I was wishing I'd stayed in San Francisco!

At least next week's flight is direct from Paris to San Francisco, so no worries about connections. Here's hoping your summer travels go smoothly, without mishaps or hassles!

The Bay Bridge at twilight.

Presidential campaign follies

Ten more reasons - just this week! - why John McCain should not be president. Please, if you have even for a moment considered voting for Sen. McCain, read this piece and watch the video of McCain speaking. And here's a list of 61 issues about which McCain has changed his position (aka flip-flopping).

This makes light of the fiasco that is our government.

And here's yet another scandal involving the Bush White House - caught on tape!

Southern Poverty Law Center fights for workers' rights

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is embroiled in a battle for the rights of farmworkers who have been cheated out of their pay by a subsidiary of Fresh Del Monte Produce. The company is a $3.4 billion food giant, but its subsidiary is trying to hide behind third-party labor contractors — or "field bosses" — who repeatedly shortchanged hundreds of hard-working men and women who put in long days in the scorching onion fields of South Georgia.

The SPLC is suing Del Monte Fresh Produce Southeast for cheating approximately 500 migrant farmworkers out of their legal wages. When the workers were cheated on payday, Del Monte claimed they weren't responsible, blaming an independent "labor contractor."

The SPLC calls Del Monte's actions a "shocking violation of the workers' rights. We must send a powerful message to Del Monte Fresh Produce Southeast and other employers who'd like to wash their hands of responsibility for the abuse of their workers." The SPLC went to court and won the first round of the legal battle against Del Monte. Next, the SPLC must prove how and to what extent its clients were cheated.

Please stand with the workers and make your voice heard. Tell Fresh Del Monte Produce to do the right thing and insure its subsidiary pay workers what they are owed.

Passive-aggressive notes

For anyone who's ever had run-ins with roommates or annoying co-workers, these notes may make you smile.