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Every year I read the horror stories about how many people there will be at the airport and how I won't be able to get anywhere. And yet, every year as I board the plane the day before Thanksgiving, I recognize that it is no different from every other day that I fly.

The planes can't get "more sold out" than every other day. I flew on four flights to and from Phoenix last week, and every one was full to the max. Please, let's control the Thanksgiving travel hype.

It's funny to think about how much attention we pay to air travel when, as this Bureau of Transportation Statistics chart points out, only a tiny percentage of the U.S. population flies to their destination, compared to 91 percent who drive. The chart indicates that the largest percentage of motorists drive less than 100 miles to their destination. About half of all Thanksgiving travelers will not spend the night away from home.

Click here to see when and how much people drive around Thanksgiving. Here is some information about when and how much people drive around Thanksgiving.

Even when the lines are long, they usually move pretty fast. Last week, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said:

You know to pack lightly and not to bring liquids on board. But this week TSA started a new campaign to pack neatly. The administration wants people to pack their carry-ons in layers. It has sent airports and airlines posters and a 60-second video in which a female narrator advises: "Think layers. One layer of clothes. One layer of electronics."

Here is what eats up the most time in security:

• Not having boarding passes and IDs out for inspection.

• Wearing bulky coats, sweaters and other items that make it difficult for the security officer to screen you properly.

• Wearing shoes or boots with laces or other fasteners that are not easy to remove and put back on.

• Forgetting to take laptops and other oversized electronics out of carry-on bags.

• Forgetting the 3-1-1 rules on liquids, aerosols and gels.

• Forgetting to declare exempt liquids like medicines, breast milk, baby formula and other items.

• Leaving loose change, keys and other metal objects in pockets.

• Bringing gifts that appear on the "Permitted and Prohibited Items" list (antique swords and guns, etc.).

Here are some other factors to consider:

Some airports are looney bins every day, like Atlanta and Las Vegas. But they are only slow for travelers checking in, not so much for travelers who are just passing through. The concourses, it seems to me, are about the same as usual because only people who have tickets can go there. It is not like the old days when whole families would wait at the gates.

Weather in many parts of the country will turn crappy today, which won't help things.

If you have problems with an airline, here is a place to report it.

What was the deal about the president opening up some airspace used by the military? How will that help? Click to learn more.

My favorite travel stories are the ones that take me places I don't usually go, like to the bus station. Does anybody hitchhike these days? How will international college students at your nearby university spend Thanksgiving?

I have seen stories about steep airline prices and Visa hassels that are keeping more international students stateside than usual.

Do any homeless people avoid the Thanksgiving shelter dinner because of all of the media and politician hoopla that comes with it?

Of course, a lot more people will drive than fly this week. Here are 101 ideas for keeping kids busy while riding in the car. I actually used the "count the crows" idea on a recent trip with my kids, and they loved it.

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Don't Feed the Goods to Dogs

Cesar Millan, the "Dog Whisperer" who I love to watch on TV, says not to feed Thanksgiving goodies to your dog:

Turkey Skin -- High-fat foods, such as turkey skin, can be hazardous to your dog. Since the skin is hard to digest, it can lead to pancreatitis. If you still want to share your bird, give your dog a small piece of white meat.

Turkey Bones -- Cooked poultry bones are brittle and splinter easily. If ingested, they can lodge in the esophagus or cause stomach or intestinal irritation.

Xylitol -- This sweetener is present in products from gum to sugar-free cookies. Even in small amounts, ingestion can cause low blood sugar, seizures, liver failure, and death.

Grapes and Raisins -- These common snacks can induce permanent and life-threatening kidney failure in some dogs. Though some pets seem to handle eating grapes just fine, it's safest to avoid grapes and raisins completely.

Chocolate -- Most pet owners are aware of chocolate's danger, but with the recent popularity of dark chocolates -- which contain higher doses of toxic cocoa -- it's more important than ever to be vigilant about chocolate consumption. Ingestion can cause abnormal heartbeats, kidney failure, and death.

Onions -- High levels of onion ingestion in dogs and cats can cause life-threatening anemia. Be aware of food at your table -- such as stuffing or casseroles -- that may contain this dangerous ingredient.

Here is some information for cat lovers, too.

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Turkey Day Is Tough for Vegetarians

After all, it is one of the biggest meat-eating days of the year. Here are some ideas that will keep everybody happy.

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Small Paper Exposes Government Employee Spending

In little 'ole Aiken, S.C, the Aiken Standard has followed the story of a couple of EMS workers who allegedly mishandled city money. The paper filed a Freedom of Information request to see the spending records from all 60 county workers who had a county credit card. The paper then listed every record online. Click here to take a look.

So far, the paper has not found any misdeeds, but decided to put the records out in the public anyway. It is interesting to see how much consumers spend at Stables, Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby in this little county alone. You wonder if whatever people are buying should be up for some kind of bid. What an interesting way to try to restore the public's confidence in a government: Disclose everything.

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Journos Fight Cattle Registry Secrecy

A number of journalism organizations are protesting a provision in the pending 2008 farm bill that includes an unusual secrecy provision for information in the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

The NAIS is a database that tracks livestock from birth to market to help protect consumers from unsafe food and prevent disease outbreaks. The voluntary system makes it easier for the Feds to track a sick animal from farm to farm and from farm to market. The version of the bill sitting in the Senate could make it a criminal offense to publish information like the location of a feed lot, even if it were already in the public domain.

Of course, the Feds worry that farmers won't sign up for the program if they think their names might be splashed all over the media someday.

How important is this system? Click here to talk to your state coordinator.

Here is the NAIS press office's Web site, which might be a good place to turn to in order to out why the Feds think the information should remain private.

Here are some FAQs about the program.

 

Those groups fighting the legislation include the Society of Environmental Journalists [PDF], the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the National Press Foundation, and UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc.

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Editor's Note: Al's Morning Meeting is a compendium of ideas, edited story excerpts and other materials from a variety of Web sites, as well as original concepts and analysis. When the information comes directly from another source, it will be attributed and a link will be provided whenever possible. The column is fact-checked, but depends on the accuracy and integrity of the original sources cited. Errors and inaccuracies found will be corrected.

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