I was reading the newspaper the other day and spied a story on the back page under National News. The paragraph was a report on a body found in the wheel of an airliner that landed in New York from London.

What possible reason could someone have for hiding in a part of the plane that moves for one thing and for another thing is exposed to the elements at differing levels of altitude? Does this make sense to anybody? If he was a stowaway, he was incredibly stupid and if he was a suspicious saboteur, we have some major security problems.

How can someone get on the landing field while the plane is getting loaded or checked for take-off? Where were the ground crew, luggage handlers, and fuel-fillers, while someone is checking out the tires and making themselves into an inner tube? Were they all in cahoots with one another?

Investigation needed


Where is 60 Minutes when these things are happening? Instead of reporting on Britney Spears annulment after 55 hours of marriage, I would like to see some major investigative reporting on television news shows. You know what I mean? If this kind of thing can happen, terrorists need not worry about smuggling things as ticketed passengers; they can hide bombs on their person and never lay a foot in the terminal.

Unfortunately, the story does not go on to explain any of these questions that truly concern me. In fact, I was even more dismayed to find out further down in the same small article that another man was found earlier in the week in another wheel well of a plane that landed in New York City from Jamaica.

Remember the guy that air-mailed himself to a specific location in a large box? Another less than intelligent plan, but at least he had a fighting chance at surviving the ride. If he was a person bent on harming us, he could have easily.

If we are on a heightened alert, since 9/11 and especially in the last couple of weeks, how can these security issues arise? This makes me a bit uncomfortable. I am totally for all the security that was implemented in the last two years, but I want to know that other countries are taking just as many precautions as we are in the United States.

Those idiots wrapped around the tires were not spotted until they landed here. How safe are our citizens flying home, if other nations are not as diligent as we are?

Back to Britney Spears and her latest exploits. I thought at one time; she was a great role model for today's young girls. She was wholesome, cute, moderately talented, and was not afraid to voice her feelings on abstaining from premarital sex. Quite a remarkable young woman and she still remained popular with a number of different age groups, including most parents.

Changing Image


Once she lost her virginity, broke up with Justin Timberlake, and was accused of lip-synching her live performances, she needed a new edge to keep her popularity from diminishing. The clothes came off, she became more of a partyer than a performer, and cashed in on Madonna's success by including her in an otherwise lackluster video. She weds a friend that was reported as a joke taken too far. I think she needs to grow up and concentrate on honing her craft.

OK, there is this thing with Michael Jackson that really upsets me. I saw some documentary on him and his number one hits. All sorts of contemporary artists were talking about his talent and how he influenced them in their early years.

The segments that were shown prior to his multiple surgeries were so unsettling. I believe he is one of the most talented people in the music world, but he is so messed up that I cannot watch him anymore. Whatever happened in his childhood to make him behave in the way he does must have been horrific. His preoccupation with young boys, his marriages, his children's odd appearance and behavior, his excessive spending, and childlike demeanor are depressing. It creeps me out in a big way.

My last diatribe for the week deals with the recent news on Pete Rose. I do not understand why he gets a minute more airtime let alone interviews, news reports, and special segments on the major networks.

A baseball hero who was caught betting on the professional game that made him a legend, which put food on his family's table, and gave him fame that few people will ever know, Rose declared his innocence for the world to hear for years after the scandal broke. When he was told that he would not be able to be inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame, he cried foul and bemoaned the injustice of it all.

Recently, Rose changed his tune and confessed that it was true all along. He bet on the Cincinnati Reds while coaching the team and that he admits now he should have fessed-up years ago. Tell someone who cares, Rosey.


David Harrison Levi published author and cat fancier :)