Artificial Intelligence

U.S. authorities have decided that taking your shoes off and having your fingerprints taken at the border just doesn't do the trick anymore. A new law, which has been discussed for a while now, allows officers to download all the files you have in your computer and to even seize your laptop for an uncertain period of time. After all, I'm sure that any terrorist wannabe would enter the U.S.A. with laptops full of maps of mine fields and instructions on how to hijack bicycles.
It seems that Bush is trying harder than ever to leave an abominable legacy and to get his name on top of the "roller coaster to hell" list. How long will everyone let the U.S. bully them and ignore human rights? Until now, only Brazil has taken a step in the right direction. A friend of mine was telling me about how the South American country stops U.S. citizens at the boarder and keeps them for hours in a row, while taking their fingertips and analyzing their criminal record. Why don't all other countries have the guts to do that? After all, one is only as powerful as the others let him be.

Source: The Inquirer

Onboard Security Rules

When boarding a plane, you might not be able to take the following items with you (we must remember that regulations change all the time and scientists could always discover new items that can be used to create bombs or stab people):

- guns - you should've left before the attacks, this way you could've brought along your favourite bazooka.
- makeup - makes perfect sense! Go ahead with the persecution of women! And I had especially bought some pink eye shadow, just to take pride in making the first pink bomb ever... another ruined dream!
- certain sharp objects - make sure you let your manicurist know, or they might pull out your nails before boarding the plane; that means no toothpicks, either... this is getting worse and worse!
BUT you CAN bring knitting needles - no tweezers, though! They're right, I always end up in the emergency room after using them. I sense a new invention coming our way - the knitting needles you can pluck your eyebrows with.
- musical instruments - completely understandable. What if you don't play the flute as well as you think you do? You might get hurt by some annoyed passanger.
- shoes with any kind of gel inside - they'll take them away from you, even if they're on your feet. Oh, yes, they will, so make sure you wear black socks, just in case.
- passangers are no longer able to transport live lobsters - does this mean people used to actually bring live lobsters in their carry-on bags? In any bags, for that matter... never thought of such a pet, but it's good to keep in mind.

Joke aside, I understand most of these regulations. What amazes me is that, on the other hand, the new plane tickets look like a regular sheet of paper with the airports' names and departure/ arrival times on them. One of our friends asked me to give him a copy so that he could make a few, since he's planning to go to Romania some time soon. If it weren't for a few number series that I believe (at least I HOPE) are tracking numbers, agency codes and other "security" measures, I'd see no problem with his request. He actually wanted us to go to the airport and make sure that was a real ticket :). No, I won't let his paranoia get to me!

3 Months Spent in Jail for a Joke

Walter Ghidibaca is the young man who, 3 months ago, while crossing the Russian border, declared that he was carrying a bomb. He got arrested, of course, and spent all this time in the Russian jails. Now he's awaiting his trial, which will take place on November 14. I am ashamed to say that I didn't give enough thought to his misfortune, but I surely didn't believe his situation hadn't yet been solved.
I understand how serious the accusations are. I know his joke was one of the least inspired and that he needed to receive some kind of punishment in order to set an example. Nevertheless, I don't find it normal that he spend all that time in their jails... I don't even want to think of the treatment he received, although they say he is in good health. There are so many lawyers handling his case, both from Romania and Russia, yet there was no possibility for him to be repatriated, at least? What about bail? Did they find any bombs on him? NO! It was clear that he had spoken without thinking... he had just had too much to drink and was extremely tired. At the same time, Walter is a person who always makes more or less inspired jokes... but I know this has no relevance in the eyes of the authorities.
I just want to write a few words about Walter, for whoever happens to read this and already knew about his case. I don't know Walter extremely well. He's an old friend of my husband's, and I had the opportunity to meet him in 2003, when he actually came to our wedding, and then in 2004, when he came to Canada for a few months (he afterwards decided that this was not the place for him, so he returned to Romania) . He's the one who took a few bad pictures at our wedding :P, but he also left us a few great ones... I just had to start with the bad part :). Walter taught me how to make mayonnaise... eternally grateful, seriously (I've only ruined it once, and managed to fix it, so he was a pretty good teacher... and a patient one :) ). He's always dreamt of being a journalist, and quite an adventurous one. One of his biggest dreams (and I believe he's already succeded in doing so) was to create various movies for the Discovery Channel. This was the main reason for his trip to Russia, as far as I know. He's quite good actually, from what I've seen. A very hardworking person; he was employed on a cruise ship for a few months and his stories just terrified me... I know this is a job I would never go for, as I'm pretty sure I couldn't face up to it. Again... he jokes a lot. Walter is a great person to party with, but he's also very serious at times and can handle extremely challenging discussions... an incredibily intelligent person. He might not be one of the best people to hang around when he gets annoyed... and that was the case at the Russian border. Walter is not a terrorist, he's not a rebel (well, not as far as this issue is concerned), and he tries to make a difference through his documentaries... he's one of the people who would actually do something to solve a problem, not only talk about it, as I'm doing right now. He's not someone who deserves to be in jail for more than 3 months and then go through a trial... the result of which I'm somewhat scared to imagine.
I'm very sorry for not having done something earlier, for not having thought about your problems as much as I should've. I'll try now, if it's not too late... it'll probably be useless, but I can't just comfort myself with this "probability". Hang in there, Walter (sounds stupid, but I'm at a loss for encouraging words right now).

P.S. His trial started on Tuesday, but I had been meaning to write this for a few days. This is just one article I found now, in a hurry, it doesn't mean that it's the most relevant one.