I was going to post something else on the new "no liquids" policy, but this was better.

[randomness]

Also, I want to keep it handy.

From http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/200608/msg00087.html, via http://www.schneier.com/blog/:

So, we've covered in the lab and in the bathtub. On an airplane? On an
airplane, the whole thing is ridiculous. You have nothing to cool the
mixture with. You have nothing to control your mixing with. You can't
take a day doing the work, either. You are probably locked in the
tiny, shaking bathroom with very limited ventilation, and that isn't
going to bode well for you living long enough to get your explosives
manufactured. In short, it sounds, well, not like a very good idea.

...

And now, on to the fun part of this note. First they came for the nail
clippers, but I did not complain for I do not cut my finger nails. Now
they've come for the shampoo bottles, but I did not complain for I do
not wash my hair. What's next? What will finally stop people in their
tracks and make them realize this is all theater and utterly
ridiculous? Lets cut the morons off at the pass, and discuss all the
other common things you can destroy your favorite aircraft with. Bruce
Schneier makes fun of such exercises as "movie plots", and with good
reason. Hollywood, here I come!

And he goes on to describe some possible attack methods.

Comments

[nathanjw]

I was all set to be impressed by this, until I noticed that it was written by my former boss - the founder of my company(I'll note that I'm still with the company and he isn't) - and a noted crack-muppet. Bit of a grandiose serial exaggerator.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Sure, that's reasonable.

On the other hand, while I'll certainly take your word for the fact that he's a crack-muppet, he's not alone in his analysis of TATP:

While it's true that a slapdash concoction will explode, it's unlikely to do more than blow out a few windows. At best, an infidel or two might be killed by the blast, and one or two others by flying debris as the cabin suddenly depressurizes, but that's about all you're likely to manage under the most favorable conditions possible.

...

By now you'll be asking why these jihadist wannabes didn't conspire simply to bring TATP onto planes, colored with a bit of vegetable dye, and disguised as, say, a powdered fruit-flavored drink. The reason is that they would be afraid of failing: TATP is notoriously sensitive and unstable. Mainstream journalists like to tell us that terrorists like to call it "the mother of Satan." (Whether this reputation is deserved, or is a consequence of homebrewing by unqualified hacks, remains open to debate.)

(From http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/17/flying_toilet_terror_labs/. Sure, it's the Register.)

[ddreslough.livejournal.com]

And he goes on to describe some possible attack methods.

Snakes + Plane = Snakes on a Plane!

Solution: Samuel L. Jackson.

I love math.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

That's it! We'll clone Samuel L. Jackson and put him on every plane!

Oh, wait. We're not allowed to clone people. Damn.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

:)

[bryttan.livejournal.com]

Isn't that just in the US? Couldn't we clone SLJ somewhere else in the world under

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Isn't that just in the US? Couldn't we clone SLJ somewhere else in the world under <tongue-in-cheek!!!!!> less tightly controlled laboratory conditions?

:)

[st-rev.livejournal.com]

One other possibility is that the plotters had a completely different explosive in mind and the government is lying about that part. I certainly hope that they wouldn't broadcast the details of an actually workable plan to the whole world.

Unlike this guy.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Well, the TATP plan--the one which has been described in the media, and which has been carefully examined in a number of different posts, including the ones I quote--seems pretty clearly unworkable.

Of course, it may be that people are publicizing really unworkable plans deliberately.

[st-rev.livejournal.com]

it may be that people are publicizing really unworkable plans deliberately.

Yeah, that's what I hope.

18-year-old-anarchist-me is turning over in his grave, though. :(

[hellpossum.livejournal.com]

Yarr! I exist. I've friended you. --GMT

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Yay! I've friended you back.

(mmmm, kool-aid...)

[hellpossum.livejournal.com]

Hallo! I exist on LJ now. --Genny