Ignorning the Obvious

Earlier today I was reading in Time Magazine about some of the "Lessons of Flight 253." Time reports that "missed signs, cumbersome lists and spotty screening permitted a terrorist to take a makeshift bomb on a Christmas flight to Detroit." What is so frightening to me, is that many of the "missed signs" appear so blatant. Of course, hindsight is always 20-20, but if global aviation-security is missing this obvious cues, than how can we, the public, feel secure about their also seeing the more subtle warnings.

There is something about the magazine's timeline of events reminded me of television shows that I grew up with in the late 60s and 70s. Comedy was not very subtle then. It was in your face, obvious. Right out there, for everyone to see. Not that I am saying that the possibility of what could have happened on Flight 253 is in anyway funny - just the opposite - it could have been devastating. What I am saying is that the from the earliest signs to the exploding underpants - is right out there for everyone to see - or to miss in this case. Here is a snippet of how Time lays it out:

May 2009 - Abdulmutallab is barred from entering the UK and placed on Britain's security watch list.

August 2009 - Visits Yemen to study Arabic, renounces family ties, and received lessons in bombmaking.

November 2009 - Abdulmutallab's father warns the US embassy in Nigeria that his son has developed radical views. His name is placed on a low-level watch list. His visa is not revoked.

December 2009 - Pays cash for $2,831 one-way airline ticket. Gives no contact information. On December 24th, he flies from Lagos, Nigeria to Amsterdam, carrying only a backpack. There, he transfers to Northwest Airlines Flight 253 to Detroit.


Getting back to comedy, when I was growing up in the 1970s, the Carol Burnett Show was one of that era's series that offered obvious comedy. It was right there, in your face. I have a snippet of one of their skits, that happens to focus on a gentleman (Harvey Korman) boarding an airplane. Enjoy:

Did you hear what's coming back?

Did you hear what is coming back? OK, you probably guessed it from the "photo" above; the return of the Polaroid Instant Camera was announced at this week's Consumer Electronics Show. Here is what was reported in USA Today:

For the purist, Polaroid is introducing a new film camera model, the PIC 1000, which looks and resembles the Polaroid One-Step from the 1970s and 1980s.
"Digital is the future, but the market has screamed for the return of Polaroid film," says Jon Pollock, Polaroid's chief marketing officer. The film is targeted toward artists and enthusiasts, and the cost per photo will be "pretty expensive," he acknowledges. No exact price was announced.

Pretty interesting. Hey - what can be better? Instant photos without the chance of an "instant" download to Perez Hilton's website. About 30 years ago, Polaroid One-Step Cameras were a hot item - and were successfully advertised by James Garner and Mariette Hartley. People often thought that they were an actual couple. In "real life," they weren't. Here is a snippet of one of their commercials:

Fly the Friendly Skies?

Two things struck me after hearing about the recent terrorist attempt on Flight 253 last Friday. First, I was surprised by how many people seemed surprised that explosives were able to be taken onto the plane. Systems are only as strong and secure as the people who are enforcing them. Humans are humans - and humans make mistakes - sometimes stupid ones - but we definitely make them. My view is that the only people who will actually be "flying friendly skies" are those on private planes or on Air Force One. Those of us with no other option but taking commuter flights, will either be uncomfortable, inconvenienced, or in danger. It is just the way it is.

Secondly, I keep waiting for Dick Cheney - or Darth Vader - to make a comment about how we are less safe now that President Obama is in office. A comment has to be coming. After reading today that some of the backers for the terror plot were former prisoners at Guantanamo Bay - I think it is inevitable. Who cares that these same prisoners were released back in 2007. These are just the details.

Well, I thought that it would be fun to reminisce a little bit about when the skies were a little bit more friendly. Here is a snippet of an old commercial:

Christmas Special Quiz

Did you ever have a song that you just can't get out of your head? For me, at least for today, it is Dean Martin singing, "It's a Marshmallow World." I have a snippet of Dean singing the song on a mid-70s, Bob Hope Christmas special. How can you tell that is an old special? Well - here is how you may know:

1. They really don't make Christmas specials anymore. I mean, there are Christmas episodes of shows - but not really Christmas music specials.
2. Dean Martin is still alive on video. I checked, and Dean Martin died on Christmas day in 1995.
3. Bob Hope is still alive on video. Bob Hope died in July of 2003.
4. Dean Martin is wearing a tuxedo. You don't see many guys wearing tuxes on television anymore. Sometimes you will catch one or two on Jerry Lewis telethons - but I don't even know if those air anymore.
5. Lastly - Dean is smoking a cigarette while singing. You never see that anymore - at least on non-cable stations. They last guy that I can remember smoking a cigarette on TV (he wasn't singing, however) - was Don Johnson as Sonny Crockett.

