Comments on Not a hammer, but some nailsTypePad2006-09-25T08:54:50ZDavid Bognerhttps://www.treppenwitz.com/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://www.treppenwitz.com/2006/09/not_a_hammer_bu/comments/atom.xml/celestial blue commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ec39288332006-09-28T12:12:46Z2008-02-14T04:47:30Zcelestial bluehttp://celestialblue.blogspot.com/Actually they DID rake my luggage over the coals, THREE TIMES in fact.... for reasons that are unclear. Was it...<p>Actually they DID rake my luggage over the coals, THREE TIMES in fact.... for reasons that are unclear. Was it the 5'3" white Canadian Jewish girl that seemed like a threat? They went through my luggage, squeezed my toothpaste tube even, closed it all up.... and then at the last minute did it all over again while they walked me away and took me into another room to take my shoes off and put me through my 4th metal detector. I can't possibly imagine what I did to warrant all that, but there ya have it. They emptied my luggage and took it away to x-ray it, on top of everything else.</p>
<p>El Al has some crazy-ass rules, I tells ya.</p>mcaryeh commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ebfd488332006-09-28T05:01:14Z2008-02-14T04:46:55Zmcaryehhttp://awhisperingsoul.blogspot.comSeems that by the time I got to this post, the young lady has been released. Good work, David....<p>Seems that by the time I got to this post, the young lady has been released. Good work, David....</p>FrumWithQuestions commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ec02888332006-09-27T16:35:11Z2008-02-14T04:46:58ZFrumWithQuestionshttp://www.frumwithquestions.blogspot.comI feel horrible for this girl. Hopefully things will turn out OK. I remember the first time I went ot...<p>I feel horrible for this girl. Hopefully things will turn out OK. I remember the first time I went ot Israel in High School I brought empy bullet shells back with me as a souvenier from a shooting range I went to. Are used bullets considered the same as un used bullets? I also had a bullet necklace that I got in Israel which I am not sure if it was a live bullet or not. </p>treppenwitz commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ec1fa88332006-09-27T14:26:34Z2008-02-14T04:47:17Ztreppenwitzhttp://www.treppenwitz.comDave... Yeah, but out on bail is a long way from having the charges dropped. It sounds like they have...<p>Dave... Yeah, but out on bail is a long way from having the charges dropped. It sounds like they have treated her fairly well (i.e. keeping her in the airport lock-up instead of the regular prison, etc.) but she doesn't have a passport and is not free to leave until this is resolved.</p>
<p>Noa... Now that you've kicked the drinking and gambling problems maybe it's time you thought about getting that drug problem under control. :-)</p>
<p>Celestial Blue... I shared your anger initially, but upon further reflection the job of El Al security is to screen out the people who would do harm, not catch every objectionable object. I'd say they have a very good track record if you look at it that way.</p>
<p>DirtCrashr... Please don't confuse reality with what I encouraged people to say in their correspondence. :-)</p>
<p>AC... thanks, much appreciated.</p>
<p>Knutz Cracka... As I said to Celestial, they are screening people more than bags. The point is not to keep a knife off the plane but to identify someone who is likely to use any weapon if given the opportunity.</p>
<p>Eyal... Good point.</p>
<p>Irina... Thanks for clarifying that. No further questions. ;-)</p>
<p>Celestial... again, they raked YOU over the coals (and likely many others on your flight. But they didn't check the luggage nearly as closely. It's just not practical to do so. the threat comes from people, not things.</p>celestial blue commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5505249a488342006-09-27T12:21:59Z2008-02-14T04:46:52Zcelestial bluehttp://celestialblue.blogspot.com/I don't it very comforting that it could be reasoned that it's fine to let someone through because the bullets...<p>I don't it very comforting that it could be reasoned that it's fine to let someone through because the bullets are no good without a gun. What if an entirely different security guard was letting someone else through with an empty gun thinking it was safe enough because hey, it has no bullets, and what good is a gun without bullets? And then poof! you have a loaded weapon in no time.</p>
<p>Again, we PAY El Al to take no chances. I got raked over the coals in the Israeli airport for taking a picture (in the bathroom no less. don't ask! lol), yet bullets are no big deal. </p>
<p>Perhaps I'm overreacting, but as I said, had they been more thorough, it could have been found by (more understanding) Israelis and not those in another country who aren't quite so lenient.</p>Irina commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ec2fb88332006-09-26T19:45:47Z2008-02-14T04:47:25ZIrinahttp://sicat222.blogspot.comIgnorance of the law is certainly not an excuse. However, in many cases, ignorance of the FACT can be used...<p>Ignorance of the law is certainly not an excuse. However, in many cases, ignorance of the FACT can be used as a justification if you can prove that any reasonable person IN YOUR POSITION could have made the same mistake.</p>Eyal commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052494a88342006-09-26T19:37:34Z2008-02-14T04:46:49ZEyalFor what it's worth, El Al's security claims they focus (in the case of the non-carry-ons*) on finding things which...<p>For what it's worth, El Al's security claims they focus (in the case of the non-carry-ons*) on finding things which can bring down the plane; a few bullets in a bag in the cargo hold aren't going to do anything.</p>
