No Potty Mouths on Planes

Children’s Author Ejected from Plane for Bad Language

He said the F word. Maybe twice. A flight attendant who was seated behind him complained, and he was escorted off the plane.

Are you kidding me?

He didn’t yell about bombs, which can land your ass in serious trouble nowadays. He was frustrated that the plane wasn’t taking off. And wondered what was taking so long. I’m pretty sure he said something like, “What the f is taking so long?” It wasn’t like he was yelling at the attendant to f off.

Of course, we should all conduct ourselves in ways that don’t suggest that we were raised by wolves. However, exasperation can wear on even the most polite of us. The crew should have cut this guy some slack.

Avoid Air Hassles: Be Discreet and on Your Best Behavior

Federal rules say that “no one may interfere, intimidate or threaten a crewmember,” said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Alison Duquette. “It’s completely up to the pilot in command if they want to not allow someone to take a flight.” That means air crews have a lot of discretion in deciding what constitutes disruptive behavior.

So basically, an attendant who is having a bad day can get punch drunk with power and boot someone off if they’re getting on their nerves? Oh joy!

Since 9/11, we’ve had to put up with so much crap. Shoes, purses, watches, etc. all go in grey tubs down a conveyor belt so a vigilant TSA agent can declare your hand lotion a threat to our national security. Of course, you can get felt up and not even get dinner first. If you object, you can always opt for the radiation refrigerator. Now, you can’t even wonder out loud about why the plane is still on the f’n tarmac?

I’ve been on 16 hour flights and have had to connect. I am not in the best of moods after those. It’s hard for me to sleep on planes, and I can only watch the in-flight entertainment so many times. If my connecting flight is having issues, and I’ve been begging the Baby Jesus to just get me to my hotel room at my destination, I might get a little super pissy.

From that guy’s experience, I better wonder aloud into my oxygen mask, or do a full body freak out in the privacy of the lavatory. Apparently, “I am quite displeased with this situation” is acceptable. “OMG can we get in the f’n air so I don’t stab myself with a spork?” isn’t.

The joys of post-9/11 travel.

Can’t Catch a Break

I was thinking about President Obama this morning. I love the guy, even though there are things he’s done as POTUS that I don’t agree with. After pondering what’s been going on, especially the last few months, I feel bad for him. Dude can’t seem to catch a break. In reverse chronological order (more or less):

• Japan

Earthquake, tsunami, nuclear power plant, devastation

• Middle East

From Egypt to Yemen, the entire region has revolted. A country with an ally-dictator unseated and a country with an enemy-dictator who is hanging on to his until it’s taken from his cold, dead hands.

• Labor

The working class is starting our own revolt

• Gas Prices

See Middle East

• Tuscon Shooting

Memorial and miraculous recovery (Thank God)

• START Treaty

It just had to expire during his presidency

• Bush Era Tax Cuts

They just had to expire during his presidency

• Midterm Shellacking

Congressmen, Senators, and Governors whose sole purpose in office/life is to make sure he doesn’t win in 2012

• Terrorism

Oregon teenager, Fort Hood psychiatrist, Yemeni toner cartridges, Detroit underwear

• Iraq & Afghanistan

Insurgents and Insurgents

• Gulf Oil Spill

BP, compensation, regulation, moratorium

• Health Care

Repeal attempt, lawsuits

• Haiti

Earthquake, homelessness, cholera, devastation

• Economy

He inherited the US’ and the world’s tanked economies

It seems like a larger-than-normal presidential crapload has happened/is happening in his term. I would have been curled up in a ball, in a corner, inconsolably crying by now. No, actually, I would have probably killed myself long before. That’s why I could never be POTUS. And why I wonder why anyone would want to be POTUS.

I don’t see it getting better anytime soon. Good luck Mr. President.

Not a Gentleman, but a Scholar

Saudi Man Charged with Plotting Terrorist Attack

Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari was a Saudi national on scholarship to a college in Texas and had been plotting for years. OK, I don’t know how forthcoming the Saudi government is about the educational background of its students, but I would have vetted rigorously if I were on that scholarship committee. Not because he was Saudi. I believe it should be done across the board for any foreign national applying to study in the United States. Not just for scholarships, but for admission to the university. I would try to find as many essays written and obtain character references. I’d even administer psychological testing before they even have a shot at entrance.

I do not believe in denying education to foreign nationals. I still regret not studying abroad when I was in college and carefree. It can be a very enriching experience if they come here, or if some of our students choose to study abroad. We just have to be extremely selective of the students who will have the privilege.