May 19, 2002
WAYS AND MEANS
In recent weeks it has become almost a national phobia with
some people to try to determine what action of terrorism the Al Quida
will undertake next here in the United States.
Many have come up with fantastic plans for such an attack.
Some with all the severity and costliness of the September 11th
bombings, as well as few grand ones which are, I think, beyond the
capabilities of the Al Quida groups at this time. Some, however, are so
simple they could happen at any moment.
This morning's edition of the TIMES in London has an interesting
scenario which I have not read in the stateside press or seen on TV or
heard on radio. It is a scheme of such simplicity that it could be
happening right now in your community.
The All Quida would arrange for the rental of an apartment - a
"flat", of course, in the London TIMES account, and in due time a
moving van of their choice would back up to the service entrance
and unload an amalgam of the usual household items... chairs, beds
and mattresses, tables, multi-drawered cabinets, desks, and chairs and
sofas - all suitably overstuffed with explosives. When they chose to do
so, either by remote control or, if some one was eager to commit
suicide for Allah, he or she could set it all off, and the apartment would
be a "flat" within minutes.
Since September 11th of last year, we do not need to be
reminded of how tall buildings can be made to collapse within
themselves and burn if explosives are properly placed. It may
necessary to rent several such apartments in the same complex to
assure suffienct destruction, but this scheme could be worked in any
major American city with comparative ease.
Trying to second-guess the Al Quida is a difficult - even futile -
task to undertake, at any level, and the chances seem to be, at the
moment, that they will be soon be bragging about success concerning
forthcoming acts of terror in America.
We are being told constantly that this is a different kind of war
we are fighting this time, and I feel the federal and state governments
have done well in making such plans as can be made to combat the
potential troubles, but the general populace has yet to be convinced
that this is a serious matter which should be, above all, kept apart from
all petty political party aggrandizement.
The coming attacks may be small compared to what has gone
before, but they can, and I think, will, happen soon. Are we truly
prepared to meet such circumstances?
A.L.M. May 19, 2002 [c452wds]
DISTURBING TRENDS
Subtle changes are taking place in our society at almost every turn and we are often unaware they are doing so.
I actually heard two singers on TV yesterday sing their songs without screaming senselessly especially in the last throes of what has become a three-to-five minute suffering. This was refreshing to me and I hope it
marks a trend which would be most welcome.
Or, you may not have noticed that so many singers have been screaming at your for the final portion of whatever it was they were singing. That came in gradually several years ago, when singers decided, or were
told to do so by record producers, theatrical personnel, or , perhaps, by the manufacturers or merchants with hearing devices to sell. It became the accepted format for people who got up to sing. It was done largely because a
successful someone else had done so and sold records, either
because of or
in spite of the forced finale. Listeners
loved it, they decided, largely because they hadn't been able to understand the words anyway and the loudness
crushed all hopes of doing so with deadly efficiency.
In other ways...
The percentages of teen age girls smoking continues to rise. This could prove to be a major problem in the future in the future. Women in general, the polls indicate, smoke more than men do. It has become a major
advertising focus with the tobacco companies, who are also being accused of slanting their ad campaigns toward even younger children. Notice the number of cartoon spots for grown-up products, if you doubt that such a tactic is
being used. General advertising for all sorts - food, household products, electronic devices - and even cars. The idea is to impress a specific logo or brand packaging style on the mind of the youngsters who will, then, retain it all for
years and, along the way, will insist their parents buy that logo or image. This mind warp trend will bear some monitoring as the years of
go buy go by.
Concerning television shows. They seem to be largely imitative with each "new" season. Most do not wear well and do not endure. A second season without exceptional hype being added, is rare. Even the established shows are
regularly receiving adrenaline shots in the form of higher prize money, easier questions and more glamorous personnel.
The movies , too, tend to become trendy and play follow-the-leader but the "do" time is longer and the being copied patterns have been forgotten by the time the imitation comes on the big screens hundreds at a time. Movie
producers long ago shot their own feet off when they decided to judge the quality of a film by the gross take at the box office rather than on the number of people who pay to see it. As admission prices rise, which they have done,
the
quality of the production is judged to be better, as well. All of that, however, has already been done so it is no long a
trend. As far as the movies are concerned we are in a
prepare for the deluge stage.
The
times they are a-changin the folk singers used to whine and, indeed they are doing today, and all around us, with amazing speed.
A.L.M. May 18, 2002 [c560wds]
