Eideard

A bizarre case of a young Asian man successfully boarding a plane disguised as an elderly Caucasian man has the governments in Hong Kong and in Canada scrambling to review their security procedures at airports and placed an airline under scrutiny for its passenger screening procedures.

The story of the Asian man in his 20s who stowed away aboard a Hong Kong-to-Vancouver flight continues to play prominently in newspapers and TV news broadcasts as well. And it has captivated a public puzzled over how screening staff at airports would fail to halt a person who wore a silicone mask disguised to be significantly older than his actual age of a different race…

What is known is that the man boarded the plane wearing the disguise and presenting a U.S. passport of a Caucasian man born in 1955. The aging face contrasted with the traveler’s “young-looking hands,” according to a Canadian Border Service bulletin issued over the case. Sometime during the flight the man removed his disguise, further alerting airplane staff who notified the Canadian authorities. Border officers met the man as he arrived in Vancouver…

Golly! They actually noticed the difference.

No link to terrorism has been suggested in the case.

Phew! I’m glad I needn’t worry about that for another day or two.

RTFA and you can add all the excuses to your list of Homeland Insecurity favorites.

November 18, 2009

In August, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain paraded the Stanley Cup through the streets of Halifax, just a few kilometres away from his home town of Cole Harbour, N.S.

Yesterday – November 18th – Sidney Crosby returned again to Halifax, this time to jog a 300-metre leg of the Olympic Torch Relay through the city’s downtown core.

For Crosby, it was a chance to take advantage of what he afterward called a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to share the Olympic spirit with his fellow Nova Scotians.

“I just got really lucky that we weren’t playing on this night and that we were heading somewhat in the direction of Halifax,” he said, in reference to Pittsburgh’s game in Ottawa tonight. “It’s something I felt fortunate to be able to do, and I didn’t want to pass the opportunity up…”

As an 18-year-old rookie in 2006, Crosby was considered too young by Canada officials to join the veteran-laden squad in Turin. Though he was in the midst of what would be a 102-point campaign, Crosby sat on the sidelines watching an offensively challenged Canadian team sputter to a seventh-place finish.

But Canada’s figurative torch has now been passed. In Vancouver, Crosby will be expected to provide both scoring and leadership in his first Olympic tournament. On top of that, he will be performing in front of Canadian fans demanding nothing less than a gold medal…

“It’s easy not to think that far out, to be honest,” he said. “This is something where you’re in the moment, and you’re just proud to experience it.

“We all realize as Canadians that there will be expectations, but I just really tried to enjoy this moment.”

Today, Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal – in overtime – to give Canada the Gold Medal in Olympic Hockey.

Not too shabby for a kid considered too young to be on the team, last time round, eh?

Canadian police are on the search for a brazen thief who snatched a take-away meal while making a naked run past a fast food restaurant’s drive-though window.

An employee of a Langley, British Columbia, Wendy’s restaurant was handing food to a customer waiting in her car when a naked man ran between them, taking off with her fries, and leaving little evidence behind, according to police.

“Other than an age range, neither woman could provide further description,” police said in a press release.

The man, believed to be in his 20s, jumped into a waiting van, which sped away from the scene during the weekend incident, police said.

Har! Neither woman got a look at his face.