30-Year old software blamed for FAA outage. Or...something else.

MSN: The software blamed for FAA outage is three decades old and years from an upgrade.

The software that failed and forced the Federal Aviation Administration to ground thousands of flights on Wednesday is 30 years old and not scheduled to be updated for another six years, according to a senior government official.

This system was installed in 1993 and runs the Notice to Air Missions system, or NOTAM, which sends pilots vital information they need to fly, the official said.
[.]
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told NBC News that he has asked the FAA, "to make sure that there are enough safeguards built into the system that this level of disruption can't happen because of an individual person’s decision or action or mistake."

Is Petey saying someone F'ed Up? But - but - the senior official said it was software. 

Another un-named "senior government official." Do these people have names? Can we know who they are? They are on government payroll.

The MSN story and coverage of this story at NBC and CNN are copy/paste versions of the same story. Why, it's almost like they're parroting talking points handed down from Leni Riefenstahl's DNC Narrative Central!

Yet, al-Reuters reports the problem was a "procedural error."

The FAA said its preliminary analysis "determined that a data file was damaged by personnel who failed to follow procedures. The system is functioning properly." The FAA did not answer more questions about the specifics of the problem.
[.]
The same file corrupted both the main system and its backup, said people familiar with the review, who asked not to be identified.

Enter, "people familiar with the review, who asked not to be identified."

So, we really don't know and it's unlikely we'll have a, or any, specific reason(s) for this fiasco.

She seems nice, airlines and TSA, don't you understand? She HAZ a connecting flight!

Meanwhile, at the Austin, TX Aéroport...

Ima guess she's single. Any fellers out there looking? 🤣

Advisory: Language/Profanity.

LINK

More at Twitchy: Here’s video of an airport meltdown we can all enjoy from the safety of our homes.

Does this work?

Before I put any effort into it. Anyone try it? Is it successful? TIA! 

TSA "humiliates" Tara Houska, Native American woman. "Giddy Up!"

FOX News (Archived): TSA apologizes to Native American woman 'humiliated' during security screening.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has apologized to a Native American woman who was recently “humiliated” by an agent’s offensive treatment while passing through a security screening at Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport (MSP).

On Monday morning, attorney and Indigenous rights activist Tara Houska was traveling back to Bemidji through after attending the “Fire Drill Friday" climate change rally in Washington, D.C., over the weekend. While undergoing a routine security screening at MSP’s Terminal 1, Houska was shocked by the “dehumanizing” comments and behavior from a TSA agent, TravelPulse reported.

“The agent said she needed to pat down my braids. She pulled them behind my shoulders, laughed [and] said ‘giddy up!’ as she snapped my braids like reins,” Houska told her 32,000 Twitter followers. “My hair is part of my spirit. I am a Native woman. I am angry, humiliated. Your 'fun' hurt."

“When I informed the middle-aged blonde woman who had casually used her authority to dehumanize and disrespect me, she said, ‘Well it was just in fun, I’m sorry. Your hair is lovely,’” Houska continued in a separate tweet. “That is NOT an apology and it is NOT okay.”
[.]
A post on hair from the TSA blog confirms that the agency indeed has the authority “to pat-down anyone’s hair when needed, no matter their race or gender.” Approved methods include visual inspection, swabbing for explosives or a physical pat-down.

“You’d be surprised what can be hidden in hair. The most notable things we’re looking for in hair are explosives and improvised explosives device components,” the TSA reports. “Any explosive amount could cause injury.”

I don't recall Ms. Houska objecting to, or concerned over, TSA procedures a year and a half ago when a 96-year old grandmother was subjected to an invasive and truly humiliating pat-down experience.

I don't recall Ms. Houska objecting to, or concerned over, TSA procedures when the TSA groped a 9-year old boy who wore a pacemaker.

I don't recall Ms. Houska objecting to, or concerned over, TSA procedures when the TSA groped a 3-year old girl in a wheelchair.

I don't recall Ms. Houska objecting to, or concerned over, TSA procedures when patting down a woman who had a prosthetic breast and a man with a colostomy bag malfunction.

I don't recall Ms. Houska objecting to, or concerned over, TSA procedures on this invasive and perverted "pat-down" of a young boy.

REMEMBER: YOU ARE WITHIN YOUR RIGHTS AND PERMITTED TO FILM TSA "PAT-DOWNS":

I'm no fan of handsy TSA agents, too many who appear to enjoy groping, molesting and humiliating children of all ages, elderly people and people of all ages in wheelchairs, during the "pat-down" procedure.

