If you're flying to or from the UK, make sure your reader is charged!

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's also totally untrue. That's not what the article linked to the headline says at all.

I never said it did... But I know of people who only read the headlines and never the story itself... (I personally can't stand those sensationalist headlines...)

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

You have quite a few countries closer to you than I do. I only have Canada nearby. Mexico is some 2,000 km away. These days, 800 km (distance to destination) is my limit for car travel. Next summer, I plan to do a 10-day trip along the Oregon coast.

That's why I said country and not state (granted, I do live in one of the smaller countries in Europe, but still, it's still almost 400km to even go to Belgium!)

And that trip to southern Spain took 17 days of travel

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I never said it did... But I know of people who only read the headlines and never the story itself... (I personally can't stand those sensationalist headlines...)

Oh, I know. Sorry, I should have made it clear that I was criticising the article, not you.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

That's why I said country and not state (granted, I do live in one of the smaller countries in Europe, but still, it's still almost 400km to even go to Belgium!)

And that trip to southern Spain took 17 days of travel

The western states in the US are the largest. It takes awhile to get from one state to another. Borders from Seattle -- Canada (180 km), Oregon (280 km), Idaho (450 km) and California (780 km).

Spoiler:

Europe should become a country and all of the countries should become states

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Europe should become a country and all of the countries should become states

Sssshh! Don't give 'em ideas, there in Brussels!

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Sssshh! Don't give 'em ideas, there in Brussels!

I'll go back and hide my statement

[BelleZora]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

[...] Europe should become a country and all of the countries should become states

Reminds me of the European traveler who earnestly explained to me how the U.S. must simply just standardize all its laws from city to city, county to county, state to state, sea to shining sea because the current system is incredibly confusing.

Monkey is kidding, but reading more world history would be helpful to pretty much everyone.

[issybird]

I cross a border every day on my way to work. It means I must fasten my seatbelt as I hit that line! And get to unbuckle when homeward bound, of course.

[BelleZora]

Originally Posted by issybird

I cross a border every day on my way to work. It means I must fasten my seatbelt as I hit that line! And get to unbuckle when homeward bound, of course.

Well, I now know your state. Drinking laws are an important tourist concern, and also where you may take off your upper body articles of clothing in public if you are female (huge double standard). Oh, and there are the marijuana laws: Federal government says it is illegal; several states say you can buy and use it for medical purposes; Washington and Colorado say that you can buy it for any purpose, including fun, in state-licensed weed shops if you are over 21. The Feds behave as though this is a losing battle and are mostly now just annoying the states wherever possible (no water for growers).

Sorry for the diversion. Back to charging ereaders.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

BTW: I've always wondered, what such a quick start of a gadget should even prove. You could simulate a boot sequence via EEPROM and still load the battery compartment and the rest with drugs or explosives. Theoretically, in my opinion, they would have to test the actual functionality, not just accept some animation on a startup-screen.

Do a search on "security theater".

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Do a search on "security theater".

I am sure that the people who decided to put these restrictions in place have done so for good and proper reasons. I don't mean to sound impolite, but to dismiss it as "security theatre" when you have no knowledge of the reasons behind the decision, seems rather flippant to me.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Happy ones are powered ones. Unpowered ones are sad because they cannot work.

Perhaps he meant 'said' devices. Hence the humor.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I am sure that the people who decided to put these restrictions in place have done so for good and proper reasons. I don't mean to sound impolite, but to dismiss it as "security theatre" when you have no knowledge of the reasons behind the decision, seems rather flippant to me.

Strange enough:
If I bring a camera, most of the time I have to make a snapshot and show them, to demonstrate the functionality of the camera.
I never had to demonstrate functionality of a laptop, ebook reader, tablet or such...

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I am sure that the people who decided to put these restrictions in place have done so for good and proper reasons. I don't mean to sound impolite, but to dismiss it as "security theatre" when you have no knowledge of the reasons behind the decision, seems rather flippant to me.

Because if the government does it, then there must be a good and proper reason?

Perhaps if we can figure out a way to easily circumvent the restrictions, it means the terrorists can too, thus rendering the restrictions meaningless -- and if they are meaningless, that is pretty much the definition of security theater. Unless the people in charge simply didn't realize there are gaping holes, in which case it is still security theater, since it was done without making sure it accomplishes the objective.

I'm not sure which is worse.

[Shinigami]

..I wonder what their take on solar powered calculators is..

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Because if the government does it, then there must be a good and proper reason?

Basically, yes. I'm entirely certain that this would not have been done on a random whim, but as the result of credible intelligence information. Certainly the people who take these decisions know more about the reasons for it than I do, and, I venture to suggest, more than you do.