Sunday, January 4, 2009

Discussion 16 - 1/5/09

Hello and Welcome to 2009!

Thanks for logging in . . .

As you all know, I went to Mexico for Christmas. We had a wonderful trip. As a souvenir I brought back a massive head cold that made me feel like I'd been hit by a Mack truck. It's effects are STILL lingering.

Ahhhh travel. Gotta love it.

For those of you who have never traveled internationally, it's a bit of a hassle. First you have to present your passport 3 times to board the plane in YOUR country (at the check-in counter, at the security line, and at the gate). When you get off the plane at your destination the fun REALLY begins. You find yourself in a long, long line of people who are just as eager to enter the destination country as you are. After all, you ARE on vacation right?!? Wooohoooooo! 30 minutes later when you're still in the same line your enthusiasm starts to wane a bit. An hour later as you gingerly approach the security agent with your passport and your paperwork out, the praying begins. Oh Lord, please let there not be a problem with my passport. Oh Lord, please let the security agent be having a good day. Oh Lord, Oh Lord, Oh Lord.

Well, passports today are equipped with a radio frequency chip that allows the security agent to scan the passport, automatically pulling up your information. It's supposed to make this long, tedious process go much faster. Except for mine didn't work at the security line in Mexico. And neither did Mr. L's. In the meantime, the friends we're traveling with are through the security gate and looking back at us like "Uhhhh, see yall in a week. We're on vacation. Woooohooooo!" Our security gate agent is yelling at another security gate agent (in Spanish, and yall know how limited my Spanish is). That security agent is yelling at another guy (evidently the guy in charge) who finally comes over to type in our info manually. FINALLY we're through the checkpoint. But it's all ok, 'cause were on vacation. Wooohoooo! Right? Umm, not so much.

Now comes baggage claims and customs. You stand behind the yellow line until the guy tells you to approach as a group. He takes your passports (here we go again), looks over your paperwork and tells the first one of you in line to push the big red button. I'm not kidding when I tell you this button looks like a big ole emergency stop button. The button either lights us a green "go ahead" light, or a red "you ain't going anywhere" light. If you get the red light they take you and all of your baggage aside and go through everything with a fine tooth comb. Luckily we got the green light, and away we went. Wooohooooo! We're on vacation! Right? Right.

Oddly enough, coming back into our country the passports scanned just fine. We talked to the security agent here (who ironically was Russian) about it and he said sometimes it happens and then it never happens again.

So I've done a bit of research on passports since I got home. Turns out, they're extremely hackable. The point of the chip was to make them difficult to counterfit, which is great, but if somebody stands 20 feet away from a person carrying a passport with a reader they could scab your information. Great! Just great!

This week you have a choice for your blog. You can either read the article about passport hacking and give your opinion, or you can visit a travel site (Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz) and see how much it would cost to go where you want to go. If you choose to visit the travel site you will need to tell me which one, tell me where you're going, and tell me how much a one-way ticket is.

http://tinyurl.com/3fdb33

www.travelocity.com

www.orbitz.com

www.expedia.com

Talk to me . . .

67 comments:

Cole,R-1 said...

I read about the hackable passport things a while back so I will do the trip thing-

I used www.travelocity.com
to Tokyo, Japan and for my one way flight it would be
$2,389 non-stop
and the date for the flight i put was June 1st this year

Rigsby,D-1 said...

Ray Ray Ray. I would also take the trip to japan cuz that the best place for us computer geeks to go. But i think i would go like july or something like that.

lathan,l-1 said...

Thats like hacking into someone else computer its not cool. Because thats like saying o im not going to jail I dont care what know body else say. But the cloning part is pretty cool, but But look at it like this, if you wnat somebody else doing it to you dont do it to nobody......!

McCorvey,T-1 said...

I think i would go to Japan to explore Tokyo, and find out more computer techniques to use.I would probaly go in the summer, because i can have more time to learn more.

Gilbreath,J-1 said...

Wow, I also looked up a trip to Tokyo Japan through the Narita region on orbitz.com.

I might be reading this wrong, but it seems to say that a non-stop flight, week-long stay and return would be 1,086 bucks per person. Yay! Cheap flight without the annoying class field trip from January 22nd to January 29th.

Calderon,A-1 said...

it does not surprise me that they are cloning the e-passports because all the microchips and the electronic stuff is more easy to clone. if they could clone a credit card they will obviously clone electronics (i tell you this because i saw it a lot in Mexico) and the electronics are more easy to clone because if you can get in the "brain" you got everything specially when you want to steal some personal info (like passport) and one day everything might be clone.