But don't ask me to sympathize with a Native American attorney who felt "humiliated and dehumanized" because her braided hair was examined and was then told what is an admittedly stupid comment of, "Giddy Up" by a TSA agent.

Where was Houska's outrage over so many past incidents of passengers being treated so disrespectfully by the TSA? Apparently those incidents didn't matter to her. It only mattered, and she only became concerned, when it came to her spiritual braids. TFB.

I shed no tear for Ms. Houska.

"Iron Eyes Cody", fake Native American, an actor playing a role.

"Giddy Up!" It's not just for Kramer anymore.

Biden drops presidential bid; takes job at TSA.

TSA to grope snacks?

Here we go again, with the TSA groping your children and grandma snacks: The Day

TSA agents are instructing [passengers] to remove their snacks and other food items from their carry-ons and place them in those ubiquitous plastic bins for separate screening.

It's not part of agency's standard policy, according to TSA spokesman Mike England[.]
[.]
[The] "recommendation" appears to be gaining steam and moving rapidly into the territory of de-facto protocol[.]

Ho! We actually have a name of a person from the TSA instead of the usual, "The TSA says..."

"De-facto protocol"?!?!? The TSA is nothing but de-facto protocol.

What will the TSA do next...search your liver?

Improving TSA

First, I've called the TSA people FAT TSA CUNTS aplenty, here and here .  But for this post, I'll feign respect and objectivity, referring to them as employees or just TSA.

And yes, I am sure the majority of TSA workers do their job very efficiently, professionally and courteously. But there are way too many TSA scandals of an intrusive TSA. Far too many. And those that defy comprehension. If I'm going to be critical of something, I also think it requires me to have answers to what I'm bitching about. And I don't know these are THE answers or solutions, but I think they are worth consideration.

* Once the TSA worker's gloves have examined my shoes, the pat-down is over. I do not want them touching any other part of my body with the same gloves that just were on my shoes and soles. If TSA wants to pat me down again after examining my shoes, they need to put on a new pair of their fancy little blue gloves.

* I want to personally see the TSA worker put on a new pair of gloves before they touch me. While TSA policy may say they require their "pat-down" people to change gloves with each person, I want to see them put on fresh gloves before they touch me. [T]he more intimate the contact, the germier it gets  and the increased infection risks at airport pat-downs.

*  TWICE IS ENOUGH: Unless during the pat-down some anomaly is suspected or out of the ordinary, two pat-downs are enough. Some TSA workers run their hands over a part of the body five, six, nine, or more times. This is ridiculous. Twice is enough. If something seems amiss, then a different TSA worker should  check out the specific area. If everything seems legit, end the pat-down and let the person leave. If something doesn't seem right, take additional steps for making a determination.

* Either screen, inspect and swab every wheelchair, "walker", cane, crutch, etc or screen none of them. It's senseless to check a "random wheelchair" and not the next seven.

* Establish a defined process for the least invasive pat-down for children under, say age 10. And there is no valid reason why the parent or adult companion of a child cannot be with or near the child during the process, PERIOD.

* Establish a defined process for the least invasive pat-down for the elderly and any person with special needs. Again, in these cases, there is no reason to deny an adult to be near or with an infirm person during the procedure. Imagine someone with Alzheimer's or other cognitive loss or physical disability (spine issues, unable to stand, lift their arms up,etc) being detained for a 5 or 6 minute pat-down. The intrusive and prolonged "pat-down" experience that happened to a 96 year -old woman  should never happen to anyone. It is disrespectful and undignified.

* Any flyer who passes the defined pat down procedure should  never be denied boarding their flight because they refuse to allow TSA to see their colostomy bag , prosthesis or other devices that some people depend on to live. The people who have these devices can help themselves by  having a letter from their physician, stating simply so-and-so has a medical condition. For medical privacy, the specific condition does not need to be stated.

"Okay, Dave, but a letter from a doctor can be faked."  Yep, it sure can, as can many other documents, passports or other items and devices. How far do you want to carry this? These are colostomy bags, prosthetics, pace makers and other medical devices, not, "We suspect you're concealing a howitzer." If the goal is completely eliminating 100% of all risk in flying, the only alternative is to never get on a plane.

* An alternative to hands: What else could be used to perform the pat-down that isn't a pair of human hands? Something similar to a ruler, perhaps? An oval rolling pin? Something other than a pair of hands groping and frisking?

