On Sat, 1 Jun 2002, Joe wrote:
> to the Apple II, I got a card with a cigarette pack sized external box
> that appears to be some kind of external I/O interface. It's made by Don
> Johnson Developement Equipment and says Adaptive Firmware Card on it.
That's the Miami Heat upgrade for the Apple ][ that makes it run much
"cooler". People who bought that for their Apple also usually bought a
pair of sunglasses to wear while programming and sported five o'clock
shadows to go with the whole image.
> BTW has anyone here tried to carry an old computer on the arilines
> lately and had to go through the WHOLE security checkout? I did and it
> was "interesting". :-(
I've done so twice since September 11: once on November 6 (to Austria) and
last on April 25 (to Munich), both times schlepping scheisse for Hans. I
always expect a good cavity check every time I fly now since I'm Arabic.
The first time on the way to Austria it was relatively hassle free. They
ran my bags through the X-ray machines but all the electronics and metal
didn't seem to phase whoever was at the helm. Coming back I had a nice
big old East German (as in DDR era) computer I bought at VCF Europa 2.0
and got stopped in London. Security took me down to a stairwell near the
tarmack and had me open the boxes to show them what was inside. I also
explained who I was and what I did for good measure. They were satisfied
and let me on my way (and held the plane up for me).
The last time I got checked on my way to Germany. In San Francisco, they
ran my bags through the X-ray machine and saw lots of alarming wires,
metal, etc. They checked through each bag thoroughly, which sucked
because then I had to make sure everything was packed firmly again since
I didn't want Hans to yell at me when I got to Munich with his stuff all
broken up. On the way back I was hauling just a disk drive and some
Atari carthridges not expecting any hassle, but the customs guys were
complete dicks in Atlanta and held me up while they checked through my
luggage. That's the first time I've ever had the full customs check.
Atlanta sucks.
Whoever tells you the checks are "random" and not based on ethnicity or
appearance is just trying to be PC. I'm sure there is a bit of randomness
involved, but that's for the non-Arab, non-Muslim flying contingent.
There's only been one time out of perhaps ten where I didn't have to go
through the extra pre-boarding check before a flight. I'm convinced that
me and my peeps get red flagged and added to the "check thoroughly" pool
as soon as we step in the airport, and other "regular" folk are just
thrown into the pool at random to make it look like "we" aren't being
targeted.
Welcome to the New America.
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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Received on Sat Jun 01 2002 - 17:18:57 BST