Author’s Note: This is the original version of my “Airline Insecurity” essay, published shortly after 9/11, originally found at this URL, which now has a 2002 version with a different slant. As I’m putting this version back online in 2026, I actually no longer remember why I replaced and re-dated that page: it’s been too long ago now. But for various reasons I think it is a good idea to put this version online again, in pretty much the same layout as I wrote it back then. [Offsite links have been repointed to the Internet Archive.]
Special
Fundamentally Wrong
Written 21 September 2001. Also see the 2005 Update
Isn’t Life Already Short Enough?
A story in the 22 July 2001 issue really captured my interest — it amazes me how people will adapt to their technology, rather than make their technology adapt to them.
Religious Freedom in the USA
It’s not a big controversy like some This is True stories have generated, but there has been considerable confusion generated by two stories from the 13 August 2000 issue.
They’re Trying to Make it Hot in Here
Blasphemy! Yep, that’s what I’m guilty of, if you believe “Santa”, one of several people who wrote about a story in the 23 April 2000 issue. Here’s the story:
Mike the Headless Chicken
Update! See below.
Sometimes you come across a story that really, really seems too weird to be true. Sure we’ve all heard about chickens who run around the barnyard after getting their heads chopped off. But for over a year?
Why oh Why2K?
or, Ponderings on the New Millennium
“I would like to take you seriously, but to do so would affront your intelligence.” –William F. Buckley, conservative newspaper columnist.
It all started as a bit of musing in my author’s note in the first issue of the year 2000. Then, the more comments from readers I published, the more they streamed in. Let’s recap. In the issue published 7 January 2000, I pondered:
Are You Sure?
If a friend sent you to this page, they may be trying to tell you something. If you found it by yourself, consider that a point in your favor. This article appeared in This is True’s 23 January 2000 issue:
Rants and Raves over “Austin Powers”
One of the first highly controversial stories in True, with some readers loving it, and others hating it. So let’s start with the story that started it all (in the 18 July 1999 issue):
Losing my Tolerance for “Zero Tolerance”
A Story Subject Responds
It isn’t often that someone featured in a This is True story writes to complain or argue about a story about them. The few that have written with comments are indeed generally not at all upset, but rather quite amused by the whole thing. So much so that I wish I got more such notes.
Balance in the Media
Sure, the Columbine killings got a lot of press. Ever hear the other side of the gun issue?
The ‘Fornigate’ Response
Anytime This is True runs stories with (shall we say) controversial subjects, it generates letters. But nothing brings more letters than the division between left- and right-wing politics!
Special Fornigate Edition
The Monica Lewinski scandal didn’t really break (or “Go Viral” as we say today) until President Bill Clinton’s famous angry denial, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman …Miss Lewinsky.”