Lanham said...

Let me be clear here. In order for you to get credit for this blog, you will:

1) tell me which trip search engine you use.

2) tell me where you choose to go

and 3) tell me how much it will cost.

You will NOT get credit for this blog without doing the work. Period.

Auxier, Emily - 4 said...

To Travel From America To Scotland on a One-Way Flight .. It would cost at the least around $950 - $1000 ... according to Travelocity.com. So it looks like i should start saving up! yay me =)

borerw-4 said...

i think this e passport sounds like more trouble than its worth and they are not even makeing it hard not to counterfit. not good!
but i dont go any where any way so...

Thompson,O-1 said...

i think they shouldent mind the hacking. it leaves a big window for new secret agent or most wanted outlaw movies like the bourne series but like newer and more high-tech.

arriola,brett-1 said...

I used Orbitz.com and i wanted to go to london,england and it was $2,423 for a 1-stop trip !

murillo, j - 1 said...

The united states plans to begin issuing e-passports to U.s citizens beginning in october. German has already started issuing the document.

Hollingsworth,C-1 said...

To go to Sydney, Australia on June 1st ,using expedia, it would cost $1585 at the cheapest. Or I could book in 2012 or something like Justin did and get a ticket for only a dollar!!!!...lol yeah right.

Liles, T-1 said...

"you get a bunch of bureaucrats making decisions about technologies they don't understand?" That is one of the main reasons that this is such a bad idea, it might as well be a proven scientific fact that old people dont understand technology as well as the younger generation does if at all, because we were born and raised in the technological age. Having someone make decisions about tech they dont in the slightest understand, is no different than electing a peice of toast to be the president of the United States.

Ashley Manis said...

I used Travelocity to go to Kentucky. I'm flying into Louisville KY and its costing me $224.99, one way ticket because I'm NOT coming back!!
Where am I going?? BOWLING GREEN.

mcgown,a-1 said...

For starters...It irratates me throughouly when we give out a "step-by-step" guide on how to to hack things. I am aware that they have to test the new technologies for flaw and/or hackableness(made up word) but, must we share. I believe the new passport are a wonderful idea. On the other hand I feel that it should be imparitive that we make sure that our technologies that are supposed to protect us(and others for that matter) are,by the time they are used for public servie, are not cloneable or easily tampered with...Just Say'n.

Broadway,M-1 said...

I go to Japan then Greece because I like to go see beth worlds.
It cost 4,637 to travel from houston to japan. It cost 4,995 to travel from houston to greece. And it would cost 10,580 from Tokyo, Japan to Athens, Greece.

rodriguez,stephen-1 said...

well i chose chicago! its an amazing city but a ticket is 364 and is a two stop flight and is like 8hrs!(thank you travlocity!)
I would leave like right now and not return til may 21 so you never see me muhahahahaha!

brittain,w-2 said...

personally i do not like the E-Passports because like the scientist showed, they can be easily hacked or copied if you know how to read the encryptions. it would be a little faster when you go to like mexico or japan or something because all they have to do is scan it rather than reading it like they used to do.

allensworth, z-2 said...

i uesd www.travelocity.com
and i went to honolulu hawaii
the flight ticket costs anywhere
between $451 and $1,348 depending
on what airline you use
i chose american airlines for $557
and my flight departs at 9a.m.
on march 15th

mayfield,s-1 said...

I used travelocity.com and I would like to go to Atlanta and my flight for non stop would be $138.

packard,a-2 said...

i used travelocity.com for no other reason than i like the gnome! my trip is from houston to sydney australia, it costs $2,082 per person for a one way ticket, the plane stops twice to switch planes, once in fourt worth and another in south korea. the total flight time is 41 hours and 40 minutes. if i leave on jan. 16 at 9:20pm i will arrive in sydney on jan. 19 at 8:00am!!! that is a very long time but worth the trip. the flight will be with continental, korean air, and us flight. this trip will probably never happen but it's good to have a dream!!!

edlin said...

Well seriously sooner or later this was going to happen were people clone passports well if you wouldn't like people to do it to you just DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!

Dietrich,R-3 said...

I went from houstan to hong kong using travalocity and it cost 3787!!!!! thats way too much but the nome was lookin cool with his black shades!

Hernandez, Ruben 3rd said...

i dont undeerstand why they would hack passports they shouldn't.its not fair for someone to get their passport hack.. i mean come on..get a life or something ...i got computer hacking skills but that doesnt make a hacker does it.

