I think this brings up their whole questionable screening process, especially assuming descent for you.

As in the Journal article where a Canadian citizen of Somali descent was assumed to be Somali and almost forcibly deported "back". Like me he is as Somali as I'm Malaysian which is not at all. Other then where my grandparents ran away to, to get away from the invading Japanese army, me being Malaysian is purley coincedental.

They have to do a way better job then just assuming and profiling especially if guys like me just happen to have certain ancestry. Just reminds me of Canadian-Japanese internment during WW2. Some of those interned where as Japanese as I am Malaysian. In other words not at all other then coincidents of birth we have no connection to our assumed "mother country".

Yeah, I guess we'll see how it goes now. I wouldn't be surprised if I get pulled aside, but who knows. Nobody's taking my cheese though, I'll tell you that.

Plus Lennie, you study the environment. Nature. That means you're an ECO-TERRORIST!!!

Hang on, Matty, you don't get searched, ever? Have you been on a plane since your Heathrow-weapon adventure?

I get searched (and my stuff, most especially my stuff) every time. EVERY time. Do they know that I have Middle Eastern ancestors? I seriously doubt it. The record keeping way back when everyone emigrated was shite (the 1910's ish, everyone's names were changed, and they came via Argentina). .... and IF they do know that I have Middle Eastern ancestry (Lebanon is in some upheaval of late, after all...), why don't they search my mom? She's a more concentrated version of my Middle Eastern heritage than I am, even if she looks more white and anglo.

Or is it just that I look like I could cause trouble? Maybe they just figured that Albert was shifty enough to be up to something? haha, kidding!


I think most airports act on the premise of "once flagged, always flagged" even if the first flagging was for a random-selection search. I get quizzed at customs all the time too... the fact that I don't have a real job, or that I get bored and often calculate my customs/duty expenditure to the cent I think makes them worry. And so, as a result, I get put through the ringer, and then they take my cheese away.

Coco speaks:

People of Earth:

In the last few days, I’ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I’ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I’ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I’ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over “The Tonight Show” in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004, I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my “Tonight Show” in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the “Tonight Show” to 12:05 to accommodate the “Jay Leno Show” at 11:35. For 60 years, the “Tonight Show” has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the “Tonight Show” into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The “Tonight Show” at 12:05 simply isn’t the “Tonight Show.” Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the “Late Night” show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard, and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of “The Tonight Show.” But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet, a time slot doesn’t matter. But with the “Tonight Show,” I believe nothing could matter more.

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it’s always been that way.

Yours,

Conan

I don't mind descent laws... only when someone else tries to draw their own conclusion!

Meanwhile, I, who have been caught with an illegal weapon in my carry-on in Heathrow security, will probably still not be pulled aside for extra questioning. ahhh, being white. Knock on wood. Mind you, I see getting strip searched as a value-added service, not an invasion of privacy...

Al, the decent laws are also why people hold the ability to be citizens of more than one nation.

That’s why Ed is able to hold a British passport; technically he could hold a Ukrainian one as well - his grandparents’ were born in Ukraine.

Al, I always thought you were a terrorist. Hmm, maybe I shouldn't write that someone's a terrorist on public website. For the record, I know you're not a terrorist Al. There, that should do.

Speaking of terrorists though, David Staples collected some of his old pieces on Wiebo Ludwig. A lot of this stuff was news to me. I had previously felt a little sympathy for the guy, but not at all anymore. If you don't know anything about Wiebo, this is a very interesting read:

Part 1

Part 2

Interesting article in the Edmonton Journal today about passport and descent by blood. Apparently a country can claim descent laws even though by birth you are born in another country. Which would definitely explain the extra questioning I get at customs.

1)I'm a non Caucasian working in the energy sector.

2)By descent laws I could be a national of Malaysia, note this is a Muslim country.

3)Also by descent laws I could be a national of China a commie country!

Anyways just shows the screening airport security will go through.