<p>*Carry-on luggage <i>is</i> x-rayed, as I can attest from recent personal experience.</p>Knutz Cracka commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ec29488332006-09-26T18:35:47Z2008-02-14T04:47:22ZKnutz CrackaGood luck Noa you will need it.. Shows no security check in Israel's El L.. I feel so safe..<p>Good luck Noa you will need it.. Shows no security check in Israel's El L.. I feel so safe..</p>AC commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052498c88342006-09-26T17:36:39Z2008-02-14T04:46:51ZAChttp://wwww.find-the-boots.comI blogged this onto FlyerTalk and will stick it on IndiaMike as well. I've gotten through security several times in...<p>I blogged this onto FlyerTalk and will stick it on IndiaMike as well.</p>
<p>I've gotten through security several times in the states with a loose round in my pocket - there is not enough metal to set off the magnetomoenter. A clip though?</p>DirtCrashr commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e550524f0b88342006-09-26T15:29:10Z2008-02-14T04:47:47ZDirtCrashrhttp://anthroblogogy.blogspot.com/When I was a kid (9ys. old) in India, our neighbor-friend the Principal's son had a pellet rifle. We (me,...<p>When I was a kid (9ys. old) in India, our neighbor-friend the Principal's son had a pellet rifle. We (me, my brother and him) went to buy some pellets in order to shoot at crows and had to produce some kind of a license to buy pellets, and each was sold individually.<br />
Later we were sent down South India to boarding school, there was the an older boy who went hunting in the hills and accidentally shot and killed someone. His parents had to pay a lot of money to resolve the case and get him free.<br />
I'm not terribly impressed by what I've heard of Indian jurisprudance. The stories I'm most familiar with are about civil-cases and collusion between both prosecutor and defending lawyers, arbitrated by a judge willing to be paid by each side to prolong the case and extract more money - which seems to be the case-deciding issue - payouts.<br />
But that's all hearsay, good luck to the poor girl!</p>celestial blue commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ebeed88332006-09-26T12:50:58Z2008-02-14T04:46:48Zcelestial bluehttp://celestialblue.blogspot.com/Am I the only one disturbed by the idea that El AL security didnt catch this?? A few questions was...<p>Am I the only one disturbed by the idea that El AL security didnt catch this?? A few questions was enough?? Sure, don't x-ray the bag, but why didn't they at least *go through it*? People pay good money for an El Al flight to be sure that the security is tighter, and had it been, this girl would have been saved a lot of grief. Was just being Israeli enough for El Al security?? </p>
<p>Perhaps I'm just bitter because lil ole Canadian me got severely raked over the coals (including having my non-functioning camera seized) when I went through. lol</p>Noa commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052493288342006-09-26T11:54:35Z2008-02-14T04:46:48ZNoahttp://jerusalemrevealed.blogspot.comRecently I flew to and from the United States and Canada (meaning I went through 3 airports, 4 flights, ostensibly...<p>Recently I flew to and from the United States and Canada (meaning I went through 3 airports, 4 flights, ostensibly 8 security checks) with the following in my bag: hypodermic needles, syringes, vials of saline (though I suppose I could have injected something else into the vials) and a small scalpel. I didn't notice these things were in the bag I take with me to the hospital every day, until I got home. X-ray should have caught the needles and scalpel - and yes, these items were in my carry-on!</p>Dave (Balashon) commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ec00088332006-09-26T11:03:40Z2008-02-14T04:46:57ZDave (Balashon)http://balashon.blogspot.comJust announced she was released on bail.<p>Just announced she was released on bail.</p>treppenwitz commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ec26688332006-09-26T08:35:28Z2008-02-14T04:47:20Ztreppenwitzhttp://www.treppenwitz.comJoe Settler... Not to incriminate myself or anything, but I have flown both ways to and from the states and...<p>Joe Settler... Not to incriminate myself or anything, but I have flown both ways to and from the states and only when emptying out my suitcase did I find a full magazine of bullets in one of the pockets. Yikes.</p>
<p>Marallyn... I'm just the messenger.</p>
<p>pk... I hope it does some good. Thanks.</p>
<p>Scott... there is very little that will protect little boys from their curiosity... especially when it comes to stuff that can burn or be blown up. </p>
<p>Don... Thanks, yes they work but I have to approve them since getting slammed with trackback spam.</p>
<p>Prath... Good idea, thanks.</p>
<p>Warran... Good point. Done.</p>
<p>Irina... You should know better than most that ignorance of is rarely a good defense. I just hope the lack of intent is taken into account.</p>
