BENEATH CONTEMPT… Before the peaceniks get all huffy and righteous and start writing mean letters, Squid reminds them that Squid was against the war way before it was cool to be against the war. And Squid generally admires people who take time out from their weekends to engage in some political activity. But the anti-war protesters who have been hanging around WINDOW ON THE BAY park in Monterey lately have Squid cringing in shame-by-association.

They were out there a couple of weeks ago, with their paranoid mixed messages, displaying UN flags, upside-down American flags and posters screaming that “Patriots Defend the Constitution.” And they were there again this past Sunday, with a sign that read “A Writ Of Habeas Corpus Because I Ofer To None Commander” (?), and swastikas affixed to their flagpoles (!).

Perhaps kinder fellow citizens can abide this kind of inanity, but Squid cannot. Squid wants to politely tell these probably good-hearted (but soft-headed) neighbors that they are hurting the cause, but when Squid opens Squid’s beak to speak all that will come out is: Go home! Get a life! Shut the &#@% up!

ABOVE THE LAW… Squid’s officemates just don’t get it. Squid hangs a “keep away” sign on Squid’s door—they waltz on in whenever they feel like it. So Squid brought in a couple of snarling, scary dogs. That didn’t work either. Even the really ferocious ones, Killer and Meany-Bitey, have turned into cuddly, little puppies—Squid’s colleagues apparently pet them and feed them.

Maybe Squid should start taking lessons from old grump Vice President DICK CHENEY.

In late October, the FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued a “Temporary” Flight Restriction over the VP’s private residence, near St. Michael’s, Md. And then the feds got an angry letter from AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION President PHIL BOYER.

The AOPA says the FAA’s PTFR for the VP is BAD policy (yes, pilots like to use acronyms) and Boyer argues that it is inconsistent with existing regulations. (No, he doesn’t point out the obvious…permanent temporary restriction? No wonder Cheney got into politics.)

“The recent unilateral action to implement this TFR, which abuts the Washington, DC, Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), adds to the aviation community’s growing exasperation with the area’s complex airspace and adversely affects a prominent VFR route,” Boyer writes. Squid’s not exactly sure what he means, either. But it sounds impressive.

Boyer also asks that the FAA replace the TFR with a NOTAM, similar to those issued for nuclear power plants and the like. (A NOTAM is a “notice to airmen,” issued to inform pilots of changes. Wait, that’s not politically correct. Squid’s gonna call it a NOTAS, “notice to airsquids.”)

At least one local AOPA member’s peeved. “I just don’t like this guy who sees himself as better than the rest of us,” he grumbles. Yeah, forget about Cheney’s DUI arrests, the lucrative HALLIBURTON contracts, and the indictment of his top aide, SCOOTER LIBBY. It’s the TFR that ties Squid’s tentacles in knots, too.