News and notes from around the interweb:
- The story of a man charging a large passenger $150 to sit next to him on a plane is making the rounds again. (HT: Paul H)
It was a Coasian bargain: due to a series of events caused by the passenger whose space was being encroached upon, the larger passenger could only fly with that man’s ascent. So they struck a deal, $150 and he could encroach upon a quarter of the seat next to him.
- Merry Christmas from TSA.
If the TSA sang Christmas carols:
"These are a few of my favorite things…" pic.twitter.com/HdkS3JylLR
— Remy (@GoRemy) December 22, 2023
- More than 700 Airbus staff took ill after the company’s Christmas dinner in France
- Authorities find $70K in cash on passenger traveling through Charlotte Douglas and they took it. Because they can. The passenger wasn’t charged with a crime, and carrying cash is not illegal (for international departures you do have to declare amounts over $10,000).
However the government claims “his travel history was “consistent with that of a drug or money courier,” which is to say he was flying to Los Angeles which is all the justification the government needs to steal your money.
- What’s grosser than gross?
@pocketmouse35 Im filing a claim dw #southwest #flightattendant #flighthorrorstories #flying #travel #traveltiktok #plane ♬ Lifehack – Itsyourboymrkebs - The olden days. As a kid I used to have to wear a button shirt and jacket when I flew.
The first time I rode on a plane as a kid, people smoked on the flight.
I brought a metal cap gun and employees at the airport did a “don’t shoot” joke with me when they handed it back.
Family members met us when we got off the plane at the gate.
Changes. pic.twitter.com/BvR7nJEukA
— Adam Rossi (@rossiadam) December 23, 2023
“Jim never vomits at home…”
Once again evidence that America doesn’t have a drug problem. It does however have a drug law problem.
Gary,
I live in CLT. While I understand that law enforcement often confiscates money or property under questionable pretenses in this case it appears to be warranted. First of all the the money was hidden in clothing to avoid detection (it was only detected by a currency sniffing K9), the man didn’t have a good story which then quickly changed and also authorities looked at his travel history and it fit the profile of a drug mule. He can certainly apply to get the money back but my suspicion is it won’t be done and this is this basically the cost of doing business for this group. On the other hand he, or his family, may have an “accident” due to him losing the money.
@AC – it is not illegal to carry money domestically, or to do so in a concealed manner. he has not been charged with any crime. you do not need a ‘good story’ for carrying the cash, but why do you think his “wasn’t good”..?
looking at his travel history? that’s idiotic. the DEA considers travel between chicago and los angeles to be flying ‘between two known drug cities.’ he was flying to LA. the travel history is in no way suggestive of criminal activity, and certainly shouldn’t be sufficient for seizing cash in any case.
“He can certainly apply to get the money back” the process is designed to prevent people from getting most of their cash back, and usually requires them to forego claims of rights violations in exchange for a portion of their money back.
@Gary – I have ZERO problem with using advanced analytics to anticipate and stop potential crime. Sorry if that may offend some of you privacy zealots but the greater good must be served.
While I realize it is not illegal to carry any amount of cash domestically, multiple courts, including SCOTUS, have given LE the ability to confiscate funds or property related to a crime or reasonably expected to be used for a crime. This fits so get over it please. I will gladly give up some personal freedoms if it cuts down on crime and makes the country safer.
“Warranted” lol. Did the TSA have a warrant?
@AC
I believe it was Thomas Jefferson, who once said something like “if you continue to give up your freedoms for security, soon, you will have neither. “
The drug laws have been a colossal failure and cause more problems than they fix.
@WileyDog – not sure old Tom Jefferson’s quote is applicable in 2023. Things were a lot different in the late 18th century. Personally I’m all for cameras, tools that can listen in on cell phone calls, geotracking cell phones and movement or any other tool that can put criminals away and deter their actions.
You had a typo: should read “criminals steal $70k from CLT passenger”. Anyone who has not yet recognized that parts of the US government are acting as a criminal enterprise are naive. Because airports fall under federal jurisdiction these thugs can do anything they want with impunity. I’ve seen them interrogating passengers in DET many times, with zero probable cause, just a drag net looking for profits.
Anyone who doubts this: I suggest checking out a YouTube site called Leto’s Law which has many informative stories on CAF and the inherent corruption therein.
Hmmm. AC sounds like a code name for a drug dealer. Perhaps the DEA should kick in their door and do a little snooping around just in case. A little preemptive policing.
$70K stuffed in his clothes & sleeves? Being transported for “family issues”? Something stinks there. I’ve got no problem with this, and no sympathy for this guy.
Fascists tend to be fine with the heavy hand of law enforcement.
Unil it falls on them.
I feel that being free means we can do weird things as long as it’s not encroaching on someone else’s rights. And punishment should follow an actual conviction. Perhaps the guy has a weird thing about money. He shouldn’t have to explain or to have a sensical explanation. If they’re truly concerned about a crime, govt should start an investigation based on their suspicion, not just take his stuff. If they’re right, it’ll lead to a much bigger payoff.
The man could only ascend with the other man’s assent.
Sounds like a creative solution was found. But seriously the COS knows he is a COS and should have purchased 2 seats. If he doesn’t fly it’s his own fault.
@ AC
what greater good?
Luckily, they haven’t been successful training K9’s to sniff out wallet.dat files.
Taking Money from the ‘people’ is the business of Government and with the sherfs , prosecutor n and judge in on the conspiracy , it is almost impossible to get it back. You will never have enuf proof tp overcome the Gov ‘s Conspiracy…..
Seriously, AC. You scare the hell out of us!