<p>Imshin... I have yet to mention this story to someone without them telling a story about a friend or family member such as the one you shared.</p>
<p>Westbankmama... case in point. Thanks. :-)</p>westbankmama commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052496c88342006-09-26T06:25:02Z2008-02-14T04:46:50Zwestbankmamahttp://www.westbankblog.blogspot.comAnd here I thought I was the only one whose husband has three full clips in his dresser drawers...but at...<p>And here I thought I was the only one whose husband has three full clips in his dresser drawers...but at least my kids know DON'T TOUCH!</p>Imshin commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ebf9288332006-09-25T19:40:39Z2008-02-14T04:46:53ZImshinhttp://imshin.comI know someone who was once arrested in Egypt (Sinai) with a bullet or two left over from his reserve...<p>I know someone who was once arrested in Egypt (Sinai) with a bullet or two left over from his reserve duty in his bag. He told of several extremely unpleasant days spent in a-Tur prison, until money was sent from Israel for bail and/or he managed to persuade the judge of his innocence (I can't remember the precise details). </p>
<p>I think it happened at a time when we were on better relations with the Egyptians - during the Oslo years. I doubt they would be as understanding today. </p>Irina commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e550524f6588342006-09-25T19:28:54Z2008-02-14T04:47:51ZIrinahttp://sicat222.blogspot.comWhat a sad, sad story. Hopefully, all these e-mails will reach reasonable people, who will know better than to make...<p>What a sad, sad story. Hopefully, all these e-mails will reach reasonable people, who will know better than to make an example out of someone's misfortune and her lack of knowledge will prove a sufficient justification.</p>Warren commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ec19b88332006-09-25T18:39:10Z2008-02-14T04:47:13ZWarrenTo send a letter to the Indian Government we need the name of the young lady in trouble. A link...<p>To send a letter to the Indian Government we need the name of the young lady in trouble. A link to a news article would help, too.</p>
<p>While you're at it, how about a list of consulates and embassies?</p>Prath commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e550524b6988342006-09-25T16:33:17Z2008-02-14T04:47:11ZPrathYou might want to run this through some Indian blogs (indiauncut.blogspot.com) and the Indian media (www.rediff.com and www.timesofindia.com) All the...<p>You might want to run this through some Indian blogs (indiauncut.blogspot.com) and the Indian media (www.rediff.com and www.timesofindia.com)</p>
<p>All the best!</p>Don Radlauer commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e550524db088342006-09-25T16:02:24Z2008-02-14T04:47:31ZDon Radlauerhttp://radlauer.blogspot.comHi Dave - I've blogged it with links here. I've also sent you a TrackBack ping, but I don't know...<p>Hi Dave -</p>
<p>I've blogged it with links here. I've also sent you a TrackBack ping, but I don't know if your TrackBack is really working.</p>
<p>Shana tova!</p>
<p>-Don</p>Scott commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e550524caf88342006-09-25T15:42:28Z2008-02-14T04:47:23ZScottY'all need to police your amunition. When I was 4 or 5 my little buddy and I found a loose...<p>Y'all need to police your amunition. When I was 4 or 5 my little buddy and I found a loose 22 round. We promptly took it out to the sidewalk .... stuck it in a little hole in the concrete and hit it with a hammer. Both of us were splattered with little chunks of concrete. One hit me in the corner of the eye but luckilly my sight was not damaged.</p>
<p>Hope the Israeli gubmint can get this poor girl out of her jamb. One supposes that SOMEONE in the bureaucracy still cares about people.</p>pk commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e550524b7088342006-09-25T14:29:16Z2008-02-14T04:47:11ZpkWill Do. I have good ties with the Singhs… :-)<p>Will Do. I have good ties with <i>the Singhs</i>… :-) </p>marallyn commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e550524a5288342006-09-25T10:38:25Z2008-02-14T04:46:57Zmarallynhttp://shalomfromjerusalem.blogspot.combless you<p>bless you</p>JoeSettler commented on 'Not a hammer, but some nails'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ec77288332006-09-25T10:32:36Z2008-02-14T04:48:25ZJoeSettlerhttp://www.joesettler.comI was a little surprised once when after landing in NY and doing the laundry that I had a few...<p>I was a little surprised once when after landing in NY and doing the laundry that I had a few bullets in a pair of pants that I had forgotten.</p>
<p>But that is nothing compared to my friend who flew out the day he got his 2 week leave from the army (some 10 years ago or so). </p>
<p>He got home and quickly stuffed his clothes into his bags and zoomed to the airport.</p>
<p>During the flight he opened his bag to get out a book and out fell 5 fully loaded M-16 magazines right onto the floor of the airplane!!!!</p>
<p>Needless to say he was surprised, as were the passengers next to him (who apparently thought he was their inflight air marshal).</p>
<p>He quickly shoved them back in, but wondered the rest of the flight what he was going to do now and worse, how was he going to get them back into Israel, because he did sign off on them after all.</p>
<p>Scary. Five full M-16 magazines in his carry-on and the x-ray guy did not catch them.</p>