I hope that you enjoy the video:

Zelig

OK everyone, please just calm down. Everyone is so upset with President Obama. Healthcare, the economy - blah, blah, blah. When I refer to "everyone," I mostly mean liberal Democrats. Even Howard Dean is getting into the mix now; Dean is recommending that the current version of the healthcare bill be "killed," because of it's being a useless, water-downed version of its former self. Democrats are proclaiming, "where is our President - where is the Obama that we voted for?"

When I hear this, I can't help but question if people really believe that. Is that the "Candidate Obama" whom you really saw? Don't get me wrong - I am thankful that he is in office and pray that he stays in for another term - but I didn't see him as this far-left liberal. Look, the guy doesn't support gay marriage - how liberal can he be? Some part of me always believed - and still does - that Hillary Clinton was more "left" than Obama. Her persona and Bill Clinton scandal-connections just didn't always reflect that - or - allow people to see it.

Whom did Obama reflect? Well, I think that Obama reflected the image that people wanted to see. Liberal Democrats projected their hopes and dreams onto then candidate Obama. But that - at least in my vision - was not whom he really was. Having the gift and gracefulness to project what people want to see is a gift - particularly in elections. But, once that wrapping paper comes off and you see the real person - the disappointment is bound to follow - at least for those doing the projecting - or maybe depending on whom the person is surrounding him or herself with.

I keep thinking of the Woody Allen movie, Zelig. Set in the 1920s and 1930s, the film focused on Leonard Zelig, a man who had the ability to transform his appearance to that of the people who surrounded him. It was filmed in documentary style, using actual newsreel footage. In the movie, Leonard Zelig gains fame as being the "human chameleon." But, like chameleons, Zelig was only as attractive as whom he was near. I am including a snippet of the film below:

Oh, Joe!

Oh, that Joe. No, not Biden, I am talking about Senator Joe Lieberman. Who is Joe Lieberman? Well, the Democrats see Lieberman as the Connecticut Independent who is a "thorn in the side" of the Healthcare Bill. They are potentially, and probably, going to bow to Lieberman's demands - to get rid of the portion of the Healthcare Bill which would allow people to buy into Medicare beginning at age 55. They need Joe Lieberman in order to reach the 60 votes that is a must for the health care legislation to pass. Some Democrats accuse Lieberman of simply bowing down to his insurance industry interests back home in Connecticut.

The Republicans, on the other hand, tend to portray Joe Lieberman as the scapegoat of the Democratic wrath. You know, that Lieberman is the only one willing to put himself out there. The National Review asks, "What is next for Lieberman - Boils and Locusts?"

Well, whatever your view on Lieberman is - one thing is for sure - he definitely gets much attention. He not only seems to like it, but appears to thrive on it. Look, Rahm Emanual even personally pressed Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid to cut a deal with Lieberman. It is interesting - Liberman is not particularly tough looking or fear-provoking. But there is something about the guy that gets under people's skin - and not in a good way.

That got me thinking. Who is Lieberman like? I don't mean in "real life," but in the fictional realm. I think I have a match. He may be the Felix Unger of the Senate. You remember Felix, don't you? He is from the Odd Couple. Tony Randall portrayed Felix on the television series that I grew up with. Felix was a little guy - but he could definitely get on peoples' nerves. He, like Lieberman, seemed to believe that he was doing what he was doing for the greater good of mankind. In actuality, his actions - more than likely - were there to soothe his own neuroses. Here is a snippet of an old Odd Couple clip. Just as an aside, I don't know if Joe Lieberman also has sinus problems.

GEORGE!!!

Damn, George. I remember when you were cool. I remember you from the Clinton years. I'm talking Bill, not Hillary. I just read this morning that you will be hosting Good Morning America. What happened? I like the cocky you, the angsty you...the guy who had to grow a beard because of a stress rash back in the White House days. I know, I got older too. But, I was never cool. You had cool moments. Anyway, here is a snippet of you back in the jean jacket wearing days of Bill Clinton's first run for President. It's from the War Room documentary.
P.S. - If I ever hear that James Carville is hosting Regis and Kelly - I am a goner.