This week was one of those weeks where I was just in constant hurry mode. I had to put a system together and then ship it by Friday afternoon so I could build it again in Mormonia. Doesn't sound too hard except, I didn't get all the pieces so it was priority overnight this and that all week. Rush paper work, etc., always running back and forth. And then between all those times, I had to run to Home Depot and Radio Shack a few times to buy tools cuz being a new project, we don't have any tools!

Anyways, while in Home Depot, I needed to get a wire stripper from the electronics aisle, but the wire cutters were in this gated area and it was locked. I guess they lock most of the small items to keep them from getting stolen. Anyways, it was a bit annoying waiting for the guy to come and unlock the cabinet so I could get what I needed. So I while I was waiting I thought alot and I discovered the futility of locking anything within Home Depot. What's to stop me from just walking over to Aisle 7 and picking up a lock cutter, and then on the way back, stop at Aisle 8 to get another padlock. So not only could one cut the lock off and get what they wanted, they could put an identical lock in its place and no one would be the wiser, moo ha ha. Well, I withheld the urge, but it seemed so simple to do. It's not like carrying a lock cutter in Home Depot would attract any attention.

I don't know why I think this way. I actually never have any desires to steal. I just like to think of ways to beat the system not so much to gain from it, but I just wonder if I'm smart enough to get away with it. But the only way to really know is to test your theories. I'm not going to do that so I guess I'll put the energy into some book one day. Of course then there will be mass hysteria of controversy as my book supposedly gives people ideas on how to beat the system. Hey, it's only fiction!

I also think the same stuff about airport security. It isn't perfect you know. I still think it can be beaten. These guys are so intent about killing themselves. Why don't they just put the bomb inside them? I once saw a guy bring a cat in a bag as a carry-on. He couldn't have put the cat through X-ray so he carried it through the screener with him. Why can't you just put the bomb in the cat? The cat would even have staples from the surgery that would also set off the medal detector. You tell them the cat got fixed or had some medal pins put in its legs because of surgery or something. Or because you're carrying the cat, you could say the medal is on you. You have a metal plate in your head. These guys have access to lots of money. Just put a real metal plate in their head and get all the documentation needed to prove it and then do it. Why wouldn't that work? Obviously, I wouldn't want this to happen, but it seems feasible to me. The only thing is maybe the bomb is too big to fit in a body cavity, but things get smaller over time.

Anyways, you probably think I'm totally nuts for thinking stuff up like this, but that's exactly the kind of people that create these security precautions. You gotta think like a terrorist to stop a terrorist. It's kinda like hackers make the best computer security professionals cuz they know where all the weaknesses are so they can strengthen them.

Anyways, if you want to hear a really scary post 9/11 security breach story then keep reading. When I went to Belarus two years ago, we were waiting for our connection flight to Germany in Washington, D.C. We're in the terminal and we see a woman kiss her husband goodbye and then proceed to leave the terminal! What's weird about that? How did she get into the terminal to kiss her husband goodbye? Well, Hal saw it and asked her and she said, "I just scanned his itinerary in my computer and printed my own copy." Yep, she forged an itinerary that easily and got past security. She probably couldn't get on a flight with that, but she got pretty far and that could do alot of damage. So why didn't someone report her? The enemy is within unfortunately. Everybody has got an agenda and they don't want the airport shut down over a breach in security. So it becomes a personal decision on whether the individual that witnessed the breach thinks it's a threat or not. She didn't seem threatening. Would you delay your trip to Europe for a day on a technicality? I think most people wouldn't. Some of you may not want to hear this, but it's the truth.

On that note, have a great trip to Europe, Amy! Heh heh.