Travel Saftey

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Wed Aug 21, 2002 3:11 am

Fifty percent southern Ireland and 50% Lithuanian. There are rebels in BOTH sides of the family!

(as in the Lithuanian submarine captain in Hunt for Red October). Methinks the Gaelic blood was there on both sides. Neither parent was a redhead.

Both sides of the family got the heck out of their respective countries and into the states to escape poverty of body (potato famine) or of mind (suppression of basic rights).

Not me though; I am such a wallflower.

- Bill

Tony-San · Post by **Tony-San** » Wed Aug 21, 2002 3:40 am

Hey Bill,

Did you have anything to do with the choice of that Gaelic font on the old Uechi Ryu T-Shirt?

Personally I would have chose a Staccato Font(probably the 555), but no one ever asked me...

Tony

Van Canna · Post by **Van Canna** » Wed Aug 21, 2002 5:02 am

Bill,

She is one gorgeous woman. Her hair is something else. Bet it feels like satin through the fingers.

Your son is also a handsome devil. Good stock , I guess.

------------------
Van Canna

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Wed Aug 21, 2002 3:40 pm

Tony

Didn't have any influence on that font!

Van

Thankfully my son is blessed with my wife's (and sisters') good looks!

BTW, I meant "Celtic" as opposed to "Gaelic" when speaking of the Lithuanian/Irish commonality. I believe those Celts were warrior types that made their way around northern Europe in much the same way that the Nordic types got around. You find that classic red hair with freckled complexion in numerous places around northern Europe. I just found it fascinating that two people from two seemingly different ethnic stocks (Cork county Ireland and Lithuania) with brown/blond hair could throw out 4 out of 8 redheads with identical hair color and skin complexion.

Just goes to show that Kilroy the Celt got around!

- Bill

LeeDarrow · Post by **LeeDarrow** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 9:09 pm

Dana-Sensei,

Very reasonable precautions. My 2 cent's worth follows your post.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dana Sheets:
I just got back from travel for work. I am a producer that takes small film crews on location to do documentary programs. Often, we stay on the 1st floor of the hotel because it is easier and faster for the crew to load in and load out.

When I first started travelling I was taught a hotel room check in ritual that I follow to this day.

Set down all your bags before you open the hotel room door.
Open the door all the way and wait for any sign that things are out of order.
Feel inside the door to turn on a lightswitch.
Prop the door open with your luggage.
Carefully look at the room you can see and look for anything out of order.
Look in or open the bathroom door and turn on the light -- look for anything unusual.
Open all the closets and look under the beds.
Walk to the window/balcony and make sure the window/door is locked - especially if you're on the first floor.
Make sure that every member of the group you're travelling with has your room number.

Does anyone else have some thoughts on this or other travel saftey ideas?

Dana<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

When away from your room, several things can be done to give you advanced warning regarding unwanted intrusion - leaving the Do Not Disturb sign on the door keeps housekeeping from doing a cleanup and thus, leaving your room open for a period of time. While you will sleep on the same sheets, you can get new towels, etc with a call to housekeeping when you return.

Another thing to do is an old gambler's/grifter's trick, a matchbook shoved into the top of the door. Use only a portion and don't make it real obvious. If it's not there when you come back, you may have a visitor inside. Get hotel security.

One other thing that I do when I travel is, when I open the door to the room, have a handful of loose change in my hand. If someone does the Surprise Party routine on you, a handful of coins in the kisser is a GREAT distraction and can buy you enough time for a couple of really solid shoken to places where they will do the most good.

Respectfully,

Lee Darrow, C.Ht.

chef · Post by **chef** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 3:52 am

Great ideas on preventative measures. Thanks everyone for all the input...better safe that sorry.

P.S. Bill, my friend, you are and never will be a wall flower. Vicki

chef · Post by **chef** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 3:53 am

Correction: You are not and never will be..... Vicki

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Tue Aug 27, 2002 9:24 pm

Vicki

I just got the word back from George. He says you're going to need to grovel a lot better than that if you want your nidan on the short plan!

I guess you'll just have to rely on that considerable god-given talent - as always!

Nice try, anyway!

- Bill

RACastanet · Post by **RACastanet** » Thu Aug 29, 2002 3:25 am

Interesting experience on Interstate 95 today about half way between DC and Richmond...

