Hi Cedric, Sorry for the delay answer, I was away for a few days. It is definitely nice not having a computer around once in a while =) Good question, indeed, the one you ask. Men with machine gun do not necessarily represent security. But the bigger point being that people cry about the lack of security and when a few suggestions are thrown out there as for some possible solutions, the outcry is just as loud. In these other places I've been to where there actually are MPs with machine gusn around, people go about their own business as if the MPs weren't even there. If you're not doing anything wrong, why worry right? So it's not like they're making more trouble by just being there either. So if not machine guns, at least have the security people at the airport be in some sort of shape, other than perfectly round, that is. At least that way they can chase someone down if they had too. The last time I went through security at Logan Airport in Boston I could swear that more than half the security people would die of heart attacks just thinking of having to run, nevermind actually doing it. Machine guns also cost too much, and depending on your point of view, not effective either, regardless of whether they shoot real bulets or just rubber ones, but what about some trained k9 units in addition to the already in place x-ray machines? It would likely take care of the problem with people complaining they were being groped by security people, but then again, just as many people would have a problem with cold wet snouts being shoved in their private parts. Just food for thought as I definitely do not have the answers myself. -Mario -----Original Message----- From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of Cedric Chang Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 1:05 AM To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. Subject: Re: [OT] Boston mistakes LED lights in the shape of acartooncharacterfor bombs On 2007-Feb 02, at 19:48hrs PM, wrote: >> Freedom of speech does mean you can shout "fire" in a theatre. > > You can say anything you want, but you may have to face the > consequences > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shouting_fire_in_a_crowded_theater > > "the phrase "shouting fire in a crowded theater" has since come to be > known as synonymous with an action that the speaker believes goes > beyond the rights guaranteed by free speech, reckless or malicious > speech, or an action whose outcomes are blatantly obvious" > > You just don't tempt fate unless you're a complete wonk. Which, at > 18, this guy probably is > > http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10422292 > I have not been able to verify this, so do take this with a grain of salt. It goes along the lines with the "has a gun" at the airport. "bomb" in Portuguese is "bomba", and "air pump" as the ones you use to fill up a soccer ball is also called a "bomba". Back when that plane crash happened in Brazil last year (the mid air collision between a legacy and an airliner), I was discussing with my cousin about the legality of the Brazilian authorities holding the American pilots in the country, although free to roam around and not in jail, until the investigation showed whether they were responsible or not for the accident. One of his replies where "why not? A few years back they put two Brazilian young men in jail in California because they had an air pump in their carry on and when it went through the x-ray machine they were asked what it was. When one of the boys said "a bomb" not knowing that what he really meant to say was "an air pump" they were arrested, tried and spent one year in jail for it." So, if this is really true, and like I said, I was not able to verify it because my google searches did not return anything about it, depending on where you are, not only can you not scream "fire" in the theater, but you can't say anything that may be interpreted as "fire" in the theater. Any descent district attorney and judge would've scolded the boys for what they said and maybe even given them some community service as punishment, but the court decided that the boys did indeed mean to cause an uproar at the airport because they were questioned about their carry on belongings. I'm all up for security everywhere, and do not understand why the US is the only country I've been in the world where there are not military man holding machine guns near by airport walkways. Everywhere I've gone, their presence seemed to make sense to me. But for some reason, here in the US people want security without those things that ensure security to be around. Go figure. -Mario Explain how military man with machine gun makes security. I see many military men with machine guns blown up in Iraq ( for instance ) -Cedric -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ AGSC Augustus Gustavius Salvatore Calabrese 4337 Raleigh Street Denver, CO 720 222 1309 303 908 7716 cell adding " spam2006 " bypasses my spam blocker. Please place in the text or at the END of the subject line. ( i am hard to reach by phone ) All ideas, text, drawings and audio , that are originated by me, and included with this signature text are to be deemed to be released to the public domain as of the date of this communication . 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