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US Might Ban Laptops On All Flights Into And Out of the Country (reuters.com)
The United States might ban laptops from aircraft cabins on all flights into and out of the country as part of a ramped-up effort to protect against potential security threats, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said on Sunday. From a report:In an interview on "Fox News Sunday," Kelly said the United States planned to "raise the bar" on airline security, including tightening screening of carry-on items. "That's the thing that they are obsessed with, the terrorists, the idea of knocking down an airplane in flight, particularly if it's a U.S. carrier, particularly if it's full of U.S. people." In March, the government imposed restrictions on large electronic devices in aircraft cabins on flights from 10 airports, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Turkey. Kelly said the move would be part of a broader airline security effort to combat what he called "a real sophisticated threat." He said no decision had been made as to the timing of any ban. "We are still following the intelligence," he said, "and are in the process of defining this, but we're going to raise the bar generally speaking for aviation much higher than it is now."
That's about the only positive spin I can put on it. If they're worried about laptops with batteries, let me have one without; then I can just rent batteries when I travel, and the airline doesn't have to worry about it. It would be nice if the whole system could be more modular than laptops currently are.
So, I now bill my clients for "useless" travel time, no big.
Also, to avoid laptop damage, I use the free BestBuy/Target/Walmart laptop rental service. They do require a full deposit, but it's a free laptop rental for up to 14 days, usually covers it.
The trick to traveling to/from third world countries is to have nothing more than clothes or electronics worth more than say $40, otherwise some down on their look third worlder will steal it.
I have a compute stick, it's all I need, snagged it on ebay for $40. Perfect for thirld world countries. Or even raspi's. They work on third world televisions that have only composite in.
No, i don't mean that. I mean laptops with external batteries. Removable batteries means that you can't have a standardized battery, so there's no rental market.
We are. And your tourism sector is already lamenting and crying over the lost dollars.
So I guess SOME are missing us. Or at least our money.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
I'm actually for a few more countries, like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey and the Palestinian Authority, being added to the banned list. However, every Liberal court has struck that down, and so until the Supreme Court settles this, the issue is still in limbo.
Yeah, I do think that the Saudis and the OIC countries (that's who were at the conference in Riyadh) did a number on Trump. But when the courts won't allow even people from shitholes like Yemen, Iran, Somalia, et al be blocked from coming, why would blocking Saudi Arabia work? The ban hardly affects 10% of the world's Muslim population, yet these crackpot judges are out declaring it a 'Muslim ban'. Imagine what it would be if the 4 countries I listed above were added to the list.
That's easy. Use a Chromebook and pick up a new one when you land. That way, all of your data is available on Google's servers for the US government to look at and decide whether they whether they want to let you into the country, before you even board the plane.
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the idea of knocking down an airplane in flight, particularly if it's a U.S. carrier, particularly if it's full of U.S. people
So what is it about already being in the US, that would make it impossible for a baddie to put a bomb in a laptop and board an internal flight ... on a US carrier ... full of US people?
Once the individual has gained entry to the country (or done so by being born there), is there any special difficulty with sourcing the materials needed. Or is it just that internal flights from every little two-bit airport has so much better security than ANY of the major hubs in any country you care to mention?
politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
I am Canadian, spent most of my life within easy reach of the border. But ever since 9/1 and all the subsequent security nonsense, I have pretty much boycotted the US. I used to go over at least weekly. Some of the enhanced security at the border, as it applies Canada's aboriginal people, Canadian and British citizens, arguably violates those peoples rights under the Jay Treaty. Since the wording is "that it shall at all times be free to His Majesty's subjects..." I would further suggest that it might be construed to apply to all citizens of Her Majesty's Commonwealth Realms and Territories. (not the original intent, I grant you, but law rests on the actual wording, not intent.)
I need a wheelchair van for my son. Help me get the word out. https://www.gofundme.com/wheelchair-van-for-jj