* The TSA worker needs to describe the reason for additional or more intimate pat-downs. "There appears to be a secret compartment in your shoe heel."  "Please allow us to confirm you're carrying an actual portable oxygen concentrator."

* Absolutely no secret watch-list  of Americans asserting their Constitutional Rights.

* Names and titles/positions of the TSA need to be provided in reports or any TSA response. No more, "The TSA says...", "The TSA replied..." - The TSA can't verbalize anything. It is an inorganic structure. Names and titles need to be included in all TSA responses and replies.

* We are also part of this problem. Parents, guardians...we have accepted and acquiesced in allowing the intrusive nature in all pat-downs, but especially those of children and the elderly.  If you witnessed any other person touching your child in the same manner of the TSA, you'd be correctly screaming, "child molester." Yet, parents sit passively while their children are groped. We can end this, but we must speak out and take action.

* It must be mandatory that after a TSA worker puts on their blue gloves, before the pat-down begins, they hand you a business card with the following information: their first and last name, TSA ID Employee Number and both a regional TSA location, address and phone number as well as the national TSA location, phone number, address and email addresses. Police officers give out a card. So does the sheriff. FBI agents give out a card. So why not the TSA?

These incidents of intrusive or OVERKILL pat-downs that go viral makes me wonder if TSA workers aren't doing this deliberately, some sort of contest,  to see who can go further than the other in dehumanizing and demeaning another individual in some sort of sick and perverted game.

A little over a year ago, the TSA warned police agencies of the latest intrusive pat-down procedures.   If you're informing police agencies nationwide that, "Hey, you might be receiving phone calls from people claiming sexual harassment, attempted rape, child molestation and elder abuse, don't worry, it's just us TSA," then the invasiveness must be pretty unsavory and humiliating. How much more leverage do you want these people to have?

Is the TSA effective? You be the judge.

This is not something that, over time, will become less intrusive on its own.

Additional reading:

Your Rights at airport screenings and checkpoints.

Does your doctor choose radiation scans or "pat downs"?

What the TSA won't tell you. 

TSA Out Of Control and...WHO is speaking for them?

I had no idea TSA was this bad. I've managed to - so far - never experience delays or "handsy" pat-downs. I'm sure those days are over. My name probably hit all the TSA lists a few hours ago.  That's okay, though. I'll get a chance to try one of several fake IDs and passports that I have. I think I'll be Tony Abdallah-Akmahari, Green Bay, Wisconsin. It's the Packers' Cap that will fool 'em.

But this TSA shit is for shit.

There are far too many incidents in TSA situations where the Agent went Overkill on their poking, stroking, handling, cupping and running their hands over another individual.

Whether it happens to an adult or child, it's much too frequent that we hear about a TSA agent groping someone, or groping children in unacceptable methods, or an unreasonable and prolonged search of a 96 year-old lady.

As for the TSA's limp attempt to explain that alot of things can be hidden with someone in a wheelchair, well - then you better check every single fucking wheelchair because what sense does it make to check one, but not the next seven?

If the intent of the TSA is preventing terrorism associated with what can be affixed to wheelchairs, then add a line in all the airports specifically designated for all wheelchairs, all subject to the same method and standard of pat-downs and the same time taken for each.

And why is it so rare for a name associated with the TSA when the TSA "says" something? Whenever situations like the above occur, we'll read only, "The TSA responded by saying, ..." blah blah blah.  Well - who fucking said it. Name the person.

The TSA is a fucking inorganic entity. It consists of buildings, rooms and material used in its construction and its creation exists on a piece of paper, neither of which is capable of speaking. The TSA can't "say" anything. So why the reluctance or secrecy in rarely providing a name when one of these issues arises?

We know the names of the people in charge of the FBI. CIA, NSA. IRS and other agencies. More often than not, when one of these agencies "says something",  the name of the person speaking for the agency is given.  What's the reason for such secrecy in avoiding naming the person speaking for the TSA?

Image from: RantVentRant

What the FAT TSA CUNTS are doing doesn't surprise me, but it's the degree of invasiveness that is reprehensible.

From CBS News, on the story of the 96 year-old lady in the wheelchair, the weak attempt from the TSA in justifying the almost-six-minute physical elder abuse:

In a statement to CBS News, the agency says "TSA is committed to ensuring the security of travelers, while treating all passengers with dignity and respect.
[.]
The passenger was very cooperative and gave no indication that she was agitated or in discomfort. She received a pat-down and was cleared for her flight."

