The Knight Life by Keith Knight for December 28, 2014

During the Sunday hiatus i hope to have 24 hours for people to think about something which may help.It seems that there is a lot of frustration being expressed here.My biggest frustration in this comments section is that there seems to be far more talking than listening.At the core many of you are expressing the same basic desires of improved community relations, improved safety, a need for respect and for the rights of others, and understanding that everyone in any group is an individual. In all honesty, what matters is to extend these to ALL.There is a heck of a lot that can be acheived when people bother to respect others, treat them as they would want to be treated themselves, politely get clarifications or definitions when needed, and LISTEN. Some of you are complaining that the strip is staying in one place, but the discussions here seem to at times be doing that far more. Changes are needed: big, wonderful, and progressive changes, but change does not happen without communication, and communication does not happen unless people listen as well as talk.There is an image in my head. Those of you who are choosing sides decide to go toe to toe at a white line painted on a road. Each of your sides has chosen a t-shirt to express your stance. When you approach the line you each see that both “sides” have chosen, “Do onto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Before 9/11 airport security was merely intrusive and uncomfortable. Since then it has become abusive and even threatening. Fortunately, it’s only a five hour drive to the border and I can catch a plane in Tijuana if I need to cross an ocean. Sure, the flight itself will still be uncomfortable but, if you just avoid us and UK airports, the security people will be a lot easier to deal with…Trains are big enough to get up and walk around. Long distance trains will have a bar and restaurant… and there’s always a view. They just take so long to get there! Great if the trip itself is your vacation … not so great if the vacation awaits you at the other end of the trip.

Heh. The last time I flew was from San Juan to NYC in 1994. Our flight was delayed because of a minor issue, and everyone was being transferred to other flights. Since I was meeting a frequent puddle-jumper, I stayed put. There were so few left they moved us to first-class seats. We started 5 hours late, but were so light we made up a bunch of time. I had brought two books, and finished the first as we taxied out to the runway. Since I was transferring off a USN sub en route to shore duty, I welcomed the idea of “yes, you’re still trapped in a metal tube, but all you have to do is sit and drink the coffee the friendly attendant brings you.”

I understand it’s a little different these days.

I watched Flight on the way to England. During the turbulence sequence we ran into turbulence. The plane was rocking and rolling around me and passengers were making “EEK!” sounds like on the screen. I thought, “Gee, this is better than Imax!”

Study released showing that body cameras reduce BOTH 1. violence by police AND 2. violence toward police.An awareness of being recorded apparently causes better behavior:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-12/uoc-fsr122414.phphas the press release

#672: Not flying Indonesia AirAsia.