Dodgy Stuff
Mostly the differences between the US and here are good entertainment. But here are two dodgy (they don't seem to know what 'sketchy' means...) items.
First, they don't check identification on domestic flights - not at check in, screening or boarding. Now I know that anyone seriously wanting to sneak around security in the US can find a way, and all the ID checking is probably more to make us all feel safer even if we may not be. But I didn't like it, anyway.
And, on a more local scale, you've got to wonder about drive through bottle shops. This isn't new to me - I was amazed at the phenomenon when I last lived here. But then I didn't have a blog to put a photo on, so here you go. Really, they have drive-through liquor stores and don't think that's a worry...
The ocean has been plenty dodgy too. At Maroubra beach last weekend it was very windy with a big southerly swell, but that didn't stop Rebecca and I from going out and giving it a try. Big motivation was that I had just gotten a loan from housemate Ryan - a 7'6" surfboard. Hard to say if it was the wild conditions or the inherent tippiness of this board (it sure isn't a 9 foot foam one!), but I didn't spend more than a few moments (near) vertical on it. But it was good to be in the water again. This weekend was even worse conditions though, so I stayed home and watched the surf pound against the rocks from the comfort of my living room.
First, they don't check identification on domestic flights - not at check in, screening or boarding. Now I know that anyone seriously wanting to sneak around security in the US can find a way, and all the ID checking is probably more to make us all feel safer even if we may not be. But I didn't like it, anyway.
And, on a more local scale, you've got to wonder about drive through bottle shops. This isn't new to me - I was amazed at the phenomenon when I last lived here. But then I didn't have a blog to put a photo on, so here you go. Really, they have drive-through liquor stores and don't think that's a worry...The ocean has been plenty dodgy too. At Maroubra beach last weekend it was very windy with a big southerly swell, but that didn't stop Rebecca and I from going out and giving it a try. Big motivation was that I had just gotten a loan from housemate Ryan - a 7'6" surfboard. Hard to say if it was the wild conditions or the inherent tippiness of this board (it sure isn't a 9 foot foam one!), but I didn't spend more than a few moments (near) vertical on it. But it was good to be in the water again. This weekend was even worse conditions though, so I stayed home and watched the surf pound against the rocks from the comfort of my living room.
posted by Lori Bassman at 1:59 PM
4 Comments:
So, they have drive-through liquor stores in Texas too -- at least when I lived there they did, with no open container laws to boot. I would hate to insult Australians by highlighting their resemblance to Texans...then again perhaps wide open spaces and funny hats inevitably yield some common ground.
I'm procrastinating -- can you tell? -- with a pile of grading to do and a bunch of panicky seniors doing review problems for their midterm tomorrow, running in every few minutes to ask me how to find the Nusselt number.
Just wanted to make you appreciate your current location and disposition a bit more!
Miss you...Rossmann
argh Australia sounds so fun.
Concerning the airport ID thing... have you ever considered how easy it is to circumvent the ID check at US airports? The problem is that they compare your ID to your boarding pass at security, but they don't *scan* your boarding pass.
Then, they scan your boarding pass at the gate, but *don't check your id*.
So, what people do is print out a fake boarding pass with their name on it, then buy a real plane ticket under someone else's name. You show the fake pass at security, and the real pass at the gate.
Consequently, even if you are on the no-fly list, you can just steal a credit card and get on a plane no problem.
So, this has been known for years. People have even created online boarding pass generators. What has the FBI done about it? They shut down the boarding pass generators, but still won't change the absolutely senseless security procedures.
Anyways, I think you're exactly right that they're just trying to give you a feeling of security--which, in the end, makes us less secure.
Um, they have a drive in liquor store about a mile east of the school on Foothill. And it's not sketchy at all...
Also, all my friends who were abroad in Australia last semester won't shut up about how much they want to go back; it's really getting quite ridiculous at this point. They keep saying how they won't have to work as hard and for some reason that's a good thing. Heck, one of my friends from Scripps even stayed there this semester cause she loved it so much. Anyways, I know you're having an amazing time and enjoy yourself while you can; when you get back you'll be stuck in SoCal rather than somewhere amazing like Australia or New Jersey.
Okay, so now you know I don't buy alcohol in Claremont (or Texas, thank goodness). For me this remains an Australian phenomenon.
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