Again with..."the agency says"...a non-living entity speaks. Fucking amazing.

What the fuck kind of rationale is that? What did they expect she might do, leap  up and sprint away? The TSA had a captive individual.

"She gave no indication that she was agitated or in discomfort."  The "entity" who said this is a fucking moron piece of shit CUNT. I want to know who said this.

Watch the footage again and...

... starting at 54 seconds, LOOK AT HER FACE. Does she look happy? It's the face of someone who has resigned herself that she is going to suffer indignant treatment in public, the extent of something she has probably never encountered in her 96 years.

Note how she closes her eyes, probably wishing it will end soon, feeling humiliated. Who wouldn't under the same circumstances?

WATCH HER from 2:43 to 3:32. Look at her face at 4:15 to 4:41 and to the end.

Watch the numerous "pat-downs" from armpit to under her breasts. The lady is disgusted by it. That she has to endure this  - that ANYONE has to endure this - is nothing but public humiliation.

"She gave no indication that she was agitated or in discomfort." 

Well, there ya go. The inorganic, non-living TSA agency that SPEAKS can, with total certainty and accuracy, assess a person's emotional and physical feelings from watching a video clip.

She's clearly uncomfortable during the whole almost-six-minute grope. Anyone would feel the same.

There are hours and hours of YouTube TSA inappropriate and unacceptable pat-downs. Like I said, I had no idea it is this bad. This is epidemic, not opioids.

THIS GUY HERE? Whoa. Total fucking badass. Thank God for the TSA.

Here's a MALE FAT TSA CUNT.  (See, I said I'm an equal opportunity offender of who I call a Cunt).  How many fucking times do you need to run your hands up and down someone's thighs or calves before you determine the only things under the clothing is their fucking thighs or calves?

Here's one with a TSA FAT CUNT who didn't want to be recorded because she didn't feel comfortable being recorded. Awww, is that not the shame of shames? What a Cunt. And This TSA FAT CUNT doesn't do her job and another TSA lackey does it for her. Pathetic.

Straight from the TSA site: IT IS NOT ILLEGAL OR PROHIBITED TO RECORD THE PATTING DOWN PROCESS.  

These poor people...you can't miss THIS VIDEO.

[For]  a woman who had a prosthetic breast and a man with a colostomy bag malfunction, the pat down can be a nightmare.

I haven't yet been able to watch THIS TSA INCIDENT... to the end. The FAT TSA CUNT MUST "swab" the wheelchair of a 9 year old girl.  And the CUNT lies, saying recording the "pat-down" is prohibited. Fuck you Cunt.

Nine-year old boy with a PACEMAKER suffers TSA Hell.

Another, disgusting molestation of a child by a TSA CUNT.

Another entry of a FAT TSA MALE CUNT who (appears to enjoy patting down children far too much) prevented an obvious threat by doing a thorough "pat-down".  
 
And - Le pièce de résistance:  (I knew this was out there and I'd run across it and I did. And I didn't even search for it).

Yes, "we, the inanimate TSA that can speak are investigating the allegations."  Well, at least this time we know TSA "officials" said this, presumable some living, organic entities having the ability to communicate in a language understood by humans.

Their background check didn't include reviewing social sites of potential employees before hiring them?  I bet buying a handgun has a rigorous background check. But not so much for the TSA. Surprising? Not at all.

The above from Aangirfan: (scroll down a bit on the linked page)

And a SECOND pièce de résistance:

Airport police got a call to come deal with a madman roaming around the terminal shouting, “I am God. I am in charge!”, as innocent bystanders stood watching in horror.

Have you guessed yet? Yep - the Madman was a TSA CUNT who had recently finished his shift. 

And from the same link:

A group of TSA agents were caught “using drugs after hours”, with at least one testing positive and getting the sack.

Oh - that explains all the gropings, then?

The TSA needs to be reigned in, and fast.

TSA Overkill: Two FAT TSA Cunts at Washington Dulles International Airport

I keep my blog in a, relatively, mostly "PG-13" (or sometimes "R"), category. But there is an exception to everything, and I don't have any problems departing from the PG-13/R standard when certain situations require it. This is one of those exceptions.

Hence the title of this post. If use of the "Cunt" word offends you, well...you'll probably get over it. If not, I won't lose any sleep over it.

