Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they aren't out to get you

Last summer I got a new passport in preparation for my trip to Jamaica. Embedded in that new passport was an RFID chip containing an unspecified amount of data about me and my passport. I'm not a total paranoid freak but I'd read a bit about RFID and how easy it is for unauthorized people to read their contents. So, I'd purchased a passport jacket that contains mesh that will prevent just such a thing from happening. A few folks I know had looked at me with that "you're a little off, aren't you?" look when I explained the heavy-duty envelope for my passport. Well, not the US State Department is recommending that folks purchase such a jacket since a recent report has pointed out how easily they are read. Don't worry though. According to the State Department "hackers won't find any practical use for data skimmed from RFID chips" but who am I to trust them now? Of course, you could always disable the chip but that wouldn't exactly be legal.

I believe I’ve spent time in this airport

Prague's Franz Kafka International Named World's Most Alienating Airport

2008 Travel Report

I use the social Web site Dopplr to schedule and log my travels and follow the travels of my online friends. This year Dopplr supplied a year-in-review report for all of its members. Here’s mine:

What It's Like To Fly With No ID Under The TSA's New Regulations

The Consumerist has the story of a man who's flown without ID under the new TSA rules. Here's the scary part:

So you know how the new TSA regulations went into effect yesterday, where you can only fly without ID if you "cooperate" with the TSA? Well, it turns out you also have to take a test about your personal life. They call up a service to administer it, and the last question they asked was which political party am I registered under (I correctly answered "democrat" and they still let me on board).

Read the full story on The Consumerist.

Your Papers Please: TSA outlaws ID-less flight

That is, unless you just say, you "forgot" your ID...

In a major change of policy, the Transportation Security Administration has announced that passengers refusing to show ID will no longer be able to fly. The policy change, announced on Thursday afternoon, will go into force on June 21, and will only impact passengers who refuse to produce ID. Passengers who lie and claim to have lost or forgotten their proof of identity will still be able to fly.

Yep, a terrorist would never lie and say "whoops I forgot my ID" now would they? The full story can be read on CNET News.com.

Moderate Turbulence

This was my flight from Denver to Lincoln yesterday. The man I'm speaking to is a pilot that was sitting behind me.

Millimeter Wave

Here's the next stage in airport security:

According to the TSA:

I venture to say, Mikhail Baryshnikov may have exposed more in his ballet costume than this robotic images portrays. Why did we decide to put there up now? Because you've asked for it...Hopefully the editors of Reader's Digest will consider these for their next cover.

Read more at the Evolution of Security blog.

South Dakota follow-up

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone that I met (and met again) in South Dakota last week. Despite my health issues at the end of the week I had a great time and every single person made me feel welcome at all times.

As for the current state of my health, the drive home was a very long yet uneventful four hours and I ended up sleeping more than 30 hours of the 48 hour weekend and I'm feeling much better now. There's still a little congestion that won't go away but nothing that'll stop me from attending the Library Camp Kansas unconference tomorrow. Be sure to check out what Kansas is doing and don't let SDLA and your state library forget that they both indicated that it sounded like a good idea for SD too. (Just don't forget to invite me back ;-)

As an example of a suggestion I made during my presentations, watch the Nebraska Library Commission's flickr account for photos of the painting that's being done this week. Many of us are currently in the process of emptying our office of, in some cases, decades of "stuff" so of course, photos must be taken and shared.

I did say that I took a photo of some of the signs at Bookings Public Library and that I'd loved the "Conversations in this area..." sign. Well, it looks like at least one other flickr user loves it to as stated in the photo's comments in flickr. Keep up the great work Brookings!

Lastly, with all those photos of your libraries I took, and others may be taking without you knowing it, you should take a moment and read the article The Transparent Library: Cheers and Jeers by Michael Casey and Michael Stephens. There's many items to think and talk about but there are two that specifically talk about flickr and library signage. You'll know which ones I mean when you see them.

Again, thanks to everyone in South Dakota. I look forward to visiting again in the future.

Overhead bins

Gamers on a plane

Considering the number of us that might not want to check our gaming consoles (something I'll be bringing on a plane this next Tuesday morning) you might want to be aware of this:

"The previously unannounced rule by the Transportation Security Administration went into effect Saturday and brings game consoles and DVD players under the same regulations as laptop computers, cassette-using video cameras, and certain breathing machines."

Just one more thing to pull out of your bag and place in one of those annoying gray bins.

Hastings, NE

After a great Chinese buffet lunch with the directory of the Hastings College Library, I'm not now teaching Blogger.com to area librarians.