I have received congratulations from many people pertaining to The Gate celebrating ten years; and I truly appreciate it.
Over the years, I have written about many topics — some of which are no longer relevant. For example, I am guessing that you are no longer interested in how to instantly earn 100 Continental Airlines OnePass miles or an easy way to earn Northwest Airlines WorldPerks miles.
Do you really care that Kingfisher Airlines swept all of the Middle East & Asia/Oceania airline categories at the Frequent Traveler Awards in 2010 — the same year in which a group of FlyerTalk members planned to meet in Queenstown in New Zealand?
I did not think so…
Ten Years Ago Today: The First Official Article of The Gate Was…
…but I find it interesting that the first official article of The Gate dealt with a topic exactly ten years ago which is still relevant today in this article called Liquids and Gels: What Is Allowed to Carry On Board and What Is Not Allowed?
Here is the article as written by me in its entirety, as articles were generally shorter in length at The Gate during its formative years than they are today.
In light of recent events pertaining to increased airport security prohibiting liquids and gels from being carried on-board an aircraft, it is interesting that even the most seasoned of travelers are confused as to what is allowed to be carried on a flight and what is not allowed.
Whether it is Gummi Bears, solution for contact lenses, asthma inhalers, saline breast implants or even babies, it would seem to only be a matter of time before traveling companions will eventually be prohibited from boarding aircraft.
After all, depending on whether one is a man, woman or child, the human body is comprised of approximately 50% to 75% water.
Then again, FlyerTalk member joelfreak succinctly summed it up here in one simple sentence:
“If we just ban all humans, flying will be safe!”
Since then, I have written articles pertaining to carrying liquids aboard airplanes — such as the possibility that the liquids confiscated from you were sold instead of being disposed in what is supposed to be the safe and proper manner? How about looking forward to the day when the restrictions on carrying liquids aboard an airplane were to be relaxed — in 2009?
Of course, one aspect of carrying liquids aboard an airplane eventually became a Stupid Tip of the Day, which I hope you found useful…
Summary
…but I do want to state for the record that I am still opposed to the restrictions pertaining to carrying liquids aboard airplanes — and I have been opposed from day one and still believe it should be abolished. Evidence never did surface — to my knowledge, anyway — that anyone could easily and successfully concoct a liquid bomb aboard an airplane; and I remember the inanity of when no liquids were allowed to be carried aboard an airplane for a period of time shortly after the terror attacks of Tuesday, September 11, 2001.
As for The Gate, I never did quite figure out how to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Although I am proud of that achievement, I ironically am not a stickler for when to celebrate anything — contrary to the purpose of posting this article. I have celebrated my birthday two months after the fact. I partook in Thanksgiving one year during the summer instead of in November. When the time is right for me, I intend to celebrate ten years of the existence of The Gate.
One reason is that I mentioned in this article proclaiming the tenth anniversary of The Gate that there were articles written for The Gate before the first “official” article. I like to count those articles as well; but I have no idea when the actual first article for The Gate was written. Oh, well…
…but as I said in that article: I am hopeful that the first ten years of The Gate is only the beginning for bigger and better things to come…
…but in the meantime, thank you so much once again for your support. Mere words cannot ever convey my expression of gratitude, as I am grateful to you — more than you will ever know — for without you, there would be no The Gate…
…and you are most important to The Gate — not its anniversary.
Photograph ©2016 by Brian Cohen.
