I am a female American. When I traveled through Seattle airport a while ago, I saw that every single person was getting selected to the mm wave scanner. I told the security guard I wanted to opt out...A few minutes later, a large male TSA agent came over for the sole purpose of yelling at me (it was loud!) that I opted out before I had been selected to go through the scan. This continued 5 minutes before my pat down. Thanks, America...
Like other people point out, yes it's better here than other places. I am grateful I don't live in Egypt. But, it upsets me to no end how quickly we throw away our constitutional rights or cease to care about corruption and ineffectiveness of mm wave scanners.
Defeated
191–200 of 445 posts
Re: Defeated
#192Earlier quoted context omitted.
May I suggest Germany? At least in regards to your first point, they have recently relaxed barriers. Right now all you need is a four-year degree in order for you to come and look for work for up to 6 months. The chances of anyone reading this finding work are extremely high because there's a shortage of skilled professionals. http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/ Or, start out studying for a Master's degree first to…
I speak enough German to not completely embarrass myself when out in public, and I would like to get my Masters in Computer Science (adding on to my BSc in Computer Science). What programs would you recommend?
Take a look at this one for instance: http://www.cs.uni-saarland.de/index.php?id=131
Re: Defeated
#193There is an extremely simple solution: leave. I've not lived in the US for almost two years now. I've only had to travel back twice in that time. Meanwhile, in the same time I've visited France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany multiple times. None of those travel experiences were nearly as unpleasant or stressful as my two trips to the US. Furthermore, the technology communities that are growing up in these pla…
This might sound really weird but I actually believe that for people who like freedom post-communist countries that were NOT part of Soviet Union can be quite good place to live right now. I had previously spent 7 months in the US and I had lived in UK for 2.5 years and now I live in the Czech Republic. I guess this is very subjective but I believe that for example this country currently offers way more freedom than…
A good deal of Eastern Europe is still quite homophobic and xenophobic, even if there are no actual discrimination laws in place.
Re: Defeated
#194Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Extremely simple?" There's lots of reasons it isn't so simple for people. 1) Barriers to work and emigration 2) Language barriers - I know that learning a new language isn't impossible (I know a little Spanish but I'd hardly call myself fluent), but I speak only English fluently, which limits me to a handful of nations, many of which are nearly as bad as the United States (hey UK, how are those surveillance cameras?…
Ok, so maybe "extremely" was a bit much. In my defense I think leaving is much simpler at this point than hoping that the current course of politics and public sentiment in the US will change. > 1) Barriers to work and emigration While real, they can be overcome. Also, I'd wager there will be something of a domino effect -- once other countries begin to catch on that well educated, highly trained Americans are lookin…
I think you need to also drop the "simple" part as well.
>> 1) Barriers to work and emigration
> While real, they can be overcome. Also,
I'd wager there will be something of a domino effect
>> 2) Language barriers
> One, you'd be amazed how much you can
get across non-verbally
>> 3) A lot of us have family support systems
that aren't easy to give up
>Yeah, I understand completely ;-)...
For example, its hard enough finding a good school in my own neighborhood (US, english speaking) let along transferring my kids to a new school where they don't speak the language and I have to deal with bureaucracy and hope I'm not screwing up their future. Thats just one quick simple example. Tell a 5 year old she'll never see her friends again and good luck learning French, German, Spanish, or whatever.
I really can't believe you replied with "Yeah, I understand completely ;-)..." to that. Seriously.
On a final note. I'm Irish and lived (US) here 12 years. My family and I can move to Ireland at any time without worry for some of the larger barriers; visa and language.
However to do so is by no means: "extremely simple" or even just "simple".
This is HN, you just left a comment, and not expected to write a thesis on the subject.
That not your fault, people white-wash what are complicated situations all the time and over-simplify. However your off the cuff glib advice is not particular accurate or helpful.
Think before you type. Please.
Re: Defeated
#195They're much further in Australia:
If you are departing Melbourne on an international flight from Monday 10 December, you may be randomly selected for a body scan.
If you are selected to be screened by a body scanner and you refuse you will NOT be allowed to pass through the screening point for 24 hours. This will mean that you are unable to board your flight.
http://melbourneairport.com.au/Flight-Passenger-Info/prepari...
Re: Defeated
#196The ending is a bit hyperbolic.
Re: Defeated
#197Just sign up for Global Enrollment (GOES) and you automatically get TSA Pre and don't have to go thru the regular security lines: no Millimeter back scatter scanner, no taking off your shoes or taking your laptop out of your bag. Australia, the Netherlands and Canada have similar programs and at present all recognize each others program enrollees, so it also gets you thru Customs in those countries faster too. https:…
The big problem with Global Entry/TSA Precheck is that it requires you fly on a "participating" airline which are all the bumbling legacy behemoths and not any of the airlines (JetBlue, Virgin, Southwest) you might actually want to fly on.
Re: Defeated
#198Just sign up for Global Enrollment (GOES) and you automatically get TSA Pre and don't have to go thru the regular security lines: no Millimeter back scatter scanner, no taking off your shoes or taking your laptop out of your bag. Australia, the Netherlands and Canada have similar programs and at present all recognize each others program enrollees, so it also gets you thru Customs in those countries faster too. https:…
Even if you get signed up for TSA Pre, you're not guaranteed to get the benefits of it every time. Lot's of "if"s and "may"s and other weasel-ey language. If TSA determines a passenger is eligible for expedited screening, information is embedded in the barcode of the passenger’s boarding pass. TSA scans the barcode at designated checkpoints and the passenger may be able to receive expedited screening. http://www.tsa.…
If you sign up through Global Entry and not through the "you've flown enough that the airline likes you" version of the program, you are far more likely to get expedited screening.
You can also scan your boarding pass at home and discover whether you're getting expedited or not, so you know how early you have to be at the airport.
Re: Defeated
#199I just don't get the deal with the millimeter wave scanners. Did everyone raise a fuss like this when airports had you walk through metal detectors? How is a millimeter wave scanner different than a high-tech metal detector? Aren't we always talking about how the law needs to "catch up to technology?" Don't get me wrong, I think the TSA is a huge waste of money and I hate being ordered around by flunkies who can't ge…
It's the fuss I can raise.
If I could opt out of the whole thing, I would. I think the whole enterprise is bullshit, a giant exercise in doing something, anything, whether or not it makes sense.
So now, I opt out. And when they ask why, I tell them, "I think this is a charade."
Re: Defeated
#200Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah, I left too. I've lived in a couple parts of Europe and then Japan since leaving. All of them feel more "free" than post-Bush (I guess I really mean post-Bin Laden) USA; people enjoy more civil rights, and (more pragmatically) more freedom from idiotic hassle in the name of... whatever kind of fuckery it is that keeps the prison lobby, the TSA, and the general industrial-fearmongering complex in business and fre…
The rampant xenophobia in Japan is what keeps me from moving there. You mean even if I becomes a naturalized citizen (an ordeal in itself) that most places will still treat me like a foreigner? No thanks. The US is occupied by an enemy force that they supported and elected. Every time another basic human right is violated by the legislative and executive branch those cheer. Does it matter that drunk driving kills mor…
Rampant xenowhat?
Yes. It's very different to what you get, for example, in Australia. Or most parts of Europe. Yes, you'll probably be a gaijin forever, even if you get naturalized (and renounce to your other nationality). But there's a huge difference between what the japanese are, and have always been, and xenophobia. Of course you get a different treatment unless you show them what you know and your respect, but it boils down to the kind of society it is and the fact that you're, at first sight, different from them. But different, not worse.