posted November 22, 2006 06:02 PM              

"The ability to misuse travel documents to enter this country opens the door for a terrorist to carry out an attack. We can not continue to allow loopholes that could facilitate access to the United States through false claims of citizenship or fake identities," said DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff. "This initiative strengthens our border security by designating verifiable secure documents that may be used at our air ports of entry."

The travel document requirements make up the departments of State and Homeland Security's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer's identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States from within the Western Hemisphere.

By limiting the types of documents presented will result in a more efficient border. There are more than 8,000 different state and local entities in the U.S., which issue birth certificates and driver's licenses. Currently, a Customs and Border Patrol Officer needs to assess the authenticity of each birth certificate and license, regardless of when or where it was issued. The challenge at the borders is how to assess individual travelers, based on the documents they present, without significantly slowing the processing time for admission into the United States.

CBP Officers intercepted more than 75,000 fraudulent documents in FY2005 and apprehended over 84,000 individuals at the ports of entry trying to cross the border with fraudulent claims of citizenship or documents.

posted November 22, 2006 06:12 PM              

(the 2nd one is psychology, sorry i couldn't resist, my "dual" Gemini MC with p.fort conjunct it)

posted November 24, 2006 01:24 PM            

Would you work for an organization like Doctors without borders or doing something such as research with the CDC. I always wanted to work for the CDC and chase down pathogenic bacteria and viruses. But, that would mean traveling to humid / hot areas that had bugs bigger than Turkey's- so nah.... I'll leave that to the real nerds.

I also have Gemini on the MC- with Jupiter and Mars trining it (however, my Sun opposes my IC). I have always taken on several different duties at the same time and switched within my career field. I don't think I would have been able to spend an entire career in the lab doing research and I also don't see me spending the rest of my career writing grants. LOL...

As far as your question about the flight security- yes, I do believe it will stop terrorism. It is too easy to get over the Canadian and Mexican border with just an ID. I live on the border of Mexico (within 5 miles of Naco) and we only need an ID and to state our citizenship. People can fake travel documents from other countries should they chose to do so. With a passport it makes it much harder and there is an actual database that tracks names / pictures.

The bothersome thing to me is that while I don't mind the restrictions on what we take as a carry on item, I do mind the fact that there is little accountability on the side of TSA for lost luggage or how they treat the luggage. It sickens me every time I get a card in my suitcase stating they have searched through it, only to find caps on my lotion loosened and spilling, clothes mangled and wrinkled and stains on the clothes from being put on the ground.

posted November 24, 2006 05:09 PM              

oh and on the flight security thing, it sounds like a good plan, but terrorists are usually where people aren't watching or caring about, thats how 9/11 happened.

posted November 24, 2006 05:28 PM            

Speaking of the FBI and Homeland security- you'll most likely be looking at being on a Rapid Response team or Critical event team. They are the first responders when there is a disaster. Every state also has a TARU (which works with the CDC's TARU - ) the State response team is made up of law enforcement, fire dept and public health personnel. That carries to the County level. When I was in bioterrorism, I was (and I a still am) on the RRT (or Rapid Response Team) I wrote the protocol for dispensing medication / aid to our entire county's population LOL...

It sounds like fun.. but unless you work for the Federal Government, you are mostly just running drills. If you are looking for real adrenaline, then absolutely look at the CDC's rapid response unit. They are mobilized immediately following an incident and can set up shop within 12 hours (satellite and personnel).

posted November 24, 2006 06:03 PM            

Specializing in the psychology of War, Terrorism,and Politics is incredibly separate from nursing and emergency response. Even looking a the psychology of terrorism is different than the psychology of war- that may be why we have so many different types of psychologists / psychiatrists.

I once had a friend that told me he wanted to be a teacher, a writer, a pilot, a police officer and raise police quality K-9's.

He had no idea that each entity requires a very different focus in college.

I can see where psychology can apply to war, terrorism and even nursing. But how are you going to pursue each of them and become an expert?

In order to specialize you need the education and the experience. Do you plan on going to nursing school first or are you going to pursue a degree in Biology / Chemistry? Will you pursue a degree in nursing, psychology, polticial science and biology concurrently?

I am not aware of any programs that incorporate war, terrorism, politics, nursing and psychology.

Dreams are wonderful, but we have to also be realistic in what path we take- now if you plan on tackling two at a time- I could see it being done, but that is going to take some awesome time and dedication.

I am not saying multiple careers cannot be accomplished. My ex-husband graduated from Georgetown with his DDS and went on to practice dentistry which lead to forensic dentistry. When he tired of dentistry he became a forensic drug chemist (his BA was in Physical Chemistry). DNA started to become a hot topic, so we went into serology and then became the DNA lab manager- from their he studied blood pattern analysis and soon become the commander of forensic services. He was qualified as an expert in forensic odontology, drug chemistry, serology, DNA technology and blood spatter analysis. Oh yes, and he was still a licensed Dentist.

