Fair is Fair

I flew to Indianapolis recently. Had to go through a metal detector, take off my shoes, and re-prove my identity several times, a couple of them within twenty feet of each other. I was subject to being pulled out of line for a more extensive physical search at any time, and my checked baggage was inspected.

Meanwhile, these two publicity whores crashed a state dinner at the White House, and got close enough to the president to shake hands.

I want some Secret Service people fired. Now. I want their heads on pikes. As both readers of this blog are aware, a good friend of mine is being riffed by his employer on Christmas Day. This is someone who has never shirked a task, and done excellent work for as long as I've known him, which implies he was like that, before, too.

Can we shelve the "good people always get ahead in America" bullshit for a while, please?

False Security

[Agency name redacted] is in the process of issuing new identification badges to all employees and contractors. New photographs, new fingerprints (in case they changed from last time),and the usual descriptive information. Date of Birth. Eye color. Hair color.

(Interesting side note: Two documents are required to prove your identity. Among the acceptable options are a U.S. state-issued drivers license and your current [agency name redacted] badge. No one seems to have recognized I used the former to obtain the latter in first place, so it’s not really two forms of ID, is it?)

My current hair color can safely be described as “mongrel.” When the pleasant young woman taking my information asked, I said, “Take your pick.” She gave me a closer look and laughed. When I was asked to proofread the data for accuracy, I saw “Gray” in the “Hair Color” line.

Bitch.