Patton,A-1 said...

i went to orbitz.im goin to california.for a 1 way 1 stop it would cost me 142. the date was january 29th 2009.

otis,j-3 said...

On Expedia, I can take a much needed one way trip to Cancun, Mexico for just over $300. The flight has one stop but is worth it considering the extra $65 charge for non-stop. This cost is for a flight tomorrow with one adult; me. Hopefully I wouldn't have as great of a time as Mrs. L through security as she did, although I do want to see the red button:)

ferrell, a-4 said...

well i would go to belgium, its $622 round trip on expedia..

ferrell, a-4 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ferrell, a-4 said...

and it would be for spring break..

Campbell,A-4 said...

My trip was from Dallas to Amsterdam for 12 days and nights the best I could fine was from expedia.com $806 in a hostel..can any one say "Euro-Trip?" heh. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about Eruo-Trip is a bout a guy who goes to Eruope to find some girl he's been talking to online for like a year or something..Funny stuff

GARRETT,K-4 said...

i used expedia.com and booked a trip to honolulu hawii.i leave at 8:o2 a.m from houston airport and arrive at 3:46 p.m at honolulu airport.it cost me $446.

Brice, R-4 said...

I went with expedia with a one way trip from Houston, TX to Rome, Italy that will cost me $1630 using British Airways.

edwards, a - 4 said...

I search in travelocity and for a week in Atlanta is $637. For some reason, I always wanted to go to Atlanta, Georgia. It was also on my Christmas list along with a new computer and a car (which my parents promised for years but never have given me). My oldest sister keeps telling me "there's nothing in Atlanta but a bunch of black people." To me, I think Atlanta's one of most beautiful cities in the States...

Meredith,B-6 said...

Ok i read about the passport hacking article and i agree with the guy the new passposts dont help increase security at all i think it just adds more risks such as the bomb that could read and blow up only for that certain passport i mean that cool but messed up at the same time. Honestly i rather take the time to fool with the oldfashion paper ones then these new ones.

Abdul-786 said...

i m going to karachi, pakistan this summer so i think a one-way ticket to karachi, pakistan would cost atleast a $1000 and thats a lot of money for a one-way ticket.

Maness, J-6 said...

I used the Orbitz site, and a one way ticket from Houston, Texas to Sydney, Australia is $1,782.

wallace,c-6 said...

i used expedia, and it would cost me $3078 to go on a trip to australia leaving from houston, and returning back to houston. that would be about a 2 week vcacation for just one person

Sauceda, Maria=]- 6 said...

Sorry Mr. L the blog confused me so i decided to check out vacation plans;)..Going to las Vegas..what happens there stays there..lol Its not expensive just like $149 dollars if you fly with american airlines.Awesome!!.

lee, s - 7 said...

so someone can clone tag. the person can clone himself called twim brother or sister. someone is not cool and clone himself.

Copeland, Juston7 said...

i think that it is sad that it only took him 2 weeks to figure out how to clone the e passports i also think that it is a waste of money if you can clone so easily and i also thought what he did with the hotel cards was cool but that is sad that if someone wants to hack your stuff its gone

Lopez, M-1~☺ said...

I used the Orbitz traveling site to leave from Houston, to switch in San Francisco, and there switching again in Osaka, Japana and finally there to go to Kagoshima where I had first planned.
There are a couple os stops along the way but the total of the trip is $2,159. Sounds fun

tutt,matthew said...

I beleve that it was a stupid idea to let bussines decide to put tech they have not tested for hackability into somthing like a passport. Now anyone with $200 could steal your information with ease.

martines,j-1 said...

ONE ROUND TRIP TO ROME ITALY WITH A FIVE STAR HOTEL INCLUDED WOULD BE AROUND $2536 A TWO STAR HOTEL WOULD BE $1485 I FOUND THIS USING ORBITZ

Ashley Manis said...

Why does everyone want to go to Italy?

Tri-Edge said...

Again technology has failed us, it has shown that no matter what is created it will be hacked sooner or later. We should have some kind of master server that is hack proof with the identity of every person and if he or she is marked as a criminal or terrorist he or she is not allowed to fly.

Rigsby,D-1 said...

I use orbitz and it would be a 1 stop trip i would fly to Chicago, IL and from there to tokyo,japan. It would cost me about $1,006.

och,s-4 said...