I stopped at a rest area/welcome center to get a fresh VA map and was walking back to my car. A women in a very nice auto (BMW) rolled down her window and signaled to me to come to her car. Whats up??? She asked me to check the doors to make sure they were locked and wouldn't open as she was tired and wanted to take a nap. Interesting, she was making sure no one could easily get in.

Even on a rainy day Int 95 rest areas are bustling and full of people. Why did she signal for me? Gray hair? Why not another female? Well, I was returning to Richmond from Quantico after a trainng session and was in my uniform. To this woman, who could be more trustworthy than the US Military!!!

Rich

student · Post by **student** » Thu Aug 29, 2002 12:18 pm

OOO-RAHH, Rich!

Of course, another hypothesis might be your age...

Murray/student, who has standing to make middle-aged men jokes...I'm ~3 years older than Rich.

Dana Sheets · Post by **Dana Sheets** » Fri Aug 30, 2002 2:44 pm

Well Rich, I'm glad she asked you to check her doors, but I'm dismayed to hear that this well-off woman was sleeping at a rest stop. Shessh that's a dumb move.

You know what would be really great - travel saftey information inside the women's rest rooms at rest stops. I bet those fliers would go like hot cakes.

Dana

LeeDarrow · Post by **LeeDarrow** » Fri Aug 30, 2002 10:43 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dana Sheets:
Well Rich, I'm glad she asked you to check her doors, but I'm dismayed to hear that this well-off woman was sleeping at a rest stop. Shessh that's a dumb move.

You know what would be really great - travel saftey information inside the women's rest rooms at rest stops. I bet those fliers would go like hot cakes.

Dana<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Armed guards would probably be a better idea. ;D

With humorous intent,

Lee Darrow, C.Ht.

JohnC · Post by **JohnC** » Sat Aug 31, 2002 10:53 am

Some additional safety traveling tips would include:

* Attempt to make your travel plans with safety in mind. Arrive as soon after check in and before dark if possible. Traveling late, after dark and when exhausted leaves an opening of vulnerability, even if you are with business associates.

* If you have a vehicle and are not ride sharing, a brief cruise around the hotel grounds could assist in orienting where your room is located in relation to lighting, the front office, pool, etc. Also, gives a sense of where the place is situated within the surrounding neighborhood or business area.

* Develop a safety sense about the hotel chains that you feel most safe and comfortable in and try to locate and reserve these when you can. I find that hotel chains that cater to the business patron comfort, needs and have proven track records from prior travels will typically offer an extra layer of security. Also, you are more familiar with the typical layout and know more what to expect.

* There is a theory out there that hotel rooms contained inside the building are somehow safer than the open walk way room design. I don't know if there are any studies that prove this out or not.

* In addition to assault risk, there are also the threat risks of room location, floor location, design, etc. as to other dangers as mentioned already with fires, etc.

* Women who travel frequently should seriously consider an advanced defensive tactic, safety and security training from a credible source, such as a law enforcement defensive tactic instructor or private group with serious credentials and background. These usually are 10-15 hour programs that cost a few hundred dollars.

* Traveling with a weapon that has been carefully selected for you if you are capable and comfortable with this option. This same defensive tactic resource mentioned above, could assist in the selection and training in the use of a firearm, blade or pepper spray type device.

* Checking the room out carefully and completely before accepting it is a good idea from a comfort, sanitation and security perspective. Check all windows and doors for defective locks, catches and latches.

* Clearly, one must weigh comfort, convenience and effort vs. more or less safety and security.

JohnC

Mary S · Post by **Mary S** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 7:08 pm

Travel safely - goes for men too!!!

http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/09/06/female.serial.killer.ap/index.html

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 9:02 pm

That woman is one nasty lady. She has refused all appeals, and fired her lawyers. She apparently wants to die, because she says she hates humanity so much and would kill again. (NPR story Sept 6, 2002) We're talking about evil with no regret and no desire to change behavior in the future.

I'm not necessarily advocating the death penalty. But if you're going to have one, you can put her at the head of the line. Otherwise she needs to be locked up and forgotten. My gut feeling tells me this is a case where you can't change the behavior of someone that is missing a vital area (or two) of human brain function.

I'd be curious to see what Dr. Giella has to say about this "Black Widow."

- Bill