And ladies, I do not apply the term "Cunt" only to women, it's not a sexist thing for me. I've called plenty of men "Cunts" too. If the TSA agents in the video were men, I assure you, I'd be applying the same term to them.

I will say this for the fat Cunt who's doing the TSA pat-down on a 96 hear old woman in the wheelchair; she is at least being very polite. Probably a recently hired agent who was told by her supervisor - the OTHER FAT CUNT who attempts to block filming with her WIDE ASS - to do the pat-down. Actually, the one doing the pat-down probably thinks what she's doing is absurdly over-the-top.

The footage is disgusting. It's abhorrent. How many fucking times do you have to pat down the SAME AREAS on a person before you're satisfied there is nothing hidden? Twice? Seven? Nine?

And using the "wand" to check for traces of explosives? Are you fucking fucking kidding me?

This is blatant, TSA OVERKILL and ABUSE. I'd argue these TSA Cunts and their superiors should be charged with elder abuse.

And to boot, an almost SIX MINUTE search?

I hope the daughter got both first and last names of the TSA CUNTS.

I wish I could copy and paste the footage here, but I can't.

=> Here's the LINK to the video.

"My 96 year old mother being extensively searched by TSA.

"The 3 of us were all in wheelchairs. Only my 96 year old mother was subjected to this prolonged, repetitive search."

- -  Jeanne LaBrier Clarkson is at Washington Dulles International Airport.

2006 Ontario Terrorism Plot

To paraphrase RCMP Assistant Commissioner Mike McDonell, I guess the 96 year-old lady in the wheelchair getting repeatedly frisked by the TSA Cunts isn't considered a member of the "Broad Strata of Society."

More on "the Broad Strata of Society" HERE, HERE and HERE.

Tech News

ArsTechnia: 15 year comatose patient gains some degree of consciousness after vagus nerve stimulation.

- - -

ArsTechnia again: MicroSoft embraces quantum computing.  (Several Patches will follow, I'm sure).

It is a good article and explains quantum computing without being overly technical:

... traditional digital computers are made from bits, each bit representing either a one or a zero, quantum computers are made from some number of qubits (quantum bits). Qubits represent, in some sense, both one and zero simultaneously (a quantum superposition of 1 and 0). This ability for qubits to represent multiple values gives quantum computers exponentially more computing power than traditional computers.

- - -
Love Stinks. Breaking up is a bitch. C|Net: Siri leaves Bing for Google.
(Who, in their wildest imagination, could have envisioned those five words appearing in that order?)

 

- - -

WIRED: More on MSoft and quantum computing.

- - -

I haven't seen it, but TechCrunch calls the new "Star Trek" series murky.

- - -

TechCrunch: device passwords, counter-terrorism and privacy. 

A London court today found Muhammad Rabbani guilty of willfully obstructing the police by failing to hand over device passwords and the PIN code for his smartphone after he had been detained at a UK airport.

- - -
ZD Net: Click this link and watch Robot Dentist.  There's a 10(?) second commercial before the video. Video is 50 seconds.
- - -
Geek: Meet K1, stationary robot that detects concealed weapons.

Okay, some questions:

1) Can the K-series determine who is LEGALLY carrying a concealed weapon from someone illegally carrying a concealed weapon? Can it detect a concealed lead pipe? A blackjack? A box cutter?

2) Can the K-robots be installed at all airports so the TSA can stop GROPING CHILDREN and the rest of us?

The K1. Image: Knightscope

- - -
Gizmodo: This is Bullshit and unacceptable of Showtime and its web affiliates if true:  Your computer may have been used by Showtime websites to mine for crypto-coins while watching "Twin Peaks."
- - -
Beta News: Battery Super-Drain:

... iOS 11 is causing iPhone and iPad batteries to drain faster than ever -- much faster. The difference between iOS 10 and iOS 11 is anything but minor; batteries can drain in half the amount of time following the upgrade.

- - -
Technocracy: Guess which company spends the most on Federal Lobbying? Here's a hint (but I'll bet you don't even need one) - it starts with a "G." 
- - -

New Atlas: Lockheed Martin tests laser weapon. Nails 5 drones with 100% accuracy.  Video below; Lockheed Martin.

The Advanced Test High Energy Asset, aka Athena. (Enough already with the acronyms!)

- - -

TechDirt: Do NOT fuck with the Velcro folks.  They mean business. Really - if you click on only one link, make it this one. The Velcro video is a riot. And they're dead serious!