This is a phrase that comes to my mind often and regular. (Ya Right! you say - he has no mind LOL
)
Annyyhoooww... the reason for this thought is that when you enter the lobby of the Embassy, firstly you pass through a Rent-A-Cop security station, where you get "wanded" and asked to empty your pockets, turn off cell phones and other communicators. (for some guys thats a no-brainer
) Then you get to the main Security wicket, where you are greeted by Colette. Now don't get me wrong, she is a very nice lady, who has over 35 years working with this Embassy.
It is also at this point where the phrase by Bowman in 2001, A Space Odyssey comes from. After you meet Colette and she deems you worthy to enter the inner chambers, you have to pass through the "Man-Trap" airlock. In simpler terms, these are double door glass cage security doors. These doors dont work like subway or elevator doors. If you get caught between the doors when they close, you are going to get seriously hurt. There is no spring-back mechanism on them.
Also, on entry they are controlled by the person on the security desk, and although you can get out, back the way you came, via a button release switch, you can not enter the remainder of the building without being passed through by Security.
On to the reason for this.... Colette is sometimes easily distracted, or maybe she just forgets who is in the trap. Rather difficult to do on this last part, because its all glass, and you can see in as well as out. Many of us have stood there, waiting for Colette to open up sometimes upwards of almost 30 seconds - that happened to me once. Or you get "saved" by someone exiting because from the inside of the corridor, the button release is there, so that you may exit.
So everytime that I have to wait for Colette, I can't help but think about Bowman, asking Hal to open up so that he may return back to Odyssey.
And that brings me to a final point. Just wondering if anyone else is blessed with experiences like this..... Or is this Only in Canada you say, eh?

Annyyhoooww... the reason for this thought is that when you enter the lobby of the Embassy, firstly you pass through a Rent-A-Cop security station, where you get "wanded" and asked to empty your pockets, turn off cell phones and other communicators. (for some guys thats a no-brainer

It is also at this point where the phrase by Bowman in 2001, A Space Odyssey comes from. After you meet Colette and she deems you worthy to enter the inner chambers, you have to pass through the "Man-Trap" airlock. In simpler terms, these are double door glass cage security doors. These doors dont work like subway or elevator doors. If you get caught between the doors when they close, you are going to get seriously hurt. There is no spring-back mechanism on them.
Also, on entry they are controlled by the person on the security desk, and although you can get out, back the way you came, via a button release switch, you can not enter the remainder of the building without being passed through by Security.
On to the reason for this.... Colette is sometimes easily distracted, or maybe she just forgets who is in the trap. Rather difficult to do on this last part, because its all glass, and you can see in as well as out. Many of us have stood there, waiting for Colette to open up sometimes upwards of almost 30 seconds - that happened to me once. Or you get "saved" by someone exiting because from the inside of the corridor, the button release is there, so that you may exit.
So everytime that I have to wait for Colette, I can't help but think about Bowman, asking Hal to open up so that he may return back to Odyssey.
And that brings me to a final point. Just wondering if anyone else is blessed with experiences like this..... Or is this Only in Canada you say, eh?

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