My friend, Laura, and I are planning on living in Ireland for a year after graduating from college. We are so so excited. We are trying, however, not to think about it too much because we don't want to be obsessed about something that isn't happening for another four years. But we are planning on going with enough money to get by for a month or so because our goal is to get a little job and a little flat and support ourselves over there. It's going to be pretty fabulous.

I did a little search on orbitz for a one way flight to Dublin (we want to stay around Galway, though, because it's cheaper to live around there) and the cheapest one I found was a total of $424. June 1, 2009 was my sample date.

P.S. Sorry about my absences. I'm going to be swamped when I get back on Monday, but mom called up there for some work so I won't be too behind. Greg and I both have strep throat and the doctor said we have to be out of school till the 9th, which just so happens to be a Friday. I am in so much pain and I have taught myself to resist the temptation to swallow because it hurts so bad. Oh well...I'll manage. See you soon!

Jones-C-1 said...

The new passports are really cool but i dont think that everything need to be technical. Some things should just stay the same and passports should be like how they've always been. I mean is it really worth the risk of getting hacked or how people could make bombs out of them?

reed, k - 2 said...

I would like to travel to Jamacia ang my ticket would cost me about $668 bucks I went to the website travelocity.com to find this out and this is for only a one way ticket just to get there.

Baker,M-1 said...

ACtually, this summer I am traveling internationally. I am going to Europe with EFTours. I have around trip ticket and, since they send students for educational purposes, they don't have one way tickets. Round trip is about $3900 plus tax. (changes with the rise and fall of gas prices D:)

Johnson,O-2 said...

From Longview, TX to Memphis TN
and it will cost $352.00
The date August 21, 2009





Orbitz.com

cruz,raymond,a-class3 said...

i think passports are dumb to begin with.they are to much of a hassel to keep up with, and i think the whole cloning, copying thing is pretty cool, i would do that, it seems like it would be easy to do. I think im just going to stick with swimming across where ever i want to go!

allensworth, d4 said...

i went to travelosity to look up a flight to hawii.....the cheapest one i could find was $481 ticket flying with U.S. Airways....

Byrd,N-6 said...

i think the new computer chips in the passports are stupid because someone has already proven they can hack into it and they have only been out for a while.

Cuarenta,A-6 said...

i want to go to san luis potosi, mexico my one way ticket would cost $457
i went to travelocity.com

Abdul-786 said...

i would go to karachi, pakistan this summer and i visited expedia.com and i put june 2nd it showed that it would cost $998 per person.

Sauceda, Maria=]- 6 said...

I FORGOT!!.. to put that i went to the EXPEDIA site..With a ticket from american airlines to go to LAS VEGAS it costs $149!!!..IT would be awesome to go during spring break.:D

Lanham said...

graded

Stacy I'm so sorry you're feeling bad. This Friday is our midterm, and we've spent all week reviewing to be prepared. I'll see you when you get back and we'll get you caught up.

P.S. GO BACK AND READ THE DIRECTIONS for the travel thing!

taylor, Q - 6 said...

i used www.travelocity.com

I wanna go to Paris which would be $1,173 with 2 stops.One in Toronto & the other on Montreal. I chose Feb. 22. But omg its a long flight 8 am to 8:40am the next day. Not totally sure if i could do it!!

Bixler,T-6 said...

Conntneial airlines I going from dallas to Oklahoma City it will cost 158 dollars

arnold,t.7 said...

i would i like to travel anywhere un less it is not so much money to cost to get there and back so i can spend some money where i went to so i can show people i was there and it was cool so you can try going there.

cano,ruben-7 said...

This e-passports are easy to copy...but in first place i think that passports are not so cool...they say its for safety but is it really? i dont think that it makes that much of a
difference...

Trikosko, M-1 said...

Using Travelocity a one way ticket from Dallas/Ft Worth to London will cost me $1,131.

och,s-4 said...

Did I do it wrong? I put that from the orbitz website it would cost $424 one way to Dublin, Ireland. My sample date was June 1, 2009.

Lanham said...

Stacy - LOLOLOLOL. I'm SO sorry. I realized when I went back to read my post it sounded like I was telling *you* to go back and read the directions.

In reality, I was telling the people in this room who keep asking me 4,287 times what all they needed to post to go back! LOL. You did it just fine!

How you feeling? Any better?

och,s-4 said...

LOL. Thanks for letting me know that. I thought I was way out of it and just missing something. At the time you posted that I was starting to feel better. It was a very slow process. When I was finally able to swallow without it hurting tremendously, I was absolutely overjoyed. It was strange waking up this morning and actually looking forward to going back to school...woohoo!