Aisles soon "running with blood" - rejoice

The Transportation Security Agency has announced a few changes (reducing the number of objects not allowed on planes, making searches more truly random) that are long overdue. My Swiss Army Knife I think is still outlawed but this is a start. Much time, money, and effort is being wasted on absolutely pointless security over one set of objects while other things just as dangerous or more so are allowed.

Corey Caldwell, spokeswoman for the Association of Flight Attendants, doesn't feel quite the same way as I do:

"When weapons are allowed back on board an aircraft, the pilots will be able to land the plane safety but the aisles will be running with blood."

Movies Lately

Saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire last weekend and quite enjoyed it. Some of the visuals (particularly just the landscapes) were absolutely beautiful. I didn't remember that book that well for some reason so wasn't sure of the whole plot and didn't notice most of the stuff removed, like the House Elf subplot, but the movie was still quite long so probably a good choice. ****

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory I didn't think was nearly as good as the original and really didn't like Johnny Depp's (who I normally really like) take on Willie Wonka - took too many chances and some of them just didn't work for me. I also detested the Oompa Loompa musical numbers and actually fast forwarded through most of them. **1/2

War of the Worlds - very good performances by Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning but the plot was a bit odd and how one character survived never seemed to be explained at all. Spielberg seemed to be mostly trying to portray what humans do (good and bad) in desperate times when there is no authority but I am not sure that concept worked with this movie's plot that well. Cruise also seems to be making a very poor decision in heading for Boston - seems like heading West away from the population centers would have been the much smarter route. **1/2