YET... there is a common thread.. chemistry / biology. He is a genius but I never saw him also adding becoming an expert on terrorism, war and politics to his already incredible resume.

posted November 24, 2006 07:01 PM            

Wait until you get out of high school. Advanced placement is quite different than Molecular biology taught by an MD / PhD. I did not post what I did in order to hurt your feelings, but you need to look at your dreams and ask yourself if those goals are realistic.

If so, then hell ya, go for it- but declaring you are a pioneer at 16 can set you up for a heartbreak later on if you do not meet those goals. I have no doubt that you are advanced intellectually. I have no doubt that you will become something amazing and do many things.

I have also been in various fields for a while and watched as people became superficially knowledgable in many things and experts in nothing. Discounting a discipline as though it can be learned within a year, discounts those that actually specialize in it.

As I said before, it is very important to have dreams and goals- we should all never give up on that. At the same time we need to have a good dose of realism and understand the complexity of each dream we have and each goal we have set for ourselves. You may be a pioneer, but at what expense?

Your post came across as stating you would achieve the end goals, but had no idea of the time, dedication and details (not to mention money)needed to reach those goals.

posted November 24, 2006 07:07 PM            

It doesn't seem as though you have these planned out yet. I wouldn't be asking if I had not already graduated through similar programs. Getting dual BA or BS degrees is hard enough (I know this) getting two PhD's while working is complicated but not impossible obviously.

Trying to incorporate war, terrorism and politics will also be difficult.

***** edited to add...

I would recommend getting that BS in Chemistry (you can minor in Bio) because Chemistry is the backbone of life. I hated it, but forced myself to earn a degree it in regardless. I found that graduate schools and employers looked higher on the Chem than the bio.

As for a PhD in the sciences- again, go with a specialty- a PhD in Biology is a warning sign- most major chose Microbiology / Infectious disease (a facet of terrorism) or something like Molecular Biology, Neurobiology. But stay away from straight biology.

posted November 24, 2006 07:28 PM              

quote:

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Wait until you get out of high school. Advanced placement is quite different than Molecular biology taught by an MD / PhD. I did not post what I did in order to hurt your feelings, but you need to look at your dreams and ask yourself if those goals are realistic.

If so, then hell ya, go for it- but declaring you are a pioneer at 16 can set you up for a heartbreak later on if you do not meet those goals. I have no doubt that you are advanced intellectually. I have no doubt that you will become something amazing and do many things.

I have also been in various fields for a while and watched as people became superficially knowledgable in many things and experts in nothing. Discounting a discipline as though it can be learned within a year, discounts those that actually specialize in it.

As I said before, it is very important to have dreams and goals- we should all never give up on that. At the same time we need to have a good dose of realism and understand the complexity of each dream we have and each goal we have set for ourselves. You may be a pioneer, but at what expense?

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thank you much for your words of wisdom pid, much appreciated, and you have enlightened me. Of my knowledge that a degree in nursing is a degree in science, what would be nice is a phd in microbiology but incorporated into nursing work, specifically emergency. And yes i'm well aware of the hundreds of thousands of dollars that may have to be spent on that edcuation and working, but i'm also well aware of grants and writing proposals and filling out applications for those, and those loans, which you have to be very careful with, anything.

posted November 24, 2006 07:42 PM              

quote:

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Again, Neptune, you have only bit off a tiny piece of the project.

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Also pid, I understand i'm "biting it off in tiny pieces", but when you speak about taking things realisticlly, you can only do things slowly and surely, when you develop your focus grows and then there is strength of character, which enhances ones strength of purpose.

posted November 24, 2006 07:57 PM              

quote:

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I didn't rant. I think you need real dose of realism and using Astrology as an absolute does not guarantee success.

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I wasn't using astrology as an absolute, but a guiding light. I agree with you pid, I did need that dose of realism, but how much of it did I need, with my pallas conjunct AC in virgo and saturn in 5th; Mercury semi-sextile saturn, saturn trine vertex/6th, I take life much too seriously for my age and I plan and think in detail with conspicuous consumption. But you've been much appreciated, sincerely.

posted November 24, 2006 08:56 PM            

You can try all kinds of different subjects in high school and college. Being a saggie you probably want to do everything, but eventually you will have to narrow it down a bit. Give yourself plenty of time, do lots of reading, and ask lots of questions. It seems you're on the right path!

posted December 04, 2006 05:42 PM            

I did not respond to you again because I said all that I had to say. BR even commented to you and I was done posting. I had other things to tend to and trying to nurture your desire to accomplish several degrees concurrently without doing the requisite research is not something I waste my time on.

I have not used your age against you, but I will say that at 16 years of age we feel that we have all the answers and we can do anything. Since you are not Doogie Houser, I think you are setting yourself up for a massive let down when you realize the extent of each and every class you must take to accomplish your goals.

We will see how things are going when you hit 26 years of age.

With that, I am done speaking with you and helping you as I have been doing. I never called you a name and I am sickened that you took someone else's sickenss as an opportunity to jump on a bandwagon. It will more than likely bite you in the rear...